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Ruby Tuesday announced after hours today a net loss of $15.1 million for their fiscal 2nd quarter.
Saying that "driving profitable same-restaurant sales at Ruby Tuesday is our first and most critical priority," the company also announced they are immediately closing all Marlin and Ray's restaurants. "[W]e have determined the Marlin & Ray's brand is not an optimal conversion vehicle for us going forward," said new CEO JJ Buettgen, who also projected flat same-store Ruby Tuesday sales for the the year.
The company is also discontinuing the Wok Hay and Truffle's Grill concepts. According to the new CEO, the moves will allow the company to "focus on the successful sales turnaround at our Ruby Tuesday restaurants, in addition to creating value with our Lime Fresh fast casual concept going forward."
Regarding affected employees, the company said " As we make these difficult decisions, we want to let the team members of these closed restaurants know that we appreciate their passion and commitment and we are working to ensure the employees affected by these planned closures are given opportunities at other Ruby Tuesday or Lime Fresh restaurants."
Ruby Tuesday opened the first Marlin and Ray's concept restaurant in Maryville in April 2011.
RT shares were down as much as 8.7% before leveling out to about -7.5% in after hours trading after missing earnings (loss) expectations.
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Collaboration with Chinese online delivery platforms has helped Carlsberg China reach more customers in the world’s biggest beer market , helping it buck the decline seen in the wider industry caused by consumers cutting down on eating and drinking out last year.
And while the worst of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has largely subsided, digitalisation will stick around as a key strategy at Carlsberg, said Lee Chee Kong, president of Carlsberg China.
“We see digitalisation as one of our strategic priorities. In the post Covid-19 era, we will increase our investment in diversifying our distribution channels, especially in e-commerce,” Lee said.
China has become the biggest market for Carlsberg, a Danish multinational company that is also the world’s third-largest brewer. The country consumed about 38 million kilolitres of beer in 2019 – the most globally – data from China Alcoholic Drinks Association shows, generating sales revenue of 158.1 billion yuan (S$32.8 billion). China also produced 37.7 million kilolitres that year, around a fifth of the world’s total production.
The US, with 23.9 million kilolitres, and Brazil, with 12.4 million kilolitres, were the second and third-biggest consumers of beer in 2019, respectively.
Consumption per capita in 2019 stood at 27.1 litres, behind the more than 60 litres per capita in countries such as the US, Mexico and Brazil, data from research firm GlobalData shows.
Carlsberg, which has been operating out of Huizhou, Guangdong province, for the past 26 years, is one of the only two foreign brands that have made it into China’s top five, GlobalData data shows.
By working closely with on-demand delivery platforms such as Meituan, Ele.me, which is backed by this newspaper’s owner, Alibaba Group Holding, and JD-Daojia under Dada Nexus, in which JD Group has a 46.5 per cent stake, the brewer was able to report 21 per cent growth in operating profit and 3 per cent growth in volume last year. The overall industry’s sales volume, however, declined during this period, especially during the first half of 2020.
Many brewers maintain online flagship stores on Chinese online retail platform Tmall, the e-commerce platform of Alibaba, and JD.com.
Huizhou, which is home to Carlsberg’s first brewery in China since 1995 , still serves as production base for southern China and Hong Kong. Carlsberg China has since 2004 expanded production into Western China. It discontinued its Hong Kong production, which it moved to Huizhou.
“Guangdong province is the pioneering region in terms of China’s economic reforms and opening up for foreign investors. We are pleased to see that the government has initiated a new round of economic reforms and opening up to attract foreign investment,” Lee said, referring to Beijing’s Greater Bay Area development plan.
There is still much room to grow for Carlsberg in China. The country’s top three brands were all local brewers – China Resources Beer, which counts Dutch brewer Heineken as a shareholder, Tsingtao Brewery and Beijing Yanjing Brewery .
With 26 breweries in operation in provinces such as Xinjiang , Ningxia and Yunnan, among others, Carlsberg China also hopes to differentiate itself by using climate-friendly production processes.
Last year, all 26 breweries were powered by renewable electricity, which equalled a reduction of about 90,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, or 65,000 small sedans being off the road for a year, the company says on its China website.
This article was first published in South China Morning Post.

domain: news


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Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Chief Executive Officer Thierry Bolloré has announced a new global strategy called ‘Reimagine’. Under his leadership, the company is poised to transition to a sustainability-focused version of two iconic British brands.
JLR has been floating parts of the plan for months now. News coming from its headquarters in England has been promoting a focus on sustainability including word that they are working with Econyl nylon to develop high-quality interiors made from ocean and landfill waste.
[rebelmouse-image 24451339 photo_credit=”Photo courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover” pin_description=”” dam=”1″ caption=”The Econyl process includes recovering nylon waste and transforming it into a premium material.” alt=”Jaguar Land Rover Econyl interior” expand=”1″]
The Econyl process includes recovering nylon waste and transforming it into a premium material.
Photo courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover
Despite the shared focus, the Jaguar and Land Rover brands are committing to remain distinct in their design and product offerings, with different architecture.
Nameplate by nameplate, the company will work to make an all-electric version of JLR vehicles available by 2030. JLR is planning to welcome six all-electric Land Rover models in the next five years. Read more about those here.
At the same time, Jaguar will be transforming into a purely electric automaker. In a statement, the company described what is coming for Jaguar:
“…with a dramatically beautiful new portfolio of emotionally engaging designs and pioneering next-generation technologies. Jaguar will exist to make life extraordinary by creating dramatically beautiful automotive experiences that leave its customers feeling unique and rewarded. Although the nameplate may be retained, the planned Jaguar XJ replacement will not form part of the line-up, as the brand looks to realise its unique potential.”
By 2030, it is anticipated that 100 percent of all Jaguar sales and 60 percent of Land Rovers sold will be equipped with zero tailpipe emissions.
The company is also striving to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039. Nissan, Bentley, Volvo, Audi, and Ford have recently made similar statements.
JLR is also readying for hydrogen fuel cell power as it expects the hydrogen economy to expand in the coming decades. This vision is shared by Hyundai. Development of these vehicles is already underway. Test models are slated to arrive on U.K. roads in the next year.
JLR’s subscription service, PIVOTAL, will be rolled out to other markets in the coming years.
The new vision is expected to require a £2.5 billion ($3.48 billion USD) annual investment from JLR that will include purchasing and developing electrification technologies, connected services, and data-centric technologies.
The company, which has been hit by slow sales and production delays as the brand has worked to reinvent itself, will work with major shareholder Tata Motors to achieve positive cash net-of-debt by 2025.


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Baird Price Target Bump Takes Tesla Shares Higher Ahead of Earnings Report
In a report published early Tuesday morning, Baird Equity Research analyst Ben Kallo reiterated his Outperform rating on Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), while bumping his price target up from $187 to $215.
The report, which was released just a day before Tesla was scheduled to report earnings, reiterated its bullishness for the fourth quarter report which was initially stated last month. Kallo stated that he expects the EPS figure to come in at $0.21, but could come in as high as $0.25 with the increased number of deliveries, but tempered that with a warning that the additional supercharger stations could weigh the number down.
Kallo also underlined the importance of additional details about the battery factory, which serves as a lynch pin for continued production capacity. He also stated there was an outside chance that a second production line could be announced, but did say this could be a bit early for the announcement to come.
The street loved the price target bump, bidding the stock up above $208 before shares came back down slightly, settling on a gain of 3.42 percent to $205.01 at the time of this report.
Latest Ratings for TSLA
|Mar 2017||Deutsche Bank||Maintains||Hold||Hold|
|Mar 2017||Bernstein||Initiates Coverage On||Market Perform|
|Feb 2017||Goldman Sachs||Downgrades||Neutral||Sell|
© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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Seven fashion students from The Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) received Beales Scholarships this week in front of an invited panel of guests including Nigel Beale, the ex-chairman of the AUB, Tony Brown, the CEO of Beales, and Professor Jim Hunter, Deputy Principal of the AUB.
BA (Hons) Fashion Studies student Pei-Chen Yang and BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Technology student Charlotte Woods were the overall winners, each being awarded a scholarship of £1,250. Five other scholarships were handed out to Ross McNaughton, Francesca Henderson and Twinks Burnett from Fashion Studies, and Jenna Le Maitre and Laura Parkinson from Fashion Design and Technology.
The annual scholarship was put in place four years ago by the renowned department store in recognition of the contribution that ex-Chairman Nigel Beale has made to the region in the field of commerce, fashion and education. It will assist the students in their ongoing studies and help fulfill their ambitions; ultimately enabling them to make a contribution to the British and international fashion industry.
The students were all praised for the high standard of their work, the professionalism of their presentations and the commitment to their subject and chosen career in fashion.


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Shoplifter tried to walk out of M&S wearing two stolen jackets underneath coat
- Credit: Archant
A shoplifter who attempted to walk out of Marks and Spencer wearing two stolen jackets underneath his own coat has been fined in court.
Daniel Obuhovics, 31, walked into Ipswich's Marks and Spencer store on October 8 and began looking at the coats, magistrates in Ipswich heard.
He then took his own coat off before taking two jackets and putting them both on, Wayne Ablett, prosecuting, told the court.
Obuhovics then put his own coat back on and attempted to walk out of the store but was detained by security staff.
The coats, which were worth £198, were recovered and could be re-sold, the court heard.
Appearing at Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, Obuhovics, of Bramford Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop.
Jeremy Kendall, defending, said Obuhovics had lost his job and had taken the coats to sell them.
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He said: "It was unsophisticated. He was fully cooperative with the police."
Obuhovics was fined £80 and ordered to pay costs of £45 and a victim surcharge of £34.


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Even though the two companies haven't been able to agree to a complete buyout or partnership for more than one year, it's possible Microsoft and Yahoo will be able to work together at some point in the future.
Microsoft’s intentions of buying Yahoo -- which it tried to do last year -- isn't possible any more, but a partnership can still be arranged.
"I have said many times that we no longer are interested in acquiring Yahoo, but we'd see the potential to create real value by partnering with Yahoo," according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "I have said many times that when the time is right I'm sure we will have such discussions and I've said many times I'm not going to tell you when the time is right."
Earlier this month, Microsoft and Yahoo executives met to discuss new business ventures that both sides could work on together.
Since the global economy continues to struggle, and both companies continue to lose ground to Google, now may be an ideal time for some type of search advertising deal, analysts believe. Both companies aren't able to deal with the economy and Google, as Microsoft's third-quarter profit dropped 32 percent, and the advertising revenue is expected to struggle throughout 2009.
Former Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang -- who rejected Microsoft's $47.5 billion buyout offer last spring -- was heavily criticized and later replaced with Carol Bartz announcing she'd be willing to work with Microsoft.
Microsoft executives have been pestered about possible mergers of software or hardware companies, especially after Oracle announced it plans to purchase Sun Microsystems. Microsoft is more interested in working in the cloud, and doesn't have immediate plans to purchase a hardware company.


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photo credit Agence France-Presse
The ultimate Bush memorial is now in Iraq: a statue of a shoe in Tikrit, hometown of the late Saddam Hussein.
It's large, bronze, and a fitting tribute to the shoes thrown at Bush in his waning days.
And while it was just announced that the shoe was coming down (some democracy that is), we still want to honor its memory.
Normally, in Caption This, we ask to say what the person is thinking. But here we have a shoe. So you have to pretend the shoe can talk.
But what would the shoe say if it could speak?
"I am finely crafted and I have to be associated with this clown." "Try throwing a huge bronze shoe at Bush." "Unlike Bush, I at least have sole."
So give us your reaction if you were the shoe on display in Iraq.


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“Latvia highly appreciates the fact that the Korean company Samsung Electronics has chosen Riga as its regional centre for operations and has thus recognised the advantages our country offers. The company’s products are popular in Latvia; therefore, I invite Samsung Electronics to expand its operations in Latvia,” emphasised Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, when meeting with representatives of Samsung Electronics on Wednesday, 22 May, during her official visit to the Republic of Korea.
Samsung is one of the largest Southeast Asian investors in Latvia, and that is why the Speaker of the Saeima drew the attention of the company’s representatives to the competitive advantages of our country, including its convenient geographical location and experience in cooperating with Russia and other post-Soviet states. Āboltiņa urged Samsung to use Latvia as a gateway to the Russian and CIS markets, emphasising that our country supports and implements joint projects in these markets.
In characterising the advantages of our country, the Speaker of the Saeima said: “Latvia plays a crucial role in the European transit and logistics system with our well-developed railway and port infrastructure, as well as our competitive labour force. This is confirmed by the fact that the United States and other Western countries use Latvia’s ports and transit infrastructure to transport non-military cargoes to Afghanistan.”
Āboltiņa informed the Samsung representatives about her recent meeting with Joseph Jeongwoo Kim, President of Samsung Electronics Baltics, during which they discussed the company’s expansion plans in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The Speaker of the Saeima expressed her gratitude that the company is an active and socially responsible investor in Latvia and other Baltic States and that it participates in health, education and sports projects.
“Latvia is interested in having constructive, active and long-term bilateral relations with the Republic of Korea. This visit attests to our intent. We have all the prerequisites for deepening economic cooperation – the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea has been signed, a convention on avoidance of double taxation has also been signed, an investment protection agreement has been concluded and a visa-free regime has been established,” Āboltiņa emphasised.
During the meeting, Latvia’s economic situation was also discussed. Āboltiņa stressed that Latvia’s economy is continuing to grow rapidly. Its GDP increase of 5.6% in the first quarter of this year is the highest rate in the EU. Āboltiņa also noted that this achievement enables Latvia to move towards two strategic goals, i.e. to join the euro area on 1 January 2014 and to become a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
From 21 to 25 May, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, is on an official visit to Republic of Korea, where she is meeting Kang Chang-hee, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea; Chung Hong-won, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea; and Byun Jae-ill, Chairman of the Korea-Latvia Parliamentary Friendship Group. During the visit, several other meetings are planned to give an insight into South Korea’s business and cultural environment.
Saeima Press Service


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Michelle Obama Memoir Reaches 10 Million Copies Sold Michelle Obama’s memoir Becoming has sold over ten million copies so far, putting the autobiography on a record-setting pace. The book was the top seller of 2018 despite only being released in November, and is on pace to be the best-selling memoir in modern history. Obama’s book… Read more »
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Google Controvery (again)
Here we go again. The lines between your desktop and the internet have become even more blurred with Google’s announcement that it has developed a new application allowing users to simultaneously scan the Web and their computer hard drives for documents, e-mail, instant messages and sites they’ve visited in the past.
SFGate reports the release makes Google the first of what is expected to be a long list of major Internet companies to enter this nascent field. Microsoft, America Online and Ask Jeeves are all hoping to leap ahead in search technology by making its easier to find computer files, a traditionally difficult task.
“If I want to find a particular e-mail or a Word file from two months ago, it’s a nightmare,” said Andy Beal, vice president for the search engine marketing company WebSourced. “Frustrations have got to the point where people are looking for any provider who can find things on the desktop.”
Analysts believe that desktop search will be a critical battleground among the Internet industry’s leaders. Companies are jostling to keep users loyal in a business in which switching to a different search engine is easy and free.
Google’s new technology can be downloaded from www.desktop.google.com. The software, a 400-KB file, is compatible with only newer versions of Windows.
Google Desktop, as the technology is called, automatically creates an index of a computer’s content and frequent updates. If they chose, users can block certain kinds of files or specific domains from being indexed.
The technology makes it possible to search both the Web and the desktop at the same time from the Google Web site. After entering a query, users see a summary of computer file results near the top of the page and a link to a full listing.
Alternatively, users can choose to search from a separate window dedicated specifically to desktop files. In that case, a list of files appears immediately next to an icon, such an a envelope to indicate an e-mail.
Google’s new software scans some of the most popular kinds of files, including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, Outlook e-mail and AOL Instant Messenger chats. It also keeps a history of every Web site a user visits.
Many other kinds of files are incompatible, including PDFs, multimedia and Yahoo Messenger. In addition, the technology can’t index Web-based e-mail such as Google’s own G-mail.
Marissa Mayer, Google’s director of consumer Web products, said new categories of files will be added in the future.
Small companies such as Copernic, Blinxx and Lycos’ Hotbot already offer their own versions of desktop search. But they have gained only modest followings.
For now, Google doesn’t display advertising tied to the content of desktop files. However, Mayer said her company may add such ads in the future.
She dismissed any concerns about privacy because she said Google won’t have access to information about what resides on users’ hard drivers. Analysts backed her view up but noted that the technology does open the door to other problems.
“It makes it so incredibly easy for people to go to your computer and see what’s on it,” said Danny Sullivan, editor of Search Engine Watch, a Web site about Internet search.
Is it just me or is there a contradiction here? On the one hand Google says it “won’t have access to information about what resides on users’ hard drivers.” And in the very next breath says in the future it may add content sensitive ads to your desktop files. Hmmmm. The Bloke won’t be in any hurry to install this one.


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Netflix has become the defining streaming service in the modern TV landscape, investing millions into projects which contend for Oscars and Emmys, gathering a vast range of old titles to please all ages, all while invading everyday lexicon with a swift ‘Netflix and chill’.
While the platform will always be remembered for kick-starting the streaming age, the coming year could be pivotal for the company. As reported in their second quarter earnings in July 2019, Netflix lost subscribers in the US for the first time in eight years – losing 126,000 subs and falling to 60.1 million paid memberships, down from 60.2 million in the previous quarter.
It’s a marginal amount, but the company’s efforts are slowing down internationally too. While they added 2.8 million subscribers internationally in the same earnings report, their growth decelerated to 3% quarter-over-quarter, down from 10% in Q1 2019.
Netflix pins the blame on price hikes and a lighter content slate, but it’s hard not to feel like the platform is losing steam generally as competitors chip at their heels.
The arrival of Disney Plus this November has already started to suck big properties away from them. Marvel movies are expected to be removed, while the cut-throat cancellation of their Marvel TV partnership with Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, stripped out plans to build their own TV superhero universe.
Star Wars and Disney animated movies are also expected to be pulled from the platform, and coupled with the impressive roster of Disney Plus shows, including The Mandalorian, Disney remakes, and Marvel shows connecting to their box office-dominating cinematic universe, the broad appeal of Disney will undoubtedly pull away a chunk of Netflix’s audience.
Apple TV Plus is also releasing in the same month. While the platform won’t offer any licensed content outside its exclusive shows unlike Netflix, it’s still another huge brand, alongside HBO Max, vying to steal the spotlight in an increasingly crowded market.
The rise of competitors wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if Netflix had a strong line-up to keep viewers hooked, but there’s few exclusive shows which have landed in a significant way this year. Stranger Things season three is believed to have contributed to a sharp rise in subscribers, while When They See Us has become their biggest chance at awards success with 10 Emmys nominations, but it’s a small number compared to the amount of Netflix originals pumped out on a monthly basis.
The platform’s knack for cancellations has cut short some of their most distinctive shows too. The axing of The OA led to protests outside their offices, and the decision to cancel critically-acclaimed animation Tuca & Bertie, while renewing the stretched 13 Reasons Why, feels like it goes against the platform’s original ethos for investing in bold, innovative ideas.
If anything, rivals like Amazon Prime feel far easier to recommend in 2019. This year has seen them release star-studded Good Omens, the wonderfully anarchic The Boys, and stunning new animation Undone from the creator of Netflix’s BoJack Horseman. With new seasons from The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and The Expanse to come before the year is out, it feels like the platform has hit a turning point to becoming a worthwhile investment in the streaming space.
While it’s unclear how much Netflix will be shaken by its growing competitors, the coming twelve months are sure to be the biggest challenge the company has faced in maintaining its dominance over the TV conversation. Unless the platform finds stronger reasons to keep viewers locked in or makes smarter choices with its existing ones, the future might be less ‘Netflix and chill’ and more ‘Disney and cuddle’.


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Gottlieb Defends Digital Health Approach
Posted 27 September 2018 | By
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on Wednesday defended the agency’s approach to regulating digital health apps following the de novo classification and clearance of two software applications that add atrial fibrillation detection capabilities to the Apple Watch 4.
Unlike with traditional medical devices, where FDA would review the device and its software components, the agency’s approach for medical apps focuses on the software rather than the platform the software runs on.
“FDA’s approach to digital health isn’t to regulate the every-day health and lifestyle uses of consumer devices, but rather to focus our resources on reviewing more sophisticated medical apps that sit on top of this general purpose hardware,” Gottlieb writes.
Gottlieb says this approach allows FDA to get digital health technologies to market more efficiently and will encourage more developers to move into the health space and to fulfill the aims of the agency’s Digital Health Innovation Action Plan
Indeed, FDA’s decision to classify and clear Apple’s software applications came quickly, roughly a month after Apple submitted its de novo requests
and just one day before the company announced the features in its 12 September Keynote
Gottlieb also stressed that the agency’s efforts in the digital health space will require more funding to keep pace with the rapidly evolving industry. In its FY 2019 budget, FDA requests an additional $70 million to further its digital health efforts.
The new funding will be used to establish a Center of Excellence for Digital Health that Gottlieb says would help advance the agency’s pre-certification model and start work to accredit third-party reviewers for pre-certifying digital health products.
The Center of Excellence would also oversee a new cybersecurity unit and launch a public-private cybersecurity cooperative to complement FDA’s and other governmental agencies’ ongoing cybersecurity efforts.
“Cybersecurity requires a multi-disciplinary focused team to bring together a range of requisite expertise to fully assess and validate high-risk/high-impact vulnerabilities and incidents, including potential patient safety implications,” Gottlieb writes.


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A private company will take over from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO)’s London office, which is due to close in January.
All of the London office’s activities will go ahead as planned after it closes on 31 January as part of a major restructure of the CTO.
This includes its ball, roadshows, media awards, online travel agent training, Caribbean Days and presence at WTM London.
These activities will be taken over by McKenzie Gayle Limited, a newly formed company set up by CTO director of marketing UK and Europe Carol Hay.
Hay has more than 25 years’ experience in tourism across the CTO, Antigua and Barbuda Tourist Authority, BWIA International Airways, the Jamaica Tourist Board and Jamaica Trade and Invest.
She will work alongside a small team, including her current colleague Florian Devillers.
McKenzie Gayle plans to have a greater consumer focus and increase digital and third-party marketing. It will also reward member loyalty, host networking events, and hold Town Square Caribbean Days.


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China’s luxury market has been besieged this year by government crackdown on corruption and a trend toward less conspicuous consumption. Some luxury brands have seen a downturn in their businesses, particularly luxury watchmakers, while other luxury brands have seen continued growth despite market changes.
Christian Dior is one of those brands whose "prospects in Mainland China remain bright".
Chief executive officer Sidney Toledano told WWD, "Our position in China is strong both in terms of image and market share gain, so I remain very confident regarding China, as far as Christian Dior Couture is concerned. We have not been affected by the [crackdown on] gifting."
(Source: red luxury)


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Following a 50-store trial, the Recycle at Boots scheme has been expanded to a further 650 stores in the UK to encourage customers to take back hard-to-recycle empties.
The Boots trial saw customers drop off over half a million products in what recycling body OPRL says is now the most accessible beauty, health and wellness recycling scheme of its kind in the UK.
Customers get rewarded 250 Boots Advantage Card points (worth £2.50) to use in-store or online for every five products deposited. The top three products to be recycled so far are toothpaste, mascara and hand wash, with Colgate, No7 and Boots being the most recycled brands.
We are delighted with the reception the Recycle at Boots scheme has had – the reaction from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive
The empty products are sent to the retailer’s recycling partner, MYGroup, where they are transformed into new items such as reusable storage containers that are used at Boots warehouses.
“We are delighted with the reception the Recycle at Boots scheme has had – the reaction from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Lucy Reynolds, the retailer’s director of communications and CSR. “We’ve listened to their feedback and as a result are rolling the scheme out further, making it easier than ever for our customers to recycle their empty products that would usually go to landfill. From old mascaras and toothpaste tubes to finished lipsticks and empty vitamin pots – customers can feel even better about treating themselves with their Boots Advantage Card points knowing that their products can be recycled.”
Using ‘first-to-market’ Scan2Recycle technology, the scheme is the first on the UK high street to follow the transparency and accessibility criteria set by OPRL.


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- December sees a marginal uptick in Chinese exports and a moderation in deflation.
- However, the overall economic landscape remains bleak, signaling persistent challenges.
- Deflation persists, with consumer prices falling by 0.3% in December, marking a slight improvement from the previous month.
- Producer prices continue their downward trend, dropping by 2.7% from year-ago levels, reflecting ongoing deflationary pressures.
- China's export growth remains sluggish, with only a modest 2.3% increase from the previous year, mainly driven by sales to Russia.
- Exports to major markets like the United States, the European Union, and ASEAN nations witness declines, underscoring the fragility of China's export-dependent economy.
- Domestic demand fails to compensate for falling exports, with import figures showing minimal growth of 0.2% over the previous year.
- The collapse of the property development sector and the ensuing debt crisis have severely constrained China's ability to stimulate economic growth through investments and consumer spending.
- Despite efforts to stimulate the economy, including economic stimulus measures and reduced borrowing costs, structural issues persist, dampening the outlook for 2024.
While China experiences marginal improvements in its economic indicators, the broader picture remains somber, reflecting deep-rooted challenges that continue to weigh on the nation's economic prospects.
Analysis and Perspective:
The recent uptick in Chinese exports and the moderation of deflation in December may offer a glimmer of hope, but they do little to alleviate the underlying issues plaguing the country's economy. The persistence of deflationary pressures, coupled with sluggish export growth and tepid domestic demand, paints a sobering picture of China's economic trajectory.
The ongoing deflationary trend underscores the underlying issue of insufficient demand, highlighting broader structural challenges within the economy. While short-term fluctuations in prices may capture headlines, the sustained decline in producer prices reflects deeper-rooted issues that warrant attention.
The reliance on exports as a primary driver of economic growth exposes China to external vulnerabilities, as evidenced by the uneven performance across key markets. The decline in exports to major trading partners underscores the need for diversification and resilience in China's economic strategy.
Moreover, the subdued domestic demand underscores the multifaceted impact of the property development collapse, which has reverberated throughout the financial markets and dampened consumer sentiment. The challenges facing the real estate sector not only hinder investment prospects but also undermine consumer confidence, posing a formidable obstacle to sustainable growth.
Looking ahead, the prospects for 2024 remain uncertain, compounded by global economic headwinds and lingering structural impediments. While policy measures may offer temporary relief, addressing the fundamental drivers of economic weakness requires a comprehensive and sustained approach.
In conclusion, while the recent economic data may offer fleeting optimism, the underlying challenges facing China's economy demand proactive and coordinated efforts to foster resilience, sustainability, and inclusive growth in the years to come.


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When it comes to monetizing digital social interactions, Kenya’s Safaricom has its own order. American tech companies such as Facebook and Twitter offered social networks first, then moved to commercialize them.
The vehicle is the company’s new Bonga platform, something Kenya’s largest telco rolls out in pilot phase this week. An outgrowth of the Safaricom’s Alpha innovation incubator, “Bonga is a conversational and transactional social network,” Shikoh Gitau, Alpha’s Head of Products told TechCrunch.
“It’s focused on pay, play, and purpose…as the three main things our research found people do on our payment and mobile network,” she said. Gitau offered examples: pay could be using M-Pesa and SMS to coordinate anything from tuition payments to e-commerce, play spans online sports betting to gaming, and purpose includes SMS or WhatsApp chat groups that raise money for weddings, holidays, or Kenya’s informal investment groups.
“In our [Bonga] research we’ve said ‘what can we do to build upon those three network behaviors in our network that is Safaricom?,’” she said.
“Safaricom’s unique in that we have telco services and a financial services platform that connect nearly every household in Kenya largely on the basis of trade,” he said.
“We’d actually like to move beyond M-Pesa by leveraging its power as a social network to connect people to other product solutions.”
As a telco, Safaricom—still has 69 percent of the Kenya’s mobile subscribers. Its M-Pesa fintech app―which generated $525 million of the company’s $2 billion annual revenues―boasts 27 million customers across a network of 136,000 agents.
Through in-house development and partnerships, the company continues to add consumer and small business-based products to its mobile and fintech network. These include digital TV, the M-Kopa solar-powered lighting kit, and Lipa-Na bill pay service.
This week Safaricom will offer Bonga to a test group of 600 users, before updating the product, allowing the initial group to refer it to friends, and then extending the platform in three phases.
Bonga Sasa will facilitate messaging and money transfer between individuals, “enabling users to send or receive money while conversing with each other,” according to a Safaricom release. For example, through Bonga Sasa a parent can send money to the child without having to leave the platform to access another money transfer tool.
Bonga Baraza, expected in mid-2018, will allow users to collect money for purpose driven events, including Kenya’s harambee collective fundraising drives.
Bonga Biashara will build on this use of social networks for commerce. Digitizing Kenya’s extensive informal trading commerce is at play here. Alpha’s research found roughly “2.5 million people doing side-hustles with a smartphone in Kenya” and 12.5 million total running small businesses on smart and USSD devices, according to Gitau.
Bonga will channel Facebook, YouTube, iTunes, PayPal, and eBay in one platform. Users will be able to create business profiles parallel to their personal social media profiles and M-Pesa accounts and sell online. Bonga will also include space for Kenya’s creative class to upload, shape, and distribute artistic products and content.
As for Safaricom’s Bonga monetization plan, it’s not an immediate priority, according to the Alpha team members I spoke to. “We’ll offer it for free for now, and it’s connected to M-Pesa, which is already monetized,” said Gitau. “The more these services grow and grow small businesses the more they grow M-Pesa..which is already profitable.”
Safaricom is exploring how to take Bonga beyond Kenya’s borders, which could include markets where both M-Pesa and Vodafone are present: currently 10 in Europe, Africa, and South Asia.
Article first published on TechCrunch


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Most technology companies have long been associated with the automotive industry. One of these companies is Chinese technology giant Xiaomi. Confirming that it is working on electric cars, the Chinese company has not shared much details about its models so far.
Xiaomi's car appears
Finally, the images of its electric cars leaked to the press, Xiaomi stated that this model is a prototype and does not reflect the production version. After these statements, new images about the car of the Chinese manufacturer appeared.
In the latest images, we had the opportunity to see Xiaomi's car under a heavy camouflage. It can be said that the prototype, which is under a dense camouflage, has a long way to go for the production phase. Despite this, the images offer some ideas about the Chinese manufacturer's car.
We can easily say that the vehicle equipped with LiDAR sensors will have advanced driver assistance systems. When we move on to the design of the vehicle, there are confusing details. We see that the nose design of the vehicle is quite long compared to an electric model. This makes us think that Xiaomi's vehicle can be offered not only as electric, but as a hybrid. Of course, it is worth remembering that this may be a camouflage trick of Xiaomi.
With the latest images, we had the opportunity to see the interior of Xiaomi's car, albeit partially. While this is a test vehicle, it does give some insight into the cockpit design. Two digital screens stand out in the interior. While one of the tablet-formed screens serves as the instrument panel, the other larger screen allows the infotainment system to be managed. It would not be wrong to say that there is a reference to Tesla models with the large screen positioned in the center.
Xiaomi's long-hidden car is now slowly emerging. There may be official posts from the Chinese manufacturer about the car in the near future. So what do you think about Xiaomi joining the automotive industry? You can share your views with us in the comments section.


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Stories tagged: food
Tue., Sept. 4, 2018, 8 a.m.
The Spokane County Interstate Fair is so close you can taste it. The corn dogs and turkey legs, elephant ears and funnel cakes, burgers, doughnuts, curly fries and such curiosities …
Tue., Sept. 4, 2018, 6 a.m.
Where to go for grub around the Gonzaga University campus
Mon., Sept. 3, 2018
Zucchini never tasted so good. (That is, you can’t actually taste it in this recipe.)
UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 30, 2018, 8:59 p.m.
The aroma of traditional street fare and new novelty foods mingled together in Riverfront Park Thursday afternoon, as thousands enjoyed the 39th annual Pig Out in the Park music and …
Wed., Aug. 29, 2018, 5:34 p.m.
The Red Mountain estate winery is slated to take over the space previously held by Patit Creek Cellars in downtown Spokane.
UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 29, 2018, 4:27 p.m.
Registration open for Tilth Alliance’s Spokane conference ‘Diversified Landscapes and Common Ground’
Early bird registration is available until Sept. 1
Wed., Aug. 29, 2018, 3:27 p.m.
First Avenue Coffee, which opened over the summer on West First Avenue in downtown Spokane, is throwing its official grand opening celebration Thursday, Sept. 20.
UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 29, 2018, 11:52 a.m.
The Spokane County Interstate Fair is hosting its
Tue., Aug. 28, 2018, 5:31 p.m.
Attendees get to vote for their favorite menu item, and a winner will be named at the end of the night. Tickets are $75 per person.
Tue., Aug. 28, 2018, noon
Here are a few healthy-ish offerings, plus all the rest, at the 39th annual Pig Out in the Park.
Tue., Aug. 28, 2018
The salsa is a mixture of pineapple, bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice and seasonings. It’s fresh, crisp, sweet and a pinch spicy.
Mon., Aug. 27, 2018, 11:26 a.m.
The inaugural event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 15 and features live music, food trucks and – of course – coffee and mini doughnuts.
Fri., Aug. 24, 2018, 4:37 p.m.
Sylvia Fountaine, who co-founded Mizuna in downtown Spokane and used to write a monthly Food column for The Spokesman-Review, is a finalist for her blog, “Feasting at Home.”
UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 6, 2018, 1:33 p.m.
Filming took place in June. The episode is slated for Sept. 21.
UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 24, 2018, 11:03 a.m.
A Spokane favorite for more than 40 years, Clinkerdagger is a go-to spot for birthday, anniversary and holiday dinners. It’s also a top spot for Gonzaga University students to go …
UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 22, 2018, 5:37 p.m.
Passes go on sale Thursday afternoon, and Olive Garden fans can choose from two, limited-release options.
UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 22, 2018, 5:09 p.m.
The pop-up weekend brunch service is becoming a monthly, fixed-price event with a rotating menu.
Tue., Aug. 21, 2018, noon
Roast House’s new First Avenue Coffee in downtown Spokane spotlights small-lot, shade-grown, organic coffee
First Avenue Coffee exclusively serves Roast House Coffee. “Every coffee we buy is small-lot, hand-picked, hand-sorted and of the highest quality,” said owner Deb Di Bernardo. “All are shade-grown so …
Tue., Aug. 21, 2018
Summer grilling doesn’t always mean hamburgers and hot dogs.
UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 20, 2018, 1:22 p.m.
To help raise funds for No Kid Hungry through the Chefs Cycle event on the East Coast, he’s helping organize a shorter Spokane ride Sept. 12.
Fri., Aug. 17, 2018, 4:01 p.m.
The popular cafe plans to relocate to another spot in downtown Spokane this fall.
UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 31, 2018, 3:43 p.m.
The newest location, set to officially open Sept. 4, will feature its signature espresso drinks as well as more food options than its other stores, which typically offer a selection …
UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 20, 2018, 3:03 p.m.
First Avenue Coffee is starting an early morning women’s meet-up modeled after Seattle’s F-Bomb Breakfast Club.
Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 3:40 p.m.
The new restaurant and bar is located in the old North Hill Lodge No. 210 Masonic temple on West Garland Avenue.
Wed., Aug. 15, 2018, 11 a.m.
The new air date and time is 9 p.m. Sept. 14.
Tue., Aug. 14, 2018, 5:08 p.m.
Roasted Lemon Chickpea Salad, Triple Lentil Bites and XXX are on the menu for this year’s cooking demo stage.
Tue., Aug. 14, 2018, 2:09 p.m.
In all, the company and its franchisees are investing $6 billion to modernize most U.S. restaurants by 2020.
Tue., Aug. 14, 2018, 12:05 p.m.
Dustin Olson is the new executive chef at the Blackbird, which
Tue., Aug. 14, 2018, 12:03 p.m.
Cool off with these refreshing libations that taste like summer and make you feel like life’s a beach.
Mon., Aug. 13, 2018, 3 p.m.
The best part: there’s no baking involved.


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DETROIT (WJBK) - While Cinco de Mayo falls on this Saturday, you can check a variety of events from shopping to dining to dancing all week long in Southwest Detroit.
From Tuesday through Sunday, the area will host events ranging from contests with prizes, discounts and promotions by local businesses and more from one of the city's most culturally diverse communities.
Special discounts and promotions will be available at restaurants just by mentioning "Cinco Week in Southwest Detroit" to your server between Tuesday and Thursday. For a list of participating restaurants, click here.
You can visit one of 16 community murals and art pieces, take a selfie and post it to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #CincoSWDet to enter to win a gift certificate from local businesses. That contest runs through 6 p.m. on Sunday with winners announced on Tuesday, May 8. To see which art pieces to visit, click here.
There will be a Taco Tour and Bar Crawl on Friday, featuring a variety of tacos, as well as specialty margaritas and imported beers. Diners can vote for their favorite tacos by taking a picture of their meal and posting it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #CincoSWDet. The restaurant with the most votes will earn the title of "Best Taco in Southwest Detroit." For more information, click here.
On "Shopping Saturday," customers can visit the local shops and businesses, where you can find anything from hand sewn dresses to freshly made tortillas to high-quality, brand-name furniture.
Then on Sunday, the Mexican Patriotic Committee of Metro Detroit will host the 54th Annual Cinco de Mayo Parade at 12 p.m. from Patton Park (W. Vernor Hwy and Woodmere Street) and will head east, ending at Clark Park (W. Vernor Highway and Scotten Street).
After the parade, you can head to Clark Park for the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta presented by Grahams Rainbows Blessing Hands. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., you can enjoy live entertainment including music and dancing, family-friendly activities like a petting zoo, bouncy house and slide, and treats like snow cones and popcorn -- free of charge.
There will also be a traditional Mercado in the Northwest Pavilion, featuring handmade goods from Latin American artisans and local vendors such as Danto Furniture.
"We're excited to show off the great dining, shopping and cultural happenings in Southwest Detroit during our very first 'Cinco de Mayo Week' celebration," said West Vernor & Springwells BID Board Chair Jason Ghannam. "Our businesses are ready to roll out the red carpet to not only welcome our neighbors, but also encourage new visitors to explore the area and find the many great amenities that make our community shine."
For more information about the events all week, visit www.swdetroitbid.com.


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With big economic reports and fourth-quarter earnings mostly out of the way, U.S. stock investors will be tracking oil-price movement in the coming week; Friday brings retail-sales figures. See full story.
With pricey food ETFs, a restricted diet is best
From corn to pork bellies, rising prices for agricultural commodities have stoked fears of inflation and food shortages, but there’s growing concern that both commodity prices and food-related stocks have come too far, too fast. See full story.
Top farm lobbyist sees good times, tough challenges
The president of the nation’s biggest farm lobbying group says things are looking good for U.S. farmers, but that increasing demand for food, changing consumer attitudes, and budget concerns are clouds on the horizon. See full story.
Food factoids at a glance
A look at some interesting facts about the U.S. food industry and how much Americans spend on their food, in and out of the home. See full story.
U.S. stocks slide; crude oil tops $104 a barrel
U.S. stocks make a swift retreat Friday but managed slight weekly gains as crude oil breached $104 a barrel and the February jobs report underlined worries that earnings growth might not be keeping up with rising energy costs. See full story.
Mark Hulbert used to joke that on Wall Street, the long term lasted just from lunch until dinner. See full story.
Say good bye to super-cheap fares, but there still are deals to be found if you’re flexible, patient and know where to find them. See full story.


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When the iPad was announced, I was more than a little disappointed. I had expected this thing could replace my laptop but instead it seemed like it was nothing more than an oversized iPod Touch (not an iPhone like some are saying…there’s no camera. But more on that in a minute).
As a longtime Mac user, I was pissed off. And then I thought about it for a little while and I realized something:
The iPad isn’t a computer. That’s what makes it a game-changing device for both consumers and marketers. It’s a device for consuming media…paid media.
Computers are designed as all-purpose machines for creating content. They have keyboards for entering text, mice for manipulating objects on the screen, and ports so you can get information in and out of them.
As content consumption devices, however, computers kind of suck. Sure, surfing the Web is consuming content, but there aren’t very many of us (based on TV sales numbers) who’d rather watch videos and listen to music on them by choice. If you’re going to kick back with a flick, you’re probably going to want to do it on the TV. If you’re going to listen to music, you’re probably going to do so from your iPod or other MP3 device. If you’re going to read an e-book, curling up with your laptop isn’t exactly the method of choice.
The genius of the iPad’s design and features is that it’s an all-purpose device for consuming media that has a form factor that lends itself to that purpose. What’s more, it’s a device for purchasing media as well. In terms of getting people to pay for content, this is where it’s really going to start.
Paid content’s been a hot topic lately with Rupert Murdoch’s pronouncements on the subject and newspapers starting to pull their content behind paid walls. So far, the results don’t look too good: Newsday’s experiment in paid content has yielded all of 35 subscribers in the past three months, generating around $9,000 in revenue. Surely paid content’s dead, right?
Wrong. While newspapers and other Web sites that have tried to move to paid content have done poorly, the Kindle, the iPhone App Store, and iTunes (and other digital music sellers) still continue to grab great gobs of market share. People are paying for content…just not on newspapers.
Why? It’s somewhat of a complex issue, but the main reason is that people aren’t going to pay for stuff they can get for free somewhere else. In the case of news, unless all newspapers go behind the pay wall, nobody’s going to be able to make a go of it unless they have content people can’t get anywhere else: see The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. E-books (especially bestsellers and textbooks), videos, and music are all examples of similar content. Even with piracy issues, most folks are demonstrating they’d rather pay for convenience, quality, and to stay within the law.
There’s another reason, too: for e-books bought through the Kindle, music purchased through iTunes and Amazon, and video purchased through similar venues (including downloaded via the Zune store or other on-demand services in cable boxes and gaming consoles), the push-button ease of buying content coupled with the fact that these services automatically bill you “later” (at least, that’s what it feels like) makes spending money a lot less stressful. Ditto for the App Store and other content purchased via mobile devices: it just doesn’t feel the same as whipping out your credit card every time you want something. In many ways, it’s like getting chips in a casino: it’s one thing to plunk down a $20 bill on a bet, it’s another thing to just toss in another green chip. The chip doesn’t feel like money and is a lot easier to spend.
While the iPad may have a ways to go in terms of consumer acceptance (it’s not even on sale yet), it’s hard to believe that other content providers and hardware manufacturers aren’t going to understand this paid content equation. While many have been searching for “the answer” to paid content on the Web, the real answer may be that the future of paid content isn’t on the Web at all: it’s on media devices like the iPad that have been optimized for personal media consumption and to wirelessly connect to stores where you can buy new content with the push of a button.
It’s for these reasons that the iPad’s a game-changer. Maybe not immediately, but it points to a tectonic shift in the way that we consume media. The trend vectors have been pointing towards digital distribution of media for a long time, but in many ways we’ve been hampered by our computers. Many kludges have been developed (various “media center” computers, for example, and e-book readers on small-screen smartphones), but the iPad (and its imitators sure to follow) are a real recognition that people will pay for content, provided that it’s delivered in a way that’s convenient and comfortable to use…especially if it reminds us of how we used to enjoy curling up with reading material when it came on paper.
Is the iPad perfect? Not by a long shot. Apple missed out big-time by not including a camera to tap into the social experience that connected media can provide.* Imagine a book club (or a study group) all reading on iPads and all able to video-chat with each other as they read or have group discussions alongside the book (or film or whatever). Especially with younger consumers (potentially a huge market, especially if they can start getting their textbooks through the device) who don’t use e-mail and communicate almost exclusively through social networks, the lack of more social features is going to hold iPad adoption back. The “kids” don’t want “insanely cool e-mail applications”: they want to be connected to each other all the time. E-mail’s for old people, dude.
What does this all mean for marketers? Primarily it means that immersive experiences are more important. As people move away from their laptops to media devices such as the iPad, marketers are going to have to realize that they’re not marketing through the “Web” anymore (where models like search and banners dominate). Instead, they’re going to be marketing through media. In many ways, the future might look more like the past of TV advertising than what we’ve seen.
What types of marketing vehicles will lend themselves to this kind of future? Advergames and branded experiences will be huge. Don’t believe me? Go watch a 12 year old entertain herself on a computer today. They’re not reading content: they’re watching videos, playing games, downloading music, and sharing things with friends. And I don’t suspect they’re going to be changing as they get older.
Sponsored content may also be a bigger opportunity. Sites like Hulu have shown that inserting commercials into online video content (when done respectfully) can work. But that’s just video: an all-in-one media device like the iPad means that we might be seeing sponsored e-books available for free or at a reduced cost to those willing to view a few ads.
Other types of paid content – such as The New York Times’ apps – when used in the context of a device optimized for reading “publications” also lend themselves to more traditional “display” advertising. It’s one thing to dodge banners and pop-ups on your laptop, but it’s another to perhaps stop and watch a video after reading an article in what appears to be a “publication” you hold in your hand.
So far, media consumption on computers has been about multitasking, browsing, surfing, and snarfing up quick bites of information. Computers, because of their construction and their operating systems, lend themselves well to that. Advertising has evolved on computers to take into account these consumer behaviors, bringing us to where search marketing (designed to perfectly intersect with the behavior of those who are quickly moving around a crowded World Wide Web) has dominated.
But the iPad’s not a computer. And it may just be showing us a glimpse of how consumers get their media (and how we market to them) in the future.
*This column has been updated; an earlier version incorrectly said the iPad did not have a microphone.
Cynthia (Cyndi) Knapic, Head of Business at Animoto, discusses the latest trends in video marketing, why 'square video' is so popular, and how brands are changing their strategies with the rise of video.
Ecommerce marketing is all about coming up with new ideas to engage with customers. The latest trends are all about focusing on the customers and their needs, and that's a great way to improve your marketing efforts.
We all need data on the users that matter to us most. In many cases, to get this data, we need to have data forms to collect and capture information directly on our websites.
Facebook Canvas has been with us for just over a year and, whilst there are many brands that have made it work, there are others who have struggled with the new medium. What can we learn from both as we look to really make the most of Facebook’s flagship ad model?


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Elizabeth Mukwimba M-Power customer farming 01
Elizabeth Mukwimba is a 62-year-old Tanzanian smallholder farmer who now has solar lighting and a cleaner cookstove in her home, thanks to schemes backed by UK aid.
Elizabeth has had an M-Power solar panel and lights fitted in her home by Off Grid Electric, a private sector company dedicated to providing sustainable, affordable energy to people in developing countries who aren't connected to the electricity grid.
It means that Elizabeth now has lighting at home at night, which means she doesn't have to buy expensive kerosene. The money she's saved already has helped her put a new tin roof on her house. It also means her grandchildren can read and do their homework in the evening.
She also has a 'clean cookstove', as seen in this picture. These cookstoves provide a safer, more durable and energy efficient means of cooking as opposed to traditional open fire cooking. The ceramic, metal-encased design means that much smaller amounts of wood or charcoal are needed, thus reducing the amount of time and money people need to spend on procuring fuel. The design is therefore also much healthier, producing much less smoke or carbon monoxide.
"I feel much better because of the solar lighting and the cookstove", says Elizabeth.
"Before, I sometimes had to choose between buying vegetables to eat, or buying kerosene to light the lamps with at night. Sometimes we used to have to rely just on matches for lighting in the dark.
"But now I'm not having to buy kerosene and the cookstove uses much less fuel, so I'm saving money and not worrying so much about how to provide for my family. It means I can start to save money to hopefully build a new house in the future".
In less than 2 years, Off Grid Electric has installed solar power systems in over 22,000 homes across Tanzania, meaning many more people now have access to cheap, renewable electricity - a vital step forward in a country where less than 14% of the population are connected to the electricity grid.
The Tanzania Improved Cook Stoves programme, implemented by the Dutch NGO SNV, aims to provide improved cooking facilities for 45,000 people in Tanzania's Lake Zone region by 2017. 28,500 people have already benefitted.
Picture: Russell Watkins/Department for International Development.


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Between ongoing product shortages, supply chain issues, and stores left with excess inventory, 2022 has been unpredictable when it comes to retail. So what does that mean for the traditionally deep discounts offered at the end of the year? Here’s what to know about 2022's after-Christmas sales, including when they start.
How to get the best deals during after-Christmas sales
For some people, the real shopping doesn’t begin until after the gift-giving holidays are over, when inventory may be diminished, but the prices are low.
Here’s what to keep in mind when looking for the best deals:
Not everything will be discounted
While it’s safe to assume that some items—like holiday decorations, or regular products in festive holiday packaging—will be on sale after Christmas, that’s not the case for everything. For example, hold off on buying any fitness/exercise equipment, devices, or clothing until a few weeks into the new year (when people realize that turning a page on their calendar won’t magically motivate them to work out).
End-of-season sales may have already started
Our drift away from the traditional retail calendar began even before the pandemic, as new, made-up shopping “holidays” like Prime Day made it difficult to know when certain items would be offered at the lowest prices of the year.
This is also the case within the holiday shopping season itself. Some retailers that typically wait until after Christmas to make certain markdowns did so early this year—like Target, which began discounting holiday items on December 14. The same is expected to be the case for deals on clothing: That we probably started seeing after-Christmas prices before the holiday.
Not all after-Christmas sales begin on December 26th
Be strategic with your post-holiday shopping, including doing some research ahead of time on sites like the Krazy Coupon Lady to find out when, exactly to expect the biggest markdowns on the items you actually need or want. (Hint: It’s not always December 26.)
Here are a few insights from the site:
Target: Christmas clearance typically hits 70% to 90% off on Dec. 29.
Home Depot: Holiday clearance sale begins on either Dec. 26 or 27 with a 50% discount. But wait until January to buy artificial Christmas trees when they’ll be more heavily discounted.
Walmart: 50% discount on holiday decor starting on Dec. 26, but a few days later (on or around Dec. 31), that will jump to 75% off. About a week later, items be marked down to 90% off.
Walgreens: Holiday gift sets and decor marked down by 50% on Dec. 26; the discount with then increase to 70% the first week of January.


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Given that Sony outed that the PS4 had moved 73.6 million consoles by the end of December 31st, 2017, it wasn't hard to round off the rest for the Xbox One, putting it at an estimated 30 million... Microsoft stopped sharing console sales figures for Xbox One fairly early in the last console generation. From around 2016 forward the only insight into how many console units were sold were.
As of today, the Xbox One is still second in place with 40 million consoles sold behind Sony's PS4, which has shipped over 90 million consoles worldwide. Xbox One S (2016) CPU: AMD 8-core APU (2 quad-core Jaguar modules . However I managed to find it at #456 in Xbox One Games, Consoles & Accessories. Sales should exceed at least 50 units worldwide by now : This estimate of 39.1 million Xbox One consoles sold differs wildly from EA's estimate of 29.4 million, a variance of 10 million Xbox One consoles leaves us skeptical to say the least In January 2016, EA revealed around 18 million to 19 million Xbox One consoles had been sold, meaning that Microsoft only sold around 10 million to 11 million consoles over two year
. How many Xbox One X Consoles Sold in 2017 vs PS4s. Watch later. Share. Copy link. Info. Shopping. Tap to unmute. If playback doesn't. Xbox One X is sold-out at most retailers, burning through Microsoft's early allotment which seems to indicate a solid level of interest in the new mega-console, despite what naysayers like.
It was also announced that Xbox Live had more than 30 million users, making 2010 the best year to date for the online service. On February 11, 2013, Microsoft reported that it has sold 76 million units worldwide, and 24 million Kinect sensors. Microsoft announced the Xbox One, successor to the Xbox 360, at E3 on June 10, 2013 While we do not know how many Xbox One X or PS4 Pro units specifically sold versus the regular flavors of the console, we do know that Microsoft pulled out all the stops on the Xbox One X design.
.13 million units lifetime in the US. The PS4 and Xbox One need to sell another 10.31 million units to reach the sales of the previous generation But in October 2015, Microsoft announced it would no longer be releasing numbers for how many Xbox One have sold. A reaction, it seems, to being lapped by PlayStation 4 sales
Following a worldwide celebration, Xbox One launched in 13 markets on Nov. 22 to great fanfare. The team is excited to confirm the launch of Xbox One was the biggest launch in Xbox history, with more than one million consoles sold through worldwide in less than 24 hours - surpassing day one Xbox 360 sales and setting a new record for Microsoft 13: The latest Xbox, the Xbox One, launched on Nov. 22, 2013 — exactly eight years after its predecessor. 17: Four years later, on Nov. 7, 2017, Microsoft released its first mid-cycle upgrade. Given that 2013's Xbox One was hugely outsold by the Sony PlayStation 4, it's convenient for Microsoft to focus on subscriptions, attention and revenues rather than the number of consoles sold WinBuzzer News; Xbox One Has Only Sold Half as Many Units as PlayStation 4. An analyst says the PlayStation 4 has sold 91 million units, while the Xbox One has sold a disappointing 41 million units
Xbox One sold 26 million units lifetime by end of last year - report. By Stephany Nunneley, Wednesday, 18 January 2017 15:44 GMT Share on: Facebook Twitter Reddit Xbox Series S/X arrived on the same day in 37 markets, compared to just 13 for the Xbox One. I'm not gonna go compete with their numbers based on how many Xbox Series X I've sold Just for you, I'll be generous and give Xbox One 60 mil sold. That's still down from the 80-85 mil the 360 sold, still around 20-25 mil less than what Sony's worst-selling home console did and it. Considering both the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S has been hard to come by due to Covid-related stock shortages, it's astounding to see just how many consoles were sold by both companies - though we. Microsoft did not break out how many Xbox One consoles were sold. In the year-ago quarter, it sold 3.9 million Xbox One consoles and 3.5 million Xbox 360 consoles
It's 2020, video games are being released left, right, and center and consoles such as the PS4 and Xbox One continue to wage console wars. However, how many consoles have been sold globally Xbox Series X/S UK Sales Numbers So Far: 155,000. Xbox Series X/S Japan Sales Numbers So Far: 21,000. During the Xbox One generation, Microsoft made a habit of not talking about console sales figures The PSOne sold 104.25 million units in its 12-year life span (between 3 December 1994 and 23 March 2006), 71.32 million more units than its primary competitor, the N64. 3. Game Boy - 118.69 million. Launched in Japan on 21 April 1989, Nintendo's first handheld console went on to become one of the company's greatest successes Xbox One smashes console sales record: One million sold globally in first 24 hours since launch. It was launched in 13 countries on Friday and surpassed all previous sales record A recent report from an analyst shows that PlayStation 5 sold twice as many consoles as Xbox Series X & S. The battle between Sony and Microsoft has been ever-present, with the two consoles.
Xbox One - 41 million* That number has certainly grown since then, but it's unclear how many additional units were sold in 2019 and 2020. 14. SNES/Super Famicom - 49.10 million All of those numbers mentioned above, just to reiterate, are US totals. The latest estimates show that in the previous 12 months, the PS4 has also sold 701,767 more units than the Xbox One, and.
How many of you have sold your XBOX One for PS4? DISCUSSION. I am considering this decision cause the player base in PS4 is so damn high, XBOX One this year feels like PC. The only thing that is attractive is LEGENDS which I find really pointless The PS4 has sold 110.4 million copies since its release in 2013. At least that's what Sony has just revealed, with the publication of its financial results for the 2019 financial year. In fact, the manufacturer far exceeds the results of its main competitor Microsoft, with 47 million Xbox One units sold The Xbox One lineup got a complete overhaul in August, Microsoft sold 79,000 Xbox One S controllers last month in the U.S. Jeff Grubb @jeffgrubb September 16, 2016 12:30 P The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles hit the market two days ago. According to Microsoft, it will be the most successful console launch in the company's history. More consoles were sold in a 24 hour period than ever before. Thank you for supporting the largest launch in Xbox history
UPDATE: As of right now, every Australian retailer has sold out of launch day Xbox Series X/S stock.You can still pre-order for Wave 2 from either Telstra All Access or the Microsoft Store (if you're after an Xbox Series S). 2020 is the year that keeps on giving. I think I can say confidently that the Xbox Series X has sold out in Australia faster than any console before it Over the Xbox's life there were many limited edition variations made of the consoles both by Microsoft and other companies. These limited edition models all vary in the way they look compared to the regular Xbox. Below is a table that describes each console, shows the release date and shows the value of each individual model. 1 Limited Edition Mountain Dew Xbox 2 Halo Combat Evolved Xbox.
The console has now sold over 102 million units, Sony's PlayStation 4 continues to dominate as the most popular game console in the world, topping both Microsoft's Xbox One and Nintendo's Switch PS4 and Xbox One have sold 5.1 million units in the UK Game Digital's data puts this generation 45 per cent ahead of PS3 and Xbox 360 at the same point. Matthew Handrahan. Editor-in-Chief
Units sold: 35 million (as of October 25, 2017) Camera: 640×480 pixels @ 30 Hz (RGB camera) 640×480 pixels @ 30 Hz (IR depth-finding camera): Connectivity: USB 2.0 (type-A for original model; proprietary for Xbox 360 S): Platform: Xbox 360 Xbox One Microsoft Windows (Windows 7 onwards): Predecesso Microsoft's Xbox has become a popular console, holding its own against Sony and Nintendo. But there's one market where the Xbox hasn't been a hit with consumers — Japan
The morning of this April 17, Ninja Theory announced that Hellblade: Seuna's Sacrifice has already surpassed the 50,000 units sold on Xbox One in less than a week. On Twitter, the studio gave the good news and reported that, with this figure, they can already meet one of their goals, which is to donate $25,000 [ The earlier record was set by the Xbox One in 2013 when the company has sold over 1 million units in less than 24 hours. According to preliminary data by VGChartz, the report has estimated that the Xbox Series X and the Series S combined sold an estimated 1.2 to 1.4 million units in the first 24 hours
The Xbox One is, in fact, sold out the world around, just not in the same degree as the PlayStation 4. The site Now In Stock shows that a number of retailers are, indeed, completely out of Xbox. A sales report from VGChartz's confirms that Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S were the biggest launches in Xbox History. Although, we had already known this, thanks to a tweet from Phil Spencer. We never came across any numbers, and this particular report from VGChartz predicts that somewhere between 1.2 million and 1.4 million Xbox units were sold in the first 24 hours
Yes, all Xbox One games (including Xbox One Backward Compatible titles 10), Xbox Game Pass 8 subscriptions, and accessories will work with an Xbox One X. In fact, with the increased power of Xbox One X, many games will achieve more consistent framerates, faster load times, improved anisotropic filtering, and will run at their peak resolution if the title features dynamic scaling PS5 vs Xbox Series X sales figures: Which console came out top at start of next-gen? PS5 and Xbox Series X have both been out for just over a month, with Sony and Microsoft's systems flying off. Following its release last week, the 2TB launch edition of Xbox One S sold out in the U.K. and is nearly sold out in the U.S. Later this month on August 23, we will launch 500GB and 1TB options.
In 2013, 3.08 million Xbox one consoles were sold, which may be a help in guessing as to what the Series S/X consoles could sell by the end of this year. We will most likely gain a better idea of firm figures in the new year, but for now anyway, as long as there's good availability of stock for either console, both companies are going to be content with the sales figures It launched across PC, PS4, Xbox One, and, most recently, the Nintendo Switch, reaching a huge audience in as many places as possible. Read our full The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt review 18 Play the biggest blockbusters, the most popular franchises, and Xbox classics from three generations of favourites that you can play again or experience for the first time. Get access to 100+ high-quality games, Xbox Live Gold and an EA Play membership, for one low monthly price. Get an extra. Add that, and we get a floor of about 10.56 million PS4s sold through the end of September, compared to a ceiling of about 7.42 million Xbox One units sold by the same time. Advertisemen
That means the PS5 actually matched the launch sales of the PS4, while combined sales of Microsoft's Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S were slightly behind the Xbox One, which sold 2.9 million. Many retailers sold Xbox One X bundles for $300 during the 2020 holiday season, bundling the console with a game like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order PS5 bundles available right now at GameStop, stock very limited (Update: Sold out) There are two bundles you can preorder immediately -- but as we know, inventory won't last long It's true that the Xbox One sold poorly compared to Sony's PlayStation 4, but in many ways the Xbox Series X marks a shift in how Microsoft views the traditional console cycle
Xbox Series X restock: Inventory updates from Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, Target, GameStop and more retailers. Microsoft's new console isn't as difficult to find as the PlayStation 5, but that. Xbox One Has Sold 41 Million Units Worldwide - Analyst. Sales of the Xbox One appear to be lower globally than many may have expected As we mentioned, Microsoft has already revealed that, according to figures from the NPD Group, the Xbox One sold 909,132 hardware units in November, the first month of its launch, in the U.S and. In a nation of 127 million people, last week only ninety-nine of them wanted to buy an Xbox One. Ouch. Double digits! In comparison, according to data tracking company Media Create (via 4Gamer.
Xbox One sold 3 million units in 2013, Microsoft says Together, we ushered in a new era of games and entertainment with Xbox One, said Yusuf Mehdi At last check, back in April, the Xbox One had sold 5 million units across the globe, and it's launching in 29 new markets this month Later that year, production of the Xbox officially ceased, with the final tally of sold consoles sitting at around 24 million units. While this was nothing to scoff at, the number fell far short. PS4 vs Xbox One Sales. Unlike the previous cycle, Microsoft has been extremely shy in divulging any official hardware figures for the Xbox One after its first year or so on the market. Sony, on. Xbox One Console: Online Buyback Stores: Brick-and-Mortar Stores (Best Buy, Target, GameStop) Online Marketplaces (eBay, after fees) Xbox One 500 GB: $75: $20: $153: Xbox One 1 TB: $80: $40: $198: Find Current Trade In Offers for Your Xbox One @ Flipsy: Xbox One S 500 GB: $90: $74: $235: Xbox One S 1 TB: $100: $79: $192: Xbox One S 2 TB: $110: $88: $287: Xbox One X 1 TB: $145: $129: $28
I have a family setup with my xbox one x and my kids' xbox one s, I still see the third xbox that I've sold and it doesn't give me an option to remove it. I want to add funds for my kids but I'm worried that it might be used by the other guy I've sold it to We've rounded up every controller available for Xbox One so far and where to find them. In with the new: Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 City souvenir: Cyberpunk 207
Xbox One units sold to retailers has almost reached 10 million, Microsoft has boasted. Sales have skyrocketed since the new price took effect on 2nd November, Xbox corporate vice president of. One of the major differences between the Xbox One and Xbox One S is 4K content and, more importantly, the 4K upscaling of games, as well as HDR-support for compatible TVs. These attributes alone make the Xbox One S a very compelling upgrade, especially if you've recently (or are thinking of) investing in a 4K TV The dispute over consoles came to a head in November 2013, when the PS4 and Xbox One were unveiled to the world, just seven days apart. PS4 might be killing it with worldwide sales at 35.9million to Xbox One's 20million , but what's the situation at home If one store has a thousand PlayStation 4s in stock and it sells five, and another store has three Xbox Ones and it sells them all -- there are two angles that can be reported. The PS4 has sold. Microsoft announces today that more than 3 million Xbox One consoles were sold worldwide from its launch on November 22 until the end of 2013
Looked at the answer below me and just wondered if Microsoft count a replacement Xbox as another one sold While this report does make sense, considering Phil Spencer remarks had initiated that it was the biggest launch in Xbox's history, and we already know that Xbox One had 1 million units sold on launch day. The report nowhere provides authentic proof that the numbers are seemingly right Subtract those from our total shipment numbers, and we get our final estimate of about 7.42 million Xbox One units sold to consumers worldwide through the end of September On Amazon Japan, there are a couple Xbox One X consoles available for well above the hardware's original price of 53,978 yen ($473). Prices start at 80,000 yen ($701) for the standard Xbox One X. Xbox One totals 5M units sold to retailers worldwide. Following NPD Group's March video game sales report and a strong month for Xbox One exclusive Titanfall, Microsoft revealed that it has.


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Proctor & Gamble, the consumer goods manufacturer, plans to double the amount of recycled resin it uses in plastic packaging by 2020.
P&G's sustainability goals also include:
- ensuring that 90 per cent of its packaging is recyclable or that programmes are place to create the ability to recycle it.
- working across its supply chain to develop the capability by 2020 to replace top petroleum-derived raw materials with renewable materials as cost and scale permit.
- reducing water used in its manufacturing facilities by an added 20 per cent per unit of production on top of the 70 per cent it saved between 2002 and 2012.
P&G has 12 environmental sustainability goals towards its vision of 100 per cent renewable energy use, 100 per cent renewable or recycled materials for all products and packaging, and zero consumer and manufacturing waste going to landfill.
Since establishing these goals in 2010, P&G now has 70 zero-waste manufacturing sites.
James Piper is a non-executive director of Ecosurety, having previously taken on the role of CEO for nearly five years when he was now focused on leading the development of new products and services that not only benefited producers, but helped to drive change for good and a positive impact on UK recycling.
Metal aerosol recycling is set to receive a boost, thanks to today‘s launch of the `UK Aerosol Recycling Initiative‘.Read More >>
In just over one year, a pilot introducing food waste recycling, textiles and small electricals collections on four estates in Lambeth, has defied the barriers to recycling commonly ascribed to households without standard kerbside collection.Read More >>


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When Yahoo forked out $1 billion for Tumblr in the middle of 2013, many wondered whether the tech giant had got the wooden spoon in the race to acquire the rising social networks. The year before, Facebook picked up Instagram, while Twitter got hold of Vine – two platforms that have enjoyed rapid growth and created considerable buzz. Meanwhile, GlobalWebIndex’s research shows that Tumblr is used by less than a tenth of internet users.
That said, Yahoo has a pretty good recent track record in terms of investments; its stake in Alibaba brought it a huge cash return when the e-commerce giant was floated earlier in 2014, and rumour has it that it’s close to securing a deal with the famously hard-to-woo Snapchat – an app which remains incredibly popular among the much-coveted teen demographic. So, with Yahoo now stating that Tumblr will top $100 million in revenue in 2015, the question beckons: is there real money in the blogging platform?
Last month’s launch of ‘‘Tumblr Sponsored Apps” marked the first real move towards monetisation. The gaming-oriented ads – designed to direct users to Google Play and the App Store – will take the form of sponsored posts and are initially available only to Tumblr’s mobile users. Nevertheless, the platform’s re-blogging system will allow the ads to spread to other devices and, considering Tumblr claims that 94% of posts on its platform are re-blogs, this creates a real atmosphere for viral ads.
‘Install Ads’ are a tried and tested revenue stream. Facebook and Twitter, who now make the majority of their revenue from mobile ads, have been exploiting these lucrative sources for some time. But to return to our original question – will they work for Tumblr?
Obviously, it’s all about the users – and here Tumblr has some distinct advantages. Firstly, Tumblr may be small but it’s growing – and very quickly. The number of active users on the platform increased by 120% over 2014, allowing it to overtake Facebook-owned Instagram as the fastest growing social network of the year. (Incidentally, Snapchat is currently the fastest rising messaging app: spot the Yahoo-based pattern here?).
Tumblr also has the opportunity to capitalise on the general popularity of blogging and blog-related platforms in emerging internet markets. Already, Indian internet users represent a larger segment of Tumblr’s user base than their American counterparts.
Secondly, the network’s demographics are the stuff of marketers’ dreams. Of the 35+ social platforms tracked by GlobalWebIndex, Tumblr has the youngest audience of all; more than 70% of its users are 16-34, with 4 in 10 being under 24. Compare this to a network like Facebook – where a quarter of active users are over 45 – and the differences are clear to see. So too can Tumblr boast that its active users are pretty brand-engaged: they are almost twice as likely as average to say that they discover brands through social network posts, while more than half report that they tend to buy brands they see advertised.
Tumblr’s decision to concentrate on mobile is also a smart move. GWI’s data shows that 80% of Tumblr’s active users are getting online using a mobile – almost as many as are using a PC or laptop – while 45% play mobile games each month. And while it’s just a fifth who say they have paid for a mobile game in the last 30 days, this is still above average and underlines the clear potential for monetisation.
Overall, then, Tumblr has the right user base, the right rate of growth and the right forms of user engagement to make its sponsored apps work. It’s changing from the little platform that could to the not-so-little platform than can – something which makes Yahoo’s $1 billion look like a pretty sound investment.


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Once again Mother Nature affected crop outlooks. Lettuce was hurt the worst, while tomatoes appear to have rebounded.
Tomatoes: While supplies were tight through mid-March, volume continues to build and should be back to normal by mid-April, reports the Florida Tomato Committee.
Mangos: Varieties at their peak in spring and summer include Ataulfo, Francis, Haden and Tommy Atkins, coming in primarily from Mexico, says the National Mango Board.
Strawberries: New strawberry varieties and ideal growing conditions led to record production in 2010, even though acreage was down slightly. Weather permitting, the 2011 crop looks to follow suit, according to the California Strawberry Commission.
Artichokes: In mid-March, all sizes—from small to jumbo—were showing signs of light frost, according to Ocean Mist Farms, but “frost-kissed” product is high in quality and flavor.
Vidalia Onions: Despite a prolonged freeze in January, the crop of Vidalias fared well and sweet, juicy bulbs are expected to be harvested in Georgia during April and May.
Corn: Good volumes of Southern corn are expected for all of April and May, predicts the Fresh SuperSweet Corn Council. Come July, local supplies will start coming in.
Asparagus: The harvest got off to a late start due to continuing rains in California during February. By late March, the harvest was in full swing and ample supply is expected into early June.
Berries: Driscoll’s blueberries ramp up into strong supplies beginning in May and lasting through the summer; raspberries reach peak volume from mid-May through mid-June, with good supply throughout the fall. Driscoll’s blackberries are in good supply through April and May, with excellent availability in the summer months.
Lettuce: Romaine was the most severely damaged from the February freeze, which extended from Arizona to Mexico. Demand still exceeds supply, notes Mann Packing of California. Boggiato Produce, the company behind Garden Hearts romaine hearts, reports that quality and supply are both high. The hearts are unaffected by the cold and the frostbitten outer leaves are discarded.


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The Criminal Investigation Department has seized four more luxury vehicles allegedly owned by underworld gang member Dematagoda Ruwan and his brother Dematagoda Chaminda’s wife.
It was revealed that Dematagoda Chaminda’s wife currently operates a nightclub in Borella.
The CID seized vehicles worth over Rs.180 million and gold worth over Rs.22.5 million on the 29th of October.
Investigations revealed that the manner in which Dematagoda Ruwan purchased the vehicles and gold and the funds to purchase the goods cannot be traced.
Police yesterday seized two more luxury jeeps following further investigations, valued at Rs.7 million and Rs.20 million.
Land, vehicles and other assets belonging to the suspects worth over Rs.340 million have been temporarily confiscated.


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ITC prepares to Make Decision on Chinese Solar
Almost a year ago SolarWorld-backed Coalition for American Solar Manufacturers (CASM) filed trade complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers engaged in unfair trade practices designed to sell their modules at costs below market rates to capture marketshare. But another group, the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) has consistently maintained that imposing sanctions would hurt the U.S. solar industry. The commission held its final hearing on the matter yesterday (Oct. 3). Now the commission will make its final determination in the case with a decision expected by Nov. 7.
“Five years ago, we saw the industry really taking off in the United States, and we carefully planned how we would be a responsible leader in this growing market,” SolarWorld Americas President Gordon Brinser testified. “We made enormous investments in our facilities and devoted substantial resources to technological development. However, far from benefitting from the growth in U.S. demand, SolarWorld has been severely harmed by unfairly traded Chinese imports.”
CASE, on the other hand argued that module costs were driven down as incentives fell, which has made solar more affordable in the U.S. “SolarWorld opponents countered SolarWorld’s claims by demonstrating that the structure of U.S. solar programs and competition with natural gas have been the forces behind driving down the price of solar cells, not imports from China.”
That sentiment is echoed by others. For instance, Tom Gutierrez, CEO of GT Advanced Technologies, told ITC: “Trade barriers in the form of protective tariffs will not improve the economics of the U.S. solar industry or change the way the Chinese do business,” he said. “Other than starting a possible trade war with China, a key U.S. economic partner, this investigation has only made it more difficult for U.S. entrepreneurial companies like GT to export solar products abroad. The entire tariffs exercise is counterproductive to the primary objective of the U.S. solar industry: accelerate the growth of this renewable source of energy here in the U.S. by rewarding companies that can successfully compete in the global market with sustainable business models and create good paying jobs for American workers.”
But ITC previously sided with CASM’s and SolarWorld’s arguments, in two cases issuing preliminary tariffs on Chinese imports. And it could side with them again, preliminary duties were imposed twice. First, a 4.73 percent anti-subsidy duty was imposed in March, which was followed by an anti-dumping duty that ranged from 31 percent to 249.96 percent (depending on the company), in May. How the commission will ultimately rule could affect the cost of solar in U.S. if it drives up prices for the imported modules and allows domestic manufacturers to levelize or drive up their prices as well.
Cleanenergyauthority.com provides access to a nationwide network of local service providers for quotes on the installation of Solar (Photovoltaic) Panels, Solar Thermal for hot water and pool heating. Cleanenergyauthority.com was founded in 2008 to provide news and rebate and incentive as well as a convenient online comparison shopping resource for consumers seeking Clean Energy alternatives for their home or business. Articles l Homepage
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soCash, a fintech startup, recently announced it has raised $6 million in Series B funding. The firm said the money would be used to fund its Asian expansion.
With the funding, the firm said it would expand its distribution network to enhance the accessibility and convenience of banking services in Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
The Singapore-based firm said it has already secured the essential regulatory clearances in these three markets.
soCash is also expanding its team in all these markets to line with the expansion. It is also looking at forming partnerships to further scale in the region.
Japan’s Glory Ltd. led the funding round. Vertex Ventures and SC Ventures, the innovation, investment, and ventures arm division of Standard Chartered Bank, also participated.
The startup was launched in 2018. It converts small businesses like retail outlets and cafes into ATMs, providing users with a more convenient way to get cash. Using the firm’s app, customers don’t even need a bank card or PIN number to perform this transaction.
Its technology connects directly into the banks’ API, so users can place a cash order through the app and choose a nearby outlet to collect the cash.
Co-founder and chief executive of soCash Hari Sivan said the startup’s network is well equipped to offer sales and distribution with flexibility and massive scale. He added that the startup’s existing resources are capable of addressing the emergence of virtual banks and open banking.
Beyond withdrawing cash, soCash also enables bank customers to carry out other banking services such as loan applications at merchants using its mobile app.
Its cash network platform now compromises of more than 1,400 locations, including Asian retail chains such as 7-Eleven.
Along with the expansion, the fintech is also expanding its staff in the three Asian markets. It is also seeking for forming partnerships in the region.


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BebaPay, a payment card launched by Google and Equity Bank in Kenya in 2013 that let users pay for their bus fare via NFC, is to be discontinued on March 15. “You can either replace your card with the new Equity prepaid MasterCard for free, finish your card balance by 15 March or get a refund after 28 March,” AllAfrica reports.
- Rail passengers pilot Bluetooth and geolocation service for ticket-free travel
- Chinese to get cash using face recognition ATMs
- Consumers to personalise makeup and perfume with electronic ink and NFC packaging
- Next iPhone to include facial or gesture recognition?
- Test for European Central Bank mobile P2P platform


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When you think of mobile gaming, you might not be as likely to think about the operating system version as you are about the hardware you are using, but Android 12 can change that a bit.
Based on the latest developer preview Android 12, which is in its second version, the games are going to benefit from some very significant quality of life improvements. While there are potentially more software changes coming in a final release, Android 12 DP2 is focusing on one thing in particular.
The interesting thing is that this is something that a lot of phones already offer. Even on the current version of Android, Android 11 and even earlier versions. Google therefore seems to be inspired by manufacturers here.
Android 12 adds gaming dashboard for added convenience
If you look at phones like the ROG Phone 5, or any other gaming phone really, even OnePlus’s, there is a common thread.
There are really many common threads, but one in particular is gaming. A dedicated gaming dashboard feature. And Android 12 seems to add one as part of the system software. Each version has its own name, but they all seek to provide more for those who play games. ASUS ‘Game Genie tool, for example, shows you frames per second. It also does a ton of other things.
Like streaming and access to other built-in features on the fly. The gaming dashboard in Android 12 won’t be as robust as some others, but it will still add more than a few useful tools.
Google’s new gaming tool will have fast access for live streaming, FPS and more
So what does all this new gaming dashboard have to offer? It’s a small set of quick access buttons to launch certain features. There is a button for screenshots, one for viewing the game’s current frame rate, one for screen recording, and one for activating do not disturb mode.
There are also two larger square shaped buttons below these four. A square is currently empty, so Google may not have implemented what it will do yet. The other square button, however, is for a direct start of the live streaming of your game on YouTube.
Although this appears as part of the Android 12 DP2, 9To5Google points out that this might only apply to Pixel phones. Even though Google is considering making it available on any Android 12 device, it would still be possible that this would be limited to Pixel at first.
Since these are usually the only phones to immediately benefit from the new version of Android.