text:
Linux developers intend to make the open source operating system more reliable for mobile devices, by optimizing it to work on less powerful devices.
The smart and small devices are becoming much more powerfull and available for the piblic. Linux had to became a part of this industry so, the Open Source Development Labs’ Mobile Linux Initiative will improve Linux for the these devices. It’s also planned to encourage the development of new mobile applications, to outline requirements for different cell phone uses and to host related open-source development projects.
“There was a tremendous price-performance gain when people transitioned to Linux for the telecom equipment manufacturers. Now people are looking for that in the mobile area,” OSDL Chief Executive Stuart Cohen said.
it is expected that 2.8 billion mobile phones will be sold in 2009, so this kind o annonucement (of joining this business) are not a surprise anymore. Linux will compete with Microsoft and Symbian’s products for high-end phones and several other, often custom-written, operating systems for the mass market.
Companies like Intel, MontaVista Software, Wind River Systems and PalmSource are envolved in this project, and they will meet today in Beijing the home of phone researches.
MontaVista, already offers a version of the Linux OS for mobile phones, and it’s used in several handsets from Motorola. Wind River and PalmSource are relatively recent new in this domain.
Intel has been a major promotor for Linux for years, and there are a lot of Linux systems based on its chips. Unfortunatelly Intel doesn’t have a dominant present in the mobile market as it has in desktops and servers. There are strong competitors like Texas Instruments and ARM Holdings.
Linus Torvalds, the maintainer of the Linux kernel, is not so happy about the idea of bringing embedded features to the kernel.


text:
After opening its first stores in the U.S. earlier this month, Lidl will debut four more locations on July 13. The supermarket retailer will also establish a regional headquarters and distribution center in Cartersville, GA.
The second wave of Lidl locations will open on July 13, about a month since the first group of 10 stores debuted. The new Lidl locations are in Chesapeake and Culpeper, VA, and Havelock and Wake Forest, NC. As part of the grand opening celebrations, the first 100 customers arriving at each location will receive a wooden coin for a chance to win up to $100 in Lidl gift cards. Shoppers attending the opening will be able to sample an array of products and will receive a complimentary reusable bag while supplies last. Throughout grand opening weekend, the stores will offer shoppers games, activities, prizes, special deals and giveaways.
On the distribution side, Lidl maintained that the $100 million regional headquarters and distribution center would create 250 jobs over the next five years.
“We are excited to announce new growth and investment in our U.S. expansion,” said Brendan Proctor, Lidl U.S. president and CEO. “Our Cartersville facility will help us efficiently deliver top quality goods to our future customers throughout the area.”

domain: news


text:
Inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI or the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services), stood at 6.9 per cent in July, breaching the upper band of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) inflation target for the fourth consecutive month. Inflation has been above the RBI’s prescribed target of 4 per cent (plus or minus 2 per cent, so the upper band is 6 per cent) for 10 consecutive months now. CPI inflation was expected to fall with the easing of the lockdown but the July numbers show it is rising again. This will have serious repercussions on the economy. The central bank’s rate cut spree is surely over. The RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC), in its announcement on August 6, left the repo rate (the rate at which commercial banks borrow from the RBI) unchanged at 4 per cent and the reverse repo rate at 3.35 per cent.
Keeping inflation in check enables the RBI to drop key rates and drive growth, as it has attempted to do earlier. Since the lockdown started, the central bank has cut repo rates by 115 basis points (1 percentage point equals 100 basis points). However, with demand still sluggish, reviving growth will be a slow, painful process.
The pandemic has left all calculations on the inflation front in tatters; the lockdown led to higher food prices as even essential goods got stuck at the farms and on highways in the initial days. That situation improved with a pick up in goods movement during the ‘unlock’ phases, but inflation in food and beverages was still at a four-month high of 8.7 per cent in July 2020, a huge jump over the 2.3 per cent in the corresponding month of the previous year. A Care Ratings note ascribes the inflationary pressure to supply disruptions from localised lockdowns in the states in July. Double-digit inflation among sub-components like meat (18.8 per cent), oils (12.4 per cent), vegetables (11.3 per cent), pulses (15.9 per cent) and spices has driven food inflation higher. Pulses saw double-digit inflation for the 10th consecutive month, while spices and oils too have been in double digits for four months. Fuel prices were also up, on higher taxes levied on these products. The rise in gold prices added another 50 basis points to the inflation rate.
Experts forecast that supply-side disruptions will continue for some time. These disruptions will be on three fronts, labour, logistics and finance. Although the trend of migrants returning to their villages will ultimately reverse, it will also depend on a credible downtrend in Covid cases in the cities, which is yet to happen. Disruptions in logistics are mainly due to the selective reimposition of local lockdowns. But the most critical is the finance-led supply disruption, says an HSBC research note. As much as 85 per cent of India’s labour force is employed in the unorganised sector, in firms that depend too heavily on their daily cash flows and do not have the buffer to withstand big economic shocks. If the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector fails, it will lead to considerable supply-side constraints.
To keep these firms alive, the banking system needs to allocate credit efficiently. “But the banks themselves have become extremely risk-averse, fearing a mountain of bankruptcies and non-performing loans because of the pandemic,” says Pranjul Bhandari, chief economist at HSBC. Banks have not transmitted repo rate cuts to lending rates adequately. Credit growth, which was already weak, has weakened further over the pandemic months. “It is possible that the lack of funding will stoke inflation eventually,” she adds. HSBC expects the next rate cut by the MPC only in the first quarter of the next calendar year, that too by 25 basis points. Meanwhile, a note from Care Ratings says while supply disruptions in food components will maintain an upward pressure on food prices, the release of kharif crops into the markets could ease food inflation to some extent. But the larger disruptions remain, and they threaten to further derail the economy.


text:
Kitties compete for best-in-show at annual feline showcase
Cats of all shapes and sizes from all over the country and the world made a stop in Corpus Christi on Saturday to strut their stuff at the 16th annual International Feline Showcase.
More than 150 cats were judged in 18 rings set aside in a show hall at the Omni Bayfront Hotel for this year's theme, Anchors Aweigh. The show will run through Sunday.
Judges awarded the cats based on pedigree standards of their breeds picking their favorite top 10. Each win being its own accomplishment.
"This show is not like a dog show," said Jim Armel, co-show manager of the showcase. "If you're an animal lover or cat lover this is the best type of show you will ever see."
Armel said the annual showcase features a wide range of cats from the typical Orange Tabby to the exotic Bengal and Havana Brown.
Two-year-old Mocha Fudge Ripple being one of them.
The wild and exotic Bengal is no stranger to the show. In fact, he was picked as the number one cat of his breed last year.
"Mocha has been showcasing since he was a kitten," said his owner, Sharron Henderson.
The Linden native said she has loved coming to the showcase because it gives her a chance to show off the unique attributes of the Bengal cats.
"Bengals are super intelligent," she said. "They are unique and have great personalities. Mocha being one of them. He is the most amicable cat you will ever meet."
Armel said the annual showcase doesn't just show cats from pedigree backgrounds, but also features household pets and pets for adoption.
"Anyone can put their cat in our show," he said. "This year alone, we have 25 household pets and five cats looking for adoption. Every year we team up with the Cattery Shelter in Corpus Christi to help adopt cats in the area."
Scott Persons, founder and board president of the Cattery, said the show has allowed them to share to others what the Cattery offers to the community.
Thanks to the show the five cats that were featured found forever homes by the second day of the showcase.
"We meet a lot of people each year and it is great to get them interested in wanting to meet our cats that are available for adoption," he said.
Armel said anyone interested in attending the show has a chance to see the judging up close and personal.
"I am a judge in the show, and I can tell you, petting cats all day is the best thing in the world," he said. "If people are looking for something to do this weekend they should check out the showcase because you will never be able to have a chance like this to see cats you have never seen before."
IF YOU GO
What: 16th annual International Feline Showcase presents Anchors Aweigh
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday
Where: 3rd Floor Ballroom, Omni Bayfront Hotel, 900 N. Shore Boulevard
Cost: $5.00, adults; $4.00, seniors; $2.00, Child (5-12) with paid adult; Free, Child (4 & under)
Information: Visit www.ticamembers.org


text:
While electric vehicles (EVs) have gained significant traction in recent years, the heavy vehicle sector in Australia has yet to catch up in policy and adoption of EVs, despite promising zero-emissions trials. We look at industry groups actively pushing for change and highlighting the importance of transitioning to zero-emissions in the heavy vehicle industry.
Overall benefits of EVs in the transport industry
In their report, "Electric trucks: keeping shelves stocked in a net zero world", the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), together with the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), make a case for electric trucks, highlighting the road freight sector contributes 38 per cent of Australia's total transport emissions.
The 2022 report also points to the environmental, economic, and health advantages of transitioning the entire industry to electric vehicles, including:
- Switching to electric trucks can save on diesel costs, reduce fuel price volatility, and lower maintenance costs.
- An electric truck fleet can improve urban air quality and working conditions for truck drivers, thanks to lower noise and fewer vibrations.
- Electric vehicles emit significantly less noise than those running on internal combustion engines. This means they could be used outside curfew limits, leading to more flexible operating hours and less traffic congestion on major thoroughfares.
Milestone in heavy vehicle trial of new zero-emissions technology
Three Australian construction companies have completed a full trial of new zero-emissions technology — an Australian first for the construction sector regarding electric truck trials. The partnership between CHL, Holcim Australia, and Janus Electric used the Janus Electric converted prime mover to transport sand and other construction materials in short-hauls from Holcim's plants across Brisbane and Southeast Queensland.
Beginning in November 2022, the trial tested the electric vehicle's economic viability, reliability, and performance with CHL’s General Manager of Operations, Jordan Barratt, confirming the Janus Electric truck met the operational requirements for short-haul, back-to-base scenarios.
The companies have achieved a milestone in the transition to a more sustainable transport industry, with CHL setting a goal to deploy ten zero-emissions trucks in Southeast Queensland by early 2024, which will be the largest fleet of its kind in Australia.
Despite the trial's success, Janus Electric CEO Lex Forsyth highlighted the need for greater government support, investment, and incentives to accelerate the transition to sustainable transport. The need for more support is a significant challenge in the widespread adoption of zero-emissions technology in the transport industry in Australia.
Current barriers to the widespread adoption of heavy EVs
While the benefits of zero-emissions technology are clear, the widespread adoption of heavy electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia faces several challenges.
Limited choice of heavy EVs
A key challenge in adopting heavy EVs is Australia's limited choice of models.
The lack of variety makes it difficult for businesses to find the right EV to meet their needs.
High up-front costs
One of the biggest barriers to widespread heavy EV adoption is their high up-front costs.
Compared to traditional diesel trucks, EVs are often more expensive up front, which can deter businesses from making the switch. However, an EV may be more economical than a diesel truck over time.
Lack of infrastructure for quick charging stations
Another challenge to the widespread adoption of heavy EVs is the need for more infrastructure for quick charging stations, especially for trucks that travel long distances.
New charging stations are being built, but there are still many areas where it is difficult for EV drivers to find a quick charge, limiting their range and productivity.
Range anxiety is a major concern for many businesses considering the switch to heavy EVs.
While the average range of an EV is increasing, some companies are still concerned about running out of power before they can complete a job or reach a charging station.
In the State of Electric Vehicles report, the Electric Vehicle Council called on governments to provide more support to truck operators in the process of decarbonising their vehicle fleet.
The report proposes a range of measures such as offering temporary financial incentives like zero-interest loans, implementing sales targets to encourage supply, reforming the Australian Design Rules to increase vehicle width to at least 2.55m and providing a 1-tonne mass concession to electric trucks.
The report also suggests that deploying dedicated charging infrastructure for these larger electric vehicles will help accelerate the transition towards zero-emissions technology in the transport industry.
If you’re in the transport industry and are thinking about transitioning to become a more sustainable business, please get in touch with us today.
If you'd like to learn how Earlypay's Invoice Finance & Equipment Finance can help you boost your working capital to fund growth or keep on top of day-to-day operations of your business, contact Earlypay's helpful team today on 1300 760 205, visit our sign-up form or contact [email protected].


text:
WHITE, Ga.—Toyo Tire Corp.'s North American production facility is continuing along its growth path.
The firm is moving ahead with an expansion disclosed in 2017 at its facility in White. This time it will boost capacity by nearly 10 percent to 13.9 million passenger and light truck tires annually by January 2021.
Toyo is budgeting nearly $65 million for the project, which is part of the site's fifth phase of expansions. A company spokeswoman said in an email that it has invested more than $1 billion at the facility since it opened in 2005.
This expansion will add about 120 new jobs and increase production at the 3.25 million-sq.-ft. facility by 1.2 million tires per year by 2021. Toyo said the project will involve installing new manufacturing equipment to its recently added 254,000-sq.-ft. production hall, which represents a $125 million investment.
The spokeswoman said the site currently employs 1,900 and produces about 11.5 million tires per year."As the light truck, SUV and CUV market segments continue to expand, as well as the all-weather category for a diverse range of vehicle types, we see opportunities to increase sales and market share," the spokeswoman said. "Further expansion of TNA's production capacity is necessary to meet those growth needs in an efficient manner. Doing so will enable us to continue to service our customers with high fill rates and maintain a competitive advantage."


text:
Aside from may be Call of Duty, there isn’t a bigger game franchise out there than EA Sports’ FIFA, with every iteration comfortably selling over 10 million copies and consistently being one of the most played games online. But to keep these millions of people coming back each year, EA has to do all it can to keep pushing the game towards football simulation perfection. FIFA 11 took some significant strides towards achieving that, but there were a few gameplay and AI issues that held it back. With FIFA 12, not only is EA attempting to plug all the holes, but they’ve also claimed that the new game will revolutionize the football games genre.
Leading the ‘revolution’ is FIFA 12’s new player impact engine, which aims to lend the game a whole new level of physicality. In most sports games, including past FIFA games, collisions played out with the help of situational animations. So being clipped on the heels by an opposition player would trigger a trip animation that would send your player into a stumble or to the ground. In the same situation now, however, the outcome is determined by various on-the-fly physics calculations that take into account parameters such as the speed and momentum of your player and the severity of the opponent’s tackle. What this eventually means from a gameplay perspective is that being clipped on the heels doesn’t always have to impede your progress. If you’re well balanced, you have speed and momentum, and the challenge isn’t a particularly tough one, you could well shrug it off and continue with your run.
FIFA games have always had more realistic player animations than other sports games, but what this new player impact engine does is ensure that each collision now looks different. So bone crunching tackles will be shown with believably theatrical animations, while smaller nudges will result in players stumbling or shrugging off the challenge. There’s a potential downside to this, though. Since all the collisions are based on on-the-fly physics calculations, there is a possibility of these calculations sometimes having undesirable outcomes. There’s no doubt that EA will thoroughly play test the new engine, but this being the first time its actually being used, there is the possibility of the odd awkward-looking animations. For example, a player may fall to the ground like he was tripped when he was actually shoulder-charged by a defender. This is, of course, a very extreme example, the likes of which you probably won’t see, but using an open-ended system like this surely opens the game up to such risks, especially because in games like FIFA, there are so many different gameplay scenarios playing out that it’s impossible to play test for them all.
Using your head
Another new feature in FIFA 12 is the precision dribbling system, whereby players have increased control over the ball when standing still or moving at a slow pace. What this essentially means is that shielding the ball from a defender or holding up play while your teammates join the attack is now possible. You can now apply deft touches using the inside or outside of the boot for twisting dribbles that allow you to maneuver more freely without actually losing control of the ball. While being caught in tight spaces in earlier games meant being dispossessed by an opposing player, with precisions dribbling, you now have many more tricks up your sleeve to retain possession.
One of the biggest complaints from FIFA 11 players was how overpowered the defenders were, so this time, the developers are introducing tactical defending, which relies more on skill and judgment. Positioning and timing now play a vital role in not only making successful tackles but also in intercepting passes.
Aiding defense further is the new pro player intelligence, through which the AI moves more intelligently into open spaces and helps provide cover in vulnerable areas. This also has an impact in offense, with AI teammates making intelligent runs through the middle and down the flanks. Players will also play to their strengths and utilize the strengths of their teammates. To add to the game’s realism, the true injuries feature will punish players who rely on and overuse a particular star performer. Players will realistically fatigue over the course of a game, and pushing an already fatigued player further may result in injuries. So the game now encourages teamwork as opposed to just using the star player to do all the work.
Dude, watch where you're going
There are even more changes in FIFA 11 that we haven’t covered here, such as the improved career mode. So this clearly isn’t just FIFA 11 with a new name, but a serious effort on EA’s part to deliver an all new game in its quest to take the series ever closer to the real thing. But the intent has always been there; the real question is whether this is the year that EA finally delivers.
FIFA 12 is scheduled for release on September 2011 across PC, console and handheld platforms.
Published Date: Aug 18, 2011 12:48 pm | Updated Date: Aug 18, 2011 12:48 pm


text:
In future years the launch of Blackberry 10 may be seen as the firm's turnaround-or the moment its fate was doomed in the competitive smartphone market. Will this bring back the BBM boom?
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Chance to enter a national competition where you take the roll of chancellor and put together a short video where you consider a range of Budget 2013 policies and choose those you feel are best for the country's economy. It is open till 15th Feb and open to all 14-18 year olds which a chance to win an i-Pad as a top prize. Find out more by following the link:
Addidas, Hugo Boss and Superdry are among a number of brands set to launch a virtual fitting room fucnction aimed at improving the online shopping experience for customers. Will this help take online shopping spending further forward at more cost to the high street?
At first sight, a photo of emaciated children in developing countries alongside obese people in the West might seem like an apt way to illustrate the massive gap between the rich and the poor. But it is not, according to experts at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Read more by following the link.
Friday, 25 January 2013
A superb article on how healthy people can create economic health which takes into consideration the comments made at the World Economic Forum which has been taking place recently in Davos.
The UK economy shrank by 0.3% in the last three months of 2012, further fueling fears that the economy could re-enter recession. A fall in output due to a drop in mining and quarrying were some of the main contributors to the shrink which has been disappointing news for the government following the Olympic boost.
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Fans are demanding a £20 limit on the price of away tickets amid fears that the growing costs will hit match attendances, affecting the atmosphere of games. The Football Supporters Federation's 'Twenty's Plenty' drive aims to get clubs to peg the cost of away tickets. This comes after Man City returned 900 tickets for their trip to the Emirates after fans refused to pay £62 to watch their team. Interesting economics in this!
Real Madrid has topped Deloitte's football rich list for the 8th year in a row, with revenues breaking 500m euros (£420m) for the first time. Bumper TV deals and amazing global demand have seen revenues for clubs continue to rise despite tough economic times. Newcastle did not make the top 10.
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
The number of jobless people around the world rose by 4 million in 2012 to 197 million and is expected to grow further. The trend reflected a downturn in economic growth and highlights a massive waste in skilled labour across the world.
Sunday, 20 January 2013
Del Monte is set to launch a new fruit drink to aid kids learning. They claim the mix of vitamins will help stimulate the mind and help prevent tiredness and aid children's learning. The six different flavours will be hitting the stores over the next month. Is this the new lucozade of the classroom?
Big freeze could cost UK economy more than £6bn. Retailers, restaurants and bars are likely to be worst hit in what is typically a poor month for sales anyway. Also the cold snap could also delay construction projects and keep millions of workers off work.
Thursday, 17 January 2013
UK car production in 2012 was at its highest level since 2008 according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). UK factories built 1.46 million cars of which 1.21 million were exported.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Investigations are under way to find out how beefburgers on sale in UK and Irish supermarkets became contaminated with horesemeat. Tesco & Iceland have been identified as two of the supermarkets who have been stocking the contaminated burgers and the news of this investigation will be very damaging for the reputation of the supermarkets. They will have to work hard to restore customers confidence in the stores food and products.
Metrocentre and Eldon Square are part of a national re-brand which will see their names changed to 'Intu Metrocentre' and 'Intu Eldon Sqaure'. Find out more about the plans by following the link.
DVD rental firm Blockbuster has become the latest UK High Street firm to go into administration after struggling against online competitors. The chain has 528 stores and employs over 4,000 staff. With news of HMV and Jessops also entering administration this month are all these casualties just inevitable due to their slow movement in changing their business models in fast moving and competitive environment.
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Many brands are having to react to the tougher financial conditions in order to survive. John Smiths have taken the drastic measure of watering down its beer to reduce the alcohol content from 3.8% to 3.6% and they have also raised the price by 25p a pint. Other brands have been reducing their size and removing expensive ingredients but have you noticed?
Fizzy-drink giant Coca-Cola has launched an advert addressing obesity for the first time on TV. This news comes as New York steps up its attempts to ban large sugary drinks in cinemas, restaurants & spots arenas. As the governments are trying to correct the market failure caused by over-consumption of sugary drinks, Coca-Cola are trying to ensure they are not going to be hit hardest. Great story for Economists studying Markets In Action.
Music and DVD chain HMV is to appoint an administrator, making it the latest casualty on the High Street and putting about 4,350 jobs at risk. The first store opened back in 1921 has struggled against online competition and was slow in moving into the digital age which combined with the tough economic conditions has sadly sealed its fate. Who will be next?
Monday, 14 January 2013
Rory McIlroy is set to become one of the biggest earners in sporting history after confirmation of a reported 10-year sponsorship deal with Nike worth as much as £150m. So why pay so much? Is this deal worth it for Nike?
Sunday, 13 January 2013
The beautiful game embodies everything that's bad about Britain. A nice article for A2 Work & Leisure students which makes comment about how the Premier League is run for the super rich, not fans compared to the thriving Bundesliga.
It's a coney calzone! The pizza shaped like a cone. This unique treat was a entrepreneurial idea from 23 year old Dags Hofrats who has become the first person in the UK to sell the pizza. It has been an unlikely smash hit & he has sold 1,000 of the pizza cones at £2.70 in six weeks.
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Its group-wide sales in 2012 totaled 1.85 million cars, up 11% from a year earlier. Sales of BMW vehicles made up the majority of this total, rising 12% to 1.54 million. Some great information about the global car market which links with the Year 11 GCSE pre-release! Check it out by following the links below:
Due to the poor harvest of wheat in Britain in 2012 Hovis is planning to start using wheat from elsewhere in the EU in some loaves. This means it will have to remove the 100% British branding from them. Will this see an increase in the price of hovis?
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
As Jessops becomes the latest big name high street casualty of the recession, what is now the way forward for the UK's ailing high streets? Totnes (a small town in Devon) is aiming to buck the trend. It is passionate about its local economy and even has its own currency. Check out this great story of how the independent retailers are creating a thriving high street again.
The pre-release case study for the OCR GCSE Business Studies exam is now available. You will receive a copy of it in class but if you want a copy of your own you can download one from here. This year it is all about a car company called AS and the text in this will all link to what you are doing in class for your final unit A293.
Morecambe are offering free entry to all supporters for their game against Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday. Some interesting points for the YED and demand of spectator sports between the premier league and the lower leagues. (Article From Seb Dadbin)
Monday, 7 January 2013
Sunday, 6 January 2013
A bluefin tuna sold for a record 1.76 million US dollars (£1.1 million) at a Tokyo auction on Saturday, nearly three times the previous high. Stocks (Supply) of bluefin tuna caught in the Atlantic and Med plunged by 60% between 1997 and 2007 due to rampant, often illegal, overfishing and lax quotas. This combined with the fact that Japanese people eat 80% of the bluefin tuna caught worldwide leads you to see why the price is rocketing! Classic supply & demand.
Nearly 10 million people in Britain are now over 65, increasing numbers of pensioners are taking up a second career after they retire. Consider the impact on the workforce of an ageing population.
Smartphones and tablets look set to dominate the portable gaming market with iOS and Android based app titles to generate more revenue in the coming months than dedicated portable gaming releases from the likes of Sony and Nintendo, new reports have suggested. How close as substitutes do you think these two goods are? XED? What else could have caused the shift?
Friday, 4 January 2013
The CompareTheMarket.com ad featuring Meerkat brand characters Sergei and Alexsander handing a window cleaner his free Meerkat toy was the 'most-liked' TV ad of 2012. You can relive that advert again and also see which other adverts featured in the top 10 by following the link below. Simples.
A Government anti-smoking ad showing a cancerous tumour growing on a cigarette as it's smoked is facing censure after the advertising watchdog received a flurry of complaints the advert was too graphic. Do you believe this information provision to correct the market failure caused by cigarettes has gone too far? Do these adverts even help correct the negative externalities and reduce the demand for smoking?
Revised fares for the metro will come into effect from 6th January 2013. On average prices will go up by 4.1% while peak day tickets would be withdrawn. Nexus director general Bernard Garner said fares had been kept as low as possible but this still sees single tickets increase by 10p. Consider inflation and the inelastic demand for metro travel!
Recent economic data seemed positive for the UK economy, but the latest information hints that it is more fizzle bang. There are now fresh fears that the UK economy is sliding towards a triple dip recession this year after the first fall in service sector activity for two years.
The UK's fourth largest grocer announces its partnership with the TV hosts, who will promote its range of products this year. Forecast by analysts as having the worst performing of the major supermarkets at Christmas they will hope the partnership will revive its flagging fortunes. Classic Oligopoly non-price competition?
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
We have been taking a break from the blog over the festive period but are back now to give you all the best and most interesting stories from the world of Business & Economics. But first check out this video which celebrates all the epic stuff that happened in 2012...enjoy!


text:
Wheat prices have hit record levels as supplies dwindle, raising concerns about growing food inflation.
Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat for delivery in March rose the maximum 90 cents allowed to $11.99 a bushel in electronic trading in Asia.
High-protein spring wheat on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange rose by almost 25% to record levels on Monday.
Kazakhstan has become the latest country to put export restrictions on wheat as it battles against inflation.
Russia and Argentina have already imposed similar export restrictions.
The 25% rise in Minneapolis on Monday came after all trading restrictions were scrapped.
The March futures contract closed at up $4.75 at $24 a bushel, the record price for any US wheat contract.
The price of spring wheat has more than doubled since January.
Reports of a drought in Northern China, where most of the country's wheat is grown, also pushed prices higher.
Extreme weather has already damaged crops in other parts of the world and US wheat inventories are expected to fall to their lowest level for 60 years.
The World Food Programme has warned that if it does not get more money, it will have to start cutting rations or reaching fewer people.
The United Nations agency blamed rising prices for food and oil, as well as an increasing number of people who need its help.
In addition to the supply problems pushing up prices, there has also been growing demand.
Increasing wealth in China, for example, has led to consumers eating more meat, which means more grain is needed to feed farm animals.


text:
Stand up for Canada’s beef industry and science-based trade principles by Saying No to a Bad Deal
The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), in partnership with the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) and National Cattle Feeders’ Association (NCFA), has launched a campaign called “Say No to a Bad Deal”. Through this campaign, grassroots producers along with industry partners and supporters can urge our federal government that Canada needs to delay the UK joining the CPTPP until our barriers into the UK market can be addressed. In July, the Government of Canada announced the accession of the United Kingdom (UK) to the Comprehensive Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The UK continues to have unfettered access to the Canadian market for their meat products, while Canada is unable to get our high-quality beef and pork products into their market. We are asking for reciprocal access for Canadian beef into the UK’s market. The interim agreement with the UK has resulted in unequal benefits for British meat. Non-tariff trade barriers have resulted in Canada being unable to access the UK market, while the UK enjoys unfettered access into the Canadian market. The proposed agreement will see the UK exporting over $50 million of their meat producers into the Canadian market, while Canada will be unable to export any meat products into their market. We are proud of the progressive trading standards and science-based rules established through CPTPP which ensures fair market access for participating countries. We do not think those standards should be set aside for the UK accession. We are not saying no to trade. We are saying no to a bad deal that puts Canadian farmers and ranchers at an unfair disadvantage. We urge Canadian beef farmers and ranchers, industry stakeholders, and all Canadians to stand up for a fair trade deal for both Canada and the UK by sharing your concerns with your Member of Parliament.
Please show your support by visiting SayNoToABadDeal.ca and sending in your letter.
To learn more about this unfair trade deal, visit the FAQ section of our website.


text:
Galaxy S3 takes top spot in smartphone market
REUTERS - Samsung Electronics' (005930.KS) Galaxy S3 became the world's best-selling smartphone model last quarter, pushing aside Apple Inc's(AAPL.O) iPhone, which has dominated the chart for more than two years, research firm Strategy Analytics said on Thursday.
Strategy Analytics estimated Samsung sold 18 million S3 models in the third quarter, compared with iPhone 4S sales of 16.2 million.
Strong sales of the flagship Galaxy S3 - which comes with a large 4.8 inch touchscreen - helped Samsung post a record $7.3 billion operating profit in the July-September quarter.
"Samsung's Galaxy S3 has proven wildly popular with consumers and operators across North America, Europe and Asia," said analyst Neil Mawston, adding the new iPhone 5 would likely reclaim the top spot for Apple in the current quarter. (Reporting by Tarmo Virki; Editing by David Holmes)
- Tweet this
- Share this
- Digg this
Trending On Reuters
India has put security agencies on nationwide alert for a militant strike in the lead-up to a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama next month, citing an assault on a Pakistani school this week as a warning signal. Full Article
Supreme Court defers verdict on Sahara plea to raise more debt on hotels Full Article
ADB trims growth forecasts for developing Asia, says India to grow 5.5 pct in 2014 Full Article


text:
ShopperTrak: Holiday sales up 2.7% on lower traffic
Chicago — Despite the shortened holiday season and extreme weather in many areas of the country in the weeks leading up to Christmas, retailers finished the 2013 holiday shopping season with increased sales. According to ShopperTrak, during the holiday shopping season of November and December 2013, national retail sales increased 2.7% and foot traffic decreased 14.6% when compared to the same two months of 2012.
ShopperTrak’s initial data indicates shoppers spent $265.9 billion during this period. The 2.7% increase is slightly better than ShopperTrak’s early-season forecast of a 2.4% increase in sales. The 2013 holiday season marked the fourth consecutive year with positive GAFO retail sales, reflecting a growing economy.
“As we anticipated, retailers saw a gain in sales compared to last year as the economy continues to recover,” said ShopperTrak Founder Bill Martin. “However, consumers took a break from shopping after Thanksgiving weekend, so retailers were pressured to offer deep discounts and promotions in the final week before Christmas to finish the holiday on a positive note. In the future, retailers who promote throughout the season will be more successful than those who take a hiatus in the week or two after Thanksgiving. Promotions in early December offer retailers an opportunity to capture sales earlier without having to offer more extensive markdowns at the end of the season.”
Other notable statistics include:
- Black Friday sales fell 13% compared to Black Friday last year.
- ShopperTrak estimates that the strongest sales days were Nov. 29, Dec. 21, Dec. 23, Dec. 14 and Dec. 22, in that order. Black Friday, Nov. 29, also was the top traffic day, followed successively by Dec. 21, Dec. 23, Dec. 22 and Dec. 14.
- Sales in the apparel and accessories category increased 3.5%, while traffic decreased 0.6% compared to 2012. Sales at electronics and wireless stores were up 4.8%, although traffic was down 12.9% year-over-year.
- Compared to the 2012 holiday season, sales in the Northeast, South and West were up 1.9%, 3.2% and 5.1%, respectively. Sales in the Midwest were flat compared to 2012. Traffic in the Midwest, Northeast, South and West was down 17.1%, 15.8%, 14.2% and 12.1% year-over-year, respectively.
- In first quarter 2014, ShopperTrak estimates retail sales to increase 2.8% despite an estimated 9% decrease in shopper traffic.
“We will continue to see the trend of steady sales increases as consumer confidence rises and the economy progresses,” said Martin. “And, while foot traffic will continue to slow due to changing consumer patterns, with more shoppers purchasing online or researching products online before heading to stores, retailers must remember an overwhelming majority of all retail sales in the U.S. will occur in brick-and-mortar stores. Retailers who deliver a seamless customer experience both in the store and across all channels will emerge ahead of the rest.”
Big changes in store at Vera Bradley
Former Kohl’s and Carhartt merchandising executive Sue Fuller was named chief merchandising officer at Vera Bradley, an upscale retailer and designer brand looking to restore growth under the leadership of new CEO Robert Wallstrom.
Fuller joins Vera Bradly to fill the newly created head merchant position from Carhart where she served as SVP/GMM. Prior to that, she held positions with Polo Ralph Lauren, Land’s End, L.L. Bean and Kohl’s. In her new role, Fuller is tasked with building and communicating a compelling vision for Vera Bradley’s growth through line and brand extensions and ensuring consistency of the brand.
Vera Bradley is a designer of women’s handbags and accessories, luggage and travel items, eyewear, stationery and gifts. Founded in 1982, the company operates 84 full price stores and 15 outlet stores and also sells to specialty stores and department stores.
President and CEO Robert Wallstrom said Fuller’s talent and passion will bring more discipline to Vera Bradley’s merchandising processes.
“Her broad experience across various merchandise categories and price points added to our strong design organization will help us strengthen our current assortments, grow revenues and deliver solid margin results while further engaging our customer,” Wallstrom said.
He joined the company last November as president, CEO and a member of the board amid sagging sales for the iconic American brand. Wallstrom is intent on broadening the brand’s customer base, entering new markets and expanding the product offering.
Prior to Vera Bradley, Wallstrom served as president of Saks Fifth Avenue’s Off Fifth division and also led the upscale retailer’s high volume flagship location in Manhattan. A 30 year department store veteran, Wallstrom nearly doubled the Off Fifth store count to 71 units during his tenure.
Comps and debt grow at Container Store
The Container Store posted a better than expected profit performance during its first quarter as a public company but offered a full year outlook analysts found underwhelming.
Container Store chairman and CEO Kip Tindell said the company was pleased with its operating results for the third quarter ended November 30. Sales increased 7.3% to $188 million thanks to a 4.7% same store sales increase and the addition of six new stores during the current fiscal year. It was the fourteenth consecutive quarter of comp growth for the operator of 63 stores. The company also posted adjusted earnings per share of 11 cents, three cents better than analysts forecast.
“These results demonstrate the strength of our differentiated business model, brand awareness, unique employee-first culture and solid execution by the entire team at The Container Store,” Tindall said. “With 63 stores today, we have a long runway of growth ahead of us as we expand our store base to realize the 300 plus store opportunity that we believe exists.”
The company, laden with debt of $368 million following its late October 2013 stock offering, said its operating activities during the quarter generated $10.2 million in cash. It ended the quarter with $10.8 million in cash and $68.1 million available on its revolving credit facilities.
For the full year, the company expects sales total $754 million and same store sales to increase 3.4%. Profits on an adjusted basis are expected to total 40 cents a share.


text:
When it comes to the online shopping experience, delivery trumps everything.
American consumers have earned a new nickname: “device-dependent.”
Overall shopper satisfaction is on the upswing, but many customers are still unsatisfied with customer service.
Forever 21 is investigating whether it has become the newest victim of a cyber-attack.
Target is relying on its store network to get online orders to shoppers faster than ever before.


text:
Skip Header and Navigation
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Show user profile options
Show search form
Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
IANR People News
Youth & Family
Food & Nutrition
Water & Environment
People in the News
Share This Page
Faculty Spotlight: Kyle Broderick
Meet Kyle Broderick, assistant extension educator and coordinator of the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic.
about Faculty Spotlight: Kyle Broderick
A model for innovation: Project will bring makerspace to Sidney
A new project led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will establish an Innovation Makerspace Co-Laboratory in Sidney, with the goal of building a network of makerspaces around the state in small towns and places they wouldn't normally exist.
about A model for innovation: Project will bring makerspace to Sidney
Grassland Studies fall seminar series begins Aug. 28
The 23rd annual fall seminar series offered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center for Grassland Studies will include 12 lectures on topics related to grasslands.
about Grassland Studies fall seminar series begins Aug. 28
Poll shows many rural Nebraskans skirt local grocery stores
Nearly half of rural Nebraskans are bypassing their local grocery stores to buy their food at supercenters and supermarkets, according to the 2017 Nebraska Rural Poll.
about Poll shows many rural Nebraskans skirt local grocery stores
'Backyard Farmer' live tapings coming to Grand Island, Nebraska City
Fans of the popular lawn-and-garden TV series "Backyard Farmer" are invited to attend two free live tapings.
about 'Backyard Farmer' live tapings coming to Grand Island, Nebraska City
Nebraska State Fair to feature 4-H presentations, cooking demos, pep rally
Visitors to the 148th Nebraska State Fair Aug. 25 to Sept. 4 in Grand Island will celebrate the people, products and talent of the state.
about Nebraska State Fair to feature 4-H presentations, cooking demos, pep rally
Staff Spotlight: Katie Kreuser
Meet Katie Kreuser, hop program coordinator with Nebraska Extension, based in Cass County.
about Staff Spotlight: Katie Kreuser
Volunteers needed for STEMing into the Future at Nebraska State Fair
Volunteers are needed at the STEMing into the Future exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island.
about Volunteers needed for STEMing into the Future at Nebraska State Fair
Nebraska Extension to offer landlord-tenant workshops across the state
Nebraska youth to participate in nationwide computer science challenge
Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers annual conference is Oct. 27
BeefWatch articles now available in Spanish
4S Goat Expo Oct. 13-14 in North Platte


text:
Karachi: Gold prices in Pakistan rose by Rs 600 per tola and Rs 515 per 10 grams on Thursday despite the rupee’s appreciation against the dollar.
Gold bars are priced at Rs 126,350 per tola and Rs 108,325 per 10 grams.
Almost all of Pakistan’s gold demand is met by imports, and traders follow its international price when setting the country’s exchange rate. Jewelers import the metal against the U.S. dollar and Emirati dirham before converting its prices into rupees.
Therefore, it is worth mentioning that the price of gold in Pakistan is about Rs 3,500 below cost compared to the price of gold in the Dubai market.
International gold prices edged up $30 an ounce to $1,886, after news reports of mortar fire in eastern Ukraine boosted demand for the safe-haven metal and a weakening of hawkish signals in the minutes of the Fed’s last meeting supported gold .
Meanwhile, silver prices in the domestic market remained unchanged at Rs 1,460 per tola and Rs 1,251.71 per 10 grams today.


text:
New FCA-UAW contract deal would raise Tier 2 pay to $29 an hour, report says
Deal calls for 8-year grow-in period to bridge wage gap
DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is offering so-called second-tier United Auto Workers members as much as $29 an hour -- up from $25 previously proposed -- under a new tentative agreement which avoided a strike by 40,000 union members, two people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg today.
The second-tier workers would almost match veteran members’ wages -- from a maximum of $19.28 now -- after an eight-year grow-in period, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the details of the accord haven’t been made public. Senior or first-tier workers are offered the same raises and bonuses as in the original tentative pact, which members voted down almost 2-to-1, said one of the people.
There’s no cap on the number of Tier 2 workers, the people said.
Getting this new deal ratified will be vital for both sides as UAW President Dennis Williams seeks to quiet unrest among his members and solidify his leaders before seeking similar but more lucrative deals with General Motors and Ford Motor Co.
FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne needs a deal that holds down labor costs and maintains flexibility for the least profitable of Detroit’s three carmakers.
“We heard from our members, and went back to FCA to strengthen their contract,” Williams said in a statement early today. “We have made real gains and I look forward to a full discussion of the terms with our membership.”
The UAW National Chrysler Council, made up of leaders from union locals, meets in Detroit on Friday to discuss the accord and whether to send it to a vote by rank-and-file members.
The significantly higher pay for Tier 2 workers addresses one of the main criticisms of the tentative agreement that was reached Sept. 15 and rejected Oct. 1.
Workers wanted the tier system eliminated, more information about a new health-care cooperative and clarity about the company’s investment plans, said Art Wheaton, a labor professor at Cornell University.
Fiat Chrysler confirmed the accord Thursday in a statement and said it can’t discuss specifics. Shawn Morgan, a spokeswoman for FCA, and Brian Rothenberg, senior communications adviser for the UAW, declined to comment on any details.
The UAW said on Oct. 1 that its members voted about 65 percent against a proposed contract that would have granted raises to all employees and narrowed the pay gap for Tier 2 workers. The two sides resumed negotiations after that rejection, and the union on Tuesday notified the automaker of its intention to strike if an agreement wasn’t reached by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.
The earlier Fiat Chrysler accord would have boosted hourly base wages over the contract term to $29.76 at the senior tier and as much as $25.35 for the second tier, according to the UAW. The ratification bonus would have been $3,000, down from $3,500 for the 2011 contract. The automaker also had pledged to invest as much as $5.3 billion in the U.S.
At about 45 percent, Fiat Chrysler has the largest percentage of hourly workers at the second-tier wage rates.
A strike would have disrupted Fiat Chrysler’s production amid the company’s streak of 66 consecutive U.S. monthly sales gains and clouded an auto industry that has been a rare bright spot in U.S. manufacturing, with deliveries on pace for the best year in more than a decade.
“That’s good news because we don’t want to strike if we don’t have to,” said Charles Bell, president of UAW Local 1700, which represents workers at the Chrysler 200 sedan assembly plant in Sterling Heights, Mich. “As long as it’s an agreement my people can deal with, it’s good news.”
A work stoppage would have crimped FCA's cash flow. The unit generated about $1.6 billion in net sales a week last year. Automakers book revenue when they ship vehicles to dealers, and 18 of the company’s 28 North American facilities are in the U.S. At the end of September, Fiat Chrysler said it had a 76-day supply of vehicles, or about 590,503 cars and trucks.
Fiat Chrysler’s UAW members had the right to strike for the first time since before the 2009 bankruptcy that led to the automaker’s formation. Walkouts by the UAW have been rare for the past decade, with the last two in 2007 when workers struck GM for two days and Chrysler for six hours.
After top UAW executives met with leaders of local unions last week to hear the Fiat Chrysler workers’ concerns, the union said it would start addressing those issues with detailed posts on the website and its Facebook page. A post Tuesday compared the $2,500 cost-of-living raises that workers would have received in the past four years, had those payments not been suspended, with the $9,000 profit-sharing checks they did receive.
Send us a letter
Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.


text:
Annual ceramics expo to see new start, new passway and new expectations
Themed on “New Start, New Passway, New Expectations”, the 21st China (Zibo) International Ceramics Exposition is set to open on Nov 29 in Zibo, East China’s Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The 21st China (Zibo) International Ceramics Exposition will be held on Nov 29 to Dec 6 in Zibo, East China’s Shandong province, according to a news conference on Nov 23.
With the theme “New Start, New Passway, New Expectations”, this year’s expo will have one main venue and four branch venues with a total exhibition area of over 3,000 square meters.
More than 200 enterprises and 300 ceramic experts at the national and provincial levels from home and abroad will participate in the expo. Five overseas ceramic brands, over 50 enterprises from other provinces and cities, and over 100 experts from the six main domestic ceramic production areas – Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province, Liling in Hunan province, Dehua in Fujian province, Tangshan in Hebei province, Yixing in Jiangsu province and Baofeng in Henan province – will gather in Zibo, raising the expo to a new level.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and the theme “New Start” implies that the ceramic industry in Zibo is expected to start a new journey toward better quality and more vitality.
As one of Zibo’s most iconic traditional industries, the ceramic industry will concentrate on digitization, crossover cooperation and collaborative innovation to improve its industrial intelligence, promote the extension of industrial chains and accelerate high-quality development.
(chinadaily.com.cn)|Updated : 2021-11-24


text:
Electra America, AKA launch $500M hotel fund
JV plans to target NYC, Miami, LA, DC, Toronto and London
A multifamily investment firm and a luxury hotel residences company have partnered to launch a $500 million hotel investment fund, seeking to take advantage of opportunities created by the pandemic.
Electra America Hospitality Group, a joint venture between Electra America and AKA, plans to focus on properties in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Toronto and London, said Russ Urban, CEO of the new partnership. The joint venture recently closed on $100 million in capital.
“Anybody that’s selling a hotel in this environment today clearly is doing it for strategic liquidity issues,” Urban said. “But I wouldn’t say all of our sellers are distressed.”
Urban said the cities that the fund is targeting are “the deepest and [most] diverse markets” where it can take advantage of some level of distress and where the fund feels confident the market will return to pre-pandemic levels.
The group will target hotels with 150 to 300 rooms that are independently run and managed, and will continue to operate the properties as hotels. It’s in the market for properties that cater to business and leisure travelers.
The group currently has three deals in the works, and plans to purchase hotels ranging from just under $20 million to nearly $100 million, with a total of about 10 to 15 hotels.
The hospitality industry was among the hardest hit during the pandemic. Owners across the country have struggled to survive, with some losing their hotels via foreclosure or handing the keys back to their lenders, and others selling at deep discounts.
On an earnings call this week, Starwood Property Trust Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht predicted that big-box hotels won’t return to normal occupancy levels until 2024 or 2025.
Urban expects leisure travel will return to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, and corporate travel fully rebounding a year later. He believes group bookings will take the longest to recover.
“There’s no doubt that the markets are all going to come back at slightly different paces,” he said.
Electra America, a partnership between the Lubeck family and a subsidiary of Israeli company Electra Real Estate, has more than $6 billion in commercial real estate and debt holdings in its portfolio.
AKA is a division of Korman Communities, a Pennsylvania-based investment firm. The company focuses on luxury extended-stay hotel residential properties. Several of the New York City hotels that the firm partnered on with Prodigy Network have closed or faced foreclosure as part of the broader collapse of the real estate crowdfunding network.
A number of funds have launched over the past year. Alex Rodriguez’s A-Rod Corp and joint venture partner Adi Chugh of Maverick Commercial Properties recently joined CGI Merchant Group’s $650 million Hospitality Opportunity Fund.


text:
Overall tech giants Samsung and Sony emerged as the biggest winners in the annual Digital Life Awards 2015. The fourth edition saw over 200 guests at the atrium of Funan DigitaLife Mall on Jan 27.
Hosted by Digital Life – the weekly tech magazine of The Straits Times — the awards honoured the best in consumer technology, gadgets and games from the previous year.
For the first time, the awards ceremony was held at the atrium of Funan DigitaLife Mall, which was also the presenting sponsor for the event. The invited guests enjoyed scrumptious treats from TCC while cheering for the winners receiving their awards on stage. Shoppers at Funan Digitalife Mall were also able to catch the action as it unfolded.
In all, 59 awards were given out across 29 categories, from gadgets to games. Each category has two types of awards: the Editorial team at Digital Life decides the Editor’s Choice awards while the Readers’ Choice awards are based on online votes.
Ms Tan Pei Cheng, centre manager, Funan DigitaLife Mall, CapitaMalls Asia, said: “Funan DigitaLife Mall is pleased to be the presenting sponsor for The Straits Times Digital Life Awards 2015. As the leading IT mall in Singapore, Funan DigitaLife Mall is the one-stop haven for all the smart and savvy IT enthusiasts, both locals and tourists, where they can always shop with confidence.”
For more information and partnership opportunities with The Straits Times, contact Niccolle Lum at 6319-4029 / email@example.com.


text:
A Harrogate charity is calling on local shops to put SANTA first this Christmas.
As part of its ongoing Think Access campaign, Disability Access Yorkshire has issued timely advise on how traders can make their businesses more accessible at this busy time of year for those with disabilities.
Disability Action Yorkshire hopes its SANTA initiative will achieve accessibility for disabled people in the Harrogate area, but also improve business for local shops during the Christmas time and beyond.
The Purple Pound, the spending power of disabled households is estimated to be over £249 billion annually, and each month businesses lose approximately £2 billion by ignoring the needs of disabled people!
Spearheaded by the charity’s new Think Access Co-Ordinator Josh McCormack, SANTA is an acronym for Signs, Access, Noise, Time and Ambience.
S= Signs: Ensure all sings are clear and easy to read for all customers
A= Access: All stock should be accessible for customers with mobility issues. If not possible, good customer service can still go a long way
N= Noise: Christmas music in the store should be kept at a reasonable volume as loud music may interfere with hearing aids or distress people who have an aversion to noisy places
T= Time: Give people patience when completing transactions, as everyone works at a different pace
A= Ambience: Flashing Christmas lights are great but should be set to a slow charge setting as quick flashing images can cause some people to have seizures.
Josh said: “Our Think SANTA initiative is all about asking town traders to make their shops and businesses more accessible for disabled people during this festive period.
“The SANTA recommendations are cost neutral and, if implemented, could lead to real financial benefits for business who take them on board.
“And borrowing a line from a well-known animal charity, accessibility isn’t just for Christmas, it’s for all times of the year.
“Whilst the Harrogate District is a great place to live not all of it is accessible to everyone. Although we have come a long way in improving access for disabled people there is still a long way to go.”


text:
Just after I posted a week or so ago reflecting on my return to a more open Facebook existence, they’ve gone and announced that they are doing away with one of the privacy features that was so important to staying anonymous on the site.
In a blog post posted yesterday, Facebook quietly announced that they were getting rid of the ability to hide your name from searches – stating that it was irrelevant since people could still click on your name in comments that you make on other people’s timelines.
In the words of Michael Richter – Chief Privacy Officer:
people told us that they found it confusing when they tried looking for someone who they knew personally and couldn’t find them in search results
Well, too bad for them. If I choose to be hidden from search results, then it’s my conscious choice. Facebook shouldn’t be second guessing the reasons for users to wish to remain harder to find on the site.
Apparently a ‘tiny’ proportion of Facebook’s billion plus users were making use of the privacy setting, which eh… still equates to a huge number of people. It shouldn’t really be any surprise, given that the settings were so unintuitive to find and use. Make something hard to configure, and you have a perfect excuse to remove it later when the adoption rate is relatively low.
This move essentially means that there is no way to keep out of the spotlight on Facebook any longer – confirming my belief that Facebook is designed to incrementally pull you further in to the network, even when you purposefully want to remain on the outskirts. Even if you restrict all of your posts to a limited number of people, you are still going to have to contend with the fact that people will be able to find you in searches, and explain why you have decided not to ‘confirm their friendship.
The only way to get around this will be to use a fake name and e-mail address, but that is forbidden by the site’s policies, and could see you booted for good.
Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.


text:
Brussels, 11 December 2007
The Commission sent Italy today a letter of formal notice for violating EU advertising rules under the Television without Frontiers Directive. This is the first stage of the EU's infringements proceedings in this case.
"Broadcasters need advertising and advertisers need broadcasters, but we must also have effective consumer protection. What we actually need is responsible advertising," said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media. "If Europe is to benefit from the less detailed and more flexible advertising rules of the forthcoming Audiovisual Media Services without frontiers Directive, Italy, like all Member States, has to respect and comply fully with the EU rules in force."
Italy has not taken the necessary steps to implement correctly and ensure effective compliance with the rules of the EU's Television without Frontiers Directive. Independent monitoring revealed that Italian broadcasters do not comply with the Directive's quantitative advertising rules, in particular the hourly 12 minute limit for advertising, the rule on 20 minute minimum intervals between advertising breaks and the rule on inserting advertising in films. Italian legislation does not include teleshopping spots in the hourly limit for advertising – which leads to more advertising than allowed by the Directive – and also does not respect the minimum duration of 15 minutes allowed by the Directive for "teleshopping windows" (i.e. teleshopping programmes on a generalist TV channel). Moreover, in contrast to the Directive, self-promotion – including advertising by broadcasters for their own programmes or products – is not considered to be advertising under Italian law. This results in programmes like news being unduly interrupted and longer advertising breaks, in violation of the Directive's rules limiting insertion of advertising. In addition, basic advertising rules of the Directive, like those ensuring respect for human dignity and non-discrimination, do not apply to self-promotional messages broadcast on Italian TV.
The effectiveness of the procedure foreseen in Italian legislation for penalising breaches of the TV advertising rules has also been called into question by the Commission, as it is too weak to have a deterrent effect and to protect efficiently consumers in Italy.
The Commission has therefore sent Italy a letter of formal notice outlining their incorrect implementation and non-respect of the Television without Frontiers Directive. The Italian government has two months to respond to the concerns expressed by the Commission.
The "Television without Frontiers" Directive was adopted originally in 1989
and revised in 1997 (see IP/97/552).
On 13 December 2005 the Commission proposed modernising the Directive to address
significant technological and market developments in audiovisual media services
Political agreement was reached on this new Audiovisual Media Services Directive
on 24 May 2007 (see IP/07/706)
and the final text was voted by the European Parliament on 29 November 2007 (see
The Directive, which will have to be transposed into national legislation by the
end of 2009, provides a minimum set of common rules across the EU to encourage a
healthy and responsible single market for television and for all audiovisual
media services. The Directive reaffirms important elements of the current
Television without Frontiers Directive such as the hourly 12 minute limit for


text:
KPMG administrators of First Quench, the beer and wine retailers, have closed
a further 391 stores resulting in 2,140 redundancies.
Richard Fleming, UK head of restructuring and joint administrator, said:
“Unfortunately, despite the initial high level of interest, it remains difficult
for buyers to complete deals in the current tough market.”
The company has managed to sell 13 stores and the Wine Rack brand as well as
a further eight to a separate buyer.
The application of robotics in finance functions is moving faster than predicted. Although, companies are cautious in how they are applying artificial intelligence to ensure results first, many are stepping up their investigations
EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager has defended the decision to order technology giant Apple to pay €13bn (£11bn) in back taxes to the Irish government
Carillion has announced the appointment of a new finance director as it reported a rise in first half profits and sales led by strong growth in its support services business
The UK inflation rate hit its highest level in almost two years in July, suggesting that the sharp fall in sterling following the UK referendum to leave the European Union is forcing prices up


text:
Apple has updated its list of Apple Pay-supporting financial institutions in Australia, China, Russia and the US. “The additions include nine new banks and credit unions in China, four in Russia and over 30 in Australia,” 9to5mac reports. “Apple has added 28 new banks and credit unions in the US, too.” Apple gained the support of the Australian banks through a deal with banking services provider Cuscal earlier this month.
- Orange to launch mobile-only bank with NFC payments and AI
- Bank of Korea signs up retailers for coinless society trial
- Six Dutch banks to take Belgium’s Payconiq to the Netherlands
- NXP and GCL Technologies offer NFC tamper evident closure solution for wine and spirits brands
- Mastercard tests biometric payments card in South Africa


text:
Equinix Inc announced on Friday that it is acquiring its UK rival Telecity Group in a deal worth £2.35 billion ($3.6 billion), representing one of the largest takeovers in the cloud-based internet sector.
Telecity, the London-based carrier-neutral datacentre and colocation centre provider, said in a statement that its board recommended the offer by Equinix, which means that the planned merger between Telecity and its Dutch rival Interxion is off the table.
An ever-growing number of businesses are outsourcing data management and information technology to companies such as Equinix and Telecity, who position their data centres near densely populated urban areas.
According to the WSJ, the deal creates “Europe’s largest data center operator and comes amid rising demand for data centers.”
Eric Schwartz, Equinix’s president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said:
“There is a very sizable market opportunity here in Europe that companies are looking to exploit,”
Equinix CEO, Steve Smith, said that he had his eye on Interxion and Telecity as targets, but decided to go with Telecity because it was more of a fit.
“Their customer base and footprint are more complementary to where we needed to go next,” Smith said.
Equinix offered 1,145 pence per share for Telecity. Telecity shareholders will own approximately 10.1% of the combined firm.


text: The Philippines’ largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers, Smart Communications, is setting aside CAPEX of PHP9.57 billion (USD199.9 million) to improve telecoms access in underdeveloped parts of the country. The cellco is looking to deploy and maintain a nationwide data communications network and to that end has filed an application with the regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). The move follows a similar initiative by sister company Piltel which is looking to invest PHP7.57 billion over a five-year period to roll out networks capable of delivering voice, internet and multimedia content via wireless broadband technology in the targeted rural areas. Smart is understood to be spending PHP4.1 billion in year one; PHP1.8 billion in the second year; and PHP1.2 billion in each of the three remaining years of the project. It is looking to acquire PHP3.68 billion worth of customer premises equipment (CPE), as well as buying a mobile service switching centre (PHP2 billion) and PHP1.8 billion worth of base transceiver stations. Other project costs include transmission equipment for PHP1.2 billion and capitalised installation costs for PHP815 million. The company also expects to sign up 266,786 subscribers in year one, rising to 679,594 users by year five. The average revenue per user is forecast at PHP700 to PHP800 per annum.


text:
Apple has announced that Apple Watch will be available on the market as of April 24.
The new products will be available to customers in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK, and the U.S.
According to apple.com, the Apple Watch will bring an entirely new way to receive information at a glance and interact with the world through third-party apps designed specifically for the wrist.
“Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
“We can’t wait for people to start wearing Apple Watch to easily access information that matters, to interact with the world, and to live a better day by being more aware of their daily activity than ever before.”
In light of the launch of its new watch, the company boasts the following attributes:
The most personal device yet
A powerful technology made more accessible, more relevant, and ultimately, more personal is how Apple views the product. It also asserted that the Apple Watch represents a new chapter in the relationship people will have with technology.
“It’s the most personal product we’ve ever made because it’s the first one designed to be worn,” said Apple.
An incredibly precise timepiece
Apple affirmed that high-quality watches have long been defined by their ability to keep unfailingly accurate time, and Apple Watch will be no exception.
The watch in conjunction with the iPhone will keep time within 50 milliseconds of the definitive global time standard.
The watch also lends to a degree of intimacy, allowing for the customization of the watch face to present time in a more meaningful, personal context that’s relevant to one’s life and schedule.
Entirely new ways to stay in touch
The company says the Apple Watch will make communicating more convenient, lauding the fact that the watch sits on one’s wrist, and therefore, it can add a physical dimension to alerts and notifications. For example, the feel a gentle tap with each incoming message.
The Apple Watch also lets one connect with one’s favorite people in fun, spontaneous ways — like sending a tap, a sketch, or even your heartbeat.
A smarter way to look at fitness
According to Apple, the Watch will give one a complete picture of one’s all-day activity.
The three rings of the Activity app will show one’s daily progress and help motivate one to sit less, move more, and get some exercise.
It’s also an advanced sports watch, giving one real-time stats for a variety of the most popular workouts.
Over time, Apple Watch will learn one’s activity and fitness levels. It will then use that information to improve the accuracy of one’s measurements and suggest personalized all-day activity goals. It even provides custom reminders to encourage one to achieve them.
Yvad Billings, Readers Bureau, Fellow
Do you want to add feedback to this story? Please add comment in e-mail box below.
Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheReadersBureau
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/readersbureau21


text:
American Trailer World Plans Batavia Township, Ohio, Trailer Manufacturing Plant
The facility, once completed, will produce trailers under many of its current brands, including Big Tex and PJ Trailers.
“We are pleased to announce our expansion of operations into the southern Ohio region. Also, we are excited to bring manufacturing jobs to the local community,” said Eric Blackwell, ATW COO.
The Ohio Development Services Agency approved a job creation tax credit to support ATW’s growth. JobsOhio plans to provide assistance for the project, which will be made public after a final agreement is executed.
“As many as 77% of companies say they are investing in their supply chain to increase capacity and avoid disruptions because of the pandemic,” said Kimm Lauterbach, REDI Cincinnati president, and CEO. “The Cincinnati region is poised to be at the center of this investment due to its access to the rest of the country and because of investments like ATW’s. I’m grateful for our partnership with JobsOhio and the Ohio Development Service Agency for supporting ATW’s growth in Batavia Township.”
ATW was looking to expand its business presence in the Midwest so it could meet increased demands for its products, officials noted. The new site, located off State Route 32, will complement ATW’s current production facility in Mt. Orab. ATW considered locations in Michigan, Kentucky, and Indiana before choosing Batavia Township because of its proximity to existing operations and easy access to the rest of the Midwest.
2023's Leading Metro Locations: Hotspots of Economic Growth
The Logistics Analysis That Drives Industrial Site Selection
2023 Top States for Doing Business Meet the Needs of Site Selectors
Technology’s Influence on Workforce Development
Workforce Q4 2023
AI 101 for Site Selection
First Person: Realizing the Inflation Reduction Act’s Full Potential
2023 Top States Commentary: Top-Ranked States Have What It Takes to Win Mega Projects


text:
For months we waited with bated breath for Nicolas Ghesquière to speak out about his decision to leave Balenciaga, and thanks to his much anticipated interview with System back in April, we no longer had to read between the lines. However, it seems Kering (formerly PPR), who owns Balenciaga, is not happy about the designer’s choice words for his former employer and is planning to sue him for “breach of duty of confidentiality.”
If you recall, Ghesquière revealed that he “was being sucked dry,” by management at the helm of the storied fashion house:
“I had a marvellous studio and design team who were close to me, but it started becoming a bureaucracy and gradually became more corporate, until it was no longer even linked to fashion. In the end, it felt as though they just wanted to be like any other house.”
While there are still rumors that Ghesquière will be launching an eponymous line, we reported just last week that according to credible sources, he has been in serious talks with LVMH to succeed Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton. If this is the case, the rivalry between Kering and LVMH will surely become all the more heated, and we’ll look forward to sitting back and watching the drama unfold.


text:
HARARE – Jittery Zimbabweans say Finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s humiliating back pedalling on Friday — on his much-criticised two cents per transacted dollar tax — was “too little, too late” because the country is now facing “a full blown economic crisis”.
They told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that the magnitude of the crisis was evidenced by the rampant panic buying by consumers across the country, as well as the disappearance of some goods from supermarket shelves.
This comes after Ncube — who had earlier vowed that he would not go back on his controversial tax — was forced to eat humble pie at the weekend when he announced that he was reviewing his measures.
In the process, the former banker confirmed the accuracy of Friday’s front page story of the Daily News on Sunday’s sister paper, the Daily News — which correctly reported that the minister had rushed to announce his measures without the approval of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Daily News On Sunday can further reveal today that Ncube held a lengthy and emergency meeting with a concerned Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya on Friday, to discuss the two cents per dollar transaction tax.
This came after Mnangagwa had apparently directed his deputy to look into the issue which has created panic among the suffering Zimbabweans, who are swamping supermarkets buying anything they can lay their hands on — amid a rampaging parallel market where foreign currency rates have hit the roof.
After Ncube’s meeting with Chiwenga and Mangudya, Mnangagwa later ordered the under pressure Finance minister to release a revised policy statement that reviewed his earlier measures.
“At the occasion of the presentation of the 2018 Mid-Term Monetary Policy, I announced a review of the Intermediated Money Transfer Tax from the current 5 cents per transaction to 2 cents per every dollar transacted. Further details pertaining to the tax are as follows:
“The 2 cents per dollar tax will apply on transactions of $10 and above only. Transactions below $10 will be exempt from this tax.
“There is a cap of $10 000 on the amount of tax to be paid. This implies that transfers above $500 000 will attract a flat tax of $10 000,” Ncube said as he released his revised measures.
He also said internal company transfers, as well as transfers of salaries, tax payments, foreign currency-related payments and transfer of funds by the government would also be exempt from the two cents per dollar tax.
Reacting to the developments, former Finance minister Tendai Biti said Ncube had caused mayhem in the economy as his measures had set off panic among the populace.
“The #newmess at the Min. of Finance has created total mayhem in the markets. Shops are upwardly adjusting prices & many have shut down until certainty. It’s 2008 de javu.
“There is panic buying & hoarding across the entire Zimbabwe. There are huge fuel queues with the parallel exchange rate now on 240. It is only 9 weeks after the election but we are at ground zero.
“We are in hyperinflation mode with month to month inflation now above 80 percent. High inflation is terrible economics & mismanagement. Hyperinflation is total loss of confidence & trust in a government,” Biti wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Economic analyst Kipson Gundani also told the Daily News on Sunday that it was wrong for Ncube to resort to imposing new taxes without addressing the government’s “biggest problem” of living beyond its means.
“There is a misconception in that the government thinks that its problem is that of raising revenue. The problem is its expenditure.
“They need to contain expenditure not to tax people. I don’t think what the minister did is the solution to the current problems,” Gundani said.
Rights specialist and political analyst Dewa Mavhinga said while Ncube had raised hopes following his appointment to his portfolio, his recent measures were not indicative of “a man who has the solutions”.
“ED hired so-called technocrats like … Ncube to fix the economy, so why are things getting worse?
“If the government needs to turn around the economy they must agree to genuine governance reforms and institute a proper inclusive government to take the nation forward,” Mavhinga said, hinting on the need for Mnangagwa to engage opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.
In the meantime, several shops removed price tags from their goods yesterday as they prepared for a fresh round of price increases.
Visits by crews from the Daily News on Sunday to several supermarkets in Harare revealed that most basic consumer goods were either in short supply or had their prices hiked sharply.
Cooking oil and bread were not in stock at most supermarkets, with several shops rationing products such as bottled water, mahewu, lager beers and syrup drinks.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Denford Mutashu said the worsening forex black market had severely affected business.
“We are in a critical situation because businesses are finding it hard to price goods based on the prevailing rates, as they do not know at what rate the US dollar will be bought for tomorrow.
“The demand for cash by retailers is in line with the fear of devaluation of RTGS rates and government should seriously look into it with urgency.
“Government should monitor the situation because the shortage of foreign currency is causing slow production and with the lackadaisical issuance of import licences, shops could soon be empty as some companies have completely stopped production,” Mutashu said.
Meanwhile, some companies have sent out notices to retailers notifying them of coming price increases — in response to the volatility in the economy.
Among these companies are leading dairy company Dairibord which is increasing its prices starting tomorrow.
“The business environment has remained challenging and for us to be able to fulfil your orders on demand and the good quality that you have come to appreciate from us, we have been left with no option other than to slightly adjust our prices by an average 14 percent.
“This is albeit the corresponding increases that we have picked across most of our key inputs (raw and packaging materials).
“On average over the last few days we have picked input increases of an average 41 percent coming from sugar, beverages bottles and closures, shrink wrap and other ingredients,” the firm said in a statement.
On it’s part, confectionary company Arenel has warned that it could retrench about 1 900 employees as its business was suffering badly owing to the current economic chaos and the shortages of flour.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Sifelani Jabangwe said the government should step in and provide solutions.
“Unfortunately there is panic on the market, particularly on the exchange rate. People have not processed the implications of some of the measures that have been put in place.
“Government could help by investing currency if they have it. Certainly from discussions with economists, the rates should start coming down because there isn’t much money on the market to support the ballooning rates,” Jabangwe said.
There has also been further bad news for toiling masses, as Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators (GHACO) said yesterday that they were hiking commuter omnibus fares.
“Fuel is scarce and we are being supplied by the black market which charges exorbitant prices. Prices of motor spares have also tripled in some instances.
“Tyres have also gone up from $70 to $180 in bond notes. We have not sat down to discuss and agree on a suitable fare price but I guess, faced by such hard times, operators have not had any choice but to hike the fares,” said the organisation’s secretary-general Ngoni Katsvairo.
Addressing a media briefing on Friday during the unveiling of his Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), Ncube said things were going to be painful before they got better.
“We need to stop the bleeding and this is one way to do it. We can’t do this without pain. At the end, we will be glad, we need to fix our problem together. I need all hands on deck.
“I will be honest; there will be a little pain as we try to redress the economy. People don’t realise that already they have been paying indirectly for the sickly economy,” Ncube told journalists.


text:
According to Infinix, the Infinix Hot 2, which also doubles as the first Android One device in Africa, has sold over 150,000 units to date. According to a Press Release sent to Techpoint, about 70% of those sales were made via online channels:
70% of sales are driven by E-commerce by passing the need for costly physical distribution networks. While 30% are achieved through traditional channel including operator’s retail stores.
Actually, to a bit more specific, exactly 157,860 units of the Infinix Hot 2 have been sold in Nigeria. This is coming barely 2 months after the device was unveiled and released into the market. In it’s first day in the market, the device was claimed to have sold 5000 units in 20 minutes, a testament to how much demand exists for the phone.
The demand comes as no surprise. Not only is the Infinix Hot 2 a low price device with relatively impressive specs, there is also the promise of frequent Android OS updates, the likes of which Nexus users are privileged to have. There has however been no official statement from Google as to when Android One devices will be getting the latest Android Marshmallow 6.0 update.
Have a digital technology solution for health, cyber-crime, Oil and Gas? Join the 2020 Nigeria Oil and Gas Hackathon. Submit your innovation at www.nogtech.ng.
Techpoint Build 2020 is holding virtually in August. Register free now to attend.
Nigerian startups raised $55.4m in Q1 2020; over 99% of which came from foreign sources. Find out more when you download the full report.