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Elite I20 news
Maruti Suzuki India's top seven best selling models accounted for over 35 per cent of the domestic PV sales at 10,74,937 units. Overall, the company which sold a total of 14,43,641 units last fiscal had a market share of 47.38 per cent in the PV segment.
The automaker said that Ganesh Mani S, Vice President-Production division has been promoted as Senior Vice President - Production, and Vikas Jain.
Maruti Suzuki sold 16,426 units of Baleno, which is the highest number ever recorded by the premium compact hatchback, thereby growing at a whopping rate of 163.40 percent.
Three decades after the Japanese carmaker introduced modern personal transport in India, Maruti has stepped past compact cars to establish its leadership credentials in upscale segments of the automotive market in a journey that accurately reflects the South Asian nation’s rising economic profile — and its shifting consumer choice.
Hyundai Motor India has exported 10,857 units when compared with 10,251 units during March 2016, thereby posting year-on-year growth of 5.9 percent.
Hyundai Grand i10 also broke the monotony of Maruti models dominating the top four slots in the best selling cars & SUVs list. The primary reason behind this is the launch refreshed model of Grand i10 which created a buzz among the segment buyers.
When compared with January 2016, Honda City and Hyundai Creta failed to make it to the top ten selling passenger vehicles list this time. Instead Maruti Suzuki’s Vitara Brezza and Omni featured in the list.
Hyundai claims more than 20 percent market share in the Rs 10-20 lakh price range in India, with products such as the Creta, Verna, Elantra and Tucson.
The company exported 17,077 units when compared with 14,008 units during November 2015, thereby posting positive growth of 1119 percent.
The list featured seven Maruti, two Hyundai, and one Renault models. This time the list does not feature a single Honda model.
Tata Tiago witnessed strong growth for the third consecutive months; while Honda Cars remains out of the list.
After four months, Hyundai Elite i20 dropped to seventh position, and reported decline of 17 percent in its May sales. It first entered the list of top 10 selling cars in August 2014 and from September 2014 – September 2015 it remained the fifth best sold car in India.
The company registered domestic sales of 41,351 units with a growth of 10.4 percent. During May 2015, its sales stood at 37,450.
Following the recent noises happening in Delhi/NCR regarding Supreme Court’s decision to ban all non CNG taxis is likely to impact further the sales of Dzire, as it is the preferred choice for cab companies.
The ‘Jai Ho’ campaign highlights and celebrates Hyundai as a new age modern premium brand that meets and exceeds the aspirations of Indian customers.
India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki dominated the list with half of the cars bearing the brand. For the fourth year in a row, the top four best-selling models in India are from Maruti Suzuki.
Singer Arijit Sing has sung various song on the backdrop of music created by the vehicles. The company has come up with a music video ‘Drive Mein Junoon’. The video song casts are India’s Youth Favorite - Arijit Singh, Clinton Cerejo and the Hyundai Elite i20.


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As the Bank of England struggles to contend with soaring price inflation, interest rates have been hiked again.
The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee voted by 8 to 1 to hike interest rates from 0.5% to 0.75% this month, which means they are now at their highest level since before the onset of the pandemic.
It’s the third successive interest rate increase from the Bank of England in response to rapidly rising price inflation, with price rises threatening to get out of control.
Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the cost of goods and services was already rising quickly, but additional supply chain issues prompted by the war will inevitably push prices far higher.
While not publishing a formal inflation report this month, the Bank has warned that price inflation could exceed 8% in the coming months.
They explained that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has “led to further large increases in energy and other commodity prices including food prices.
“It is also likely to exacerbate global supply chain disruptions, and has increased the uncertainty around the economic outlook significantly.”
In the twelve months to January, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of price inflation rose to 5.5% at its fastest pace for 30 years.
The Bank of England targets CPI inflation at 2% and can use interest rates as a mechanism to cool down an overheated economy.
However, with inflation primarily driven by wholesale energy prices, it seems unlikely that a higher cost of borrowing in the UK will make much difference to prices.
According to the Bank, the rising cost of living and robust employment data are the critical reasons for this latest interest rate hike decision.
Members of the Monetary Policy Committee believed that an interest rate rise was justified “given the current tightness of the labour market, continuing signs of robust domestic cost and price pressures, and the risk that those pressures will persist.”
The Bank’s policymakers also warned that price inflation could rise into double-digits later this year if energy prices continue to increase and mean the next review of the energy price cap, in October, is significantly higher.
All information correct at time of publishing 21/03/2022

domain: news


text: Today at noon, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum started accepting entries in its Fan Flyaway Sweepstakes. According to a Rock Hall press release, the winner will receive “a chance to win the ultimate experience with a flyaway sweepstakes to get up-close-and-personal with the legendary Rolling Stones at its exclusive exhibition — Rolling Stones: 50 Years of Satisfaction.” The prize package includes round trip airfare to Cleveland, a two-night hotel stay in downtown Cleveland, a tour of the Stones exhibit with a Museum curator or docent, dinner at the Hard Rock Café in Cleveland and a Marshall mini-fridge that contains genuine Marshall Amp parts. Clevelanders won’t need the airfare but the rest of the package sounds pretty sweet. The contest ends at 5 p.m. on July 10. Contestants can enter by filling out a form here.


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Ad Blames Pop Music For Economic Downturn
Rock music mag suggest that the rise of commercial tunes correlates directly with global financial problems.
Spain. Portugal. Greece. Countries the world over, including the US, have seen a rise in economic turmoil in recent years, with many nations in some state of recession. The key to solving an economic crisis of this magnitude is discovering what caused it. Guitar Player believes they’ve found the answer.
Guitar Player, a magazine that celebrates all things ‘axe’ related, recently ran a set of print ads that shed some light on the ‘cause’ of global troubles, like the economy and poor fashion trends.


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HARRISBURG – Attorney General Tom Corbett is reminding contractors to register with the Attorney General’s Office, in order to comply with a new law that goes into effect
In 2008, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. The law requires that all contractors who perform $5,000 or more in home improvements in a year must register with the Attorney General’s Office.
Corbett said the new law requires home improvement contractors to register with the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, maintain minimum insurance coverage and use contracts that contain important information about home projects, including the start date and completion date, a de scri ption of work being performed and consumers’ rights under the law. The registration is valid for two years and costs $50.
Corbett said that the law is intended to protect consumers from unscrupulous contractors, provide new protection for consumers who hire home improvement contractors and authorize criminal penalties for home improvement fraud.
“The Attorney General’s Office has worked to ensure that the registration process is as quick and easy as possible for contractors,” Corbett said. “If contractors complete their registration online, they will receive their registration number instantaneously.”
Beginning July 1, 2009, Pennsylvania consumers will be able to verify a contractor’s registration with the Attorney General’s Office by visiting here or by calling a toll-free hotline.
The Office of Attorney General office encourages consumers to use only registered contractors when making home improvements.
According to Corbett, the Attorney General’s Office received more than 2,100 complaints in 2008 from consumers struggling with problems involving home improvement projects.
“Complaints involving home improvement or repair projects are one of the top subjects of calls to the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection,” Corbett said. “This legislation will give us new tools to identify and prosecute problem contractors, while also helping consumers avoid frustrating and potentially expensive problems in the future.”
Corbett noted that contractors can register online at www.attorneygeneral.gov, or by submitting a completed application form to Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection, ATTN: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, 15th Floor, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA, 17120. Forms are available online or by calling 1-800-441-2555.


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来源 ：游戏港口 2019-11-18 23:50:37|布衣天下彩摘网收录3d布衣图库天
Tesla will reduce its full-time work force by 7 percent in an effort to lower the cost of producing its Model 3 sedan and make it a mass-market vehicle, Elon Musk, the electric-car maker’s chief executive, told employees on Friday.
The least-expensive version of the Model 3 now available costs ,000. Mr. Musk said in a companywide email that he wanted the lowest-priced Model 3 to sell for ,000.
To do so, Mr. Musk said in the email, Tesla must improve the car’s design, increase production and shed thousands of workers. “There isn’t any other way,” he wrote.
Tesla shares closed down 13 percent after the announcement.
The cuts, which could put more than 3,000 people out of work, follow a 9 percent reduction in Tesla’s staff in June. Another of Mr. Musk’s companies, the privately held rocket maker SpaceX, said this month that it would shrink its work force by about 10 percent.
Given the continuing uncertainty in global financial markets and signs that consumers are spending less, trimming costs to focus on affordability is “a prudent thing to do” for a company that started out selling cars with an average price close to 0,000, said Romit Shah, a research analyst at Nomura Instinet.
In October, Tesla reported that the third quarter of 2018 had yielded its first quarterly profit in two years, and its largest ever, thanks to cost-cutting moves, delayed payments to suppliers and a surge in production and sales.
Mr. Musk said in his email on Friday that, based on preliminary, unaudited results, the company expected to earn a smaller profit in the fourth quarter.
“This quarter will hopefully allow us, with great difficulty, effort and some luck, to target a tiny profit,” he wrote in his email on Friday.
In the third quarter, Mr. Shah said, Tesla “needed to get to profitability to survive, and they wouldn’t have gotten there if they were selling a ,000 car.”
“They would have lost money on every car they sold,” he added, echoing a sentiment expressed by Mr. Musk last spring.
To meet its production and profit targets, Tesla focused on selling more upscale models of the Model 3 to a core group of Tesla enthusiasts willing to pay the higher prices.
“But there’s only a finite number of potential customers willing spend over ,000 on a Model 3,” Mr. Shah said. “If Tesla wants to see a pathway to a million cars sold a year, they’re going to have to bring down that price point.”
To succeed, the company will need to extend its appeal to a wider audience. Mr. Musk said Friday that Tesla must begin to deliver its midrange Model 3 in all markets by around May while making progress toward producing the ,000 version he envisions.
“Head count reduction is part of the process,” Philippe Houchois, an analyst at Jefferies, said in a note to clients.
Tesla has already lowered prices for all of its vehicles this month by ,000 as a federal tax credit for buyers of electric cars that was worth ,500 last year begins to be phased out.
“While we have made great progress, our products are still too expensive for most people,” Mr. Musk wrote. Last year “was the most challenging in Tesla’s history,” he added, and “the road ahead is very difficult.”
Mr. Musk traveled to Shanghai this month to break ground for Tesla’s Gigafactory assembly plant. It is expected to be producing Model 3s by the end of the year.
Having a base in China, which imposes a 15 percent tariff on imported cars, will give Tesla an advantage over automakers that produce vehicles outside the country. But economic activity is slowing in China, and many consumers there are cutting back on spending.
The car market in the United States is also showing signs of strain, with sales flattening last year.
Tesla is also contending with a challenge from traditional automakers like Ford, General Motors and Nissan, which are pushing harder into the electric-vehicle market. Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and others have also introduced or plan to produce electric models that in many cases are less expensive than Tesla’s.
As Tesla struggled last year to cope with a Model 3 production and delivery process that Mr. Musk has described as “hell,” his behavior created distractions for the company.
In August, he wrote in a short, cryptic post on Twitter that he was considering taking Tesla private and had “funding secured,” surprising board members and driving up the stock price.
The Securities and Exchange Commission later sued Mr. Musk in federal court, saying he had misled investors. He settled with the agency, agreeing to pay a million fine and to step aside as chairman for three years.B:
“【李】【褐】【兄】【弟】，【这】【几】【日】【究】【竟】【发】【生】【了】【什】【么】【事】【情】？” 【见】【许】【妙】【心】【没】【了】【动】【作】【之】【后】，【十】【灵】【再】【度】【开】【口】。 【李】【褐】【一】【袭】【醺】【裳】【立】【在】【前】【面】，【见】【十】【灵】【再】【度】【询】【问】，【赶】【紧】【开】【口】，【他】【的】【脸】【上】【看】【不】【出】【喜】【怒】，【这】【才】【让】【十】【灵】【微】【微】【放】【宽】【了】【心】，【不】【想】【流】【他】【们】【这】【些】【家】【伙】【喜】【怒】【都】【放】【在】【了】【脸】【上】。 “【十】【灵】【大】【哥】，【邢】【东】【不】【在】【了】？” “【邢】【东】【不】【在】【了】【与】【我】【们】【何】【干】？”【十】
【虹】【龙】【猛】【然】【咆】【哮】，【浑】【身】【骤】【然】【发】【力】，【道】【道】【光】【影】【从】【她】【身】【上】【掠】【起】，【冲】【破】【澜】【庭】【月】【制】【造】【的】【囚】【笼】【迸】【发】【出】【来】。 【澜】【庭】【月】【本】【人】【只】【觉】【得】【自】【己】【身】【边】【呼】【啸】【着】【卷】【过】【一】【阵】【剧】【烈】【的】【强】【风】，【只】【不】【过】【一】【眨】【眼】【的】【功】【夫】，【眼】【前】【的】【虹】【龙】【就】【已】【经】【消】【失】【无】【踪】，【只】【留】【下】【残】【破】【四】【散】【的】【灵】。 【他】【急】【忙】【回】【神】，【却】【正】【好】【看】【见】【唐】【翊】【如】【陨】【石】【一】【样】【砸】【向】【地】【面】【混】【战】【的】【人】【与】【妖】。 【只】【见】【对】【方】
【半】【年】【的】【时】【间】【里】【星】【剑】【派】【各】【项】【事】【务】【都】【有】【条】【不】【紊】【的】【进】【行】【着】，【唯】【一】【的】【不】【同】【就】【是】【弟】【子】【们】【似】【乎】【下】【流】【的】【手】【段】【越】【来】【越】【高】【级】【了】。 【之】【前】【羲】【卿】【教】【给】【他】【们】【的】【招】【数】【都】【是】【表】【面】【功】【夫】，【一】【使】【出】【来】【对】【方】【就】【知】【道】【了】，【经】【过】【一】【群】【大】【脑】【发】【达】【的】【弟】【子】【改】【良】【之】【后】，【变】【得】……【咳】【咳】，【更】【加】【隐】【晦】【起】【来】，【让】【对】【方】【以】【为】【是】【自】【己】【出】【了】【问】【题】，【想】【不】【到】【是】【他】【们】【动】【的】【手】。 【然】【后】【星】【剑】
11【月】8【日】（【周】【五】）【上】【午】，【中】【国】（【广】【东】）【第】9【批】【援】【加】【纳】【医】【疗】【队】【出】【国】【前】【培】【训】【班】【结】【业】【典】【礼】【在】【广】【东】【省】【援】【外】【培】【训】【基】【地】【二】【楼】【会】【议】【室】【举】【行】。【广】【东】【省】【卫】【生】【健】【康】【委】【副】【主】【任】【陈】【祝】【生】、【广】【东】【省】【卫】【生】【健】【康】【委】【援】【外】【中】【心】【主】【任】【韦】【家】【森】、【广】【东】【省】【卫】【生】【医】【疗】【对】【外】【合】【作】【服】【务】【中】【心】【副】【主】【任】【岳】【金】【良】、【广】【州】【中】【医】【药】【大】【学】【外】【国】【语】【学】【院】【院】【长】【苏】【红】、【广】【东】【省】【中】【医】【院】（【广】【州】【中】【医】【药】【大】【学】【第】【二】【附】【属】【医】【院】）【副】【院】【长】【刘】【军】、【广】【州】【市】【番】【禺】【区】【中】【心】【医】【院】【副】【院】【长】【欧】【阳】【玉】【林】、【广】【州】【市】【番】【禺】【区】【何】【贤】【纪】【念】【医】【院】【副】【院】【长】【朱】【斌】【及】【各】【单】【位】【相】【关】【部】【门】【负】【责】【人】【及】【中】【国】（【广】【东】）【第】9【批】【援】【加】【纳】【医】【疗】【队】11【名】【队】【员】【出】【席】【结】【业】【典】【礼】【仪】【式】。【会】【议】【由】【韦】【家】【森】【主】【任】【主】【持】。布衣天下彩摘网收录3d布衣图库天【高】【莹】【沉】【默】【片】【刻】，【抬】【头】【说】【道】：“【既】【然】【师】【兄】【看】【不】【上】，【那】【便】【罢】【了】，【我】【们】【几】【个】，【在】【这】【里】【已】【经】【叨】【扰】【甚】【久】，【也】【到】【了】【该】【离】【开】【的】【时】【候】。” 【高】【飞】【嘴】【角】【带】【着】【一】【丝】【微】【笑】，【论】【长】【相】，【高】【莹】【远】【不】【如】【柳】【如】【云】，【同】【样】【是】【经】【验】【不】【足】，【可】【她】【成】【长】【的】【速】【度】，【却】【远】【超】【柳】【如】【云】。 【连】【柳】【如】【云】【都】【感】【觉】【到】【一】【丝】【不】【妥】，【她】【应】【该】【早】【就】【看】【出】【不】【稳】【妥】。【这】【处】【神】【工】【馆】，【名】【义】【上】【是】
“【不】【行】【不】【行】，【我】【必】【须】【要】【还】【给】【你】！【我】【是】【你】【的】【老】【师】，【怎】【么】【能】……”【彭】【老】【师】【说】【着】【就】【准】【备】【进】【去】【拿】【钱】。 “【老】【师】，【真】【的】【不】【必】【了】，【就】【当】【是】【为】【了】【小】【然】【吧】！”【卢】【雨】【一】【把】【拉】【住】【彭】【老】【师】，“【我】【这】【次】【来】【就】【是】【有】【东】【西】【给】【您】。”【她】【从】【包】【里】【拿】【出】【那】【个】【有】【着】【岁】【月】【痕】【迹】【的】【小】【盒】【子】。 “【这】【是】【什】【么】？【老】【师】【不】【能】【要】【你】【的】【东】【西】【了】。”【彭】【老】【师】【看】【都】【没】【看】【就】【直】【接】【拒】【绝】
【来】【北】【京】【三】【院】【复】【查】【一】【下】【身】【体】。 【在】【莱】【芜】【查】【说】【是】【要】【切】，【但】【我】【不】【想】【切】，【来】【北】【京】【看】【看】。 【请】【两】【天】【假】，【对】【不】【住】【兄】【弟】【们】【了】。
…………【别】【看】，【草】【稿】。【我】【实】【在】【熬】【不】【住】【了】，【正】【写】【着】【都】【睡】【着】【了】，【明】【天】【修】【改】【再】【看】【吧】…… 【等】【人】【散】【去】，【荒】【凉】【的】【工】【地】【上】【只】【剩】【下】【蝴】【蝶】【和】【猫】【头】【鹰】。 “【你】【真】【的】【决】【定】【和】【那】【个】【徐】【圆】【圆】【接】【触】【吗】？”【蝴】【蝶】【忽】【然】【说】【道】，“【通】【过】【我】【在】【网】【络】【上】【的】【调】【查】，【这】【个】【徐】【圆】【圆】【不】【但】【和】【沈】【贺】【两】【家】【有】【合】【作】，【甚】【至】【和】【特】【调】【局】【有】【着】【千】【丝】【万】【缕】【的】【联】【系】。【你】【这】【样】【做】，【岂】【不】【是】【走】


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Latest Toshiba Developing 3D Television Stories
A report on Tuesday said that Toshiba is planning to launch the world's first 3D television that does not need special glasses to view.
Word of the Day
- To befool; deceive; balk; jilt.
- An illusion; a trick; a cheat.
The word 'begunk' may come from a nasalised variant of Scots begeck ("to deceive, disappoint"), equivalent to be- + geck.


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Canon is going to announce new Powershot compact system cameras at the Consumer Electronics Show 2014 which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 7-10.
According to recent rumors two new compact cameras will take place in the event. One of them is the Canon’s big zoom range Powershot SX60 HS compact camera. There is also another rumored camera which will be the G1X successor and will feature an APS-C sized sensor. The name is not leaked yet but the big sensor compat camera may be called G2x?
Canon SX60 HS and New Powershot Cameras To Be Announced at CES 2014
The SX50 HS replacement, the Powershot SX60 HS is almost clear that we will see it at the show. CES 2014 event may also be a show that the widely rumored Canon EOS M 2 mirrorless camera to be announced too. We’ll see.


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March 19, 1998
KALAMAZOO -- Food industry executives from around the Midwest will gather at Western Michigan University Monday and Tuesday, March 30-31, to hear what's in store for food retailers in the next century.
"Preparing for the New Millennium" is the title of the 33rd annual Food Marketing Conference at the Bernhard Center on the WMU campus. The event will feature speakers who are leaders in such industry powerhouses as Gerber Products Co., Wal-Mart Super Centers and American Stores Inc.
Some 500 to 600 retail food executives from firms across the Midwest are expected to attend the event and interact with leaders at the highest levels of their industry.
The conference will open with a reception and dinner program beginning at 5 p.m. Monday. After a full day of presentations and panel discussions on Tuesday, the conference will conclude at 3:30 p.m.
This year's four featured speakers will include Al Piergallini, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Gerber Products Co. of Fremont, Mich. He will deliver the opening address, "Help Wanted: Better Public Understanding for the New Millennium," at 8 p.m. Monday.
Victor L. Lund, chairman and chief executive officer of American Stores Inc., based in based in Salt Lake City, will speak at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, focusing on the "Competitive Retail Environment." Mark Nichols, president and chief executive officer of Ralph Nichols Co. Dale Carnegie Training of Farmington Hills, Mich., will follow with a 9 a.m. examination of "Putting Balance in Our Lives."
The conference's closing speaker will be Nick White, executive vice president of Wal-Mart Super Centers of Bentonville, Ark. He will speak at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday and is expected to describe the nation's evolving retail marketplace.
Also on Tuesday, a series of eight workshops and speakers will focus on issues of concern to the industry. Those topics will range from store designs of the future and generational marketing to using the World Wide Web for marketing and ensuring a quality work force.
"The retail food business is facing challenges on many fronts," says Dr. Frank M. Gambino, associate professor of marketing and adviser to WMU's Food Marketing Program. "Mass merchandisers like Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target have all ventured into the food store business. Consumers' busy lifestyles have caused them to eat out more. Restaurants, fast food and even the Internet have become alternatives to shopping in supermarkets. This conference will provide some insight for retailers, manufacturers, distributors and brokers to better understand what the food industry might be like as we enter the new millennium,"
A popular annual feature of the conference is an executive roundtable, which this year will cover such topics as mergers and acquisitions and international marketing opportunities. Addressing those issues will be: Greg P. Josefowicz, executive vice president and general manager of Jewel-Osco Stores of Melrose Park, Ill.; Robert F. McCarthy Jr., president and chief executive officer of PMI Food Brokers of Lombard, Ill.; Marnette Perry, president of Kroger of Michigan, based in Livonia, Mich.; and Jonathan D. Wilson, executive vice president of the Kellogg Co. of Battle Creek, Mich. The panel will be moderated by Ted File, senior vice president of Information Resources Inc. of Chicago.
A special feature of this year's conference will be an award ceremony honoring Chicago area food retail executive Edward F. Buron, who is the 1998 recipient of the Adrian Trimpe Distinguished Service Award. Buron is senior vice president of human resources for Jewel-Osco Stores. (See related story in this packet.)
The annual food marketing conference is sponsored by WMU's Food Marketing Program in the Haworth College of Business and by Sigma Phi Omega, a professional business fraternity. The cost of attending the conference for both days is $250. Single day registrations also are available at reduced prices. Reservations may be made by calling (616) 387-2132 or by faxing them to (616) 387-5710. For more information about the event, persons may call Gambino at (616) 387-6119.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland; firstname.lastname@example.org
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA


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Six strikes, and you're out! In a nutshell, those are the news rules behind a new effort to crack down on Internet piracy.
On Monday, the Copyright Alert System--a joint effort between the nonprofit Center for Copyright Information [CCI] and Internet service providers to punish Internet pirates--took effect. At first glance, the new system sounds like an idea entrepreneurs and intellectual property holders can get behind.
Basically, it works like this: The Center of Copyright Information's partners--companies that own and develop music, movies, and other copyrighted material--join peer-to-peer networks (like, say, Dropbox) to find copyrighted material they own. Then they identify the publicly available IP address of any computers making the files available. These IP addresses are associated with specific service providers, so the owners of the copyrighted content alert the ISPs to any observed infringement, and service providers in turn alert users.
Users receive two or three--depending on the service provider--gentle warnings geared toward educating them on copyright policy and instructing them to avoid violations the future. However, if the piracy continues a user will then be subjected to temporary--but frustrating--punishments. AT&T has stated that users will be blocked from accessing popular websites, while Verizon will kick Internet speeds back to the days of dial-up.
In other words, the pirates will be given a friendly, parental reminder to respect others' intellectual property. Not such a bad idea, right?
Here's where it gets thorny. The service providers' approach has digital rights advocates feeling skeptical, voicing worries about privacy infringement and a lack of due process. Businesses may have reason to be wary, as well.
As Matt Peckham of TIME points out, small businesses that provide Wi-Fi access to customers could face accusations of copyright infringement on behalf of their file-sharing patrons.
Similarly, larger businesses with their own company networks may get blamed for illegal file-sharing done by employees using company IP addresses. Finally, as tech site GigaOM points out, the new Copyright Alert System does not account for the fact that not every user downloading or sharing material is breaking the law; they could be using the content under legal fair-use principles.
"There's a transparency issue here," Peckham writes. "If [the Center of Copyright Information] really wants this to work as claimed--to educate users--then it needs to work with ISPs to lay out the parameters beforehand, addressing scenarios like the one I've described."
These tattle-tale measures aren't the way to solve the piracy problem, say GigaOM writers Mathew Ingram and Jeff Roberts. Instead of relying on rules like these to enforce fairness, content companies should work toward creating a "market and digital ecosystem that fosters the creation, sale, and distribution of content in a way that works with the Web instead of against it."
Um, Hollywood, are you listening?


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New complaints over people south of the border expressing dislike for Canadians who cross over to shop.
In a letter to the Bellingham Herald, a Lower Mainland man says after shopping for about 90 minutes he returned to his car and found a note on his windshield. He says the writer used a lot of profanity to complain about Canadians and asked him to return home quickly.
Online comments are showing he is not the only one who is experiencing this, some people have also had their cars keyed.
A Facebook page you heard about in the summer “Bellingham Costco needs a special time just for Americans” has also grown in popularity. People are constantly posting their anti-Canadian feelings as well as pictures they’ve taken of Canadian vehicles that aren’t lined up with parking lines on the pavement.
Ken Oplinger, the president of the Whatcom Chamber of Commerce, says Bellingham businesses don’t share the sentiment and for Black Friday, they are getting ready to entice us to buy Black Friday bargains.
“We welcome our Canadian friends, they have shopped here for years, we think they’re going to continue to shop here for years to come,” says Oplinger.
He says even the small mom and pop stores are looking to make Canadians feel more welcome.
“The retailers here are already organizing how they’re going to help the folks in line be more comfortable, maybe giving away some additional freebies to them while they’re there,” adds Oplinger.


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E-commerce boosts airfreight demand at Ontario International Airport
16 / 07 / 2020
Ontario International Airport in California saw airfreight volumes increase in the first half of this year. The hub attributed this to more locals trying to keep safe during the pandemic by shopping online rather than in shops.
From January through June this year, the hub processed 422,000 tonnes of cargo — one-fifth more than the 351,000 tonnes handled in the same period of last year.
The hub also posted a 29% year-on-year increase in volumes in the month of June – from 61,163 tonnes in 2019 to 79,152 tonnes this year.
Airfreight demand was up 12% year on year in February, but in March, as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was felt across the aviation industry, freight tonnage increased by 22%. Volumes then climbed 26% year on year in April and 24% in May.
Mark Thorpe, chief executive of the Ontario International Airport Authority, commented: “Ontario continues to be a focal point in the global supply chain that runs through Southern California, and a main reason why our region’s economy continues to weather the current recession comparatively well.”
“Month after month, Ontario Airport and our airline partners have demonstrated that our people and facilities are up to the task of shouldering an increasingly heavier workload, especially during this time of uncertainty.”


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- Prison Planet.com - http://www.prisonplanet.com -
Global Demand For Gold Soars 38 Per Cent
Posted By admin On July 21, 2009 @ 3:12 am In Money Watch | Comments Disabled
Brisbane Times
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Global demand for gold soared 38 per cent in the March quarter compared with the same period in 2008, as investors banked on the metal’s safe-haven role amid tough economic conditions.
Strong investor appetite for gold countered a fall in demand for the precious metal in jewellery and industrial uses, World Gold Council investment research manager Rozanna Wozniak told a teleconference on Tuesday.
“Jewellery demand weakened, which isn’t surprising given the extreme economic conditions that consumers face: rising unemployment, falling house prices and low levels of consumer confidence,” Ms Wozniak said.
“Industrial demand also weakened. Once again, this is hardly surprising given the economic conditions.
Article printed from Prison Planet.com: http://www.prisonplanet.com
URL to article: http://www.prisonplanet.com/global-demand-for-gold-soars-38-per-cent.html
URLs in this post:
 Brisbane Times: http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-business/world-gold-council-figures-seal-status-20090721-drov.html
 Image: http://www.efoodsdirect.com/ammo-food.html?aid=14&adid=5
Copyright © 2013 PrisonPlanet.com. All rights reserved.


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With the organised labour sounding combative, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has denied any imminent plan to hike the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol.
In a post by the company, on its official handle, the major importer of petrol into Nigeria disclosed that it had no intention to increase the pump price of petrol.
A few motorists in Abuja Tuesday paid N700 for a litre of fuel as against a price regime of N670 last week.
“Dear esteemed customers, we at NNPCL Retail value your patronage, and we do not have the intention to increase our PMS pump prices as widely speculated.
“Please buy the best quality products at the most affordable prices at our NNPCL Retail stations nationwide”, the company disclosed.
The NNPCL Retail is the downstream subsidiary of NNPCL that retails refined petroleum products for the group.
Recall that oil marketers had on Sunday indicated that the cost of petrol would rise to between N680/litre and N720/litre in the coming weeks should the dollar continue to trade from N910 to N950 at the parallel market.
They also hinted that dealers seeking to import PMS were being forced to put the plans on hold due to the scarcity of foreign exchange to import the commodity.


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The U.S. online grocery market finished January with total sales of $8.5 billion, up 1.8 percent compared to 2023, according to the most recent monthly Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey fielded January 30-31. Monthly results varied by the receiving method and format as mass grocery expanded market share while supermarkets contracted.
Across all formats, online grocery is growing its slice of the overall grocery market. The last week of January it accounted for 13.4 percent of total weekly grocery spending, increasing 1.2 percentage points from January 2023.
“When more than 10 percent of U.S. households have less money to spend on groceries this year than they did last year, changes in buying behavior are certainly expected,” said David Bishop, partner at Brick Meets Click, in a statement. “The reduction in SNAP payments that took effect at the end of February 2023 is one of the factors driving the flight-to-value trend which we’ve observed and tracked since mid-2023.”
Despite a jump in the total number of households buying groceries online during the month, January’s overall sales growth was moderated year-over-year by a downward trend in order frequency and an average order value that was nearly flat compared to the prior year.
The findings also reveal that:
• Ship-to-home was the only segment to grow year-over-year as sales edged up to $1.5 billion in January, 7.8 percent higher compared to a year ago, ending the month with 17.4 percent of total online grocery sales.
• January’s delivery sales of $3 billion slipped slightly, down 0.5 percent versus 2023, as the three percent growth in its average order volume could not offset the larger decline in order volume. Its share of online grocery sales slipped .82 percentage points to 35.3 percent for the month.
• Pickup remained the top format, but pickup sales fell 1.9 percent to $4 billion for January mainly due to lower order frequency and volume by monthly active users. It finished the month with 47.3 percent of online grocery sales, down 1.42 percentage points versus January 2023.
• Led by Walmart, mass grocery continued to outperform the broader market, expanding its monthly active user base by almost 10 percent while also posting a healthy uptick in average order volumes.
• Supermarkets faced headwinds: their monthly active user base contracted by more than five percent, the average number of orders completed by these users fell by a larger rate, and the average dollars spent per order pulled back slightly.


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Journalists, explore this publication-ready project. Create a free v2com media account to download high-resolution images.Create a media account
Press Kit | no. 1138-02
Press release only in English
Perspective Limited’s A&D Trophy Awards — Architecture & Design Awards Asia-Pacific has received overwhelmingly positive response from judges and media partners, with more signing up in the first month after the Awards’ global relaunch on 1 May.
For participants, this means access to more professional networks, as well as increased potential for exposure for shortlisted projects — and winners will have exclusive access to specially-designed A&D Trophy Awards logos for promotional purposes.
In addition, China-designer.com has been added to the Awards’ impressive list of media partners, expanding the show’s exposure well across China.
“We are overwhelmed by the amazing response we have already been receiving, and sincerely thank the global judges and media partners who have come on board with us this year to celebrate the newly-named A&D Trophy Awards,” says Suzanne Miao, editorial director of Perspective Limited. “This is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for architects and designers, and we look forward to again setting a new record in terms of entries this year.”
A&D Trophy Awards 2014 judge (Professional/Interior Design) Olivia Putman — artistic director of Studio Putman, Paris — has worked around Asia with her late mother Andrée Putman, whose signature work in Hong Kong includes the eponymous boutique hotel apartment, The Putman. ‘‘I am very happy to be part of this jury and to bring into light the talents of the contemporary design and architecture fields," she says.
As the most sought-after accolades in the Asia-Pacific region, the A&D Trophy Awards, presented by Perspective Limited, is now inviting participants to take advantage of the opportunity to expand their reach throughout Australasia and beyond by registering to enter now.
ACT NOW: Global submission closes 15 July 2014
details, please visit the new dedicated website for the A&D Trophy
Awards (www.adt-awards.com /
featuring information about the judges, the Call for Entry and submission guide, judging criteria and details of past winners and judges.
The gala presentation evening for the A&D Trophy Awards 2014 will take place on Thursday, 11 December 2014, at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong.
About A&D Trophy Awards
The A&D Trophy Awards (previously The Perspective Awards) were created in 2004 to celebrate excellence in architecture, interior design and product design across Asia-Pacific and beyond.
One of the design industry’s most sought-after accolades, the A&D Trophy Awards aim to promote and motivate industry design standards to the next level in Asia-Pacific.
For past 10 years, with a strong network and widespread support from leading industry figures as far afield as Europe and the US, the A&D Trophy Awards — held annually in November / December — have grown from humble beginnings into a competition which is truly respected by the community it serves, with a panel of expert local and international judges comparable with other awards shows globally.
About Perspective Limited
Founded in 2000, Perspective Limited is a Hong Kong-based publishing company focusing primarily on architecture, interior design and product design.
Perspective Limited owns and produces:
· Perspective magazine
· A&D Trophy Awards (previously The Perspective Awards)
· 40 Under 40 young talent recognition awards
Perspective Limited also produces the monthly magazine The Key for Landscope Christies International Real Estate.
For more information
Medium-resolution image : 5.57 x 7.91 @ 300dpi ~ 370 KB


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Two new businesses are looking for success in Lake Zurich at locations where two former businesses shuttered.
The closing of Black Belt Brewery and El Jardin restaurant paved the way for Carlos Mexican Grill and Seafood 4 and Lake Zurich Brewing to open in the village, according to representatives with the new establishments. Both businesses plan to open in February, they said.
Carlos Pulido, who owns three other restaurants in the area, said he hopes to open Carlos Mexican Grill and Seafood 4 at 500 Ela Road by the third week in February.
"The restaurant is pretty much done," he said. "We just have to do some cleaning and painting and a few things. Pretty much everything is there."
The space became available after the closing of El Jardin, providing a good opportunity for Pulido to move in with little preparation, Pulido said.
El Jardin moved out of its space in May 2017, while Black Belt Brewery closed in December 2016, village officials said.
The new restaurant in Lake Zurich will present the same menu and theme that are found at Pulido's other restaurants.
"We've been very successful so far," Pulido said. "Business has been very good."
Eric Burnson, business manager for Lake Zurich Brewing, said the new brewery will operate in the same space, 932 Donata Court, that once belonged to Black Belt Brewery.
Lake Zurich Brewery plans to open by the end of February, he said.
The new brewery purchased Black Belt's brewing equipment in an asset sale but did not take the old business' name, Burnson said.
"It's a fresh start," he said. "The equipment is relatively new and not used very long, only three or four months. It's a pretty good business pickup from our side."
Upon opening, Burnson said, the business plans to offer a standard IPA, pale ale, hoppy wheat ale and a cream ale.
"Those are the staples we'll start out with and we'll continue to build off of that," Burnson said.
The Lake Zurich Village Board granted liquor licenses to both businesses earlier in January.
Black Belt received a license for craft breweries, while Carlos Mexican Grill and Seafood 4 received a license to serve alcohol inside the restaurant and in an outdoor seating area, said Michael Duebner, innovation director for Lake Zurich.
Pulido said he was not sure how many seats will be available outdoors for customers, but he said he will seek the maximum allowed by the village.
The restaurant will start off with six or seven employees when it opens, but that number could grow if the restaurant sees high demand, he said.
Pulido chose to expand into Lake Zurich because of the location, he said.
"I saw it as a really good opportunity for us," Pulido said. "Lake Zurich is a really good place. There are a lot of people. It's a big town. That's it pretty much."
Burnson plans to convert former office space at Black Belt into a taproom that can seat up to 25, with additional seating for up to 50 people inside the brewing area, he said.
The brewery will not have a kitchen, but it will serve snacks and allow customers to order food from area restaurants, Burnson said.
Phil Rockrohr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.


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Enjoy an inspiring evening of networking, learning, and insights with one of the most influential leaders in the business world. Yamini Rangan is coming to The Netherlands to share leadership lessons learned during the remarkable journey of HubSpot, from a $200 million to $2 billion business. She’ll also delve into the future of CRM systems and the role of leadership in business transformation.
In addition, journalist Marc Hijink will share a story about the European #1 tech company ASML, based on his bestselling book 'Focus'. In short, it will be a fantastic evening with and for leaders of top Dutch companies.


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PressFrom - US (en):
PressFrom - Canada (en):
PressFrom - United Kingdom (en):
PressFrom - Deutschland (de):
-Radfahrer Fabio Jacobsen im medizinisch bedingten Koma nach einem Sturz am Ende der ersten Etappe...
PressFrom - France (fr):
PressFrom - Brasil (pt):
Papa John's says it expects the pandemic-induced spike in pizza sales to continue 'for the foreseeable future'
Royal favorite: With this dress, Duchess Kate not only wears her favorite look - but an important fashion trend
Coronavirus restrictions on food processing in Victoria won't lead to shortages, says Premier Daniel Andrews
Tuscany's medieval 'wine windows' have reopened to serve wine, Aperol Spritz, gelato, and coffee in a tradition that dates back to the Plague


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Dreamcast games making a digital return to XBLA
After months of speculation and rumors, SEGA has officially announced that Dreamcast games will be returning in digital form to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network later this year.
Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi will be the first two titles available this fall, with Sonic Adventure arriving in time or the 11th anniversary launch of the Sega Dreamcast in the US.
Every Dreamcast game will feature “high resolution visuals,” surround sound, online leader boards and Achievements.
“The Dreamcast is fondly remembered by a large community of dedicated fans as a console that was ahead of its time in terms of graphics, quality and online gaming” commented Haruki Satomi, VP of Digital Business at SEGA of America and SEGA Europe.
“There are few things that are more requested from us than making Dreamcast classics available for download in today’s digital market place. We’re very excited to begin offering gamers our beloved Dreamcast titles again on the current console systems.”
Both Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi will be on display next week at SEGA’s E3 booth.


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FX & CFD trading involves significant risk
stocks dropped as Japanese exporters retreated after the yen's
biggest surge in three years weighed on their earnings outlook.
Japan's Topix index pared declines as the Government Pension
Investment Fund held a briefing about proposed
Nikkei 225 12,877.53 -26.49 -0.21%
S&P/ASX 200 4,737.7 -43.47 -0.91%
Shanghai Composite 2,210.9 -31.21 -1.39%
Honda Motor Co., which gets 83 percent of its sales overseas, slipped 3.9 percent.
Newcrest Mining Ltd. slumped 7.6 percent as Australia's biggest gold producer said it will write down the value of its mines by as much as A$6 billion ($5.7 billion).
Texhong Textile Group Ltd. surged 8 percent toward a record in Hong Kong after the fabric maker said earnings may jump.
|remaining time till the new event being published|


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BEAUTY MARK: Cult makeup brand Lime Crime marked its 10-year anniversary with its first European retail presence at Selfridges’ beauty hall. The color cosmetics brand, known for its colorful, vegan and cruelty-free products, launched digitally around the time when beauty e-commerce was relatively new.
The brand became popular after being featured and reviewed by YouTube beauty bloggers. “We’re proud that we’re digitally native, but we have the need to get out there because it’s about our customers wanting to touch and feel the products, rather than about the sales,” said Stacy Panagakis, Lime Crime’s new chief executive officer.
The decision to launch in Selfridges was simple: The U.K. is the brand’s second largest market. “The London customer is superplayful, colorful and has the confidence to wear head-to-toe and pops of color,” Panagakis said. She predicts the ground-floor concession stand will help the brand triple its sales in the U.K. comfortably within a short time frame.
“We only have a very small brick-and-mortar presence in the U.S., but being digitally native is amazing because it’s created our foundation and brings us closer to the consumer,” Bianca Bolouri, vice president of marketing at Lime Crime. “Having a physical presence and having consumers test our products is the conversion right there. You immediately understand what you’re buying.”
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Lime Crime’s Velvetine range of liquid matte lipsticks constitutes 40 percent of the business and Bolouri predicts this will also be the number-one seller in the U.K. In October, the brand will be making four new shades for their Velvetine, Plushies and Wet Cherry lip collections, which will be exclusive to the Selfridges’ concession.
Lime Crime is mindful of its expansion. So far, the business has been built solely on color cosmetics with four verticals — lips, eyes, hair and face highlighters. “In beauty, that’s maybe only 20 percent of the business. We don’t have complexion and concealers because we want to make sure we’re developing the right products at the right time with the right colors,” Bolouri said.
Social media engagement is Lime Crime’s number-one source for innovation. The beauty brand has 3.4 million followers on Instagram. At the moment, they are looking into launching a line of blush after witnessing a growing number of customers using their eye shadows as blush.
“We actually launched our Diamond Crushers (iridescent lip toppers) after we posted an inspiration photo of a glitter lip on Instagram and afterwards we got a flurry of comments asking us to create a similar product,” Bolouri said.
As the new ceo of Lime Crime, Panagakis has many plans for the brand. She plans to strengthen Lime Crime’s partnerships with Instagram influencers, beauty bloggers and vloggers and continue to expand strategically.
“We just hired a new p.r. agency to help us reach more people on social,” she said. “We will globally expand, but right now we will focus on the U.S. since we barely have counters there. For Europe, we are looking at Germany, which is also a very strong market for us.”


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5 cuppas a day will see you right in old age
It is often said that there is nothing that can’t be worked out after a good cup of tea. Well, scientists seem to agree with this old adage as they have concluded that if you drink up to five cups of tea a day it will boost your brainpower in old age.
A recent study found that older people who drank at least five cups of tea a day may be more quick-thinking and focused than those who don’t. People aged 85 who drink lots of tea were found to be faster at making choices and had better concentration. These skills could be helpful in activities such as DIY and completing jigsaw puzzles.
The study conducted by Newcastle University’s Human Nutrition Research Centre took 676 older people who all drank black tea or tea with milk. Low and moderate tea drinkers had a quarter to just under five cups of tea a day on average, while whose with high consumption had five to twelve cups a cups.


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The Matrix Awakens: An Unreal Engine 5 Experience surprised everybody when it popped up on digital stores. Although hopes of seeing a new game which used the IP were dashed as soon as one read its description, questions surrounding a potential PC release date continue to persist.
Given how the fourth installment in the movie series is set to release in late December 22, 2021, the lack of news about a PC release date for The Matrix Awakens left some fans scratching their heads.
Matrix Awakens PC Release
Described as a "free, boundary-pushing cinematic and real-time tech demo," The Matrix Awakens was created using Unreal Engine 5 by a team made up of people who worked on the original movie, including Director Lana Wachowski, Epic Games, and other partners.
Unfortunately, The Matrix Awakens does not have a PC release date at the moment, and is set to launch only on Xbox Series X/S and PS5.
Its exact nature also remains a mystery. It promises "a glimpse into the future of interactive storytelling and entertainment," but we'll have to wait until December 9 to see just what's in store for us.
We expect the interactive experience to either tie into The Matrix Resurrections or act as a method to introduce new fans to the universe.
The original movie came out more than two decades ago – in 1999 – and might not have been on the must-watch list of younger audiences, despite the acclaim it got when it was released.
Either way, we'll know more about The Matrix Awakens soon and, if there is any news about a PC release date, we'll certainly update this article.
Keep updated on the latest PC Gaming news by following GameWatcher on, checking out our videos on , giving us a like on , and joining us on .


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An argument has started about the price we might have to pay in supermarkets for a Cornish pasty and other hot food.
In the budget last week the government said an extra tax should be added.
It means a pasty that would have cost you £1 would cost £1.20; and that extra 20p would go to the government.
This is called VAT which stands for Value Added Tax. It's added on to most things people buy, including hot takeaway food - but cold snacks aren't included.
At the moment, takeaways like fish and chip shops already have to add VAT to their food - but supermarkets don't have to add VAT to the hot food they sell.
Some people think that's unfair - and that's why the government's planning to change things.
But not everyone agrees. Some politicians say the price rise will affect those people who don't have very much money.
Prime Minister David Cameron who is backing the plan, says that he wants to make sure VAT is fair for smaller shops as well as big supermarkets.
But it gets a bit more confusing. If you bought a pie or pasty that was hot, but then went cold before you paid for it, you wouldn't have to pay any extra money because under the rules, if it's cold then VAT can't be added.


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Legal metrology officials recently found out that, one in six companies manufacturing digital auto meters, supplies tampered ones. The officials held a meeting with various dealers of the companies and asked for the suggestion to avoid tampering of meters. According to Assistant Controller, PRSNT tampering was seen in the meters mainly manufactured by Right company. The meters produced by this company can be altered by a remote. The Transport department and Legal Metrology officials, said that companies should start producing chips in which programmes are in built, so as to make the meters tamper proof.
Source: Express Buzz


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Get our introductory offer at only
*$0.99/month for first 3 months
$29.90/month for the next 9 months
PARKSON Retail Asia Limited has posted a net loss of S$11.98 million for the fourth quarter ended June 30, a sharp improvement from the S$59.77 million loss a year ago.
The department store operator managed to narrow its losses in the fourth quarter as its revenue...


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It is not exactly clear where the Brooklyn, New York-based company's total valuation will stand after the sale.» Read More
CNBC's Courtney Reagan speaks to Wal-Mart's CEO of global eCommerce Neil Ashe, about sales expectations for Cyber Monday. Ashe says 70 percent of Black Friday traffic was on mobile.
"The classic mall did quite poor," says CNBC's Jim Cramer providing his outlook on Black Friday sales and discussing the decline of the mall.
Retail analysts are casting doubt about a widely watched shopping poll that indicated Black Friday sales fell 11 percent from last year.
Discussing potential standout companies for Cyber Monday, with Victor Anthony, Topeka Capital Markets. Anthony thinks Cyber Monday will ultimately diminish in significance.
Nov 30- Early holiday promotions and rising online shopping took a toll on in-store U.S. sales during the Thanksgiving weekend as shoppers on average spent 6.4 percent less than they did a year earlier, according to data released Sunday by an industry group. The National Retail Federation estimated shoppers on average spent $380.95 at stores this holiday...
Nov 29- U.S. shoppers spent slightly less money at brick-and-mortar stores on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday than across the same two days in 2013, while online sales surged to record highs, data showed on Saturday. Sales at retail stores totaled about $12.29 billion on Thursday and Friday, down 0.5 percent from the $12.35 billion spent last year, according to...
WEST HARTFORD, Conn./ CHICAGO, Nov 28- Mall crowds were relatively thin on Black Friday in a sign of what has become the new normal in U.S. holiday shopping: the mad rush is happening the night of Thanksgiving and more consumers are picking up deals online. Across the United States, shoppers were greeted by protesters at hundreds of stores- some calling for higher wages...
WEST HARTFORD, Conn./ CHICAGO, Nov 28- Mall crowds were relatively thin on Black Friday in a sign of what has become the new normal in U.S. holiday shopping: the mad rush is happening the night of Thanksgiving and more consumers are picking up deals online. "It just looks like any other weekend," said Angela Olivera, a 32- year-old housewife shopping for children's...
Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Target Corp, Best Buy Co Inc and Lowe's Cos Inc and other merchants are combining in-store pickup with lower online prices to draw shoppers to their stores. "Most retailers are still trying to figure out where is the right place to position this additional inventory... a lot of them aren't quite prepared," said Michael DuVall, a supply chain...
"Mobile is re-imagining everything," says Bubba Murarka, Draper Fisher Jurvetson partner, discussing the shift in digital shopping trends.
Kara Swisher, Re/code, weighs in on the EU's call to break up Google and pressure to unbundle its search engine from other services.
Re/code's Kara Swisher provides her outlook on the e-commerce landscape and how mobile shopping is influencing app developers in Silicon Valley.
Discussing Google Express pricing and its functionality, with Brian Nowak, Susquehanna.
WEST HARTFORD, Conn., Nov 28- Mall crowds were relatively thin early on Black Friday in a sign of what has become the new normal in U.S. holiday shopping: the mad rush is happening the night of Thanksgiving and more consumers are picking up deals online. Police responded to a handful of incidents at Wal-Mart Stores on Thursday, including to break up a fight over a Barbie...
Seton Vermaak, Head of Strategy at Razorfish, says Chinese consumers are more prone to online and mobile shopping in comparison to their U.S. peers. Richard Martin of IMA Asia weighs in.
Michael Desimone, CEO at Borderfree, explains how his company can resolve complications behind cross-border global e-commerce.
Put off by snarled city traffic and a shortage of parking, more Indians are shopping for groceries online, helping e-tailers turn in profits.
Ryan Urban, CEO and Co-Founder of Bounce Exchange, describes the competing strategies between retailers this holiday season.
How people are doing their holiday shopping this year. Jay Henderson, IBM Smarter Conference, says online shopping is through the roof.
By contrast, analysts say supermarkets like More, owned by the Aditya Birla Group, and Reliance Industries Ltd's Reliance Fresh are struggling to attract enough customers to make a profit as they compete with the small neighbourhood stores where most people buy food. "You can go shop at a Walmart or Tesco in the U.S. and U.K. and they have parking.


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April 16, 2011
SAN DIEGO — If there’s pain at the pump in the U.S., Mexico may just have a remedy. A gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in San Diego retails for an average price of $4.61 a gallon. A few miles south, in Tijuana, it’s about $2.54 _ even less if you pay in pesos.
More and more people appear to be taking advantage of the lower price.
“I used to buy exclusively in the U.S. before gas started really going up,” said Patrick Garcia, a drama teacher at an elementary school in San Diego who lives in Tijuana. “Since then, I’ve been buying all my gas in Tijuana.”
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!


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One of the last three independent Judaica shops in the Bay Area is closing.
Yves’ Jewelry & Judaica, which opened five years ago on Solano Avenue in Berkeley, will shut its doors for good by the end of February.
That leaves Dayenu Judaica, which rents space on the ground floor of the JCC of San Francisco, and Afikomen Judaica, a longtime Berkeley institution, as the only remaining independent stores in the Bay Area selling Jewish ceremonial and decorative items.
Owner Yves Mozelsio, 58, said last week that his shop just wasn’t economically sustainable, adding that his inability to advertise might be a factor.
“I just couldn’t afford [advertising]. I was counting on word of mouth,” he told J. “It’s a good neighborhood and a great community, but it has been a real struggle.”
Yves’ occupies a prime spot along a street full of boutiques, restaurants and independently-owned small stores. He said that his decision to close was not the result of rising rents.
“It takes money to make money,” he said regretfully.
Across town at Afikomen, co-owner Rabbi Chaim Mahgel had a more critical viewpoint of the reasons Yves’ store failed. He faulted the rise of corporate megastores and online shopping.
“People call me all the time and say they found a product like those we carry and say they can get it cheaper online,” Mahgel said. “But photos can’t tell you how the fabric of a tallit feels.”
Afikomen has held its own for 29 years, due in some measure to its wide selection of Jewish books. Mahgel and his wife, Nell Maghel-Friedman, took it over 14 years ago from the original owner.
“Brick-and-mortar stores are really the foundation of the local economy,” he continued. “Any time such a store is closing it’s a sign that there’s something out of balance. Money from the community that would normally go to support locally owned stores is being funneled elsewhere, to corporations.”
Hiroko Rosen, owner of Dayenu for 15 years, said her store is “surviving, but it’s difficult.” She ventured that Judaica is not as important to younger Jews.
Mahgel mourned the loss of community that is nurtured by person-to-person contact in a Jewish store.
“From a Jewish perspective, there’s a moral obligation to support our people in their businesses,” he said. “It’s the highest form of tzedakah.”
Mozelsio opened his store after a career as a wedding and fine-art photographer. He thinks he’ll probably go back to that profession now. About 20 years ago, he made a series of 40 black-and-white portraits of the Orthodox community in Chicago, with personal statements from the subjects. The collection traveled the country and was then gifted to the Magnes museum in Berkeley. Prints of these photos hang in his shop, sharing the brightly lit space with seder plates and menorahs, children’s books and games, greeting cards, racks of tallits and kippahs and a good selection of jewelry, much of it by local artists.
“Both Jewish and non-Jewish people stopped in,” Mozelsio said. “A lot of people would come in to ask about the jewelry, or about items that were exotic or unknown to them.”
One of the regulars in that category has been Rose Marie Pietras, a woman of Syrian ancestry who was born and raised in Berkeley.
“I come for the jewelry,” the elegantly-dressed Pietras said on a recent drop-by. “But if I was Jewish, I am sure I would want to buy these beautiful ceremonial items.”
Other people, newcomers to the shop, wandered in, attracted by the big sign in the window announcing a closing sale. The store at 1865 Solano Ave. is generally open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Mondays, although Mozelsio suggests calling (510) 529-4650 before stopping by; he is aiming to stay open through the end of the month, or as long as inventory lasts.
The most successful aspect of his five-year business venture, he said, “was the interactions I had with people. I will miss them.”


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The legacy of broadcast television and traditional linear media have been facing some of their biggest challenges yet in the past few years as digital streaming services and online use platforms such as ours have experienced audience growth. So what is the future of the media scope in general, and what opportunities are there for investors?
International media and technology consultant Mazen Hayek joins The Market Herald from Dubai to tell us more.
TMH: Mazen, it seems the whole industry, as myself and perhaps the older generations have known it, is on the verge.
Hayek: It’s an industry of the future, actually. The industry is doing well. The issue lies with traditional media companies who were not able to adapt to the change in attention span at the consumer level, changing consumer preferences, the migration of audiences, the rise of new digital platforms.
The industry is doing well, actually, and is flourishing. Media companies who are future-proof, who are on top of their game when it comes to future trends, technological advancements and whatever affects people’s attention, captures their eye bones, their hearts and minds will continue to resonate well with audiences.
TMH: How can traditional media survive?
Hayek: We’ve always said content is king. The experience is there. People will continue to watch the Super Bowl or the World Cup on TV. The way the traditional TV was connected to a cable or to a satellite, this is changing, and obviously we’re seeing more of the IPTV (internet protocol television) that is linked to internet, etc.
Many told us 20 years ago that, they predicted the death of TV. TV is not dead. TV has evolved and has led to more of the multitasking experience at the consumer level. So I’m watching the World Cup or the Super Bowl, I’m at the same time on X, formerly known as Twitter, I’m on Meta’s platforms (Facebook and Instagram), I’m on YouTube following something else.
The one-way relationship TV consumer is gone, but TV as a medium, as the mass media Paris salons is still there. Print has suffered, as you know, a lot. Most of these newsrooms have evolved during the last two decades into digital powerhouses.
TMH: I gather from what you’re saying that audiences have just so much choice now in where, when and how they consume various sorts of content, not just daily news. The medium might have changed, but it’s still there, and we’ve got so much more variety now.
Hayek: Absolutely. You’re exposed to, on average, 10,000 marketing messages a day, yet consumer attention span is so short these days we’re talking about about eight to 12 seconds attention span. So if you’re scrolling on that timeline, a new generation grants you eight to 12 seconds to look at your story. If they like, they stop. Then if they stop, they watch, then they might like, they might share, they might comment and they might amplify. So this is the full spectrum of the consumption.
So attention span is extremely short, which is pushing and driving media companies towards more personalization, more customization of content and experiences, more delivery across platforms, and new content strategies across short form and long form content. We are witnessing also the rise of the subscription model.
The fee has replaced free and you rarely get quality content, be it entertainment or news for free anymore. People and content are the most expensive components in a media company – so content, production, acquisition, commissioning – but also people, your payroll is very high. I don’t see today a traditional media company who hasn’t embraced changes surviving anymore.
TMH: Where do you believe investors should look for to have exposure to media stocks?
Hayek: Look, I’m not an investment expert, but I would look at future approved companies. Those who are embracing change delivering across multi-platforms are on top of their content game when it comes to content strategies across short form, long form and a variety of genres. I would look at their wealth of library and content, in addition to people in the media industry, (intellectual property) is your biggest asset. So I would look at IP, I would look at their commitment to sustainability. I wouldn’t forget the most important challenge, I would look to see how these companies are coping with an increasing government intervention and regulatory framework when it comes to compliance.
With GDPR (general data protection regulation), even profiling of consumers based on their browsing history. If we look at the amount of fines that were imposed on the big four during the last 18 months, billions of dollars when it comes to the regulatory framework. Because the regulators are increasingly looking at what they call the monopolistic practices and trying to reduce those practices and increase and protect consumer data.
TMH: How do you envision the future of the media scope in the next decade or so?
Hayek: The future of media is bright, and as we said, media is an industry of the future simply because people increasingly consume more and more media. So if you think from a basic perspective, people relate to media, they consume more and more content across platforms.
Join the discussion: Check out the rest of Stockhouse’s stock forums and message boards.
The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. For full disclaimer information, please click here.


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Space is still available at a half-day seminar to be held on Saturday, September 13, 2003 at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC) to review the findings of a special Task Force of tourism experts sent to Bali to recommend recovery strategies for the island's tourism industry.
Sponsored by Bali Discovery Tours with the Seminar conducted by Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), those attending the morning meeting will obtain a statistical overview of Bali's performance over the last 3 years and a copy of the Task Force Report in both Indonesian and English.
The seminar is fully sponsored and includes materials, coffee break and a luncheon. Participation is limited to the first 100 who register with priority given to current members of PATA.
Discovery Tours. Articles may be quoted and reproduced
if attributed to http://www.balidiscovery.com.


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De Beers said its rough diamond prices fell 5 percent this year even as the diamond market showed signs of a vast improvement.
Diamond prices declined from January to November, while prices of other commodities in the conglomerate’s portfolio rose significantly, Mark Cutifani, CEO of Anglo American, the parent company of De Beers, said in an analyst presentation (see here). Platinum prices increased 17 percent, copper prices 21 percent, while iron ore prices jumped 73 percent during the period.
“The diamond sector, on average, saw a strong recovery of value in the first quarter, recovering much of the lost ground from 2015, alongside the wider mining sector,” Kieron Hodgson, an analyst at Panmure Gordon & Co. wrote in a note preceding Anglo’s presentation. “While the absolute performance of diamonds has lagged peer commodities, we believe the longer term fundamentals remain robust for price appreciation, albeit with lower volatility.”
Photo © Courtesy of De Beers.


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In spite of uncertainties about President Donald Trump’s trade policy and a forecast of weak global trade, officials at the Port of Long Beach said they are looking to rebound from a rough year.
“We saw mergers, changing alliances and even bankruptcies (last year), and now we face uncertain trade policy,” Duane Kenagy, the interim chief executive of the port, said in his State of the Port address on Wednesday.
He warned 300 people in attendance, including terminal operators, shipping executives and others in the supply chain industry, that “there may be more turbulence ahead,” but that the local port — the second largest in the country — had positioned itself well for at least modest gains in the coming year.
This year the port struggled with diminished cargo movement after Hanjin Shipping, which owned a majority stake in the local port’s largest terminal, went bankrupt.
The port also is still looking for a permanent CEO. Kenagy, an engineer, was appointed after executive director CEO Jon Slangerup announced his resignation in September, a few weeks after Hanjiin’s financial trouble became public.
On Wednesday, Kenagy struck an optimistic tone, but he said there remains much to do.
“We need to raise more cranes, strengthen our berths, deepen our water and upgrade our rail facility and highway access to make our terminals even more productive,” he said.
But, after stepping down from the podium, he also said he will be keeping his eye on Trump’s moves. In the coming months, port officials will be going to Washington, D.C., to ask legislators for federal dollars and to promote legislation favoring the port. The Long Beach port receives millions of dollars in grants, and much of its green port initiative is dependent on federal funding.
All of that is in flux as Trump takes trade and environmental policies in a new direction.
As part of his first executive actions, Trump pulled the United States out of the Trans Pacific Partnership, a 12-nation agreement that would have bolstered trade in the Pacific and fueled growth at the port. Although the port didn’t take a position on the agreement, experts said it signals Trump will forge ahead with his promises to take a more protectionist approach that could ultimately slow work down at the port, which employs hundreds of thousands of people and handles $180 billion annually in trade.
Nearly 40 percent of the nation’s imports come in through the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, the bulk coming from Pacific nations.
Lori Ann Guzman, president of the Long Beach Harbor Commission, which oversees the port, said officials are looking to discern the intentions of the new administration.
“What are his goals with the Pacific Rim and Asian trading partners, because that is who we trade with,” she said. “If things change, we will weather the storm. The key is to be flexible.”
The port has also invested about $4 billion to build a new the Gerald Desmond Bridge and expand the Middle Harbor Terminal. The bridge, which is about halfway complete, will connect downtown Long Beach to Terminal Island.
Kenagy, hailed for his fiscally conservative approach to budgets, said the port will focus on maintaining its “financial strength and flexibility to rapidly respond to our changing business environment.”


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The UK’s Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has published an information request that it has sent to six payment schemes (American Express, Diners Club International, JCB International, MasterCard, UnionPay International and Visa Europe) to help it understand whether or not any schemes qualify for a temporary exemption from part of the Interchange Fee Regulation (IFR).
The PSR will be the lead UK regulator for the IFR which, among other things, sets interchange fee caps on card-based payment transactions within the UK and Europe. The interchange fee caps will apply from 9 December 2015.
The IFR affords certain discretion to Member States. In the UK, the Government has decided to grant a time-limited exemption from domestic interchange fee caps to three-party schemes which:
- operate with licensee issuers and / or acquirers; or
- issue cards with a co-branding partner or through an agent.
The PSR has published the information request in the interests of transparency, so that all stakeholders have access to the same information. The contacted payment schemes have been asked respond by 3 December 2015.
View Information requests from the PSR in relation to the EU Interchange Fee Regulation, 19 November 2015


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How can a bunch of kids in a garage create a Web service that half the people on the planet can use at once? By running their app on the cloud computing platform from Amazon Web Services instead of on their own servers.
Amazon Web Services, a collection of services include a computing engine, a database, and storage services, were created to be easy to provision (set up), and to scale as needed. The real benefit is that the developer doesn't pay for services delivered until they are. So if a site runs along at a few thousand hits a day it won't cost more than a few pennies to run. But a big spike coming from a Digg or Oprah link will automatically cause AWS to bring more resources to bear. The developer will be billed accordingly.
Venture capitalists, who fund startups, used to look askance at a Web company that couldn't run its own servers. Now we're hearing that they're considering financially irresponsible if they do. The cloud is where the new Web apps live.


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MOSCOW, 19 May (BelTA) – Belarusian and Russian enterprises are making quite good progress in import substitution, Head of Russia's Udmurt Republic Aleksandr Brechalov said answering a BelTA's question following his talks with Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Dmitry Krutoi in Moscow.
Aleksandr Brechalov noted that his meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko as well as the Udmurt business mission to Belarus, which took place a little more than six months ago, were focused on integration matters. “And we already see the results: the import of goods and services from Belarus to Udmurtia has grown, our export indicators remain quite good. It is gratifying to think that our quasi-partners that demonstratively withdrew from Belarus and Russia are now regretting their decision big time, because Belarusian and Russian enterprises are successfully replacing them. For example, the electric motors for low-floor trams made by Sarapul Electric Generator Plant are now used in equipment manufactured in Russia and Belarus. Such examples are many,” Aleksandr Brechalov said.
In his opinion, the parties have a lot of mutually beneficial avenues of cooperation. “I can name many import-substituting projects in agriculture, engineering, machine tool industry that we can implement together. Thus, Belarus has been and remains our strategic partner. It is consistently one of the top three trading partners for Udmurtia. We believe that our trade this year will definitely be better than in 2022,” Aleksandr Brechalov stressed.
He also noted that although economy is always the cornerstone of cooperation, it is equally important to maintain cultural contacts. “During my visit to Minsk we agreed that it is necessary to step up exchange programs for schoolchildren and the youth. The winners of Udmurtia's song contest among children were awarded the trip to Brest, which is the sister city of Izhevsk. It is extremely important to expand cooperation in this area,” Aleksandr Brechalov concluded.


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In order to mark the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, the Fairtrade Foundation is set to unveil the world’s first secret hot chocolate salon, hidden inside an unassuming east London newsagent. Within the magazine racks and behind the snacks, inquisitive chocolate-lovers will be invited to press a secret button that will see the shop floor rotate 180 degrees and transport them to a West-African themed speakeasy-style cafe.
Created to support Fairtrade’s ‘She Deserves’ campaign, Rosine’s Hot Chocolate Salon is named after a real cocoa farmer from Côte d’Ivoire. It aims to tell the true story behind our chocolate bars and why cocoa farmers, like Rosine, deserve a fair living income.
Three hot chocolates created by celebrity chefs Melissa Hemsley, Tess Ward and Tom Hunt will be on the menu. Each creation is named after a real cocoa farmer from West Africa and will be priced at £1.86 – the cost of a day’s living income for a cocoa farmer.
Julia Nicoara, head of brand and marketing for the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “We’re excited to launch the immersive Rosine’s Hot Chocolate Salon, an experience that allows chocolate-lovers to interact with the very people who make their favourite delight possible. This is not just any pop up, visitors are engaged in the lives of the cocoa farmers behind a bar of chocolate and every time you buy a Fairtrade certified product you are making a real difference.”
The outlet will be open from 25th Feb to 3rd March.


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Littlewoods is holding a pitch for the 4m launch of a new home and high street shopping venture, which it will use to strike back at the newly-combined might of Argos and Great Universal Stores.
At least five agencies are understood to be pitching for the account and a decision is expected at the end of May.
Argos was planning to launch a similar venture in conjunction with Littlewoods to head off the 1.9bn hostile bid from GUS, which was finally accepted by shareholders last week.
Littlewoods’ head of media services, Tim Rogers, refuses to comment. But Yellow M, the Little- woods home shopping agency of record, is expected to take part.
The new venture is an attempt to bring Littlewoods home shopping and high street offerings closer together. In the new venture, customers will be able to order anything from the Index Extra home shopping catalogue or 135 high street Index stores from home or through the stores.
This extends the product range available to each set of shoppers – Index Extra sells fashion and Index sells a wide variety of household goods, such as electrical and DIY products.
The combined service will enable shoppers to order items over the phone then pick them up from shops.


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Huawei Enterprise has appointed a former Hewlett-Packard and 3Com channel executive as its new channel chief.
Glen Ziegler, who in late February signed on as senior director of channel sales at Huawei Enterprise, is taking the reins from Rob Claus, who left the company in January to become vice president of sales at video conferencing developer Tely Labs.
Prior to moving to Huawei Enterprise, Cupertino, Calif., Ziegler managed channel strategy and execution for the Americas for HP's networking business. He joined HP as part of that company's acquisition of 3Com, where he was director of channel partners.
In a recent interview, Ziegler, who reports to Huawei Enterprise USA COO Jane Li, told CRN the move to Huawei will give him another opportunity to build a strong channel organization.
"3Com's networking business was growing when we were acquired by HP," he said. "But we face the bureaucracy of a large company. At Huawei, we don't have networking stuck in a corner behind server and storage. We can grow all three."
Steve Rovarino, president of Red Rover, a Reno, Nev.-based solution provider and Huawei Enterprise partner, said he is glad the vendor finally filled the open channel chief position.
"When Rob left, it was unclear if Huawei would leave the position vacant or backfill it," Rovarino said.
The biggest thing Ziegler and Huawei Enterprise can do right now for channel partners is build the company's brand awareness, Rovarino said.
"Brand awareness is always an issue with Huawei," he said. "Every time I visit a new customer, I have to explain what Huawei is, and how big they are. Huawei needs to let customers know how it can help solve their IT issues."
Partnering with Huawei Enterprise means working with company with an easily differentiated product line that is not over-distributed, and one that offers services opportunities to partners, Rovarino said.
"Huawei is strong on the pre-sales side, and has good post-sales components," he said. "But its professional services is on an ad-hoc basis. They help get solutions fired up. But to build out with the business, that's what we as partners do."
NEXT: Huawei Enterprise Is Recruiting Partners, Reinvigorating The Channel


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Tata ’s range of light commercial vehicles was definitely starting to show its age, but the company was fully aware of this fact and decided to take some action. As a result, it presented a new truck named Ultra at this year’s New Delhi Auto Expo.
The new Tata Ultra was designed to replace the existing SFC range and features a modern design and contemporary technologies.
The LCV will be offered with in a wide range of models with GVW (gross vehicle weights) ranging from 5 tonnes to 14 tonnes. The new Ultra represents a big step forward for Tata, as it has anything it needs to compete with success against the best models in LCV the segment.


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RIGA - The government today supported indexing pensions a month earlier, on September 1, to compensate pensioners for the rising energy prices and inflation.
According to the Central Statistical Bureau, this past March the average consumer price level increased by 11.5 percent year on year. Prices of transport-related products and services increased the most, 22.9 percent, food prices rose 14.7 percent, prices of housing-related goods and services increased 14.5 percent, prices for miscellaneous goods and services increased 8.5 percent, prices of healthcare services rose 5 percent. Compared to this past February, average consumer price level increased 3.3 percent in March.
Meanwhile, the average pension in Latvia remains relatively small. According to the State Social Insurance Agency, this past March the average state pension, with supplement, was EUR 404, old-age pension was EUR 433, and disability pension was EUR 236.
Welfare Minister Gatis Eglitis (Conservatives) said that the new geopolitical situation was having an impact on all residents of Latvia. Given the high inflation, the Welfare Ministry has been working on increasing pensions.
In order to index pensions before October 1, the amount of the state pension or part thereof not exceeding 50 percent of the average wage subject to insurance contributions in 2021 will be revised on September 1, as well as pension supplements.
Pensions will be indexed based on inflation from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022 and part of the actual increase in the average wage subject to insurance contributions, as well as duration of employment.


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LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WEX Inc. (NYSE: WEX), a global provider of corporate payment solutions, today announced its European travel customers now have the ability to issue and settle payments in 11 currencies, up from three currencies, through WEX Virtual Payments. As a result of this expansion, WEX Europe will issue virtual credit cards in the Australian dollar, Danish krone, New Zealand dollar, Norwegian krone, Polish zloty, South African rand, Swedish krona, Swiss franc, euro, U.S. dollar and British pound. In addition to companies headquartered in Europe, global companies with a European presence can also take advantage of this offering.
WEX, through its subsidiary WEX Europe, is strategically expanding its international footprint as a virtual payments specialist to provide credit, prepaid and debit solutions in all major currencies.
Based on WEX commissioned research, the European travel industry is currently worth approximately €345 billion, which indicates travel businesses’ focus on making international payments.
Myles Stephenson, managing director of WEX Europe said, “We’ve listened to our customers’ needs and business challenges, and implemented a solution that provides even more cost-effective ways to make international payments. This update enables WEX Europe customers to pay their global suppliers in local currencies more efficiently.”
He continued, “It also eliminates the risks of currency fluctuation, improves reconciliation in local currencies to ensure no variances, and makes any card network charges fully transparent.”
The multicurrency strategy will include additional enhancements over the coming months. Currently, WEX Virtual Payments are accepted in more than 200 countries and territories. Virtual credit cards were pioneered by WEX in 2000, and the company remains focused on serving the global travel industry where it has an extensive customer base.
For more information, visit our Europe and U.S. websites: www.wexeurope.com/solutions/wex-virtual-credit-card-multicurrency-offering and www.wexvirtualpayments.com.
About WEX Europe
WEX Europe is a leading provider of virtual and physical payment solutions issued for global acceptance with MasterCard and Visa. With a strategic focus on the travel industry, WEX Europe’s market leading virtual payment solutions offer either prepaid, credit or both funding options. WEX Virtual Card Numbers are issued in several currencies minimising foreign exchange costs and offered as credit, debit and prepaid cards to maximise per booking profitability. The Company’s prepaid business payment solutions help SMEs to transform the cost and management of payments to employees, suppliers and customers. WEX Europe also delivers fuel card processing solutions for private label and closed loop networks. For more information on WEX Europe, please visit www.wexeurope.com.
About WEX Inc.
WEX Inc. (NYSE: WEX) is a leading provider of corporate payment solutions. From its roots in fleet card payments beginning in 1983, WEX has expanded the scope of its business into a multi-channel provider of corporate payment solutions representing 9 million vehicles and offering exceptional payment security and control across a wide spectrum of business sectors. WEX serves a global set of customers and partners through its operations around the world, with offices in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Norway, and Singapore. WEX and its subsidiaries employ more than 2,000 associates. The Company has been publically traded since 2005, and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “WEX.” For more information, visit www.wexinc.com and follow WEX on Twitter at @WEXIncNews.


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CVS Pharmacy on Thursday said it has expanded its same-day prescription delivery service to 6,000 CVS Pharmacy locations, for $7.99. The drugstore unit, the retail division of CVS Health, began piloting same-day service in 2017 and has been delivering prescriptions nationwide for about a year, according to a company press release. Delivery, often within an hour, is provided through Target-owned same-day delivery company Shipt.
A one- to two-day service is available nationwide for $4.99, according to the release. Household items like over-the-counter cold and flu and allergy medications, pain relief, first aid, digestive health, vitamins, baby, personal and feminine care products can be added to the orders, the company said.
To take advantage of the retailer's same-day delivery service, customers select On-Demand prescription delivery service via the CVS Pharmacy app, or they can also set up the service through text or by calling their local CVS Pharmacy.
CVS has been developing this service for a while now, and its nationwide rollout gives it strength against rivals like Walmart, Walgreens and Amazon.
"This has the potential for CVS to secure a meaningful leadership position in eCommerce that it has not had yet if expanded and leveraged strategically," Chris Perry, VP at Edge by Ascential, said in comments emailed to Retail Dive. "[T]heir massive store network and rapid expansion plan gives them 'first-mover' advantage in many markets similar to how Walmart is leveraging online grocery pick-up expansion across its store networks to command market leadership in grocery."
Like Walmart, the retailer is taking advantage of its many brick-and-mortar locations to provide local customers with a higher level of convenience. Amazon, which as of last year owns online pharmacy PillPack, is otherwise selling over-the-counter medications (including under an exclusive label), but even after its Whole Foods acquisition doesn't run as many physical locations as CVS and doesn't fill drug prescriptions through the ones it has.
Walgreens, meanwhile, is keen on cost cuts after a disappointing quarter, a focus that often precludes a retailer from entering high-touch convenience plays like home delivery, although the drugstore offers prescription fulfillment by mail. The retailer's annual cost savings target from what executives this week called "the transformational cost management program" tops $1 billion "to in excess of $1.5 billion by fiscal 2022."
"Prescriptions as a 'product offering' gives [CVS] a differentiated value proposition not yet offered by many players that they could quickly complement with cross-selling other products to build baskets and capture wallet share," Perry also said. "[T]heir broad customer base may provide them a scalable foothold with older generations who have yet to fully shift to eCommerce but may increasingly due to CVS dependence, decreased mobility, life maximization and overall convenience and speed."
Correction: A previous version of this story mischaracterized the delivery vendor for CVS Pharmacy deliveries within hours. Shipt is handling same-day deliveries, while CVS itself handles one- and two-day deliveries.


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Ex-Luke’s Locker pair happy to fill the void
Two ex-Luke's Locker employees have opened separate running-specialty stores to serve areas previously handled by their former employer.
Mike Rouse, a store manager in Luke's early days, opened his Run Texas store in far northwest Frisco last month. In Colleyville, Mike Nugent opened his second Brazos Running Company in mid-June in the exact location of a closed Luke's Locker.
When Nugent and Rouse heard that Luke's was closing several suburban stores, they jumped into action.
"It's funny that we were both doing the same thing in different parts of D-FW, and we hadn't talked about it," Nugent said.
Rouse worked as the store manager at the original Luke's Locker and helped the company open its second store in Fort Worth.
In 1996, he became a shoe rep and spent the next 20 years working for various companies. As a national sales manager, he launched several international brands in the United States. He also had his own industry consulting firm. He returned to the area in March 2016 to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He was working for On, a Swiss running shoe company, at the time.
"I've always wanted to own my own running store, but it was never in the cards," he said. "Luke's gave me my start. I never wanted to go in competition with them."
In November 2016, Rouse learned Luke's closed its Highland Village and Katy stores. He decided then, if the company ever closed its Plano location, he would open his own store. In January 2017, Luke's closed its Plano and Southlake stores along with stores in the Austin and Houston area.
Rouse, 64, of Frisco signed a five-year lease, told On he was leaving and started the ordering process.
"This is my opportunity," said Rouse, who still runs 80 to 100 miles a week. "This is my world, my life, my passion."
Rouse said he felt bad when Luke's temporarily reopened its Plano store, but he was too far along in the process. Luke's closed the Plano store for good in June. Rouse opened his store July 15.
Nugent, 49, of College Station grew up in Highland Park with the Lucas brothers, whose father, Don, founded Luke's Locker. He also worked for Rouse straight out of college as an associate director of Rouse's nonprofit, Exodus. Nugent then attended seminary and worked 19 years for four different churches. In 2008, he worked part-time at Luke's Colleyville to help bolster a start-up church for which he was working.
After a couple of years, Nugent decided to open his own store in College Station. The original Brazos Running Company store opened in June 2012. A few years later, Luke's relocated the Colleyville store to Southlake.
Like Rouse, Nugent wanted to serve the clientele in the area when Luke's closed its Southlake store.
"I didn't go there to compete with Luke's," he said. "You can't compete with Luke's."
Former Luke's employees reached out to Rouse and to Nugent for jobs. Rouse and Nugent hired veteran former Luke's employees, including Terry Jessup at Run Texas and Ed Swiatocha at the Brazos Running Company.
When asked how their stores will fare compared to Luke's, both said they have smaller, less expensive storefronts, smaller staffs and only runner-specific merchandise.
"Luke's went from one extremely successful store to a second extremely successful store to a conglomerate of 10 stores in the highest visibility centers," Rouse said. "That becomes very expensive."
North Texas youths place in national competitions: Tri4Him's Brayden Barrett, 8, of Haslet won his 8-9 age-group open division at last weekend's USA Triathlon Youth & Junior National Championships in West Chester, Ohio. Playtri's Kevin Lorinc, 12, of Plano placed third in the 11-12 boys. In the youth elite (ages 13-15) division, Lantana's Jessica Hernandez, 13, and Southlake's Jake Booher, 15, of Tri4Him, and McKinney's Asher Lauderdale, 14, and Fairview's Brenna Zerby, 13, of Playtri, had strong national races. Tri4Him's four-person relay team finished 13th. ... Jonathan Simms, 10, of Plano, won three gold medals at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Detroit. He ran the 800-meter race in 2 minutes, 16.44 seconds to set a national record. He also won the 200 (26.28) and 400 (59.00).
Cobra Brewing 5K Walk/Run, Cobra Brewing Company, 146 Whatley Ave., Lewisville, 9:30 a.m., $39,dallasathletesracing.com, then search races.
Run4Bibles Summer Night Run La Nuit 2017, Cedar Ridge Preserve, 7171 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, 8 p.m. mile, 8:30 p.m. 5K, 10:15 p.m. 3-hour, 10 p.m. 6-hour, 9-Hour and 9-hour relay, prices vary, active.com, then search by race name.
The Hottest Half Marathon/5K/10K, Ron Kirk Bridge, Dallas Trinity River, Ronald Kirk Pedestrian Bridge, Dallas, 7:30 a.m. half $85, 5K 13 and over $35, 5K 12 and under $20, mellew.com.
WEDNESDAYS THROUGH AUG. 30
Jogger 5K Summer Series, Bachman Lake, Northwest Highway at Lakefield Boulevard, 7 p.m., free (participants need to sign in and get a bib), jogger.me.pn.
THURSDAYS THROUGH AUG. 17
Trinity 5000 Summer Series 5K/1K, 500 N. Henderson St., Fort Worth, 1K 7:15 p.m., 5K 7:30 p.m., $150 for full 12-race series, $13 single 5K no shirt, trinity5000.athlete360.com.


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And while the 20 year old has stayed quiet on the news that she is with child, it’s reported that she has already started to drop serious money on the baby.
According to TMZ, Kylie has been spotted baby clothes shopping and already has a whole wardrobe full of clothes for the tot.
Spotted hitting up stores in the San Fernando Valley, it’s reported that the youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan has already spent £52,000.
A source said: "This is going to be the best dressed kid you've ever seen."
Kylie’s sisters Kim and Kourtney are already mothers to very stylish children, with Kim and her husband Kanye West even having their own children’s clothing line.
Kylie’s mega spending comes as the Kardashian family have reportedly "come around" to her surprising 'pregnancy' news.
And though the family now seem to be on-board with the potential new addition to the family, they were initially apprehensive according to People's alleged source.
They reportedly said: "No one was thrilled about Kylie because she’s so young and naive
"But everyone has come around and they are focusing on the baby."
The source also allegedly claimed: "They truly believe that Kylie will rise to the occasion and be a good mom. And they’ll be there to help!”
And though Kylie's sister Kim Kardashian West announced that she was having a third child with Kanye West using a surrogate on Thursday 28 September, there are reportedly no hard feelings between the siblings.
The reported insider said: "There is no jealousy here. No one is worried about anyone stealing their thunder. It’s not dramatic like that."


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New research shows most retailers have a negative business outlook over the next three months as January consumer confidence reaches its lowest point in thirty years.
An online poll conducted this week of Australian Retailers Association (ARA) members shows staff isolations are continuing to bite, with businesses limiting trading hours and temporarily closing locations. Retailers are calling for urgent expansion of close contact isolation exemptions as Omicron staff isolations decimate small business.
The survey findings representing thousands of businesses nationally, both large and small, include:
65% of businesses have up to half of their workforce in isolation
62% of businesses have rated current trading conditions as ‘poor’ or ‘terrible’
63% are concerned about the performance of their business in the next three months
Around a third of businesses (34%) say they have limited trading hours at some locations
Around one in five businesses (22%) say they have closed some locations due to staff shortages
66% of businesses support an expansion of the close contact isolation exemptions to include all retail, hospitality and hair and beauty workers
“Retailers would normally be thriving at this time of year with the post-Christmas sales and people out enjoying their summer holidays, but Omicron has been like a wrecking ball through the retail economy and small businesses in particular are suffering as a result,” ARA CEO Paul Zahra said.
“Consumer confidence is at an all-time-low, we’re seeing equally low levels of foot traffic through our major shopping destinations. The hopes of struggling businesses who were banking on a prosperous holiday sales period have been dashed.
“Unlike in 2020 and 2021, businesses are navigating these challenges with little to no support from Government. There’s no JobKeeper, no JobSaver and there is little in the way of cash grants to help businesses pay the bills during this unprecedented downturn.
“The Omicron impacts will be ongoing and targeted support is desperately needed from governments.”
The ARA repeats its calls for urgent government action around six priority areas to prevent business collapse. This year has seen business enter unchartered waters, with Omicron impacting business more than any other time in the pandemic
** The online poll conduct 18 – 21 January had more than 165 respondents, representing tens of thousands of stores. Retail respondents were from all states and territories across a diverse range of businesses, including enterprise level retail and SMBs **
ARA Media Team
T 0419 270 863
About us: The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the oldest, largest and most diverse national retail body, representing a $360bn sector which employs 1.3 million Australians and is the largest private sector employer in the country. As Australia’s peak retail body, representing more than 100,000 retail shop fronts and online stores, the ARA informs, advocates, educates, protects and unifies our independent, national and international retail community. To learn more about ARA’s exclusive member benefits and more, visit retail.org.au