text: Suni Hạ Linh continues her reign as the "It girl" of advertisements geared toward the teenage crowd. She's out there on the mean streets of Nam sweeping up these advertisement dollars like nobody's business. Just like when Suni dethroned Hari Won as the official spokesperson for the LipIce Q lipstick brand, Suni did it again! This time Hoang Yen Chibi (2016 spokesperson) was the one kicked to the curb and left feeling like yesterday's news. FeelsBadMan. Now that Suni is the official spokesperson for the Nabati snack brand, the question becomes...what's next for Suni Hạ Linh? Đông Nhi better watch out because at this rate, Suni is going to be taking Đông Nhi's Pepsi money away too.


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Connect with top gaming leaders in Los Angeles at GamesBeat Summit 2023 this May 22-23. Register here.
Over the past six weeks, multiple reports and rumors have hinted that Google is building an ad blocker into its Chrome browser. The company today set the record straight regarding its plans, which are not quite what the speculation suggested.
Google has joined the Coalition for Better Ads, a group that offers specific standards for how the industry should improve ads for consumers — full-page ad interstitials, ads that unexpectedly play sound, and flashing ads are all banned. Chrome will stop showing ads (including those owned or served by Google) on websites that are not compliant with the Better Ads Standards “starting in early 2018.”
In other words, Google will use Chrome to cut off ad revenue from websites that serve low-quality ads, as deemed by the aforementioned standards. That means the browser’s built-in ad blocker will be taking an all-or-nothing approach: All ads blocked if one ad doesn’t follow the standards or all ads allowed if all the ads follow the standards.
The hope is that this will stymie the usage of add-ons and extensions that block all ads outright. Google acknowledges that this kind of ad blocker hurts publishers that create free content (like VentureBeat) “and threatens the sustainability of the web ecosystem.” Interestingly, despite the fact that Google makes the vast majority of its revenue from ads, the company says it sees this type of selective browser ad blocker as the natural evolution of pop-up blockers.
Join us in San Francisco on July 11-12, where top executives will share how they have integrated and optimized AI investments for success and avoided common pitfalls.
But the Chrome ad blocker coming next year isn’t the only thing Google is doing. The company is also launching the Ad Experience Report, a tool that provides screenshots and videos of annoying ad experiences to help sites find and fix issues. Developers can re-submit their site for review once the problematic ad experiences have been addressed. For a full list of ads to use instead, Google recommends that publishers visit its new best practices guide.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.

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text: Make way for plant-based meat. While the rise of meat-free options is hardly new, these foods have gotten a major boost in momentum lately. According to new research, the plant-based meat market is on track to grow 93 percent between now and 2025 – its most substantial growth to date. Growing consumer interest in protecting both personal health and the environment is driving the trend. Restaurants have plenty to gain from it – even if plant-based meats occupy a small fraction of their menus. For one, prices of plant-based meats are coming down, aligning more closely with the cost of animal proteins. Impossible Foods recently cut wholesale prices on its plant-based burgers and sausages by 15 percent – its second price cut in less than a year, according to CNBC. The plant-based market is also an appealing one for restaurants. According to research from Packaged Facts, consumers of plant-based foods (whether all the time or even semi-regularly) tend to have the resources to pay for more premium foods and a willingness to pay for them. They skew younger (think Millennials and Generation Z) and are open to trying new products. They also tend to value eating fresh, healthy foods themselves and providing them for their children. Restaurants who want to develop this market can build menu offerings and promotions with those traits in mind: A restaurant near a college campus might push the boundaries of its plant-based menu items, offering creative combinations and edgy global flavors, while one serving families might assemble plant-based meal kits or bundles that help parents ensure they are feeding their families healthfully.


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The hype machine for Microsoft’s latest tilt at the smartphone market Windows Phone 7 is gearing up, with the appearance of a new ad that references Lawrence of Arabia.
Check out Microsoft’s video below
The tech giant’s promo was trailed before a screening of the classic Britflick in London, wherein our lantern jawed hero leads a guerrilla force of Arabs to victory against the Ottoman Empire.
Microsoft’s ad comes after it recently unveiled the launch line-up of games for handsets running its OS, which included a mobile edition of first person shooter Halo, as well as titles aimed at causal players such as Bejewlelled and Guitar Hero 5.
Rumours suggest that we could see the first-ever Windows Phone 7 handset as early as next week at HTC’s mystery press event.
It is widely believed that the debut phone, reportedly dubbed the HTC HD7, will pack an industry-leading 4.5-inch, AMOLED touchscreen and hugely powerful 1.5GHz dual core processor.
The event is also thought likely to mark the first appearance of the HTC Desire HD, which augments the appeal of the huge-selling Desire Android smartie with the addition of high definition video recording and an eight megapixel camera.


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With her new collection of lab-grown diamond rings set to launch at Jared, Pnina Tornai says she sees weddings and the celebration of marriage in all its facets becoming bigger and more meaningful – an opportune time for her. to bring Pnina lab-created diamonds to the world.
the Pnina Tornai Un The lab-created diamond collection will launch Wednesday at Jared U.S. stores as well as online. The collection includes 25 rings that range in price from $1,299 to $18,999. Jared even named the cut of these lab-grown diamonds in the collection after Tornai, something the Israeli-born fashion designer is best known for her work on. say yes to the dress said is a highlight of his career.
“It’s a huge privilege to work with these stones,” says the famous wedding dress and jewelry designer. “My wives usually look Pnina Dresses because they are larger than life. Now I can also give them the jewelry of their dreams.
Tornai started working with Jared in 2020, and the partnership came at a critical time for her as she needed a creative boost during the pandemic, she says.
“The one thing that can’t be postponed or canceled is love,” says Tornai. “We are in a new era. Couples want to celebrate their love. They know it’s the right person and they want to make sure they have the wedding of their dreams.
Having one more moment before wedding dress shopping with a couple was one of the reasons Tornai says she wanted to work with Jared on her jewelry collection, which ranges from engagement rings to men’s wedding rings and fashion jewelry.
“I’m involved in every little detail, and I thank Jared for being so understanding and going above and beyond to make my dreams come true,” says Tornai. “I’m obsessed with jewelry, so it was easier for me to dive into that world.”
Ann Grimmett, vice president of merchandising at Jared, said in an email interview that the company wanted to expand its partnership with Tornai, and that seemed like the right next step.
“The expansion of our One by Pnina Tornai collection into lab-created diamonds gives our customers access to larger stones with the same Pnina Tornai design aesthetic. We are sure this new collection will help celebrate more love at Jared,” Grimmett said.
Tornai, who added queen of bling as part of her brand, says working with synthetic diamonds on this latest collection has also been exciting.
“It’s man-made magic,” says Tornai. “Natural and lab-grown diamonds are indistinguishable from each other with the naked eye…I’m petite, so I like everything to be bigger and more dramatic. So, I like that lab-grown diamonds can be spectacular , durable and beautiful.
Tornai says knowing that love has survived pandemic shutdowns and quarantines has given her hope for all couples. She says she’s seen the time between engagement and marriage shrink from a year or two to a few months, and she understands why lovers feel this rush.
“For couples, COVID did a lot of good because we had to be close in our homes with the person we chose to live with. [and it] made us realize very, very quickly whether it was the right person or the wrong person. There was no middle ground,” says Tornai.
“While going through COVID with my husband, I met another person because we were together 24 hours a day. I was lucky because I really discovered that he was my best friend in the world,” says -she.
Top: Pnina Tornai and Jared have expanded their collaboration to include lab-grown diamonds, which bear the Pnina name, in a new collection (photos courtesy of Jared).
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Aaliyah Kashyap has always been on our radar for her impeccable fashion choices so just as you'd imagine, her recent Bali vacation was incredibly stylish. From stunning swimwear to exotic meals, spa sessions, and more, Aaliyah's beach holiday was all that we would love. Aaliyah Kashyap posed with her fiance Shane. The couple looked fashionable with their choices. While Aaliyah wore a strappy mini dress that featured a plunging neckline, and layered ruffles, Shane wore a breezy white shirt with a pair of beige relaxed-fit pants.
Her photo dump from the Bali holiday included a stunning-looking multicoloured meal, an iced drink by the pool, a petal-filled bathtub and a selfie with her friends.
Aaliyah Kashyap recently shared another post with a series of pictures of meals, her fiance, cocktails, and friends captioning it as 'best 3 days of my life'.
During her Bali holiday, Aaliyah Kashyap also announced her engagement to boyfriend Shane Gregoire in an Instagram post while posing with her sparkling new engagement ring.


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Purchases of both Android and Apple smartphones fell in the first quarter of the year, with a combined drop of 23%, the data insights company Kantar said in a statement on Thursday.
iOS share of smartphone purchasing in Australia has seen a decline of 2.9% from 46% in the three months ending December 2017 to 43.1% in the three months ending December 2018, according to the latest global report of OS shares of smartphone purchasing from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
Apple’s share of global smartphone sales leapt significantly in the three months to the end of September, with the iPhone X remaining the top selling device for the quarter and reaching its highest share yet of 9.1%.
Sam, sorry for commenting on 3 yrs old text. This is an internet, not a newspaper. Anyway, I am not[…]
Wasn't super excited about getting a VPN because I thought it would be hard to navigate through it for someone[…]
Neoliberal thinking. Everything has to make a profit.
Why does the NBN have to be sold? It should be regarded as a utility and kept by the government.[…]
Same situation. I live in a townhouse. The neighbor, on the other side of the wall, has NBN. My property[…]


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FDA Approves Black Box Warning Language for Certain Antidepressants
FDA officials on Thursday said they have approved the final wording for black box warning labels to be placed on certain antidepressants, after a government panel in September 2004 recommended that the warnings be added, the Newark Star-Ledger reports (Silverman, Newark Star-Ledger, 1/14). FDA in October 2004 ordered pharmaceutical companies that manufacture antidepressants to add black box warnings to drug packaging advising consumers that the drugs could cause suicidal thoughts and actions in people younger than age 18. The warnings consist of a black section with white writing that appears at the top of drug inserts distributed to physicians and patients and are the strongest warnings that federal regulators can impose before banning a medication.
An FDA advisory panel on Sept. 14, 2004 voted 15-8 to recommend that all antidepressants carry such a warning. On Sept. 13, 2004 FDA officials said that an analysis of 15 clinical trials -- some of which were not made public for years -- found that there is a "consistent link" between the use of any kind of antidepressant and suicidal tendencies in children. The analysis found that antidepressants appeared to raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children 2% to 3% of the time. FDA also directed the manufacturers to print and distribute medication guides with every antidepressant prescription (California Healthline, 10/18/04).
The warning will be added to several "widely prescribed drugs," such as Effexor, Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac, the Star-Ledger reports. The labeling must be placed on manufacturers' Web sites within two weeks and on all products within 30 days, according to an FDA letter to drug manufacturers. A medication guide should be made available by Jan. 31.
Wyeth spokesperson Doug Petkus said the company will "move as quickly as possible" to add the warning; however, he did not give a specific date.
Vera Sharav of the Alliance for Human Research Protection said, "It shouldn't take this long to issue a ... warning involving children."
FDA officials said the process was not unusually long, and they cited the need to conduct reviews and discussions with agency officials and manufacturers (Newark Star-Ledger, 1/14).


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The global automotive upholstery market is forecasted to reach a valuation of $10 billion by 2033, according to a new study by Fact.MR, a provider of market research.
The global automotive upholstery market is currently valued at $5 billion, so that’s a 100% increase in just 10 years.
“The world’s rising population is driving the demand for both personal and commercial vehicles,” the study said. “This, combined with expanding urbanization and rising disposable income levels, is raising sales of luxury automobiles with improved features, premium upholstery, pleasant interiors, and enhanced safety features, hence propelling market expansion.”
Another factor driving demand is better education about automotive interiors, the study found. “Expanding public knowledge of the benefits of automotive upholstery, such as customization, durability, protection from environmental conditions, and ease of maintenance, is encouraging their broad acceptance in automobiles.”
Customers are particularly interested in premium, light weight and sustainable automotive interiors, researchers said. Interest and demand for sustainable, animal-free textiles are only expected to increase.
Although the factors driving this change are not surprising, the rate of growth surely is. For the entire market to double in value in such a short period of time suggests we are on the brink of an industry boom.
To order the full report, click here.


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Turkey’s trade deficit widens in October
ANKARA – Anadolu AgencyTurkish exports fell by 3 percent year-on-year in October while imports rose by 0.5 percent over the same period, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) said on Nov. 30.
The monthly trade deficit rose by 13.2 percent to $4.16 billion.
Exports for October were valued at $12.84 billion and the country imported goods and services worth $17 billion.
Exports fell by 2.8 percent to $120.4 billion in the first 10 months of 2016, according to TÜİK.
Exports to the EU, Turkey’s main trading partner, saw a 0.8 percent drop in October to $6.2 billion. Germany was the largest receiver of Turkish goods and services - receiving $1.3 billion - followed by the U.K. with $1.05 billion.
Turkish imports from China stood at $2.2 billion in October. Imports worth $1.75 billion came from Germany, while Russia provided more than $1.2 billion in goods and services.


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The good news is that Italy, euroland's third largest economy, is not like Greece or Ireland. No major housing bust, no major banking implosion, at least not yet. The bad news is that Italy is like Portugal, which also has so far escaped housing and banking problems of Greco-Irish proportions, but is growing so slowly that its tax revenues might fall short of covering its IOUs. The worse news is that Italy's economy is almost half-again as large as Spain's, and troubled Spain is a country deemed too big to fail, but which the euro zone can't command sufficient resources to save.
Italy's relatively good financial position is due to some competent bank regulators and its talented central bank governor, Mario Draghi. Unfortunately, their success does not mean that all is well. Mr. Draghi complains that Italy is "incapable of growing at a sustained rate … a clear loss of competitiveness compared to our main European partners." From 1998 to 2008, German productivity increased 22%, France's 18%, and Italy's a mere 3%. If productivity growth is not increased, Italy's economy will be unable to grow at faster than the 1% rate the government projects for this year and next. In which case, says the Organization for European Economic Co-operation, tax revenues will decline, and Italy will not be able to meet its deficit target.
But the new businesses needed to generate innovation, productivity and growth are hard pressed to get off the ground. Credit Italy's entrepreneur-blockage to the spaghetti-like red tape, corruption, a tax structure that maximizes incentives to evasion, and an overweening government bureaucracy.
Compounding the problem is the depressed view Italy's business community has of its government. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, his widely reported dalliances with young women not as amusing to Italians as they are to the rest of the world, will face a confidence vote on Dec. 14. Italian businessmen with whom I have spoken believe that no matter the outcome of that vote they will end up with a government still incapable of clearing the garbage from gangster-controlled Naples, or saving Italy's crumbling art treasures, or pushing through needed structural reforms of the economy.
Add a quite justified feeling of helplessness. Italians cannot set the exchange rate they need to become competitive, especially with China's under-valued renminbi: Italy long ago gave up the lira for the euro. They cannot set the interest rate appropriate to their economic circumstance: that is set by the European Central Bank largely to suit the Germans. They cannot control their energy costs: the cartel that is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries determines the cost of energy in a country overly dependent on oil.
The Italian economy is driven in large part by the manufacture of high-quality consumer goods produced by small and medium-sized family-owned enterprises. These labor-intensive industries are finding that the market for high-price quality goods is
being eaten away by lower-quality and far lower-priced goods
made by Chinese laborers both
in the People's Republic and in Italy.
In Venice, designers and makers of the city's famous glassware doubt they will long survive the competition of made-by-Chinese knock-offs. Vicenza's gold-jewelry manufacturing industry is also shrinking as Asian makers take over that market. These labor-intensive industries and their family-owned companies are not dissimilar to Portugal's shoe industry, which is being wiped out by cheaper Chinese imports.
Competition comes not only from far-away Asia. Many products once turned out by Italian craftsman are now manufactured in Italy by colonies of Chinese immigrants working hours and at pay that Italians are unable or unwilling to match. Worse still, I am told that both in China and in Italy the workers toil on machines that were designed in Italy, sold to China, and then copied for use by the low-paid Chinese workers.
There is a flip side to this coin. The streets of many major Italian cities are crowded with Chinese shoppers depleting the shelves of big name-brand retailers such as Gucci and Prada. By their shopping bags shall ye know them. Italian-made unbranded goods can't lure the international-brand-obsessed Chinese into their stores. So Italian manufacturers and shop keepers doubt their ability to survive.
Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain are paying premiums of between 5% and 7+% over German 10-year bunds. Italy, which recently paid a premium of only about 1.7%, might be next in investors' sights unless it can get its economy growing at better than the 1% rate it is now managing. After all, with debt equal to 120% of gross domestic product, Italy is more heavily in hock than Portugal, its total debt running at 85% of GDP. And Portugal's World Bank ease-of-doing-business rank of 31 puts it just below Israel and the Netherlands, while Italy is ranked 80th, meaning it is tougher for an entrepreneur to do business in Italy than in Mongolia or Zambia, and only a notch or three easier than in Jamaica, Albania and Pakistan. That might be the most ominous portend of all.
— Irwin Stelzer is a director of economic-policy studies at the Hudson Institute.


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Victimised by the great war: 🇺🇸 vs 🇨🇳
Major American companies including Google, Qualcomm & Intel have blocked supplies to & from Huawei – the world’s 2nd largest smartphone brand.
A cancellation of the Android license suggests (theoretically) that future models will lose access to the essential range of applications and functions that Android provides. This will force Huawei to either develop its own OS & app ecosystem or partner with someone else.
The ban is a major blow to the company’s future (which looks gloomy already) and while Huawei has the resources to create and sustain its own platform (its net profit in 2018 was approximately ₹60,000 Cr), slow user adaptation may be potentially devastating for the company.
Such a move is only going to intensify the ongoing trade war. Let’s just hope it doesn’t create more of such no-win situations for users & the financial markets of the world.
In case you didn’t know 🎉
The US government has accused Huawei (since 2012) of secretly working with the Chinese government to supply ‘rigged’ hardware that allows the Asian leader to access data on any device that uses its parts.
The Trump government has blacklisted Huawei by citing it as a ‘threat’ to national security.


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The Irish Whiskey Association welcomes the signing today (Tuesday 17 July) in Tokyo of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, the largest trade deal negotiated yet by the European Union.
Research shows that sales of Irish whiskey remain relatively low, Japan is currently the largest market in Asia for Irish whiskey and last year Irish whiskey sales in Japan recorded a 15.7% growth to just under half a million bottles.
This growth has reportedly been led by the success in Japan of Jameson while brands such as Tullamore D.E.W, Bushmills and Teelings are also popular on the market.
“We see Japan as being a key growth market for Irish whiskey in future years," William Lavelle, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association commented.
“We welcome the new EU-Japan agreement as it introduces protection for the Irish whiskey geographic indication (GI) in Japan for the first time. This means that only authentic Irish whiskey, produced on the island of Ireland in line with the approved technical file, can be sold bearing the name Irish whiskey.
“As Irish whiskey grows in popularity worldwide, we are regrettably, but unsurprisingly, seeing more counterfeit products on the market."
Lavelle explained that the legal recognition of the GI in emerging markets such as Japan is vital to protecting the high standards that are the hallmark of Irish whiskey as well as protecting the investment made in Ireland by genuine producers.
Lambay Irish Whiskey
In a statement, the IWA outlined that Japan is now being targeted by a number of new Irish whiskey brands, including Lambay Irish Whiskey.
“Historically, Asian markets have not been among the traditional or more important markets for Irish whiskey. However, Lambay Irish Whiskey Company strongly believes that this region represents a great opportunity for the premium and super premium segments of the Irish whiskey category, in particular, the malt segment," Jean-David Coster, managing director of the Lambay Irish Whiskey Company said.
“We feel that the Irish whiskey category still has not fully tapped into the opportunities which Japan and the Asia region offer. More and more discerning consumers in Asia are looking for genuine and premium or super-premium products, that are exclusive and created in small batches, combined with a sense of history and tradition.”
© 2018 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.


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Thailand has banned all meme tokens, fan tokens, exchange tokens and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission said in a statement Friday.
What Happened: The Thai SEC didn’t specifically mention the high-profile cryptocurrency Dogecoin (DOGE), which is expected to fall under the category of meme tokens, CoinDesk, which first reported the news, noted.
See Also: How to Buy Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin, created as a joke in late 2013, is up 5456% in 2021, as of press time — the highest among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. The meme coin has found a major backer in Tesla Inc. TSLA CEO Elon Musk.
The Thai regulator described meme cryptocurrencies as ones whose price is primarily driven by social indicators and have no clear objective or substance on their own.
Fan tokens representing ownership of voting rights or access to club-specific rewards and services are also now banned in Thailand, CoinDesk noted. An exception would be fan tokens used for goods and services like VIP experiences.
NFTs, another hot trend of 2021, also stand banned, alongside cryptocurrencies issued by exchange desks like Binance, Uniswap, and FTX for on-platform benefits.
Price Action: Dogecoin traded 1.7% lower at $0.3149 at press time on Sunday.
© 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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New Yorkers better start stocking up on reusable grocery bags if they don't want to get hit with an extra charge at the corner bodega.
The New York City Council passed a bill Thursday requiring some stores to charge at least five cents for each single-use bag--paper or plastic--a customer uses. The merchants will get to keep the money they collect. The charge will go into effect on October 1, assuming Mayor Bill de Blasio signs it into law.
It's all in an effort to crack down on plastic bag pileup in landfills and make the city more environmentally-friendly. According to ABC News, more than 150 municipalities across the country have passed similar ordinances to ban single-use plastic bags or to institute a fee. Washington D.C. enacted a five-cent fee in 2009, and city council members testified that plastic bag usage has dropped by 60%.
The law applies to plastic and paper bags supplied by grocery stores, drugstores and other retailers. Notably, it does not apply to takeout food orders (so your Seamless meal is safe) or bags for medications from pharmacies.


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Governor approves 'kill switch' smartphone law
Gov. Jerry Brown has approved a law to require cellphone providers to provide pre-enabled anti-theft software on all smartphones sold in California.
Senate Bill 962, which pitted Sacramento's powerful telecommunications lobby against law enforcement agencies across the state, requires that all cellphones sold in California include a “kill switch” to allow the owner to shut down the phone remotely. The owners' personal information will be needed to turn the phone back on.
“California has just put smartphone thieves on notice,” said Sen. Mark Leno, a San Francisco Democrat, in a statement. “Our efforts will effectively wipe out the incentive to steal smartphones and curb this crime of convenience, which is fueling street crime and violence within our communities.”
Allen Young covers state legislation, regulation and contracts, as well as economic news, international trade and economic development for the Sacramento Business Journal.
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At the end of the year there were 13,320 SPAR branded stores operating across 48 markets worldwide in four continents, an increase of 208 stores over the previous year. Consistent expansion has seen over 1,200 new stores added to the SPAR global network in the last four years. The brand was launched in two new markets in 2019, Kosovo and Armenia, further strengthening the brand in Central and Eastern Europe – one of the key growth regions for SPAR in recent years.
Regional performance highlights during the year include:
Commenting on the 2019 results, Tobias Wasmuht, CEO of SPAR International said: “In the face of intensified international competition, the SPAR brand has again delivered exceptional results. A common trend across many of our markets in 2019 was the outperformance of the SPAR brand versus key local and global competitors. The strength of our international network and growth in our distribution and supply chain operations have delivered significant competitive advantages for our stores and retailers, allowing agility and a speed of response to changing consumer and market trends.”
“Our continuous compound annual growth of 4.4% over the last five years creates a strong platform to build from for the future and indicates that our ‘Better Together’ strategy continues to deliver sustainable growth. Since its launch in 2015, this strategy has delivered SPAR global sales growth of 21.4%, global store footprint growth of over 1,200 additional stores and a total retail sales area increase of 7%.”
Commenting on SPAR performance during the first four months of 2020 and the impact of COVID-19, Mr. Wasmuht continued, “From our unique vantage point as a global retailer, we had the ability to track the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the retail sector from East to West; and to share SPAR’s best practice approach to ensuring the safety of SPAR colleagues and customers around the world. The crisis has shown the global strength of the SPAR network. As a group, we have worked tirelessly to ensure consistency of supply for the hundreds of thousands of our colleagues who continued to meet the needs of the communities they serve.
“The strong performance of neighbourhood retailing during the outbreak and the importance our customers place in proximity and local retailing will continue to strengthen, as will our continued roll out of online retail in the new ‘low-touch’ economy. Economic impact, consumer confidence and the negative impact on household incomes will see consumer spend shifting towards three key areas of health, sanitation, and value, with the SPAR brand very well positioned to respond.
“Performance to date this year gives just an indication of the key role SPAR stores have played as critical lifelines for local communities throughout the crisis. SPAR Austria’s recent growth is indicative. In the first four months of the year, SPAR Austria, for the first time, became market leader as it grew its share of the market to 34%; in April alone SPAR Austria achieved market share of 36.5% and grew by 23%, almost double the industry average of 12.6%. Year-to-date has also seen massive strides forward SPAR’s digital presence, with SPAR having launched online retail in an additional 12 markets in the last three months. SPAR now has an online shopping presence in 25 countries worldwide.”
Read about all 48 markets, the ‘Better Together’ strategy, and the brand’s future outlook in the 2019 International SPAR Annual Report which is available here.


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Acer is trying its hand at offering budget smartphones with a not-so-budget user experience.
Xiaomi announced the 64-bit budget Redmi 2 earlier today, and Acer has now come out with its answer to the Chinese manufacturer’s latest device. Acer has unveiled the Liquid Z410 4G, the newest addition to its Liquid series of Android phones, at a pre-CES event. The Liquid Z410 4G will be released in the EMEA region sometime at the end of February with a price tag of 129 Euro (around $150).
Like the Redmi 2, the Liquid Z410 4G features a 64-bit processor, though it’s expected to be a MediaTek chip instead of the more popular Snapdragon 410 that is finding its way to most new mid-range devices. At the front, there’s a 4.5-inch display with a resolution of 960×540 pixels – that probably won’t make for the sharpest of visuals, which makes the $150 price tag of the device seem too high compared to Xiaomi’s new phone.
Other specs of the Liquid Z410 include a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, a single front-facing speaker with DTS Studio Sound support, and 4G LTE connectivity. Acer has packed in a couple of proprietary features – there’s a new camera app that will allow users to take a photo with voice commands, or simply say “Selfie” to automatically switch to the front camera and take a selfie after a three-second countdown. Also included is AcerEXTEND for controlling the phone via a Windows PC, and QuickMode for switching to an easier-to-use interface for elders and children.
Acer hasn’t revealed the full list of specifications for the Liquid Z410 4G, though more details should trickle out as CES kicks off and as we near the phone’s official release.


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People love the company’s cars, they just need to sell more of them.
In a climate tech first, companies captured CO2 from the atmosphere and built concrete with it.
For the first time, scientists were able to cause a fusion reaction with a net energy gain.
Used underwear is hard to recycle and fills up landfills. But what if we composted them?
As remote workers settle in new areas, they’re driving up housing costs and straining resources.
Concrete cities are installing infrastructure to soak up excess water.
Yvon Chouinard’s Patagonia has always done things differently.
The climate bill has good intentions, but it might not be as helpful as it seems.
A Swiss running startup just launched the first truly circular sales model in clothing.
A surprisingly sustainable solution to synthetic fertilizer is… human urine?
The EPA’s new program replaces old buses with more efficient models.
With climate reports looking grim, gusty days might be our new best friend.
US solar power businesses and jobs have grown steadily over the past several years.
If any car is gonna get rural Americans to go green, it’s an electric F-150.
Companies reiterate their sustainability efforts following a new climate report.
Bureaucracy and budgets are keeping USPS from upgrading to a fully EV fleet.
Fabrics like polyester are popular with fast fashion brands, but increasingly hard to recycle.
The Beijing Winter Olympics relied on fake snow. As the planet warms, the business is apt to grow.
Synthetic hair can be itchy and it creates plastic waste. Enter Rebundle, the company that makes extensions from plants.
Plus: An expensive page, and the Broncos’ family problems.
Ford’s progress in EV manufacturing has boosted its stock price by 160%+ in the past year.
TikTok users are teaching each other eco-friendly sustainability hacks, like making banana peel fertilizer and regrowing lettuce.
Startups are helping restaurants and food companies move away from single-use plastics.
Google is releasing updates across Search, Travel, and Home products to help users become more sustainable.
California is banning gas-powered mowers and blowers. With training, that could ultimately save landscapers money.
For Floridians especially, the cost for flood insurance is about to skyrocket
Pea milk is a rising star in the alternative proteins world. But 1 supplier says it might be getting more expensive.
Fast fashion allows consumers to get trendy clothes for cheap, but it's leaving a devastating impact on the environment.
Funding in the US for climate tech could reach $60B this year thanks to Wall Street success stories and widespread support.
Plus: Abandoned oil wells, firefighting helicopters, and Hello Kitty.


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Chinese social media app taps into cultural ideals and boosts mobile payments in the process
Tomorrow is the Chinese New Year, and while the Year of the Horse is upon us, the mobile payments space also seems to be flourishing thanks to the biggest celebration in the Chinese calendar.
How you ask? Well, through Tencent’s social media app WeChat.
While its traditional to give family, employees, and friends red envelopes (or hongbao) with money in on this celebration, it seems that a digital version known as the “New Year Red Envelope” on WeChat is proving immensely popular.
The app allows users to make a payment through their mobile to a virtual hongbao and then send that across to friends and family. It’s a wonderful opportunity for Tencent, allowing them to monetise WeChat users – and in the process help gain market share over Alibaba. However, it’s also reportedly more enjoyable than Alibaba’s hongbao app as WeChat lets users do more than simply exchange money with each other. Users can upload a lump sum of cash to the app, while it then disperses the amount between a group of friends in five random amounts.
This means it incorporates a semi gambling aspect to proceedings, meaning some friends may end up with large sums and others with smaller or nothing at all.
So far, so innocent. How will this help boost the mobile payments market in China?
Well, Tencent require users to link up their bank accounts to WeChat so they can use the hongao service properly. And, for those who want to receive money, you guessed it, they need to sign up with their account details too.
It’s worked a charm too as many have signed up for the service, and now they’ve entered their details into the app, it means there’s less future resistance to making any sort of payment or purchase through WeChat.
It’s a smart move, and one that will undoubtedly work in Tencent’s favour if more users decide they want to purchase goods through their mobile.
[Image: Hear in Taiwan] Find us on Google+


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The consequences of a silicon shortage are limiting the growth of the industry. At some point over the we like it brand levitra next five years, the solar panel industry will overtake the chip sector. But first there needs to be more output of polycrystalline silicon, the cornerstone material used to produce solar cells that harvest renewable energy from light rays.
Polysilicon isn’t just needed for solar cells. It’s also used in the production of best indian cialis semiconductor devices used in computers, cell phones and www.worcestercountybar.org other electronic applications in addition to the quickly growing solar energy sector. It is taking time for facilities to increase production to fill the demand, and the shortage is expected to www.chopperssportsgrill.com continue until 2010. In the meantime, prices are reflecting the supply problem. In five years, the price for polysilicon has skyrocketed from $40 per kg in 2003 to as much as $400 per kg recently.
The demand for polysilicon is still tight, but the cialis england bottleneck may be loosening with a number of new facilities rushing in to increase production. Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation has begun production at its new polysilicon facility that will nearly double its output of polysilicon. Its new facility is part of a $1.5 billion expansion at the company’s Hemlock site and will produce approximately 9,000 metric tons of new polysilicon capacity. That will bring the company’s annual capacity to approximately 19,000 metric tons by the end of this year, making it the largest single polysilicon facility in the world. “Delivering polysilicon from our new facility as quickly as possible was essential to meet our customers’ expectations,” said Hemlock Semiconductor President and CEO Rick Doornbos.
Customers who want to advance solar technology throughout the globe want additional quantities of silicon feedstock, said Mr. Doornbos. In April, Fluro Corporation, a Texas-based company, announced it had won a contract to help build a $1 billion facility in
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Dutch cannabis cafes fight government plan to ban tourists from their venues
A group of Dutch coffee shop owners has gone to court in an attempt to overturn a ban on tourists using their establishments to smoke cannabis.
The so-called 'cannabis cafes', which legally sell and allow visitors to smoke the drug on their property, have long been popular among foreign visitors to the city.
But a year ago the Dutch government approved legislation to turn the cafes into members-only venues with foreigners denied access.
Tourist ban: Foreign visitors will be prevented from entering cannabis cafes from May if the court appeal is not successful
The move is due to come into effect in the south of Holland on May 1, and elsewhere - including Amsterdam - next January.
The government says it will reduce 'drugs tourism' to the country and the petty crime and nuisance it claims the practice causes.
Southern cities in particular have face problems with customers buying cannabis in the coffee shops and selling it on in neighbouring countries.
But lawyers representing several cannabis cafes have told a court in The Hague that the law is discriminatory.
Lawyer Ilonka Kamans argued that the country's drugs policy, which gives citizens 'the fundamental right to the stimulant of their choosing', should not deprive foreigners the same right.
Only Dutch residents will be able to
enter the properties under the new legislation and they will have to sign up for a one-year membership, or ‘dope pass’.
Government lawyer Eric Daalder said the government wants to bring the cafes, known as coffee shops, back to their original aim: 'small local stores selling to local people'.
Wholesome attraction: Supporters of the ban say cities like Amsterdam still have a lotto offer tourists without the controversial cafes
Amsterdam has the most cannabis coffee shops in the country, with some estimates saying that about a third of tourists visit one during their stay.
The city strongly opposed the pass idea and mayor Eberhard van der Laan says he wants to negotiate a workable compromise with the country’s Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten.
Some studies have predicted that the new system will prompt a return to street dealing and an increase in petty crime — which was the reason for the tolerance policy came into being in the 1970s in the first place.
Others have warned that Dutch residents, who are allowed to possess 5g of marijuana, could sell to tourists at massively inflated prices.
The court will give its ruling on April 27.
Marc Josemans of the Easy Going coffee shop in Maastricht said that owners in the city will flout the ban if they do not win the court case, forcing the government to prosecute them in a test case.
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LONDON/HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia unveiled a lighter, metal model in its Lumia smartphone range, as it tries to catch the eye of buyers to close the huge market lead of rivals Samsung and Apple Inc in the lucrative handset market.
The Lumia 925 is the latest in Nokia’s range using Microsoft’s Windows Phone software and will be sold for 469 euros ($610) before taxes and subsidies through carriers such as Vodafone and China Mobile.
Nokia Chief Executive Stephen Elop has pinned the future of the loss-making company on Windows Phone, hoping to reverse a dramatic drop in revenue over the last two years.
The phone weighs 139 grams, compared with 185 grams for the earlier 920 model, which some critics had said was too heavy. It also utilizes a new smart camera mode, a photo editing function which Nokia intends to introduce to all Lumia devices.
“Lumia 925 looks like a solid product and should be able to attract new customers who have considered 920 too bulky for their taste,” said Nordea analyst Sami Sarkamies.
“One can think of Lumia 925 as a new version of Lumia 920 that has been put on a diet to fit inside an iPhone-like frame.”
Nokia has recently launched new products in the lower and mid-tier range to protect its position in emerging markets, but its success in the high-margin smartphone market will be crucial to its long-term survival.
The company unveiled the slightly heavier Lumia 928 for the U.S. market last Friday. It was priced at $99 after a rebate and a two-year deal with Verizon Wireless.
Both the Lumia 925 and 928 are targeted at the high-end, flagship segment, which accounts for 35 to 40 percent of the total global market, said Jo Harlow, Nokia’s executive vice president for smart devices.
“Our goal is to have a complete portfolio across the price range,” she told Reuters, adding that Nokia expects to see accelerated growth in sales of Lumia phones.
Sales of Lumia phones have grown in recent quarters, but at 5.6 million in first quarter, they still account for only around 5 percent of the market.
Research company Gartner said on Tuesday that Nokia lost 5 percentage points of market share in the first quarter, falling to 14.8 percent of all mobile phones compared to number one Samsung’s 23.6 percent share. Nokia held a 19.7 percent share just a year ago.
Nokia’s announcement of the Lumia 925 came just days after it unveiled the Asha 501, a $99 handset with a touch-screen and some Internet access, including built-in applications for sites such as Facebook.
The Asha 501 is aimed at a growing, middle-class population in emerging markets who like smartphones but can’t afford high-end models.
“The mid and low end of the smartphone segment is where the most growth will be in the coming years,” said Francisco Jeronimo, analyst at technology research firm IDC, adding that Apple and Samsung have already cornered the high-end market.
“The high end is a very tough segment to enter and to compete in. You have to have huge marketing budgets.”
IDC estimates that smartphones under $149 accounted for the fastest sales growth last year, with sales up 270 percent from a year earlier. That compared with a 4 percent fall in the $300-499 price category.
Investors said the Asha 501 was a sign Nokia was paying attention to consumers who will soon be upgrading from basic handsets to more sophisticated phones.
Nokia has also recently started selling a lower-spec Lumia 521, sold as the 520 in other markets, for under $150 at Walmart in the United States.
It launched a 15-euro basic phone earlier this year, aimed at first-time buyers, although analysts were less bullish about this handset due to lower margins.
IDC’s Jeronimo said that with new phones at various price points, Elop had no excuse for weak sales in coming quarters.
Shares in Nokia were down 3.6 percent to 2.84 euros by 1310 GMT, valuing the company at 11 billion euros.
($1 = 0.7703 euros)
Reporting by Brenda Goh and Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Peter Graff and Giles Elgood


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Slumping U.K. consumer confidence, which fell to a one-year low Friday amid signs of a slowdown in spending, has sent domestic retail stocks into a tailspin.
The FTSE 350 General Retailers Index was down 0.3% by late morning in London, extending a quarterly loss of 1.8%. While the FTSE 350 Food & Drugs Retailers Index was down 0.81% compared to a modest gain for the benchmark FTSE 100.
GfK's long-running Consumer Confidence Index decreased to minus 10 in June, the group said Friday, with the Overall Index Score "just two points away from last year's post-Referendum low of -12."
"We have falls this month reflecting negative sentiment about our personal financial situation and expectations for the wider economy," GFK Head of Market Dynamics Joe Staton said in a Friday statement. "The scores on the general economic situation looking forward and back 12 months are now particularly weak."
Most concerning to retailers will be the eight-point fall in the Major Purchase Index to a reading of one.
Debenhams plc (DBHSY) shares were down 2% to 42.89 extending a quarterly loss of 20%. British retailing stalwart Next plc (NXGPY) saw shares marked 1.14% lower in Friday trading, adding to a three-month fall of 8%.
Supermarkets were also hit by the sudden fall in consumer confidence. Tesco plc (TSCDY) shares were down 1.3% in Friday morning trading at 169 pence, with J Sainsbury plc (JSAIY) marked 0.7% lower at 253.5 pence and Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc (MRWSY) down 0.21% to 239 pence.
Friday's data continued a series of readings that point to trouble for the retail sector that until a few months ago had propped up the U.K. economy in the wake of the Brexit vote in June 2016.
Retail sales fell more than expected in May, according to the Office for National Statistics and the annual rate of growth slipped to 0.9% the weakest since April.
The twin pressure from higher prices and sluggish wage growth have been squeezing household spending and adding to fears of an economic slowdown.
Inflation jumped to 2.9% in May and average real wages fell by 0.6% in the three months to April.
It is something that the Bank of England is keeping a close eye on.
In BoE Governor Mark Carney's most recent speech he said one of the main issue facing U.K. companies is "how consumers will adjust to a period of weaker real income growth."
"When the MPC last met earlier this month, my view was that given the mixed signals on consumer spending and business investment, it was too early to judge with confidence how large and persistent the slowdown in growth would prove," Carney said at the 2017 ECB Forum on Central Banking in Sintra, Portugal. "Moreover, with domestic inflationary pressures, particularly wages and unit labor costs, still subdued, it was appropriate to leave the policy stance unchanged at that time."


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The standard range model T10X will start at just over $50,000, while the long-range model will go for $64,000.
Electric car sales surged by 28 percent last year, with more than 1.1 million vehicles sold.
Ford declined to comment on the report published by Automobilwoche but said transformation to electric vehicles required "significant change" in the way it produces cars.
Air Resources Board votes to adopt sweeping regulations to require all new cars sold in the most populous US state to be electric or plug-in hybrid by 2035.
While the aviation industry attempts to clear our skies with zero-emission flights, there are some challenges electric planes need to overcome to transition to a carbon-free future.
Countries like India, Indonesia and Brazil possess some energy infrastructure to support two-wheeler electric vehicles but they don't have enough resources to make a full-scale transition to electric-run transportation.
The subsidy cuts will begin with 30 percent at the beginning of the year and all will be scrapped completely by year's end in response to booming sales.
China is the biggest producer of the world’s rare earth metals and the EU’s dependence on Beijing is making decision-makers in Brussels nervous.
Tesla's delivers 241,300 cars from July through September as it beats Wall Street estimates of 227,000 sales worldwide.
Japanese auto giant’s investment is a win for UK government, which is seeking job-creating projects after departure from the European Union.
"We will make our entire fleet CO2 neutral by 2050 at the latest," says senior official of German carmaker.
CNBC has estimated Tesla chief's wealth at $185 billion. Musk has gained more wealth over the past 12 months than Bill Gates' entire net worth of $132 billion.
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for all latest in-depth, on the ground reporting from around the world.
Copyright © 2023 TRT World.


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According to the labor union leading the movement, Amazon used unlawful bullying tactics to block a “free and fair” vote on unionizing an Alabama warehouse earlier this month.
According to complaints filed with US labor regulators by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, the Seattle-based e-commerce giant threatened ahead of the closely watched, fiercely contested vote in Bessemer, Ala., to lay off staff and shut down the facility entirely if workers voted to unionize.
Late Friday, the RWDSU filed a total of 23 complaints with the National Relations Labor Board, alleging that Amazon “generated an environment of doubt, intimidation, and or fear of reprisal.”
The union, which has requested a meeting with the NLRB to address its objections, asserted that the results — in which workers voted more than 2-to-1 against unionization, with 55% of facility employees voting — should be set aside due to the online behemoth’s meddling in the voting phase.
Amazon responded to the objections with the following statement: “The truth is that less than 16% of workers at BHM1 voted to join a union.” Rather than acknowledge these workers’ decision, the union seems intent on continuing to fabricate reality in order to further its own agenda. We eagerly await the next stage of the legal process.”
The objections could mark the start of a protracted process before the National Labor Relations Board to decide if the election results were fair. Each side can present evidence and contest the other party’s allegations as well as the NLRB’s rulings.
The existence of a ballot box in an employee parking lot where security cameras were installed created the impression that “Amazon, not the NLRB,” was in charge of the election’s mechanics, RWDSU said in a statement. The union had objected to the ballot box’s use, alleging that it was being used as an intimidation tool.
According to the opposition, the employer generated the perception that it was recording the identity of employees who voted through security cameras in the employee parking lot that could capture employees entering and leaving the tent surrounding the collection box.
Meanwhile, the union alleges that Amazon transferred employees who accepted a labor contract to positions that restricted their interaction with coworkers during work hours. Additionally, Amazon reportedly promised to “pay dissatisfied or unhappy workers to quit” in what the union refers to as “the deal.”
Amazon also dismissed a union supporter for handing out union cards in non-working parts of the factory, according to the objection. Simultaneously, Amazon attempted to sway the vote by relaxing some of its labor rules, giving workers wage increases, and giving away products, the union said.
The months-long vote has garnered widespread attention and was discussed by Amazon billionaire CEO Jeff Bezos in his letter to shareholders last week, in which he stated that the company should do better by its workers and pledged to personally lead an initiative to make Amazon “the world’s best employer.”
Bezos admitted in his shareholder letter that Amazon has a workplace injury issue related to repetitive movements on the job, which he intends to fix directly in his current position as executive chairman later this year.
But he denied claims against the company by staff and others that it does not provide enough time for bathroom and meal breaks are unfounded.
“During their shifts, employees may take informal breaks to stretch, obtain water, use the toilet, or speak with a manager, all without impairing their efficiency. These informal job breaks supplement the 30-minute lunch and 30-minute break included in their regular schedule,” he explained.


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If 2020 was a year Corporate America would like to forget because of the pandemic-induced economic downturn, 2021 is a year business will gladly remember. According to a Bloomberg News story from March 30, 2022, 2021 was the most profitable year for American corporations since 1950. Based on data published by the Commerce Department, profits spiked 35% in 2021, boosted by robust household demand buoyed by government cash transfers.
To identify the Global Fortune 500 companies with skyrocketing profits, 24/7 Wall St. used 2020 and 2021 profit data from Fortune 500. We considered the top 113 international companies in terms of total revenue in 2021 that posted a profit in 2020. Of those, 39 companies reported growing profits.
Of the 39 companies reporting profits on this list, more than one-third were in the health care and FIRE (finance, insurance, and real estate) sectors. Among the health care companies reporting profit in 2021 were HCA Healthcare, UnitedHealth Group, and Cigna. In the FIRE category, Wall Street banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley were well in the black, as were insurers Allstate, Progressive, and Travelers.
Google and Facebook may have new parent names — Alphabet and Meta Platforms — but they continue to churn out profits. (Find out if Alphabet and Meta are also among the best big companies to work for in 2022.)
Home-improvement companies Lowe’s and Home Depot had a strong year, as homeowners forced to stay home because of COVID-19 found the time to embark on new projects. Similarly, with people still cooking from home more, supermarket companies Kroger, Publix Super Markets, and Albertsons all posted yearly gains. (This company has the most profits per employee.)
Hopes for 2022 being at least as profitable for companies as the previous year are facing serious headwinds, including inflation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Supply-chain bottlenecks remain, and the rate of inflation, at 8.5% for the 12 months ended March 2022, is the highest since December 1981. This has prompted the Federal Reserve to raise its benchmark interest rate in March for the first time since dropping it to nearly zero two years ago. There may be more increases this year.
During his earnings discussion with Yahoo! Finance on April 20, Procter & Gamble CEO Jon Moeller said commodity costs will cause the consumer company to raise prices. P&G is third on the list with a profit gain of more than 234% in 2021.
The Russia-Ukraine war has sparked a jump in the prices of commodities such as energy, food, and metals that will impact corporate profitability.
Click here to see corporations that made skyrocketing profits in 2021
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Motorola is all set to introduce its Snapdragon 870-packing Edge S on January 26. Just ahead of next week’s announcement, live images of the device emerged on Weibo , while an official AnTuTu test run shared by Lenovo China’s GM of mobile Chen Jin gives us an idea about the performance of the new chipset.
Motorola Edge S live images
The images show out a tall display with dual punch hole cutouts and interestingly enough the device is recognized as the Motorola Edge+ which was last year’s Moto flagship. We can see the back houses a square camera cutout with four modules headlined…


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More details are rolling out regarding the much-anticipated “Phuket Model”, or the pilot program that will reopen Phuket to foreign tourism in the near future.
Reports are emerging that a newly incorporated entity, Thailand Longstay Company, is already vetting out 200 tourists as the first group to visit Phuket after nearly 5 months of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier reports revealed that the company from now on will be responsible for coordinating long stay holidays in Thailand as part of the country’s pivot towards reopening the country for foreign tourism with an eye for the new normal.
According to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, these tourists will be coming from New Zealand and Australia, two nations that are on top of the list alongside Thailand in terms of recoveries from COVID-19.
Thailand had bested New Zealand and Australia from the top spot in July, with Australia and New Zealand dropping to #6 and #8, respectively.
Authorities had previously stated that the Phuket Model, if successful, can be extended to other provinces. Minister Phiphat even recently suggested that Koh Samui as well as Krabi Province’s Phi Phi Islands be reopened together with Phuket.
In line with this, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has called on all the regions in Thailand to select a province that can become a pilot for their own versions of the Phuket Model in the future.
Foreign tourism is a major contributor to Thailand’s economy. When the pandemic compelled the government to declare a royal decree and impose a ban on international flights in and out of Thailand, a huge number of hospitality businesses lost their source of income.
Clamor for reopening the country to foreign tourism grew steadily and, by July, members of the private sector were already warning the government that loss of revenues will cause a number of businesses in the industry to close shop and lay off “tens of thousands” of local Thai employees.
When negotiations for a travel bubble agreement with several countries folded after a new wave of outbreaks in China, Japan and South Korea, the private sector pushed for the “Safe and Sealed” plan, on which the current Phuket Model is based.
The plan is not without opposition. Top doctors in the country are warning of an impending second wave of infection if the government haphazardly pushes through with its plan for reopening the country to foreign tourism.
They are asking the government to postpone this plan for at least six to eighteen months.
However, Prime Minister Prayut said during the mobile Cabinet meeting in Rayong Province last week that it is “essential” for businesses to recover that they have to reinstate foreign tourism as soon as possible within this year.
Domestic tourism is currently being boosted as well, but the “We Travel Together” stimulus package only managed to garner 500,000 reservations out of a target of 5 million. Experts attribute this low turnout to people’s diminished spending power due to the pandemic.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has extended the perks to corporations, which they can use as rewards programs for their employees or business partners.


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As Anders Behring Breivik faces trial, he comes up with some completely baffling claims, such as being a member of the Knights Templar, as well as being found as an avid player of Blizzard's MMO.
... of Windows updates, Instagram indifference, Apple fashion tips and Office porn
Giveaway: Win the Logitech G910 Orion Spark mechanical keyboard!
Microsoft reveals next set of phones to receive Windows 10
Check out our coverage of Windows 10 for the desktop and phones
VisionTek USB Pocket SSD 120GB - Review
Anders behring breivik
After the events in Norway earlier this month that caused dozens of people to be killed, a retailer in that country has decided to remove a number of PC and console games from its store shelves.


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The leaders of the Republic of Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will meet to discuss competition and consumer issues, including cross-border aspects.
The CMA is holding its board meeting on 23 June. The board is meeting in Northern Ireland for the first time since its launch last year and during that day and on 22 June, members will hold talks with the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and representatives from organisations including Invest Northern Ireland, Ofcom, the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Institute of Directors and the CBI.
These meetings will focus on explaining the CMA’s current priorities and on hearing about opportunities and concerns felt by consumer and business representatives and others in Northern Ireland.
CMA Chairman, David Currie said:
Northern Ireland is a key focus for the CMA which is why I and our Chief Executive, Alex Chisholm visited very early in the creation of the CMA. It is also why we are so keen to meet government, business and consumer groups and learn what issues are of concern to them and discuss how competition can help the Northern Ireland economy to prosper.
In addition we also recognise that Northern Ireland is unique, in the UK context, as it shares a land border with another jurisdiction and many businesses operate across the border. The first ever joint meeting with our counterpart in the Republic of Ireland will allow us to discuss this and other areas of mutual interest.
Isolde Goggin, Chair of the CCPC, said:
Both the CMA and the CCPC are relatively new organisations which have committed to making markets work better for consumers and businesses. Sharing our experiences will add to our understanding of markets and so realise that commitment to a greater extent. We look forward to developing and deepening our relationship with the CMA in coming years.
CMA staff have been working with NI businesses and government officials on a range of issues which earlier this month resulted in 2 workshops in Belfast at which public sector buyers and suppliers were given guidance on ensuring that competition for government contracts benefits the economy.
Notes for editors
- To arrange interviews with David Currie or for further information please contact Simon Belgard (email@example.com, 020 3738 6472).
- On 1 April 2014 the CMA became the UK’s primary competition and consumer authority. It is an independent non-ministerial government department with responsibility for carrying out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries and enforcing competition and consumer law. It took over the functions of the Competition Commission and the competition and certain consumer functions of the Office of Fair Trading, as amended by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was formed on 31 October 2014 following the amalgamation of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency. The Commission has a dual mandate to enforce competition and consumer protection law in Ireland.
- For more information see our homepage or follow us on Twitter @CMAgovuk, Flickr and LinkedIn.


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Ford warns of job losses from imbalances in free trade
Brussels, Belgium (AHN) – The head of Ford Motor Co. operations in Europe and several other automakers have warned that a new free trade agreement between the European Union and South Korea poses a threat to jobs.
Ford notes that it is an advocate of free trade, but that there are non-trade barriers to doing business in South Korea that create trade imbalances.
During the past 11 months, the new agreement resulted in allowing 450,000 vehicles built in South Korean to be imported into Europe for sale while only 75,000 cars made in the European Union were exported to Korea.
Ford is the fourth-biggest car maker in Europe by sales. It pointed out that some of the non-trade barriers include the government policy in South Korea of only buying Korean-made cars, along with problems with doing business in Korea and currency problems.
The issue of auto sales in European nations is particularly sensitive know because the ongoing problems from the financial crisis have caused a decline in auto sales there for five consecutive years.
That decline in sales has affected by a financial crisis, auto sales are on track to decline in 2012 for a fifth consecutive year. The slump has caused decreased in sales for automakers, including:
- General Motors Co. GM European operations -2.02
- Fiat SpA, F.MI -2.19 percent
- Renault SA RNO.FR -1.41 percent
- Ford Motor Co. F European operations -1.16 percent


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Nokia is in talks to buy American-French Alcatel-Lucent in a deal that could create a European telecoms equipment group worth over €40bn (£29bn). Both companies announced, that there could be “no certainty at this stage” that the discussions would result in a deal.
But a merger for two of the industry’s weaker players would be attractive. This comes a year after Nokia sold its struggling handset business to Microsoft. According to the BBC analysts and investors suggested the deal could face potential opposition from the French government, which has previously said it sees the communications industry as strategic, and is sensitive about any potential job cuts.
Shares in Alcatel were nearly 11% higher at €4.28 in mid-morning trading on the Paris stock exchange on Tuesday morning. Shares in Nokia fell 6% to €7.25 in Helsinki. Nokia is valued at around €29bn, almost three times as much as Alcatel, which had a market capitalisation of €11bn based on Monday’s closing share price.
Some investors expressed scepticism over the merits of the proposed deal. “They are two of the weaker players in the industry,” said Clairinvest fund manager Ion-Marc Valahu.
“They could come up with some cost cuts, but just because you combine one weak player with another weak player does not necessarily mean that you will end up with a stronger player.”
When Nokia sold its mobile phones business to Microsoft, it seemed like a sad end to the story of what had just a few years earlier been Europe’s leading technology superpower.
But the dull old telecoms equipment business left in Finland has turned out some rather exciting returns for loyal investors, who’ve seen their shares double in value over the last two years. Nokia has cut costs and has even started making new devices, with a tablet aimed at the Chinese market.
A merger with Alcatel Lucent, another telecoms maker fallen on hard times, might not appear an obvious winner. But together, the two firms would hope to provide real competition to Sweden’s Ericsson and, in particular, China’s Huawei, which has grabbed a big share of the market as 4G networks are rolled out.


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A post on Capcom Unity's Devroom blog announced the tragic news.
Mega Man Legends 3 has been canceled. Capcom announced the news on their Capcom Unity Devroom blog, where they had been chronicling the development of the 3DS title. This not only includes the retail title, but also the standalone Prototype version that was to be released on the 3DS eShop. The reason behind the game’s cancellation was that the title did not meet the number of required criteria that Capcom had set for the game to go into full production.
Mega Man Legends 3’s discontinuation is made worse by the fact that the developers were using it as way to increase interaction with the gaming community. Many of the game’s decisions were put up to a vote as a way to give the gaming community greater input into the project and contests were held to design in-game assets.
Despite the fact that this is the second Mega Man title to be canceled this year, along with Mega Man Universe, Capcom insists that the future of the franchise is not in question. In a FAQ included in the announcement, Capcom states that "Mega Man is still an important franchise within Capcom’s portfolio and we will continue to pursue opportunities to create new titles in the series."


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To hear America’s newspapers and magazines tell it, Black Friday is soooo 2012—the year when its grandeur and its share of the market appeared to peak. Ever since, pundits claim, Americans have been falling out of love with this caveman “holiday” in favor of a newer, niftier flame: Cyber Monday.
The respective names of these kissin’ cousin commercial holidays say it all: one darkly ominous—black comedy writ large—the other clean, white, and highly palatable. The rise of Cyber Monday neatly parallels the tastes of wealthier, better-connected Americans currently fueling the growth in seasonal e-commerce. In 2016, Fortune magazine gleefully predicted, would go online than to stores over the four-day holiday weekend. And yet, cool or uncool, Black Friday is disproportionality important to the bottom-line of many rural and small-town Americans lacking ready access to online deals.
Commerce-shaming, not unlike the weight-shaming and body-shaming many cosmopolitans decry, is now the order of the day, with multiple news outlets arguing that Cyber Monday is the morally superior alternative to its cruder, caveman cousin. “Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Go to the Store on Black Friday,” reads a C-Net headline, listing reasons ranging from the limbic/lizard brain (the visceral fear-mongering implicit in mentions of Black Friday fights, tramplings, mobs) to the highly rational and intellectual (the smart shopper gets better deals on Cyber Monday). Meanwhile, sporting goods retailing giant REI now closes its doors on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday, winning praise from socially conscious, Internet-endowed consumers while effectively shutting out those without adequate online access.
Such high-minded reasons for avoiding Black Friday may make perfect sense for metropolitans snugged up with their high-speed broadband and distrust of the demos in democracy. But where I live, in the heart of Middle America, Black Friday is not yet a cultural villain. And we dodo birds who still indulge in such commercial dinosaurs as 6 a.m. doorbuster deals are not the willfully backslid, backward, morally bankrupt plebes we’re often written up to be. Consider:
According to the FCC’s Broadband Progress Report, 39 percent of rural Americans (23 million people) lack access to 25 Mbps/3 Mbps Internet access, the current definition of broadband. By contrast, only 4 percent of urban Americans lack access to the same. Sophisticated Cyber Monday shoppers who look down their noses at the pigs in a chute who line up for Black Friday in-store deals may want to recall the frustrations they felt with digital commerce back in, say, 2007, when their broadband speeds likely approximated those achieved by many and small-town rural Americans today…on a good day.
If Thanksgiving means sharing the great American melting pot with those who do not share your racial profile, education level, ZIP code, earning potential, and technological prowess, then the boots-on-the-ground, fully analog experience of Black Friday is as down-to-earth and grassroots patriotic as it gets. Those who disdain Black Friday would do well to remember that buying and selling are social rather than solitary acts, begging the question: whose actions are more societally valuable and less solipsistic—the communal shopper waiting their turn with the Walmart throngs, or the digital shopper, high in their cool, silicon-blue tower interacting with no one save Uncle Google.
While arguably not as environmentally friendly as the UPS and Fed-Ex-driven Cyber Monday, the miles we Black Fridays drive to our nearest big-box stores stimulate a much wider cross section of the American economy—from oil and gas to food and entertainment. For us Black Friday is an immersive, egalitarian, all-day experience—a modern folkway—not a mere commercial interruption in an afternoon of smooth chardonnay, soft slippers, and “clean” commerce.
Zachary Michael Jack is a seventh generation Midwesterner and the author of many books on rural and small-town culture, including the forthcoming book Wish You Were Here: Love and Longing in an American Heartland.


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INDIAN VISA FOR JAPANESE CITIZENS
The Embassy of India in Tokyo has started a new visa service for Japanese citizens. The “India-Visa-Online” service allows Japanese citizens to apply for an Indian visa from the comfort of their own homes.This new service is convenient and easy to use, and will help to speed up the process of applying for an Indian visa. Japanese citizens can now apply for an Indian visa online, and will receive their visas within 5 working days.
INDIAN VISA FOR LATVIAN CITIZENS
The Government of India has announced that it will now offer visas to Latvian citizens. This is a welcoming development for those who wish to travel to India for business or pleasure. The process is simple and straightforward, and can be completed entirely online. For more information, please visit our website at india-visa-online.com.
INDIAN VISA FOR MALAYSIAN CITIZENS
The Indian government has announced that Malaysian citizens will now be able to apply for an Indian visa online. This is a major development for those looking to travel to India, as it will make the process much simpler and more convenient.Previously, Malaysian citizens had to apply for an Indian visa in person at an embassy or consulate. However, with the new online system, they will be able to fill out the application and submit all required documents electronically.This is a major step forward in improving relations between India and Malaysia, and will no doubt make travel between the two countries much easier for everyone involved.
INDIAN VISA FOR NORWEGIAN CITIZENS
India-Visa-Online is proud to announce that we are now offering Indian visas for Norwegian citizens. This service is available online and is quick and easy to use. We offer a hassle-free experience for those who need to obtain an Indian visa, and our prices are competitive. For more information, please visit our website or contact us today.
INDIAN VISA FOR NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS
New Zealand citizens can now apply for an Indian visa online through the new India-Visa-Online website. The website offers a simple and convenient way to apply for a visa, and provides all the necessary information and requirements needed.Visas are required for all New Zealand citizens travelling to India, and the new India-Visa-Online website makes the process of applying for a visa quick and easy. The website also offers helpful information on what to expect during your time in India, as well as tips on how to make the most of your trip.Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, make sure to apply for your Indian visa through the new India-Visa-Online website.
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Coca-Cola has won hearts on numerous occasions with their exceptional campaigns and inventive promotions universally. As of late Coca-Cola has propelled 'Share A Feeling' effort in Vietnam as an expansion of 2014's 'Share A Coke' campaign. This time, Coca Cola has come up with the unique idea of utilizing all inclusive dialect of emoticons on Coca-Cola bottles and cans, a couple of months back.
Coca-Cola Vietnam introduced 41 emoticons in the new campaign. Here, you can have a look at the Coca Cola TVC ad where a group of males and females are expressing themselves by sharing bottles of coke with emoticons on the labels. Since being launched three weeks ago on YouTube, the video has gained over 1.7 million views.
Concept: Droga5 Sydney
Design & Packaging, TVC, OOH, Social media: Isobar Singapore
Agencies: OgilvyOne and MediaCom
I've discovered this charming Coca-Cola Vietnam advertisement while surfing web and in spite of not understanding the dialect, I managed to identify with the feelings in it through emoticons.
This *Share a feeling campaign* intends to rouse millennials to convey messages by means of emoticons on Coke cans and bottles. The idea which was proposed by media personels and celebrities is now being spread out in Vietnam with the help of media partnerships with Facebook and country’s largest messaging platform Zalo.
In the wake of picking up footing from buyers on a worldwide scale, Coke further empowered the young generation of Vietnam to share their own particular stories, empowering these bottles and cans of coke to be customized at some retail outlets. Also, buyers will have the capacity to alter their own particular stickers on Zalo talk, which for those of us who don't have the idea, is Vietnam's primary versatile mobile messaging application.
By customizing Coke bottles with names and now with emoticons, Coke is blending limits of virtual and physical world. Emoticons are the new all inclusive dialect particularly amongst youth. The youth would be engage in this activity in a better way as emoticons is the new thing in these days. Emoticons have become a perfect sharing platform, sharing of human feelings and It transcends language and will be a new way for teens to communicate their feelings.
The marketing sector of the Coca Cola company says, 'we are constantly reminded that the customer is and will keep on being the most essential individual throughput the business cycle. Coke has utilized the dialect of this era to create a campaign that keeps the buyer on the most fundamental level. This new type of correspondence will further permit Vietnamese youth a methods in communicating how they feel and will likewise advantage the Coca-Cola organization in expanding their volume.
Coca cola, after the successful launch of this campaign in Vietnam are aiming on taking it to Thailand and Philippines next year. The campaign will be taking off crosswise over ASEAN markets throughout the following 12 months.


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A group of WeChat users is suing the Trump administration over the president’s executive order banning transactions with the app, The Wall Street Journal reported. The group isn’t affiliated with WeChat or its owner Tencent, but seeks to block the president’s August 6th order which the group says is unconstitutional because it violates users’ due process and free speech rights, according to the Journal.
The lawsuit also argues that the ban targets Chinese-Americans. “It is the primary app Chinese-speakers in the U.S. use to participate in social life by connecting with loved ones, sharing special moments, arguing ideas, receiving up-to-the minute news, and participating in political discussions and advocacy,” the lawsuit states, and has “become essential to the conduct of daily life for its users, many of whom regularly spend hours each day on the app.”
President Trump’s executive order explicitly blocks “any transaction that is related to WeChat.” There’s been significant confusion about the ban, which is set to take effect next month, because of its broad language. It was one of a pair of executive orders the president signed which targeted Chinese companies, the other blocked all transactions with ByteDance, the parent company of video-sharing app TikTok. Both orders invoke the Emergency Economic Powers Act and the National Emergencies Act.
“WeChat, like TikTok... may also be used for disinformation campaigns that benefit the Chinese Communist Party,” Trump’s order against WeChat states. Both WeChat and TikTok have maintained they are not security risks.
On Saturday, TikTok confirmed it plans to sue the Trump administration over the order. It’s been in talks with Microsoft about the software giant possibly acquiring TikTok’s US operations, and other companies including Twitter and Oracle also were reportedly in separate talks with TikTok.
The WeChat user alliance is made up of people who say they depend on WeChat for personal and business purposes. An attorney for the group says it’s hoping that the Trump administration will have to provide notice for which WeChat transactions would be subject to the ban, according to the Journal.
WeChat is widely used for shopping, payments, and other business transactions in China; with an estimated 1 billion users in that country, compared to 1.5 million users in the US.
Earlier this month, more than a dozen American companies including Apple, Ford, Disney, and Walmart pushed back against the WeChat ban, telling White House officials on a call how a WeChat ban would be problematic for them and their businesses.
UPDATE August 23rd 10:15AM ET: Added details from the text of the lawsuit


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Click here to view our map showing India’s positioning in the virtual BRI.
China’s economic footprint in India seems negligible compared to its presence in other emerging markets, especially in South Asian countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Whereas investments in these countries is mostly in physical infrastructure, Chinese funding to Indian tech start-ups is making an impact disproportionate to its value, given the deepening penetration of technology across sectors in India. TikTok, owned by ByteDance, is already one of the most popular apps in India, overtaking YouTube; Xiaomi handsets are bigger than Samsung smartphones; Huawei routers are widely used.
These are investments made by nearly two dozen Chinese tech companies and funds, led by giants like Alibaba, ByteDance and Tencent which have funded 92 Indian start-ups, including unicorns such as Paytm, Byju’s, Oyo and Ola. (See Table 2)
Over the course of one year, Gateway House has conducted a deep study of Chinese investments in India as part of a larger research project on Chinese investments in India’s neighbourhood. The findings are remarkable: 18 of the 30 Indian unicorns have a Chinese investor. This means that China is embedded in Indian society, the economy, and the technology ecosystem that influences it. Unlike a port or a railway line, these are invisible assets in small sizes – rarely over $100 million – and made by the private sector, which doesn’t cause immediate alarm.
All this adds up to just 1.5% of the total official Chinese (including Hong Kong) FDI into India. This doesn’t cover investments made by funds based out of Singapore and elsewhere, where the ultimate owner is Chinese, so the actual investment in India will be higher.
The single largest Chinese investment in India is the $1.1 billion acquisition of Gland Pharma by Fosun in 2018. This accounts for 17.7% of all Chinese FDI into India, but it is unique. Gateway House identified just five other investments (FDI) by Chinese companies which exceed $100 million. This includes the $300-million investment by MG Motors.
China is most active in India in the start-up space. Gateway House has identified over 75 companies, with Chinese investors concentrated in e-commerce, fintech, media/social media, aggregation services and logistics. A majority – more than half – of India’s 30 Indian unicorns (start-ups with valuation of over $1 billion) have a Chinese investor. (See Table 1)
Why is China seeing such success in Indian tech? It’s because Indian start-ups rely disproportionately on overseas venture capital (VC) funding – all start-ups worth over $1 billion are foreign-funded. Some like Flipkart and Paytm have been acquired outright. India still does not have a Sequoia or Google of its own. Reliance Industries, through Jio, is trying to replicate Alibaba’s successful model in India.
Most Indian VC financiers are wealthy individuals/family offices – and cannot make the $100-million commitments needed to finance start-ups through their early losses. For instance, Paytm incurred a loss of Rs 3,690 crore in FY19 while Flipkart lost Rs 3,837 crore over the year. That leaves Western and Chinese investors as the dominant players in the Indian start-up space. Global giants like Sequoia (U.S.), Softbank (Japan) and Naspers (South Africa) back virtually every large Indian start-up. They are also all big investors in China’s new-economy companies, have experience of that intensely competitive market and growth, and seek to repeat their success in India.
Chinese investors in Indian start-ups can be divided into two categories:
1) dedicated VC funds, such as CDH Investments, Hillhouse Capital, SAIF Partners and Ward Ferry, mostly based in Hong Kong. They are akin to professional global investors, such as Sequoia or Softbank, and look for financial returns;
2) tech companies, such as Alibaba, Tencent and Xiaomi (or their various arms), which want a serious presence in the Indian market, just as Walmart (via Flipkart) and Amazon do.
These investments bring up three concerns for India: data security, propaganda and platform control.
Chinese companies such as Alibaba and Tencent have their own ecosystems, which include online stores, payment gateways, messaging services, etc. An investment by a Chinese firm can pull the Indian company into this ecosystem, which may mean loss of control over data.
Typically, in investments by a consortium of venture capitalists, one of the partners takes the lead in advising the start-up. If Alibaba/Tencent is playing this role, it can encourage the start-up to use pre-existing Chinese solutions for its tech requirements – again leading to loss of control over data.
If this process is followed across a range of companies – a taxi service, a hotel aggregator, online retail outlets, a payment provider – it permits an intrusive, comprehensive profile of an individual and his/her habits. Grindr is an example. (See box)
|Grindr: a security risk?
Grindr, a hook-up app for the LGBT community, is an example of how data can be misused. Grindr was acquired in 2016 by Chinese gaming company, Kunlun. During the Cold War, homosexual blackmail was used by Stasi and the KGB to target vulnerable officials in the West. There is still considerable stigma attached to homosexuality in India – can a government official be blackmailed with such information? The U.S. government has flagged off ownership of Grindr as a national security risk, and ordered the Chinese owner to divest a majority stake by 2020.
Western companies have similar access to private data too – but there is national and global oversight and more transparency in their systems.
The Chinese government keeps a tight control over its media at home. Most of the Western social media apps (Facebook, Twitter) and many of the leading news outlets are banned in China. Large multinational corporations are unwilling to lose the Chinese market and wary of offending the Chinese government. This has given China a veto over free speech in many Western countries, seen recently in the high-profile case of the National Basketball Association (U.S.) speaking out about the protests in Hong Kong.
Investments in Indian social and other media (including those in regional languages) as well as start-ups could lead to a subtle push toward the Chinese narrative on bilateral issues and disputes with India, a shift to a more favourable depiction of China and suppression of criticism. For instance, TikTok censors topics that are sensitive to the Chinese government. This kind of influencing by a foreign totalitarian government is detrimental to an open and free society.
The Internet is split into two major camps: the ‘traditional’ open internet dominated by Western companies, Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google (FANGS) and the ‘closed’ Chinese internet – almost an intranet – which restricts outsiders and is closely monitored and controlled by the state. Companies like Alibaba and Tencent are enablers and beneficiaries of this system. By restricting access to foreign players, China was able to create its own champions – which now rival the West’s.
If Alibaba, Tencent and other Chinese tech majors replicate their internet ecosystems in India, this can create a systemic risk. An ecosystem such as this controls access to end-users; it means other companies (retailers, financing firms and media) will have to follow the standards/technologies prescribed to them. Alibaba/Tencent will be in a position like Google – they can decide which firm will succeed or fail by controlling user access, using their own technologies. Imagine: the Indian economy could use Chinese tech for critical applications.
India has not participated in China’s Belt and Road Initiative and has yet to take a final decision on allowing Huawei into India’s 5G telecom. But through these investments in start-ups, India may find its economy tied ever closer to China’s.
Click here to view our map showing India’s positioning in the virtual BRI.
Amit Bhandari is Fellow, Energy and Environment Studies Programme, Gateway House.
Aashna Agarwal is Researcher, Gateway House.
This article was exclusively written for Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. You can read more exclusive content here.
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 Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, “Quaterly Fact Sheet, Fact Sheet on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) From April, 2000 to June, 2019″, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, 2019,
 Bhakta, Pratik, “At Rs 3,960 crore, losses mount 165% for Paytm parent One97″, Economic Times, 10 September 2019,
 PTI, “Flipkart logs loss of Rs 3,837 crore in 2018-19″, Economic Times, 28 October 2019,
 Wang, Echo, “China’s Kunlun Tech agrees to U.S. demand to sell Grindr Gay dating app”, Reuters, 14 may 2019,
 CBS News, “China’s CCTV threatens to pull NBA broadcast ties as commissioner defends free speech”, CBS News, 8 October 2019,
 Hern, Alex, “Revealed: How TikTok censors videos that do not please Beijing”, The Guardian, 25 September 2019,