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The operating system for mobile Android devices Google brings corporations $ 31 billion in revenues and $ 22 billion in profits, writes Bloomberg referring to the transcript of the hearing on the process against Google another American Technology Corporation – Oracle Corp. Previously confidential information about the income of the most popular mobile OS in the world, announced at a meeting of a lawyer Oracle.
The lawyer did not specify the period to which they are given numbers and what kind of profit he has in mind. The figures announced by the lawyer Oracle, prepared on the basis of its own methodology, which the company did not disclose quotes Bloomberg anonymous interlocutor.
Google asked the federal judge of San Francisco with a request to edit the published transcript of the meeting, due to the fact that a lawyer Oracle improperly disclose “highly sensitive information” that the documents were marked as “permitted only to the reading of a lawyer.” Transcript has been removed from the electronic database of the American courts today, says Bloomberg.
«The company does not disclose publicly how much profit brings Android separate from the core business of Google», – quoted in the document word representative of the search engine. “These non-public data are extremely sensitive in nature, and their disclosure could have a material adverse effect on the business across Google», – he noted during the trial.
The annual report of Google for 2014 (for the 2015 th has not yet been published) contains the overall financial results of the company. Corporation Revenues in 2014 were $ 66 billion, and profit – $ 14.4 billion. Thus, the mobile operating system Android Google can generate about half of its annual revenue. Google Inc. makes on Android in two ways – through advertising, which is displayed on a mobile device where you installed the operating system, and from the app store Google Play, notes Bloomberg.
operating system Android, introduced in 2008, is the most popular in the world, according to research firm IDC. Android’s share of the world smartphone market as of the second quarter of 2015 was 82.8%. The second most popular operating system for mobile – iOS (owned by Apple), and employs approximately 13.9% of smart phones.
In addition to the revenues of Google from the same transcript, it became known that Google paid Apple $ 1 Company billion for the right to be the default search engine on devices running on the operating system iOS.
Oracle is suing Google in the past five years, accusing the company founded by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, to use software Java (it belongs Oracle) for the development of Android. Oracle estimates the damage at more than $ 1 billion.


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With the 2020 presidential election fast approaching, much of the American economic spotlight has been placed on how the burgeoning trade war between the United States and China will impact businesses in the United States. During the 2019 Iowa State Fair, every Democratic presidential hopeful that attended the event devoted at least a part of his or her speeches to discussing how the trade war between China and the United states has negatively impacted American farmers.
Buried under the headlines of how the Chinese-American trade war is adversely affecting agricultural commodity prices is another commodity that savvy homeowners know well. The quickly escalating trade war based on imposing stringent tariffs has finally reached the industry called natural stones.
If you plan to install a natural stone countertop in the kitchen or bathroom over the course of the next 12 months, you should pay attention to how a trade war with China can affect natural stone prices.
You might wonder why China plays such an important role in influencing the American supply of natural stones. After all, the United States has a vast supply of natural stones that range from shiny veined marble to sleek and rugged soapstone.
First, China is notoriously lax when it comes to developing and then enforcing environmental laws. This means the companies that mine natural stones in China have virtually free reign when it comes to how they extract precious natural stones from the Earth. On the other hand, the United States imposes tough rules and regulations on extracting natural stones, from dictating how much each company can mine to restricting access to natural stone rich areas of the country.
Second, China has a much larger supply of natural stones to meet the growing demand generated by American homeowners and home improvement retailers. For the past several years, the American economy has been booming and because of the new found wealth, many homeowners have decided to perform home improvement projects that include installing natural stone countertops.
Finally, China has much more undeveloped land to extract natural stones, which means it can meet the growing demand produced by American interests. Unless we experience a severe recession over the next five years, China is in a much better position to meet the growing American demand for natural stones.
During the early part of 2019, the Trump administration announced plans to impose a series of tariffs on more than $200 million of goods brought into the country from China. According to officials within the Council of Economic Advisors, the 10% ad valorem tariffs are imposed in response to the Chinese government’s policy of subsidizing the production of goods representing nearly 6,000 product categories. The American government has slapped tariffs on a wide variety of goods, including virtually every type of dimensional natural stone and a large range of other types of hard surfaces that include some forms of ceramic tiles. Granite slabs have received one of the largest tariffs, with many home improvement experts debating how much higher in price the beautiful natural stone will go.
Politics will pay a huge role in determining which direction the American and Chinese trade war will go. Recent public hearings conducted by the federal Office of the United States Trade Representative indicates the Trump administration wants the new tariffs to go into effect no later than by early fall 2019. Another development in the accelerating trade war between the United States and China is the Trump Administration has contemplated adding more goods to the already lengthy list of good eligible for tariffs. This means inexpensive alternatives to natural stone such as laminate might become eligible for receiving at least a 10% ad valorem tariff.
The average cost as of August 2019 for a slab of natural stone used for countertops runs between $25 and $1200 per square foot. Marble comes in on the high end of the cost scale at more than $100 a square foot, which translates into a kitchen countertop installation cost between $1,500 and $3,000. More affordable natural stone countertops for standard kitchens cost on average around $1,000 to install.
The big question for buyers of Chinese natural stone for building countertops is how much the price of granite will rise over the next year. If you are a homeowner or a contractor that specializes in adding countertops, you want to know when it will be the best time to buy granite slabs for constructing kitchen and bathroom countertops.
The answer is the time is now for granite countertops.
Several projects have placed the price of a slab of granite by early 2020 to reach as high as $200 per square foot. The timing and the exact amount of the price increase depends on how Chinese and United States trade representatives handle trade negotiations. So far, the tone of trade negotiations between the two countries has been tense at best and overtly contentious at worst. Political rhetoric during an American presidential election year will not improve the tone of trade negotiations.
Now is the right time to add a natural stone countertop for many reasons, with cost representing the most important reason. Even using a glass is half full mindset, expect the price of granite slabs to increase over the next year. With trade talks stalled at the moment and no indication the tone of negotiations will soften anytime soon, the time is now to get the best deal on the granite slabs used to construct kitchen and bathroom countertops.
Here are a few other reasons to select a natural stone for installing a kitchen or a bathroom countertop:
If you are a homeowner, you should lock in the price of a natural stone slab as soon as possible by ordering the right natural stone countertop for your kitchen or bathroom.

domain: news


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So when was the last time you visited a bank branch? Now, be honest. The chances are that you are popping into your bank branch a lot less frequently than, say, three years ago, let alone 10 years ago.
Need to check your balance? Easy: go online. Pay a bill: ditto. Transfer cash between accounts, set up a direct debit – the answer is the same.
For many customers, the majority of everyday banking transactions can be conducted online or with a call centre or increasingly via smartphones and tablet devices such as the iPad.
This change in consumer behaviour is not yet apparent on the majority of UK High Streets but give it time.
Bank branch closures have been galloping along at a fair rate of knots in the past decade but until now have largely focused on small towns and rural communities.
Almost one-in-five UK bank branches have closed since 2000 with Barclays’ branch network for example down from 2,129 to 1,700; HSBC is down from 1,670 to 1,300 during the same period.
In the next decade, the High Streets of our larger towns will witness a major change in the number of bank branches and in branch design.
A relatively small number of flagship bank branches, vaguely along the lines of Apple Stores, will spring up in the larger cities.
But for the vast majority of us, the typical bank branch will be much smaller in scale, largely self-service with all cash held in ATMs as banks cotton on to a greater use of self-service terminals.
From a design standpoint, the branch will become more like a retail store.
Have you been in a newish branch of HSBC or Barclays recently-you get the picture?
Major job losses to come
Since the banking crisis really gathered pace post Lehman in 2008, job losses have tended to focus in the back office; investment banking roles have also been scaled back.
Staff performing IT and other support roles have been particularly badly hit in the past three years or so at the high street lenders.
Last year alone, HSBC announced plans to axe 30,000 positions around the world.
Lloyds said that it would eliminate 16,800 positions, about 1 in 6 of its total workforce.
Elsewhere, Barclays is dispensing with 3,000 roles and counting and it is the same story at major banks across Europe.
Last year, banking job cuts across Europe topped 70,000.
But job losses at the High street branch level have barely started.
Take RBS. It is one of the most enthusiastic cost cutters in the High Street – all of course part of its masterplan to “rebuild the bank”.
Last year, it managed to lose a mere 500 branch staff, reducing retail banking total employment from 28,200 to 27,700.
There is far worse to come.
If the bank branch is to prosper, the customer experience will have to change.
Virgin Money’s lounge vision, providing a comfortable space for customers to have a coffee, relax, check emails or charge mobile phones, demonstrates how a banking brand can attempt to restore trust, deliver something different and attract customers.
Another high street strategy entirely is being pursued Lloyds TSB, where a new branch design is designed to enhance the role of the bank within the local community.
In a number of its markets – but not yet in the UK – Santander has rolled out Santander Select outlets, upmarket branches providing a level of comfort not normally associated with a humble bank branch.
Nationwide Building Society is also investing with plans to refurbish its entire retail network of 700 outlets over the next two years.
That is about it for good news.


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When a massive amount of your income is tied to search, protecting it becomes important. A new report — citing unnamed sources, from unknown origins — claims Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have all engaged in paying at least one ad blocking service to whitelist their ads, effectively making it a pay-to-display scenario. Though already in use for smaller advertising companies, the scheme may not be in the best interest of consumers who use Adblock Plus, the service Google and others are alleged to have been paying to display their ads.
Financial Times claims to have confirmed the deals, or at least the existence of them. The scheme seems to only involve Adblock Plus.
Adblock Plus is a popular extension on Chrome, where it blocks various ads from popping up, disrupting your browsing experience. It’s important to keep in mind that the ads you’d see as a result of this ‘whitelisting’ would fall under Google’s (or whoever, I’m admittedly picking on Google, here) ad network, which potentially opens users up to ads from anywhere, about anything.
Though Google and Amazon declined to comment on the matter, Microsoft said they “will always give consumers choice when it comes to advertisements. We are committed to working with partners who share our vision for relevant, impactful brand interaction and respect the integrity of consumer choice.”
The whitelisting isn’t new — it’s how Adblock Plus’ company, Eyeo, makes money. Whitelisting is designed to encourage better ads from making the cut; those which are less annoying and disruptive. The service is free to small entities, and optional for users. The rub here is that Eyeo is seemingly whitelisting anyone who pays their fee, which is rumored to be 30% of the advertising take.
Source: The Financial Times


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DENVER (CBS4) - The Colorado Department of Public Safety says Colorado Puffer Week will start Sunday, Jan. 26. The campaign warns drivers about the risks of leaving their vehicle running unattended.
The Colorado Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center (ATICC) reports there were more than 20,000 vehicles stolen across the state in 2019.
Officials say the cars are then used in other crimes. On Tuesday, four juveniles stole a car and started a chase with Arvada police, they say. Three of the four suspects were arrested.
"Colorado law does exempt vehicles with a remote-start from being ticketed if found running unattended. However, drivers must keep the keyless start fob far enough away from the car that the vehicle can't be operated," state officials said.
A ticket for the first offense can start at $60.
10 Tips for Preventing Auto Theft
- Never leave your car running unattended.
- In cold weather, warm up with your car: grab a hot cup of coffee, gloves and a blanket. It shouldn't take long – most cars warm up in a matter of minutes.
- Park in an enclosed garage whenever possible.
- Use a remote start if you have one, making sure the doors are locked and the keyless start fob is far enough away that the vehicle can't be moved.
- Lock your doors every single time.
- Always park in well-lit areas.
- Invest in anti-theft technology (i.e., alarm system, Club…).
- Use our Hot Spot Map to see if there have been auto thefts where you live or work.
- Follow the National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) "Layered Approach" to protection.
- See the top stolen vehicles and top five cities for auto theft in Colorado here.
for more features.


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Definition: This entry furnishes the annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the previous year's consumer prices.
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of January 1, 2012See also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) map
Russian Inflation Accelerates
Wall Street Journal - 3/5/2015 5:01:19 PM
MOSCOW—Russia’s inflation rate has accelerated to levels last seen in 2002, leaving the central bank with a policy conundrum as the economy slides into a recession. Hit by a rapid drop in the price of oil, Russia’s chief export, the country faces an ...
World Food Prices Extend Drop to 4-Year Low on Bigger Harvests
Bloomberg - 3/5/2015 4:11:12 PM
(Bloomberg) -- Food prices ... has cut inflation expectations in some countries. Consumer prices fell in the euro area last month and rose at the slowest pace in more than five years in China in January. The FAO raised its estimate for 2014 world grain ...
Russian inflation soars to fastest pace since 2002
Salt Lake Tribune - 3/5/2015 7:03:00 PM
Moscow • Russian inflation accelerated in February to the fastest pace in almost 13 years, complicating the prospects for deeper monetary easing in the aftermath of the country's worst currency crisis since 1998. Consumer prices rose 16.7 percent from a ...
Russia Annual Consumer Inflation Accelerates Again in February
NASDAQ - 3/5/2015 8:11:36 AM
MOSCOW--Russia's annual consumer inflation accelerated further in February, exceeding the central bank's key rate, data showed ... Moscow's ban on food imports from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia has also spurred price growth.
January Inflation Turns Negative – Is Deflation Upon Us?
Value Walk - 3/5/2015 12:50:46 PM
That’s the lowest annual rate since late 2009/early 2010. Excluding food and energy costs, so-called “core” consumer prices rose 0.2% in January. They have also risen 1.6% in the past 12 months, closer to the Fed’s preferred 2% inflation level.
RBI cuts interest rate by 25 bps but credit goes to Jaitley, his Budget
Firstpost - 3/5/2015 3:39:35 AM
The larger share of credit for the surprise, quarter percentage point rate ... the country. What is more surprising is that Rajan himself didn’t sound very convincing until recently about a full victory over inflation. To be sure, the consumer price ...
PH inflation inched up in February
Inquirer - 3/5/2015 11:27:52 PM
MANILA, Philippines–The rate of increase in the prices ... due to the country’s strong external position,” he explained. Balisacan nonetheless warned that a prolonged dry season due to the El Niño weather disturbance “poses risk of inflation ...
India ETFs To Buy Following Second Surprise Rate Cut
Seeking Alpha - 3/5/2015 10:06:08 AM
Any deviation from the inflation target range for the three consecutive quarters would be treated as failure by the central bank. As a result, RBI has to determine the country's interest rate accordingly ... Lower oil prices and rising consumer spending ...
Consumer price data fuel deflation concerns in South Korea
The Korea Herald - 3/5/2015 2:56:38 AM
In that year, Japan's inflation ... country was already in deflation and that this condition may go on for some time. "Weak consumer price growth has already affected the overall economy," he said, urging the Bank of Korea to further lower the key interest ...
Moderate inflation in Jan-Feb over port relief, stable peso
Rappler - 3/5/2015 8:33:04 AM
Inflation is the general increase in prices of goods, while the inflation target is defined in terms of the average year-on-year change in the consumer ... world crude oil supply growth and weak global demand," Balisacan explained. For electricity rates ...
Bank Negara keeps policy rate on hold at 3.25%
The Rakyat Post - 3/5/2015 11:53:30 AM
Malaysia’s inflation in January unexpectedly eased to 1%, its lowest since 2009, but unlike its neighbours, prices are set to creep up with a consumer ... rates this year. Investors are nervous that lower fuel prices will affect the country’s current ...
India makes another surprise interest rate cut to 7.5pc
Dawn - 3/5/2015 4:01:04 AM
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lowered the benchmark repo rate ... prices and CPI (consumer) inflation pressures having moderated significantly, there is significantly more headroom for the RBI to deliver monetary policy easing. “With world oil ...
Brazil rate hikes: Adding fuel to the fire
Money Control - 3/5/2015 12:00:40 PM
Brazilian monetary officials hiked interest rates to a six-year high on Wednesday to combat inflation and stem declines in the real, but economists say the move only tips the country closer ... very hard to clamp down price pressures, but by raising ...
Inflation threat: Brazil raises interest rates to 12.75% to curb prices
customstoday.com.pk - 3/5/2015 8:36:04 PM
BRASILIA: Inflation in Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, was at a 12-year high in February of 7.4%. The government’s target is 6.5%. Brazil’s economy had been one of the world’s fastest ... to raise the rate by 0.5 percentage points ...
Bank of England keeps rates on hold
7 News Yahoo - 3/5/2015 1:26:34 PM
For now, though, most MPC members seem content to wait and see how far inflation falls before considering a rate hike. Last month's quarterly economic forecasts from the Bank indicated that consumer price inflation is likely to turn negative for the first ...


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In the brick-and-mortar world, customer service often becomes noticeably warmer as the business gets smaller: think mom-and-pop diner versus franchise outfit. But on the internet, it seems, the biggest is also the best.
Amazon is the world’s biggest online retailer by a giant margin — it sells almost five times more than the number two, office supply company Staples — and it also topped customer satisfaction tables in 2012, according to an annual survey put out today by research house ForeSee.
ForeSee has been polling online shoppers for customer satisfaction sentiment since 2005, and this year Amazon scored the highest rating of any company since the survey was established; it was also the second consecutive year that Amazon came out on top.
The company’s satisfaction rating of 88/100 was three points better than the next best performer L.L. Bean , which scored 85. Of the 15 biggest e-commerce companies as listed by Internet Retailer in its annual Top 500, only Amazon scored above 80. The average for all retailers was 78.


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1st December, 2020
Speaking at a recent online event, Professor Göran Roos offered a grim picture of the state of Australian manufacturing industry. But there’s also plenty of opportunity for those willing to grasp it.
During a recent virtual event hosted by MYOB, Professor Göran Roos shared some sobering statistics – Australian’s manufacturing might be closer to third world countries, ranking last in economic sophistication among OECD countries of similar GDP/capita.
Roos, one of the world’s foremost observers of the manufacturing sector, explained that sophisticated economies use their IP, innovation and technology to add value internally. This means they do not have to compete on price – they can offer something no one else can. Additionally, they can export the means by which they create these unique products or services – that could be hardware, software or other IP.
After decades of focus on the extraction and export of raw materials, only 2.3 percent of Australia’s manufacturing is in this space (in Germany it’s 28.6 percent). Roos sees the Australian government’s new manufacturing strategy as just one small step.
Along with a panel of experts – Frank Feustel, head of product for MYOB and Michael Sharpe, national director for the Industry Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) – Roos outlined what he saw as the solutions to Australia’s woeful record. And all three threw down a challenge to the nearly 200 virtual attendees.
“You have no choice in doing this or not, but you do have a choice in how you go about it and the scope you take.”
Sophistication must start with digitisation – and at the heart of that is investment in cloud ERP and big data, which many studies indicate have a positive and significant impact on operational and market performance.
In one study, 126 firms in the US were compared – some adopted ERP system and some hadn’t. Results showed that those with ERP had a significantly improved return on assets, investment and asset turnover in three years, compared to those who didn’t have ERP. Plus, firms without ERP saw financial performance deteriorate, while it held steady for firms who had ERP.
READ THIS NEXT: 14 ERP system benefits to consider in the selection process
While Australia is rich in precious materials, we don’t yet have the infrastructure, lead customers, access to suppliers, IP expertise to challenge global players in complex areas. Roos suggests there could be low-hanging fruit in niche areas that don’t require such complexity, such as food production.
Roos says the Government’s most important role is as a lead customer – in most OECD countries, governments are the largest buyers in the market. They must begin by establishing criteria that define acceptable trade-offs – perhaps choosing a more expensive Australian-made option is worth the added cost when factored against the overall benefit to the country.
Investment in R&D is also important, but Roos notes that in this area, business has the more important role.
“In Australia, there is very little business investment in R&D. Even just reaching two percent of GDP investment in R&D could make a phenomenal difference, if it was from industry, not from government.” said Roos
Collaboration will be a key part of our manufacturing sector’s growth.
Roos notes that a challenge Australia faces in this area is around our cultural attitude, which emphasises an adversarial approach to business.
He says that’s changing, however, pointing to the cluster of businesses in Jalong producing carbon fibre, as one example. Collaboration is also needed across industries, particularly where it connects manufacturers with research academics.
When it comes to skilled workers, we’re one million short – as an example, in the US at least one percent of manufacturing roles require skills in machine learning (AI). This isn’t through a lack of workers, but a lack of investment in upskilling. Roos suggests the focus needs to be on keeping the workforce relevant while attracting the new generation – in Denmark, for example, manufacturers are required to maintain a competence profile, so that employees remain relevantly skilled.
“We need to look at requirements and ensure the workforce is being continuously developed,” said Roos.
While this information may feel sobering and challenging, it’s an exciting start to what should be a bright future for the manufacturing industry – there’s so much to do, and so much opportunity.
That progress can only be made by leveraging technology, such as the MYOB Advanced Manufacturing Edition, which is rated by analysts as a leader in innovation and usability and will play an important role in putting Australian manufacturing back where it should be – among the best global players.


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The food you are eating is slowing deteriorating at your body. Genetically modified food is suppose to be good for humans, well researchers came to the conclusion that it is harmful to your body. Genetically modified food contains many bacteria, one of which is called Glyphosate, which causes digestive disorders and can cause mental illness such as Autism, ADHD and many others. By examining the immunities foods are developing to pesticides, the illnesses that people are developing as a result of genetically modified foods, and how the agriculture is changing in Nigeria as a result of genetically modified foods, it is clear that genetically modified foods are detrimental to humans’ health.
Genetically modified food does more bad for humans than good. It has been shown that a large amount of chemicals have been used on food. These chemicals, such as herbicide are giving animals several health problems when eating genetically modified food. The food is becoming immune to herbicides, whose purpose is similar to pesticides (Smith).
Ultimately, genetically modified foods are harmful substances to the human body. Genetically modified food has been shown to prevent fertility. When given non-genetically modified food, people reported notable change. This is a prime example of man playing god, because they are messing with god natural creation and putting harmful bacteria into the things that we eat.
There are mental and physical illnesses that are caused by genetically modified food. Illnesses are more common today than they were back in the day. We are introducing too many antibiotics, which causes many imbalances to the human body which contribute to disorders such as Autism, Asthma etc… .
(Smith). Scientists have been looking deeply into genetically modified food and are coming to the conclusion that they are part of problem. There are many reasons for mental illness and genetically modified food is one of them. As humans of the earth we need a healthy microbiome and genetically modified food is not going to do anything but destroy that. (Smith). Mental illness should be something we are born with not something that happens over time because of what we eat , if the typical human wants to be healthy , there is no way the human body can eat genetically modified food and be healthy.
Due to genetically modified food starting to be a big issue , just not in the the United States , but worldwide also , places such as Nigeria.


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David is still smitten with his wife
Designer Victoria was worried about showing her collection at New York Fashion Week earlier this year – so David got straight on a plane to see her.
‘He’s always been working or training. But I was nervous about this show. I was feeling a lot of pressure,’ Victoria, 38, writes in US Glamour.
‘He phoned me the night before, and I just said: “I want you to come be with me. I want a cuddle. I really do.” And it was great to have him there.’
David, 37, recently spoke of how much he’s learnt about the fashion industry from taking an interest in Victoria‘s career.
The footballer impressed himself at the New York show when he realised he understood what stylistas – including US Vogue‘s Anna Wintour – were talking about.
‘I was sat next to a few fashion people and I felt like I had to keep my mouth shut,’ David told UK Elle.
‘But I knew certain things. I knew: “Great lines and great shapes.” And: “There were a couple of great colour pops.”‘
SEE PICTURES Victoria Beckham and baby Harper Seven dress up to hit the shops


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Companies, take note: consumer preferences are shifting in ways that just might change the world.
As profits for many food and beverage companies stalled, Deloitte, the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association released a report last year on shifting consumer trends in the food industry. Their survey of 5,000 consumers revealed that roughly half of them now make purchase decisions based on factors like a product’s social impact, transparency, and health and wellness.
These changing consumer choices mean companies must also change if they want to hold onto existing and attract new customers. One business shift – the one toward circular economies that diminish waste and mainstream efficiency – poses an opportunity for food companies to engage consumers for the long-term by reducing food loss and waste.
Reduce Waste, Gain Trust
At the Financial Times’ Circular Economy Summit last week, I helped lead a discussion of how to re-define business-consumer relationships. So much of these relationships comes down to old-fashioned trust. So, who do consumers trust? According to Edelman’s 2017 Trust Barometer, it’s increasingly not big institutions like government and media. Even the food industry has suffered when it comes to trust in recent years. A 2014 Deloitte report found consumers are almost 3.5 times more likely to think negatively about food companies than others. But Edelman reports that 75 percent of people still believe in the power of business to create positive economic and social change.
I’ve heard from several high-profile CEOs over the years that their work to reduce food loss and waste –within their own operations and supply chains as well as by helping consumers curb household waste – is key to maintaining and establishing relationships with customers.
One of the leaders in the field, Tesco CEO Dave Lewis, told Marketing Week in March: “We’ve been at the forefront on reducing waste for quite some time. Before my time here, Tesco was the first retailer to publish an audited end-to-end food waste report back in 2013; we’re now in our fourth year of that… We want to become a brand that is purpose-driven, as ultimately this builds trust and is exactly what any customer should expect from a business like ours.”
His sentiments are supported by research from the UK’s WRAP, where I was CEO for nine years, and WRI, where I now work as a senior fellow. In researching The Business Case for Reducing Food Loss and Waste paper, we interviewed more than two dozen leaders worldwide. Time and again, they said that reducing food loss and waste strengthened their relationships with consumers, and improved retention and loyalty.
The resulting media coverage of company efforts doesn’t hurt, either. Company leaders said that it helped build their brand as a responsible business and cultivate pride amongst employees, a critically important stakeholder group not to be overlooked.
The financial benefits are just as compelling. In addition to qualitative interviews, the report examined data from 1,200 business sites across 700 companies in 17 countries. They found that nearly every company achieved a positive return, with the median business site seeing a 14-fold return on investment in curbing food loss and waste.
They avoided buying food that would have been lost or wasted. They increased the share of food that was sold to customers. They introduced new product lines made from food that otherwise would have been lost or wasted. And they reduced food waste management costs.
Solving A Global Problem
There are planetary benefits to adopting this model, too. Right now, a quarter of all water used in agriculture and a cropland area greater than the size of China is used to produce food that’s never eaten. Food that is wasted or lost from the supply chain emits 8 percent of the greenhouse gases warming the planet, and costs the global economy $940 billion every year.
Food waste is clearly one way companies can engage consumers looking for more than the traditional drivers of taste, price and convenience. This possibility could be important for a host of sectors that handle food – from farming to manufacturing to hospitality to retailers. And it’s a chance for companies to authentically walk the talk.
As humans, we can be fickle creatures. Add to that volatile global politics that impact trade and more, and there’s a lot of uncertainty out there for companies. But this recent research should hearten even the most skeptical. There are real ways to grow financially and re-define the business-consumer relationship with a long-term view on loyalty.
In changing times, curbing food loss and waste is a no-regret strategy.


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AFFLICTION'S "DAY OF RECKONING", AUTO CLUB 500 SPECIAL TICKET PACKAGES AVAILABLE
The “Day of Reckoning” for race fans is just around the corner. And Auto Club Speedway has tickets for the occasion.
In partnership with Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning,” Auto Club Speedway is offering race and Mixed Martial Arts fans a ticket to NASCAR’s 2009 West Coast Premiere – the Auto Club 500 – and a reserved ticket to the “Day of Reckoning” Fedor vs. Arlovski Affliction title fight for only $125. The price also includes a coveted pre-race pit pass during race weekend and is available through January 12th. Buy two or more tickets and receive a free Affliction Day of Reckoning shirt.
The Auto Club 500 is scheduled for Sunday,, Feb. 22 while the “Day of Reckoning” event will be held on January 24th at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
To purchase this adrenaline pumping ticket offer, click here or call (800) 944-RACE (7223) for this or many other holiday packages available.


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Win a free exhibition space in the Offshore Europe Technology Zone!
Time is running out to make your Well P&A idea a reality!
Prime Minister’s visit - thanks to the technology providers!
This is a test
Technology Centre welcomes Mexican Government Minister
Bringing the outside in
The OGTC (@theogtc) 16 March 2018, 13:35
RT @grant_roseanne: @theogtc @ElevatorUK @scotent Great to see two of the #GreyMatters cohort making your final list! Well done to Blue Gen…
The OGTC (@theogtc) 16 March 2018, 12:46
RT @Exceed_XCD_ltd: RT @theogtc: Ten tech start-ups are set to benefit from significant investment of up to £100,000 thanks to our #TechX P…
The Applied Research landscape of the UK


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Texas Man Indicted In Puerto Rico For Wire And Bank Fraud Scheme
Defendant is facing a forfeiture allegation of $98,429,205
WASHINGTON – On May 15, 2019, a Federal grand jury returned a 34-count indictment charging Gopalkrishna Pai, of Euless, Texas, and previously residing in Puerto Rico, with conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, 19 counts of wire fraud, five counts of aggravated identity theft, and nine counts of money laundering, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, and is ongoing.
The indictment alleges that from in or about May 2014, through in or about October 2018, defendant Gopalkrishna Pai conspired, devised, and engaged in a scheme to defraud merchant processors and others by submitting false information and falsified documentation to create merchant accounts in the name of Straw Companies, to process credit card and electronic payments, and to receive a substantial financial benefit. The fraudulent scheme employed by Gopalkrishna Pai disguised his involvement and use of over 100 companies formed to facilitate the processing of approximately $98 million in gross revenue in online retail sales.
As a part of the conspiracy, defendant Gopalkrishna Pai owned and operated F9 Advertising LLC (hereinafter F9), a for profit limited liability company organized in Puerto Rico in May 2014 and registered under the Export Services Act, Puerto Rico Act 20 of 2012. F9 engaged in the sale of personal care products, including skin creams, via the internet utilizing a negative option marketing model. Negative option marketing is a category of commercial transactions in which sellers interpret a customer’s failure to take an affirmative action, either to reject an offer or cancel an agreement, as assent to be charged for goods or services.
The defendant created over 100 liability companies (Straw Companies), obtained individual Employer ID Numbers (EINs) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for each Straw Company and opened individual commercial bank accounts under his control for each Straw Company. False documents were then created and submitted to merchant processers to create merchant accounts to process online sales, and to disguise Gopalkrishna Pai’s involvement.
The merchant processors are companies that provide services to other businesses to process electronic payments, including but not limited to credit card payments. These companies include: Humboldt Merchant Services (Humboldt); Paysafe Group Limited (Paysafe); Global Merchant Advisors (Global); and Merchant Payment Acceptance Corp. (PayKings).
The true owner and operator of the Straw Companies was disguised through the falsification of bank records and EIN tax documents and other information in order to prevent merchant processors and their related financial institutions from having knowledge of the true owner and operator, which was the defendant. Credit card and other payments processed by the merchant processors were paid to accounts in the name of the Straw Companies, controlled by the defendant, and transferred to F9.
As part of the scheme to defraud the merchant processors, the defendant exchanged email communications and internet transmissions via interstate wire to submit documents, including applications, containing materially false representations, and falsified documentation, which included real individuals’ personal identification information like names, social security numbers, and signatures.
This fraud scheme and conspiracy generated approximately $98 million in total revenue, processed based on materially false information, through the Merchant Processors in the names of the Straw Companies.
“This individual took advantage of Puerto Rico and Law 20 to create a company, F9 Advertising, to generate significant revenue through a fraudulent scheme based on lies and falsified documents,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “The indictment underscores the USAO’s commitment to the investigation and prosecution of all types of fraud, and to our continued efforts to ensure that Puerto Rico is not a safe haven for criminal activity.”
“The mission of the FBI San Juan Financial Investigation Strike Team is to identify patterns of sophisticated money laundering, determine the criminal conduct behind those transactions, and to partner with financial crimes experts at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute those responsible,” said Douglas A. Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI-San Juan Field Office. “This case is an example of the successful use of financial intelligence to follow the money and to solve a series of crimes that might otherwise have gone undetected.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth A. Erbe. If found guilty, the defendant is facing a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment for each conspiracy and wire fraud count as well as a maximum two year term of imprisonment for each aggravated identity count and a maximum 10 years of imprisonment for each money laundering count. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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- Prachi Singh |
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is aligning its workforce with its store optimization strategy and reduced store footprint. The company said in a statement that JCPenney has identified 152 store closures following a comprehensive evaluation of store performance and strategic fit for the company and is having ongoing negotiations with landlords. In connection with this organizational realignment, the company has decided to reduce its workforce by approximately 1,000 corporate, field management, and international positions.
“These decisions are always extremely difficult, and I would like to thank these associates for their hard work and dedication. We are committed to supporting them during this period of transition,” said Jill Soltau, Chief Executive Officer of JCPenney, adding, “The global health and economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus pandemic has forced retailers to make difficult decisions. For JCPenney, that includes reducing our footprint and accelerating our store optimization strategy while we implement our Plan for Renewal.”
The company added that the organizational restructuring will create a smaller, more financially flexible company, and will help ensure JCPenney emerges from both Chapter 11 and the Covid-19 pandemic as an even stronger retailer. As announced on May 15, 2020, JCPenney entered into a restructuring support agreement with lenders holding approximately 70 percent of its first lien debt to reduce the company’s outstanding indebtedness and strengthen its financial position. To implement the financial restructuring plan, the company filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.


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Verimatrix XTD Wins 2023 Global Infosec Award
Verimatrix, (Euronext Paris: VMX) (Paris:VMX), the leader in powering the modern connected world with people-centered security, today announced that Verimatrix XTD (Extended Threat Defense) won a 2023 Global Infosec Award from Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), one of the industry’s premier sources of cyber security news in business and government.
Recognized in the award program’s Hot Company in Mobile App Security category, the Verimatrix XTD accolade underscores its uniquely powerful innovations that make it possible for organizations to protect their mobile apps simply and cost-effectively against threat actors who seek to use them as pathways to attack the connected enterprise and/or its customers.
“We scoured the globe looking for cybersecurity innovators that could make a huge difference and potentially help turn the tide against the exponential growth in cybercrime,” said Yan Ross, Editor of Cyber Defense Magazine. “Verimatrix, as a Hot Company in Mobile App Security, is absolutely worthy of this coveted award and consideration for deployment in your environment.”
“As the number of mobile apps grow, so does the attack surface,” said Juha Högmander, vice president of the cybersecurity business at Verimatrix. “Verimatrix XTD is our new cybersecurity product that shields Android & iOS apps with polymorphic protection, then detects and responds to threats from devices connecting to an enterprise's critical infrastructure. We are gratified to receive this honor from CDM’s Global Infosec Awards program.”
Detailed Verimatrix XTD information is available at https://www.verimatrix.com/cybersecurity.
About CDM’s Global Infosec Awards
CDM’s judges are CISSP, FMDHS, CEH and other certified security professionals who voted based on their independent review of the company’s submitted materials, on the website, and of each submission including but not limited to data sheets, white papers, product literature and other market variables. CDM is always asking “What’s Next?” So, we are looking for the best of breed, next generation info security solutions. Visit www.cyberdefenseawards.com.
Verimatrix (Euronext Paris: VMX) helps power the modern connected world with security made for people. We protect digital content, applications, and devices with intuitive, people-centered and frictionless security. Leading brands turn to Verimatrix to secure everything from premium movies and live streaming sports, to sensitive financial and healthcare data, to mission-critical mobile applications. We enable the trusted connections our customers depend on to deliver compelling content and experiences to millions of consumers around the world. Verimatrix helps partners get to market faster, scale easily, protect valuable revenue streams, and win new business. Visit www.verimatrix.com.
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Verimatrix Investor Contact:
Jean-François Labadie, Chief Financial Officer
Verimatrix Media Contacts:
Matthew Zintel, Zintel Public Relations
Lara Joseph, Eskenzi PR
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Compiled by SEMA Editors
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Macau VIP room gaming promoter Iao Kun Group Holding Co Ltd still plans to complete its Hong Kong dual listing by the end of the third quarter of this year.
Company executives made the announcement during a conference call last week.
The company is already listed on Nasdaq in New York. The dual listing will not involve any share dilution.
Following the announcement, U.S.-based brokerage Sterne Agee advised investors to be “conservative” and assume Iao Kun’s dual listing will be completed by year-end rather than late third quarter of this year, given that several items remain out of the company control.
“Either way, we are encouraged by Iao Kun’s increasing rolling chip turnover results ahead of its dual listing this year, and continue to believe the Hong Kong listing will unlock value for U.S. shareholders by – potentially significantly – broadening its investor base,” analyst David Bain wrote in a note to investors.
Iao Kun’s rolling chip turnover reached US$4.8 billion in the first three months of this year, an increase of 16 percent on year-on-year terms. The company is maintaining its 2014 rolling chip turnover guidance for its five existing VIP rooms of US$17 billion to US$19 billion. Iao Kun operates VIP rooms at StarWorld hotel-casino, Galaxy Macau, Sands Cotai Central, City of Dreams and Le Royal Arc casino.
Jan 15, 2021Recent advisory notices issued by a number of local authorities in mainland China, calling on residents not to travel during the February Chinese New Year (CNY) break, further clouds the prospects...
Jan 15, 2021
“We expect Las Vegas Sands to not have any material change in strategy. The focus remains developing Macau and Singapore”
Vitaly Umansky, Kelsey Zhu and Tianjiao Yu
Analysts at brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein


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Google is reportedly planning to take its ad placement opportunities well beyond our TV, mobile, and computer screens.
And we mean well beyond.
According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, advertising may be coming to a bunch of strange places, thanks to Google.
In a December letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which was disclosed Tuesday, the search giant said that it could be serving ads and other content on “refrigerators, car dashboards, thermostats, glasses, and watches, to name just a few possibilities.”
It certainly sounds like Google means business.
“Our expectation is that users will be using our services and viewing our ads on an increasingly wide diversity of devices in the future,” the Internet search giant explained in the same filing.
With Google’s Android operating system wholly dominating the smartphone industry (Android represented an 80% share of shipments in 2013), it makes sense for Google to seek out new devices to conquer.
And, for the time being, Google apparently isn’t ruling out putting ads on any screen in our lives.


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According to the data made available by XRPL Monitor, Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) platform, Bitstamp, and other major players have transferred relatively 100 million XRP between each other. Some of the platforms involved are part of Ripple’s PayID project.
About 100 Million XRP Moved By Major Players
XRPL Monitor, the tracking bot that monitors and reports huge transactions of the digital token XRP, stated in a tweet that around 100 million XRP was moved by several major exchanges such as Bitstamp, Bittrex, Houbi, Binance, and Bitfinex.
According to the report, the Luxembourg-based Ripple’s ODL platform, Bitstamp moved 22.7 million XRP between its internal crypto wallets.
XRPL Monitor also noticed and reported the internal transfer of 35 million XRP by Huobi exchange and a similar amount of XRP was sent from Bitfinex to the cryptocurrency exchange.
Crypto exchanges such as Binance, BitGo, and Bitfinex are also involved in the whopping transfer as earlier mentioned.
Note: Huobi is one of the cryptocurrency-related companies that are presently working with Ripple on the project intended to make crypto payments as easy as sending emails, PayID.
At launch, PayID received support from a number of other cryptocurrency companies, such as BitGo, brave Browser, among others.
About Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL)
On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) is Ripple’s XRP-powered product that allows moving funds via RippleNet without having to pre-fund the account of the recipient.
There are several ODL corridors used by the US-based blockchain payment firm. These corridors include South Korea, Australia, Mexico, Japan, the Philippines, and others.


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by Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Aug 11, 2015
China's auto sales fell in July for the fourth straight month, an industry group said Tuesday, as economic growth slows in the world's largest car market.
Vehicle sales in the country totalled 1.50 million units last month, down seven percent from 1.62 million a year earlier, according to figures provided by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
It was the fourth consecutive month in which sales had decreased and the fall was the sharpest of the period, CAAM data showed, accelerating from a 2.31 percent drop in June.
Production fell to 1.52 million units from 1.72 million a year earlier, plunging more than 11 percent year-on-year, according to CAAM.
Economic growth hit a 24-year low last year, expanding 7.4 percent amid a steady slowdown from years of double-digit expansions.
Growth in gross domestic product has decelerated further this year, expanding 7.0 percent in each of the first two quarters.
Car plate restrictions in some major cities to ease traffic gridlock and stock market volatility this year have also hit demand.
The Shanghai stock index plunged more than 30 percent over three weeks from a June 12 peak before rebounding on aggressive government support measures.
China's overall auto sales reached 23.49 million vehicles last year, jumping 6.9 percent from 2013 but falling short of CAAM's growth target of 8.3 percent for the year.
CAAM in July lowered its estimate for this year's increase to "around three percent" from the previous seven percent, after sales in the January-June period gained just 1.43 percent year-on-year.
Car Technology at SpaceMart.com
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Instacart’s surprise decision to replace its CEO with a prominent Facebook executive followed a big drop-off in sales from last year’s pandemic-boosted results. At the same time there are signs that some supermarket partners are chafing at the restrictive terms of their agreements with the grocery-delivery service.
San Francisco–based Instacart saw its sales roughly quadruple last spring when fears about Covid-19 drove many consumers to sign up for online deliveries. The sharp growth appeared to reinforce the company’s prospects as it geared up to go public and mapped out plans to expand internationally. But sales started declining in late March as vaccines began beating the pandemic and new entrants such as DoorDash battled for grocery-delivery customers.


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ON1 Resize AI is available now and promises to supercharge your photo enlargements with AI
posted Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 3:45 PM EDT
In mid-March, ON1 announced ON1 Resize AI. The new app, the successor to ON1 Resize and Genuine Fractals, promises to be 'the next generation' of photo enlargement software. ON1 has announced that Resize AI is now available for purchase and download. Plus, there's a free 14-day trial to give the software a shot before buying.
'We trained ON1 Resize AI on a variety of photos. It can see textures like rocks, skin, fur, feathers, masonry, tree bark, etc. You get the idea. The technology can recreate these textures and make them look realistic in the enlarged photos making super crisp and clean enlargements' said Dan Harlacher, VP of Product at ON1.
Craig Keudell, President and CEO of ON1, added, 'I can see a lot of photographers using this app to crop out sections of their photos. Let's say you forgot your long lens at home and can't get close enough to your subject. You can still get a really good photo and even better print with ON1 Resize AI.'
ON1 Resize AI crops, resizes and sharpens simultaneously. You can use the software to prepare your enlarged images for printing too. Resize AI is usable as a plugin for Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, plus as a plugin for Capture One. You can also use ON1 Resize AI as a standalone app, and it can be used to batch process images.
ON1 Resize AI is available now directly from ON1 for $99.99. The new app is also part of the ON1 Professional Plugin Bundle, which includes all five of ON1's pro plugins that work with Lightroom, Photoshop and Capture One for $149.99. As mentioned, a 14-day fully functioning free trial is available to download.
By the way, if you own ON1 Photo RAW 2022, keep your eyes peeled for a major update in the coming weeks. This update will add ON1 Resize AI functionality to your software, free of charge. To learn more about ON1 Photo RAW 2022, click here.


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Filed in ISM
Monday, May 22, 2017
Sticking to major themes echoed in its previous edition in December, the May edition of the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) Spring 2017 Semiannual Economic Forecast is pointing to continued growth in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors.
Posted on 05/22 at 12:47 PM
Wednesday, May 03, 2017
The index ISM uses to measure non-manufacturing growth—known as the NMI—came in at 57.5, which topped March’s 55.2 while growing for the 88th consecutive month. And the NMI is 1.9 percent above the 12-month average of 55.6 and at its highest level going back to February 2015.
Posted on 05/03 at 12:23 PM
Tuesday, May 02, 2017
The April PMI fell 2.4 percent in April to 54.8. Despite the decline, the PMI has indicated growth for the last eight consecutive months, and it is up 1.2 percent compared to the 12-month average of 53.6.
Posted on 05/02 at 07:11 AM
Monday, April 03, 2017
The March PMI, the index used by the ISM to measure growth, was 57.2 in March (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth), down 0.5 percent from February’s 57.7, which is the highest PMI reading going back to August 2014’s 57.9.
Posted on 04/03 at 01:31 PM
Wednesday, March 01, 2017
The February PMI, the index used by the ISM to measure growth, came in a 57.7 (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth), which was 1.7 percent ahead of January, marking the highest monthly PMI reading going back to August 2014’s 57.9.
Posted on 03/01 at 01:50 PM
Wednesday, February 01, 2017
The January PMI, the index used by the ISM to measure growth, was up 1.5 percent over December at 56.0 (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth) and its highest reading since November 2014’s 57.6.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Executive-level supply chain positions have gained both prominence and importance for today’s global companies. To support this trend, universities and colleges have enhanced their supply chain and logistics degree programs; organizations like APICS and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) have expanded their certification programs; and training firms offer myriad options to help executives stay current on supply chain trends.
Thursday, December 15, 2016
A massive data collection initiative will result in new exam specifications for ISM certification programs.
Thursday, December 01, 2016
The PMI, the index used by the ISM to measure growth, was 53.2 in November, which was 1.3 percent ahead of October, while growing for the third straight month, as well as the highest level the PMI has reached, going back to February 2015’s 53.3. And the November PMI was 2.2 percent above the 12-month average of 51.0, with the over all economy growing for the 90th consecutive month.
View all categories and topics
Thursday, November 03, 2016
The index ISM uses to measure non-manufacturing growth—known as the NMI—came in at 54.8 (a level of 50 or higher indicates growth), down 2.3 percent from September, with economic growth for the non-manufacturing sector now intact for 81 consecutive months. The October NMI is even with the 12-month average of 54.8.


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One of the reasons hybrids get good gas mileage is that they allow engineers to use a smaller engine without losing too much performance. The Camry Hybrid, for example, is peppy despite its modest 2.4-liter four-cylinder powerplant. But there are other ways to downsize, and as automakers decide how to meet stricter fuel-efficiency goals, they’re exploring all their options. So it’s no surprise that turbocharged engines are becoming fashionable again.
Turbos work by compressing the air that goes into an engine. Squeezing more air into the cylinder generates more power without making the engine bigger, so a turbocharged V6 may provide as much—or more—power than a conventional V8. But compressing the incoming air, a process car guys call “forced induction,” requires energy. Turbos get that energy from an unlikely source: the car’s exhaust. As hot exhaust gases from the engine race toward the tailpipe, they spin a small impeller that drives the turbo. The result is a little bit like regenerative braking in a hybrid: the turbo recycles some energy that would normally be wasted.
Never driven a turbocharged car? You probably will soon. BMW began turbocharging a few of its mainstream U.S. offerings this year, and other automakers are following suit. General Motors is planning to bring a new turbocharged four-cylinder to the U.S, next year, potentially for use in the Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Astra. At 1.4 liters, the engine would be the smallest engine G.M. has offered here in almost 15 years.
Ford has also announced plans to offer turbocharged engines. Ford’s “EcoBoost” technology—a combination of direct injection and turbocharging—yields as much as a 20 percent increase in fuel economy, and is slated to appear on as many as a half-million vehicles during the next five years.
Turbos are a no-brainer for automakers. The technology is mature and cheap—about $250 – $500 per vehicle. And it’s relatively easy to integrate into existing powertrains. That means that during the next few years, we’re likely to see more turbocharged engines than hybrid powertrains. Overall, that should mean our cars use less fuel, which is a good thing. But it remains to be seen whether automakers will view near-term technologies like turbocharging as “good enough” to meet new fuel economy regulations, or whether they will remain committed to investing in longer-term options like hybrids, plug-in hybrids and range-extended electric vehicles that yield much greater fuel savings.


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The Capri Pizza chain, known for its signature caesarian pizza, will close its doors in New Jersey by the end of 2018, closing just weeks before the state’s capitol rotates.
The chain, which has more than 500 locations across the U.S., has been struggling to make ends meet as its popularity has waned in recent years.
Its stock has declined 40 percent this year as it grapples with declining profits.
The company, founded in 1971, said it plans to close about 20 percent of its locations.
Its CEO, Paul Mancini, told The Associated Press in an email that the chain had no plans to open a second location in New Orleans.
He did not respond to a request for comment.
The move comes less than a month after the New York State Legislature passed a law requiring capri restaurants to pay $1,000 a year to the state for a portion of their operating costs.
The measure passed in the wake of the fatal shooting of a man by a police officer last month.
The New Jersey law also requires the chain to provide a financial analysis of the potential impact of closing, according to the company’s website.CAPRI Pizza has been a cornerstone of the New Jersey pizza scene since its inception in 1971.
It is owned by Manci and his wife, Patricia, who bought it in 2003.
The Mancis have long been a vocal supporter of the city’s capris community, and many of its residents still consider themselves capri fans.CAPRICIANS are expected to celebrate the news by gathering in nearby Hoboken to celebrate and pay their respects to the capris-loving restaurant.


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SMEs are likely to feel the impact of South Africa’s recent downgrade to ‘junk’ status.
It is expected that the cost of doing business will increase as the compounding effects of the downgrade, including interest hikes, increased pressure on the rand and rising inflation will further stretch SMEs‘ already strained budgets.
SMEs with loans linked to the prime lending rate will have to pay more to service their debt, and those with business property bonds will now pay higher monthly installments. The downgrade will also likely lead to a decline in procurement from small businesses as government slows infrastructure spending, according to a Fin24 article.
One of the consequences that SMEs should not overlook is how the downgrade will affect consumers and how spending trends will be affected.
How we got here
Helping to demystify the downgrade and its impact on the economy and businesses is Chris Gilmour, investment analyst at Absa Wealth and Investment Management.
Ratings agency, S&P Global, last week cut the country’s sovereign debt to below investment grade, with Fitch announcing its downgrade of South Africa soon afterwards. As a result South Africa received the much-feared junk status rating. Moody’s, which has yet to announce its rating, has placed the country on review for a downgrade according to a TimesLive article.
The agencies rate countries or corporates‘ ability to repay their debt, Gilmour explains in an article on The Small Business Site. The downgrade, Gilmour says, is based on a range of variables such as economic performance, unemployment rates and inflation – the recent cabinet reshuffle being one of the key factors in the country’s downgrading.
With this in mind, as a business owner, what are some of the important factors that will affect your customers?
Here are 4 major effects of the junk status downgrade you should know that Gilmour says are likely to affect the customer that will in turn affect your business.
1. Interest Rates
Interest rates are likely to rise as a result of the downgrade, Gilmour says. This will result in an increase in the monthly cost of debt including home loans, vehicle-finance, credit cards and other repayments, which will put further strain on consumers’ individual disposable income, he adds.
For example, an individual with a mortgage bond of R1 million, paying it over 20 years, is currently paying R9 984 at an interest of 10.5%. An increase in interest rates to 13.5%, will increase their repayment by R2 090 to R12 074, Gilmour explains.
2. Jobs at risk
The economic fallout of the downgrade will see SMEs having to tighten their belts. One of the consequences of this could be the shedding of jobs, explains FNB economist Mamello Matikinca in an article on Fin24.
In an environment where doing business becomes tougher, businesses will be less likely to hire more staff and may even have to cut down on the number of employees on the payroll to ease spending.
Economists predict the downgrade will have an “adverse” impact on both the rand and inflation, with Christie Viljoen, senior economist at KPMG saying in an interview with Business Tech that it will result in “an outflow of investment funds from bonds and equities” as many local and international investment funds withdraw from the country.
“This in turn will adversely affect the value of the rand, increase the cost of imports, and keep inflation elevated for longer. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) would have to adjust its monetary policy stance accordingly,” she says.
The devaluing of the currency will further drive up the cost of petrol and imported food, according to an article by News24. This will mean that transport and food will increase further, putting further pressure on the consumer’s household finances and the country’s inflation.
4. Consumer confidence
With the increasing interest rates and higher inflation, consumer confidence about the state of the economy will also suffer, resulting in lower spending, according to Fin24.
Low levels of consumer confidence mean consumers expect South Africa’s economic to deteriorate further and that they believe it is not a good time to buy durable goods. Lower spending will in turn place more pressure on economic growth.


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The English Premier League (EPL) has filed two cryptocurrency and NFT trademarks in the U.S., a sign the world’s most-watched sports league is gearing up to expand its brand into the digital scene.
The trademarks were filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) last week and brought to light in a tweet by licensed trademark attorney Michael Kondoudis on June 6.
The Premier League is the top level of professional English football, comprising 20 teams.
The two filings pertain to the U.S. use of trademarks associated with the league, one centered on the league’s name and logo of a “lion wearing a crown in three-quarter view” andthe other regarding a “loving cup trophy” adorned with lions on each handle and a crown on top.
The trademark filings are expansive in scope, and cover the creation and sale of digital assets, virtual clothing, cryptocurrencies, and media files verified by NFTs. They also include the use of Premier League trademarks in “virtual, augmented, and mixed reality software.”
An NFT is a digital asset that represents the ownership of media, often digital illustrations, profile pictures, or music. They are minted on public blockchains like Ethereum or Solana, and each token is unique.
The market for NFTs has grown in recent years as more companies cast their hats into the ring. One of the most notable NFT projects in the sports world is NBA Top Shot, launched in 2020. The collection recently surpassed over $1 billion in sales, according to CryptoSlam.


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From now on, the YouTube Music app will come preinstalled on Android devices. While this only applies to devices running Android 9 (Pie) and Android 10, it’s another nail in the coffin of Google Play Music, which you’ll now have to download manually.
YouTube Music vs. Google Play Music
In May 2018, Google announced YouTube Music . YouTube Music comes in two flavors: the free, ad-supported version called YouTube Music, and the $10/month paid version called YouTube Music Premium. Both of which allow you to stream music and more.
Over time, YouTube Music is going to replace Google Play Music. However, the inability to import your songs and playlists to YouTube Music is slowing progress down. Still, Google is pushing forward, and YouTube Music is the new default on Android.
YouTube Music Becomes the Default Player
Google announced the switch in a post on the Official YouTube Blog. The company explains that YouTube Music will now “come installed on all new devices launching with Android 10 (and Android 9), including the Pixel series.”
This is at the expense of Google Play Music, which will no longer come preinstalled on new Android devices. However, even if YouTube Music is the default music player, you can still continue using Google Play Music by downloading it from the Play Store (for now).
By the same token, even if YouTube Music doesn’t come preinstalled on your Android device you can download it from the Play Store. So, just like Google’s multitude of messaging apps, it’s currently maintaining a variety of similar music players.
Google Is Pushing YouTube Music Hard
If you have visited YouTube recently you’ll have seen the ads for YouTube Music. They’re everywhere, as Google is pushing YouTube Music hard. So it should come as no surprise to discover YouTube Music will now come preinstalled on Android.
We’re not quite sure what’s stopping Google from completely killing Google Play Music in favor of YouTube Music, but this decision brings that one step closer. And in the meantime we’ve already argued why you should switch from YouTube Music to YouTube Premium .
Affiliate Disclosure: By buying the products we recommend, you help keep the site alive. Read more.


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Faced with an expensive repair bill, a man from Finland decided to simply dispose of his Tesla Model S in a very unique way.
Tuomas Katainen teamed up with Lauri Vuohensilta from the Hydraulic Press YouTube channel and the Pommijatkat (Bomb Dudes) YouTube channel to strap 66 pounds of dynamite to his broken car to effectively blow it up. Taking place in Jaala, Finland, Katainen revealed that his 2013 Tesla Model S required a battery replacement which Tesla quoted at $22,000 USD. Considering that the opening price for a new 2013 Tesla Model S starts at $57,400 USD and a used one costs around $30,000 USD, it simply didn’t make sense to fix his car.
“Well when I bought that Tesla, the first 1,500km [932 miles] were nice,” said Katainen said in the video, but then error codes made the car undrivable. Strapping an Elon Musk-like dummy and removing the battery and motors, the car was blown up in a quarry to address the expensive factory repairs Tesla owners faces.
Watch the explosive video above.
In case you missed it, New Balance was recently sued for falsely marketing “MADE IN THE USA” sneakers.


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Temple St. Clair opens a new book on spring. Inspired by The Garden of Earthly Delights, painted by […]
In the world of scintillation and fire, colored diamonds proved to be the most crave-able treasures at the […]
AND THE STARS CAME OUT Italian aristocracy, Parisian panache, Hollywood glamour; these three ingredients made up the recipe […]
The lights of Samarkand and the secrets of Venice is Piaget’s muse in creating their mosaic of high […]
Nanis Italian Jewels has released their spring 2017 collection from designer Laura Bicego. Infusing modern style into the […]
CARTIER’S REBELLIOUS FLOWER Cartier is playing coy with their latest interpretation of beauty. The you-can-look-but-you-can’t-touch creates a tension […]
Kicking off the international jewelry auction season Christie’s offered their Important Jewels event in New York City, by […]
THE HEART OF A DIAMOND Named in honor of the ancient and mystical mines near the city of […]
Once a year Christie’s auction house composes a symphony of the rare and the exquisite; the most voluptuous treasures at shocking sizes and provenance.
Last week Christie’s auction house presented a remarkable collection from their Important Jewels sale where prices soared.


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15:11 | 23/01/2016 Trade
(VEN) - In contrast to a decline in export turnover of key agricultural products, cashew nuts actually witnessed high growth in 2015. According to the Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas), cashew-nut exports could reach around 320,000 tonnes for US$2.5 billion in 2015 compared with more than US$2 billion in 2014.
Cashew nuts remain one of Vietnam’s leading exports
Strong increase in exports
Vinacas Chairman Nguyen Duc Thanh said that all kinds of cashew nuts were being exported, with more than 300,000 tonnes exported for US$2.18 billion in the first 11 months of 2015, an increase of 7.3 percent in volume and 19.2 percent in value compared to a year ago.
Nguyen Duc Thanh said that the Vietnamese cashew-nut industry could account for 50 percent of total global export value. Cashew nuts are Vietnam’s third key agricultural exports after rice and coffee, accounting for eight percent of the agricultural sector’s total export turnover. 2015 marked Vietnam as the world’s leading cashew-nut exporter for the 10th consecutive year.
After 27 years of participating in exports, the Vietnamese cashew-nut industry has confirmed its position in the global market. According to experts, cashew-nut demand has increased by 10 percent a year worldwide.
Cashew nuts are not dependent on China and several large markets like other Vietnamese key agricultural products.
Leading cashew-nut exporter
Olam Vietnam’s Quy Nhon Branch Production Director Le Van Tai said that Vietnam seems to have no competitor in cashew-nut exports as Vietnamese cashew nuts have better quality compared to African countries.
Vietnam has established the cashew-nut processing industry mainly using domestic machinery and equipment, contributing to reducing production and labor costs and improving product quality.
According to Vinacas, the Vietnamese cashew-nut industry has still faced difficulties due to large dependence on imported materials. Vietnam currently processes around 1.3 million tonnes of cashew nuts a year, while country only supplies 500,000 tonnes andthe remainder is mainly imported from Africa and Cambodia.
Increasing domestic output is seen as a top priority in 2016. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Department of Crop Production Deputy Director Nguyen Van Hoa said that Vietnam has more than 300,000 hectares of cashew growing areas focusing on the provinces of Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Binh Thuan, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh and Dak Lak. To ensure sustainable development, the cashew growing area improvement program has been implemented by Vinacas and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, contributing to enhancing productivity and product quality.
The US, China and Netherlands remain among Vietnam’s top cashew-nut export markets, accounting for 35.39 percent, 13.38 percent and 12.85 percent of total export value. In addition, Germany, Thailand and the UK recorded high growth in sales in 2015.


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A nervous public can take comfort from bank’s divided policymakers
18th November 2021
Policymakers on the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee – the group tasked with setting UK interest rates – are increasingly divided. To my mind, that is a good thing. For those who see groupthink as a good predictor of a failing organisation, this is encouraging from the Bank. After the deepest economic contraction in three hundred years – and with a very rapid recovery now underway – any group that opines too uniformly that they know the path for the UK economy should be treated with scepticism.
However, the nine-strong Committee can’t avoid revealing their personal views. It is part of their job description. Tasked with making these difficult judgements, they have begun to set out their stalls ahead of next month’s policy decision. Three members have spoken in recent days – Dave Ramsden, Michael Saunders and Jonathan Haskel – and have all put different emphases on the strength of the UK economic recovery and the enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on inflation. It is likely that the remaining six will also possess a wide range of views. So, what are their key judgements, and why does this matter?
It is important to acknowledge that there are few modern precedents to the economic disruption experienced over the last sixteen months. Commodity prices, shipping costs and asset prices were eye-catching on their way down – with the oil price briefly turning negative last year – and have attracted even more attention as they have rebounded strongly. Whether these price increases will continue as the global economy adjusts to living with COVID-19 is far less clear.
For example, one of the big inflation stories in 2021 has surrounded the price of North American wood. This price skyrocketed 400% in just over a year following the start of the pandemic. However, since early May, wood prices have almost entirely reversed. Even the most experienced commodity traders have been shocked by these price swings. In the UK there are anecdotes aplenty about the shortage of workers in the hospitality sector. These have been supplemented by stories of big financial incentives to attract and retain workers in pubs and restaurants. But data released this week by the Office for National Statistics show that average wages in the hospitality sector have in fact risen slower than the wider economy in recent months. Together these two case studies help illustrate the huge interpretive challenge the pandemic has thrown up.
My own view is that most of these big price effects will prove temporary. I expect that the power currently gifted to some suppliers and workers to demand price and wage increases will quickly dissipate. But there are compelling counterarguments made by some excellent economists. I would be doing readers a disservice to dismiss their fears.
Which viewpoint eventually triumphs will, in large part, hinge on whether the UK public – on seeing these very visible price increases – will adjust their expectations for higher future inflation. The latest forward-looking signals available from financial markets and consumer surveys suggest this is not happening. The interest rates that investors are demanding to hold government and corporate debt remain exceptionally low – and have been falling further in recent days. This would appear rather irrational should investors expect the value of interest payments to be eroded by sustained high inflation. And it is not just these financial market signals. The Bank of England commissions a closely watched survey of inflation expectations amongst the UK public. In its latest survey the public responded that they expect inflation of 2.4% over the next twelve months, and 1.9% for the twelve months after that. Both these measures were lower than those recorded the previous quarter. The UK public is respectfully declining to worry about high inflation – for now at least. Set against these latest data points is the fact that expectations can shift very quickly. Perhaps more so now in an increasingly interconnected world where the dissipation of price information is very efficient. The argument goes that by the time this expectations data begins to shift it will be too late to take effective countermeasures.
The other aspect to inflation is the degree to which the global forces that have held down price growth in recent years are going to reassert themselves as the pandemic eases. In mainland Europe and large parts of Asia there is ample spare capacity to respond to higher prices in economies like the US and the UK. This “global supply glut” has been disrupted by the pandemic. But with the volume of tradeable goods and services likely given a boost by the pandemic – as many consumers and businesses have familiarised themselves with consuming goods and services remotely – that is unlikely to last.
But why does this debate matter? Had I been writing this column two decades ago few Times readers would have needed reminding of the costs of high inflation. But memories have faded – or simply don’t exist for many younger readers. This stems from the official rate of UK inflation averaging just two percent over the last twenty years. But high inflation, should it return, will impose costs to those on fixed incomes such as Universal Credit or occupational pensions. That disruption will extend to businesses needing to renegotiate contracts more regularly, and for the cost of funding long-term investments such as those needed to transition the UK economy to net zero.
So overall I interpret the post-pandemic UK economy as in the throes of an inflationary episode, rather than at the start of a new inflationary era. This does not mean that a pre-emptive move by the Bank of England to end the purchase of government debt – known as Quantitative Easing – isn’t prudent. I believe it would be. This would make little impact on the exceptionally low interest rates facing borrowers. But it would send an important signal that the Central Bank is prepared to act decisively should inflation prove persistent.
So, there is much for the MPC to mull over in the weeks and months ahead. UK businesses, households and some senior figures in the Treasury are watching on nervously. They can take comfort that with professional opinion divided, policy is likely to change very gradually. Whatever is decided next month the challenge for the Governor, Andrew Bailey, is to translate the views of a divided Committee into a clear and confident message.
Managing Director, Head of Research


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In the United States, farming and technology go hand-in-hand in production agriculture. Technology helps improve productivity, efficiency and safety. Now, we’re discovering new ways that technology and digital strategies can offer similar benefits when marketing U.S. farm and food products overseas.
I recently led a group of women agricultural leaders on a trade mission to Shanghai and Hong Kong in China. One of the most interesting things we saw and learned was how e-commerce is paving the way for Chinese consumers to gain quick and easy access to high-value U.S. food and agricultural products. As a young, Chinese shopper explained to me, he purchases nearly 80 percent of his groceries online – skipping the trip to a traditional wet market or Western-style grocery store.
In Shanghai, a panel of industry experts joined us to discuss the importance of e-commerce in China. Last year, Chinese consumers spent $589.6 billion purchasing goods online, up 33.3 percent from the previous year. China has continued to dominate this form of marketing ever since it surpassed the United States to become the world’s largest e-commerce market in 2013.
While the total value of goods purchased online by Chinese consumers is impressive, what’s amazing is that many people see e-commerce as a way to buy fresh food. More and more shoppers want to buy products like live seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables and have those items arrive the next day. This is both a unique challenge and a tremendous opportunity for U.S. agribusinesses.
Asia is a key market for the United States and is only going to become more and more important over the next several decades. By 2030, 66 percent of the world’s middle class are going to reside in Asia. In China alone, 160 million middle class households will be added to China in the next decade. That’s a lot of buying power. Chinese consumers are looking for high-value, safe, quality food products at an affordable price. Those are all things that U.S. agriculture is poised to provide.
Now back from this trade mission, I want to underscore how critical it is to look at next steps to meet this challenge head on. To successfully do business in China, companies of every size need to have a digital strategy. If they haven’t already, our U.S. agribusiness partners and cooperators should begin exploring how to integrate this approach into their operations to continue moving forward in China’s growing e-commerce market.
For USDA, this growing opportunity drives home the importance of our market development programs. Along with our industry partners, we will need to explore ways we can help U.S. exporters meet China’s demand for U.S. food and agricultural products by capitalizing on the country’s e-commerce boom.