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Government mulls non-tariff EV import rules
Concern is flood of Chinese vehicles
The government is looking towards non-tariff barrier measures, particularly battery standards, to prevent an anticipated flood of electric vehicle (EV) imports from China in light of the Asean-China free trade agreement.
Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana said the government expects to conclude the measures within a month.
Related agencies including the Customs Department, Department of Trade Negotiations, Department of International Trade Promotion, Board of Investment (BoI), Thai Industrial Standard Institute, and Office of Industrial Economics are now working on measures to protect the domestic industry.
Navin Damrikan, deputy secretary-general to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for political affairs, said the government may introduce the battery standards to avoid a deluge of imported EVs from China.
He said China has also introduced non-tariff barriers, requiring imported EVs to use batteries guaranteed by the Chinese government.
"The Thai government has already announced and approved promotional privileges for production of three types of electric cars: hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs)," said Gen Navin.
"Related agencies are now developing infrastructure such as charging stations and issuing quality standards for electric parts."
The BoI in March this year approved promotional privileges for EVs, including tax holidays of 5-8 years. The privileges will focus on production of HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs.
The promotions will include passenger cars, pickups and buses, with different rates of privileges based on production technology.
The board also agreed yesterday to add 10 more important EV parts to the list enjoying corporate income tax exemption for eight years. They include batteries, traction motors, battery management services, DC/DC converters, inverters, portable EV chargers, electrical circuit breakers and EV smart-charging systems.
Investment in those items will garner additional privileges and a 50% cut on corporate income tax for another five years if the manufacturers establish their factories in the Eastern Economic Corridor and submit their applications by Dec 29, 2017.
Gen Navin said the speed of establishing manufacturing factories for EV in Thailand relies primarily on global demand, citing the BoI projection that the sales volume of EVs is estimated to comprise 5% of total vehicle sales in 2023, 10% in 2026 and 35% in 2040.
There are about 2 million units of EVs and hybrid cars worldwide now.
In a related development, a BoI report, which was based on consultation with car makers such as Nissan and BMW, found the board's measures are still not attractive enough to lure investment.
Local manufacturers also need time to test Thai market demand for imported completely built unit EVs, at least 2-3 years, said the report.
Interested HEV manufacturers are required to submit applications by Dec 31, 2017, while applications for the production of PHEVs and BEVs have a deadline of Dec 31, 2018.
Toyota has already won BoI privileges to manufacture HEVs.
The board said major car manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda and Isuzu do not have any plans yet to invest or sell BEVs in the domestic market.


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Never does a day go by at Glenmore and Highland Park where something isn’t happening. That’s especially true now that the holiday season is upon us. But there’s also lots going on in the surrounding area.
To help you muddle your way through your holiday calendar, we thought we’d highlight a few upcoming events in the immediate area and beyond.
Realtors Care Blanket Drive
Starting Monday, November 29th and continuing through to Monday, December 6th, realtors all over the Fraser Valley will be collecting bags, scarves, hats and undergarments for the homeless. A few warm and cozy items will make such a difference for a lot of people this winter. If you have anything suitable to give away, it would be greatly appreciated.
Anthony Sedlak at Kitchen Therapy
Did you know that Glenmore and Highland Park’s neighbourhood kitchen store, Kitchen Therapy, offers cooking classes along with their top-of-the-line kitchen utensils, cook and bakeware? On Wednesday, December 1st from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Anthony Sedlak, celebrity chef and host of Food Network Canada’s The Main, will be teaching his pupils how to create a Moroccan fruit and nut couscous with warm organic chicken and lemon dressing, a conchiglie pasta with smoked bacon and creamed spinach and chocolate peanut butter cream pots. Our mouths are watering already.
Sounds of Christmas in White Rock
Enjoy the sounds of the Welsh Men’s Choir as they return this year to White Rock Baptist Church. Featuring traditional and modern Christmas music as well as “something zany” this evening is sure to lift your spirits. The carols and hymns begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 3rd with tickets ranging from $22 to $25.
Santa’s Big Rigs for Kids Parade
What’s cooler than getting a “honkin’ highway holler” from a big rig? Seeing it up-close-and-personal covered in festive lights, of course! This year, the big rig trucks will be all lit up in Holland Park. Head down to the park at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 5th with a donation for the Surrey Christmas Bureau to enjoy a night of fun activities, live music and refreshments with the entire family.
Surrey’s Santa Parade of Lights
On Sunday, December 5th, Surrey will hold its fifth annual Surrey’s Santa Parade of Lights. Bring a non-perishable food item or children’s toy for either the Surrey Food Bank or the Surrey Christmas Bureau and then prepare to be dazzled by a parade of floats, marching bands and twinkling lights. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Cloverdale fairgrounds parking lot and will make its way to historic 176th Street in downtown Cloverdale.
To Decant or Not To Decant at Everything Wine
This one’s for adults only. We mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Glenmore and Highland Park’s local wine store, Everything Wine, regularly hosts wine makers, wine tasting events and a variety of food and pairing courses. Their Tasting Bar will be the locale for another free event on Monday, December 6th. From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., learn about the benefits behind decanting your wine, and enjoy a few taste tests in the process.
Breakfast with Santa at the YMCA
Hopefully you’ve got your Christmas wish-list prepared because Old Saint Nick is on his way. This year, your little ones can join him for a special breakfast at the Tong Louie YMCA on Saturday, December 11th. Seating times will be at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Call the YMCA to register at 604-575-9622. Children $5, Adults $8
Stewart Farms Christmas Open House
You and the family are invited to enjoy Christmas the old-fashioned way at Stewart Farms. Make holiday crafts and munch on delicious woodstove-baked treats or simply wander around the 1894 farmhouse decorated to the period for the holiday season. Best of all, it’s only a 12-minute drive from Glenmore and Highland Park. The open house takes place on Saturday, December 11th from noon to 4 p.m.
Train Ride and Visit with Santa at Bear Creek Park
Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a Christmas train. Fortunately, you have plenty of time to meet up with Eddy the Engine and Chough the Steam Locomotive at Surrey’s Bear Creek Park. The train, which takes passenger through a Christmas forest display and Santa’s Golden Reindeer Tunnel, runs from Friday, December 3rd to Sunday, January 2nd. Children $6, Adults $7
One of the best things about living at Glenmore and Highland Park has to be the strong sense of community. And what better time to get out and experience it than in the heart of the holiday season?

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The Wall Street Journal is again talking about Apple in a favorable light. The financial publication has published an article by Pui-Wing Tam that calls Apple a "safe" investment. Earlier this month, the newspaper published a column from Walt Mossberg and a news report that praised Apple and OS X. Todayis report cites Appleis cash position, the fact that the company has not warned for the current quarter (unlike other box makers), and the installed user base of 24 million Mac users as reasons for Apple having been transformed into a safe stock. According to the article:
For the time being, at least, the polish on Appleis shares stems -- yes, indeed -- from their relative safeness. "I can sleep at night owning this stock," says Dipak Patel, a portfolio manager at Cumberland Associates LLC in New York, who specializes in "value" investing, the stock-market equivalent of bargain shopping. He says he began buying shares of the personal-computer maker in January, when the stock was at around $18. The stock now forms one of the firmis largest positions.
"We saw the slump earlier than most, and now we seem to be further along" in getting out of it, said Steve Jobs, Appleis co-founder and chief executive, in an interview last week. He noted that the company is in its quiet period ahead of the release of its quarterly financial results, which is scheduled for April 18.
The stock is attracting the likes of Mr. Patel, investors focused more on valuation than the rapid growth in earnings or revenue sought by so-called momentum investors. "The ownership of the stock has completely turned around," says Charlie Wolf, an analyst at New York brokerage house Needham & Co.
Cumberlandis Mr. Patel notes that Apple has a loyal base of about 24 million consumers. "As long as the company keeps these customers happy with new products, the stock will work," he says.
There is much more that we did not quote, and we recommend the article as a very good read. Appleis stock is trading higher by one point at 23.17 (+4.51%) as of this writing.


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Booze is top of the agenda. Within weeks the Government is going to begin consulting on how to set minimum pricing and prevent multi-buy discounts in shops. Scotland – the traditional Bellwether for the rest of the UK on alcohol legislation – was all set to bring in minimum pricing but the Bulgarian government has raised a stink about it and delayed any decision until after Christmas.
The main effect of minimum pricing will be to nullify the effect of strong, cheap beers and ciders on the marketplace and prevent supermarkets luring in the punters with crazy-cheap offers on booze. Against this backdrop, Ipswich’s retailers, police and the local authority have combined forces and agreed to strip beer and cider of 6.5 per cent ABV an above from shop shelves. So far 60 off licences – about half of those in the town, have signed up to the voluntary scheme, which is aimed at tackling alcohol abuse in Ipswich’s ‘street drinking’ community, which has suffered four murders in the past three years.
Some retailers in the town said they had lost the best part of £3,000 a week in sales since joining the scheme, while others refused to take part on the grounds it undermines them as responsible retailers – bringing the Nanny State into their stores. But however you look at it, a serious change is on the horizon – sooner rather than later – for strong, cheap booze. So isn’t it better to ditch it now and get your shop up to scratch before the law changes? And if you sack off these types of drinks, aren’t you bound to end up with a nicer, more family-friendly and inviting shop?
(Read Retail Express on October 9 for full coverage of Ipswich’s Reducing the Strength Campaign.)


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The cost of living crisis in the UK is hitting people hard. Inflation, combined with Brexit and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is squeezing already tight finances harder.
To help out, Tesco has announced a new tool that compares various smartphone tariffs and contracts with Tesco Mobile's. The company says it is the only major carrier not raising prices at the moment.
From April 1, phone companies are expected to raise rates and prices for almost all services. Tesco says O2 and Virgin Mobile contract tariffs will rise by 11.7%, compared to 9.3% for EE and Vodafone and 4.5% for Three.
"This year, mid-contract mobile price hikes are at their highest ever and they couldn’t come at a worse time," says Tesco. "We know that phones are a lifeline which is why the price our customers pay when they sign up, is the price they pay for the duration of their contract."
"What’s helpful about our money saving calculator, is that families can find out exactly how much other networks are taking out of their pockets, making it easier for them to plan their finances for the future.”
Given the importance of smartphones to everyday life, the rise in price is going to hit some consumers especially hard. Tesco's calculator at least goes some way to making sure that consumers are aware of what's coming.
Our advice would be to check out SIM only deals and buy a handset outright, which often works out to be cheaper in the long run. We've found the best cheap phones that compare well to the best smartphones.
Buying the smartphone often makes the contract cheaper because carriers charge more over time. Data, calls, and texts are relatively cheap in comparison.
The Nokia 3.4 is a good example of an incredibly cheap smartphone that does what it needs to do.
- We've found the best Android phones


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Kia Motors announced that it has sold over 1 lakh vehicles in India. This is a considerable achievement considering that Kia entered India in August 2019. This, according to the South Korean company, makes it the only automaker to cross the 1 lakh sales milestone in 11 months. It's worth noting that Kia has only 2 vehicles in its India line-up -- Seltos which was launched last year Carnival that went on sale in February 2020. Kia noted that it has sold 97,745 units of Seltos and 3,614 units of Carnival in the country. The carmaker added that over 50,000 cars sold in India are equipped with UVO connectivity suite, making it a leader in this category as well.
Kookhyun Shim, Managing Director and CEO, Kia Motors India, said, "2019 marked an important year for Kia as we introduced our first car for the Indian market with an aim to become a household name in the country. We are overwhelmed with the response and acceptance that Indian customers have shown towards us. Reaching the one lakh milestone with just two products, in a record eleven-month time, is a testament to our commitment to India. Today marks a proud moment for all of us at Kia Motors India and after the immense success of Seltos and Carnival, we are confident to keep up the positive momentum and lead the Indian automobile industry by addressing the unmet needs and aspirations of the customers with the upcoming Kia Sonet."
Kia started its journey in India last year by launching Seltos in August. A compact SUV, the Seltos soon dethroned the first-generation Hyundai Creta to become the leader in the segment. Earlier this year, the company updated the vehicle with new standard features and even upgraded the UVO suite with more provisions. And as for Kia Carnival, the company launched it this year at Auto Expo 2020. The luxury MPV seems to have sold in decent numbers considering its expensive price tag.
Come August, Kia Motors will add the third product to its India portfolio by launching Sonet in the country. It is a sub-compact SUV that will rival the likes of Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, etc. It will make use of the Venue's engines and will come equipped with several segment-first provisions.


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* Mexicans consuming more high fructose corn syrup
* U.S. HFCS exports to Mexico jumped 800 pct since 1995
* Trend may bring more sugar exports to the United States
By Mica Rosenberg
MEXICO CITY, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Soaring consumption of high fructose corn syrup in Mexico, aided by high sugar prices and paltry local cane harvests, could accelerate next year and boost sugar exports to the United States.
Mexican consumption of the corn-based sweetener, which is cheaper than sugar, nearly doubled from 653,000 tonnes in the 2008/09 cycle to 1.2 million tonnes this crop year.
While that amounts to less than 20 percent of U.S. consumption of high-fructose corn syrup, known as HFCS, analysts see Mexican demand for corn syrup rising nearly 17 percent in 2010/11 to around 1.4 million tonnes.
A growing market for U.S. corn syrup in Mexico is welcome news for the U.S. HFCS industry, which is battling a perception among some American consumers that sugar is more healthy.
Many factories in Mexico, which have used only dry sugar for years, are making the tonne-for-tonne conversion to use liquid corn sweetener without big cost increases.
About half the HFCS consumed in Mexico is made locally -- Mexico produces 400,000 to 450,000 tonnes a year. The rest is imported from the United States. (Graphic: http://link.reuters.com/kag95n )
From 1995 to 2009, there was an eight-fold increase in U.S. HFCS exports to Mexico, the U.S. Agriculture Department says.
Audrae Erickson, president of the U.S. Corn Refiners Association, said the trend in Mexico is partly due to a move in 2008 to relax trade barriers as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which has slowly phased out protections for sensitive products like corn and sugar.
The sharp increase in HFCS use in Mexico comes as the country's sugar cane producers struggle to maintain their crop in the face of bad weather and other problems. Last year, sugar output hit its lowest level in a decade, forcing the government to open a last-minute import quota.
In the coming season, Mexican sugar production is expected to increase slightly to up to 5.1 million tonnes. This could produce a glut that will allow it to boost sugar exports to the United States.
Rene Martinez, an official at Mexico's sugar chamber, said Mexico will send 900,000 tonnes of sugar north to the United States by the end of the year.
BATTLING IMAGE PROBLEM
Kevin Combs, vice president of U.S. commodities brokerage McKeany-Flavell, said Mexican demand for HFCS will stay strong even if the country's own cane harvests improve.
"Mexico will still maintain relatively high (sugar) prices and therefore the opportunity for HFCS in Mexico will continue next year," Combs said.
In the United States, the HFCS industry is fighting a perception among some consumers that corn sweeteners are more likely than sugar to cause obesity.
Producers say HFCS is no more linked to health problems than sugar. Still, some big bottlers like Pepsi are experimenting with using more cane sweeteners, Combs said.
U.S. consumption of HFCS dropped 14 percent to around 7.3 million tonnes since 2002 while sugar demand during the same period stayed basically flat, said Jack Roney, an official at the American Sugar Alliance.
"U.S. corn sweetener producers are feeling relieved that while they are losing market share in the U.S. they are gaining market share in Mexico. That is a great solace," he said.
But if the opposite trend accelerates in Mexico, it may irk some Mexican consumers nostalgic for sugar-sweetened versions drinks like Coca-Cola they grew up drinking.
"I like soft drinks better in Mexico. I have read that fructose is sweeter than sugar but it has a certain flavor that I personally don't like," said Enrique Hernandez, an avid soda drinker who lived a year in the United States.
Erickson and the corn refiners say most consumers cannot tell the difference between the two flavors.
(Editing by Missy Ryan and David Gregorio)


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Pakistan, South Asia’s second-biggest economy, is mulling second auction of third- and fourth-generation mobile-phone network, after an exponential growth in subscribers following the first auction less than two years ago.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has constituted an Advisory Committee for the auction of 3G/4G spectrum which remained unsold in 2014 at the time of the first auction held in April that year. All the spectrums were sold to the companies already operating in Pakistan.
The first auction brought $1.3 billion to the national exchequer. At the time 3G spectrums were sold to four operators — the Pakistan unit of China Mobile Ltd., Pakistan Mobile Communications Ltd.’s Mobilink, Telenor ASA’s local subsidiary and Ufone of Pakistan Telecommunication Co. China Mobile also won a 4G license.
For the second auction, consultants have already been hired and they are working on “Market Assessment”, due to be completed by end of January. Following the report the country’s telecom watchdog – Pakistan Telecom Authority – will prepare an auction strategy, a government statement said Jan. 6.
Pakistan’s IT Minister Anusha Rehman said the auction would be a golden opportunity for the telecom companies to enhance their spectrum capacity and provide high quality broadband services to a growing number of subscribers.
Pakistan’s telecommunication market was deregulated in 2004, and there has been a steady growth in the number of users in the country of nearly 190 million people.
According to PTA, the number of cellular phone users stood at 124,240,494 as of November, 2015 from 12.7 million in 2005. Those using 3G/4G spectrum are 21,658,155. Pakistan’s telecom sector contributed $1.2 billion in taxes to the national kitty in 2014-15 financial year.


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The amazing commercial success is not surprising when we talk
about the famous shooting games series Call of Duty, which is
continuously achieving records and we have known the sales
number for the latest releases of the series Call of Duty: Modern
Warfare, but the announcement did not come from Activision!
During the event dedicated to the unveiling of GeForce RTX 30
cards yesterday, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang expressed his
admiration for the series and its visual effects and mentioned
that the latest versions of the series managed to sell 30 million
copies, which means that it may be the best-selling version of
the series or of The 3 best-selling titles Black Ops and Modern
Warfare 3 have managed to overcome this barrier by a slight margin.


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While many consumers and some retailers have spoken out against shopping on the U.S. holiday, it has not seemed to deter the hoards of shoppers willing to eat early so they can seize on some of the best deals of the holiday shopping season.
In 2017 the sales were up 5.5% from the previous Thanksgiving shopping day letting retailers know that consumers want the new shopping day to stay.
Whos Is Most Likely To Shop On The Thanksgiving Holiday?
In 2017 58% of shoppers decided to shop the first day of the sales which was an increase of 40% over the previous year.
While many people were enticed by such things as gift card giveaways and special sales, some chose to shop on Thanksgiving in hopes of scoring some deals and beating the larger crowd that they expected to find on Black Friday.
So what demographics decided to shop on the day of Thanksgiving?
- Millennials were the highest group of shoppers on Thanksgiving night representing 27% of all shoppers.
- The second highest percentage of shoppers on Thanksgiving were Gen Xers with 25%.
- Baby Boomers came in the third highest though at a significant drop ringing in at 13%.
- The lowest number of shoppers on Thanksgiving day were seniors with only 5% going out for deals.
- Parents comprised one of the highest number of shoppers on Thanksgiving day with 32%.
- Non-parents only saw a percentage of 15% taking advantage of early sales.
- 8% of women and 32% of men plan to spend somewhere between $200 and $500 dollars on Thanksgiving Day shopping.
How Will Online Shopping Affect Thanksgiving Day Sales?
With many consumers spending Thanksgiving day with family and friends, a lot will take advantage of online shopping to secure some of the best Thanksgiving Day deals without having to cut their holiday festivities short.
- 30% of males shopped online only with 10% of females shopping exclusively online.
- 21% of males shopped exclusively in-store with females choosing this option more often and accounting for 37% of consumers.
- Both men and women took advantage of both shopping online and in-store with 48% of men using both and 53% of women.
- When it came to online-exclusive shopping by generations Baby Boomers topped the list with 24%, followed by millennials at 20%, and lastly by Gen Xers at 15%.
- In terms of shopping exclusively in stores for Thanksgiving, Gen Xers were the highest with 38% followed by baby boomers at 36%, and there was a steep drop with millennials at 19%.
- When surveyed about which generation chose to shop both online and in-stores, the highest rate was millennials at 61%, followed by Gen Xers at 46%, and lastly were Baby Boomers at 40%.
What Types Of Gifts Are Shoppers Most Likely To Buy On Thanksgiving Day?
Most gifts that are bought on Thanksgiving Day are in preparation for the upcoming Christmas holidays. With consumer shopping for family, friends, coworkers, and even themselves, the items that are most likely to be purchased on Thanksgiving are extremely diverse.
- 38% of shoppers will purchase clothing.
- 24% will purchase small electronics and jewelry.
- 20% will purchase perfume or cologne.
- Tools, shoes, accessories, video games, music, and personal products all saw the same percentage of buyers at 17%.
- 16% of consumers will be going to buy large electronics.
- 14% will take advantage of sales for beauty gifts.
- 10% will purchase items for the kitchen.
- 4% will purchase children books or games.
What Did Shoppers Buy In Preparation For Their Thanksgiving Meal?
One of the most important purchases that many people will make for the holiday season is items for the meal they will share with their immediate or extended family. Some interesting statistics about Thanksgiving Day meal purchases include:
- The cost for a Thanksgiving dinner has gone up by 36% over the past five years.
- Over 46 million turkeys will be bought for Thanksgiving dinner.
- One in six people in the U.K. will celebrate the American holiday with a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
- The price of an average turkey has gone up over 46% since 2005.
What Type Of Stores Will Shoppers Most Frequent On Thanksgiving?
So many stores have begun to participate in the Thanksgiving holiday sales so the number of venues for consumers to shop at is varied. Topping the list of most frequented places are department stores and clothing and apparel retailers.
- 40% of shoppers plan to stop by a department store on Thanksgiving Day.
- 36% plan to stop by a music or bookstore.
- Technology stores will see 35% of consumers on the Thanksgiving holiday.
- 30% plan to spend their Thanksgiving dollars at a toy store.
- 28% plan to make purchases at a store that specializes in health and beauty.
- 26% plan to shop at a family apparel store.
- 24% plan to make purchases at a women’s shoe store.
- 23% of consumers plan to take advantage of discounts and sales at an outlet store.
- 20% will shop at stores that specialize in men’s shoes.
- 19% will shop for children’s shoes.
- 18% of shoppers will pay a visit to the dollar store.
- 15% will take advantage of smaller pharmacy shops.
- 14% will shop at home improvement stores.
- 12% will take advantage of discounted deals at jewelry stores.
Fun Facts About Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day has many unique facts both about the celebration of the holiday as well as recent spending and retail habits now that it is one of the biggest shopping holidays of the year.
- The Thanksgiving Day holiday was canceled during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency.
- The first Macy’s Day Thanksgiving parades used live animals.
- The average spent on a 10 person Thanksgiving dinner is $49.87.
- 50% of Thanksgiving Day shoppers said it was the great deals that got them to the stores.
- 32% of all Thanksgiving day shoppers bought toys.
- 50% of Thanksgiving Day consumers bought clothing on sale.
- $5.27 billion was spent online over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
- Consumers will purchase 16 million greeting cards for the holiday season.
- Radio Shack was originally open all day but later closed for five hours to give employees time with their families.
- While only 16% of those 55 or older think opening stores on Thanksgiving is a good idea, 50% of 18 to 24-year-olds believe it is.
- Kmarts will be open for 42 consecutive hours starting on Thanksgiving day.
While many people may be torn between family obligations and the allure of great shopping deals, statistics show that many consumers are in favor of starting the holiday shopping weekend early.
An increase in online shopping over the years as well as being able to secure most of the in-store deals online has increased at-home shopping on the holiday for those who choose not to go out and brave the lines.
As retail stores continue to fight to get the most consumers into their stores, consumers will continue to see earlier openings and better Thanksgiving day deals from many retail vendors.


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In 2018, leading online cigar retailer Best Cigar Prices is taking the leap from your web browser to a luxury cigar retail store and lounge environment at their facility in Northeast Pennsylvania.
January 24, 2018 (Drums PA via PRWeb) -Established in 1997, Best Cigar Prices has come a long way from its starting point of operating out of the trunk of a car in upstate New York. Now based in Drums, PA at its 25,000 sq. ft. headquarters since 2011, the company has made leaps and bounds in becoming the premier cigar source on the web, and the retail space is the next logical step for this fast-growing business.
However, they’re not looking to be “just another cigar shop.” Far from it, according to BCP Director of Merchandising Jeff Brown. “Our vision is to deliver a state-of-the-art cigar lounge experience unlike any in the area,” said Brown. “We want our customers to feel like their every need has been taken into consideration when they step foot into our store, and so far I think we’ve hit that mark.”
In addition to the typical cigar store amenities such as a Spanish Cedar-lined walk-in humidor, large cocktail bar, and comfortable, smoke-friendly indoor and outdoor lounge spaces for patrons to enjoy, Best Cigar Prices’ retail operation will have quite a few accommodations that will set it apart from the pack.
Aside from the business’s high-tech approach to the traditional lounge environment with touch-screen browsing stations, monitors giving shoppers a direct view of orders being processed inside the humidor, and ample wireless charging stations throughout, perhaps the most obvious advantage is the fact that the store is directly connected to the company’s massive humidor warehouse. Customers at the store will have direct access to one of the largest cigar and accessory inventories in the country, with over 7,000 unique items from more than 600 top brands including flavored cigars, cigar humidors, lighters, and cutters from Padron, Rocky Patel, Montecristo, and many more.
Cigar and beverage Pairing Menus will be made available to visitors of the lounge and updated regularly to recommend specific cigars with particular brands or styles of whiskeys, craft beers, and other spirits that complement their unique tasting profiles. “Everyone knows that Romeo y Julieta 1875 is a great, classic cigar, but what is the best drink to go with it?” Brown remarked.
Plans to have a conveyor running from the warehouse to the store will guarantee that cigar-lovers in search of items that are not stocked on store shelves will have their order in under five minutes, complete with a countdown timer that will display real-time order progress.
The store will be fully staffed by educated cigar professionals who specialize in the often-difficult task of making cigar gift recommendations, but will also offer self-serve kiosks for those that know what they want and don’t need help from an associate. Alternately, customers will be able to place orders remotely via phone or online and then pick it up at a designated time, similar to a food “to go” order.
The Best Cigar Prices retail store had its official “soft” opening yesterday, with the official Grand Opening scheduled for September of this year. In the words of company CEO Greg Fox, “Our customers have a deep appreciation for the artisan nature of the products we carry and often form lasting bonds with each other that might not be possible without the unifying factor of a fine cigar. We’re beyond excited to bring this new level of comfort, convenience, and camaraderie to them,” adding, “it’s their support that has allowed us to thrive and this is the least we can do to say 'thank you'.”
Fox also alluded to other “surprises” that Best Cigar Prices customers can look forward to, including the possibility of a large-scale cigar event held at the new store at some point in the near future.


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EzPz Sehat enters into a partnership to develop doctors consultation and appointment tools
Healthcare startup, EzPz, which allows you to book appointments with doctors online has struck a deal with E4 Technologies. The partnership entails development of a powerful data platform through which doctors can be selected for consultation, and appointments can be set online. Through this initiative, EzPz is aiming to make the normal procedures of consultations and appointments hassle free which otherwise would have consumed many hours of patients and doctors.
While speaking to TechJuice Ms. Maliha Khalid, Co-Founder and CEO of EzPz Sehat, said
“Considering the proven track record of E4 Technologies this partnership will complement the services EzPz Sehat aims to provide.” She went on to say that, “We’re pleased to have entered into this partnership and believe that the collaboration will prove to be mutually beneficial, and even more so for our valued users.”
Through EzPz website, you can search for whichever specialty doctor you’re looking for and book an appointment. What makes the task easier is that the website holds reviews for all doctors allowing you to judge for yourself. You can even add a review yourself about your experience, making the decision easier for future patients.
Currently, there are over 30 million internet users in Pakistan and with the launch of 3G/4G services. The population is quickly embracing the internet and getting online. Ambitious to help the growing internet user base, the startup is eyeing on the development of the new set of tools.
Umer Adnan, Co-Founder and CEO of E4 Technologies said that, “We developed this product for EZPZ Sehat by combining our expertise in User experience, Design thinking and knowledge of software and cloud platforms necessary to support the smooth running of Ezpz’s system. We’re also going to come up with dedicated Apps for doctors that allow them to make the transition to our system hassle free”
EzPz Sehat was also part of the most recently accelerated batch of invest2innovate. The healthcare industry is one of the most lucrative one for the investors. The average valuation of healthcare startups in the world is 4.4 million dollars. In the absence of any market leading health startups online in Pakistan, there is a huge room for upcoming entrepreneurs to explore this segment and tackle the health issues, this country is facing today.


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Confirmation has been given by an employee at LG in Korea about Android 5.1.1 Lollipop making its way to the LG G2. The device was last updates in April and it will be skipping the 5.1 update and going to the latest, which is 5.1.1.
The update is being prepared right now and owners of the LG G2 should get their hands on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop within the next couple of months. The update will bring with it the UX 4.0 interface of LG, plus numerous features from the LG G4.
The LG G2 arrived on the market in 2013 and offers the Qualcomm Snapdragon quad core 800 processor at 2.26GHz, an HD display of 5.2 inches, 2GB of RAM and storage choices of 16GB or 32GB.
The LG G2 also has a camera on the back of 13MP which offers optical image stabilisation and a front camera of 2.1MP. The battery is 3,000mAh and connections include 3G and USB. The handset is available in black and white.
Are you looking forward to receiving Android 5.1.1 Lollipop on your LG G2?


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By Vikas Dhoot
Dealers in 22 states will refuse to buy any diesel or petrol from oil marketing companies on May 31 in protest of the overnight excise tax reductions announced earlier this month and the establishment of a mechanism to protect them from future changes in excise duty.
Excise duty has been revised eight times since June 2017, when the dynamic pricing mechanism for fuels was implemented, and five of those revisions resulted in lower retail selling prices and losses for dealers, according to a statement from the Delhi Petrol Dealers’ Association and counterparts from Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra. Karnataka and Kerala, as well as 15 other States.
Pricing policy that isn’t controlled
As a result of the deregulation of the gasoline industry in India, public sector oil companies generally keep retail prices on hold despite severe fluctuations in the worldwide price of oil. Between November 2021 and March of this year, fuel prices remained steady, and have been locked again since April 6, despite the rise in global crude oil prices.
‘We demand that the OMCs reimburse us for the damages we have suffered due to the excise decrease and that future price changes follow the dynamic pricing mechanism,’ said the statement. Because of the higher excise tax, dealers cannot earn a profit, and because of the lower tax, they should not be burdened with losses.
Earlier this week, the Telangana Petroleum Dealers’ Association announced a plan to stop purchasing fuel from the OMCs on May 31. Dealers in fifteen additional states were expected to follow suit, according to the ad. In the wake of the tax cuts, more states, including those in the northeastern region, such as Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, and Uttarakhand, joined the call for greater commissions and protections against revenue losses.
Despite an agreement with oil marketing companies to review dealer commissions every six months, petrol pump owners have pointed out that they have not been reviewed since 2017, despite the fact that their working capital requirements have risen as fuel prices have nearly doubled since then.
As they put it, “The OMCs have ignored our frequent demands to modify dealer commissions, and by doing so, they are making their own network financially unviable.”
There have been three times since 2017 when the excise duty on fuel products has been increased, but the retail price has remained unchanged, according to the oil marketing companies (OMCs). Retailers expect OMC reimbursement as well as deregulated and dynamic pricing mechanisms for gasoline and diesel goods for future price changes.
Source: The Hindu


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Do you really want your retailer acting as your banker?
Target's data breach worsened as the day wore on Friday as the retailer said personal information on 70 million to 110 million customers was stolen along with the earlier disclosure over the holidays that up to 40 million credit and debit cards were compromised in a major security breach.
There could be some overlap among the cardholders and those whose personal information was stolen, but that's little comfort.
Security experts are already advising that the most vulnerable to fraud losses are the affluent since they have more money to steal in their bank accounts and credit lines. That also suggests big changes lie ahead since the affluent also have more power to spur change — at the cash register, teller window and voting booth.
Those whose personal information was compromised went beyond people who shopped at Target between Nov. 27 and mid-December, the New York Times reported. The personal information included names, phone numbers and email addresses. At least that's what we know as of mid-day Friday. What's worrisome is whether customer's Social Security numbers were among the stolen data, which could make identity theft more likely.
Retailers typically collect Social Security numbers when creating their own debit card programs so they can withdraw funds electronically from shoppers' checking accounts. Retailers issuing their own debit cards is a trend becoming more enticing for the industry because merchants have to pay hefty fees to simply move money out of a customer's checking account using a MasterCard (NYSE: MA) or Visa (NYSE: V) debit card. But the finance industry's heavy investment in security is readily apparent when a retailer such as Target finds its security breached on such a massive scale.
Mark covers banking and finance.
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A model’s photo shoot for a high-class car company has been used to make her look like a low-class escort, court papers charge.
In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Carolyn Giles, 29, says an innocuous photo that was taken of her for an ad for the Volvo S40 five years ago is being used around the world today — including in an ad for a Volvo-sponsored dating event encouraging customers to “rev up your love life.”
“Most offensive is that plantiff’s image has been used to make it appear she may be an escort, with extreme and sexual and inappropriate connotations and innuendos such as ‘spend a night with a Swedish model of your choice’ next to plaintiff’s picture,” the $23 million suit says.
“It’s like an old ad in the yellow pages for an escort service,” fumed her lawyer, David Jaroslawicz. “It doesn’t leave a lot to the imagination.”
That’s not what the leggy brunette signed up for when she working with Ford Models in 2007, and struck an $800 deal for a picture of her to be used in a single ad for the Volvo S40. The portrait shows her smiling behind the wheel of the car.
The brainy beauty – who’s graced the cover of the international version of Seventeen Magazine – saved up her cash from modeling and enrolled in Columbia, where she’s studying psychology.
This past winter, she discovered she was still being used to advertise a car for Volvo, but it was the V50, which she’d never signed a deal for, the suit said. The pic was used in ads in “Istandbul, Thailand, Macedonia, Serbia. Finland, France, Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands, Latin America and other areas,” the suit says.
It’s also popped up in Hertz ads – and even its 2011 annual report filed with the SEC.
The suit says Giles turned to Ford for help getting the image pulled and payment for its use, but “to date, Ford has done absolutely nothing.”
The suit says the racy ads have caused Giles “emotional distress,” and she deserves big bucks from Ford, Volvo and Hertz for having used her image without her okay and painting her “in a false light.”
“She’s a little upset,” Jaroslawicz quipped.
On her LinkedIn page, Giles says she loved being a model because she was able to “fulfill my lifelong dream of traveling around the world.”
Reps for Volvo, Hertz and Ford had no immediate comment.


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There is no doubt, 2020 has been unique in every possible way and Thanksgiving/Black Friday sales will probably be different from years past too. Due to COVID-19, e-commerce has already skyrocketed this year. But what can we expect during the holidays this year? Today we are sharing an infographic with all the sales states you need to know for November.
Lazar, M. (2020, September 2). Every Thanksgiving ECommerce Statistic You Need to Know for 2020. Ready Cloud Suite. https://www.readycloud.com/info/every-thanksgiving-statistic-you-need-to-know-for-2020


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The 2018 Lexus LC just started arriving at U.S. dealers last month and a new report is indicating it may eventually be joined by a convertible.
Speaking at the car’s Australian launch, LC assistant chief engineer Takashi Watanabe told Drive the car’s GA-L platform could be used to underpin a convertible.
Lexus Australia’s chief executive, Peter McGregor, added the company is “very aware of the importance of the convertible sector of this market.” He went on to say “It’s been a while between convertibles for us.”
Despite hinting at the possibility of a convertible variant, the model is far from official and McGregor said the vehicle would be a low volume even if approved. The latter statement isn’t too surprising as the second-generation Lexus SC proved relatively popular at launch but sales dwindled towards the end of its lifecycle.
For now, the LC 500 coupe has a 5.0-liter V8 engine that develops 471 hp (351 kW) and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque. It is connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission which allows the model to run from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds before hitting a top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h).
The company also offers the LC 500h which has a 3.5-liter V6 engine and two electric motors that produce a combined output of 354 hp (264 kW). It accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
Lexus LC Convertible rendering via X-Tomi


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NEW DELHI/HONG KONG (Reuters) – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is standing firm on a directive to compel global payment firms to store customer data in India, resisting calls from US companies to dilute an order they say would cost them millions of dollars, people familiar with the matter said.
The payment companies are worried India’s data onshoring move could set a precedent and nudge other major governments to implement similar rules at a time when there is heightened scrutiny on how companies globally handle their customers’ data.
The industry’s tussle with RBI also comes as Prime Minster Narendra Modi aggressively pushes digital and cashless modes of payment that leave an electronic trail as part of a campaign to crack down on the black economy.
While Modi’s administration is working on a separate data protection law, foreign companies were caught off guard in April by the one-page RBI directive that said all payments data should within six months be stored only in the country for “unfettered supervisory access”.
The RBI said storing data locally would help “ensure better monitoring”.
A joint lobbying effort by American Express Co, Mastercard Inc and Visa Inc to dilute or reverse the directive has failed to shift the central bank’s position, with the RBI telling the firms in a meeting this month to comply, not complain, sources with direct knowledge told Reuters.
The RBI declined to comment, but a government source with direct knowledge confirmed the RBI was “unlikely to back down on its plans”.
The card companies are nervous that the move will disrupt their investment plans, as millions of dollars are diverted from other projects in a scramble to open local data centres within six months.
“There is a feeling of helplessness and we will have to comply,” said a source with direct knowledge of the meetings.
The RBI’s insistence that payments data be stored “only in India” would hamper global fraud detection and the companies should be allowed to keep a back-up, the sources said.
The government source disagreed.
“The suggestion that you need a disaster management back-up centre overseas just does not cut it,” said the source, who declined to be identified. “This is not a small island nation that would get entirely crippled by a single natural disaster.”
Mastercard said it was working with the industry to engage the RBI “to understand their need for access to domestic data and work towards a solution that meets the regulatory requirements” in line with global norms.
Visa declined to comment, while American Express did not respond to a request for comment.
The move would not impact local players such as Softbank Group-backed Indian digital payments firm Paytm, as well as homegrown card payment network RuPay, which competes with the likes of Visa and Mastercard, as they already store their data in India.
“Only in India”
The industry says India’s proposed data storage rules would be among the world’s most restrictive.
China also tightened cyber regulation in the past year, formalising new rules that require firms to store data locally. None of the global payment card companies, however, operate in the Chinese domestic market yet.
Countries such as Russia and Indonesia also have an onshore data storage requirement, but they do not restrict companies from transfer of transactions data offshore as well, according to lobby group US-India Business Council (USIBC), which counts the three US card companies among its members.
Global payment firms currently store and process Indian transactions outside the country and a major concern to the industry is a clause in the RBI’s order that asks for data to be stored “only in India”, two sources said.
That, according to the industry, would restrict the transfer of data needed to effectively detect and analyse global fraud patterns, and make India more vulnerable to financial crime.
In a letter dated May 3, seen by Reuters, the USIBC pressed the RBI for a “reversal or an indefinite stay” of its directive, which it said would make India’s payments ecosystem more prone to cyber-attacks.
It also urged the RBI to remove any restriction on transferring the data outside India and specify the time period for which the data needed to be stored locally.
An industry executive at a US payments firm said while the RBI was likely to soon issue clarifications to address some of their concerns, but it would not change the notification’s implementation date.
In an earnings call last month, Visa CEO Alfred Kelly Jr. referred to the RBI’s six-month deadline as a “tough timeframe”.
The directive comes as more people in India are switching to plastic money, partly driven by the Modi’s decision to replace high-value currency notes in November 2016, since when the government has aggressively discouraged cash transactions.
In March, Indians clocked transactions worth $52 billion using their 900 million credit and debit cards, nearly double the amount recorded in November 2016, data from the RBI showed.
But fraud is a concern too. The RBI recorded 57,411 cases of card fraud totalling $43 million in the three years to December 2017, according to a Right to Information response seen by Reuters.
The RBI in April said the payment ecosystem in India had “expanded considerably”, making it necessary to ensure “the safety and security” of data.
(By Aditi Shah, Aditya Kalra and Sumeet Chatterjee; Reporting by Aditi Shah and Aditya Kalra in New Delhi, Sumeet Chatterjee in Hong Kong; Editing by Alex Richardson)


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- Southeast Asian SMBs plan to invest USD 130 billion into tech over the next three years
- 84 per cent want tech providers to help in their digitalization efforts; data analytics an area of focus in the next two years
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Southeast Asia have set their sights on leveraging external tech providers to accelerate their digital ambitions, paving the way for global providers, including those in the US, to seize opportunities in the region, according to findings from the latest report from TDCX (NYSE: TDCX).
Titled ASEAN SMEs: Small Business, Big Opportunity for Tech Providers, the report aims to help tech providers in the US and globally understand the approach that Southeast Asian SMBs are taking to grow their business in the digital economy and their expectations of tech providers. The report shows that SMBs are looking to tech providers such as cloud providers, system integrators, cybersecurity specialists, as well as digital platforms for the expertise they require as they grow their businesses.
The Southeast Asia region represents a bright spot for US and global companies seeking to tap into high-growth markets in Asia outside of China. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Southeast Asia is forecast to grow by 2.7 per cent in 2023, substantially faster than the global average.1 By 2030, the region’s economy is predicted to eclipse Japan’s and be the world’s 4th largest single market after the EU, US, and China.1
Mr. Laurent Junique, Chief Executive Officer, TDCX said, “Post-pandemic, SMBs have fully come around to the benefits of going digital. What was once a nice-to-have is now a must-have and SMBs in Southeast Asia are making up for lost time by tapping the expertise of digital solution providers. Hence, the time is also ripe for tech providers in the US and globally to engage with SMBs to support their digital transformation in this high-growth market.”
Collectively, there are more than 70 million SMBs across Southeast Asia which make up about 97 per cent of all businesses in the region. These businesses have signaled their strong commitment to digitalizing through their investments: over the last three years, they have invested more than USD 78 billion on such initiatives and do not plan to slow down, with a further USD 130 billion planned for investment over the next three years2.
The study revealed that close to half (49 per cent) of SMBs have only digitalized a few functions across their business. On average, Southeast Asian SMBs are currently using three tech solutions to support their business needs, with digital marketing being the top area of focus.
While the pandemic has expedited the speed of digitalization among Southeast Asian SMBs, the rate of advancement is uneven across the region. One-fifth (20 per cent) of the region’s SMBs only took the plunge to digitalize in the last two years and those in the Consumer Goods, Retail, and F&B sectors lag behind their peers in their digitalization journey.
Southeast Asian SMBs, however, are taking steps to bridge their digitalization gap. The study found that their top priority over the next two years is to enhance their data analytics and innovation capabilities. To support their digitalization push, SMBs are looking to work with tech providers that have strong technical skills (76 per cent), industry knowledge (69 per cent), and speedy response times (65 per cent).
Key findings across Southeast Asia from the report:
1. Opportunities abound for US and global tech providers as Southeast Asian SMBs invest big in digital
Tech investments are crucial for SMBs to remain competitive and to meet customer expectations in Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing digital economy which reached a gross merchandise value of USD 200 billion in 20223.
In addition to improving their data analytics and innovation capabilities, Southeast Asian SMBs are focused on transforming their traditional business model to an e-Commerce enabled one (69 per cent) and digitalizing operations such as sales and marketing and customer relationship management (69 per cent) in the next two years.
However, they continue to grapple with a host of challenges. These include access to knowledge and expertise (67 per cent), training programs to reskill or upskill employees (66 per cent), and advisory and consultation on technology adoption (65 per cent).
2. Southeast Asian SMBs are now more receptive to partnering with external tech providers to go further
As SMBs mature in their digitalization journey, things can get increasingly complex and more difficult to manage. Southeast Asian SMBs are now more receptive to getting an external tech provider to help them manage certain functions to achieve their goals more quickly. Across the five Southeast Asian countries surveyed, more than 84 per cent of SMBs see value in working with an external tech provider.
The top two areas where they are leveraging external support are their digital marketing and employee training needs. This suggests that Southeast Asian SMBs are prioritizing revenue generation and ensuring that employees have the right skillsets to adapt to a digital future.
On the operations front, there remains a big opportunity for Southeast Asian SMBs to tap digital solution providers to enhance their capabilities. For example, in the area of payments and collections, only one in four SMBs (25 per cent) are leveraging external solutions to provide such services.
3. Southeast Asian SMBs are on the lookout for tech providers who can better meet their needs and support their growth
To serve Southeast Asian SMBs, tech providers need to keep a pulse on what SMBs want and understand the pain points of a frustrating experience. According to the TDCX report, more than four in five (82 per cent) of the SMBs surveyed expressed their openness to switching providers, with advanced technology (71 per cent), more responsive customer care (68 per cent) and better pricing (45 per cent) being the top three factors driving this desire.
The need for better customer support was further highlighted by the SMBs surveyed. Customer-experience related issues were the top two reasons behind their dissatisfaction with their existing tech provider. Specifically, these were the speed of responding to customers (74 per cent) and the availability of human interaction as part of customer experience (64 per cent).
An SMB owner shared, “Many digital service providers have pitched seamless customer service as part of their differentiators. But the response time ends up being dismal. When we work with external partners, we almost expect them to be part of our team, jumping in to help resolve issues once they occur.”
TDCX’s ASEAN SMEs: Small Business, Big Opportunity for Tech Providers report was conducted by Intuit Research from September to December 2022, to understand SMBs' mindset toward digitalization. A total of 750 SMBs were interviewed in five countries, namely, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand, with an equal number of participants from each country.
The report is available for download here.
Singapore-headquartered TDCX provides transformative digital CX solutions, enabling world-leading and disruptive brands to acquire new customers, build customer loyalty, and to protect their online communities.
TDCX helps clients achieve their customer experience aspirations by harnessing technology, human intelligence, and its global footprint. It serves clients in fintech, gaming, technology, home sharing and travel, digital advertising, and social media, streaming and e-commerce. TDCX’s expertise and strong footprint in Asia have made it a trusted partner for clients, particularly high-growth, new-economy companies, looking to tap the region’s growth potential.
TDCX’s commitment to delivering positive outcomes for our clients extends to its role as a responsible corporate citizen. Its Corporate Social Responsibility program focuses on positively transforming the lives of its people, its communities, and the environment.
TDCX employs more than 17,800 employees across 28 campuses globally, specifically Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, India, Romania, Spain, Colombia, Türkiye, and Vietnam. For more information, please visit www.tdcx.com.
1 UK-ASEAN Business Council
2 Data from Intuit Research.
3 Source: e-Conomy SEA 2022 report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company.
For enquiries, please contact:


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LootMogul believes its ability to draw Online 2.0 gamers and sports fans to Web 3.0 environments will be a huge competitive advantage.
Phil Spencer says Microsoft will keep pursuing investments in the video game industry that may include buying more studios
Apple is expected to introduce bigger changes to the iPhone line in 2023, including the launch of ‘iPhone 15 Ultra’
Night School Studio’s “Oxenfree” launched Netflix Games a year after the streaming giant bought the game developer
Google, Apple, and other tech titans took up the bulk of sales of 209 foreign tech companies that filed corporate tax returns in 2021.
Twitch rejects calls for a 70/30 revenue split and announces it will standardize 50/50 share from subscriptions
The companies believe more people will spend more in virtual department stores and amusement parks as they spend more time online.
Google Pixel 6 Pro regulatory filings hint at fastest charging capability on any Pixel phone ever
The Pixel 6 series is expected to launch with a number of upgrades, so it is expected to include the most powerful phones from Google. The latest leak offers more details on battery-related enhancements, suggesting that the high-end model could have the fastest charging capability ever on a Pixel phone.
Certification documents submitted to Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC), first spotted by XDA Developers, hint at the fast charging capabilities of the Pixel 6 Pro. A regulatory label from the NCC filing listed "5V/3A (15W), 9V/2A (18W), 9V/3A (27W), and 11V/3A (33W)" as the device’s charging speeds.
Even though Pixel 6 Pro’s reported 33W charging capability does not seem much compared with other recently launched Android devices, it would still be a significant improvement. Note that the Pixel 3, Pixel 4, and Pixel 5 models all had 18W as the highest (wired) charging speed.
This is not the first time that Pixel 6 was reported to launch with a 33W charging speed. But the latest report has now provided more evidence to corroborate the information. Google may also improve the Pixel 6’s wireless charging capability to 23W to match the reported specs of the refreshed Pixel Stand.
However, it should be noted that Google has confirmed the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will ship without a free charger. And it can be recalled that previous Pixel phones shipped with an 18W power adapter in-box. That means, if the reported Pixel 6 charging speeds are accurate, future users would still have to purchase new chargers to maximize the expected upgrades.
The faster charging speeds, whether wired or wireless, should also complement the reported bigger battery capacities of Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Multiple reports indicated that the upcoming devices sport 4614mAh and 5000mAh batteries, respectively.
Android 12 just received its last beta update earlier this month, hinting at the imminent release of its public version. It should then be available in time for the rumored launch of the Pixel 6 series. Pre-order for the new phones will reportedly open on Oct. 19, while its retail release date is said to be scheduled on Oct. 28.
What is a semiconductor? An electrical engineer explains how these critical electronic components work and how they are made


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Red Boiling Springs facility is the Company’s largest
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee celebrated economic development with French-based company BabyNov, USA in Red Boiling Springs Monday.
Lee spoke on the economic impact businesses like the baby food manufacturer have on Tennessee’s economy.
“Great to join BabyNov USA to celebrate three years of business in rural TN,” said Governor Lee in a Facebook post. “Trusted global companies choose to invest in TN’s top business climate & skilled workforce, creating jobs & real opportunity for Tennesseans. This is what economic development is all about.”
Production – BabyNov USA is a french organic baby food manufacturer.
BabyNov USA, who, three years ago, dedicated $45 million as an investment in the facility to create 147 new jobs, is dedicated to the production of ready-to-eat baby food for the American Market.
“Three years after it opened its doors in Macon County, we were finally able to celebrate the French organic baby food manufacturer,” said The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TDECD) in a Facebook post Monday.
According to BabyNov’s website, “BabyNov takes its DNA from Global Baby, a French company, with over 25 years of worldwide expertise in babies’ nutrition.”
The Red Boiling Springs facility is the Company’s largest.
Photo via TDECD.
Copyright 2023 The Upper Cumberland Business Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Other stories you may want to check out:


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Musashi AI consortium is a direct result of this need and is focused on enabling the manufacturing industry to take massive leaps forward to reach the full potential that AI and the smart factory will bring to bear.
Industry 4.0 Leaders Launch Musashi AI Consortium, demonstrate first AI prototypes
Ran Poliakine | The Musashi AI Consortium
Tell us about the Musashi AI Consortium and who is involved.
Musashi AI is a consortium of brilliant technological minds in the area of artificial intelligence, software engineering, hardware engineering, manufacturing and more with the goal of creating innovations that will bring forth Industry 4.0. This is a collaboration with global powertrain parts manufacturing leader, Musashi Seimitsu Corporation, SixEye Interactive and my technology center, Poliakine Innovation.
Give us some background on yourself and why you chose to work with Musashi.
As a founder of several successful companies, my aim is to bring new technologies to market, fundamentally solving real-world problems and improving people’s lives. These companies include Powermat, Wellsense, TAP, NanoX Imaging, Years of Water, Illumigyn and QinFlow, among several others. Everything I do has been a labor of love enabled by tech.
Musashi AI is another example of this. We believe that through AI and automation solutions, manufacturers will be able to ramp up productivity, reduce waste and forge new business models for the 21st century, literally changing how factory employees work, collaborate and provide customer service.
What makes Musashi AI stand apart from other industry consortiums?
Musashi AI will be an Industry 4.0 game changer. We believe there is a gap in leadership around the essential element that will take Industry 4.0 to the next level, which is the smart factory. With our technological know-how and Musashi Seimitsu’s manufacturing prowess, we’ll be able to make that a reality.
What do you see as the biggest barrier for manufacturers in the implementation of Industry 4.0?
Trust in technology is one of the biggest barriers in the implementation of Industry 4.0. By combining one of the biggest, most trustworthy names in manufacturing along with the brightest technological minds in the area of artificial intelligence, software engineering, hardware engineering, mathematics and physics, we’ll be about to promote our global vision.
How do you see Musashi AI helping to address some of these barriers?
The benefits that artificial intelligence brings to the manufacturing industry are clear, but it takes collaboration, commitment and focus to make the promise of the Industry 4.0 revolution a reality. Musashi AI consortium is a direct result of this need and is focused on enabling the manufacturing industry to take massive leaps forward to reach the full potential that AI and the smart factory will bring to bear.
How will Musashi AI be important to Industry 4.0?
The Musashi AI consortium will be able to bring the $4 billion Industry 4.0 into reality in a matter of months because we understand the ability for machines to cooperate with humans in real-time sparks innovation and creates new efficiency and agility in manufacturing processes, leading to reduced costs, larger revenues and improved customer experiences.
What products have been made possible through this collaboration?
Musashi AI has already unveiled two prototypes: the Automatic Inspection System (AIS) and the Fully Self-Driving Automated Forklift (FAF). Based on artificial intelligence and cutting-edge optics, the AIS is able to trace and replace people in quality control positions. The FAF navigates on its own, performing a variety of functions that previously required human interaction, with unparalleled efficiency and safety standards aimed at preventing injuries to work staff on the warehouse floor.
Look into the future 5 years or so, where do you see Musashi AI and the manufacturing industry?
According to KMPG, Industry 4.0 will unlock a $4 trillion market opportunity by 2020. Musashi AI is seizing this opportunity, bringing Industry 4.0 into reality in a matter of months, versus the years that the industry currently predicts it will take. Five years from now, I believe Musashi AI will be a leading player in the industry.
About Ran Poliakine
A prolific entrepreneur and recognized visionary, Ran Poliakine has founded several successful companies that bring new technologies to market, fundamentally solving real-world problems and improving people’s lives. Poliakine is the former CEO of Powermat Technologies, the leader in the wireless power industry. He’s also the founder of Wellsense, creators of The MAP™ System designed to empower hospitals and nursing homes to deliver the best preventive patient care in an affordable and cost effective manner. In addition, he introduced TAP to the world; an entirely new communication mode developed to complement the data input needs in virtual reality settings. What’s more, his portfolio of companies also include NanoX Imaging, Years of Water, Illumigyn and QinFlow among several others. Everything he’s accomplished has been a labor of love enabled by tech. In addition, Ran serves on several company Boards in both officer and advisory capacities.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of RoboticsTomorrow
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Sidmouth businesses in customer service launch
Fields and Brend’s Sidmouth hotels join forces to recognise staff and customers in National Customer Service Week
TWO Sidmouth businesses are joining forces to celebrate National Customer Service Week and their staff.
For the second year running, Fields is involved, but this time has enlisted support from the Brend Group, which operates The Victoria and The Belmont hotels.
The launch, involving Sidmouth’s iconic Toastrack, will take place outside Fields on Saturday, October 1, and, as a thank you to their customers and those of both hotels, will offer rides up to the Victoria between 11am and 3pm, where they will receive discount vouchers.
“We want to put Sidmouth on the map for providing excellent customer service and decided to ask Brend to join us,” said Fields’ promotions and marketing manager, Claire Jenkins, who wants to “put Sidmouth on the map” for customer service.
You may also want to watch:
In a customer survey last year the department store gained 89 percent of ratings at four or five out of five. This year, surveys will again be carried out and those answering six questions will be entered for a draw to win afternoon tea for two in Fields’ coffee shop.
There will be many promotions during the week, both at the store and at the two Brend hotels.
- 1 Escot springs out of lockdown and they're wild about opening again
- 2 Veterans called to muster in tribute to Prince Philip
- 3 Around the sitting room in 80 days with the amazing Diana, 98
- 4 Stableford jewel for Sidmouth member
- 5 Rewarding first night back For Sidmouth Running Club
- 6 It's our time to share our fortune and 'do our bit' as we start to re-open
- 7 Young Vikings enjoy victory on the main pitch
- 8 There will be sunshine after the rain as the town re-opens
- 9 We're open again! Town's traders welcome back shoppers
- 10 Dreams and nightmares at the Grand National
In Fields, Reward Card members will get double points and other promotions include free mini makeovers (to book), money off vouchers for ladies’ fashion and a free personal shopping experience.
At the Victoria and Belmont on October 1, there will be 20 percent discount vouchers for food from the bar/lounge menu, free vouchers and a complimentary voucher for back and neck massages.
David Oxley, personnel manager said: “Fields has kindly offered �80 worth of vouchers to reward our Customer Champions with, when we decide on the nominations, which will be made throughout NCSW (October 3-9), by guests and staff.”
Winning nominees will also receive vouchers for 20 minute neck and back massages and anyone making nominations will be entered into a draw to win bottles of wine.
Brend has reciprocated Fields’ offer with dinner for two at either hotel.
There will be an award ceremony at the hotels on Monday, October 10, when Matthew Raistrick, general manager, will announce the winning nominees for the Customer Champions and issue prizes to its employees.
“We are looking forward to NCSW and are delighted to be working in association with Fields,” said Mr Oxley.
“Improving on our recognised excellence in customer service is our most important objective and NCSW is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate this.”
He said it was also a week to recognise employees’ efforts in achieving excellent customer service.


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Here’s the current CBD information:
- A brand-new CBD encapsulation approach improves CBD absorption when contrasted to traditional CBD oil.
- Researchers show CBD’s antibiotic possibility when utilized for greater than a loads antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, consisting of gonorrhea and also staph.
- Cannabis removes hinder the serious inflammatory feedback connected to COVID-19 fatalities in a brand-new research study.
Table of Contents
- Microencapsulated CBD Absorbs Much More Efficiently, Study Says
- Research Confirms Antibiotic Potency of CBD for Gonorrhea, Staph, and also Other Bacteria
- Cannabis Is Proven Effective Against Severe COVID-19-Related Inflammation
Microencapsulated CBD Absorbs Much More Efficiently, Study Says
A current research study by Australian scientists located that “salt alginate microencapsulation” substantially improved human absorption of CBD as contrasted to traditional CBD oil solutions.
Microencapsulation describes the splitting up and also finish of extremely tiny beads of an option, which, along with boosted bioavailability, enables chemical security, taste and also smell conservation, and also less complicated measuring of dietary web content to name a few advantages.
In this experiment, the scientists carried out gel-coated CBD microcapsules to computer mice, that were additionally offered pills of deoxycholic acid, a substance understood to improve CBD uptake in the mind and also body.
Then, plasma focus of CBD was evaluated at the 20-minute, hr, and also three-hour mark.
On standard, scientists located that microencapsulated CBD outmatched typical CBD oil by 47 percent in the blood and also 25 percent in the mind, keeping in mind that the optimal CBD focus in the mind tripled with the microencapsulated oil.
Considering just how badly the body soaks up traditional CBD oil– several resources compete the number is under 10 percent– this growth might show extremely valuable as the CBD and also marijuana markets remain to flourish.
Research Confirms Antibiotic Potency of CBD for Gonorrhea, Staph, and also Other Bacteria
A research study released in Communications Biology on Tuesday taking a look at the antimicrobial possibility of cannabidiol disclosed the plant-based substance’s capacity to assault gonorrhea, clostridioides dificile ( also known as C. diff), and also staphylococcus aureus ( staph infection), amongst greater than a loads various other sorts of microorganisms.
While CBD’s capacity to eliminate Gram- favorable microorganisms has actually been rather completely recorded, the research study located that “Cannabidiol can precisely eliminate a part of Gram- unfavorable microorganisms that consists of the ‘immediate danger’ microorganism Neisseria gonorrhoeae.”
Also of fantastic value was the reality that scientists observed no resistances creating in microorganisms after repetitive direct exposure to cannabidiol, which passed through the persistent external layers of these microorganisms in an extremely effective fashion.
At the verdict of the research study, scientists asked for the proceeded expedition of CBD as a powerful and also low-side-effect antimicrobial.
The currently validated anti-inflammatory possibility of marijuana has actually been displayed in a current searching for by Pathway Research in Canada to encompass “cytokine tornados,” an issue that can swiftly transform deadly in serious situations of COVID-19.
Cytokines are (typically) pro-inflammatory substances launched within the body that, while a vital part of the immune feedback, can gain hazardous results when uptake is too expensive.
Per the research study, progressed COVID-19 clients typically experience a solid rise in cytokine induction, i.e., a cytokine tornado, that causes breathing distress, which typically causes fatality.
The scientists checked 7 marijuana sativa removes on numerous of the pro-inflammatory variables observed in the COVID-19-induced “cytokine tornado” utilizing fabricated human skin, locating that 5 of the removes “highly down-regulated expression of interleukins, pro-inflammatory cytokines …” and also numerous various other substances understood to set off ARDS.
Future expedition right into using marijuana for swelling, serious or otherwise, need to look for to distinguish in between efficient and also inefficient cannabis-based substances, the research study advises, as several of the removes they checked were inefficient or perhaps pro-inflammatory.


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Music streaming users demand better quality audio
Streaming music subscriptions climbed sharply during lockdowns according to a new Futuresource consumer survey, with 22% of respondents saying that they signed up to a new service. The Audio Tech Lifestyles research study, conducted across the USA, UK, Germany, Japan and China in June 2021, also uncovered a growing demand for high quality audio.
“We found that audio quality, which was historically mostly requested for audio products, is now also an important feature for audio content” says Alexandre Jornod, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “In the same way as last year, audio quality was again the most requested feature streaming users wish they could add to their streaming service, which reflects the developments we have seen in the market with Amazon Music HD and more recently with Apple Music.”
Immersive Sound Tech Gaining Traction
Awareness of audio technologies was particularly high among millennials and older demographics. Spatial Audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio ranked the highest for awareness, with a third of respondents knowing Dolby Atmos and nearly one in four knowing Sony 360 Reality Audio.
YouTube was the most popular way to discover new music across all age groups combined, followed by streaming services and radio. TikTok is also gaining traction, with more than 20% of respondents using it to discover new music.
Streaming Music Service Stacking on the Rise
“Music streaming continues to attract consumer attention, with plenty of activity captured by our survey,” says Jornod. “There were more respondents subscribing to multiple music streaming subscriptions in their households than those who just subscribed to one, especially in the US. However, more people were switching streaming services too. This year, the number of respondents who told us they have switched providers in the past 12 months rose to 45%. That’s up from 36% in 2020.”
Podcasts Growing in Popularity, with Many Willing to Pay
Podcasts are also on the rise, with more than half of respondents listening in 2021, up 17% on last year. Of those who listen, two in every three listen weekly, rising to more than three in every four among millennials. Listening to podcasts isn’t impacting music consumption either, with 82% saying that they consume the same amount or more music as a result of listening to podcasts, consistent with Futuresource Consulting’s 2020 findings.
Over half of all podcast listeners said they would be willing to pay to subscribe to a specific podcast show or network. This was particularly prevalent in China, at 79%, but also scored strongly in the US, at 56% of listeners.
Photo – top of page – Blaz Erzetic / Unsplash (edited)


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Hungary is planning to beef up subsidies for electric vehicles and talks are on the way to increase subsidies for cheaper cars.
WeShare launched in Berlin last June and will expand to seven other cities this year, with plans to deploy 8,400 electric vehicles.
Revolut will use its Lithuanian banking licence, obtained in 2018, to serve customers in Central and Eastern Europe.
Hungary is the first market outside the Czech Republic for the group, which wants to expand to new markets in the future.
The Czech Republic could face counter-measures by the US if it introduces the tax that will affect internet giants like Facebook, Google and Amazon, a US diplomat has warned.


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Portland equity firm buys CityCenter of CityNorth for $67M
The CityCenter of CityNorth luxury mixed-use development in northeast Phoenix sold this week for $67 million, and the new owners hope finally to shed the project of troubles that have followed from early in its development.
CityNorth is a 628,000-square-foot mixed-use project north of Loop 101 near Desert Ridge Marketplace. About 80 percent of its space is a mix of retail and office; the rest is 99 upscale apartments originally built as condominiums.
CityNorth has grappled with high vacancy rates since the first phase was finished in November 2008, when the Great Recession was accelerating. While the project has lured some tenants recently, its retail and office spaces still post 60 percent vacancy rates, said Todd Gooding, president of Scanlan Kemper. The apartments, however, are almost fully leased, he said.
The owners plan to breathe life into the project by embarking on a rebranding campaign to lure entertainment-type retail tenants. Additionally, Scanlan Kemper and Wayzata plan to boost occupancy with competitive rental rates, adding more parking and investing in some cosmetic upgrades.
“We’ve been eyeing Phoenix for 18 months now, trying to get something done. As a market that we wanted to expand in, we’ve acquired a few assets in Phoenix, but nothing this large,” Gooding said. “We like the demo-graphics, we like the employment growth. ”
CityNorth has been at the center of legal wrangling and hardship since its completion more than four years ago. Developed by Thomas J. Klutznick Co., Northeast Phoenix Partners and NPP CityNorth LLC as a premier luxury center, it struggled to gain traction amid the economic downturn and was foreclosed on in April 2010.
Last summer, a judge turned over the project and master-developer rights to Gray Development Group in a heated legal battle with the Klutznick entities. In addition to the Klutznick-Gray fight, a deal between the developers and the city of Phoenix regarding $97 million in incentives had been challenged unsuccessfully by the Goldwater Institute.
Kristena Hansen covers residential and commercial real estate.
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Fabrics, textiles from banana fibre?
Fabrics and textiles woven from fine quality banana fibre could be the next big thing for consumers all over the country if research carried out by the NRCB in Tiruchirapalli bear fruit.business Updated: Aug 22, 2008 15:21 IST
Fabrics and textiles woven from fine quality banana fibre could be the next big thing for consumers all over the country if research carried out by the National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) Tiruchirapalli bear fruit.
The NRCB has joined hands with the Central Institute of Cotton Technology in Mumbai, with the aim of producing quality fibres by improving the retting process, adding certain non hazardous chemicals to banana fibre to produce lengthy fibres, with adequate strength and lustre.
NRCB Director Dr M M Mustafa said this process was thought of as banana fibre drawn from the stem of the plants is brittle and long fibres cannot be drawn from it.
He said NRCB had obtained special varieties of banana plants from the Philippines and the Middle East, which yield only the fibre and not the fruit or flower. However tests like long term durability of the fabric, retention of fast colour dyeing and stitching capabilty had to be done before the technology could be transferred to commercial production.
He said NRCB scientists were evolving a method by which banana stem juice could be made to powder form, which has curative properties in treating diseases like kidney stones. Once perfected, the technology would be transferred to pharmaceutical industries, he said.
The centre has also developed a patent technology to extract wine from banana skin and had joined hands with a group in Belgaum in Maharashtra to commercially produce banana wine. A pilot plant would soon be set up, pending approval from the union government, he said.


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Microsoft Edge now offers insights into the energy savings with sleeping tabs in the Canary version. The advanced version of the web browser improves the features for the sleeping tabs even further. This is reported by the online magazine ONMST, quoting a Reddit user who discovered the changes in Edge’s Canary build. Microsoft is making some improvements to the “sleeping tabs” function in the Edge browser. So you can have a projection displayed in the preliminary version, which shows the estimated energy savings through the sleeping tabs. It is an approximation.
Put tabs to sleep to save PC resources
The “sleeping tabs” function was introduced in Edge last year. In this way, users can put inactive tabs that otherwise remain open in the background to sleep in order to save PC resources. This feature is designed to provide lower / improved CPU usage, longer battery life, and a faster browsing experience.
How effective this is, however, has not yet been made clear to the user. You have an ad that says that the tab is inactive and that saves resources – but what that actually means has not yet been clearly shown. Currently, the tab preview in Edge only shows sleep mode.
But that should change soon if Microsoft also shows the estimated savings that are now being tested in the tab preview for the sleeping tab. ONMST believes these changes will also help drive more users to Edge as Microsoft is doing a good job implementing such new features. So far, the changes are only available in the latest Canary builds of Edge. It could take a while before the update finds its way into the finished version.
Brian is the news author at Research Snipers which mainly covers Technology News, Microsoft News, Google News, Facebook, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, and other tech news.


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There is much concern as the new Trump Administration must now administer such well-publicized environmental standards, such as Clean Power Plan, Paris Climate Treaty, new vehicle fuel efficiency standards and more that it has inherited. The Trump Administration has been open about their disdain for many new environmental programs and their desire to abrogate or weaken them.
However, a couple of other existing USEPA and DOE programs have quietly been quite effective in reducing toxic air emissions, energy usage, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: the corporate average fuel economy or CAFÉ standards and the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA).
According to a recent study, CAFE standards for cars and trucks saved more energy in the US in 2014 (7.3 quadrillion BTUs) with US appliance standards coming in second at 5.3 quadrillion BTUs of energy saved in 2014.
While abandoning the US’s pledge for the Paris Climate Treaty (26-28% reduction in CO2e emissions by 2025) and repealing the Clean Power Plan (cutting CO2e emissions by about 220 million metric tons by 2030) will not be positive for energy savings and GHG emission reductions, there is certainly a movement among US consumers to save energy, and, thus, GHG emissions, as the cost of excess energy usage comes from their pockets.
Current CAFÉ standards were finalized in August 2012, highlighted by an agreement with 13 large automakers to increase fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon for cars and light-duty trucks by model year 2025. Even the immediate improvement in fuel economy for limited models has resulted in the great energy and GHG emission savings noted above. These savings will increase more rapidly as the years go on as the standards increase and more models hit the road.
Quietly, though, national appliance standards have also effectively reduced energy use and GHG emissions. The original National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA) was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. It created uniform federal standards in response to complaints by the industry that it was difficult to keep track and comply with a myriad of different state standards. It contains minimum efficiency standards for a variety of appliances. It also prohibits manufacturers from advertising a product as meeting their energy efficiency standard unless it performed testing under federal guidelines that confirms this and that the testing is available to the public.
National appliance standards have been estimated to save the average US household about $500 per year on utility bills. In 2015, the appliance standards has been estimated to avoid 300 million tons of CO2e emissions.
The DOE has periodically updated the NAECA standards, mainly as part of the Energy Act of 2005. Over 50 consumer products are now covered by these standards. Despite being called an “Appliance” standard, NAECA covers other consumer, home-based products found in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors, such as battery chargers, pool heaters, and furnace fans. See http://www.appliance-standards.org/national. Some products have minimum energy standards found only at the state level. California, Connecticut, and Oregon have been the most aggressive, with minimum standards for televisions, DVD players, and game consoles.
Energy savings due to the NAECA has grown to 13% of electricity consumption in 2015 and 4% of natural gas consumption. And these energy savings are achieved without the consumer doing anything or investing in anything. And there is no risk of failure as the appliances will meet the standards of lower energy usage.
These savings are expected to grow in the future as future, more stringent standards will come in line for new or existing products. The USDOE has issued new standards for rooftop air conditioners and commercial warm air furnaces that are predicted to reduce energy usage by an additional estimated 5.8 quadrillion Btus over 30 years.
So while other prominent energy and environmental accords and rules have garnered a lot of publicity and have the risk of being eliminated or curtailed, the NAECA is an act that has quietly been successful in reducing a significant amount of energy for people in the residential and manufacturing areas with no loss of availability or function with no hassle or bureaucracy for the end-user. And with little or no complaint from the appliance industry. There appears no talk that it will be streamlined in the new administration. And let’s hope that the CAFE standards, the most successful government act in reducing energy usage, does not materially change, although there is some talk about that.
CCES can help you evaluate the energy usage of your building, whether it be commercial, industrial, or residential and determine many ways to reduce energy usage and peak demand, saving you money, creating other financial benefits, and with minimal risk or disruption. Join the many who have used CCES to save money in the short- and long-term. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.