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World Travel & Tourism president David Scowsill has urged world leaders not to close borders in response to the growing threat of terrorism. Speaking at the start of the organisation’s annual Global Summit in Dallas, Texas, he said: “Closing borders and jeopardising the freedom to travel is not the answer to the current security concerns. World leaders need to stand together and act now, with the support of the tourism sector.”
World Travel & Tourism Council president David Scowsill has announced the theme of this year’s Global Summit will be “Travel Beyond Boundaries”. The programme will focus on how tourism will respond to the biggest issues of the moment - migration, climate change, terrorism, security and border policies.
After two days of intensive discussion, world-class presentations and high level meetings, the 14th annual World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit has come to a close. Chairman Michael Frenzel closed proceedings with an address to delegate.
Breaking Travel News here catches up with Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths to discuss the significant support the emirati government is able to give the aviation sector, while also getting his thoughts on the continued success of the World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit.
Following his success at the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards earlier, Costa Novarino managing director Stephanos Theodorides here chats with Breaking Travel News about what the award means to his organisation and how it will help it get the sustainability messages out to the consumer.
World Travel & Tourism Council president David Scowsill has delivered his keynote speech to delegates at the 14th annual Global Summit. Addressing an audience in Hainan, China, he expressed optimism for the future of the tourism industry in the country, but also went on to argue the sector could be a force for good on the international stage.
The global tourism industry must operate to the highest standards to prove that it is a force for good and not a force for destruction. That is according to World Travel & Tourism Council president David Scowsill, who made the argument in his closing speech at the WTTC Global Summit in Hainan, China.
Breaking Travel News here talks with Taj Hotels & Resorts chief executive Raymond Bickson about the continued success of the World Travel & Tourism Global Summits, the importance of China as a market for the brand and what the future holds for the brand.
Breaking Travel News here talks with Peter Phang from the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority about the importance of tourism to the destination, what they can learn from their competitors around the world and what is happening on the ground in 2014.
Governments and private sector companies must ensure the social and economic benefits of tourism are spread across all destinations and communities across the world, the president of the World Travel & Tourism Council has argued. At the WTTC Global Summit in Hainan, China, David Scowsill, took to the stage to urge the Industry and governments to work together to make a positive difference.
World-leading sustainable tourism businesses and destinations around the world have been recognised at the 2014 World Travel & Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. It was also announced that Fiona Jeffery, chairman of Just a Drop and former chairman of World Travel Market, will take over as chair of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.


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The campaign’s objectives are to raise consumer awareness about the dangers of counterfeit goods as well as to promote closer cooperation between the European Commission, national authorities - including law enforcement agencies and customs - and consumers, producers and trade associations to stop the production and circulation of counterfeit goods, calling on all Europeans to make a stand against fake products and buy original products.
Fake products – some impressive figures
The global volume of trade in fake goods stands at over €200 billion per year – a similar magnitude to the market for illegal drugs;
Between 2010 and 2011, the volume of fake articles detained by European customs grew by 11%;
In 2009, the value of the top 10 brands in EU countries amounted to almost 9% of GDP
Fashion and high-end personal products encompass 54% of the total value of goods detained at EU borders;
In 2011 alone, 115 million fake goods were detained at the EU borders, with an overall value of over €1.2 billion
Almost one third of the articles detained by EU customs in 2011 were found to be potentially dangerous to the health and safety of consumers, almost double the proportion in 2010
In 2011, 27 million fake medicines were detained by European authorities
Postal transport is the most common means used to ship fake goods ordered on-line. It was the method used in 63% of cases detected in 2011, followed by air transport (22%) and express courier transport (7%)
Fake goods are bad for citizens’ pockets
Buying fake goods is not a bargain. Fake products are not made to the same standards and typically have to be replaced more often. Original products must pass a number of quality controls to ensure that they are safe. But why should a rogue trader go to all that trouble and expense?
Trade in fake goods also increases citizens’ tax bills. EU residents pay taxes and get public services in exchange, but their honest contribution is increased because of fakes.
And the jobs lost mean higher unemployment and higher welfare bills. Bigger bills and lower state revenues in one area mean higher taxes in another. Trade in fake goods increases the bill for citizens: EU residents end up paying more tax. This hurts even more when budgets are tight.
Fake products can also be dangerous to health
Fake health products are dangerous and can do serious harm. Medicines are tightly regulated for very good reasons: if citizens take a fake product they can do themselves serious damage. Unlike original medicines (including generic medicines), fake medicines can be made out of anything. Medical devices are also subject to forgery. Contact lenses and blood testers are just some of the products that have been imitated and sold on the Internet or even in normal shops.
They may cost less, but they can have serious adverse effects as they can be of poor quality, made of the wrong materials and have questionable effectiveness, if any. The European Commission plans to set up a globally compatible device identification system in the EU to facilitate the recognition of illegal products.
And it’s not just fake medicines that can harm citizen’s health. Fake garments can also be unsafe. Chemicals used in textiles, clothing and footwear in Europe are thoroughly analysed and are prohibited if they are found to be harmful. A comprehensive piece of legislation called REACH insists that all chemicals in the European Union are tested. That is why garments legally sold in Europe very rarely cause allergies and irritations. But fake items can contain chemicals that haven’t been tested.
Fake goods are bad for safety
Products that could be dangerous to the health and safety of consumers accounted for almost one third of the total amount of articles detained by EU customs in 2011, almost double the proportion in 2010. Traders in fake articles are crooks. As they have no reputation to protect, they do not care about consumer safety.
Car parts are among their most popular targets: fake automotive parts cost suppliers between five and ten billion euro every year, while drivers are exposed to substantial risks when tricked into buying fake products. European legislation requires that all parts and components essential for the safety and environmental performance of motor vehicles are subject to controls before they can be placed on the EU market. But dealers in fakes ignore these requirements, and not just in a small way. Brake pads are among the most commonly imitated car parts. Fakes have been found made from wood chips – or even grass! Citizens buying in unfamiliar circumstances should therefore be vigilant.
Dangers can also lie in products where the risk is less obvious. For example toys. They should be the safest goods as they are made for children. But if they don’t conform to safety regulations, they can pose a serious danger. Fake toys are widespread. Fake toys can contain dangerous materials, like paint containing poisonous chemicals. They may be made with detachable small parts, prohibited according to the EU’s toy safety legislation, as they can pose choking hazards to children.
Fake goods undermine trust in Internet shopping
The Internet has opened up vast trading possibilities and allows citizens to have a wider choice of goods and to find the best bargains across the European single market. E-commerce is a boon for consumers and business alike. But a growing market attracts cheats. The internet can also act as a new outlet for suppliers of fakes.
When shopping online, buyers’ choices are heavily influenced by brand and reputation. Fraudulent websites are increasingly sophisticated, making it difficult to distinguish them from genuine sites. They try to trick citizens by using domain names that closely resemble the names of well-known high-end brands and companies. Currently, there is little that firms can do to protect themselves and their clients against tricks like this. It is harder to crack down on rogue traders on the internet, especially when they operate from outside the EU’s jurisdiction.
But EU customs officials and law enforcement agencies have ways to tackle this illegal trade. They pay more and more attention to parcels sent by post, the usual way to receive goods bought on the Internet. Developing tailor-made approaches to monitor parcel and postal traffic is one of the priorities of the European Union Customs Action Plan for the period 2013-2017.
Citizens should be aware of the risk of buying fake goods on Internet. The widespread availability of such goods there should make them particularly vigilant.
Keeping fakes at bay: a responsible choice
In Europe, workers are protected from exploitation and children are not forced to work. Reputable companies that manufacture abroad respect these standards even if local law enforcement doesn’t require them to. When leading sportswear manufacturers were accused of using child labour, they took vigorous action. But dealers in fake goods don’t have reputations to protect and can mistreat workers – even children, forced to work in sweatshops – as much as they like.
The exploitation linked to fake goods starts with the manufacturer and continues up to the end of the supply chain. Street vendors selling fakes work in wholly unprotected conditions. Illegal and vulnerable, constantly having to run from the police – theirs is the lifestyle supported when fakes are purchased. Such vendors are usually victims of organised crime. Most of the money buyers hand over goes straight into the coffers of criminal organisations. It began as a way of diversifying traditional criminal activities, such as drugs, arms trafficking or prostitution. But it has become so lucrative that it is now a core activity of criminal organisations. Criminals receive about as much money from selling fakes goods as they do from selling illegal drugs: over €200 billion every year, according to United Nations figures.
Fakes are bad for jobs
Sales of genuine articles are the basis of employment. When original products are purchased, jobs are created and maintained in Europe. But fake goods create unfair competition for European artisans and businesses, harming legitimate enterprises and increasing unemployment. The impact on jobs is particularly severe for fashion and high-end products, such as textiles, garments, leather ware, shoes, watches and jewellery. These represent over half the total value of imitation goods detained by customs.
The 21st century has seen steady growth in the market for fakes. In just a couple of years from 2009 to 2011, the number of cases detected by customs in Europe more than doubled to over 91,000. According to available figures, in 2011 almost 115 million suspect articles were stopped by customs at the EU’s borders. The estimated value of the equivalent genuine products is over €1.2 billion.
The European Commission has been working to prevent this illegal trade for nearly a decade. In 2004 it adopted a Strategy for the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Third Countries. And to fight this menace, we must better understand it: the recently established European observatory on infringements of intellectual property rights is collecting more detailed data which will shed further light on this sprawling illegal business.
Fake goods may tarnish holiday memories
Everyone goes on holiday to relax, but that can make consumers more vulnerable. But fake goods under sunny skies are still fake. Luxury goods for sale on a street stall in a quaint market are a temptation, but let’s not fool ourselves. They are cheap because they are fake. Many imitations are sold in apparently harmless street stalls in popular holiday resorts.
If a traveller is checked by the authorities on their way home and found to be carrying fake goods for commercial purposes, they risk very heavy penalties in some countries. Holders of fake goods intended for commercial purposes can face heavy fines and, in cases of repeated purchases of such goods, even prison sentences.
National governments, producers, trade and consumers associations, the EU Commission, and of course EU citizens, can all help fight against counterfeiting
National law enforcement authorities play a key role in preventing the entry of counterfeit goods to the EU, with the support and the cooperation of EU bodies such as EUROPOL and OLAF. The European Commission (which incorporates the European Observatory on Counterfeiting and Piracy) and EU Member States, together with producers, trade and consumers associations are working hard to better enforce the rules which protect citizens and business against goods and products which do not meet safety standards. This anti-counterfeiting campaign is promoted by the European Commission, and notably by Vice-President Tajani and Commissioner Barnier, in collaboration and with the support of national authorities. Today, Vice President Tajani is in Rome to present the campaign to the public and next week the campaign will be presented to the press officers of Customs and Police Authorities of the 27 Members States, during the 12th OLAF Anti-Fraud Communicators Network (OAFCN) seminar in Rome.
Already in February 2013 the Commission further strengthened market surveillance through a multi-annual plan and a single legislative instrument that will reinforce the controls on products in the internal market, allowing authorities to withdraw non-compliant and dangerous products immediately from the market. Authorities in Member States now have stronger powers to take non-compliant and dangerous products off the market immediately. Unsafe fake products will get caught in the net and kept away from consumers. To raise the effectiveness of this across the EU, the Commission has set out a plan which involves greater resource sharing, better IT tools, tougher and more targeted external controls at the Union borders and harsher penalties.

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The on-going 2017 Detroit Auto Show is sure to bring some interesting debuts to kick off the New Year.
Automakers have been teasing what they plan on unveiling at this year’s North American International Auto Show, but expect a few surprises to debut as well. At last year’s show, Lexus impressed with the new LC 500, while the Acura Precision Concept got us excited for the brand’s future. Detroit also gave Americans the first look at the hot BMW M2, while Chrysler ushered in a new era of minivans with the new Pacifica.
We expect the 2017 Detroit Auto Show to feature plenty of crossovers and SUVs as the segment continues to boom. Here’s a preview of what to expect at this year’s show. Stay glued to AutoGuide.com as we will be reporting live from the show floor with full coverage of all the surprises automakers have in store.
Audi has already teased the Q8 Concept that it’s bringing to Detroit, which will eventually be made into a production model. It will feature coupe-like styling with the spaciousness you would expect from a full-size SUV, with the model sitting at the top of Audi’s SUV range. It’s also branded as an e-Tron concept, meaning it will be electrified in some way.
“With the Audi Q8 concept, we have created a new spearhead within our Q model line. Its design strongly evokes sportiness and prestige,” said Audi Head of Design Marc Lichte. “What’s more, we believe an important aspect of this showcar is that it offers a spacious interior with four equally comfortable seats, even with the flat roof line.”
BMW has already introduced its new 5 Series sedan online, but the 2017 Detroit Auto Show will be the first time the public gets to enjoy it. The more luxurious and lighter sedan also introduced the quickest 5 Series model yet and it doesn’t even sport the M5 nameplate. Instead, it’s the M550i xDrive with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 456 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to accelerate to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.4 seconds.
Unfortunately, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 hasn’t been confirmed to make its debut at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, but we can’t imagine the American automaker would pick another venue to unveil it. Spy photographers have caught it testing numerous times in recent months, sporting aggressive styling and a large rear wing hinting that it’s going to be one serious performance machine.
Rumor has it the ZR1 is expected to offer more than 700 hp, although its powerplant of choice remains a mystery. Here’s to hoping the American automaker rolls it out in Detroit.


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Press Release: Spring Fling Visitors Put Their Collections on Show at Gracefield26th April 2017
A 15th anniversary exhibition dedicated to art collections created due to the annual Spring Fling open studios event has opened at Gracefield Arts Centre.
Dozens of art lovers from across the region attended a special preview event on Friday evening, including Dumfries and Galloway Council Events Champion and local MSP Colin Smyth.
Since 2003 private and public collectors have been using Spring Fling as an opportunity to invest in art and craft by emerging and established artists and makers across Dumfries and Galloway.
Collected: 15 Years of Spring Fling, takes place from 22 April to 13 May. It includes pieces from four private collections and some that belong to Gracefield.
Joanna Macaulay, Events and Exhibitions Manager for Upland Arts Development, which runs Spring Fling, said: “The exhibition got off to a superb start and the preview was a real success. It was great to see many of the artists whose work was exhibited having the chance to chat to collectors who bought it.
“Everyone seemed to enjoy the selection of art and craft on show – and seeing all sorts of pieces that other people have chosen for their own homes.”
Spring Fling was set up and run by Dumfries and Galloway Council to provide a showcase for the region’s creative community and to attract cultural tourism.
Nowadays it is run independently but has continued council support. This year it received a grant of £32,500 towards the cost of the event, which will see 93 artists and makers throw open their studio doors from 27-29 May. Spring Fling has seen an estimated £2,337,000 being invested in art and craft from the region and has also generated around £11.4m for the area’s economy.
Figures indicate that well over 130,000 people made nearly 378,000 studio visits between 2003 and 2016.
Councillor Smyth, said: “I really enjoyed seeing this exhibition which highlights how living and working in Dumfries and Galloway has inspired so many artists and craft makers.”
Gracefield is open Tue-Sat, 10am-5pm and the exhibition is free.


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Kerry Song, Founder and CEO of Abbot’s Butcher, in her Old Towne Orange office, discovered her passion for healthy meat alternatives after working as an investment banker in New York and San Francisco.
With food trends like veganism and vegetarianism gaining popularity, companies such as Abbot’s Butcher are rising to meet demand by serving customers protein in plant-based forms.
Abbot’s Butcher recently located its headquarters to South Glassell in the Plaza, but originally got its name from the street Abbot Kinney in Venice, California, where Founder and CEO Kerry Song used to live.
Song’s company creates premium plant-based proteins that you can find at grocery stores like Whole Foods and Mother’s Market & Kitchen. Their offerings include alternatives to chicken, ground beef and chorizo, and are developed from a protein harvested from golden peas.
“We’re focused on bringing craftsmanship to the category and delivering plant-based meats that have a depth of flavor and a hearty mouth feel,” says Song. “You can have something delicious that satisfies all your cravings for protein but is truly nourishing your body.”
Song began her entrepreneurship journey after quitting her job in the corporate finance industry and buying a one-way plane ticket to Europe. After traveling for months, she moved into a friend’s spare room in Bologna, Italy.
In Italy, Song signed up for classes at a small culinary school. She was a vegetarian at the time, and learned how to create meaty tastes and textures from natural ingredients.
“I fell in love with food and had such an appreciation for the slow food movement,” she says. “I learned to take care and pay attention to the ingredients you use and the foods you create.”
A few years after coming back to the United States, Song was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and put on medication. She learned that it was important to pay attention to her gut health, and made the decision to switch to a plant-based diet. Still, she felt dissatisfied with the vegan protein options in the market.
“I thought there needed to be plant-based meats made with ingredients I could actually feel good about eating,” Song says. “That’s where the idea for Abbot’s Butcher came from. I started making them for myself, and the more feedback I got, I realized I could sell it.”
Now, Song sells the products in grocery stores across California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii. Before the pandemic hit, she was also working with restaurants and corporate cafeterias to incorporate Abbot’s Butcher proteins into recipes.
For the new year, Song hopes to reach more customers who are considering adopting a plant-based diet.
“With our customers, I don’t care if they’re diehard vegans or if they’re meat eaters who want to have one meatless Monday,” she says. “Our products are tools for our customers. This is their story, and we’re just part of it.”
The commitment to authenticity is what drives Abbot’s Butcher as a company, says Director of Operations Nick Bilotti.
“It’s such a breath of fresh air to work for someone who refuses to compromise on integrity and remains steadfast in her mission to change the world,” says Bilotti. “I look forward to continuing on our path of getting more and more consumers to switch to plant-based alternatives to their favorite foods.”
When creating the Abbot’s Butcher proteins, Song was careful to include a balance of quality and taste. Customers can choose from a slow roast chopped “chicken” with onion, sage and white pepper, a ground “beef sausage” made from mushrooms and a Spanish smoked “chorizo,” all without feeling like they’re sacrificing natural ingredients for taste.
“We want to make clean eating simple and delicious, and not feel like you’re giving up anything,” says Song.
134 South Glassell St., Suite B, Old Towne Orange CA 92866 / 949-726-2156


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Xbox Series X hardware specs are announced
They're rather beefy.
Paradox brings Surviving Mars mods to Xbox One
Promises a 'direct pipeline' for modders.
Microsoft adds Rewards to Xbox Game Pass
Complete 'Quests', earn points.
E3 2006: Xbox Live Arcade is coming to Windows - and so is cross platform multiplayer gaming. We are very, very excited.
Microsoft is making a move towards video game advertising after announcing that it has bought Massive at the Redmond advertiser conference.
Microsoft has updated Xbox Live to include support for a new online message centre. Now you can message and chat with your friends via your PC.
The pre-E3 rumourmill is now cranking into operation. New games, new hardware, new Xbox Live services - but which bits will end up being true?
The latest news on the adventures of the Master Chief suggests that he'll be rolling onto our Xbox 360 screens early next year.
Didn't you see it coming? There's a new version of the outrageous Dead or Alive spin-off on the way for the Xbox 360.
In an interview with Fortune magazine in the US, Microsoft's top bod has given the strongest indication yet that it is going after Apple directly in the portable space.
GDC 2006: Shadow of the Collosus dominated this year's Games Developers Choice Awards, winning five gongs including Game of the Year.
Microsoft isn't stopping with its Ultra Mobile PCs. It also wants to create a portable gaming and media platform to rival the PSP, iPod and Nintendo DS.
ATI's next-generation GPU will have many of the features found in the Xbox 360 graphics processing unit. One feature that won't be included is the E-DRAM chip.
Industry rumours suggest that Sony will be launching PlayStation 3 in September along with an online games service known as PlayStation HUB.
An unknown 20 year old from Bethnal Green, London has been selected to play the action heroine in the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legend.
The Sex Workers Outreach Project have called for concerned parents to vote with their wallets and boycott Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Bit late for that, innit?
The release of a new tool allows reading and writing to the Xbox hard drive over SATA and to memory cards over USB. Could this open up a new world of 360 jiggery-pokery?
Yes, it's true... the shortages are almost over. Allegedly. According to Microsoft. And they're never wrong, right?
EA teases us with some new images from the upcoming Xbox 360 conversion of the popular PC shooter.
Eidos has announced that Lara Croft's latest crusade is scheduled for launch in April.
The new update to Xbox Live has a number of small improvements - but crucially, kills the only hacking exploit so far known.
A downloadable bug-fix is going to be made available soon. It will fix game crashes and also add webcam functionality.
CES 2006: The updated version of Burnout Revenge for Xbox 360 is almost here, and we spend some time getting to grips with it.
CES 2006: Peter Moore, head of Xbox division at Microsoft, has confirmed that a HD-DVD drive will be added to the 360 later this year.
XBox modders beware, Microsoft is on the prowl for illegal modifications done to original XBox consoles. Three men in court over conspiracy to commit piracy after modifying XBox consoles.
It's called Windows Live Messenger, and it looks sort of the same with some interesting tweaks. Personalisation is the name of the game.
July 1 2020 | 17:34
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Relevant news & expert insight
Latest products and companies to do business with
Tip & tricks for fashion & material business
A report released by Italian leathergoods association Assopellettieri (formerly known as Aimpes) at the recent Mipel exhibition has shown that the country’s leathergoods sector performed well at the start of 2018 despite a difficult international environment.
To be held in Naples, Italy, on April 4-5, 2019, the 6th edition of the World Footwear Congress (WFC) will bring together international speakers and experts to discuss digitalisation and sustainability in the footwear sector.
Spokesperson for the Brazilian Leather Certification of Sustainability (CSCB), Rafael Andrade, has said that although a relatively small number of tanners in Brazil have begun the process of gaining certification
The Executive Committee of the IULTCS (International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies) has announced that three different grants will awarded to young scientists in 2019 for research projects in leather research, machinery/equipment and sustainability/equipment.
New figures released by industry body Assocalzaturifici have shown that the Italian footwear industry is still struggling to recover from its slump, despite signs of promise in 2017.
NEWS & BLOG


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Xiaomi Mi Band 7 leak points to a larger display and even GPS support for this year's fitness tracker
It has been almost a year since Xiaomi released the Mi Smart Band 6, a fitness tracker with a 1.56-inch AMOLED display and up to 14 days of battery life. While Xiaomi announced an NFC-enabled version globally in September, it has been silent on the prospect of unveiling a seventh-generation model. However, a leaker claims to have discovered a new Mi Band within Zepp application code.
Magical Unicorn, a known and accurate leaker of Xiaomi and Huami wearables, has shown that Xiaomi has added references to the Smart Band 7, presumably the device's global name. For reference, Magical Unicorn refers to Smart Band 7 by its Chinese launch name, the Mi Band 7. According to the leaker, the Mi Band 7 carries the model numbers M2129B1 and M2130B1, both assigned the codename L55.
Additionally, Magical Unicorn has asserted that the Mi Band 7 has a 192 x 490-pixel display, compared with the 152 x 486-pixel display that its predecessor offers. Hence, they have determined that the Mi Band 7 has a larger display than the Mi Band 6, the dimensions of which remain unknown at this stage. Leaked watch and Always-on Display (AoD) faces confirm that the next Mi Band retains its predecessor's display shape, though.
Predictably, the Mi Band 7 will also support numerous activity modes; the Mi Band 6 came with 30 pre-installed. Reputedly, the fitness tracker could feature a GPS module, which was rumoured for last year's model too. Moreover, Magical Unicorn claims that the Mi Band 7 has dedicated power-saving modes, including one marked 'Ultra Power Saving'. Incidentally, the Mi Band 7 should run Zepp OS and will be compatible with the Zepp application, not Mi Fit. Unfortunately, it is unclear when Xiaomi will announce the Mi Band 7, nor when the fitness tracker will be available globally.


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"We believe that creating healthy food options leads to stronger communities and is a crucial part of the well-being of our society." -Celeste Krenz
Nashville, TN (PRWEB) May 26, 2016
Local Nashville juice bar, The Urban Juicer, will open their 3rd location in the downtown Arcade on Monday May 31st, 2016.
“We are so excited to have the opportunity to provide a healthy fast food option to downtown Nashville,” says owner, Celeste Krenz. “We believe that creating healthy food options leads to stronger communities and is a crucial part of the well-being of our society. We have worked hard to perfect all of our recipes to make sure that everything you taste is truly nourishing to your body AND delicious- it’s a delicate balance!”
Customers of The Urban Juicer can enjoy a wide variety of fresh, made to order juices, smoothies, salads, and wraps as well as 1 and 3 day juice cleanses. Favorites include The Well Being, The Cool Down, The Liquid Lunch, and The Supergreens. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 7am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 5:30pm. The downtown store will extend their hours to 9pm on the first Saturday of every month in order to participate in the Art Crawl.
“We really hope that this location will be a popular lunch spot for Nashvillians who work downtown,” says VP of Development, Kristin Landiss. “We are looking forward to developing relationships with offices in the area to see how we can help their employees stay healthy and energized.”
The Grand Opening celebration, which will include complimentary juice and smoothie samples and light hors d’oeuvres is scheduled for May 31st from 11am to 1pm.


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New Delhi: Storage solutions company, SanDisk, has launched its new 128GB microSD card, SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I, in India for Rs 9,999.
The new micro-SD card launched the company is currently the world's largest capacity microSD card. It was first unveiled in February during the Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona, Spain.
The company says the 128GB Ultra microSDXC card offers the highest video recording performance and delivers twice the speed of ordinary microSD memory cards.
“The card is suitable for recording full-HD video. It can store 16 hours of Full HD video, 7,500 songs, 3,200 photos and more than 125 apps,” the company says.
SanDisk says the card has been developed using a proprietary technique that allows for 16 memory die to be vertically stacked, each shaved to be thinner than a strand of hair.


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(Bloomberg)—Nike Inc. will extend its pilot program with Amazon.com Inc. and will work with online personal styling service Stitch Fix in the spring.
Nike’s pilot for selling products on the website of Amazon, No. 1 in the Internet Retailer 2017 Top 500, is “going well” and will be extended, CEO Mark Parker said on a conference call Thursday when Nike reported its second quarter earnings for fiscal 2018. “We’ve seen good sell-through on the limited selection of products that we have offered,” he said.
Nike in the spring said it would begin selling on Amazon with a small assortment of footwear, apparel and accessories with an eye to “elevate how the Nike brand is presented on the Amazon platform,” Parker said in June a conference call, transcribed by SeekingAlpha, for results of fiscal 2017 ended May 31.
The company will also do a test run on Stitch Fix Inc. (No. 134), the online styling service that curates apparel items for consumers based on their preferences.
In fiscal Q2 ended Nov. 30, Nike (No. 37) struggled in North America, even as it made gains in most other regions.
The world’s largest sports brand posted quarterly sales that fell short of estimates in its home market, while beating them in Greater China and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Nike does not break out online sales, but Nike Brand president Trevor Edwards said revenue for Nike Direct increased 15%, driven by online growth of 29%, comparable store growth of 6% and new stores.
The fiscal Q2 2018 results show that Nike still faces a challenge in regaining its footing in the U.S., where several retail partners have faltered and rival Adidas AG (No. 52) has been taking market share. The company succeeded, however, in beating estimates for revenue and has downplayed concerns over its North America results.
“It looks like a tale of two cities,” said Chen Grazutis, an analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence. “International is very strong, and the U.S. is still weaker than a lot of people expected.”
In China, digital growth is coming through Nike.com and Tmall, Alibaba Group Holdings’ online marketplace. “This quarter we also had Singles’ Day, which offered even more proof of our growth strategy,” Edwards said. “On the biggest shopping day in the fastest growing geography, we set records as Nike emerged as the No. 1 overall brand for both footwear and apparel.”
CEO Parker said, “I met recently with Alibaba’s CEO, Daniel Zhang, a few weeks ago and we’re incorporating our brands on their platforms in ways that benefit both companies, and I think that’s, again, that’s the real opportunity we see with Amazon, as well as we move forward. We’re learning a lot and we’re bullish on our ability to extend that relationship, and continue to grow.”
Parker said there was “underlying momentum” in the company’s domestic business during the quarter ending Nov. 30, and the lineup of new products for the next six months is “as strong as it’s ever been.”
The decline in North America marked the second straight. Nike has said it would improve results in its largest market by selling to fewer retailers, and instead do more business with chains, like Foot Locker Inc. (No. 53), that focus on athletic gear.
Nike shares fell to as low as $62.62 in early trading on Friday. The stock has gained 27% in 2017 through Thursday’s close.
One bright spot is that Nike’s gross margin narrowed less than expected, even though several of its retail partners have reported a very promotional shopping environment.
Profit of 46 cents a share beat the average analyst estimate of 40 cents and was boosted by a lower tax rate, while revenue of $8.55 billion outpaced the estimate of $8.39 billion. Gross margins were 43%, compared with the expected 42.5%.
For the quarter ended Nov. 30, Nike also reported:
- Revenue of $554 billion, up 4.6% from $8.180 billion a year ago.
- Net income of $767 million compared with $842 million.
For the first six months of fiscal 2018, Nike reported:
- Revenue of $17.624 billion, up 2.2% from $17.241 billion in the year-ago period.
- Net income of $1.717 billion compared with $2.091 billion.


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Keeping up with the latest updates in packaging fuels innovation!
By keeping our tabs on what’s current and trending in the packaging space, we can learn from our industry and grow in our fields. We can gain insight from the industry news that’s available and in turn make our own companies better. This helps us to improve our customers bottom line as well. Read more about the topics below that are hot in packaging this spring!
Customization of Packaging Materials
We have written about the power of having a customized and branded approach to your packaging materials. This customization is important in growing segments such as rigid plastics: “Over the past few years, the global rigid packaging market has witnessed steady growth due to rapid urbanization, rising plastic production, technology developments driving smart rigid packaging, and increased application in end-use industries that include food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care & cosmetics.”
Why is this important in rigid plastics? Because “these strategies will drive new growth opportunities and attract customers that are focused on higher durability and environmental sustainability.” Rigid plastics add value for customers by “protecting the food from being wasted as it helps in increasing the shelf life of the products, and decrease leakage and spoilage.” Then customization comes into play: “Customizing rigid plastic packaging to end-user specifications such as prolonged shelf life and easy to cut, open and eat.”
Originality is key
When companies launch new products or new products come into the marketplace, companies have a unique opportunity to create new and different slogans, messaging, and, of course, packaging designs. Tootsie Pops released a new product which is a mini version of their popular original Tootsie Pop. Unfortunately, the design they choose for their packaging was deemed too similar to another popular lollipop.
“A federal judge is siding with the makers of Dum Dums lollipops in its lawsuit against a rival candy maker. Ohio-based Spangler Candy Co. is suing Tootsie Roll Industries because it says the Chicago-based company’s new Charms Mini Pops packaging too closely resembles the Dum Dums packaging. A preliminary injunction handed down in Ohio says Tootsie Roll must at least temporarily stop using its packaging for Mini Pops.”
Sustainability will still prevail
Sustainability has been a hot topic for years, and isn’t going anywhere. Every day companies all over the world are announcing new ways that they are going to encourage sustainability and bring more sustainable efforts into their own companies.
Trader Joes has made a new commitment: “Officials with the grocery chain made the announcement in its February edition of the Fearless Flyer, among the new items, seasonal promotions and a “not-so confidential memo” to customers. As people become more conscious about reducing their plastic consumption, Trader Joe’s was facing mounting criticism for an “overuse of packaging,” especially in the produce section. Officials with the retailer said it’s been listening to customers’ feedback on the issue, and in response, has stopped offering single-use plastic carryout bags in stores nationwide (already banned in all large stores in California). In addition to that, Trader Joe’s officials said it has replaced plastic produce bags with biodegradable and compostable options, which we’ve noticed recently at San Francisco and Oakland stores.”
Walmart has also made new promises: “Walmart has issued a new set of plastic waste reduction commitments by leveraging its massive private brand program. The new commitments, announced at Walmart’s annual supplier forum, are expected to affect more than 30,000 stockkeeping units (SKUs). According to a news release from the retailer, the move is designed “to help get to the heart of the problem by focusing on the retailer’s private brand packaging, building upon existing efforts to reduce plastic waste in Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club operations and encouraging national brand suppliers to set similar packaging goals.”
The Food Delivery Market will continue to grow
Food delivery is becoming more and more popular in a many ways. From single serve delivery kits, to restaurant chains offering immediate delivery, this creates a big packaging need. Here’s a new approach to this segment: “Meal kits are notorious for their packaging problem: A typical delivery might come with insulation, gel-filled icepacks, and tiny containers or bags holding individual ingredients–like a few leaves of basil or a few spoonfuls of sauce–all inside a cardboard box. A new brand is trying to start addressing the issue by using a reusable shipping container. After delivery, the container goes back to a meal kit company to be cleaned, refilled, and sent to someone else in a cycle that can repeat up to 75 times. The insulation is built into the package, and reusable ice packs can also be sent back instead of being thrown away.”


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CPC Inc. declares 50-cent dividend
In a break with nearly 50 years of history and as yet another signal that its current owners are ready to cash in their chips, the rulers of Charlottesville Parking Center Inc. will soon pay the company's first cash dividend. Thanks to "excess cash," on January 15, each shareholder will get a dividend of 50 cents per share.
CPC is the little-understood company that began its life in
1949 1959 as a desperate bid to stave off the threat of newfangled shopping centers, namely Barracks Road. But over the years, the company, according to a December 17 letter to shareholders (the Hook owns a single share), "achieved its primary goal of providing adequate low-cost parking for downtown shoppers."
And so the company is for sale.
Already, the letter states, 19 prospective purchasers have obtained the company's "private placement memorandum," and the company has set April 1 as a deadline for receiving purchase offers. Among the assets are the contract to manage the City's Market Street Parking Deck, as well as partial ownership of the Water Street Parking Deck, all the land beneath that deck, and an adjacent one-acre parking lot valued around $7 million.
The surface parking lot, located just south of the Downtown Mall, was the subject of a City-sponsored design contest last year, an effort that cost the City over $150,000 even though the City owns a minority of the total footprint in question.
Given the number of shares outstanding CPC's dividend suggests that over $200,000 will be paid out on January 15. The largest shareholders, CPC chair Jim Berry and the estate of Hovey Dabney, unless they sold out recently, will each see a payout of over $46,000.
One shareholder who has been urging a sale or merger for a while seemed pleased with the news. "What a great way to start the new year," said Florida banker Spencer Connerat, in a New Year's Day email, which also noted that his alma mater, UVA, was winning at half-time in the Gator Bowl. That game didn't turn out the way he hoped.


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Results of Dun & Bradstreet’s (D&B) latest trade payment analysis have shown business cash flow has slowed this year.
D&B is a business information company. The analysis is conducted quarterly, aimed at providing sector and state analysis of payment trends and the impact on businesses. Business trade information is reported every month.
The increase in payment times is due to weak sales activity, a high Australian dollar and concerns about operating costs, as per the report. D&B business expectations surveys found the biggest barrier for business growth was operational costs.
According to the research, businesses are waiting an average of 55 days to be paid by other companies during the first quarter of 2013. In the previous quarter, the average was 52 days.
The largest companies (with over 500 employees) in the analysis have taken 58 days to pay business invoices, the slowest of all businesses.
D&B’s findings show small companies (less than 20 employees) take an average of 53 days to pay and medium companies (50 to 199 employees) are settling payments in 50 days.
From the analysis, only 38% of all invoice payments in Australia are paid on time.
D&B believe flowing cash flow cycle can impact a business’ capacity to cover costs and limit their expenditure and investment in the growth of their business.
“In this environment, a slowing cash flow cycle further hits businesses,” said Gareth Jones, CEO of D&B. “Their ability to spend money and invest in the growth of their business, and by consequence the economy, is limited when they’re kept waiting for payments.”
“More significantly, however, is if late payments are impacting a business’s ability to cover its own costs of operation. We know that 90 per cent of small businesses failures are caused by poor cash flow.”


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Ugandan multi-currency wallet Eversend crowdfunds $706,000
Eversend, a Uganda-based multi-currency e-wallet, has landed $706,000 in crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs.
The start-up has issued 8.74% in equity to investors, valuing the business at roughly $7.4 million. Having already gone 15% over its fundraise target, Eversend still has a few more weeks before the crowdfunding campaign ends.
Founded in 2017, the fintech offers its now 40,000 registered users a digital wallet and currency exchange across a variety of currencies. Users don’t need access to the internet to send their funds, as the start-up uses an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) channel.
The company says it is growing its user base by roughly 30% month-on-month.
And with a money lending license in Uganda already in the bag, Eversend is looking to expand its offering to personal loans, as well as insurance, savings, investment and merchant payment products.
Eversend’s founder and CEO Stone Atwine told Disrupt Africa that the Seedrs campaign is part of a larger fundraising round which will include institutional investors, but details on the total size of the round have not been disclosed.
“It’s a great way to create a community of user investors. There’s nothing better than customers owning a part of the business,” said Atwine.
CEO Atwine previously spent time as a country manager of a payroll software company in Kenya, after which he co-founded two other start-ups: money transfer service Use Remit, and Yetu Credit Finance, a fintech providing salary-based loans to government employees in Uganda.
Eversend says it will use the funds for product development, user acquisition, and regulatory compliance, as it looks to expand its offering to Nigeria, Francophone Africa, and Europe.
Some funds will also be kept back in the company’s accounts as working capital to bulk out Eversend’s netting off reserves.


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- Nigerian interior designer Ehi Ogbebor and business man Kenneth Oboku got married in Benin City, Nigeria on November 18 in an incredbilylavish affair.
- Guests were reportedly given brand new cars and microwave ovens as souvenir gifts.
- The wedding party partook in the African tradition of "spraying" the bride and groom with $100 bills.
Nigerian interior designer Ehi Ogbebor married her oil and gas tycoon partner Kenneth Oboku in an extremely lavish affair in Benin City, Nigeria on Saturday.
While the wedding appears to have come complete with a huge, multi-layer cake and a ritual that saw guests spray the newlyweds with money, the most extravagant features were easily the souvenirs given to guests.
The couple reportedly gave away two brand new Toyota cars in a raffle draw.
Similar models to the ones pictured above retail at about about $18,500 (£14,000).
For those that weren't lucky enough to win a car in the raffle draw, other gifts were apparently handed out, including these microwave ovens.
Ogbebor is a mother of two and CEO of Sayaveth Interiors and Hotel.
Their big day took place at the Esteem Event Centre in Benin City, Edo State at 2 p.m. on Saturday November 18.
The bride, along with plenty of other guests, shared photos of the lavish ceremony on Instagram with the hashtag #ehiken2017.
There was a very elaborate wedding cake with multiple tiers made by Lagos-based Doodles Cakes.
The wedding reportedly also involved the African tradition of "spraying" the newlywed bride and groom with dollar bills...
...Leaving $100 notes everywhere.


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Robotic design company Boston Dynamics has improved its signature humanoid robot. Atlas is now running — and it looks more agile than some older versions.
Thursday marked the first time in two years the company released video of Atlas being tested on outdoor terrain.
The running robot shows the company's progress in creating human-like machines.
Although if it's a competition, it looks like it still has a ways to go.


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A FAMILY shop has been named as having the best chips in the region.
Fish Face in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool won the Choice Chip Awards title in the Potato Council competition held to mark Chip Week 2013.
More than 500 shops competed for ten regional titles, which were voted for by the public.
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Owner Dave Atkinson said: “It’s the fact that it’s come from the public, our customers, that makes this special. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
The shop has been run by the Atkinson family since June 2011 and this is the first time it has been entered.
David Atkinson has been in the chip shop business for many years, supplying frying equipment and running a takeaway with wife Susan.
They bought Fish Face takeaway and restaurant, putting son Dave and his wife Nicola at the helm of the restaurant with other son Shane managing the restaurant business.
David said: “We know a thing or two about producing tasty chips. It’s all down to quality ingredients and equipment, having a top notch method and proper staff training, all of which we have here.”


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Whole Foods and Trader Joe's Are Recalling Vegetables After Listeria Scare
If you have these items in your fridge, it's time to throw them out.
You might want to double-check your packed veggies before making dinner tonight. Mann Packing, a leading vegetable supplier in California, recently announced that they've recalled several products that might have been contaminated with a harmful bacteria known as listeria.
Supermarkets across the United States and Canada will be affected by this recall including, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Meijer, and Walmart. "Mann Packing is issuing this recall out of an abundance of caution," the company said in a statement, adding that the contamination risk was picked up by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency after they decided to stop by for a random sampling.
Thankfully, no illnesses have been reported so far. But the company recommends disposing of or returning any items that were listed as "best if used by" October 11 to October 20. (Eaten something from a food recall? Here's what to do.)
As of right now, Meijer has recalled several dozen products, including broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus, that were sold in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. A full list of recalled products is available on the Food and Drug Administration's website.
Every year, about 1,600 people become infected with listeria. Of those, 260 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Healthy people exposed to listeria might experience a fever and/or diarrhea. But people who are at high risk, like the elderly, pregnant women, and newborns, might also experience headaches, muscle aches, stiff neck, confusion, and convulsions.
It's also important to note that pregnant women are 10 times more likely to become infected, the CDC says-the big risk being that listeria can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, and premature labor.
If you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you should notify your doctor immediately and let this serve as a reminder to always wash your produce.


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Budget hotel group Jinjiang Inn says it will join the Earth Hour program initiated by the World Wildlife Fund.
On March 28, 2009, all the 240 plus outlets of Jinjiang Inn will turn off their external lights. In addition, the hotel will send off information cards free of charge to its customers via its official website, calling on these customers to do their bit to protect the earth.
According to a representative from Jinjiang Inn, the hotel will also launch a themed event to increase their environmental awareness by not using the disposable amenities and it will offer the hotel's customers a reward for doing this.
It is understood that this will be the first time that Earth Hour is held in China and Jinjiang Inn is the first budget hotel in China to volunteer to participate in the program.


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In the six weeks between the console's launch and the end of the year, the Wii U sold 320,000 units through Gamestop, the retailer has revealed in its year-end sales report.
The retailer has called this a successful launch, although its overall holiday-period sales were down on last year. Bear in mind that number is only from one retailer, but as it is a retailer with huge reach in the US and Australia, it's an important number nonetheless. Nintendo announced total week-one US sales figures of 425,000 for the Wii U, but has released no further numbers.
In Japan, where the console launched on December 5th, the Wii U has sold just over 638,000 units so far, according to Media Create's independent data. European sales figures are still a mystery.
Overall, it looks like the Wii U sales figures worldwide are actually pretty good, though not quite as good as Nintendo was hoping for (and still slightly behind the Wii at this point in the console's life cycle). If you ask me, taking European figures into account and estimating the console's likely December sales, the total figure might be nudging towards 3 million - but that's just a guess. We're working on an in-depth analysis of the Wii U launch, and hope to be able to show you exactly how well it's stacking up against the competition very soon indeed.


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Many Internet security and privacy experts, however, question its necessity. "It's a good idea and clever, but I've never seen the need to use it," said Bruce Schneier, chief technology officer of Counterpane Internet Security Inc. Noting that consumers have, at most, only a $50 liability if a credit card is fraudulently used, Schneier said, "I don't have a lot a risk here." It would be more troublesome if someone stole his Social Security number and created a new account in his name, Schneier said; that kind of identity theft is much harder to correct.
Dan Clements, head of the Internet security firm CardCops.com, however, calls the limited credit card liability "an illusion." Clements said credit card numbers are sold and bartered all over the Internet and can be combined with other personal information easily available on the Web to create full-blown identity theft. Even so, Clements said, he doesn't use a virtual credit card number because "it's a hassle." Yet his solution, he admitted, is equally time- consuming: He asks for a new credit card number every three months.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.


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Businesses in Great Yarmouth borough invited to enter Spirit of Enterprise Awards
TOP-PERFORMING businesses are invited to take centre stage by entering the Spirit of Enterprise Awards, the most prestigious annual celebration of business excellence in the Great Yarmouth borough.
Organised by enterpriseGY, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s business support and inward investment service, the popular awards aim to recognise and raise the profile of the area’s top-performing businesses, while boosting confidence in the strength of the local economy.
The awards are free-of-charge to enter online at www.enterpriseGY.co.uk. Businesses of all sizes and sectors are encouraged to put themselves forward for one or more of the nine categories before entries close on Friday, November 22.
This year, there are some new categories, plus extra incentive to enter as all entrants will automatically be entered into the Norfolk Business Awards in 2020, where there is a like-for-like category.
The finalists and winners in the Spirit of Enterprise Awards will be showcased in the media and at a glittering awards ceremony and gala dinner at the Town Hall’s prestigious Assembly Room in spring.
Each award is backed by a different local sponsor, who shortlists the finalists and chooses their category winner. This year, the main sponsor is last year’s Business of the Year, API Microelectronics Ltd, who will choose the 2019/20 Business of the Year from the winners of the other categories.
The other confirmed sponsors are P&S Personnel, Noritake Itron, ASCO Group, Potters Friends Foundation and Lovewell Blake.


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Bon Jovi rosé named ‘best’ pink of 2018
Having only released it this spring, rocker Jon Bon Jovi’s rosé has been voted the top pink in the world in Wine Spectator’s coveted Top 100 ranking....
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Irrigation water demanded for paddy cropMay 21, 2013
Ratodero, Sindh: In an emergency meeting held on Tuesday the Larkana Chamber of Commerce and Industry demanded of the government to release irrigation water into the canals immediacy so that sowing of paddy seedlings could be sown well in time.
LCCI President Hafiz Suleman Shaikh said that farmers, growers and the businessmen will also suffer because Irri6 quality rice is mostly exported through which they earn their livelihood as well and the same quality is sown in Larkana and its adjoining districts on wide scale.
He said that irrigation water is usually released into the canals between May 5 to 10 but delaying it will result in damage to the economy of Sindh & Pakistan and added that there are no signs of releasing the water into the canals.
They urged the government and the concerned bureaucrats to take notice of the matter and resolve it on urgent basis.
Vice President Lakhmichand, Mumtaz Shaikh, Khair Muhammad Shaikh, Haji Anwar Shaikh, Badar Abro, Razak Brohi and others also participated in the meeting.


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Georgia May Jagger, the face of Hudson’s denim campaign for the past couple of seasons, is now creating a denim line! Georgia and Hudson have teamed up and will launch a denim collection for Spring 2011. The collection will be called Hudson by Georgia May Jagger. I’m sure the line will feature Jagger’s unique style so it’s reflected in the line!
Article and Image from Vogue UK.


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Amazon India has tied up with Vodafone in an attempt to expand its customer base by attracting potential customers to go online. The two firms have launched a pilot project across the telecom company's 40 stores in Bangalore, the Economic Times reported, to rope in those who are reluctant to shop online.
The Vodafone stores will now display smartphones that are exclusively sold on Amazon, like Redmi Note 3, Lenovo K 4 Note and Cool Pad range. Customers can try out the new models in the presence of a "trained product specialist," reports ET. The setting will give potential customers the touch-and-feel experience of these smartphones. Customers can also place online orders instantly and return to the store for post-purchase assistance.
"With an aim to acquire incremental set of customers who are not yet shopping online, we are focusing on providing them with opportunities to experience the benefits of shopping on Amazon.in and build trust in the brand," Arun Srinivasan, category leader of consumer electronics at Amazon India, was quoted as saying in the report.
Amazon is leaving no stones unturned in this latest move. The e-retailer had announced project Udaan earlier this year, under which Amazon-branded physical stores will be opened in tier-2 and tier-3 cities to help customers without reliable internet connection shop online.
The strategy, for which the e-retailer will have to consider tie-ups with physical stores, seems inevitable given the realities of bank account penetration and the latest available data on Prepaid Payments Instruments (PPI), which includes internet accounts and mobile wallets used to make online payments.
According to a 2015 report by Price Water Coopers, PPIs contribute only 40% of all real-time transactions, suggesting that a majority of transactions (or untapped customer base) are still active offline.
Amazon's move appears to aim at this largely offline customer base. A reality check brought out by a 2016 Deloitte report says India's e-commerce spending accounts for a mere 2 percent of the total retail spending in the country.
For e-tailer like Amazon and Flipkart, making inroads into the realms of brick-and-mortar market or rural areas was hence only a matter of time. Flipkart had earlier announced it would set up 20 stores in 10 cities to let customers collect their purchase at a time convenient to them. These stores will also be pivotal to Flipkart's "rural expansion strategy", Mint had reported.


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Microsoft's investment in putting its Bing search and maps in BlackBerry mobile devices by the fall holiday season pits Research In Motion and Microsoft against Google in a massive scramble for mobile search customers.
Analysts speculated that Microsoft, which recently made a billion-dollar-plus investment in Nokia, is probably also paying RIM "boatloads" for the partnership deal, although Microsoft would not reveal any terms.
Immediately, several analysts noted the importance of the move, given the growth in smartphones and the use of mobile search in advertising and location-based purchasing.
"This shows that the battle for mobile search is on," said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Gartner and a Computerworld columnist, in an email.
"Ballmer's presence at BlackBerry World is a great example of 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend,' " Gartenberg said. "Google indeed is the enemy in this case."
Ballmer said that Bing would become the default search provider in the browser and maps on BlackBerry devices, adding, "I've never been more excited about where our future is going."
The news was such a surprise that analysts attending BlackBerry World said RIM officials couldn't immediately explain any of the details to them.
A Microsoft spokeswoman clarified in an email to Computerworld that Microsoft and RIM announced a partnership to "make Bing the preferred search and maps provider on all new BlackBerry devices ... starting this holiday season." She said Bing will be the search default for the BlackBerry browser and the default search and maps provider on new RIM devices that are "presented to mobile operators in the U.S. and select international markets."
Asked to clarify the difference between being the "default" vs. "preferred" provider, the Microsoft spokeswoman said that Bing would be the default search and maps provider on new RIM devices when they are presented to carriers but that "the carrier can change the default," which means Bing is still preferred by RIM but customers will have other choices for mobile search.
Kevin Burden, an analyst at ABI Research, said that while Bing will be the preferred search engine on BlackBerry devices, Bing will not be the only search and mapping tool available on those phones. "The companies are saying they will put more emphasis on Bing and that it works better than Google," Burden said.
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Apple has added ‘Beats Music’ to its list of ‘Apps Made by Apple’. The subscription music app gets prime placement as the first title on the list.
The acquisition of Beats Electronics and Beats Music by Apple was finalized earlier this month. Sales of Beats gear is already being processed via the online Apple Store.
It’s likely we will see further integration of Beats into Apple’s products as time goes by. In the meanwhile, check out this beautiful Apple iBeats headphones concept.


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Council of Agriculture announces 8.2% increase over 2018 in total exports to Singapore for January to September
By: Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The head of Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA) Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) announced good news for Taiwan’s agriculture industry on Tuesday (Oct. 22) with news that exports to Singapore from January to September increased by 8.2 percent over the same period in 2018.
Exports of Taiwanese rice to the Singapore market, in particular, have more than doubled over the last year. According to Chen, Taiwanese agriculture exports to Singapore in 2019 so far amount to US$72.58 million (NT$2.22 billion).
Things look even better for next year according to COA projections, because in June of this year Taiwan was determined to be a country entirely free of foot and mouth disease among its livestock population. After submitting the official quarantine management report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Taiwan looks set to see a major boost in pork exports next year.
According to UDN, the COA chief just returned to Taiwan after a visit to Singapore where he attended the grand opening of a new Eccellente grocery location by HAO Mart which featured a special “Taiwan Agricultural Product” zone. While Chen was in Singapore, the COA also arranged to sign a major purchase order for Taiwanese rice with the Sheng Siong supermarket group (昇菘集團). [FULL STORY]


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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Tennessee law enforcement arrested more than a dozen people related to an alleged national skimmer network, News Channel 5 reports. The big bust included recovery of high-tech devices including a universal key. The suspects, many of which are Cuban nationals, allegedly stole American identities and around $700,000.
“They’re well-organized, well-trained and well-traveled,” Tyler Smith, a Murfreesboro fraud detective, said. He also pointed out that the gang was suspected of being part of a network that stretched across the country. “It's a large case and a significant arrest able to stop traffic all the way from Miami to Vegas to California and across the nation.”
Among the equipment confiscated during the arrests was a blue cable, which Smith said was capable of grabbing credit card numbers and PINs. The universal key allowed the thieves access to pumps at “90% of the gas stations across America,” he said.
Law enforcement believe the crime ring busted in Tennessee is part of a larger web taking this new technology across the United States. The case will go to federal court to seek indictments this week for those arrested.
Officials are also keeping a close eye on a Dark website that caters to skimmers by selling devices, as well as stolen Social Security and credit card numbers. NACS has many resources available online related to skimming and payments security.


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Headlines about Oxford Industries (NYSE:OXM) have been trending somewhat positive recently, according to Accern Sentiment Analysis. Accern identifies negative and positive press coverage by monitoring more than 20 million blog and news sources in real time. Accern ranks coverage of companies on a scale of negative one to one, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. Oxford Industries earned a daily sentiment score of 0.13 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave media headlines about the textile maker an impact score of 45.7943516222341 out of 100, indicating that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an effect on the company’s share price in the immediate future.
Here are some of the media headlines that may have impacted Accern’s analysis:
- Oxford to Present at the ICR Conference 2018 (markets.financialcontent.com)
- Oxford Industries (OXM) Cut to “Hold” at Zacks Investment Research (americanbankingnews.com)
- Oxford Industries (OXM) Upgraded by Zacks Investment Research to “Buy” (americanbankingnews.com)
- Oxford, PVH: The Retailers In Fashion At B. Riley FBR (finance.yahoo.com)
- Oxford Industries (OXM) Earns Buy Rating from Analysts at B. Riley (americanbankingnews.com)
Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. B. Riley started coverage on Oxford Industries in a report on Friday, December 22nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $84.00 target price on the stock. Zacks Investment Research raised Oxford Industries from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $81.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 21st. SunTrust Banks reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Oxford Industries in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Telsey Advisory Group raised their price objective on Oxford Industries from $65.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, DA Davidson set a $71.00 price objective on Oxford Industries and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $73.00.
Oxford Industries (NYSE:OXM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 5th. The textile maker reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $236.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $242.98 million. Oxford Industries had a return on equity of 14.26% and a net margin of 4.83%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted ($0.07) earnings per share. sell-side analysts forecast that Oxford Industries will post 3.67 EPS for the current year.
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 18th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.43%. Oxford Industries’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.41%.
In other news, Director Dennis M. Love sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.09, for a total transaction of $108,135.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 17,002 shares in the company, valued at $1,225,674.18. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 3.29% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
TRADEMARK VIOLATION WARNING: This report was originally reported by Community Financial News and is owned by of Community Financial News. If you are accessing this report on another website, it was copied illegally and republished in violation of United States & international trademark & copyright legislation. The original version of this report can be viewed at https://www.com-unik.info/2017/12/27/somewhat-favorable-press-coverage-somewhat-unlikely-to-affect-oxford-industries-oxm-share-price.html.
About Oxford Industries
Oxford Industries, Inc is an apparel company. The Company designs, sources, markets and distributes products bearing the trademarks of its owned Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer and Southern Tide lifestyle brands, other owned brands and licensed brands, as well as private label apparel products. It distributes its lifestyle branded products through its direct to consumer channels, consisting of its Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer full-price retail stores and its e-commerce sites for Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer and Southern Tide, and through its wholesale distribution channels.
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Unsung Story, the new Tactics game being developed by Final Fantasy Tactics developer Yasumi Matsuno, is getting closer and closer to being funded on Kickstarter. The project is currently at $448,575 and they are looking to raise $600,000. To sweeten the deal, the artist from Bravely Default, Akihiko Yoshida, is joining the team. Yoshida also worked on games such as Final Fantasy Tactics, Tactics Ogre, Vagrant Story, and Final Fantasy XII. The project has 15 days left to meet its goal, so head on over to the official Kickstarter page and donate generously. Should the project succeed in funding itself, it will release sometime in 2015.
Former Contributing Writer


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THE Third Hospitality and Food Exhibition, HORECA Kuwait, which concluded on May 29, was an event to celebrate this year, having lured an unprecedented turnout of at least 2,500 visitors with the participation of 80 exhibitors.
The annual three-day event, organized by Universal Business Solutions (Kuwait) and Hospitality Services (Lebanon), was a platform for immediate business opportunities and a launch pad for future business prospects. Rabee Baadarani, general manager, Universal Business Solutions Company (UBS), commented on the show: “The event was indispensable for any hospitality-related business that deals with hospitality in its various aspects.”
Summed up Joumana Dammous Salamé, managing director of Hospitality Services, the show’s organizer, “It was beyond anyone’s expectations. A series of deals were signed and contracts finalized during the show.”
A multidisciplinary event, the third HORECA Kuwait attracted a growing number of visitors this year, as compared with the previous two editions. Visitors had the chance to meet the market’s elite and get a closer in-depth look at new trends, products, and services. Exhibitors showcasing their services described the event as a most fulfilling experience that allowed them more exposure and market awareness and generated more business.
Labelling the show a success in many ways, exhibitors confirmed their participation in the 2008 edition of HORECA Kuwait, according to a statement from the organisers.
Baadarani and Dammous promised that next year the hospitality forum “will be even bigger and more diversified,” to meet the ever expanding F&B industry.
TTN is the most established trade publication in the Middle East distributed on a controlled circulation basis to members of the travel and tourism industry.
Published monthly by Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group, the region’s foremost trade publisher, TTN is aimed at professionals in the industry, from travel agents to airline and hotel personnel.
TTN provides in-depth and extensive coverage of relevant issues in the Middle East and North Africa as well as in other parts of the world. Travel related news, analysis, and new appointments together with information on up-coming exhibitions, marketing and promotional campaigns are presented in an innovative and striking colour tabloid.
Every issue also contains a collation of international and regional news and topical features of interest to readers.


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27 Mar 2019
Newer phones produced by Samsung come with an already installed Device Maintenance application. You can use its vast array of functions for one of few areas: Battery, Storage, Memory, and Device Security.
We will focus on the Device Security function and how using it and Device Maintenance can help you make your phone much more secure. The app regularly scans your device for any possibly malicious software and provides you with solutions on how to deal with them, all backed up by Intel Security.
That's it! Remember to scan your phone at least once a week and avoid opening software from unknown sources!
By Marek Pawelczyk on 27 Mar 2019
The Nothing phone (1) has been in the news recently for its unusual design. And it is already inspiring other brands, or... Doogee plans to launch the versatile S89 series, a pair of rugged phones with an RGB light effect on the back. But that's not the only thing that makes the S89 series unique. This series comes with an enormous 12000 mAh battery.
Xnspy is a pioneer in parental control apps for remotely monitoring cell phones. It works as a solution to get parents and employers relief as they can track the activities of their children and employees remotely without even letting them know. Xnspy may rank high in the list of the most prominent monitoring apps today, but what is it about the app that is slowly making it a household name?
Are you worried about the safety of your android application? Are you looking for a reliable technique to secure your mobile app? Worry no more, for you are reading the right article. We will explore some of the most robust techniques that will make your android app almost unbreakable.
Are you one of these people that avoid using the internet because of mobile phones? This article may help you learn about other ways of accessing the internet, without the hassle of mobile phones.


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Business Insider recently visited Facebook’s HQ in Menlo Park, California, where we had a great time. Facebook employs about 7,000 staff, and although they are not all at the Menlo Park location, the car park is nonetheless crowded with vehicles.
And some employees’ cars are pretty fancy: Wait until you see the “Tron” Edition Chevy Camaro.
The Facebook IPO created about 1,000 millionaires inside the company. Add to that the fact that this is California, where they love their cars, and you get an idea of why the Facebook car park is so interesting.
We took a spin through it recently (in a rented Chevy Malibu, the shame!) This is what we were able to see before security showed up.
This is a Lotus Elise. It costs $47,250 to $73,500 brand new (£29,217 to £45,450), depending on the package.


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Ford representatives say they also believe that the vehicles may have been compromised by a tradition of Ford craftsmanship.
The new Birdie 3000 penis-measuring rulers are designed to account for the two inches of penis that people can’t see, but that every guy totally knows is there.
“What can we say? We’re people pleasers” a Facebook spokesman said.
In addition to the Buttocks Burger and Buttocks Double-Meat Burger, Haunch’s also plans to offer a Buttocks Fish sandwich and a Chick n’ Butt sandwich.
During a 1983 interview with David Lee Roth, 2020 presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren suggested that Van Halen should break up because their success had created a shortage of cocaine for upcoming bands.
A robot which lines up grapes, pries apart their legs and removes the testes quickly and efficiently is expected to revolutionize the Grape Nuts industry.


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Qatar’s leading logistics provider GWC concluded the first half of 2019 with a 10.35% growth rate in net profits, achieving QR122.2mn at the end of June 2019, compared with QR110.7mn registered at the end of the same period in 2018.
Gross revenues reached QR599.6mn at the end of June 2019, while the company’s earnings per share also increased to QR0.21 in the first six months of 2019, registering a 10.53% rise from 0.19 during the same period in 2018.
“Over 15 years, GWC has developed infrastructure and created systems that continue to work in building the nation’s logistical infrastructure. As we progress, we will continue to lay foundations and develop strategies in line with the country’s vision and ambitions, while ensuring our shareholders the best possible returns,” stated GWC chairman Sheikh Abdulla bin Fahad bin Jassem bin Jabor al-Thani.
The company’s various departments continue to maintain optimal operations across the board and leverage the strength of its international freight network, in addition to providing express courier services as the authorised service contractor in the State of Qatar for UPS.
The company is aided by increased activity for its freight solutions and contract logistics services offered at the Logistics Village Qatar (LVQ), the GWC Bu Sulba Warehousing Park, and the Bu Fasseela Warehousing Park, all forming part of its 3mn sq m of logistics infrastructure in the nation.
These are further supported by developing technological enhancements performed on the company’s operations, increasing efficiency and emphasising its standing as a technology-driven enterprise.
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Electric aircraft deals take off
Middle East 'worst performer' among regions in air passenger traffic in 2020: IATA Aviation Page
Air cargo leads recovery on favourable supply chain conditions amid challenges
Qatar bourse key index rises further on buy support
Qatar’s GDP per capita forecast at $60,898 in 2021: FocusEconomics
Nakilat join hands with global players to enhance maritime operational performance
Non-resident deposits in banks outpace total deposits: QCB
QIB second top bank in Qatar, 20th bank in ME
Alibaba sales miss in sign spending has yet to pay off


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Argentina recently released medical cannabis regulations that support increased imports of medicinal cannabis and CBD products to Latin America that entails 45 million users.
The new reforms permit the use of THC-and CBD-based products for medicinal issues in Argentina. Although these products can be imported, sales are allowed in Pharmacies only and require prescriptions.
It’s unclear whether a prescription is required for CBD cosmetic products or if the regulations apply to ingestible CBD products only.
Based on the decree, patients can grow their marijuana and get medicinal specialties indicated in the country or get magisterial formulations indicated by licensed pharmacies. The Argentine government stated that the decree would enable importing medical cannabis products to tackle a significant amount of illness than other currently available products in the market.
Local production will be conducted via labs of NAPL (National Agency for Public Laboratories). The products will be distributed via NBCD (National Bank of Cancer Drugs and Pharmacies).
Argentina will create a high-demand market for CBD topicals due to the increased need for natural ingredients and additives in cosmetics by consumers seeking healthier lifestyles.
The provisions laid out this month are featured in a decree published within Argentina’s official gazette. They expand the authorization within the Reprocann (National Cannabis program) and approve the medical utility of Marijuana by research institutions and individuals.
The new rules also permitted self-cultivation; thus, folks won’t have to rely on the black market in their quest for CBD products.
Mama Cultiva will reap various benefits from the new decree. It’s a non-profit institution for South American mothers that advocate cannabis use for treating children suffering from conditions such as autism, epilepsy, and cancer. Mama Cultiva supported the formulation of the medical cannabis regulation in 2017 and has lobbied to restrain laws on self-cultivation as well as cannabis-based treatment.
With the materialization of medical marijuana law and the recent creation of a bill that will open up Argentina’s commercial hemp market, the argentine government is poised to fast-track its cannabis policy.


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In 2018, one issue has dominated the compliance agenda for most businesses and their marketers, and that’s data protection. During the year, including the introduction of the GDPR legislation on 25 May, the DMA, the UK trade association for the one-to-one marketing industry, has been working hard to provide advice, best practice, insight and training for brands and agencies alike.
On 29 October, the Chancellor delivered his last Budget before the UK is due to exit the European Union at the end of March 2019, and so now seems like the right time to share a Q&A blog, where I put some questions to Chris Combemale, Group CEO at the DMA. I asked him about whether Brexit will affect the current data regulatory framework.
JK: What does the event of a no-deal Brexit mean in terms of British citizen’s data rights?
CC: “No matter what Brexit deal is or isn’t struck, the UK Government has committed to having a robust data protection framework in the UK that balances privacy and innovation. The Government has already implemented the Data Protection Act 2018, which should create adequacy with the EU based on the essential framework of GDPR. In the event of a no-deal, the Data Protection Act will remain part of UK law.
“The challenges of a no-deal Brexit would be much more complicated for British businesses, however, as the disruption to the free flow of data between the UK and EU would be very damaging. This could have further knock-on effects on the UK public, with the possibility of jobs moving to the EU and investment also decreasing. That’s why the DMA has been extremely active in advocating for Adequacy Plus, which would not only enable the free flow of data but would also agree a full voting place on the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) for the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The UK ICO brings a risk-based philosophy to the deliberations of the EDPB, provides a more balanced view between innovation and privacy than some continental counterparts, in keeping with general UK attitudes and approaches to enterprise. At the very least, the UK must secure adequacy status so the data economy is not disrupted.
“For example, a UK-based company that has EU customers may use an EU-based data centre, but the information is processed at the UK HQ. If the UK leaves the EU without a data deal this company would lose access to its own data, as transfers from the EU to UK would be prohibited. The company would need to find a new supplier or may move operations to the EU, so it can efficiently serve EU-based customers and not have to worry about transferring data from the EU to the UK. Therefore, it is imperative that the free flow of data is maintained.
“We believe the UK cannot retain its position as a global leader in data, technology and marketing if we do not have an Adequacy deal on future data flows with Europe.”
JK: Will it impact all the GDPR stuff we dealt with this year?
CC: “The GDPR has been implemented in the UK via the Data Protection Act 2018 which will remain the law in the UK. However, without an adequacy agreement in place, UK businesses and other organisations would need to find an alternative route to retain the free flow of data with the EU.
“This would require an alternative legal basis such as model contract clauses and industry codes. On this latter point, the DMA is working in collaboration with the Federation of European Direct and Interactive Marketing Associations (FEDMA) to mitigate the risks of no Adequacy by having a FEDMA Code of Conduct endorsed by the European Data Protection Board which would be available to UK companies via the DMA.
JK: Will we be more exposed when out of EU jurisdiction?
CC: “The Government has committed to parsing EU laws into UK law, which should mean a level of consistency for the UK, its citizens and its businesses. The most important thing is to maintain the free flow of data between the UK and EU, as any disruption to this may cause harm to businesses or lead to them relocating.”
“In short, a no-deal Brexit is antithetical to the interests of the data and marketing industry as a whole. A no-deal on data would cause immediate and complete ceasing of UK data-flows with EU countries, a practice through which enormous amounts of business is conducted. Indeed, 75% of the UK’s cross-border data flows are with the EU. Having lobbied this position for months, we know that the government understands the ramifications of this. We shall continue to impress upon the government and our EU partners the importance of getting a deal on data.
“For example, many UK businesses use cloud computing providers that store data in the EU and in the event of a no-deal or lack of an Adequacy agreement it may not be possible to continue to transfer that data. For the UK business, this would mean a need to find an alternative supplier or means of accessing that data, either way disrupting their businesses. For the cloud computing provider too, this would result in potential disruption, need to make significant changes to their processes and even loss of business.”
JK: Will new laws be needed to protect people’s data?
CC: “No. the Government recently passed the Data Protection Act 2018, so the UK has a robust data protection framework that can be trusted.”
To read about our ongoing work for the DMA, click here for our case study.


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The IAB says: “We believe in a future in which identifiers do not play a role, but also one where identifiers can play a role. As long as the privacy rules are respected and the rights of the consumer are protected. ” The argument goes: “Europe does not prohibit identifiers for the delivery and measurement of digital advertising. The point is that the consumer gets transparency and has choices. ”
The term ‘identifiers’ in this context refers to technical tools that are used to identify and profile digital audiences, users of sites and apps, with the aim of targeting them with personalized advertising.
The European interest group wants to stand up for its supporters in the conversation with Google. This is a multiform group of companies centered around the 65 billion euro spent on advertising on digital channels in 2019. Google’s decision takes a big bite out of that, because it blocks the flow of most of the 23 billion euros (PDF) to programmatic budget. And also in the very short term: in 2022.
A company like Adform, for example, developed an advertising system that, within the framework of the privacy rules, can build visitor profiles for advertising purposes. However, director Jakob Bak states that Google’s decision is not the end of the world. It doesn’t extend beyond Chrome (64 percent market share) and perhaps the Play Store. “Moreover, nothing has changed in a practical sense.”
By the way, IAB Europe is sitting at the table with Google quite late to discuss the matter. Eight months ago, the tech giant already started out publicly, on Github under the name Turtledove, to develop his new conceptual look at the advertising market. Criteo is one of the few parties that recognized this in time and on Github with project Sparrow set out his own course. It took right to speak and now decides effectively.
Incidentally, there is also a camp that is much stricter towards European advertisers and publishers. The civil rights organization Electronic Frontier Foundation is quite clear: “Instead of reinventing the wheel, we need to imagine a world without the tens of thousands of problems of targeted advertising.” In the perception of the influential American organization, there is no situation in which you can monitor the behavior of internet users on the one hand and protect their privacy on the other. FLoC, Google’s alternative advertising system that works purely in the browser, is according to the EFF downright a bad idea.


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You go to your computer or pull out your phone, fire up the browser of choice, type in marketplace.org, and magically our website shows up (and you’re here, so case in point.)
Except… it’s not magic. The internet is a deeply complicated and completely essential system, the architecture of which has been run under contract with the United States Goverment by a group known as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
For now.The Commerce Department announced it’s going to get out of the internet business just as soon as a replacement group is set up to keep an eye on things.
We called up the CEO of ICANN, Fadi Chehade, to see how that might work.
Marketplace is on a mission.
We believe Main Street matters as much as Wall Street, economic news is made relevant and real through human stories, and a touch of humor helps enliven topics you might typically find…well, dull.
Through the signature style that only Marketplace can deliver, we’re on a mission to raise the economic intelligence of the country—but we don’t do it alone. We count on listeners and readers like you to keep this public service free and accessible to all. Will you become a partner in our mission today?


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ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has unveiled the purpose of 1.5 billion dollar gifted by friendly countries, all the amount will be utilized in development projects in the country.
This was unveiled by Ishaq Dar during an interview.
Highlighting about development projects, he said the amount will be used in infrastructure, energy, railways, communication and transportation sectors related development projects in the country.
He said the gift proved that trust has been bestowed on Pakistan government by our friendly countries.
Citing, Japan External Trade Organization conducted survey, he said Pakistan ranked as the second growing economy in the world.
He also quoted renowned economist Jim O’Niel who forecasted that Pakistan would be 18th largest economy of the world by 2050.
He also gave good news of strengthening of Pakistan’s currency further in few days.
The finance minister regarding tax collection said it was increased by 17.7 percent as compared to last fiscal year.


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Chevrolet is introducing a new mild-hybrid system, titled eAssist, to the available options for the 2016 Silverado pickup truck. While eAssist will only be an optional package in limited quantities in California, that makes General Motors the only automobile company to include hybrid trucks in any of its many brands, as the hybrid package will be added to both the Silverado and the GMC Sierra. The Silverado eAssist hybrid will make use of this cutting-edge, innovative technology that was created using inspiration from Chevy’s own Volt and Malibu Hybrid.
The base 2016 Silverado will retain the same engine that comes standard to the truck, the 5.3-liter V8 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. However, the eAssist hybrid package will add an electric motor alongside a 0.45 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The mild-hybrid system will boost the V8 by about 13 horsepower and 44 lb-ft of torque, as well as improving the fuel economy by about 13 percent, giving the hybrid variant an advantage over the standard truck in both power and efficiency. The power improvements easily compensate for the extra 100 lbs that the battery and motor add to the Silverado’s weight.
The Silverado eAssist hybrid also comes with a few new smart technology features that help conserve battery power, such as smart-stop technology and regenerative braking, which allows the brake system to generate power as the Silverado hybrid is driving. The eAssist models will be sold in limited quantities for the 2016 year, but if sales go well in California, General Motors has plans to expand the package’s availability to those in other states across the country. Plus, with only a small price tag of an additional $500, the cost of the eAssist hybrid package is affordable and well worth the extra money.


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Sharp has drastically cut the production of iPad displays to the point that the build process is “nearly halted,” according to a report from Reuters on Friday. It’s the second time this week that we’ve heard stories related to Apple’s supply chain—earlier, a report suggested that all of Apple’s suppliers had received cuts in orders for iPhone 5 parts, resulting in fears that demand for Apple products was cooling.
Our guess is Sharp halted production of 9.7-inch display panels after producing enough panels to surpass demand during the fourth quarter and holiday season. It’s also possible that there’s just larger demand for the smaller iPad mini, which is cheaper than the fourth generation iPad.
Reuters said that production levels haven’t changed at LG or Samsung, two other firms that also build iPad displays.


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On September 6th Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) released a statement regarding cargo processing during the upcoming hurricane. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, diversion of cargo to open ports was a key factor in allowing trade to continue to operate in the face of the closures of Texas and Louisiana seaports.
CBP will permit ocean vessels to divert from their intended port to another port for discharge. CBP requests that ocean manifests be amended and new destination ports be alerted. CBP will not issue penalties for violations arising from port diversions during the hurricane.
Continue Reading Customs and Border Protection Readies for Hurricane Irma


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Boost to UK Motor Industry as JLR Build EVs
JLR are to build electric cars in the UK at its manufacturing branch is Castle Bromwich, making it the UK’s first premium electrified vehicle plant.
The Jaguar XJ will be the first electric car to be produced at the plant.
Prof. Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Convenience and affordability are the two key enablers to drive the uptake of electric vehicles to the levels that we all need. Charging should be as easy as re-fuelling a conventional vehicle. Affordability will only be achieved if we make batteries here in the UK, close to vehicle production, to avoid the cost and safety risk of importing from abroad. The UK has the raw materials, scientific research in our universities and an existing supplier base to put the UK at the leading edge of mobility and job creation.”
2 in 5 drivers, an increase of 7.5m drivers in the past 2 years, are considering an EV as their next vehicle according to a report by Close Brothers Motor Finance.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Today’s news is a huge boost for the UK motor industry and reaffirms Britain’s potential to become a global leader in zero emission technologies. To realise this, however, we need the right conditions to encourage more manufacturers to invest, innovate and sell competitively, including massive infrastructure investment and long-term support and incentives for consumers.”