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Indigenous apparel company Bearded Genius recently hosted the best in fashion and lifestyle to an exclusive invite-only party in Lagos the celebrate the launch of its new collection ASIKO V.
The brand which is focused on contemporary apparel and men’s grooming products periodically runs a collection series titled ASIKO. This 5th collection utilizes brilliant fragments of Nigerian culture by juxtaposing them with style cues synonymous with global streetwear culture.
According to the brand:
Last year being the 5th collection themed; capsule collection, we fostered and was elated to work with some of our generations fashion-forward streetwear designers; Mr. Garbe, Rilwan Bawa, Fadeke and Crescencio Ferreira, who have helped in redefining the streetwear industry.
Bearded genius is a definition of tribal urban wear and we are proud to produce each outfit in Nigeria. While this may not seem like a big deal, it is a milestone and one that illustrates what the brand stands for, which is to promote Made-in Nigeria products.
The ASIKO V collection delivers the purest sense of tribal street fashion in the midst of the new fashion climate in Nigeria and beyond.


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Excel London and its official caterers Levy Restaurants UK (LRUK) have launched a new catering marque, ‘Excel London Hospitality’, which, the partners say, represents “a modern vision of venue hospitality, putting food and drink at the heart of the visitor experience”.
With hospitality at Excel formerly coming under Levy’s ‘Leith’s’ event catering family, the new branding presents all services as fully integrated into Excel’s core offering.
Excel London Hospitality will offer food and drink services including gala dinners, bespoke event restaurants, stand catering, and retail catering both in-hall and in Excel’s central Boulevard.
The retail offering has seen large-scale developments at the venue over the past 12 months, with the development of new in-house brands complemented by a range of high-street names.
New food and drink concepts open in the venue include ‘The Bridge’ table service American-style restaurant, bar and linked express ‘Burgers & Dogs’ outlet. Designed to encourage visitor dwell time, The Bridge is open for table-service breakfast and lunch and can be used for exhibitor parties and post-show entertainment.
Excel’s postcode and location in the historic Royal Docks are also showcased at Excel by ‘E16’, an artisan coffee shop and working bakery championing small batch artisan production and providing bread and patisseries throughout the venue.
Throughout spring and summer 2016 the venue will see a number of new restaurants open, including ‘white label’ units, which can be themed and tailored to individual event audiences and a sports bar.
James Mark, executive director at Excel London, says: “The launch of the new Excel London Hospitality brand reflects Excel’s vision of food and drink as an integral element in achieving successful event outcomes… By investing to create exciting new spaces and concepts we are enhancing the visitor experience and helping both event organisers and exhibitors to achieve their objectives.”

domain: news


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Tesla Halted, Chips Pile Up as Shanghai Lockdown Upends Business
Tesla Inc.’s factory shutdown has stretched out to at least 12 days and much-needed semiconductors are piling up at manufacturers.
(Bloomberg) -- Tesla Inc.’s factory shutdown has stretched out to at least 12 days, much-needed semiconductors are piling up at manufacturers amid a shortage of truck drivers, and bankers are camping in their offices as Shanghai’s Covid-19 lockdown disrupts businesses in China’s financial hub.
Cases are at a record in the city, now the epicenter of China’s worst outbreak since the start of the pandemic, and the lockdown has been extended indefinitely. While the country is sticking to its rigid Covid-Zero containment playbook, President Xi Jinping’s request to limit the economic consequences is becoming harder to achieve in the face of the highly transmissible omicron variant.
The lockdowns and virus containment measures threaten to slow China’s economic growth this year to below the government’s 5.5% target, according to Bloomberg Economics. They also risk further havoc on already stressed global supply chains, with companies from chip giant Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. to a South Korean noodle maker caught up in the fallout.
Electric-car pioneer Tesla on Tuesday told some suppliers and workers that its Shanghai factory -- which has been shuttered since the city went into a phased lockdown on March 28 -- will remain closed at least through Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public.
Following a separate a two-day shutdown in March, Tesla has now lost 12 days of production in recent weeks, including this week’s holiday. The first Gigafactory outside Tesla’s home country produced half of its vehicles last year, and builds cars not just for the lucrative Chinese market, but for export to Europe and elsewhere in Asia.
A spokesperson for Tesla China didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Staff at banks and fund management firms that were called back to work before the lockdown started remain stuck in their offices.
One fund manager said he and colleagues plugged up a floor drain on concern it could facilitate viral spread after a few people on the level above tested positive but were delayed moving into a quarantine facility, mandatory for all Covid cases in China regardless of severity.
Workers are worried about an outbreak emerging, and while the firm has been trying to come up with a solution it’s a difficult problem to solve, said the person, who asked not to be named talking about private company matters.
What Bloomberg Economics says:
Shanghai’s lockdown has dealt a blow to China’s economy. But an out-of-control outbreak would lead to an even worse outcome. Choosing lockdowns -- despite their growing costs -- suggests China is not yet ready to take an alternative Covid exit path. -- Eric Zhu, economist
Some companies, including chip giants Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and SMIC, as well as iPhone assembler Pegatron Corp. have been able to keep plants running by implementing a so-called closed loop system where workers live on-site and are tested regularly. For the likes of SMIC, a new headache is emerging: securing the trucks they will need to get their chips to clients. A representative for SMIC declined to comment on logistics.
South Korean companies are also being affected, with operations at the Shanghai plants of noodle maker Nongshim Co., confectionery manufacturer Orion Corp. and cosmetics producer Amorepacific Corp. suspended since early this month. The companies all told Bloomberg News that they have been following instructions from local authorities and don’t know when they can reopen.
Singapore’s Spindex Industries Ltd., which supplies precision components used by the automobile industry, has extended the closure of its Shanghai plant until April 10 or whenever local authorities allow work to resume. The uncertainty over the extension of the lockdown is expected to have a negative impact on the company’s financial performance, it said in an exchange filing.
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.
With assistance from Bloomberg


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Aside from the electrical extension wire and cellular phone cord
around her neck, scene of the crime operatives (Soco) also found a fatal wound on her forehead.
"We had a meeting to go to, so I told him to get up and he flipped and grabbed the nearest thing to him, which was a phone cord
One particular poster from a previous year's campaign included a tubular slide with a phone cord
going up through it.
Food expert Alton Brown compares the structure of proteins to old-fashioned coiled phone cords
. At the beginning of bread making, a gluten molecule is much like a phone cord
that's been well-used.
Police said the intruder tied the victim's arms behind her back with a phone cord
and asked her for a pen and paper so he could write down her cell phone number.
I have a phone cord
dangling out the third floor window so we can continue to take calls.
Two girls receive the same favor in Girls, with red dots covering their breasts, while in Phone Girl a solitary siren crosses her legs around a phone cord
. In Bubbles, another Bambi bimbo seems duly excited by her explosive bottle of bubbly.
With the twin communication accessories--a modular phone cord
and a pair of acoustic cups--there isn't a phone anywhere that can't somehow be used as an access point.
She said he choked her with the phone cord
until she saw white dots and nearly passed out.
When he leaves the room I try to call the police but he comes back, rips the phone cord
from the wall, then goes back to the pub.
Then there is the Comrex Hotline--a magic red box the size of a container of corn flakes into which I plug a mircophone (in the front) and a phone cord
(in the hack).
After installing the software (handled by a wizard), all the user has to do is plug the phone cord
into an available USB port and the phone is ready for use.
I heard a rumor that you got in a fight and she tied you up with a phone cord
I have a phone cord
, and I paid cash for the supplies."
And you may nearly choke on the phone cord
when Taylor reveals that - in addition to being a unicyclist, an antique dealer, a successful bicycling coach and a ukulele/banjo/mandolin/lap steel/harmonica/piano and God-knows-what-else player - he used to be a tightrope walker.


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Passenger vehicle sales fall 2.7% in July
Passenger vehicle sales decreased 2.71% year on year to 290,960 units in July mostly due to high base effect
New Delhi: Passenger vehicle sales in India fell 2.7% in July because of the high base effect of last year when auto makers replenished dealer inventory after the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Sales also fell because demand historically has stayed tepid in July as customers wait to order new vehicles in the upcoming festival season.
Car sales fell 0.45% to 191,979 units, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Sales of utility vehicles dropped 8.95% to 79,092 units.
“In passenger vehicles, last year, there was a spike in volumes which continued till September,” said Sugato Sen, deputy director general of SIAM. He said sales may remain subdued until September, “which is not of any concern.”
Total vehicle sales in July grew 7% to about 2.24 million units because of the high base factor. A strike by truck fleet owners also hit the supply of vehicles.
Automobile sales in India are counted as factory dispatches and not retail sales.
Commercial vehicle sales, especially in the heavy- and medium-duty vehicles sectors, continue to grow in double-digit despite apprehensions about a possible drop after the government announced new axle norms for heavy- and medium-duty trucks.
On the back of sustained improvement in economic activity, sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles increased 24.5% to 28,299 units in July.
Unlike passenger vehicles, the commercial vehicle segment is still a couple of months away from experiencing the high base effect.
Light commercial vehicle sales rose 33% to 48,198 units.
Sales of motorcycles grew by 9.7% to 1.15 million units on the back of revival in demand in rural markets, which still accounts for the bulk of sales especially in the economy and executive segment.
On the other hand, scooter sales continued to be sluggish in comparison and rose 5.1% to 598,976 units during the month.
- RBI against independent regulator for payment systems outside central bank
- Germany’s transport authority orders Opel to recall 73,000 diesel vehicles worldwide
- RBI opens banking tap to ease liquidity crunch at NBFCs
- New RBI norms put mobile wallets on par with payments banks
- Imminent NBFC slowdown could lead to credit crunch
Editor's Picks »
- Policy rethink and higher volumes to aid container shippers
- DCB Bank delivers a strong Q2 but pressure on margins foreseen
- Havells India: Rising costs give a jolt to profitability in September quarter
- All’s well at Mindtree, except for high client concentration risk
- India’s rising steel demand is making companies starry-eyed


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The annual renowned Steam summer sale could begin as soon as tomorrow, a new report suggests.
An email from a Steam Support rep, sent in relation to a Left 4 Dead 2 sale, let slip that: “Please know that our Steam Sales are starting on July 11th.”
A picture of the email was posted on Imgur then shared on Reddit.
The email in the picture looks legit but may not be, as is always the case. But wouldn’t that be an awfully cruel and heartless joke to play? Who could do such a thing?
Strengthening the evidence is the date of last year’s Steam Summer sale, which started on 12th July. In 2011, the sale kicked-off a bit earlier, from 1st July.
The Steam summer sale typically offers a load of game bundles at huge discounts as well as price-cuts on individual games, and they’re changed daily. The ability to gift games to other people on Steam also means you needn’t necessarily buy for yourself or keep any of your money whatsoever.


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Wondering about how COVID-19 will affect your order?
We would like to highlight that all orders from March 13th to April 15th 2020 are experiencing severe delays.
All orders after April 15th will be delivered in usual delivery times.
You can check our delivery times here.
We appreciate your patience during these tough times, below is a letter from our CEO to all orders between March 13th 2020 to April 15th 2020.
My name is Andy Robertson and I am the CEO of BlueLightMentality.
I would like to start by expressing my gratitude for your order, as well as your ongoing patience in these uncertain times.
As a result of COVID-19, we are going through some delivery difficulties on orders from March 13th to April 15th, I would like to reassure you that your glasses have been manufactured and sent through export customs in China.
We have been in daily contact with our suppliers over the last few weeks and unfortunately, their 30-day delivery has not materialised as a result of a 90% reduction in global air freight.
We have tried to recall all BLM glasses so that we can expedite your shipment, but due to the status of shipments being ‘too far ahead’, this has not been possible.
The promising news is that The CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) have stated “ it will almost double the number of weekly cargo flights to 1,989 during the week of April 20-26, from 1,014 flights before the epidemic struck. Of the 1,989 flights, 939 had been converted from civil flights.” China last month said it would increase international cargo flight capacity and stabilise supply chains amid the coronavirus outbreak - (Source; Reuters News Agency).
Your glasses have official tracking numbers and you can see that they are waiting to be shipped from China.
The relationship we share with our customers is something we are extremely proud of and would never jeopardise. Your 30-day money-back guarantee still stands and when your glasses arrive you can send them back to our UK office and receive a full refund.
Finally, I want to apologise for the delay and genuinely say thank you for your understanding through these tough times.
I hope you are all staying safe. We will all get through this.
There is some “Blue Light” at the end of the tunnel!


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Vijay Valecha, Special to Arabian Business April 22, 2022
And while the GCC is comparatively better off than other regions, inflation is very much a global issue nowadays, explained Valecha.
“Inflation is rising across the globe, and it is not a GCC-specific phenomenon. In particular, US Consumer Price Index rose 8.5 percent year-over-year in March, the most significant jump since December 1981 and an acceleration from February’s 7.9 percent rate,” he said.
“In this context, the 7.5 percent surge in inflation in Arab countries is not surprising,” added Valecha.
Given that Russia and Ukraine account for more than a quarter of the world’s trade in wheat – the price of which has increased from $7.58 at the beginning of January to $10.82 – the increasing food and energy prices in the Arab world can partially be attributed to that.
“Both Russia and Ukraine are vital suppliers of a raft of agricultural goods to regions including Asia and the Middle East and account. Moreover, both wheat and corn are primarily used as cattle feed across the globe, and as a result corn also has rallied due to the substitution effects. So this is a vicious cycle,” explained Valecha.
Rising fuel prices have impacted Dubai’s airlines but both Emirates and flydubai said they are taking measures to control ticket prices as much as possible.
“Emirates, like other airlines, has been impacted by the increase in fuel prices. We are watching developments on the price of fuel closely, and are working hard to offset escalating jet fuel costs wherever possible,” said an Emirates spokesperson.
“We continually review ticket prices, and adjust whenever necessary in line with market dynamics, the competitive environment, seasonal effects and travel demand recovery, consumer booking behaviour, jet fuel prices, along with a number of other factors,” continued the spokesperson.
Inflation within the GCC context
Central Banks are viewing the current scenario seriously, and major GCC nations are likely to witness a 200 basis points increase in benchmark interest rates, in line with the US Federal Policy, explained Valecha.
“Minutes of the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting showed that a half percent rate increase is possible in the next meeting. The report also indicated that it could reduce its bond holdings by about $95bn a month. Lower demand for bonds signifies lower bond prices and thus more high yields, which will also be reflected in the Arab world,” he said.
“In the GCC context, governments are enjoying the windfall of high oil revenues that would help reduce their deficits. As a result, all major Arab economies, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, could see a marked reduction in fiscal deficits in 2022,” continued Valecha.
Valecha mentioned tax rates as a GCC-specific factor influencing inflation.
“For example, Saudi Arabia had tripled the VAT rate in 2020, while Bahrain recently doubled it. Oman has already introduced VAT, and UAE is planning to introduce corporate tax in 2023,” he said.
“Taxes are inflationary as they increase the prices of goods and services. However, the GCC tax increases have the long-term objective of diversifying their economy and is a strategic move to transition to a post-oil economy. So the rationale behind the move cannot be questioned as the world is shifting to clean energy and Arab governments need to sustain themselves,” continued Valecha.
The inflation trend is unlikely to subside anytime soon, said Valecha citing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and supply chain disruptions as the main reasons for that.
“It doesn’t look like the geopolitical tensions will subside soon. So increased prices are here to stay, and high energy costs aggravate this scenario-supply-side bottlenecks in semiconductor chips have affected products ranging from mobile phones to automobiles. The blockages in the supply chain might continue for at least one more year as substantial capital investments are needed to expand the production capacity,” he said.
“Inflation or rising prices is a macroeconomic phenomenon, and once it happens, it could persist for some time. A decade back, China’s then Premier, Wen Jiabao, described inflation as a tiger that, once freed from its cage, is nearly impossible to put back,” added Valecha.Source:


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McDonald’s said it would give Charles Ramsey, the man described as the rescuer of three kidnapped Cleveland women earlier this month, free food for a year.
The move follows local Cleveland restaurants giving Ramsey free burgers for life, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
In a video that went viral on YouTube, Ramsey gave reporters a colorful account of saving one of the women, Amanda Berry, who was held in a Cleveland home for around a decade. Ramsey said that he was eating a McDonald’s Big Mac when he saw Berry trying to claw her way out of the home.
Two other missing women, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, were also rescued.
“I’m eating my McDonald’s, I come outside, I see this girl going nuts trying to get out of her house. So I go on the porch and she says, ‘Help me get out, I’ve been here a long time,’” Ramsey said in the video.
McDonald’s also donated $10,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, reported CNN.
"It was the best advert you could get -- Heroes eat Big Macs," one Twitter user wrote. Some users called on the fast food chain to give Ramsey free food.
Scott Kuhn of Driftwood Restaurant Group told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that Ramsey could get free burgers for life.
“We want to honor our local hero with local food. He stopped his meal midway through to help those women. We’re now making sure he has other opportunities to go out and fully enjoy his burger,” Kuhn said.


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Traffic police gave out 3,000 tickets to riders of electric bikes in 2015 – and intend to give out a lot more in the future – with the tightening of rules on where the bikes can be ridden and who can ride them. Last year, 47 percent of the tickets were given to riders who rode their bikes on sidewalks, with the rest given to riders who did not wear helmets.
Transport Ministry officials, police, and other groups have increased their war against electric bikes in recent months. In December, the Ministry instituted new rules whereby enforcement agents began seizing bikes that can travel 25 kilometers (15 miles) per hour or faster, as well as “souped up” bikes that were changed by purchasers to go faster. According to Ministry figures, the vehicles were responsible for hundreds of accidents last year, with many of the accidents happening on sidewalks, where many of the electric bike and scooter riders insist on riding.
According to the law, electric bikes that travel under 25 kph and have motors smaller than 250 watts are “street legal” without any further licensing or inspection. All of the electric bikes sold in the country adhere to these standards, but many of the purchasers of these vehicles, seeking to go faster, have their rides “upgraded” at workshops to go faster than the legal limit. The Ministry has been taking evidence from owners of these vehicles to track down the locations of these workshops, with the intention of closing them down.
Speaking at a safety event sponsored by police and the Ohr Yarok traffic safety organization last week, Yaron Be’eri, the head of the traffic department of the Israel Police, said that “after many years we are undergoing a change in this area. We have hired 50 new officers to deal with the problem. With more officers out on the street, we will be able to reduce the number of accidents involving electric bikes by increasing enforcement.”


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A new addition to the increasing list of lenders with a presence in the metaverse will be a decentralized bank that will cater to cryptocurrency transactions.
Meta Bank Defi stated on Monday that it is creating a new platform to leverage on the distinct advantages of decentralized finance and to promote the creation of simple and dependable digital banking procedures.
According to the website of the crypto project, it is the world’s first decentralized 360-degree solution bank that is venturing into the metaverse.
According to Meta Bank, the concept envisions a society in which “all people are equal and can live and work freely regardless of race, gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, language competence, or immigration status.”
A New Bank Is Coming to the Metaverse
According to Meta Bank, due to a lack of infrastructure and other resources to provide fast and effective internet financial services, online banking remains a time-consuming activity in the majority of developing countries.
Corporate banks and other financial institutions wield much too much power over private individuals’ money, and they have been known to priorities their own interests over those of the clients they are supposed to serve.
JPMorgan, the largest bank in the United States, said last month that it was the first to enter the metaverse, opening a lounge in Decentraland, a blockchain-based virtual world.
Along with the introduction of the Onyx lounge, the New York-based lender also released a whitepaper on how firms may leverage on virtual prospects.
And JPMorgan is bullish: the bank predicts that the metaverse will become a $1 trillion annual revenue market as its virtual worlds “infiltrate every sector in some form in the coming years.”
Several Virtual Realms
The metaverse is made up of multiple virtual worlds, the most prominent of which are browser-based Decentraland, the Sandbox, owned by Hong Kong-based Animoca Brands, and Roblox, popular with children and teenagers.
Users navigate these virtual worlds using digital avatars, where they can socialize, play games, buy lands and other real estate, view art, and shop, among other things.
According to Meta Bank:
“The objective of Meta Bank is to implement decentralized banking and to assist consumers in truly grasping the concepts of virtualization by introducing them to the metaverse and empowering individuals who can choose their own financial terms.”
Meta Bank stated that its web 3.0 plans go beyond a bank. They claim to be working on the creation of a mixed reality metaverse district that will span many platforms.
It will have a virtual bank, healthcare, gaming, and casinos, in addition to a virtual NFT marketplace, art, and entertainment. The bank will also have its own cryptocurrency, the $MBD.
Disclaimer: These are the writer’s opinions and should not be considered investment advice. Readers should do their own research.


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NEW YORK — Here are some vehicles debuting a the New York International Auto Show, which opens today:
ACURA TLX: Honda’s luxury Acura brand says the TLX, which replaces the TL and the TSX for 2015, has a sharper, sculpted look and Acura’s jeweled headlights. The TLX goes on sale later this year. Pricing wasn’t set, but the current TL starts at $36,000.
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY CONCEPT: Land Rover confirmed that it will bring a new family of vehicles, called Discovery, to market starting in 2015 with a small SUV called the Discovery Sport. The concept also hints at future Land Rover technologies.
BMW X4: BMW has a new competitor in the red-hot small SUV segment. The X4, sits slightly longer and lower than its sister vehicle, the X3, and has a slanted, coupelike roof.
NISSAN MURANO: Nissan has given the third generation of the Murano midsize crossover SUV a more modern design, nicer interior and better fuel economy than the previous version. It has sculpted sides, new lighting and a jet-inspired roof.
HYUNDAI SONATA: The 2015 Sonata ditches the curves in favor of clean, taut lines and a more premium look. The car has a firmer, more responsive feel.
MERCEDES S63 AMG 4MATIC COUPE: The high-performance version of the S63 coupe burns up the road with a 5.5-liter V-8 that gets 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. The car can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 186 mph. Mercedes shaved 140 pounds off the previous model by using more lightweight materials, including a lightweight lithium-ion battery and a composite braking system. That will help fuel economy.


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Limewire has just announced that they have signed Redeye Distribution to their new online store. Redeye have joined Ingrooves, Nettwerk Productions, IRIS and RouteNote in the new online store from Limewire.
The deal adds 20,000 tracks from over 200 labels, including their own in-house labels, Yep Roc Records, Eleven Thirty, and Bonfire. Redeyeâ€™s catalog of tracks by established artists such as Lisa Loeb, Donna Lewis, Martin Sexton, The Apples in Stereo, Widespread Panic, Afroman, Chuck D of Public Enemy, The Donnas, and 2008 Grammy winner Jim Lauderdale is complimented by titles from newer, developing acts such as the Billionaires, Liam Finn, T.H. White, Malajube, and Bell X1.


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Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECHONEWS to 80360, or email us Click here for details »
Overnight car break-ins in Billericay
Updated 5:50pm Monday 7th April 2014 in Echo News
TWO vehicles were broken into overnight and valuables stolen in a Billericay break-in.
Between April 3 and 4, the window of a white Ford Transit van was smashed in Post Meadow and a Dell laptop computer was stolen and a black Adidas bag.
Also, the lock on a silver Hyundai van in Homefield Close was forced and a brand new Makita drill set and a Black and Decker drill were taken.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Pc Emily Lurton at Basildon police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Comments are closed on this article.


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posted on 15 November 2015
by Asif Suria
Insider buying increased significantly last week with insiders buying $193.44 million of stock compared to $39.44 million in the week prior. Selling also increased with insiders selling $2.88 billion of stock last week compared to $1.36 billion in the week prior.
Sell/Buy Ratio: The insider Sell/Buy ratio is calculated by dividing the total insider sales in a given week by total insider purchases that week. The adjusted ratio for last week dropped down to 14.87. In other words, insiders sold almost 15 times as much stock as they purchased.The Sell/Buy ratio this week compares favorably with the prior week, when the ratio stood at 34.56.
We are calculating an adjusted ratio by removing transactions by funds and companies and trying as best as possible only to retain information about insiders and 10% owners who are not funds or companies.
Insider Sell Buy Ratio November 13, 2015
Note: As mentioned in the first post in this series, certain industries have their preferred metrics such as same store sales for retailers, funds from operations (FFO) for REITs and revenue per available room (RevPAR) for hotels that provide a better basis for comparison than simple valuation metrics. However metrics like Price/Earnings, Price/Sales and Enterprise Value/EBITDA included below should provide a good starting point for analyzing the majority of stocks.
Notable Insider Buys:
Beyond the top 5 purchases mentioned below, there were several other interesting insider purchases that did not make the list. Some of these purchases include the Chairman of copper mining company Southern Copper (SCCO) picking up an additional $5.2 million worth of stock, acluster of purchases by three insiders of fertilizer company CF Industries (CF), a purchase by the CEO of medical equipment company MiMedx (MDXG), purchases by a cluster of 5 insiders of ethanol producer Pacific Ethanol (PEIX) and a purchase by the CEO of footwear company Crocs (CROX).
1. Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR): $35.55
Shares of this operator of Burger King and Tim Hortons were acquired by 2 insiders:
Mr. Sicupira is a partner at Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital that teamed up with Warren Buffet to acquire Burger King and then merged the company with Tim Hortons. These two purchases follow a purchase by another director last week.
You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Restaurant Brands International Inc. here.
2. SolarCity Corporation (SCTY): $25.85
Chairman of the Board and 10% owner Elon Musk acquired 307,152 shares of this solar systems installer, paying $25.35 per share for a total amount of $7.79 million. These shares were purchased indirectly through a trust.
SolarCity has seen its stock drop nearly 45% in the last month, vindicating short-sellers like Jim Chanos (45% of the float was short as of October 30, 2015) who have claimed that the company is a subprime financing company. The entire sector has been in turmoil following lackluster results from companies like SunEdison (SUNE) that missed analyst expectations.
You can view the list of recent insider transactions for SolarCity Corporation here.
3. POZEN Inc. (POZN): $7.15
Chief Executive Officer Adrian Adams acquired 1,000,000 shares of this drug manufacturer, paying $6.55 per share for a total amount of $6.55 million. Mr. Adams increased his stake by 51.42% to 2,944,888 shares with this purchase.
You can view the list of recent insider transactions for POZEN Inc. here.
4. Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI): $23.35
Shares of this oil & gas pipelines company were acquired by 3 insiders:
You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Kinder Morgan, Inc. here.
5. NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (NRF): $17.5
Shares of this commercial REIT were acquired by 2 insiders:
You can view the list of recent insider transactions for NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. here.
You can view the full list of purchases from this Insider Buying page.
Notable Insider Sales:
1. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (VRX): $75.41
Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Pearson sold 1,297,399 shares of this Canadian pharmaceutical company for $78.48, generating $101.83 million from the sale.
These shares were sold as a result of a margin call by Goldman Sachs to pay off personal loans made to Mr. Pearson. We wrote the following about the company three weeks ago following an insider purchase by a director of the company.
"This purchase occurred as two transactions on October 21st, the day when the stock went for a wild ride and dropped more than 40% from a high of $148.66 to $88.50 before it was halted. The decline in Valeant stock was triggered by allegations by well known short-selling firm Citron Research that Valeant was creating "phantom sales" through speciality pharmacies and engaging in channel stuffing. Citron's research note titled "Valeant: Could this be the Pharmaceutical Enron?" certainly spooked investors as any reference to fraud and Enron is likely to do.
Valeant's response categorically denied Citron's allegations and the stock bounced back when it resumed trading. There are a number of players on both sides of this trade and for further color you can check out this Canadian fund manager's interview on BNN as well as Citron's founder calling Valeant's response amateurish on Bloomberg. Investors are anxiously awaiting Valeant's conference call scheduled on Monday to address Citron's allegations in more detail.
The stock was already under pressure over the last few months declining from a high of $263.81 on August 6 to current levels as a result of a federal investigation into the company for raising the prices of two of its drugs by 525 and 212 percent. These price increases came under increased scrutiny following the backlash suffered by Turing Pharmaceuticals when it shocked the nation by raising the price of a 62 year old drug by 5,000%."
You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. here.
2. Facebook, Inc. (FB): $103.95
Director Marc L. Andreessen sold 890,491 shares of Facebook for $107.94, generating $96.12 million from the sale. These shares were sold indirectly through a trust.
You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Facebook, Inc. here.
3. The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. (ULTI): $199.83
Shares of this software-as-a-service (SAAS) provider were sold by 6 insiders:
You can view the list of recent insider transactions for The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. here.
4. First Solar, Inc. (FSLR): $52.72
Shares of this solar energy company were sold by 9 insiders:
You can view the list of recent insider transactions for First Solar, Inc. here.
5. The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX): $31.95
Shares of this Oregon based railroad freight car equipment company were sold by 2 insiders:
You can view the list of recent insider transactions for The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. here.
You can view the full list of sales from this Insider Sales page.
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Ford Explorers Being Recalled For Faulty Roof
The roof rail covers for the Ford Explorers are now being recalled. The recall will affect the Ford Explorers between 2016 and 2019. Those model vehicles are at risk for a number of reasons. The maker now recognizes that the roof rail covers are faulty. They are at risk for detaching at a high speed on the road. A detached roof cover could cause a road hazard. It is also quite a shock to the driver who experiences it. That is why the brand name maker wants to recall those model vehicles. They hope that the recall will save a number of lives and prevent car damage too.
The recall will be valuable information for all the right reasons. It is estimated that around 620,000 Ford Explorers will be recalled. The project will impact those who want to drive the car itself. The recall comes with a notice for all the new drivers on the road. They can call a local dealership for more info about the recall itself. The info is distributed to help educate drivers and car buyers about the problem. New car buyers should be informed about the Ford Explorers in real time. They can stay updated by just following the news and requesting more info in time.
The price tag for the vehicles will be helpful for a lot of reasons. Most people want to get a refund for the recall effort. The maker is working to ensure customer safety out on the road. They realize the significance of the Ford Explorers being impacted. They want to help people save time and money with the recall effort. That explains why the dealerships are working with people to resolve the issue. That could keep people safe in real-time. They can trust the brand to help them.


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- How much do stockers get paid at Walmart?
- Is Walmart going to give bonuses?
- What is the average hourly wage of a Walmart employee?
- Does Walmart give a Christmas bonus?
- What is the lowest paying job at Walmart?
- Why is Walmart bad for employees?
- Which stores pay the most?
- How much does a Walmart employee make per month?
- What is the highest paying job at Walmart?
- Why is Walmart cutting hours 2020?
- What does Walmart OGP pay?
- What is Walmart starting pay 2020?
- Is Walmart raising wages in 2020?
- Is Walmart getting rid of dept managers?
- Do all Walmart employees get a bonus?
- What is the new WalmartOne app?
- Is Walmart giving out another bonus?
How much do stockers get paid at Walmart?
Average Walmart Stocker hourly pay in the United States is approximately $11.57, which meets the national average.
Salary information comes from 2,358 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months..
Is Walmart going to give bonuses?
24. It will be Walmart’s fourth special cash bonus paid to U.S.-based associates since the start of the pandemic and will bring Walmart’s total 2020 quarterly and special cash bonuses for its associates to more than $2.8 billion. … All U.S.-based hourly associates are eligible for the latest special cash bonus.
What is the average hourly wage of a Walmart employee?
$13.05 an hourWalmart.com pays its employees an average of $13.05 an hour. Hourly pay at Walmart.com ranges from an average of $10.77 to $21.05 an hour.
Does Walmart give a Christmas bonus?
In its announcement, Walmart said at least 1.5 million full- and part-time employees from Walmart and Sam’s Club working in the company’s stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers will receive about $388 million in special cash bonuses on Christmas Eve.
What is the lowest paying job at Walmart?
Cashier Cashiers1. Cashier. Cashiers at Walmart are responsible for scanning, bagging and loading merchandise at the checkout. Walmart cashier hourly wages range from $7 to $15, with the average falling at $9 an hour — making it one of the lowest-paying jobs at the company.
Why is Walmart bad for employees?
Walmart has faced issues with its employees involving low wages, poor working conditions and inadequate health care. Approximately 70% of its employees leave within the first year.
Which stores pay the most?
Keep reading for a look 16 of the highest-paying retail jobs in the US:Dillard’s: Sales Associate. … Trader Joe’s: Crew Member. … The Container Store: Sales Associate. … Amazon: Worker. … Safeway: Grocery Clerk. … Target: Warehouse Worker. … Shane Co.: Sales Associate. … Costco: Hourly Employee. Outside a Costco Wholesale storefront.More items…•
How much does a Walmart employee make per month?
How Much Do Walmart Cashier Jobs Pay per Hour?Annual SalaryMonthly PayTop Earners$65,000$5,41675th Percentile$34,500$2,875Average$35,728$2,97725th Percentile$21,000$1,750
What is the highest paying job at Walmart?
Automotive TechnicianAccording to our data, the highest paying job at Walmart is an Automotive Technician at $28,017,000 annually while the lowest paying job at Walmart is a Service Associate at $13,000 annually.
Why is Walmart cutting hours 2020?
Walmart is cutting operating hours at thousands of stores to give employees additional time to restock shelves and clean amid the coronavirus outbreak, the company said Saturday. … The changes will affect about 2,200 of Walmart’s 4,700 stores in the US.
What does Walmart OGP pay?
The typical Walmart Ogp Associate salary is $12. Ogp Associate salaries at Walmart can range from $11 – $13.
What is Walmart starting pay 2020?
About 165,000 Walmart supercenter employees are about to get more pay, but it’s coming with more responsibility for how their stores operate and look. In two key departments, bakery and deli, Walmart will pay the $15 minimum wage that retail workers have been targeting for years.
Is Walmart raising wages in 2020?
Starting wages are increasing for some jobs According to a Walmart news release, the company is going to be increasing the pay roughly 165,000 hourly employees. The 2020 Walmart pay raise has it increasing the starting pay for bakery workers from $11 per share to $15 an hour.
Is Walmart getting rid of dept managers?
Under Walmart’s current arrangement, many of those merchandising and pricing tasks are left to ASMs and DMs (department managers). Those roles will be respectively phased out in favor of smaller numbers of what Walmart will now call Coaches and Team Leads.
Do all Walmart employees get a bonus?
Full-time employees will receive a $300 bonus while part-time employees will receive a $150 bonus. Walmart and Sam’s Club associates working in company’s stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers will receive the bonuses. Drivers, coaches and assistant managers will also receive a special bonus.
What is the new WalmartOne app?
WalmartOne is an online portal designed explicitly for Walmart employees and workers to get direct access to work-related information. It is available online, whether for computer or mobile version (using Android or iOS system).
Is Walmart giving out another bonus?
This is the third special bonus Walmart has given to associates in 2020, totaling $1.1 billion in bonuses so far this year, in addition to the regular incentive it provides to frontline associates on a quarterly basis. … Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations will operate normal hours on Wednesday, Nov. 25.


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The Competition and Fair Trading Commission of Malawi (CFTC) has appealed to all local retail outlets to immediately recall tinned fish products from the market and provide a full refund to consumers who bought the canned pilchards.
CFTC executive director James Kaphale said recall comes because the product was “compromised’ on the production line when the sauce was added to the fish in the can, and “therefore could affect the safety of consumers.”
He said there was a canning deficiency which has made the product with the code ZST-29 and ZSC-29 unfit for human consumption.
Kaphale, a lawyer by profession, has warned that any supermarket which does not recall the defective product risks facing “appropriate sanctions” under the Competition and Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Protection Act.
Meanwhile, the Comesa Competition Commission (CCC) has warned consumers to exercise caution and avoid consuming the product.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by its director George Lipimile, CCC said the recall follows the outcome of an investigation by NRCS which revealed a deficiency in the canning process.
It reads: “It was found that some of the cans were compromised during the sauce filling step on the production line and, therefore, could affect the safety of consumers.” According to the statement, the recalled products were manufactured in 2019 by West Point Processors based in Cape Town.Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :


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Second Fintech Challenge Vietnam launched
Technology solutions in the fields of big data, artificial intelligence, financial outreach and cyber security are the focus of the second Fintech Challenge Vietnam (FCV), which was launched in Hanoi on August 13.
The programme is held by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) with support of the Mekong Business Initiative - a programme funded by the Australian Government and the Asian Development Bank. It will run until November this year.
According to SBV Deputy Governor Nguyen Kim Anh, the proramme’s corporate partners include several commercial banks like TP Bank, Vietcombank, Vietinbank and United Overseas Bank, and telecommunications companies with licences for payment intermediary services such as ViettelPay, and organisations who are seeking technology solutions to improve business efficiency as well as promote financial inclusion.
Fintech firms can apply to join the FCV 2019 until September 25 at fintech.mekongbiz.org. Applicants with the best solutions will have an opportunity to demo their products and services at the Demo Day scheduled for November 7.
Besides, Mastercard, a leading global payment and technology company, will help the two most excellent firms to present their solutions at the Singapore Fintech Festival to be organised the following week.
VinaCapital and ADB Ventures said they will make pilot investment worth up to 500,000 USD in any solution which has positive impact on financial inclusion in Vietnam.
Anh, who is also head of the organising board, expressed his hope that through the programme, domestic and foreign fintech companies will have chances to incubate and develop their breakthrough solutions and creative ideas, while promoting innovation, competitive edge and stronger collaboration in the finance-banking market.
Meanwhile, ADB Country Director for Vietnam Eric Sidgwick described the FCV, which draws the participation of State management agencies, commercial banks and fintech firms, as a unique mechanism to boost sustainable technology solutions so as to enhance finance and banking accessibility, and promote the effectiveness and safety of finance in the nation.
The SBV launched the first FCV in 2017 to spur innovation in financial services for greater financial inclusion in the country.
Major beauty expos slated for late August
Vietnam’s largest beauty trade event will be held at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City from August 22 to 24.
The event, the combination of the Mekong Beauty Show and Vietbeauty, has to date attracted more than 450 firms from 22 countries and territories, said the organising board at a press conference on the events on August 13.
A highlight at the shows will be a special pavilion “Beauty Made in Vietnam”, which presents Vietnamese cosmetics to foreign visitors and buyers. There will also be a zone introducing organic and natural brands to Vietnamese consumers.
The upcoming beauty expos are expected to help business update trends and business knowledge in the beauty industry.
A number of global brands wish to expand in the Vietnamese market through the events, including those from the US, France, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, and Singapore, among others.
Notably, a contest will be arranged at the event to honour outstanding Vietnamese beauticians and foster the country’s beauty industry.
Seafood exports to China on the mend
Vietnam’s seafood exports to China are expected to rise in the second half of this year to reach the 1.2 billion USD target for the whole of this year as China’s seafood demand is on the rise, and the escalating US-China trade tension is likely to create as an opportunity for Vietnamese exporters to increase their market share in China.
The Southeast Asian country saw the value of its seafood exports to China fall during January-June, owing to tightened inspections by Chinese authorities. In the six-month period, shipments dwindled 2.3 percent to 572 million USD, of which value gained from shrimp exports decreased nearly 5 percent. Meanwhile, the export revenue of tra fish and tuna rose 2 percent and 183 percent, respectively.
According to General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Truong Dinh Hoe, Chinese customs has tighten the trading of seafood products via unofficial channels, and enhanced inspections for those passing through official channels since May 1 when it took the charge of food safety management for imported products.
In the meantime, many small businesses were lacking the information, and were not well-prepared for the ban on exports via unofficial channels.
Authorities of both nations have already agreed that seafood exported to China must be produced by companies that are certified by Vietnam’s National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (Nafiqad). Besides, Vietnamese exporters must present a letter of certification on food safety granted by the Nafiqad for their batches.
The Nafiqad and the Chinese General Administration of Customs update and inform each other about qualified producers and exporters. The Chinese customs also demands that Vietnamese seafood must be in the list of 120 species which are allowed to be exported to China.
Furthermore, to enter the Chinese market, exporters must show quarantine certificates, certificates of origin, and packaging information in both English and Chinese as well as in line with China’s standards.
Several seafood exporters did not have a deep insight into the requirements, that is why their products failed to break into the market. The VASEP said Vietnamese fishermen have suffered a lot as their dried squid products have not been allowed to be sold to China via official channels.
To break the deadlock, besides understanding China’s import regulations, Vietnamese businesses should improve production facilities, better food safety and hygiene so that their seafood products are eligible to penetrate into the Chinese market, Hoe pointed out, stressing shipments via official channels must be prioritised to avoid risks in payments as well as cargos’ quality.
Even if producers are able to enter the market, they will face tough seas ahead. The higher speed of devaluation of the Chinese yuan than the Vietnamese dong against the US dollar is another challenge for the Vietnamese seafood sector as it will make made-in-Vietnam products become more expensive than those produced in rival nations like India and Ecuador.
Besides, Chinese consumers have preferred high-quality products that meet standards of others choosy markets like the US, the EU and Japan.
Therefore, many experts said it is hard for Vietnamese exporters to reverse their exports to the market in short term.
New policies hoped to facilitate investment in agriculture
The Government has issued a resolution to encourage businesses to invest in agriculture, as part of efforts to bring the Vietnamese agricultural sector into world’s top 15 and processing of farm produce into the global top 10 in 2030.
The resolution defines agricultural firms’ key role in promoting the sector’s production and enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese farm produce.
Several solutions were given in the resolution, including balancing credit for agricultural development and strengthening connectivity among banks and businesses.
The Ministry of Finance was asked to coordinate with ministries, sectors, localities and farmers to design favourable mechanisms for farmers and cooperatives to access land resources to form concentrated production and processing areas.
According to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, the new policies will motivate companies to invest in agriculture.
The ministry will build strategies, plans and projects to boost the sustainable growth of the sector, with priority given to expanding major products and the processing of vegetable, aquatic and wooden products, he said.
In the first six months of this year, 1,634 new businesses entered the sector, raising the total agricultural companies to nearly 11,000.
However, agricultural firms have accounted for only about 8 percent of the total enterprises of the country, while agro-forestry-fisheries companies make up a mere 1 percent of the total firms.
Meanwhile, the growth of the firms has yet to match the sector’s potential in land resources, ecosystem and labour resources.
Vice Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Cong Thang noted that 96 percent of businesses investing in agriculture are small- and macro-sized firms with modest capacity.
At the same time, Vietnamese agricultural production’s scale is small, with poor infrastructure system. The market for farm produce is unstable, while there is still a lack of tools for the prevention of risks for the sector.
Dam Quang Thang, Director of Agricare Vietnam, said localities should design smooth mechanisms and legal corridors in land accumulation to facilitate the application of high technology in agriculture.
They should support businesses to engage in national trade promotion programmes and update them with information on the international market, he stated.
However, experts said businesses must strengthen connectivity to form big economic groups with strong capacity and resources to bring high technology into production, reduce cost, enhance competitiveness and build strong trademarks for Vietnamese farm produce.
Shrimp exports expected to pick up in second half
Shrimp exports are expected to be strong during the rest of this year because countries tend to import more in the latter months of the year, with the free trade agreements Vietnam has signed boosting its exports.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), shrimp exports were worth 1.4 billion USD in the first half of the year, a year-on-year decline of 12 percent.
This was mainly due to a fall in imports by Vietnam’s key markets such as the US, EU and China, it said.
Exports to the EU, the largest buyer of Vietnamese shrimp, fell 25.9 percent to 300.5 million USD.
The UK, Germany and the Netherlands are the three main markets in the bloc, and exports to them fell by 9.5 percent, 12.5 percent and 50.2 percent.
Shrimp exports to China were down 4.9 percent to 233.5 million USD since the neighbouring country tightened its border trade policy and there was fierce competition from India and Ecuador.
China has increased its imports from India and Ecuador, who offer more competitive prices than Vietnam.
Vietnamese shrimp exports to China showed signs of increasing in May and June. India’s shrimp harvest season has ended, and Vietnam’s export to that country is expected to increase during the rest of the year, it said.
Exports to the US, the third largest importer of Vietnamese shrimp, dropped 2 percent to 250.4 million USD.
In the US market, Vietnam has encountered strong competition from India, Ecuador and China.
After declining for the first four months of the year, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the US edged up again in May and June. The association said exports in May and June were still down from the same period last year, but the fall was less steep than in the first four months.
Exports are now expected to gradually recover since many markets usually have high demand in the latter part of the year.
The US has imposed a 25 percent tax on seafood imported from China, including shrimp. This will be an opportunity for other countries, including Vietnam, to boost exports to the market.
Vietnam’s free trade agreements, including the EU-Vietnam FTA, are expected to boost seafood exports in the coming months.
Scheme approved to promote sharing economic model
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc recently approved a scheme on promoting the sharing economy.
Accordingly, measure groups will be implemented, focusing on ensuring an equal business environment among businesses operating in both sharing and traditional economic models; legitimate rights, responsibilities and benefits of those participating in the model of sharing economy, including service providers, users and platform providers.
The scheme will also encourage innovation, digital technology application and the development of the digital economy.
Businesses will be supported to adapt to the new development trend of the sharing economic model amid the rapid development of digital technology.
The scheme stresses that State management should ensure legal economic activities are developed, including sharing economic activities,in accordance with the development trend of the digital economy and the 4th industrial revolution.
Enterprises operating in the traditional form will get support to transform their business.
Under a decision issued by the PM on August 12, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will serve as a coordinator among ministries and sectors in amending, completing and supplementing laws and policies to suit requirements related to the management of sharing economic activities.
The Ministry of Finance will implement the application of new technologies in taxation, and issue and guide the implementation of policies on tax and tax management for the shared economy.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade will study and develop policies on developing sharing economic models to promote sustainable production and consumption; and e-commerce development policies.
The Ministry of Information and Communications was told to study contents related to cross-border information technology services to serve negotiations of integration commitments, while the State Bank will formulate regulations on cross-border payment transactions through payment gateways.
The Ministry of Science and Technology will review the legal system and issues related to State management on science - technology and innovation serving economic sharing model.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice will work with other ministries and sectors to clarify the nature of sharing economic activities in terms of civil or specialised fields.
Prime Minister instructs support for shipping firms
The Prime Minister has asked ministries and Government agencies to support maritime shipping firms.
The PM instructed the Ministry of Transport to collaborate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the State Capital Management Committee and other Government agencies to work with shipping companies – especially those with high shipping volumes – to improve their performance in accordance with Document 118/VPCP-KTN, issued by the Government Office on January 7, 2014.
At the same time, the Ministry of Transport was told to work with the ministries of Planning and Investment and Finance, the State Capital Management Committee and other agencies to help shipping firms use funding to develop their fleets.
Companies must also hasten their equitisation and strengthen their association with both domestic and foreign partners to raise their productivity and efficiency.
The Prime Minister also assigned the ministries of Transport, Finance, Planning and Investment and Justice, the State Bank of Vietnam, the State Capital Management Committee and relevant agencies to study policies to bolster the quality of the nation's waterway transportation system and report back to the Prime Minister in the first quarter of next year.
Vietnamese shipping firms, most of which are State-owned, have been performing poorly in recent years due to ineffective corporate governance and rising competition on international markets.
The Vietnam National Shipping Lines Corporation (Vinalines), one of the biggest shipping companies in the country, reported that its revenue in the second quarter of 2019 dropped 9 percent year on year to 5.56 trillion VND (239 million USD).
At the end of the quarter, the company posted a loss of 496 billion VND, up 325 percent from the previous year. It attributed the loss to the fact that the company earned less from its dividend payouts and also failed to sell its assets and ships.
Vinalines now has stakes in 20 companies and associates in 27 other firms. At the end of the second quarter, Vinalines recorded 2.05 trillion VND of cash and cash equivalents and 3.45 trillion VND in short-term assets. The company’s total borrowings were worth 8.1 trillion VND, including 5.36 trillion VND worth of bank loans.
Hau Giang sugarcane farmers struggling with difficulties
Two sugarcane plants in the southern province of Hau Giang have halted their operation, worrying local farmers.
Cao Trung Viet in Long Truong 2 Village, Long Thanh Commune, has 0.4 hectares of sugarcane which need to be harvested, but no traders want to buy them. Meanwhile, a lot of sugarcane has been damaged due to strong winds over recent days.
Viet has invested nearly VND40 million for the sugarcane farm over the past months.
Bui Thi Cuong, another local resident, said that her family’s 0.3 hectares of sugarcane have been harmed by strong winds, causing more difficulties for the sale.
According to Nguyen Long Thanh who has grown sugarcane for many years, sugarcane growers have faced with losses in recent years.
Phan Thanh Lam, deputy head of Phung Hiep District’s Board of Agriculture and Rural Development, the locality has 6,531 hectares of sugarcane. Of this, 574 hectares have been harvested, mostly being sold for making juice.
The province is home to three sugarcane plants. One of them has been closed due to environmental pollution, meanwhile, the other has also halted production.
Around 5,00 hectares of sugarcane has been turned to other kinds of crops. The locality has continued encouraging the locals to grow other crops to reduce losses.
Earlier, the Vietnam Sugar and Sugarcane Association called for help from the government as many of its members are facing bankruptcy. In a document to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the association proposed the prime minister to postpone the implementation of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement on Vietnamese sugar products scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2020.
ODA and concessional loan disbursement hits US$1.226 billion
Vietnam’s disbursement of official development assistance (ODA) and concessional loans in the first seven months of 2019 reached US$1.226 billion, official data has shown.
According to the Department of Debt Management and External Finance under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam signed three lending agreements with the Asian Development Bank worth US$333.4 million in the January-July period.
As of July 20, government debt payments were estimated at VND194.612 trillion (US$8.4 billion), of which VND164.491 trillion (US$7.1) was for domestic loans and the remainder was for foreign loans.
In the last seven months, the government did not provide any guarantee on domestic and foreign loan projects.
As of July 20, capital withdrawals from government-backed domestic projects were estimated at VND67 billion. Loan principal payments were estimated VND22.442 trillion (US$965 million) and interest payment was VND6.846 trillion (US$294.3 million).
For government-backed foreign loans, total withdrawals were VND4.903 trillion (US$210.8 million) while principal and interest payments were estimated at VND18.714 trillion (US$804.7 million).
New decree issued to promote rice exports
More than 40 businesses have been added to the list of rice exporters under the Government’s newly revised decree on rice export, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Import and Export Department.
The additional businesses are allowed to export rice thanks to the revised decree 107/2018/ND-CP, which came into effect recently, replacing decree 109/2010/ND-CP. The decree aims to solve problems and create the most open environment for rice businesses to develop.
The additions bring the country’s total number of businesses qualified to export rice to 146.
Deputy Head of the Import and Export Department Tran Thanh Hai said the new decree is a real policy breakthrough.
“The most important thing is that the decree creates a major change in export thinking,”Hai said.
Under the new decree, Hai said the conditions to become a wholesale business have been loosened. Businesses now can rent rice milling plants and warehouses, and are not required to own these facilities as they were under the old decree.
“This helps businesses save resources and take advantage of surplus facilities of other businesses, saving costs,” Hai said.
The new decree also allows for a number of businesses focused on organic rice and rice products with added nutrients to export without a specialised export licence.
High-tech FDI shouldn’t be taken for granted
Viet Nam has emerged as a destination for large tech firms as the trade dispute between the US and China continues to intensify with no end in sight. However, whether and how much Viet Nam can take advantage of the shifting FDI flow out of China remains to be seen.
“I’m afraid it doesn’t look very promising,” said Nguyen Duc Thanh, director of the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR), commenting on a claim by a former Japanese ambassador to Viet Nam that some 20,000 Japanese businesses in China were said to be on the lookout for alternatives.
Whether they go to Viet Nam, India or Indonesia or elsewhere will come down to said country’s business environment and quality of labour force, he said.
Among ASEAN countries, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are countries with better industrial infrastructure. India enjoys a significant advantage of having English as a common language and a massive young labour force. Viet Nam was but one among many options.
Apple supplier Taiwanese Pegatron, for example, signed a letter of intent to invest in a $1 billion factory in Indonesia instead of Viet Nam in May. While it’s safe to assume that FDI from tech firms will continue to flow into the country in the short term, major improvements to Viet Nam’s legal framework and investment environment must take place to sway the odds in its favour.
John Chong, CEO of Maybank Kim Eng said in order to take advantage of the shifting of FDI flow from tech firms Viet Nam must make investments to improve its labour force and infrastructure. In addition, the country’s financial sector must also quickly develop and adapt to make good use of the opportunities for growth.
In early August, Japanese-Taiwanese Sharp announced the construction of a new factory in southern Binh Duong Province. In an earlier development, South Korean LG decided to move its cell phone production to Viet Nam. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, Apple will also begin trialling its AirPods wireless earphones production in the country in a move to reduce reliance on China.
Figures released by the Department of Foreign Investment under the Ministry of Planning and Investment showed a surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the processing and manufacturing sector with US$14.46 billion, amounted to 71.5 per cent of total FDI into the country during the first seven months of the year.
FLC Group to build first modern urban area in Kon Tum
Property developer FLC Group has announced that it will begin construction of FLC Legacy Kon Tum, the first modern urban area in the Central Highlands region, on August 15.
The area is located on major routes Truong Chinh and Tran Nhan Tong, easily accessible to National Highway 24 that links Kon Tum with other Central Highlands provinces and the south central coastal region.
Covering 19ha, it will accommodate shop houses, boutiques, hi-end hotels and apartment buildings, schools, parks, an entertainment area and a shopping centre.
Earlier, FLC started construction of FLC Quang Ngai resort complex in Binh Son district, the central province of Quang Ngai on a total area of 1,026ha at an estimated cost of around 11 trillion VND (478.2 million USD) and FLC La Vista Sadec in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap.
Ministry proposes import tax hike on heavy trucks
The Ministry of Finance has proposed to increase import tax on complete built-up units (CBUs) of trucks weighing more than 45 tonnes from the current zero to 10 percent.
This tax level is equal to commitments under the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The proposal was listed in the draft circular on revising import tax on trucks and spare parts.
The ministry said the more than 45-tonne trucks have simple functions and configurations that most domestic enterprises can manufacture and assemble. The zero tax rate does not encourage local producers to make this type of vehicle as well as hinders them from competing with imported ones.
Meanwhile, the demand in Vietnam for the truck was 500 to 700 vehicles a year, mainly from brands of HOWO, BELAZ and VOLVO from China, Sweden and Eastern European countries.
Vietnam now has only assembly companies of the truck including THACO, HINO and TMT with capacity of some 2,000 trucks a year.
Last year, the country imported 117 trucks of more than 45 tonnes worth 19 million USD. In the first four months of the year, the country imported 254 trucks worth 43.8 million USD, double that of the whole of last year.
The ministry said the tax adjustment would contribute 1.9 million USD to the State budget.-VNA
ANZ expert optimistic about Vietnamese economy outlook
The Vietnamese government’s commitment to broad-based economic reforms bodes well for the country’s longer term prospects and look to have it on the path to upper middle-income status, held Khoon Goh, head of Asia Research at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ).
In an article on bluenotes.anz.com, Goh noted that Vietnam’s gross domestic product growth in the first half of 2019 was solid, particularly considering the downturn in global trade and the impact of African swine fever (ASF) on the agriculture sector.
As a result, ANZ Research maintains its full-year 2019 GDP growth forecast for Vietnam of 6.7 percent. Although this is lower than the 7.1 percent growth rate achieved in 2018, it reinforces Vietnam’s place as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, he stated.
As Vietnam continues to reap the benefits of past reforms and commit to further ongoing reforms, the country is on track to double its per capita gross national income from 2,400 USD in 2018 to 4,800 USD by 2028, graduating to upper middle income status.
He held that there is a need for the country to manage the strong FDI inflows to ensure adequate resource allocation while preventing overheating. Meanwhile, the government’s shift towards a focus on attracting new-generation FDI is essential to ensure sustainable economic development, according to Goh.
Growth in Vietnam’s services sector has remained robust at 6.83 percent year on year in the second quarter, as strong wage growth and growing urbanisation helped boost wholesale and retail trade.
Expanding manufacturing and external trade activity has also ensured strong growth for both the transport and warehouse sectors, while the financial services sector continues to benefit from growth in the overall economy, noted the expert.
One area that will require increasing policymaker attention is demographics. Although the working age population is still growing in absolute numbers, it peaked in 2015 as a proportion of the total population.
Vietnam is aging, the number of people over the age of 60 will rise rapidly, resulting in the dependency ratio doubling within 20 years. This is one key reason why ANZ Research expects to see a slowing in Vietnam’s medium-term potential growth rate towards 6 per cent over the next decade.
Managing this structural change requires timely measures in areas such as the retirement age and pension reforms.
If successful, such reforms could be sufficient to move the country into the upper-middle income category, he concluded.
Machinery, packaging increasingly important in F&B sector
The increasing demand for hygienic foods and beverages (F&B) with traceability is putting more pressure on F&B producers, requiring them to continuously invest in modern facilities and packaging to satisfy the market trend.
Nguyen Van Nga, deputy head of the Agency for Southern Affairs, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that the local F&B sector has sharply enhanced the quality and quantity of its products, creating strong potential for growth in the coming years, particularly in cities and towns where the standard of living has improved.
Using modern machinery and packaging is now the primary concern of F&B producers, Nga said at Vietfood & Beverage 2019 and Propack 2019, international expos that kicked off today, August 7, in HCMC.
Ly Kim Chi, chairwoman of the HCMC Food and Foodstuff Association (FFA), said that food processing is one of the four key industries in the city. It not only creates high-quality products for export but also meets the local demand, contributing to the development of the southern key economic zone and neighboring provinces.
She pointed out that the city is home to the largest number of F&B producers in the country, ranging from State-run and private businesses to foreign-invested businesses. Equipment and technology deployed in the city’s sector also top those used in the rest of the country for their modernity, the FFA head added.
However, it is essential for companies in the field to continuously invest heavily in machinery and packaging to create high-quality, eye-catching products to meet the increasingly demanding requirements of local consumers, Chi said.
Accordingly, the FFA for many years has organized trade expos, in collaboration with the Vietnam National Trade Fair and Advertising Company, to promote trade and learning experiences, in terms of new technologies and packaging, with global producers in the industry.
Vietfood & Beverage 2019 and Propack 2019, taking place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in HCMC, District 7, gathers an astounding 550 exhibitors, a record high, from 20 countries and territories. There are 650 booths showcasing a wide selection of F&B items along with the latest technologies in the food processing and packaging industry.
Multiple sectors expected to see active M&A deals
Opportunities are awash for Vietnam to attract foreign investment inflows through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the fields of retail, real estate, banking, education and healthcare, heard a forum on M&A in HCMC on Tuesday.
With a population of nearly 100 million people and a stable economy, Vietnam is expected to woo foreign investors to the local retail, consumer goods, real estate and manufacturing sectors in the years to come, according to speakers, who are investors, experts and corporate representatives, at the Vietnam M&A Forum held on Tuesday in HCMC.
Responding to a question on which sectors will witness significant changes through M&A deals, Andy Ho, investment director at VinaCapital, forecast that the Vietnamese people may be interested in high-quality consumer goods and educational and healthcare systems.
VinaCapital is interested in all sectors, especially those that provide a better life for the locals, and aims to promote Vietnam’s economy.
Meanwhile, according to Andrew D. Kim, director of the Global M&A Center under the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), South Korean firms remain active in M&A activities in Asia. In Malaysia and Singapore, for instance, real estate and finance are the top two preferred sectors among investors.
However, South Korean investors chiefly pump capital into the manufacturing and heavy industry sectors in Vietnam and are expanding their businesses into the property sector, the KOTRA representative said.
Ben Gray, capital market director at Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam, noted that multiple M&A activities in the property sector will take place over the next 20-24 months. Foreign corporations will look for local partners to consider investing in available land funds, said Gray.
Also, the senior director of realty firm Alpha King, Richard Leech, said the firm had mapped out detailed strategies for the local real estate sector years ago when it foresaw the upcoming surge in the number of mid-income people.
Alpha King has worked with CBRE to develop property projects in downtown HCMC. Its strategies have brought positive results and will be expanded in the coming years, he added.
Speaking at the forum, Le Manh Hung, director of Vietcombank Securities company, said banking and finance will be among the hottest sectors. Over the short term, activities to restructure banks and clear up bad debts, which will end in 2020, are expected to attract major M&A deals.
Apart from that, the country will apply new financial standards that require banks to enhance their financial capacities and are expected to attract foreign investment inflows.
Similarly, Nirukt Sapru, general director at Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam, predicted that banking, real estate, healthcare, education and travel will be the hottest sectors in the future, with multiple M&A activities. In addition, the clean energy sector will see strong growth.
Addressing the event, Vu Dai Thang, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, announced that the Politburo will issue a resolution on orientation to improve the quality and efficiency of foreign direct investment (FDI) until 2030.
There will be new strategic orientations, shifting the nation’s focus to the quality, rather than the quantity, of FDI projects with high added value. Besides this, the country will attract foreign investors in a proactive and selective manner and prioritize projects that deploy advanced technology and are ecofriendly.
The country will also map out other important orientations to complete laws on foreign investment and increase transparency in investment activities for foreign investors. In particular, it will consider sectors restricting foreign investment, projects that require conditional investment and policies related to investment protection.
Yuan devaluation expected to put Vietnam’s exports at risk
Vietnam’s goods shipments to China will have difficulty earning a profit as China’s currency has been devalued sharply due to the ongoing U.S.-Sino trade dispute, the local media reported.
After U.S. President Donald Trump announced another 10% tax bill on US$300 billion worth of Chinese products, which takes effect on September 1, China’s yuan dipped sharply against the greenback, reaching the lowest level since May 2018.
Pham Tat Thang, former head of the Trade Research Institute, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, stated that the move will severely affect Vietnam’s exports due to the expected sharp depreciation of the yuan, VietnamPlus news site reported.
The trade war has expanded into a currency war, Thang said, adding that China has devalued its yuan to minimize the impact of the United States’ tax imposition.
The yuan devaluation is expected to lower profits for Vietnam’s high-volume exports to China, with some exports earning no profits at all.
As such, local enterprises were advised to seek other import markets that have signed a free trade agreement with Vietnam.
Although Vietnamese enterprises are allowed to use the yuan to conduct transactions in some border provinces, the yuan’s devaluation will increase the value of the Vietnamese dong, resulting in a drop in profits from goods purchases.
Thang suggested that Vietnam take prompt action to prevent the currency trade from affecting the country’s currency market.
He proposed the Government keep a close eye on the exchange rates between the Vietnamese dong and other currencies in the global market.
Recently, some goods importers in Vietnam have violated regulations on the origins of products, with products fraudulently carrying “Made in Vietnam” labels to evade taxes.
Product origin fraud will hurt Vietnam’s exports to other markets. Therefore, the Government, the competent agencies and enterprises should not let Chinese goods bearing “Made in Vietnam” labels be exported to foreign countries, especially the United States.
Mai Huu Tin, chairman of U&I Group, said that the yuan’s devaluation will benefit China’s shipments to other foreign markets, including Vietnam. The shift of factories from China to Vietnam is expected to become faster as a result of the escalating trade war between the two largest economies and the yuan’s devaluation.
The competition between domestic enterprises and Chinese firms will also grow fiercer, Tin said.
Nguyen Lam Vien, chairman of Vinamit JSC, voiced concern over the decline in profits from exports to China, pointing out that even though Vinamit is supplying products to multinational retailer Walmart in China with payments made in U.S. dollars, its partners in China have asked the firm to renegotiate the prices of its products.
Doan Van Sang, director of Cat Tuong Company in Tien Giang Province, stated that the yuan’s devaluation will definitely reduce their products’ export value. However, he noted that exports through formal channels, which are required to pay with U.S. dollars, will suffer less than transactions through informal channels, where the yuan is used for payments.
China is one of Vietnam’s largest tra fish buyers, so the yuan’s devaluation will significantly affect tra fish exports, remarked Nguyen Van Kich, former vice chairman of the Vietnam Pangasius Association.
Vietnamese tra fish farmers and processers will face difficulty in the coming months due to the current oversupply of tra fish and the yuan’s devaluation, Kich said, adding that apart from this, since the beginning of the year, Chinese enterprises have reduced imports of Vietnam’s tra fish due to tightened policies around informal imports.
Pham Sy Thanh, director of the Chinese Economic Studies Program, told Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper that China’s yuan devaluation was aimed at weakening the impact of export duties through exchange rates. The advantages of Chinese goods are mainly from their economies of scale and supply chain rather than low prices.
Meanwhile, financial expert Can Van Luc said Vietnam needs to stay calm and should not devalue its currency, to avoid being accused of manipulating currency by the United States.
Major national highways in Mekong Delta to be upgraded
Some major national highways in the Mekong Delta will be upgraded this year to meet the increasing travel demand in the region.
Specifically, the Quan Lo-Phung Hiep National Highway upgrade project worth VND900 billion is expected to kick off in the last quarter of this year after the Ministry of Transport approved it in March. The project is to be completed in 2020.
Quan Lo-Phung Hiep National Highway is 112 kilometers long and passes through the four Mekong Delta provinces of Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau. The road was built in 2005 and put into use in 2009, helping reduce the distance from Can Tho City to Ca Mau by 50 kilometers.
However, the road has deteriorated and not been upgraded since then.
In addition, a 52-kilometer section of National Highway 53 in Tra Vinh will be upgraded. A tender will be held for the project next month so that work can begin in October. The project requires an estimated investment of more than VND1.2 trillion (US$51.6 million).
The ministry also plans to improve a section of Naitonal Highway 57, stretching from Dinh Khao ferry station in Vinh Long Province to Mo Cay Town in Ben Tre Province. Work on the project, which needs some VND875 billion, will start next month for completion in late 2020.
The project, once completed, will ease traffic from Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Tra vinh to other Mekong Delta localities.
The ministry has also approved a project to upgrade the Cao Lanh-Hong Ngu section of National Highway 30 in Dong Thap Province with an investment of VND800 billion, including VND276 billion for site clearance. The project is scheduled to kick off next month.
According to the Department of Planning and Investment under the Ministry of Transport, the ministry has approved eight national highway upgrade projects and will pass two others to improve National Highways 24 and 25 this year. The 10 projects will cost an estimated VND8 trillion.
Many national highways in the northern region will also be upgraded, such as the road connecting Hanoi-Haiphong with the Cau Gie-Ninh Binh expressways, a road linking the 4C and 4D national highways and National Highway 3B.
As for the progress of road upgrade projects, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The, at a recent meeting, asked the investors and management boards of projects to ensure the projects’ progress and complete all 10 of them by 2020.


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SINGAPORE, Jan. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Mars Wrigley, a global leader in the treats and snacks category and a business division of Mars Incorporated, has announced the appointment of two senior executives to bolster the strength of its Asia Leadership Team, as it pursues quality growth in a region that is poised for double-digit growth, and home to nearly five billion people. Kristi Kee is the Sales and Operations (S&OP) and Activity Management Director for Asia, and Huyen Bui is the General Manager for Vietnam. Both leaders bring more than two decades of deep experience in each of their functional areas and will join the Mars Wrigley Asia Leadership Team.
Both Kristi and Huyen report directly to Kalpesh Parmar, General Manager for Mars Wrigley Asia. Following his transition from Mars Wrigley in India to Mars Wrigley Asia, Kalpesh has leveraged his experience in business strategy and brand building to drive growth while focusing on talent development and engagement. The appointment of both Kristi and Huyen underscores the company’s commitment to fostering gender diversity and representation in key leadership roles that reflects the race and ethnicities of the region it operates in.
In her role as S&OP and Activity Management Director for Asia at Mars Wrigley, Kristi plays a pivotal role in leading a diverse and engaged team across the region to transform Asia’s sales planning and commercial operations. Kristi’s robust commercial background and strategic agility is demonstrated through her global experience in previous roles, including spearheading the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process across 80 countries which led to demand forecasting improvements and resource optimization.
Nurturing local markets for success
As the General Manager for Vietnam, Huyen will play a critical role in accelerating quality growth to optimize share growth, distribution and profitability in this strategic market of opportunity for Mars Wrigley Asia. She has joined the company since January this year and brings with her 22 years of experience in various leadership roles within the FMCG industry. A seasoned commercial leader, Huyen has made significant contributions across the Home Care, Snack Food and Beverage segments in her previous roles. As General Manager of Vietnam, she will also focus on nurturing local talent and strengthen Mars Wrigley’s brand presence amongst Vietnamese consumers.
Kalpesh Parmar, General Manager at Mars Wrigley Asia said, “We are delighted to welcome two female leaders – Kristi and Huyen – to the Asia team. As the Mars Wrigley Asia business is expected to fuel the future growth for the company, I am confident that their strong credentials in transformational leadership and commercial acumen will accelerate Asia’s trajectory to achieve our billion-dollar ambition by ensuring our iconic brands such as M&M’S, Snickers, Doublemint and Skittles inspire moments of everyday happiness.“
About Mars, Incorporated
For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This common purpose unites our 140,000+ Associates. It is at the center of who we are as a global, family-owned business, and it fuels how we are transforming, innovating, and evolving to make a positive impact on the world.
Every year, our diverse and expanding portfolio of quality confectionery, food, and pet care products and services delight millions of people and supports millions of pets. With almost $45 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including Ben’s Original™, CESAR®, Cocoavia®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, KIND®, M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, and WHISKAS®. We are creating a better world for pets through nutrition, breakthrough programs in diagnostics, wearable health monitoring, DNA testing, pet welfare and comprehensive veterinary care with AniCura, BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, Linnaeus and VCA™.
We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our Associates to act every day to help create a better world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mars-wrigley-strengthens-asias-growth-ambition-with-two-senior-executive-appointments-302042965.html
SOURCE Mars Wrigley


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The highly anticipated project from Massive Entertainment, Star Wars Outlaws, has captivated audiences since its initial reveal. Particularly exciting for fans of cosmic series, the game promises an immersive experience reminiscent of the atmospheric charm of the original Star Wars films.
In a recent interview, Julian Gerighty, the game’s creative director, shed light on the studio’s approach to rendering the unique ambiance of the game.
Living Cities and Mysterious Environments
Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment are dedicated to delivering an unforgettable experience, and Star Wars Outlaws aims to bring “living” cities and “mysterious” environments to life.
Players will have the freedom to explore the story and embark on quests as the mercenary, the game’s main character. Set between Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, the studio faced the challenge of visually capturing the essence of that time period.
Embracing the 1980s Style
Gerighty revealed in the interview with Edge magazine that Star Wars Outlaws will serve as the “first Star Wars title set in an open world” and will pay homage to the films that debuted in the 1980s. The development team has created a special technology that emulates the look of lenses from the 70s.
This innovative approach aims to recreate the distinct atmosphere of the older Lucasfilm films, complete with the curvature of the lenses, a subtle breathing effect, graininess in the image, and a characteristic texture, all in pursuit of a more cinematic experience.
While fans eagerly anticipate the final results, hopes are high that Ubisoft will soon provide fresh gameplay materials, offering an in-depth look at the immersive and cinematic journey that awaits players in Star Wars Outlaws. Prepare to embrace the scoundrel’s life and immerse yourself in a galaxy far, far away like never before.


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Firms ignore the foreign language internet at their peril
By Fiona Graham, BBC News
Businesses must be careful they don't leave customers grimacing like Donald Rumsfeld at their poorly-translated websites
When Pepsi launched in China, so the story goes, the translation of the slogan, 'Come alive with the Pepsi generation', promised consumers something a little different.
Could Pepsi really bring their ancestors back from the dead? Apparently, there was a dip in sales.
While this has never been properly substantiated, according to urban legend busting website Snopes, Pepsi has never denied it.
Be that as it may, companies across the globe have come a cropper moving into foreign markets.
Braniff Airlines, for example, once offered Spanish-speaking passengers the opportunity to 'fly naked' rather than on leather seats.
But for businesses operating online, the push to be multilingual is hard to ignore.
Research commissioned by the European Commission found that 82% of consumers were less likely to buy goods online if the site was not in their native language.
Globally, research firm Common Sense Advisory found that 72.4% of consumers were more likely to buy a product with information in their own language.
Arena Flowers' Will Wynne: "Localisation is hard to get without native speakers"
Read full article at


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movie director for all the Pew charity Trusts, discussed. The point that got executed in many years
District lawmakers would like to again consider imposing stricter guidelines on so named payday loan providers financial loans that may bring portion interesting as high
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Baker’s committee offered a provided briefing that is educational the market monday making use of the Household industry insurance and promotion section.
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Stephen executive manager your declare’s Office of clients shelter, positioned that buyers need integrated securities.
Disease Rep. chairman for this home Shoppers security and marketing and advertising screen, interrogate whether imposing a percent monthly interest limit would push lenders that are payday which has brought set in some other shows.
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