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Pluses and minuses of the return to business as usual Posted by David Smith at 09:00 AMCategory: David Smith's other articles My regular column is available to subscribers on www.thetimes.co.uk This is an excerpt. Not to be reproduced without permission. Things are changing, and not so imperceptibly. If you have ventured out to the shops in recent days you will have noticed that there are people around. Not necessarily madding crowds, at least in the ones I have visited, but certainly what retailers would call decent footfall. There is also another change underway. The talk is of a return to the office, even for people for whom over the past 12 months, a daily commute, sitting at a desk and face-to-face meetings have seemed about as likely as a trip down the Amazon. Indeed, there
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Pluses and minuses of the return to business as usual
My regular column is available to subscribers on www.thetimes.co.uk This is an excerpt. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Things are changing, and not so imperceptibly. If you have ventured out to the shops in recent days you will have noticed that there are people around. Not necessarily madding crowds, at least in the ones I have visited, but certainly what retailers would call decent footfall.
There is also another change underway. The talk is of a return to the office, even for people for whom over the past 12 months, a daily commute, sitting at a desk and face-to-face meetings have seemed about as likely as a trip down the Amazon.
Indeed, there are hard facts to back this up, The Office for National Statistics (ONS), in its latest weekly assessment of coronavirus and its impact on the economy and society, found that the proportion of the workforce at their normal place of work rose to 49 per cent in the two weeks to April 4 and is clearly on a rising trend.
All of which is rather interesting. Both of these examples of a degree of normality returning have pluses and minuses. The opening up of non-essential retailing is an undoubted plus for the retailers concerned, particularly those which have eschewed an online presence. It is great news for high streets and shopping malls, which have taken on an eerie feel over the past year.
Similarly, the return of people to offices will transform city centres, particularly the centre of London, restore the viability of public transport and allow the tens of thousands of businesses dependent on legions of office workers, and busy offices, to get back on their feet.
All these are undoubted economic and social benefits, along with restoring all the other things missing from our lives during three lockdowns and other restrictions over the past year, including pubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, travel and, perhaps most of all, freedom to do more or less what we want.
But, and there has to be a but, it is also important to recognise that there are minuses in the return to business as usual. One of these could be in the most important driver of prosperity, productivity; the amount we produce per worker, or – a better measure – per hour worked.
A few days ago the ONS published data for productivity in last year. They showed that it was a volatile year, with sharp movements from quarter to quarter and a different picture depending on which measure is used. But output per hour across the whole economy rose by 0.4 per cent last year, during the deepest recession for more than 300 years. This was in sharp contrast to the experience of the last recession, when output per hour fell in both 2008 and 2009.
The simple reason for this was that hours worked fell even more sharply than gross domestic product. Behind this, however, something else important was happening. Productivity held up because of what statisticians call the allocation effect. It means that if you take out the least productive parts of the economy, average productivity improves. You can explain this by reference to batting averages. If you don’t play the three weakest members of the team, or they never get to bat, the average of the team as a whole improves.
This is what happened last year, fairly spectacularly. What is known as the food and beverages services industry – pubs, cafes, coffee shops, restaurants – is a low productivity sector, a dramatic 54 per cent below the average. Lockdowns and restrictions took these players out of the economy for much of last year. In contrast, the share in hours worked rose of high productivity service industries, including legal services, accounting and computer services.
A lot of non-economists have difficulty with the idea that service sector productivity exists and can be measured. But it does, and can be improved – or lese management consultants would be out of a job – and has been important in recent years. The service sector has been the driver of the productivity improvements we have had in recent years, excluding financial services, which has been weak in contrast to the period before the 2008-9 crisis.
One of the elements of improved service sector productivity, which was supercharged last year, has bene the shift to online retailing. Online retailing is more productive than face-to-face. Getting the shop to come to you is more productive than getting you into the shop. Anybody who has worked in a shop during the long, lonely hours when there is nobody in knows this. There are only so many times you can refold a jumper. I make no judgment here on the quality of the shopping experience.
The other big question, which is not yet captured explicitly in official statistics, is the productivity effect of working from home. A study last month by Shivani Taneja and Paul Mizen of Nottingham University, and Nicholas Bloom of Stanford University, based on interviews with some 5,000 full-time UK workers, found a strong preference for continued home-working after the pandemic, for at least two days a week.
Asked about the impact on their own productivity, the most popular answer, from 49 per cent, was that it had made no difference. But some, 29 per cent in all, though their productivity had improved, in some cases substantially so. This exceeded the 21 per cent who thought their productivity had gone down. Controlling these results for the special circumstances of lockdowns is not easy – some will have had to combine home-working with home-schooling – and the results could also reflect people’s preference for working from home.
Another way of looking at it is from the perspective of employers. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) did this in a report earlier this month. It found, in a survey of 2,000 employers, that 33 per cent thought working from home had boosted productivity. This was an increase compared with a June 2020 CIPD survey, in which 28 per cent of organisations reported improved productivity. In the most recent survey, 23 per cent reported a productivity decrease from home-working, pointing to a net benefit. In June last year 28 per cent thought productivity had decreased, so the two balanced out.
This tells us, or tells me, that there were potential productivity improvements that were discovered, almost by accident, during the pandemic. They include, as above, a likely future model of hybrid working, partly at home and partly at work. They should not mean that the share of online shopping goes back to where it was.
Many pubs, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops will not re-open and neither will some retail outlets, as we have seen from John Lewis, and countless others on a smaller scale. This is the creative destruction that results from serious economic shocks. We will see whether it helps lift us out of our long productivity malaise.


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Camille announces Record Store Day 2012 release & Barbican Show 27th April
aaamusic | On 15, Apr 2012
The brilliant and beguiling French artist Camille releases a limited edition 7” vinyl single on Discovery Records for Record Store Day on April 21st 2012. ‘Bubble Lady’ will be limited to 1,000 copies.
One of the most iconoclastic singers of her generation, Camille is internationally celebrated for her innovative vocal effects and dexterous body percussion, for her ability to create unconventional tunes with ridiculously catchy melodies, for the way she segues effortlessly between English and French.
Also compelling live artist, she returns to the stage for one of her biggest UK shows to date, at London’s Barbican Centre on on April 27th.

domain: news


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Dairy Queen is now the latest fast food franchise to ban soda from its menu, according to an announcement letter the company penned to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
“I am pleased to inform you that during our most recent meeting, the [Franchise Advisory Council (FAC)] voted unanimously to remove soft drinks from our kids’ menu,” William Barrier, executive vice president of product development/quality at Dairy Queen, wrote in the letter. “This change will go into effect on Sept. 1, 2015 when new menu board panels arrive at our franchise locations.”
After being badgered by health advocates and the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the company finally agreed to ban soft drinks from menus — in an effort to fight childhood obesity, diabetes, and an overall unhealthy lifestyle in the U.S. Dairy Queen is one of several fast-food chains, like McDonald’s and Chipotle, that are trying to turn over new leaves by offering lower-calorie options, or healthier foods on their menu, or even removing GMO’s from their ingredients.
Recently, Burger King removed sodas from their kid’s menu, and have replaced them with low-fat chocolate milk, fat-free milk, and 100 percent apple juice.
In the letter, Barrier also notes that while DQ is making the change across all of their menu boards, there are some “franchisees that do not receive our point-of-purchase materials so there could be some locations that elect not to follow our recommendation.”
Various studies have shown that drinking soda consistently can increase a person’s risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and poor oral health. Children, in particular, are at higher risks of developing obesity if they consume soda frequently and routinely with meals. According to the CDC, obese children are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, osteoarthritis, and other chronic diseases when they get older. Preventing childhood obesity is important, especially among fast-food chains who have a responsibility to offer healthy options to Americans.


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Driven by farmers, an opportunity to remind people about the fantastic story of food and farming in Scotland will take place this spring.
Writing on the NFU Scotland’s blog , farm union vice president Martin Kennedy announced that such an opportunity will come on Saturday May 23.
‘All too often, an ill-informed small minority have used media platforms to paint our industry in a bad light or tar us with the same brush over production standards in other parts of the world,’ said Mr Kennedy.
He continued: ‘The facts suggest that the public truly values what we do; what we deliver, and we want to meet them and thank them.
‘Whether it is meat, milk, cereals, fruit or veg, Scottish farming produces safe nutritious food grown and reared sustainably, and at the same time delivers so much for the environment through climate change mitigation and biodiversity.
‘All that results in a massive contribution to the rural economy.
‘So let’s come together on May 23 to get that message across. Events being planned for that day will give the opportunity for all involved in farming and crofting to get in front of as many of our consumers as possible to showcase just exactly why we should be proud of what we produce in Scotland.
‘This national day of celebration, to involve events in towns and cities across all our regions will raise public awareness of the benefits of eating Scottish produce to the next level.
‘There’s a lot of excellent information available from other industry organisations and we will build on that to get the true facts and our story out there.
‘This will include some of the excellent work that’s been done by our own climate change policy experts within NFUS and Scotland’s research institutes, independently produced and scientifically-verified, to ensure the information we put into the public domain will be factual.
‘The one thing we can all do is give a little time to try and help the industry. NFU Scotland and others will provide the information that’s required and events will be coordinated through our team of regional managers.
‘We want every member and their families to be involved. We know we can provide the man power, so this is a plea to everyone to be a part of this which I sincerely believe could be a game changer.
‘This is also a plea to all Scottish politicians to back this event as it is in everyone’s interest that we maintain our sustainable food production systems here, and don’t get undermined by trade deals that allow food in from other countries that would be illegal to produce here.
‘We’ve got something to be extrememly proud of, let’s take this opportunity on May 23 to shout it from the rooftops.’
Further details will be provided in the weeks ahead on regional events being planned.


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According to Japanese website “Photo of the Day”, Ricoh will release a new Pentax APS-C DSLR camera next year around CP+ 2020. According to rumors, this camera will be the successor of Pentax K-3 II, but not K-3 III, will be a new line of camera similar to K-3 line with best image quality of all Pentax APS-C cameras. The image processing mechanism of this APS-C DSLR camera will dramatically improved.
From Photo of the Day:
By the way, the story changed, but it is the “successor model” of the K-3 II. It is not a successor model, but is developed as the best model of the PENTAX APS-C single-lens reflex camera, which is different from the K-3 series. It is said that it will be a new line of products released “early” in 2020 next year.
It seems that sensors, image processing engines, and menu GUIs will be completely renewed. “The body size is not much different from K-3 II,” “image quality will improve dramatically,” “Plan by all means, wait and expect,” the person in charge of the plan said.
The new image processing engine seems to have a notable “image processing mechanism”, and the image quality seems to be wonderfully improved, though it is doubtful.


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DNS hacked again with poisoning attack
Amit Klein, of Israeli security company Trusteer, recently released details on DNS server cache poisoning attacks that affect both BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain) and Windows DNS servers. It goes to show that every time you think a problem with a well-known protocol or service has been solved, it may not be.
DNS has been with us since 1983 ó nearly as long as the internet. And although DNS RFCs have come and gone, DNS is still very similar to its original specifications.
[ Read more ]
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SON Microelectronics has signed a deal with Samsung that will see the Edinburgh-based firm’s audio technology used in the Korean giant’s smartphones and tablets.
The agreement will see Samsung, now the world’s biggest seller of smartphones, work with Wolfson as a “primary partner” to develop audio chips for devices including the soon to be released Galaxy S4, the company’s latest iPhone rival.
The City cheered the news yesterday, sending shares in Wolfson up more than five per cent.
Wolfson has worked extensively with Samsung in the past, but the new deal will provide security to cautious investors who have been burned before when the company lost a contract to supply technology to Apple’s iPod and iPhone.
Wolfson boss Mike Hickey said the deal was “a significant milestone”.


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Grip : GRIP July 2011
SALES GRIP SUBARU achieved its revised target of 3000 sales in June, slipping over the line with 3003 units retailed for the month. Sales of all vehicles, according to the latest VFACTS figures, were down 11.6 per cent for an 18,645 year-to-date (YTD) total. Subaru National Sales Manager, Gary Johnston, says he is pleased that Subaru met its target, but much is still to be done. “We are well aware that retailers are facing a number of challenges besides the overall issues we are all dealing with following the disaster in Japan. We know we could have sold a lot more Imprezas if we had access to stock. “There is also a great deal of opportunity with Liberty. “We are developing a new marketing and adver tising strategy for Liberty that should assist things, but it definitely needs to remain a focus for all of us. June aChieVes target sales According to June VFACTS figures, 29,685 vehicles were sold in New South Wales, bringing the half yearly total to 155,083, down 3.7 per cent YTD. New South Wales Subaru sales of 1086 in NSW, were down 37.3 per cent on last June, representing a 3.7 per cent market share. The total included 419 Foresters, 409 Imprezas, 98 Libertys, 112 Outbacks and 48 Tribecas. Queensland Queensland June sales were 21,062 for a six-month total of 103,962. This is down 5167 over the same period last year, with several factors affecting the result, not least the floods. Subaru sold 636 in June, a very good result, down only eight on June 2010. Forester had a 9.4 per cent market share, making it the second top selling Compact SUV, only behind the Nissan X-Trail (303). Impreza was also strong - 255 units were sold, compared to 186 in June 2010. Tribeca was also up, to 29 from 22. South Australia South Australia as a whole continues to struggle, with overall sales down 10.6 per cent for the first half. Subaru June sales of 177 (234 in June 2010) were made up of 81 for Foresters, 51 for Imprezas, 14 Liberty, 22 Outbacks and nine Tribecas. Victoria In the country’s second most populated state, Victoria, Subaru sold 620 in June, in a market of 29,192. It was a tough month for Victorian retailers, with sales down 31.9 per cent over June 2010. With a total of 4284 sales YTD, it represents a 12.2 per cent drop since last year. Forester (227) and Outback (97) were down by around 100 units for the comparable month. Impreza, with 228, exceeded last June by seven. Tasmania Subaru June sales in Tasmania totalled 90. The traditional stronghold for the brand is down 16.8 per cent year-to-date, reflecting several factors, one being supply, but things “Forester sales were again strong and while not the top selling SUV for June, it remains so year-to-date. “There are Columbia specials coming this month, which includes a special offer worth over $2000 (RRP) or more of added benefits for Forester XS, Outback and Tribeca. “These are great deals and the sales incentive provides plenty of motivation for sales for Outback Columbia and Forester XS Columbia. “Every sale puts the salesperson into a ‘spin and win’ competition, with each sale worth $250. This can be spent on prizes and vouchers through the Incentive Rewards Catalogue on Subaru Central.” state-bY-state sales uPdate are tough on the Apple Isle at the moment, both in the private and public sectors. Forester was still the top selling Compact SUV (43 sold, ahead of X-Trail with 25). National Total sales across the industry were 496,241 YTD, according to VFACTS, down from 531,168 (-6 .6 per cent) from January to June last year. This state-by-state sales review will form a regular part of the new GRIP format. It is intended that GRIP will now be published at the beginning of each month to make the news as up- to-date as possible on the sales front. The Subaru SUV Columbia range provides a great deal for customers and strong incentives for sales staff. INSIDE GRIP HOME PAGE PARTS & ACCESSORIES AFTERSALES MOTOR SHOW MARKETING SALES DEALER NEWS JARVIS SUBARU NEWS SALES TRENDS SPORT
GRIP August 2011


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Lvmh: Life Isn't All Champagne And Caviar
French luxury-goods mogul Bernard Arnault is not accustomed to defeat. Since he made a successful run for an ailing textile company that included fashion design house Christian Dior in 1984, Arnault has used surprise takeover tactics and financial acumen to build an $8 billion global powerhouse, selling everything from Louis Vuitton luggage and Christian Dior perfumes to Moet & Chandon champagne and Hennessy cognac. But recently, the 49-year-old president of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton has suffered a surprising series of setbacks.
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- Uber Paid Hackers to Delete Stolen Data on 57 Million People
- Tesla’s Burning Through Nearly Half a Million Dollars Every Hour
- New Uber CEO Keeps Finding Horrors at Every Turn
- Facebook to Show Users Which Russian Propaganda They Followed
- Jamie Dimon Says He'd Bet Donald Trump Doesn't Win Again in 2020


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A Darlington/Co Durham/North East social business venture, launched to provide training, employment and business opportunities for young people, is celebrating after scooping a top national award which will help turn its expansion plans into reality.Patchwork People is the brainchild of social entrepreneur Gill Walker, who started the venture two years ago in Darlington. The intention was to provide a safe and secure training and development environment for young people as Gill felt the available provision did not meet the need.
The first group of young people came up with and developed the “Labelled” brand – re-selling good quality designer clothes and accessories. They chose the name as they felt that young people are labelled by the way they look, they sound and behave.
Initially, the business traded on market stalls at festivals and events across the region from Whitely Bay to Middlesbrough. This provided a showcase for their wares before a ‘fairy godmother’ landlord offered shop premises in West Auckland Road, Darlington, in October 2011.
Yesterday, (May 15) Patchwork People scooped one of the top awards at The Big Venture Challenge Awards Ceremony in London after being chosen as a winner from the tens of thousands of social enterprises operating in England.
Patchwork People will now receive an extensive package of business support in the next year, aimed at assisting with its preparation for growth across the UK. There will also be specialist advice to attract financial investment which will be matched by up to £100,000 from the Big Venture Challenge in grants and soft loans.
This will help Gill and her team take a big step closer towards the dream of launching 15 new stores across the country in the next three years.
‘We are delighted everyone’s hard work has been recognized,” said Gill, who launched the business venture which is run by young people for young people. “Patchwork People supports young people by helping those furthest from the jobs market by creating self employment and developing skills.
“In the last two years more than 70 young people from the Darlington/Durham and Tees Valley area have been involved in the business and have thrived in a real working environment.
“They are responsible for everything – from pricing, profits, customer care, display and sales, targets to marketing, design and re-investment. Our young people are gaining accredited training qualifications and a whole range of skills.
“Our aim us to build on the success of the Darlington enterprise and open another 15 stores across the UK in the next three years.
“Winning this award is a huge step towards that goal and a great tribute to everyone involved in Patchwork People,” said Gill, who has used the skills she developed as a teacher, Head Teacher and Assistant Director of Children’s Services in this venture.
“We plan to replicate our unique, high street presence to enable many more young people, furthest from the job market, to enjoy success. Big Venture Challenge will help us to attract the investment we need to achieve this aim.”
Patchwork People has already began working on its high street expansion plan which will help hundreds more young people prepare for the jobs market. Recently, Gill and Operations Director Marj Newman have been working closely with franchise specialist Julie Waites, of The Franchise Company, which is also based in Darlington. Together, the trio have fine-tuned the business model and developed an operations manual in preparation for expansion.
“These unique high street venues will support many young people with additional needs to greater personal independence and self employment,” said Gill. “This award could not have come at a better time as our business model is ripe for social investment and is timely given the high level demand on social care and benefits.”
Find out more about Patchwork People on their website.


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U.S. pushes for more access to Japan auto, insurance markets
By Stanley White
TOKYO (Reuters) - The United States urged Japan on Monday to open its auto and insurance markets more to foreign companies as the two countries pursue bilateral talks linked to a broader free-trade agreement that covers two-fifths of the globe.
The United States hopes to make a proposal to Japan on its trade barriers in September, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said, as part of a drive to reach a conclusion on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade initiative by the end of the year.
Reports that Japan's government is willing to phase out tariffs on 85 percent of goods under negotiations for the TPP are a "good initial step", Froman said, suggesting there was still a gap between the trading partners.
"The foreign share of the Japanese auto market is about 6 percent," Froman told a news conference.
"The foreign share of the U.S. auto market is closer to 40 percent. I don't think there is any question that the U.S. market is quite open."
The U.S. government has long pushed for fewer tariffs on its cars and more access to Japan's insurance market but has met with little success.
U.S. markets are some of the most open in the world, Froman said, suggesting there was not much that the United States could offer in return to the access that it was seeking.
However, making it easier for foreign firms to do business in these two areas would increase Japan's productivity, contribute to its economic growth strategy and help secure progress in TPP negotiations, Froman said. Continued...


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Sunday, July 11, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Shelley Hack will make an appearance at the Super Megashow & Comic Fest this July 9 to 11, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza 690 Route 46 East Fairfield, New Jersey. This will be a her first East Coast appearance at such an event. Last year, she attended the Hollywood Collectors Show in Burbank, California where she met fellow angel Tanya Roberts.
(thank you to www.charliesangelsitalia.it for the photo)
Posted by nico at 9:23 AM


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TAIPEI, Taiwan — Starting in October, all hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores in New Taipei will stop selling single-use plastic shopping bags to customers, as part of effort to reduce plastic waste, the city’s Environmental Protection Department said on Friday.
The program, which was first implemented in May on a trial basis in 21 stores, will be expanded to another 330 stores in July, the department said.
By October, all 2,630 stores in the city will be part of the trial program, according to the department.
Starting on Jan. 1, 2018, the program will be officially adopted and hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores in the city will only be allowed to sell plastic bags that can be reused as certified garbage bags to customers asking for a temporary shopping bag. Any store found to be in violation will be fined, the department said.
Under the “per-bag trash collection fee” system implemented in Taipei and New Taipei, residents are required to put household garbage in certified garbage bags to be able to dump it in a garbage truck.
Since 2003, the Environmental Protection Administration has prohibited certain stores from providing customers with free plastic shopping bags.
This ban applies to government agencies, schools, department stores, shopping malls, hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores and fast-food restaurant chains.
On Jan. 1, 2018, the ban will be expanded to include pharmacies, drug and cosmetics stores, medical instrument stores, retailers of electrical appliances, cameras, information and communication equipment, book and stationery stores, laundries, beverage stores and bakeries.


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MUMBAI:Internet and Mobile Association of India [IAMAI] and IMRB International report depicts 100 per cent growthinusage ofsocial media in rural Indiaduringthe last one yearwith25million users in rural India. On the other hand, urban India ... Indian Television, 2 weeks ago
Social media use doubles in rural India - WARC, 2 weeks ago
Rural India's social media usage grows by 100%: IAMAI - Digital Market Asia, 2 weeks ago
MUMBAI:India, with over 300 million internet users, is the second largest mobile market of the world, only after China. But, 300 million out of 1.2 billion population, surely leaves a lot of room for improvement. Urban India dominates 33 per cent of ...Indian Television, 2 days ago Social media users in India reach 143 mn in Apr: IAMA Business Standard, 2 weeks ago Social media users in India to reach 143 million in April: IAMA Economic Times, 2 weeks ago 'Social media users in India reach 143 million in April' Oneindia, 2 weeks ago
As a debate continues on 'net neutrality', the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) today alleged that Trai was furthering the agenda of telecom operators on this issue.Times of India, 2 months ago Anonymous India attacks Trai website again Rediff.com, 2 months ago Net Neutrality deabte: Is Trai favouring telecom operators? Tech2, 2 months ago Net Neutrality: Facebook defends platform; Cleartrip logs out Economic Times, 2 months ago
Indore, June 5: 250 apps developers and 12 Internet Companies participated in an Apps Job Fest organized by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) in Indore on Friday, June 5. The Apps Job Fest is a pioneering concept focused on connecting Apps ...One India, 1 month ago Of Course Comcast Is Interested In Buying T-Mobile DangoteNews.com, 2 weeks ago ISPs call for open Internet in SA Businesstech.co.za, 3 days ago We support net neutrality fully: Subho Ray, President of Internet and Mobile Association of India Economic Times, 2 months ago
International Telecom Union meet: GSMA hopes for four new spectrum bands in next 10 years for a 'Digital India'
NEW DELHI: India's telecom industry, led by top lobby group GSM Association, is building a case for four new spectrum bands as part of its 2025 vision in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) forum, scheduled in November. At the ITU's ...Economic Times, 1 week ago Telecom industry hopes for four new spectrum bands in next 10 years Times of India, 1 week ago
NEW DELHI: Industrial body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) today reaffirmed its support for 'net neutrality', but also made a strong pitch for 'net equality' that will enable access to Internet for a billion Indians as part of the governments ...Economic Times, 2 months ago Paid prioritization of content delivery against net neutrality, says DoT panel Times of India, 6 days ago Subho Ray, : Net neutrality is a must The Financial Chronicle, 2 months ago Net Neutrality In India: DoT Opposes Zero Rating Plans But Suggests Regulation of Local Voice Call Service By OTTs Trak.in, 4 days ago
Few Sec ago Business Wire India The GSMA welcomes the announcement by South Korea's mobile network operators to launch the world's first commercial interconnected VoLTE service. The service, which is supported by the Ministry of Science, ICT and ...India Online.in, 2 weeks ago Korean VoLTE, India Digital Push Showcase Public-Private Momentum TMC Net, 2 weeks ago
Four million mobile subscribers have supported COAIs campaign favouring net neutrality for internet-based communication services like WhatsApp and Skype and their being subject to norms similar to those applying to mobile phone operators, the apex body of ...Deccan Herald, 2 months ago Do 40 Lakh Users Who Supported SabkaInternet Know What They Really Supported? Trak.in, 2 months ago
Telecom lobby group Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Sunday claimed that 40 lakh mobile subscribers have supported its ‘campaign’ that calls for Internet-based communication services such as WhatsApp and Skype be subjected to similar ...Asian Age, 2 months ago
Global e-Commerce sales made via mobile devices are expected to cross $638 billion by 2018, according to the joint study brought out by ASSOCHAM and Deloitte. Currently, the availability of e-Commerce applications on various mobility devices is helping to ...DNA, 2 hours ago Global e-commerce sales via mobiles may touch $638-billion mark by 2018: Study Livemint.com, 22 hours ago Global ecommerce sales via mobiles may touch USD 638 billion mark by 2018 - report Paypers, 20 hours ago
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Founder of Galaxy Digital and billionaire cryptocurrency investor Mike Novogratz expects Bitcoin to remain range bound for a while after the recent price pump. He believes that Bitcoin is not going past $30,000 anytime soon and that there’s not much institutional money coming into the space for now. During his recent interview with Bloomberg TV, Novogratz said:
“Will Bitcoin get through $30,000 on this move up? We will see — I’m doubtful. I think we’re going to probably be in this range now. I quite frankly would be happy if we’re in a $20,000, $22,000 or $30,000 range for a while. We’re not seeing huge institutional flows, to be fair, but we’re not seeing anyone back away.”
As of press time, Bitcoin is currently trading at $23,838 levels with a market cap of $454 billion. The recent pullback has given fresh hope to investors after massive selling that ensued during the first half of 2022.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Digital CEO expects Ethereum to reach $2,200 or higher considering the recent momentum and the software upgrade leading to The Merge. Currently, Ethereum is trading for just under $1,800 levels.
Looking at the current macro setup, Mike Novogratz is also not expecting any mega bull run this year. With the Federal Reserve tightening rates, “I don’t see the mania that we saw in 2021 or 2017 reigniting,” he said.
Galaxy Digital Reports Half-A-Billion Loss In Q2 2022
Earlier on Monday, August 8, Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital reported a loss of $554 million. The net losses widened nearly three times in comparison to Q2 2021. The official press release noted:
The increase in loss was primarily related to unrealized losses on digital assets and on investments in our Trading and Principal Investments businesses, due to decreased digital asset prices, partially offset by profitability in our Mining business.
Galaxy Digital was one of the biggest investors in the Terra ecosystem. The collapse of Terra LUNA was a major blow eroding massive wealth for the company.
The post Bitcoin Not Going to $30,000 Anytime Soon, Says Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz appeared first on cryptotimes24.com.


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Ashkan Karbasfrooshan has a simple philosophy when it comes to monetizing online video, which can be summarized in five points:
1. People like watching online video.
2. Advertisers prefer professional content over UGC.
3. Media companies want more videos on their websites but may not have the know-how or staff.
4. Make a ton of professional-looking videos and sell them to media companies.
His company, WatchMojo.com is celebrating 100 million total streams in four years of existence. And the growth has been exponential. According to numbers provided by the company, WatchMojo crossed:
– 25 million streams in April 2008
– 50 million in April 2009
– 100 million in December 2009
But numbers have little more than symbolic meaning online if there’s no money to be made from it (cue reference to theoretical Internet dollars from South Park).
WatchMojo has been a sustainable business precisely because it does more than just pump out video content. It also acts as a broker between advertisers and websites that want to increase engagement with video.
In addition to licencing its videos to video-hungry sites, it also customizes its own massive video library for advertisers. For example, McDonald’s wanted some pre-roll ads targetting moms to appear on a kids’ website. WatchMojo re-cut videos on yoga, beauty and fitness with the McDonald’s brand attached to it.
In a similar deal with the Canadian Association of Optometrists, it created videos on eye health which appeared on MySpace, Facebook, and several health websites.
“More and more, advertisers seek to reach audiences based on psychodemographics and interest, if you’re McD’s, you want to reach mothers and mothers tend to be in yoga and all that stuff,” Karbasfrooshan recently told me.
It seems the company is confident that video can be a treatment for the revenue measles affecting traditional media. As newspapers flirt once again with the idea of paywalls, Karbasfrooshan argues it best to keep websites free, streamline cost structure and, yes, invest in more video. He went as far as suggesting to me recently that WatchMojo would bea great acquisition for a newspaper company.
I’d be curious to hear what others who follow the plight of publishing think about this.
The company also has its sights on mobile video, trusting predictions that the mobile web will surpass the desktop web in only three years.
Based on this bullish attitude, I recently recommende him as a panelist at the next Mobile Monday Montreal, on Feb. 1, where the topic will be, precisely, mobile video.


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One of the hottest pieces of property in all of McMinnville sold last week at auction.
What is best known as the old Middle Tennessee Natural Gas building on N. Chancery Street will soon be the new Coffee Bank & Trust building.
Bank officials say the plan is to level and remove the current building. Then a sparkling new facility will be constructed at that location.
“We’re really excited about getting a piece of property at that location,” said Chase McGee, city president of Coffee Bank. “Based on traffic studies, there is more traffic in that area than anywhere else in all McMinnville.”
Coffee Bank & Trust opened its first office in McMinnville about six weeks ago at the old Allstate building not far from McDonald’s. Chase said at that time the location was only temporary and the bank would be searching for a permanent home with more space and a drive-thru window.
The search didn’t take long.
So what happens next? Chase says Coffee Bank still has to complete the typical closing process and then an architect will be hired to design plans. The current structure will need to be removed and then construction can begin.
“We’re hoping to move pretty quickly and have something in place by 2022,” said Chase.
Banking, just like every other industry, has evolved over the years. Regions Bank is the most recent bank to build a new office in McMinnville and its facility on Smithville Highway is heavy with drive-thru and ATM features.
Chase said Coffee Bank is not looking to copy the Regions Bank formula.
“I think we’re going to have more of a traditional building with more of a community bank feel,” said Chase.
Closing procedures typically take around a month which means Coffee Bank will likely have ownership of the property in early January. That will give the bank the entire calendar year to meet its goal of opening in 2022. Good luck!
If you think of a Goodwill store with style and flair, you get a picture of Jamie Alford’s new store called Revive. It’s located at Village directly behind Buckeye Home Medical Equipment.
Jamie has one-of-a-kind fashions available at Revive, which gets its name from recycling gently used clothing and finding a new owner for it.
“I was reading that it takes clothing about 200 years to completely break down once it’s in a landfill,” said Jamie. “All of this clothing is in very good condition. Most of it is used clothing, or as I like to say, it’s recycled. Some items are brand new and still with tags.”
Jamie says sometimes clothing gets stained, or has holes, and those items need to get tossed in a landfill. They are not in her store.
But she says there’s no reason to push aside clothing that’s still in great shape that can spice up the wardrobe of its new owner.
Jamie has been selling her vintage and modern thrift items online for several years. She made the decision she would like to try a physical store to see how it goes.
It’s been said you can never have too many shoes and Revive has a wide selection of foot apparel, including some nice boots. There is a wide selection of handbags, belts, scarves, sunglasses, jewelry, and other items.
As an added convenience, Jamie says shoppers can check out items on her Facebook page, which is Revive by Jamie, and decide the item they would like to purchase. Then they can Venmo her the money and stop by the store and pick it up.
Jamie says it would be her preference for her store to face Chancery Street, but she adds people have been able to find it when she tells them it’s behind Buckeye and next to the Village car wash bays.
Regular hours are Monday thru Thursday from 4:30 to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store is normally closed on Friday and Sunday, although Jamie will set up special appointments as necessary.
Revive can be reached at (931) 743-7321.
Everybody seems to be hiring and that includes Fazoli's, which has plans to open in McMinnville in late February. Fazoli's has a daunting task at hand with local restaurant owner Bill Townsend telling the Southern Standard he would like to hire 70 employees.
It all starts this Monday at the new Fazoli's at 814 Smithville Highway. The restaurant is in need of an assistant general manager and three assistant managers. Stop by Monday if you'd like to apply.
Industrial Development Board executive director Don Alexander held a sounding board meeting earlier this month with six local industry leaders, along with officials from a company in Smithville and a company in Manchester.
Don said the purpose was to talk to these industry executives to better learn the challenges they are facing and what, if anything, the IDB and other agencies like the Business Roundtable Action Committee can do to help.
Don said industry leaders told him employee retention is a major concern because employees of today seem to crave flexibility over a rigid schedule. It was noted that manufacturing companies can't provide a work-from-home option for many of their employees.
Don said it was also expressed that basic soft skills are lacking for many of today's workers. By soft skills Don means things like dressing appropriately and showing up on time.
One positive development is our area's push for more housing. Providing quality jobs and quality housing are two things which go together, said Don.
"Why do all of this industrial development if they're going to go someplace else to live," said Don. "The emphasis I'm seeing here is there needs to be more residential development and that's going to help everything, including our industries."
Don said most of our local industries are thriving. He said the exception are those that rely exclusively on automotive production because the chip shortage has resulted in fewer vehicles being produced.
That's all folks
May business news be waiting for you under the tree this year. Email any tips if you'd like to report news to this column at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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HP President and CEO Meg Whitman last night announced the 8 percent cut to HP’s 350,000 employees in an effort to reinvest an annual saving of US$3.5 billion per year.
“These initiatives build upon our recent organisational realignment and will further streamline our operations, improve our processes and remove complexity from our business,” Whitman said in the statement.
“While some of these actions are difficult because they involve the loss of jobs, they are necessary to improve execution and to fund the long-term health of the company. We are setting HP on a path to extend our global leadership and deliver the greatest value to customers and shareholders.”
The largest cutback in the California-based company’s 73-year history will be met with multiple business adjustments according to the statement.
“HP expects to achieve additional savings from non-headcount cost reductions, including supply chain optimisation, SKU and platform rationalisation, go-to-market strategy simplification and business process improvement,” HP’s statement said.
“These moves are expected to yield significant improvements in efficiency and customer service during the next several years. HP expects to use the savings to boost investment in innovation around its three areas of strategic focus: cloud, big data and security.”
The changes are as a result of growing competitiveness of tablets and smartphones in the computing industry with HP’s quarterly earnings growth down 44 percent and its quarterly revenue growth down seven percent in 2012’s first quarter.
HP is yet to confirm the where the layoffs will take place but is offering an early retirement plan for some axed employees.


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KIRKWOOD, Mo. (KMOV.com) – A woman was caught on camera stealing packages off of a Kirkwood couple’s front porch. Now, the suspect’s image is spreading quickly across social media sites to try and identify her.
Around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2, a home security camera captured a female suspect stealing three packages from the front porch steps of Sarah and Stahle Butler’s home. She made off with items totaling in $60 value. The Butler’s say the packages are not a big loss, but they did lose a feeling of comfort in their own home.
“It’s just the fact that you want to be able to trust your neighbors and be able to get packages without having to worry about it,” said Stahle Butler. KMOV St. Louis


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Global giants make splash at Deal 2008
Dubai, April 21, 2008
Top waterpark specialists from around the globe are in Dubai to showcase the latest in entertainment, amusement and leisure products at the Dubai Entertainment, Amusement & Leisure Show (Deal 2008).
According to organisers, the entertainment expo, which runs up to April 22, is witnessing a big turnout of water animation companies.
“Water has always been seen as a luxury and something to be enjoyed here in the Middle East. Now, with mammoth tourism developments such as Dubailand taking shape, the market for water-based entertainment is about to surge,” said Abdul Rehman Falaknaz, president of show organisers International Expo Consults (IEC).
“This year’s expo is testament to that fact, and we are proud to be welcoming some of the world’s leaders in water park technology to the show,” Falaknaz added.
UK-based Murphy’s Waves is one such exhibitor. The company is promoting its new Point Break Surf System at the show.
“Murphy’s Waves plan to locate the new Point Break Surf System at prestigious locations around the world creating a professional surfing competition circuit with international media coverage, sponsorship and prizes. One such location for a Point Break Surf Pool would be in the Middle East and the Deal convention will provide Murphy’s Waves with an ideal opportunity to discuss the opportunity with developers,” said Jim Stuart, sales director, Murphy’s Waves Ltd.
In recent years, Murphy’s Waves Ltd has designed and manufactured wave machines for several projects throughout the Middle East. The company installed the Family Wave Machine at Dubai’s Wild Wadi, an Action River Wave Machine at Kuwait Aqua Park, and a Survival Training Wave Machine at Abu Dhabi’s Survival Centre.
"The Middle East has now become the market for leisure and tourism, out-stripping even the more established locations such as the US, Spain and the long-haul destinations in Australia and New Zealand."
"Now, with more flight options than ever before, the Middle East is quickly becoming the preferred holiday destination for a whole new generation of families. This increase in tourism will create a demand for high-quality amusement and leisure facilities, leading to continued growth in the industry," said Stuart.
“As the world leaders in wave machine technology, Murphy’s Waves are looking forward to continued growth in the water park and leisure sectors throughout the region,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service


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Clicks2Customers rebranded to NMPi as part of global growth strategy
South African digital marketing stalwart, Clicks2Customers has rebranded its local operations to NMPi as part of the group’s global re-name, as the company expands both its offering and global footprint. Clicks2Customers, which has operated in the local market for 15 years, began trading as NMPi as of 30 May 2017. NMPi now has offices in Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Switzerland, with plans to roll out the NMPi brand across its offices in Asia and the United States in the coming months.
‘The rebrand is a culmination of months of planning to align our service offering and company into a global outfit which is able to provide the very best insight, strategy and delivery to South African companies. Our clients can expect the same business and technical support, with the added benefit of all the knowledge and deep insight from our global team,’ commented Adriaan Strydom, Managing Director of NMPi South Africa.
NMPi’s holding company, IncuBeta, is also a South African success story, with its global headquarters in Cape Town. The company began in 2003 and has grown steadily, now employing more than 400 full-time staff in offices in 13 countries.
‘NMPi South Africa is expected to see good growth over the next year. The global NMPi group, meanwhile, will continue to expand into new markets allowing the transfer of some unique strategies, processes, and tools. Together, we are strengthening our international positioning and our comprehensive services which will, in turn, significantly benefit local clients,’ said Alan Lipchitz, IncuBeta Group CEO.
NMPi is a digital performance marketing company. It’s services include: digital strategy and planning, SEO, display marketing and media buying, Real Time Bidding (RTB), paid search (PPC), social media marketing, analytics, and data intelligence. The company’s innovation hub, now re-branded as NMPi Labs, will continue to focus on research and development. It currently offers augmented and virtual realities strategy as well as campaign execution and measurement.
‘The South African market is showing a growing sophistication as our local marketing professionals embrace new technology and its ability to deliver meaningful business benefits. NMPi South Africa is ideally positioned to help clients deliver campaigns which can easily measure up to the best in the world,’ said Jonathan Gluckman, CEO of NMPi Asia-Pacific and Africa.
Local NMPi clients include: Clicks, MWeb, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company, Loot and Europcar. Internationally, the company also boasts some of the most recognisable brands including: Papa Johns, Woolworths (AU), Saks Fifth Avenue and Transavia.


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After all, with childhood obesity on the rise, shouldn't the focus now be on how to sell healthy crisps to small people with big appetites?
In devising a workable answer to the above questions, companies are having to indulge in trickery. As the number of overweight children in Europe tops the 14m mark, and with one in five US children now classed as overweight, it's time for a little subterfuge in the battle of the waistlines.
A number of canny companies have cottoned on to the clever tactic of using fruit (typically apples) in place of the standard deep fried potato crisp.
By substituting healthier alternatives for the stuff that starts clogging young arteries, these innovators can go some way towards bridging the gap between the food kids want and the food they should have.
Sadly though, this niche remains a relatively untapped resource with most crisp companies focussing on reformulating their existing lines - wheeling out varieties promising healthier cooking methods, different types of oil, all-natural preservatives and so on and so on.
Rehashing the same old crisps does not go far enough and may even prove a step backwards in changing consumer attitudes to junk food by putting a veneer of healthiness on a product which is generally unhealthy and shouldn't be seen as an acceptable dietary choice.
What's needed is complete reinvention in the sector and there's no reason why this should impact negatively on sales.
If marketed along the same lines - the same character licensing, luridly coloured bags and relentless advertising - it is possible to pull the wool over the eyes of saturated fat-grabbing children long enough to get something healthier into their system.
Admittedly, no child is going to confuse a fruit-based crisp with the traditional potato variety but, once it's purchased, taken home and tried, the manufacturers have won the battle and are on course to take the war as well - provided they can deliver on taste.
Of course this concept has applications for the adult market too. Even mature consumers aren't above a bit of psychological misdirection and, when it looks like a crisp bag, feels like a crisp bag and is sold as a crisp bag the difference between the impostor and the real thing isn't always readily apparent.
While at first glance, the fruit as crisp ruse doesn't appear to be a cash cow, food companies need not be hesitant and shouldn't ignore the burgeoning potential of the dried fruit market.
Analyst Leatherhead International calculate the sector was worth $649 million (€487.9m) in the US, Australia, Japan and the largest five European markets last year and expect growth of 14 per cent in the next five years.
This growth is ripe for further exploitation by bringing in young consumers and families.
Large companies like Kellogg have already made tentative steps into the 'faux' junk food sector with products such as Fruit Winders - one long fruit strip coiled into a roll closely resembling bubblegum.
But now smaller companies are getting in on the act. Last month, a Scottish manufacturer of apple crisps, Snapz, won a contract to supply the major UK retailer Tesco with the brand and enthused about the potential for the product in lunchboxes throughout the English educational system.
Organix, a British firm, has diversified further with a range specifically formulated for babies and the very young. This line includes carrot sticks twisted into the bizarre nodule shapes that children seem inexplicably drawn to and associate with unhealthier fare.
The nutritional tide is turning. Given the soaring unpopularity of 'junk' foods and the proliferation of regulation tightening the rules on everything from advertising to additives, the snack industry is overdue an overhaul.
Perhaps it's time snacks got fruity?
Catherine Boal is editor of bakeryandsnacks.com and confectionerynews.com. She has worked as a journalist in Ireland, the UK, South Africa and France.
If you would like to comment on the issues raised in this article, please email catherine.boal 'at' decisionnews.com


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With HBO MAX Coming, AT&T Targets 50 Million HBO Subscribers By 2025, From 35 Million Today
With so much attention surrounding the upcoming launch of HBO Max, questions have risen as to whether or not the WarnerMedia owned service will be able to compete in such a saturated space with Netflix, Hulu and Amazon still dominating and without a clear distinction from the HBO brand, which is generally not family-oriented .
According to The Information, WarnerMedia is expecting to garner 50 million subscribers, including HBO’s 35 million subscribers, within the next five years, in order to remain competitive. The goal for the company is not necessarily have the biggest share in the market, but to be one of the top services consumers turn to for content once the dust settles on all the streaming services coming out.
Back in June, WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey told CNBC, “Media has moved into an environment where scale is essential. Somebody in the legacy media space will build a platform of scale and get to 70 million to 80 million subscribers. We’d like it to be us. If you keep the cultures separate, you’ll never get the benefits the three together [HBO, Warner Bros. and Turner] bring.”
With legacy programming such as Friends and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air coming to HBO Max, as well as the catalog of HBO programming, it is expected that the service will attract a hefty number of viewers. However, even if the service meets its quota of 50 million subscribers, it still has a long way to go.
Back in July, Netflix reported their U.S. paid subscribers to over 60 million. Globally, the streaming giant boasts a whopping 150 million subscribers — 100 million more than HBO currently projects in the next 5 years.


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Spray moves into phone market
30 Mar 2005, 17:10
Published: 30 Mar 2005 17:10 GMT+02:00
The company claims the new venture was motivated by its customers' desire to have broadband and telephone charges on the same monthly bill.
The service, which is scheduled to launch on June 1, will cost 118 kronor a month plus call charges.
Daniel Dersén, a spokesperson for Spray, says, "Our strategy is that our customers will always be able to ring more cheaply than with Telia, Tele2 and Glocalnet."
With Spray firmly established as an internet service provider, it remains to be seen whether the company will be able to sustain this new challenge, particularly as the increasing adoption of IP telephony in the Nordic market is threatening to make traditional landline telephones a thing of the past.


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The Resideo warehouse in Nagykanizsa, Western Hungary has recently changed hands, Cushman & Wakefield announced on LinkedIn.
The seller Xantilon was represented by Cushman & Wakefield during the sale of the Resideo warehouse in Nagykanizsa. The buyer of the 4,200 sqm warehouse was the Pannónia Pension Fund.
According to the Pannónia Pension Fund's 2020 annual report, the company is constantly looking to acquire and exploit properties with good yields. Their portfolio includes, for example, retail assets leased to nationally known retail chains and the Benczúr 11 development in Budapest’s 6th district, which includes 39 apartments and office space of over 1,800 square metres.
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Today Sony decided to release a video teasing their PlayStation 4 console. Sony’s marketing department uploaded the video just one before Microsoft announce the Xbox 720, making the Xbox 720 get less attention tomorrow when Microsoft announce it. The video doesn’t show much detail of the console, only that it’s a square design.
The PS4 was announced by Sony on February of this year in an event in New York. Although Sony announced specs, games, controller and peripherals for the PS4, the console itself was not never shown to the public.


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- A recent International Data Corp. forecast projects that spending on augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR, respectively) will grow from $9.1 billion this year to $17.8 billion in 2018, reports The Journal. From 2017 to 2021, the market research company predicts an average 98.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
- In the near-term, consumer spending — led by gaming — will account for the majority of that increase. By 2021, commercial will account for more than 85% of VR/AR spending.
- The U.S. will lead the world in spending in 2018, at $6.4 billion, followed by the Asia-Pacific region. Canada and eastern Europe will see average CAGR increases of 139.9% and 113.5%, respectively, through the forecast period.
As VR/AR continues its march into the construction sector, more companies are looking for ways to use it to streamline their operations. Last month, AECOM signed a memorandum of understanding with HTC to develop VR technology for the AEC industry. The VIVE FOCUS standalone VR headset will be the first product developed under the MOU, with more to follow focusing on helping the AEC space in planning, building and maintaining structures.
Another popular headset is Microsoft’s mixed-reality HoloLens. The existing device recently gained certification as protective eyewear, a welcome characteristic for "firstline" workers in factories and fields. It also encourages 3-D collaboration and virtual integration for workers scattered across the country. Microsoft has plans to launch a HoloLens hardhat accessory next year.
Augmented reality, which layers digital data and information over a real-time visual interface, also has seen successful implementation in construction, especially in task-specific cases like equipment repair and MEP visualization. It's even infiltrating the drone space, with Epson recently introducing the Drone Experience software that's integrated with DJI drone hardware, which provides an AR-enabled heads-up display for drone pilots wearing Epson's Moverio BT-300 AR Smart Glasses.
Garrett Harley, vice president for strategic accounts at Aconex, sees different uses for VR and AR. "I think AR is ultimately how we'll be interacting with a lot of jobsite information," he told Construction Dive in November. "Virtual reality is more interesting for how you'll be positioning people for walk-throughs and seeing general structures. AR will be for people that really build things and are out there in the field. I think that will be the user interface for a lot of things because vision trumps all your senses combined."


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NVIDIA Blog – 1.24.22
Meta Platforms gave a big thumbs up to NVIDIA, choosing our technologies for what it believes will be its most powerful research system to date.
The AI Research SuperCluster (RSC), announced today, is already training new models to advance AI.
Once fully deployed, Meta’s RSC is expected to be the largest customer installation of NVIDIA DGX A100 systems.
Source: Meta Collaborates with NVIDIA on AI Research Supercomputer


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The store gave out 50,000 reusable bags to celebrate the change; WFM sells reusable bags, including its new 99-cent "Better Bag," which is made from recycled plastic bottles. sticks to Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture, for banning milk labels stating that cows weren't treated with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for not allowing California to set stricter vehicle emission standards than federal law requires.
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- Ferencik / shutterstock.com
Study: Higher THC levels don’t necessarily increase impairment
A team of researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder have found that smoking high-THC concentrates, which can contain more than 90 percent THC, does not necessarily result in a greater level of intoxication than smoking cannabis flower, which typically ranges between 16 and 30 percent THC.
Their experiments included 121 Colorado adults who were regular marijuana consumers. They found that while THC blood levels soared when users consumed concentrates, impairment levels didn’t significantly differ from those of participants who smoked flower. “Most neurobehavioral measures were not altered by short-term cannabis consumption,” the study says. “However, delayed verbal memory and balance function were impaired after use. Differing outcomes for the type of product (flower vs concentrate) or potency within products were not observed.”
Impairment in both groups faded after about an hour. The research was conducted in a mobile pharmacology lab aptly dubbed the “cannavan” while complying with federal law, the University of Colorado said. The study was published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry on June 10, 2020. Check it out at tinyurl.com/CannabisPotencyStudy.
CDOT reports “Cannabis Conversation” findings
Colorado Department of Transportation launched “The Cannabis Conversation” study in 2017 to help them create effective behavior-change ads aimed at reducing incidents of driving under the influence. CDOT examined the perceptions of people who drive after consuming cannabis, connecting with more than 18,000 Coloradans through meetings, focus groups and a survey.
Findings include: “People who consume cannabis more often consider driving under the influence of marijuana to be less dangerous” and “Many cannabis users are highly skeptical of the laws, policies and enforcement regarding driving under the influence of cannabis... .”
“Most cannabis users told us there were times when they were uncomfortably high or knew that they were not safe to drive after using cannabis,” the report said. CDOT’s “Uncomfortable High” ad concept would encourage “cannabis users who drive high to feel uncomfortable about that decision and rethink their beliefs.” The full report is available at tinyurl.com/CDOTCannabis.


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Ocado has attributed a decrease in revenues to a “softening market” as restrictions eased and more customers returned to offices.
For the first quarter covering the 13 weeks to February 27, Ocado reported revenues of £564.7m. This marked a 5.7% drop from the same period last year.
Average basket size also declined to £124, a decrease of 15% compared with 2021 when the UK was in lockdown.
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In jewellery, Crossfor’s Dancing Stone crystals are a cut above the rest
Crossfor has succeeded in creating a diamond setting with a glitter that flickers in a way that has never been seen before
Country Business Reports interviews and articles by Discovery Reports www.discoveryreports.com
Of all the highly coveted precious stones in the world, diamonds hold the ultimate allure in beauty, rarity and luxury because of their sparkling brilliance. One Japanese jewellery company – Crossfor – has succeeded in creating a diamond setting with a glitter that flickers in a way that has never been seen before.
When Crossfor CEO Hidetaka Dobashi started a jewellery trading company in 1980 sourcing Thai sapphires, rubies and Indian diamonds, he was not aware that he would one day invent a gemstone cutting technology that would become the cornerstone of innovative diamond-inspired jewel designs patented around the world. This technology would also become the foundation of a flourishing business that would survive two economic recessions 38 years later.
In 2001, after three years of research and development spurred by the need to survive Japan’s economic bubble of the 1990s, Dobashi obtained a patent for the Crossfor Cut. An original 46-faceted cutting technique, the Crossfor Cut is precisely designed to create a cross-shaped glitter effect with outstanding brilliance in the centre of a gemstone.
In gemmology, precious stones such as diamonds are only as brilliant as their ability to reflect light – a property known as the cut. From basic round shapes, ovals, square cushions and rectangles to more complex hearts, tear-shaped pears and eye-shaped marquise forms, skilfully and beautifully cut diamond shapes reflect as much light as possible in a way that directly affects the value of the final crystal.
Today, Crossfor is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and has its own line of jewellery brands sold exclusively in Japan.
Offering its one-of-a-kind cutting technology and designs as an original equipment manufacturer and supplier to jewellery producers and prestigious brands at home and abroad, Crossfor has been praised for another patented innovation that produces diamonds which the company believes showcase “the best glitter in the world”.
“I believe that the diamond is the best precious stone to work with because of its brilliance,” Dobashi says. “If a diamond shakes or moves constantly, that brilliance is reflected much better. This concept inspired the creation of the Dancing Stone – the first of its kind on the market.”
Using the Crossfor Cut technique, the Dancing Stone setting converts the slightest movement of the wearer into energy that makes the diamond swing and flicker incessantly – resulting in a crystal that never stops glittering on one’s neckline with gentle, minute and elegant dance-like movements.
The mechanism offers infinite design possibilities such as Crossfor’s upcoming Dancing Stone Donut, which will allow the dancing stone setting to be applied to a wider range of consumer products such as sunglasses. The Dancing Stone setting and cutting technique can also be applied to other diamond-like gemstones such as cubic zirconia.
“Many people think that innovation in jewellery and accessories basically means new fashions and new designs, but these are just changes in styles,” Dobashi says. “The technology doesn’t change at all, but Dancing Stone is different. It’s a young concept in jewellery that is only just beginning to grow.”
With an expanding network of agents across Asia-Pacific in China, India, Vietnam and Thailand, and in Europe through France, Crossfor aims to grow its international sales from 30 per cent of its revenues to 70 per cent over the next few years. It also seeks to attract agents from the United States and attend more trade shows to showcase its technologies and solutions.
“Markets everywhere are changing a lot and very quickly,” Dobashi says.
“We welcome collaborations with partners and brands big or small. I want to share our technique all over the world and to see young women and men happily wearing our dancing stones – whether as pendants, rings, earrings or sunglasses.”


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The two companies have teamed up with the aim of creating an engaging fantasy sports platform, which offers weekly fantasy contests with in-app purchases, as well as free-to-play options.
The Fantazzie website and native app were initially launched earlier this year, on 5 August, for the kick-off of the 2022/23 Turkish Super Lig Season, offering Fantasy Super Lig Contests.
The new solution's gameplay experience is driven by the Fantazzie Marketplace and the entry boosters that can be bought with an in-app currency called “FanGold;” and can be used to boost entries, teams, or even specific athletes.
To celebrate the launch of the product, Fantazzie Sports launched a marketing campaign that runs through digital media and the official challenges of the Super Lig Clubs, promising a contest for a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.
The platform will feature Fatazzie’s contests for the Fifa World Cup in November, allowing Fantazzie managers to select all-star athletes from the top 32 national teams, and follow their statistics throughout the entire tournament.
FSI CEO Dennis Tsalikis said of the launch of the Fantazzie platform: “We are thrilled to bring Fantazzie’s platform and vision to life, and we are proud to provide this engaging fantasy solution to the passionate football fans of Turkey!
"Working alongside the Fantazzie A.Ş Team has been a constructive experience for us, and we look forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration.”


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Pecan Deluxe Candy Company expands US product line with Popping Boba
Popping Boba in drinks
US, Texas-based Pecan Deluxe Candy Company is expanding its product offerings with the launch of Popping Boba.
“This addition to our current capabilities positions us to be the first fully-operational manufacturer of this popping boba product in the United States, which we are very excited about” says Jay Brigham, president and CEO of Pecan Deluxe.
Popping boba are tiny, juice filled spheres, encapsulated in an edible shell that burst with flavour. These groundbreaking inclusions are featured in nearly every yogurt chain and bubble tea shop and have recently found their way into a variety of desserts and beverages in the US, providing a fresh new aesthetic and fun experience that consumers are craving. Traditionally available in a range of fruit flavours, Pecan Deluxe Candy Company has expanded flavour offerings and will continue innovation to further develop this new platform for a wide array of food and beverage applications.
For more information about Pecan Deluxe’s popping boba, visit: www.pecandeluxe.com/poppingboba.


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Sweetgreen is coming to Glover Park in November, company representatives told Eater DC this week.
The Washington City Paper first reported Sweetgreen's intentions in July when the owners registered four limited liability companies, including one in Glover Park.
The small chain just celebrated its fifth anniversary in the D.C. area. The first location at 3333 M St., NW opened Aug. 1, 2007.
Now, add Glover Park to the mix of their growing salad and froyo empire, which has 13 locations in D.C. and Pennsylvania. Eater reports:
According to the rep, the 2,000 square foot space is single-level and has a lot of window seating. Window wrapping just went up at the end of last week and expect the buildout to move quickly as it has with the chain's other recent openings.
The eatery, founded by Georgetown University graduates, is coming to 2200 Wisconsin Ave., NW in Glover Park.


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MUMBAI: The Indian automotive market may have been on a path of slow recovery in 2014-15, but the top brass of some leading automobile firms were rewarded handsomely for engineering turnarounds and taking on additional responsibility.
An ETIG study of the annual reports and remuneration packages of top executives in seven companies shows that while most such executives received double-digit pay hikes, in some cases the compensation was doubled or tripled.
Topping the list of pay hikes in FY15 is Ashok Leyland managing director Vinod Dasari with a 213.21% increase to Rs 6.64 crore. Dasari restructured the country’s secondlargest medium and heavy truck maker to fashion a turnaround.
Dasari had to take some tough measures of selling non-core assets and slashing salaries of employees, wherein he himself took a pay cut of 24% in FY14. The payback in the rationalisation of costs was rewarded soon, with the firm reporting Rs 442 crore profit before tax in FY15. A year earlier, it had posted Rs 91.22 crore loss.
Another south India-based company, TVS Motor, which had faced the brunt of intensifying competition, also made a smart turnaround in FY15. The company rewarded its joint MD, Sudarshan Venu with a 102.57% hike in remuneration to Rs 5.51 crore. In FY15, the company posted 33% rise in profits to Rs 348 crore, while return on equity for the company increased to 22.7% from 19.8%.
While some executives were rewarded for leading a turnaround, some industry veterans like Pawan Goenka, executive director of Mahindra & Mahindra, who shouldered a larger responsibility by overseeing the group’s overall automotive business — right from Ssangyong to two-wheelers to trucks, apart from managing the earlier responsibility of passenger vehicle and tractor business — was paid a higher remuneration. He got a hike of 33.48% to Rs 5.98 crore. CR Ramakrishnan, CFO of Tata Motors, got a 16% hike to Rs 2.99 crore. Ramakrishnan, who was to retire on June 30, has now been entrusted with additional responsibility as a group chief financial officer.
Shiv Agrawal, MD of ABC Consultants, an executive search and leadership hiring firm, said higher compensation in difficult times mean the company is trying to retain good talent as an investment for the future.
“The professionals have had it good in the last few years purely due to opportunities around. There are always questions raised by shareholders on steep increase in compensation towards the heads steering the company, but companies always take a long-term view and are future proofing themselves,” Agrawal said.
Even the big component makers like Bharat Forge and Motherson Sumi rewarded their promoters and key executives fairly well. The fatherson duo of Baba Kalyani and Amit Kalyani have seen a remuneration hike of 40% and 28%, respectively, on the back of an 80% rise in profits and 34% increase in revenues. Motherson Sumi’s COO Pankaj Mittal and CFO GN Gauba received 15% hike each after the company posted strong double-digit growth.
Experts say that even if markets remain sluggish, company boards generally dish out higher payouts to company heads and seniors in executive roles to retain them for future growth and maintain continuity, as the churn in the automotive industry is high. While the percentage growth may seem large, the remuneration paid are well within the limit prescribed by the Companies Act, which mandates an amount not exceeding 5% of the net profit of the company for any managing director, whole time director or manager.
The world’s fourth largest automotive Group thinks garnering a higher share in the nascent EV market, than in the ICE vehicle space, to be gainful in the long term as the passenger vehicle market goes fully electric. The Citroen C3 EV, scheduled for launch in early 2023, will drive that strategy in India mainly targeting its aspirational middle class.
According to ETAuto sources, the raid began at the company’s Corporate office in Gurgaon around 3:00 PM and continued till the story is filed. The latest development comes in light of heightened scrutiny by law-enforcement agencies on companies operating in India which have links with neighboring country, China.


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Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA is recalling 11,240 model year 2015-2016 Yamaha YZFR3 motorcycles.
The shift shaft torsion spring may fracture, giving the shifter a loose feel and affecting the ability to shift gears.
Difficulty shifting gears can cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.
What to do
Yamaha will notify owners, and dealers will install a new shift shaft torsion spring, free of charge.
The recall is expected to begin December 17, 2018.
Owners may contact Yamaha customer service at 1-800-962-7926. Yamaha's number for this recall is 990126.


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Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid are on their way to get ready for the Met Gala!
Both of the models were spotted leaving their hotels while en route to other locations to get ready for the big event on Monday (May 6) in New York City.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Kendall Jenner
We can’t wait to see what everyone wears to fashion’s biggest night. Check back all night for all of the photos!
FYI: Kendall is wearing a Reformation top. Bella is wearing Anita Ko earrings.
Source: Read Full Article


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Walmart Uses Vudu
Netflix is having its problems, following its recent subscription rate increases. Blockbuster continues to struggle. Apple is a monster in the digital space and Amazon is looking to grab share. Right now, it’s probably safe to say the video sales and rental business is in a state of flux.
Enter Walmart … again. The retailer has announced that it is integrating its Vudu movie streaming service on Walmart.com. Now, customers will have the option of going to the site and purchasing or renting video titles in both disk and digital formats.
"One of our key priorities is to provide a continuous channel for our customers, from our stores to our powerful e-commerce and social media platforms," said Steve Nave, SVP and general manager, Walmart.com, in a press release.
"By incorporating digital movie content into the Walmart.com entertainment shopping experience, we’re enabling customers to easily choose how they want to enjoy their entertainment content — whether that be through a physical DVD, digital streaming or both," said Edward Lichty, general manager, Vudu.
One possible piece of bad news for consumers, according to Reuters, is that consumers will need a Vudu-supported device to stream movies in high definition. Walmart.com and Vudu.com stream movies in standard definition.
Arash Amel, digital media research director for IHS, told the Los Angeles Times that Walmart and Vudu have a long climb ahead with Apple’s iTunes "accounting for approximately 65 percent of all movies and TV shows bought or rented over the Internet."
According to Mr. Amel, "The real strategic significance" for Walmart is "trying to once more figure out how online video can add any meaningful value to the e-commerce components of its core business of physical goods."
- Vudu Announces Full Integration on Walmart.com – Vudu/Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
- Wal-Mart adds streaming movies to its website – Los Angeles Times
- As DVD sales decline, Walmart.com adds Vudu streaming – Reuters
Discussion Questions: Do you see the Vudu integration as evidence that Walmart is catching up with other competitors in terms of its digital operations? Will Walmart become a much bigger player in the video sales and rental business?


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By Business Reporter
COCA-COLA has launched the global ‘Taste the Feeling’ campaign and announced its worldwide ‘One Brand’ strategy in Namibia this week, marking a strategic shift for the company and uniting the Coca-Cola family under the world’s number one beverage brand.
The company’s BLNS marketing activations manager, Tamar Mbalo, at a recent event in Windhoek revealed that this marketing strategy, for the first time ever, unites all Coca-Cola brands (Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light/ Diet Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, and Coca-Cola Life) under the iconic red Coca-Cola disc.
As a first phase, the global creative campaign, ‘Taste the Feeling’ highlights how the hourglass-shaped drink makes every moment special.
“Every day, millions of people across Namibia and around the world reach for an ice cold Coca-Cola.
“The new One Brand approach will bring together all Coca-Cola trademark products, reinforcing our commitment to offer our consumers’ choice with more clarity and showing how everyone can enjoy the specialness of an ice-cold Coca-Cola, with or without calories, based on their taste, lifestyle and diet,” said Mbalo.
“We are very proud to be on the front line, marketing and bringing this innovative and outstanding campaign to life in Namibia” said Maguire Mulder, marketing manager of Coca-Cola Namibia Bottling Company.
Using a unique approach that leverages universal storytelling through Ins t agr am-inspi red imagery, the campaign celebrates the simple pleasure of drinking a Coca- Cola beverage, featuring the product at centre stage.
“More than ever, we recognise people want their Coca-Cola in different ways. Whichever one they choose, they want a Coca- Cola brand with great taste and uplifting refreshment. Through our ‘One Brand’ strategy we will move away from multiple brand campaigns, to one single iconic brand campaign that celebrates both the product and the brand,” he added.
‘Taste the Feeling’ is rolling out at various times across all markets globally throughout the year.
Confidente. Lifting the Lid. Copyright © 2015


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As an Independent community pharmacist you are well aware of the feeling that you are continuously trying to stave off the Tsunami that keeps pounding on your door….the insurance companies and their continual barrage to deceive their members and you, in their attempts to increase their already inflated profits and line the pockets of their CEO’s, shareholders and politician puppets.
This reality may seem harsh and pessimistic BUT there’s hope and evidence that these insurance company behemoths can be called to task and be made to STOP their greed and predatory practices. Grassroots campaigns and the use of technology can force the insurance companies to back down and stop forcing mandatory mail order on their members.
In November 2012 Anthem Blue Cross of California mailed letters to HIV infected members stating that as of March 1st 2013 using a retail pharmacy would be considered “going out of network” for antiretroviral medications. Patients must use Curascript, for mail order or pay the full price of the drug if they use their local retail pharmacy. This mandatory mail order mandate by Anthem Blue Cross ignited a firestorm.
Continue reading “Using Technology to Crush Mandatory Mail Order Mandates” »


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The International Agency for Research on Cancer's (IARC) conclusion that the sweetener aspartame "possibly" causes cancer is ... definitely stupid. Meanwhile, you can eat a diet consisting of 91 percent "ultra-processed" food and be healthy. So says a new study. Let's take a closer look.
Join hosts Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein as they break down these stories on Episode 46 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently concluded that the popular artificial sweetener aspartame, widely used in foods and diet drinks, is “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” an alarming conclusion because aspartame is used in thousands of low-calorie products. However, another WHO organization, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), concluded that it is safe to consume aspartame. Can we make sense of the conflicting conclusions?
According to the common narrative, ultra-processed foods are evil, unhealthy, and unnatural. But a new contrarian study in the Journal of Nutrition demonstrates that a diet containing 91% ultra-processed foods was far healthier than the typical American diet and, get this, well aligned with Dietary Guidelines for Americans. When it comes to shaming and blaming UPFs, the emperor has no clothes.
Listen to the Science Dispatch on iTunes Spotify, Stitcher and Google Podcasts. Or add the RSS feed to your favorite podcast app. Join our Dispatch newsletter to get these stories and more delivered to your inbox.


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Department stores hit
John Lewis blames discounting for 99% profits plunge
Tough times for John Lewis
John Lewis has seen its profits wiped out as the former darling among department stores feels the squeeze on the high street.
Chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield said deep discounting by rivals had impacted on margins leaving profits before tax and exceptional items 99% lower at just £1.2m in the six months to 28 July, despite a 1.5% rise in revenues to £4.9bn.
It has also seen a shift towards sales of lower-margin electronics from big-ticket home items.
“These are challenging times in retail. We’re continuing to improve our offer for customers while ensuring we have the financial strength to continue developing our business going forward,” said Sir Charlie.
The owner of the department store chain and Waitrose supermarkets had warned in June that its half-year profits would be obliterated.
The retailer – which is rebranding its stores to John Lewis & Partners and Waitrose & Partners – says full year profits would also be down.
“With the level of uncertainty facing consumers and the economy, in part due to ongoing Brexit negotiations, forecasting is particularly difficult but we continue to expect full year profits to be substantially lower than last year for the partnership as a whole,” the retailer said.
Its figures follow trading difficulties at House of Fraser and Debenhams. Shares in Debenhams rose 9% yesterday after an outgoing Sports Direct director said that merging the department stores has been discussed.
Sports Direct, owned by billionaire Mike Ashley, bought House of Fraser out of administration for £90m. It also owns 29.7% of Debenhams.
Morrisons, Britain’s fourth biggest grocer, beat forecasts with a 9% rise in first half profit, and reported an eleventh straight quarter of underlying sales growth, boosted by moves to broaden its business into wholesale.
Underlying pretax profit came in at £193 million against £177m in the same period last year.
The company has raised its interim dividend 11.4% to 1.85p and is also paying a special dividend of 2p.


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The two groups of cousins who jointly control Weis Markets agreed yesterday to explore all options for enhancing shareholder value, including selling the 164-store chain of supermarkets, ending the threat of a proxy fight by one faction.
The agreement could be a first step toward determining a price at which the cousins who run Weis could buy out the shares owned by their cousins or, perhaps, to a sale of the 92-year-old company.
Shares of Weis, which have risen about 18 percent in recent weeks, closed yesterday at $41.4375, off 50 cents. With the recent run-up, shares now trade at about the same level as 12 years ago.
For some time a group including Janet Weis, the 80-year-old widow of Sigfried Weis, the company's former chairman, and the families of their three daughters, have wanted to sell the chain and cash out their 41 percent interest; at the current share price, that stake is worth about $700 million. They formed a committee and were threatening a proxy fight to add two more seats to the company's seven-member board, but agreed yesterday to drop those efforts.
Robert F. Weis, the current chairman whose family also owns 41 percent of the company, said after the stock market closed, ''We have initiated a process that will allow the full board of Weis Markets to determine what is in our collective best interest with full information concerning our financial and strategic alternatives.''
Mr. Weis reiterated that the company was not for sale. ''However, in an effort to avoid the continuing disruption to our company of a proxy contest and the inevitable attendant litigation,'' he said, ''we have agreed to include this alternative and a recapitalization within the range of options that we have asked Morgan Stanley to explore.''
Mrs. Weis and another dissident shareholder, Sidney Apfelbaum, issued a statement saying that ''we are pleased that we can proceed forward on a consensual basis.''
The statements suggested that the company's investment banker, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, would fully share information with the dissidents' adviser, Salomon Smith Barney.
Weis Markets, which is based in Sunbury, Pa., has long been an exceptionally profitable chain, at one time earning a third as much in profits as the giant Safeway chain on sales volume only 5 percent as large, according to Forbes magazine. But the recent drive by Wal-Mart Stores into Weis territory has raised questions about the chain's future.
Spokesmen for both sides declined further comment last night.Continue reading the main story


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Last month, we learned that all Lumia-branded Windows Phones will be updated to Windows 10 when it’s released. The thing is that Microsoft hasn’t really announced what new features we’ll see on Windows 10 for phones. Thankfully, the rumor mill is happy to fill us in.
According to “multiple sources” speaking to Windows Central, Microsoft plans to implement a feature called Mixview — also known as “flyout tiles” — to Windows 10 for phones. A tipster describes the feature as one that’ll display three new tiles above a regular app tile when the original tile is pressed in a special place. Those extra tiles could show things like notifications, messages and more. Pressing the original tile in its special place could make those extra tiles disappear.
These new Mixview tiles sound like they could make for a really nice addition to Windows Phone. Live Tiles as they are right now are good for displaying information to you without making you go into an app; these Mixview tiles could take that a step further by letting you interact with an app without having to actually launch it.
Windows 10 is expected to launch sometime in early 2015, so expect more news about the update to be revealed in official and unofficial methods until then. What features would you like to see Microsoft add to its phones in Windows 10?


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Rumour: Metroid: Other M to Reach Europe on September 24th
Posted by James Newton
Just a few weeks after Japan
We fully expect to hear more about Samus Aran's Wii-bound adventure Metroid: Other M next week, but Spanish site Pikmin Squad has just posted a rumour stating the game may be on its way to Europe before the end of September.
Citing an unnamed Nintendo distributor, the site claims that September 24th is the date gamers across Europe can expect to get their Power Cannons on the Team Ninja and Nintendo collaboration. Nintendo recently confirmed the game will reach Japan on September 2nd, which would leave just a few weeks until the European release if this rumour turns out to be true.
We should find out next week whether this prediction is accurate or not but, until then, keep on taking those pinches of salt.


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DENVER -- All Starbuck menu boards will now contain calorie information on each beverage and snack sold in their chain of shops across the country.
Part of the reason for this is the impending mandate from the Food and Drug Administration for all eateries with more than 20 restaurants to begin posting caloric data on all foods sold.
By being pro-active, Starbucks says they are ahead of the calorie curve, demonstrating to their customers their desire to make sure people are more aware of what they put into their bodies.
Some of the numbers may be surprising to regular drinkers. For example, a Grande mocha has 260 calories, a flavored latte has 250 and an iced white chocolate mocha has 340.
“I had no idea I was drinking in 480 calories each time I get a cup of Frappuccino,” said Tiffany Schaden. “I only get one two or three times a week, but I am a personal trainer so I do watch what I eat, I like the idea of letting us know what we are buying.”
Starbucks released a statement saying, "“This is yat another step to extend our commitment to wellness, ensuring our customers and partners have the information they need to make informed decisions and understand all the ways that they can customize their Starbucks beverages to be within their desired calorie range.”
The new labels comes as Starbucks increased prices by an average of 1% on brewed coffee, tea, latte and espresso drinks. That should increase prices by about a dime.
Prices will not increase for its larger venti and grande-sized brewed coffees, or for its Frappuccino drinks.
Starbucks said this is the first price increase in nearly two years for the coffee chain, blaming the rising cost of labor, raw materials and rent for the hike.
CNN contributed to this report.AlertMe


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Will iPhone 13 Pro get Always-On Display along with iPhone 14 Pro? The iOS 16 clues reveal the answer
Multiple reports have been suggesting that the Apple iPhone 14 Pro models can get the always-on display. But, can the iPhone 13 Pro models get it too? The answer lies within iOS 16.
The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2022 keynote session was filled with a plethora of new announcements whether it was software releases like iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13 or WatchOS 9 or hardware launches like the MacBook Air 2022 or the Apple M2 chip boosted MacBook Pro. However, the spotlight was on iOS 16. With a wide range of feature additions and upgrades, the new iPhone operating system is likely to make most Apple fans happy. However, the announcement has also sparked fresh speculation, and that surprisingly surrounds the iPhone 13 Pro models. After some reports revealed that iOS 16 has added the always-on display functionality, some are wondering if this feature would really be limited to iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max or be extended to the current generation iPhone 13 Pro models as well. Read on to find out. Also read: iPhone 14 Pro Max - release date to expected specifications; Everything we know so far
Recently, 9to5mac reported that there were various references within iOS 16 that confirmed that Apple is now prepared to extend the always-on functionality to any supporting device. The leaks began with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman who claimed that iOS 16 will support the always-on display and it can be added to the iPhone 14 Pro models. It would be a historic moment for Apple as so far, iPhones do not have this feature. But, those were just leaks. 9to5mac went ahead and dug into the iOS 16 to find the particular codes that can make the always-on display happen!
Will the iPhone 13 Pro models get the always-on display, just like iPhone 14 Pro?
According to the report, three new frameworks have been added to iOS 16 which relate to backlight management of the iPhone's display. 9to5mac found that the most notable of them was a reference within Springboard, which is the Lock Screen and Home Screen manager for iPhones. Also read: How to get Apple iOS 16 before your friends do
The biggest reveal however were particular flags that can extend this feature even to the unsupported models. Now, unsupported models are not those without an LTPO display which would create hardware issues if always-on was added. We are talking about devices like iPhone 13 Pro models for which this feature was not intended for, although they can sustain it in theory.
While there is nothing stopping the Cupertino-based tech giant from adding the feature for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, there is one hardware barrier which can make it tricky. The variable refresh rate of the ProMotion display in iPhone 13 Pro models exists between 10Hz-120Hz. Now, that can lead to heavy battery drain if the feature was added. For comparison, Apple does provide the always-on display on the Apple Watch, which has a variable refresh rate between 1Hz - 120Hz. While there is no confirmation, rumors have suggested that iPhone 14 Pro models will have a variable refresh rate that can be scaled down to 1Hz, making the always-on display a possibility.
However, as always, these are still rumors and we cannot say for sure what Apple is planning. So, iPhone 13 Pro owners do not need to completely give up hope.