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Poloniex, a US-based crypto exchange and strategic partner of Tron, has announced the release of LaunchBase, a token launching platform geared to promote the adoption of quality cryptocurrencies worldwide.
Poloniex made the announcement in a blog post published Sunday, April 5. According to the announcement, the first project of LaunchBase will be a Tron-based stablecoin lending platform called JUST, and its associated token JST.
Through JUST, user can stake TRX via JUST’s CDP portal to generate USDJ, a stablecoin pegged to USD at a 1:1 ratio. Furthermore, the TRX will be the only cryptocurrency for purchase at the platform.
JST token will only be used to pay interest, platform maintenance as well as other activities on the blockchain.
According to Poloniex, LaunchBase will collaborate with cryptocurrency project, community members, and its industry-wide partners to support quality blockchain projects to grow and further develop their ecosystem.
The platform will also promote the ventures issuing tokens via the sale token to eligible participants on the Poloniex platform. Poloniex assures ventures that all the investors and participants on its platform will be subjected to eligibility and screening requirements.
Poloniex said the LaunchBase platform will serve on first-come, first-serve rule. Poloniex further said:
“LaunchBase aims to be more than just a token issuance platform. In addition to providing an avenue for community members to buy and sell tokens, Poloniex will also offer professional advice and guidance to help these blockchain businesses gain traction and adoption.”
Justin Sun, CEO and co-founder of Poloniex launch partner Tron, expressed very warm sentiments about the project. He expressed his view in a Twitter thread. He said:
“Huge congrats on launching @Poloniex #LaunchBase, a world-leading token sale platform! As Poloniex’s strategic partner, @Tronfoundation and I will fully support the LaunchBase platform and its future development.”
Talking about the TRX-based stablecoin lending platform JUST, Sun wrote:
“#JUST leverages an array of benefits that #TRON has to offer, including lower fees, greater speed, higher TPS and a well-rounded #DApp ecosystem compared w/ other platforms. We look to further perfect TRON’s #DeFi ecosystem centred on JUST to extend benefits to everyone.”
Poloniex, based in Delaware, United States, is crypto exchange founded in 2014 by Tristan D’Agosta. As Crypto Economy reported, Poloniex spun off from Circle which acquired it in early 2018 for $400 million. The exchange was acquires by an unnamed Asian investment group reportedly being run by Justin Sun and now operates under a newly formed company known as known as Polo Digital Assets, Ltd.
If you found this article interesting, here you can find more Tron News


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- Microsoft recently announced that Windows 10 has been installed on 200 million devices.
- The healthy adoption has taken many die-hard Microsoft skeptics by surprise and proves that Windows OS remains as popular as ever in the cloud age.
- What does this mean for Microsoft and Microsoft stock?
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has announced that Windows 10 has been installed on 200 million devices six months after its launch, making it Microsoft’s OS with the fastest adoption rate in history. Just two months ago, Microsoft said that 110 million devices were powered by the OS. The tipping point appears to have been Black Friday since 40% of the current total number of downloads have been done since then. But perhaps the best part of the success story is that three quarters of Microsoft enterprise customers are currently testing the new OS. Consumers who have installed Windows 7 and Windows 8 get a free Windows 10 upgrade while most enterprise customers will have to pay for the upgrade.
Microsoft’s hardware such as Xbox gaming console are playing a big part in the healthy adoption of Windows 10. The consoles have been flying of the shelves lately. Then there is Facebook’s much awaited Oculus Rift VR headset which will ship with native Windows 10 support while not supporting Mac OS.
Weaning Itself Off Windows
Windows 10, which Microsoft describes as having the best of both Windows 7 and Windows 10 features, has brought back the popular Start Menu that Windows 8 had done away with and has been receiving much more favorable reviews than its predecessor.
But investors might wonder: if Microsoft is mostly giving away the OS for free, how is it a good thing for the company when more people install the OS? After all, Windows OS is to Microsoft what the iPhone is to Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). Microsoft earnings declined 43% during the previous year primarily due to lower Windows revenue. During the last quarter, Microsoft revenue declined 6.5% due to same reason.
But as Microsoft demonstrated during the latest investor event, the company can realize much more revenue for a single Windows 10 upgrade cycle compared to Microsoft’s older operating systems. Microsoft wants to build a huge Windows 10 userbase so that it can get a good chance to cross-sell its other cloud services including Office 365, Azure, Xbox Live. Skype, MSN, OneDrive, and others. Microsoft might also decide to charge for future Windows 10 upgrades.
By getting as many Windows users as possible to migrate to Windows 10, Microsoft will be able to cut on support costs for older operating systems. The company spends quite a lot of money supporting these OSes, which adds up to an unnecessary drain on its resources.
Microsoft is working to increase the entry points through which people can use its services. For instance, Microsoft plans to soon launch iPhone Pro, an iPhone that runs various Microsoft apps including PowerPoint, Word, and OneNote. This way, Microsoft can still make money when people use rival hardware. The company is also reducing its reliance on the PC division to drive its revenue.
Ultimately the rapid adoption of Windows 10 proves that Windows will most likely remain the most important PC operating system for a long time. Some industry observers had feared that Microsoft would lose its grip on the PC as it transitions to a cloud company. Windows operating systems combined command an overwhelming 90% of PC operating systems, dwarfing rival operating system such as Mac OS and Linux. The PC might be on a decline, but all that talk about the PC dying really is a big exaggeration. The PC remains a hugely dominant platform with more than 1 billion active PCs around the world, making it the second most important computing platform after the mobile phone. The PC market is worth $200B every year. And if you live in the real world, you likely see PCs in use everywhere, whether in the office or home setting. You might not be aware of this but PC gaming is more prevalent than gaming consoles. Each of those PCs requires an operating system, and Microsoft will continue to capitalize on this opportunity.
Takeaway For Microsoft Stock
Windows 10 is enjoying phenomenal growth, which plays into Microsoft’s game plan of getting as many people as possible using the OS so that the company can easily monetize its numerous cloud services. There is a good possibility that more than half of Windows users will be on Windows 10 two or three years from now, which will greatly accelerate Microsoft’s cloud transition and give plenty of upside to the Microsoft stock price.

domain: news


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Versace is set to say ‘sayonara’ to Japan, as they close down their three Japanese stores and review their business strategy.
“The Versace boutiques in Japan no longer represented the brand image and it was felt to be more advantageous for the company to close them and start with a clean slate,” Versace said in a statement.
This news from Bloomberg once again highlights the major decline in the Japanese luxury market. Hermes CEO, Patrick Thomas, may just be proved right with his recent statement: “I’m not expecting to see the light of the tunnel before 2010. The Japanese economy is not good and we all feel it.” (see the MO Down for 25 September for the full article on Hermes’ Japanese sales slump).


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In what is expected to be a major boost to production of Samsung smartphones in India, the South Korean electronics giant’s display arm (Samsung Display) has started production of OLED panels for smartphones at its Noida factory from this month.
According to a report, the company will soon start making IT display panels as well at the plant.
This is the first time any display manufacturing is being done in India and bolsters India’s hopes to become a global hub for smartphone manufacturing.
Samsung Display’s Noida unit will supply components to Samsung Electronics’ smartphone factory in the same area.
To help local production of Samsung smartphones
It may be recalled that Samsung Display had formed a regional subsidiary in India after its parent company signed up an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh government to set up the plant.
Samsung is investing $705.75 million in the project, and is hoping to generate some 1,300 jobs at the plant.
Samsung already operates one of the world’s biggest mobile phone manufacturing plants in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
It started the work on the display unit as it would help save on import taxes in India.
The display project is a relocation of Samsung’s China display manufacturing operations which the company has slowly been shutting down since last year. Interestingly, Samsung is one of the key players investing in the Make in India campaign.
Samsung Display has recently had success developing an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panel technology that can drastically reduce smartphone power consumption.
The key to this new technology is to reduce overall power consumption by automatically adjusting the display refresh rate (frames per second) according to the usage environment. Panel drive power can be reduced by up to 22% compared to existing smartphones.


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Microsoft recently released a new build of Windows 10 October 2018 Update with tons of bug fixes and improvements. Windows 10 Build 17763.168 has fixed issues with the brightness control, File Association and several other operating system features.
In updated Windows 10 Update History page, Microsoft has confirmed that the critical issues have been addressed and the update is now available for even more devices.
Bugs have been fixed
Microsoft says that Morphisec and Cisco rolled out updated versions of their applications and Windows 10 October 2018 Update would become available for the devices which do not have incompatible software installed.
Unless you aren’t running a newer release Morphisec and Cisco, you won’t be able to install Windows 10 October 2018 Update.
It’s worth noting that this problem is not valid for the consumers as it affects the businesses running incompatible Morphisec and Cisco software.
Another bug associated with old version iCloud version has been addressed and users can download Windows 10 October 2018 Update.
Microsoft recently released Windows 10 Build 17763.168 to address the annoying File Association bug. The File Association bug was discovered last month and after beta testing the fix with Insiders, Microsoft finally rolled it out to Windows 10 October 2018 Update devices earlier this month.
The reports of the File Association issue surfaced online in November and according to reports, the bug prevented some users from changing the default apps for certain file type, no matter how they change the defaults setting. In November, Microsoft confirmed the problem and the company rolled out a fix to address it on affected machines.
“Addresses an issue that prevents some users from setting Win32 program defaults for certain app and file type combinations using the Open with… command or Settings > Apps > Default apps,” the changelog reads.
Another annoying bug where the brightness feature does not work properly has been addressed. After installing the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, some users reported that a bug in new Windows 10 version causes the brightness settings on devices to be reset every reboot.
In latest Windows 10 October 2018 build, the company fixed the issue resulting in the brightness sometimes resetting to 50% after a reboot.
Next week Microsoft is expected to launch new cumulative updates for Windows 10 October 2018 Update, Windows 10 April 2018 Update and other supported versions as part of its monthly Patch Tuesday cycle.
The next update is supposed to arrive on December 11 and it will include security and non-security improvements to resolve the issues reported lately in supported versions of Windows 10.


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Farmer Jackie Monroe talks to four or five people crowded around her booth at the Boulder Farmers Market. She talks about the fresh muskmelon she’s selling and makes a few sales to residents using SNAP dollars.
SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It allows low-income families to buy fresh fruits and vegetables by essentially doubling the money they can use at the farmers market. If they spend $20, they get a matching $20 with ‘double up bucks,’ which are accepted by most produce farmers at the market.
At the end of August, farmers markets nationwide are in danger of losing the ability to process payments from SNAP, but Boulder County farmers markets won’t be affected due a change they made in spring. Last fall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cancelled a contract with the Farmers Market Coalition, which provides farmers markets with the software to process SNAP payments.
Boulder County decided to switch its software provider from Novo Dia to Clover. Both programs operate in similar ways, but Clover is a more reliable and integrated system, says Brian Coppom, Executive Director of Boulder County Farmers Markets (BCFM). Novo Dia is the primary software provider offering this service to more than 40 percent of farmers markets nationwide, but Novo Dia is cancelling its service and going out of business, leaving SNAP’s future at farmers market hanging in the balance.
Monroe, who depended on food stamps years ago when her daughter was born, said the service helped feed herself and her family quality food.
“It was something I really appreciated and it’s something I fought to bring to the farmers markets,” Monroe said.
“It’s had a dramatic effect,” Coppom said. “It’s really important to be able to eat right and form those positive associations with healthy food early on.”
In Boulder County, SNAP benefits at the market have been available since 2009. In 2012, the USDA set up programs nationwide including a software to process SNAP transactions. The Farmers Market Coalition took over the service in 2014.
Despite the efforts of the Farmers Market Coalition renew its contract, the USDA announced that it was turning the service over to Financial Management Transaction, a year-old company with one listed employee.
Efforts to spread awareness about eating healthy, fresh foods, and marketing SNAP at the farmers market has more residents coming out to shop, Coppom said. In 2013, BCFM had $13,000 in SNAP-based sales at their four farmers markets. In 2017 it was $50,000 and with the double up program it’s more like $100,000.
“I’ve probably seen about twice the amount this year from previous years,” Monroe said.
Coppom, who is also a member of the Farmers Market Coalition, wants to see SNAP benefits continue not just in Boulder County, but in all farmers markets nationwide. The Farmers Market Coalition is strategizing ways to keep the program going.
“There is a lot of optimism if we can get a good cost on the Clover system, we can replace the old one with no interruption,” Coppom said.
Software is expensive and the FMC is trying to raise money to implement an alternative system and issue out the appropriate software by crowdfunding. Just because Boulder is spared from losing its SNAP farmers market program, doesn’t mean we won’t feel the effects from the loss.
SNAP is a heavily regulated program that supplements the food budget for low-income Americans. For many the dissolution of the program feels like another way to plight the poor, another way to make them feel undeserving of health, longevity, and the enjoyment that comes from a fresh, home cooked meal with family.


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Zipcar Inc. files for $75 million IPO
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- Kyle Alspach
- Mass High Tech
Zipcar Inc. filed Tuesday for an initial public offering valued at up to $75 million, disclosing it narrowed its net loss last year.
The Cambridge, Mass.-based car-sharing service company said the number of shares to be offered and the price range for the IPO have not yet been determined.
The company intends to sell stock on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol ZIP, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Underwriters for the proposed IPO are Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan.
The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for the repayment of debt, working capital and the development of new services, including the expansion of the company’s fleet, the company said in its S-1 filing.
Zipcar’s net loss in 2009 was $4.6 million, down from $14.5 million in 2008 and $14.4 million in 2007, the filing shows.
Zipcar saw $131.2 million in revenue last year, up from $105.9 million in 2008 and $57.8 million in 2007, according to the filing.
Founded in 2000, Zipcar claims 360,000 members to its service, which offers more than 30 car makes and models for use by the hour. Zipcar entered the Pittsburgh market in October 2007, when it acquired Seattle-based Flexcar.
Zipcar has since expanded its Pittsburgh fleet to more than 40 vehicles, with locations Downtown, and in several city neighborhoods.
In recent months, the company made several moves to expand its services globally, including bringing its car-sharing service to Scotland in May through Streetcar.
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Mahlah Grey’s head is still spinning from her whirlwind trip to Bra, the Slowfood capital of the world and home to the bi-annual Cheese festival.
Her trip to northern Italy was made possible by a grant from Slowfood Saddleback, which had heard of her dreams to go one day when she spoke about The Pines’ cheese and farming ambitions at one of their gatherings.
“I can’t thank them enough,” says Mahlah.
“They put me on the ground at exactly the right time and in exactly the right environment for me to come back absolutely bursting with ideas and encouragement.”
The theme of this year’s festival – Natural is Possible – fitted in perfectly with the Grey’s philosophy towards cheese making.
All of the cheese exhibited at the Festival was raw milk cheese, made in a traditional way.
“I went over there not really knowing what to expect, but having a really clear idea of which workshops I wanted to be at,” says Mahlah.
“A lot focused on the land and the soil – what is happening before the milk is coming out to be made into cheese.”
This regenerative farming is already a focus at The Pines, and Mahlah is now even more confident they are on the right track.
“People were talking about cross-breeding your herd and replanting local native species, both of which we are already moving towards.
“Once people knew who I was, and why I was there, so many came up to talk to me because they wanted to encourage us.”
She and Kel are already working with Landcare to get Illawarra native trees back on their pastures.
“We have planted 400, but we are just getting started. The plan is to put in 7000 – hopefully people will want to come and help!”
They firmly believe these improvements to the soil will help their product have a unique flavour.
“We want to own the flavour profile of our cheese and celebrate the fact that this is a very specific cheese, made in a specific way, from a specific pasture at a specific time of year.”
By the end of the year, they will be transitioning their Pearl cheese to become their first raw milk cheese, using the low temperature cooked curd method.
While Australia is lagging behind the rest of the world in retaining its restrictions on all but two types of raw cheese, Mahlah believes this situation will change.
“I went in there thinking that with Australia’s restrictions I’m not going to be able to do a lot of what they are talking about, however that quite quickly became a feeling of we are on the right track.
“The biggest thing I took out of it was keep fighting the good fight. There are wonderful support networks throughout the UK and America that are there to give advice.”
And what was her favourite of all the cheese she tasted while there?
“I tried a brilliant Belgian goats cheese called Kato – it was the most beautiful cheese I tasted the whole weekend.”
Details: Find out about Slowfood Saddleback at slowfoodsaddleback.com.au


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OptiDam to provide the first three-dimensional, low radiopacity rubber dam.
Kerr Endodontics has announced the North American launch of OptiDam, a three-dimensional rubber dam unlike any other.
Practicing dentists recognize the simple truth behind the use of rubber dams: They are critical to the success and safety of endodontic and restorative procedures. OptiDam is designed to exceed industry expectations to provide the first three-dimensional, low radiopacity rubber dam that offers dental professionals stress-free positioning and patients outstanding comfort.
OptiDam’s design focuses on four core deliverables:
“Not merely soliciting feedback from dental professionals, but truly listening for source of discomfort and inefficiencies in their day-to-day work is essential to the development process behind products such as OptiDam,” says Phil Prentice, vice president of North America for KaVo Kerr. “The rubber dam is a staple of dental procedures, and we believe we’ve elevated a basic tool to something extraordinary that will have a noticeable and immediate impact on the dentist’s work.”
For more information on OptiDam and for the entire Kerr Endodontics family of products, go to KerrDental.com or call 800-KERR123.


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Trade Me phishing scam exposed
Trade Me is being used as a front for yet another phishing scam, this one involving a barbecue no-one bought.
Trade me user Emma Thompson said she received an email via her work email address with payment information for a barbecue she had allegedly bought on Trade Me.
The Nelson woman realised it was a scam "pretty quickly" as she never logged into Trade Me using her work email address and she had not bought a barbecue on the site, she said.
There was also a link contained in the email if the user wanted to "cancel" the barbecue purchase.
This link then took them to a website not associated with Trade Me and asked for further details about the user.
The rest of the email contained standard information usually included in automated responses sent to buyers when a transaction is made.
Phishing is when a scammer sends legitimate-looking emails that appear to come from websites or companies in an effort to trick users to reveal information such as names or passwords.
This was not the first time Thompson had been targeted by scammers using Trade Me as a front, she said.
"The concern for me on this one is that someone is trying to use Trade Me as a front, and Trade Me is our trusted friend!"
However, Thompson had never fallen victim to the attempts of scammers as she was suspicious when it came to unsolicited emails, she said.
Trade Me head of trust and safety Jon Duffy said similar phishing scams, using Trade Me as a front, did the rounds about twice a month.
Scammers sent out hundreds of thousands of emails to potential victims in the hope the email addresses were active and some of the recipients would fall for the scam, Duffy said.
During the past year 200 members had been successfully phished out of 3.4 million members, he said.
Most of the compromises were picked up by internal security tools when the scammer tried to access the account. The accounts were disabled as a precaution.
The barbecue scam had led to a "steady stream" of reports to Trade Me this morning, about twice the normal number, Duffy said.
The online auction company was aware of three people clicking the link and providing their details. Those people's accounts were secured before the scammers could access them, he said.
Scammers often used an overseas third-party server to host a fake Trade Me website to direct victims to via a link.
Once Trade Me became aware of a phishing site it worked quickly to get the site down, sometimes with the help of a third party, he said.
The sites used bank or credit card details to conduct further scams and could sell the details to other scammers.
Trade Me saw its first, and so far only, smishing scam in March, Duffy said.
Effectively smishing was the same as phishing, but scammers sent a text message to a smartphone with a link to a phishing site.
No-one was successfully scammed by this attack as far as Trade Me was aware, he said.
Unfortunately, a lot of Kiwis did fall victim to fraudsters every year.
NetSafe operations manager Lee Chisholm said New Zealanders reported losses of $4.8 million to scammers last year.
Meanwhile, figures from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment showed scam victims lost $1.7m in May 2014 alone.
Chisholm said Trade Me, Ebay and courier companies were common fronts for these types of scams.
Scammers could be convincing and they were almost impossible to catch and prosecute because they were usually overseas, she said.
It was important for New Zealanders to check if something was a scam on the Ministry of Consumer Affairs website, Chisholm said.
If an unknown person contacted a consumer about something they did not buy and it involved money it was probably a scam, she said.
HOW TO AVOID SCAMMERS USING TRADE ME
❏ Check the website you arrive at when you click the link is definitely trademe.co.nz
❏ Check for your first name. Typically, scammers won't have this information.
❏ Never provide your username or passwords by email. Trade Me won't ask for this information, it already has it.
❏ Check the email address of the sender. Trade Me emails always come from @trademe.co.nz email addresses.
❏ Upgrade your browser to include anti-phishing technology.
❏ Never enter information into forms within email messages.
❏ It is likely to be a scam if you are asked to send money overseas.
❏ Change your email address if it is the same or similar to your Trade Me username.
❏ If you have any suspicions about an email you have received from or about Trade Me email firstname.lastname@example.org.
❏ If you are scammed contact Trade Me so they can secure your account, contact your bank if you have provided financial details and change any passwords that are the same or similar to the one you have provided scammers.
❏ Check Trade Me's trust and safety blog for updates on scams


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A new decision point in data has led industry leaders to choose Google Cloud to accelerate digital transformation. Dig in further to see how leading organizations are grappling with their data challenges, and learn about the findings and recommendations from global data leaders.
Data challenges that companies are facing around the globe and their strategies. How 83% of businesses improved on employee productivity, customer experience, innovation with
How 83% of businesses improved on employee productivity, customer experience, innovation with Google Cloud How leading organizations are staying ahead of the innovation curve


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By: REBECCA JUN
During this holiday season, every purchase will have a rippling effect. While bringing happiness to the gift receiver, purchases have the power to also empower or harm the gift producer.
The Power of Purchase
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), an estimated 24.9 million people are victims of forced labor around the world.1 As shelves are re-stocked with trending toys, new gadgets, and cozy sweaters, most of these holiday gifts are sourced and produced far from where they end up. When goods have to travel far to get to consumers, there are more opportunities for opaque global supply chains as ethical standards can get lost throughout the process.2
According to the 2018 Global Slavery Index, the top 5 imports of products at risk of modern slavery to the United States are:
- Laptops, computers, and mobile phones
- Apparel and clothing accessories
The United States imports $144 billion of at-risk products annually. These products are imported from China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, among others. In a single year, the United States imports more than $90 billion worth of laptops, computers, and mobile phones, $47 billion worth of apparel and clothing accessories, $3 billion of fish, and $1 billion of cocoa.3
Global trade is inevitably generated by modern slavery.4 As the United States heavily relies on a constant flow of imported goods, it is important for consumers to be aware of the social impact.
“Even the wealthiest countries have a clear and immediate responsibility for responding to modern slavery both domestically and beyond their borders.” Global Slavery Index 2018 Findings
Know Your Brands
It is important to look behind brands and evaluate their transparency efforts, especially when updating wardrobes this holiday season. The fashion industry represents one of the biggest connection points for millions of people across the world as it capitalizes on the new globalized world of the 21st Century.5 However, this industry makes up one of the largest sectors at risk of forced labor.
Factors that contribute to the industry’s risk include:
- Due to a higher demand in a hyper-competitive market for consumers, companies rely on cheap labor which can lead to compromises on workers’ rights and treatment.6
- The fashion industry heavily relies on migrant labor, a population that can often be vulnerable to mistreatment and a lack of labor protection.7,8
- The multi-step process of garment creation, spanning from agriculture and manufacturing to retail, can lead to opaque supply chains as it becomes more difficult to track each step.9 Various steps in apparel and footwear processes have been found to contain issues of forced labor such as: picking cotton, harvesting rubber, working on cattle ranches used to produce leather, working in the farming of silk cocoons, spinning yarn, and manufacturing.10
- Women and girls comprise the majority of workers in the apparel industry. For various factors, especially in developing nations, women may face gender discrimination, experience sexual harassment and abuse, and find it difficult to voice grievances or allegations of abuse.11
Global fashion brands thrive on the exploitation of cheap labor to keep up with the fast fashion trends that cycle through department stores and malls.12 Conor Boyle, Global Operations Manager for the International Labour Organization/International Finance Corporation Better Work Program, says, “As customers in an increasingly disconnected world, it is important that we feel connected to the workers who make our clothes, as well as inform brands that we care about these people and their voice.”13
Know The Chain is a resource for consumers, which helps them understand forced labor risks among favorite brands as well as those company’s efforts to combat forced labor. In 2018, Know The Chain evaluated 43 Apparel and Footwear companies, documenting their efforts to eradicate forced labor from their supply chains.
These companies were evaluated based on the following:
- Commitment and Governance: Disclosure of supply chain standards that address forced labor
- Traceability and Risk Assessment: Disclosure of first-tier supplier lists and sourcing countries for raw materials
- Purchasing Practices: Disclosure of the approach to sourcing raw materials responsibly and displaying strong practices for incentivizing good labor practices
- Recruitment: Evidence of the company reducing the risk of exploitation of supply chain workers by recruitment agencies, eliminating workers’ payment of fees during recruitment processes and protecting the rights of migrant workers
- Worker Voice: Demonstration of (a) efforts to promote freedom of association in their supply chains and (b) a grievance mechanism for supplier’s workers
- Monitoring: Disclosure of a supplier audit process
- Remedy: Demonstration of a corrective action processes to fix and prevent identified non-compliance issues from the audit process14
Based on these criteria, the following companies scored the highest grades (at least 50 out 100 total points):
- Adidas (92/100)
- Lululemon (89/100)
- Gap (75/100)
- Primark (72/100)
- Inditex (70/100)
- PVH Corporation (69/100)
- H&M (65/100)
- VF Corporation (64/100)
- Nike (63/100)
- Hugo Boss (62/100)
Products that Empower
The good news is there are tangible ways consumers can take responsibility for their purchases and the United States is making significant efforts to combat human trafficking through its imports. A Global Slavery Index study from 2018 evaluated the Group of 20’s (G20) – 20 of the world’s largest economies – efforts to stop sourcing goods and services produced by forced labor. Based on indicators of good practices, the United States had the highest average score of 65%. Germany was next with a score of 36.7% followed by Brazil, Italy, and the United Kingdom with a score of 26.7%.15 In the United States, transparency measures for forced labor abuses are gaining momentum, so companies are increasingly expected by consumers, investors, media, and governments to uphold transparent and responsible supply chains.16
This holiday season, another way to empower the vulnerable and have a positive social impact is to look for the Fair Trade seal when making purchases. Fair Trade evaluates products to discern if the supply chain benefits the lives of the producers. The Fair Trade seal of approval can be found on items from coffee to chocolate to clothing.
“Every purchase supports something.” – “Why Fair Trade”
Fair Trade USA believes, “the products we buy and sell are connected to the livelihoods of others; fair trade is a way to make a conscious choice for a better world.” When a product is Fair Trade Certified, it is verified to align with rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards. It ensures people making products work in safe conditions, protect the environment, build sustainable livelihoods, and earn additional money to empower and uplift their communities. For a list of Fair Trade certified products, check out this link.
Helpful Holiday Tips
Here are questions to ask when looking to purchase products with the potential to empower workers along the supply chain:
- Who made my clothes? Who grew my food? Look into supply chain policies for your favorite brands and agricultural products to see if they comply with Fair Trade standards and ensure those making your clothing receive a fair share of the profits.17
- Will I wear it 30 times? The deflation of clothing prices puts supply chains under serious pressure to produce more, putting pressure on workers and potentially resulting in outrages like Rana Plaza and Tazreen. Asking yourself if you will wear a piece of clothing 30 times rather than buying frugal for a piece of clothing that will be worn fewer times is one way to shop smarter.
Purchases have power. This holiday season, it is important to consider the ways buying decisions can help or hurt our neighbors around the world.
- 1 International Labour Organization, “Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human trafficking.” Accessed 3 December 2019.
- 2 “The Issue.” KnowTheChain, 25 Jan. 2018, https://knowthechain.org/the-issue/.
- 3 “United States.” United States Global Slavery Index, https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/2018/findings/country-studies/united-states/.
- 4 Id.
- 5 Walk Free Foundation (2018), “The Global Slavery Index 2018.” https://knowthechain.org/wp-content/plugins/ktc benchmark/app/public/images/benchmark_reports/KTC_AF_2018.pdf
- 6 Reuters (7 June 2018), “Southeast Europe targets luxury brands’ fast fashion catchup.” Accessed 27 September 2018.
- 7 Bena, AnnaMarie. “Analysis – Almost 20 Years Later: Trafficking Survivors Need More Than a Patchwork of Benefits.”Trafficking Matters, 24 Oct. 2019, https://www.traffickingmatters.com/analysis-almost-20-years-later-trafficking-survivors-need-more-than-a-patchwork-of-benefits/.
- 8 “Visualize Risk.” Responsible Sourcing Tool, https://www.responsiblesourcingtool.org/visualizerisk.
- 9 “Human Rights.” The True Cost, https://truecostmovie.com/learn-more/human-rights/.
- 10 US Department of Labor (2018), “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor,” pp. 8-14; “Textiles and Apparel.” Verité “Responsible Sourcing Tool.”
- 11 Fair Wear Foundation (2016), “India Country Study 2016,” p. 22.
- 12“Human Rights.” The True Cost, https://truecostmovie.com/learn-more/human-rights/.
- 13 Id.
- 14 “2018 Apparel and Footwear Benchmark.” https://knowthechain.org/wp-content/plugins/ktc benchmark/app/public/images/benchmark_reports/KTC_AF_2018.pdf
- 15 “G20 Countries.” Global Slavery Index. https://knowthechain.org/wp-content/plugins/ktc benchmark/app/public/images/benchmark_reports/KTC_AF_2018.pdf
- 16 “The Issue.” KnowTheChain, 25 Jan. 2018, https://knowthechain.org/the-issue/.


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Retail & Services
January 14, 2013
FINE Hygienic Paper Company has organized the annual meeting, that took place in Al Hussein Youth City.
Akhtaboot is proud to announce the launch of Nuqul Group’s Career Connect solution.
Canadian Specialist Hospital conducted free medical check-ups today, for the employees of Dubai Duty Free (DDF), living in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
Around 55 companies in the industrial sector have signed up for Tamkeen’s “Tarweej” scheme, one of the main schemes under its flagship Enterprise Development Support Programme.
January 13, 2013
Egypt's Consumer Confidence Index showed a 16 per cent drop in December 2012, reflecting greater uncertainty about the future of the economy.
Unlike your traditional doughnuts that are deep fried, Kitsch Cupcakes is introducing a new line of bakes, Kitsch Doughnuts.
The real estate sector in Lebanon saw robust activity during the last month of 2012, but the overal figure shows a disappointing year for the industry.
Emrill, the leading Facilities Management Company in the UAE, announces a successful year with several prestigious contract wins resulting in 23 percent revenue growth and numerous award wins.
Jotun Paints has revealed its participation at the sixth edition of the World Future Energy Summit.
Hamad Medical Corporation has appointed renowned endocrinologist and diabetes specialist, Professor Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, as Chair of the Department of Medicine.
Eros Group has announced their extravagant DSF promotions 2013 across its 30 outlets and leading electronic chains across the UAE.
January 10, 2013
The Boston Consulting Group is pleased to announce Richard I. Lesser as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1.
Participants and visitors alike praised the benefits received from attending Tamkeen Expo 2013, which was held at the Gulf Hotel on the 7th and 8th of January 2013.
January 9, 2013
Imdaad, a leading provider of integrated facilities management solutions in the GCC, has recently conducted an appreciation ceremony for its general labour staff, in line with the ‘Thank You’ campaign.
Toys “R” Us is giving all its customers a chance to continue their New Year celebrations as the world’s favourite toy and baby products retailer, today announced an exciting part-sale.


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Australian miner Lucapa Diamond has found another large diamond from its Lulo mine in Angola. At 114 carats, this is the 11th largest diamond over 100 carats the company has recovered so far and the third one for this year.
According to Small Caps, Lucapa has recovered the diamond at the alluvial Mining Block 6. Its continuous streak of finding large diamonds highlights the special large-stone nature of the Lulo mining project, the company said.
The company plans to sell the newly discovered stone at a tender later this year, along with other diamonds in its growing inventory, Rapaport reported. During its tender in the first half of 2018, the company generated a gross sale of $2 million from alluvial diamonds recovered from the Lulo mine at an average price of $1,150 per carat. The company was pleased it achieved such results despite withholding some white specials and a colored diamond for a later sale. To date, proceeds from the Lulo diamond project amount to $15.9 million at $1,642 per carat price average.
Lulo is Lucapa’s flagship asset, which has produced premium quality alluvial diamonds. In the last quarter alone, Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo, which is 40 percent owned by Lucapa, mined a total of 5,058 carats of diamonds. A total of 118 “special diamonds,” weighing 2,838 carats, were recovered in the first half of 2018.
Lucapa Diamond and its project partners, Empresa Nacional de Diamantes E.P. and Rosas & Petalas, are further advancing the Lulo diamond project, and three drill rigs are already available in this exploration program.
The company’s stock rose by nearly 2 percent to AU$0.27 by mid-morning trade after the announcement of its new 100-plus-carat recovery.
Lucapa expands mining operations
The Australian company continues to expand its mining interests. Aside from its mining operations located in Australia and Botswana, Lucapa recently acquired a 70 percent stake in the Mothae kimberlite project in Lesotho.
The Mothae pipe is situated just five kilometers of Letšeng, the world’s highest U.S. dollar per carat kimberlite diamond mine. The project is promising to hold large diamonds. During the bulk sampling program, one 89-carat and one 25-carat yellow diamonds were recovered, among other large stones, according to Mining Review Africa.
As part of the Mothae kimberlite project, Lucapa is constructing a diamond treatment plant equipped with XRT recovery technology. It is also slated to commence a high-value production at the site in the second half of this year.
Furthermore, Lucapa Diamond has an ongoing follow-up exploration program at the Brooking diamond project in West Kimberly region in Western Australia. Lucapa owns 80 percent of Brooking, which is located within the Ellendale mine that was known to produce fancy yellow diamonds.
In a recent press release, the company announced that it has recovered approximately 200 kilograms of core samples, which have been sent for micro-diamond analysis to a specialist laboratory in Canada.
Moreover, in Botswana, the growing company is scheduled to start drilling at the Orapa Area F in the Orapa diamond field this second half of the year.
(Featured image via DepositPhotos)
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E-Scooter Offers for Black Friday 2019
The countdown has started to the Pure Scooters 2019 Black Friday event!
When is Black Friday 2019?
The next Black Friday is in 2019, on 29 November.
On Black Friday you will see fantastic offers from Pure Scooters including some of the most in demand e-scooters available. Occasionally it doesn't stop at just the Friday. Often Black Friday events carry on all weekend till Cyber Monday!
What electric scooter offers will Pure Scooters have on Black Friday?
Offer details and promotions are a closely guarded secret and will only be revealed on Black Friday. Often products are limited in their quantities, so if you see a great Black Friday e-scooter deal, be sure to check it out as soon as you can.
What Happens after Black Friday?
Even though Black Friday gets all the media attention, in the UK 'Cyber Monday' is widely identified the busiest day of the year for online shopping, and in 2019 it's expected to be Monday 2 December immediately following Black Friday. Details haven't been confirmed yet, but the offers and deals on Cyber Monday could be just as good as Black Friday.


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Canadian whisky distillery launches Nanaimo Bar liqueur
VICTORIA -- An Ontario-based whisky distillery has created a new “Nanaimo Bar Cream” liqueur which is reportedly “flying off shelves” across the country.
Forty Creek Whisky first launched its new Nanaimo Bar-flavoured liqueur locally in September before expanding it across the country in October. Already, inventory in B.C. is hard to find.
“We’re just doing everything we can to keep up with demand and give people a chance to give this a try before the holidays,” said David Allard, vice-president of marketing for Campari Canada, which produces liquor for Forty Creek.
Allard told CTV News that it took one of the distillery’s master blenders months to create the perfect flavour profile for the nationally renowned Vancouver Island dessert.
“The process took at least six months, tweaking ingredients and fine tuning,” said Allard. “It’s almost like tuning a piano, to kind of get as close as possible to get that Nanaimo Bar flavour.”
The flavours include hints of wafer, coconut, chocolate and rich custard, says Allard.
Nanaimo Bar Cream liqueur is available at 100 BC Liquor Stores and approximately 200 private liquor stores in the province, according to Forty Creek.
Given the success of the product, the distillery hopes to make the dessert liqueur a permanent addition to its portfolio.
“It’s made in Canada, it’s made in our distillery here in Ontario, in Grimsby, by a passionate and hardworking team that’s desperately trying to keep up with demand,” said Allard. “They’re doing the best they can and they’re just so proud of the success.”
“We really appreciate all of the great response,” he said.


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Trends, news, and analysis: catch up on the week's biggest headlines with the Julius Works Blog's weekly roundup, your cheat sheet for staying in the know with influencer marketing.
News and Analysis
Influencer marketing for B2B companies
B2B businesses are pivoting towards influencer marketing, embracing its ability to amplify brand messaging to niche audiences. At the CMO Inflect 2018 conference, panelists discussed how to use influencers in the B2B space, and made a convincing case for their legitimacy as a marketing tool.
Though B2B influencers are not often thought of as the stereotypical influencer, they are by no means a new trend. SAP uses tech influencers as thought leaders, leveraging their authority among their followers to speak on behalf of their new products. By using authors, business people, and academics, SAP executes a successful influencer strategy in a crowded B2B market.
The Julius View
B2B advertising is inherently different from B2C, and thus the way influencers are used to promote a product should be different as well. It’s less likely that a business or its representatives will click a link in an Instagram bio, or watch a vlog about a B2B product. Reaching these audiences requires a different approach, which many of the panelists discussed above alluded to.
There is often a debate about whether influencer marketing should be outsourced or done in-house – many businesses are inclined to outsource, given the challenges and investment associated with learning a relatively new form of advertising. Finding and vetting influencers, contacting them and writing contracts, tracking metrics and analyzing data: it’s a lot to take on without a good infrastructure. For a B2B business, wherein their advertising targets clients, not consumers, that’s valuable time spent.
#DUBAI bound for sold-out @TheMarketingSoc “Under the Spotlight“ speaking engagement. We’ll talk #marketing, #brand, leadership, brave and more #braveleaders @SiegelGale #cmo pic.twitter.com/ucIqYgLrkj
— Margaret Molloy (@MargaretMolloy) December 8, 2018
Margaret Molloy is an example of a high-profile B2B influencer
With tools like Julius, that time can be considerably condensed to the point of being negligible. That the industry has produced such a robust infrastructure of tools to remove barriers to entry speaks to its effectiveness as a strategy. Thus, the decision to outsource becomes a matter of organizational preference, rather than budgetary concern. For B2B, mitigating the guesswork with a new strategy removes a considerable amount of risk. And when companies like SAP boast of its effectiveness, there’s not much to lose.
Suing influencers is a sign of a healthy industry
We’ve talked a lot about contracting influencers and how important it is for your bottom-line, but what happens when an influencer doesn’t deliver? The Ringer recently published an article detailing the story of Luka Sabbat, an influencer who was contracted by Snapchat to advertise their Snapchat Spectacles during Fashion Week this past September. Sabbat allegedly failed to deliver his end of the contract despite accepting a $45,000 cash advance.
In August of last year, YouTuber Bethany Mota was sued for breaching her $325,000 contract, after she allegedly “failed to include the Kauai footage in the YouTube video and deliver the posts as promised.” It’s important to note that neither influencer lost any significant ground after their respective lawsuits. Their follower counts still grew, and they both continue to take on brand sponsorships. After the punishment was levied, their careers resumed.
Luka Sabbat's followers have steadily grown in spite of his pending lawsuit
The Julius View
That brands are taking it upon themselves to hold influencers accountable is a good sign of a healthy, growing industry. Mitigating fraud and prosecuting breaches of contract are foundational pillars for the industry’s infrastructure, ensuring that influencers act in good faith. A legal framework for remedying contract disputes between influencers and brands will stabilize the industry’s growth and safeguard its longevity.
New industries inevitably face growing pains like these. Though the process of smoothing out the kinks is slow, it is necessary for influencer marketing’s survival. That being said, it’s neither likely nor responsible to expect brands to get lawsuit happy with influencers. There is a big difference between forgetting to send a tweet and deliberately breaching a contract. It’s vital to remember that influencers are people first – mistakes can happen. Setting the stakes of doing business too high will disincentivize new influencers from taking sponsorships, much like shrugging off fraud will perpetuate the problem.
Establishing legal precedents for influencer contract disputes are a positive outcome for influencer accountability. Brands and agencies should read these stories and feel safe knowing their bottom-line can be protected. Influencers, on the other hand, should know that as long as they fulfill their end of the bargain, they’re in the clear – a lawsuit isn’t necessarily the end of the road.
Facebook is getting by with a little help from its brands
Facebook has been the lead scapegoat for issues surrounding internet privacy rights for quite some time now. The prolific social media platform has been embroiled in near non-stop scandals, from the Cambridge Analytica leaks to CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s appearances before Congress. Concerns that they sold data and revealed private messages to services like Spotify and Netflix, are among many allegations levied their way. Facebook’s user base has declined, its public perception has suffered, and its stock price has dropped.
But it’s not all doom and gloom: according to Digiday, top marketers are standing by Facebook as they attempt to right the ship. Advertisers are still spending money on the platform because they still see positive returns. Meanwhile, Facebook continues to update its advertising capabilities, creating better algorithms for post visibility and updating guidelines for community behavior.
The Julius View:
Having embedded itself in paid marketing strategy over the last decade, Facebook continues to be important in digital advertising budgets. Though there are fewer Facebook-only influencers than in the past, it is still a useful channel for influencer marketing, depending on the target demographic.
The company is big enough to survive in spite of its scandals, and because their issues are mostly privacy related, marketers will still spend their money there, so long as there are returns. Facebook can only improve its privacy perception from this point, and although there’s no telling whether the users who left will return, the platform still has plenty of loyal users, many of whom are active on a daily basis.
Facebook is unequivocally the best of the popular social media platforms at connecting people – its messaging functions, photo, and video sharing capabilities, and search functions are top-of-the-line. So long as advertisers continue to spend and Facebook continues to make improvements to its platform, survival is all but guaranteed.
What’s trending this week?
“The Rise of the Nano-Influencer: How Brands Are Turning to Common People” - Via The Guardian
“5 things we learned about GDPR in 2018” - Via Digiday
“The 2-Year-Old Instagram Influencers Who Make More Than You” - Via Fast Company
“The Making of a Computer-Generated Influencer” - Via The Wall Street Journal
We Here at Julius Would Like to Wish You Happy Holidays!
Thanks for reading our Weekly Roundup series! This will be the last one for 2018, so we’d like to end it with warm wishes for the holiday season. See you next year!
That's all for this week, thanks for reading. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more influencer marketing news, analysis, and interesting content.


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Annette King becomes UK chief executive of Ogilvy Group and marketing chief Clare Mullin departs The National Trust, in this week's round-up of people moves in advertising, marketing and media.
Guardian Labs has hired the Critical Mass executive creative director, Alistair Campbell, to be its first creative director. (Campaign)
Thiago de Moraes has left his role as executive creative director at Droga5 Europe after less than eight months. (Campaign)
Annette King, the chief executive of OgilvyOne in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, has been promoted to UK chief executive of Ogilvy Group. (Campaign)
Clare Mullin, director of brand and marketing at the National Trust, is stepping down from her job to start a new life in India. (Marketing)
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has appointed former Audi marketer Fintan Knight to the role of director of sales and marketing, to help drive the brand's global expansion. (Marketing)
Hearst Magazines UK, the publisher of Cosmopolitan, Elle and Esquire, has promoted Michael Rowley, the group publishing director for its weekly and lifestyle publications, to the new role of managing director, brands. Rowley’s role overseeing the weekly titles has been taken over by Greg Witham, who has been promoted to group publishing director of the newly-formed "entertainment" group, while Lee Wilkinson, a product director, has been promoted to the new role of strategy and product director. (Media Week)
Bloomberg Media Group has appointed former Guardian commercial leader, Adam Freeman, as its first managing director of Bloomberg Media for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. (Campaign)


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Specifications for the rumoured BlackBerry Android slider appear to have leaked onto the internet.
Just last week it emerged that BlackBerry may be producing a new device powered by the Android OS rather than its usual BlackBerry 10.
Indeed, it was claimed that BlackBerry may have already given us a glimpse of this new hybrid phone earlier in the year. Apparently, this was the slider device that the company whipped out at MWC in March.
Now N4BB claims to have received details on the device’s specifications.
According to the report the slider, code-named “Venice”, will have a meaty 5.4-inch QHD display. Add in a Snapdragon 808 CPU and 3GB of RAM, and you’re looking at a spec that’s equivalent to a modern Android flagship phone.
That continues into the BlackBerry Venice’s camera setup, with an 18-megapixel rear unit and a 5-megapixel selfie cam.
Related: BlackBerry Passport follow-up leaked
The report seems concerned over the switch to the hexa-core Snapdragon 808 from an earlier-rumoured octa-core CPU, but of course we know all about the Snapdragon 810’s overheating and aggressive throttling issues by now, it’s not really a great surprise.
According to the report, the BlackBerry Venice will be released by November this year.


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Peaks heavy industry to join hands in huaxia qingshan nanjing exhibition -- 2022 marks the end of the ninth world conference on utilization of organic wastes.
Do you have questions or concerns regarding your filter press? Here are some common filter press questions and their solutions.
Plastic baling and recycling are profitable. The cost of manufacturing plastic from scratch is much greater than using recycled plastic, and because of this, recycling plastic has become a business all of its own.
An eddy current separator is a device that uses a magnetic rotor with alternating polarity to separate two different types of electrically conductive particles.
On February 23, Zhang Qunfeng, chairman of Shandong Qunfeng Heavy Industry Technology Co., LTD., a deputy to the People's Congress of Dezhou City, said in an interview with The German Newspaper that the two sessions, the most concerned about the focus are carbon peak, carbon neutrality, beautiful village construction, and garbage sorting.
Copyright © Shandong Qunfeng Heavy Industry Technology Co. LTD |


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Charles Brewer, managing director of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa, says that the company has seen significant volume growth in the region since the introduction of AGOA in 2000, and that DHL and others support renewal of the Act when it expires next year.
“Trade lanes in Africa have increased significantly as a result of relieved trade barriers, which have had a positive impact on many local businesses,” said Brewer. “A key driver of this growth has been the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which has stimulated trade and investment between Africa and the United States.”
Figures released by the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration report that in 2013, U.S. imports from Sub-Saharan Africa, under AGOA, totaled $39.3bn. The top three trade lanes to the U.S. from the Sub Saharan Africa region originated from Nigeria, Angola and South Africa, which accounted for $11.72bn, $8.74bn and $8.48bn, respectively.
Brewer explains that the Act offers tangible incentives to approximately 40 Sub-Saharan African beneficiary countries, such as duty- and quota-free access to the U.S. market for certain product lines. “AGOA has facilitated trade between Sub-Saharan Africa and the U.S. by enabling the trade process, as well as successfully promoting the integration of Sub-Saharan Africa into the global economy. These favourable trade conditions have also allowed the region to maximize the opportunities available and increase exports,” says Brewer.
Brewer says that since the introduction of AGOA, DHL Africa has seen an increase in primary trading sectors like manufacturing, apparel and footwear – all directly supported by AGOA. In addition, they have also witnessed an increase in secondary sectors that are dependent on agriculture, petroleum and natural gases.
Due to expire in 2015, it is the decision of the U.S. Congress on whether to extend or amend the AGOA agreement. Brewer says that Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth is still dependent on trade facilitation and enhancing both intra-regional trade and global trade. “While trade between the U.S. and Sub-Saharan Africa has increased significantly in the last few years, there is still much room for growth.” In 2013, U.S. imports from Sub-Saharan Africa represented only 1.7 percent of total U.S. imports from the world, according to Brewer.
“Africa is the ‘last frontier’,” he says. “The more we collectively focus on connecting it with the world, the more sustainable its economies will be and the more jobs we will create – creating a virtuous cycle of success.”
Source: DHL Express
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Apple have published a press release in relation to the acquisition of the Beats Music company, the press release confirms the rumours of the $3 billion dollar price tag on the deal.
The original offer on the table of $3.2 billion was reduced after a somewhat over excited Dr Dre leaked information of the deal on social media sites, as reported here on 9to5 Mac
It has been suggested that Dre is set to bag a hefty $750 million dollars from the sale, as he has a portfolio containing shares amounting to 25% of the business.
It’s not clear how Apple are going to use this new partnership to further its empire, however they have certainly taken on some industry leading talent as far as embracing music is concerned. Beats have been at the forefront of the music headphone market since early 2009 when their iconic over the ear phones came to market.
Beats where originally considered to be somewhat of a fashion accessory, however rapidly proved they could hold their own as they started wining awards for sound quality. Back in July last year reports came out that Beats was on track to make $1.4 billion in revenue, and confirmed that Beats continued to dominate the headphone market.
Not only are Beats synonymous for their headphone line up, they also bring a pretty impressive music streaming service to the table. Last year Apple released the iTunes Radio service, which in some way is like that which Beats pipe out. Beats music streaming service is a subscription service that costs £99 per annum for 1 account supporting 3 devices.
The iTunes radio service is ad free and available to all iTunes match customers which is priced at just £21.99 a year.
Although the deal comes far too late in the day to expect any groundbreaking unveils at this years WWDC, we can no doubt expect future hardware and software releases in the not too distant future. After all, who wants to spend $3 billion and not start capitalising on it right away!?


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HLF swag: A real thing.
While some of you (you know who you are) were spending the weekend in San Diego, some 25,000 hit the road for sunny St. Louis for Herbalife’s annual sales convention—Mound City’s second-most popular con after the Church of God in Christ’s Holy Convocation. It all sounds very, uh, convention-y.
Billed as an “Extravaganza,” the event was expected to draw an estimated 25,000 people — most of them independent distributors from around the country — to hear motivational speeches, network and participate in sales seminars…Another “Future Millionaire” is Antwoine Love, 39, of Dalton, Ga., a father of 14 children with a 15th on the way. Love said he got involved with selling Herbalife products full-time a month ago, after having a career “working with music.” Selling Herbalife products helps him assist people with their medical problems, he said. Though Love has not made a significant profit selling Herbalife and has yet to recruit a downseller, “the guy who got me into this makes $7,000 a month,” Love said….
“This is how I eat,” Love said.
St. Louis Herbalife convention draws thousands of dreamers [Post-Dispatch]


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ENGLEWOOD —Even though Whole Foods Market plans to build an 18,000-square-foot store on vacant land at 63rd and Halsted streets, hire community residents and donate 5 percent of its profits back to the community, Ald. Toni Foulkes (15th) isn't completely sold on the deal.
"The fact that Whole Foods wants to come to Englewood and address the food desert problem is great," said Foulkes. But "Whole Foods has a select market, and that market is not Englewood."
Foulkes said high prices at Whole Foods are what could stop it from being successful once it opens across the street from Kennedy-King College in three years.
"I mean come on. Who is going to pay $10 for a pound of chicken at Whole Foods when you can go to Save-A-Lot, Aldi or Food 4 Less and get it much cheaper?" added Foulkes, who worked 19 years in the bakery department at Jewel.
But Ald. JoAnn Thompson, whose ward will host the new store, said she was "grateful to Whole Foods Market and the mayor for bringing a wonderful opportunity to Englewood."
The store will give residents much-needed "access to healthier food and healthier lifestyles," and also "stimulate the economy of our neighborhood by providing new jobs," Thompson said.
Foulkes, whose ward covers West Englewood, but not the proposed store site, countered that she makes "a decent salary" — $110,556 annually, according to a city database — but "I can't afford to shop at Whole Foods, so imagine how hard it is for other Englewood consumers."
Melinda Kelly, executive director of the Chatham Business Association, joined Whole Foods Market executives in announcing plans for an Englewood store, but had one reservation.
"I support a Whole Foods store in Englewood, but I think adjustments would have to be made as far as prices so that it aligns with the income of the community," Kelly said.
Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market acknowledged at a Wednesday news conference with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Thompson and other community stakeholders, that price is one barrier when it comes to making fresh vegetables and produce accessible to Englewood residents.
"I'm not sure how we are going to do it, but we will address the price differences between us and other grocery stores," Robb said. "We plan to engage the community in this process and find out from them what products they want sold at the Englewood store."
Less than two blocks away from the proposed Whole Foods site is an Aldi grocery store, at 620 W. 63rd St., which opened in October 1991. This year the store closed May 6 to expand its produce and vegetable selections and reopened June 28.
"The remodeled store now carries an expanded selection of fresh produce items and offers expanded refrigeration capacity for more products, such as fresh meat and dairy," said Lauren Acosta, a spokeswoman for the discount grocery chain. "Aldi currently carries nearly 70 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables."
Adrian Brown, 54, said he and many other Englewood residents shop at Aldi because of its low prices.
"A loaf of bread at Aldi, wheat or white, costs about 50 cents, but at Whole Foods it's nearly $2. I spend about $500 a month buying groceries at Aldi for my family, and it lasts the entire month," Brown said. "But I'll bet $500 won't go far at Whole Foods."
But Emanuel defended his support of a Whole Foods store "because people living in Englewood should have the same access to fresh vegetables and produce as everyone else in the city."
The mayor added that Whole Foods would benefit from $10 million in city help through Tax Increment Financing assistance. Those funds would be used for site redevelopment and infrastructure work, only, he said.
"Whole Foods did not receive any direct TIF assistance from us," said Emanuel.
The new store will create 100 new jobs, and while the plan is to open the store in the next three years, Robb said he would push to open sooner.
Illinois LINK cards, which are mainly used by low-income and unemployed individuals, are accepted at Whole Foods, according to Robb.
John Paul Jones, president of the Sustainable Englewood Initiatives organization, said he supports the new Whole Foods store.
"Look around you. There are not a lot of choices around here for grocery stores," said Jones. "Yeah, there's an Aldi down the street, but there's a lot of stuff Aldi does not carry, and that's where Whole Foods comes into play, especially if you're talking about organic products."
Additionally, Whole Kids Foundation plans to award up to $20,000 in grants to Englewood schools.
"All schools have to do is go to our website to apply," said Morgan Peretti, a spokeswoman for the foundation. "An individual school could receive up to $2,000."
The Rev. St. John Chisum, pastor of Gifts From God Ministry and executive director of the Pastors of Englewood organization, said he is in wait-and-see mode.
"Lord knows we need quality grocery stores throughout Englewood, but ones that conform to the lifestyles of the residents," said Chisum. "Only time will tell if Whole Foods is one of those quality stores Englewood needs."


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QOTD: What to Do With Mini?
It’s a brand most of us never think about. We never consider buying one, nor do we rush to our laptops/tablets/phones to excitedly discuss the latest update to the brand’s lineup. Simply put, there’s something about the brand that’s lacking.
Maybe it’s horsepower, or lack thereof. Or maybe it’s reliability. Whatever the reason, Mini is not — with some exceptions — at the forefront of our collective consciousness.
It’s a brand that tries hard to remain relevant, especially over here in Crossoverland. Hey, four doors on a Cooper! Look — a longer Clubman! Excuse me, sir, can we interest you in a considerably larger Countryman? Nothing Mini about it, har har…
And yet, for all of its attempts to stay in the buying public’s eye — culling unpopular models like the Paceman and “right-sizing” its current products — Mini’s U.S. sales are still heading in the wrong direction after reaching a 2013 peak. That year saw the brand unload 66,502 units, a clear high-water mark. Last year? 52,030. The first four months of 2017 shows sales slipping behind last year’s tally.
The brand needs to do something to slow the descent, but — as we learned yesterday — it won’t field any new models for a number of years.
The question is: would adding new models have even helped? Mini executives apparently felt it wouldn’t. Otherwise, the anticipated sedan, roadster and micro-Mini two-seater wouldn’t be collecting dust as the brand waits for the next-generation of vehicles. Only then, perhaps, will we see a new model.
The problem with Mini isn’t murky. It’s a nostalgic brand centered around small cars that hobbled into a truck and SUV-obsessed marketplace with a clear handicap. Due to concerns over brand identity, it can’t build you a midsize or full-size truck. Nor can it compete against the Ford Explorer. It could, of course, but it would have to kiss that identity goodbye. And really, who’s going to buy a British truck?
Is the BMW-owned automaker destined to forever remain a niche brand in the U.S.? A quirky expression of the buyer’s individuality? Maybe.
So what would you do, Best and Brightest, if you found your hands on the levers of change at Mini? Would you be content in having the core models languish? Would you green-light a slew of quirky, sporty new small car models, or would you go big — maybe approving the unthinkable?
Or, would you pull that other lever, lowering the coffin containing the brand into the ground forever?
More by Steph Willems
Latest Car ReviewsRead more
Latest Product ReviewsRead more
- Spamvw Three on the tree, even Generation X would have a hard time stealing one of those.
- ToolGuy This trend of cyan wheels needs to end NOW.
- Kwik_Shift Interesting nugget(s) of EV follies. https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1729212326237327708?s=20
- SaulTigh I've said it before and I'll say it again...if you really cared about the environment you'd be encouraging everyone to drive a standard hybrid. Mature and reliable technology that uses less resources yet can still be conveniently driven cross country and use existing infrastructure.These young people have no concept of how far we've come. Cars were dirty, stinking things when I was a kid. They've never been cleaner. You hardly ever see a car smoking out the tail pipe or smell it running rich these days, even the most clapped out 20 year old POS. Hybrids are even cleaner.
- Inside Looking Out Just put ICE there. Real thing is always better that simulation.


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Now is the time to be preparing your business for 2022 and, with a cyberattack being launched every 39 seconds, cybersecurity should be top of your to-do list. The types of cyberattacks on businesses are constantly evolving and it is crucial that your organisation stays one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, the world has been preoccupied with the Covid-19 pandemic. This period has had a huge impact on businesses of all shapes and sizes and kept governments and other organisations busy preparing recovery plans. Unfortunately, cybercriminals have been hard at work too, taking advantage of teams working remotely and businesses changing their security processes.
It is clear that protecting your business from cybercrime is vital and products like cyber liability insurance are a great place to start. As well as having the right cybercrime insurance, your business needs to stay on top of emerging trends in cybercrime.
Here are some of the key cyber risks to be aware of in 2022:
Pandemic phishing attacks
Phishing has been a common type of cyberattack for many years, but criminals are becoming savvier with their methods. Recently, we have seen a rise in phishing attacks and cybercriminals are using the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to instil fear into individuals. A growing trend is phishing attacks which aim to con people into giving away their sensitive information. A recent example of this has been emails and calls to elderly individuals in the UK promising them Covid-19 vaccines if they provide the personal data requested. In some cases the phishers obtained bank details and sensitive information. Other pandemic-related phishing scams include emails supposedly offering health advice or details on remote working.
Ransomware attacks have been on most businesses’ radar for many years, and despite the number of attacks decreasing in 2019, they are starting to rise again. As millions of businesses have changed the way they operate over the last year, and undergone rapid digitalisation, the threat of ransomware attacks has increased.
Cybercriminals are constantly developing new versions of malware to evade the growing number of decryption tools around. Unfortunately, these criminals are masters at staying one step ahead when it comes to ransomware attacks.
With more and more individuals using their mobiles than ever before, and many businesses providing employees with company phones while working remotely, it is no surprise that mobile malware is on the rise. New technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are being used to evolve current malware attacks and highlight new opportunities for cybercriminals.
In 2020, Microsoft’s 365 Defender Research Team discovered a new type of Android malware which was far more sophisticated than any other mobile malware attack before. Those who fell victim to this attack had their devices fully disabled and were forced to pay a ransom to the attackers to gain control again.
In 2022, it seems that cyberattacks will no longer be reserved just for thieves and criminals. Hacktivism, or cyberactivism, is the online version of protestors fighting their points on a specific agenda. These activists are beginning to add to the number of cybercrimes which are happening every day and it is a trend which shows no signs of slowing.
Cyberactivists work to block or takeover a company’s website or interrupt their operations. The goal is to drive awareness of a business’ bad practices or get their case across to those higher up in the company. One example of cyberactivism took place last year, when Anonymous made a list of names related to Jeffrey Epstein public.
All businesses are aware that data breaches are a common occurrence and despite being around for so long, they are still one of the largest cyber threats to organisations. Each year, the amount of data breaches that occur increases, and it isn’t expected to change going into 2022. Despite the introduction of GDPR, and businesses taking more steps to secure data, the number of breaches in 2020 increased again.
Just in the first quarter of 2020, data breaches rose by a massive 273%. Of all the data breaches that occur, a huge 28% of them are within small businesses, usually because their security is less robust. With 25% of small businesses forced to file for bankruptcy following a significant data breach, having the right precautions and cyber insurance in place are critical.
To find out more about cyber insurance and how it can help to protect your business, contact our expert team on 01603 218000.


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Flowers Foods Inc. has completed acquisition of the perpetual, exclusive and royalty-free licenses to the Sara Lee and Earthgrains brands in California from BBU Inc., a subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The United States Department of Justice approved the agreement in October 2012, along with a separate one for the acquisition of the perpetual, exclusive and royalty-free license to the Earthgrains brand for bakery products in Oklahoma City, Okla.. Together with the California agreement, the brands generate about $134 million in annual sales
"Our team has been working to ensure a smooth transition of these brands in California. Now that the transaction has closed, the rollout of Sara Lee and Earthgrains products on our distribution routes will begin immediately in Southern California and continue northward in phases over the coming months," George E. Deese, Flowers Foods' chairman of the board and CEO, said in a statement.


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SKYY® Vodka, the award-winning vodka has partnered with leading retailer, Makro, in an Apple Watch giveaway to run until 30 September 2015.
The premium vodka brand which now comes in a new, premium brushed silver cap, along with metallic color-coded cap rings, will be selecting a winner in each of the 19 Makro stores around the country.
The campaign forms part of SKYY Vodka’s aim to reward their loyal customers by offering the ultimate SKYY lifestyle i.e. becoming one of the first people in the country to own the world revered watch.
The Apple Watch collection features highly polished stainless steel and space black stainless steel cases. The display is protected by sapphire crystal. And there’s a choice of three different leather bands, a link bracelet, a Milanese loop, and a band made from high-performance fluoroelastomer.
The Apple Watch campaign encourages SKYY Vodka enthusiasts to enter the competition via entries at Makro stores situated around the country. Fans will have to purchase a promotional bottle of SKYY Vodka or SKYY Infusions at the Makro stores and swipe their Makro access cards for automatic entry into the competition.
At the end of the campaign, nineteen lucky customers will win one of the watches on offer. SKYY Vodka retails for R189.95 and SKYY Infusions retails for R199.95.


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Equities research analysts expect Hertz Global Holdings, Inc (NYSE:HTZ) to post sales of $2.43 billion for the current fiscal quarter, Zacks reports. Two analysts have provided estimates for Hertz Global’s earnings. The lowest sales estimate is $2.41 billion and the highest is $2.45 billion. Hertz Global reported sales of $2.39 billion in the same quarter last year, which indicates a positive year-over-year growth rate of 1.7%. The business is scheduled to report its next earnings report on Monday, August 5th.
On average, analysts expect that Hertz Global will report full-year sales of $9.76 billion for the current year, with estimates ranging from $9.67 billion to $9.89 billion. For the next financial year, analysts forecast that the company will post sales of $10.10 billion, with estimates ranging from $10.04 billion to $10.15 billion. Zacks’ sales averages are a mean average based on a survey of sell-side analysts that cover Hertz Global.
Hertz Global (NYSE:HTZ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 6th. The transportation company reported ($0.99) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($1.32) by $0.33. The business had revenue of $2.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.12 billion. Hertz Global had a negative net margin of 1.78% and a positive return on equity of 3.17%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($1.58) earnings per share.
In related news, major shareholder Carl C. Icahn sold 5,000,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.45, for a total transaction of $97,250,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.31% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in HTZ. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of Hertz Global by 48.0% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 6,289,708 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $109,252,000 after buying an additional 2,041,160 shares during the period. Philadelphia Financial Management of San Francisco LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hertz Global during the first quarter valued at about $14,132,000. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Hertz Global during the fourth quarter valued at about $11,049,000. Marshall Wace LLP increased its position in shares of Hertz Global by 1,406.4% during the first quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 811,503 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $14,095,000 after buying an additional 757,632 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its position in shares of Hertz Global by 119.6% during the first quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 678,692 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $11,789,000 after buying an additional 369,575 shares during the period.
Hertz Global stock traded down $0.75 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $16.35. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,260,772 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,454,982. The company has a quick ratio of 1.33, a current ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.68. The company has a market capitalization of $1.44 billion, a PE ratio of -96.18 and a beta of 1.95. Hertz Global has a 12 month low of $13.01 and a 12 month high of $22.37.
About Hertz Global
The Hertz Corporation, a subsidiary of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc, operates the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty vehicle rental brands in approximately 9,700 corporate and franchisee locations throughout North America, Europe, The Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
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It was recently reported that a young, 17-year-old NFT hacker was involved in a phishing scam revolving around the CreatureToadz project. Now, the money (86 ETH / $342,526) involved has since been returned.
About the Original Hack by the ‘Young NFT Hacker’
We’ve seen many scams and rug pulls in the NFT space as of recent, and it’s been potentially risky at times for new collectors to be involved in the space. This time the hack came from a totally decent project but came from someone outside the team involved.
The 17-year-old hacker used a phishing webhook to create an operational error in the CreatureToadz NFT Discord. The hacker, who’s unnamed set themself as admin to complete the hack. And in addition to this, one of the main moderators of the group was tricked by the young NFT hacker and lost access to the server.
People who minted their NFTs paid to an unknown account that had total control over the discord server. For about 45 minutes, the team could not do anything. But by then, the ones who clicked on the phishing link had already lost nearly $350,000.
The project tweeted about their hurt after the hack had taken place, you can see the Tweet here.
About the Money being Returned
In many cases, after a hack like this happens there is no positive end result. But in this case, the team at CreatureToadz got the money back from the NFT hacker after apologising for the breach. Even before the money was returned, the team had even promised to give money back to those who were scammed.
8 hours after the original hack and incident, the stolen funds were returned to the project. It was later discovered that the hacker was in fact 17. He spent time on a Twitter Space with a popular name in NFTs, Andrew Wang. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen money from a scam returned.
Subsequently, all the money has been returned, and since their re-launch, they sold out and now the floor price 0n Opensea is at 0.4 ETH after minting at 0.1 ETH.


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Midlands-based product design consultancy Creactive Design has been selected to be one of 12 UK companies to take part in a new trade mission to China.
The event, organised by UK Trade & Investment, is to help British design companies capitalise on China's flourishing design industry, potentially worth more than £3 billion.
With substantial international experience, particularly in designing rolling stock for companies such as Kawasaki in Japan and KCRC and Itochu in China, the Leamington Spa-based consultancy was considered by UKTI to be an obvious choice for the trip.
With an office in Cambridge, Creactive is an award-winning design consultancy specialising in a broad range of sectors including transport, medical products, consumer electronics and telecommunications.
The China design taskforce, which represents some of the best in British design, will host seminars and participate in conferences in Shanghai, Beijing, Wuxi and Guangzhau from October.
The 12 companies will highlight the strength of UK design and ultimately share intelligence with the British design community through direct training and marketing activities.
Creactive partner Neil Bates said the mission represented a great opportunity for Creactive as well as for the British design industry as a whole.
"With more than three million engineers due to graduate from Chinese universities between 2005 and 2010 and the potential for new product development that this is bound to generate, we need to be much more proactive about promoting our creative strengths," he said.
Creactive has already established a collaboration with a Chinese design company.
The firm's designers work with a 20-strong team in eastern China developing telecommunication designs for the Chinese and Japanese markets.
"It's given us a much greater understanding of the differences between European and Asian design attributes, what Chinese agencies are looking for from European designers and how best to present projects to them," he added.
UKTI chief executive Andrew Cahn said the potential market for UK design would develop rapidly as China's economy moved towards selling more sophisticated products and services into a competitive marketplace.
"The growing middle classes in China have made it possible for brands such as Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Zara to establish a retail presence.
"This is opening the eyes of Chinese companies to the importance of branding," Mr Cahn said. n Recruitment for the next tranche of the China Design Task Force is now under way and the closing date is September 1.
For further information firms should contact UKTI on 0207 215 4875.


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International payment solutions provider Flywire has acquired PACE Invoice, a London, England-based multi-currency invoicing platform provider. The move allows Flywire to add international invoicing to a menu already including cross-border payments and receivables.
“This acquisition fills a growing need for clients across all our industry sectors – business, education and healthcare,” Flywire CEO Mike Massaro said. “Cross-border invoicing is challenging and by enabling these capabilities within our platform, we will further enhance our already industry-leading cross-border payment solution in the market. We’re also very pleased to be able to say that James Shattock and the entire PACE team will join us to capitalize fully on this great opportunity.”
Mr. Shattock, the PACE Invoice CEO, joins Flywire to lead the new section’s European expansion efforts.
“This is a great move for us – joining a dynamic, fast-growing company like Flywire where our offering is highly complementary and will be quickly integrated into the international payment and receivables platform Flywire has built,” Mr. Shattock said. “Our invoicing capability meets an important cross-border business need for their customers and can help accelerate Flywire’s expansion, especially in the B2B market. We’re really excited to be part of that.”


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Written by Kunal Sawhney, Kalkine Media
UK shares continued the surge with the FTSE 100 rising a little more than 3% in the last three sessions, comfortably reclaiming the psychological level of 7,100 ahead of the Bank of England’s interest rate decision. The nine-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is set to unveil the latest stance of the central bank, alongside the conclusive decision on interest rates, as well as quantitative easing.
In the last few MPC meetings, all the nine members have unanimously voted to keep interest rates unchanged at record low levels and maintain the quantum of bond purchases, effectively extending the stimulus needed to sail through the tightened business environment.
As the Federal Open Market Committee of the US Federal Reserve kept the key lending rates at record lows, a similar outcome is expected from the BoE’s MPC. Investors and businesses are already struggling with the ever-expanding hardships of pandemic, mutated strains of virus, persistently high rate of hospitalisation, and the unemployment levels remaining higher as compared to the pre-Covid era.
Following Monday’s market mayhem, the benchmark FTSE 100 has already added over 3%, largely paring all the losses of September.
A market-wide buying was seen on the counters today with the heavyweight components from pharmaceutical, bank, mining and oil & gas industries supporting the index. Shares of AstraZeneca emerged as the biggest positive-point contributors to the index, followed by the blue-chip stocks of HSBC Holdings, Diageo and Glencore.
The outcome of the meeting will certainly help the investors to rejig their trade setups accordingly before the commencement of the third quarter earnings season. The soon-to-be-announced results during the October-December period will highlight and reflect the material benefits of easements and relaxed social distancing norms.
On the other hand, the results will also indicate the potential aftereffects of raw material shortages, inadequate supply of goods at retail stores, staff shortages, challenges due to supply chain crisis and prospective impact of higher hospitalisations.
Between the July-September stretch, the businesses have been able to resume their respective operations on the widest scale for the first time in the pandemic era. This has been the biggest development for domestic enterprises as most of them have been trying to realign their broken balance sheets, minimising the existing levels of debt, while some are extensively working towards corporate restructuring measures.
Of late, the macroeconomic indicators have indicated a subdued growth following the unending challenges in the operating environment due to the persistent problem of workforce crisis, delayed shipments, retailers operating with partly-filled shelves, limitedness of raw materials, and higher factory-gate prices.
The IHS Markit/CIPS compiled PMIs for manufacturing and services have dropped in the month of September, according to the preliminary readings revealed by the survey manager. Of the two sectors, Manufacturing PMI has declined sharply in September, registering the slowest growth since February of 2021.
The slowdown in the manufacturing activity has been perpetrated by lower-than-expected demand, modest growth in the frequency of new orders, continuing scarcity of staff and the malfunctioned supply chain systems. The full-month readings are likely to remain predominantly similar. However, the investors are unfazed by the slower expansion as a substantial growth is being anticipated in the final quarter on the back of higher consumer spending and considerable improvement in the business sentiments.