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Average gas prices at the pump have skyrocketed (“necessarily”?) in the past month, going up more than 30 cents per gallon. In a period where wage growth has been flat or negative, the sudden shock of higher fuel prices and their related inflation in food prices have put a big dent in the disposable income of many households. CBS News takes a look at how that will impact Easter holiday plans this weekend in this video clip showing plenty of second thoughts as people fill their tanks at the new prices. If people choose to stay home rather than travel, the consumer economy will take a significant hit:
Barack Obama is “taking action”? Er, not really. He’s calling a task force together to look for abuse, which will do exactly nothing to lower gasoline prices. We need to expand domestic production and refining capacity in order to address the fundamentals of the instability of the fuel market. Until we do, we will continue to see prices fluctuate based on political unrest in producing countries, greater demand from developing industrial nations like China and India, and the lack of will to find our own resources and keep our own dollars in our own economy.
Have the gas prices changed your holiday plans this Easter holiday or spring break? Take the poll:


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For Colliers, other threats faced by industrial
parks in the country to have their facilities unoccupied are that companies
have several sites for the separation of their processes and competition for human resources.
Regarding the way in which construction of this type grows in the country, Róger Carvajal, market analyst of the industrial and logistics division of Colliers, explained to Elfinancierocr.com that "... the growth of offices in the free trade zone regime is orderly and pre-placed. In this way, the creation of speculative spaces in the market is avoided, which facilitates their absorption. The new free trade zones have specialized infrastructures made according to the requirements of the companies
You may be interested in "Concern Over Commercial Vacancy Rate
Although there are generally healthy levels of unemployment, in zones such as Lindora, buildings in free trade zones report high levels of availability, which is attributed to the complicated situation of road congestion.
Carvajal pointed out that "... high vacancies are argued in two ways: in the case of pioneering developments, these are because of the construction conditions of the properties, which lost efficiency due to their age. For the new free zones with high percentages of unemployment, the situation is explained by the existence of newly constructed multi-tenant spaces that are in the process of absorption
Regarding the construction of the industrial sector in Central America, reports from CentralAmericaData
state that during 2018, 62 environmental impact studies were presented in the countries of the region for the construction of plants and industrial warehouses
, and Costa Rica concentrated 73% of the estimated investment.

domain: news


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This story is part of a CNET special report that examines the controversy gripping San Francisco as a massive influx of techies feeds an unprecedented economic boom -- and backlash.
Drive around the wine country located about an hour north of San Francisco and you might spot an eerily familiar bus that, if you look carefully enough, seems like one used by Google to shuttle its employees to and from its offices in Silicon Valley.
That's because it is.
As tech industry cash hoards and company valuations soar, the perks dished out to employees are following close behind -- and they're getting as creative as the code behind the products and services tech companies are peddling. In the past couple of decades, the list of handouts has lengthened from free soda and coffee to free meals to commuter benefits, surprise outings, massages, and more.
Tech perks aren't new. But it turns out they don't just make for a nicer work environment, they're also changing the nature of employee pay. Recruiters say that total compensation for tech employees in Silicon Valley and San Francisco is much higher than widely assumed, primarily due to all the sundry freebies they receive -- everything from catered lunches and Wi-Fi-equipped buses to free laundry.
Because of that, companies in and around the tech industry are taking note. Perks across the country are beginning to expand; even a staid insurance company in the Midwest now offers free coffee and soda. But the benefits of working in Silicon Valley continue to outpace any other industry, with dry cleaning, saunas, and on-demand massages becoming not only routine but expected.
And so when companies attempt to lure tech workers away from those perk-filled jobs, potential candidates demand more money to account for what they're leaving behind.
How much are those perks worth? The difference may be as much as 20 percent above and beyond their salary, recruiters say. That means on paper, a software engineer at Facebook, Twitter, or Google who makes about $120,000 a year actually pulls in up to an additional $24,000 -- it just doesn't show up in their paycheck, and the Internal Revenue Service doesn't collect taxes on it either.
"They say 'In my last job, we got free gym memberships,'" said Jill Hernstat, a recruiter at executive search firm Hernstat & Co. "It's gotten so out of hand."
It may be out of hand, but employers seem willing to play the perks game as they vie for talented tech workers.
"There is definitely an arms race," said Mohit Lad, CEO of network technology company ThousandEyes, which has about 50 employees in its downtown San Francisco office. He tries to keep benefits costs at up to 10 percent of a given employee's income.
In June, ThousandEyes brought employees to Lake Tahoe, a popular local vacation spot, for three days. One of those days, the company gave out coupons for fun activities like zip lines, golfing, and boating. "It's beyond just giving free lunches, it's having an identity," Lad said. "We're trying to be original in what we give to employees."
How much these perks cost companies is difficult to ascertain. Many companies say they don't track these expenses per employee. But investors watch closely.
When Google filed paperwork to go public a decade ago, its founders defended the company's then unusual perks of free meals, doctors, and washing machines. "We believe it is easy to be penny wise and pound foolish with respect to benefits that can save employees considerable time and improve their health and productivity," Google's co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin wrote. "Expect us to add benefits rather than pare them down over time."
Those in the tech industry say their perks aren't just about getting pampered, though. When a company removes the need for employees to worry about food and laundry, it frees them up to focus on family and work.
Some companies believe their perks help make employees more efficient. Wi-Fi-equipped buses let employees work while commuting. At Google, employees can rent out some of the shuttles over the weekend at a nominal cost, allowing them to easily organize transportation for weddings or wine weekends.
One study by the University of California, Berkeley, found 10 percent of tech employees surveyed would leave their job if the shuttle service their companies offered were discontinued.
Bringing a barber to the office also removes the need for employees to spend time waiting at a salon. Having a doctor on campus -- or an onsite health clinic like the one Hewlett-Packard added to some of its sites three years ago -- saves employees from cutting their workday short. Others, such as Facebook, Google, and Apple have similar programs.
Not all companies offer extensive perks. Employees at a local research lab for IBM can buy subsidized lunches, but they're not free. Apple, too, offers subsidized lunch, though it does have free coffee, tea and, yes, apples. The Apple gym? Employees pay for that.
Not everyone plays the perks game. Parker Conrad, head of HR software startup Zenefits, said he doesn't offer too many of the Silicon Valley staples to his employees. "We don't want to attract employees who are just in it for the perks," he said.
But companies like these are becoming the exception, not the rule.
Supply and demand
One reason these perks keep expanding is competition for experienced software experts and coding whizzes, the engineers considered the backbone of the industry's current boom. To attract top-tier candidates, companies are finding they have to offer something more than just the typical benefits package of health, dental, and retirement.
"There are a limited number of people who know how to do this stuff and they're well taken care of because they're in demand," said Jed Cloern, a senior consultant for Sequoia Benefits. The most crazy perk he's heard of? A CEO offering helicopter rides as a signing bonus for new employees.
Many of these perks extend to employees' families as well. Some companies, for example, offer money to help offset costs of an adoption. When employees do adopt or give birth to a new child, Yahoo gives them a gift basket and $500, along with up to eight weeks of paid leave. Google also gives $500 "baby bonding bucks," with up to 22 weeks leave for biological moms (12 weeks for everyone else). Facebook gives a gift of $4,000 and about 16 weeks.
Then there's unlimited vacation, something companies like Netflix and Twitter give employees as well. Evernote, a productivity app maker, goes a step further, offering employees a stipend of $1,000 a year to disconnect from work. FullContact, an address book management service in Colorado, offers $7,500 per year to help finance their vacation away from the grind.
TuneIn, a radio-streaming startup in downtown Palo Alto, organized a scavenger hunt in June for employees around its new offices, which were formerly occupied by Facebook. The company also gives employees free gym memberships and commuter passes to pay for train fare.
It's part of "taking care of employees and them seeing that and feeling that," said Sheldon Lamphier, vice president of human resources at TuneIn. And, he added, "It's the cost of doing business in Silicon Valley."
CNET's Shara Tibken contributed to this report.
Updated11:21 a.m. PT to add executive comment.


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More than 39 million Americans plan to kick off summer with a trip; highest travel volume since 2005
Florham Park, NJ -- As Memorial Day Weekend approaches, many New Jerseyans are ready for a Memorial Day getaway. AAA Travel predicts that more than 975,000 Garden State residents will travel for the first “summer” holiday, a 2.5 percent increase over the 953,000 that traveled last year, and the most since 2005, when more than one million went out of town.
Nationally, AAA estimates that more than 39.3 million will travel this year, one million (2.7 percent) more than last year, creating the highest Memorial Day travel volume since 2005. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 25 – Monday, May 29.
“The expected spike in Memorial Day travel mirrors the positive growth in the travel industry in 2017,” said Bill Sutherland, AAA senior VP, Travel and Publishing. “Higher confidence has led to more consumer spending. Many Americans are choosing to allocate their extra money on travel.”
Travel by the Numbers
• New Jersey – 880,956 (90.2% of travelers), a 2.4% increase from last year
• Nationally – 34.631 million (88.1% of travelers), a 2.4% increase from 2016
• New Jersey – 65,350 (6.7% of travelers), an increase of 4.6% from those who flew in 2016.
• Nationally – 2.906 million (7.4% of travelers), an increase of 5.5% from last Memorial Day.
Train, Bus, Watercraft or Other Mode
• New Jersey – 30,677 (3.1% of travelers), a 0.9% increase from Memorial Day 2016.
• Nationally – 1.754 million (4.5% of travelers), an increase of 2.9% from last year.
Travelers still hitting the road despite higher gas prices
While AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2015, the vast majority of holiday travelers (88.1 percent) are still planning to hit the road. Automobile travel will grow by 2.4 percent this Memorial Day, with 34.6 million Americans planning a holiday road trip. The national average price for a gallon of gas today is $2.37, eight cents more than in 2016. In New Jersey, the average price for a gallon of gas is $2.40, 26 cents lower than last year.
Memorial Day gas prices, average per gallon, in New Jersey since 2012
2017: $2.40 (as of May 24, 2017)
Tips for drivers
AAA expects to provide aid to more than 330,000 motorists during the Memorial Day holiday travel period, with the primary reasons being lockouts, flat tires and battery-related issues. AAA recommends motorists check the condition of their battery and tires before heading out on a road trip. Also, have vehicles inspected by a trusted repair shop, such as one of the nearly 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America. Members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call (800) AAA-HELP (222-4357) to request roadside assistance.
AAA and Waze share perspectives on holiday travel
According to Waze, the free, real-time crowdsourced traffic and navigation app, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles are the busiest metro areas this Memorial Day weekend, based on last year’s accident and traffic jam data. For travelers visiting or driving through these cities, be aware of high traffic volumes on Thursday and Friday New York City sees an average 27 percent increase in accident alerts on these two days.
AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Colorado-based business information provider teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. Visit the AAA Newsroom to view the complete AAA/IHS Global Insight 2017 Memorial Day Travel Forecast.


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Go Travel Direct quietly made the move this spring, at the end of the winter vacation season, and says it will close its office near the Ottawa airport when the lease expires at the end of August.
But Hugh Boyle, the firm's owner, told OBJ Go Travel Direct plans to resume offering vacations to sunshine destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean later this year. He plans to open a call centre in Halifax, he says, to handle bookings for flights from Ottawa and Halifax - and perhaps Montreal - to southern sun spots. He says Go Travel will maintain a small administrative office in Ottawa.
Meanwhile, Go Travel has temporarily given up its licences in Ontario and Quebec to sell travel packages, and many of its Ottawa-based staff have been let go. Dan Brennan, who helped build the firm's business while serving as marketing director, left the job this spring.
Go Travel Direct's sister organization, Ottawa-based Zoom Airlines, is bankrupt. Zoom ceased operations without warning a year ago, stranding passengers, owing its employees $200,000 in wages and vacation pay, and leaving massive debts, estimated as high as $94 million.
Bankruptcy trustees say they are still trying to sort out who gets what of any of Zoom's remaining assets.
The situation is complicated by large money transfers in recent years between Zoom and Go Travel, both of which are owned by Mr. Boyle.
To make matters slightly worse, Go Travel Direct was convicted of misleading advertising in a Nova Scotia court last year. The case was brought by Maritime Travel, a travel agent.
The court fined Go Travel $216,000 for falsely claiming in 2004 that its package vacations were generally less expensive than Maritime Travel's. Mr. Boyle says his appeal of that court decision is still pending.
Mr. Boyle, a Scot who made a fortune by offering discount vacation packages in Britain, has caused controversy in Canada by offering packaged vacations directly to the public, and refusing to sell through travel agencies. He says he can do it cheaper that way.
He started his own airline, Zoom, to carry his vacation passengers, claiming that he had difficulty leasing seats on charter aircraft. After Zoom went bust, Go Travel Direct leased space last winter on Skyservice, a Canadian charter airline.
Mr. Boyle says he's already leased space on a charter airline to do business this winter. But he declined to identify the carrier, for competitive reasons, he says.
Last winter, business for the industry as a whole was "horrible," according to Michael Pepper, president of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. "Most operators did not do well." The reason: too many seats and too few passengers.
The situation was made worse, he says, because consumers realized they could wait until the last minute to make a booking, and get a hefty discount.
By suspending operations for much of the summer, Go Travel appears to have given an edge to its major competitors, such as Sunquest, which has already published a thick brochure of vacation packages for this coming winter.


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America’s housing crisis is, indisputably, a crisis. Just ask Reverend Carolina, pastor of First Central Baptist Church in Staten Island. His congregants have felt the impact of swelling home costs and lagging income levels.
“A large percentage of the residents of Staten Island are homeowners rather than renters,” Carolina told Sojourners. “During times of economic hardship when people were losing homes and mortgages, Staten Island was disproportionately impacted in terms of homeownership around New York City."
Between 1960 and 2016, the median home value in the U.S. increased by 112 percent, while median homeowner income levels rose by just 50 percent . Renters too felt the pinch when median rent costs soared by 61 percent while median renter incomes grew by a dismal 5 percent.
Elizabeth Heyman, community organizer for Jews United for Justice in D.C., has personally felt the brunt of the escalated cost.
“I just moved into a one-bedroom apartment in D.C. and even that was a stretch to pay for rent — and I have a job and two degrees. It doesn’t make sense,” Heyman said.
The widening gap between income and cost of living caused 38 percent of renting Americans to spend 30 percent or more of their total income on rent in 2015, and led to the eviction of 2.3 million Americans in 2016.
Now, Airbnb — the company that ushered home-sharing into the mainstream — is facing backlash for exacerbating the affordable housing crisis in cities across the U.S. By booking weekend getaways through Airbnb and other home-sharing sites, travelers may be unknowingly and inadvertently worsening the crisis and supporting an industry that deprives locals of much needed long-term housing options.
When Airbnb moved into the neighborhood
The creators of Airbnb originally intended for owners to remain present as they hosted visitors in their homes. Yet today, many Airbnb hosts own multiple residencies, so they can rent out entire properties to their guests. Every house or apartment used exclusively by Airbnb guests is a space that is unavailable to a potential long-term tenant. In D.C. alone, it is estimated that 66 percent of Airbnb listings are for entire housing-units rather than for a shared part of a host’s permanent residence.
Corporate investors are known to purchase swaths of properties and rent them out as Airbnb listings rather than make them available on the housing market, essentially turning properties into unregulated hotels. In the D.C. neighborhood of Columbia Heights, a 2016 sting operation exposed an investor who turned a 21-unit building into an Airbnb hotel. Staying three nights in one of the building’s Airbnb listings cost what many locals pay for one month’s rent.
In addition to creating a housing shortage, Airbnb escalates already rising rent costs by making long-term rentals harder to come by and therefore more expensive. In New York City, 9.2 percent of the surge in rent between 2009 and 2016 can be attributed to Airbnb. Similarly, the D.C. neighborhoods with the most Airbnb listings saw an average rent increase of 14.9 percent as compared to 11 percent in the rest of the District. Reports have also linked Airbnb to rising rent prices in cities such as Los Angeles, Boston, and Portland.
Critics claim that Airbnb also incentivizes displacement of low-income populations and racial minorities. Landlords have been found to evict renters to turn properties into Airbnb sites.In neighborhoods where Airbnb is driving up housing costs, low-income residents face relocation.
If what critics are saying is true, people of faith ought to be concerned — and many are.
People of faith respond
In May 2018, 28 faith leaders from churches across New York City responded to the impact of Airbnb in a strongly-worded letter to the head of New York Public policy.
Reverend Dr. Carolina was one of the 28 signatories. A pastor and city commissioner of human rights for New York City, Airbnb first came to his attention through his parishioners, many of whom expressed concerns over Airbnb and its impact on their neighborhood.
After local community organizers asked Carolina to sign the letter, he did so in the hopes that it would launch a public dialogue about Airbnb. He acknowledged that while Airbnb can allow residents to “maintain their homes, pay mortgages, sustain a comfortable existence, and share in the American dream,” it also creates problems related to safety and affordability.
“We won’t allow you to exacerbate the affordable housing crisis in communities of color,” the letter read. “We urge you to take responsibility, cease the baseless attacks on those trying to protect tenants, and stop shielding the thousands of illegal listings on your website by sharing those addresses with the city’s enforcement agency.”
Three months after the letter was delivered, Mayor de Blasio signed a bill that will clamp down on illegal Airbnb listings and establish penalties for failing to properly submit host site information to the Mayor’s Office. The new law takes effect in February 2019, and echoes similar bills passed in San Francisco and New Orleans.
Following suit, the D.C. City Council is currently reviewing its own Airbnb bill. Though the final vote on the bill was originally slated for mid-October, the council postponed the vote until Nov. 13 after several council members raised last-minute objections. The bill limits Airbnb hosts to listing only one property and requires them to obtain a short-term rental business license. It also restricts Airbnb hosts to renting their listing a maximum of 90 days without being present.
Heyman was one of several faith-leaders who testified at an April hearing for the D.C. Airbnb bill.
“Judaism teaches that everyone should have a safe and dignified home,” Heyman said at the hearing. “While many in our community don’t have to worry about the permanence or dignity of their housing, there are far too many people in our city who do.”
Heyman, whose organization works on affordable housing, told Sojourners that, “We need to be protecting the city, not making it possible for people who have multiple homes to profit off the residents of D.C.”
However, as an Airbnb user herself, she noted that that when properly regulated, there are potential benefits of Airbnb, such as providing short-term housing for those facing eviction, giving supplementary income for hosts, and making local businesses accessible to tourists in neighborhoods without hotels.
Yet, Heyman added, “Airbnb and some members of the local government are willing to put profits above residents.”
For Carolina, Airbnb is a human rights issue, and therefore a faith issue.
“Access to housing is paramount in terms of care and love for one’s community,” he said. “Airbnb is a matter of housing for many people, and so therefore it’s a matter of faith because it affects the quality of life for our brothers and sisters.”
Heyman couldn’t agree more.
“The very essence of Judaism and spirituality comes from being in communal and safe, dignified spaces,” she said, referencing Sukkot, a Jewish holiday celebrated by spending seven days in a temporary residence. Part of the festivities include inviting strangers to share meals and making the space welcome to all. “It’s a whole holiday around housing.”
Heyman also noted that there are several Jewish laws about being tenants, landlords, and even about not evicting people during winter.
“Because home is an essential tenant of my religion, it’s impossible not to feel drawn and connected to the issue,” she said.
If affordable housing is a matter of faith, then what is a faithful response to Airbnb?
Both Heyman and Carolina suggest that a faithful response requires nuance. It considers the ways Airbnb drains housing markets and jacks-up rent prices, but also how it has been a means of achieving income stability, fostering human connection, and practicing the biblical call to hospitality.
A faithful response entails checking to see if your Airbnb reservation will have you staying with a host at their primary residence, or crashing in your host’s second, third, or twenty-first property.
For some, being mindful about the impact of one’s spending can be a spiritual practice.
“Just thinking about the effects of the services you invest in and the origins of the products you purchase can be a really enriching way to live your life,” said Heyman. “Your response to Airbnb doesn’t have to be out of guilt or shame.”
Acting mindfully isn’t just a good idea; as people of faith, it’s also a calling.
“If we call ourselves people of faith, then our deeds must express what we profess,” said Carolina. “The end-all and be-all of the work we do and lives we live, must start and finish with love.”


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Tuesday May 05, 2020
DUBAI: Careem, a subsidiary of Uber Technologies, has announced to cut 31% workforce and suspend its mass transportation business due to the crisis arising out of coronavirus pandemic.
The announcement came hours after Uber said it was shuttering its Eats delivery business in several markets — including the Middle East — and laying off dozens of staff.
According to a statement shared with Geo.tv, Careem experienced a "severe" hit from the coronavirus pandemic, which forced it "to change the shape and size of our organisation" for long-term survival.
Terming the mass layoff "a last resort", the ride-hailing app noted that those who were let go were "people that helped build Careem and create massive change and impact for our communities across the region".
"We greatly value their work and dedication and sincerely hope we will be able to hire those people back once we build a sustainable basis for our future,” the statement added.
A spokesperson for Careem Pakistan added: "As we envisioned becoming a Super App, reshaping for some of our markets was already under process, it has been further impacted by the current crisis."
Careem, which operates ride-hailing and delivery businesses primarily in the Middle East and South Asia, said it was prioritising the security of the company and that parent Uber continued to believe in its business model and was committed to the region.
"As we have discussed several times in the last few weeks, the crisis brought on by COVID-19 has put our dream and future impact at significant risk," Chief Executive Mudassir Sheikha said in a blog on Careem's website.
Sheikha, who founded the company in 2012, said the business was down over 80% and that it was "alarmingly unknown" when it would recover.
"In this new reality, the surest way to secure Careem for the long term is to drive towards self-sustainability within a reasonable time frame," he said.
Careem did not say how much it expected to save from the layoffs or which business units staff had been cut from. However, it said tech-colleagues were protected in relative terms so it could continue to invest in its products.
Affected employees would receive at least three months severance pay, a month of equity vesting and in some cases extended visa and medical insurance, including for family members, until the end of the year.
The Careem BUS mass-transportation operation has also been suspended, it said. The company has also found "significant savings" from pausing new benefits, it said without disclosing details.
Uber earlier announced it was closing its food delivery business in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other countries, while its United Arab Emirates (UAE) operations would move to Careem.
Global ride-hailing app, Uber, had bought Careem in 2019 for $3.1 billion.


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Mrs Athas is back.
One of Leeds’ most treasured coffee shops has announced it will be reopening, just a few days on from announcing it would be shutting up temporarily to ‘some time to take stock of what is going on and figure out a way to proceed.’
The announcement, left customers ‘gutted’ after it shared it would be shutting its doors for now because of ‘mounting costs’ and the knock on effects of ‘building works’ outside.
According to owners at Mrs Athas, this is having ‘an almost ruinous effect’ and has led to the shop’s weekday trade being ‘absolutely decimated.’
Now, in a swift turn of events, the much-loved coffee shop has announced it will be returning once more after receiving both ‘the coverage and the leverage’ needed to secure its future.
Reopening this Friday, the news was announced on Instagram this afternoon with a huge thank you to the loyal customers.
The post reads: “WE ARE COMING BACK!!
“The news we have all been waiting for! I honestly can’t thank each and every one of you enough for being a massive part of the reason we are announcing today that we will be reopening on Friday 7th July at 9am!!
“The response from our amazing loyal customers that got us the coverage and the leverage we needed to make sure that we could secure our future has been truly inspirational. Never thought we could make it happen this quickly! But here we are!!
“See you Friday!!!”
What is Mrs Athas?
If this is the first you’ve heard of Mrs Athas – we hope it’s certainly not your last.
The independent, family-run specialist coffee shop is located on Central Road just off Briggate. The interior is warm, welcoming and oozes that industrial-chic charm. By making their caffeinated concoctions with a rotating supply of beans, no visit will be the same but every sip will be utterly delicious.
Their beautifully ornate silver tea spoons are collected from charity shops and vintage markets along the way and these alone make Mrs Atha’s well worth the visit. The most picture-perfect sugar stirring vehicle ever.
And you may be wondering ‘Who is Mrs Atha?’, named after the owner’s Grandmother the cosy cafe proudly hangs a portrait of her on the wall alongside other framed pieces of art work and newspaper clippings.
The staff make you feel right at home and the seasonal food menu is enough to get your tummy rumbling with one glance, so if you haven’t visited Mrs Atha’s yet we urge you to do so now.
- Deliveroo predicts VR dinner parties and 3D-printed meal plans in our future
- Council responds after beloved Leeds coffee shop Mrs Athas says it has ‘no concern’ for small business
- Inside the new Leeds restaurant serving a different tasting menu every 6 weeks
We can’t wait to have you back Mrs Athas, see you all in the queue on Friday!
Feature Image – The Hoot Leeds


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UK-based Sondrel completed its most complex chip design to date. Designed on a 5nm process node, this ultra-complex design has more than 50 billion transistors.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has signed a cooperative research and development agreement with Google to develop and produce chips that researchers can use to develop new nanotechnology and semiconductor devices.
Artificial Intelligence will be a focus of The ConFab 2018, to be held May 20-23 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
The ConFab 2018, to be held May 20-23 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, is a conference and networking event designed to inform and connect leading semiconductor executives from all parts of the supply chain.


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NEW DELHI : India’s toy industry is experiencing a significant boost thanks to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign which has ignited substantial export growth, contributing to the country’s economic strength.
One of the most notable outcomes of this resurgence is the surge in toy exports from India. According to the latest available data, India’s toy exports increased 60 per cent from $203.46 million in 2018-19 to $325.72 million in 2022-23. Import on the other hand dipped 57 per cent from $371.69 million in 2018-19 to $158.70 million in 2022-23.
Resurgence of the Indian Toy Industry
Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign has had a profound impact on the Indian toy sector, which had been facing challenges due to the dominance of international brands and imports. Hopping on the trend, Mi Arcus is already making a buzz and has registered 10x growth since its first year of inception. The leading children’s brand based in Ludhiana, and available through 40 retail stores across India recently announced its partnership with Peanuts Worldwide LLC, to bring an exciting new addition to their collection of kids’ clothes, accessories, and toy products featuring Peanuts, the iconic comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz.
The industry is providing employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas where many artisans are involved in the sector. In collaboration with Peanuts, MiArcus has designed a complete range of baby apparel and accessories. Gian Singh, Founder and CEO of MiArcus, said “We are delighted to sign up with the world-famous Peanuts brand. The spirit of freedom, wit, and happiness, which are the very essence of the brand, is the perfect partner for MiArcus.” Recently, MiArcus also announced the first outlet where the entire range is available in DLF Avenue Mall in Saket, New Delhi.
The Indian toy industry, initially projected to exceed $1.5 billion in value in 2021, is now anticipated to experience a significant compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 10 per cent. Despite this impressive growth, India’s share in the global toy market, valued at over $90 billion, remains relatively small.
With the ‘Vocal for Local’ vision inspiring various sectors of the Indian economy, the toy industry serves as a model for the potential impact of this campaign. Indian toy manufacturers are now exploring opportunities for innovation, digitalization, and sustainable practices to further enhance their competitiveness in the global market. The resurgence is driving remarkable export growth, which, in turn, is strengthening India’s economy.


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Walmart: Planning staff sets conditions for big-box store
By Charles Swenson
Georgetown County planning staff are recommending approval of a development plan for Pawleys Island Plaza that includes a 119,500-square-foot retail store. That comes with list of conditions that include compliance with the county’s commercial design standards, increased landscaping and buffers, paving of an access from Waverly Road and approval of a traffic light by the state highway department.
The county Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the project Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Waccamaw High auditorium. The developer, Sunbelt Ventures, has scheduled a meeting Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at Pawleys Island Community Church to present the plan to the public and answer questions. The church is across Highway 17 from the shopping center.
Sunbelt Ventures wants to increase the area of the “planned development” and add to the amount of retail space. Although the county limits the size of commercial buildings in an “overlay zone” along Highway 17 to 45,000 square feet, the big-box store at the plaza will be on a separate parcel just outside the 500-foot limit of that zone.
The building is proposed for a Walmart, but the developers and Wal-Mart Stores say a Pawleys Island store has not been approved. Other national retailers have shown interest in the site over the years.
Big-box stores in general and Walmart in particular have drawn opposition from residents, second-home owners and visitors who believe the character of the area will change. In its report, the planning staff acknowledge those concerns, but say “the nature of the area which includes specialty shops will lead to minimal impact. Several chain stores, particularly pharmacies and fast food stores, already are located nearby. The continued presence of a deteriorating shopping center is obviously harmful to the local economy and sends a poor message to potential investors in the community.”
Staff say the architectural standards will help preserve the character of the area, and the report points out that the big-box building will be screened from Highway 17 by smaller stores at the front of the development as well as existing buildings like Bank of America and Pawleys Wines and Spirits.
The report says staff didn’t conduct an economic analysis, but they considered the impact of a Walmart in Georgetown and says “it did not appear to eliminate the number of jobs created.”
As to setting a precedent for other big-box retailers, “the project would not be viewed favorably by staff if it was all new development on undisturbed land,” the report states.
Other conditions proposed by the staff include limiting signage to a single “monument sign” with wall signs for tenants, approval of a traffic study (which is still under review by Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments) and approval of state and federal stormwater permits. The staff report also suggests Sunbelt use the residential lots shown on the plan for multi-family rather than single-family homes and that the county encourage the development of affordable housing.
Read other articles about the project: Pawleys Island and Walmart


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San Diego Molly Beane’s business model might have been seen as a little bit desperate. But just out of rehab, out of work, and almost out of money, she made her move.
Beane, founder and CEO of From Molly With Love, a Pacific-Beach based skincare company reached $180,000 in sales during 2017, the company’s first year of business. Year to date, the enterprise has already reached more than $120,000 in sales, according to the company.
“It’s pretty close to our annual rev enue number in a quarter and the quarter is not even done,” Beane said. “Our top three products are our white sage smudge spray, beauty oil, and probiotic deodorant and we’ve sold tens of thousands of each.”
Her interest for learning how to make skincare products began four years prior to entering rehab for alcoholism in 2016. As a hobby, Beane researched and learned how to make cosmetic formulations and created her first product, the beauty oil, which she said is the company’s best-selling facial oil. She shared her first set of products with friends, who encouraged her to sell them. However, after losing her job while in rehab, Beane had little money to fund a company.
Using the few hundred dollars she had left, Beane purchased raw materials to create the facial oil for From Molly With Love. Although she initially purchased supplies from Amazon and Sprouts, the company now sources from wholesale suppliers. Beane explained the company was small enough in the beginning to wait for an order and then produce it.
“Then we graduated to making five things at a time, and then 10 things at a time, and from there it just kind of blossomed out of control,” Beane said.
The company first started selling its items on Etsy and later through Amazon, one of about 300,000 small and medium sized sellers that joined the platform in 2017. In March 2017, the business launched its own e-commerce website. The products are also featured inside several subscription boxes with companies such as Yogi Surprise and Gaia Collective Moon Box.
From Molly With Love is now working with the boutique-retail store, francesca’s, which bought 14,000 units of various products for $70,000 in March. The company’s products will be in 400 francesca’s stores nationwide by the end of April.
Beane said From Molly With Love’s growth was the result of several factors. She credited her success mainly to the philosophy behind the brand which is “a women’s empowerment company first that just happens to sell products.”


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Denmark’s August Rosenmeier is the new FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) World Champion after beating England’s David Bytheway 3-1 at the Final Showdown.
August also received a cheque for USD 20,000 and will travel to the Ballon d’Or to rub shoulders with the world’s best footballers.
The Final Showdown took place at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Sugarloaf Mountain and the tournament was the first to take place in the same country and at the same time as the FIFA World CupTM.
The 20 finalists travelled to Rio de Janeiro as part of a dream three-day trip laid on by FIFA, which will culminate in a visit to the Maracana to see France take on Germany in the first FIFA World CupTM quarter-final. Watching the action at the Final Showdown were footballing heroes Ronaldo and Dwight Yorke.
“I’m absolutely delighted and I can’t describe how it feels to be champion,” said August. “Denmark isn’t here at the World Cup but we showed them we can play football on the virtual pitch. It was amazing to receive the trophy from Ronaldo.”
Speaking about August’s win Ronaldo said:
“I think it’s great to see this beautiful tournament here during the World Cup. I was really impressed by the level of skill on display at the Final Showdown. These guys are really talented and I thought Rosenmeier was a worthy winner.”
FIFA Head of Strategy & Brand Management, Ralph Straus, said:
“Congratulations to August Rosenmeier for winning what was a highly competitive FIFA Interactive World Cup, with huge engagement from the online community. It was a tense and exciting final showdown, played in one of the world’s most iconic settings. The value of the FIFA Interactive World Cup brand continues to grow year on year and we’re already looking forward to raising the bar even further next year.”
The FIWC is organised by FIFA and its presenting partners EA SPORTS™ and Sony PlayStation® and is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest online gaming tournament and more than 5,000,000 players have taken part since 2009. It is an official FIFA tournament that gives football fans the chance to live out their passion for football and to interact with other fans around the world. Participants from every continent battle it out to qualify for the Grand Final, where the FIWC champion is crowned.
The online tournament takes place on the PlayStation Network and can be accessed through the latest version of EA SPORTS ™ FIFA 14 on PS3. For more information on the FIWC, go to: www.fifa.com/fiwc, www.twitter.com/fiwc, or www.facebook.com/fiwc


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Pidilite Industries gains 5% as Q4 earnings beat estimates
Pidilite Industries hit a new high of Rs 1,137, up 5% on the BSE, after the company reported a better than expected 57% year on year growth in consolidated net profit at Rs 2.48 billion in March quarter (Q4FY18) on double digit volume growth. It had profit of Rs 1.57 billion in a year ago quarter.
Operational revenue during the quarter under review grew 14.5% at Rs 14.85 billion against Rs 12.95 billion in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal. Other income nearly doubled to Rs 521 million from Rs 286 million.
Analysts on an average had expected profit of Rs 2.25 billion and revenue of Rs 14.4 billion for the quarter.
"Gradually improving demand conditions led to another quarter of double digit volume growth. While commodity cost inflation as a result of rising input prices and currency headwinds is a concern, we remain focused on delivering steady volume driven growth,” said Bharat Puri, managing director, Pidilite Industries.
The board has recommended a dividend of Rs 6 per equity share of Re 1 each for the financial year ended March 31, 2018.
Pidilite is a dominant play in India’s adhesive market with a market share of around 70% in its leading brand categories (Fevicol) in the organized segment.
In past three month, Pidilite has outperformed the market by surging 26% as compared to 2% rise in the S&P BSE Sensex.
At 11:36 am; the stock was trading 4% higher at Rs 1,122 on the BSE against 0.54% rise in the benchmark index. The trading volumes on the counter more than doubled with a combined 1.44 million shares changed hands on the BSE and NSE so far.


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Kenya’s small traders and importers have launched a protest against the influx of Chinese into Nairobi’s retail scene, warning that unregulated entry of the foreigners will kill local businesses and render thousands of Kenyans jobless.
Thursday, the angry traders told government officials that they have been unable to compete with the Chinese traders, including hawkers, because of the foreigners’ ability to ship in cheap products that they use to undercut rivals.
Ben Mutahi, the chairman of the Kenya World Wide Importers and Traders Association (KWITA), said the small-scale sector, which employs about 50,000 traders directly and a million more indirectly, was at risk of dying.
Mr Mutahi said the Chinese traders have been able to undercut local rivals by importing cheaply from their country's manufacturers, instead of dealing with local wholesale importers.
“They [Chinese traders] are all over in Gikomba market and Biashara Street. It is very hard for us to compete with them,” Mr Mutahi told the Business Daily on the sidelines of a government forum on combating illicit trade.
He claimed local traders pay high taxes to import goods from China, unlike their Chinese counterparts who do not pay anything.
Besides, the traders argued, the undercutting by the Chinese traders pose a big threat to any government plans to revive the manufacturing sector – a key plank of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four agenda.
"If the Chinese are here as investors, let them go and start factories, and leave retail business for Kenyans,” Mr Mutahi said.
Trade Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo promised the traders that the government will address their concerns.
Dr Kiptoo, who termed the issue “sensitive”, said the matter was being handled through “high-level” intervention at the Immigration ministry.
“The situation is being handled by the Immigration Department,” he said without offering further details.
Mounting tensions between the Kenyan traders and their Chinese counterparts is expected to become a big test to Kenya’s diplomatic relations with China.
Beijing has in recent years risen to occupy the top position in Nairobi’s import table.
Since coming to power five years ago, Mr Kenyatta’s policy of looking East has mirrored that of his predecessor Mwai Kibaki.
China was the largest exporter to Kenya in May, having shipped out goods worth Sh48 billion to the East African nation, the highest ever monthly import bill by a single nation.
Chinese exports to Kenya have increased in the past decade, helped by demand for cheap China-made products.
China has also extended its position as Kenya’s biggest lender, with the Sh534 billion it disbursed in loans by the end of March raising its share of the East African nation's bilateral debt to 72 per cent.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s indebtedness to China grew by Sh453 billion since 2014, mainly on account of loans to build mega infrastructure such as the standard gauge railway.
Latest Treasury data shows that by the end of March, Kenya’s total outstanding bilateral debt stood at Sh741 billion, having risen by Sh71.2 billion from July 2017 when the fiscal year began.
Mr Kenyatta has following his re-election pledged to create more jobs for Kenyans by focusing State resources to what he calls the “Big Four Agenda” -- made up of manufacturing, food security, affordable housing and healthcare sectors -- to jumpstart the economy.


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762 cid Naturally Aspirated Hemi Engine
Known for 500-1,000 cubic-inch engines for drag racing, truck pulling, extreme muscle cars, and boat applications, Sonny’s Racing Engines has been delivering innovative engine designs and uncompromising performance for more than 50 years. Excellent examples of that engineering are the engines the shop built for Sunnen’s Charity Engine Sweepstakes at previous PRI shows. The 2019
Sonny Leonard 727 cid Hemi Engine
Valued at over $66,000, this 727 cid Hemispherical Headed engine built by Sonny’s Racing Engines was prominently displayed at the 2018 PRI Show in Indianapolis as Sunnen’s 30th Annual Charity Sweepstakes engine. The proceeds benefitted Victory Junction, a camp for children living with serious medical conditions. Find out how much horsepower and money this powerplant
Sonny’s 820 cid EFI Marine Engine
This 820 cubic inch marine engine is designed and built by Sonny’s Racing Engines for endurance boat applications. Using a billet aluminum block with 360-degree water jackets and 5.3-inch bore spacing hemispherical cylinder heads, find out why this engine is one of our Engine of the Week highlights. Engine of the Week is brought to
Legendary Engine Builder Sonny Leonard Has Passed Away
In the hospital last month suffering from pneumonia, Sonny Leonard, Sonny’s Racing Engines’ president and CEO, passed away on Sunday, January 10, 2021. The engine shop broke the news on Facebook that it’s owner, founder and legendary engine builder, Sonny Leonard, had died. He was 77. Sonny Leonard’s name is synonymous with big-inch mountain motor
Sunnen’s Engine Charity Sweepstakes Breaks Fundraising Record
The prize in the 31st annual sweepstakes at PRI was a custom-built engine from Sonny’s Automotive Racing. NASCAR legend Richard “The King” Petty stopped by the booth to greet fans and help raise $120K for Victory Junction.
Sunnen’s 2019 Charity Engine Sweepstakes to Feature 1,400HP Sonny Leonard Engine
Sonny Leonard and the team from Sonny’s World Class Racing are building a 1400 horsepower, high-performance engine for the 31st annual Sweepstakes during PRI 2019.
820 CID EFI Marine Engine
Known for 700ci to 1,000ci engines, Sonny’s Racing Engines understands how to make big power for many applications. This 820ci EFI marine engine puts out a whopping 1,450 hp for some serious fun on the open water.


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High dosages of vitamins and minerals taken over a long period of time could cause permanent damage to your health and may lead to cancer, warns the UK Food Standards Agency this week in a statement set to provoke a vociferous reaction from the health food industry.
The warning comes after the publication of a report from the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals in which the independent advisory committee made recommendations on 31 vitamins and minerals.
The FSA is urging people to cut down on vitamin C, calcium and iron and has, for the first time, set safe daily limits for various supplements. It has also issued strong warnings on six and even demands the ban of one product - chromium picolinate, which could cause cancer.
High doses of beta-carotene, nicotinic acid, zinc, manganese and phosphorus could all have irreversible harmful effects if taken in high doses for long periods of time, the agency warns.
Other supplements may cause unpleasant effects, which could disappear once people stop taking them. Taking more than 1,000 mg a day of vitamin C could cause abdominal pain and diarrhoea. High intakes of calcium (more than 1,500 mg a day) and iron (more than 17 mg a day) may result in similar symptoms.
The Food Standards Agency is also reminding people that unless they are acting on their doctor's orders, they should not take more than 10 mg a day of vitamin B6. Taking more than this over a long period of time could result in a loss of feeling in the arms and legs. Although the symptoms are usually reversible, in some cases the effect has been permanent.
Advice is also being given on biotin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, boron, cobalt, copper, iodine, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, tin, magnesium, potassium, and silicon.
Sir John Krebs, Chair of the Food Standards Agency, said: "Taking some high dose supplements over a long period of time could be harmful. We are using an extremely thorough independent expert review of the scientific evidence on the safety of vitamins and minerals as the basis for new advice to help consumers make informed choices."
As a nod to the supplement industry, Krebs added : "In addition, the Board of the Food Standards Agency will be considering what further action we would wish the supplements industry to take."
Media reports across the UK were quick to pick up on the FSA warning. In an article in the Times on Thursday, Ralph Pike, of the National Association of Health Stores, which represents 12,500 health shops in the UK, quoted as being incensed by the 'meddling', demanded: "Where are the dead bodies? There has not been one death anywhere in the world from people taking a legitimate vitamin supplement. The authorities just don't like people taking control of their own health and they want everyone to abrogate responsibility for their lives to the nanny state."


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Snow Leopards Still Threatened by Consumer Demand for Skins and Body Parts
Today is International Snow Leopard Day, a global observance commemorating the signing of the Bishkek Declaration on the conservation of snow leopards in 2013.
The snow leopard has been listed on the IUCN Red List as "Endangered" since 1986, although it recently had its threat status downgraded to "Vulnerable."
Its skins are used for luxury home décor, as rugs, seat covers and taxidermy specimens. Bones are used in traditional Chinese medicine products, including well-known Chinese brands that have been seized and tested in Australia, while teeth are sold as increasingly expensive jewelry items.
Snow leopard skin found for sale in China.Environmental Investigation Agency investigators
Records are incomplete but the body parts of at least 270 snow leopards have been seized since 2000 and hundreds more were observed for sale. Snow leopard skins have been among the assets seized in anti-corruption cases in China.
Organized criminal networks are still involved in the trafficking of snow leopard parts and only last October, the skins of 20 snow leopards and snow leopard meat were seized in a single consignment along with two tiger skins, two leopard skins and other illegal wildlife parts in Lhasa.
While tiger skins, bones and teeth are bought by China's business, political and military elite, snow leopard parts are much more affordable to middle income buyers.
There is an urgent need for China's leadership to issue a strong message of zero tolerance against any trade, in any Asian big cat parts and products, including from captive-bred specimens.
Snow leopard skin for sale in China, prepared for taxidermy.Environmental Investigation Agency
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
By Ketura Persellin
Global consumption of beef, lamb and goat is expected to rise by almost 90 percent between 2010 and 2050. But that doesn't mean you need to eat more meat. In fact, recent news from Washington gives you even less confidence in your meat: Pork inspections may be taken over by the industry itself, if a Trump administration proposal goes into effect, putting tests for deadly pathogens into the hands of line workers.
‘Companies Should Not Be Allowed to Use Hazardous Ingredients in Products People Use’: Michelle Pfeiffer Speaks Up for Safer Cosmetics
The beauty products we put on our skin can have important consequences for our health. Just this March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that some Claire's cosmetics had tested positive for asbestos. But the FDA could only issue a warning, not a recall, because current law does not empower the agency to do so.
Michelle Pfeiffer wants to change that.
The actress and Environmental Working Group (EWG) board member was spotted on Capitol Hill Thursday lobbying lawmakers on behalf of a bill that would increase oversight of the cosmetics industry, The Washington Post reported.
By Julia Conley
Scientists at the United Nations' intergovernmental body focusing on biodiversity sounded alarms earlier this month with its report on the looming potential extinction of one million species — but few heard their calls, according to a German newspaper report.


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Growing evidence of the deflationary pressures gripping Britain's recession-beset manufacturing sector in the wake of September's terrorist attacks emerged yesterday with the release of official data showing firms cutting prices in response to falling demand.
Despite the lifeline thrown to industry by the dramatic fall in oil prices last month, the cost of goods leaving factory gates were 0.6% lower in October than a year earlier, the sharpest annual fall since records began in October 1958.
City analysts said that the first full set of producer prices data since September 11 meant further falls in inflation were in the pipeline. They added that the weakness of manufacturing output prices would eventually feed through the supply chain into lower prices in shops, putting pressure on the Bank of England to come up with further reductions in interest rates - in order to hit the government's 2.5% inflation target.
Economists also warned that manufacturing was likely to react to falling demand and rising labour costs by cutting back on employment. Unemployment figures out tomorrow will show whether September's attacks have already affected the jobs market. Jonathan Loynes, economist with Capital Economics, said: "Although falling costs are of some comfort to hard-hit manufacturers, the fragility of demand means that they are unlikely to be able to use them to boost margins significantly. In the current environment, survival is the name of the game."
Data from national statistics showed that industry's fuel and raw material costs declined by 2.6% last month as growing fears of a global recession pushed the price of a barrel of crude oil below $20. The fourth monthly fall in fuel and raw materials meant industry's input prices are 9% lower than a year ago.
However, economists said that falling commodity prices were being more than offset by rising labour costs, which were harming productivity and putting an intense squeeze on both domestic and export profit margins.
Manufacturers cut their output prices by 0.1% last month, the third month out of the past four in which they have lowered the cost of their goods to protect market share.
Excluding food, drink, tobacco and petroleum products, prices were unchanged for the third successive month, and 0.1% lower than a year earlier.


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A few of you have been asking about the dates for this summer’s Barneys Warehouse Sale. As other blogs reported last week, the legendary event is returning later this month on August 25th. The markdowns are expected to be 50 to 75 percent off retail on high-end designer goods for women, men and kids. Earlier this year, there were rumors that Barneys would put the kibosh on the sale. But that turned out to be false.Â However, this summer’s sale is running a week shorter than last summer. Whatever the reasons for the shorter sale run, we’re hoping to find some gems at really deep discounts which doesn’t usually occur until the last days of the sale.
Where/When: 255 W. 17th St (b/w 7th & 8th Ave). Thursday August 25th through Monday, September 5th. Weekdays (10-9p), Weekends (10-7p).
If you canâ€™t wait until the end of August to get the deals, you have until Midnight tonight (July 31) to shop onlineÂ for bargains of up to 75 percent off the original price.


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Tokyo – Sony has taken steps toward selling PlayStation gaming consoles in China as chief executive Kazuo Hirai seeks to tap players in the world’s biggest market and rebound from a projected sixth loss in seven years.
Sony has agreed to form two ventures with Shanghai Oriental Pearl to start producing and selling PlayStation consoles after China lifted a 13-year ban on sales of the cars.
Sony moved up 3.1 percent to close at ¥1 683 (R170) in Tokyo trading. The shares are down 7.8 percent this year, compared with the 8.3 percent drop on the benchmark Topix index.
In September last year, Shanghai inaugurated a free-trade zone with more relaxed financial and investment controls as Beijing seeks to unleash market forces in the second-largest economy. That is helping attract companies from console makers to banks.
State-owned Shanghai Oriental Pearl is involved in hotels, cable television, advertising and broadcasting on Shanghai subways. Board secretary Xu Xiaojun said the company could help Sony navigate the regulatory process to obtain licences. She said Shanghai Oriental Pearl was building its game business portfolio and had bought stakes in US and Japanese firms.
“This is a big market. We want to build a big culture and entertainment platform where we can utilise our traditional advantages in entertainment content.”
Last week Sony unexpectedly forecast a ¥50 billion net loss this year as slumping demand for its television sets and video cameras was compounded by the costs of restructuring and exiting the personal computer business.


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A British beauty start-up founded by a former glossy magazine editor has secured £3.5 million in funding from Unilever’s venture capital operation and has plans to expand to further UK cities as well as abroad.
On Thursday, Anglo-Dutch agri-food and cosmetics giant Unilever published the 1st Q revenue result, up 6.1% within a market defined as "challenging", and reiterated its confidence about reaching its annual targets.
Burberry delivered a mix trading update on Wednesday morning. There were signs that the firm is getting back on the recovery trail as its new bags and outerwear are selling well, but also that there is still work to do.
A jump in luxury cosmetic sales at L'Oréal offset a weak first quarter for several of the French company's other divisions, with overall like-for-like revenues 4.2 percent higher, slightly above forecasts.
Chance encounters can lead to entirely new career paths. Just ask Mathilde Thomas, who co-founded the Caudalie luxury skincare and spa company after meeting a doctor at her family vineyard in Bordeaux.


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VEZ Technology produces the bioactive toilet paper at its operations in Secunda, Mpumalanga.
It would cost billions to repair South Africa’s sewerage network, but a start-up selling “weird” toilet paper believes that it will solve the country’s problems, “one wipe at a time”.
Vanessa Snyman, is one of the founders of VEZ Technology, the makers of a toilet paper that fights germs and helps clean toilet pipes.
South Africans need to be in the know if we want to create a prosperous future. News24 has kept the country informed for 25 years, and we’re about to enter a new chapter of fearless journalism. Join our free subscription trial to unlock this story and a world of news aimed to inform, empower, and inspire.


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Oscar de la Renta and Cynthia Rowley to Show At Australia Fashion Week
Fashion Week‘s organizer IMG is sending both Oscar de la Renta and Cynthia Rowley to the forthcoming Australia Fashion Week, with the help of the fashion week’s newest sponsor Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. From now on, Ethidad Airways will become the official airline of the fashion week events not only in New York, Milan, London and Berlin, but also Sydney and Mumbai. It will support a grand total of 17 fashion week events annually, becoming the main long-term partner to the fashion industry. As for the Australia Fashion Week’s title sponsorship, it is still going to be that of Mercedes-Benz, which will still sponsor the fashion weeks in the major fashion capitals, except for that at New York.
The fashion week in Sydney, on the other hand, is already leaving everybody in anticipation and thrilled about its exclusive schedule. Under the creative direction of the talented Peter Copping, both Mercedes-Benz and Etithad Aieways are supporting fashion house Oscar de la Renta to debut its very first runway show in Australia, as well as summer 2016 presentation, scheduled to be held on May 20th. Oscar de la Renta will be one of the first luxury brands to present a fashion line there, and that’s something neither the Australian government nor the experts in the field are going to underestimate.
“Oscar de la Renta is one of the world’s leading luxury brands and its presence at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia reinforces Sydney as a global fashion capital. The attention of the fashion world will be firmly focussed on Sydney this May with the most influential buyers and media converging to see our local creative talent and designers make their mark and shine alongside renowned international brands;’ said Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres in an official statement.
Cynthia Rowley, the creative mind behind the eponymous line, is heading to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia too, according to WWD, and will be showing there on May 19th. Although she has not made any comment about her participation yet, we do know that it is going to be a day dedicated to swimwear and activewear. Whilst it is still unclear whether she is going to showcase a new collection or not, IMG gave us a hint that the fashion designer is due to present a resort collection of ready-to-wear, swimwear and wetsuit.
Launched in 1996, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia has helped bring attention to an incredible number of Australian fashion designers such as Alex Perry, Zimmermann and Collette Dinnigan, and we bet this year will inevitably hit it big taking the Australian fashion to a brand new level.
Photo courtesy of @oscardelarenta


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Torry Katsiroubas Stamm ’03 distributes produce boxes in Needham with longtime Katsiroubas Bros. employee Teddy. Photos by Peter Julian.
While the coronavirus pandemic has forced many business owners to limit interactions with customers, the opposite is true for Torry Katsiroubas Stamm ’03. In fact, the president and fourth generation owner of Katsiroubas Bros. has seen more faces (albeit masked and from a distance) in the past 10 months than the previous 10 years combined.
The change of pace came after Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker ordered restaurants to cease the majority of their operations in March. Stamm, whose company distributes produce to restaurants all over New England, flew into action, diverting truckloads of perishable food to local grocery stores as order cancellations flooded in. Forced to lay off half her workforce and with 80 percent of her business up in the air, Stamm invented a new business model on the fly.
“We got together and we thought, everyone eats and we have food here,” she recalled. “How do we get it to people who need it the most?"
Out of a frenzied brainstorm emerged the Katsiroubas Cares Box: a cardboard container of fresh fruits and vegetables sold directly to consumers at wholesale prices. In the beginning, Stamm delivered the boxes herself, calling restaurant owners to identify staff who might be in need of free food, and dropping it outside their doors. Eventually, she set up no-contact pickups at empty parking lots throughout Eastern Massachusetts, inviting the public to reserve boxes online and retrieve them without stepping out of their cars.
The concept took off quickly and, months later, interest hasn’t waned. On a sunny afternoon in October, a line of cars snaked through an otherwise empty parking lot in Needham, pausing next to a green Katsiroubas Bros. truck, where Stamm stood with a clipboard. Over the next two hours, she doled out 180 boxes, each filled to the brim with tomatoes, peaches, lemons, swiss chard, and more.
“People have likened it to playing ‘Chopped’ at home,” said Stamm, referencing the popular cooking show where chefs create dishes from mystery ingredients. “Others say it’s like Christmas in a box because they don’t know what they’re getting. It’s a moment of joy in their day in an otherwise depressing situation.”
Stamm grew up in the offices of Katsiroubas Bros., a business her great-grandfather started in 1914. While a student at Boston College—majoring in communication at the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences—she spent Wednesday mornings in the warehouse office in Roxbury, and a few years after graduation, she took over the company full-time with her brother, Ted Katsiroubas.
Stamm’s dedication to the family business extends to the communities it serves. In the early days of the pandemic, she drew funds from the company’s family foundation to cover the cost of produce boxes for those in need. Since then, Katsiroubas Bros. has partnered with nonprofits like Fresh Truck and the Boston Area Gleaners as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture to bring fruits and vegetables to areas where fresh food is scarce.
“No one should ever go hungry, I think that’s one of the most fundamental things you have to believe as a human,” said Ted Katsiroubas, who sits on the Fresh Truck board of directors. “Food insecurity is one of the most important battles that the country, and the world, faces. It’s important to me to be able to participate in that.”
Through the company’s ecommerce website, Katsiroubas Bros. customers can purchase boxes for donation to local food pantries, many of which have seen surges in demand during the pandemic. The boxes arrive pre-packed and ready to go, enabling the organizations to limit contact between volunteers and guests. Most importantly, they’re packed with food that’s nutritious and fresh, said Stamm.
“I had one person write to us and say ‘My kids got to eat grapes today instead of chips,’” she recalled. “It feels good to say, ‘We can help you, and we’re giving you produce, not a box of Oreos.’”
As a business owner, Stamm draws continuously from her BC experience, in particular the Jesuit philosophy of being a person for others. Although she majored in communications, by the time she graduated, Stamm had amassed nearly enough theology credits for a double-major.
“I feel like I became formed as a person at BC,” she said. “So much of what I learned was about relationship-building and how to help people. The reason we pivoted so fast as a business is because we knew we wanted to be the helpers in this situation.”
Since box production began, Stamm has been able to rehire many of her employees, and although restaurants have since reopened, she has no plans to abandon the side hustle. In addition to the large and small produce boxes, Stamm recently added an all-fruit box and a trio of Thanksgiving-themed boxes to the mix.
“It’s a very joyful process,” she said. “Half my business right now is something I’ve never done before, but if you’re stuck doing what you did in the past, that doesn’t invigorate you in any way. We keep thinking, what else can we do to reinvent ourselves?”
Alix Hacket | University Communications | November 2020


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Vocus' decision in April to cease all discussions with potential buyers of its New Zealand business has been vindicated, with the telecommunications company reporting the entire segment lifting during the 2018 financial year.
According to Vocus' FY18 full-year report, published on Thursday, its New Zealand segment brought in revenue of AU$335 million, up 4 percent -- AU$162 million from enterprise and wholesale NZ, and AU$172.9 million from consumer NZ.
As of June 30, Vocus had 72,000 Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) customers and 122,000 consumer copper broadband customers at a combined average revenue per user (ARPU) of NZ$70.05 per month and a 13 percent UFB market share.
Across New Zealand, Vocus also had 24,000 mobile customers, 17,000 energy customers, and 22,000 SMB customers.
Overall for the financial year, Vocus reported total group revenue up 2 percent to AU$1.9 billion.
Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) were stagnant, at AU$366 million, while statutory EBITDA was AU$360 million, up 7 percent. Underlying net profit was AU$127 million, down 17 percent; while statutory net profit was AU$61 million.
During the year, Vocus spent AU$166 million on capex, in comparison to the AU$189.6 million spent last financial year.
As of June 30, net debt was AU$1.001 billion, down from last year's AU$1.029 billion, after upping its debt facility to AU$1.3 billion in June.
These results were in line with its refreshed guidance issued in February, which said it expected FY18 underlying EBITDA of between AU$365 million and AU$380 million; underlying net profit of AU$125 million to AU$135 million; capex of between AU$180 million and AU$190 million; revenue of between AU$1.9 billion and AU$2 billion; and net debt between AU$1.03 billion and AU$1.06 billion.
Vocus' Enterprise, Government, and Wholesale division grew by 11 percent to AU$568.9 million -- AU$419.8 million from data networks, AU$79.8 million from voice, and AU$46 million from datacentre -- thanks to its fibre and Ethernet products; while Consumer Australia remained stagnant, at AU$790 million, in what Vocus called a "competitive market".
In Consumer Australia, Vocus made AU$393.6 million from broadband, AU$70 million from voice only, AU$56.3 million from mobile, and AU$235.6 million from energy. Its consumer broadband and bundles customers numbered 222,000 by June 30 at an ARPU of AU$58.85; its National Broadband Network (NBN) customers numbered 298,000 at an ARPU of AU$63.69; its consumer mobile customers numbered 155,000; and its consumer energy customers reached 140,000.
However, its Commander SMB brand "suffered due to a lack of focus", and was down 15 percent to AU$203.9 million: AU$36 million from data networks and AU$138.7 million from voice.
Vocus is aiming to double its revenue across its infrastructure businesses in the next five years, new CEO Kevin Russell said.
"Vocus' primary focus going forward is growth. Our market share is low relative to our fibre and network infrastructure assets," he said.
"Our priority is to leverage these assets to maximise profitable growth within our core Australian and New Zealand infrastructure-focused businesses."
Vocus also provided an update on its Australia-Singapore Cable (ASC), which finished being laid in July, saying 2.5Tbps of capacity has thus far been sold on the subsea cable system to date, including "a major global OTT customer".
"Sales activity is expected to gain further momentum once the system is live in a few weeks and the demand for traffic via Southeast Asia is unlocked," Vocus added.
"ASC will also drive revenue opportunities for our domestic fibre assets as we enter into deep partnerships with key international players."
Vocus additionally pointed to the AU$137 million contract it was awarded in June by the Australian government to construct the Coral Sea Cable between Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, calling it a "significant win".
"We have also made significant progress in this last year towards the implementation of a single advanced core network," Vocus added.
"This, together with the ongoing consolidation and decommissioning of legacy assets, the capacity upgrades to our network and the improved capital expenditure disciplines and controls we have implemented, will all deliver ongoing benefits into the future."
Vocus merged with M2 back in February 2016 to form the third-largest telecommunications provider in New Zealand and the fourth-largest in Australia, worth more than AU$3 billion.
The company announced in January that it would be splitting its wholesale and enterprise arms as part of accelerated transformation program. It will soon have four operating segments: Enterprise and Government; Wholesale and International; Consumer; and New Zealand.
Vocus ups debt facility to AU$1.3b
Vocus will be able to carry out its 'strategic initiatives' thanks to a new syndicated debt facility of AU$1.27 billion and NZ$150 million.
Vocus scores AU$137m subsea cable contract with Australian government
The Coral Sea Cable System will be constructed by Vocus to go live by the end of 2019.
Vocus and Vodafone NZ announce UFB fibre unbundling joint venture
A Vocus-Vodafone joint venture will see the companies work on unbundling the UFB fibre network in New Zealand and begin offering 10Gbps broadband services by January 2020.
Vocus names Kevin Russell as new CEO
Former Optus consumer CEO and Telstra retail exec to take reins at Vocus as group managing director and CEO.


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US: Kraft to launch Belvita biscuits in the US
Kraft Foods is set to launch its breakfast biscuit brand Belvita in the US.
The biscuits will be available in blueberry, golden oat and apple cinnamon variants and will be rolled out in the US in February.
Kraft said the launch "marks the food company's re-entrance into grain-based breakfasts", a category it left when it sold cereals firm Post Foods in 2008. It added that the biscuits could "pose competition" for Kellogg and General Mills, especially for the on-the-go items such as Nutri-Grain snack bars.
Kraft aims to target busy US consumers who do not have time to eat breakfast.
"There's this tension in the morning where people know they should be eating a nutritious breakfast but they don't have the time for one," Kraft's director of innovation Janda Lukin said.
Belvita buscuits will be available in five packs for US$3.69. The packs will also be sold individually at convenience stores for about $1.19 and Kraft is considering distributing it to food-service outlets like cafes.
The launch will be support by television advertising and promotions like in-store sampling.
Kraft introduced Belvita in Brazil last month and also plans to launch it in Canada later in 2012.
Kraft Foods has confirmed that it plans to close a production plant in the US, with the loss of 120 jobs....
Kraft Foods has remained tight lipped over reports it is looking to launch its Swiss chocolate brand Toblerone in India....
Kellogg is looking to rival Kraft Foods' Belvita brand in the UK with the launch of a range of breakfast biscuits....
Kellogg has lowered the level of salt in two cereal lines on sale in Australia....
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- Smucker cuts forecast as sales decline


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Elbow Beach launches ‘selfie contest’
Taking selfies is part of everyday life for many people — but it’s not often you can win prizes for them.
Elbow Beach Bermuda has launched a Selfie Contest, which asks residents and guests to snap photographs of themselves enjoying the hotel and then post them on to Instagram.
More than $1,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs for the three most creative photos.
The competition began yesterday and will run for the rest of the month, with the winners due to be announced on January 5.
“Selfies are a popular way for people to share experiences, so we thought a selfie contest would be a fun way for us to interact with guests and locals at the same time,” said Rehanna Palumbo, the director of sales and marketing at Elbow Beach.
“The contest is open to any of our Instagram followers and we encourage them to submit a creative selfie taken anywhere on our property, whether it’s on the beach, in the spa, in one of our beautiful rooms or even on the tennis court.
“We look forward to seeing the exciting photos of people enjoying Elbow Beach.”
To enter the contest, you must follow @elbowbeach on Instagram, take a selfie anywhere on the resort’s property and post it on the site using the hashtag #elbowselfie and tag @elbowbeach. Selfies past and present will be accepted.
The grand prize is a two-night stay for two at the resort with breakfast. Second prize is an 80-minute treatment at the spa, while third prize is $150 gift certificate for the Sea Breeze Lounge. One entry per person will be counted and private pages are not permitted.
The hotel is also offering a “selfie package”, with ocean view accommodations for three nights with breakfast, a three-hour tour of the Island, and a welcome amenity. Rates start at $575 per night.


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In India, despite the demonetisation scheme in 2016, cash continues to account for over 90% of transactions.
E-commerce can become a driver of growth across South Asia and boost trade between the region's countries, but its potential remains largely untapped, a new World Bank report said on Monday.
Users across the globe are capturing data digitally, whether this is in the physical world through sensors or GPS, or online through clickstream data.
Ministry is working to coordinate with oil ministry to set up electric cars charging station at petrol pumps.
The lessons learnt will be fundamental in going forward to make India reach the top 50 in Doing Business Report.
India is expected to jump six ranks to No. 5 in the 2020 Predicted Manufacturing Competitiveness.
The kind of change required for India to progress towards high-income grade seems almost impossible.
Women in leadership roles can help deliver better business performance: Rekha Menon, Chairman, Accenture India
At an organisational level, more women in leadership positions benefits.
These savings would be in addition to Rs 57,000 crore savings the Union government has already achieved through Aadhaar linkage to various welfare schemes.
The development lender is “looking really carefully” at blockchain technology.
Here’s what some of the top business and technology leaders from India’s IT and Electronics manufacturing sector expect from the Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2018-19
Today, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing and the Internet of Things (IoT) are reducing the importance of low-wage labour.
Here are five things that have been eclipsed by bitcoin in terms of market capitalisation.
India should concentrate on areas where there is more room for improvement like construction permits or conflict resolution and make sure it’s not the job of one dept but of everyone concerned with the regulatory process
Survey reveals 43% of exporters depend on online tools for 75% of their international sales and 63% of exporters agree that using online tools for selling internationally has increased their revenue
For Digital India to really reap benefits, some key technology-related issues need to be resolved: Edit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has argued for making the country digital, and paved the way for electronic payments and receipts through applications
"In India alone, 38 per cent of SMEs (small and medium enterprises) indicated that they rely on each other to learn. Clearly, businesses are looking to each other to master the new mobile environment," Facebook said in a release here.
When data suggests 69% jobs in India are susceptible to be taken over by automation, salary negotiation is considered as the key to topping the rat race.
As the cost pressure would increase, aggravated by rising rupee leading to lower realisations, the Indian IT firms may be forced to displace work force.
With chatbot, networking & connections, government set to bring startup community under one virtual roof
"A lot of people are eager to work with the startup community, but they need a conduit to channel their support and we are hoping that the Virtual Startup Hub becomes that," says Anand.


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Higher food prices pushed up inflation in March to 3.5% from 3.4% the previous month, according to figures today from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
It said the price of fruit, bread, cereals and meat had increased slightly while this time last year they were falling, triggering the slight rise in annual inflation.
The higher cost of clothing, footwear and computer games also contributed to the rise in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), which the Bank of England uses as its key measure of inflation – it has a 2% target for inflation on the CPI measure.
However, Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation fell slightly to 3.6% from 3.7%.
Today’s CPI figure brings to a halt a five-month run of declines from a peak of 5.2% last September.
The Government and the Bank of England had hoped inflation would continue to fall and lead to stronger consumer spending which in turn would ease the plight of the retail sector and boost the fragile economic recovery.


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Ford U.S. Sales Up 43 Percent, Tops GM
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales were up 43 percent for February 2010 compared to February 2009, and up 22 percent over January 2010, Ford reported today in Dearborn, Mich.
Automotive News reported that Ford Motor Co. topped General Motors in monthly sales for the first time in 12 years. General Motors reported February sales of 138,849 for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Ford said total sales for January and February combined were 250,050 units.
Ford brand sales were up 46 percent versus a year ago, Lincoln was up 19 percent and Mercury was up 24 percent. General Motors reported Chevrolet sales were up 32 percent, Buick sales were up 47 percent, GMC sales were up 26 percent and Cadillac sales were up 32 percent.


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Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) announced on Jan. 29 that a small team for better support business will be launched in Taipei.
“Taiwan is a priority market for Facebook. We want to help local businesses, both big and small, to grow locally and regionally,” said Dan Neary, Facebook’s vice president for Asia-Pacific.
Facebook said that the small team was designed for rolling out workshops and roadshows, and targeting specifically at advertising and media agencies, small and medium-sized business, brands and developers, throughout the year. Facebook, however, did not elaborate how many employees they will recruit in Taipei office and when this office will be launched.
“We have seen small business like online seafood retailer i3fresh grow their market share and experience a three-fold increase in sales through their campaigns on Facebook. Brands like Estee Lauder (FRA: ELAA) were also able to leverage Facebook to reach specific target audience groups,” Neary said. “They ran a campaign around its Resilience Lift Diamond product in Taiwan and found the Facebook platform to be 40 times more efficient at reaching the target audience than TV.”
Jayne Leung (梁幼莓), head of Greater China for Facebook, said that the establishment for the Facebook Taiwan office will increase the level of support available to Taiwanese clients and agencies.
“We recognize the potential and opportunities that Taiwan presents and are looking forward to working closely with Taiwan businesses, partners and the government to help local businesses grow,” she said.
Taiwan’s Vice Premier Simon Chang (張善政) visited the new office privately on Thursday morning (Jan. 29) and said that in addition to the office, he is also hoping that Facebook will set up a data center in Taiwan.
“Of course I hope so. Who wouldn’t want that?” Chang said.
Chang, a former executive for Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL), said that Facebook plays a crucial role in the daily lives for Taiwanese people. He said that Facebook’s Taiwan office will introduce more innovative marketing tools and business models for local e-commerce operators and help encourage young app developers in the country.
In response, Facebook said that all kinds of proposals remain possible, but no specific decision is made as of now.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs said that Taiwan Facebook Ltd was established in Taipei’s Xinyi District on Dec. 24 last year, with capital of US$95,400. Leung, head of Greater China for Facebook, serves as the representative of the local branch. Facebook said in an email statement that it has a few key areas of focus in Taiwan, with the top priority being educating and helping business understand and reap the benefits of the Facebook platform. Data from Facebook indicated that there are approximately 15 million active Facebook users in Taiwan, while 13 million of them log on via mobile devices.


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U.S. GOVERNMENT SUES JACKSON HEWITT TAX PREPARATION FRANCHISES
The suits allege that one of the individual defendants, Farrukh Sohail of Atlanta, Ga., wholly or partly owns each of the five corporations, which prepared and filed over 105,000 federal income tax returns last year. The five corporations allegedly operate more than 125 Jackson Hewitt retail tax preparation stores in the Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. areas.
According to the government complaint, Sohail and other defendants “created and fostered a business environment” at the Jackson Hewitt franchises “in which fraudulent tax return preparation is encouraged and flourishes.” Examples of fraud alleged in the lawsuits include filing false returns claiming refunds based on phony W-2 forms; using fabricated businesses and business expenses on returns to claim bogus deductions; claiming fuel tax credits in absurd amounts for customers clearly not entitled to any credits; and massive fraud related to claiming the federal earned income tax credit.
For the full Justice Department Press Release, click here.


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Downtown Midland's Molly's Bistro closing its doors
The music may take an intermission for Molly McFadden, but it will never completely stop, even though she has announced that Molly’s Bistro will be closing its doors.
“Even though the doors will shut, the music has not stopped,” said a saddened McFadden, owner of Molly’s in downtown Midland.
Even a 2011 joint venture with Omelete’s & More couldn’t turn the financial tide as a weak economy was too much to overcome.
“We took a huge hit during the economic tsunami of 2008,” said Molly. “Ever since then, we couldn’t quite get it back. It was just a slow hemorrhage.”
Molly’s, at 134 Ashman St., opened its doors in 2005 after Molly brought her extensive musical talents from Manhattan, in 2004, where she sang jazz in cabarets.
Over the years, diners were not only treated to Molly’s crooning, but also to Randy Swierzbin on the piano. The weekends brought out the Bistro Trio of David Smith, Roland Wallace and Pete Simonson with an array of jazz and cabaret music.
Molly’s husband, playwright Brian, also got involved with the arts in Midland as he lent his talents to the Midland Center for the Arts.
The McFaddens have no plans to leave Midland.
“We’re staying in Midland,” Molly said. “We don’t have jobs yet, but we’re looking at some opportunities. We’ll take some time to get our balance, sit back and reflect. We certainly want to be part of the community and our church, St. John’s Episcopal.”
Over the years, the McFaddens have come to love Midland and its expanding downtown.
“We love how downtown Midland is growing,” said Molly. “It breaks my heart that we won’t be able to experience the boom when it happens. I think you are going to see a big combustion with people wanting to work, play and enjoy the downtown. It is just coming alive with retail shops, restaurants and the people are wonderful.”
Hopefully, the intermission won’t be too long as Molly would once again like to enjoy the downtown with a dining jazz club.
“It would definitely be in downtown Midland,” said Molly. “We’ll take a break and get our equilibrium. After things settle down and we see how the economy is going.”
But until then, she will still be involved in the Michigan Trail Jazz Festival, which she helped to found.


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Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, plans to release artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots with human-like personalities as it focuses on user retention efforts, according to a report from the Financial Times.
On Aug. 1, the FT reported that people close to the matter said prototypes of the chatbots have been underway, with the final products being able to hold discussions with users at a human level.
The range of chatbots will be able to display different personalities and are expected to be released as early as next month, according to the report.
Sources close to the matter say that Meta staffers have dubbed the chatbots “personas” and that these bots take the form of different characters. Another person with knowledge of the plans said the company has already explored one bot that speaks like the former United States president Abraham Lincoln and another for travel advice that speaks like a surfer.
According to the sources in the FT report, the purpose of the chatbots will be to offer recommendations and new search functionality, along with being a “fun product for people to play with.”
Cointelegraph has contacted Meta for further comment but received no response by publication.
Related: Meta and Microsoft launch open-source AI model Llama 2
The FT source said that the company may automate checks on the chatbots’ outputs to ensure accuracy and avoid rule-breaking speech.
This development comes as Meta allocated major efforts toward user retention. During its 2023 second-quarter earnings call on July 26, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke about the company’s latest product and Twitter rival, Threads.
He said he is “seeing more people coming back daily than I’d expected.” Zuckerberg also said Meta was primarily focused on Threads user retention. The earnings call also revealed another $3.7 billion invested into metaverse development.
The introduction of accessible chatbots also means an opportunity to collect large amounts of user data. OpenAI, the maker of the viral AI chatbot ChatGPT, has been hit with a class-action lawsuit over alleged data theft via its own bots.
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Players will be able to go from the surface of a planet and fly into space (and vice versa) without a single loading screen.
As hinted at in its recent gameplay reveal, the open world action-adventure title will indeed have a Wanted system, Massive Entertainment has confirmed.
Members of the development team at Massive Entertainment have provided new details on the open world title's recent gameplay reveal.
"My ultimate core goal is to make it possible for me, and you, to go to Pandora, and a first-person perspective is the best way to be immersed in a new place," says creative director Magnus Jansén.
At launch, Season Pass owners get a unique Banshee, cosmetic set and an extra quest with access to two story packs coming later.
Played by Humberly González, Kay is a cunning scoundrel who'll tussle with the criminal syndicates of the galaxy on her journey.
"Action and consequence are pervasive in the experience," says the developer, and "moment-to-moment, the story's going to adapt."
The work-in-progress gameplay showcased third-person shooter, speeders, and much more as Kay flees from Imperial forces.
Ubisoft has also revealed new details on the action-adventure title's open world, combat, progression mechanics, and much more.
Players will play as Kay Vess, a "cunning scoundrel" who must "pull off one of the greatest heists the Outer Rim has ever seen."
Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment's open world Star Wars game has been officially unveiled.
Over four years on from its 2019 launch, Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment's looter shooter hits a major milestone.
The trial for the looter shooter is available for PC, PS4 and Xbox One, with progress transferring when purchasing the game.
"That allowed us to kind of resume the conversation internally of, 'maybe we should keep going,'" says creative director Yannick Banchereau.
According to creative director Yannick Banchereau, if The Division 2 were to take full advantage of current-gen hardware, it would have to stop supporting last-gen consoles.
It's also been claimed that the game will feature microtransactions and purchasable in-game currency packs.
A new leak has seemingly spilled the beans on Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft's long-in-development Avatar game.
The leaker says more gameplay footage for the first person open world title will also be leaked soon.
Pre-ordering the game reportedly nets The Child of Two Worlds Pack, which provides a cosmetic set for characters and weapon skin.
A new report claims that Ubisoft currently has no plans to work on a third mainline instalment for the franchise.