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The following is the 2022-2023 Sectoral Debate contribution of Lisa Hanna, opposition spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade, made on April 26.
In 1997, Tiger Woods made history when he won the coveted Masters’ Tournament golf championship with the widest margin of victory. At 21 years old, he had achieved professional golf greatness. So what did Tiger Woods do immediately after winning the tournament? He reviewed his methods and completely changed his swing. Why? To increase his competiveness for the future.
Analysts declared that Tiger’s habit of constant innovation made him stay ahead of the curve and gave him dominance during that period. Furthermore, his demonstration of not relying on his past victories for relevance provided bold leadership and disrupted the traditional norms of the sport.
It takes bold leadership with fearless innovation to transform anything, whether yourself, a sport, or a relationship. These skills are even more critical for improving a country and its people, especially in this interconnected, fast-paced world; policymakers must create the economic climate and mindset to grow a nation’s economy, precisely, the per capita income of its citizens.
Our Jamaican people are awake to possibilities; they look to us for courageous decision-making to improve their lives. But, sadly, what we discuss in this parliament and eventually implement gives them scarce opportuniFes to harness their potential for future progress, and their hope is waning.
The decisions we make in here impact the masses of our people, we must be deliberate with fierce urgency as there is such a thing as being too late, and I fear we are at that brink.
At this moment, we have no time for apathy or complacency. On the contrary, this is a time for vigorous action to positively change our people’s fortune and increase Jamaica’s global competitiveness for the future.
It’s Time for Bold Thinking
Jamaica, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates were once colonies of Great Britain that became independent between 1962 to 1971. Although different in culture, all three had the same commitment: To build their economies and improve the lives of their people. Measuring the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita — Singapore is currently ranked fourth globally, the United Arab Emirates ranked 12th, and Jamaica ranked 146th, represenFng a real GDP per capita of US$98,400 for Singapore, US$67,100 for the United Arab Emirates, and US$9,800 for Jamaica. Therefore, the average person from Singapore can purchase ten Fmes more than the average Jamaican.
By comparison, the real GDP for these countries is US$561.3 billion, US$655.79 billion, and US$28.83 billion, respectively.
Why are these countries succeeding and we are not?
The data confirm two main reasons: These countries have an unswerving commitment to universal quality education for all their citizens, and their economies are geared towards value-added exports.
One of the main reasons for our dismal performance is that our systemic approaches to designing and implementing policies have not changed over decades. Subsequently, they are generally failing our people.
We have failed to offer quality education to most of our people and have pursued an economic policy of import substitution and protection for the past 50 years, which only creates monopolies to benefit a few.
Currently, Jamaica is ranked last in the English speaking Caribbean for literacy, “the lowest among the top five Caribbean countries in 2019 for annual labour productivity, and last in per capita exports in the region”.
I am sure the Opposition Spokesperson on Education will offer recommendations in her presentation. However, I will say this, today’s world is rooted in technology, with an economic axis that has shifted to the East driven by the millennials where the top 10 in-demand jobs did not exist 10 years ago.
In 1947 after its independence, India’s Prime Minister set in motion a broad vision for innovations in science and technology to shape their economy for future growth. Fifty years later, 25 per cent of India’s population with the highest I.Q. was greater than the total population of children living in the USA. India had more children receiving academic honours than the United States had children.
Their leaders had a vision for the people and pursued a strategic path that paid strong dividends, not only for its gross domestic product (GDP) but also for the global good. What we are witnessing today isn’t by accident or luck. India ranks in the top 15 countries for pharmaceutical exports. Indian pharmaceuFcal companies currently supply over 80 per cent of the world’s AIDS antiretroviral drugs and 20 per cent of all generic medicines.
Even before the COVID-19 vaccine was developed, India supplied approximately 100 countries with hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol. The Indian pharmaceutical sector, which was valued at US$64 billion in 2019, is now expected to grow to over US$150 billion by 2025. Moreover, Indians are the CEOs of some of the world’s top companies: Microsoft, IBM, Google, Micron, Adobe, Twitter, and Pepsi Co., just to name a few.
There is no new world coming. It is already here. We must pick winners to grow our economy, train our youth for the existing jobs, and redesign our education system around building talent in areas we can compete globally, so our productivity improves so we don’t continue to lose our best and brightest to overseas opportunities.
Our import substitution policy, which is broad-based and still being pursued today, is a dead-end for several industries and has not created an export-driven economy or led to any significant export of manufactured goods despite substantial duty protection over decades.
Over the past 10 years, we consistently imported four times more than we exported; over the past 40 years, the Jamaican economy has only experienced anemic growth, and per capita income has grown only marginally in real terms while that of other countries has improved significantly above ours;
For example, our agricultural policy supports the protection of the local Irish potato industry, not because we have any competitive advantage in growing Irish potatoes, not because we can compete on the world market in Irish potatoes. Still, instead, we put on blinkers and think that saying it is locally produced justifies the decision to protect and incentivise it.
Our production cost to produce locally grown Irish potatoes is 750 percent above the world market. The current farm gate price is US$1.14 per pound or $176.00 per pound. The world market price of Irish potato is US$0.15 per pound or J$23.00, so Jamaicans pay more than seven and a half Fmes the world market price for this product. There is no value in producing any agricultural product when we cannot do it efficiently and cost-effectively or at least 40 per cent above world market prices. Instead, we remain focused on banning imports or having “preferred importers,” which only serve to create agricultural monopolies to benefit a few.
Our attention and resources should be laser focused on the items we can export. One more acre of Irish potato is one less acre of exportable peppers, ginger, papaya, mangoes, or, more importantly, for value-added products to make sauces and cannabis products. Unfortunately, we seem not to have learned any lessons from staying too long in sugar.
Last year Jamaica imported more than US$31 million ($4.8 billion) in chicken back and turkey neck, most of which were resold at $250 per pound. Instead of the good cuts, why do we repurchase so much chicken and other offals? Simply, it comes down to what many Jamaicans can afford to eat daily. More than 70 per cent of our populace has insufficient resources to access safe or nutritious foods. (Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey III, 2016-2017)
Local chicken prices to Jamaican consumers increased five times last year. One pack of two leg quarters now retails in some supermarkets for $1,069 per kg ($488 per pound). That’s almost 3.25 times more than the retail price in the U.S.
Chicken back is what is left of the chicken when the prime cuts are taken away. It is 44 per cent bone and mostly skin, containing a small piece of meat called the oyster. The US has no market for these goods, so they’re usually dumped here. Nor is there a market in the US for beef offals, namely, livers, kidneys, tongues, and tripe. Those are also sent to Jamaica, where we consume over US$12.8 million (J$1.9 billion).
Therefore, any increase in our exchange rate increases the cost of these items. As inflation continues to increase worldwide, many Jamaicans will not be able to afford even these items of minimal protein, so they turn to foods to help them feel full, like rice and flour, to build out a meal. Jamaica’s import bill for rice annually is in excess of US$85 million ($13.2 billion).
As a result, for many Jamaicans, “dem belly full but dem hungry di pot a boil but di food nuff”. Why? Because Jamaican pay among the highest food prices globally, whether locally grown or imported, when our main objectives should be to increase our people’s overall wealth or reduce the food cost to the majority of our people.
Instead, we should focus on the export of organic chicken by small farmers. In the US, organic chicken or our ‘yard fowl’ sells at U.S$4.99 or JM$750 per pound. The upscale Whole Food Brand markets sell organic boneless and skinless chicken breast for U.S.$8.99 or JM$1350 per pound.
The rest of the world has been eating healthier with organic and non genetically modified foods. These areas represent two of the fastest-growing segments of the food industry. The global demand for non-GMO food was over US$1.49 trillion last year. What would it take for us to export our organic ‘yard fowls’ and contribute to this global supply chain?
The global ganja/cannabis and pepper sauce markets are expected to reach US$97.3 billion and US$3.77 billion, respectively, by the end of 2026. To succeed in exporting any of these products at even a one per cent world market share would transform Jamaica into the country we all yearn for. So, perhaps, we should focus on exporting scotch bonnet peppers and value-added products from the scotch bonnet using the foreign exchange to buy all the Irish potatoes we need at lower prices.
It is time to review our methods to structurally transform our economy for diversification, seeing ourselves as a value-added export country focusing on products and services to increase our global competitive advantage for the future. Other countries have changed their ‘swing,’ and it’s time Jamaica does so too.
We Need a Sun Sand Sea Makeover
In the summer of 2020, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that Barbados was accepting applications for its new ‘Welcome Stamp Program’. Under this programme, special visas had been approved, giving people from anywhere in the world the opportunity to relocate to the island, live like a Bajan, place their children in school, and work remotely for one year.
Mottley figured that since the novel coronavirus pandemic had changed the global business landscape to have large numbers of people working from home, why not invite them to do it in paradise?
Very soon after, my friend, her husband, and their two children jumped on a plane and headed to Barbados. As the vice-president of a Fortune 500 company, she went to work every day online. Her children aiended school. They all experienced a better quality of life while California grappled with the pandemic.
One year later, the Barbados Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams announced that the programme, which received 2,810 applications from more than 100 countries, was a resounding success with significant multiplier advantages to the economy. As a result, the Bajan House of Assembly introduced the Remote Employment (Amendment) Bill in June 2021 to extend the visas for over 3,000 people who chose to make Barbados their home during the pandemic.
Why doesn’t Jamaica lean in and develop a similar model? Or, rather, why don’t we market Jamaica as a retirement and global wellness destination? I gave solutions to build a retirement tourism sector in 2019. Globally, between 14,000,000 to 16,000,000 patients traveled outside their home countries to seek medical treatment in 2017. Unlike traditional tourism, which gives revenues of US$113 per person per day spent by stopover visitors, medical tourism has the potential to generate higher earnings of approximately US$1,300 per medical tourist per day.
Dr Alfred Dawes, who specialises in high-end weight-loss surgical procedures, says it will be difficult for Jamaica to build out this industry to be globally priced competitive, as the costs for medical inputs and the tools of trade remain extremely high compared to other countries already in the business.
For example, the cost of a stapler to divide the stomach in laparoscopic surgeries is four times the cost in Jamaica versus Brazil. Moreover, surgeons who do not have their own private operating facilities must factor in the rental and other associated costs for procedures. For example, in Mexico, the total cost for laparoscopic surgery is US$8,000, while in Jamaica, the hospital fee alone runs up to US$7,000.
Additionally, the global wellness sector (industries that enable consumers to incorporate wellness activities and lifestyles into their daily lives) is growing rapidly. The Global Wellness Institute disclosed that the global wellness economy generated US$4.4 trillion in revenue during 2020, while the wellness tourism sector accounted for US$436 billion. Wellness tourism is growing 50 per cent faster than traditional tourism, as people seek places and spaces to replenish their mind, body, and soul with exercise and spa skin care treatments. What is more, Cosmetics are now using thermal mineral water for products collected directly at the source devoid of artificial processing. Europeans have been using mineral waters to heal skin irritations and inflammation.
For example, the luxury La Mer skincare line, which Estée Lauder owns, retails one 3.4-oz bottle of its face serum at US$900. In 2018 La Mer contributed over US$1 billion to the company’s net sales. Their moisturiser comprises sea kelp, vitamins, and minerals.
Jamaica has three known mineral springs — Milk River in Clarendon, Bath in St Thomas, and Rockfort in St Andrew. These springs are unique as they each possess varying levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfate, potassium, bicarbonate, silica, chloride, iron, and copper.
Evidence suggests Milk River is more radiative than leading European spas, being 54 times more active as Baden in Switzerland and five times as active as Karlsbad, Austria, reputed to cure numerous ailments including rheumatism, gout, neuralgia, sciatica, lumbago, nerve conditions, and liver disorders. (Milk River Hotel and Spa Annual Report 2019-2020)
The Milk River Bath is a natural resource that has been relevant since it opened in 1794. But the facility needs a major makeover in its branding, image, and service, which are crucial to harnessing its real potential. The facility’s annual report presented earnings of $51.3 million in 2020. Of this amount, the Government gives an $18-million subvention. These earnings pay $24.5 million in salaries, $16.8 million for goods and services, and $348,000 for capital expenditure. All told, Milk River Hotel and Spa generated a profit of $2.7 million.
Our brand gives us a unique advantage in attracting wellness travelers. Therefore, let us build an actual boutique luxury spa facility to rival the best in the world and produce a line of Milk River luxury skincare and cosmetic products using the properties of the Milk River mineral spring.
Jamaican Bottled Water is a Billon Dollar Industry
Not only is the boiled water market thriving worldwide, but its volume has also surpassed carbonated beverages, and it will conFnue to grow due to changing consumer spending habits, healthier lifestyle trends, and declining access to clean and safe drinking water in densely populated cities.
The global boiled water industry was worth approximately US$230.4 billion in 2020. It is projected to grow annually with accumulated revenue of roughly US$405 billion by the end of 2027 (BlueWeave Consulting 2021).
The rising consumer awareness of the health benefits of boiled water will continue pushing the global demand and product sales, especially among younger consumers. Following this trend, several restaurants are expanding their boiled water offerings to meet this demand. Among the boiled water varieFes ranging from spring, purified, mineral, and sparkling, it is the purified water segment that holds the largest share — 35 per cent — in 2020 (Grand View Research, 2021).
According to the United Nations, almost 16,000 desalination plants across 177 countries provide purified water. Increasing water needs due to populaFon growth, increased per capita water consumption, urbanisation, economic development, and falling water supplies due to climate change and contamination exacerbate water scarcity in most regions of the world (U.N., 2018).
In 2018 Mexico and Thailand had the highest per capita consumption of boiled water worldwide at 72.4 gallons per person. Over the last ten years, the United States’ annual bottled water consumption grew by almost 40 per cent. The United States imported around US$762 million worth of water in 2020 (336 million litres from Italy and 248 million litres from Fiji).
Why isn’t Jamaica exporting a national boiled water brand globally?
Fiji water started in 1996 and now ships boiled water to all continents and commands US$150 million in annual sales from the United States alone. Fiji’s population stands at 894,444, slightly more than a quarter of Jamaica’s population.
If Jamaica were to position itself to carve out half a per cent of the global boiled water market share, we would have a national export industry worth anywhere between US$1 billion to US$2 billion. This is an achievable goal.
Excluding bauxite and alumina, our current national exports for 2020 were approximately US$246 million or JM$37.4 billion.
* rum — US$56 million
* yam — US$30 million
* coffee — US$11.9 million
*baked products — US$22.2 million
*ackee — US$20.2 million
* sauces — US$24 million
* scrap metal — US$11.6, and
* chemicals — US$31.6 million (Source: Economic and Social Survey Jamaica, 2020)
Significantly, Jamaica has won the award from the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association for the best quality drinking water in the region three Fmes in a row in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Our country is blessed with good clean water, which gives us a serious advantage. We have natural water springs that can be boiled at the source and sold worldwide.
The business of water has a value chain that favours retail. The production of bottled water carries a relative cost of production between US$0.12 to US$0.15, and the consumer purchases it at US$0.50 to US$1.00. The packaging, branding, and marketing of the water have higher cost inputs than the product itself.
Jamaica has a global competitive advantage as a brand already based on the representation of the international excellence Jamaica wields in track and field, music, and entertainment. Additionally, we are ranked in the top three of the world’s “coolest countries” ( CNN Travel, 2017). Although most bottled water brands are consumed recreationally, consumers are influenced by the personalities and brand ambassadors associated with the beverage and the obvious perceived health benefits of water.
Therefore, Brand Jamaica gives us a solid opportunity to build a bottled water product with our iconic unmatched personalities and our flora and fauna. Just the name Jamaica packaged right on a boile and positioned in Asia, Europe, or North America would be powerful.
When the Arawaks saw Christopher Columbus “discovering” Jamaica, liile did they know then this would disrupt their lives. As a country, we have allowed too many external forces to discover, own, and patent the things that are naturally ours. Let’s not allow another foreigner to discover that our Jamaican water is a US billion-dollar export industry. Let’s do this one on our own.
Let’s Brand the Metaverse with Jamaica NFT lifestyle
Some 174 years ago, Robert Richards Torrens developed a registration system for titles that allowed for a central register to record the legitimate owner of a property and provide that owner with a duplicate certificate confirming their ownership. This system was the foundation for real estate commerce and mortgage financing.
Fast-forward to the 1990s, when the Internet revolutionised our world. Today, if you search your bank balance online, those funds are not physically sitting in the bank. You see an “I owe you” from the bank to pay that amount on demand in the denominated currency.
We already depend on computers to account for our currency ownership, so why not everything else we own? The next phase of the Internet, referred to as Web3 or Web 3.0, is here, and the world you’ve become accustomed to is morphing into a digital one with each passing day.
Now you can digitally register ownership of anything with cloud registration, also known as a blockchain, to which everyone has access. Last year, the psychological hype around digital value confused people in the main as to what was a token and why were Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT tokens being resold for millions of US dollars online?
An NFT is a unique certificate of registration of a digital asset or a one-of-a-kind digital asset that belongs only to you. It is a unique unit of data employing technology that allows digital content to be logged and authenticated on cryptocurrency blockchains, primarily Ethereum. NFTs can be individual or part of a collection, allowing their owners to feel as though they are joining an exclusive online community. The most popular NFTs right now include artwork and music, videos, and personal tweets.
The metaverse is here and growing every day; whether you choose to accept it, you need to understand it. Experts say it is essential to the next phase of the Internet, and top brands are wasting no time developing original NFT products that can trade in this alternate universe. For example, Adidas Originals, the fashion and lifestyle subdivision of the German sportswear giant, is launching an NFT collection of both physical and digital products through digital and physical comic books, created in collaboration with a host of trending metaverse players.
Jamaica is a global brand. However, we have not benefited economically from this value, while others use our intrinsic labels such as reggae, Jamaican Jerk, and ‘Made in Jamaica’. The world has now entered a new phase, and there is the possibility for a teenager in Brazil to design, own, and sell digital Jamaican NFT products, iconic images, and historical moments 100,000 times over. In fact, people could travel to “Virtual Reality JA” without stepping on a plane. And guess what, it’s already happening.
Therefore, this is a call to action for the Government to develop legislation for our Jamaican artists, musicians, and content creators to monetise their content by leapfrogging their minds to this new reality of digital ownership, management, and sale using cryptocurrency. If Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey could sell his first tweet as an NFT for US$2.9 million to a buyer in Asia, and Lebron James could turn his “cosmic” dunk video into an NFT for US$397,600, then the sky is the limit the some more of our content creators like Bonito Thompson AR artist Don Dada.
The late Professor Aggrey Brown was my teacher, my mentor, and my friend. I remember back in 1993, when he and I spoke about globalisation and culture; he told me:
“All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself” (Chief Seaile)
The truth is we are all connected. I stand here once again grateful to be able to serve Jamaica, but I did not create this opportunity by myself. It is through a collective weaving of individuals and groups who have contributed to who you are seeing and hearing: the people of SESA, my constituency office staff, the PNP, my colleagues on both sides of the house, my current Leader of the Opposition and past leaders and Prime Ministers, the parliamentary team, my son, my husband, and my family. As a result, I have had the opportunity to serve my country over the past 15 years. I don’t take this responsibility lightly because I know whatever I do, has repercussions for everyone now and for others coming behind them.
Therefore I have a duty, and we all have a duty to build this nation and create opportunities for others so that when we are gone, the generations we leave behind will say we were ahead of our time.
This is why I warned on February 21, 2022, of the perilous state the world would plunge into should Russia invade Ukraine. I thought that not only would the world’s largest economies impose financial sanctions on Russian banks, but any conflict and the associated sanctions would have a devastating impact on the production and export of food to Western markets and the largest wheat importers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) — Turkey, south-east Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. This would deepen the current global food crisis and aggravate the severe supply chain disrupFons due to the pandemic. Furthermore, sanctions would reduce Russian oil supplies, immediately driving up global oil prices.
Unfortunately, many Jamaicans did not understand the extent of how a Russian military invasion of Ukraine would directly impact their personal lives, declaring, “It’s their war and not our problem; we need to focus on ourselves.”
The fact was and still is that we are all connected, and war impacts everyone globally, including Jamaica. Beyond the humanitarian catastrophe, there are broader and longer-term geopolitical and economic implications from the conflict that will affect global supply chains, energy and food sectors, and many other industries directly and indirectly (APCO Worldwide).
The Russian Federation is the second-largest oil producer in the world, producing 10.1 million barrels per day of crude oil and natural gas condensate (2021 B.P. Statistical Review of World Energy) and ranked as the top exporter of nitrogen (N) fertilisers, and the second-leading supplier of both potassic (K) and phosphorous (P) fertilisers.
There are 25 countries that are dependent on supplies of Russian fertiliser. Last year, Russia stood out as the top global wheat exporter, shipping 32.9 million tonnes of wheat and meslin, or 18 per cent of international shipments. Ukraine stood as the fifth-largest wheat exporter in 2021, exporting 20 million tonnes of wheat and meslin and a 10 per cent global market share. Russia and Ukraine held nearly 30 percent of the worldwide market share of wheat exports.
Ukraine also produces half of the world’s sunflower seed oil; the substantial production bases of both themselves and Russia in the global maize, barley, rapeseed, and sunflower oilseed markets gave a combined world export market share of close to 64 per cent. Approximately 50 nations rely on these two countries for roughly 30 per cent of their wheat import needs.
Although this war is thousands of miles away, it has already had devastating effects on other people’s personal lives worldwide. The pockets of the poor have been hit the worst, and Jamaicans have not escaped the fallout.
For example, global prices for crude oil went to US$125 a barrel, compared to US$58 per barrel one year ago. The oil price cost affects everything — commercial and domestic electricity, transportation, and food production. What’s more, the cut-off of these significant global suppliers of wheat, sunflower oil, and fertiliser will significantly increase the prices of some of the essential commodities (e.g., flour and cooking oil) and could potentially create an agricultural food security crisis without the access to fertiliser for the planting and harvesting of spring crops.
So is the Russian Ukraine war a Jamaica problem? In summary, yes. The cost of food, electricity, transportation, mortgage payments, rent, construction supplies, and gas/fuel have increased and are expected to continue rising. It will affect hire purchase rates and the cost of borrowing money for employers and reduce job creation by making investing more expensive.
Over the past eight months, the Bank of Jamaica has moved its benchmark interest rate from 0.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent. While this may take some time to impact personal interest rates, it will be debilitating to an individual’s disposable income when it does.
Out of 146 countries worldwide, Jamaica stands at 142 with the highest electricity charges. There are only four countries that pay more for electricity than we do. Add this to a 30 per cent increase in electricity and transportation costs, along with a 20 per cent increase in food, and we will see an emergency.
I have consistently stated that Jamaica will never have true prosperity if we focus only on creating and selling products for our populace of three million. Our import substitution policy needs to be replaced by an urgent value-added, export-driven agenda.
Furthermore, we need to urgently establish a Food and Energy Crisis Task Force to foresight, forecast, and plan effectively for our economy due to the global shocks caused by the Russian Ukraine crisis. Our dependence on international trade for raw materials, food production, oil, and fertiliser dictates that we cannot adopt a wait-and-see astude. Instead, we must be proactive and strategic now to globally reposition Jamaica given opportunities and a careful analysis of the goods and services we have or can develop a competitive export advantage.
We possess natural beauty; creative people; soil that gives our food an incomparable taste profile; proximity to North America (the largest consumer market in the world); and geographical positioning to take advantage of Europe, South America, and Asian trade routes.
Short-term Band-Aids cannot remain our go-to response to building our country and people. As a country, we seem to be walking backward into the future with our eyes wide shut as so many Jamaicans fret daily and remain invisible. This strategy has goien us nowhere globally or even regionally. The many travels to and from seem like tokenism and picture ops, as FDIs continue to evade us like Tom chasing Jerry.
The international benchmark used is thirty murders per 100,000 people to establish a state of civil war. We are at approximately 46.2 murders per 100,000, ranked the second in the world for killing women and overall murder. Since 1962 Jamaica’s murder rate has increased by 2040 per cent which is 18 per cent of our male population between 15-34 years old, contributing to 75 per cent of the murders being committed. If we don’t break this momentum, the dark reality is that in another 60 years, this war with ourselves could see whiteness over 26,000 Jamaicans being killed between January to November in 2081.
In this era, we should do what we must, so we can eventually do what we want, and though some of the policies that we may need to put in place might not be politically expedient, we have to develop the courage to get it done. Or our purpose will redound to being road fixers, Easter Bunny’s, Mrs. Claus, the lesser of two evils, and at times, Fedex – expected to give out packages year after year.
There is fierce urgency now calling on us to change our old habits, meaningfully engage in working cooperatively across the aisle, and look toward sustainability so we can give our people a lifestyle to afford good protein and nutritious food daily to feed themselves and their families, keep them safe in violent free communities, and educate them to compete with the best in the world.
It’s time we change our swing.


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Bitcoin has been the subject of news stories around the world, and none have been more explosive than its connection with the infamous Silk Road. Now with BitInstant’s CEO, Charlie Shrem, arrested for money laundering, some wonder about the future of this enigmatic currency.
First of all, what is bitcoin? The term seems to inspire a vague understanding of some form of online money. In reality, it is much more complex. Bitcoin is technically a cryptocurrency, meaning it uses cryptography to control bitcoin creation. According to the Huffington Post, bitcoins are not in infinite supply. They are “mined” by solving computer algorithms. Bitcoins are then exchanged from person to person, without the constraints of being controlled by any centralized agency.
So why does the future of Bitcoin seem so uncertain? The answer is found in two places: the 2014 World Economic Forum and China. According to an article by International Business Times, during the World Economic Forum Robert Shiller, a Nobel Laureate economist, expressed concern over the cryptocurrency stating that it was “a perfect example of a bubble.” Shiller conceded the obvious public fascination with Bitcoin, but feared the assurance of its success.
In the same article, it’s noted that both U.S. Treasury secretary Jack Lew and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. chairman Jamie Dimon expressed their concern regarding the currency. Lew feared the anonymous nature of the currency could lead to future illicit activity, while Dimon doubted its ultimate stability.
Clearly some fear for the future of Bitcoin, but do any support it? The answer is mixed in China. According to an article posted today by RT Business, Chinese company BTC China is now accepting yuan-to-bitcoin deposits, contrary to a warning issued by the Chinese government. The government issued a memo that financial institutions were to stop dealings with any bitcoins by January 31. BTC China has stated they are going to take a “wait-and-see approach” regarding the regulation.
While the exchange in China was shut down, “bitcoin prices tumbled more than 50 percent.” If China enforces a universal ban on bitcoin exchange, the cryptocurrency could unexpectedly plummet.
Despite its growing popularity, Bitcoin has been increasingly criticized. Is this due to the cryptocurrency’s prominence in the public eye, or will its volatile nature be its ultimate failure? What is the future of Bitcoin? We’ll have to wait and see.

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NEW YORK (MainStreet) – Amazon has led the way in showing that companies don’t need a physical store to become a retail giant. So the news that Amazon is considering opening up a bricks-and-mortar retail store this year might come as a huge surprise to many shoppers. According to reports, the first store will open up in Seattle – home of the company’s corporate headquarters – and will focus on the retailer’s various mobile devices and accessories.
Amazon isn’t alone in making the jump into the real world, either. According to one report, the company has filed a planning application in Ireland to open a storefront in Dublin to sell unspecified merchandise.
So why should two companies that have built multi-billion dollar empires on the Internet suddenly express interest in the real world? As with much that happens in the tech world, they may be following Apple’s lead.
“My best guess is that it’s a big push due to Apple,” says Mickey Klein, head of the consumer team for global investment firm The Astor Group. “What consumers are getting there is a good touchy-feely experience, and [Amazon and Google] want to have boutique-type stores for customer to come in and have a real personal experience.”
That influence hints at what consumers can expect to see from the Web giants. While everyone talks about Amazon’s competition with Barnes & Noble, it’s unlikely that we’ll see Amazon open a massive book store to compete in that space. Rather, analysts say, the Amazon Store will likely be used as a showcase of sorts, aimed at consumers who want to try out the Kindle or Kindle Fire in person before they buy it.
“They’re not going to be warehouse stores, they’re going to be a showcase for digital media products like the Kindle, the Kindle Fire and, we think, smartphones and smart TVs down the road,” says Shawn Milne, an analyst for Janney Montgomery Scott. “I would envision them showing products, but not keeping anywhere near the level of inventory you see in most retail stores. “
Google, meanwhile, is likely to take a similar approach. Its local planning application reportedly calls for a store that’s about 1,300 square feet, even smaller than a typical Apple Store, so don’t expect much more than a pretty showcase for its Android smartphones and tablets. But more than just showing off the products, both the Amazon and Google Stores may also be an experiment in brand-building, a gambit to see if they can associate themselves with the kind of top-notch, in-person customer service for which Apple has quickly become famous.
Klein says that such an effort is already underway with Google’s recent onslaught of cute commercials pushing its Chrome browser and associated products, and he thinks that the company would be wise to continue that effort by establishing Genius Bar levels of customer support.
“It’s done amazing wonders for Apple,” he says. “We have switched over half of our office computers to Macs because of the experience we got at the Apple Store.”
If Google and Amazon think they can inspire that kind of loyalty by hanging a shingle and putting a friendly face on their business, they’d be crazy not to try.


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NongHyup Financial Holdings opened South Korea’s biggest FinTech hub called ‘NH Digital Innovation Campus’ and it has started promoting 33 promising startups.
It announced that it held an inauguration ceremony of ‘NH Digital Innovation Campus’ on the 8th with about 200 people such as Chairman Choi Jong-gu of Financial Services Commission (FSC) , Chairman Kim Kwang-soo of NongHyup Financial Holdings, President Lee Dae-hoon of NongHyup Bank, Chairman Kim Dae-yoon of Korea Fintech Industry Association, and Chief Director Jung Yoo-shin of Fintech Center Korea in attendance.
NH Digital Innovation Campus is the largest (2,080 m2) digital zone out of financial industries established by NongHyup Financial Holdings to become a global digital financial group and it is comprised of Digital R&D Center and NH Fintech Innovation Center.
Digital R&D Center is going to strengthen NongHyup Bank’s unrivaled abilities in open APIs (Application Programming Interface) even more and develop innovative business models based on new technologies such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), blockchain, and Cloud.
NongHyup Financial Holdings is going to transfer NH Fintech Innovation Center established by NongHyup Bank and support and promote promising startups even more.
It selected promising startups through NongHyup’s accelerating program called ‘NH Digital Challenge+’ and it is going to provide appropriate support based on level of growth of startups.
33 startups were first selected as part of the first group and they are going to receive actual financial support from $17.5 million (20 billion KRW) digital innovation fund that was set up in March.
NongHyup Financial Holdings is going to implement innovative digital services with ‘NH Digital Innovation Campus’ at the center and it is planning to maximize efficiency of internal process through automation.
Starting with NH Digital Innovation Campus, NongHyup Financial Holdings is planning to expand Smart Desk, Cloud, and AI-based Smart Office and agile group step by step to create innovative digitalized culture.
NongHyup Financial Holdings is going to apply a verification measure that can select talented individuals with digital minds and abilities to secure digital experts and is going to carry out expert level-like training to every new employee. It is planning to train more than 1,000 ‘data scientists’, who are experts in analyzing Big Data, by 2020.
“NH Digital Innovation Campus will be at the center of financial ecosystem in the future and it will be our major driving force in digitalization.” said Chairman Kim Kwang-soo of NongHyup Financial Holdings. “We are going to actively support startups that come into NH Digital Innovation Campus so that they become global unicorn businesses.”
“Financial authorities are also going to take initiative in easing regulations to support financial industries and startups.” said Chairman Choi Jong-gu of FSC during his congratulatory message. “We are going to push for operation of regulatory sandbox and innovative old regulations throughout the year.”
Staff Reporter Gil, Jaeshik | email@example.com


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Overstock has always been a big proponent of Bitcoin and blockchain. So much even the company launched its own blockchain outfit, known as tZero. This particular venture has seemingly attracted the attention of GSR Capital. The private equity firm will invest as much as $27m in this blockchain unit.
A lot of money has been poured into blockchain research over the years. Very few projects have working code, let alone a prototype product. Overstock’s tZero is one of the few exceptions, as the firm means business when it comes to exploring new technologies. By securing an additional $270m in funding, the potential of the tZero blockchain outfit is highlighted even further.
tZero Continues to Forge Ahead
Once the news broke, Overstock shares soared by over 20% in quick succession. Any publicly traded company with ties to blockchain seems to be going through such cycles. In the case of Overstock, their blockchain “arm” is genuine and has already proven its metal. GSR Capital will acquire an 18% stake in tZero, which catapults the project’s valuation to $1.5bn.
tZero CEO Saum Nousalehi adds:
“The tokenisation of securities has the potential to disrupt global capital markets responsible for moving hundreds of trillions of dollars. Together with our partners, we will globalise our blockchain-based platform, bringing more efficiency, liquidity, and trust to capital markets.”
It is evident tZero is on a lot of people’s radar. The outfit raised $134m in funding through a security token offering earlier this year. Additionally, the firm partnered BOX Digital Markets to build a new regulated exchange to trade security tokens. There are still plenty of opportunities waiting to be explored in the blockchain world, that much is evident.


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The World Health Organisation, in its Pharmaceuticals News Letter, May, 2012, warned that Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reaction (SCAR), is possible with the use of Non steroidal Antiinflammatory drugs. The risk associated with NSAIDS is very low, but it is possible. The highest number of reactions were seen in the case of celecoxib, and that was only six cases per I million person-years.
Retail sale in India mostly takes place through medical shops and the idea of community pharmacy is not known much here in India. The pharmacy profession has been making attempts, consistently and strongly, in the past three decades, to imbue the sellers in the medical shops with professional values and transform the medical shops into community pharmacies.


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Bellinski aims to make a splash with new product range
Upmarket swimwear brand Bellinski is seeking fresh funds as it prepares for a step change in its plans for growth.
Bellinski, whose customers include Harrods, wants to extend its product range and also plans to create a more exclusive label, Annabel Hume, taking the name of the brand's founder and designer.
Hume, who launched the range in 2008, is planning to raise between £150,000 and £250,000 to support her ambitions.
Taking the plunge: Designer Annabel Hume plans to raise more funds for expand her upmarket swimwear range
Harrods will begin selling an exclusive Bellinski range over the next few weeks as part of its new 5,000 square foot swim room, which opened this month.
Hume has also extended the range from swimwear and beachwear to include kaftans and evening dresses.
She said of her plans: 'We have doubled the size of the range for spring 2011 to 35 pieces and we want to keep that pace of growth for the next few years.'
The prices range from £95 to £260 and prices of the Annabel Hume range would begin at about £250.
Other customers include upmarket independent stores such as Strip and Austique and resort stores such as Blue Marlin, the beach club in Ibiza which also stocks an exclusive range.
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- The Fed’s Bullard supports more rate hikes
- Cisco shares rose after the subscriber raised its full-year outlook
- Macy’s is jumping on higher earnings expectations
- Indices: the Dow Jones rose 0.07%, the Standard & Poor’s rose 0.23%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.09%.
(Reuters) – The S&P 500 fell slightly on Thursday as hawkish comments from a US Federal Reserve official and data showing the labor market remains tight had some investors worried about more sharp interest rate increases.
Shares fell sharply early in the session and then rebounded, with the Dow Jones rising last, boosted by an upbeat earnings forecast from Cisco Systems. (CSCO.O).
Stocks have fallen in recent days after a strong month-long rally after weaker-than-expected inflation reports raised hopes that the Federal Reserve would limit its interest rate hikes.
“Hope is eternal in the stock market, and the markets are fighting the Fed,” said Samir Samana, senior global market analyst at the Wells Fargo Investment Institute in St. Louis.
“You had these reversals, you had these incredible highs. But, when you look back at the whole of 2022, you had lower highs and lower lows and there is no indication that we broke that pattern.”
Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) The S&P 500 rose 22.8 points, or 0.07%, to 33,576.63. (.SPX) It lost 9.27 points, or 0.23%, to 3,949.52 points, and the Nasdaq Composite. (nineteenth) It fell 9.73 points, or 0.09%, to 11,173.93 points.
St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said the central bank needs to continue raising interest rates since its tightening so far has “had only limited effects on observed inflation.”
Data showed that the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting the labor market remained tight, after a report on Wednesday detailed strong retail sales growth last month that indicated the economy had outgrown interest rate hikes.
Bets from traders on a 75 basis point increase in the next Fed meeting rose to 19% from about 15% the day before, according to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, with the remaining odds set on a smaller 50 basis point increase.
Cisco shares rose more than 4% after the company raised full-year revenue and earnings forecasts while easing supply chain hurdles. The stock helped drive a 0.3% increase in the S&P 500 heavyweight IT sector (.SPLRCT).
In other company news, shares of Macy’s (MN) rose more than 14% after the supermarket chain raised its annual profit forecast thanks to resilient demand for high-end clothing and beauty products.
Low issues outnumbered high issues on the NYSE by a ratio of 2.54 to 1; On the Nasdaq, the ratio was 1.83 to 1 in favor of declining stocks.
The S&P 500 posted no new 52-week highs and one new low; The Nasdaq index posted 28 new highs and 144 new lows.
Additional reporting by Louis Krauskopf in New York and Pansari Mayur Kamdar, Ankika Biswas and Amruta Khandekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi, Arun Koyoor, and David Gregorio
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
“Infuriatingly humble alcohol fanatic. Unapologetic beer practitioner. Analyst.”


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Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci has never frowned upon casting celebrities alongside models in his ad campaigns. In recent seasons, Amanda Seyfried, Erykah Badu and French actress Isabelle Huppert were featured, and the designer even gave reality star-turned-supermodel Kendall Jenner her first big campaign break. Now it seems that Tisci has outdone himself, as news broke Tuesday that Hollywood icon Julia Roberts is the face of Givenchy for spring 2015.
Shot in black and white by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, the campaign's styling (by Katy England) is meant to evoke the strength and modernity of the Givenchy woman. Roberts is dressed in a number of the house's signature pieces — including a menswear-inspired boxy jacket and a tuxedo dress — with a very minimal beauty look. According to a release from the brand, Roberts's photographs are meant to be "the perfect interpretation of Givenchy timeless beauty," and we'd say that Tisci and his team nailed it.
Scroll on for more preview images that Tisci shared over social media on Tuesday morning, and keep your eyes peeled for Roberts's full campaign in the coming weeks.


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The rationale behind Facebook rebranding
The Facebook company, whose services include the Facebook app, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, Workplace, Portal and Calibra, recently underwent a rebranding exercise to become more closely associated with their suite of apps and make users more aware of where the products they use come from.
In June this year, Facebook added the not so subtle ‘from Facebook’ to all their products. Earlier in April, it was reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong, who discovered the early signs of rebranding in the Instagram app. Instagram’s popularity then was at an all-time high, while Facebook was facing flak over the data breach and Cambridge Analytica scandal. Hence, it made sense for the company to want to be more closely associated with its sister app.
In 2018, the Infinite Dial Report showed that Facebook usage had gone down for the first time ever and the US distrust, discord and disinterest were played up as the key factors for Facebook’s decline.
In fact, Facebook has faced a series of litigations and bad press ever since US President Donald Trump took office followed by Cambridge Analytica, the data breach on Messenger, and when a San Francisco court fined the company $40 million for inflating views on video ads.
So, Facebook has been piggybacking on its more popular apps like Instagram to divert some of the goodwill from the users or to attract advertisers. That resulted in Mark Zuckerberg claiming that Instagram’s growth was the result of them successfully leveraging Facebook’s growth tools in July 2018. While this may be true, soon both Instagram founders collectively quit in September 2018 due to ‘differences’ with Zuckerberg.
What does this have to do with the Facebook rebranding?
For one, Instagram has crossed 1 billion subscribers and is by far the most popular app in the Facebook suite. With an average user age of 30 years (a decade younger than Facebook’s average of 40 years), Instagram is Facebook’s cash cow of the future. In the shadow of Instagram’s popularity, the big challenge for the creators of the Facebook app is to remain relevant to advertisers as it comes to be seen increasingly as an unsafe space for brands.
Shiraz Khan, Founder, Spicetree Design Agency (SDA), noted, “Facebook had to make some strategic moves to protect its other products from all the backlash it is facing of late. By creating a parent logo for all its suite of products, it is ensuring the safety of its properties and to show Facebook in good light. It also wants to clearly show the structure of the company in terms of ownership. With this move, it also safeguards its interest from a complete fallout of the brand.”
Saurabh Pacheriwal, Co-founder, Gemius Creative Design Studio, added here, “Research shows that over 50 per cent of the users of Facebook group apps such as Instagram and WhatsApp do not know that the platforms are owned by Facebook. This new identity will be connecting the company seamlessly with the other products and in effect, try to regain the lost brand image.”
Chandan Bagwe, Founder & MD, C Com Digital, felt that this rebranding is good in a way, because it is aimed at presenting Facebook as a big entity with multiple product line with individual user bases. Thus, it would help attracting more funds through cross working of app platforms and accumulating the ads generated.
“While Google has a suite of 60 apps and is a prominent entity in the digital sphere, Facebook is relatively small with a fewer number of apps under it. Facebook, too, wants to show that it is also an important entity with multiple apps under its name, each having a good user base,” he added.
Is ‘from Facebook’ going to be the only change?
The new Facebook company logo incorporates themes from its group of apps so that it integrates well. The font style is minimal and not a huge departure from the previous brand. Before the formal rebranding came into effect, Facebook had already introduced a slew of policy changes, such as bringing more transparency in political advertising and giving users more control over the ads they view and their data, with the hopes of improving public perception.
However, it remains to be seen whether through this rebranding Facebook will it be able to isolate the backlash to its specific apps and not further tarnish the reputation of the umbrella brand. On the other hand, the group of apps may also be isolated from Zuckerberg, whose statements and actions will hopefully reflect only on the parent brand.


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SALON LIFE: TRENDING
For the first installment of our new ongoing series, we sit down with supertalented hair and makeup artist Timothy Cabell for a chat about inspiration, nature, competition and what makes the beauty industry so phenomenal. Read on!
Macadamia Professional takes a dynamic new path, led by industry visionary Vince Davis.
"As a result of refreshing our brand personality, our meaningful interactions with users are increasing exponentially."
Guy Tang defines a new era of celebrity.
It took more than charisma and wicked brush skills to make Guy Tang an overnight social media sensation.
The 2014 Contessa Canadian Hairstylist of the Year awards by Salon Magazine reveal a wealth of beauty talent.
This October, we're not leaving makeup and nails out of the equation! Devote Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Month to purchasing cosmetic products that help in the fight against cancer.
Take a look at these special products geared toward promoting awareness and goodwill during Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Month.
It's not just the products that can benefit Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- dryers and brushes are in the game, too!
How can you support Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Month with your everyday work? Easy: Invest in and retail products with a conscience.
I.C.O.N.'s Cure by Chiara line works to improve hair's texture -- all the while promoting a cure for a cancer.
Help put an end to this dreadful disease that will strike one out of every eight women during their lifetime.
TIGI is donating $50,000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to support the organization's mission to save lives through early detection.
The Virginia-based spa is taking major steps to support Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Month in October -- find out how!
With Labor Day being the official end to the summer beauty and fashion season, we're celebrating the hottest looks that we've posted for Summer 2014. #EyeCandy #GorgeousStyles #SweetFarewell
For every client you have, there are hundreds or perhaps thousands more who could be in your chair. They're local, they're looking...but how will they find you? Enter StyleSeat, a game-changing application that brings business to you.
HotOnBeauty has partnered with this important initiative in order to build your business, connect and stay connected with clients and much more.
Congrats to Cassandra Laine and Jason Reyes, whose client makeover received the most likes ever on our Facebook page (4,000). The results were so overwhelming that we've posted an entire gallery of fall makeovers by Cassandra and various members of the Platinum Salon team. Get ready to be inspired. Click to view!
by Jeryl E. Spear, Editor-in-Chief
Hot On Beauty and Hot Beauty magazine launch a brand-new website for professionals and consumers.
Cosmoprof's BOUTIQUE sampling concept raised $13,300 to benefit City Of Hope
IT IS A LIMITED EDITION OFFERING
At Cosmoprof, merchandising experts will discuss evolving concepts to meet the needs of today's consumer
Macadamia appoints Jeff Flansbaum Vice President of Global Operations
Unite appointed new Global Education Director
Macadamia launches a new social strategy and refashioned website
CPNA announces first-ever interactive technology exhibit
Top cosmetology students win chance to participate in PBA Beauty Week
The PBA Business Forum names businessman and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban keynote speaker
Joico celebrity colorist Denis de Souza hosted a fete that was full of hot hair info-from new products releases to product demos and beyond.
Tapping into her creative and business skills with equal aplomb, Irish icon Maeve O'Healy-Harte is the current OMC World Hairstylist of the Year; successful salon and academy owner; founder, publisher and editor of the rockin' hot Irish Hairdresser International magazine; OMC President for Western Europe; Intercoiffure Ireland President; manager of Team Ireland; and a pro-beauty activist, industry politician and leader who tirelessly works to elevate Ireland's pro-beauty industry.
Salon Concrete's Christine Zilinski organizes a Hair for Heroes summer event to generate revenue for those in crisis
Chromastics Hair Color hosted its first Shades of Excellence educational program
Salon owner Christine Zilinski was honored by Hometown Heroes at its Annual Awards Gala
There must be more than 24 hours in a day, otherwise indie artist Sherri Jessee couldn't possibly produce the volume of collections, education videos and marketing programs, and walk the boards at major education events while still working behind the chair. Her awards and acknowledgements also run deep, including being named NAHA 2013 Editorial Stylist of the Year and, of course, HOT Living Legend.


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In this Sept. 30, 2013, file photo, Tony Hsieh speaks during a Grand Rapids Economic Club luncheon in Grand Rapids, Mich. Hsieh, retired CEO of Las Vegas-based online shoe retailer Zappos.com, has died. Hsieh was with family when he died Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, according to a statement from DTP Companies, which he founded. Downtown Partnership spokesperson Megan Fazio says Hsieh passed away in Connecticut, KLAS-TV reported. Hsieh recently retired from Zappos after 20 years leading the company. He worked to revitalize the Las Vegas area. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP, File)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tony Hsieh, the retired CEO of Las Vegas-based online shoe retailer Zappos.com who spent years working to transform the city's downtown area, has died. He was 46.
Hsieh was with family when he died Friday, according to a statement from DTP Companies, which he founded. Downtown Partnership spokesperson Megan Fazio said Hsieh died in Connecticut, KLAS-TV reported.
Puoy Premsrirut, a lawyer for Hsieh, told news outlets that Hsieh had been injured in a house fire while visiting Connecticut. Additional details weren't immediately released. An official cause of death wasn't announced.
“Tony’s kindness and generosity touched the lives of everyone around him, and forever brightened the world,” a DTP Companies statement said. “Delivering happiness was always his mantra, so instead of mourning his transition, we ask you to join us in celebrating his life.”
Hsieh recently retired from Zappos after 20 years leading the company. The online shoe retailer shared a tribute on social media late Friday.
“The world has lost a tremendous visionary and an incredible human being,” the statement said. “His spirit will forever be a part of Zappos.”
Hsieh was a Harvard University graduate who joined the company — then called ShoeSite.com — in 1999. Zappos was sold to Amazon for $1.2 billion in 2009, but Hsieh had remained with the company until his retirement.
For years, he also worked to revitalize downtown Las Vegas, pledging $350 million in 2013 for redevelopment. The same year he moved Zappos' headquarters into the former Las Vegas City Hall building.
“Tony Hsieh played a pivotal role in helping transform Downtown Las Vegas,” Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak tweeted Friday night. “Kathy and I send our love and condolences to Tony’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
Many tributes poured out on social media.
“Tony Hsieh might be the most original thinker I’ve ever been friends with,” former venture investor Chris Sacca tweeted. “He questioned every assumption and shared everything he learned along the way. He genuinely delighted in making anyone and everyone happy.”
Skateboarder and entrepreneur Tony Hawk added, “Tony Hsieh was a visionary. He was generous with his time and willing to share his invaluable expertise with anyone.”
“A truly original thinker, a brilliant entrepreneur, and a kind-hearted and generous friend to so many,” tweeted entrepreneur Max Levchin.
Ali Partovi, CEO of the venture capital fund Neo, was a partner in one of Hsieh’s earliest ventures, the internet advertising company LinkExchange. In a tweet Saturday, Partovi said Hsieh was one of the most creative people he had ever known.
“I’ll remember your unique combo of genius and mischief, and your infuriating ability to bet against all odds and win,” Partovi said.
20 Stocks Wall Street Analysts Love the Most
Every trading day, between 500 and 800 new recommendations and research reports are issued by sell-side equities research analysts. There are between 300 and 500 brokerages and research houses that issue ratings, price targets and recommendations and more than 5,000 securities around the world that regularly receive coverage from research analysts.
MarketBeat has tracked more than 170,000 distinct analyst recommendations in the last 12 months alone. Given the volume of ratings changes that occur each day, it can be difficult to sift through the noise.
Analysts don't always get their "buy" ratings right, but it's worth taking a hard look when more than a dozen different analysts from different brokerages and research firm are giving "strong buy" and "buy" ratings to the same stock.
This slide show lists the 20 companies that have the highest average analyst recommendations from Wall Street's equities research analysts over the last 12 months.
View the "20 Stocks Wall Street Analysts Love the Most".


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Cutting Edge Marketers: Introducing Season 5 of The Brave Marketer Podcast
Women marketers share how they’re driving innovation and massive growth in a new 10-episode season of The Brave Marketer podcast.
Cutting edge marketers are responsible for driving innovation and growth with impactful brand campaigns for some of the world’s most recognizable and beloved brands. This season, we’re getting a fresh perspective and highlighting Women Marketers who are making an impact on both mainstream and emerging Web3 and crypto brands.
Responding to consumer distrust and increasing demands
Making platforms like Twitter safe, accessible and inclusive
Connecting human emotion to your products
Topics in this new 10-episode season include Web3, crypto marketing, privacy, cookieless advertising, and more. You’ll hear from marketers from some of the biggest brands and agencies including Twitter, Nestle, Product Hunt, Digitas, and Qulture Agency.
The previous season of The Brave Marketer podcast featured guests from crypto brands such as Crypto.com, Solana, SuperRare, eToro, Splinterlands, and NEAR Foundation.
Our previous season was a massive success resulting in:
Ranking in the top 5-10% of all podcasts based on weekly downloads
83% of listeners converting into subscribers
A 22% increase in downloads over the previous four seasons
Top-10 rankings for Marketing Podcasts in Hong Kong, Portugal, Chile, Singapore, Netherlands, Italy, Czechia, and Hong Kong
Today, we’re launching the first episode of Season 5 of The Brave Marketer podcast, featuring an interview with Maura Tuohy Di Muro, Head of Product Marketing at Twitter, who shares how Twitter is promoting safety on their platform and the unique ways they’re adding gamification to privacy, including a recently released video game experience they made for their users. We also discuss how Web3 can deliver on its big promises of accessibility and inclusivity and how Twitter thinks about earning trust.
The Brave Marketer podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software—the makers of the privacy-respecting web browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. This podcast will provide a backstage view of how leading marketers are solving the issues facing the advertising industry so that you, too, can be prepared for what’s ahead.
Today, Brave is launching its Self-Serve Ads Program. These new tools allow brands to set up and run advertising for their products and services within the privacy-preserving Brave Ads and Rewards ecosystem.


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The Government has announced “pavement licence” schemes to allow venues to serve food and drink at tables outside their premises.
But some councils are charging businesses £100, while others are removing the fee.
The measures, which have just gone through Parliament, aim to make it easier for hospitality businesses to add al-fresco areas by cutting the time it takes to obtain a licence.
The normal 28-day period of public consultation on a licence application would be cut to just seven days and if a local authority does not determine the application within the set timescale, permission can be granted automatically.
Stafford Borough Council approved the scheme this week, but will charge businesses £100.
Whereas Lichfield District Council is removing fees for the new pavement licences..
The council will waive its pavement licence fees to remove another hurdle and offer additional support for local businesses that have faced significant financial challenges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Councillor Angela Lax, cabinet member for regulatory, housing and health, said: “We want to do all we can to help businesses across the district to successfully recover from the challenges faced during these difficult times.
“On top of being free, the revised process will make it simpler and faster for businesses to apply for outdoor space on the pavement. This will help them to attract more customers who wish to enjoy the wonderful array of food and drink options available throughout our district.”
Dudley Council is also introducing the new scheme, and charging businesses £100.
Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member responsible for licensing, said: "Our hospitality sector has been hit hard during this pandemic with many, even though they are now open, still struggling to operate due to the limited number of people allowed on the premises.
"This new temporary licence will allow some businesses to extend their outdoor space, hopefully allowing them to accommodate more customers and boost their trade while crucially continuing to follow the latest social distancing guidelines.
"This is another way we are supporting businesses within this sector as they begin their road to recovery."
Cannock Chase District Council will discuss the scheme on August 13.
And a spokesman for Walsall Council said: “The new procedures and policy for how Walsall Council will process pavement café licences will be brought before a meeting of the licensing and safety committee on August 12 for ratification.”
In Birmingham, the city council has begun accepting applications from businesses.
Councillor Brigid Jones, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “With businesses still required to comply with social distancing we know that they are keen to use as much space as possible to maximise capacity for customers.
“By introducing this fast-track system, applications will be processed quickly to enable businesses to reap the benefits as soon as possible. In addition, the reduced cost is intended to help hospitality businesses of all sizes as they begin to recover from the financial impact of the pandemic.”
The fee for the new temporary pavement licence will be capped at £100 for all table numbers within a single application process.
Wolverhampton and Sandwell councils did not provide a response.


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LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore on Tuesday arrested a betel leaf importer for evading taxes worth Rs16.58 million on the import of goods from Sri Lanka.
A spokesman for the accountability watchdog said Rashid Shams was involved in evading custom duty liable on import of betel leaf in a renowned Rs2.6 billion custom duty corruption case and caused a loss of Rs16.58 million to the national exchequer.
EU blacklists 17 non-European tax havens
NAB Lahore is probing a mega corruption scam, allegedly amounting to Rs2.6 billion, on import and evasion of custom duty on betel leaf import. Betel leaf is imported from Sri Lanka and India to Pakistan. By evading and miscalculating custom duty on betel leaf with the alleged connivance of custom officials, numerous private importers and firms managed to evade taxes worth Rs2.6 billion on a collective basis.
The suspect continued importing betel leaf during 2008-2012 through M/s Al-Shams Traders and evaded taxes amounting to Rs16.58 million by paying far less duty in a government designated bank as compared to the amounts shown on the hard copies of goods declaration (GDs).
NAB tells FBR to plug holes
In this case of misappropriation, NAB Lahore has already arrested 10 suspects. NAB Lahore will produce Rashid Shams on Wednesday (today) before an accountability court to seek his physical remand for further investigations.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2017.
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The Las Vegas Lights will flicker through uniforms this season as the soccer team will wear 17 different home jerseys.
The idea came from the USL Championship team’s campaign to allow fans to design a jersey in the off-season. Overwhelmed with hundreds of responses, the Lights leadership decided to have fun, team owner and CEO Brett Lashbrook said.
“I saw this more and more in European leagues, like Manchester City – it seems like every time I’m watching, they have a different jersey,” Lashbrook said. “Oregon football, how cool that was? And how were they perceived in the marketplace? You can do cool fashion, cool designs, but it’s not just 17 jerseys, you’re going to see some of ours that are traditional and others that are something no one else has.”
Each jersey will be announced with the hopeful designer in attendance, and Lashbrook said the different looks are meant to reflect their community.
While the initial announcement of 17 jerseys was met with displeasure from some of the fanbase, Lashbrook believes the outrage will subside when the jerseys are unveiled and show they all fit within the team’s color scheme of yellow, blue and pink. All the jersey designs will also feature jersey sponsor Zappos, the online retailer.
“They’re all going to have our logo, all going to be uniquely Vegas,” he said. “I also love being able to say, ‘If you don’t like it, great; submit one, we’ll have a new one next game.’ It allows the fans to be part of it.”
“It’s fully in line with our moxie. It’s OK to laugh. It’s OK to smile,” he said.
Perhaps the most significant piece of the puzzle will be the last jersey announced, which will be decided by the highest bidder. Lashbrook said the jersey has to be approved by the league, so there are limitations, but he wants it to be as open as possible.
But Lashbrook expects outlandish possibilities, ranging from proposals to companies making ridiculous advertisements. Just as possible could be someone’s cat. There needs to be about a three-month lead time.
“All I know is no one has done this before, and I hope that we’ll have a lot of fun with it, with people bidding on various designs and amounts,” he said. “Boring is not going to cut it in minor league sports. We have to continue to find new ways to market, and I don’t know if this is going to be a revenue stream or not, it is at least going to be a way to get the word out.”
The first jersey of the season stems from the original call to action, coming from a 16-year-old student at Southwest Career & Technical Academy in Clark County. The jersey features confetti blasts, similar to those after a goal scored at home. Other designs will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Giving the team the ability to roll out different jerseys is the Las Vegas Lights’ supplier, Australia’s BLK. With two months’ notice, the company can manufacture the jerseys, unlike the often year-plus lead time from the big apparel brands.
The Las Vegas Lights did play in a few special jerseys last year, including a 1994 U.S. World Cup throwback and a Vegas Golden Knights-themed jersey. The success of those nights led to the exploration of doing more.
Lashbrook said he’s not sure whether to expect any added revenue from the jerseys, since the limited runs will be more expensive, with only “hundreds” being made. The limited-edition jerseys will be sold to the public, at a retail price of $99, up from the first two season’s $80. Season ticket holders – packages are $200 – receive a jersey for free.
“The driver is how to connect with fans,” he said. “I see it all as neutral because our costs are going up, but I see it creating interest in a marketplace, connecting a further bond with the fans, a season-long story with local media.”
Those benefits are all plausible, J.W. Cannon, senior director of sports alliances for American Cancer Society, said. However, Cannon said the Lights risk brand dilution if consistent elements aren’t in the jerseys and if the game and players take a back seat.
“It’s all about execution, particularly in how they tell the story beyond just the quirky jersey,” Cannon said. “Funky jersey games are a dime a dozen these days; tactics are similar from team to team. How will they differentiate?”
The jersey campaign is just the latest effort by the Lights, who were called “The Most Interesting Team in Sports” by Sports Illustrated in its first season. Along with the 17 jerseys, the team will also host a midnight game this summer, a nod to a former Las Vegas minor league hockey team that would play games at midnight.
An essential piece to the whole puzzle, as Cannon suggested, is that it doesn’t affect the 90 minutes on the field. The first two seasons haven’t seen much on-the-field success, but Lashbrook hopes this season will be different, and the uniforms might help.
“It creates more interest so that on-field or off-field, there’s a symbiotic relationship,” he said. “All of these promotions play into how do we get people in the stadium and then start winning?”


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SPOTLIGHT ON SUPPLIERS: HELLERMANNTYTONadmin
Our business wouldn’t be a business without the strength and support of our partners and suppliers. Which is why we are starting a monthly showcase of select and valued suppliers.
This month we focus on HellermannTyton who have just celebrated their 50th anniversary in South Africa, a year before we celebrate our 50 years in business.
For the last 40 years HellemannTyton has been supplying the Plumstead Electrical Group with test instruments, electricians tools, cable ties, insulation tapes, cable glands and terminations, heat shrink, cable securing and cable identification systems. Through these quality products and by being a trustworthy supplier they have helped shape the South African electrical industry into what it is today. They are the only reliable cable tie manufacturer in South Africa and now export products worldwide as a result.
We thank this steadfast brand for the support over the years as well as their quality products and look forward to 50 more years of working together.


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A look at premerger initiatives from the two retailers
What does the deal mean for c-stores?
Extension should minimize transition period during which consumers...
More than 1,000 smaller-format stores slated to open in U.S.
The big-box retailer taps tech and employees to spur progress
CSP Daily News examines Amazon’s first forays into grocery...


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Hulu has announced it has purchased the 10% minority stake from AT&T (WarnerMedia), for $1.43 billion.
Disney already held a 60% stake in Hulu following their purchase of 21st Century Fox. Leaving Comcast with the other 30% percent, with the additional 10% purchase, that looks to have increased Disney’s ownership up to over 66%.
The transaction did not require any governmental or other third-party approvals and was simultaneously signed and closed.
“We thank AT&T for their support and investment over the past two years and look forward to collaboration in the future. WarnerMedia will remain a valued partner to Hulu for years to come as we offer customers the best of TV, live and on demand, all in one place.”
Said Hulu CEO Randy Freer.
This does leave a question mark over if WarnerMedia content will continue to be available on Hulu once they launch their own streaming service. Comcast have stated they aren’t looking to sell, but now the streaming service is heavily controlled by Disney, they might want to invest more in their own platform when that launches.
AT&T will be using the money from the sale to help reduce its debt following its $85-billion acquisition of Time Warner.
Last week, Hulu was apart of an Investor Day presentation, where Disney revealed more details on its direct to consumer strategy, which includes the launch of Disney+. This also makes shuffling shows and movies around between Disney+ and Hulu, easier to do. Especially as Hulu is going to be the home of Disney’s more edgier content such as shows from ABC and FX, plus movies from 20th Century Fox.
Are you happy to see Disney gain more control of Hulu?


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It's been busy out there in the world this week. Agricultural industries have been showing interest in new technology to make farming far simpler. Major financial institutions have decided to take on personal finance startups over security concerns. And developers' environmental impacts will be a decision for the people. Check out what's happening this week in the news.
This week, there is a lot that affects small businesses in the Golden State. Chipped credit cards become the mandatory standard in card processing. Micro-loans get identified as not only a necessity in the US, but also a growing availability. And it looks like there is some realization that minimum wage laws impact more than just the employees earning the new wage, and the "Most Liberal Chamber of Commerce in America" is even beginning to realize that. Here's what's happening this week.
For the month of April we will be running our 30 Days of Answers series, where we answer 30 of the biggest questions people have for us before they do business with us. Today is day fourteen: If I Have A Tight Budget, Can You Help Me?


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SIX Swiss Exchange has made an investment in crypto-trading specialist Omniex, which will provide the front-end platform for its upcoming digital asset exchange SDX.
The Swiss stock exchange said it has signed an agreement with Omniex to give its customers secure access to digital assets and SDX-listed assets through the company's trading platform. SIX has also become an Omniex shareholder, although the terms of the investment have not been disclosed.
Hu Liang, CEO and co-founder of Omniex, launched in 2018, was formerly the senior vice president of State Street and founder of the emerging banking technology center that focused on crypto, blockchain and other emerging technologies.
“Together with SIX, we want to offer an end-to-end solution for trading and settling digital assets, including the SDX, once operational live. It will take some time, but the cornerstones are there to accelerate the wider acceptance of native digitized assets, "said Hu Liang, CEO and co-founder of Omniex.
SIX confirmed plans to launch SDX (SIX Digital Exchange) in July 2018 to offer institutional clients trading, settlement and custody of cryptocurrencies. In September, SDX released its DLT-based prototype for trade and settlements with the full release starting this year in the fourth quarter.
"With SDX as the digital exchange infrastructure under development, the partnership with Omniex to deliver the front end for customers, both for existing crypto currencies &, in the future, for SDX listed assets, is an important addition to the digital ecosystem, "said Thomas Zeeb, head of securities and stock exchanges and member of the board of directors of SIX.
. (TagsToTranslate) SDX (t) SIX (t) Omniex (t) Crypto (t) DLT (t) Investment


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C4L has announced their recent data centre footprint expansion, providing customers with increased choice when choosing a data centre location. C4L can now provide businesses with access to 100 UK colocation facilities and over 300 globally.
C4L have reacted to increasing customer demand for global data centre locations by dramatically expanding their portfolio. At each of the data centres C4L can offer a range of colocation options including; cages, suites, full, half and quarter racks, as well as connectivity and cloud solutions.
Simon Mewett, CEO at C4L comments “We’re always striving to stay at the forefront of our industry, and being able to offer our customers unlimited choice is imperative to C4L. By having access to over 300 data centres globally we can be completely flexible around the needs of our customers. At each of the data centres we offer complimentary solutions which enable us to cater for every IT infrastructure requirement.” He continues “Over the course of the year we will be expanding our network reach even further.”


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Dick Harmon: Dick Harmon: Unprecedented demand has made it hard to buy .22 bullets, other ammunition
“Instead of coming in and buying a couple of boxes to go shoot in an afternoon, people are coming in and buying four to six bricks of .22 shells.”
Parshall had a competitor in the business tell him of a woman in her 80s who comes in once a month when she gets her Social Security check and buys a couple of boxes of .22 shells. He asked if she shot often. “Oh, no. I just remember my dad in the years of the Depression buying bullets because he traded them for milk and eggs just like money. I buy them and put them on my food storage shelf just in case.”
Parshall says the old $15 price for a brick is now $25 to $30 — if you can get it — but he’s seen it go for $90 to $200. He says prices will come down, but like gasoline prices, once they’ve gone up, they never will come all the way back down.
How nuts is it?
Parshall cites popular gun manufacturer Ruger, which sold a half-million guns last year but shipped a half-million guns by March of this year and had orders for two million more, including Parshall's order of a couple of thousand that got canceled. Ruger couldn’t keep up with the demand.
“We saw a tidal wave of customers,” said Harrison. “Our business, up until March, had been beyond what we’ve ever had during a stretch that began last November.” Gunnies sold a myriad firearms, from concealed carry guns, tactical weapons, self-protection shotguns and high-capacity weapons to .22s. “We had days we’d come to work and the line would be out the door and into the parking lot. And that line would be solid for two or three hours.”
Parshall said if he’d sold two to three AR-15s in a week, that was a normal expectation a year ago. But one day in November 2012 he sold 20 and would have sold more if he had them.
Harrison says shoppers can get ammo if they're patient. Big retailers seem to have more success obtaining a regular flow of .22 shells.
“Other calibers are coming back and you can find the .22 shells in a few visits. It just might not be there when you want it,” said Harrison.
So, you want to plink a few cans, or sight in with targets at the range?
Good luck. The .22 shell used to be a simple thing to find.
That was yesteryear.
Dick Harmon, Deseret News sports columnist, can be found on Twitter as Harmonwrites and can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Let’s face it. Home appliances are monotonous. Sure, some are sleek but they are hardly eye-catching. This is where Samsung Bespoke Appliances aims to make a difference. Samsung has recently introduced its bespoke appliances in Singapore, starting with eight Disney-themed designs, featuring endearing characters like Mickey, Donald, Pluto, and more.
Developer of Genshin Impact has revealed a collaboration with Samsung for Genshin Impact-themed Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Buds2 Pro, featuring the Secretary to the Liyue Qixin (Seven Stars of Liyue), Ganyu.
The Samsung and Maison Margiela collaborative Galaxy Z Flip4 that was teased a couple of days ago went official yesterday (November 9). Officially dubbed Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Maison Margiela Edition, we got most of the details right except for a few. Additional details were offered with the official announcement too.
Yesterday, Samsung teases a collaboration with French luxury fashion house Maison Margiela. The tech that is going to get the Parisian haute couture treatment is a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4. The teaser includes a video that shows an all-white flip phone cover of sorts transitioning into what appears to be an x-ray image of the …
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is considered pretty premium as it is, IMHO but somehow that is not quite in Samsung’s books. It has once again teamed up with China Telecom to reveal a fancier (read: higher-end) version of the Fold known as W23.
Throw everything you know about soundbars because the Samsung HW-S801B 3.1.2ch Soundbar with Wireless Dolby Atmos/DTS:X is going to blow your mind. First thing first. If the size of the current soundbars puts you off, then the Samsung HW-S801B is your savior.
After making smartphones with a big display in a relatively compact factor (i.e. folding phones) a norm, Samsung now wants to do the same for PC too. At the recent Intel Innovation 2022 Keynote, Dr. JS Choi, president and CEO of Samsung Display, showed off “the world’s first 17-inch slidable display for PCs globally.”
OK. Maybe having a TV-size gaming monitor is a little much but I sure don’t mind a gaming monitor that has the features of a TV. In fact, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 Gaming Monitor, which is Samsung’s first OLED gaming monitor, one up the TV.
Samsung users in South Korea who are into soccer will be glad to know that there is a special soccer-themed Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4. Released in South Korea in partnership with KT, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 National Edition Bundle, as it is called, celebrates the South Korean national football team that is preparing …
It felt like the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3, Samsung‘s ruggedized Tab, was revealed not too long ago but in reality, that was nearly two years ago. This means it would appear that consumers have been stuck with the Galaxy Tab Active3 for the longest time. Well, not any longer because the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 …


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Honda Cars India has announced the Great Honda Fest 2017. It will run from September 1 to October 31, 2017, and apart from the usual offers like cash discounts or Honda Assure subscription at Re 1, customers will also get a chance to win a trip for two to the US.
On the Brio, Honda is offering benefits up to Rs 21,200, including Honda Assure membership at Re 1 on all variants. On the Amaze petrol- and diesel-powered S, S (O), SV and VX variants that were manufactured in 2017, one can get offers up to Rs 50,000, including Honda Assure membership at Re 1 and accessories worth Rs 26,000.
On the Jazz, Honda is offering benefits up to Rs 42,000, including Honda Assure membership at Re 1 and a cash discount of Rs 15,000 on all petrol- and diesel-powered variants. Lastly, the BR-V gets a cash discount of Rs 1 lakh for the VX variant (petrol and diesel).
Customers buying a new Honda car during this period will be eligible to win a trip to the US for two by entering the ‘Adventure of Space, Earth & Ocean’ contest via Honda India’s website. The contest winner will get to visit the Kennedy Space Center, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Honda says that this celebratory offer can be availed at all authorised dealerships across the country. The selection and announcement of winners will be conducted after the contest period is over.
Disclaimer - Discounts vary from city to city. Please check and bargain with your dealer for exact discounts, which may not match the figures quoted here. All prices ex-showroom, Delhi.
Also read: Best new car discounts this month


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Both Sides of the Story
China is often blamed for its trade imbalance with the US. But what’s the other side of the story?
Click on a card to find out.
to $367.4 billion.
Statistics used to measure trade flow usually pin the entire trade value of a product to the last place it was exported from, even if its components come from other countries.
America doesn’t benefit much from exchanges with China.
The US runs a large trade surplus with China in services. Although small compared to the trade deficit in goods, this surplus is rapidly growing, increasing from an annual average of less than $2 billion from 2000-2008 to $37.4 billion in 2016.
Most Americans don’t benefit from trade with China.
Chinese products lower prices for US consumers by 1-1.5%. The benefits from Chinese trade allowed the average American household to save $850 in 2015, when median household income was $56,500.
The US-China trade imbalance is deliberately caused by the Chinese.
The US-China trade imbalance is not deliberately caused by the Chinese. It’s due to divisions in the global value chain and structural differences between the industries in the two countries.
China is a currency manipulator that actively devalues the yuan to boost its own exports.
In the past year, if there was any manipulation of the yuan by China, it was to prevent it from devaluing against the US dollar – the opposite of what it would need to do to boost its exports.
Help President Trump Decide
Some quarters in America have urged US President Donald Trump to engage in a trade war with China. Others have counseled him to work with China to reduce the trade imbalance. Which way should President Trump decide?
● After the Section 301 investigation by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the US could decide to take protectionist measures against China. Tariffs could be imposed against Chinese goods and services, even perhaps the 45% tariff Trump proposed on the campaign trail.
● Chinese imports to the US would decrease, and many jobs in China will be lost.
● However, because of how much higher wages are in America, it’s unlikely this will result in many new US jobs. Instead, Americans will have to import goods from other countries, like Mexico and Indonesia.
● Because Chinese goods are usually cheaper, however, buying goods from other countries will likely cost ordinary American consumers more. In the book, A Year Without “Made in China,” an American family vowed not to buy any made-in-China products for a year, but they found it increasingly difficult to meet basic living expenses.
● China will retaliate by imposing tariffs on American goods and services, resulting in a loss of many American jobs, particularly in services.
● Relations between both countries will suffer considerably, making it much harder for them to work together on issues of common concern like regional security and climate change.
● The US could decide to work with China to reduce the trade imbalance, something the latter has said it’s open to doing.
● China could be persuaded to increase imports from the US.
● Because China has a lot less arable land compared to the size of its population, it makes sense for it to import more agricultural produce from the US, including rice, chicken, and beef.
● Since the US is now a net exporter of oil, China could import more of its oil from America, instead of from, say, Saudi Arabia.
● There is a great demand in China for high-tech American products. However, the US has export restrictions on some high-tech products to China. For example, China imported $227 billion worth of semi-conductor chips from around the world in 2016, but only 4% came from the US because of US export barriers. If the US were to liberalize export controls on China to the level of control applied to Brazil, the trade deficit could drop by as much as 24%. Easing such restrictions would also result in growth in high-skilled jobs in America.
● President Trump has pledged to increase spending on American infrastructure, but has limited funds to use for that purpose. A possible source of these funds is China. Chinese national savings exceed 40% of GDP each year.The US could be a major investment destination. Whilst there are legitimate national security concerns about foreigners owning US infrastructure, the fact is that this infrastructure is located in the US, and its government could always intervene if national security is threatened.
● To this secure infrastructure investment, the US and China could even sign a bilateral investment treaty, including provisions for any possible disputes.
● Relations between both countries will improve, making it much easier to work together on global problems.
● The US could take any unresolved disputes with China to the WTO Dispute Settlement body. This body could punish China for any practices that violate its treaty obligations. China would have to abide by its rulings or risk its trade privileges.


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As salon closure orders continue across the country, leaders in the industry are offering relief, discounts and advice to hairstylists who’ve been sidelined now for weeks. Making good on its “color care with a conscience” philosophy, ColorProof Color Care Authority is encouraging stylists to stay positive and connected during this time.
“The stylist community has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and we are looking at all avenues to see how we can offer our support,” founder ColorProof Jim Markham explained to The Tease.
Learning with ColorProof
Similar to others in the industry, ColorProof is providing digital education through IGTV, Facebook and online classes. Their goal is to create “positive content to empower [the] community and encourage self-care and wellness […] while serv[ing] as a small distraction from all the negativity on the news.”
Keeping That Connection to Clients
Staying sharp with online education is important, but the brand understands that it isn’t everything. ColorProof has emphasized hairstylists should do everything they can to maintain relationships with their clients.
“The number one thing hairdressers can do right now is stay connected to their clientele,” Markham explained. “We are in the business of people, and it has never been more important to keep your client ties strong. Give them a call, reach out via social media or text. Perhaps schedule a FaceTime, Skype or Zoom chat to make it all the more personal.”
He continues, “Clients are missing you, too, and will be in definite need of a salon visit as soon as this is all over. Now is NOT the time to be shy. Reaching out will help show your loyalty and solidify your stylist/client relationship.”
To keep these relationships strong, Markham recommends that you “host a virtual happy hour or morning coffee chat” for clients. He believes that “these can even lead to an opportunity to sell some products, [so] during your chat, offer personal consultations and recommend treatments like using a mask you love and can sell.”
“Another opportunity is to create at-home color kits for your clients. You know each of your clients’ formulas, preferences and needs, making it easy to put together customized root touch up kits, accompanied by a short video tutorial on how to apply.”
One last thing ColorProof wants stylists to remember is to remain positive during this time. “We will emerge from this. And when we do, it will be with a renewed sense of appreciation and dedication to doing what we love. We are all in this together.”
Additionally, the brand is working to donate over $200,000 of shampoo and conditioner kits to health care first responders and local homeless shelters.