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Nissan has no plans to adopt an agency distribution model, saying the traditional retail path of wholesaling product into franchise dealers works well for the majority of people.
However, it also acknowledges that customer expectations around digital retail and home delivery are changing, and says any company that’s too rigid will be “left behind”.
“There’s no plan to change our business model from the dealer partners that we have today,” said Nissan Oceania’s recently appointed managing director Adam Paterson, after noting that Australia is something of a “test market” for new models.
Mr Paterson started his role at the midway point of this year, having previously served as a Nissan executive in Canada.
As has been the subject of much discussion, rival Honda Australia switched to an agency sales model in July – meaning it now controls inventory until it’s sold, sets national non-negotiable prices at all retail sites, and pays its dealer ‘agents’ a handover fee per car rather than letting the dealers arrange their own pricing and commission structure.
Mercedes-Benz Australia will adopt a similar model on January 1 2022, though as reported at length here it’s facing a lengthy court battle with many of its dealers, who want compensation for adopting the new model against their preference.
The nature of auto retail has truly become a flashpoint, pitting traditional franchise dealers against new business models, and leading to various representative bodies (the FCAI for car brands and the AADA for dealers) duking it out in the court of public opinion.
New brands like Tesla, Genesis and Polestar all launched without dealers, preferring to sell directly to buyers themselves – a different business model again – prompting fears from some quarters that adherence to ‘legacy’ business tactics would cause disadvantage.
If the pandemic showed us anything, it was that the need to deal with customers online or at home, rather than strictly within a showroom, was vital to keeping afloat. Without divulging any specifics, Mr Paterson said this lesson needed to be learned.
“Any brand regardless of [whether] it’s auto or otherwise, that think they have a sales process and the customer needs to deal with their sales process, is one that’s going to get left behind,” Mr Paterson opined.
“… We’ve sold hundreds of thousands of Nissans over the course of the last few years and all of those have been through a dealer. I would say the majority of Australians still want to proceed in that traditional way.
“But there’s a growing portion of them that want to transact in a more modern way. And their point of reference is probably not the last time they bought a car, it’s the last time they bought anything.
If you can buy a $2000 mobile phone and have it delivered to your house, I think the expectation is ‘why can’t I do the same with the vehicle’.
“So we need to push, to be able to, I would say, meet customers as far as what their demands are, in a more modern way than we’re able to do right now.”
In other words, watch this space.


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It’s happening again. The Trump Administration is deregulating another federal safety program, and this time it’s affecting our food supply. Last week, the Washington Post broke a story on the USDA's plans to shift much of the responsibility for food safety inspections in hog plants to the pork industry as early as May.
Betty Crocker fruit snacks are as unhealthy as gummy bears and are widely advertised to children. Please join us today in sending a message to General Mills today to ask them to stop marketing Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks to kids.
Chili’s is the “winner” of the first-ever Lifetime Achievement award at the MilliGrammys—awards recognizing ridiculous amounts of sodium in restaurant meals. Most of us should limit ourselves to about 1,500 to 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily. But some meals at Chili’s, like its Crispy Fiery Pepper Crispers—with 6,240 milligrams— double or almost triple that amount. Contact Chili’s President Wyman T. Roberts and ask him to support sodium reduction!
The retail food environment should support shoppers’ health, not undermine it. Starting with checkout—one of the most profitable and unhealthy areas of the store, where extra calories are pushed on shoppers (they’re called impulse purchases for a reason)—CSPI is asking Walmart, Kroger, Publix, and Walgreens to rethink the foods and beverages that are sold near the cash register and instead offer products that support shoppers’ efforts to eat well.
We, the undersigned citizens, strongly urge the Food and Drug Administration to ban synthetic dyes from food and beverages given the substantial evidence that the dyes harm susceptible children.
Did you know that food and chemical companies can decide for themselves whether a chemical is safe for use in food?

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Easter—or as comedian John Oliver believes it should be called, “shitty Christmas”—is almost upon us with its pink ribbon-adorned baskets full of fake eggs, chocolate bunnies, and neon-green “grass.” The highlight of the day, if you’re lucky enough not to have to round up screaming kids trying to unearth plastic eggs scattered all over the yard, is opening up that big chocolate bunny—hopefully a solid one, and not a chintzy hollow deal—and taking a big bite out if it. But which part do you attack first? The head? A nibble on the toes? Or maybe the most efficient option: stuff those ears into your maw.
If you do hit up the ears first, you’re among the majority of Americans, says a new study from some ear, nose, and throat doctors at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. For the savory survey, the scientists looked to almost 30,000 Internet denizens to find out, in their words, about the popularity of “auricular amputations” around Easter on the unlucky rabbits. They searched terms like “chocolate,” “rabbit,” “Easter,” “ears,” and “amputation” from January 2012 to January 2017 to fill out their survey.
The researchers found that a full 59% of Easter bunny eaters went for the ears, 33% said they didn’t care and bit that bunny wherever felt good, and a tiny minority of 4% said they start nibbling on the tail or feet first. And, unsurprisingly, the study authors noted that there was little wholesale carnage and amputations related to other holiday treats. “It was interesting to discover that few other confectionary symbols, such as Santa, succumb to isolated defects, like the chocolate bunnies do,” said lead study author Kathleen Yaremchuk, M.D.
If you do get into some chocolate this Easter, try to nosh on some dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao, which is loaded with antioxidants called flavonoids that can help prevent high blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain, and keep arteries clear of clogging plaque, plus it’s lower in sugar and calories.
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For many couples, a relationship starts with a swipe of a finger or a glance across a crowded room. For Gao Yuchen and Li Zhaoxuan, it all began with a bloody battle on the online shooter game “Apex Legends.” The college students admired each other’s ability to slaughter their rivals inside the game’s digital battlefield. After a few games, they began chatting, and then Gao … Continue reading Looking for Love in China? Get Into Esports.
Inside a colorfully lit TV studio, a middle-aged woman dressed in a tight-fitting silk dress is trying to convince an older man to loosen up. “Can we hold hands and hug right now?” she asks, stepping toward him. The man, a 60-something wearing a traditional Tang jacket, looks visibly shocked by how forward she’s being. “Holding hands is fine,” he replies awkwardly. But the woman … Continue reading On Chinese Dating Shows, the Stars Are Old, Single, and Ready to Mingle
Guo Yun finally found the courage to step into a sex shop last year to buy a dildo for her birthday. Before long, however, she retreated back to the streets of downtown Shanghai, confused and disappointed. “It was one of the most elegant sex shops I’ve seen in the city, and I thought they’d have professional sales assistants as well,” says Guo. “But instead, they … Continue reading China Has a Problem With Bad Sex Advice. Can a New Exam Fix It?
This year’s inofficial Chinese Valentine’s Day has brought about love-related online surveys and discussions, bringing new insights into how China’s younger generations think about love: the Post-90s generation holds other views than expected. In Chinese, the pronunciation of ‘520’ sounds like “wo ai ni”, which means “I love you”. That’s why netizens in China have chosen 5/20, May 20th, as their unofficial Internet Valentine’s Day. … Continue reading How China’s Post-90s Think About Love
Do not get pregnant too soon – that is the message of China’s most popular relationship advisor to women on Weibo. The post became an instant hit, igniting online discussions of becoming a mom directly after marriage. Chinese best-selling author Lu Qi (陆琪), also known as one of the most popular relationship advisors on Sina Weibo, advises Chinese women on his Weibo account not to have … Continue reading Chinese Relationship Guru to Women: Put Motherhood On Hold


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The International Trade Administration Commission has recently determined that it was necessary to impose 10% import tariffs and custom duties, relating to coated flat-rolled steel products, in respect of nine new tariff codes.
In response, National Employers’ Association of South Africa (NEASA), on behalf of steel downstream companies who will be severely prejudiced by this development, filed an urgent application in the Gauteng High Court to interdict and restrain ITAC from recommending to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition that these recommendations be gazetted and enforced upon the industry.
ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has also recently applied for 120% safeguard duties on certain long products as well as for the extension of the safeguard duties of 8% on hot-rolled coil. Should this be granted, hot-rolled coil will carry a total duty of 18%.
“These attempts by AMSA for more protectionist duties amidst the current severe backlogs, caused by their inability to supply the market, is absurd, to say the least,” NEASA said.
“AMSA posted a R2,6 billion headline loss for the first half of the year compared to many modern mills that are profitable at the ruling price for steel. The duties that desecrated jobs in the downstream therefore did not achieve anything to save AMSA.
“Downstream businesses are carrying the full cost of this litigation,” NEASA concluded.


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Astro’s Playroom Comes Pre-Loaded on the PS5
PlayStation’s Japan Studio joined several other developers with next-gen announcements during the recent PS5 games showcase, revealing Astro’s Playroom. Astro joins Ratchet & Clank, Horizon and Spider-Man as PlayStation exclusives unveiled during the event and it will be available to Sony fans for free. Astro’s Playroom will show off various aspects of the new PlayStation console and the DualSense controller almost like a tech demo within a platforming game. Astro’s Playroom come pre-loaded on the console when it launches this holiday season and it’s exclusive for the PS5. Astro Bot: Rescue Mission is currently available for the PSVR for new fans to explore before the new installment in the Astro franchise.
Astro Bot: Rescue Mission originally came out on the PSVR as a way to introduce people to the VR experience for new fans to explore. The 3D platformer took full advantage of the headset and Astro’s Playroom is expected to do the same for new features introduced with the PS5 and the DualSense controller. Astro is becoming a bit of a PlayStation mascot and the robotic platformer will continue that theme from one generation to the next. It’s currently unclear whether or not Astro will get a new VR experience on the next-generation of PlayStation as well.
Astro’s Playroom features four worlds that are based on components of the console which will all utilize aspects of the DualSense controller such as the haptic feedback of the triggers or the built-in speaker. Considering Astro’s latest adventure will be installed on every PS5, more people will be exploring the new generation of PlayStation with the titular robot.
Will you be exploring your PS5 with the aid of Astro when it releases with Astro’s Playroom? Let us know in the comments below!


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A woman has been charged after $15,000 worth of allegedly stolen goods from stores on the South Coast were found at a property in Batehaven last week.
A NSW Police spokesperson said investigations began early last week.
"Following inquiries, police executed a search warrant at a home on Grantham Avenue, Batehaven, about 1pm on Thursday, June 16.
"During the search, police allegedly located and seized several items suspected of being stolen.
"A 58-year-old woman - who had been assisting police with their inquiries - has since been issued with a Court Attendance Notice for one count of goods suspected stolen in/on premises.
"The Batehaven woman is due to appear in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, August 8."
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Agencies and advertisers are becoming increasingly intrigued by the relationship between users’ consumption of TV content, and their use of mobile connected devices. According to new research by The Nielsen Company, that link is a strong one, and over 68 percent of tablet and smartphone owners report using them in front of their televisions.
In fact, according to a survey of nearly 12,000 device owners, Nielsen suggests tablet users make use of their device in front of the TV more than in any other situation, followed by lying in bed, and then with friends or family.
Smartphone owners demonstrated different behavioral patterns, meanwhile, probably due to the compact and more portable nature of those devices. As with tablets, watching TV topped the list of situations in which smartphones were used, but was followed closely by shopping or running errands, and then by waiting for something – such as a train, for example.
Overall, smartphones are used across a much wider range of situations than tablets, which are reserved largely for use in the home, the data suggests.


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Soulja Boy was ranked No. 7 on Forbes‘ 2010 list of Hip Hop Cash Kings after he pulled in over $7 million that year. Over a decade later, the “Crank Dat” chart-topper is still looking for innovative ways to make money and now, he’s looking at Mickey D’s.
On Tuesday (July 6), Soulja Boy fired off a pair of tweets at McDonald’s, informing the fast-food chain giant he wanted to run a proposal by them.
“I got a billion dollar idea,” he wrote. “@McDonalds trust me.”
McDonald’s wrote back, “I’m listening” and Soulja then explained, “The SouljaBurger but the secret is in the ingredients I’ll dm them to you trust me this will go VIRAL!”
— McDonald’s (@McDonalds) July 6, 2021
The SouljaBurger but the secret is the ingredients I’ll dm them to you trust me this will go VIRAL! ? https://t.co/6VBD7yplIJ
— Soulja Boy (Big Draco) (@souljaboy) July 7, 2021
McDonald’s has paired up with rappers before, most famously for Travis Scott’s signature value meal. The meal was available nationwide last fall and the restaurant had a tough time keeping them in stock. In an internal memo obtained by USA Today, the fast-food chain admitted the popularity of the Travis Scott collaboration had resulted in shortages of the ingredients featured in the $6 meal.
“We’ve created a program that’s so compelling to our customers that it’s stretching our world-class supply chain; and if demand continues at these levels, more restaurants will break supply,” the company told its employees and franchises owners at the time. “In fact, it’s been so lit, some of our restaurants have temporarily sold out of some of the ingredients in the meal. We’re working closely with our suppliers, distributors and franchisees to resupply impacted restaurants as quickly as possible.”
Soulja Boy is apparently dreaming about doing something similar. At least one thing’s certain for now — McDonald’s is listening.


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DOVER, Pa., Feb. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — TC Backer, an award-winning roofing company headquartered in Dover, PA, is one of the first in the Mid-Atlantic region to offer the new, award-winning Timberline Solar™ roof. GAF Energy, a Standard Industries company and a leading provider of solar roofing in North America, recently launched Timberline Solar™ to deliver the first true solar roof to market. Timberline Solar™ incorporates roofing materials into a clean energy-generating system, resulting in a durable, attractive roof that produces energy. The solar roof is now available to residents in Dover, PA, York County, and the surrounding areas with services available in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and New Jersey.
“The Mid-Atlantic region wants to be a leader in taking advantage of all the benefits solar has to offer to local residents,” said Ty Backer, Owner of TC Backer. “Timberline Solar can make that happen block-by-block with economic and environmental benefits for everyone.”
“Rooftop solar means local jobs,” said Jason Barrett, Senior Vice President at GAF Energy. “TC Backer knows that this work puts money directly into Pennsylvania’s economy, and supports local residents in a number of ways. Solar energy generation is a win for individual homeowners and entire communities.”
This new system incorporates the world’s first nailable solar shingle, the Timberline Solar Energy Shingle™ (ES), which has received three awards from CES 2022 — including its highest honor, the Best of Innovation Award, in the “Smart Cities” category. The product is assembled domestically at GAF Energy’s U.S. manufacturing and research facility in California.
Homeowners interested in solar roofing options can find out more at: https://321gutterdone.com/.
About TC Backer
At TC Backer, we specialize in offering exterior home repair and maintenance services that other companies simply can’t. Whether you need a durable asphalt roof, a stunning replacement window installation, or to beautify and protect with new siding and gutters, we are here to help. We are committed to providing top-quality services at competitive pricing, so you have peace of mind knowing we will do your job right the first time. Protect your home with the best exterior home services today.


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Seaweed cultivation taken up in villages
Known as Green Micro Finance Project, jointly implemented by Nabard and Orissa Rural Reconstruction Association (ORRA), a NGO was launched at Langaleswar in Khallikote block last week for seaweed cultivation, particularly the red algae on commercial basis.
As the red algae is in much demand in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, we hope the lower income group (LIG) of the coastal villages, particularly the fishermen, will get an extra income with the cultivation of this seaweed, Smita Sucharita Nayak, executive director of ORRA, said.
The seaweed demand is increasing world wide as its extracts are widely used in tooth-paste, ice-cream, textile printing, teeth filling, cosmetics, tissue culture, plywood, packaging and several other industries. Bio fuel can also be made from it, said Nayak. Investment in the cultivation is less, but profit is high,? she said adding it also helps combat global warming, she added.
Cultivation of red algae would be easy as it was available wildly in Parikuda area inside the Chilika lake, she said. We started cultivation of seaweed on commercial basis taking a small quantity from there by involving around 150 womenfolk of 16 SHGs in three villages, she said.
Harvest will be made 45 days after cultivation. ORRA has made an agreement with MS Swaminathan Foundation to buy all the dry red algae harvested by womenfolk in the area. It will provide an alternative livelihood for fishermen families when the fish landing in Chilika is dwindling, MLA of Khallikote P C Sethi said.
Cultivation of the red algae was started on a pilot basis about two years ago as a part of the research project.
Nayak said they would also explore the possibilities of starting seaweed cultivation in Bhitarakania in Kendrapara district.


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Survey: U.S. consumers dislike Internet sales tax
Washington, D.C. – The American people overwhelmingly oppose new legislation that lets states force tax collection obligations on Internet purchases made from businesses outside their borders.
A new Mercury Poll of 1,000 likely U.S, voters commissioned by National Taxpayers Union (NTU) reported that by a 57%-35% margin, Americans opposed changes to Internet sales tax policies. When respondents were informed "the proposed legislation would allow tax enforcement agents from one state to collect taxes from online retailers based in a different state," and that it would entail new tax collection obligations for businesses, the margins against it swung to 70% and 69%, respectively.
"The overwhelming results of our survey send an unmistakable message: nobody likes this federal Internet sales tax scheme," said NTU executive VP Pete Sepp. "Not to be lost in these intriguing results is the opportunity for fiscal conservatives to reach out to swing groups like young voters, women, and independents."
Dick’s Sporting Goods opens El Paso store Sept. 20
Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. will open a new store in El Paso, Texas, on Sept. 20.
The El Paso location at The Fountains of Farah will be the retailer’s 20th store in the state of Texas and its 532nd nationwide. The new store will feature more than 40 in-store services performed by Dick’s certified pros.
"We look forward to opening our new Dick’S Sporting Goods in El Paso, becoming part of the community and serving athletes of all ages by providing them the equipment they need to excel," said Lauren Hobart, senior VP and chief marketing officer, Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Rent-A-Center opens Boston store
Plano, Texas – Rent-A-Center is opening a new store at 1611 Blue Hill Avenue in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston today.
Rent-A-Center operates 70 locations in the state of Massachusetts and more than 3,000 stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico. The company employs more than 21,000 workers.


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Will an Ice Cream Company Based on New York City's Serendipity Be Able to Compete Nationwide?
The iconic dessert restaurant will stretch its brand for the first time with packaged pints sold in 7-Eleven stores.
How much does an iconic brand name matter when competing in a crowded category? The owners of New York City's famous Serendipity 3 -- which boasts of famous customers such as Andy Warhol, Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey and featured heavily in a 2001 romantic comedy of the same name -- will find out.
Late last year, the owners (a group of investors purchased the restaurant and its assets in 2018) of the 65-year-old dessert establishment introduced a line of ice cream pints to New York City 7-Eleven stores. Now, the products will be rolled out nationwide. Mark Smolin, CEO of Serendipity Brands, is banking on the brand's iconic status and "premium" ingredients to compete with the likes of Häagen-Daz and Ben & Jerry's.
Related: How This Food Startup Built Its Business by Avoiding Retail
"People want something new. They want to see a new brand and they want something that's going to last," he said. "That's the reason we think we're getting traction."
Serendipity Brands currently sells eight flavors, five of which are inspired by the New York City restaurant's dessert offerings, including Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. The other flavors are Strawberry Fields Sundae, Outrageous Banana Split, Birthday Cake, Forbidden Broadway Sundae, Café Espresso Chip, Humble Pie and Vanilla Vogue.
Smolin said the brand hopes to introduce other flavors and other formats, including single serve cups and bars, in the near future. In total, he said Serendipity products will soon be rolled out to more than 21,000 stores.


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In support of President Obama's call for a renewed focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) have teamed up with Sony Comp...
Care to take your very own Federation starship for a spin and maybe right a few of the wrongs done by Paramount writers to the franchise over the past decade or two? The thought of beaming down to planets and playing World-of-Away-Team-Craft have you...
Hackers are exploiting the web users searching for information about the Twilight New Moon film, due to be released this week, in a bid to spread malware, says PC Tools.
Capcom's upcoming flight-shooter Dark Void isn't even out yet (it's due January 12) but it's already attracted the attention of Hollywood elite. Capcom announced earlier today that they had reached an agreement with Brad Pitt's film production compan...
Sony caused a bit of a stir when a slide from its recent investor conference alluding to a paid online PlayStation Network subscription service was unearthed by The Examiner. With thoughts of a PSN equivalent of Xbox Live Gold worrying gamers, Sony q...
Most special editions aren't all that special -- they include goofy items that are destined to collect dust in gamers' closets and provide little in the way of cool content that properly accompany the games. Modern Warfare 2 night vision goggles, I'm...
What's the latest buzz among software engineers and computer geeks in Silicon Valley? Aside from the newly released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, it's a video released earlier this week of Pranav Mistry talking about the next big thing -- SixthSens...
According to an L.A. Times article published yesterday, Activision Blizzard has opened a new development studio devoted to the Call of Duty franchise. Though the mysterious new team has not announced any projects yet, an anonymous source within Activ...
Sony is hoping to return its PlayStation business to profitability next year with the help of new hardware devices and expansion of its network-delivered services platform, it said Thursday.
Sony has spent years struggling to adjust to the digital age but its chief Howard Stringer Thursday sought to make the case that it has found its footing.
US Federal officials have put the PS3 to work breaking passwords on computer equipment confiscated from suspected child pornographers, according to a story released on the Scripps Howard Foundation wire. (When Sony said the PS3 'only does everything'...
A political column in this morning's Washington Examiner claims video games like America's Army are the most effective recruitment tools of the U.S. Army.
Independent game developer Eric Ruth is coding a free PC game that envisions what Valve's popular zombie-killing franchise might have looked like on an 8-bit console, with plans to release a full version in January 2010.
Powered by the same impressive Unity 3D engine that has made a number of other well-executed 3D titles possible on the iPhone, as well as Cartoon Network's impressive FusionFall browser-based RPG, Ravensword: The Fallen King is the closest thing to a...
NDoors announced on November 11 that they successfully completed the GNGWC 2009 Atlantica Thai Final Round held last weekend in Bangkok, Thailand.
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While another famous T made his mark by having pity for fools, T-Mobile (TMUS 0.80%) CEO John Legere has shown nothing but contempt for what he sees as the foolish actions of his industry rivals.
Being aggressive, mocking his competition, and making real changes to how T-Mobile does business has paid off in a massive influx of new customers for Legere. That brash attitude brought the wireless carrier 2.4 million new subscribers -- more than the rest of the industry combined for the period -- and also has rumors circulating that the company that owns Sprint (S) wants to merge the two mobile phone companies with Legere as the boss.
"A year ago I promised that we would bring change to what I called this arrogant U.S. wireless industry. We are delivering on that promise and our results reflect the growing customer revolution that we've ignited," said Legere in a release.
These results show that T-Mobile's "Un-Carrier" strategy, which includes ending the requirement for long-term contracts and allowing people to upgrade their devices more often, is working. T-Mobile also began aggressively courting customers from Sprint, Verizon (VZ 0.11%) and AT&T (T -0.75%) by offering to pay the early termination fees of people who want to switch.
Legere's strategy is working
If the goal is to grow subscribers and figure out how to make money down the line, then Legere's plan is working flawlessly. T-Mobile now serves just over 49 million customers, an increase of 44% from the 34 million it served at the end of the first quarter last year. The company still sits in fourth place among wireless carriers, but it has narrowed the gap with Sprint to around 6 million customers. Sprint lost 476,000 subscribers in the first quarter, which prompted Legere to gloat on Twitter: "Sounds like a lot of people took my advice to #SprintLikeHell," which I wrote about in Is T-Mobile Growing at Sprint's Expense?
Those new subscribers brought T-Mobile more revenue -- the company took in $6.9 billion during the quarter, an increase of nearly 50% over the same quarter in the previous year. That increased revenue has not brought profitability, as the company lost $154 million for the quarter compared to a $106 million profit a year ago.
Those losses may just be a speed bump on the road to becoming a legitimate rival to AT&T and Verizon if the loss comes from increased customer acquisition costs ... as long as the company can hold onto its new users. That seems likely as T-Mobile also reported what the company called "a record low churn rate of 1.5%" on its postpaid (people who get a bill) customers.
The Sprint deal is looming
Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, whose company owns Sprint where he serves as chairman, has not been shy about his desire to buy the number four carrier, appearing last week on The Charlie Rose Show and CNBC claiming a post-merger Sprint will be good for the wireless industry. There are two major hurdles facing any such deal: paying for it and gaining regulatory approval.
On the former, Sprint CFO Joe Euteneuer and Treasurer Greg Block met with six banks "to ensure the lenders would be ready with financing structures when Sprint decides to pursue a takeover," said three sources who were not named because the discussions are private, according to Bloomberg.
The discussions with the banks are complicated as buying T-Mobile also means taking on its $8.7 billion in debt, so adding even more debt to the potentially combined company is a concern.
Getting Federal Communications Commission and Justice Department approval for a deal could also be an issue as regulators blocked AT&T's effort to acquire T-Mobile in 2011. Son however, according to Bloomberg, believes AT&T was not prepared for those hearings and that a case can be made for why this merger is in the best interest of consumers.
Legere -- who would be the front-runner to run the combined company -- told Yahoo Finance's David Pogue that such a merger could theoretically work: "as a telecom professional who's been at this game a long time, could I wake up tomorrow and use the access and capabilities of those two companies -- and the economic prowess of the two owners -- to create something really different and sustainable in the U.S. wireless industry? I sure as hell could."
Consolidation is inevitable
Verizon and AT&T both have over 100 million wireless subscribers so a combined Sprint and T-Mobile make the big two a big three. But it's hard to argue that the merger hurts consumer choice. It's also likely that the combination of the number three and number four carriers would result in a bigger company with lower costs per customer. That would allow its CEO to fund ideas that shake up the industry, which might not be possible for much longer if T-Mobile stays on its own given its losses and large debt.
Legere has proven that changing the standard industry approach can change customer behavior, and that alone might be enough to make him the right choice to lead a combined Sprint/T-Mobile.
There are huge challenges to merging the two companies -- they use different technology, for one -- but it's not impossible. And a marriage of Son -- who has a maverick streak himself -- as chairman and Legere as CEO of a much larger Sprint could work. With a larger customer base, any future changes -- such as lowering prices or changing how overages are computed -- would be impossible for AT&T and Verizon to ignore. That can only be good for consumers, and Leger has shown he's willing to do things differently and break from the industry code.
This potential merger may be in the very early stages and it could get derailed in a lot of ways, but if it happens it's likely to be good for consumers and bad for AT&T and Verizon.


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There were widespread reports of problems with Alexa not responding on the morning of 21 January 2022 in the UK and Europe. Users – the Tech Advisor team among them – discovered that their Amazon Echos had become virtually useless.
The problem was almost certainly caused by an outage of Amazon’s cloud servers, which affects Alexa’s ability to function. An Amazon spokesperson told us, “This morning we had an issue that impacted some Alexa customers’ ability to interact with the service. The Alexa service is now operating normally.”
If you’re still having problems, it’s worth switching off affected devices and turning them back on again.
But if Alexa seems to be giving you the cold shoulder after that, don’t worry – you haven’t offended her into silence.
Here are a few ways to check for sure whether Alexa is down:
In the image below DownDetector shows a clear spike in reports of problems. If you see something like this when you check it, you can be sure it’s an issue with Alexa, and not just your device.
While it is frustrating for Alexa take a good long think before answering your question, if she even answers at all, any outages are typically short-lived. In the mentime, you’ll have to find other ways to set timers, turn lights on and off and everything else you rely on Alexa for.
Amazon Web Services
AWS is Amazon’s cloud server and storage service, which is responsible for hosting a wide variety of services across the world. Everything from Slack to game servers are hosted on AWS.
AWS gives other companies the opportunity to use Amazon’s infrastructure rather than buying or building their own. AWS does occasionally experience some downtime, but this has rarely affected Amazon’s digital assistant.


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Starting this week, we’re going to begin a project to bolster our digital offerings. Our online readership has already reached the same size as our print readership — and it’s growing fast. In order to balance our time between our print and online audiences, we’re balancing out our production schedule, too. That means you’ll only see our print edition every other week, but can expect more web-only content, emailed stories, and social media updates in the near future. You can be the first to know about it all by signing up for updates right now.
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On Friday 16th February, Mid-Wales honey producer Hilltop Honey, welcomed a selection of Welsh Assembly members to visit its production facilities in Newtown, as part of a Government programme to address Welsh food and drink.
The Assembly members, including Simon Thomas AM, Russell George AM, Mick Antoniw AM, and John Griffiths AM, dropped by Hilltop Honey on the morning of Friday 16th before heading over to Theatre Hafren to engage in topical discussion about Welsh food and drink, led by the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones AM.
During the tour of Hilltop Honey, Assembly members met with Managing Director, Scott Davies and his team, before enjoying a tour around the recently expanded production site. Hilltop Honey’s new headquarters officially opened in 2017 by Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths after receiving a £240,000 grant from Welsh Government to support the expansion. On the visit members asked Scott about his business journey and aspirations, which started in 2011 when Scott started making a few jars of honey for local retailers. The business has gained tremendous growth, market presence and has scaled up to now be one of the UK’s leading premium honey brands, producing around 70,000 jars of honey every month to major national retail – that’s almost enough to fill the Principality Stadium!
Russell George, AM for Montgomeryshire, said: “I’d like to thank the team at Hilltop Honey for their hospitality and views on the food and drink sector in Wales. Their points, and those of the other growers and producers who kindly came along, were invaluable to the committee members ahead of our meeting with the First Minister, Carwyn Jones AM, and many of those concerns were raised directly with him.”
After the visit to Hilltop Honey, members headed to one of their regular meetings with the First Minister of Wales in Newtown at Theatre Hafren. The meeting addressed topical issues including the impact on Brexit on the food and drink industry in Wales, potential future international trade arrangements following withdrawal from the EU and how this will affect food standards and the promotion of Welsh food production and the ‘Welsh brand’.
Chair of the Committee, Ann Jones AM, said: “The food and drink industry is of vital importance to the economy of Wales. It is a major employer in its own right and supports a range of other industries, such as tourism and hospitality. As the Brexit negotiations continue it is important the Welsh Government is doing all it can both to influence the UK Government’s approach, but also to plan for different eventualities. We asked the First Minister, on behalf of Welsh farmers and producers, from small cottage operations to large-scale commercial operations, what preparations his government is making and what opportunities have been identified to promote brand Wales post Brexit.”
Scott Davies, Managing Director of Hilltop Honey, added; “We’d like to thank the Welsh Assembly members who took the time to visit us and learn about our growing honey business. Food and drink is a rising star in the Welsh economy, characterised by its diversity and quality of producers. Around 240,200 people are employed across catering, retail, wholesale, agriculture, and manufacturing illustrating how food and farming really is a priority sector for our country. At Hilltop Honey we’re passionate and proud to support and be a part of this dynamic and growing sector for Wales and look forward to many exciting opportunities ahead.”


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Consumer bags continue to be a popular packaging option for shippers of Wisconsin potatoes.
More retailers are choosing to pack Wisconsin potatoes in proprietary store-brand bags, said Mike Carter, chief executive officer for Rosholt, Wis.-based Bushmans’ Inc.
Bushmans’ is more than happy to pack in whatever bag or other package retailers ask for, but the company still plans to push its Market Fresh label hard in 2011-12, Carter said.
“When we have the choice, we’ll use Market Fresh,” he said. “We will use that as our dominant brand and label.”
Bushmans’ last fall bought Nixa, Mo.-based Market Fresh, a marketer that specializes in sweet potatoes, sweet onions and tomatoes, and decided to make it the primary brand for Bushmans’ potatoes.
“We consider Market Fresh to be a national brand,” Carter said.
In 2011-12, Bushmans’ also will continue to pack Wisconsin-grown spuds in its Speedy Spud line and in its Roadhouse Baker tray packs, Carter said.
Potato packaging trends — such as steamer bags, individually wrapped spuds and tray packs — come and go, said Tom Lundgren, owner and president of Stevens Point, Wis.-based Spud City Sales LLC.
But in the end, the industry workhorses always emerge on top.
“They might be dinosaurs, but people always revert to the 5- and 10-pound bags,” he said.
“The volume on (newer pack options) is nothing compared to the 5 and 10s. You can only reinvent the potato so many times.”
Spud City Sales continues to see strong sales of the vented bags it introduced in 2007, Lundgren said.
“We’re flying through them,” he said.
The bags are half-mesh and half-poly and contain dozens of holes that allow spuds to breathe and stay dry.
Customers have found that’s especially important with early-season spuds, due to high heat and humidity, Lundgren said.
The Spud City-branded bags are available in 4-, 5-, 8-, 10-, 15- and 20-pound sizes and feature a graphic of a field and city skyline.
The bags, which are bilingual and feature nutrition information and a recipe on the back, come in brown for russets and red for red potatoes.
Bancroft, Wis.-based RPE Inc., expects growth in its Tasteful Selections line of baby potatoes in 2011-12, said Randy Shell, vice president of marketing.
“Consumers love the quick cook times and unique flavor of these baby potatoes,” Shell said.
While Tasteful Selections will be a priority in the upcoming season, RPE will take a balanced approach in promotions, with an equal emphasis on bargain, mainstream and specialty packs, Shell said.
“We believe it’s the best method to grow the entire category,” he said. “This will continue to be our strategy with our customers.”
Bob Johnson, president of Katz Produce Sales LLC, Plover, Wis., expects to sell more two-count and four-count russet tray packs in 2011-12.
“It’s not big, but it’s something you have to be a part of,” he said.
Katz also is selling more fingerling and other specialty packs, Johnson said. He stresses, though, that “more” is a relative term.
“It’s growing dramatically, but that means from half a percent to 1% to 2%” of total volumes, he said.
Friesland, Wis.-based Alsum Farms & Produce Inc. expects higher sales of the new steamer packs it introduced in 2010, said Larry Alsum, the company’s president and general manager.
The 12-ounce packs feature creamer size potatoes in red and yellow varieties, Alsum said.
“We hope to build on that momentum and expand markets for those products,” he said.
Packaged spuds are a way for retailers to extend their product lines, Johnson said.
“Retailers all want bigger and bigger departments, more SKUs,” he said. “They get a nice ring out of those (packaged potatoes), and they love it.”
But Johnson isn’t convinced that more variety is necessarily the answer when it comes to potato packaging options at retail.
“People are only going to buy so many potatoes,” he said. “If they’re buying one, they’re not buying the other. There tends to be some cannibalization to some extent.”
It’s often a case of keeping up with the Joneses, Johnson said.
“They’re doing it because the store across the street is doing it,” he said.


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MARYSVILLE — Northside is proving that trade can be a two-way street.
The outdoor footwear company based in Marysville has long designed shoes that were made in China and sold mainly in the U.S. and Canada.
Now the company is ramping up efforts to sell the shoes to Chinese consumers.
“People everywhere are looking for a dependable, approachable outdoor brand,” said Jack Wolfin, president of Triple T Trading, which owns Northside, in a statement. “We are thrilled at the opportunity to make our footwear available throughout mainland China.
The company is working with its import business, Fortune Star International, to distribute its footwear and other products in China.
“We feel like there will be a growing demand for outdoor footwear as more people in China want to get out and explore,” said Nam Lui, the president of Fortune Star International, in a statement. “We’re excited to make Northside footwear more readily available as people of all ages continue to show an enthusiasm for the outdoors.”
Fortune Star presented the Northside brand at tradeshows in both Beijing and Shanghai over the past year. The company has partnered with Sanfo, the largest outdoor products retailer in China, as well as other retailers to sell Northside shoes in stores and online throughout the country.
China is an appealing market, because Chinese consumers are becoming more and more interested in outdoor activities, according to Triple T Trading.
The company points to a report from the China Outdoor Association that expects 12 percent to 20 percent growth in sales of outdoor shoes and apparel each year through the end of this decade. If that were to occur, Chinese consumers would spend nearly $5 billion a year by 2020.
In July, Northside opened a 110,000-square-foot office and warehouse building at 4025 152nd St. NE Marysville, constructed specifically for its business.


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Cement prices increased by Rs. 400
Posted in Local News
Cement companies have taken steps to increase the price of a 50 kg bag of cement by Rs. 400 from tomorrow (April 26).
Accordingly, locally produced cement companies have increased the price of a bag of cement to Rs. 2,750 and exporters companies to Rs. 2850.


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ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has spent $2.632 billion on oil import during the first couple of months (July-August) of the ongoing financial year 2013-14 over the corresponding period of the previous year, revealed the figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Friday.
According to the latest figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), country has spent $2.632 billion during July-August 2013-14 period as against $ 2.795 billion of July-August 2012-13 showing a decrease of over five percent. In oil import bill, the country spent $1.665 billion on petroleum products and $967.707 million on import of petroleum crude during the period under review.
The trade analysts are of the view that oil import bill would enhance in the months to come owing to the government’s proposed plan to provide zero gas supply to CNG stations, as this would increase the demand of petroleum products in the country. Similarly, they said that rupee deprecation against US dollar is also making imports ‘expensive’, as all imported commodities purchased through dollar. Dollar value has reached to around Rs 107 in open market, which was around Rs 100 in June 2013.
Meanwhile, according to the PBS figures, country imported foodstuff worth of $653.187 million during first two months of the current fiscal year 2013-14. The break-up of $653.187 million revealed that import bill of milk products went down by 45.52 percent, dry fruits and nuts import down by 11.25 percent, import of tea increased by 2.7 per cent, import of spices decreased by 23 percent, soybean oil’s imports enhanced by 20.64 percent, palm oil import declined by 19.7 percent, sugar import decreased by2.58 percent, import of pulses went down by 40.42 percent and import of all other food items decreased by 18.36 percent during the period under review.
Meanwhile, according to PBS figures, the country imported machinery worth of $933.728 million, transport group imports stood at $192.168 million, textile group $349.284 million, agricultural and other chemicals $1.019 billion, metal group $526.157 million, miscellaneous group imports were recorded at $137 million and all other items imports remained $942.188 million during July-August period of the 2013-14 financial year.
It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan exports rose to $4.091 billion in July-August 2013-2014 period against imports of $7.39 billion. Therefore, trade imbalance recorded at $ 3.3 billion in the period under review.
Meanwhile, according to the figures of PBS, the country exported textile related goods worth of $2.305 billion during July and August 2013-14, which were $2.14 billion in same months of preceding year 2012-13, showing an increase of 7.24 percent in one year.
The break-up of $2.205 billion textile exports in July-August 2013-14 revealed that raw cotton exports have increased by 496 percent, cotton yarn exports increased by 16.77 percent, cotton cloth exports went up by 7.71 percent, cotton carded exports declined by 71.79 percent, yarn exports went up by 3.43 percent, knitwear export reduced by 1.07 percent, bed wear 9.6 percent, towels 7.1 percent, tents export enhanced by 1.89 percent, readymade garments’ up by 8.86 percent, art silk and synthetic textile exports decreased by 2.16 percent, made up articles export surged by 6.47 percent and other textile materials exports increased by 6.95 percent in July-August 2013-14 against the July-August 2012-13 period, said the PBS data.
The figures revealed that the country’s food exports also registered an increase of 10.17 percent during July-August 2013. The country exported foodstuff worth of $682.712 million in first two months of the ongoing financial year as against $619.694 million of the same month of preceding year 2012.


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American Editor recently ran a poll to figure out what stops users from buying an ebook. The results are out and no surprises.
1. 57% of the users feel that they are not comfortable buying ebooks due to DRM restrictions set by publishers
2. 26% of the publishers think that pricing of ebooks above $9.99 is detrimental in them buying an ebook. This seems to support the argument given in a recent NYT article about ebook pricing which was condemned by publishers.
3. 8% of the respondednt think that price greater than $4.99 is an issue.
Clearly, the sweet spot for ebooks lies somewhere between $ 3.99 and $9.99. Now its upto publishers, Google, Apple and Amazon to use their brain power to figure out what price they want to support.


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During Market hours yesterday — Tuesday (10.11.2020):
The Dow rose on Tuesday, building on its sharp gains from the previous session as a market rotation out of names that thrived during the pandemic and into stocks linked to an economic recovery continued.
- The Dow (Symbol: DIA) closed 0.9% higher. The S&P 500 (Symbol: SPY) went down 0.2% and the Nasdaq (Symbol: QQQ) sank 1.8%.
- Amazon (Symbol: AMZN), Facebook (Symbol: FB), Google (Symbol: GOOG), Apple (Symbol: AAPL) Big Tech stocks struggled on Tuesday as the rotation out of recent winners continued following progress in vaccines and therapeutics against the coronavirus. Shares of Facebook and Amazon lost 2.3% and 3.5%, respectively, while Google and Apple saw more modest declines.
- Boeing (Symbol: BA) Shares jumped 5.2% after Reuters reported the Federal Aviation Administration is in the final stages of reviewing proposed changes to Boeing’s 737 Max. The agency could approve the plane’s ungrounding as early as Nov. 18, Reuters reported.
- Ulta (Symbol: ULTA) Shares popped 7.4% on news the beauty company has struck a deal to open skincare shops inside of hundreds of Target stores across the country. Each shop will be about 1,000 square feet and will be staffed with Target employees trained by Ulta.
- Zoom Video (Symbol: ZM) Shares of Zoom sank for a second day following positive news on treatments and vaccines for the coronavirus. Shares of Zoom Video lost 9%.
- D.R. Horton (Symbol: DHI) The homebuilder stock jumped 9.1% after D.R. Horton beat Wall Street estimates on the top and bottom line for its fiscal fourth quarter and raised its dividend. The company earned an adjusted $2.24 per share on $6.4 billion in revenue. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting $1.76 per share on $5.88 billion in revenue. Net sales orders rose more than 80% for both number of homes and total value.
- Beyond Meat (Symbol: BYND) Shares plunged 17% after the plant-based meat producer reported an unexpected quarterly loss as the pandemic weakened demand for its meat alternatives at restaurants. The company posted a loss per share of 28 cents, versus a profit of 5 cents expected per Refinitiv. Its revenue also came in below estimates.
- RealReal (Symbol: REAL) Shares of the luxury consignment company tanked 12.6% after reporting disappointing earnings. RealReal reported a loss of 41 cents per share, compared to the loss of 38 cents expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. The company also said it was not giving future guidance.
- Novavax (Symbol: NVAX) The drugmaker fell 12.9% after missing on the top and bottom lines of its quarterly results. Novavax reported a loss of $3.21, compared to the expected earnings of $1.73 per share, according to Refinitiv. Revenue came in at $157 million, lower than the forecast $230.6 million.
During Premarket hours today – Wednesday (11.11.2020):
- Lyft (Symbol: LYFT) Lyft lost more than $280 million during the third quarter, more than double the loss it reported in the same quarter a year ago. However, Lyft reported better than expected revenue for the quarter and also said it was working on developing a new food delivery service.
*Any information contained in this article, including any information contained in external third party links, if any, is solely for informational purposes and does not contain, or should not be construed as containing, investment advice or an investment recommendation, or, an offer of or solicitation for any transactions in financial instruments. Past performance does not guarantee or predict future performance. Colmex Pro Ltd does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation, and assumes no liability to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, nor for any loss arising from any investment based on presented information.


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Brightstar, Data Select and Micro-P will be the first mobile distributors to bring Acer smartphones to the UK this month.
Brightstar already had an Acer distribution licence, which covers its new handsets. Brightstar has claimed it is Acer’s largest European distributor.
Data Select will stock Acer’s entire UK smartphone range as well as PDAs and laptops.
Data Selec managing director George McPherson said the handsets would initially be sold SIM-free but Data Select would look at other ways to market them.
Said McPherson: “This is going to be a good partnership. It’s early days yet but the brand is good and people are very interested to see where Acer is going.
“It is challenging to come into a market as competitive as the UK, but Acer has nice products and the acceptance of them in our testing has been good.”
Acer has also awarded a UK distribution contract to IT reseller Micro-P, which will sell the devices through its smartphone distribution firm Portix, which it bought from online retailer Expansys for £1.15 million in May last year. Micro-P was unavailable for comment.
Acer UK sales director Julien Bertheuil said the distributors would bring the DX900 and X960 models to the UK this month.
Both are 3G touchscreen handsets although the DX900 features a dual SIM capacity. The X960 is more lifestyle oriented. He said discussions with networks were “ongoing”.


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Campden BRI chosen to support industry network to fight food fraud
Science and Technology Company Campden BRI has been chosen to provide technical and administrative support to the Food Industry Intelligence Network (FIIN).
Campden BRI will curate a database to collect anonymised (via Legal host) industry data on food authenticity testing. They will analyse the data producing regular reports for the FIIN members. Campden BRI will also be responsible for managing the FIIN membership and organising FIIN events.
FIIN was established by industry technical leaders to share intelligence on food authenticity. FIIN currently has 21 members in the UK including major retailers, manufacturers and food service companies.
Helen Sisson, Group Technical Director, Greencore and Co-Chair of the Food Industry Intelligence Network (FIIN), said: "We are delighted to have Campden support FIIN. Their skills in managing the membership will allow us to meet our ambition to grow the network and make it available to any company who wishes to participate. They will also work with FIIN to continue to enhance the reporting back to the members".
Martin Hall, Director of Science, Campden BRI said: "Authenticity assurance remains one of the biggest challenges currently faced by the food and drink industry. FIIN is an important industry network and we are pleased to be able to support it and its members in proactively addressing the issue of food and drink fraud".
If you are interested in joining FIIN, please contact firstname.lastname@example.org


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The spread of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown stopped the celebration of the 11th illa Carlemany People’s Race. Each year in spring, this family and sports event hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Sport and sponsored by the shopping centre brings together more than three thousand people, coinciding with Sports Week for Everyone, a campaign that spreads word of the health benefits of practicing sport.
In view of the situation, the organisers and sponsor have reformulated the event while maintaining its essence: we can’t run all together through the streets and squares of Escaldes-Engordany and Andorra la Vella, but we can continue to practice sport individually or in small groups, while taking all the necessary health measures. As a result, this special week will be featuring the promotion of sport- and health-related messages and suggestions.
This is the culmination of a campaign that began on 10 September, when this year’s event and the image of the traditional commemorative t-shirt were released to the public. Available in blue, yellow and red, the colours of the Andorran flag, this year’s t-shirt has a special drawing that underscores the added importance of wearing a mask, frequent hand washing and social distancing.
The money raised from the t-shirt sales will be donated to a charity fund to mitigate the situation caused by COVID-19 in Andorra. And everyone who purchases a t-shirt will be entered into a draw for twenty-five illa Carlemany gift cards with a value of €50 each, and twenty sets of four cinema admission tickets, in addition to receiving a commemorative mask.
Just as the t-shirt reads, “Move your body safely and don’t give the virus legs to run on“.


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Fortnite has launched its annual Halloween event Fortnitemares.
The update marks the third time the hit 2017 video game has launched a Halloween event and similar to past events, Fortnitemares gives players additional skins, weapons and challenges in celebration of Halloween.
Fortnitemares, which was teased earlier this week on Fortnite’s Twitter account, officially launched on Tuesday (October 29) and is expected to continue through to November 4th. But what does the event actually include?
As part of the update, the new Chapter 2 game map has been updated with a Halloween makeover. An isle at the centre of the map is now called ‘Isle of the Storm’ and is infested with giant purple crystals.
These tentacle-covered crystals generate zombie enemies and will continue to do so until players destroy the crystal.
What’s more, a new limited-time mode has been added to the game which sees the return of the Storm King, an enemy that first appeared in the game’s co-op Save The World mode but now lives at the centre of the isle.
Players must work together to defeat the boss all the while fighting against the game’s zombie enemies. The boss will prove to be an extremely challenging feat, with many users already venting their frustration on Twitter.
Brand New Challenges & More
In addition to the challenging boss fight, the game has been updated with various weapons and skins which allow players to get into the spirit of Halloween and enjoy the spooky holiday. Some of the added cosmetics include the Flaming Pumpkin weapon wrap as well as pickaxes and other outfits.
If that isn’t enough, Fortnitemares has also added several horror-themed challenges located at numerous points over the map including Haunted Forest, Spooky Farm and the Ghost Town.
The challenges include destroying haunted household furniture, leap from a Hideout while an opposing player is within 20m, deal damage to Storm King weak points, revive teammates while battling Storm King, defeat the Storm King, and search a chest in the Haunted Forest, Ghost Town and Spooky Farm.
The launch of the Halloween event comes just days after Epic Games released an update to the game titled Chapter 2. The revamp added a brand new map with 13 new locations, the first new map to be added to the game since it launched back in 2017.
Also added as part of the update was new water-based gameplay including swimming, fishing and motorboats. The update also added other gameplay elements like the ability to hide in tight spaces.
The Fortnitemares Halloween event is expected to continue until Monday, November 4th. Players will have until then to complete as many of the Halloween-themed challenges they can and collect the limited-time cosmetics and rewards. Good luck and enjoy the event.
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The company reported an excellent quarter and the stock is higher by 6.5% early on. However, they issued a warning due to its flagship NYC store undergoing notable softness, thanks to all of the progressives protesting the democratically elected candidate for President of the United States, Donald J. Trump -- right next door at Trump Tower. An analyst from Cowen believes foot traffic could be halved, due to the wanton fuckery that is pervasive and ongoing outside the building. Truly, this cannot be happening at a worse time for Tiffany's, especially when considering the business climate is robust for their overpriced wares and idiot bracelets. The flagship NYC store accounts for about 8% of overall sales. Here's the scene outside of Trump Tower. Source: Bloomberg
Tiffany & Co. said the protests and heightened security around the residence of President-elect Donald Trump have hurt customer traffic at its flagship New York store -- and the company isn’t sure when things will get better. The shop on Fifth Avenue, next to Trump Tower, has seen “sales softness” compared with the year before and relative to the company’s other U.S. stores, Tiffany said in a statement Tuesday. The location is Tiffany’s largest. “The company cannot provide any assurance that sales in that store will not be negatively affected by this activity in the fourth quarter or in any future period,” the jeweler said. Traffic at the store, which has an entrance next to Trump Tower’s, could be cut in half, Cowen & Co.’s Oliver Chen said in a note this month. The analyst trimmed his fourth-quarter earnings forecast for Tiffany by 3 cents a share. “Donald Trump’s election victory may cause an unforeseen headwind to the business in the fourth quarter,” and the disruption could linger and deter foot traffic through the key holiday selling season, Ike Boruchow, an analyst at Wells Fargo & Co., said in a note. Anti-Trump protests have broken out near the residence of the president-elect, and barricades have been erected around the building to control traffic and pedestrians. Tiffany, whose corporate offices also are based in New York, has encouraged customers to enter its store through a side entrance. Elsewhere, Tiffany’s business showed signs of improvement. The company posted third-quarter earnings and sales that topped analysts’ estimates -- led by rebounding demand in Asia -- sending the shares up in early trading.
Content originally generated at iBankCoin.com


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Now the rap mogul and entrepreneur is looking to help the public at large through a partnership with a new telehealth startup known as Jetdoc. In his new role with Jetdoc, Rick Ross will appear in creative campaigns, digital and television ads and other promotional activations designed to educate and inform consumers of this innovative new offering in healthcare.
“As an active artist and businessman, I often don’t have time to see a doctor. I’d make excuses and prioritize my healthcare second to my hustle. Jetdoc is a convenient and affordable alternative to going into a doctor’s office. To me, it’s really the future of healthcare. I wanted to be a part of empowering people to take control of their health regardless of their circumstances. Jetdoc puts the power of managing our health into our own hands,” said Rick Ross.
Ross made a virtual appearance on Good Morning America to spread the word about Jetdoc. Check out his segment below.
As part of today’s announcement, Jetdoc’s national rollout will include an exclusive early access promotion on their website for free virtual doctor visits for the first and early adopters.
Founded by healthcare veteran and entrepreneur, Tommy Duncan, Jetdoc provides affordable virtual healthcare with instant access to telehealth sessions with board-certified doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Priced at just $20 for a one-time virtual urgent care visit or a $10 unlimited monthly membership, Jetdoc fits into every budget—giving millions affordable and convenient access to healthcare. In addition to safe and affordable care, Jetdoc members will also receive a free Jetdoc DiscountRx Card for up to 85% off retail prices for prescription medication at most major retailer pharmacies.
With this partnership, Jetdoc is setting the new standard for the virtual doctor visit—one that provides simple, reliable, and private care at the speed and ease the modern world demands. Jetdoc works to not only alleviate patients’ financial burdens but also improve access to both preventative and urgent care, according to Tommy Duncan, Founder and CEO of Jetdoc, Inc.
“Healthcare isn’t just a passion for me, it’s a must,” says Duncan. “I had a stroke when I was 30 and despite working in the industry, I still had difficulty in getting proper care. So with Jetdoc, we created a tool that empowers everyone to take control and affordably manage their own healthcare. Adding Rick Ross to the team made perfect sense because he immediately understood our mission and he embodies the spirit of both ownership in both health and business.”
The Jetdoc app is now in beta and servicing patients in Florida with additional states to launch at the beginning of 2021. Users can sign up at jetdoc.com. The Jetdoc app is free for download for iOS and Android on the App Store and Google Play.


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A reckoning force across industries, blockchain is impacting the world beyond cryptocurrency.
This article takes you through the latest UI/UX trends and its benefits.
The development of artificial intelligence is now in full swing and chatbots are only a splash on a huge wave of progress.
Location-based technology – namely location data, geo-targeting and geofilters – is opening up a world of possibilities.
AI chatbot helps businesses to automate interacting with customers and potential leads.
NDN Group Shanghai has worked tirelessly with AJ Hackett Macau and successfully established a strong presence on TikTok.
Is mobile video marketing a force to be reckoned with?
WeChat Mini Programs have almost limitless potential. Learn more about how WeChat Mini Program can benefit your business.
We are thrilled to announce NDN Group’s latest partnership with GELOS to introduce Douyin (抖音) TikTok marketing to Hong Kong.
Listed are the essential updates of Facebook, Messenger and Instagram, newly announced on F8, Facebook’s developer conference.


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Samsung dials 'M' to take on Xiaomi
South Korean tech giant Samsung Monday launched its Galaxy M smartphones in the country, a series that has been designed to ground up in India, as it looks to re-capture its pole position from rival Xiaomi.
Samsung has launched two models - M20 and M10 - priced at Rs 7,990 onwards that will be available online from February 5.
"Today's millennials want a smartphone that is lighting fast, runs longer and comes loaded with latest innovations. Meaningful innovation and customer-centric approach form a part of our very DNA and the new Galaxy M series is an embodiment of that commitment," Asim Warsi, senior vice-president of Samsung India, said.
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Earlier, Warsi had said the company aims to clock double-digit growth in the Indian market this year, and the new Galaxy M series would play an important part.
Citing GfK data, Warsi had said the company exited the December 2018 quarter with a 40 per cent value share of the market.
However, reports from other research organisations such as IDC and Counterpoint have positioned Xiaomi to be ahead of Samsung (in terms of units shipped) for many quarters now.
According to Counterpoint, Xiaomi led the smartphone market in India in 2018 with 28 per cent share, followed by Samsung (24 per cent). The hyper-competitive Indian smartphone market witnessed the fastest growth among major markets, expanding by 10 per cent in 2018 over the previous year to over 145 million units, it added.
The Chinese player had entered the Indian market through online channel, and has been focussed on aggressively expanding its offline presence over the last many months.
The M10 features a 6.2-inch display, 3400 mAh battery and 13-megapixel+5MP rear and 5MP front camera. It will be available in 2GB RAM/16GB internal memory and 3GB RAM/32GB memory versions.
The M20, on the other hand, includes a 6.3-inch display, 8MP front camera and 5,000 mAh battery.
It will start taking steps this year to replace plastic packaging materials with paper and other environmentally sustainable elements, Samsung said.
The packaging used currently for Samsung's products and accessories like mobile phones, tablets and home appliances "will be substituted with environmentally sustainable materials like recycled or bio-based plastics and paper".
"To revamp product packaging, Samsung Electronics has formed a task force involving design and development, purchasing, marketing and quality control for innovative packaging ideas," it added.
By 2030, Samsung aims to use 500,000 tons of recycled plastics and collect 7.5 million tonnes of discarded products (both cumulative from 2009), the statement said.
(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
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Noida Traffic Police Advisory: Roads open and close in New Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida during International Trade Show and Moto GP
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Japanese games giant Sega has agreed to buy mobile behemoth Rovio.
The deal is worth €706 million ($776 million) – or €9.25 a share and €1.48 per stock option. This comes in the wake of Israeli firm Playtika attempting to buy the Angry Birds maker.
Sega's plan is to use this acquisition to accelerate its mobile games business. In addition to a walth of mobile expertise and the Angry Birds brand, Rovio also boasts the Beacon live-service platform.
"Among the rapidly growing global gaming market, the mobile gaming market has especially high potential, and it has been Sega’s long-term goal to accelerate its expansion in this field," Sega Sammy group CEO and president Haruki Satomi said.
"I feel blessed to be able to announce such a transaction with Rovio, a company that owns Angry Bird”, which is loved across the world, and home to many skilled employees that support the company’s industry leading mobile game development and operating capabilities. Historically, as represented by the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Sega has released countless video game titles to various gaming platforms. I am confident that, through combination of both companies’ brands, characters, fanbase, as well as corporate culture and functionality, there will be significant synergies created going forward."
Rovio CEO Alexandre Pelletier-Normand added: "Joining Rovio has been an honour and I am proud to have seen Angry Birds continue to grow, as we released new games, series and films. Less known but equally impressive is our industry-leading proprietary technology platform, Beacon, holding 20 years of expertise, allowing tight-knit teams to develop world-class [games-as-a-service] products.
"We are thrilled at the idea of using our expertise and tools to bring even more joy to our players, enhancing and expanding Rovio’s and Sega's vibrant IPs.
"Red and Sonic the Hedgehog: two globally recognized and iconic characters made by two remarkably complementary companies, with a worldwide reach that spans mobile, PC/console, and beyond. Combining the strengths of Rovio and Sega presents an incredibly exciting future."


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Award winning seafood restaurant brand Catch to open new site in Leeds
Formerly known as The Fisherman’s Lodge, Catch - on Street Lane - is reopening its doors to welcome customers following a £200k refurbishment programme.
Catch pride themselves on delivering a casual seafood dining experience, using quality seafood sourced from UK ports.
The investment includes a significant kitchen upgrade and broader menu - alongside traditional fish and chip meals.
The takeaway will also reopen after a refurbishment, it has been announced.
A new bar area has also be incorporated into the site.
Food will be cooked in vegetable oil rather than beef dripping following requests from the local community.
Sarah Stuttle, Managing Director at Catch, said: “We’re all so excited to be expanding the Catch family and opening our 4th restaurant.
"It’s a great achievement for us to have opened in Headingley and now Street Lane in what has been a very difficult year for the industry.
"The Fisherman’s Lodge has been a part of the local community for a long time, and we’re excited to welcome these loyal customers to Catch, as well as some new faces, when
In addition to Street Lane, the Catch group includes the already established restaurants in Holmfirth and West Vale as well as recently opened Catch Headingley.
The first restaurant opened in 2015 in West Vale, and both this site and the Holmfirth restaurant recently won a Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice award.
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News & events
See the Industry Advice Notice for more information
Researchers at Agriculture Victoria look at new sensor and traceability technologies
Agriculture Victoria Research (AVR) demonstrate the benefits of using real-time data loggers and new sensor technologies to monitor the export cool chain. Minimising temperature fluctuations and streamlining the supply chain will improve the quality and consistency of Victorian grown cherries in South East Asian markets.
Monitoring ambient temperatures in export consignments for fresh cherries has never been easier, thanks to the development in real-time data loggers over the past five to ten years.
2021 export workshops
Export workshops for new and experienced growers and packers will be held in June. Read more
April newsletter out now
Read about export workshops, frost fans, legislation, IP and more
Read about the upcoming MRL workshops, export workshop and other industry news
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Want to try something new this year and help take on the Big Victorian Harvest?
Seasonal farm work is available across regional Victoria.
For details about the $2,430 Seasonal Harvest Sign on Bonus and how to find your harvest job, head to agriculture.vic.gov.au/ big harvest
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The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) has announced the successful implementation of the “Protocol 20” upgrade for the Stellar (XLM) blockchain network, marking the official introduction of Soroban smart contracts to the mainnet.
In a recent blog post, the SDF highlighted that the Stellar smart contracts technology stack, designed for scalability and practical application, has entered a new era following the approval of the Mainnet upgrade to Protocol 20 by Stellar network validators on February 20.
Stellar is a decentralized blockchain network designed to simplify cross-border payments and tokenization.
It aims to connect banks, payment systems, and individuals for cost-effective cross-border, cross-asset financial transactions.
The network’s cryptocurrency called the lumen (XLM), is used for paying transaction and account initialization fees.
Stellar is known for its speedy, cost-efficient, and eco-friendly transactions, which are made possible by a unique consensus protocol that sets it apart from other cryptocurrencies.
It was launched in 2014 by Jed McCaleb and Joyce Kim, and the Stellar Development Foundation, a nonprofit organization, operates it.
Stellar’s unique features include its open protocol, support for multi-currency transactions, and its focus on developing markets and use cases such as remittances and bank loan distribution.
The delay in the Protocol 20 activation, originally set for January 30, was a decision by validators who voted to defer the activation due to a bug event. This issue prompted the Stellar network validators to postpone the upgrade.
In the news, is China’s successful conduct of the first digital asset issuance and trading by the Shanghai Data Exchange
The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) promptly addressed the situation by providing an update.
In response to the bug event, validators collectively decided to adopt a phased activation strategy, rescheduled to commence on February 20.
The phased rollout strategy for Soroban smart contracts served the purpose of affording validators and other network participants ample time to observe and evaluate the impact of the new functionality on the network.
This includes monitoring aspects such as performance, security, and stability at each step of the activation.
In pursuit of its vision to expand payment service around emerging markets, Stellar partnered with MoneyGram in 2023 to launch a non-custodial digital wallet on the Stellar blockchain network.
The wallet was built by Cheesecake Labs in partnership with MoneyGram and was offered as a zero-fee service until June 2024.
The wallet is designed to enable consumers around the world to leverage stablecoin technology to seamlessly move from fiat to digital currency, and to fiat again, all with the same global brand they trust.


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OnePlus is making a new phone in the Nord series. We don’t know its name yet. But, a new leak shows us how it looks. Let’s see!
Upcoming OnePlus Nord smartphone render
The big phone company from China, OnePlus, just showed off its best phones, the OnePlus 12 series, all around the world. And now, it seems they might release a new phone that’s not as expensive soon. A report from 91Mobiles talks about a new phone with the model number CPH2613. They didn’t say the name of the phone, but from the pictures, it looks like it might be a Nord phone.
When we look at the pictures, we see that the OnePlus CPH2613 model doesn’t have an alert slider. Expensive phones usually have this feature, but cheaper ones often don’t. So, it might be the next Nord phone, like Nord CE 3 or Nord CE 3 Lite. The pictures show a flat front and back, with round corners. The screen has a small hole in the middle for the selfie camera. On the back, there are two cameras and a flash, all in a pill-shaped module.
The report says the display has an in-display fingerprint scanner underneath. It will probably be a flat AMOLED screen. At the bottom, there’s a primary microphone, USB Type C port, speaker grille, and SIM tray, while the top houses an infrared sensor, a secondary microphone, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Also, the report mentions the Camera FV5 listing. It confirms a 50MP camera on the back with OIS and EIS and f/1.8 aperture. The front camera has 16 megapixels with EIS and f/2.4 aperture.


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A Florida man has been charged with fatally shooting a teenager outside a Jacksonville convenience store following an argument that was triggered because the music coming from the teen's car was too loud. Michael Dunn is facing murder and attempted murder charges in the shooting of 17-year-old Jordan Davis. Davis was waiting inside the car with two other teenagers while the car's 19-year-old driver made a purchase inside the gas station. Dunn was outside the store waiting for his girlfriend.
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Pragmatic Play, one of the world’s leading providers of video slots and live dealer games for online casinos, has announced that its live casino portfolio has received a brand new addition: Speed Blackjack.
The new live dealer game comes with plenty of features that are guaranteed to add a new twist to the classic card game. In Speed Blackjack players can enjoy plenty of side bets, make their gameplay faster with auto-decisions and overall get to appreciate a premium live casino experience.
Speed Blackjack from Pragmatic Play allows simultaneous decision offers, and this feature reduces the game round length by at most 30 percent. Moreover, auto-decisions which are based on the player’s strategy can also lead to swift gameplay.
The new Blackjack variant also comes with an improved user interface, quick seating and game hosts that are highly experienced and well-trained. The game is broadcast from the company’s new Ruby Studio, which was unveiled in February 2022.
The new Ruby Studio features multiple game tables, a lavish background, along with Pragmatic Play’s innovative Chroma Solutions technology, which gives operators the opportunity to opt for bespoke customisation in order to accurately represent their brand. Pragmatic Play’s studio also features 4K camera technology.


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Press Release: Upstream Innovation guide
Published on 19th November 2020
Global Commitment 2021 progress report shows that after decades of growth, virgin plastic use appears to have peaked in 2021 for Global Commitment brands and retailers and is set to fall by almost 20% by 2025
Progress largely driven by recycling but that is not enough to solve plastic pollution - much more focus must urgently go to eliminating single-use packaging
There is unprecedented momentum behind calls for a global agreement on plastic pollution
Global Commitment brands and retailers have collectively reduced their consumption of virgin plastic in packaging for the second year running, according to new data.
Three years after launching the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme said it appeared virgin plastic use had peaked for its signatories and was now on a downward trend.
This trajectory will be accelerated by new commitments that are set to see virgin plastic use fall by almost 20% in absolute terms by 2025 compared to 2018. Setting a reduction target has become mandatory for all the Global Commitment’s 63 brand and retail signatories in 2021.
When combined with the impact of existing commitments, it is estimated that raising ambitions to this level will avoid 8 million tonnes of virgin plastic from being produced each year by 2025. That is equivalent to keeping 40 million barrels of oil in the ground.
While this virgin plastic reduction is a welcome trend, current and planned progress is driven largely by just switching from virgin plastic to recycled plastic. This is just one part of the solution, but does not address the total amount of plastic packaging on the market. There is very little evidence of ambitious efforts to reduce the need for single-use packaging in the first place. Less than 2% of signatories’ plastic packaging is reusable, and for more than half of all signatories, this is 0%.
Dame Ellen MacArthur, Founder & Chair of Trustees of The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said: “We won't recycle our way out of plastic pollution, eliminating single-use packaging is a vital part of the solution. Alarmingly, our report shows little investment in this. We need much more urgent focus on upstream innovation to rethink how to deliver products without packaging or by using reusable packaging. This doesn’t just allow us to design out waste, it also means we can design out carbon emissions whilst creating new opportunities for business. Shifting just 20% of plastic packaging from single-use to reuse is an opportunity estimated to be worth USD 10 billion.
Voluntary initiatives like the Global Commitment have begun to deliver change, but it has been recognised by a large number of businesses and countries that voluntary initiatives alone will not be enough. Global Commitment signatories are responsible for just over 20% of global plastics packaging. We need a coordinated global response so the entire industry and all governments move at the necessary scale and pace.
There is unprecedented momentum behind a global agreement on plastic pollution. Over 80 leading businesses and 119 national governments have called for a global agreement to tackle plastic pollution, and more than 2 million people have signed a public petition in support. UNEA 5.2 in February 2022 is the crucial moment, when governments will decide on next steps, including whether to start an intergovernmental negotiation for a global agreement.
Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director said: "The Global Commitment is showing us that concerted voluntary action by actors across the value chain, including governments, can begin to shift the needle in the fight against plastic pollution. The efforts from all signatories in reporting their progress transparently and with agreed metrics is truly commendable, and a great example to learn from. The frontrunners are also demonstrating that we can decouple the benefits we derive from plastic from the consumption of virgin plastic, and this is groundbreaking. But the action from these frontrunners can be boosted by a comprehensive, inclusive and global approach.”
For more information or to request an interview, please contact Gabriella Hewitt email@example.com
All assets, including the report can be found here.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity that develops and promotes the circular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. in order to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. We work with our network of private and public sector decision-makers, as well as academia, to build capacity, explore collaborative opportunities, and design and develop circular economy initiatives and solutions. Increasingly based on renewable energyEnergy derived from resources that are not depleted on timescales relevant to the economy, i.e. not geological timescales., a circular economy is driven by design to eliminate waste, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature, to create resilience and prosperity for business, the environment, and society.
The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme, unites businesses, governments, and other organisations behind a common vision and targets to address plastic waste and pollution at its source. Signatories will work to eliminate the plastic items we don’t need, innovate so all plastics we do need are designed to be safely reused, recycled or composted, and circulate everything we use to keep it in the economy and out of the environment.
Since launching in 2018, more than 500 signatories have committed to keeping plastics in the economy and out of the environment, including companies representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced globally. All business and government signatories commit to ambitious 2025 targets and public annual reporting.
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
UNEP@50: A time to reflect on the past and envision the future
The 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, was the first-ever UN conference with the word “environment” in its title. The creation of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was one of the most visible outcomes of this conference of many firsts. UNEP was created quite simply to be the environmental conscience of the UN and the world. Activities taking place through 2022 will look at significant progress made as well as what’s ahead in decades to come.
Led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme, the...
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. We develop and promote the idea of a circular economy, and work with business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilise systems solutions at scale, globally.
Charity Registration No.: 1130306
OSCR Registration No.: SC043120
Company No.: 6897785
Ellen MacArthur Foundation ANBI RSIN nummer: 8257 45 925
The work of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is supported by our Strategic Partners and Partners.


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Amazon announced a slew of devices at its event earlier this week. But in addition to those, we also got a timely update from the company. Folks will be happy to know that Netflix will finally be compatible with the Amazon Echo Show devices. Yes, that’s right. After all this time, Amazon and Netflix have decided it’s time for a broader relation. The company will be bringing Netflix to Echo Show later this year. Also Read - Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite to take on Mi TV Stick with a price of Rs 2,999
The first Amazon Echo Show with display launched in 2017, and not supporting Netflix since then didn’t make any sense. And it’s possible Amazon realized that not having Netflix on its platform could be a deal-breaker for many. So, there you have it. Netflix is finally on board. Also Read - Amazon Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Show 10 launched: India prices revealed
Watch: MIUI 12: Here’s the first look of the new Android skin from Xiaomi
Before this, the Echo Show only supported Hulu and Amazon’s own Prime Video service. Opening the gates to other third-party video streaming platforms is the right way to go. And we’re hopeful the likes of Disney+ will be next on the agenda. The company didn’t position the Echo Show as a streaming device, which probably explains its apprehension to bring Netflix for the device. But with competition becoming fiercer, it’s possible that Amazon feels the need to match or better its rivals in the segment. Also Read - How to create Netflix account using your mobile phone
Amazon Echo Show 10 announced with new design mechanism
The Echo Show 10 is an improved version of the smart display with better audio quality and faster Alexa recognition. Amazon has given its a motorized swiveling base that allows the display to automatically face the user. Hence, it will follow you if you move around while in a video call. The Echo Show 10 also gets support for Netflix streaming and it carries a price of $249. This one is not headed to India.
All the Echo speakers now rely on Amazon’s AZ1 chip that’s developed in partnership with MediaTek. The new chip allows the speakers to do voice processing locally.


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It is estimated that there are over 10 tonnes or hundreds of thousands of taels of non-SJC gold on Vietnam market now, local state-run newspaper Tuoi Tre reported June 19.
The cost to convert these gold into SJC gold would amount to tens of billion dongs and it would be a waste, gold experts said.
The opinion raised after the local state-run newspaper Thanh Nien on June 19 quoted Nguyen Hoang Minh, deputy governor of the State Bank of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh branch as saying that the central bank is considering converting non-SJC gold into SJC gold to better manage local bullion market.
There are many other branded gold on circulation now including Phuong Hoang PNJ-DongABank; Sacombank SBJ, Rong Vang Thang Long a product of Bao Tin Minh Chau…
Nguyen Thi Cuc, deputy CEO of PNJ believed that that conversion should not happen as gold traders do not have enough SJC gold to convert, and she concerned about how to convert and who will bear the cost.
Le Tham Duong, head of Business Administration Department of Banking University in Ho Chi Minh said “converting gold brands will be costly and wastes social energy. If the State wants to manage gold market then the State must bear the cost rather than the gold holders and businesses”.
Duong recognised the central bank’s opinion on the matter is gold holders who want to convert must pay fee otherwise they can keep non SJC gold and trade normally, however, gold holders will have to worry about if there will be price squeeze or who will buy these golds.
Tran Thanh Hai, CEO of VGB questioned that who will manage SJC gold production machines and if the management is not properly, it is possible that illegal imported gold will be made into non-SJC gold and then converted into SJC branded gold.


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Colgate-Palmolive Q1 net profit down 11 percent to Rs 169 crore
FMCG major Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd (CPIL) witnessed an 11 percent decline in net profit to Rs 169 crore ($24.6 million) for the first quarter ended June 30, 2019, as against Rs 190 crore it had posted during the same period last fiscal.
The company’s revenue in the April-June quarter also jumped 5 percent to Rs 1,100 crore as compared to Rs 1,050 crore it had reported in the corresponding quarter a year ago.
Commenting on the Q1 results, lssam Bachaalani managing director at Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd in a statement said, “The current quarter saw a moderation in demand impacted by lower than expected growth in the rural markets. We do consider this trend to be temporary and expect a pickup over the coming quarters.”
“Despite the moderation, the company continues to remain focussed on strengthening the core of our business and investing in our advertising and brand building activities,” he added.
CPIL is one of the leading players in India’s personal care segment with a strong portfolio of brands in the grooming segment. Last year, the company had invested Rs 18 crore to pick up a strategic stake in men’s grooming firm Bombay Shaving Company.
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