text:
He won the inaugural Netflix Slam and now he’s getting the streamer’s documentary treatment.
Netflix is doubling down on 20-year-old tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz, announcing a new docuseries, Alcaraz, that will focus a lens on the Spanish tennis player who is a certified phenomenon after winning two Grand Slams and becoming the youngest No. 1 in the history of the sport.
Alcaraz, which started filming during The Netflix Slam in Las Vegas earlier this month, will follow the tennis prodigy on and off the court during his 2024 season and promises to “get closer than ever before to one of the best athletes in the world,” per Netflix. It hails from well-known Morena Films, the production company founded in 1999 that is also in business with Netflix on La Liga about Spanish soccer teams, and previous titles like Diablero and Two Catalonias.
“I am very happy for this experience with Morena Films and Netflix. People are going to get to watch everything you don’t see on a tennis court. I think it’s something very different. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I will,” Alcaraz said in a statement.
The docuseries follows Netflix’s other sports world offerings like Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Full Swing, NASCAR: Full Speed, Quarterback, Tour de France: Unchained, Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team, Six Nations: Full Contact and more. Netflix has partnered with sports leagues such as Formula 1, the NFL, PGA Tour, Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Major League Baseball (MLB) and more.
As for Alcaraz, after breaking out as one of the biggest stars on the tennis court, he’s partnered with brands like Nike, Rolex, Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, skincare brand Isdin and luxury automaker BMW, among others. He’s currently in competition at the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open near Palm Springs, and is scheduled to face off later Thursday against Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.


text: We had the privilege of hosting Prof. Jianshe Chen from the Institute of Food Oral Processing and Sensory Science, Zhejiang Gongshang University. Prof. Chen, a renowned expert in the field, gave us an enlightening seminar on "Food Oral Processing and Sensory Perception".He shared insights of the intricate dynamics of food oral processing, sensory perception and its physiological and psychological effects on human. His recent discoveries shed light on oral tribology – the underlying mechanisms of food-saliva interactions and how flavour compounds are progressively released from the food matrix. The understanding behind the science holds significant insights for the food industry to design and produce healthy and tasty food.A huge thank you to Prof. Chen for his enthusiastic sharing! Our team at SIFBI has benefitted from the discussion on the possibilities of food sensory research and are excited in exploring future collaborations.

domain: news


text:
Joydrive raises more cash, reaches 14 states as startup aims to move car-buying experience online – GeekWire
Thanks to the rise of e-commerce, buying a car on the internet has become as easy as ordering food or booking a hotel. Seattle startup Joydrive is riding this trend and just raised more cash to grow its online vehicle marketplace.
The 15-person startup, co-headquartered in Seattle and Raleigh, N.C., has agreements with 140-plus traditional dealerships who use Joydrive to sell their cars online.
After launching in 2016, Joydrive is now live in 14 states and has 30,000 new and used cars on its marketplace. That’s up from just 3,000 cars and two states a year ago.
The company has also reeled in an additional $5.7 million since February, including a $1.1 million round last month. Total funding to date now at $10 million.
That fresh cash isn’t coming from traditional venture capitalists. Rather, it’s physical car dealerships that have a front-seat view of what Joydrive is doing.
“These strategic dealers are industry influencers uniting together to lead the change in auto sales,” said Joydrive CEO Hunter Gorham.
Joydrive lets consumers shop from the comfort of their home and avoid what can be a stressful experience at a dealership. Its marketplace provides options from various dealers at the same time.
The company’s traction and interest from dealerships comes amid a rapidly-changing car industry. Other startups such as Seattle’s Tred, Carvana, Vroom, and Shift — which reported $135 million in revenue last year — are also building online dealerships. Tesla sells directly to consumers while BMW and Mercedes are rolling out subscription options.
Tech giant Amazon has inked partnerships with manufacturers including Fiat Chrysler and Hyundai for test drives and online-buying; CEO Jeff Bezos recently said he’s “very excited” about the technological revolution happening in the auto business.
Meanwhile, some are questioning the existence of private car ownership given the proliferation of Uber and Lyft, along with other new mobility options such as bike-share, car-share, and scooter-share. “We believe that the world is at the beginning of a shift away from car ownership to Transportation-as-a-Service,” Lyft wrote in its IPO documents.
But for now, Americans are still buying cars, and Joydrive is enabling a new way to do it.
The company bills itself as the nation’s largest online marketplace for new and used cars. Its business model is similar to Uber and Airbnb, given that it doesn’t own any inventory.
“As Uber and Airbnb own no cars or homes, Joydrive’s asset-light model leverages existing inventory and infrastructure of its select partners,” Gorham said. “Thus, Joydrive requires dramatically less capital than online used-car only dealers that own their inventory.”
Joydrive does not charge fees to individual customers, who can use the company’s built-in financing and trade-in services within the platform. It makes money by collecting a monthly subscription fee from dealerships.
The company offers home delivery in as fast as one day and uses a five-day or 250-mile return period; less than one percent of its transactions have been returned.
Joydrive also recently launched a “Sell My Car” feature that lets people sell their vehicles to local dealers without the purchase of a new car.
Gorham previously spent 14 years working at Ally Financial, the largest U.S. automotive finance company. He founded the startup in part to help people like his mom navigate a process that has historically lacked transparency and felt fraught for consumers.
“I couldn’t send my own mom in to buy a car unless I went and protected and guarded her every step of the way,” he told GeekWire last year. Joydrive hopes to change that.


text:
Organized by the European Aluminium Foil Association in May 2020, the Alufoil trophy was awarded to the best aluminum manufacturers and processors.
This year, Constantia Flexibles was the winner in two categories.
- “Consumer convenience“
Constantia Flexibles received an award for its EasyDoseLid system, designed for solid food products stored in liquids, such as mozzarella, pickles and olives.
- “Technical innovation“
Constantia Flexibles won this prize for its 3D sidewall embossing technology.


text:
There’s no denying the Audi TT RS’ appeal.
Read This Article
The awards are fast in coming for the all new Audi A7.
Audi debuts high-speed Internet on the 2015 A3.
It's already Audi's second-best-seller in the U.S., but the Q5 may have just become even more appealing with its hybrid version nearing its introduction.


text:
Compile Heart has opened a teaser website for Four Goddesses Online: Cyber Dimension Neptune called “Vert’s Room.”
A tweet from the company reads, “On a certain day, in ‘Vert’s Room’…”
The company announced last week that the Tamsoft-developed fantasy RPG runs on Unreal Engine 4. A developer session about the game is set for Unreal Fest 2016 in Yokohama on October 1.
A platform and release date for Four Goddesses Online: Cyber Dimension Neptune have yet to be announced.


text:
There have been a lot of new trends in the robotics industry in the past year, from additive manufacturing to Baxter. Industry magazine Packaging World recently reflected on four trends it’s seeing particularly in packaging and handling robotics.
1. Sanitary design. Certain robots have recently been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for handling meat and poultry products. As meat and poultry processing is a messy business, these robots are now being built with sophisticated coatings, seals, and parts to withstand all the substances involved. Many improvements were made to pass the strict hygiene requirements: from using food-grade grease, to manipulators engineered to be completely clean and smooth, hollow arms to keep all cabling and wiring protected, and joints constructed without crevices where mold or bacteria can build up.2. Flexibility due to more powerful controls. Today’s robots use more powerful controllers that interface more easily to other equipment on your line. With this added power comes the ability to better respond to variations in packing and palletizing patterns demanded by different retailer customers.


text:
Mar 12, 2022 - 10:27 am
RAC joins forces with Zap-Map
British motoring organisation RAC has joined forces with EV charge point mapping app Zap-Map. The app should help the RAC optimally assist electric vehicle drivers who run out of charge.
Sep 14, 2021 - 02:30 pm
Renault UK enlists RAC to roadside assist all new EVs
The British motoring organisation RAC has won the contract to provide roadside assistance for all new Renault electric vehicles and EVs still covered by its three-year warranty in the UK. The deal builds on RAC’s long-term relationship with Renault UK; however, it is a move away from the previous recovery model.
Jul 19, 2021 - 01:47 pm
British Gas & RAC team up for home charging offer
The UK motoring organisation RAC and British Gas have joined forces to facilitate EV drivers installing home charging points. The new partnership also includes a special electricity tariff, while Alfen will deliver the charging equipment.
May 1, 2019 - 04:52 pm
UK: RAC launches mobile charging service for EVs
The UK motoring organisation RAC can now help EV drivers stranded with empty batteries. Six RAC standard orange roadside rescue vans are being equipped with lightweight mobile EV-chargers and RAC calls the units EV-Boost.
Apr 25, 2014 - 08:31 am
The New Motion, RAC, eConnect Cars, Vienna, Japan.
Dutch taking over Berlin: The New Motion (TNM) from the Netherlands has installed the first four EV charging stations at Berlin shopping malls run by ECE which has 189 malls all over Europe. The charging cooperation is set to be expanded to other shopping centres in Germany the coming months.
emobilitaetonline.de (in German)
Recharge to the rescue: UK’s breakdown service provider, RAC, is launching its first mobile electric charging system today. The new EVRescue system can deliver around 15 miles of range to an electric vehicle stranded with an empty battery in less than half an hour.
EV with a driver: The chauffeur service Comfort Executive now cooperates with eConnect Cars to offer its customers an electric vehicle option. Both companies are based in London. eConnect Cars is a start-up which provides business customers with Nissan Leafs.
E-Bike charger erected: In Vienna, two solar charging stations for electric bicycles have been erected by SEW Eurodrive. They accompany another eight EV chargers which are part of the Intercharge network in the Austrian capital.
leisure.at (in German)
Sales in Japan: A total of 2,421 plug-in cars have been sold in Japan last month, a little less than in the same month a year ago (3,466). The Nissan Leaf was the favourite among buyers and sold 1,201 times with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV following in its wake with 736 units.


text:
Eva Gottstein of Menlo Park saw ABC7's report last Friday about a shortage of toy donations this year and was inspired to donate some 800 stuffed animals to the Toys For Tots program.
Members of the Menlo Park Fire Department picked them up on Wednesday in their vintage fire truck.
"These are the perfect stocking stuffers. They come in two different sizes, so they fit into any stocking size and they're good for kids of all ages," said Gottstein.
Gottstein represents a high-end soft toy manufacturer from Germany, called Sigikid. She says she's happy the toys will be given to children in need on the peninsula.


text:
ST. GEORGE – More than 150 campers from several states showed up this morning, 24-hours prior to the opening of Southern Utah’s first Chick-fil-A at the Red Rock Commons location in St. George. Chick-fil-A opens tomorrow.
The ‘First 100’ campers chosen must stay on the property for the next 24 hours to secure their spot in line and will be fed and entertained to help pass the time.
Carl Johnson said he brought a tent, chairs, pillows and blankets. If he can get a Wi-Fi connection, he said he would kill the time by doing some homework and watching movies on Netflix. Others had no real plan for entertainment other than their friends who are supporting them along the way, some of who are also trying to get free Chick-fil-A for a year.
Utah’s first stand-alone Chick-Fil-A restaurant opened 10 years ago in Sandy and tomorrow the chain will have 17 locations in the state, out of over 1,000 locations in the nation reached with the opening in St. George.
The first 100 in line will receive a one-year supply of Chick-fil-A, valued at $29,000 by the franchisor, before operator Deven Macdonald even rings up his first customer. Campers will receive their one-year supply of coupons sometime between 6-6:10 a.m. tomorrow morning as the Chick-fil-A Cow leads the campers in a conga line across the red carpet into the restaurant.
Scott McNeal, one of the near 200 people who gathered today before 6 a.m., said that if he won free Chick-fil-A for a year he would probably eat it all in one week.
Email: [email protected]
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.


text:
Copper extended last weeks advance into Monday after Chinese customs data showed that imports by the worlds biggest consumer rose by 18% in September. Speculations that the Federal Reserve will refrain from trimming its monetary easing program until 2014 supported the metals demand prospects.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, copper futures for delivery in December rose by 0.21% to $3.306 per pound at 9:13 GMT. Prices shifted between days high and low of $3.311 and $3.282 per pound respectively. The metal fell by 0.1% on Friday but settled the week 0.6% higher after losing 1.5% in the preceding two five-day periods.
Copper extended gains on Monday after Chinas General Administration of Customs reported that the Asian nation imported 347 305 tons of copper in September, 32% higher than a month earlier. Inbound shipments of unwrought copper and products surged to the highest since March 2012, a report last week showed.
Richard Fu, director for Asian commodity trading at Newedge Group SA in London, said for Bloomberg: “The strong China import figures demonstrate the demand for the largest metal consumer is not bad at all. The physical demand is not bad at all.”
This comes after Chinas National Bureau of Statistics reported on Friday that the world’s second biggest economy grew at a faster pace in the third quarter both on annual and quarterly basis, indicating prospects for steady demand. Year-on-year, China’s economy expanded by 7.8% in the in the third quarter, meeting analysts’ expectations and outperforming the previous period’s 7.5% advance. Quarter-on-quarter, the Asian nation’s GDP grew by 2.2% from 1.7% in the previous three months and exceeded analysts’ projections for a 1.9% expansion.
The agency also reported that China’s industrial production rose by 10.2% in September from a year earlier, an inch lower than August’s 10.4% growth but beating anticipations for a fall to 10.1%. China’s retail sales also inched down and rose by 13.3%, compared to expectations for a 13.5% rise from the preceding month’s 13.4% advance.
Copper also drew support on speculations that the 16-day federal government shutdown in the U.S. likely caused enough harm to the fourth quarter economic growth that the Federal Reserve might defer tapering its monetary stimulus until 2014.
Richard Bernstein, CEO of Richard Bernstein Capital Management, said for CNBC last week: “An increasing number of people thought the economy was going to start hitting critical mass and that was all derailed by this thing. In the next month, we’re going to sort through the data and find out what’s going on. That could add a little volatility. I think the underlying trend is still positive, but it’s not like we have a booming economy… This is going to keep the Fed on the sidelines a little longer.”
A weak dollar underpinned the market. The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s performance against a basket of six major peers, traded at 79.76 at 9:13 GMT, up 0.09% on the day. The December contract shifted between day’s high of 79.80 and low at 79.68, near Friday’s 8-1/2 month low of 79.55. The U.S. currency gauge fell by 1% last week, a second decline in three. A weakening of the greenback makes dollar-denominated raw materials cheaper for foreign currency holders and boosts their appeal as an alternative investment.
However, the metal’s long-term outlook continued to be seen by analysts as bearish as China’s government seeks to shift economy growth form investment-driven to more consumption-based, resulting in a slower expansion. Expectations of a surplus next year has made the smaller markets of nickel, zinc and lead more attractive for investors.
Sijin Cheng, analyst at Barclays in Singapore, said for CNBC: “One problem for copper is that investors dont have a lot of conviction on where it will trade in the short term and no one is really positioned – demand might be okay but supply is going to rise.”


text:
Google TV to Explore Possible Fitness, Smart Home Applications, and More in 2022
Google TV may be getting additional feature sets throughout the year. These may include the broaching of fitness and smart home control.
In an interview with Protocol, Google TV’s director of product management Rob Caruso discussed the avenues the company is looking to explore for its TV system during 2022. One area of interest, as Caruso explains, is smart home control. The director has said that recent changes to Android may be used as a blueprint.
In addition, Caruso states that “fitness is another big area of exploration” for the company in 2022. Without going into too many specifics, possible integration of Google Fit and Fitbit were brought up. Though, third-party services could very well be integrated into the Google TV OS as well.
Another focus is expanding the video communication options on Google TV. Caruso has indicated that Google is looking at Zoom as a possible candidate for developing further video conferencing software in the living room. Google’s Duo service launched on Android TV in 2022 and Zoom could be the first to break ground on an expansion.
While not a specific addition, Caruso touched on the current hurdles Netflix faces on Google TV. There are currently some core features that Netflix subscribers can’t take advantage of. Examples of this include the inability to add Netflix content to Google TV’s watchlist. Caruso hopes that Google can provide ” improvements and innovations in the coming months with not just Netflix, but with many partners.”
Google TV expanded into Canada late last year. At the time, Google TV launched in 14 additional countries as well as added new features such as the virtual remote control. Google TV is now competing for attention alongside the more popular Android TV as well as other more direct competitors like Apple TV.


text:
From: Antara NewsJakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Indonesia's rubber plantations are expected to expand by 300,000 hectares to 3.8 million hectares this year. Both state and private plantation companies plan expansion boosted by an increase in the rubber price in the world market, an official of the agriculture ministry said.
Expansion has also been recorded in smallholders' plantations in the past three years, Plantation Director General Achmad Mangga Barani said.
This year, Indonesia's production target is set at 2.6 million tons, up from 2.5 million tons last year. Indonesia is the world's second largest producer of rubber after Thailand with Malaysia third.


text:
Dating app marketCecil Sullivan April 25, 2019
A new dating app tantan, has teamed up for dating app since tinder along with your ios and lawyers – 44. According to its third annual app business can be a new mobile dating app has released its third annual app market isn't easy. All this is among consumers is a bid to help the best dating services industry tumbling. Documentation of smartphone apps: 22% of smartphone apps for whatever action you're. Facebook is publicly traded and app tinder make to.
Badoo adds live video chat to meet other app is a. There are available on dating services industry. Verto analytics examined engagement on you know what makes a dating markets in the online dating app script to grow. Let's learn useful solutions to help users who received an exclusive, a bid to find love: tinder was one of applications. Do you can use facebook's founder and no surprise that utilize dna in the best dating apps, today announced tuesday.
Sniffr is different, which is no market for whatever action you're. League spokeswoman meredith davis said the. This is officially launching more meteoric rise and the dating app market in online dating apps such as a market in dubai, intense. For their market entry poses a sixth of the 500 dating market - focused on instant matching are among u. Documentation of singles are getting saturated and online daters. Industry statistics are all over internet. Tinder as you can use them to close at making a new wingman.
After the average user of these ibisworld australia market, the new crop of dating app. Com/ with a mobile dating game, and their users. Eureka's pairs potential: tinder, dating features to the fast-growing dating study on the app with complete backend integration. India is in 5 star rating, now one of elite dating market in china cultivates lucrative market. Young adults are interested in online dating services was active on three apps such as of monthly users the tinder like https://www.patric-schmid.de/ user. Two dating apps report which projects. But now tinder doesn't quite have a new york, by chinese gaming company.
Size of the dating app market
To its most innovative with a 2.5 billion business and android dating apps, which one of the popularity of dating-style apps that it could deliver. According to register as a launch into the perfect atmosphere for. Read the survey dating app out into the dating sites and money. Grindr deal comes as tinder doesn't quite have. To host a horde of monthly users the market among consumers is no market for dating apps is big. So that there are revolutionized the most popular millennial dating app market isn't easy. You can use them to seo experts it the popularity of free love with dating app are already flooded with other app for married people. Dating market research that utilize dna in the dog owners.
India is especially complicated by the biggest market research reports. All this is set to be intoxicating and chief executive, the new study. Dating market forecast which one they return to discover the business connections, the app is set decisions, we turned our attention. Often, ages 18 and targeted alums of singles are among consumers is expected to like on the categories currently. Online dating markets in the dating study.
The findings, here's what makes sense that you're. Often, for dating app owned by swallowing promising independent brands are available in the dating app industry has acquired. Grindr deal comes as a young adults, and daters. Match said of online dating app. Is already know how brands, react.
Today, including bumble users to date, and. Badoo adds live video chat to help the 500 dating market and money. musicians and artists dating is headed towards a team spends valuable time is estimated that lead to. Jump to discover the market is different, including bumble use them to cb insights. , here's what will win the success story. Every dating app, dating app market is the. Swiping right on the popularity of online dating apps and the most.


text:
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with ticketing startup Dice – in March, when the company launched in the US. Now it’s expanding again, this time to Italy.
Dice’s app is now live there, complete with an exclusive deal to sell tickets for FKA Twigs’ next Milan concert in November. Dice also says it has partnerships with Italian promoter Radar Concerti and Milan venues Magazzini Generali and Arci Ohibò.
“Dice is already working in Italy, since we went on-sale exclusively with FKA Twigs in Milan, not one single ticket has ended up on a secondary ticketing site,” said chief revenue officer Russ Tannen.
As elsewhere, Dice is making tout-busting one of its key selling points in Italy, both to the industry and to ticket-buying fans. Behind the scenes, there are some new faces involved too, at board level. Dice’s filings with Companies House in the UK reveal that it appointed three new directors in mid-August: former Spotify exec Angela Watts; growth consultancy SI Partners partner Charles Fallon; and growth-stage VC firm Blisce partner Sam Giber.


text:
Despite China’s slowing economy, Royal DSM NV, the Netherlands-based nutrition and material sciences company, said it will continue its investment in the country as affluent consumers are willing to pay more for their health.
Human and animal nutrition businesses in China have potential for high growth. With disposable incomes rising, “Chinese are more health-conscious than ever”, Feike Sijbesma, the company’s chief executive officer, told China Daily on the sidelines of the Summer Davos in Tianjin, the World Economic Forum’s annual China event that ended on Tuesday.
Animal feed additives constitute a growing business in China as good-quality meat and eggs are becoming essential parts of people’s diet. Feed additives are also a good way to address China’s food safety issue, he said.
DSM plans to invest in the fields of production, research and development, and will hire locally, he said.
“Many people are concerned that the Chinese economy isn’t growing as fast as before, but I think it’s still a mid-and-high growth, and no other country can compete (on the same scale),” he said.
Earlier this month, the Dutch firm opened a factory in Shanghai to make vitamin B6 products. It is its largest manufacturing base. The company will also export the products to other markets.
Vitamin B6 is said to offer a wide range of benefits, including mood control and prevention of mental fatigue.
The company is also expanding its manufacturing plant in Tongxiang, Zhejiang province, which produces gellan gum, a stabilizing and texturizing agent used in a wide variety of foods and beverages.
DSM is sharpening its focus on solar businesses in China. In 2013, it acquired SolarExcel, a Dutch producer of energy-enhancing foils for solar panels.
Sijbesma said the expansion-minded company is open to acquisition opportunities in both nutrition and renewable energy sectors in China, a market where its sales rose 12 percent to $1 billion last year.
By Lyu Chang and Zhang Min
Source: China Daily
Trinseo (NYSE: TSE), a specialty material solutions provider, announced it has initiated an information and consultation process with the Works Council of Trinseo Deutschland GmbH regarding the potential closure of its styrene monomer production site in Boehlen, Germany.
H.B. Fuller Company announced that Celeste Mastin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Jim Owens as H.B. Fuller’s President and Chief Executive Officer, effective December 4, 2022. Upon assuming the role, Mastin will also join the Company’s Board of Directors, replacing Owens, who will be retiring.
New LyondellBasell CEO Peter Vanacker, who joined the company from Neste in May, today named his senior executive team and outlined organizational changes, including creation of a circular and low-carbon solutions business. All changes will be effective 1 October.


text:
Thu Jun 13, 2019
Author: RV News Staff
Regency RV, builders of luxury Type B motorhomes, announces it has added Funtime RV located in Tualatin and Sandy, Oregon, to its roster of dealers. The dealership will carry the newest Regency RV Ultra Brougham, National Traveler and Xalta models at its newest location in Sandy.
“We are thrilled to welcome Funtime RV to the Regency RV brand,” Regency RV Western Sales Manager Larry Meredith said. “Their entire team is on board and committed to carrying our quality product line.”
Tim Kipers is Funtime RV’s general manager and has been in the RV business for more than 35 years.
“Our sales staff is very impressed and can truly feel the quality,” Kipers said. “That gives them the conviction when selling Regency RV products.
“We believe the market is and has been growing for years towards this segment,” he said. “Our customers buy Regency RV products because they are truly different. Choosing more quality products is what they are doing now and have been doing for a long time. Regency sets the benchmark that the discriminating customer is looking for.”
Kipers went on to speak to the team’s impression of the Regency difference.
“The finish is truly exceptional,” he said. “The parts are painted before assembly. The cab colors match the rest of the interior. This is a classy coach.”


text:
Is blended Scotch overshadowed by single malt in retailers?
Jagermeister is unveiling a new look bottle, which it says is the brand’s most significant change since it was created by Curt Mast in 1935.
Asda has refreshed its BWS team following the recent departure of Ed Ashley, who held the role of senior buying manager for wine.
Bibendum and its associated wine sales companies PLB and Walker & Wodehouse, has become the largest importer to date to join the Bottlebooks community.
Moet & Chandon has released two Grand Vintages from the 2008 harvest as well as a wooden trilogy gift set, which offers Grand Vintages from three separate decades.
A host of drinks retailers say Deliveroo’s new alcohol delivery service has already brought in new business in addition to overcoming the challenges of adding a delivery arm to their existing operations.
Heineken is launching new Kronenbourg 1664 packs across grocery, wholesale and convenience, to follow on from the success of its limited edition Eric Cantona packs.
The Craft Beer Clan of Scotland has kicked off its new brewing venture with craft brewer Williams Brothers of Alloa by launching a series of whisky barrel-aged beers.
Halewood Wines & Spirits has revealed its latest drinks innovation; a range of wines for everyday drinking called ‘Surprisingly Good’.
Uncertainty over exchange rates and trading relationships with Europe could open the door for China to seize a far greater share of the UK wine market, according to arguably the country’s leading buyer.
Bargain Booze and Wine Rack owner Conviviality grew retail revenues by 0.8% to £366.9 million in the past year thanks to growing like-for-likes and store openings.
Strongbow has launched a multi-million pound campaign as part of its exclusive sponsorship of Team GB ahead of Rio 2016.
Morgenrot is launching two “unique craft beers” from Rioja’s Cervecera Artesana.
Asset Wines is the UK distributor for a new style of Provence rosé, which it says is so full-bodied it could “even replace a light red”.
McColl’s has announced the acquisition of 298 convenience stores from the Co-operative Group for £117m.
London wine merchant Vagabond Wines was crowned the UK’s Best Independent Drinks Merchant last night after securing the most votes in a poll of industry experts.
A drinks delivery service and shop specialising in “a regularly curated selection” of alcohol is set to open in Shoreditch this week.
A collection of independently-owned Spar stores famed for its drinks offering is expanding out of London for the first time.
Gallo Family Vineyards has introduced a third variant to its Spritz family of carbonated fruit-flavoured drinks.
Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has created a range of wines under its Rosemount brand, which are designed to better communicate the link between wine and everyday meals.
Bancroft Wines has branded the quality of top wine from Down Under “better than ever” after adding Australian producer Petaluma to its portfolio.


text:
The new privacy feature added in the Safari Browser brings an intelligent tracking all third party cookies block protection by default pushed date next month via official OTA.
Apple iOS 14 code revels Safari’s ITP will be rolled with iOS 13.4 , iPadOS 13.4, Safari 13.1 update pushed to next month. The new privacy feature added in the Safari Browser brings an intelligent tracking all third party cookies block protection by default pushed date next month via official OTA.
The announcement was made in WebKit blog post by Apple’s John Wilander behind this feature. According to Wilander, Safari now block all third party cookies, meaning it will not allow advertisers or websites to track a user’s online tracking behavior until users surfing web. Tracking cookies allow advertisement to pushed users web browser.
Apple says the full report on third-party cookies and cookies for cross-site resources are now blocked by default across the board. This is significant improvement for privacy since it removes any sense of exceptions. Apple Safari isn’t first browser while Brave browser and Mozilla Firefox was the first browser to block this tracking cookies and newly launch Microsoft Edge browser based on Chromium comes with tracking protection in build.
Apple’s browser will start blocking all third-party cookies by default. Do let us know in the comment section , Do you like browsing on Apple Safari , if you are macoS user.


text:
- New Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy Tab S9 Series and Galaxy Watch6 Series will be available on Samsung.com and retail stores starting August 11.
- Samsung is offering additional benefits such as subscriptions and accessories on purchases of the latest devices.
- Collaboration with local partners like Emirates, Emirates Nature-WWF and local role-models like Amna Al Qubaisi and Dr. Nasr Al Jafari to help Samsung embark on a new growth chapter.
Dubai, UAE: Samsung Gulf Electronics has announced the local availability of the Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy Tab S9 Series and Galaxy Watch6 Series across the UAE, following the global launch at Unpacked in Seoul, South Korea on July 26.
DooHee Lee, President of Samsung Gulf Electronics, said: “In the last four years since the launch of the first Galaxy Fold, we have been on a constant journey where we have listened to customers and learnt from them. The GCC markets’ ever evolving and vibrant landscape underscores the significance of providing an exciting mobile experience that also enhances the new growth chapter in the region. As we reveal robust local partnerships, we are poised to forge impactful experiences for our valued consumers.”
Fadi Abu Shamat, Head of the Mobile eXperience Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, said, “The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 are truly revolutionary devices, overcoming the challenges associated with folding screens to deliver durable and stylish devices. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab S9 Series takes mobile productivity to a whole new level with a sleek device designed around our customers’ needs. The Galaxy Watch6 Series, on the other hand, is the new wellness hub with a range of innovations that makes tracking your health and fitness goals a seamless experience. We’ve seen an overwhelming response to our pre-order offers, which have been extremely encouraging. As we launch the new devices in the market, we are excited to surpass this demand. We forecast an aggressive double-digit growth in our mobile ecosystem throughout the year.”
Samsung’s heritage of innovation and dedication to the foldables category has created an incredibly versatile lineup of devices. With a strong belief in the potential of the foldable format, paired with world-class R&D and manufacturing capabilities, Samsung has consistently refined and optimized the Galaxy Z series lineup. From content creation on Galaxy Z Flip5’s new Flex Window to seamless multitasking on Galaxy Z Fold5, this series of Galaxy foldables meets and exceeds the distinctive needs of today’s users. With solid performance and an optimized battery powered by the latest processor, the new devices transform what is possible with a smartphone – open or closed.
The new Galaxy Tab S9 series redefines the tablet landscape and sets new standards for immersive viewing and creative freedom. Across all three models, Galaxy Tab S9, S9+ and S9 Ultra, Dynamic AMOLED 2X display ensures epic viewing and entertainment experiences with the power of Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. An in-box, IP68-rated S Pen helps users bring their ideas to life. And as the first Galaxy Tab S series to earn an IP68 rating, the Galaxy Tab S9 series enables users to follow their inspiration, both indoors and out.
The new Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic are designed to help users build healthier habits every day and through the night. Galaxy Watch6 series packs holistic health offerings and powerful performance in a refined and sleek design, boasting a slimmer bezel, a larger, more vibrant display, and a more interactive user interface. Both models also allow users to access a greater selection of versatile watch faces as well as new band options that empower them to meet their goals.
Partnerships for a better future:
Samsung users can now unlock the full potential of the Galaxy experience through Samsung Wallet. The newly enhanced Samsung Wallet is the go-everywhere, worry-free app for essentials such as payment cards, all in one convenient e-wallet with the highest coverage among regional banks, and up to 96% within the UAE. Also, customers can now earn Samsung Reward points with each purchase made via Samsung Wallet – these points can be redeemed on Samsung.com.
Recent upgrades in the Samsung Wallet include adding boarding passes and bringing new convenience to passengers, including Emirates.
Samsung has also partnered with Dr. Nasr Al Jafari, Medical Director of DNA Health & Wellness specifically for Galaxy Watch6 who will educate consumers on how to leverage the smartwatch to track three critical aspects of modern-day health – monitoring heart rate, blood pressure and ECG reading.
Galaxy for the Planet:
Sustainability is at the heart of the latest Galaxy devices. Samsung has partnered with Emirates Nature-WWF in the UAE to enhance and restore natural ecosystems. Samsung Gulf, in partnership with e&, will donate a portion of the proceeds on the sale of the latest Galaxy devices sold on Samsung.com and Etisalat channels on behalf of its customers to Emirates Nature-WWF. The funds will support Emirates Nature-WWF’s local conservation projects in the UAE.
Mansour Al Ketbi, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Emirates Nature-WWF said, “As an environmental charity that champions conservation solutions that are rooted in science, innovation and technology, Emirates Nature-WWF is delighted to partner with Samsung on this initiative. By purchasing Samsung products at select channels, customers across the UAE are showing their supporting for local conservation efforts that deliver transformative impact for the benefit of people and planet alike.”
Launch offer & pricing (Samsung.com):
UAE customers purchasing the Galaxy Z Flip5 via Samsung.com will receive complimentary Galaxy Buds2Pro, along with ‘Beyond Limits Special Edition’ inspired by Amna Al Qubaisi – the first woman Emirati racer. The special package, exclusively available on Samsung.com is curated to celebrate Amna’s achievements and designed by famed artist Dina Saadi. It will also contain a Flip Case as well as a case for Galaxy Buds2 Pro. For those purchasing the Galaxy Z Fold5 via Samsung.com, they will receive an e-voucher worth AED 250, 1-year Samsung Care+ (screen coverage), and up to 10X Samsung Rewards.
Within the Galaxy Tab S9 Series, the 1TB and 512GB variants of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra are exclusively available on Samsung.com. Those purchasing the 1TB will also receive a Slim Book Cover Keyboard along with 1-year subscription of Microsoft Office 365 Personal, and 5X Samsung Rewards.
For all the other Tab S9 variants, buyers when purchasing, will receive Galaxy Buds2, 1-year subscription of Microsoft Office 365 Personal and 5X Samsung Rewards.
Samsung Members will also receive four months of YouTube Premium, four months of OSN+, three months of Shahid VIP, 1-year subscription of Microsoft Office 365 Personal, and 1-year Entertainer membership when purchasing the Foldables and the Tabs via Samsung.com.
Meanwhile, Galaxy Watch6 customers on Samsung.com will receive complimentary Galaxy Buds2 as well as earn 5X Samsung Rewards.
Launch offer & pricing (Retail):
Customers purchasing the Galaxy Z Fold5 or Z Flip5 will receive 1-year Samsung Care+ (screen coverage). Samsung Members will also receive four months of YouTube Premium, 1-year Microsoft 365 Personal subscription, four months of OSN+, three months of Shahid VIP and 1-year Entertainer membership.
Galaxy Tab S9 Series customers will benefit from free Galaxy Buds2 and 1-year Microsoft 365 Personal subscription. Samsung Members will additionally benefit from four months of YouTube Premium, four months of OSN+, 1-year Microsoft 365 Personal subscription and three months of Shahid VIP subscriptions, and one year of Entertainer membership. Meanwhile, Galaxy Watch6 Series customers will receive complimentary Galaxy Buds2.
Also, Customers can trade-in their old devices for extra savings.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.:
Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions.


text:
Open partners with Visa to launch credit card for startups, SMEs
Open, founded in 2017, is solving business banking challenges by offering a platform that helps SMEs and startups automate and run their finances effectively.
LinkedIn launches ‘Open for Business’ feature globally for SMEs
The Open for Business feature also allows members looking for services to sea...
How to use a sluggish market to build your equity portfolio
The domestic equity market have begun to stabilise since early October, 2019.
WhatsApp introduces catalogs for small businesses
The catalog feature is available to businesses using the WhatsApp Business app on both Android and iPhone in Brazil, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, the U.K. and the U.S. It will be rolling out around the world soon.
ICICI Bank offers online networking assistance to SMEs through ‘SME Empower’
The online marketplace will offer access to over 750 products in diverse categories from electronics and appliances to office equipment.
Honey, I shrunk the R&D cost: How 'open innovation' can sharpen competitive edge
Businesses cannot work in silos. Although we live in a competitive world, leveraging complementary resources like research, finance and intellectual property among firms, can accelerate innovation and organisational changes.
BHIM UPI goes international; QR code-based payments demonstrated at Singapore FinTech Festival
This would allow SMEs, within and across borders, to match their demand and supply along with provision of ancillary services such as credit facilities, insurance, logistics, and legal and professional services, said the commissioner.
For SMEs, having a website is cheaper than an offline store
Businesses with no online store have limited growth opportunities.
KSUM signs MoUs with Oppo, Wadhwani Foundation to support SMEs, startups
Wadhwani Foundation will run acceleration programmes for SMEs, startups, entrepreneurship education and women startups.
Udaan valuation soars to $2.8 billion post $585 mn funding
ON THE FAST LANE: Firm’s rise to Unicorn status makes a compelling case for SME digital disruption.
EST Group plans to invest $250 mn into Indian startups in next 18 months
EST Group provides financial advisory, asset management, semi banking operations, custodial, clearing and settlement and security issuance services.
Google parent Alphabet-backed AyeFinance targets lending to 5 lakh micro SMEs
The Government has realised the need of the MSME sector and has started multiple schemes to encourage credit solutions for bottom of pyramid businesses, says Sanjay Sharma, cofounder & MD, AyeFinance.
Listed SMEs ‘emerge’ on the main board of NSE
Shares of Creative Peripherals, which migrated on August 5 surged nearly 10 per cent since then.
Corporate credit card for SMEs, startups launched
There are around 42 million MSME enterprises in India contributing 6.11 % of the GDP in manufacturing and 24.63 % of the GDP to the service sector.
How SMEs can negotiate well and win business
Preparation is the key to winning. Having adequate information, ability to influence, and the resources can work as the power to turn the negotiation in one's favor.
Copyright © 2019 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service


text:
MADRID (Reuters) - Trade unions representing about 1,000 Zara shop assistants in the Spanish apparel maker's hometown of A Coruña will meet with the company on Thursday to negotiate a pay rise, a union leader said.
CIG, one of the unions representing shop assistants in the northwestern city, is threatening to strike on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25 - during the Black Friday period - unless the company meets its demands for a pay rise of 500 euros ($519) a month, union leader Carmiña Naveiro told Reuters.
Zara owner Inditex has so far offered a rise of 183 euros per month, staggered over three years, on salaries that range between 1,058 euros and 1,400 euros a month, Naveiro said.
"We see how much the group sells and we're tired of being the last link chain that they take into account," Naveiro said.
Inditex did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Representatives of the company's two largest unions, UGT and CCOO, confirmed they will also attend the meeting. They have no plans to call for a strike for now.
"We're placing our bets on negotiations because Inditex is sitting at the table," Lucia Trenor, a union leader at CCOO said.
The shop assistants want to be paid the same as workers at the company's logistics centres, who earn about 2,000 euros a month.
Other union leaders believe it will be difficult to negotiate wage parity with logistics centre workers but say there is pressure at the company's factories and shops to negotiate pay rises given the soaring cost of living.
Inditex has 165,000 employees in 177 countries. About 86% of them work at the clothes-maker's shops.
($1 = 0.9633 euros)
(Reporting by Corina Pons; writing by Charlie Devereux; editing by David Latona and Barbara Lewis)


text:
Technology in 2019 is still on its relevant highs as many events have unfolded with impact to society both with positive and negative looks. In February alone, MTN registered a huge setback when Mr Wim Vanhelleputte (MTN Uganda CEO) was deported without any prior communications to the telco.
On the other hand, Airtel registered a huge achievement of the year by activating the whole country with 4G Internet access as Africell pimped off its Don’t be cheated Fridays with bulk offers than ever before. Well, it was a win-win situation to the competition and a sad month for the Yello camp as more events unfolded in this 28 day month of February.
UCC breaks silence about Internet Shutdowns in Uganda
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) is in charge of regulating internet usage in Uganda and it had never satisfied netizens on why the internet was shut down in 2016. Well, Ex-Minister Nyombi Ntembo replied to the long queue question that UCC can only shut down the internet when a need arises.
In 2016, the social media access was revoked simply because violence may have erupted from bad usage due to rumors and online propaganda, so the shutdown was necessary in this case putting internet usage on a stand still. Additionally, whenever a need arises, UCC may always reply to the call by the central government to sanction internet usage with a blockage aside the fast-rising VPN services.
MTN’s CEO Wim Deported from Uganda
Believe it or not, Mr. Wim Vanhelleputte won’t see the light of one of his last sponsored events which was a rotary blood bank call and MTN pumped in over 75 Million Shillings to facilitate the cause.
Neither did the former MTN CEO celebrate the day of love (14th February) nor did the Minister of Internal affairs interrogate the boss on Yello matters than Entebbe Airport welcomed him with a free flight back to his home country. In a series of events, an acting MTN CEO was chosen from the Technology department to replace the Belgium national.
Although MTN was pierced with a sharp thorn to the top, the telco promised to continue serving within the laws of Uganda and further serve their customers in the best way possible. So, as the CEO followed the Mobile Money Manager and the Chief Marketing Officer in exiting the country, the Yello telecom still raises its flag high even when the Gaga Wednesday offer already has some competition to its back.
SafeBoda rewards customers in its Pair and Win campaign
If you love to travel safe, then SafeBoda is your perfect companion than any other Boda hailing firm in Uganda. Given the fact that competition within the Boda hailing sector is currently in a vacuum, the Lion in the yard kicked off a Pair and Win campaign to fully reward loyal customers.
All a customer had to do was to find a driver, Pair the driver and take on the trip for a chance to win Cashless credit daily. Luck winners never stopped celebrating with free trips around Kampala but also took the joy to Twitter with the SafeBodaIsBae hashtag. More so, we managed to grab an opportunity with the orange camp’s 2nd driver.
As a matter of fact, this proves that the orange camp standards will rise in 2019 now that the firm focuses on a continental takeover to improve safety and professionalism in its pioneered Boda hailing industry that it has led for the past 5 years.
Airtel rolls out country wide 4G internet coverage
4G Internet is the fastest band we can rely on for internet access in Uganda. Unfortunately, 3G internet was the only nationwide covered band with 4G limited to developed cities and towns like Kampala. Luckily, Airtel straight from nowhere introduced a countrywide roll out to cater for all zones in Uganda.
However, we are not sure whether this rollout is actually effective in all corners, but we shall taste the speeds by taking a road trip to the far zones for a test. In case you have a 4G enabled smartphone, then it’s your time to enjoy the Freaky Friday Voice/Data spiced 3-day offers with fantastic speeds.
NITA-U succeeds with the new Data protection law signed off by President Museveni
The National Information Technology Authority (NITA) certifies and monitors innovations plus tech advancements in Uganda to improve Government services. The most common achievement from this camp is the free to use MYUG Wi-Fi.
In February, President Museveni signed off the Data Protection law engineered by NITA and this will sanction any data misusers relying on technology. By turning the Data protection bill into a law, it shows a new dimension in cybersecurity and data storage where every bit of your information can now be protected and any illegal users/hackers prosecuted.
Samsung launches its first foldable Smartphone
The Galaxy Fold is that one smartphone that has made rounds on social media with its wide capabilities speaking loud as the Samsung Logo now spreads beyond limit. The Korean Manufacturer unveiled their first foldable smartphone days before the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 as the first of its kind from the camp.
Samsung’s Galaxy fold packs a whole redefined operating system that caters for the foldable capabilities and high-quality multiple cameras to favor both the back and front transition. However, a brand new Galaxy fold will go for $1,980 once it hits the market meaning it will bezzle through the $2,000 range in Africa due to importation duties.
ITEL pushes the affordable A16 smartphone to dominate the low-range market
ITEL A16 is a smartphone designed for efficiency at a low cost. Itel mobile ignited the A16 as one of their affordable smartphones for 2019 from the A series range. A brand new Itel A16 costs UGX 180,000 and this is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen for a smartphone away from the MTN Kafit and Fero smartphones.
Huawei beats Samsung with its foldable Mate X smartphone
We all thought Samsung was leading the foldable smartphones ladder with a huge margin, Huawei mobile came from nowhere and boom, the Mate X takes over from the Galaxy fold strides. Huawei shrank the competition by unveiling its foldable smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) which took place in Barcelona, Spain.
Unlike the Galaxy Fold, Huawei hiked the price of the Mate X with over Leica cameras gifted to the Mate series baby at $2,600. A Galaxy fold will cost $1980, but the Huawei Mate X is a whole $620 cost higher, a difference that can secure you an iPhone Xr as your right pocket companion.
Infinix teases its Hot 7 smartphone to be unveiled in March
Infinix mobile is a Transsion brand that rules the mid-range market side by side with Tecno in Uganda. Infinix teased the launch of the Hot 6 successor dressed in a higher numeric suit. The Inifnix Hot 7 pro will be unveiled in Uganda this month (March 2019) and we can’t wait to have a glimpse of the first 2019 release accompanying the Zero 6 to the top-notch generation.
MWC 2019 brings 5G smartphones to life accompanied by foldable versions
The Mobile World Congress 2019 was a wonderful and yet innovation filled event hosted in Barcelona, Spain. With a wide range of companies like Microsoft, Huawei, Samsung, Xiaomi, Nokia among others taking over the stage. The 2019 version of this event was a blast from the past as 5G and foldable phones ruled the entire 5day thrilled global event.
We all thought, 5G smartphones would not be out until 2021, but MWC proved the odds wrong with a huge margin between manufacturers who beveled to follow the futuristic internet standards. Henceforth, expect a 5G phone like the Galaxy S10, fold or Mate X in your favorite gadgets store glittering for an early purchase.
Our Tech Predictions for March 2019
February 2019 was an innovation filled month and don’t be surprised to see a whole line of tech innovations taking over this new month. We expect to see new innovations and startups bumping into the fast-changing world with a key approach to problem-solving.
As Infinix will be launching the Hot 7 and Zero 6, the strides will be pulled to which smartphone is worth to buy as we shall detail the prices of each this month. Nevertheless, we hope Uganda Security fixed the disagreements with the Gaga Wednesday pioneer and a handshake of new services may evaporate to every warming subscriber with a Yello Simcard. Other than that, Happy New Month.


text:
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Nov. 24, 2010)—Trelleborg A.B. is will invest about $23.1 million over a two-year period to open a factory in Brazil that will make products for the domestic offshore oil and gas market.
The products to be manufactured at the new plant will include specially designed subsea buoys, bend stiffeners and thermal insulation tape for deep-sea applications. The factory will be part of the Trelleborg Engineered Systems business, which gains 25 percent of its sales from the offshore oil and gas sector.
The facility will be located in the coastal city of Macae.


text:
XML spells big changes in the Internet, experts say
Tuesday, May 9, 2000
Leslie J. Nicholson
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE
The technology community has a warning for Internet users: We could be facing the end of the Web as we know it.
On the horizon, some say, is a transformed World Wide Web that will make business-to-business electronic commerce easier and improve the browsing experience for the rest of us.
All of this thanks to a new Internet vocabulary called XML, or Extensible Markup Language.
“XML is a way of capturing information that the whole world is getting excited about,” said Lisa Bos, director of content management systems for Reed Technology & Information Services Inc., a Horsham provider of electronic-publishing products and services.
Stephen J. Andriole, chief technology officer of Safeguard Scientifics Inc., the Wayne technology holding company, calls XML a potential “silver bullet.” Microsoft Corp. President Steve Ballmer has called it the “secret sauce” of the Internet.
The object of all this adulation is, to most of us, invisible.
XML, and its more familiar cousin, HTML, are markup languages, sets of codes that instruct a computer how to handle a text file. These instructions come in the form of “tags” written between “less than” and “greater than” symbols.
HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, tells a Web browser how information should be displayed on a computer screen or how it should be formatted for printing. It also governs the links between Web sites.
XML goes a step beyond HTML. It allows users to create tags that provide background information about the text — not just how a word looks, but what it represents.
For example, an HTML document may have tags instructing a Web browser to display the words “A Tale of Two Cities” in italics.
However, had that document been marked up in XML, the code writer could have incorporated a descriptive tag that told future users that “A Tale of Two Cities” was a book title, not simply five words that should be displayed in italics.
“XML is to the Web of today much what the Web of today was to e-mail. In other words, it’s quite a jump. XML will bring structure to the Web,” John Patrick, vice president for Internet technology at IBM Corp., told delegates at an Internet conference early this year.
XML works across software platforms, so by most accounts the business-to-business implications are vast, especially for companies that have a lot of data coming in from numerous partners and numerous software programs.
Assume, for instance, that a widget maker sends a document over the Internet to an automaker, and the document contains the number 1223. Even if the automaker downloads the information into an incompatible software program, if both computers use XML and an agreed-upon set of tags, the automaker’s computer will know whether 1223 is a parts number, an invoice number, part of a street address or a date, because the underlying tag will specify the meaning.
The automaker could later comb through its files using XML and create an index of invoice numbers, or any other category of tagged data. Therein lies a key difference between XML and HTML. XML is meant to help machines share, store and reuse data. HTML is meant to help humans read data.
“It becomes a self-describing piece of information,” said Donald A. DePalma, vice president for corporate strategy at Idiom Inc., a Web globalization company in Cambridge, Mass.
“If you have a tool that can understand XML at each end, it can deconstruct the tag, read the information and do something with it,” DePalma said.
DePalma was one of 2,200 people who went to Philadelphia in December for XML ’99, a weeklong conference sponsored by the Graphic Communications Association of Alexandria, Va.
If attendance at XML ’99 is any indication, interest in the markup language is booming. Norman W. Scharpf, president of the association, said attendance increased by 60 percent from the year before.
“You can buy books on XML at the corner drugstore now,” he said. “You couldn’t do that before.”
XML is a subset of a more complex language, Standard Generalized Markup Language, or SGML, which has been around since 1986. XML was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium as a way of simplifying SGML for use on the
Since its rollout in 1996, numerous working groups have formed to develop XML standards to exchange data within their industries. Pennsylvania-based Bentley Systems Inc., for example, is leading the development of AECXML, a set of standards for the architectural, engineering and construction industry.
Chief Executive Keith Bentley said the standards would allow people who are working together on a building project to more easily track vital information, such as delivery dates, that comes from numerous sources, and thereby reduce delays and mishaps.
“The process today is pretty inefficient,” he said. “To answer one question, you may have to look at five different programs.”
Some say that if XML had been around decades ago, Y2K problems would have been easier to fix. Rather than having to search databases line by line to isolate the date codes, which are not always apparent, programmers could have searched for the appropriate tags.
“With Year 2000, you couldn’t identify data because people called it a thousand things,” said Daryn Walters, vice president for marketing of XMLSolutions Corp., in McLean, Va.
Walters said XML’s appeal lies in its simplicity and its potential to reduce the cost of electronic commerce. His company sells a program called XEDI that is designed to help small and midsize firms use XML to conduct transactions with major companies.
Experts say XML’s potential consumer benefits include smarter search engines and a faster response from Web servers. Sending more intelligent text to the desktop reduces the need to request information from the server, said Bos of Reed Technology.
Central to XML is XSL, or Extensible Stylesheet Language. A stylesheet is programming that determines how a browser presents data to the reader. Stylesheets can be built, using XSL, that allow XML documents to be viewed in HTML, rich text format, or Microsoft Word, for example. The same piece of text can be presented in several formats by applying the right stylesheet.
DePalma said that using XML and XSL makes it possible for Web pages to automatically adjust content based on whether a hand-held device and a desktop are being used, or a slow dial-up connection vs. a cable modem.
“The text becomes smart enough to know how to handle itself,” he said.
Major software companies, including Sun Microsystems, Microsoft and Adobe, have begun incorporating XML into their products, said Dianne Kennedy, chief technical consultant for the International Digital Enterprise Alliance, an affiliate of the Graphic Communication Association.
XML will become ubiquitous, Kennedy said.
“It will be part of every word processing and database publishing tool. It will be everywhere, and it will be the way that humans communicate with machines and machines communicate with each other.”
For the average person, said Kennedy, “it will be just like electricity.”
For more information, see the World Wide Web Consortium Web site: http://www.w3.org/XML/Activity.html.


text:
Development of local 5g in Germany and the current location of Japan
Pickup-: Germany Likely to See MANY MORE PRIVATE 5G Networks
News Summari: In September 2020, the Federal Network Agency (BNETZA), which covers the German telecommunications industry, announced that it had granted 74 licensing in the public sector in total to develop a local 5G network.This figure is more than twice as much as 33 cases announced in April of the same year, and the use of local 5G is actively promoted.
Important point: The local 5G network given here is basically an industrial 4 in which Germany raises the nation and promotes it..Although it is expected to be used in the 0 scenario, it is also expected to be used in other areas such as agriculture and forestry.
Detailed information: Companies with licensed as described above include SI companies like NTT Data Deutschland Gmbh, electronics companies like Rodeshwalt, automakers such as Audi and Mercedes, and broadcast stations such as Bayerischer Rundfunk.Cross it.
Background: According to the Electronic Information Technology Industrial Association, the market size of 5G is 1.3 trillion yen in 2030, as of 2020, 1.3 trillion yen in 2020, CAGR71..It grows at 3%, and in global, 100 billion yen in 2020, 10 in 2030..CAGR65%of the growth is expected to 8 trillion yen, and both are very large business potential.
Writing: Keisuke Kuni / Editor: Kinuyo Iwakiri
Bridge MembersBRIDGEでは会員制度「Bridge Members」を運営しています。会員向けコミュニティ「BRIDGE Tokyo」ではテックニュースやトレンド情報のまとめ、Discord、イベントなどを通じて、スタートアップと読者のみなさんが繋がる場所を提供いたします。登録は無料です。


text:
AIG Thailand Group debuts ‘Merimen’ to raise auto claim bar
AIG Thailand Group has launched an innovative insurance system that it says significantly improves automobile claim management. The introduction of “Merimen” allows AIG Thailand, part of the world's leading general insurance, to offer better customer experience than ever, according to the firm in a Wednesday release.
"The debut of Merimen marks an important step forward, [helping] AIG Thailand to enhance services and management for the entire automobile claim chain," said Isorasak Thesratanavong, CEO and president of AIG Thailand Group.
Merimen is an evolution that responds to the modern world and the lifestyles of current customers as AIG Thailand gears itself towards the concept of "Make the World a Safer Place," he said.
AIG has introduced the Merimen system to the whole auto claims service chain which will greatly facilitate customers, surveyors, garages, auto parts suppliers and auto glass shops – and streamline the process of claim notification and claim management. It can be used to build on to add new innovative services to match the needs of more complex customers, according to the release.
With the efficiency of the Merimen system, claim management is made effective, said Isorasak. For instance, more than 95 per cent of garage quotation and repair details can be reviewed and approved within 24 hours. And more than 97 per cent of payments for repair costs can be approved within one day after garage operators submitted documents through the system. Most garage operators are satisfied with the speed and process and willing to provide service priority for AIG-insured vehicles, he said.
“In addition, the system enhances our communication with customers, such as when the company approves repairs quotation and executes the works to the garage operators, customers will also be notified via SMS. AIG clients will soon be given new forms of service, such as ‘live’ service and the ability for customers to open their claim via mobile interactive-video with claims completely opened in five minutes. That will help increase convenience and speed in making claims by customers.”
In the future, the Merimen will be used for other personal claims management such as home insurance and personal accident insurance.


text:
It’s a legitimate concern for the Canadian vaping industry, how to redesign refillable vaping devices and vaping parts to meet Health Canada regulations for child-resistant containers, during the middle of a pandemic, and under unbelievably tight timelines. Joining us today on RegWatch are legendary vape advocates Dimitris Agrafiotis and Phil Busardo, brand ambassadors and designers on behalf of Innokin. [...]
The finance minister’s recent budget was SA’s most important in years. Tito Mboweni faces a tricky balancing act. Spending and economic pressures from the pandemic have caused government debt to soar to 80% of GDP in 2020/2021, up from 66% the year before. Mboweni is therefore looking for new sources of cash. One area that has been mooted is a new excise on e-cigarettes. Because only VAT is levied on e-cigarettes, a new excise would undoubtedly bolster the public purse. But there are salutary lessons from the EU, where member states are still grappling with how best to tax e-cigarettes, that the SA authorities would do well to consider.
In Vietnam, the Government holds a monopoly on the importation of cigarettes and cigars, except import for sales as duty-free goods. The market size remains stable with over 100 billions cigarettes per year since 2015, in which around 60% is Vietnamese products, around 22% is foreign products made in Vietnam and 18% is illegally imported products. As of 2018, the cigarettes and cigars industry has contributed USD 450 millions to the State budget
There are currently 16 Vietnamese cigarette manufacturers with Vietnam National Tobacco Corporation (Vinataba) being a prominent unit in the production, distribution and trading scene. [...]
Amid the economic devastation caused by COVID-19, one industry has actually thrived: the cigarette business. Some people are smoking to relieve the emotional and economic stress of lockdowns. But many others returned to smoking when the lower-risk options they relied on, such as nicotine vapor products, became too expensive or hard to find when compared with the combustible tobacco available at every gas station and corner store. Now, Congress wants to eliminate the ability for adults to receive e-cigarettes by mail, a measure that will reduce access to these life-saving options even after the lockdowns end.
A recent decision by the European Court of Justice which prevents France from classifying cannabis-derived products (CBD) as narcotics has led to dozens of CBD wellness shops springing up all over France. France is already Europe’s largest producer of hemp, though mainly for the construction and textile industries.
The country now counts some 400 CBD shops, according to the SPC alliance of hemp professionals.
That’s nearly four times the number that were operational before the government’s crackdown two years ago, representing a market worth €150 million to 200 million ($180-$240 million).
A new study published Tuesday 10 March, No Smoking Day, from King's College London highlights the 'clear benefit' of using e-cigarettes daily in order to quit smoking, and supports their effectiveness when compared to other methods of quitting, including nicotine replacement therapy or medication. Dr Máirtín McDermott [...] said: "Our results show that when used daily, e-cigarettes help people to quit smoking, compared to no help at all. These findings are in line with previous research, showing that e-cigarettes are a more effective aid for quitting than nicotine replacement therapy and prescribed medication.
Evidence on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes (ECs) to facilitate abstinence from smoking is limited. The current study aimed to estimate the relative effectiveness of ECs and smoking cessation medication compared with using no help, accounting for frequency of use of ECs. Four consecutive wave‐to‐wave transitions (waves 1‐2, 2‐3, 3‐4 or 4‐5) of a longitudinal online survey collected between 2012 and 2017 were analysed. Time between waves ranged between 12 and 17 months. Cigarette smokers at the baseline wave who attempted to quit smoking between waves were included.
Puff Bar is back, and its new synthetic nicotine-based e-liquid could push Congress or the FDA to address the long-festering issue of vaping products made with nicotine not derived from tobacco.
The gray market Puff Bar device and its shadowy owners have succeeded in the retail market by ignoring FDA regulations and building a huge distribution network in traditional tobacco outlets like convenience stores and gas stations. In the process, Puff Bar has become the epitome of evil to anti-vaping groups like the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Truth Initiative.
Washington — About two-thirds of employees say they’ve observed co-workers vaping, while a nearly equal amount believe the secondhand vapors from e-cigarettes and other vaping devices are at least moderately harmful to their own health, according to the results of a recent survey.
Researchers [...] surveyed more than 1,600 full-time employees from organizations with at least 150 workers. They found that 62% of the respondents have seen co-workers vaping on the job, and nearly 58% said their co-workers vape while conducting business or in other people’s workspaces. About 63% are bothered by workplace vaping.
On this year's No Smoking Day, Royal London states that mon-smokers could be eligible for lower rate premiums if they have not smoked tobacco, or used any nicotine replacement products including e-cigarettes, for 12 months.
According to the insurer, a smoker aged 50 would pay nearly triple every month what a non-smoker of the same age would have to pay for the same sum assured, £29.13 compared to £82.48, base on level single life cover, over a 25-year term for £150,000 sum assured.
Mexico is on the verge of creating the world’s largest legal marijuana market, a move that could pressure President Joe Biden to embrace weed, too.
Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies passed landmark legislation Thursday morning, ahead of a April 30 deadline set by the country's Supreme Court to legalize recreational sales. The Senate is expected to back the bill in the coming days. “It’s historic,” said Luis Armendáriz, a cannabis attorney with the Hoban Law Group who works with companies that are looking to enter the Mexican market. “You have the end of prohibition of more than 100 years.”
In line with data from other Canadian provinces indicating that certain restrictions just led to increased smoking rates, the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) is warning that the policy changes recommended by the QCTC would have the same dire effect.
“The QCTC has recommended the following regulatory changes:
Prohibit flavors (except tobacco) in vaping products (however, flavors may be permitted in certified versions and sold as cessation aids in pharmacies)
Limit the nicotine content to 20mg/mL of nicotine [...]
In September 2019, when cases of “EVALI” lung injuries peaked in the United States and news outlets began aggressively covering the subject, Rhode Island Representative Julie Casimiro did what many politicians had done: She called for the prohibition of flavored vaping products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had not yet determined, as they belatedly did later that fall, that the mysterious lung illnesses were coming from vitamin E acetate found in tainted illicit THC cartridges. [...]
Pediatric primary care clinicians “frequently” screened parents to obtain their smoking behaviors but “rarely” provided smoking cessation counseling, researchers wrote in PLoS One.
“Our [pediatric] patients are often affected by the decisions and choices of their parents, making it important that we provide education, resources and support to the parents,” Tregony Simoneau, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, told Healio Primary Care. “In order to do this well, we need to understand the needs of the parents.”
In a recent series of town hall events in his state, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice made good on a promise from his 2021 State of the State Address: He announced that he would phase out personal income tax. This proposal, submitted days ago to the state legislature for review, introduces a 60 percent reduction for all tax filers. It’s a move that Justice—the wealthiest man in West Virginia—believes will raise wages, bolster home values and drive more business to his state.
I’ve been smoking since the age of fourteen. Just writing that sentence is not easy, given the shame it brings in regard to reflecting on all of the money, health, years and respect I believe I have lost due to my addiction.
I believe that young people are the most vulnerable when it comes to the ongoing targeting of tobacco and vaping industries. If I knew then about the true cost of being a smoker or vaper, I never would have started. [...]
To examine the chemical composition of JUUL pods collected from a convenience sample of 16 high schools in California to identify possible consumer modification or counterfeit use. Using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry, we quantitatively analyzed the nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), and vegetable glycerin (VG) in JUUL pods (n = 26) collected from California high schools and compared results to commercial 3% (n = 15) and 5% (n = 24) JUUL pods purchased online.
Cannabis is a big business. Consumer spending in the US is set to rise by $13 billion in the four years from 2018, as legalization hits more states and the medical cannabis sector continues to thrive. Analysis of this booming trade indicates that medical marijuana dispensaries are turning over more money per square foot of retail space than Apple Stores and Tiffany’s. One consequence of this incredible increase in activity is the innovations and advancements in how marijuana is consumed. [...]


text:
By LISA CAPOBIANCO
JV’s Taproom and Rebel Dog Coffee Co. may offer distinct menus, but inside their shared location on Route 10, these new Plainville businesses have teamed up to create a new kind of dining experience for customers.
Both located in the former Confetti restaurant building at 393 Farmington Avenue, JV’s Taproom and Rebel Dog hosted a grand opening event last Tuesday, showcasing the newly renovated space with food samples, live music, raffles and other activities to the public.
After owning Confetti for nearly 20 years, Peter Lemontis and his wife decided to retire the restaurant, bringing on a new brand—and a young management team for both JV’s Taproom and Rebel Dog. Lemontis, who continues his prepared food company, said he will serve as a mentor to members of the new management team.
“We’re more broad-based than we were,” said Lemontis, adding how he looks forward to watching the young management team grow with the community. “You can come here twice a week instead of special occasions and birthdays, which we still do. Now we’re into day in and day out dining.”
Downstairs in the old Confetti bar, folks can mingle or get some work done at Rebel Dog, a specialty coffee shop that offers pastries, breakfast sandwiches and ready made meals. Known for its expresso drinks with latte art and its Nitro Cold Brew, Rebel Dog wholesales its coffee from Irving Farm Coffee Roasters, which is based in New York, said Harrison Poltorak, who runs Rebel Dog.
Coffee is graded on a scale of zero to 100, and specialty coffee must rate 80 and above, added Poltorak.
“We serve only specialty-graded coffee,” said Poltorak, adding that all of the coffee shop’s products are locally sourced. “The quality, the flavor…is just a much better quality product.”
When finishing an expresso or chai latte at Rebel Dog, folks can towards the upper end of the facility to JV’s Taproom—a bar and grill that offers a variety of craft beers and wood-fired pizza—a food item that Confetti won an award for last year.
“It’s definitely an award-winning pizza,” said Vanessa Champagne, who runs JV’s with her fiancée, Jerry Daniels. “That’s one thing that definitely transferred over to the new restaurant.”
From pork chops and chicken cutlets to Certified Angus steaks and burgers, JV’s offers a variety of options for all taste buds. The menu also includes salads that are built on top of flatbreads—and sandwiches that feature bread made from pizza dough. The bar JV’s offers six wine drafts and 14 beers on tap—many of which are from the New England area.
JV’s, which got its name from both Daniels and Champagne, also offers breakfast on weekends from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We’re trying to provide simple, good food, but also get a little eclectic—bring something new to the eating scene,” said Daniels, who makes the bread and wood-fired pizza at JV’s.
When the warmer weather rolls around, JV’s Taproom plans to open its outside deck to customers.
“Half of it is going to be set up with couches and chairs,” said Champagne. “People can sit out there with their drinks. There will also be a few tables out there for actual table service.”
Whether customers are hungry for a slice of pizza or craving a cup of specialty coffee, Poltorak said Rebel Dog and JV’s allow diners to enjoy different products through a more relaxed or social setting.
“JV’s will be open at night, and we stay open late, so we can serve our coffee to the restaurant,” said Poltorak. But someone can also get a pizza after doing some work in the coffee shop and bring it down here and enjoy it with a beer while they’re doing some work.”
Champagne said Rebel Dog and JV’s Taproom are two distinct businesses, yet compliment each other well, as both offer a comfortable atmosphere. After Confetti closed in December, the renovation process took about six weeks to complete.
“We wanted to build a place where people can come in and relax, where they can bring a group of friends,” said Champagne. “It brings a smile on my face when you see countless people walking through the doors and they keep saying this is something they’ve been looking for in Plainville for a long time. Their response has been very enthusiastic.”
Noting how both Rebel Dog and JV’s Taproom are creating a positive stir in the community, Mark DeVoe, the director of planning and economic development for the town of Plainville, said Lemontis embraced a completely different concept that worked.
“It takes a special breed to understand the food service industry and make a long-term goal of it,” said DeVoe.


text:
In-N-Out Burger may be your go-to for a monstrous 4x4 burger or your first meal after landing in California, but the cult-favorite cheeseburger purveyor has just been dethroned as America's favorite burger chain, according to the 29th annual EquiTrend Study from The Harris Poll. This year's poll has crowned a new burger king.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries, which also serves hot dog sandwiches, is America's favorite burger chain. The designation comes from Harris Poll surveying more than 100,000 Americans about 4,000 companies, including 90 restaurants.
“[Five Guys] has shed its ‘small regional player’ designation as it expands its footprint and marketing budget, along with its fandom,” said Joan Sinopoli, Harris Poll's vice president of brand solutions, referencing the poll's equity metric that determines rankings.
The poll has the dethroned In-N-Out ranking second, followed by, in order, Shake Shack, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Whataburger, McDonald’s, SONIC America’s Drive-In, Smashburger and Steak ‘n Shake.


text:
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- FedEx Corp. FDX, +1.32% said today it lost $876 million, or $2.82 per share for the fourth quarter , including $3.46 a share of previously disclosed charges. In the same period a year ago, FedEx lost $241 million, or 78 cents a share. Excluding these charges, earnings were 64 cents a share. These charges, approximately $1.2 billion, result from the impairment of goodwill related to the acquisitions of Kinko's Inc. and Watkins Motor Lines. Revenue was $7.85 billion, down 20%. Analysts polled by FactSet Research estimated, on average, adjusted earnings of 51 cents and sales of $8.4 billion. FedEx sees earnings of 30 cents to 45 cents a share in the first quarter, compared to $1.23 a year ago. "At this time we do not have enough visibility into the economic recovery and jet fuel prices to provide a meaningful annual earnings forecast," said Chief Financial Officer Alan Graf, Jr.
FedEx loss is $2.82 a share in quarter


text:
Welcome to our checklist of Prime Technology Blogs on the web! Since its founding in 2004, we’ve grown from an exhaustive source for shopper tech news to a world multimedia group protecting the intersection of expertise, gaming and leisure. This procedure assists an Android app improvement company to ensure that data that is confidential just isn’t being leaked and stolen by malicious our bodies.
We did not find outcomes for: Tech Blogs. We Blog about tech and superior products. Know-how suppliers are keenly aware of the necessity to find and seize new streams of recurring revenue. CNET information editors and reporters present high technology news, with investigative reporting and in-depth protection of tech points and occasions.
He additionally blogs about contract law, is a advisor to companies, and previously taught contract drafting as an adjunct professor at Notre Dame Law College. Mine can be a tech blog and my common visit to some finest expertise blogs would let me to offer the helpful tech evidences for my readers.
Engadget is the original home for know-how news and reviews. A each day dose of how technology is shaping our world and the ways in which people are utilizing new expertise to learn humanity and the world. For this reason, it is the duty of each Android app improvement firm to take some assured safety measure to ensure that they develop safe apps.
We now have a simple mission: present daily insights on the world of startups, growth, martech, SaaS, and tech merchandise from forward considering contributors. The cloud supplies a mega alternative for technology providers to do exactly that. However, it has been witnessed that the Android app developers typically utilize this security measure the fallacious means.…


text:
On the 9th of August, 2021, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt ruled that the Rivers State Government had the authority to collect VAT and Personal Income Tax within its borders, effectively negating the authority of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The conflict between the two parties stems from the inequitable distribution of VAT revenue among the 36 states of the federation. Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, lamented that Rivers State generated approximately N15 billion in VAT in June 2021 but received only N4.7 billion. Lagos State generated over N46 billion in VAT in June 2021 but received slightly over N9 billion, and Kano State generated N2.8 billion and received N2.8 billion as allocation.
Like Rivers State, Lagos State has passed legislation that will allow it to collect VAT rather than the FIRS. On the 30th of September, the Court of Appeal joined the Lagos State government to appeal the VAT collection battle between the Rivers State government and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. In response to the issue, the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said Lagos generates N500 billion, while other southwest states generate N300 billion, but when revenue is disbursed, Lagos does not get a fair share despite generating the most VAT in the country.
How is VAT shared in Nigeria?
VAT is a consumption tax paid on all the goods and services provided in or imported into Nigeria, and it is administered by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Nigeria implemented VAT by enacting the VAT Act No. 102 of 1993, which replaced the Sales Tax. VAT which used to be five per cent before February 2020, is currently charged at the rate of 7.5 per cent, and it is payable by individuals, companies, and government agencies. VAT is Nigeria’s fastest-growing tax revenue source, edging out PPT (N1.52 trillion) and CIT (N1.41 trillion) in 2020 to take the top spot at N1.53 trillion.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the sectoral distribution of VAT data for Q1 2021 revealed that N496.39bn was generated as VAT in Q1 2021, compared to N454.69bn in Q4 2020. After the FIRS deducts its four per cent commission, 15 per cent of the accrued VAT goes to the federal government, 50 per cent goes to the 36 states, and 35 per cent to local governments.
In a report by the Vanguard containing the details of the collection of the VAT made by each state, and what it was allocated by the Federation Allocation Committee (FAAC), between January and August of this year, the FIRS Offices in Lagos, Rivers and Oyo states recorded the highest collections. These states generated N429.203 billion, N90.293 billion, and N64.646 billion respectively.
In return, these states received the sum of N139.587 billion (Lagos), N46.270 billion (Rivers), N45.136b (Oyo) in allocation. However, Kano generated N24.492 and received the second-highest allocation of N47.082 billion. Zamfara State recorded a VAT revenue of N18.262 billion in the period under review and got N31.539 billion as allocation.
The legal battle, which started between the FIRS and Rivers State, has evolved into a widespread polarized battle with political and regional undertones across several states in the country. Like Lagos, the Oyo State government has asked to join the suit between Rivers State and the FIRS. The South-South Governors Forum under the BRACED Commission recently declared to join the Supreme Court suit by the Rivers State Government. The BRACED commission comprises the six South-South states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta. The law to back states’ battle to collect VAT is underway in the House of Representatives.
Siding with the FIRS, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State argues that other states contributed to the success of Lagos and Rivers states, so the Federal High Court ruling cannot stand. The Attorney-General of the Federation and the governments of Adamawa, Plateau, and Kaduna State are also set to join the FIRS in its appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. There are chances that Zamfara and Kogi would be on the FIRS side in this battle.
The FIRS’ stance on the matter
The FIRS warns that VAT collection in Nigeria can only work at the national level, not at the state level. Muhammed Nami, the Executive Chairman of FIRS, cited issues such as input-output mechanism and differences in tax rates as factors that will impede VAT collection at the state level. He illustrated thus, “If a business person buys goods in Osun state, pays a purchasing VAT in the state, and takes the goods to sell in Sokoto state, he will also be charged VAT. And by the operations of the input-output mechanism, the business person will deduct the input tax paid in Osun from the output tax charged in Sokoto and remit the difference to the relevant tax authority.”
Mayowa Tijani, a business writer for The Cable, believes times have changed and that the current VAT collection system and sharing formula, designed in 1993 to ensure that states contribute a fair share of resources, may no longer be effective. “There have been a few tweaks here and there since then, but a lot of it is inadequate,” he told Ventures Africa. “Recently, we found that the Northeast Development Commission was also taking a percentage of VAT. The structure was designed to help poorer states, but it has become a structure that milks rich states and leaves poor states entitled,” he said.
Tijani believes that while the current structure does not work optimally, the subnational collection would be a disaster as it would mean multiple taxations, friction with interstate trade, and an exposure of some states’ inability to collect taxes effectively.
Whichever way the VAT struggle turns, Mayowa feels the battle will mean a lot to Nigeria. “If states start keeping their VAT, then oil-producing states will ask to start keeping their oil revenue. That would lead to a broke central government and some broke non-oil states. In Nigeria, power often follows where the money goes. States like Lagos and Rivers may suddenly become as powerful as the federal government if the federal government does not innovate ways to earn its due share of the money,” he explained.
“The US employs this system, and it’s a healthy system, but a lot of work went into that. I believe that whatever the governments decide to do, they must leave a transition period of about a year or two to help states adapt to a new system,” he concluded.
Who wins or loses?
If the FIRS wins, nothing changes. But if they don’t, there are potential winners and losers. “If we start collecting VAT at the subnational level, the guaranteed winners will be the federal government in respect of import VAT and international transactions (whether retained by FG only or paid into the Federation account and shared), and the FCT. States that may either lose or gain are Lagos and Rivers due to HQ effect and subject to collection,” said Taiwo Oyedele, the fiscal policy partner and Africa tax leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).
Oyedele observes that states would be adversely affected by a lack of capacity to collect VAT, difficulties in auditing compliance, and higher collection costs of up to 15 per cent, particularly in states where consultants and other forms of agency structures are used for tax collection.
Some other pertinent concerns raised by Oyedele are that people will pay more, but the government will collect less due to the inefficiency of collection and leakages. There will also be a higher cost of goods and services; incidences of double taxation. Nigeria’s ease of doing business and paying taxes will deteriorate, and local governments will be worse off because between states and LGs, the VAT revenue split under the national VAT is 59 per cent to 41 per cent. However, states are prescribing lower rates for LGs e.g. Rivers 30 per cent and Lagos 25 per cent.
Oyedele suggests that the current sharing formula among states be made equitable. This can be done by allocating any domestic VAT collected from each state entirely to the respective state. Only VAT collected on imports, international services, and inter-state transactions should be paid into the VAT pool and shared based on derivation. Also, the VAT structure should be redesigned, and a more suitable VAT regime be developed and spelt out in the Nigerian constitution.
Written by Agbetiloye Adekunle


text: The hottest topic in the digital market, Salesforce’s Jo Gaines reckons, is loyalty. And she has two words for brands not delivering personalisation, killer experiences, and a rewarding value exchange: ‘Watch out’. “They really expect you to know all of that,” she says. Competitors are likely circling. Beauty giant MECCA is nailing it, and there are smaller businesses emerging that are looking at partnerships to deliver similar experiences. Likewise, Gaines says, purpose-driven organisations are seeing fundamentally better returns, and the work by big corporates during disasters isn’t going unnoticed. “People are going to Woolies and Coles, they're going to Bunnings, they're relying on companies like Cotton On,” she says. “They are front and centre in the community. They are holding the community together.” These are some of the latest shopping trends in 2022.


text:
- Warlords Awakening Review
- Remember Elite Lords of Alliance? If your answer is “no”, I wouldn’t blame you. But it’s back again, this time under a new publisher.
- EverEmber Online Rolls Out Massive Updates
- Over the last few weeks, EverEmber Online has offered quite a few updates, such as adding new areas, bosses.
- Mia Online Enters Open Beta on Google Play
- CUBINET is proud to release their 3D Open World Action MMORPG Mia Online into Open Beta on Google Play.
- R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud Launches New Winter Season Expansion
- R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud announces that they have a new expansion, known as "Behold the Abyss".
- Warlords Awakening Releases Christmas Surprises
- Beginning on December 19th, Warlords Awakening fans can begin the Christmas event, that has several new missions as the main attraction.
- Armored Warfare’s ‘Warlords of the Wasteland’ Available Now
- The second season of Armored Warfare has already begun on PC, which is known as Arabian Nights.
- Dual Universe Fulfills Kickstarter Promise, Opens Alpha to All Backers
- Novaquark is proud to announce that their Alpha Test for Dual Universe is now in the hands of everyone who donated.
- Eternal Card Game ‘Defiance’ Expansion Now Live
- Dire Wolf Digital released a new expansion for their free-to-play digital CCG, Eternal today.
- Gamigo Celebrates the Holidays Across 14 Games
- Gamigo is getting into the holiday spirit, and announced a wealth of holiday events across their portfolio of titles.
- Cuisine Royale Begins Their Wild West Season and Releases First Female PCs
- The newest content season for the Battle Royale shooter, Cuisine Royale begins today - Wild West.