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From the Desk of the General Counsel: TPD Panel Discussion at Vapevent Paris
We were recently in Paris to attend Vapevent, one of the most prestigious French trade shows in the vaping industry. During the show, we had the privilege of joining a distinguished group of panelists to discuss the implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive in France and its implication on the vaping industry. France is an important market for us and is very active in the area of vaping products standards. Please check out the recording of the panel discussion below (in French), courtesy of Vapevent.
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(Bloomberg) -- BMW AG will more than double sales of lucrative X7 sport utility vehicles and luxury cruisers to fight flagging profits and make the costly shift to electric cars.
Next year, the company plans to deliver between 135,000 and 145,000 of 7-Series sedans, 8-Series sports cars, as well as the X7 SUV, M8 performance coupe and i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, BMW Chief Financial Officer Nicolas Peter said Thursday.
That’s up from about 65,000 last year, which is expected to grow to roughly 110,000 vehicles this year. The jump is largely thanks to the X7, which hit dealerships in March and comes with a standard 340-horsepower engine and options including a 4.4-liter V8.
“The important topic for us is how do we get our profitability up,” Peter told reporters in Munich, emphasizing growing i3 electric car sales in light of criticism leveled at SUVs as gas guzzlers. “This is a worldwide growing segment.”
BMW is in the middle of a 12-billion euro ($14 billion) cost-cutting drive to combat rising costs in the shift to electric cars, with demand wobbles adding to the challenges of executing the industry’s generational transformation. BMW’s second-quarter operating profit tumbled 20%, against a backdrop of surging capital expenditures for retooling factories to switch between battery-powered and conventional vehicles.
The global car market is performing “worse than expected” as economies slow this year, according to Peter, who still sees the premium segment and BMW sales to rise next year.
Tensions over how to execute the electric-car shift already toppled former BMW Chief Executive Officer Harald Krueger after just one term, with former production head Oliver Zipse taking the helm in August. Zipse foresees a gradual increase in demand for electric cars, making a flexible production setup pivotal. The company plans to have 25 electric and hybrid models by 2023, with over half of those being fully electric.
BMW was “committed” to reaching tough new rules in the European Union from next year on carbon dioxide fleet emissions, he said.
Deliveries for the company have held up comparatively well, thanks to a record new and revamped models to rise 1.9% through August. The company, also facing fallout from a potential hard Brexit at its Mini city car plant in the U.K., expects earnings before tax for the year to fall “well below” 2018 levels. It’s due to report third-quarter earnings Nov. 6.
To contact the reporter on this story: Oliver Sachgau in Munich at firstname.lastname@example.org
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at email@example.com, Elisabeth Behrmann
©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

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ABOUT 100 of the youngest and brightest entrepreneurs were recognised for their contributions towards the Malaysian economy at the 100 Most Influential Young Entrepreneurs (100 MIYE) awards gala dinner.
The event hosted by Armani Media Sdn Bhd was held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre early this month.
It was attended by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof.
Among the winners were singer Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, squash queen Datuk Nicol David and badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
Top Glove Corporation Bhd founder and executive chairman Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai was conferred a special 100 MIYE 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of documented accomplishments in the field of entrepreneurship and his commitment in coaching and developing other young entrepreneurs.
“We have spoken a lot about how we hope to have entrepreneurs who will drive the nation forward in terms of economy, development and growth, ” said Dr Mahathir in his opening speech.
“To some, it may sound only about profit, monetary gains and bottom lines. But as we strive to create successful economic models through entrepreneurship, it is important that our entrepreneurs grow alongside noble values – integrity and honesty.”
The event saw 1, 300 participants comprising entrepreneurs from various industries, including celebrities, interior designers, medical practitioners and manufacturers. This year’s award ceremony had the most number of participants compared to the last four years.
“I feel humbled. This recognition is for my team and customers who believed in us from day one, ” Oxwhite Pte Ltd founder and one of the winners of the 100 MIYE award CK Chang.
“With this award, I have more weight on my shoulders so I have to exceed my customers’ expectations.”
Armani Media Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk KK Chua said one of the winners approached him to be in the photo with him and his parents.
“He wanted to share the joy of winning the award with his loved ones, and I was grateful to share the happy moment with them. I’m glad the award made an impact on someone’s life, ” said Chua.
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Week in Review: March 23, 2018
YouTube set to restrict videos promoting the sale and manufacturing of firearms
YouTube announced a change in its policy concerning content featuring firearms which will go live next month, reports the New York Times. The new restrictions come on the heels of new YouTube moderation policies on hoax videos, after a number of conspiracy theories circulated on the platform following the Parkland shooting.
While YouTube had already banned the sale of firearms through the platform and blocked videos instructing users how to alter their firearms discharge rate, the new policy will prohibit even further certain content featuring firearms. According to YouTube’s support page, videos that intend to sell firearms and certain firearm accessories, videos providing instruction in manufacturing and converting firearms into automatic firing, and videos instructing viewers on how to assemble firearms will all be prohibited on the website.
In response to the news and seeking a platform, prominent gun vloggers announced that they will move their videos to PornHub, a pornography website, reports the BBC. Other platforms have made similar moves in recent years. According to The New York Times report, “In 2016, Facebook announced a ban on private gun sales on its flagship website as well as on Instagram, the photo-sharing social network it owns. Anti-gun activists have complained that sellers still found ways around Facebook’s ban.”
U.S. Senate passes FOSTAThe U.S. Senate approved the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) which will make websites liable for knowingly hosting sex trafficking on their platforms, reports Wired. The bill, which contains language adapted from the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA), has been the subject of controversy as it amends what Wired calls a “bedrock tech law”—Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which immunizes website from legal liability for their users’ posts and content.
In a joint statement in support of the bill, advocacy groups and trafficking survivors wrote that “Section 230 has allowed the Wild West of the Internet to proliferate with no incentive to keep the dark side of technology at bay.” However, civil liberties groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation have opposed the bill, arguing that it does not help fight sex trafficking and would lead to greater censorship of user speech. In a blog post posted after the bill passed, EFF writes that “no matter what methods platforms use to mitigate their risk, one thing is certain: when platforms choose to err on the side of censorship, marginalized voices are censored disproportionately.”
FOSTA’s approval has already caused tech companies to change their policies; the popular website Craigslist removed its personals section, redirecting users to a statement about personal section misuse: “We can't take such risk without jeopardizing all our other services, so we are regretfully taking craigslist personals offline. Hopefully we can bring them back some day.”


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The investment was designed in response to growing global demand for WPI, which is typically used in applications including sports and performance nutrition and infant nutritional formulations.
WPI is the purest form of whey protein available – containing around 85% to 95% pure protein. It is extracted through a process called microfiltration, followed by natural concentration and drying processes.
The €21m spent on the WPI facility marks the culmination of a total €107m investment by DII since 2007.
In line with its latest investment, Glanbia commissioned Ernst & Young to undertake an economic assessment of its DII business.
Ernst & Young predicted that Glanbia’s milk expansion plans and those of its suppliers following the European Union (EU) milk quota abolition in 2015 will provide an annual economic boost of €510m by 2020.
Higher economic impact
Earlier this year, Glanbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its majority shareholder, Glanbia Co-operative Society Ltd, to form a joint venture in respect of its DII business.
Under the agreement, Glanbia will hold a 40% interest in the business, which will be known as Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GII), while Glanbia Co-operative Society Ltd will control the remaining 60% share.
A new €180m GII processing facility will be built in Belview, County Kilkenny to meet the increased processing demands created by the milk quota abolition.
Ernst & Young forecasts that the total impact of GII’s expanded production operations on the Irish economy will increase from €1.54bn in 2011 to €2.05bn in 2020.
Direct and indirect employment from the business will also increase by 1,850 full time jobs to 7,500, Ernst & Young added.
“Ernst & Young’s analysis reports that investment by GII and milk suppliers would have a higher economic impact than Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as all of the volume growth would be exported and because domestically sourced inputs form a significantly larger share of total inputs,” said a Glanbia statement.
“Significant” economic contribution
Irish Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan officially opened the WPI investment. He applauded Glanbia’s investment and expansion efforts.
“The leadership shown by Glanbia Dairy Ingredients Ireland is further proof that the food sector can be central to rebuilding the Irish economy,” said Hogan.
According to Glanbia DII CEO Jim Bergin, the contribution of farmers and food processors to Irish economic recovery is “significant” – with every €1 investment in Irish dairy expected to generate an economic impact of €2.
“Glanbia’s milk expansion plans will create substantial employment and a much needed economic and export dividend,” he said.


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If the pre-holiday shopping numbers are any indication, it’s going to be a rough season for retailers.
Retail sales last week slid 0.5 percent from the same week a year ago, the Instinet Research Redbook Average reported. There was an increase of 1 percent for the first week of November.
The numbers from another bank, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, make the situation look even bleaker. The index of seven major discount, department and chain stores showed that sales slid 1.2 percent last week after a 0.5 percent gain the previous week.
As the holiday selling season approaches, sales usually increase.
“The month is backloaded,” said Mike Niemira, economist for the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, with sales expected to come in late November. “There are some promotional shifts to accelerate this week’s sales,” to start off the sales acceleration.
However, he said, because of the economy and uncertainty about a war with Iraq, “retailers have said we’ll have to wait until the very end,” of the season. He added, “Retailers don’t even know how to plan for these weeks. It’s messy at best.”
And retailers will not hesitate to use tricks, like sales promotions, to lure consumers into the stores.
“There will be a lot of discounting, making numbers seem weaker,” Niemira said. Still, he expects the industry to show an average sales increase of 3 percent for the season – “1 percent in November and 5 percent in December.”
Retailers are starting the season off at a distinct disadvantage, as there are six fewer days between Thanksgiving, the historic kick-off of the holiday shopping season, and Christmas.
“The shorter season should mean more consistent sales at the beginning of the month which we haven’t seen for years,” Niemira said, adding, “The shorter season has a silver lining for the industry with lower labor costs which goes to the bottom line.”


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Europe’s largest dairy co-op, FrieslandCampina, has announced it will pay producers a premium for higher-quality milk with sustainable attributes.
The new “Top Dairy” line will reward higher animal welfare, biodiversity and lower greenhouse gas emissions with a price premium believed to be about 10 eurocents/litre (9p/litre).
Discussions are under way over exactly what will qualify producers to sell into the new line, with products expected to hit shops in the first quarter of 2019.
Expansion for producers on the new tariff will be allowed proportionately, in line with the demand the new line of high-welfare products creates.
“By accelerating our sustainability efforts, we set the bar higher for dairy in general,” said Hein Schumacher, CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina.
“Increasingly better nutrition for our consumers and a good living for our dairy farmers. This is what it’s all about, now and in the future,” he added.
Frans Keurentjes, chairman of Zuivelcoöperatie, the co-op that owns FrieslandCampina, said sustainable milk would pay off for the business’ producers.
“Being one of the leading dairy co-operatives in the world, we ask our members to show strong commitment to meeting the demand for more sustainable and special milk flows.”
He added, “In addition to the higher payment for sustainability, we are aiming at well-balanced and market-driven growth. This will help us create a co-operative in which a next generation of farmers is guaranteed a future.”
In April, the processor’s 18,645 European dairy farmers in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium were paid 29.29p/litre for milk with constituent contents of 4% butterfat and 3.3% protein.


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February 8, 2011 § 1 Comment
A few weeks ago, Motorola had on its hands, two certifiably hyped up and much wanted devices- the Atrix 4G superphone launching on AT&T and the Xoom tablet launching on Verizon. What was known was that the devices had some of the best technical specs in their respective fledgling categories and also boasted the Motorola stamp of quality- one that has good street cred with the success of the Droid platform. Also in tow was their excellent experience in crafting cool Android products. In all, a win-win. Coinciding with the split of the company and the launch of Motorola Mobility (NASDAQ: MMI), this was to be a rebirth of the iconic Motorola brand with a new identity.
What has followed is a very puzzling pricing strategy that threatens to kill all the buzz surrounding these products (if the Internet forums are to be believed). The Atrix was supposed to be ATT and Motorola’s champion against iPhone on Verizon. And from a product stand point, it still is. But from a cost standpoint, it has the possibility of falling short of its lofty goals. The phone has been priced at $199 on a 2 year contract but the Atrix accessories which include a cool laptop dock and an entertainment dock have both been priced significantly out of a normal person’s reach. The dock costs $300 when bought along with the phone (total $500) and $500 if bought separately. To note, a brand new iPad costs $500 in comparison. The entertainment dock comes with a wireless keyboard and a mouse for $200. Full pricing details are available here. To me, it seems like the pricing does not reflect that of its competition and does not capitalize on the uniqueness of its accessories. If there is a hidden secret sauce here, I am missing it. The Atrix looks like one of the coolest devices to be launched this year, one I was seriously considering upgrading to. At this price point, I am not sure if I can afford it.
The Xoom tablet was officially launched to the American public with a Superbowl ad that reminded us of the iconic Apple 1984 ad, just that Apple was “The Man” this time around. Earlier in the month, Google and Motorola had previewed the tablet and the new Android Honeycomb OS that will power it. People (and yours truly) were really excited for the tablet. It looked and played cool. And then came the hammer that the Xoom would cost $800. Yep, the first genuine iPad competitor (ignoring the Samsung Galaxy tab which was running an Android version designed for smartphones) will cost almost twice as much. Yes, I agree that the $800 Xoom has inbuilt 3G which the $499 iPad does not. But people tend to compare apples to oranges all the time. And the barrier of entry is much higher for the Xoom than the iPad. In addition, the VZ data plans for tablets are pretty expensive (not that any tablet 3G plan is cheap). All in all, the Xoom is going to have a tough time matching the iPad sales numbers which is a pity considering that it looks and feels like a fantastic product- comparable if not better than the iPad.
I am no business executive or finance maven but in my humble opinion, Motorola should have launched a WiFi only SKU comparable in price to the iPad. The WAN version should have been priced closer to the iPad 3G price ($630) although Apple has immense pricing flexibility due to their purchase volumes ( I should someday write a post on Apple’s excellent supply chain management). The Atrix accessories should have been much cheaper. If you think the laptop dock to be really a screen with a connector and 15 inch LCD screens costing less than $80 in the market (cheaper with more volume) pricing it at $300 or worse still $500 puts it out of the reach of very many people. Until this changes, Motorola has lost a surefire customer in me for the Atrix and a possible customer for the Xoom.
I didn’t think there would be a day where the “premium” Apple products are also the most affordable ones in their segment. To be clear, I am not blaming Motorola for all this. It is probably a mixture of costs, strategy and also carrier constraints which are driving the pricing but it is something that is worth a revisit. For my sake if not anyone else 😦
Update: To validate the barrier for entry point, HP/Palm just announced the TouchPad tablet with webOS and the first model to ship will be Wi-Fi only. Well played HP/Palm. Very smart business move. More on the TouchPad here and here. I will write a separate blog post on this topic soon.
May 12, 2010 § 1 Comment
The iPad is about to have some serious competition. In the marketplace today, the iPad is numero uno when it comes to a must have tablet computer. That might soon change if Google, HP, Lenovo and a myriad of competitors have their way. It is public knowledge that Google is working on a tablet that runs one of its Chromium/Android OS. This much was revealed a few weeks back here. There is even a cool video with a mockup of a tablet running the OS. Fast forward to today where there is tremendous anticipation for an iPhone that runs on Verizon. For everyone complaining about ATT’s network being an impediment to using the iPhone, this was going to be the Holy Grail. Engadget dug up the ATT-iPhone contract details that confirmed that the exclusivity expired not in 2010 as many had predicted but in 2012. This implied that Verizon would have to wait to get the iPhone.
In the meantime, the Verizon – Google partnership on the Droid handsets is flourishing. All the Android devices on Verizon are selling extremely well and are proving to be a cash cow to Verizon. All of a sudden, for haters of ATT network, there is a lot of smartphone love with The Big Red. So it was no surprise when WSJ and Bloomberg leaked information yesterday of a collaboration between Verizon and Google to bring the Google tablet on their network. This makes sense in a lot of ways. Google gets to continue its oneupmanship battle with Apple. Verizon gets to call a tablet its own and the consumer has choice in the tablet segment.TechCrunch breaks this equation down here.
Eventually HP will get into the tablet business with a webOS based Hurricane tablet. Microsoft is already in the tablet business to retain its competitive edge in the OS segment. So a bevy of vendors will tote out Win7 tablets in the coming months. The Lenovo U1 IdeaPad met with good initial response when unveiled at CES. It remains to be seen if it ends up as a meaningful competitor. The iPad will now have to fight it out with multiple tablets featuring different OS’s each with its pros and cons. It will also have to keep upping the ante on the e-Reader front against the Kindle, Nook and the upcoming Kobo from Borders.
For the consumer, it is a win-win. Competition as always forces innovation and price wars. It also means there is an alternative. Bring on the tablets!
April 18, 2010 § Leave a comment
Since its announcement on Jan 8, 2009, the Palm webOS mobile operating system has garnered quite a bit of attention in the mobile world and why not. Being the pioneer in the PDA segment with the original Palm Pilot, Palm’s fortunes had dwindled in recent years. The webOS was destined to be the knight in shining armor for a once beacon and now wounded warrior in the industry. Early reviews of the Palm Pre were generally positive and those of the webOS were extremely positive. But the simultaneous assault of the tremendously popular iPhone OS and the rapidly growing Android ecosystem not to mention the millions of Crackberry faithful, has put the future of the promising webOS in question.
The last few months have seen the stock plummet (chart) and some high profile executive changes. With disappointing 2Q results, there is tremendous pressure on the management to sell the company to the highest bidder (link1)(link 2). Analysts are all over the place running their calculations to compute the fair value per share if there was a buyout. Amidst all this, Palm has announced that it is coming to ATT in the US and Vodafone and O2 in Europe. It has also announced in recent months, a foray into 3D gaming on its platform. All this is heartening to see when there is so much confusion and speculation surrounding its future.
One only hopes that Palm manages to survive and provide meaningful competition to the iPhone and Android OS. The webOS is a very innovative mobile OS that has forced Google and Apple to rethink some key features in their road-maps and such innovation is good for the industry and the user community as a whole. Everyone benefits!


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The competition evolved from last year's Make it Wearable challenge, which was won by the Nixie wearable drone concept. The new format will encourage participants to create not only wearable devices, but also smart connected consumer products.
Contestants will have to use Intel's button-sized Curie development module, a low-power platform conceptualised for wearable applications. Curie is a complete SoC consisting of an Intel Quark processor, integrated sensors, flash memory, and communications hardware. Intel announced Curie at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2015.
The show will air on Turner's TBS and have an important social media component. On stage at Intel's annual Developer Conference in San Francisco, Burnett described the project as his most exciting new property.
Potential entrants must submit a video audition before October 2, 2015, detailing their ideas, the problems they hope to solve, and why they want to participate. The contest is only open to residents of the United States.
Disclosure: Intel sponsored the correspondent's flights and hotel for the event in San Francisco.


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BANGOR, Maine — Ammunition and gun experts at the 36th annual Bangor Gun Show said there are a lot of rumors floating around about why there is an ammunition shortage, but they say it simply comes down to supply and demand.
“People are concerned they won’t be able to get it, that our Second Amendment is under attack, so they’re buying all they can,” ammunitions dealer Jeff Holt, who with wife, Nancy, are the owners and operators of Farmington-based Appalachian Ammunition Inc., said standing behind a table covered with bullets.
People are having a hard time finding the popular stuff — .22-caliber long rifle, .45-caliber, .223-caliber and 9 mm, said Buyers Guns shop owner Ralph McLeod of Holden
“They’re definitely hard to come by,” he said at the show, while holding a 1861 Richmond, Va. Confederate musket. “Ammo is in such high demand and in such short supply.”
Gun owners who were once satisfied with having a box of bullets in the gun cabinet have changed their minds, McLeod said.
“Now, they want a lifetime supply,” he said.
Larger retailers like Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods now have regulations in place to limit customers to just three boxes, the Holden gun shop owner said. Even so, the most popular brands are typically gone quickly, McLeod noted.
People fear future regulation and that is why the demand is so high, the ammunition and gun experts at the Bangor Gun Show said.
“We have a pretty good salesman down in Washington,” Holt said, referring to President Barack Obama, who the National Rifle Association, advertised during the elections would be the “most anti-gun president in American history.”
“People fear that there will be more regulations or bans,” said Shane Mowrey of Houlton, owner of Trident Ammunition, who has been in the gun business for 22 years, the last five in ammunitions.
He said that people have repeatedly told him, “If you tell me I can’t have it, then I want it.”
The price of ammunition has also increased dramatically.
“Last year, I was selling [ammunition] for $1 a box and $10 a brick of 10,” McLeod said. “Now, the cheap price is $5 a box and $50 for a brick of 10, so it’s gone up five times.”
This is not the first time the country, and Maine has experienced a firearm and ammo frenzy. A similar situation occurred when Obama was first elected in 2009, when sales for assault weapons, then handgun, then ammunition spiked, Maine Military Supply owner Frank Spizuoco said at the time.
When Obama responded to a question about gun control during the second presidential debate last fall by saying “weapons that were designed for soldiers in war theaters don’t belong on our streets,” gun sales spiked, Maine gun shop owners said at the time.
The president unveiled the biggest gun control push in decades in January. He wants to eliminate a loophole that allows private gun sales without a criminal background check, and also is asking Congress to enact a new federal gun trafficking law to prevent gun sales from occurring over state lines and to reactivate a 1994 Congressional ban of 19 types of assault weapons that was allowed to sunset in 2004.
Gun and ammo sales peaked last fall and in January. They have since started to abate, longtime Bangor Gun Show organizer Charlie Rumsey said Saturday as people milled past the various tables covered with guns, knives and other weapons, ammunition and supplies.
In addition to increased domestic sales based on fears of future regulation, a federal ban on importing ammunition has put additional strain on U.S. manufacturers to keep up, Rumsey said.
“The American companies are struggling to keep up, and prices have skyrocketed,” he said.
For ammunition makers like Beals resident Dennis Smorch, who loads bullets for himself, and Holt, who makes them to sell, sometimes finding the four components needed to make a bullet has been the problem.
“You need a case, projectile, powder and primer [to make a bullet], and if you go ahead and order all four of them and only three of them show up, you’re in trouble.”
Smorch said he’s always on the lookout for a good deal on the components because, “The price is just ridiculous.” He found some primers at the Trident table that “ain’t too bad” price wise, he said, and purchased them.
The manufacturers who make rounds or the four components needed to make bullets are catching up with demand, both Rumsey and Holt said.
“It’s starting to calm down,” Rumsey said. “Anytime you see a supply is going to be short, people get that hoarding mentality. When there is a storm coming, we’re going to out to the store to get milk, water and bread. It’s the same thing.”
All the proceeds from the annual gun show help fund college scholarships for students studying wildlife conservation or wildlife law enforcement at the University of Maine and Unity College, Rumsey said.


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MTY Food Group has completed its acquisition of BBQ Holdings, the parent of Famous Dave's, Bakers Square and seven other concepts.
Montreal-based MTY, which owns more than 80 restaurant brands including Papa Murphy's and Cold Stone Creamery, is taking BBQ private for $17.25 a share. It will give the brand collector a bigger presence in the U.S. and adds some full-service flavor to its family of concepts.
The deal was valued at $200 million when it was announced in August and includes BBQ Holdings' debt.
It's a marriage of two highly acquisitive companies. MTY has been on a buying binge since 2016, when it acquired Pinkberry owner Kahala Brands. It now has nearly 7,000 units in North America—including about 4,000 in the U.S.—most of them franchised. BBQ began adding concepts in 2020 under the guidance of CEO Jeff Crivello, who has worked to buy up concepts that can be mixed and matched with one another through co-branding and ghost kitchens.
BBQ's brands are mainly full-service chains such as Village Inn, Granite City Food & Brewery and Tahoe Joe's. It has more than 300 locations and expected to reach 366 by the end of this year.
Its strategy won't change under its new owner, Crivello told Restaurant Business last month. In fact, MTY's large family of brands gives BBQ even more concepts to play with.
“With 80 brands, there’s just a lot that we can fold together,” Crivello said at the time. “All the pieces of the puzzle are on the table.”
Crivello will remain in charge of BBQ's brands and its headquarters will stay in Minnetonka, Minn.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.


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Putting ‘Europe’s Biggest Cannabis Farm’ Bust Into Context
Historically, I have always shied away from writing about cannabis busts. Having been present at no less than 3 no-knock raids in my youth, and having guns pointed at my face during the course of the raids, I know firsthand how traumatic the experience can be. Many members of my family have also been subjected to the practice due to cannabis prohibition.
With that being said, there was a recent cannabis bust in Europe that I felt was worthy of discussion. The bust occurred in rural Spain, and international media coverage ran with the claim that it was the ‘biggest cannabis farm’ in Europe. The numbers involved were definitely significant – over 415,000 plants ‘worth up to €100m.’ Per Sky News:
Police have raided what is believed to be Europe’s biggest cannabis farm in Spain.
Officers destroyed 415,000 hemp plants, worth up to €100m (more than £83m) at a plantation in the rural northern region of Navarre.
Around 50 tonnes of the plant were being dried in a warehouse to be processed into cannabidiol (CBD) – a non-psychoactive compound increasingly used to treat health conditions including anxiety and insomnia.
If you are like me, then you locked in on that last sentence in the cited media coverage. The plants involved were not high-THC strains. Rather, they were hemp plants and were being cultivated for the sole purpose of producing CBD products.
CBD is legal in Spain, yet, cultivating cannabis outside of very limited circumstances is still prohibited. Cannabis can be cultivated for making textiles, producing seeds, and for medical research purposes in Spain. In all of those instances, a government license is required, and it appears that the farm where this bust occurred did not have a license.
The number of plants involved in this case in Spain may seem like an enormous amount, however, it’s important to put the operation into context. The entire operation was roughly 166 acres in size. As far back as 2015, at least one farm in the United States had an operation that was nearly twice the size of this one in Spain, and it was operating legally.
According to data from 2019, at that time nearly two dozen countries in Europe had legal hemp industries that cultivated more than 166 acres. France alone had over 44,000 acres (converted from hectares) of agricultural land dedicated to cultivating hemp according to the previously cited data. If the people in Spain operating the farm at the heart of this article were doing so without a license, so be it.
However, when people read sensational headlines involving hundreds of thousands of plants ‘worth up to 100 million euros’ it’s important for people to keep in mind that it was hemp plants being cultivated for CBD purposes and that there are legal hemp farms out there that completely dwarf the size of the farm in question in Spain. Always make sure to sidestep the reefer madness propaganda and keep things in perspective when reading media coverage.


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California plastic-bag ban bill hung up in labor squabble
Updated 9:10 am, Wednesday, August 27, 2014
The move to ban plastic bags at California grocery and other retail stores has fallen victim in the Legislature to labor's fight with nonunion stores like Walmart and the pending merger of Safeway and Albertsons.
The California Grocers Association and the California Retailers Association, whose members stand to make millions for charging 10 cents apiece for paper bags that would still be available under the plastic ban, have been pushing hard for a ban bill for months. But on Monday, the legislation fell three votes short of passage in the Assembly after one of the grocers' biggest allies - the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union - pulled its support.
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- Bay Area brews you have to try Ted Andersen, SFGATE
What changed? For starters, there's the pending mega-merger of Albertsons and Safeway. The union, fearing the consolidation will kill jobs, has been pushing the Legislature for a "retention bill" to help protect positions, or at least guarantee financial help to workers if they are laid off.
The California Retailers Association successfully lobbied to block the effort, still in its infancy. "Last week, we killed the grocery retention bill, and this week, obviously, they thought about what we had done and voted to oppose the bag bill," said retail association boss Bill Dombrowski.
Not so, says Jim Araby, the union's executive director. "It was never part of the decision for us to change our support," he said.
Instead, Araby cites the lack of guarantees that the 10-cent bag fee won't go straight into grocers' pockets.
"There's no enforcement mechanism to ensure the 10-cent fee stays at the local store and helps the local community," the union said in a letter to Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego.
The union also cited a "serious problem among large, nonunion grocery stores" that haven't opened their arms to labor representation.
Araby cited Walmart, El Super in Southern California, Vallarta Supermarkets in the Central Valley and Mi Pueblo in the Bay Area.
He says the union is still prepared to support the bill by state Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima (Los Angeles County) - but only if the 10-cent charge is removed.
Early-warning cost: In the aftermath of the Napa quake, attention is ramping up on how to turn a nascent early-warning system into a statewide alert network.
For about $50,000, BART is already on the system. It gets a 10-second heads-up that automatically slows trains to lessen the chances of derailing in a big shake.
The estimated cost of taking the warning statewide, however, is closer to $80 million.
The problem is that neither Gov. Jerry Brown nor state lawmakers - all still facing a "wall of debt" - are willing to spend that kind of money out of the general fund.
State Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima (Los Angeles County), who is pushing for the statewide system - which would include warnings on your smartphone - is suggesting using a mix of federal funds, money from the $7 billion water bond on the November ballot or even high-speed-rail money to cover the setup costs.
However, according to the state Office of Emergency Services, another $10 million to $15 million a year will be needed to maintain and operate the system.
Emergency Services head Mark Ghilarducci is hoping to put together a public-private partnership to cover the costs - one that would probably include a charge for users.
Whatever the outcome, Ghilarducci said, the warning system needs to be fully funded and not subject to the state's mercurial finances.
"There's a good budget. There's a bad budget," Ghilarducci said. "With this kind of system it has to be 100 percent."
The two "masters of disaster" also jointly represent Democratic hedge fund manager and environmental activist Tom Steyer, who is spending millions on ads to fight climate change naysayers - even as Perry has called himself a climate change "skeptic."
"I keep some of these things separate," Lehane said.
"You should call Mark."
We did. He didn't call back.
San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org Twitter: @matierandross


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LONDON — Anheuser-Busch InBev stepped up public pressure on Thursday, a day after SABMiller’s board rejected an offer from its brewing rival.
Anheuser-Busch InBev said on Thursday that it was “surprised” that SABMiller determined the latest takeover offer — its third in recent weeks — “still very substantially undervalues” the company, saying that claim “lacks credibility.”
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the brewing giant behind Budweiser and Stella Artois, is pressing ahead in hopes of securing the largest beer merger in history before a looming deadline.
Under British takeover rules, it has until Wednesday to make what is considered a formal offer for SABMiller or to walk away for up to six months. Under British law, the proposals so far have not been considered formal offers.
The latest rejection came despite support for the deal from the American tobacco giant Altria Group, which owns about 27 percent of SABMiller. The offer includes an option for Altria and other investors to accept a portion of the offer in restricted shares instead of cash.
“Notwithstanding our good-faith efforts, the board of SABMiller has refused to meaningfully engage with us,” Carlos Brito, Anheuser-Busch InBev’s chief executive, said in a news release. “Our proposal creates significant value for everybody.”
“How long will it be before shareholders see a value of over GBP 42 in the absence of an offer from AB InBev?” he added. “If shareholders agree that we should be in proper discussions, they should voice their views and should not allow the board of SABMiller to frustrate this process and let this opportunity slip away.”
On Thursday, a spokesman for SABMiller said, “We’ve noted their announcement, it contains nothing new.”
Under the terms of the latest bid, Anheuser-Busch InBev said it would be willing to pay 42.15 pounds, or about $64.40, a share in cash for SABMiller. That would value the company at as much as $104 billion.
But the bid includes a precondition that would require SABMiller’s largest shareholders to agree to support the deal and accept shares in lieu of cash at a rate of £37.49 a share, a discount to the cash price. As a result, Anheuser-Busch InBev would most likely pay £65.1 billion, or about $99 billion.
By offering an option to accept a portion of the deal in shares, Anheuser-Busch InBev is hoping to entice SABMiller’s two largest shareholders — Altria and the Santo Domingo family of Colombia — to accept the deal. Both would face huge tax bills if they sold their holdings.
The share offer would consist of a restricted class of up to 326 million Anheuser-Busch InBev shares. The stock would be unlisted and convertible into regular Anheuser-Busch InBev shares after a five-year lockup period, Anheuser-Busch InBev said.
Shares of SABMiller closed up less than 1 percent to £36.41 in trading in London on Wednesday. In trading in Brussels, shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev ended down nearly 1.2 percent, at 97.50 euros.
On Wednesday, SABMiller’s board, excluding directors nominated by Altria, rejected the latest proposal, saying in a news release that the revised bid “still very substantially undervalues SABMiller, its unique and unmatched footprint, and its stand-alone prospects.”
Anheuser-Busch InBev said on Wednesday that it “does not currently have the support” of the Santo Domingo family, whose BevCo owns 14 percent.
The deal, if it were to be completed, would create a combined company with $64 billion in annual revenue that commands 30 percent of global beer sales.
It would also bring some of the world’s most popular beers under one roof, including Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois, and SABMiller’s Miller Lite, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Grolsch.
Any deal between the brewing giants would most likely face significant regulatory scrutiny, given the breadth of their combined beer brands and their dominance in the United States and other countries.
“Together with its advisers, AB InBev has done significant work on regulatory matters and has identified solutions that provide a clear path to closing,” Anheuser-Busch InBev said on Thursday. “AB InBev intends to work proactively with regulators to resolve any concerns.”


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HomeUncategorizedDisplaced Mon Repos vendors welcome commitment to complete stalls next month
Displaced Mon Repos vendors welcome commitment to complete stalls next month
March 25, 2023
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall (Photo: News Room/November 2, 2022)
She explained that at this meeting, the vendors and the ministry agreed that the stalls inside of the market will be built according to the vendors’ request. During a previous meeting between the two parties, the vendors shared their dismay with the sizes of the stalls. Though the size has not changed from 4×5 feet in dimension, the vendors welcome the ministry’s effort to consult before construction.
With this new agreement, the vendors hope they can soon return to selling in the comfort of their stalls.
The vendors moved out of the market in February 2022 and were told this would only be for seven months. Now, they are faced with challenges such as rain and customers not being able to find them at their temporary location.
On Friday, the vendors went to the Lusignan market for the weekly ‘market day’ sales. Nanjanie Meusa said she is still frustrated with the long wait but hopeful that she can soon return to the market.
“It really, really hard on us because they promised that they will finish the market in a short time and we still out here punishing,” she complained. The woman said she has to pay $1,200 to travel to the market every day and when it rains they are very uncomfortable.
Another vendor, Annie Samsir said she prefers to wait for a solid structure than to rush and be uncomfortable.
“We want the market done but we have to wait. We can’t hurry because they have to take their time and make it because we want everything to be okay when we go in. not when we go in we can’t be properly,” she said.
While the displaced vendors await the construction of their stalls, the western side of the market will soon be under construction. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall has said that the construction of the third phase will be completed in about three or four months.
Contracting firm – Mohamed Rahim and Sons – undertook the $63 million project. The contract to rehabilitate the market was awarded in November 2021.


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AWS Re:Invent LAS VEGAS: Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a lot of new products this week, but its Private 5G offer is perhaps the one that’s grabbed the most attention. The news was greeted with speculation that AWS is looking to go head-to-head with operators on 5G, positioning itself as a competitor rather than a collaborator. But AWS executives and AvidThink analyst Roy Chua told Fierce that’s really not the case.
For those not already in the know, AWS’ Private 5G product is a fully-managed private wireless system which uses CBRS spectrum (3.5GHz spectrum) and a pay-as-you-go pricing model. A thorough rundown of everything included in the solution can be found here.
On the surface it might seem like AWS is mounting a challenge to traditional wireless operators, many of which are peddling private 5G to enterprise customers. But Chua said if you dig deeper, it’s clear that’s not AWS’ end game.
First, he noted the system AWS put on the table is really more of a “starter kit” for private 5G than a fully fledged system like the ones vendors like Nokia and Ericsson provide. Additionally, while CBRS will allow it to undertake solo deployments in the U.S., different spectrum regulations in other countries mean it will likely have to partner with operators to go to market in other areas.
RELATED: AWS surprises with AWS Private 5G
“It’s a wake up call, not a weapon,” Chua said. “They did this because they were frustrated with what they were seeing with uptake of private 5G and the high cost and complexity around the solutions that are on the market today.” He explained that thus far there’s been a very high barrier to entry for enterprises looking at private 5G, with deployment costs ranging upward from $250,000.
“For enterprises who don’t quite know yet, they just want a simple solution they can try out and play around with,” which is what the AWS offer provides, he said. But if and when it comes time to scale that up “it’s not clear to me that AWS itself will be able to fulfill that or want to fulfill that, and I think that's where the CSPs [communications service providers] actually fit in.”
While AWS could really go after the private 5G market with substantial investment, Chua doesn’t think it will. To him, partnering with telcos makes more sense for AWS strategically.
“It should be viewed as an acceleration of the market,” he said. Chua added the money for Amazon isn’t in private 5G but in privatization and digital transformation more generally. If those take off, AWS captures that market with its computing and infrastructure solutions.
Chua’s view is supported by comments from AWS executives, who have stated the company is looking to collaborate, not compete, with CSPs. AWS VP of Engineering Bill Vass explicitly told Fierce it sees itself “as a partner, not a competitor” to operators when asked about the Private 5G offer. "Our goal is ultimately to make it easy for people to connect," he said.
Ishwar Parulkar, AWS’ Chief Technologist for Telecom and Edge Cloud, and Adolfo Hernandez, VP of AWS’ Global Telco Business Unit, made similar statements. In a breakout session at re:Invent, Parulkar stressed it is looking “for potential collaboration opportunities with our telco customers.”
“They bring a lot of assets like spectrum, experience in managing networks and operating networks, so we’re looking at how we can integrate that into offering this service to our customers,” he said. Parulkar added partnering could also benefit telcos by increasing their spectrum utilization and monetization opportunities.


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DigiTimes writes Taiwanese motherboard makers will likely reduce or even suspend their efforts to develop Intel-based motherboards with chipsets from ATI, while switching more resources to the development of models with ATI's AMD-based chipsets.
Local motherboard makers are increasingly concerned that the AMD-ATI merger would cause a discontinuation or shortage in supply of ATI chipsets supporting Intel's platform, with the makers citing as a precedent the shortage of ATI's southbridge chips early this year when Nvidia completed its takeover of Taiwan-based ULi Electronics, which previously bundled its southbridge chips with ATI's northbridge parts.
Motherboard maker Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) is now re-assessing its plan to launch Intel-based motherboards based on the ATI RD600 northbridge and ATI RS600 IGP product, according to the sources.
It's also expected that AMD will soon bundle processors with ATI chipsets to make them more attactive in the OEM PC market. More info over here.


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9785 SW River Rd, Hillsboro, OR
16305 SW Barrows Rd, Beaverton, OR
14700 SW Murray Scholls Dr, Beaverton, OR
21370 SW Langer Farms Pkwy, Sherwood, OR
I think schools should have fast food. Do you know how hard it is to keep up with
the machinery in a kitchen? How hard it it to know what every kid likes to eat?
Why Fast Food is “Healthier” Than School Lunches: The Shocking USDA Truth ...
the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which purchases meat for schools, ...
Dec 8, 2009 ... In the past three years, the government has provided the nation's schools with
millions of pounds of beef and chicken that wouldn't meet the ...
Aug 28, 2013 ... New federal regulations require healthier food in schools. But eating right takes
time – more time than many students have.
K–12 schools offer companies another opportunity to show critics they're serious
... School lunches must be fast and healthy, something fast food can help with.
Apr 9, 2013 ... These are foods sold outside the school meal program, including fast food items
sold alongside the reimbursable lunches, and soft drinks and ...
Dec 22, 2014 ... New study shows that kids who eat the most fast food have lower test scores in
science, math and reading.
Oct 13, 2014 ... London, England is making a play to ban new fast-food restaurants from opening
near schools: The Evening Standard reports Mayor Boris ...
In response to rising obesity rates nationally, 16 states have recently adopted
school nutrition policies.


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There is something different about Xiaomi. In fact, more than a tech company, it is a tech startup… a rarity in the mobile phone business. Why else would the vice-president of a global company be camped in Bangalore to oversee the launch? Why else would he be giving out his email address to everyone from journalists to customers? And why would he be replying to those queries personally? But then that is kind of company that Xiaomi is. The kind of company that cuts the prices of its cheapest smartphone by 15 per cent hours before announcing its India launch. The kind of company that dresses up its mascot in Indian attire. Not one, but representing eight different states, some of which are a bit too tough to guess even for people coming from there. But that is inconsequential. What is important is the message, the message that “we are trying to be India”.
Still basking in the success of its first launch, the Xiaomi Mi3, of which it has sold over 95,000 units in a handful of weekly flash sales, you would have expected the company to charge a small premium for its next phone, or at least hold on to its price. But Xiaomi’s very visible vice president Hugo Barra, who had an equally visible role during his celebrated stint at Google, says they can afford to take this cut, primarily because they don’t need to spend on marketing or advertising. “We will never spend on a full page newspaper ad… unless someone offers it for free,” Barra says categorically. That is the Xiaomi business model, a business model that believes in milking the social media to the fullest. When faced with a crisis of sorts after it came to light that the company could be sending some data to its servers in China, Barra took to Facebook to explain the matter. Resemblance to the present government at the Centre is purely coincidental. Or it isn’t. May be, just like the BJP, Xiaomi seems to believe that the pulse of this nation can be felt on social media.
But not everyone is happy with Xiaomi in India. For the 90,000-odd Mi3s that the company has sold since late July, it has also made thousands of buyers queue up virtually for a sale that lasts seconds, literally. India operations head Manu Kumar Jain, who earlier founded Jabong, says they have at least a couple of hundred thousand people waiting to buy the phone on flipkart.com at 2 pm every Tuesday. This mad rush is now going to be replicated for an even cheaper smartphone from Xiaomi, the Redmi 1S, which will be available for pre-booking today for the first sale on September 2. If Moto E made the Flipkart servers crash, then expect a repeat, maybe a in a lesser time for the 4.7-inch Redmi 1S is Rs 1,000 cheaper and packs much better specs than the budget phone from Motorola. Or so Xiaomi hopes.
Barra is convinced that this is the simplest model around. “The flash sale model we have in India is most similar to the model that we have in China where you do a pre-booking a week in advance,” he says. Buyers in Singapore and Malaysia don’t need to register as the “demand is predictable” enough for Xiaomi to handle. Both Barra and Jain agree that they underestimated the demand in India and won’t repeat the mistake with the Redmi 1S.
Barra knows that a lot of buyers, put off by the endless wait for the phone of their choice, are turning to Plan B and buying other models. Jain confirms that they have data to back this phenomenon, see after 2 pm every Tuesday. But Barra thinks it is great for e-commerce. After all, Xiaomi thinks of itself as a e-commerce company. “It would be an amazing thing for the country if we can contribute to the growth of e-commerce.” Yes, there is something different about Xiaomi.


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New holiday law to make online travel agents deliver better service
Great news for British Holidaygoers. A new type of package-holiday coverage will begin on July 1. It will cover many "flight plus" options as designed. Patrons are also entilted to a refund even if the Holidaymaker goes broke. #HolidayInsurance#YoureCovered#HolidayintheUK#TravelReady#Vacation#GoWithConfidence
With insurane under your belt, maybe another trip is in order. Grab this map to keep up with where you've been and where you're going from #TravelReadyCompany.
Ten million British travellers each year stand to benefit from a change in EU rules to extend package holiday protection. Europe’s Package Travel Directive takes effect in the UK from 1 July.


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Betty White talks Super Bowl ads, Robert Redford
Actress Betty White parlayed an appearance in a Super Bowl commercial for Snickers into a return to the mainstream consciousness this year. Now, she's teaming with Doritos and Pepsi Max to help someone else's dream come true.
With Super Bowl commercials being so popular, Doritos and Pepsi Max are looking to pay out a total of $5 million to the winners of its Super Bowl ad contest starting Sept. 27 and running through Nov. 15. Contestants can upload 30-second commercials for Doritos ...
Read full story


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As expected, chipmaker Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) has emerged a winner with Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) latest iPhones. The company grabbed additional chip content over what it provided in last year's iPhone 5c and 5s, according to a teardown from iFixit.
Let's take a closer look.
That's a lot of Qualcomm chips
According to iFixit,, Qualcomm supplies the following chips into the iPhone 6:
- MDM9625M LTE-Advanced modem
- PM8019 RF PMIC
- WRT1625L RF transceiver
- WFR1620 companion chip
- QFE1000 envelope tracker [Author's note: Qualcomm lists this part as the QFE1100 on its website]
This is a fairly sizable step up in chip content from what Qualcomm provided in the 5s, which last year's iFixit teardown said featured the following:
- MDM9615M LTE modem
- PM8018 RF PMIC
- WTR1605L RF transceiver
It looks like the new iPhones add an RF transceiver companion chip and an envelope tracker from Quaclomm. This probably isn't a huge amount of incremental content per phone, but even if the two chips add up to something like $1-$2 per phone, that's a pretty sizable chunk of additional revenue for Qualcomm's chip business.
Qualcomm's chip strategy is paying off
Qualcomm's chip strategy in mobile has clearly been an entire platform play. The company is already the leader in mobile applications processors and cellular modems, but it has been aggressively pursuing more total smartphone chip content.
Two well-publicized ways in which the company is trying to expand its presence in the smartphone market are through the supply of RF chips and connectivity products (i.e., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and near field communication). In this case, Qualcomm succeeded in landing the envelope tracking slot in the latest iPhones.
A potential double-edged sword: device average selling price
Qualcomm's technology licensing business, or QTL, generates revenue per 3G and/or 4G LTE device sold. Sanford C. Bernstein's Stacy Rasgon pointed out back in 2009 that Apple enjoys what he called a "licensing loophole."
This loophole essentially means Qualcomm only receives royalties on the price that Apple pays its contract manufacturers for the phones, rather than what Apple charges its customers for the devices.
Nevertheless, Credit Suisse estimates peg the manufacturing costs of Apple's latest iPhones at meaningfully higher than those of the prior-generation iPhone. This likely means Qualcomm will see a boost in the per-unit dollars that it receives from the sale of iPhones.
The offset, though, is that Apple is probably not only going to just service the base of users who would already buy iPhones. Instead, it will probably take some market share from Android players such as Samsung.
This would not only impact QTL, but also the chip business. In particular, many high-end Android phones feature even more Qualcomm chip content than the latest iPhones do, so direct substitution of a high-end Android phone sale for an iPhone means Qualcomm is receiving less chip-related revenue.
When all is said and done, Qualcomm's chip and technology licensing businesses have a bright and vibrant future outside of Apple's latest iPhones. Nevertheless, even in the worst-case scenario in which Apple takes share from high-value Qualcomm customers, it's better that Qualcomm is now grabbing more content per iPhone -- chip-wise and probably royalty-wise.
My guess is that the incremental revenue from customers who would buy Apple phones anyway will probably offset any mix down for Qualcomm as a result of share gains on Apple's part.
All in all, this is the long way of conveying a simple thought: Qualcomm should benefit from a blockbuster iPhone 6 and 6 Plus rollout.
Ashraf Eassa has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Qualcomm. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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The Asus Chromebit may be the first PC stick from Asus that’s available in the United States. But the company isn’t limiting its PC-on-a-stick products to models that run Chrome OS.
Now it looks like the QM1 is getting a hardware update. European retailers are showing listings for a new model with an Intel Atom x5-Z8300 Cherry Trail processor.
The new model is called the Asus QM1-C006 and it has 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI 1.4a connector, a microSD card slot, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. The stick measures 4.4″ x 1.5″ x 0.4″ and ships with Windows 10 Home Edition.
It looks a lot like the Asus QM1-B002 model we saw earlier this year, but that model featured an Intel Atom Z3735F Bay Trail processor.
The new model sells for around 179 Euros ($194) or less. There’s no word on if or when it will be available in the United States, or how much it would cost in the US.


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Lucky Lee’s Owner Apologizes After Backlash Over Her ‘Clean’ Versions of Chinese Dishes
Restaurant Lucky Lee’s has addressed criticisms of racism and cultural appropriation with a public apology on Instagram.
The New York establishment raised quite a ruckus on its opening day with a social media post on Monday touting a “clean” alternative to “oily” and “salty” Chinese cuisine.
Arielle Haspel, the owner of Lucky Lee’s, had earlier written on Instagram how her “Chinese” recipes replace dishes that make people “feel bloated and icky the next day.”
She explained to Eater that her methods of preparation are for “people who love to eat Chinese food and love the benefit that it will actually make them feel good.”
Haspel mentioned that her dishes do not use monosodium glutamate (MSG) as it allegedly “ is something that people claim to have certain reactions to.”
Such belief has been debunked years ago, with the Food and Drug Administration deeming it safe for consumption.
Despite Haspel and her husband, Lee, not being of Asian descent, Haspel chose a name that sounded stereotypically Chinese.
Not unlike many oriental-themed restaurants in the U.S., Lucky Lee’s is decorated with unsurprising touches like bamboo and jade. The logo even has a chopstick-inspired font.
Responding to the backlash, Haspel tells the New York Times that she had good intentions.
“We are so sorry,” she was quoted as saying. “We were never trying to do something against the Chinese community. We thought we were complementing an incredibly important cuisine, in a way that would cater to people that had certain dietary requirements.”
Haspel also took to Instagram on Tuesday to apologize for having “disappointed and hurt so many of you.”
“We learned that our marketing perpetuated negative stereotypes that the Chinese American community has been trying to fight for decades,” she continued.
“As a health coach turned the first-time restaurateur, I never meant for the word ‘clean’ to mean anything other than in the ‘clean-eating’ philosophy, which caters towards a specific nutrition and wellness lifestyle. I also did not realize that the plays on words we used for marketing purposes were reminiscent of offensive language used against the Chinese American community. I was naive and I am sorry.”
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Jan 1 2022
Taking a look back at another week of news and headlines from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop includes a shock iPhone decision, a missing iPhone feature, the latest iMac specs, Apple’s record market cap, clues to Apple’s AR ambitions, developers fighting the App Store process, and Apple Music’s lossless challenge.
Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the very many discussions that have happened around Apple over the last seven days and you can read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.
Apple’s design changes to the iPhone tend to be considered over a long period and slowly implemented. So the inclusion of dual-SIM support in models over the last few years, but with the second SIM being an eSIM, can be seen as leading up to a big iPhone change… the removal of support for your physical SIM card:
SIM cards have gotten ever-smaller through necessity see above, with Apple one of the first to adopt the Nano-SIM back with the iPhone way back in . But Nano-SIMs are unpopular due to their tiny, easily-lost size. In fact, the hassle of ordering and swapping Nano-SIMs can be enough to discourage users from switching mobile networks. With eSIM-only that all changes and switching networks or adding additional contracts is only a few taps away.
OMOTESANDO, TOKYO, JAN – : An iPhone Pro Max smartphone seen displayed inside an … + Apple Store in Omotesando, Tokyo. Photo by Stanislav KogikuSO ImagesLightRocket via Images
Meanwhile, iPhone users are looking at the list of features they expected to arrive with their smartphones, and wondering why they are still waiting for noise cancellation during their phone calls to be returned. This is a feature that has been present on the iPhone family and in previous handsets:
The problem is this discussion goes all the way back to October , which is almost two months old. Apple has recently released iOS ., which didn’t solve this issue, and even with iOS . beta, the problem still persists… As of now, the only workaround available would be activating the Voice Isolation feature on a call in the Control Center.
Following the debut of Apple Silicon powered iMac with a -inch model, those looking for a larger and more powerful iMac are set to have their wishes granted in early with the -inch model set to move to the new chipset. Not only that, but new owners will have a difficult choice to make… what color?
For those looking at upgrading the office iMac, the neutral silver tone is expected to remain, but the return of color to the iMac range that started last year is going to continue. Notably last year the entry-level iMac was had a limited palette, with only blue, green, and pink offered as alternatives to silver. For the full spectrum you needed to step up rung in the portfolio.
It would not surprise me to see the same again – with the run of the mill base -inch iMac in silver, and the additional artistic touches only available at higher specs.
Depending on when you read this, Apple is either approaching a market cap of $ trillion, or has just passed the landmark valuation. Given this historically huge size, has Apple stock reached its peak or is it still worth buying?
Apple has a huge customer base. Many of them are deeply integrated into its product and service ecosystem. That makes them less likely to switch to other brands because of the time and effort it would require. The company has massive economies of scale. Its iconic brand continues to give it pricing power, which I expect to endure. Its price-to-earnings ratio of is not cheap. But I don’t think it’s expensive given my confidence that Apple can keep increasing its earnings in coming years.
While Apple watchers continue to predict AR hardware from Cupertino “in the near future”, many point to corporate hires as evidence that something is clearly happening. The latest is Andrea Schubert, currently working for Meta nee on its AR projects.
Apple has reportedly hire away Meta s AR public relations head Andrea Schubert… Schubert has been Communications Director with Meta s Reality labs and comms lead for Oculus with Meta since March , according to her LinkedIn page. Prior to that, she was director of the PR agency OutCast that counted and Oculus as clients.
Apple s top engineering talents are being offered significant stock bonuses worth up to $, to prevent defection to Meta and others. An employee poaching war is seemingly underway between Apple and Meta, the company formerly known as . Compensation raises and bonuses are being used to convince top talent to stick around or jump ship by both companies.
Having previously worked on Tumblr’s iOS app, developer Sreegs has discussed his experiences in a post on the aforementioned Tumblr; which is having significant issues in having its app “cleared” by Apple because of the adult content from the community:
Let me be clear about this from the get-go: I think Apple’s censorship policies are wrong and they have no grounds to be policing adult content within apps on the app store. Apple’s power to set content policy over apps is absolutely fueled first and foremost by internal policy that goes back to Steve Jobs. After that, they’re beholden to payment processors wanting to distance themselves from porn. Finally, there’s lawmakers and policy that influence them as well. I think these are the things that shape their policy decisions, in order.
Sneaking in under the self-imposed deadline of the end of , Apple Music looks to have its entire catalogue offering available as lossless audio. While nothing has been confirmed officially, the evidence is pretty conclusive:
While you may have songs in your library with only the Apple Digital Master label, it’s likely that it’s reminiscent of an iTunes purchase, since the company announced that none of the audio content bought on iTunes would feature Lossless or Spatial Audio support.
Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.


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A plan to better connect borough consumers to produce grown by upstate farmers appears to be gaining momentum.
Non-profit Grow NYC is continuing its advocacy to build a regional greenmarket food distribution hub for New York-sourced produce in Hunts Point, a move that could increase access to fruits and vegetables in communities where they are hard to find.
The center, which would also help regional farmers by increasing capacity at Grow NYC farmers markets and programs, is currently in its design phase, said Marcel Van Ooyen, Grow NYC president and CEO.
The organization is in the process of acquiring the land for the 75,000 square facility in a space that is currently an auxiliary parking lot for the Fulton Fish Market near Halleck Street and Viele Avenue, said Van Ooyen.
That land is owned by New York City, and would be leased, according to the NYC Economic Development Corporation.
The greenmarket hub is envisioned as a wholesale warehouse, but Van Ooyen said that there would be retail components as well.
“There will be farmers in the parking lot who will sell by the case who would be more than happy to sell to folks…who want to buy it directly,” said Van Ooyen.
He added that there would be some kind of retail component either directly at the facility or in the nearby Hunts Point residential community consistent with Grow NYC’s goal of increasing access in underserved communities.
“We are going to talk to people in the neighborhood and see what their thoughts are and how they would like to see their community better served,” he said.
The project has garnered support from key elected officials, including Governor Cuomo, who in 2016 committed $15 million to fund the project, as well as Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
The borough president said that he believes that the construction of a regional greenmarket hub in Hunts Point would expand opportunities for new and existing businesses.
He said in a statement that he also believes the facility will facilitate access to fresh food for stores, restaurants, and people in ‘food desert’ communities, where fresh produce is in short supply.
“A regional greenmarket food hub in this neighborhood creates multiple job opportunities, directly and indirectly, and at the same time will foster entrepreneurship in the Hunts Point area,” said Diaz.
The food hub’s construction underscores that the borough is the economic development gateway between upstate New York, the city and the northeast corridor of our country, said the borough president, who thanked the governor for his commitment to improving the economy and infrastructure.
Also, Senator Jeff Klein, whose district covers the Hunts Point markets, said in a statement that the project would also play a vital role in promoting healthy eating for people in nearby communities.
Currently, a 5,000 square foot warehouse services the non-profit greenmarkets and ‘green box’ distribution programs Grow NYC runs, limiting the organization’s’ ability to buy food in bulk and pass cost savings onto consumers, said Van Ooyen.
“This would allow us to dramatically increase the amount of retail outlets we run,” he said, adding that his organization is working with NYC EDC to make the project a reality.


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Glendale, CA (PRWEB) July 31, 2008
B in Style (http://www.binstyle.com) noticed a trend among jewelry companies. The prices were getting higher and higher, and the jewelry was getting out of the price range of many people. The company states that was causing people to be unable to buy the jewelry they wanted. Instead, they had to go without because their budgets did not allow for that kind of spending.
In an effort to produce fashionable jewelry that more people can afford, B in Style started making cubic zirconia jewelry and selling it to the public. The company states that the jewelry looks so good that a certified gemologist thought it was made of diamonds when looking at it with the naked eye. They claim that their jewelry looks exactly like fine jewelry. The only difference is the price. In fact, the company states that no one will even know how much the wearer of their jewelry saved because of the realistic look.
B in Style says that when customers use their company to purchase their jewelry, they can buy quality silver and cubic zirconia jewelry at affordable prices. Because of this, the company says their customers can purchase many more items for less money than they would be able to at a traditional jewelry store.
The company has stated that many of their customers used to be fine jewelry buyers. B in Style says they were able to convert a lot of these people because their jewelry looks so realistic. In fact, B in Style says they have become the primary jewelry outfitter for many people who used to frequent fine jewelry stores.
B in Style also says that they offer wedding and engagement rings at affordable prices. They say that the rings look real, and can save people thousands of dollars. They have an entire line of these items to offer the public. They note that all of these rings are professionally set, and not glued on like a lot of companies do.
For more information, visit them online at http://www.binstyle.com
About B in Style:
B in Style was founded by Norbert Style, who has been in this industry since 1998. The company has an AA rating with the Better Business Bureau and claims they are dedicated to customer satisfaction and service.
( An http://IPRWire.com Press Release )
Name: Norbert Style
Address: 1441 E. Broadway
Country: United States


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Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd, Nigeria’s indigenous first truly Made-in-Nigeria vehicles invites the general public to the official unveiling of its new brands of SUVs: Innoson IVM G80 and Innoson IVM G40, MPV: Innoson IVM G20, 4×4 Pick UP-Innoson IVM Granite, all manufactured at Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Plant.
Venue: Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd, at No. 2 Innoson Ind. Estate, Akwu-Uru, Uru Umudim Nnewi
Time: Monday, the 11th day of December 2017 by 11am at the factory premises.
Your presence at the unveiling will add glamour to the occasion.
While we look forward to receiving you at the unveiling occasion, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.


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If the Card Check Forced Unionism Bill were a Broadway play, negative reviews would have closed it down months ago.
Even the new version of the bill isn’t passing the smell test from America’s newspaper editors. Take this one from the Investor’s Business Daily entitled “Son of Card Check”:
Card check may be a dead issue, but companies aren’t yet free of the union threat. An anti-business provision of the perversely named Employee Free Choice Act is still under consideration.
If the card check process were to become law, the traditional method for forming a union would be replaced with a pro-union system.
In current practice, workers vote to either join the union or reject it through a secret ballot. A simple majority carries the vote. Under card check, a work force would become unionized if a simple majority signed the cards that are used to measure workers’ interest in voting on unionization.
It’s not hard to imagine that without a secret ballot, workers would be intimidated into signing cards and joining the union.
To their credit, a few moderate Democrats in the Senate believe card check is undemocratic. Their resistance is giving the majority leadership reason to strip card check from the bill. Without the moderates’ support, the Democrats don’t have the 60 votes they need to send the legislation to the floor for a vote.
But this doesn’t mean congressional Democrats have given up on passing out gifts to the unions that help elect them.
New legislation would contain a provision from the earlier bill requiring federal arbitrators to set the terms of the initial contract if labor and management can’t agree on a deal three months after a union is certified. Based on Washington’s history of pro-union bias, chances are good rulings will favor organized labor.
In addition, lawmakers are likely to attach language instituting quicker elections, giving businesses less time to show workers what they’d be getting into, and drop the standard needed to call an election from a simple majority of workers signing cards to 30%.
It’s possible the bill could include, as well, a rule that forces employers to grant labor organizers access to company property.
Businesses, workers, investors and consumers are worse off when shops are unionized.
Labor contracts cut into profits, curb growth and eclipse companies’ futures, which hurt all parties; potential workers are priced out of jobs; consumers pay more for products and services from unionized companies and often get less quality in return.
Government needs to get out of the business of propping up unions, which means politicians need to stop taking their generous campaign contributions. Organized labor’s declining membership and failing power are evidence that it’s not essential to economic advancement or a rising standard of living.


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Alibaba is even now an on line searching behemoth in China. But the tech titan has been slammed in recent months by Beijing’s widening crackdown on non-public company, stoking issues about its future.
The corporation will report benefits for its most current quarter on Tuesday.
Alibaba’s major organization — e-commerce — has held up very well throughout the coronavirus pandemic, soaring as people switch to on the net browsing to invest in points devoid of leaving their homes. The corporation has also benefited from ongoing economic energy in China, which averted the recession that pummeled most of the world last calendar year.
The enterprise is predicted to report earnings of 209 billion yuan ($32 billion) for the quarter, a 36% enhance from a 12 months before, according to info provider Refinitiv.
But the prospect of additional scrutiny from Chinese regulators looms huge.
In May well, Alibaba
(BABA) explained it posted a decline of about $1.2 billion for its very first quarter — a hit that was generally due to a document $2.8 billion good that Beijing imposed on the business after accusing it of behaving like a monopoly.
Joe Tsai, Alibaba Group’s co-founder and executive vice chairman, played down fears when the wonderful was introduced, declaring that the business was “pleased” that it could “put this issue driving us.”
“With this penalty decision, we have received a excellent assistance on some of the certain concerns beneath the anti-competitive regulation,” he instructed buyers on a simply call at the time.
Beijing’s broader clampdown hasn’t let up. Alibaba’s New York-mentioned shares plunged approximately 14% throughout July as investors grew anxious about Chinese tech, like the potential of such organizations to trade exterior of China. (Alibaba also trades in Hong Kong its twin-listing in 2019 was touted as a symbolic homecoming for the enterprise.)
Shortly right after journey-hailing giant Didi went public on the New York Stock Trade at the conclusion of June, Beijing banned it from app retailers above cybersecurity fears. The inventory plunged, and is nonetheless buying and selling effectively underneath its IPO value of $14 a share.
US securities regulators have also expressed concern about long run Chinese public choices, with the Securities and Trade Commission telling personnel previous week to question these companies to disclose additional facts right before trading plans can be authorised.
Regulatory scrutiny on a broadening quantity of industries has also spooked buyers. A inventory market provide-off previous 7 days wiped out hundreds of billions of dollars in current market value for numerous popular Chinese tech businesses, which include Alibaba. That arrived as Beijing issued directives for instruction tech, foods supply and other sectors.
Chinese point out media has considering that urged traders to stay calm, with just one newspaper telling traders to “have assurance in the current market.”
“A shorter-term shock does not improve the mother nature of the extended-phrase good development,” go through a commentary posted in the Securities Instances previous week. “China’s financial system and markets are at an edge in phrases of its width and depth.”
– Paul R. La Monica, Laura He and Michelle Toh contributed to this report.


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By Scott Kanosky
Investing.com – Shares in ASOS PLC (LON 🙂 fell sharply in early trade Monday after the British online fashion retailer confirmed over the weekend a report that it is in negotiations with its lenders over changing the terms of its £350m borrowing facility. . .
In a statement issued on Saturday, the UK-based company said that talks on adjusting its revolving credit facility, which mature in July 2024, are in their “final stages”.
“This measure will give ASOS significantly increased financial flexibility, against an uncertain economic backdrop,” she added. “ASOS maintains a strong liquidity position and this is a wise move in the current environment.”
The comments came after Sky News first reported that ASOS had contacted the banks. Lenders, including Barclays (LON :), HSBC (LON :), and Lloyds Banking Group (LON :), have also appointed advisers in connection with the situation, according to Sky News, in a move that could lead to a potential financial restructuring at ASOS.
ASOS, which has seen a surge in demand during the pandemic, has struggled after Covid-era restrictions were lifted.
Last month, the company warned that its full-year pre-tax earnings would be close to the bottom of its targeted range of £20m – £60m after August sales missed estimates. Pressures from rising inflation have also been blamed for driving consumers to back away from spending.
ASOS is due to report its annual dividend on Wednesday.
Shares are down about 78% over the past year period.


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Electric vehicles (EVs) have had a bumpy ride. Like the latest over-promoted film flop, they’ve seldom lived up to their hype. Long charge times, inadequate infrastructure and highway impracticality have kept the “car of the future” out of present-day garages.
But things are changing, and they’re changing quickly. In the New York Times bestseller, The Second Machine Age, authors Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, note that society is at an “inflection point” citing that digital technologies that had once been “laughably bad” suddenly got “very good.”
Tesla driver Michael Subasic of Calgary couldn’t agree more. “What you’re going to see soon,” he muses from behind the dash of his Tesla Model S85D, “is every major car manufacturer will have an electric offering and more of their line will be electric than fossil-fuel powered.” Ford, for instance, recently announced a $4.5-billion investment in its EV division. Over the next five years, the company plans to launch 13 new electric models, including a revamped, 100-percent electric version of the ever- popular Ford Focus.
Rapid advances in digital technology coupled with major investments in EV infrastructure like charging stations are making the vehicles more accessible and user-friendly. Albertans can currently find nearly 50 EV charging stations across the province, from Edmonton and Calgary to Grand Prairie, Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray, and many smaller communities in between. (Find a station near you at caa.ca/evstations)
EVs are becoming a more realistic alternative for drivers—so much so that they’re becoming owners’ primary vehicles rather than a secondary car reserved for photo shoots or quick trips to pick up milk. For Calgary driver Greg Petti, the purchase of his Tesla Model S P85D resulted in the unintended garaging of his previous ride.
So, EVs are ideal for daily jaunts and commuting, but what about a road trip to, say, Disneyland? Subasic did just that. A feat that would have once qualified as crazy at best, the 63-hour trip from Calgary to Anaheim cost Subasic “less than $7” and was easier than getting a fast pass for Space Mountain. A full charge took, on average, less than an hour and lasted about 325 kilometres, allowing the family to plan charging stops to coincide with food and bathroom breaks.
Of course, not all road trips are adventures in Tomorrowland—even in an electric car. Alberta winters pose a challenge regardless of what’s under the hood. One of the main roadblocks in EV adoption here has been battery performance and range in cold, sub-zero temperatures, a.k.a. “range anxiety.” It’s a concern Tesla’s new Calgary dealership hears frequently, but one easily quelled by news that an electric car (the Tesla Model S) is now the top-selling vehicle in Norway, a wintry climate comparable to Alberta.
Petti acknowledges, “inevitably cold weather has an impact on range. So if you are driving long distances in extreme cold, you might need more stops for longer periods.” But he adds that for city driving, his EV is much easier and more comfortable in the winter than his more traditional car powered by an internal combustion engine. EVs heat up instantly and allow enough battery power to operate the car and keep its interior comfortable in below zero conditions.
Beyond battery life, the next barrier to EV adoption has traditionally been price. But there’s good news there too. As manufacturers like Ford, Tesla, Nissan, Chevrolet and Kia invest more into electric technologies and roll out their EV fleets, sticker prices are coming down. But like their fossil-fuel counterparts, prices range from affordable to more aspirational. For a compact commuter car, consumers can expect to pay around $28,000. However, a premium extended-range sports car could top $100K.
Though Subasic steers clear of the gas-versus-electric argument, he is happy with the vehicle’s low maintenance costs and low emissions. Based on these factors and his annual aver- age of 65,000 kilometres on the road, he projects the car will pay for itself in five years. Electric cars are here—and they’re ready to take on Alberta roads today.
For EV owners, the influx of charging stations across Alberta is a welcome sight. Plug-ins are popping up everywhere from hotels to stores. At Ikea, you can charge your vehicle in the time it takes to get lost inside the store. Tech-savvy consumers are behind the growth of charging infrastructure. Oxford Properties’ first EV charging stations in Calgary were installed in response to a discussion with a customer.
“A tenant at Devon Tower was considering buying an EV, and asked if we had any plans to offer plug-ins,” says Andrew McAllan, Oxford Properties Group Senior VP, Real Estate Management. With more EVs on the road and financial incentives being offered by governments, businesses are following that old credo: If you build it, they will come.


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Walmart's car seat recycling program is ending early because it's been overwhelmingly popular.
The world's largest retailer said the program allowed customers to trade in used car seats for a $30 store gift card. It was supposed to end Sept. 30, but because so many people are turning in car seats, the company said Saturday is the final day for the program.
Walmart officials said they had collected an estimated 1 million car seats to be turned into recyclable materials, doling out about $30 million in gift cards.
"In less than one week, we estimate we will collect nearly 1 million car seats – or the equivalent of diverting over 200 million plastic bottles from landfills," company officials said in a statement to USA Today.
© 2019 Cox Media Group.


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An image from Renew's marketing material demonstrating the technology (Photo: Renew)
Some garbage cans in London, UK have been outfitted with technology that tracks the cell phones of passersby in order to target them with advertising (the cans have built-in digital screens that run ads).
The idea, according to The Atlantic Cities, "is to bring internet tracking cookies to the real world," allowing advertisers to target specific customers with tailored messaging.
Here's how it works: the tech allows the garbage cans to record a unique identifier of each phone that passes, and remember it if it passes by again at a later date. It can even track the user's specific route down the street and how fast he or she is walking.
So if you regularly walk the same route to work, for instance, the tech would pick up your phone's signal and start playing an ad directed at you.
In order to pick up a signal from the phone, the user must have wi-fi turned on.
At the moment, the technology can't identify a user's name or personal information, but as the Atlantic points out, if a coffee shop chain had the tracking devices in its stores, it could tell whether you've been visiting its stores, and target you accordingly.
The 12 cans that are now using the technology were originally installed ahead of the 2012 Olympics by a company called Renew, which has partnered with Presence Orb, which developed the tracking technology.
The CEO of Renew, which is considering expanding the technology to all its garbage cans in London, as well as those in NYC, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, doesn't believe the company's actions violate anyone's privacy.
"From our point of view, it's open to everybody, everyone can buy that data," Memari says. "London is the most heavily surveillanced city in the world... As long as we don't add a name and home address, it's legal."
The tech certainly seems to track a lot of people: on one day, July 6, Renew's 12 garbage cans identified 106,629 people, taking note of their presence 946,016 times.
Those who do not want to be tracked can turn off their phone's wi-fi, or fill out an online form.
For some perspective on privacy and technology in this country, check out Canada's Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart in the red chair.
She sat down with George in March, 2011 to discuss our online lives, how much information we're giving away, and to share her opinion that "marketers love" to track people through technology:


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Inflation rate in Pakistan will decrease in 2021
Web Desk 1 January 2021
KARACHI: The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that last month in December 2020, Inflation rate in Pakistan was at the lowest level of the year.
According to the details, the Bureau of Statistics has released monthly statistics regarding inflation, which states that in December 2020, the Inflation rate in Pakistan was 8% and the rate of inflation was recorded at the lowest level.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, December saw a 0.7 per cent drop in inflation compared to November.
In one month, eggs became more expensive by 67.15% and spices by 88.6%.
In one month, electricity became 96.5 per cent more expensive, while onions became cheaper by 29 per cent and tomatoes by 27 per cent, vegetables by 19 per cent, sugar by 18 per cent, potatoes by 13 per cent and wheat by 4 per cent.


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Soil & Sea: reports from our producers
This article was originally published in June 2012
Central Washington’s upcoming fruit tree crops look strong with good bud counts and blooming close to schedule. Meanwhile growers in the Midwest and Eastern part of the country are dealing with freeze damage, which could boost sales and prices of Washington fruit.
Washington asparagus farmers have begun to expand production again after being crushed for decades by cheaper South American imports. Not all asparagus farmers are part of the trend; some were forced to turn up their fields this season due to labor shortages after immigration sweeps in the state. Asparagus is a labor-intensive crop, requiring cutters to harvest stalks by hand.
The multi-billion-dollar California citrus industry may be at risk after a bacterial disease known as Huanglongbing was detected in one citrus tree for the first time. Infected citrus produce bitter and misshapen fruit and die within a few years. Huanglongbing cost the Florida citrus industry billions of dollars in revenue when it was detected there in 2005.
In Alaska, Copper River fishermen were forecast to catch about 27,000 Chinook this season, more than last year’s catch of about 20,000. Prospects for the Yukon River fishery remain grim after several very poor seasons. Quotas off southeast Alaska and B.C. were reduced.
The Oregon pink shrimp fishery began in April and fishermen are hoping to duplicate last season’s bumper harvest of almost 30,000 tons — more than twice the five-year average. In spite of the big catch, processors say they had no problem moving all their shrimp at relatively strong prices.
West Coast trollers are predicting their best Chinook salmon season since 2005. After severe cutbacks the past few years, salmon caught off the California and southern Oregon coasts will be back up to about 4 million pounds. This follows a very strong spring Chinook run on the Columbia.