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Thailand Attracts More Couples
In Thailand, the most popular activities for international visitors currently include weddings, honeymoons, golf and spa breaks, all of which form a major part of the Tourism Authority’s (TAT) global campaigns.
Efforts to promote these segments so far seem to be paying off. In fact, the Kingdom was recently awarded ANBC-Awaaz’s Destination of the Year 2013 for travel, leisure and spas.
Despite continued favoured destination status, however, Thailand is continuously developing more ways to attract couples for destination weddings in the face of competition from other Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, which are positioning also now themselves to capitalise on what remains a growing market.
"The Philippines’ reputation as a destination for couples looking to tie the knot overseas is growing rapidly," says Yanni Tzoumas, director of “Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine. “There’s clearly infrastructure in place for getting to and from the Philippines," he said, " and I think couples that choose the Philippines will benefit from the heightened level of service and hospitality.”
To stay ahead of the game, however, Thailand is becoming more focused in its marketing, and based on the latest research the TAT has launched a campaign specifically targeting British couples in the market for a wedding abroad.
According to a study, 755,691 UK tourists visited Thailand in the 2012/2013 financial year for honeymoons and weddings, generating revenue of THB 29.9 billion (US$956.5 million). The research also looked at the potential of the growing destination wedding market, and results showed that out of 300,000 British couples that married in the past financial year, 80,000 chose to hold ceremonies and honeymoon trips abroad.
"Thailand is one of the most popular long-haul honeymoon and wedding destinations for Britons,” said Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, director of the TAT in London, adding that the agency will focus on the country’s splendid beaches and luxurious private villas to attract couples. Thailand will also be marketed as a romantic destination at the World Travel Mart 2013 event in London, which takes place in November.
Bangkok's IMPACT exhibition centre also launched a special wedding promotion targeting visitors from India to boost the number of destination weddings in the country.
The Indian market holds a lot of potential for Thailand’s destination wedding sector, as ceremonies are typically large and can last from four to seven days. According to the TAT, a growing number of Indian couples are choosing to wed in Thailand, with wedding organisers in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket seeing significant growth in demand.
For now, it seems, Thailand is holding on to its status as the favourite wedding destination in Asia.


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A combination of to grow sales, innovate, react to an ever-changing sales climate and top class customer service has seen Big Motoring World Group achieve nominations for six separate awards in the used car industry’s most prestigious honours – the Car Dealer Used Car Awards
The industry ‘Oscars’, whose winners will be announced in January 2021, are widely recognised as the most coveted used car gongs in the industry.
Big Motoring World has been nominated for awards in the Used Car Supermarket, Used Car Website and Used Car Sales Team categories, while it’s site at Enfield has been shortlisted in the Newcomer Dealership category. Big Enfield’s Ben Goodwin has also been shortlisted in the Dealer Principal of the Year Future Star Award categories.
Marketing Director, Darren Miller said “To be nominated for such high profile awards after an unprecedented year in which we’ve had to react to multiple challenges is amazing. Not noly that but we’ve been able to innovate, open new sites and grow our business despite many challenging headwinds. It’s a real tribute to our group’s employees that we’ve been able to pull this off.”
Car Dealer CEO James Baggott added: “The Used Car Awards 2021 will be extra-special, as they’ll recognise the individuals and the companies that have really made a difference in the strangest year I think our industry has ever faced. To be nominated in six separate categories is a real achievement for Big Motoring World.”
Big Motoring World has also enjoyed strong recent success with its click and collect service, which allows customers to reserve a car for just £99 on its website and payment can be made in full entirely online, including financing options.
Customers also benefit from a seven-day test drive and can hand the car back if it’s not for them, a 90-day warranty and each car is thoroughly prepared at the group’s state of the art facility in Peterborough, Cambs.
Big Motoring World has more than 5,000 cars for sale on its website and at dealerships in strategic locations across the UK. It is also the company behind the newest and most exciting online car sales platform – www.carzam.co.uk – which launch earlier this month.
*Article Source https://www.bigmotoringworld.co.uk/

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Major processed pork producer moves to improve labeling on its products
Primo, a JBS-owned company and the largest producer of processed pork products in Australia, has agreed to improve its labeling on pork products
Primo processed pork is widely available in supermarkets across Australia.
At the beginning of our global Raise Pigs Right campaign last month, we urged Primo to tell its consumers which countries it imports pork from, because welfare standards for pigs in Australia are higher than several of the countries that Primo source its pork from.
What has Primo promised?
Australia's pig industry is on the path to phasing out sow stalls for pregnant pigs. However, most of the ham and bacon that is sold in Australia is imported into the country and includes pork from countries where most mother pigs (sows) spend their lives in small, barren steel cages.
The current Country of Origin Labelling laws don't require information on which country imported pork comes from, so consumers have no way of avoiding pork originating in countries that use sow stalls for their pigs.
Our team wrote to Primo, asking it to label products to make it clear if they contain pork from Europe or from North America.
While the European Union has banned the use of sow stalls, they remain commonplace in the US and Canada, where Primo sources much of its pork for the Australian market.
This Country of Origin labeling would give consumers the information they need to make an informed decision and choose pork that comes from countries that have better welfare standards such as group housing instead of sow stalls.
Within days of our petition launching in Australia, Primo wrote back to say it would agree to our request by adopting the Country of Origin labeling
The European Directive limits the use of sow stalls for pigs during pregnancy to 28 days only.
This labeling change will apply to many of Primo's bacon products and will be completed by January 2019. (We're working with Primo and encouraging them to update their website information before then.)
Making progress for pigs around the world
By 2020, we aim to be improving the lives of 175 million pigs every year, by alleviating the most intense suffering inflicted in the production system through close confinement and barren environments.


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Apex Legends Legacy update is scheduled to be live very soon, but PlayStation owners can already preload the update.
Players in the PlayStation platform can get a headstart over every other platform as Respawn is now enabling the Sony platform users to download the whole update before the official launch. Even though PS players will be eligible to enter the game at the same time as others, not having to worry about massive update size can be a relief for many players with slow download speed.
Read More: Apex Legends Legacy Pack Rewards: Free Apex Coins, Valkyrie “Turquoise Sun” Skin, Apex Packs, & More
In previous seasons, it wasn’t necessary since players could still hop into a match while the game was being downloaded in the background, but that will no longer be the case in the upcoming Legacy update. According to Respawn, PlayStation players need to update to play uninterrupted on launch day.
How to preload the Legacy update for PlayStation
At first, PS users need to open up Apex Legends on their PS4 or PS5 consoles. Immediately players should be prompted for an update which should be around 30 GB in size. In case if you do not receive any updates, you can force an update by turning your console off and on again.
This should give players an option to pre-load the upcoming Apex Legends Legacy update. After preloading the update, players will be able to play as soon as the new season arrives. And they won’t have to wait like the other platforms such as PC, Xbox, and Switch.
Read More: Apex Legends Legacy Release Date Across Different Time Zones
This can be a lifesaver for gamers with poor internet connection. Pre-load now to join the Legacy update upon release.


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06-02-2014 01:16 PM
06-02-2014 02:17 PM - edited 06-02-2014 02:17 PM
06-02-2014 02:51 PM
06-02-2014 03:37 PM
OFCOM (the UK telecoms regulator who oversee all UK telcom providers be it mobile, fixed line broadband and landline providers) have come up with some new guidelines regarding price rises mid-contract. They have said that if any provider increases their prices by more than the current rate of inflation (RPI), consumers are entitled to leave their contract without penalty. However, this only applies to people who started a new contract or who upgraded after Jan 23rd 2014 though.
EE are changing their T&C's based on these new guidelines. It means very little actually for the consumer, as the providers can still increase prices when they want to. To avoid the bit about letting you cancel without penalty, the providers can still increase prices upto the current rate of inflation and they can do this as often as they like, so basically for the consumer, nothing is actually changing.
by Apexdilemmaa 02:48 11.02.17
by brydie_thompson 00:15 13.01.17


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Prisoners’ products a source of pride, incomeAde, a 37-year-old prisoner at Cirebon Class One Prison, recently had the opportunity to demonstrate his skill making footballs at the Napi Craft 2012 exhibition in Jakarta.
The event held December 17-21st at the East Building, Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, was intended to show that inmates – napi – can be creative, innovative and productive.
Ade, who is serving a six-year sentence, said he enjoys making footballs because it allows him to develop his abilities and keep busy.
The father of a six-year-old boy is also hoping to use his skill to work in a factory or establish his own business when he is released from prison two years from now.
“I can make four to five footballs in a day. If the material is soft, it only takes me an hour to make one football,” Ade told Khabar Southeast Asia.
Some 149,873 inmates are incarcerated across Indonesia, according to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, which sponsored the exhibit.
“That number has great potential and can be used to produce certain types of products. So it also can support government programmes in economically creative ways,” said founder of Napi Craft 2012 Evi Amir Syamsuddin during its December 17th opening. She is wife of Minister of Justice and Human Rights Amir Syamsuddin.
“Other than that, the exhibition is also expected to improve the inmates’ quality of life as well as their welfare – especially for those who join the Prisoners’ Workshop,” or Bengkel Kerja Naripidana,” she said.
Ismail Nasrul, a public relations representative from the Directorate General of Corrections, told Khabar his department is putting greater emphasis on marketing prisoner products to help motivate inmates to join the skills training workshops.
Though many inmates think the training is a waste of time, he said, because they are unsure how to market what they make, false eyelashes made in West Java’s Garut Penitentiary have already found customers in Taiwan, Switzerland and China.
“Through this exhibition, we wanted to show to them that their products can be appreciated and recognised by society,” he said. “It needs to be understood that getting recognition will motivate them to improve the quality of their product.”
In total, more than 1,500 products were displayed at Napi Craft 2012, including artwork, false eyelashes and synthetic rattan chairs. On the third day, six paintings ranging in price from Rp. 5m ($518) to Rp. 17m ($1,761) were sold.
“The income from the sale will be given to the inmates upon their release. They will have their own money to start a new life because not all of them will be simply accepted by their own family,” Ismail said.
Arum Wahyuni, 26, an exhibition visitor, said she was impressed with several of the products. “I would say that many of the handmade crafts are properly made. It is also amazing that those fake eyelashes, which were made by prisoners, are exported to other countries,” she said.
“I just hope that when they are released from prison, they use their skills to start a new, creative and innovative life, especially knowing that they have the ability to be a better person,” Arum added.


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cbd oil dallas texas. Kratom is legal in most of mississippi state; however, certain counties and cities have banned kratom. according to the latest available sources, a total of 30 counties and cities in northern mississippi have banned kratom. wisconsin, vermont, tennessee, indiana and arkansas have also banned the botanical supplement, and more states are considering the same course. the federal government, too, has worries about kratom. kratom is either banned or illegal in the states colored red. currently, there are six states that are ineligible for shipping. kratom is banned in these states.
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/ Source: TODAY
By A. Pawlowski
Most people can lose weight at first, but maintaining that slimmer figure long-term is notoriously hard.
The body fights back, defending against weight loss by boosting hunger and food cravings, while at the same time slowing down metabolism.
“That means that as you continue to lose weight, you have to keep eating less and less… even as your desire for those calories increases more and more,” Dr. David Ludwig, a professor of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health, told TODAY.
But a new study finds people who follow a low-carb diet after slimming down may have an edge at keeping the pounds off. Eating fewer carbohydrates boosted the number of calories burned, according to research led by Ludwig and his colleagues, published Wednesday in The BMJ. The findings may lead to better obesity treatment, the authors noted.
The feeding study — which means every meal the participants ate was provided by the researchers — was one of the largest and longest ever done on the question of whether all calories are alike to the body, Ludwig said. Based on the findings, the answer seems to be a firm no.
After 164 overweight adults lost 12 percent of their body weight, they were randomly assigned to one of three diets for 20 weeks:
- A high-carb diet, with total calories consisting of 60 percent carbs, 20 percent fat and 20 percent protein
- A moderate-carb diet, consisting of 40 percent carbs, 40 percent fat and 20 percent protein.
- A low-carb diet, consisting of 20 percent carbs, 60 percent fat and 20 percent protein.
The researchers adjusted the participants’ calorie intake to keep their weight stable and they measured their energy expenditure.
A state of ‘internal starvation’
The composition of a person’s diet had a major impact on his or her metabolism in this study. The people on the low-carb plan burned off about 250 calories a day more than those on the high-carb diet, Ludwig said. In the low-carb group, those with the highest insulin secretion at the start of the study had even more dramatic results, burning up to 478 calories more per day than the high-carb dieters.
The low-carb group also had significantly lower levels of ghrelin — known as the hunger hormone.
Ludwig called the findings “striking” and consistent with the Carbohydrate-Insulin Model, which argues factors in the diet — particularly processed carbohydrates — raise a person’s insulin levels too high and drive fat cells to store too many calories.
“There aren’t enough calories for the rest of the body and that’s what causing people — despite the fact they may have 50 or 100 pounds of extra body fat — to think they’re starving,” Ludwig said.
“Until we relieve that internal starvation, calorie restriction is doomed to fail.”
Low-carb diets, on the other hand, lower insulin and raise the hormone glucagon, which helps reverse that fat cell behavior, Ludwig said. Other research points to carbohydrate restriction as a main treatment for type 2 diabetes.
“On a low-carbohydrate diet, the body may have better access to its calories — the fat cells aren’t hoarding them as much. So there are more calories available for the muscles, for the brain, liver, other organs,” he noted. It may explain why people who stick to a low-carb regimen burn more energy than those who don’t.
Some foods create ‘starvation mode’?
The biggest dietary culprits are highly processed carbohydrates, which produce hormonal changes that program a person’s body to gain weight, Ludwig said. They include white bread, white rice, potato products, prepared breakfast cereals, added sugars, and low-fat cookies and crackers.
There’s no need to eliminate all carbs — you don’t have to go full Atkins or keto, but just focus on avoiding those highly-processed carbohydrates, he recommended. A Mediterranean diet, which includes carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits and vegetables, but has very little added sugar, may be fine for most people.
But those who have a lot of insulin resistance or diabetes may benefit from cutting all carbs a great deal, Ludwig noted. He advised including a range of “delicious, nutritious” fat options such as nuts, nut butters, full fat dairy, avocado, real dark chocolate and “fattier and traditionally tastier” cuts of meat.
Some experts not involved in the study were concerned about the eating plan.
“The low carbohydrate diet contained a horrendous amount of saturated fat… which would increase blood cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease,” said Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King’s College London.
Other research shows people who ate a moderate amount of carbs lived longer than those who ate almost none.
“That’s because most of the people who are on the low-carb diet are replacing those carbs with unhealthy things, particularly animal fat and animal protein,” said Dr. Roshini Raj, a TODAY contributor and associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health. Most studies show a plant-based diet is the best way to go, she added.
The authors of the new study don’t know whether metabolism would eventually slow down on the low-carb diet, too, or whether a person would have to stay on that diet forever to maintain weight loss. Long-term studies are needed to answer those questions.


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We’ve long wondered how cops kitted out in uniforms and holsters and vests can possibly get comfortable in cruisers crammed with gear, like the console-mounted laptop that lets the officer check whether you’ve got any outstanding tickets, when they pull up behind you at a red light.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is proposing a solution to that cramped cabin, with a law enforcement-specific version of its infotainment system, dubbed Uconnect 12.1. So-named for the 12.1-inch screen that looks a lot like the one in a Tesla Model S, FCA says this is the first example of OEM touchscreen tech being customized to work with police computer systems.
The manufacturer tells us it worked with the company’s cop car vehicle design team to come up with an integrated design that could take the place of the console-mounted laptops, with the goals of eliminating “dangerous impact points” inside the car and airbag interference, reducing officer distraction, and improving ergonomics. Uconnect 12.1’s rollout comes after a 2012 LAPD pilot project that saw that city add Chargers fitted with prototype systems to their fleet.
All of the usual Uconnect functions remain, like radio and climate controls, but the cop-grade version adds a special menu that hooks the system into the police department’s network. The new Charger Enforcer also adds a fourth, pre-wired-and-fused auxiliary button that can be used to toggle future upfits, like extra lights, sirens, cameras, or computer systems.
In addition to its cop functionality, Uconnect 12.1 includes the same consumer-grade features that have made their way into most cars, like Bluetooth, and Siri Eyes Free.
So, next time you see a cop driving a new Charger cruiser, better hope you’re all paid up, because FCA’s just made it easier for the fuzz to figure you out.


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There’s nothing you can’t do if you’re an Instagram star with a wide following, and that now includes starting your own meal-prep business to bring your special cuisine or diet to your loyal followers. These new-age cults of personality are just part of the focus at Sprwt, a meal-prep software provider that’s targeting online celebrities, as well as aspiring chefs and personal trainers attracted to the concept of low startup costs to turn your personal brand into a culinary empire.
Started by a software developer who said he fell into the food-tech world “completely by accident,” the genesis for the Florida-based company came from a project to streamline operations, ordering, reporting, food waste management and deliveries for a European meal-prep brand.
When that Portuguese meal-prep brand ultimately failed, Sprwt President Michael Rapoport didn’t want to see his latest fruits gathering dust on a shelf, he and his team decided to scour their surroundings in Florida to find other meal-prep providers that might have a need for the now-complete software. It was a short quest, quickly resulting in two companies within 20 miles signing up to use the software.
After making some tweaks to suit both clients, Sprwt quickly expanded its roots beyond the Southeastern states and, four years later, the company is up to 100 clients across the U.S. and in the furthest corners of the globe.
Rapoport attributes the quick adoption to a variety of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic closing dining rooms and putting a growing number of chefs on the unemployment rolls. The second major trend powering its growth is the rise of Instagram as one of the largest and most socially influential social media channels on the planet where celebrities, authors, fitness enthusiasts, comedians and exceptionally good-looking people can cultivate audiences rivaling primetime TV shows.
Now up to a team of 20, with expectations of having 50 employees by this time next year, Sprwt is pitching the meal-prep category as a better, less intensive, more approachable avenue for anyone who wants to bolster their brand by literally feeding their fans.
Compared to meal-kit providers like Blue Apron or HelloFresh, Rapoport said meal prep is an entirely different business model. The way he sees it, meal kit customers aren’t necessarily looking to feed themselves as much as they “need an activity—they want to cook, but they want to have the instructions given to them.” Meal prep, in contrast, tend to be more focused, including all of the branded diet plans like keto, paleo, Whole30, as well as existing chefs who’ve already built a fanbase for a specific cooking style or cuisine type.
“Our technology gives these businesses the opportunity to personalize a business model according to their needs and their customers’ needs, and it scales,” Rapoport added.
Digging into the financial side of the model, he says the math is relatively simple: If you can get 10 customers, charge them $12 per meal and an average of 10 meals per week equates to $1,200 in additional revenue in a single week. The Sprwt software tells its users what to purchase, calculates trim percentages and other financial metrics, including food waste, up to packaging to product ratio. Customers get detailed nutritional information, and meals that arrive in branded packaging to underscore its source.
Sprwt even goes so far as optimizing delivery routes, so it’s easy to bring meals directly to customers. For those not looking to deliver, the company helps aspiring chefs to work with convenience stores or grocers in the area to sell meals directly out of these high-traffic destinations.
“This is why this industry is exploding, because the way customers are asking for food and the type of food they’re asking for is changing towards a digital, more healthy, eco-conscious methodology, and that’s what meal prep is offering,” he said. “The restaurant experience and the quality of restaurant food with the luxury that Americans have of, hey, I just don’t have the time, I need things simplified. We are in a service economy and that is meal prep in a nutshell.”
With clients ranging from Dubai to Tunisia, and beyond, Sprwt’s goal is to make starting a meal-prep business as easy as possible, with a monthly, subscription-based fee, as well as automation that Rapoport claims can be managed for as little as 45 minutes per week. Its subscription plans start at $150 and range up to $250 per month, depending on options.
While the possibilities are endless, Rapoport gave an example of a client cooking meal prep meals inside of a nearby restaurant that’s closed on Mondays, transforming the perennial slowest day of the week into one of the busiest, now generating as much as $8,000 in a single day, which he said is “up to par with maybe a weekend for revenue.” That example, he said, illustrates the third bucket of prospects for Sprwt: restaurants looking for creative ideas to squeeze additional revenue out of existing kitchen facilities.
For end users, the software allows customers to take a hands-off approach, leaving their choices to the chef’s discretion, or going into the site to select individual meals for each day. So far, the company has been surprised by the number of customers that want the exact same meals week over week.
Compared to the concept of virtual kitchens, where restaurant owners can bring in outside, delivery-friendly concepts to boost their bottom line, Sprwt feels the meal prep alternative allows them to create additional revenue by cooking food that’s of their own creation, without just slinging any old chicken wing concept, as an example.
“I’m not saying every one of our customers is a millionaire, but every one of our customers that’s running a meal-prep company and doing it successfully, they’re happy because they’re making the money they need to support their lifestyle, and they’re doing it with their menu, their choice, their decision,” Rapoport said. “They have control, and that’s so important in a business.”


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AT the start of winter, Zara customers were fighting to get their hands on a certain blue and white jacket which proved hugely popular with fashion fans.
But now there seems to be a rival in the cult fashion stakes – the Adidas Superstar.
The craze for the trainers has started to trend on Twitter after a user shared a photo six girls wearing the trainers.
Meredith Faust shared a snap she had taken of a group of girls’ feet – with almost everyone in the crowd wearing a pair of the £50 shoes.
Meredith accompanied her photo alongside the caption: “What a trend”.
The photo went on to attract plenty of attention from people who agreed that the trainers are everywhere – eventually amassing almost 10,000 retweets and 34,000 likes.
Numerous followers came forward to share their own photos of their Superstar sneaks.
A couple of users were keen to prove that they had not followed the crowd, instead opting for alternative designs, whilst others tweeted that after seeing how popular the shoes had become they wanted to ditch their shoes entirely.
'It's an epidemic!'Is this the most popular jacket ever? £70 Zara coat sparks frenzy as its spotted ‘everywhere’
TREND OF AN ERAFrom Kim's sheer top to Cara's kinky thigh-high boots, we review the flesh-flashing trends that made 2016
Sheer-ly notFollow in Kim Kardashian's footsteps with new fashion trend and turn your tights into tops - for as little as £4
Dare to bareThe new celebrity fashion trend sees stars wear skimpy undies and racy lace bras as outerwear
Will you be rocking this trend?
Find Adidas discounts and offer codes on The Sun Vouchers


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Plug in and drive away
Toyota’s new hybrid models are critical for its future
new Camry Hybrid— with its engine made in Australia— and the ongoing Prius fivedoor hatchback in 2012.
News of the two Australiabound hybrids preface the Tokyo motor show where Toyota will show five new hybrid, fuel-cell or electric vehicles. One car— the fuelcell FCV-R sedan— confirms Toyota is advancing on developing the alternative automotive fuel.
Its appearance— and expected 2015 launch— is the first time the fuel-cell technology has been seen in a passenger car.
It is unlikely Australia will see the FCV-R until its hydrogen fuel is readily available. Japan this month starts selling a plug-in version of the Prius that drives 24km on its batteries alone. However, the car, like the FCV-R, isn’t planned for launch in Australia.
Australian launch First quarter, 2012 Price About $25,000 Fuel economy about 3.9L/100km The Tokyo motor show represents the world premiere of the Yaris-based hatchback. Toyota says the sub-4m body length is perfect for the city, with a platform designed for nimble handling. It is powered by a lightweight hybrid system of a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a high-output electric motor. Toyota claims 2.5L/100km on the Japanese test cycle, equating to about 3.9L/100km on the demanding Australian test. To be launched in Japan next month as the Aqua.
PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID
Australian launch Perhaps 2020 Price $35,000 (est) Fuel economy 3.0L/100km This goes on sale in Japan this month. Heavily based on the existing Prius but has a new, high-capacity lithium-ion battery that can be charged from a household power outlet. Able to operate as an electric vehicle on short trips (up to 23km) and as a petrol-electric hybrid on medium to long trips.
Australian launch Perhaps 2020 Price N/A Fuel economy N/A The world premiere of the fuelcell drivetrain has been tested for the past five years in a Kluger-highlander SUV. It is planned for launch in 2015 in markets that have hydrogen fuel supplies. The hydrogen is regarded as a promising source of CO emission-free energy. Toyota claims a 700km range with its high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank. Price N/A Fuel economy N/A The latest in a series of Toyota’s electric concept cars, based on the iq city car on sale in Europe. Also marketed as an Aston Martin Cygnet. The FTEV III is designed for shortdistance trips and has a lithium-ion battery with an estimated cruising range of 105km.
Australian launch Concept only Price N/A Fuel economy N/A Toyota says this ‘‘ quirky’’ concept heralds a future in which people, cars and society are linked.


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The firing of Groupon founder and CEO Andrew Mason has apparently made investors happy. The stock price closed up over 12.5 percent today, another sign that the market had lost confidence in Mason. Investors, which have sold the stock in massive quantities and driven its stock down more than 8 percent since its IPO peak, may welcome this decision, but it's not enough to ensure the company a path to long-term profitability and growth. The company's most recent earnings report indicates that gross margins were shrinking instead of growing and generated a quarter loss of $81 million when analysts expected a small profit. While investors have doubts about the CEO, he won't be the only executive to leave.
Many of the company's most talented executives will likely leave the company soon. They joined expecting to join a Google-like rocketship that would generate massive fortunes, but instead have been left with a dud. Stock options issued to executives that were tied to the IPO price are worthless. The stock price would have to increase tenfold to offer executives a return worth the risk. Once a new CEO is named, they will likely eliminate more executives as they bring in their own team. All this change in headcount over a short period of time could cause significant problems if it isn't managed properly.
The new CEO will have to overcome several gargantuan challenges. Small-business customers question the value the company provides since the Groupon users don't tend to be good customers beyond the discount. Their core product simply doesn’t do what it promised to do: generate quality leads at a good price for small businesses.
Today’s decision may be a step in the right direction, but betting that the company will turn around is a long shot.
Read more Finance Watch articles.


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CAIRO: Saudi Arabia’s startup ecosystem ranked first in regional venture funding activities in 2023, amassing an unprecedented $1.38 billion in capital.
This achievement positioned the Kingdom at the forefront of venture capital funding in the Middle East and North Africa, surpassing the $1 billion mark for the first time, as reported by MAGNiTT in their Saudi Arabia FY2023 report.
During the year, the funding for Saudi Arabia’s startup ecosystem experienced a 33 percent increase from the $987 million raised in 2022, indicating a robust growth trajectory.
Furthermore, the Kingdom’s share of the total venture capital funding in the MENA region also witnessed a substantial rise, leaping from 30 percent in 2022 to 52 percent in 2023.
MAGNiTT’s report underscores the consistent growth of Saudi Arabia’s venture capital sector since 2019, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 86 percent in 2023.
Notably, the Kingdom attracted $879 million in mega rounds — individual funding deals surpassing $100 million — reflecting a strong investor interest in the region’s startup scene.
Saudi Arabia experienced a remarkable growth in its fintech sector in 2023, securing $704 million, marking a 181 percent increase from the previous year.
This surge was largely propelled by the emergence of two Saudi-based “unicorns”, Tabby and Tamara, each receiving substantial funding rounds that elevated their valuations to over $1 billion.
Tabby, a prominent “buy now, pay later” platform in the MENA region, achieved the milestone of becoming the first fintech firm in the region to gain unicorn status.
This was realized following a series D funding round in November, which brought in $200 million, catapulting the company’s valuation to $1.5 billion.
Tabby, initially founded in the UAE, has recently relocated its headquarters to Saudi Arabia, aligning with its plans for an initial public offering in the Kingdom.
In addition, Tamara, another significant player in the BNPL sector, was the first Saudi-born fintech startup to reach a $1 billion valuation.
This achievement came after securing $340 million in its series C funding round in December.
These two major funding events played a crucial role in bolstering Saudi Arabia’s position in the fintech funding landscape, representing the top two investment rounds of the year.
The e-commerce sector also witnessed robust performance in 2023, with $428 million raised, a growth of 153 percent compared to the previous year.
This highlights the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving digital commerce landscape, alongside its growing fintech ecosystem.
The e-commerce sector in Saudi Arabia saw substantial growth in 2023, with major contributions from online flower marketplace Floward and digital supermarket Nana.
Floward, a Saudi-based online platform for flowers and gifts, commenced the year with a significant capital boost of $156 million through its series C pre-IPO rounds.
This funding was secured in February during the company’s participation in LEAP, a startup and technology conference held in Riyadh.
Following suit, the grocery delivery startup Nana announced a substantial $133 million series C funding round in the same month. These investments underscore the ongoing investor interest and potential in the online retail market.
Additionally, Sary, a business-to-business e-commerce marketplace in Saudi Arabia, successfully raised $50 million over the year. The combined impact of these three funding rounds has been instrumental in enhancing the growth and appeal of the Kingdom’s e-commerce sector.
Investment deals analysis
Saudi Arabia experienced a notable surge in funding in 2023, yet there was a 20 percent decrease in the number of deals compared to the previous year.
Despite this, the Kingdom accounted for 26 percent of all transactions within the MENA region, an increase from 22 percent in 2022.
Early-stage startups dominated the transaction landscape in Saudi Arabia, comprising 81 percent of all deals. This was followed by series A funding at 11 percent, while Series B and later stages each contributed 4 percent.
The number of exits in Saudi Arabia remained relatively stable in 2023, with 9 acquisitions recorded during the year, just one less than in the previous 12 months.
In terms of mergers and acquisitions across the MENA region, Saudi Arabia accounted for 21 percent of these transactions, ranking second after the UAE.
Beyond funding, 2023 also marked significant progress in the Kingdom’s venture capital and startup environment through various initiatives.
Notably, the Makken Fintech program was launched by the Saudi Central Bank, the Capital Market Authority, and Fintech Saudi.
This program is designed to support the growth of 150 startups in the financial services sector over a three-year period.
In addition, the Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, in collaboration with SVC, introduced three programs aimed at developing the sector.
These programs focused on enhancing the management of venture capital and private equity funds to stimulate industry growth.
The Public Investment Fund’s Jada also contributed to these advancements by launching the fourth edition of its Emerging Fund Manager program, further bolstering the support for venture capitalists in the region.
A regional glimpse
The MENA region’s overall funding landscape experienced a 23 percent year-on-year decrease, primarily due to cautious investor sentiment, according to MAGNiTT’s FY23 MENA report.
The total funding in the region amounted to $2.6 billion in 2023, a noticeable decline from $3.4 billion in 2022. Additionally, investment deals fell to 477, down from 718 the previous year.
The fourth quarter of 2023 emerged as the most significant period for funding, with $1.19 billion raised, largely thanks to substantial funding rounds by Tabby and Tamara. The first quarter witnessed the highest number of deals, totaling 141.
In terms of country-specific funding, the UAE ranked second with $691 million, experiencing a 45 percent year-on-year decrease. This marked the first time that Saudi Arabia surpassed the UAE in this regard.
Despite this, the UAE recorded the highest number of deals in the MENA region, with a total of 158 transactions throughout the year.
Egypt observed a reduction in its capital deployment, with Egyptian startups raising $378 million in 2023, a 30 percent drop from the previous year.
Meanwhile, Morocco made notable strides, entering the top five with $81 million raised, marking a 193 percent increase compared to 2022.
Fintech and e-commerce continued to be the most sought-after sectors regionally, securing $1.27 billion and $502 million in funding, respectively.
When it comes to venture capital firms, Egypt’s Flat6Labs, the US’ 500 Global, and UAE’s Shorooq Partners led the region in terms of the number of deals.
In capital deployment, the UAE-based Chimera Capital topped the list with $260 million allocated, followed by Saudi Arabia’s STV with $128 million, and Shorooq Partners with $98 million.


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NanoMalaysia Berhad today (Nov 9) organised the Electric Vehicle (EV) conference, Malaysia EV Tech 2023, at Sunway Putra Hotel.
Malaysia EV Tech 2023 showcases the country’s steadfast commitment to advancing its electric vehicle (EV) sector. The event is aimed to spotlight the endeavours of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) as well as the Government of Malaysia in enhancing EV technology, infrastructure, and the overarching ecosystem to establish Malaysia as a powerhouse in EV innovation and development.
Themed “Technology Sovereignty in EV Tech Development”, the conference gathered experts, policymakers, industry leaders, and EV enthusiasts, facilitating a melting pot of ideas, insights, and innovations.
The event’s highlight was its eight dedicated sessions helmed by distinguished figures from the local EV industry and two interactive forums led by thought leaders, all coming together to discuss and deliberate on the roadmap for EV technology and sustainable mobility in the country and region.
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation YB Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, in his keynote address, said, “Malaysia is steadfastly pioneering the electric vehicle frontier, emphasising the development of cutting-edge technologies. MOSTI’s vision encompasses the enhancement and deployment of energy storage and management systems, the innovative Internet of Nano-Things, off-grid green charging stations, and the creation of EV prototypes that serve as validation platforms for broad industrial acceptance.”
“Furthermore, we are making strides to democratise EV technology with initiatives like the country’s Rapid Electric Vehicles Innovation Validation Ecosystem (REVIVE). This program champions the conversion of traditional vehicles, from buses to cars, replacing combustion engines with electric counterparts. All these initiatives align with our national commitment to slash carbon intensity by 45% against our GDP by 2030, as compared to 2005; and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The spotlight is firmly on technological self-sufficiency, which drives the nation’s EV tech trajectory.”
NanoMalaysia CEO Dr Rezal Khairi Ahmad, in his speech, said, ” While Thailand and Indonesia actively pursue the installation of Completely Knocked Down (CKD) versions of foreign EV models, and Vietnam has established its own local EV production, Malaysia takes a different approach by focusing on the manufacturing of crucial EV components. This strategic shift positions Malaysia to become a leading exporter of EV components in the region. This is evidenced by the Enabling Mobility Electrification for Green Economy (EMERGE) program, which concentrates on battery cell technology, energy management, and battery cooling systems. As we shift Malaysia’s gaze towards component mastery, NanoMalaysia Berhad stands firm in bolstering the local EV landscape, with a vision to unveil 10,000 EV charging stations by 2025 under the Low Carbon Mobility Development Plan.”
Malaysia EV Tech focuses on Malaysia’s electric vehicle (EV) scene, highlighting the significant contributions played by regional businesses and government agencies as well as ministries.
Attendees were introduced to the latest EV technology through engaging presentations, interactive sessions, and exhibitions. Malaysia EV Tech promises a comprehensive view of the EV ecosystem, encompassing industry affiliations and regulatory frameworks that drive Malaysia’s shift to electric.
The conference also addressed a wide range of important topics related to electric vehicles (EV). These include advancements in EV batteries, developments in charging infrastructure, strategies for localising the EV supply chain, and the current policy framework and incentives.
Additionally, discussions touched on intelligent mobility solutions, sustainable energy sources integral to EV expansion, local innovations in EV technology, and the regulatory challenges faced in the sector.


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Having sold off its handset business to Microsoft, Nokia gets into the tablet game with the new N1.
Currys and PC World are selling eye-melting Samsung 4K ultra high definition televisions from tomorrow.
Now that TVs with 4K resolution have fallen to mainstream prices, you might be wondering whether it's worth the extra cash to invest in extra pixels over 1080p. Here's what you need to know.
The Nvidia Grid cloud gaming service serves up around 20 PC-based games for free, but only to a handful of devices.
The Roku 3 and Roku Streaming Stick now let Android and Windows 8.1 users mirror their devices to their TVs. Here's what you need to know to set it up.
No, one of them isn't a Mac. This is the Cheapskate, after all.
The $39 device will let users stream a wide range of content, including Netflix, Prime Instant Video, and Hulu Plus.
Tim Cook says the Apple Watch is "cool," the iPhone will remain Apple's top moneymaker, Apple Pay is in a skirmish with retailers, and he'd love to team up with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.
One does not simply buy four games and two DLC packs for a mere 10 dollars. Or does one? (Hint: one does.)
Appearing on CBS News, the former Microsoft CEO also says that Microsoft didn't fail at mobile, but merely got the formula wrong.


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Future Models - Holden 2015 Commodore
Holden teases final Commodore
Holden on: The VF Series II Commodore will be revealed within days, but Holden has released a teaser image to keep fans excited.
Image of last Holden Commodore released ahead of official reveal this weekend
Click to see larger images
7 September 2015
GM HOLDEN has teased the final Australian-built Commodore on social media ahead
of its official unveiling this weekend.
The VF Series II Commodore will carry through from its local on-sale date in
October to later in 2017, when the car-maker closes its manufacturing
operations in Port Melbourne and Adelaide for good.
The last Aussie-built Commodore is expected to feature subtle styling tweaks
given the VF Commodore was only arrived in mid 2013.
While the image Holden released is dark and grainy, it reveals that the VF
Series II will gain light styling upgrades such as a fresh front bumper,
headlights, and possibly changes to the grille, while the tail-end of all
variants – sedan, Sportwagon and Ute – are unlikely to change.
Various changes are expected in the cabin, with updates to the MyLink
infotainment system and the possibility of new trim and other interior tweaks.
While the exterior changes will be subtle, there are likely to be bigger
changes under the bonnet of performance-honed variants, with a meatier
300kW-plus 6.2-litre LS3 V8 set take the place of the current model’s 270kW
6.0-litre V8 in at least one version of the Commodore.
As reported by GoAuto, Holden looks set to adopt Buick style vents, or
ventiports in Buick speak, sitting just in front of the A-pillars.
Holden is referring to the VF Series II as “the greatest Commodore ever built”
on its Facebook page where it published the teaser image. It is also offering
Commodore fans the chance to register to be a social media journalist for a day
at the reveal next weekend.
Once local production ceases, the Commodore name will live on as an as-yet
unidentified model from General Motors' global portfolio of models. The
front-wheel drive car is likely to be built off the global GM E2XX platform
that will underpin the next-generation Opel Insignia and Chevrolet Malibu.
It remains unclear where the next-generation Commodore will be sourced from,
but GM's extensive global network means it could be built in Europe, the United
States, South Korea or China.
More information about the VF Series II Commodore will be revealed at its
unveiling this weekend. GoAuto will have all the details from the reveal.


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According to @WABetaInfo, a news portal for WhatsApp-related news, WhatsApp is currently working on multi-device 2.0. The new version of the feature will let users use an iPad as a new linked device, which will still be usable if your phone runs out of battery.
In their tweet, WABetaInfo shared screencaps of what WhatsApp is currently working on—a “Multi-Device” section. In the screencaps, users will be able to link up to four devices that you can access WhatsApp with, without needing to keep your own phone online.
“Multi-device means that users will have the same functionality that is available on the current public versions of WhatsApp Web, Desktop and Portal, just without the need to have your phone connected. Our multi-device capability immediately makes the experience better for people who use Desktop/Web and Portal. And it also will make it possible to add support for more kinds of devices over time,” explained a WhatsApp spokesperson.
WhatsApp also said that this upcoming addition will be its own native app, as it will work independantly from your phone. Those who are testing WhatsApp beta will be able to use the app on a tablet in a future update.
This feature will definitely be useful, and is highly anticipated. Being able to access WhatsApp as a form of communication through another device like an iPad or another tablet might save us from being cut off from our friends and family completely if our phones run out of juice.
WhatsApp has also been testing out messages that automatically disappear after 90 days. Beta users are able to test out the option themselves. Additonally, WhatsApp is finally allowing users to move their chat history between Android and iOS devices. The feature was rolled out first to the latest Samsung Galaxy foldable phones a couple of weeks ago, and it is also currently available for the iPhone.


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Lenskart launches fund to invest up to $2M each in selected startups
Lenskart, the omni-channel D2C eyewear brand and a unicorn startup, has announced the launch of Lenskart Vision Fund to invest in other startups.
It plans to invest up to $2 million in each of the startups that are selected based on the expertise it has in areas such eyewear, eyecare and omnichannel retail sectors. These will be synergistic to the business of Lenskart.
On the launch of this fund, Lenskart founder & CEO Peyush Bansal said,
“We have traversed the challenging journey as a start-up to become a unicorn. We believe it’s time to give back to the ecosystem, and support exceptional entrepreneurs by helping them build scalable enterprises.”
In addition to the infusion of capital, the selected startups will also get market access to Lenskart’s over 700 retail stores and online channels across India, Singapore, Middle-East and the US.
According to a statement, the senior leadership team at Lenskart will also mentor the selected startups to navigate through challenges during the early phase of business building.
According to Lenskart, it will select early-growth stage ventures with clear in-market evidence of traction and customer adoption. The focus sectors for investing include D2C eyewear and eye care brands, technologies enabling access to vision care, eye testing technologies, omni-channel retail solutions across logistics, supply chain, merchandising, marketing, in-store automation and deep tech solutions for eyewear, retail and ecommerce.
The Lenskart Vision Fund initiative is being run in partnership with Applyifi.com and endeavours to attract startups that have a clear product-market fit and a defensible competitive differentiator.
Lenskart believes the access to its vertically integrated supply chain, and technology stack for facilitating omni channel retail will provide the startups with the right ecosystem to build their products or services.
Founded in 2010, Lenksart is a leading eyewear retailer brand with online and offline presence. It recently raised $95 million from global private equity giant KKR through a secondary stake sale.
Edited by Anju Narayanan


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The manufacturer of soups and dehydrated vegetable meals without additives Productos Trevijano, from Mendavia (Navarra), has reached an agreement with Grupo Hinojosa to replace the plastic packaging of these products with cardboard trays from the HALOPACKsystem.
Specifically, Trevijano will use the Halopack by Hinojosa packaging for its soups, dehydrated food and couscous. The brand has already started the distribution of its products in these new packages in some of the supermarket chains in which it is present. Its objective is to achieve sales close to half a million units with this new container during the first year of the agreement.
In previous tests carried out by the brand among its consumers, they have valued its commitment to sustainability and the reduction of plastic. Together, they have also highlighted that the new packaging improves the image of the product, giving it a more premium appearance. In fact, some buyers say that the new appearance of the product has motivated them to consume it for the first time.
Halopack by Hinojosa is a sustainable food packaging system that reduces the use of non-recyclable plastics. Specifically, it eliminates up to 90% single-use plastics. The remaining 10% is the film that insulates the food it contains and it is applied by heat, without glue or additives, so it is easily separable from the cardboard and can also be recycled. This system, in addition, increases the food shelf life, thus reducing food waste.
Hinojosa, which has 15 production plants in the Iberian Peninsula, closed 2019 with a turnover of € 418 million. Its international projection is reinforced by its presence in Blue Box Partners, the European alliance made up of four leading family-owned companies in their respective countries in the Packaging sector, which has about 9,500 employees. In 2018 BBP reached 69 production facilities, 5 paper mills, and a turnover of € 2,287 million.
Original article: https://www.alimarket.es/envas...


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China Eastern Airlines
has become China’s first state-owned carrier to diversify ownership
of a logistics subsidiary with the sale of a 55% stake to four investors and the subsidiary’s core employees. The Shanghai-based airline aims to compete with US-based cargo carriers such as FedEx, UPS and DHL.
The China Eastern Group will hold a 45% stake in the logistics subsidiary, worth CNY1.8 billion ($270.9 million) in state-owned capital, and attract a CNY2.3 billion investment in non-state-owned capital by selling individual stakes of 25%, 10%, 5%, 5% and 10% to investors Legend Holding Co., GLP (Shanghai) Co., Deppon Logistics, Greenland Financial Holding Co. and core employees of China Eastern’s logistics subsidiary, respectively.
After the deal is completed, the debt ratio of China Eastern’s logistics subsidiary will be reduced from 87.9% to 75%.
Additionally, China Eastern’s logistics subsidiary will organize a new nine-person board of directors comprised of five China Eastern-appointed individuals, three investor-appointed positions and one core employee-appointed member.
China Eastern also said the logistics subsidiary plans to launch an initial public offering as its next step.
Launched in 2012, China Eastern’s logistics subsidiary has a registered capital of CNY1.2 billion and earned an operating profit of CNY567 million last year. In November 2016, China Eastern transferred a 100% stake in the logistics subsidiary to subsidiary China Eastern Equity Investment Ltd. Co. for CNY2.43 billion.
also plans to follow suit with a logistics subsidiary.


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SSE and innogy have appointed Dixons Carphone chief Katie Bickerstaffe to lead the proposed merger of their respective supply arms.
Smart energy switching tech provider Labrador has finally launched its product to the UK market, offering “industry-first”, frictionless switching.
Clean energy supplier Bulb has called on the government to remove the “loophole” that would exempt green energy tariffs from the looming tariff price cap.
Vattenfall has announced plans to invest up to €100 million in developing solar plants over the next two years.
Shell has agreed to purchase First Utility in a move which will see the petrol giant enter the UK domestic supply market.
Innogy has confirmed its chief executive Peter Terium has left the company with immediate effect, just days after it was forced into issuing a profit warning
Drax Group has announced that its chief executive Dorothy Thompson is to retire at the end of this year, calling curtains on a 12-year stint in the hot seat.
Good Energy has offered further glimpses of its newly digitalised and personalised consumer offering, incorporating new devices and more customer control.
Ecotricity founder Dale Vince has launched an audacious attempt to appoint himself and another company representative to the board of rival supplier Good Energy.


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Bermuda Prepares Regulation for Blossoming Cryptocurrency Ecosystem
At a time when the ‘big nations’ are busy dragging their feet concerning the favorable regulation of the virtual currency industry, Bermuda, the self-governing British overseas territory island nation is putting the finishing touches to its crypto regulation plans.
Bermuda’s Regulatory Body Seeks Feedback
The Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) is seeking the opinion of residents concerning the anti-money laundering law that is aimed at organizing its local cryptocurrency industry.
According to The Royal Gazette, the regulatory body declared its determined to make sure the bill encompasses a vast array of blockchain-based virtual currency related activities. In other words, the authorities are looking to develop a kind of ecosystem that could attract and enable crypto- and blockchain-related businesses to thrive seamlessly.
The proposed regulation requires all digital currency exchanges, blockchain-based fintech firms, wallet services and all firms whose primary trade is to facilitate token generation events and initial coin offerings, conduct proper know-your-customer operations (KYC).
In essence, the body wants to use the KYC rule to combat to some extent, all forms of illegal activities in the crypto industry by stripping bad actors of their previous anonymity.
For the Good of All
The Bermudian government officials were quick to add that this latest development is not aimed at stifling the growth of the nascent virtual currency industry in the nations, rather its focused at creating a robust and comprehensive framework that would ensure stability, security and continuous growth of the blockchain finance world.
As mentioned by The Royal Gazette, Bermuda’s Minister of National Security, Wayne Caines hinted that quite many crypto investors are looking to pitch their tents in the country and it’s only healthy to regulate the ecosystem to ensure everything works in a frictionless manner. In his words:
“We can’t keep up with the amount of people who want to come to Bermuda. We’re going to London at the weekend, and we have 20 companies lined up to meet us. It’s actually phenomenal.”
Notably, the proposal also seeks to implement a scheme that would offer a form license to credible blockchain and cryptocurrency startups in a bid to make them function under the ambits of the law.
Bermuda ICO Bill
In a related development, authorities in the nation are also looking to create a favorable environment that could lure more ICO organizers to the nation. Minister of National Security, Wayne Caines, proposed a Bill that seeks to treat ICOs as a “restricted business activity that requires approval from the Minister of Finance.”
Unlike other nations that have a draconian stance toward ICOs, Bermuda firmly believes that the crypto-based fundraising activity could be a potent tool for national development if well regulated. In his words:
“Embracing this new world with responsible regulation could lead to the attraction of new companies and capital investment to Bermuda; additional government revenues; new career, employment and training opportunities for Bermudians, and the laying of a foundation for a prosperous future for our next generation of Bermudians.”
It is worth noting that Bermuda started its journey towards regulating its digital currencies industry a long time ago. In November 2017, the government set up a task force to look into the matter.
“Bermuda is committed to building upon its position as an innovative international business center, and is considering a complementary regulatory framework covering the promotion and sale of utility tokens, aligned with the DLT framework,” said Premier Burt in November 2017.
If all goes as planned and the country entirely regulates its cryptocurrency space, Bermuda would become another hotspot for ICO organizers, fintech firms, and all crypto-related businesses. This favorable scenario could greatly improve the economy of the Caribbean nation.


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Move afoot to require out-of-state firms to pay taxes for online salesEach day, Crossroad Books owners Mark Patterson and Sharon Ager feel like they're fighting an uphill battle.
By: By Jon Swedien, The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis., Superior Telegram
Each day, Crossroad Books owners Mark Patterson and Sharon Ager feel like they're fighting an uphill battle.
The couple, who operate the Eau Claire bookstore at 2803 E. Hamilton Ave., don't believe it's fair that they are forced to charge customers 5 percent state sales tax on the books they buy, while some of their online competitors forego that charge.
"Our opinion is that Internet businesses should collect sales taxes, should be taxed just like local businesses are," said Patterson, whose business recently moved from its longtime downtown site.
The Wisconsin Association of Counties agrees. The lobbying group is urging Wisconsin's county boards to support a WCA-backed resolution urging state legislators to force all companies making Internet sales in the state to collect state and local taxes.
Currently, many out-of-state Internet sales companies, such as Amazon, don't collect the 5- to 6 percent sales tax that businesses headquartered in Wisconsin, including firms based in the Chippewa Valley, must charge, said Kyle Christianson, WCA research and legislative associate.
That gives Internet companies doing business in the Badger State but with headquarters elsewhere a clear advantage, Christianson said.
Generally speaking, any business with a physical store, a distribution center, a headquarters or other presence in Wisconsin must collect state and local sales tax. Online businesses that don't have a physical presence in the state don't have to collect the tax.
The state Department of Revenue estimates Wisconsin missed out on $157 million in 2012 in state and local sales taxes not collected from online sales from out-of-state companies. In Wisconsin, the state sales tax is 5 percent and counties can impose a one-half percent tax as well.
Christianson said it would be ideal if the federal government passed legislation streamlining rules for all Internet sales. The House and Senate are considering bills to do that.
But in the absence of any federal action, Christianson said, the WCA favors the state adopting rules to rectify the situation.
Call for reform
Complying with sales tax rules can be a headache for online businesses.
Gray Powers, vice president for Powertex, an Eau Claire-based online business that sells promotional goods, said his company spends time and money wading through a host of different sales tax rules for the different states and municipalities where they make sales.
When Powertex sells goods to customers in Florida -- a state where it has a presence -- it must collect one sales tax in one city and another in a different city, because in Florida different municipalities are allowed to have different local sales taxes. The company faces a different situation in Minnesota, where clothing is not taxed.
"For us, the big thing is simplification," Powers said.
Counties throughout Wisconsin are expected to act on the proposed resolution in coming weeks. In Dunn County, the Executive Committee on Tuesday endorsed the WCA-backed measure. The County Board, which has the final say, is expected to vote on the issue at some point.
County Board Chairman Steve Rasmussen said charging sales tax to out-of-state companies selling products online is a matter of fairness.
"Those Internet retailers have an unfair edge," he said. "It's not fair to the brick-and-mortar businesses that are paying sales tax."
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Apple has rules and regulations in place for all sorts of things, but especially for the App Store. Developers must follow those rules if they want to keep their app(s) in the digital storefront. Sometimes those apps only get discovered for bypassing the rules, either in big ways or small, only after the app's been available for some time. (The App Store review process doesn't always catch the offenders.)
What began with Apple's introduction of the "Sign in with Apple" feature in 2019 has finally come to an end. At least for now, as one federal judge has granted Apple's motion to dismiss a long-running allegation of monopoly-like behavior from its services.
It has been almost one year since Apple launched a brand new, universal gift card for "everything Apple." At the time of launch, though, the gift card option was only available in the United States. But, today, just a few weeks short of its anniversary, availability has broadened.
There are a lot of apps out there. Whether you're browsing through Apple's App Store or Google Play, you can find an app for just about anything. In comparison, preinstalled apps aren't as numerous. But apparently they take up the lion's share of attention anyway.
Apple's WWDC14 opening video that never aired publicly has leaked online. It features actor, comedian and writer Larry David who plays Apple's app approval specialist, along with Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel, an “Angry Birds” ripoff dubbed “Upset Pigeons” and more.
Apple recently updated the App Store terms to permit marijuana delivery services and licensed marijuana dispensaries to publish apps for Apple devices, with some restrictions.
The Microsoft Store on Windows 11 is introducing noteworthy new features which were clearly designed to put more money in creators’ pockets, directly challenging Apple's business model.
iPhone app sideloading and third-party app stores would undermine user security and expose children to scam, Apple argues in a newly published document on its website.
Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive, is known to sit down with folks from time to time and have a discussion. In most cases, it's boilerplate stuff that leans into privacy. That is certainly the case with his latest interview.
It isn't uncommon for someone to delete an app, only later to realize that they need it. You may have ended up deleting several apps from your iPhone or iPad, and then had the urge to install it back. However, you may not remember the name of the app, and will find it difficult to look for it on the App Store. Worry not, there's an easy way to restore all your deleted apps.
Along with updates to iOS and the other major platforms, Apple has also released an updated version of its App Store Review Guidelines. Apple makes these types of changes on a semi regular basis, aiming to give more power to developers in some capacity. And this year is no different.
We're a few months into 2021 now, and this year's Worldwide Developers Conference is right around the corner. So it's the perfect time to promote just how well the App Store (and developers) did in 2020. And according to Apple's press release today, it did very well.


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Customer finds revolver in shopping cart at Muskego Walmart
MUSKEGO - A customer pulling out a shopping cart at Walmart, W159 S6530 Moorland Road, discovered a revolver in a holster in the cart.
The Iver Johnson .32 caliber gun was turned over to Muskego police, who found it was not listed as having been used in any crime or as stolen, said community resource officer Michael Rakers.
The gun and holster were found about noon on Tuesday, June 12, he said.
"It's an odd one," Rakers said. "To take it off your person and put it in a cart while you shop does not make much sense to me."
The only available police report did not indicate whether the gun was loaded.


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Glossier explores new sales channels. The American cosmetics company is a pioneer in this model directly to the consumer (D2C), an agreement with perfume and cosmetics chain Sephora to distribute its products in the company’s stores in the United States and Canada beginning in 2023. The deal will also include the sale of Glossier products through Sephora’s website and website apps.
“This represents a new chapter in our omnichannel strategy,” Glossier CEO Kyle Leahy said in a statement. Until now, the company has only been distributing its products directly, through the digital channel and its own stores.
Glossier has worked for the multi-brand on just one occasion, along with Nordstrom department store, with whom it teamed up in 2019 to open pop up shop Selling her Glossier You fragrance in 2019.
Glossier will also distribute its products in the Sephora “app” and on its website
With an investment of ten million dollars, Glossier was founded by Emily Weiss in 2014.. Four years after its founding, the cosmetic company entered Europe for the first time by opening offices in London (UK). In Spain, the brand is not yet available for sale online, nor does it have a physical store.
Last May, Weiss left her position at the company as CEO, remained on the board as CEO, and appointed Kyle Leahy as the new CEO. As of 2021, Leahy held the position of Commercial Director of Glossier.
The company raised its last funding round in the middle of last year, raising $80 million. Lone Pine Capital Fund led the round, but other investors such as Forerunner Ventures, Index Ventures, IVP, Sequoia Capital and Thrive Capital also participated. After the round, the company raised its valuation to $1.8 billion..
Glosier explained that the capital raised in the round was aimed at “developing and integrating their fully online and offline channels,” justifying that their customers “wanted to seamlessly transition between the two.”


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Bentley previews EXP 100 GT concept
The design study is autonomous-capable, and likely electric.
Bentley announced it will unveil a futuristic concept car named EXP 100 GT on July 10, 2019, the day it turns 100 years old. The firm described the design study as "a physical embodiment of the future Bentley brand."
The EXP 100 GT promises to show a different side of Bentley, an automaker that has traditionally maintained strong ties with tradition. While details remain vague, the company promised its next concept will be powered by a zero-emissions powertrain that showcases sustainability and innovation. It will likely be electric, we've heard rumors of a battery-powered Bentley before, but nothing is official at this stage.
Bentley has long argued its cars are already autonomous; many Mulsanne buyers put their car in the hands of a chauffeur on a regular basis. While that's a valid argument, the EXP 100 GT will showcase autonomous technology that puts a computer in charge of driving when the right conditions are met.
The company released a teaser video that suggests the EXP 100 GT takes the form of a low-slung coupe with a fastback-like roof line and pronounced fenders. We'll need to wait until it makes its official debut to get a better idea of what it looks like, and to find out if there's any chance to see it inside a Bentley showroom sooner or later.


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By Peter Martin, Stephen Nicholls and Chris Zappone
INFLATION has slipped to its lowest point this century, giving the Reserve Bank ample room to further cut interest rates and calling into question claims that Australians are pressured by the cost of living.
The new annual inflation rate of 1.2 per cent reflects dramatic slides in the prices of fruit and vegetables and also in the prices of staples such as bread, which is now 3 per cent cheaper than when the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, identified it as a problem during the 2010 election.
The Bureau of Statistics says the price of cheese has slipped 1.9 per cent in the past year, meat and seafood 2.1 per cent, children's clothes 1.8 per cent, cars 1.6 per cent and household appliances 2.7 per cent.
Increasing sharply at the same time are large regular expenses such as rent (up 4.4 per cent), electricity (10.7 per cent), gas (8 per cent) and water rates (9.3 per cent). The price of childcare has climbed 9.8 per cent in the past year, education an average of 6.1 per cent, insurance 7 per cent and petrol 2.5 per cent.
The pattern is that prices of goods that can be imported have been sliding, down 2 per cent over the year, while the price of goods and services produced at home have been climbing, gaining 3.3 per cent over the year. But the prices of imported goods may be stabilising. In the past three months they climbed back 0.7 per cent.
Home prices also rose slightly. National house prices lifted 0.4 per cent in the June quarter to $544,673, the Fairfax-owned Australian Property Monitors has found. Apartments and townhouses fell by 0.8 per cent to $412,260 in the same period. In Sydney, prices in the middle section of the market - houses between $600,000 and $1 million - were up 4.5 per cent for the first half of the year. The top end - property priced above $1 million - experienced a 0.5 per cent bounce in the June quarter, but prestige prices were down 1.4 per cent over the six months.
The Reserve Bank said that house prices could fall further.
Speaking about inflation, the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, called on ''doomsayers and rentseekers'' to acknowledge that, when averaged by the amounts Australians actually spent, prices climbed just 1.2 per cent, less than at any time since the late 1990s.
The shadow treasurer, Joe Hockey, said the prices that were rising the fastest were those that Australians were least able to avoid paying. He reached back five years to claim that, since Labor had been in office, electricity charges had climbed 64 per cent, water rates 59 per cent, insurance premiums 35 per cent and education fees 31 per cent.
''This is before the carbon tax,'' he said. ''Now is not the time to drive up the price of everything.''
Mr Swan said the low inflation rate completed a set of figures far better than at any point during the previous Coalition government's term in office.
''It is rare in our economic history to have low unemployment, a huge investment pipeline, healthy consumption and contained inflation at the same time. It's the best possible combination. But because it is good news, it doesn't tend to get treated like the hand-wringing, alarmist predictions from people who want to peddle gloom and doom in our economy.''
Financial markets were unimpressed with the inflation result, pushing the sharemarket slightly lower on fears Spain may be headed for a financial bailout.
''Inflation is low, which leaves the door open for the Reserve Bank to cut rates further,'' the HSBC chief economist, Paul Bloxham, said. "But it has already cut rates 0.75 points in the past three months. On local conditions alone it is unlikely to go further.''


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New Delhi, Jan 16: Foraying into home interiors sector, Hindware Home Retail Private Ltd (HHRL), an arm of Hindustan Sanitaryware and Industries Ltd (HSIL), today said it will invest Rs 250 crore to open 50 stores across the country.
The fledgling home interior solutions market is estimated to be nine billion dollars plus, with annual growth forecasts of 15-20 per cent CAGR. ''HHRL plans to invest about Rs 250 crore over the next five years to establish 50 large format, company operated specialty destination stores across the country and set new industry benchmarks in home interiors sector in India,'' HSIL Joint Managing Director Sandip Somany told reporters here.
The company now targets a revenue of Rs 400 crore over the next five years.
He said the chain of specialty stores with three different formats covering living, kitchen and bath domains will range from 8,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet size, and will be launched under the new retail brand EVOK.
These stores will showcase world class contemporary products in furniture, furnishings, bath products, modular kitchens, flooring, lighting and lifestyle home accessories sourced and coordinated from across the world.
The venture will focus on the lower mid-segment to mid-upper segment consumer group and aspires to attain market leadership in these consumer segments in near future.
Mr Somany said the pilot flagship stores will shortly come up in National Capital Region (NCR) and the stores' population will eventually be scaled up to a pan-India retail footprint of 1.2 mn sq ft with target revenue turnover of Rs 400 crore over the next five years.
He also said HHRL will also establish its ambitious projects business to service the architects, builders, interior designers and corporate/institutional segments with comprehensive product mix and services.
HHRL will leverage the core strengths of the group in understanding diverse consumer and trade behaviour, retail distribution network, brand equity, global sourcing and cost-effective supply chain management, which are critical success factors in this sector, he said.
With a dominant market share of 40 per cent in the industry, the city-based HSIL's operations are supported country-wide by eight regional offices, 18 depots and more than 2,000 employees.


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First of two new Checkers locations in Monroe expected to open Nov. 29
A new drive-in fast food franchise is coming to Monroe.
Two Checkers Drive-In locations are opening in Monroe, with the first location at 4300 DeSiard Street opening on Nov. 29. The second will be on the corner of Winnsboro Road and 165 South.
The menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries and milkshakes.
Both will be open seven days a week 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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Not up for cooking on Thanksgiving?Here are 6 local restaurants that will be open


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It's time for the weekly round-up of...Garage Sales in the News!
Military castoff materials are hot sellers in Iraqi yard sales since the U.S. occupation. Bargain shoppers can browse items like generators, air conditioners, trailers, and base latrines. Merchants and civilians alike shop at these little centers of spontaneous commerce for discount merchandise that may have once belonged to them in the first place.
In Trenton, Penn., last week, Kevin and Tammy Williams staged a garage sale to help thwart their hometown's sale of part of the water treatment system out in the suburbs. While they realized that the sale itself wasn't going to raise much towards the $80 million cost of the system, the Williamses wanted to raise awareness more than anything.
Live in Eugene, Ore.? You need to pull down your garage sale signs as soon as the sale is over -- or the county may come tear them down for you. It's not a new policy, but every year, especially on election years and right before garage sale season, the city issues a public service announcement. It's a good reminder for people who live anywhere in the country that it's rude to just leave your signs sitting up after the date is long past!
The official start to summer in Canisteo, New York, happened Thursday with the start of Crazee Daze, a three-day-long event that begins with a grand parade and goes on through the weekend with huge numbers of yard sales, entertainment numbers, and food stalls. Garage salers have to wind through the parade, around entertainment like Canisteo Idol, and past kids' activity booths to see what their fellow community members have for sale.
Clean Sweep is a massive garage sale that occurs every year (for the past ten years) at Bates College; its proceeds benefit the environment. Students moving away from college donate tons of items to the sale, which reaches department store-size proportions and brought in over $21,000 last year.
Check out Peter Smith's piece about how garage sales can be too revealing about the host.
Check back next week for more Garage Sales in the News!


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Last month, ABI Research released a much talked about report titled “No New Wires Technologies to Drive Home Automation Market.” In a summary of the report’s findings, ABI Practice Director, Sam Lucero, directs attention to the merit of wireless systems in four key areas: (a.) install time, (b.) complexity, (c.) cost, and (d.) available options.
At this point, it’s a well-established fact that technologies like Zigbee and Z-Wave have the potential to drastically reduce the cost and complexity of residential installations. So, in this post, we thought we’d talk a bit about how they can do the same for even the largest of jobs.
Wireless installations take less time to complete
Earlier this year, the RFID Journal featured an article that claimed wireless lighting controls typically took about 10 minutes to install, compared to an hour for their wired counterparts. In other words, to achieve the same result, you’ll need to work six times as hard.
Impressive as that figure alone may be, it only accounts for the additional time it takes to run dedicated wiring. In large residential dwellings, access to tenant spaces may be required to complete certain phases of the installation process. Because wireless systems come largely preconfigured, include built-in diagnostics, and can automatically discover nodes on the network, minimal access to these areas is needed. Of course, this also reduces the time and attention needed for managing all of the personalities and schedules involved.
Wireless installations are less complicated
Not having to dig around inside the walls will hasten installations, but there are other benefits that make wireless installations less complicated. In short, wireless systems are more adaptable and upgradeable.
We’ve already established that a wired retrofit is a considerable undertaking. Right after it’s complete, it’s likely to be more than adequate. Whether it’s still cutting-edge a few years down the line is another question.
As Louis-Nicolas Hamer, CSE Magazine contributor and vice president of Product Strategy at SCL Elements Inc., points out, the number of inputs and outputs in traditional lighting or HVAC systems is limited by the available physical connectors. In the initial design, this is unlikely to be an issue. But when the need arises, expanding the system is made easier by the lack of a physical connection between the gateway and any switches or sensors on the network.
Wireless systems cost less
There’s little dispute over whether lighting controls can save money. They do. But building managers have long been faced with a trade off between current costs and long term benefits. With payback periods of up to 10 years or more, the yearly savings haven’t been enticing enough to sway most.
One of the reasons that traditional, wired systems cost so much to install is all of the added labor. Another, however, is the cost of the wiring itself. A standard 48 ballast retrofit can require up to 5 miles of dedicated wiring at an estimated cost of $2.00 per square. Eliminating both of the above can produce savings that bring the cost of wireless in at less than half of a wired system.
Wireless systems allow a choice from a broader range of products
From a consumer perspective, one of the strongest advantages of large ecosystems of interoperable products is the ability to pick and choose among them. This might seem obvious enough, but wireless standards offer the freedom to choose based on the quality and functionality of individual components, irrespective of others. If a manufacturer is out of stock, out of business, or simply out of touch with a customer’s needs, standards make it possible to swap out one brand in favor of another.
The current numbers hint at the fact that the adoption rate for wireless building automation is still somewhat negligible. However, this largely owes to the fact that the overall adoption rate for building automation is relatively low. But there’s no reason to think that it will stay this way. For one thing, there are plenty of examples of successful, real world applications that illustrate the benefits we’ve discussed here. Then, there’s the fact that these benefits are readily expressed in tangible, real dollar terms. So, it’s highly likely we’ll continue to see more and more of these systems rolled out over the next few years.


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The Nigerian Communications Commission on Thursday advised telecommunications service providers to evolve measures to shield their numerous customers from the dubious activities of cybercrime perpetrators.
While addressing participants at the 52nd edition of Consumer Town hall Meeting in Kano, the Director, Consumer Affairs, Mrs Felicia Onwueguchalam, also expressed dismay at the alarming rate of cybercrime in the country.
She said, ‘’There is no doubt that cybercrime is on the increase, and it is my sincere hope that each of the service providers will demonstrate clearly to the their esteemed customers measures that they have put in place on their various networks, as well as the role they think their customers should play towards safeguarding them from the effects of cybercrime.”
Onwuegbuchalam, who was represented by her deputy, Alhaji Ismaila Adedigba, said the commission was committed to using its various outreach programmes to embark on series of awareness campaigns, with a view to keeping consumers well informed on the risks associated with being online.
She stressed the need for enlightenment on the safety measures to be taken when using connected devices such as features on smartphones and other more sophisticated internet- enabled devises.
According to her, the town hall meeting, with the theme, ‘Mitigating Effects of Cybercrimes: The Role of Telecom Consumers’ is one of the most effective ways to protect telecom consumers from the effects of cybercrime through continuous consumer education and awareness.
She said, ‘’The commission has embarked on various initiatives to increase access to the internet to Nigerians for positive engagements; we are nevertheless conscious of dishonest individuals who are bent on using the internet for illegal activities.’’
Onwuegbuchalam said consumers remained important stakeholders in the current cyberspace, where individual and corporate users of telecom devices often would make use of the internet in our connected world.
She said without consumers becoming aware of cybercrime trends and making efforts to ensure safe use of connected devices, cybercriminals would continue to make cyberspace unsafe.
She said, ‘’Since we started organising these events some years back, we have treated different thematic topics, which have produced key resolutions that have been communicated to service providers for implementation.”
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