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A sustained weak currency could catapult the sector into a struggling third world industry.
The South African insurance industry needs innovative solutions to counteract the negative impact of the dramatic depreciation in the value of the rand since December 2015.
A sustained weak currency poses the real threat to catapult the well-established successful South African insurance industry into a struggling third world industry – with no foreign equity holders, low capacity for reinsurance and unaffordable premiums for consumers.
A major concern is the potential disinvestment by foreign owned insurance and reinsurance companies from South Africa as the continued weakening and volatile currency decimate the return on their investment and capital.
The poor results announced by foreign owned insurance companies already reflect the impact of the weak currency and more and more are looking to sell their South African businesses, with the resultant detrimental impact on the industry as a whole.
Of huge concern for the South African industry is the disinvestment by reinsurance companies, many of whom are operating in South Africa through fully capitalised subsidiary companies with international companies as equity holders. These locally capitalised subsidiary companies offer local insurance companies high credit rated reinsurance balance sheets, a critical requirement in protecting the local insurance company balance sheets and reducing their capital requirements.
If these companies were to close their South African businesses the quality of reinsurance and the capacity for reinsurance will decrease.
Another threat for the industry posed by the weakening currency is consumer resistance to the inevitable increases in insurance premiums.
The weak currency increases the cost of replacing and insuring assets, which are mostly imported. Between 80% and 90% of all consumer goods, including cars, technological devices, electronics and most household appliances, are imported.
Insurance companies are already experiencing an increase in the value of claims due to the higher cost of imported goods and will have no other option than to increase premiums. In an environment where consumers are already under pressure due to a contracting economy and higher inflation, many will opt not to insure their assets. It will not only leave consumers in a position where they are unable to replace their assets in the event of damage or loss, but will have a ripple effect on the economy of the country.
As things stand, short term insurance companies are already under pressure, especially on motor insurance. For many insurance companies the losses on their motor book is currently the most significant contributor to weakening results and extremely slim profit margins. Almost all parts for motor vehicles, even those that are locally assembled, are imported and insurance companies won’t be able to absorb the increases in cost for very much longer. This will inevitably result in increased premiums.
In order for South Africa to be part of the global economy and be able to compete, it has to maintain high living standards in order to attract skills and, more importantly, retain skills. Living standards are dependent on municipalities, firstly, maintaining infrastructure and secondly enhancing these. Insurance plays a critical role in assisting municipalities maintain infrastructure. With much of the infrastructure being imported in foreign currency, this places a huge strain on the municipalities and insurance companies when the rand depreciates. A depreciating rand will lead to deteriorating infrastructure, lower standards of living and a brain drain over a sustained period of time.
In order to survive and to ensure a viable and successful industry, economy and country, South African insurance companies will need to innovate and diversify as they cannot rely on a sustained appreciation in the value of the rand to secure the future of the industry.
Anees Vazeer is chief financial officer at Lion of Africa Insurance


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BRITISH CBD firm Sativa Wellness saw annual sales rise by over one-third in an eventful year which saw it undertake a reverse takeover and settle an outstanding court case.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the company posted revenues of £1,994,000, up from £1,449,000 in 2019, however outstanding commitments and reverse takeover costs saw it record an overall loss of £4.5m for the year.
The company (formerly the Sativa Group) was created following a reverse takeover of StillCanna and is now dual-listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and Aquis Growth Exchange in London.
This is now owned by Dragonfly and Sativa’s accounts show it received a cash settlement of £200,000 with company founder Geremy Thomas telling BusinessCann the agreement included additional supply of CBD from the facility to Sativa.
Much Better Shape
In January, Mr Thomas, who owns 30% of the company returned to the board as Executive Chairman and interim CEO.
Mr Thomas told BusinessCann: “The company is in much better shape after I have resumed control. We have new senior management team, a clear set of objectives and will be revealing our new CBD strategy in due course.
“I am excited to report on our Q1 results in a few weeks time which will show a real uptick in performance”
Sativa Wellness consists of a number of subsidiaries including Goodbody Botanicals and Phytovista Laboratories.
The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the company initially with the closure of its High Street shops however it subsequently pivoted to manufacturing hand-cleansers and testing work.
Last week Sativa announced it has appointed Marc Howells as Chief Executive Officer and Anne Tew as Chief Financial Officer

domain: news


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A squishy number of Bitcoins has either been hacked out of the dark-net market for illicit goods, or, as Silk Road’s users muse, perhaps weaseled away by the site’s own administrators.
The squishy part comes in when you try to put a price tag on the total worth.
Forbes’s Andy Greenberg reports that a post put up on Thursday by one of the recently reincarnated market’s administrators – “Defcon” – listed a series of Bitcoin addresses that Silk Road’s administrators think were involved in the heist.
Those transactions apparently point to a single Bitcoin address containing 58,800 coins, worth more than $36.1 million (£21.6 million) at current exchange rates, but Greenberg noted that other estimates range from 41,200 coins by a Silk Road user and 88,000 by the Bitcoin news site.
More squishy still: an update to his original story notes that a researcher values the theft at only around 4,400 or so coins, worth around $2.6 million (£1.56 million).
The news temporarily melted Bitcoin’s value, but by Sunday it was back up at about $656.
At any rate, that about does it for Silk Road 2.0, one of the copycat sites to spring up after the original Silk Road was shut down by the FBI in October.
Defcon on Thursday reportedly posted a teeth-clenched message that began with, “I am sweating as I write this.”
I must utter words all too familiar to this scarred community: We have been hacked.
Our initial investigations indicate that a vendor exploited a recently discovered vulnerability in the Bitcoin protocol known as 'transaction malleability' to repeatedly withdraw coins from our system until it was completely empty.
That same Bitcoin flaw temporarily knocked offline two other major exchanges over the past few weeks: Bitstamp, which came back online on Saturday, and Mt.Gox.
Mike Hearn, a developer who works on the Bitcoin protocol, told IEEE Spectrum that the flaw is “a very subtle one” but is inherent to the Bitcoin protocol.
Defcon listed the online identities of the three supposed Silk Road 2.0 attackers and shared records of the transactions.
The administrator then called on the public to pick up their pitchforks, telling everybody to “stop at nothing to bring this person to your own definition of justice.”
But many skeptical Silk Road users are pointing their pitchforks at Silk Road administrators, accusing them of faking the hack and stealing the money themselves.
Given the lack of regulation of Bitcoin, and given that the dark net operates more or less beyond the law, investigating and proving such charges would be tough.
This is just another episode that points to how dangerous it can be to trust Bitcoins to exchanges that don’t rate such trust.
Even back in the early days of Bitcoin, they were tempting targets for thieves.
In 2012, they cost just over $10 each – a prize plenty worth it for the crooks who stole unencrypted backups from one poor guy, Roman Shtylman, whose security lapse during a server upgrade led to his losing a sideline Bitcoin business worth $250,000 overnight.
But compare that to today’s rate of about $656 (£389), and you can see why hackers are acting like bees swarming around Bitcoin honey.
It’s not just hackers and breaches we should worry about. Online Bitcoin exchanges are still immature, and many have suffered outages.
In a study of 40 exchanges, 18 of them had failed, leaving customers empty-handed.
Of course, this all underscores the fact that Bitcoin holders should be extremely careful about a given repository’s trustworthiness before trusting it to keep Bitcoin data safe.
Naked Security recently dispensed some tips on Bitcoin wallets and how to keep your money safe.
Definitely check out the tips to keep your digital currency safe. Bitcoins are tricky things even if you aren’t wandering around in the dark web with your pockets bulging.


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4Stop Announces Momentum and Accelerated Growth Quarter-Over-Quarter.
COLOGNE, Germany, February 24, 2021 (Newswire.com) - FourStop GmbH (4Stop), a leading global provider for KYB, KYC, compliance and fraud prevention technology, announces tremendous company growth experienced quarter-over-quarter in 2020. As a result, 4Stop has doubled its year-over-year top-line performance with 100% revenue growth.
In 2019, the company received Series A funding of €2.5 million. As a result, they doubled their employee count, opened a new office in the United Kingdom, expanded their data orchestration hub by 188% and their risk technology products by 60% - establishing the most extensive global data and risk marketplace. In 2020, 4Stop performed data and risk calls increased by 134% from the previous year and made up 53% of 4Stop's accumulative data and risk calls since 2018.
"Our relentless focus on data and product innovation to future-proof risk mitigation from one integration proved itself this past year," states Ingo Ernst, CEO, 4Stop. The global pandemic forged a new evolution of online engagement that many experts were not anticipating for years. Online businesses desperately required customer onboarding and fraud prevention solutions in a future-proofed, agile, and streamlined manner to manage the significant volume surges without multiple integrations.
In 2020 alone, 4Stop's KYC call volume increased 60% in Q4 from Q1, and specifically, Document ID increased by 3777% from 2019. "I am very proud of our data and risk marketplace that is home to hundreds of data services and anti-fraud tools. Merchants from any industry and region can quickly adapt their data and fraud defence in a pick-n-choose model and manage their volume demands with confidence," adds Ingo Ernst.
Furthermore, 4Stop's momentum continues from the evolution of regulatory requirements, such as PSD2, which brings Strong Customer Authentication. As a result, 4Stop's authentication of data services increased by 838% in 2020. Their data marketplace increased 30% with specific credit and compliance data sources, including a partnership with ComplyAdvantage; a global leading Regtech data provider.
Additional factors to 4Stop's accelerated 2020 growth include;
- 100% growth volume in registration data verification calls from 2019
- 83% adoption growth in their newly developed Know Your Business automated underwriting and merchant onboarding solution
- Increased customer base by 31% from 2019
The need to manage hundreds of data and risk technology integrations that result in high costs, resources, slow operations and a fragmented view of risk is no longer an acceptable risk mitigation solution businesses can utilise. 4Stop's globally agnostic data, compliance and risk marketplace helps entities of all sizes and industries to connect and orchestrate various identity, risk and payment data points and verifications while tailoring fully automated, customisable and dynamic fraud prevention workflows and management tools. Companies obtain all the data and risk functions they need to be adaptive to any online engagement evolution.
In 2021, 4Stop will continue to expand its data marketplace by 60% and is in current developments of an enriched cloud platform experience with advanced smart risk technology.
Source: FourStop GmbH


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File photo: McDonald's location in Taiwan. File photo: McDonald's location in Taiwan. (CNA photo)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In recent years, McDonald’s Taiwan, as a major player in the local food industry, has shown leadership and commitment to lowering carbon emissions and pursuing sustainable development goals.
Recently, the fast food giant partnered with Business Today (今周刊) at the Act Now conference, held on Aug. 20 and Aug 21 to promote sustainable supply chains in Taiwan. McDonald’s Taiwan provided guests with special vouchers for their green menu options.
McDonald’s has operated in Taiwan for nearly 40 years. It now has more than 400 business locations and employs over 20,000 people across the country. As the awareness and concern over sustainability in the food industry has grown in recent decades, McDonald’s has been at the forefront of change and innovation, taking its corporate responsibilities seriously.
McDonald’s was the first major corporation in the Asia-Pacific region to receive full certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 2017 for its sustainable paper packaging sourced from responsibly managed forests.
Since 2018, McDonald’s has done away with the plastic caps for its popular McFlurry ice cream desserts. It also replaced the plastic spoons with wooden stirring utensils and began replacing plastic containers for salads and drink trays with paper products.All of these changes are estimated to have reduced the company’s total plastic waste by approximately 30 tons per year.
In 2019, the public’s attention turned to the overuse of plastic straws and their harmful impact on the environment. In response, and after much consideration, McDonald’s Taiwan took the bold step of doing away with straws altogether, urging the public to drink directly from the cup, and introducing new plastic cup tops to make the change as convenient as possible for customers.
Speaking at the Act Now conference, Senior Manager Liao Chiao-wei (廖喬偉) touted new measures taken during the pandemic to help reduce the use of disposable cups. McDonald’s has partnered with a Tainan-based startup called Good-To-Go (好盒器) to establish “rent and return” service stations for reusable cups; customers can use LINE to scan a QRCode to borrow cups from the stations. After they finish using the cup, they can return it to any station, where it will be cleaned and readied for the next customer to use.
Liao also noted that McDonald’s has put a lot of effort into simplifying the waste sorting and recycling process in its restaurant locations. This has greatly improved efficiency for customers and waste management personnel throughout Taiwan, according to the report.
Speaking on McDonald’s corporate responsibility to work towards sustainable development, Liao was quoted saying “Good customer experiences are passed on through our front-line staff. We aim to be good neighbors to everyone. This means that we must share commitments and make these efforts for the entire society, the natural environment and for every citizen of the planet.”
Taiwan News © 2022 All Rights Reserved.


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ShipMax, a leading provider of innovative logistics solutions, is proud to announce its game-changing advancements in the shipping industry. Leveraging state-of-the-art technology and a customer-centric approach, ShipMax is transforming the way businesses handle their shipping needs.
With a commitment to excellence and a focus on simplifying complex logistics processes, ShipMax has developed a suite of advanced tools and services designed to streamline shipping operations for businesses of all sizes. Through its user-friendly platform, customers can now efficiently manage their shipments, track packages in real-time, and optimize their supply chain for maximum efficiency.
“We are thrilled to introduce our groundbreaking logistics solutions to the market,” said John Anderson, CEO of ShipMax. “Our mission is to empower businesses with the tools they need to navigate the ever-evolving shipping landscape effectively. We believe that our innovative approach will revolutionize the industry and provide our customers with a competitive edge.”
ShipMax’s cutting-edge technology offers a wide range of features that simplify the shipping process. The platform’s intuitive interface allows customers to easily create and manage shipments, generate shipping labels, and schedule pickups. Moreover, the robust tracking system enables real-time monitoring of packages at every stage, ensuring complete visibility and transparency throughout the entire supply chain.
In addition to its user-friendly interface, ShipMax offers a host of value-added services designed to enhance customer experience. These services include customized shipping solutions tailored to specific business requirements, comprehensive insurance coverage options, and dedicated customer support to address any queries or concerns.
ShipMax’s innovative solutions extend beyond domestic shipping, catering to businesses with international logistics needs. Through strategic partnerships and a vast network of carriers, ShipMax offers competitive international shipping rates, simplified customs clearance processes, and end-to-end visibility across borders. By removing the complexities associated with global shipping, ShipMax empowers businesses to expand their reach and explore new markets with confidence.
The launch of ShipMax marks a significant milestone in the shipping industry, as the company aims to redefine the standards of logistics excellence. By leveraging advanced technology, unparalleled customer support, and a commitment to continuous innovation, ShipMax is set to reshape the future of shipping.
ShipMax is a leading provider of innovative logistics solutions, empowering businesses with streamlined shipping processes, real-time package tracking, and optimized supply chain management. With a customer-centric approach and a commitment to excellence, ShipMax is revolutionizing the shipping industry through advanced technology and comprehensive services.
Company Name: SHIPMAX LLC
Contact Person: Jane Adams
Email: Send Email
Phone: +1 (800) 508-6471
Address:7900 NW 154 ST Ste 202
City: Miami Lakes
State: FL 33016
Country: United States
The post ShipMax Revolutionizes Shipping Industry with Cutting-Edge Logistics Solutions first appeared on PressRelease.cc.


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David Ortiz has a new Christmas sweater out, but you might not want to wear it around the kids.
The shirts say “This is our f------ Christmas,” with a partially obscured naughty word that refers back to the Red Sox designated hitter’s speech following the Boston Marathon bombings. The design also includes an image of Big Papi with sunglasses and a Santa hat.
The shirts are being sold to raise money for the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, which helps kids with congenital heart defects get life-saving surgery. They come in three colours and four styles.
WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE
For mobile users, use this link to watch the video.
tap here to see other videos from our team.


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Yves Saint Laurent revisits its iconic fashion pieces with the new fragrance collection Le Vestiaire des Parfums.
Montblanc Legend Calligraphy is available starting this month in limited edition in perfumeries. Price: €73 for 100 ml.
Hilton Worldwide today launched the Spa Club, a global spa treatment membership program targeting customers who live near Hilton spas.
Ahead of the end-of-the-year holidays, French brand Chanel has decided to release its iconic N°5 fragrance in a new takeaway sized flacon.
The Italian label is paying tribute to Venetian glassmakers with the introduction of its 2015 Deluxe Fragrance collection.
L’Oréal’s newest brand ambassador is an influential 21-year-old blogger and member of the Instagram glitterati, Kristina Bazan.
Beauty icon Sophia Loren has her very own lip color thanks to a recent tribute from DOLCE & GABBANA called, Sophia Loren N°1.
Cate Blanchett stars in the video for Giorgio Armani fragrance “Sì.”
Model Joan Smalls is collaborating high-end skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care brand Estée Lauder for a lipstick collection.
Thierry Mugler celebrates 10 years of the “Alien” fragrance with a talisman bottle.
If you’re thinking of doing some beauty shopping, then take a look at some of the hottest new product launches for fall 2015.
After releasing a teaser clip back in August, the full, director’s cut of Johnny Depp’s Dior Sauvage campaign has finally been released.
Face of Yves Saint Laurent Beauty, Cara Delevingne, is back for a new campaign—this time for the brand’s ‘Rogue pur Couture’ lipstick.
Hoping to make their Skin Caviar Luxe Cream accessible to more people, La Prairie will be introducing new products next month.
“Haute Dogs” is the latest high-pedigree collection from the beauty brand, inspired by the “buttery fur tones” of fashionable pooches.
Sephora is following in the footsteps of Birchbox and Julep by launching its own subscription beauty box service called Play! by Sephora this fall.
Christian Louboutin is launching a line of lipsticks this fall that will bring his iconic red hue to women’s lips.
American fashion label Proenza Schouler will be launching its first perfume with L’Oréal.
Sisley has unveiled its latest fragrance, Soir d’Orient (“Oriental Night”) which is directly inspired by the warmth and mystery of Andalusia.
Theo James is the face of “Boss The Scent” by Hugo Boss, alongside Natasha Poly.


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Kelly Walsh joins MacLaurin Communications as associate
She was previously European marketing communications consultant for
Sue Broomfield has been appointed sales and marketing manager Europe for
Visit Florida at its London office.
Charlie Birch-Reynardson, formerly of Bates Dorland and Stretch the
Horizon, has taken on the role of sales and marketing director at
Kap Varma has been appointed the new marketing controller at Cork
International, and will oversee the Personal Care Product division.
Jackie Harold has joined Twinings Speciality Teas and will oversee new
product development and marketing for the Herbal and Fruit Infusions
She will report to the Twinings UK retail marketing manager.
Catherine Wheeler has been appointed group marketing manager at The Opus
Group. She joins from System Software Associates.
Richard Herbert has taken on the new role of executive vice-president at
Pantone. Juergen Stolt replaces Herbert as senior vice-president of
sales and marketing.
Susan Taylor has taken on the new role of marketing manager at Bourjois
Cosmetics, reporting to the commercial director of European
Simon Duncan has been promoted to business development executive.
Simon Mayes has been appointed the new sponsorship director at London
Arena, and Justine Waddell has been promoted to associate director of
sales and sponsorship.


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Tucked away all the way up on Madison Avenue at 64th Street is the Vacheron Constantin boutique. Usually filled with the latest and greatest modern hits, this summer the brand’s New York City home is exhibiting and selling a selection of remarkable vintage pieces as part of their “Collectionneurs” line.
The boutique has nine fully serviced and authenticated vintage pieces on display (with two more arriving over the next week or so), ranging from a gorgeous platinum minute-repeating pocket watch from 1928 to the stunning reference 4178. All are on view and available now through the end of August. Here’s a selection of a few of them just because we love ’em. Continue reading
Sophie Guieysse, who joined Compagnie Financière Richemont SA last year as group human resources director, is to become an executive director .
Guieysse, who is already a member of the senior executive committee, is up for election at the group’s annual general meeting in September. If elected, she will report to Jerome Lambert, group chief operating officer and a senior executive committee member. He is also a director on the Richemont board.
Guieysse joined Richemont last October from Dior, where she advised on the future of luxury in a connected world. She also served on the board of directors of Maisons du Monde, the French furniture and home decor company, and was chairman of its nominations and compensation committee. Continue reading
Balmain is bolstering its digital reach with the launch of an online flagship serving customers in more than100 markets in partnership with Yoox Net-a-porter Group.
Till now, in terms of its own online store, “the situation was quite poor,” acknowledged Balmain chief executive officer Massimo Piombini in an interview at the brand’s headquarters. Everything was managed in-house “without any real technical expertise, and the possibilities to keep up with the upgrades of the digital business,” he said.
Harnessing the latest technologies in the online business and integrating Balmain’s e-commerce and institutional web sites, the new site, he said, will boost visibility and sales, as well as serve as a powerful communication tool. Features include a click-and-collect service, editorial content including videos, and dedicated capsules. Continue reading
To celebrate the brand’s 70th anniversary, Longchamp is scheduled for September 8, to stage its first official runway Fashion Show in New York this Fall with a tandem with a tandem event scheduled on September 11,for the Opéra Garnier in Paris.
Known for its best-selling “Le Pliage bag”, the French leather goods firm has expanded its ready-to-wear offering over recent years as part of its repositioning as a lifestyle brand.
Meanwhile, Kendall Jenner, the new brand ambassador, is on board for four seasons, beginning with the fall 2018 campaign.
Among other projects Stateside, the brand is preparing to open its first Los Angeles store this fall.


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Tiffany & Co.'s new CSO on cleaning up the jewelry supply chain
Tiffany & Co.'s new CSO on cleaning up the jewelry supply chain
Anisa Kamadoli Costa is no stranger to the inner workings of the luxury jewelry business — including notorious dark spots for the industry, such as human rights abuses and environmentally reckless mining operations.
As the longtime president and chairman of the foundation arm for one of the world's most famous jewelers, Tiffany & Co., Kamadoli Costa is already well acquainted with efforts to improve transparency and standards for sourcing precious minerals.
Earlier this spring, however, Kamadoli Costa also was tapped to fill a newly created sustainability leadership role within the company. In April, she added chief sustainability officer of Tiffany & Co. to her ongoing Tiffany & Co. Foundation duties during a period of renewed focus on increasing accountability for global mining operations.
Tiffany has been at the vanguard of efforts to weed out jewelry supply chain abuses by focusing on the traceability of raw materials, participating in human rights advocacy efforts and supporting stricter industry-wide standards.
Now, Kamadoli Costa, with renewed backing from the company's C suite, is looking to elevate those efforts beyond previous self-policing measures in the jewelry industry that — like many industry certification efforts related to sustainability — have come under fire for lacking accountability.
Tiffany seeks to change that by refining its own long-term sourcing strategy and backing a much broader Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), which will be piloting a new set of draft standards this year. The approach is outlined in the company's new sustainability report, published today.
"We’re at the point where we need to think beyond our own supply chains," Kamadoli Costa told GreenBiz in an interview. "To me these are really basic, fundamental issues. Of course this should not be happening."
The phrase "blood diamond" first made its way into the mainstream after the 2006 Hollywood depiction of how warlords in the West African nation of Sierra Leone profited from exploiting residents forced into mining. Sales of the jewels, smuggled out of the country and distributed primarily in Western markets, helped fuel a civil war that killed 50,000 people during the 1990s.
As recently as this spring, however, Tiffany joined a chorus of critics (PDF) calling for charges to be dropped against Angolan journalist Rafael Marques, who was prosecuted after writing extensively about torture and murders perpetrated by military officials profiting from the diamond trade. The abuses in Angola detailed by Marques, such as soldiers burying 45 miners alive in 2009, were part of a system of forced labor.
These recurring human rights scandals also often overshadow other social and environmental ills present in the diamond and metal supply chains, such as day-to-day wage theft, air and water contamination, dumping of toxic waste and disruption of sensitive ecosystems.
The question, as is the case in other industries with supply chains heavily reliant on raw materials and labor in far-away countries — such as the garment business or consumer electronics companies — is how to gain better visibility and begin improving conditions on the ground.
"There’s so many different certifications out there," Kamadoli Costa said. "We think that it would be beneficial for there to be a really high bar."
Digging into the supply chain
Given the fragmented nature of the global jewelry business, with raw materials being purchased and transformed into high-priced pieces by small artisanal jewelers and corporate retailers alike, tracing the path of an individual diamond or precious metal to its mine of origin can be difficult.
Part of that is due to middle men, such as smelters or other brokers operating in areas vulnerable to abuses.
To combat those dynamics, Tiffany makes more than 50 percent of its jewelry at company-owned manufacturing facilities. Although the company does not own mines, most of the diamonds used in Tiffany pieces are purchased directly from mines in Australia, Botswana, Canada, Namibia, Russia and Sierra Leone, according to the company's new sustainability report.
Tiffany & Co. buys the balance of its diamonds, gold, silver and other materials from suppliers who have achieved third-party verification through the Kimberly Process — a joint effort that grew out of the war in Sierra Leone and now unites governments, businesses and NGOs looking to "stem the flow of conflict diamonds."
“We’re lucky because we are large. We have a well-known, respected brand," Kamadoli Costa said. "We’re able to purchase in quantities and make positive demands that can be carried through."
The company's new sustainability report also lays out a range of internal strategic responsible mining goals, such as curbing contamination and waste, establishing clear labor standards and responding to local input on proposed mine development and expansion.
But the overarching goal is to improve industry practices through "leadership and participation" with the new standardization effort, IRMA. Although it's still relatively early in the process, IRMA will have to overcome past criticism of the jewelry industry's own enforcement efforts.
One critical take on insufficient industry action to date, a report (PDF) by a coalition of labor and environmental groups, dismissed the Responsible Jewelry Coalition (RJC) as "more shine than substance."
The RJC, formed in 2005 by jewelers including Tiffany, Cartier and Rio Tinto, was criticized by the advocacy groups for "poor governance and weak standards," including a focus on certifying companies holistically, rather than evaluating individual sites and facilities — a labeling practice that pervades the retail sector as a whole. The group's leadership maintained that it followed standard procedures for verifying sustainability claims.
Still, Kamadoli Costa is optimistic about future opportunities to better leverage input from both competitors and third-party NGOs with direct knowledge of operational pain points.
“The collaborative approach really works," she said. "It helps move markets."
The quest for 'sustainable luxury'
While the jewelry business comes with a very specific set of entrenched challenges related to mining, the industry is also not immune to broader sustainability imperatives such as reducing carbon footprints.
Beyond the new title, Kamadoli Costa has been tasked with further embedding sustainability into the core operations of the New York-based jewelry business, from transitioning to more efficient LED display lighting in the company's 295 stores to incorporating recycled materials into Tiffany's famous blue packaging.
The unifying theme, Kamadoli Costa summarized, is "luxury without the environmental cost."
The decision to buckle down on internal sustainability strategy by promoting Kamadoli Costa to CSO also came directly from the top of the organization; Tiffany's new CEO, Frédéric Cumenal, created the role. The move underscores the trend toward more explicitly tying environmental and social responsibility to the bottom line, in part to mitigate related risks.
"The Chief Sustainability Officer reports directly to me," Cumenal wrote in the new sustainability report.
He added that individual department heads at the company with some 12,000 employees also have been tasked with incorporating sustainability priorities into ongoing planning and operations.
“What’s really import from my perspective is what it means internally," Kamadoli Costa said. "It’s being part of conversations from the beginning."


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National Doughnut Day is here, and shops across the D.C. area are celebrating with free goodies and deals.
National Doughnut Day was started in 1938 by the Salvation Army in Chicago as a way to honor the women called “Doughnut Girls” who delivered tasty treats and assistance to troops during World War I — all while dodging bombs on the battlefield.
National Doughnut Day deals
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken is donating a percentage of all of today’s sales to feed vaccine administrators at Howard University.
District Doughnut is offering a limited special menu that feature new flavors, such as Hello Dolly, Pina Colada, and Chocolate Waffle Cone.
Duck Donuts is offering a free bare, cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar doughnut at its locations.
Dunkin’ is offering a free classic doughnut, as long you buy a beverage.
Krispy Kreme is offering a free doughnut of your choice. If you show proof of vaccination, you can have a second doughnut for free as well.
Sugar Shack said using promo code ‘DONUTDAY’ when ordering online will knock 25% off the cost of meals and beverages with the purchase of a half-dozen doughnuts or more, through the weekend.
WTOP’s Will Vitka contributed to this report.


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Out this week: The Nix by Nathan Hill; Ashes of Fiery Weather by Kathleen Donohoe; The Legend of Jesse Smoke by Robert Bausch; and Sex and Death, a new story anthology including pieces by Kevin Barry, Wells Tower and Yiyun Li. For more on these and other new titles, go read our Great Second-Half 2016 Book Preview.
Andrew Ross Sorkin’s financial crisis post mortem Too Big to Fail is slated to get the Hollywood treatment. Curtis Hanson will direct the likes of Paul Giamatti as Ben Bernanke, James Woods as Dick Fuld, and Billy Crudup as Timothy Geithner. (Thanks, Derek)
This may be a temporary thing, but David Foster Wallace’s posthumously published novel The Pale King appears to be shipping now from Amazon, more than two weeks ahead of the official tax day publication date. Update: From the official Pale King Facebook page: the book “doesn’t have a one day laydown: stores can sell it as soon as it’s in their shop.” So looks like the book is now available everywhere. Do you have your copy yet?


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So many Democrats saying ridiculous things, so little time.
Thursday belonged to soon-to-be-failed 2020 presidential candidate, Andrew Yang.
Like a good Democrat, he wants the government to control everything you do – including what you eat.
Thursday at Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service during MSNBC’s Climate Forum, presidential hopeful Andrew Yang said the government needed to tax the cattle industry to “modify Americans’ diets.”
Yang said, “Cattle is very energy-consuming and energy-expensive, and if you project forward on what we would need to do to reduce emissions, you would want to modify Americans’ diets over time.”
He added, “Now, some of that is happening naturally through education. I do think it’s difficult to regulate diets. So what you would want to do again is you’d want those cattle producers to have to internalize the cost of emissions because if your cattle ends up polluting a lot, which they do, just naturally.”
Yang continued, “So then, what that would naturally do, and some people are going to hate this, but it would probably make those products more expensive. And that is appropriate because there’s a cost to producing food in that way. And so if you were to make it more expensive than you would end up changing consumption patterns over time.”
Yang wants to provide every American with $1,000 a month.
Seem a little illogical?
Let him explain…
Scarborough: “I applaud that. What is the price tag, you’re a numbers guy. What’s the price tag of giving every American $1,000 a month?”
Yang: “Well, we’re spending $1.5 trillion to Americans around the country, but you have to look around us. Who are going to be the big winners from AI and new technologies? The big winners are going to be Amazon, Google, Facebook, Uber.”
Scarborough: “Right. But I’m just — I’m curious because I actually entered politics because I was concerned about the national debt. Do you know actually what the price tag would be paying every American $1,000 a month?”
Yang: “It’s $1.8 trillion past current expenses, but the way you get there, Joe, we all know this, how much did Amazon pay in taxes last year? Zero. Meanwhile, Amazon is sucking up $20 billion in business every year putting 30% of American malls out of business so what we need to do is pass the value added tax that would get the American people a slice of every Amazon transaction, every Google search, every robot truck mile.”
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Nigeria’s inflation rate has dropped to 17.38 percent in July from 17.75 in June 2021, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The latest inflation rate was contained in the ‘Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report for July’ released by the NBS on Tuesday. CPI measures the rate of change in the prices of goods and services in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s inflation rate showed that prices continued to rise in July 2021 at a slightly slower pace than the 17.75 percent recorded in June. The fall between both months was 0.37 percent or 37 basis points. “This implies that prices continued to rise in July 2021 but at a slower rate than it did in June 2021,” NBS said.
The current inflation rate was released two days after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) expressed optimism that Nigeria’s inflation rate may drop to a single digit in 2022. CBN Director of Monetary Policy Department, Hassan Mahmud, announced the projection on Friday at the virtual mid-year economic review and outlook 2021.
Mahmud said that with the full implementation of the CBN’s recent policies designed to boost different sectors of the economy, the nation’s inflation rate would be kept at bay. In June, the National Bureau of Statistics said Nigeria’s inflation rate fell to 17.75 percent from 17.93 percent recorded in May. The CBN official said that since the Nigerian economy recovered from the recession in the last quarter of 2020, it had maintained a path of recovery despite challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and insecurity.
“We will also see the inflation number coming down less than 13 percent by the end of the year and further down to the NBS projection of single-digit by 2022 or the middle of 2022,” Mahmud said. We will start seeing a downward trend in inflation numbers, particularly, headline inflation.”


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Sweetener 'makes you fat and could dampen the effect of some medicines'
Splenda, a sweetener used as a sugar replacement, has been linked to weight gain
The effectiveness of calorie-free sweetener Splenda is in question after a controversial study linked it to weight gain.
There are also suggestions that it could dampen the effect of some medicines.
The sweetener, known generically as sucralose, is the preferred sugar alternative of millions of dieters while top brands use it to create diet versions of popular products.
Splenda has an advantage over other artificial sweeteners because
it is made from sugar, which gives it a natural appeal.
However, the results of the latest study in the U.S. have raised questions over its effectiveness as an aid to weight loss.
Researchers who fed rats different doses of Splenda over 12 weeks found the animals put on more weight than a control group not given the sweetener.
The team also found 'significant reductions' in so-called beneficial bacteria in the rats' gut. Other changes to the gut were likely to diminish the body's ability to absorb medicines.
McNeil Nutritionals, which markets Splenda, has rejected the study, pointing out that it was part-funded by the Sugar Association - which is involved in a U.S. lawsuit critical of Splenda's marketing claims. The association initially took action against McNeil regarding Splenda's old slogan of 'Made like sugar, so it tastes like sugar'.
It claimed this misled consumers into believing that Splenda was a no-calorie natural sugar product.
Millions of dieters use Splenda as an alternative to sugar
This was denied by McNeil, which launched a countersuit arguing that the Sugar Association and others 'knowingly and intentionally made false claims about Splenda'.
The judge in the case has refused to accept the study, carried out at Duke University in North Carolina, into evidence for the trial, which is due to start in January.
He argued that it was not relevant because it involved rats and could not be applied to humans.
But the man who led the research, Professor Mohammed Abou-Donia, argued that the initial safety data used to approve Splenda was also based on rat studies.
McNeil insisted the product could be safely used 'as part of a healthy diet'.
A spokesman said: 'Splenda is suitable for everyone - it's undergone a thorough safety evaluation as required by regulatory agencies around the world. They all agree sucralose is safe.'
Splenda is 600 times as sweet as table sugar and twice as sweet as saccharin.
It boasts a 62 per cent share of the low-calorie sweetener market on both sides of the Atlantic.
It is available in granulated form in jars and as tablets in a carry pack.
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Google focusses on new interface for searches on mobile phones
Ben Gomes, the India-bred techie who oversees Google's handling of 100 billion searches a month, believes a new voice-based interface is needed for the next frontier of search centred round mobile phones and tablet computers.india Updated: Sep 19, 2013 18:08 IST
Ben Gomes, the India-bred techie who oversees Google's handling of 100 billion searches a month, believes a new voice-based interface is needed for the next frontier of search centred round mobile phones and tablet computers.
"Now search is becoming mobile - on phones and tablets. The challenge is that it is on a small screen, so it's hard to type. The opportunity is that it's got a really good microphone and a touch screen," he said.
"It can enable a new kind of interface. So we realised we want to build an interface that was much like the way you talk to some person and ask a question," Gomes said.
And while the Google search app can already respond to questions using voice-based software, Gomes told the BBC that the process is "going to get better and more intelligent".
The Tanzania-born, India-bred, US-educated vice-president of search is responsible for helping to answer queries in the shortest time possible on desktops, tablets and phones.
Search is Google's cash cow, bringing in a majority of its USD 50 billion revenues last year. It is also, said Gomes, "about having a continuous conversation with the user to find out what he wants".
Described by BBC as a "boy-like 45-year-old guru of search in Googleplex", the company headquarters in Mountain View, California, Gomes works out of an untidy cubicle with four other top engineers.
Gomes and his team work on "their fine-tooth comb search of the worldwide web to serve up the popular search engine".
He said: "When I joined Google in 1999, search was about basically finding the words that you search for in a document. Then we took this view that we were going to understand what you want and give you what you need."
Trawling through over 20 billion webpages a day, Gomes and his "army of search" - a substantial number of Google's 44,000 employees - use algorithms to make search intuitive, multimedia and super smart.


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Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
The coffee pod craze - they're not biodegradable but what can we do about it?
In the first of our series called 'Good to Know', we look at what we can do to reduce the chances of ecological disaster in the wake of the massive rise in popularity of coffee pods.
EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: Tonight we're bringing you our first Good to Know segment. It's a new Lateline segment designed to offer practical solutions to modern dilemmas.
First up, one for the caffeine lovers, in particular those with a taste for coffee pods and espresso poster boy, George Clooney.
Coffee pods are usually easy to use and generally mess free but billions end up in landfills around the world and they're not biodegradable.
So what to do to avoid an ecological disaster?
Lateline's Margot O'Neill finds out for you and this report was produced by Zoe Ferguson.
MARGOT O'NEILL: So how many of us do you think drink coffee? Apparently more than half of us can't survive without a daily brew.
WRITING ON SCREEN: About 11 million Aussies drink coffee everyday.
MARGOT O'NEILL: That helps explain why baristas have become so popular. It's either the cafe queue or instant home brew.
Then along came George Clooney.
(Extract from a coffee advertisement)
WOMAN: Dark, very intense. Sensual. Balanced. Deep and intense body. Delicate and smooth.
GEORGE CLOONEY: Are you talking about the espresso, right?
GEORGE CLOONEY: Yeah.
(End of extract)
MARGOT O'NEILL: We all went wild for the coffee pod. A perfect homemade brew every time, every day.
The pod was a global hit as coffeemakers jumped into the single serve capsule market.
WRITING ON SCREEN: As of 2012 Nespresso had sold more than 27 billion capsules worldwide.
MARGOT O'NEILL: But there's a catch, a really big catch. Billions of coffee pods are pouring into landfills in the US, Europe and Australia each year.
Made from aluminium and plastic, the pods aren't biodegradable so local councils won't recycle them, which means that convenient morning coffee is turning into an environmental disaster.
WRITING ON SCREEN: Australians consume 3 million coffee pods a day.
That's more than a billion a year.
It takes 150-500 years for the aluminium and plastic capsules to break down.
MARGOT O'NEILL: Some surprising people are now calling for an end to it all.
WRITING ON SCREEN: Jean-Paul Gaillard, former CEO of Nespresso, 1988-1997.
JEAN-PAUL GAILLARD: From an ecological standpoint, it's not goood at all. It could be a disaster and it's time to move on that.
MARGOT O'NEILL: Jean-Paul Gaillard now heads Ethical Coffee Company that sells fully biodegradable coffee pods that break down in eight months.
JEAN-PAUL GAILLARD: It is fully bio-sourced and fully biogradeable. The planet doesn't belong to us. It's lent to us by our kids.
MARGOT O'NEILL: Meanwhile Nespresso is trying to address a problem by partnering with recycling company, Terracycle.
TOM SZAKY, CEO, TERRACYCLE: Through their funding we were able to set up national platforms where you can send us the capsules, we pay you for shipping, we even give you a donation to your favourite school or charity for every capsule you send in and then we shred them, we separate the organics and compost those, and then we take the metals, melt those into new metal products and the plastics into new plastic products.
WRITING ON SCREEN: Terracycle says that 500,000 Australians are recycling coffee pods every day.
MARGOT O'NEILL: Nespresso hasn't released figures on how many pods are being recycled worldwide but its former CEO is not convinced that's the answer.
JEAN-PAUL GAILLARD: On a worldwide basis I guess the recycling rate is below 5 per cent.
MARGOT O'NEILL: So what does George say about all this?
(Extract from advertisement)
GEORGE CLOONEY: Nespresso, what else?
(End of extract)
MARGOT O'NEILL: Jean-Paul Gaillard wrote to George Clooney about the environmental impact of the pods.
JEAN-PAUL GAILLARD: I'd say that Mr Clooney didn't answer. What is clear is that somebody who is supposed to be pro-environment and everything, promoting something which is polluting and there is no question about it polluting.
It doesn't sound right but that's Mr Clooney's problem.
MARGOT O'NEILL: Well, not just George, all of us, really.
Still, looks like with a bit of a consumer push we could all be drinking from recycled or biodegradable pods.
The solution is already there, just don't throw them in your bin.
Good to know, right?
Author Margot O'Neill


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Kuala Lumpur, 12 July 2019 – Lovers of Korean Fried Chicken can rejoice as Malaysia’s first and largest homegrown Halal fast-food chain, Marrybrown brings back its famous “Korean Sensasi” promo this month! Featuring two Ayam Terhangat combos, the Kepak Ayam Terhangat and Burger Ayam Terhangat, fans will get to enjoy the exciting menu from now till 1 September 2019 in all Marrybrown outlets across Malaysia.
Back by popular demand, the Korean Sensasi Ayam Terhangat combo highlights Marrybrown’s juicy crispy chicken coated with authentic Korean spicy sauce – a perfect combination tailored to tackle the taste buds of those craving for sweet and spicy flavors! The delicious meal is set to challenge your spice level too, where you will get to experience a slow but tasty burn after the initial bites. To complete your “Korean Sensasi” journey, each meal comes with a side of crunchy fries and a soft drink. In conjunction with this promotion, Marrybrown will also be doing an online contest on their social media pages* – an exciting “Korean Hot Chicks Sensation Mukbang” challenge that will get the audience gleeful and exhilarated until 26 August 2019.
“As the demand for Korean fried chicken continues to grow, we are delighted to bring back our famous ‘Korean Sensasi’ promo this year. We owe it to our customers for making ‘Korean Sensasi’ a huge success last year and we are definitely eager to continue serving only the best for them,” said Dato’ Joshua Liew, Chief Executive Officer of Marrybrown.
This year, Marrybrown is proud to celebrate 38 years of accomplishments as the first and largest Halal fast food chain made in Malaysia. The brand has grown tremendously successful over the past 38 years with new domestic and international expansion plans coming up for 2019/2020.
“Our aim is to continue providing high quality service with flavorsome meals for our customers where they can have a great time with their family and friends at Marrybrown. As such, in the coming months, we are going to elevate the customer’s experience with hassle-free options such as establishing an e- wallet in partnership with GrabPay and online delivery service. We hope our customers will continue to support us as we venture into this exciting chapter,” Dato’ Joshua added.
Marrybrown is also Malaysia’s first fast food chain to introduce local heritage food in their menu such as the famous Nasi MB, Bubur Ayam and Mi Kari. The homegrown brand prides itself in providing a wide selection of innovative, tasty meals using only the finest ingredients from reliable suppliers.
To commemorate its 38th year of achievements, Marrybrown will be introducing a special promotion anniversary coupon in September 2019, with more details to be shared closer to the date.
Marrybrown currently serves millions of customers through more than 500 restaurants across 16 countries with the objective of delivering the highest standard of quality, service, cleanliness and value for your perfect dining experience.
For more information of the “Korean Hot Chicks Sensation Mukbang” challenge or of Marrybrown and its promotions, please visit:


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Vimal Sumbly quits Triumph India, is move to Harley-Davidson on the cards?
Speculation of the week: Vimal Sumbly to head Harley
Major movements in the Indian automotive industry kicked off earlier this month when Vikram Pawah moved from BMW India to take over at CEO of BMW Group Australia. It was followed by Rakesh Srivastava, formerly director of sales and marketing at Hyundai India, putting in his papers to, as the industry grapevine puts it, take over the reigns at BMW India. Now there’s big movement in the Indian motorcycling space with Triumph India managing director and CEO, Vimal Sumbly, resigning to, as the grapevine again speculates, take over the reigns at Harley-Davidson India.
Meanwhile, veteran of Triumph’s India operations and formerly national head of sales and dealer development, Shoeb Farooq, has been promoted to general manager of sales and marketing at Triumph India with immediate effect. Farooq has been Sumbly’s right hand man for the past five years and has had a ring side view to the growth of the British brand in the country.
The full story has been published on evo India, to read it click here.


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Consultancy Bluewolf Inc. helps match information technology to business goals, focusing on the customer life cycle. Earlier this year, it began using social media technology to do the same at its own company.
The new strategy, launched in January, is based on the premise that Bluewolf's more than 350 employees—from sales to customer service to human resources—know its services best. And yet as early as last December, only a handful of those employees were helping spread the company's message. The marketing team, which consists of 20 people—including 12 in corporate marketing—was doing the bulk of its social media promotion. Something had to be done, said Corinne Sklar, VP-marketing.
“I have hundreds of employees who are solving customer issues every day. We had to try to unlock and promote that knowledge, to promote new business and educate my client base,” she said. “The question was, how [do we] take all this information from the consultants and get it out there?”
Working with gamification company Bunchball, Bluewolf began a program called Going Social, which consisted of three prongs: a portal, “pack profiles” and the gamification piece. The Going Social portal provides a primer about how to get started using social media, featuring two video tutorials. “The tips explain who [employees] should follow, what groups to join, which content to share,” said Natasha Oxenburgh, social programs manager. “We have SlideRocket presentations for each social platform—what's in it for them and how to do it, including Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn, Salesforce Chatter, Google+.”
So-called “pack profiles” are available for almost every Bluewolf employee. Accessible via Salesforce, the custom-developed feature provides an overview of each employee that lists their company affiliations and clients, and includes personal details as well as their three most recent Twitter posts, blog posts and white papers. “This is how employees manage their public profiles,” Oxenburgh said. It also doubles as a bellwether of each employee's social media influence since pack profiles contain social media analytics.
The final piece of the strategy centers on gamification, showcasing a new rewards store that debuted this month. Employees can earn points for building and maintaining their pack profiles, sharing Bluewolf content on social sites, posting on the internal Chatter board (or posting on someone else's) and uploading content.
The more you do, the higher your ranking on the Bluewolf leaderboard, which is reset every quarter so everyone, including newer employees, has a chance to make it to the top of the 12-level board. “If you upload 10 pieces to our knowledge base, you get a badge,” Oxenburgh said. “If people in their communities click on a link, they get rewarded, too.”
The newest part of the program—the rewards store—helps employees turn their efforts into swag, Sklar said. This was important, she said, because “gamification is incentivizing.” Now employees can shoot for such tangible goals as tickets to Salesforce.com's yearly Dreamforce conference, limited edition Patagonia jackets with Bluewolf logos and other Bluewolf-branded items.
To date, the program has resulted in huge increases in social sharing, which has boosted blog traffic by 80% from social media platforms and website traffic by 45%. The company's Klout score, a numeric value of a company's or person's social media reach, which had been stagnant at 42 last year is now up to 45. Finally, there has been a 57% increase in internal Salesforce Chatter activity, with first quarter 2012 up 57% over fourth quarter 2011.
“If you think about the content and how this affects us, it gives 350 employees a megaphone to stream our content out to all their social networks,” Sklar said. “We're developing new content daily and getting it out to potential customers.”


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Last week, the Niue Island Organic Farmers Association (NIOFA) launched a comic book titled Muka Fonua: The 5 Secrets. This comic book was distributed to the children of ECE, primary school and Niue High School, raising awareness around the issues of harmful and dangerous substances used in farming, plantation and cultivation.
Muka-Fonua: The 5 Secrets was written, produced and designed by JinNam Hopotoa of CFI-Multimedia Productions. The five secrets health, ecology, fairness, care and culture and traditions for ethical agriculture.
It is an initiative project of NIOFA in collaboration with the Ridge to Reef Project.
BCN News was able to speak with NIOFA manager Jamal Talagi-Veidreyaki yesterday morning.
“The comic book is primarily for early childhood development so that they are able to understand and relate more to it and be more attracted to the visuals and the way that it is written so that they can understand the organic processes or farming methods. It emphasises on our traditional principles which is traditional knowledge, care and also on the organic principles under PoetCom under SPC.”
Jamal says that this book also serves the purpose of raising awareness around the impacts of agricultural chemicals as harmful to our way of life.
“It’s important to raise awareness on the various agricultural practices here on the island and the impacts of agriculture on our health, the environment and our water.”
“We would like to emphasise on the importance for us as our people to think about these things and the impacts of the agricultural chemicals especially on our health. It’s really important for the kids to learn at a very young age and this way the comic books can be both entertaining and a learning tool,” says Jamal.
Jamal told BCN News that copies of the comic book will also be distributed to schools in Auckland, New Zealand. Due to being primarily distributed for children, there is a limited amount of copies.
If you would like to obtain a copy, you can contact the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) or the Niue Island Organic Farmers Association Committee at their Facebook Page.


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Actress Kim Basinger Tuesday sold her 3.7-carat diamond engagement ring from ex-husband Alec Baldwin for $59,750 to a Beverly Hills jewelry dealer, who predicted a fan would “pay crazy money for that.”
The actress, a noted animal rights activist, auctioned the modern Tiffany & Co. ring and some other jewelry at Christie’s to raise money for The Performing Animal Welfare Society.
The group runs a California refuge for abused, retired and surplus elephants, lions, bears and other captive wildlife.
The engagement ring, estimated to fetch between $30,000 and $40,000, was the top-priced item in the auction.
The only other gift from actor Baldwin, whose nine-year marriage to Basinger ended in 2002, on offer was a multigem necklace with a butterfly motif that went for $20,315. Christie’s had predicted it would fetch $8,000 to $10,000.
Yossi Dina of South Beverly Wilshire Jewelry & Loan bought the engagement ring, and spent $47,800 on Basinger’s elegant diamond bracelet in the Art Deco style.
Dina, who said his clients included George Hamilton, Liza Minnelli and Winona Ryder, estimated he paid 30 percent more than the ring was worth. “I got it for a fan. They’ll pay crazy money for that,” he told reporters after the sale.


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The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) has issued a tender for global media services.
The government body, which is charged with sustaining Singapore's position as a global hub for business, is looking for a media partner to handle media strategy, planning, buying and evaluation for both digital and offline media, according to tender documents posted on Singapore's GeBIZ website. The scope includes traditional media as well as paid search, performance campaigns and precision advertising. The tender specifies that performance-media expertise is critical.
"With this new tender, we look to have in-market agencies to better support our marketing needs," Lim Sze Ling, senior VP for customer experience and marketing at the EDB, told Campaign Asia-Pacific. "EDB is looking for a partner who is committed to co-create and drive a global, performance-driven media strategy with us."
Ebiquity is handling the pitch process. The EDB said it does not have an incumbent agency on retainer.
The tender asks for an agency that can establish a consolidated and coordinated approach to media buying and performance reporting across key markets through a hub model. The hub will create global media strategy in collaboration with EDB and oversee localisation in the markets. A direct presence in Singapore, China, Japan, the US and Europe (the UK and/or Germany) is required.
The contractor will be remunerated based on a performance-based model, which includes a fixed monthly retainer with a variable bonus tied to annual performance.
Interested agencies can register by July 1 here. A tender briefing is slated for July 6, and the tender closes on July 21. Phase two should happen in August with chemistry sessions and a strategic challenge and presentation.
The EDB expects to name its new partner in September. The contract will be for one year, with the option to extend for another two years, and an additional two years after that, meaning the partnership could extend to the fall of 2026.
In addition to ongoing media duties, the tender also specifies that the partner may work on ad hoc projects, including assisting in the procurement and management of advertising technologies and platforms; assisting in the evaluation and procurement of dashboard and data-visualisation solutions; creating relevant campaign materials compliant with brand and content guidelines as needed; and managing and conducting training workshops for EDB in areas such as advertising technology, programmatic advertising and campaign management.


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DMAR Real Estate Market Trends Report | DEC. '23
For buyers, the gift this season is growing inventory. Active listings at month’s end increased 6.89 percent year-over-year to 6,684, new listings rose slightly by 1.04 percent to 2,717 and closed sales dropped 13.98 percent. Month-over-month data showed active listings dropped 10.67 percent and new listings dropped 28.93 percent. However, that doesn’t paint a true picture of the market as the Denver Metro Area is seasonally based, which means that it typically sees a decline in inventory this time of year.
For sellers, they aren’t left in the cold this season as they have gifts coming their way as well. They have time to prepare their home and mindset for the marketplace as homes are taking longer to sell. The median days in the MLS has grown to 22 days, which is up 37.50 percent month-over-month.
“While December is typically overrun by the holidays, this is actually a great time to get some of the deferred maintenance items completed while vendors are slower,” commented Libby Levinson-Katz, Chair of the DMAR Market Trends Committee and Metro Denver Realtor®. “Sellers can also set a new frame of reference for life once their home hits the market. If your home sells in one week, great. But if it takes three months, that’s okay, because it’s normal activity.”
Levinson-Katz continued, “Additionally, interest rates are starting a downward trend, and we as Realtors® know that if rates continue to drop, then demand will increase. In fact, many Realtors® saw a flurry of activity last month when rates dropped buoying end-of-year activity. Depending on where rates trend, we may see bidding wars return before we know it.”
Our monthly report also includes statistics and analyses in its supplemental markets that include properties sold for $1 million or greater, properties sold between $750,000 and $999,999 and properties sold between $500,000 and $749,999.
In November, the market dynamics were shaped by higher interest rates and home prices, coupled with an uncertain economic forecast. It's evident that people are not moving solely out of choice. The number of new listings in this price range is a mere 290, marking a substantial 42.46 percent decrease from October. However, this figure is up by 7.81 percent from the same period in 2022, indicating a seasonality and norm associated with the usual slowdown at this time of year.
With interest rates hovering around seven percent, loans approaching $1+ million are impacted significantly. November’s sales volume was down 25 percent from last year and 15 percent from last month. Moreover, homes are selling a bit more below asking price, as the close-price-to-list-price ratio dipped to 97.11 percent. Homes priced over $1 million saw median days in MLS increase at 41.18 percent year-over-year and 9.09 percent month-over-month proving more that buyers are taking their time.
“It’s not that sellers don’t desire to sell their current home and move, it’s that they don’t desire to part with a low APR rate on their current mortgage and trade it for a rate that could be three to four times higher,” said Susan Thayer, DMAR Market Trends Committee member and Metro Denver Realtor®. “And it’s not that homebuyers don’t trust the homebuying process, it’s that they may not trust the state of the economy. Sellers who desire to sell and price their homes accordingly will find there are still plenty of buyers out there – even in the top price range of our market."
Despite it all, 2023 has proven to be quite a strong year for this housing segment. Removing the pandemic years and comparing to 2019, sales volume year-to-date has more than doubled, closed volume has nearly doubled, new listings are up over 66 percent and price per square foot is up over 14 percent.
Additional monthly Mortgage Market Trends Insights are brought to you by The Rueth Team of OneTrust Home Loans, the Exclusive Partner of the Denver Metro Real Estate Market Trends Report.
Learn more about our partner here →


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Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair 2008
Dubai will play host to two new entertainment exhibitions – the Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair 2008 (Character Dubai 2008) and the Dubai International e-Games Fair 2008.
The first exhibitions of their kind in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), the events will be organised by Index Holding from October 28 to October 30, 2008 and held under the patronage of Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (DCAA).
Dr Omar bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Managing Director of DCAA, said, "Character Dubai 2008 and Dubai International e-Games Fair 2008 will promote regional excellence in the art of animation and gaming design, while also contributing to the development of Dubai as a hub for this industry. Given the growth potential of character licensing and egames in the region, these events will also facilitate greater collaboration between regional and global companies in this sector."
Character Dubai 2008 is expected to bring together more than 280 institutions and 25,000 visitors representing the leading producers, exhibitors, and traders involved in the development, marketing and licensing of cartoon characters from across the world.
The fair will create fresh investment avenues for local and regional firms and facilitate new foreign investment in the region, which is one of the largest importers of products and services in the industry estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars.
The Dubai International e-Games Fair will also be the largest trade show of its kind in the region. The event will be a platform for showcasing a huge variety of electronic and web games. Various workshops on the latest technologies emerging in this sector will be organised during the two-day exhibition. Abdul Salam Madani, President of Index Holding, said, "We are thankful to Sheikh Majid for his patronage. These exhibitions focus on high-growth sectors that can add value to the economy and contribute to the development of other sectors, " he said.
He added, "Character Dubai will focus on international cartoon characters movies, games, multimedia products, as well as the information technology and design elements of the industry. Apart from this, there will also be a focus on the cultural and educational aspects of the sector."
"Dubai International e-Games Fair will focus on products and services in an industry that is now growing at a staggering annual rate of 10.2 per cent in the Middle East, " he said. "The fair will serve to revitalise the e-games industry in the UAE and the entire region."
Madani said the two events will contribute to Dubai's efforts to ensure sustainable development and a high quality of life. Both Character Dubai 2008 and the Dubai International e-Games Fair 2008 are organised by Index Conferences and Exhibitions Organisation Establishment, a member of Index Holding.
Dubailand, a member of Tatweer, is the official Platinum Sponsor of Character Dubai. The exhibition is being held with the official support of the Dubai Convention Bureau, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Arab Media Group (AMG), the media partner of the event. The Dubai International e-Games Fair is sponsored by Nokia, the platinum sponsor, and the "Al Shamel Card" establishment.
write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Exhibition News :: home page


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The FDA unveils plan to strengthen US infant formula supply management. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced its preliminary strategy aimed at enhancing and securing the management of the country's infant formula supply. This news comes in the aftermath of a hearing by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, which spoke about the issues surrounding last year's infant formula shortage.
During the hearing, committee members and experts testified, expressing condemnation towards formula manufacturers and the FDA's food safety program. In response, the FDA has promised to revamp its food safety program to safeguard the nation's food supply and promote better nutrition. However, there are worries among experts that despite these changes, a repeat of the formula shortage that occurred in 2022 remains a possibility.
Frank Yiannas, who formerly served as the agency's deputy commissioner of food policy and response until late February, expressed his apprehensions during the testimony. He highlighted that the current state of the infant formula industry is not drastically different from what it was during the recall in 2022. Yiannas warned that unexpected events such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters, or cyberattacks could place the nation's infant formula supply in jeopardy again.
The Backstory Of The Infant Formula Shortage
The 2021 formula shortage was intensified when Abbott Nutrition, the largest infant formula manufacturer in the US, recalled several products in mid-February. This action followed the discovery of potentially harmful bacteria at its Sturgis, Michigan, plant during an FDA inspection. A whistleblower complaint filed by a former Abbott employee in February 2021 alleged inappropriate cleaning practices at the plant and the suppression of information from inspectors through falsified records.
Unfortunately, due to the hierarchical structure of the FDA, Yiannas revealed that he was not made aware of the complaint until February 2022. It was only then that he learned about instances of children becoming ill with Cronobacter after consuming powdered formula from the infected plant.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated several illnesses and fatalities in three states linked to the contaminated formula. While they compared bacteria samples from sick children with those taken by the FDA at the plant, no direct connection was established.
To address these issues and strengthen the infant formula supply chain, the FDA's proposed plan aims to improve communication and coordination within the agency. By doing so, they hope to prevent and respond more effectively to possible risks and issues in the future.


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As Gas Prices Spike to Record High, Consumer Watchdog Urges California Attorney General to Block Tesoro Purchase of BP Refinery and Arco Gas Stations
CONTACT Liza Tucker, 310-392-7931
Santa Monica, CA—The average price for regular gas in California now stands at $4.67 a gallon, a record for both California and the nation. The spike is a function of low gasoline inventories and recent supply disruptions. California’s refinery market is already too small—14 refineries power the world’s eighth largest...


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Against a backdrop of tougher regulation, Yorkshire Water is blazing a trail when it comes to demonstrating sustainable business practices and social value. Rachel Willcox speaks to its CEO, Liz Barber ACA.
When you’re a utility providing essential water services to more than five million people and 100,000 businesses, sustainability is an issue you simply can’t afford to ignore.
Liz Barber, CEO of Yorkshire Water and parent company Kelda Group, admits her personal sustainability mission coincides with growing corporate momentum on sustainability – not just at Yorkshire Water but across business generally. Fortunately Barber, the former chair of Accounting for Sustainability’s CFO Network, says the business benefits of sustainability make it an easy sell both internally and to broader stakeholders.


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The company had said that the event is for the networking objective only and that it does not intend to launch any new product. OnePlus is gearing up to showcase its first ever 5G phone at the MWC 2019 event.
OnePlus has invited members of the media and telecommunications industry to try out a demonstration of a prototype 5G smartphone on a fully functioning 5G network at Qualcomm's booth at the upcoming MWC 2019 trade show in just two weeks' time.More news: Police believe they've identified woman who tossed chair off condo balcony
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OnePlus recently announced its "Connect with the OnePlus Community over 5G" event at the mobile tech show. The company's CEO has spoken about the 5G revolution and how OnePlus will be launching a 5G-ready handset, which will arrive alongside a non-5G flagship. Furthermore, the company mentions that those attending to the event will be able to get a taste of 5G gaming Experience through one of its latest "OnePlus Prototype with 5G". Also, being one of the first to market with a 5G phone is not about bragging rights, but about allowing it to learn and iterate for future products. "Keep an eye out for the limited-edition Qualcomm x OnePlus pin badge, only available at the OnePlus stand", OnePlus told XDA Developers in a statement.
Naturally, the device will be equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 mobile platform and X50 modem, since 5G connection requires both.


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Deep End Games have announced that their narrative first person horror game Perception is to be released on Xbox One. You play as Cassie a blind woman who depends on her ultra-sensitive hearing to solve an ancient mystery and outwit the forces that pursue her.
Creative Director of Deep End Game Bill Gardner said “We didn’t want to leave Xbox One players in the dark—no pun intended—by supporting their console of choice, We’re really excited that Xbox fans will be able to experience the unique world we’ve built in Perception.”
Cassie finds her way by tapping her cane and can “see” via echolocation. She needs to avoid detection and uses ambient sounds of the house to help her navigate or uses objects to create distractions. Every sound creates a visual. But there is a cost…sound will reveal her location … and her worst enemies.


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Rihanna, already the face of the Armani Jeans campaign, has taken over the lingerie side of things as well. Sprawled seductively across the seat of a black Lincoln Continental, Rihanna balances her short, androgynous haircut with a lace-detailed bra, high heels, and a killer body.
The photographer,Steven Klein, keeps the advertisement from heading in the pin-up direction by playing with shadows and body angles, maintaining Armani‘s high fashion image. What do you think of Rihanna’s latest venture for her Armani campaign?
Photo courtesy of WWD


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Health officials are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup infections linked to shell eggs from Rose Acre Farms’ Hyde County Farm.
Infectious disease outbreaks seem to be springing up left and right in the United States, leaving health officials scrambling to get them under control.
Now, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that they are in the process of investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup infections that have been linked to shell eggs in multiple states.
Working in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with other state partners, the FDA performed traceback activities to identify a potential source, which officials think to be eggs.
A laboratory analysis conducted on samples collected from Rose Acre Farms’ Hyde County Farm detected the rare strain of Salmonella that had been found in those who had fallen ill . As a result, Rose Acre Farms issued what has been referred to as the largest shell egg recall since 2010—recalling upwards of 200 million eggs.
Rose Acre Farms has identified as the second-largest egg producer in the United States, according to the New York Times, and its farm in Hyde County is comprised of about 3 million hens, which produce roughly 2.3 million eggs on a daily basis. Furthermore, according to the company, an inspector from the United States Department of Agriculture is onsite every day.
“The Hyde County farm has never before experienced a recall or serious safety violation,” the company said in a recent statement, adding that the recall “was conducted in full cooperation with the FDA.”
Even FDA Commission, Scott Gottlieb, MD, has acknowledged the outbreak, sending out a series of tweets on the outbreak and listing the brand names that are currently impacted.
The recalled eggs have been sold under several names—Coburn Farms, County Daybreak, Food Lion, Glenview, Great Value, Nelms, and Sunshine Farms, according to Dr. Gottlieb's tweets this weekend. The recalled products were distributed to the following states: Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia through retail stores; however, the FDA noted that they have been sold to restaurants as well.
To date, 23 associated infections have been reported in 9 states, according to the CDC, with New York reporting the highest number of cases (6). Six individuals have required hospitalization.
The FDA is urging the public to avoid eating any of the egg products included in the recall; if any of these products have been purchased, individuals should discard the items or return them to the place of purchase. Restaurants and retailers have been instructed to discard the products as well.
Eggs have been associated with food-borne illnesses in the past, as poultry can carry bacteria that could potentially contaminate the inside of eggs before shells are formed. Poultry dropping can also contaminate eggs. In fact, a past Salmonella outbreak which led to a recall of upwards of 380 million eggs sprung up in 2010, with a total of 1,953 cases reported between May 1 and July 31, according to CNN. The CDC estimates that upwards of 1.2 million Salmonella illnesses and 450 deaths in the United States on an annual basis.
Right now, there are several Salmonella outbreaks hitting the United States. For the most recent case counts and states affected by this outbreak and other the ongoing outbreaks, be sure to visit the Contagion® Outbreak Monitor.
Feature Picture Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


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Porsche has been testing prototypes for an updated 2024 Cayenne in the wild for well over a year. This week the automaker confirmed a debut in the spring and said there will be powertrain, chassis, and interior tweaks together with new styling.
2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre prototype
Rolls-Royce is also still testing prototypes for the Spectre, despite having already shown the big electric coupe. In the most recent test, prototypes were subjected to temperatures as high as 122 degrees.
2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe spy shots – Photo credit: Baldauf
Genesis was also out testing a coupe-like version of its GV80. The regular GV80 mid-size SUV competes with the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, so it’s only natural Genesis would want an alternative to the coupe-like versions of those vehicles.
Lamborghini is close to revealing a V-12 plug-in hybrid supercar as the successor to the Aventador, which means the pure V-12 era is almost over for the Raging Bull. To mark the milestone, Lamborghini launched a pair of one-off cars.
2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse carbon-fiber wheels
The redesigned 2024 Ford Mustang finally reaches showrooms this summer and included in the range will be a new track-focused variant dubbed the Dark Horse. This week Ford showcased the full range of customization options that will be available on the 500-hp steed, one of which will be carbon-fiber wheels.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
The 2023 Chicago auto show was on this week, and Toyota used it to debut the 2024 Grand Highlander. The three-row mid-size SUV is coming to showrooms later this year with up to eight seats and three powertrain options, two of which are hybrids.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas
Volkswagen used the Chicago show to debut its updated 2024 Atlas. The old VR6 V-6 engine is gone, leaving a 2.0-liter turbo-4 as the sole powertrain offered in the SUV.
Hennessey H700 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
And finally, Hennessey came out with a supercharger upgrade for the C8 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray that increases output to 708 hp, or more than what the Corvette Z06 offers. Hennessey is also preparing a twin-turbo upgrade for the Corvette, which the company has said will offer up to 1,200 hp.


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How do you get the attention of a busy person? Try a USB flash drive, the latest – and grooviest – marketing tool…
As prices have dropped, artists and musicians
are loading them up with creative data and distributing them to potential clients.
Photographer Monte Isom has mastered the art of self-marketing. His latest promotional piece, a tiny rectangle of plastic, could fit neatly inside the palm
of your hand. It’s not much to look at-until it’s plugged in to a computer and started up.
“Play it. Burn it. Rip it. Drag it. Drop it,” commands a robotic voice, to the pounding beat of Daft Punk’s “Technologic” track. A slide show of Isom’s
photographs flashes across the screen, keeping time with the music. At the end of the minute-long presentation, which feels like a brief visit to a dance
club, the screen freezes with Isom’s name, logo and phone number.
It’s an energetic, fun-to-watch sales pitch. But the slide show isn’t what’s grabbing attention for Isom. It’s the custom-designed USB flash drive that
“There are a lot of photographers going with the traditional postcards, but there are so many limitations,” Isom said. “I thought, what’s the best way I can
give someone a promo they’re going to hold on to?”
In the ever-competitive world of marketing, USB flash drives, also known as thumb drives, have become the trend du jour. Fortune 500 companies, universities
and radio stations have latched on to the idea, handing out USB freebies to clients and employees.
Now business-minded artists and musicians are following suit, showcasing their work on the drives in a fashionable and unique way. USB drives, which can be
customized with individual designs, serve as both promotional tools and samples of an artist’s personal style. The musical group the White Stripes recently
released a full-length album on flash drives designed to look like the band’s two members. Nine Inch Nails kicked off a marketing campaign by planting USB
drives in offbeat places like public restrooms.
Kris Dawson, a guitar technician for the band Nickelback and founder of the new networking Web site MusicIndustryBook.com, recently bought 600 USB drives to
help launch his site. He plans to ask acquaintances who work at music stores to hand them out with purchases of music equipment.
Dawson’s drives double as key chains and will feature the URL of his Web site on their exteriors. His goal is to remind people of the site each time they use
That’s one of the key reasons photographer Isom chose to advertise with USB drives.
“I wanted to give people a promo they’re going to use regularly and see every day,” he said. “I want to put my name and phone number in their pockets.”
Isom’s high-tech promo package-a sleekly designed metal, swivel-style USB drive that flips open and shut-was recently singled out by Photo District News
magazine, which annually recognizes the self-promotional efforts of select photographers. Isom’s drive received honorable mention in the Extraordinary
“It packed a lot of information into a small package,” said Michelle Chant, an art buyer at the advertising agency Wieden & Kennedy and a judge in the
Another appeal of USB drives is their utility. Recipients can clear the drives and store their own files on them, something they can’t do with CDs or
“I don’t expect them to keep my work on it,” Isom said. “Some do, many don’t.” He recalled an art buyer for an advertising company who came into town for a
photography expo. “She told me, ‘I didn’t bring my laptop because everything I need is on your USB.’ That’s my exact goal with the exact clientele I’m
looking to target,” Isom said.
USB drives do have shortcomings. Dave and Karen Shambley were disappointed with the results when they sent out a batch of USB drives to promote their
fine-art business. “People wouldn’t stick them in their machines, because they were afraid they were going to get a virus,” Dave said. “You can get a lot
more on a CD for a lot cheaper. And if it gets lost, it’s no big deal.”
Technical issues can also pose problems. Evan Field, a guitarist in a Washington, D.C., rock group, said his band has avoided USB drives for fear of
alienating fans who aren’t technologically adept.
“If you hand someone a shrink-wrapped CD, it’s pretty clear this is music,” Field said. “We might get some pretty puzzled looks if we handed out USBs.”
Until recently, the high cost of USB drives made CDs, DVDs and postcards more attractive to individuals and small businesses. But as USB-drive prices have
dropped, interest in them has risen.
“Prices have declined by almost half from last year, especially on the higher-memory-capacity drives,” said Margaret Polevoy, an account manager at
iPromo.com. “And this year, the amount of USBs we’ve sold has doubled.”
Photographer Isom bought his drives online from iPromo. He said he paid about $13 each for 1,200 1GB drives.
Even at lower prices, USB campaigns have not become widespread. “I’ve received a few of them from photo agencies and photographers,” said Jim Surber, senior
photo editor at ESPN the Magazine. “It’s a relatively new thing, only in the last year or so.”
The newness of the USB-drive trend may be exactly what makes it so effective. Isom recently met with a photo editor at Best Life, a magazine he hadn’t worked
for previously. He presented his work samples-on USB drive-and got the best response he could have hoped for: an assignment.
“I walked into Best Life and walked out with a job,” Isom said. “When I’ve shown portfolios, that hasn’t happened.”
Like any technology, USB drives run the risk of eventual obsolescence. Artists and musicians can distinguish themselves from the pack using USB drives now,
but what happens if and when they become ubiquitous?
“I have a feeling next year, come the Self-Promotion Awards, there will be at least 25 photographers submitting them,” Isom said. “That’s cool. I’ve just got
to come up with something better.”


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M-Go has launched a new 4K movie service that is exclusive for Samsung’s Smart TV. M-Go offers 4K movies that you can either buy or rent, but several titles are just upscaled HD versions.
M-Go launches 4K movie service
M-Go teased its plans for 4K at CES 2014 back in January, and the service was actually scheduled to arrive in spring 2014. Well, here it is, and at the moment it is exclusive to Samsung’s latest Ultra HD TVs.
M-Go’s 4K movies will “be priced on average at $1-2 more than HD titles to rent and $3-5 to buy”. The catalogue will hold titles from DreamWorks, Technicolor and other studies. Right now around 70 titles are available, but the goal is to hit 100 by the end of 2014.
Only a few titles have been confirmed, including Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, The Giver, Power, Ghost in the Shell and Limitless. The photo below is from CES and not representative of the catalogue.
- “The image quality of M-GO 4K Ultra HD content delivered through Samsung’s market leading UHD TVs will truly impress viewers with unprecedented picture quality,” said M-GO COO Christophe Louvion.
There is no information on bitrate, but M-Go admits that many of the launch titles are just upscaled HD movies.
Netflix has offered 4K since earlier this year and Amazon is expected to add 4K movies to Amazon Instant Video later this year.


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The government will issue a presidential regulation (Perpres) on retailers and minimarket businesses in Indonesia. Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution said the rule will be followed by a Trade Ministers Regulation.
Darmin said in Jakarta on Monday that his ministry has finished discussing the bill.
He asserted that the regulation is not aimed at hampering the development of minimarket and retail businesses, which the public depend on. He said the government wants small and medium-sized businesses to remain alive.
Some of the issues to be regulated include ownership. Darmin said that the business uses a franchise model that allows people to invest in the network. The ministry noted that 65 percent of minimarkets in Indonesia are owned by the minimarket owners, while the remaining 35 percent is owned by individuals or communities who bought the franchise rights.
Another item to regulate is zoning. Minimarkets will not be allowed to open in housing areas, and to open a new store, a company must add the number of its franchise investor.