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Amidst Apple's (AAPL 0.86%) launch of the new Apple TV during its September event, Apple announced that the new tvOS would support an app store. And while it featured developers and presentations of several apps, we saw glimpses of several more in Apple's slides. One app that looks ready for the launch of the new Apple TV is Periscope, the live streaming app bought by Twitter (TWTR) earlier this year.
An Apple TV app makes perfect sense for Periscope, which says it has 10 million registered users watching over 40 years' worth of content every day. Likewise, Apple can benefit greatly from having the live streaming app on its new living room hardware.
Apple TV could be a kingmaker
Twitter's Periscope is facing multiple competitors in the user-generated live streaming market. Meerkat made it to market just weeks before Periscope and was able to gather a sizable user base. Facebook launched a live streaming app for verified accounts from celebrities, athletes, and journalists. Still, Periscope remains the leader in the space.
What the competition is doing, however, is making live streaming more prevalent. Consumers are becoming more used to watching a live streaming broadcast from someone's smartphone. What's more, with Facebook's new service and Periscope's new periscope.tv website, users are becoming more used to watching that content on devices that aren't smartphones.
Apple TV will be the first device that supports displaying any of these live streaming apps on a big screen. Periscope is slated to be in the app store at launch, and it could do some good in extending the apps reach. Many new Apple TV buyers will be eager to check out the app store, and Periscope looks like it will be featured based on the slides from Apple's keynote.
People downloading the app on Apple TV could encourage content makers to produce more content or create higher production value for each live stream that they do, setting off a chain reaction that puts Periscope a tier above the growing competition for live streaming apps from big tech companies.
Periscope can help Apple redefine TV
A key part of Apple's presentation was that users can call up Siri to search for content across multiple apps. That essentially puts smaller apps on par with big companies like YouTube or HBO when it comes to discovering new content. That's another benefit for Periscope launching early on the Apple TV.
Organizing content and making it easy to find on the TV is the real problem Apple is trying to solve with this version of the Apple TV. The inclusion of apps like Periscope and smaller video and entertainment developers will provide Apple with tons of content to serve up to Apple TV users. And that means less time watching traditional television.
As a result, Periscope and other developers could provide Apple some leverage in its negotiations with television media companies to create the over-the-top streaming television bundle that's been rumored since this spring. The biggest holdup in negotiations is reportedly local broadcast channels, which the major broadcast networks typically don't have much control over.
However, losing viewership to other apps on Apple TV could be the motivation broadcasters need to exercise their limited control over local stations and complete the Apple TV bundle. That would allow live broadcasts and typical on-demand content to be included in Siri's search results in addition to Periscope or Hulu content. With a launch expected sometime next year, Apple has several months to get users downloading and using Apple TV apps.
Differentiating Apple TV
The inclusion of apps like Periscopes on Apple TV serves to further differentiate the device from a growing number of competitors. Apple previously limited who could develop apps for Apple TV, but the doors are now wide open. Apple TV was already one of the most widely used set-top boxes, but the open app ecosystem could convince more customers to choose the device.
Apple is positioning the new Apple TV as a premium device, priced at $149, well above the next most expensive set-top box on the market. It's also more than twice as expensive as the previous Apple TV. In order to sell units, Apple needs the support of new apps (and games) like Periscope to differentiate its product and justify its premium pricing.


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More than £3million is being invested on revamping the roof at The Marlowes Shopping Centre with big plans ahead for an exciting future.
Renovations to the roof are now underway which will see a phased transformation of the centre’s glass roof atrium. The roof works mark the first step of the wider plans to enhance The Marlowes as a shopping and leisure destination where the people of Hemel Hempstead will be able to enjoy an enriched range of shopping, dining and entertainment experiences.
Vince Williams, centre manager, said: “These are exciting times for The Marlowes as the roof works will see the start of larger plans and a longer term investment to revitalise the centre and support the ongoing regeneration of Hemel Hempstead.
“We are working in partnership with our retailers, the local authority and the wider community to help make Hemel Hempstead a thriving and sustainable environment, where local people can be proud of their town centre and visitors can enjoy a positive experience.”
The roof works being carried out will begin in the North Mall and will see around 100 tonnes of glass be removed and replaced across a 12 month period. The new echo-friendly glazing will be high performance glass to prevent heat loss in the winter and overheating during the warmer months and where possible, all materials will be sourced in the UK.
Contractors are managing everything to make sure it creates minimal disruption to both shoppers and retailers.
Published on: July 23, 2017

domain: news


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Lessons from Tata Steel's UK sell off: Domestic industry must be protected
Certain government decisions find legitimacy after bloodbath in other economies. The decision of the Indian government to safeguard the country's steel companies through anti-dumping duties and other measures is proving to be farsighted, especially in the back drop of Tata steel's decision to sell its UK company formerly known as Corus.
Due to Tata's decision, 40,000 jobs in UK may be lost. The loss in India could have been much bigger, had the Indian government not come forward to check the dumping of subsidized steel by Chinese companies.
With products export reached a record 112 million tonnes in 2015, up 19.9%, China is facing a supply glut. To ease the problem, China has been flooding markets across the world with its cheap steel.
Also read: Jaitley threatens to act against people in #PanamaPapers. Don't bet on it
Safeguarding domestic industry
These are some of the measures taken by India to protect its domestic steel industry:
- 2.5% import duty hike on long products in June 2015
- 2.5% import duty hike on flat products in August 2015
Up to $316 per tonne anti-dumping duty on stainless steel in June
- 50-57% anti-dumping duty on imports of cold-rolled flats products of stainless steel in December 2015
20% safeguard duty in September on hot-rolled flat products of non-alloy and other alloy steel with a width of 600 mm or above.
- Introduction of Minimum Import price for steel
When the Indian government had started safeguarding domestic steel industry, economists as well as sectoral experts, criticised the decision as anti-industry. They did so because it allowed domestic companies to sell their products at higher prices to the infrastructure and construction sector.
The domestic companies were accused of seeking government protection instead of being competitive against the influx of Chinese companies.
It is difficult to be competitive against government's subsidies that these Chinese companies enjoy.
The situation worldwide
European countries have made this mistake. They expected their domestic companies to compete with the Chinese companies own their own.
Also read: The Offering: Mallya says he can repay Rs 4,000 crore. Banks, be smart & accept
Both big and small steel companies in Europe, were forced to reduce their production, by shutting down plants.
Back in November of 2015, the world's largest steel maker, Arcelor Mittal, had to shut down its plant in Spain, due to poor demand for its products
The Australian steel companies have also cried for measures to safeguard the industry against the onslaught of the cheap Chinese imports.
Conditions in India
Major steel companies in India have been incurring losses and were running on 55-70% capacity.
India's largest steel maker, Steel Authority of India (SAIL), incurred a massive Rs 1,528.7 crore standalone net loss for the December quarter of 2015-16.
Also read: Govt says no more e-retail discounts. Can Flipkart, Amazon & Co. survive?
Another steel behemoth in India, JSW Steel, reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 923 crore for the December quarter. JSW Steel had clocked a net profit of Rs 329 crore in the corresponding period last year.
Due to cheap Chinese imports by Indian infrastructure companies, steel production in India, contracted by 1.8% during April-December 2015, with integrated steel producers reporting a 1% contraction in production during the same period. Steel exports contracted by 29.7% during the last nine months of 2015.
The steel sector in India contributes nearly 2% of the country's gross domestic product and employs over 600,000 people.
As on December, 2015, the total exposure of Indian banks to the steel sector was around 12,98,500 crore.
According to government data, between December, 2014 and December, 2015, Rs 8,891 crore of debt to the steel sector was converted into Corporate debt restructuring (CDR). The sector accounts for Rs 54,051 crore worth of CDR.
Given the high stakes of the Indian economy with the Indian Steel sector, the government has been right in protecting its domestic industry as against the European governments that are now staring at massive job losses.
Being competitive is good for industry, but it turns out that competing with Chinese steel company would be foolish for companies across the world.
Edited by Sahil Bhalla
More in Catch:
Good news at last for Indian exporters: upswing in US economy bodes well


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Royal Mail workers are set to protest in Nottinghamshire today as part of a campaign to keep the UK postal service in the hands of the taxpayer.
Members of the Communication Workers Union will meet outside Hucknall Post Office in Nottingham from around 10.30am to highlight the threats posed by proposals to privatise the service.
Business Secretary Vince Cable announced plans to sell off up to 90 per cent of the Royal Mail last month, adding:
The time has come for the government to step back from Royal Mail and allow its management to focus wholeheartedly on growing the business and planning for the future.
More top news
The last BHS stores, including two in the East Midlands welcomes shoppers for the final time.
Nick Thomas from Ellesmere fell unconscious when he was half a mile from the French shore, having been swimming for 16 hours.
As BHS closes its doors for the final time, we look at key moments charting the rise and fall of the very British department store.


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Only seven American companies have ever been worth a trillion dollars. Some came from garages. Others were started in college dorm rooms. Nvidia was born in a Denny’s.
The origin story of the world’s most valuable chip maker begins 30 years ago, when three engineers found themselves meeting in a Silicon Valley diner, brainstorming ideas about computing and dreaming up the company that would change their lives over Grand Slam breakfasts.
“We were not good customers,” Nvidia co-founder Chris Malachowsky told me this week. “We were going to show up for four hours and drink 10 cups of coffee.”
They were such bad customers that they were kicked out of their booth and moved to a room in the back of the restaurant. There were two groups of people using this area of Denny’s as a co-working space: the founders of Nvidia and the police of San Jose, Calif. “All the cops are writing their reports,” Malachowsky said. “We’re sitting there with our laptops, trying to figure out whatever we’re doing.”
Whatever they were doing turned out to be starting a company that would crack $1 trillion in value this week.
Since the very beginning of Nvidia, the company has placed early bets on markets that barely existed at the time, from PC gaming to AI computing. Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s co-founder and chief executive, calls them “$0 billion markets.” And every $1 trillion business starts in a $0 billion market. The richest companies on earth have always been able to look around corners and imagine the future that nobody else can see, as the most lucrative opportunities in any industry are the ones that never seemed like they could be worth so much.
That’s the history of Nvidia. It isn’t a household name like Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta or Tesla. It is a name that looks like someone fell asleep on a keyboard. But its semiconductors are the invisible, indispensable engines that power the most tantalizing corners of the economy. And the advanced graphics chips known as GPUs required for artificial intelligence are made almost exclusively by Nvidia, as if miners during the gold rush depended on a single company for their supply of picks and shovels.
Nvidia’s essential role in the AI boom is the reason its market cap has nearly tripled in 2023 and the company gained $184 billion last week in one day of wild trading alone. $184 billion! Nvidia grew in a few hours by an entire Netflix. It is worth more than many of its rivals combined after its blowout earnings had investors feeling exuberant and Wall Street analysts sounding like overexcited teens. “Just WOW,” one wrote.
To understand how Nvidia became the latest, unlikeliest member of the $1 trillion club this week, it’s worth flashing back to a shabby diner with red booths, neon lights and bullet holes in the windows.
The early days of any company can reveal a great deal about its culture for the rest of its existence—and the organizational philosophy forged between gulps of diner coffee helps explain Nvidia’s success to this day.
I spoke with Malachowsky not long after Nvidia’s market cap broke the trillion-dollar threshold for the first time. He said there were many ways to trace what’s happening now to what happened back then. “One is that we discussed who we wanted to be,” he said.
They wanted to create a better chip and build a new kind of business around it. Malachowsky was responsible for hardware design. Curtis Priem took software architecture. Huang was in charge of the business decisions. As they picked at their eggs, he conducted market research in Denny’s, studying the competition, the price of silicon and their unnamed company’s potential margins. “Jensen refused to join the startup unless it could make $50 million in sales in a year,” Priem said. (He made the right choice: Nvidia’s revenues last year were $27 billion.)
Before it was the birthplace of his company, Denny’s was important to Huang, who has been running Nvidia since Mark Zuckerberg was in elementary school. He wasn’t always a slick public speaker in his signature black leather jacket. In fact, Huang says he wouldn’t be the leader he is today if not for one job: waiting tables at a Denny’s.
It was a formative experience. Huang was a shy teenager, but taking pancake orders taught him how to communicate with strangers and compromise in tense situations beyond his control. He also learned from one of his regulars that he should add mayo and mustard to a turkey sandwich called the Super Bird, which remains his favorite item on the menu.
Huang, Malachowsky and Priem had known each other for years before they combined their complementary talents and went into business together. Priem and Malachowsky were engineers at Sun Microsystems, while Huang worked for LSI Logic, but they couldn’t meet in their offices while they plotted ways to leave their jobs. “Neutral territory was this Denny’s,” Priem said.
They met several times in 1992 and 1993 to discuss the specialized chips that would bring more realistic, 3-D graphics to gaming. It’s where they cooked up the company, but they moved before it was officially Nvidia. They realized that a diner by the highway wasn’t the ideal office when they noticed the bullet holes in the front window. “Maybe this isn’t the safest place to hang out for hours and hours,” Malachhowsky said by video-chat as he sipped from a coffee mug.
They had more privacy when they relocated to Priem’s townhouse. What they didn’t have was air conditioning. Or a name.
“It shouldn’t be a real word and shouldn’t say what we’re gonna do,” Huang told Malachowsky. “We’re three guys sitting in an un-air-conditioned condo. Who knows what we’re gonna end up doing?”
The one thing they did know was that they wanted to be in the business of chips. At the time, graphics cards were known by two letters, and Priem liked the sound of “NV.” Envy. They called their startup Nvision, which wasn’t a real word and didn’t hint at what they would do. It was perfect. Priem walked to the answering machine in his kitchen to record a greeting from Nvision’s global headquarters. The only problem was that several companies already had similar names, including one that made environmentally friendly toilet paper. Priem reached for his Latin dictionary and found the word for envy. Invidia. He dropped the first letter and taped a new message on his answering machine.
There were many people they struggled to convince of Nvidia’s vision in the early years—including Huang’s own mother. He still remembers the advice she gave him when he announced that he was going to start a company with his friends to make chips that people would use to play games.
“Why don’t you go get a job?” she said.
The entrepreneurs nearly had their lunch eaten several times over the next three decades. Nvidia risked bankruptcy right before it released the graphics processing unit that would save the company in 1997. In 2007, when it rolled out a new platform for accelerated computing, the system was ahead of its time and the company’s profits took a hit. During the 2008 financial crisis, Nvidia’s value soon fell below $5 billion.
But the bet paid off in the long run. Huang’s personal fortune grew by $6 billion in one day last week because he stuck to his company’s strategy in those leaner years.
The audacious decision to invest in AI computing before they knew chatbots would be trained on thousands of Nvidia’s expensive chips had something in common with Huang, Malachowsky and Priem quitting their jobs to start a company.
It seems obvious now, but it wasn’t then. When I asked about the GPU market in those days, Malachowsky told me: “There was none.” It was one of Huang’s magical $0 billion markets—the same language he used to describe AI when he gave an exquisitely timed commencement speech last week.
He didn’t mention Denny’s. But it was hard not to think about Super Bird sandwiches with mayo and mustard when he told the college graduates to remember one thing as they get jobs, start companies and look for $0 billion markets of their own.
“Either you’re running for food,” he said, “or you’re running from becoming food.”
This article was originally published in The Wall Street Journal on June 1, 2023, and written by Ben Cohen. Image courtesy of Getty.
Spectrum Wealth Management, LLC is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Additional information about Spectrum’s investment advisory services is found in Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request. The information presented is for educational and illustrative purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax and legal counsel should be engaged before taking any action. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for purchasing or selling any security.


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The Advertising Standards Authority said that in January Opodo displayed prices for flights between London and Mumbai which claimed to be the cheapest available, without clearly informing consumers that those prices included discounts only for those with a prepaid, fee charging Visa card.
Customers using Entropay, a virtual Visa card, were eligible for a pre-applied discount on the website. However, there was a 4.95 per cent charge to load money onto the card from a credit or debit card, and a 3.95 per cent charge via a bank transfer. These fees were not included in prices displayed in Opodo’s search results.
The ASA received one complaint about the ad. In its response, Opodo said it believed the pricing on its website was open and transparent, and that its search facility allowed customers to select their payment method or choose the cheapest option. The company stressed that any service charges or fees were detailed on the first page of search results.
However, Opodo acknowledged that selecting the "cheapest payment method" option could lead consumers to think they would see the cheapest method for them, rather than the cheapest available on the site.
In its ruling, the ASA said that the omission of the Entropay fees was "likely to mislead" consumers: "The average consumer was unlikely to be able to purchase a flight at a stated Entropay price without incurring the additional cost of loading funds onto the card."
The watchdog ruled that the ad must not appear again in its current form and told Opodo to ensure it did not claim that Entropay was the cheapest payment method if that was not the case.


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Saturday, July 22, 2017
Where's Waldo? He's at the Red Rose in Mansfield Pennsylvania
This July, you can find Waldo checking out the Red Rose Antique Co-op in Mansfield Pennsylvania. Waldo likes to roam and this year he's also in Mansfield Pennsylvania. Check out the Red Rose for great collectible books, knives and other great antiques.
Where's Waldo? In Wellsboro Pennsylvania. For the sixth year running, Indie Bookstores Launch a Massive Cross Country Campaign to Promote the Shop Local Message in July.
This July, From My Shelf Books & Gifts is joining a nationwide celebration of the Shop Local movement and the iconic children’s book character, Where’s Waldo, who recently celebrated his birthday.
Brought back by popular demand for the sixth year in a row, indie bookstores across the country will be hosting Find Waldo scavenger hunts while spreading the "Buy Local" message in their cities and towns.
It’s a month-long scavenger hunt for Waldo hosted by 250 indie bookstores across the nation in July 2017. Participating bookstores champion the Shop Local message by enlivening downtown areas with a community-wide scavenger hunt activity to which everyone — kids, parents, and Waldo-lovers of all ages — is invited to participate.
On July 1, 2017, Waldo-spotters will set off on a hunt to find the elusive character hidden around dozens of downtown businesses in Wellsboro. Anyone who wishes to participate can pick up a Find Waldo passport at a participating business and collect a store stamp or signature for each Waldo they spot. Hundreds of Waldo spotters will be eligible for prizes.


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One of the few things we are all too familiar with is unwanted phone calls from telemarketers. Soon, this will be a thing of the past.
Starting January 2 next year, a national Do-Not-Call registry will be launched in Singapore for people to list their numbers. Once your number is listed on the Registry, telemarketers will be prohibited to call you for any sales pitches.
Any telemarketers who wish to do any sales pitch on the phone or through fax, SMS or MMS, he or she would have to check the number against the registry. Those who defy the rule risk a maximum $10,000 fine, should the consumer complain to a new watchdog body called the Personal Data Protection Commission.
Marketing messages sent via instant messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, to the numbers on the registry will be prohibited too.
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in a report by Channel NewsAsia, the telemarketing pool in Singapore could shrink by 50 per cent or more.
Tan Shong Ye, head of PwC’s head of Singapore IT risk and cyber-security practice, said: “The Do Not Call regulation will fundamentally change the telemarketing industry, in that telemarketers would have to think of how to make telemarketing messages enticing and attractive, so that consumers will provide the required consent. In other words, telemarketing will move from the ‘push’ model to the ‘pull’ model.”
But some analysts said this will not spell the end of the telemarketing industry.
Ajay Sunder, senior director of telecoms (Asia Pacific) at Frost & Sullivan, said: “Once the registry is opened up, there’ll be a segment of the population which will register themselves, but within the first few months, that number will typically plateau off.”
The registry is currently undergoing trial testing for consumer registration. All actions performed will be recorded as trial testing. Actual registration will be available from 2nd December 2013 onwards.
Of course, the new registry is well received by some netizens:
— alvin tan (@3rdeye_blind) November 12, 2013
— Raj (@GodInSg) November 12, 2013
Singapore is getting a Do Not Call registry. Finally, an escape from relentless spammers & credit card marketers! http://t.co/gutPOsYRVA!
— Anna Hamill (@AnnaHamill) October 7, 2013
— Hayley ? (@adorabubblez) October 1, 2013
Really really looking forward to Singapore's Do Not Call registry. http://t.co/mpq6caw0VP Also who names themselves Pius?? Are you a pope??
— Joel (@Joel_Koh) October 21, 2013


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Father and son Dave and Sunny Sharma, owners of of Alder Liquor Store and take-out from Veerji Fish n Grill are inviting anyone in need of a meal this holiday season to come by on Christmas Eve to pick up a free dinner to go.
Between 3 and 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24, people can stop by 27100 Fraser Hwy and pick up a hot, packaged dinner featuring naan bread and butter chicken.
“We would like to provide a free meal for the less fortunate families of our Aldergrove community or anyone needing a hot meal during Christmas Eve,” Sunny told the Aldergrove Star.
There is no need to reserve but people who do pickup a meal must take it to go.
“We want people to wake up with a smile on Christmas day,” he added, stressing the food is for less fortunate community members only.
Is there more to this story?


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Spike in calf numbers piles pressure on prices
Published 09/02/2016 | 02:30
Calves from the dairy herd are likely to rise by another 100,000 this year, exposing already low calf prices to even further downward pressure.
Bull calf prices for export slipped by another €10 to €65-110/hd in Bandon mart yesterday.
"There was a big increase to 800hd this week, but it will be double that by March. Prices could hold, but only if there's no hiccups with the boats," said mart manager, Tom McCarthy.
Prices at Bandon, Macroom and Kilmallock yesterday were at €65-150 for the light dairy bulls for export, €90-180 for the 'farmer types', €200-350 for Angus and Hereford bulls and heifers, and €280-400 for the continental bulls and heifers.
The projected increase in calvings comes on the back of a 100,000 head increase in dairy calvings in 2015, the equivalent of an 8.5pc increase to a total of 1.27m head.
In addition, dairy farmers that traditionally fed calves to cope with quota restraints will be keen to sell bull calves at a younger age.
However, Bord Bia's Joe Burke cautioned beef farmers keen to take advantage of the opportunity of getting dairy bull calves at "first cost".
"Rearing calves is a specialised enterprise. Facilities, feeding and stockmanship skills all need to be of a very high standard in order to hit the desired performance targets," noted the beef specialist.
Over 80pc of dairy cows calve during the first four months, but experts believe that the calving season will begin slightly earlier on many farms this year following the abolition of quota and a good breeding season in 2015.
While dairy farmers will be looking to export the majority of their dairy bull calves into Continental markets as quickly as possible, Mr Burke cautioned farmers to be aware of the regulations involved.
"Dairy farmers looking to supply the live-export trade should be aware that under EU export regulations calves need to a minimum of 15 days old before they can be exported. Calves aged between 15 and 35 days are of most interest to export buyers.
"The younger, lighter calves usually go to the Netherlands for veal, while the slightly older and stronger ones typically go for young bull beef production in Spain," he said.
The beef specialist also noted the limited outlets available for dairy crossbred calves.
"Crossbred calves with any Jersey influence are not popular among the key export markets, on account of slower growth rates, poor feed conversion efficiency rates and reduced kill-out percentages," said Mr Burke.
However, the majority of extra calves are likely to be beef sired, especially Hereford and Angus.
"Last year, the majority of the increase in registrations came from extra beef-sired calves out of the dairy herd. Numbers of beef-cross calves are expected to increase again this year. They command a valuable premium," he added.
Births predicted to hit 100,000 as dairy expansion kicks in


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South Korea has joined the growing list of countries where Tesla is allowing open access to its Supercharger network for non-Tesla electric vehicles (EVs). The company recently announced the move on its social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), revealing that around 80 Supercharger sites are now accessible to drivers of any EV brand, with more sites expected to be added in the near future.
Tesla's decision to open its Supercharger network to third-party EVs is not limited to South Korea. The company had previously implemented a similar strategy in Europe, where it made select Supercharger hubs available for use by non-Tesla vehicles. The ‘Non-Tesla pilot' program has been extended to over 20 countries, including 15 European nations such as Germany, France, and the UK.
In November, Tesla celebrated the opening of its 1,000th Supercharger stall in South Korea, marking a significant milestone for the company's global charging infrastructure. The move to expand access to non-Tesla EVs is part of Tesla's broader initiative to make its Supercharger network more widely available, fostering collaboration and inclusivity within the electric vehicle ecosystem.
Select Superchargers in South Korea are now open to all electric vehicles → https://t.co/mJJAcn1afm
— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) November 22, 2023
This global expansion is not exclusive to Asia, as Tesla has also opened Supercharger stations to non-Tesla electric vehicles in regions like China, Australia, and New Zealand. Notably, in China, a recent agreement with SAIC-GM allows in-app access to the entire Supercharger network for certain vehicles.
In North America, Tesla has taken a proactive approach by promoting its charge plug as a de facto standard, encouraging other automakers to adopt adapters for access to the Supercharger network. Reports suggest that by 2025, major car manufacturers in the US will equip their models with NACS plugs, aligning with Tesla's charging infrastructure.
It's worth noting that while Tesla vehicles in Europe and other parts of the world come with CCS connectors, the company has ventured into supplying EV charging hardware to external clients. Notable examples include agreements with BP and the EG Group, where Tesla V4 generation chargers, reportedly optimized for use with any EV, have been deployed.


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The company knows your addiction to its devices is making you miserable.
The next version of iOS will also now have built in time limit controls, so that users can parent themselves about how much time they spend on Instagram or on Facebook, cutting in to the Explore Tab k-hole after an hour or two and letting them know it’s “time to move on.” It’s thrilling that Apple can tell how close everyone is to just throwing their smartphones into the ocean and returning to nature.
They continue by indicating that Apple is not the first company to recognize this. Google, and to some extent, Facebook had earlier “notifications”:
It’s not the first company to do so, either. The tyranny of devices has been covered before: notifications have become so addictive and apps so good at emotionally grabbing everyone by the balls that any time we are so fortunate as to emerge from the vortex for a second, the despair about being trapped in it the only way to solve it is to dive back in or run screaming into the night. Facebook announced earlier this year that it planned to emphasize “time well spent.” As founder Mark Zuckerberg wrote:
“The research shows that when we use social media to connect with people we care about, it can be good for our well-being. We can feel more connected and less lonely, and that correlates with long term measures of happiness and health. On the other hand, passively reading articles or watching videos — even if they’re entertaining or informative — may not be as good.”


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“We are building our future on smoke-free products,” said Gabriela Wurcel, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services Inc.’s VP/Corporate Affairs for Latin America and Canada. “Even though they are not harmless, they are a much better choice than continued smoking.”
The focus of PMI’s smokeless makeover is the IQOS – an offering that heats tobacco rather than burning it, as traditional cigarettes do, and thus offering a powerful alternative to cigarettes.
Although the product has yet to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), its global appeal has been grounded in an unexpected brand purpose.
“It’s our goal to replace cigarettes with the smoke-free products we’re developing and selling,” copy on the IQOS website reads. “These products are designed to create a flavorful nicotine-containing vapor, without burning and smoke.
“Because the tobacco is heated and not burned, the levels of harmful chemicals are significantly reduced compared to cigarette smoke.”
Speaking at the Festival of Media Latin America (FOMLA), Wurcel explained that the owner of leading cigarette brands like Marlboro, L&M and Chesterfield now has aspirations that look different from its past. (For more, read WARC’s report: Philip Morris International prepares for a smoke-free future).
“We have decided to take this bold step and to change a very successful business model for another one that is based on new products that we literally just invented ourselves,” she said.
“We have this commitment to achieve a smoke-free future … It is the right thing to do for the smokers, their families and friends, and for those of us who don’t smoke but really care about those do.
“It’s also the right thing to do for our company, for our shareholders, and also for our beliefs, because we feel we are for the first time doing something meaningful.”
And this meaningful action undoubtedly involves a complete transformation in its priorities. “This all means that we want to stop selling cigarettes as soon as possible,” Wurcel continued.
“Coming from us, that may sound crazy, but it’s actually not. We want to end cigarette consumption as soon as possible because it is the right thing to do ... We all know that cigarette smoking is bad for health.”
Sourced from WARC


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Constellation Brands has reached an agreement to sell Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy to Sazerac for approximately $255 million. Paul Masson sells two million cases annually and is one of the world’s largest brandy brands. The deal would first require a review and clearance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and is expected to close in the second quarter of fiscal 2021.
Constellation has also agreed to sell its Nobilo wine brand to E&J Gallo Winery for $130 million, subject to FTC approval.
“These agreements represent another step forward in our efforts to transform our wine and spirits business,” said Bill Newlands, president, and CEO at Constellation Brands.
Source: The Spirits Business, January 2021


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For additional information and reaction to the USDA's organic growth goal, please see: "Government committed to organics; growers cautious"
Federal officials have an ambitious goal to increase U.S. certified organic operations by 20% by the end of 2015, saying they want to help Americans cash in on opportunities linked to growing worldwide demand for organics.
That initiative, however, doesn’t include extra funds for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program to meet the goal.
The NOP’s list of certified organic operations in the U.S. as of January shows 17,281 total operations, an increase of 717 operations compared to 2009 when USDA deputy secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced the goal. About 10,400 of the current operations are growing crops, including fruits and vegetables. The USDA does not provide a breakdown of specific numbers of fruit and vegetable growers.
Merrigan did not respond to questions regarding the goal, but USDA communications officer Matt Herrick said fresh produce is a key element.
“We think organic produce has plenty of positive factors for increased operations, including new dietary guidelines released through the MyPlate campaign,” Herrick said.
Increasing demand for locally grown produce and expanded export opportunities with a recent organic equivalency agreement with the European Union should also help the USDA meet the growth goal, Herrick said.
Miles McEvoy, deputy administrator of the NOP, said the USDA set the “strategic goal” as part of its mission to support all agricultural efforts in the U.S. He said it doesn’t mean the USDA is endorsing organics over conventional produce.
Both McEvoy and Herrick said the goal does not interfere with the free market system. Herrick said “all relevant activities and services are within authorized and appropriated purposes.”
“The primary reason is the economic opportunities in organics, and we want U.S. farmers to have that opportunity,” McEvoy said. “The USDA has a lot of programs, and this is just one area we are supporting. The organics market is expanding, and we would rather see U.S. businesses get that business rather than it going to imports.”
He said the NOP has a three-pronged plan to meet the goal:


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In this rough economy consumers look to credit cards, an IRA or 401(k), even under the couch cushions for emergency cash. Many may be overlooking life insurance as a potential source of immediate funds, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
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Police say 'legal high' ingredients lawful
ESR testing of a cannabis substitute that Invercargill teenagers have been smoking and getting high on, had revealed its ingredients were legal, a police boss said yesterday.
Invercargill parents last month said their teenagers were getting stoned on a legal high called kronic that was being sold in Invercargill convenience stores.
Southland police area commander, Inspector Barry Taylor expressed concern about kronic, so referred the matter to police national headquarters in Wellington.
Yesterday, Mr Taylor said he had been informed kronic's ingredients were legal.
"Kronic has been tested bythe ESR and all ingredients are legal, therefore there are no legal powers that the police can utilise."
Mr Taylor said the industry involved with kronic had put a voluntary R18 classification on the product, but it was not a legal requirement. However, the sale of the product to under-18s in pre-rolled joints was an offence under the Smoke Free Environment Act, he said.
It is understood the cannabinoids in kronic, which get its users high, are sprayed on to the foliage which is smoked by its users. It produces effects similar to those of THC, a cannabinoid naturally present in cannabis.
There were at least 20 brands of legal highs similar to kronic on the market.
An ESR expert on the issue was unavailable for comment yesterday, but a spokeswoman said the expert would speak to The Southland Times today.
Meanwhile, the findings of a formal review into substances contained in legal highs should be available at the end of this month.
A review of the substances was tabled at the Health Ministry's Expert Advisory Committee on drugs meeting last week.
The Southland Times


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Firehouse Expo 2017 is here in Nashville once again, at Music City Center from October 19 – 21, 2017. Cumberland can be found at Booth 605, so make sure you swing by. We’ll also have two of our recently built Sutphen trucks on display at other booths. Sutphen’s, booth 505, will have Murfreesboro’s new SPH-100, along with a new pumper.
We’ll have Fat Ivan, Streamlight and Boston Leather products for sale to the public.
Behind every great firefighter is a department. And behind every great department is Firehouse Expo, the leading trade show and expo for the fire industry, offering all the behind-the-scenes tools, training, equipment and exposure to the ideas and inspiration firefighters need to be the best, the brightest and the bravest in the business. Be first to respond.


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The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) is making a splash at this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) with over 20 partners exhibiting on its stand this year, as the leading island showcases itself as a world class destination.
Air Mauritius, Sofitel, Beachcomber Hotels, The Residence and Sun Resorts are amongst partners showing their support at WTM and revealing exciting developments and plans.
(Caption: Miss Bermuda, Miss Dominican Republic and bridal models on the Mauritius stand)
The Mauritius stand has remained a hive of activity throughout the World Travel Market, with bridal models bringing a touch of glamour to ExCel and highlighting Mauritius as a honeymoon destination.
There are a number of hotel developments underway on the Island including the brand new 50-suite boutique Banyan Tree Angsana Balaclava in Turtle Bay set to open in December 2011 and 174-room luxurious St Regis Mauritius that is set to open in the stunning UNESCO World Heritage site of Le Morne in Spring 2012.
Meanwhile Emirates is strengthening its support to the destination with the addition of two flights between Dubai and the Paradise Island, escalating to 11 weekly flights. The 10th frequency was launched on 4th November while the 11th weekly flight will start on December 6th, increasing capacity by 22% each week.
Majid Al Mualla, Senior VP, Commercial Operations at Emirates revealed: “Our decision to introduce these extra flights is the result of our long-term partnership with the island.”
He added: “Emirates will work hand in hand with the Ministry of Tourism and the MTPA to develop marketing campaigns to promote Mauritius across our strong network. We will concentrate our efforts to increase the visibility of Mauritius in new and developing markets”.
In other exciting news, BA is switching its timetable to boost its premium leisure programme enabling travellers to enjoy an extra 12 hours in Mauritius. The London Mauritius route will be served by a Boeing 777 aircraft.
But perhaps one of the most exciting developments for MPTA has been the recent signing for the destination to become the official partner of World Island Awards, a brand new event dedicated to promoting luxury tourism to island nations.
The two-year agreement, which was signed at ITB Berlin 2011, comes hot on the heels of Mauritius being named one of the coolest destinations for 2011 by Futurebrand and British Airways, and being voted “World’s Leading Island Destination” at the 2010 World Travel Awards.
The inaugural World Island Awards will take place in Berlin on March 6th - the eve of ITB 2012, and will be hosted in Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Berlin’s most exclusive five-star hotel. The event is the only one of its kind dedicated to recognising islands around the world.
Through this partnership, Mauritius will spearhead the drive for the promotion of Island Tourism worldwide, as well as ensuring that it remains at the forefront of the luxury tourism map.
The island is currently enjoying a thriving tourism economy under the leadership of Minister of Tourism, HE Nandcoomar Bodha, and Dr Karl Mootoosamy, Director, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.
On signing the deal, Dr Karl Mootoosamy, Director, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, said: “Our new partnership with World Island Awards will serve as an excellent vehicle to promote the core values of Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority – in particular our emphasis on people, the environment and the capacity to ensure customer satisfaction.”
The Indian Ocean nation – which is best known for its azure waters, white beaches and luxury spas – will also showcase itself as a world-class destination to travel professionals and media from around the world.
Graham Cooke, President & Founder, World Island Awards said: “On behalf of World Island Awards, I am delighted to have the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority as our partner.
“This nation typifies luxury tourism at its finest, and serves a benchmark for how island nations can travel and tourism for social and economic betterment.”
The awards will serve to reward excellence across all areas of tourism of the world’s island nations.
Categories will include: “World’s Leading Island Resort” and “Asia’s Leading Island Resort”.
For more information about what’s happening in Mauritius visit http://portlouis.mobi/


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Chevrolet, which wants a broader, more consistent social media strategy, has hired former Ford social media manager Craig Daitch.
Feeling lucky? Next week, the online giant will host a free public event devoted to improving the online presences of small businesses.
Call it Thanksgiving dessert: Crain's sports business reporter Bill Shea will live tweet from the Detroit Lions annual Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field. Join the fun at at @Bill_Shea19.
Crain's Detroit Business has joined Instagram. Now what?
Oakland County is launching an initiative to build a brand for its emerging information technology industry.
It’s a burning question for auto marketers on Twitter: Are our tweets influencing people to buy cars?
When Grosse Pointe Park-based Wolverine Human Services decided to jump into crowdfunding, it went all in: Its campaign launched on Giving Tuesday, the big online donation day, and it landed rapper Eminem as a celebrity backer. Money started pouring in and they raised $120,000. Yet for every successful nonprofit campaign, crowdfunding sites are littered with two or three or more that reach only 3 percent or 17 percent of the goals set. Some don't draw in a dime.
As social media outlets are deluged with videos of people dumping buckets of ice water on their heads in the name of advocacy and philanthropy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, other health care not-for-profits can find marketing lessons in the now-famous challenge that they can use for their own charitable request efforts.
Phillip Fisher, founder of impact investing fund Mission Throttle LLC, and an investor in CrowdRise, spoke with Crain's
reporter Sherri Welch on the concept of crowdfunding, how the idea for the RiseDetroit Challenge developed and how it could benefit charities in the future.
Business professionals from various industries and companies across metro Detroit came together recently for one purpose: social media education.
Retailers love a good holiday. They even like bad ones. Any excuse to hold another "BIGGEST SALE IN OUR HISTORY" Sale. But even most retailers draw the line at a Columbus Day Sale. It's something only you'll only find in the marketing plans of the least creative and desperate brands. That all changed yesterday.
The Sept. 26 flight control outage in Chicago, blamed on a suicidal communications technician, was the worst case of sabotage in the history of the nation's air traffic control system. Thousands of flights were canceled across the country on the first day, a figure that fell to about 200 the day after. The FAA said it may take until Oct. 13 to replace damaged equipment and fully recover.
We all say "family first." But we don't mean it. There, I said it. And so did Tom Izzo, who spoke Thursday morning to about 300 metro Detroit advertising, media and communications professionals during an Adcraft Club of Detroit breakfast.
The upcoming Midtown restaurant had to push back its opening one month from November to December, and it asked its social media followers to come up with the best reason why.
Capital Raise Meetup
. 9:30-11 a.m. Macomb-OU Incubator. For owners of startup or early-stage growth-based businesses seeking funding. With Mike Brennan
, business commercialization and capital investment adviser, Macomb-OU Incubator
. Macomb-OU Incubator at Velocity Collaboration Center, Sterling Heights. Free. Contact: Joan Carleton, (586) 884-9324; email: macinc@oakland.
After a $5,000 pledge in support of staffers that had to be laid off because it lost its largest client, social media consultancy Ignite Social Media says the majority have found new jobs and the company is steadily attracting new business.
Here's a local way to bring more money to worthy nonprofits in our region. It's the RiseDetroit Challenge, powered by CrowdRise, a fundraising platform co-founded by Robert Wolfe.
An ALS ice bucket challenge issued by a leading ALS researcher has been accepted by the man whose name is on the building where the research is done. Watch the video here.
After Ben Affleck wore a Pure Detroit T-shirt during his ice bucket challenge, the retailer pledged to give a portion of sales of the shirt to the ALS Association.
Crain’s sports business reporter Bill Shea will be live tweeting tonight’s Detroit Lions-Jacksonville Jaguars preseason game from the press box at Ford Field.
Marketers are often faced with a tough situation when it comes to which social media metrics to track. There is an abundance of metrics to track and report on, and marketers often choose the wrong ones.
Detroit-area 501(c)(3) nonprofits have a chance to compete for prizes totaling $100,000 through the RiseDetroit Challenge being funded by Phillip Fisher's Mission Throttle and the Marjorie S. Fisher Fund.
Social media platforms create new connections — and for nonprofits in Southeast Michigan, they can help raise thousands of dollars in a new competition created by young entrepreneurs and established philanthropic givers. RiseDetroit Challenge gives nonprofits a chance to compete for cash to match what the nonprofits raise online.
Crain's asked this question on our Facebook page today, based on a "Business Insider" report that highlighted people making a difference in the city.


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PINOPOLIS, SC (WMBF) - Santee Cooper customers can expect to see bigger numbers on their electric bills starting in April.
The board of directors approved a rate increase Monday that has been a topic of discussion for months now.
This is the first rate adjustment since 2013.
Santee Cooper started studying rates back in October 2014 then presented the proposed rate adjustment in June.
The board approved a 6.7% increase for residential customers and a 6.64% rise for commercial customers for 2016.
Residential customers will then pay 2.2% more and commercial customers will be charged 2.67 in 2017.
The original proposal included a rate adjustment for 2018 as well, but the finance committee decided to hold off on that vote.
"Management can do another study on how the rates will be affected in the future," said Nicole Aiello, spokesperson for Santee Cooper. "So it gives them a little bit more time to really sit down and study those a little bit harder."
The new rates will go into effect April 1, 2016 and then again after April 1, 2017.
Santee Cooper is using the extra funds to make up for a loss in projected new customers during the recession and also to pay for two new nuclear stations.
"We saw down the road that the regulations that would be coming down from the government would really start to limit those carbon emissions," Aiello said. "We're a little bit ahead of the curve, but that also means that building any generation like that is a little more costly."
Aiello recommends business owners change over to more efficient lighting to save money. She said homeowners and renters can keep the temperature below 68 degrees in the winter or above 78 degrees in the summer to save on costs. Also, Santee Cooper offers energy advisers to help people increase their efficiency.
Click the link to view a related story:
Proposed Santee Cooper rate hike would begin next year


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One new application is looking to make the job of being a designated sober driver a little sweeter.
DDVIP – Designated Driver App, a new application from The California Office of Traffic Safety, gives discounts and exclusive offers to sober designated drivers across the state.
Users can search through all participating bars and restaurants in California and filter them by location. The Greater San Diego area, for instance, has more than 35 restaurants and bars that are offering deals like a free non-alcoholic drink for sober drivers.
Miller’s Field in Pacific Beach is one of the bars in San Diego that participates in the discounts for designated drivers because of the app. The owner called the app a “no-brainer.”
“We offer them a free appetizer and a non alcoholic beverage of their choice if they are the designated driver,” said owner Ray Corallino. “I think it's a really good idea because we have a lot of college kids that come down from the 'State area, USD, UCSD and they have to drive a long way home.”
Some San Diego visitors expressed mixed feelings about the application.
"I think the incentives, getting a free appetizer, people are gonna want to be a designated driver, thinking maybe its not a big deal to be sober tonight, because I'm getting free non-alcoholic drink," said Sean Ridinger. "I'm also getting a free appetizer. It's really a good idea."
Fellow visitor Lexie Farrelly said the application appeals more to one age group.
"I think it's age dependent," Farrelly said. "I think it would almost work for older people, other than younger people because I think, college bars and stuff like that for younger people, I don't think they really care as much."
The application also helps out sober drivers taking a break for a weekend by letting them get a ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb through the application.
The application is available to download for free on Android’s Google Play and the Apple App Store.


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US semiconductor giant Intel came out with a series of announcements today about its products, technologies, and future business direction. In the wake of the storm generated by remarks by the company's CEO Bob Swan to the effect that it might outsource some manufacturing, Intel declared today that it would continue to invest in production technologies. The announcement made no direct reference to the possibility of outsourcing production.
This clarification was in the margins of a series of significant announcements concerning new products and technologies. Intel announced a new generation of 10 nanometer processor nodes, and a rebranding of them. It said that its next flagship processor, Tiger Lake, to be launched in early September for laptops, would incorporate these chips. Of the performance improvement from the new chips, Intel's chief architect Raja Koduri told Reuters, "It is 20%, the largest intra-node jump ever in our history."
Intel also unveiled its next series of CPU chips, Alder Lake. For the first time, this chip will offer hybrid architecture, incorporating regular and small cores. Alder Lake, which is under development at Intel's development centers in Israel, is expected to reach the market in the second half of 2021. Intel says that the new product will be its best ever in terms of performance versus power consumption.
The most significant announcement by Intel was that of the launch of new graphics processing units. With the new GPUs, Intel will open a new front against its leading rivals, Nvidia and AMD, which dominate the graphics processor market.
The new GPUs are expected to reach the PC market this year, and will be available for data centers in 2021.
Intel is the largest employer in Israel's technology sector, and one of Israel's biggest exporters. The company has been active in Israel since 1974, and employs about 13,700 people in three development centers, in Haifa, Jerusalem, and Petah Tikva, at its fab in Kiryat Gat, which employs 4,700 people, at Mobileye, and other centers.
The company's workforce accounts for about 5% of the number of people employed in Israel's technology sector, and it is responsible for about 1.5% of Israel's GDP. In 2019, Intel's exports from Israel rose by 70% to $6 billion. The company says that its procurement from Israeli companies last year was worth $1.8 billion, of which 75% was from small and medium-size businesses. According to Intel, some 53,000 people in Israel are indirectly employed in providing services to it.
Intel is currently constructing a new fab in Israel at an investment of NIS 40 billion, for which it received a government grant of NIS 4 billion. The new fab is due to employ about 1,000 people, and it is believed that it will enable production using seven nanometer technology, although Intel has never confirmed this.
Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on August 13, 2020
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2020


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The vision of a new shopping and dining center in Lake Oswego is beginning to take shape, as the development company behind the property just announced its first tenants.
Eight businesses recently singed leases for retail space in Kruse Village, a 65,000 square-foot retail hub on corners of Kruse Way, Meadows Drive and Carman Drive. Those businesses are: Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches, Wow! Burger Express, Tan Republic, Vida Nails, Strada Italian Cuisine, Ava Roasteria's, MOD Superfast Pizza, and the Tavern on Kruse.
Gramor Development, which owns the property along with more than a dozen shopping centers and office buildings in Oregon, Washington and Arizona, has several other projects under development, as well. In Lake Oswego, the company also developed Lake View Village, A Street Station and a shopping and dining space on North State Street.
Construction on Kruse Village is slated to begin early next year, and Gramor executives hope to open the center in spring 2015. The design includes six buildings on a 5-acre site with an outdoor pavilion, a walkway system with pedestrian bridges and a centralized parking area with 250 spots.


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The Goods and Services Tax which is commonly known as GST is all set to roll out in India on the 1st of July. Earlier in June, the GST council decided to put almost 1200 goods and 500 services under 4 tax slabs which are 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. GST has taken the country by storm and is believed to boost up the economic integration of the Indian economy. Everyone is hoping that the modernization and amalgamation of the process of indirect taxation will be much easier and efficient. It will certainly prove to be a relief for the taxpayers. With the rolling out of the GST bill, it is expected that the taxpayers will pay a single combined tax instead of paying taxes like State Value-Added Tax (VAT), Central Excise, Service Tax, Subsidiary Taxes and Octroi.
As we know by far, that this GST tax will be applicable to sales, consumption, and production of goods apart from services at the Central and State Government levels. So, it is assured that the difference between Goods and Services will be progressively made low to make the tax compliance easier. Although, it is a really great step towards progress with the implementation of the GST bill as almost all the developed countries use this form of taxation. This form of taxation not only gives us ease and convenience but also let us avoid double taxation. The GST Bill will be implemented to the transaction value including the packing cost, contract and any other expenses incurred for sales.
Furthermore, all the other States are supporting this new initiative, but the Tamil Nadu Government is not so much with the support of the GST Bill. According to them, this bill might take away the independence of the State Government. However, people all over India have a lot of queries and confusion as to what is going to happen after 1st July. Some of the frequent questions we came across were: What impact it will have on the Startups and technology consumer? Can we expect our next gadget to get more expensive or cheaper? Should we go for it or wait for the GST to roll out for buying any new electronic appliances? So, relax and take a deep breath, because I am going to solve all your queries by explaining the impact of GST on your tech life.
(Television, ACs, Washing Machine, Refrigerator, Vacuum Cleaners, etc)
The prices of all the electrical appliances are going to shoot up after the GST Bill rolls out. The above-mentioned consumer durables are going to get expensive after July 1. These prices will get inflated as these goods will now come under the highest tax bracket of 28%. Accordingly, we can expect the price rise of 4% or more. The other home appliances like electric irons, mixer, juicer, etc will also get inflated as all of these come under 28% tax slab. However, in Mumbai, we can expect a price down as they had an additional Octroi of 5% previously.
(Phones, Landlines, Manufacturing Parts, etc)
You might not believe me, but the Smartphones are definitely going to get cheaper in the near future after the GST Bill implements. This is because the current tax imposed on the phones is more than 13.5%. The GST Council has now put them under 12% tax bracket which will automatically bring the price down. Not even this, the manufacturing parts of the Smartphones are also considered under the new 12% tax slab. Including this and Make In India initiative will eventually make the brand specific Smartphone prices less. Along with this, Landline, telephones and all the other devices including wireless and wired networks both will be categorized under the 18% tax bracket.
(Cable and DTH Services)
The entertainment taxes which are currently imposed by the State Government will be absorbed in Goods and Services Tax. As of now, every state almost levies the entertainment taxes around the 10% to 30% range on the Cable and DTH services. They also apply an additional service tax of 15% on entertainment services. But now, all these services will be included under the same 18% GST slab which will lower down the tax.
The regular users of OLA and UBER are utterly confused as how much will be the Cab Services affected after the GST implementation. Although everyone is super tensed about the prices going high the surprise for you is that taking an OLA or UBER will be marginally cheaper after the GST is imposed on them. These services will drop down to 5 to 6% after the GST.
The sad news is that the phone bills as in the prices of telecom services might shoot up. The current tax on telecom services is 15%. The Goods and Services Tax will add another 3% to the telephone bills which will further decrease the profitability of telcos. To make it more clear, if you are currently paying a phone bill of Rs.1000 then it will get a hike of Rs.30. Similarly, for the prepaid users, you currently get a talk time of Rs.85 when for Rs.100, after the GST you’ll only get Rs.82 as the talk-time at the same price.
6.Speakers, Camera, and Monitors
Digital Cameras, Video Cameras, Television Cameras, Recorders, Projectors and Cameras of any kind come under the highest tax slab in GST. The Goods and Services Tax imposed on these goods is 28%. After the implementation of GST, goods like Monitors, Loudspeakers, and Speakers will also be included in the same 28% tax slab.
7.Other Electronic Items
Let me tell you the GST rates for other miscellaneous electronic items, devices, and gadgets. The Electric Lamps, Water Heaters, Hair Dryers, Curlers, etc will be included in the 28% tax bracket. Along with this, Photocopiers, Printers, Ink Cartridges, Fax Machines, etc will also come under the 28% tax slab. And, the storage devices will have the 18% tax bracket.
8.Impact on Startups
I hope I managed to solve some of your queries about how the GST is going to impact the technology. Now, let’s take a look at some of the major impacts of GST on Startups in India. We will talk about three crucial points here focusing on the Impact, Relief, and Revenue.
How will it impact the Infant Startups?
Currently, the business that has gross revenue of more than Rs. 5 lakhs must have VAT registrations and pay the Value Added Tax. Now, the GST will limit this to Rs. 10 lakhs or above. However, the industries that have a turnover of Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 15 lakhs will have lower tax rates. So, this, in turn, will definitely lower down the tax burden on infant businesses. Along with this, GST is supposed to make it easy for new business launch. For instance, currently, new businesses should have VAT registration from sales tax department along with a number of procedures and incurred fee in the different state. But, after the implementation of GST, it will bring more uniformity in the current procedure. Furthermore, it will enable centralized registration which will encourage entrepreneurs for business startups and also in the expansion of their business.
What relief can we expect for the Sales and Service Sectors?
Restaurant and Hotel industry is the most complex business as it involves both sales and services which simply means falling into both the taxations, i.e. food and service. We have witnessed these types of businesses going through VAT and service tax separately which is a very complex calculation. The GST implementation will come as a boon as now the tax calculations can be calculated on the total bill.
How about the Logistics and Transportation Business?
The Goods and Services Tax is expected to reduce the many costs related to upholding high stocks as there will be a smooth movement of goods. It will also make sure that the interstate movement will deflate and will take less time as the GST will resolve the check post issues and remove the small border taxes.
What will be the changes in the revenue system?
As of now, the startups go through a lot of things like managing a bundle of taxes at every point. This makes them spend a hell lot of energy, hard work and most importantly time. They have to follow a lot of rules and regulations depending upon a particular state. This is turn makes the whole process of starting a new business a very complicated affair. The Goods and Services Tax will simplify the whole process by combining all the taxes together which also make the payment seamless.
There is a lot of debate happening in the country about the implementation of GST. Some people believe that it might make us lose the fiscal self-sufficiency to the States which will cause permanent revenue loss. However, the Government is ready to pay the reimbursements to the States for the losses they have to go through during the conversion time. Overall, believe it or not, the Goods and Services Tax is a boon for startups, technology and a lot of other sectors. The manufacturing, retail computers, and logistics will have huge savings. But, some other sectors which deal with luxury goods like cars, tobacco industries, etc. might face inflation in taxes falling under the tax slab of 27% to 40%.


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Slated for launch in Q4, the Atari real-money gambling website will feature games from the company's portfolio of iconic properties including arcade classics like “Centipede, “Asteroids,” “Tempest,” “Pong” and “Missile Command.”
Pariplay will also bring Atari gambling products to its iLottery program as well as a variety of social and online platforms including the Pariplay online gambling network.
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SAN FRANCISCO -- California Gov. Gray Davis signed the toughest financial privacy regulations in the country into law on Wednesday at a ceremony held in San Francisco's Pacific Stock Exchange.
But California consumer advocates say all their work might be undone by a move on the opposite coast, where lawmakers, supported by the Bush administration, are moving a bill forward that would pre-empt stronger state laws, including the one newly signed by Davis.
The proposed Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, the federal law that is expected to be voted on by the full House in September, would reauthorize a portion of the Fair Credit Reporting Act that bars states from passing more-stringent financial privacy laws than those set by FCRA. That provision expires at the end of 2003, and the financial industry has been lobbying hard to have Congress permanently ban stronger state laws.
If the current version of the bill doesn't change dramatically, it will nullify the new California regulation that allows Californians to say no to financial companies that want to share their personal information with marketing partners and most affiliated companies.
However, the provisions of the California legislation that force companies to get explicit permission to share information with unrelated companies would likely stand, according to Ken Clayton, chief legislative counsel for the American Bankers Association.
The Bush administration has indicated its support of federal pre-emption through Treasury Secretary John Snow who, in July, told the Senate Banking Committee, "The administration proposes to remove the sunsets on the uniform standards...."
"The FCRA's uniform national standards for information sharing operate to expand the opportunity for consumers to access credit and financial services," Snow said.
The California-based Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights today accused President Bush of backtracking on campaign promises to expand financial privacy.
The foundation's Jerry Flanagan points to a Bush interview with ZDNet in June 2000 in which he is quoted as saying, "I think there ought to be laws that say a company cannot use my information without my permission. We can live in a private world."
To prove their point about the need for stricter privacy regulations, the group also announced they had acquired, through online data search companies, the Social Security numbers of prominent administration officials, including Attorney General John Ashcroft, CIA Director George Tenet, political adviser Karl Rove and FCC chairman Michael Powell, as well as the Federal Trade Commission's point person for identity theft, chairman Timothy J. Muris.
A spokeswoman for the FTC would only say that Mr. Muris was aware of the group's action and that the act was not illegal.
The consumer group used a similar tactic in June when it acquired the Social Security numbers of eight California legislators who voted against the privacy bill prior to its passage in August. The group published a Western-style wanted poster that included photos of the representatives and the first four digits of their Social Security numbers.


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MOSCOW, June 24 (Reuters) - An EU decision to ban potash from Belarus jeopardizes the lifeline export route for the world's top producer of the crop nutrient, a restriction that will tighten when an exemption for previously signed contracts runs out, analysts said.
The European Union banned imports or transfer of potash by the bloc from Belarus as part of its wide-ranging economic sanctions on Belarus on Thursday, a month after Minsk forced a Ryanair flight to land. read more
Belarus will now need to find other countries and ports to ship its top export via the Baltic Sea.
"At first glance, this looks like a killer measure for the industry," said Vadim Iossub, senior analyst at Alpari Eurasia.
The Baltic port of Klaipeda in Lithuania handles 97% of Belarusian potash exports - about 9.7 million tonnes a year. The potash exports are the main source of U.S. dollar revenue for Minsk's budget.
Potash contracts signed before June 25 will remain unaffected, according to the EU, and this factor will delay the effect of the sanctions.
Contracts that fall into this category include deals Belarus previously signed with China and India, the world's two largest importers of potash, which will run until the end of 2021.
"The real pain will come when these contracts are over," Iossub said.
Supplies from Belarus account for 20% of the global potash trade. Restricting the supply of such size will lead to growth in potash prices and may add to current global food inflation, BPC said in a recent comment.
Potash prices have risen this year due to strong demand from farmers. Food imports costs are expected to surge to record levels this year, the U.N. Food Agency said in June. read more
There are no easy options to replace the Lithuanian port that moves almost all Belarusian potash out to world markets. Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin has been supporting Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko, does not have enough port capacity to handle Belarusian or its own fertilisers.
Belarus exported potash worth $2.4 billion in 2020, of which $200 million were supplied to the EU.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Dark Horse Comics is teaming with Mojang to bring Minecraft fans a new comic book series set in the Overworld.
Browsing: Rafer Roberts
The war between realities is over. The wrong side won. Your Major Spoilers review of Grumble #1 awaits!
The gang is ready to kill a fire demon – after a little training. And aura cleansing. And stocking up on supplies. Let’s face it – with all their skills in city life, will they ever be ready for this? Let’s find out in this review of Modern Fantasy #3 from Dark Horse Comics.
Welcome to the weekly rundown of comic book reviews from Major Spoilers. There is a lot of stuff on the site, but this is certainly the place to find all of the reviews we’ve written this week (and a bit more).
A young Ranger with big dreams moves to the city. Living with her Dwarf maiden friend, and a drug-dealing lizard roommate, she slogs away at her day job, dreaming of adventure. Welcome to Modern Fantasy #1 from Dark Horse Comics.
It’s another double-header this week in Episode 326! First up is Stephanie Phillips, writer for…
Ahead of Emerald City Comic Con (March 1-4, 2018), Dark Horse Comics has announced the…
Valiant Entertainment sent Major Spoilers an early look at Harbinger Renegade #0. The issue arrives on November 8, 2017.
Valiant Entertainment has released this sneak peek of Harbinger Renegade #8. The issue is scheduled to arrive on October 11, 2017.
Valiant Entertainment has released a first look at the upcoming Harbinger Renegade #0 that arrives in stores on November 8, 2017.
Valiant Entertainment has released an early look at Harbinger Renegade #7. The issue is scheduled…
Valiant Entertainment has announced Harbinger Renegade #0 will arrive at our comic book shops in November.
Valiant Entertainment sent Major Spoilers this early look at Harbinger Renegade #6. The issue arrives in stores this week.
Here is your first look at this week’s Harbinger Renegade #5, that kicks off the…


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Fortune’s curated selection of the day’s most newsworthy tech stories from all over the Web. Sign up to get the newsletter delivered to you every day.
* Fortune’s annual Brainstorm Tech conference kicks off later this afternoon with the day’s speakers including Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, Square COO Keith Rabois, and Stephanie Tilenius, Google VP of Commerce and Payments. Keep checking the Web site throughout the day for the latest coverage.
* Yep, you read that headline right: Borders is closing its remaining 399 stores and laying off 11,000 employees after failed negotiations. Said Borders Group President Mike Edwards in a statement: “We were all working hard towards a different outcome, but the headwinds we have been facing for quite some time, including the rapidly changing book industry, e-reader revolution, and turbulent economy, have brought us to where we are now.” (paidContent)
* Liz Gannes over at AllThingsD sifted through Zynga’s S-1 addendum and walked away with a few revelations, including exclusivity start dates for various games, Facebook’s consent to help Zynga meet “certain growth targets for monthly unique users,” as well as an agreement to sell ads next to Zynga games and share a redacted portion of those ad sales with the casual gaming juggernaut. (AllThingsD)
* Cisco will lay off 6,500 workers, or roughly 9% of its workforce, in an effort to save $1 billion in annual costs. (Tech Trader Daily/Barron’s)
* Amazon introduced Kindle Textbook Rentals, a rental service promising to save students a huge chunk of cash — up to 80% off the print list price, according to the company. Students can choose anywhere between a 30 day and 1-year rental period, and Amazon says it’ll have “tens of thousands of textbooks” available to choose from. (Amazon and Gizmodo)
UPDATE: Facebook responded to All Things D’s report with a statement. “We don’t have agreements with any developers, including Zynga, to share revenue from ads next to their Facebook canvas apps,” said a company spokesperson. “We did agree with Zynga to work together in the future on providing ads on their properties beyond Facebook, but we have no current timeline for when we might start working on that.”
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Oracle (ORCL) will take its first steps to make Sun Microsystems profitable by increasing direct sales to Sun's largest customers, Chief Executive Larry Ellison said.
Ellison spoke at an event for customers, reporters, and analysts at Oracle's Redwood Shores (Calif.) headquarters on Jan. 27, the day Oracle closed its $7.4 billion acquisition of Sun after a nine-month wait. The executive said Oracle would start selling products directly to Sun's top 4,000 customers. Oracle President Charles Phillips said the company would similarly provide technology services directly to 1,700 customers instead of relying on third-party service providers, as Sun had done.
The direct approach is designed to make engineers at the enlarged company more keenly aware of customers' technology requirements, ultimately stemming losses that Ellison in September said amounted to about $100 million a month.Oracle, which has spent $30 billion to acquire nearly 60 companies since 2005, announced in April its intent to buy Sun, which had been losing money and market share after it failed to move quickly enough to embrace lower-cost technologies.
Ellison also sought to reassure users of Sun's equipment and software that Oracle would continue refining its products. After the acquisition plan was unveiled last year, some customers fretted Oracle would let Sun's existing products wither. "It took a while, but Oracle and Sun are now one company," Ellison said. "We want to use our engineering talents not just to build, but to deliver the technology." He added: "The uncertainty of the past is now gone" for Sun customers.
Closure of the Sun deal was held up by regulatory scrutiny of the deal by the European Union. The EU dropped its objections to the deal after Oracle, the No. 1 supplier of database software, announced changes to the way it would license Sun's MySQL open-source database software on Dec. 14. EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes approved the deal on Jan. 21.
Oracle plans to combine its database and business applications software with Sun computers based on the Sparc chip and Solaris operating system, to achieve what Oracle says will be higher levels of performance than are possible using other vendors' technologies. Ellison has argued that buying hardware and software from several companies costs companies more than it would to acquire them all from a single vendor.
Phillips said Oracle would increase research and development spending by $1.5 billion in the 2011 fiscal year, which begins in June, to reflect increased investment in Sun technologies. That would put spending at $4.3 billion, compared with $2.8 billion last year. Oracle has forecast an additional $1.5 billion in profit in fiscal 2011 as a result of buying Sun.
In order to jump-start Sun's financial performance, Oracle plans to hire 2,000 sales and engineering staff, while eliminating about 1,000 Sun employees, according to the company. Sun sales staff who stay on will also get raises, Phillips said. Sun has an estimated 25,000 employees. "We're hiring, not firing," said Ellison. "We're not cutting Sun to profitability, we're growing it to profitability."
Competitors See Opportunity
During the event, Oracle executives discussed plans for products in areas including chips, Java software, and virtualization software. Oracle's competitors said they would use the transition period as Oracle and Sun come together to try to peel off customers who are uncertain about the future of products they rely on. While focusing on integrating Sun, Oracle may place less emphasis on other products, such as applications that help companies manage payroll. "Oracle and applications is a bit of a sideshow," says Bill McDermott, president and executive board member at SAP (SAP), the No. 1 supplier of business applications.
By adding sales staff and increasing R&D spending, Oracle is trying to clean up Sun's mess and return its operations to profitability in short order.


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Both the Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats may have their fates decided long before their stand-alone players hit the marketplace thanks to next-generation game consoles, which will play both, according to the New York Times:
(I)t may be the relatively low-priced video game consoles that tip the balance toward one format – or prolong the stalemate for several more years. That’s because the new game machines from Sony and Microsoft will play high-definition DVDs and may spur disc sales far faster than stand-alone players.
Of course, it’s not new that Sony and Microsoft are trying to outdo each by offering up next-gen DVD format playback on their consoles. These two companies have been streaking to pack their boxes with as much digital entertainment firepower as possible for the last two years.
And it’s likely that much of our home digital entertainment will be largely influenced – in some manner – by the game consoles in the near future. With both systems getting exponentially more powerful and moving online (which encourages a plethora of music and movie usage, along with wireless and broadband activities), it’s likely we are at the cusp of a serious home invasion that will help push things such as wireless technologies as more people (read: parents and siblings of gamers) begin to use and store media on the consoles.
While it’s clear that the demographics of gamers is changing, I think the unknown factor in how quickly new technologies make it into the average American living room is how much the rest of the people in the household begin to migrate toward one unified entertainment system. There isn’t a lot of data on this yet, simply because there has been very little reason for dad and sis to try to figure out how to play music or watch DVDs through a console.
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Drone Workshop Co-Hosted by AUVSI Foundation, White House’s OSTP. The AUVSI Foundation presents the proceedings of the August 2, 2016 “Workshop on Drones and the Future of Aviation,” an event co-hosted with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The day-long workshop focused on the continued issues facing the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace system. Continue reading “Drone Workshop Co-Hosted by AUVSI Foundation, White House’s OSTP”
Amazon has lifted the lid on its top secret laboratory in Cambridge – which has been developing drones to deliver packages to people’s homes.
In a world exclusive, the News was given a tour of their workshop today in Castle Park, just off Castle Street, along with eight children from the Year 5 class at Steeple Morden School. Continue reading “Amazon has lifted the lid on its top secret laboratory in Cambridge”
Rwanda Launches National Drone Delivery Service Powered By Zipline. Today, Rwandan President Paul Kagame launched the world’s first national drone delivery service during a ceremony in the country’s centrally located Muhanga District. Starting today, the Rwandan government will begin using drones to make up to 150 on-demand, emergency deliveries per day of life-saving blood to 21 transfusing facilities located in the western half of the country. Continue reading “Rwanda Launches First National Drone Delivery Service Powered By Zipline”
First drone for medical supply delivery launched in Rwanda today. The pioneer project, in Muhanga District in southern Rwanda, will see drones used in delivery of much needed supplies to ensure efficiency and timeliness. Continue reading “First drone for medical supply delivery launched in Rwanda”
UPS announced that it has begun testing the use of drones to make commercial deliveries of packages to remote or difficult-to-access locations, working together with drone-maker CyPhy Works.
Testing began on Thursday when the companies staged a mock delivery of urgently needed medicine from Beverly, Mass. to Children’s Island, which is about three miles off the Atlantic coast. The drone flight advances an investment made by The UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund in CyPhy to gather information about drone uses and capabilities. Continue reading “UPS, CyPhy Works Test Drone For Urgent Commercial Delivery”
UK ‘should be leading’ on integrating new drone technologies. The issues of UAVs and airspace management were debated at Cranfield University’s Technology Conference Visions of an Autonomous Future on 16 September 2016 part of its celebrations of 70 years since the foundation of the College of Aeronautics.
Our air traffic control systems run on the basis of principles which are now 60 years old. It’s no surprise then that the appearance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in our air space is seen as a serious and unmanageable threat to safety. UAVs straying into fligh tpaths are reported as major incidents, Japanese airports have started to use anti-UAV nets, a US technology firm is selling a ‘drone death-ray’. Continue reading “UK ‘should be leading’ on integrating new drone technologies”


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KAANH (佳安智能), a Shenzhen-based startup specializing in grinding and sanding robotics, today announced the completion of a Series A round of funding valued at close to 100 million yuan (US$13.95 million).
The press release from the company didn’t state who the investors were in this round.
The Series A proceeds will be spent on new product R&D and efforts to bolster delivery efficiency.
To date, the startup has completed four fundraising rounds, roping in investors such as Fortune Capital, Shunwei Capital, Lens, Qingsong Fund and Galileo Venture.
Founded in July 2018, KAANH has been focusing on the development and manufacturing of smart robotic grinding workstations and core components.
Granding, polishing and deburring are considered crucial steps in industrial manufacturing processes. They determine the smoothness and quality of product surfaces.
These procedures are widely found in a number of industries ranging from high-speed rail, airplane and shipbuilding, to automotive production, machinery and 3C sectors, making the segment a market worth “trillions of yuan.”
Traditionally, sanding processes are highly dependent on human labor, resulting in a lack of efficiency and consistency as well as high overall costs.
Besides, sanding workers are at a higher risk of developing work-related diseases as a result of highly tiring and dreary workload, ear-splitting noise and inhalation of metal powder.
These factors could compound the hiring difficulty on the part of employers.
Nonetheless, demand for robotic sanding and polishing equipment has been surging over the past few years. According to industry statistics, the domestic market for these equipment has reached a volume of more than 20,000 units, and is expected to exceed 50,000 in the next three years, averaging a CAGR of over 35%.
Thanks to a self-developed robotic sensing system, smart sanding computer aided manufacturing (CAM) software, and an expanding database, KAANH has successfully addressed the issue of automatic polishing of complex, curved surfaces such as turbine blades in the aviation and aerospace industry, the company claims.
Based a proprietary high-speed motor drive, it has rolled out a suite of key products such as sanding workstation, robotic controller and 6D force sensors, which are widely deployed to use cases such as sanding, polishing, grinding, deburring and assembly.
According to Pan Yang, founder and CEO of KAANH, the firm’s products and solutions have been adopted by clients in aerospace, military industry, consumer electronics and hardware sectors, including Bright Laser Technologies (西安铂力特, 688333.SH), China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Lens (蓝思科技, 300433.SZ) and LungHealth Medtech (朗合医疗). Repeat orders have been signed at scale.


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February 10, 2021
Are you interested in cannabis investment? Here's a list of Canadian marijuana stocks for investors to reference.
February 3, 2021
More and more marijuana stocks are joining the Canadian Securities Exchange. Here's a breakdown of the companies listed there.
October 2, 2020
A survey commissioned by a cannabis company indicates most Americans don't think cannabis should be a federally restricted substance.
April 27, 2020
INN runs through Canada's top-performing cannabis stocks so far in 2020. Find out which companies made the list.
March 4, 2020
Canadian cannabis firm SpeakEasy Cannabis Club has announced that it has successfully completed its first harvest of marijuana.
January 27, 2020
SpeakEasy Cannabis Club has signed a non-binding letter of intent with M&J Orchards to plant 50 acres of hemp in...
January 22, 2020
SpeakEasy revealed its plans to apply large scale commercial farming principles to national and international cannabis markets in 2020.


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After an internal Yahoo presentation revealing plans to "sunset" Delicious, and other products hit Twitter, Yahoo product boss Blake Irving is saying on Twitter that he's going to fire whoever leaked it.
You can see Irving's tweet below:
"Can't wait to find out how you got the web cast. Whoever it is, gone!"
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text: Most foods that we consume especially those that taste good, have ventured out to prove that they are good for you. It appears as though chewing gum is no exception. For many years sugar free chewing gum has given the impression to many consumers that because it is sugar-free it must promote weight loss. According to a recent news story there is no significant data that supports any findings that sugar-free gum promotes weight loss. According to the article the eight-week study included 201 overweight or obese adults, who were told to chew gum intermittently throughout the day as a deterrent from eating snack foods. By the end of the study there was no significant difference between those who chewed the gum and those who did not. Expecting a piece of gum to help a person lose weight is asking a great deal. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that effective weight loss is only achieved and maintained through commitment. Patients who have made a commitment and lost the weight sometimes seek the assistance of Dr. Kim to remove the excess skin that may be left sagging after weight loss. This is most evident in the breast and the abdomen. For these two areas Dr. Kim recommends a breast lift possibly with implants)and an abdominoplasty. In some cases these procedures can be performed together. It is important that patients maintain a healthy and stable weight following their cosmetic plastic surgery procedure to ensure the best long-term results.


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Paradise released the popular Kaiju Hunting mini series back in April 2018 featuring designs from six artists: Dan, Studio UAMOU, Konatsu, T9G, Shoko Nakazawa and Dehara Yukinori. Produced in relatively limited quantities, Kaiju Hunting quickly became difficult as the series sold out globally.
Fret not though, Kaiju Hunting 2 is ‘coming soon’ from Paradise with almost an entirely new lineup featuring an all-star lineup: coarse, FeeBee, Instinctoy, Kasing Lung, Kenny Wong, Shoko Nakazawa and Shon. We’re looking forward to seeing the beasts these talented artists dream up. In the meantime, check out pics from S1 in the gallery.


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The consumer price index data for the period ending June for New Zealand is expected to released this week. The economists polled are forecasting a 0.2% increase on a quarterly basis.
This would signal a sharp slowdown in inflation from the 1% gain in prices registered in the March quarter. The gains in March were led by a spike in food and fuel prices.
The RBNZ’s forecast for inflation stands at 0.3% for the June quarter, slightly above the consensus estimates. It is no secret that New Zealand’s consumer price index is often influenced by temporary factors.
On a year over year basis, New Zealand’s consumer prices are expected to rise 1.9%, slowing from 2.2% year over year increased in March 2017.
Weaker CPI expected due to lower food prices
Food prices, which played an important role in pushing inflation higher in the March quarter is yet again expected to play a key role for the June quarterly inflation report. Last week, data showed that food prices rose just 0.2% in June. This was down from the 2.4% gains registered the month before.
The decline in food prices came about on weaker vegetable prices which spiked in the previous months.
As a result, the weakness in the food prices is likely to reflect in the overall inflation report with the expectation that the quarterly inflation could slow and come out below estimates.
The weakness in the inflation report could however not spring any surprises for the RBNZ. The central bank had already downplayed the recent surge in inflation at the subsequent monetary policy meetings after the March quarter inflation report was released.
Thus, as far as monetary policy is concerned, a weaker than expected inflation rate is unlikely to influence the RBNZ much.
Excluding food and fuel prices, the core consumer price index suggests that it is on a more firm footing. Core inflation already bottomed out in 2015 and has been rising gradually. It still remains below the RBNZ’s 2% mid-point target band for inflation.
This continued increase in the core inflation also hints that while the New Zealand’s economy is growing, it is far from overheating. Thus, it warrants a relatively stable period of interest rates.
The weakness in the inflation could however impact the markets. This is due to the fact that there is broad prevailing view that the RBNZ could also join onboard the club of central banks which are turning increasingly hawkish.
Expectations are strong that the RBNZ could hike the OCR as early as June next year.
At the May monetary policy meeting, the RBNZ’s dovish statement took the markets by surprise. The central bank noted that “monetary policy will remain accommodative for a considerable period.” This came right after the March CPI quarterly report which showed a strong gain in consumer prices.
The RBNZ Governor Wheeler said “We’re not going to see a burst of inflation in this economy. The story behind these forecasts is that we’re not seeing the build-up in inflation pressures that some other commentators are seeing.”
This could very well be true especially if the June CPI report for New Zealand will show a pullback in consumer prices. The New Zealand dollar has been trending sharply and made a modest pullback to 0.7213 last week after posting highs near 0.7340.
A breakout from this high is essential to keep the bullish trend intact. However, a weaker than expected CPI data could see some profit taking ahead of the CPI report. Immediate support in NZDUSD is found at 0.7213 followed by 0.7055.