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Good Energy Group PLC, the 100% per cent renewable electricity supplier and innovative energy services provider, has launched One Point, a new electric vehicle (“EV”) charging offering for UK businesses alongside the first pilot of the scheme with Watergate Bay Hotel in Cornwall.
It will soon be essential for UK businesses to offer charging. Good Energy has recently installed four EV chargers for Watergate Bay Hotel. The points are embedded with smart load balancing technology, so the chargers can turn off or on to level out peaks and troughs in supply and demand on the local network.
The number of electric vehicles on the road is expected to top 1,000,000 by 2022, amounting to three per cent of road traffic, or three EV chargers for every 100 car parking spaces. But around 40 per cent of UK homes do not have access to off street parking, meaning destination and workplace charging will be important for large numbers of drivers. Good Energy has identified this as both an opportunity for businesses and crucial for the decarbonisation of the UK’s transport system.
The new product is Good Energy’s latest move into the electric vehicle and energy sharing market. Earlier this year, the company took a 12.9 per cent stake in Zap-Map, the UKs leading EV digital charging platform.
Juliet Davenport, Founder and CEO of Good Energy said: “Businesses across the UK are responding to the climate emergency, and many of them have already committed to 100% renewable electricity. With the launch of One Point, Good Energy is going one step further by offering businesses a simple, easy-to-use service allowing their customers and employees to go 100% renewable in their electric vehicles, helping decarbonise the transport industry. This is a really exciting progression in Good Energy’s low carbon journey.”


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Critical Supply Chain Risks to Look Out For in 2023
With how many hits the global and local supply chains have taken these last few years, it is only reasonable to fear what 2023 has in store for us. Well, let’s take a look at the critical supply chain risks to look out for in 2023 to see how bad things might get and what could be done to deal with the problems.
The potential return of COVID
The first and one of the most critical supply chain risks to look out for in 2023 is, without a doubt, the potential resurgence of the COVID pandemic. Now, it is true that COVID never really stopped being an issue. However, the potential for a full-blown pandemic to repeat itself is not inconsiderable. This has many people involved in the logistics business understandably worried. The last pandemic had such adverse effects on the supply chain that it is still recovering. So, a repeat of the event would almost be guaranteed to set back at least some of the progress that’s been made toward improving the situation. Unfortunately, the only real response to this is trying to account for the effects of the pandemic ahead of time, which has very limited effectiveness and depends too much on hypotheticals.
Lack of skilled workers
That the lack of skilled workers is one of the critical supply chain risks to look out for in 2023 is not particularly new. And yet, it very much remains one of the most annoying risks to deal with. This is because it’s an indirect effect of the previous pandemic wave and has left businesses floundering to shore up their employee rosters. This scramble to compensate for the lack of skilled workers means that a lot of important strategies, such as some of the ways to cope with the capacity crunch, are untenable. Trying to operate in such a manner relying on untrained employees is asking for trouble. This means that employee training has become more important than ever. Yet, even that mitigates problems partly because a lot of employees receive the training provided only to ‘trade up’ in favor of bigger companies.
The threat of further inflation
Inflation, of course, remains a serious problem that’s more than just looming on the horizon. We are already living through its disastrous effects on the supply chain. But, the realistic chances of it growing worse are enough to alarm most business owners. The one thing to be thankful for is the opportunity to plan for it now. And you can do so by trying to strike up long-term contracts with suppliers. If you can secure a long-term contract, you can, through it, at least mitigate the effects of any sudden price spikes. Unfortunately, there is little to be done about what inflation means for operating costs. That they can get higher at any time spells trouble for smaller businesses without enough capital to play with.
Global port congestion and problems with ocean freight
Unfortunately, we also encountered the next on our list of critical supply chain risks to look out for in 2023: global port congestion. This, too, was a result of the previous pandemic and part of the reason why a new one is feared. The delays caused by various ports getting shut down or quarantined resulted in mass congestion of the waters. This then caused its own delays in turn. The cascade of events might repeat itself in 2023, even if the cause is not a pandemic. After all, the surge in interest in ocean freight due to its competitive prices compared to other transportation options means that an already strained infrastructure, especially in the US, might start struggling to handle the burden placed on it. It is also unreasonably hard to plan for this eventuality since most of the causes can’t be easily fixed.
The proper distribution of goods being slowed down can also lead to the following problem: a warehousing shortage. Due to the slowed consumption and lower demand due to climbing prices, we are seeing some of this. Warehouses are stuck with old stock. And business owners must either get rid of it quickly or look for more warehouse space. Of course, warehousing space being a limited commodity, it is very difficult to obtain. This has led to other solutions being put into effect, such as efforts to optimize distribution centers as a way of minimizing storage time and speeding up the turnover of goods. In turn, this is, ironically, making the demand for skilled employees we’ve already mentioned even higher.
With environmental concerns becoming a more pressing issue, governments throughout the world are trying to implement measures that will force businesses to comply. While generally a good thing, some of the projects, such as reducing emissions, have the potential to hit supply chains hard. With limited freedom to chart frequent shipments of goods, it would be difficult to revitalize the supply chain properly. In fact, some of the work that is already done might come undone. Thus worsening issues we’ve covered, such as congestion and warehousing shortages.
Difficulties with forecasting
The final of the critical supply chain risks to look out for in 2023 is the difficulty forecasting demand. With the instabilities of the supply chain and the instabilities the other risks can cause, it becomes increasingly hard to properly get ahead of demand or even properly understand it. This can easily cause losses and further damage the global supply chain. Even those who understand the supply chain well enough to stay on top of demand have something to fear, however. Namely, cost forecasting becomes a lot more difficult when inflation can cause spikes in prices, which means that your previously flawless budget might suddenly fall short of the strain placed on it.
Moving forward with the supply chain of 2023
From what we covered about the critical supply chain risks to look out for in 2023, it becomes clear that most of the risks are a result of external influence. So long as the economy and global health remain relatively stable, we can expect the supply chain to withstand the year relatively unscathed. The opposite, however, would nullify a lot of progress made since the pandemic to fix things.
Miles Gregory is a successful logistics business owner who works closely with Helix Move VA and knows how to avoid risks and maximize profits. He shares his advice and experiences freely through guest blogs.

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PHOENIX — Having a plant-based or plant-forward diet has proven health benefits.
There are so many options in the store now making the switch easier but are they all good for your health?
ABC15 Health Insider Dr. Shad Marvasti says plant-based diets have been proven to reverse coronary artery disease, cure Type 2 Diabetes and obesity, and also improve joint pain to name a few benefits.
He cautions that just taking meat out of your diet doesn’t always make it healthy, look at potato chips and Oreos.
His advice to spot a plant-based imposter when it comes to fake meats and other pre-packages vegan foods is to check the labels and focus on the sodium and sugar content.
Dr. Shad goes further in-depth on what to avoid and how to get the max benefits from adding plants to your diet in the interview above.


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Spicy reds have become a thing of the past after pastel hues came in; But Bollywood divas still seem to savor the reds. For her fine jewelry... ...http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/5821
Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan hosted India's first ever amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) gala at the Taj hotel in Colaba, South... ...http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-pix-abhishek-aishwarya-party-with-sharon-stone-hilary-swank/20131118.htm
Bangalore, Nov 14 (IANS) Seven passengers were burnt to death and 25 injured early Thursday when a luxury bus ...http://news.taaza.com/lifestyle/1219394-nethra-raghuraman.html
It's Fashion Week all year round for some apparel brands, with social networking sites turning out to be the new age marketing tools that designers... ...http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/weekend-life/fashion-week-all-year-through/article5297557.ece
Menswear brand Blackberrys, celebrated fashion and cinema with the launch of its Fall Winter 2013 collection at Blackberrys Sharp NightsProgressive... ...http://femina.in/gossip/abhay-aditya-sid-walk-the-ramp-1747.html
Latest Nethra Raghuraman Photos,...


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Whether you need more paper-towels, coffee, vitamins, batteries or chips, the Amazon Dash button can re-order your favorite items with just a push of a button. The instant-order button has become quite popular with customers and brands alike since the Amazon Dash button was first released, and now works with thousands of items on Amazon.com.
Brands like Brawny, Charmin, Clorox, Doritos, Energizer, Gain, Honest Kids, L’Oreal Paris Revitalift, Lysol, Peet’s Coffee, Playtex, Purina, Red Bull, Seventh Generation, Slim Jim, Snuggle, Starbucks, Trojan, Vitamin Water, and more have joined the service, and more are on their way.
One year after announcing Amazon Dash Button (amazon.com/dashbutton), Amazon today more than tripled the lineup of brands available to its Prime members through the program. Members can now choose from over 100 Dash Buttons representing top-name brands across dozens of retail categories and thousands of products. With Dash Buttons, Prime members never have to worry about running out of everyday household essentials from coffee to condoms, and snacks to soda. When a customer sees supplies running low, they simply press a Dash Button to order.
“We’re thrilled with the positive response we’ve seen for Dash Buttons—and we heard loud and clear from customers that they wanted more brands, more categories, and more products in the program. We’re excited to now offer over 100 Dash Buttons representing top-name brands across dozens of retail categories and thousands of product options,” said Daniel Rausch, Director of Amazon Dash. “Prime members are using Dash Buttons at an increasing rate—over the last three months, Dash Button orders have grown by more than 75%. Customers are using Dash Buttons more than once a minute, helping ensure they never run out of their everyday essentials.”
“PepsiCo is always looking for new and innovative ways for shoppers to engage with our brands…the Dash Button was one of those unique opportunities,” said David Orr, Global Customer Lead, PepsiCo. “We have been very pleased with shopper feedback and engagement since the launch and look forward to expanded learnings moving forward.”
“Dash Button makes shopping easy, and fun. We’ve seen great engagement from our customers and are excited to bring more brands to the Dash Button lineup, including favorites like Lysol, Airborne and Air Wick,” said Taryn Mitchell, Global VP Digital Sales, RB.
Dash Buttons are available to Prime members for $4.99 each, and they’re essentially free—with the first order through a Dash Button, members receive a $4.99 credit to their Amazon account.
When a customer is running low on one of their everyday essentials, they can simply press a Dash Button to automatically reorder the item at the same low prices they find sold by Amazon online and with free Prime shipping. Customers receive a notification with every order and can change the product purchased through their Dash Button anytime. Prime members can order Dash Buttons at amazon.com/dashbutton.


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Facebook personal and sensitive device data for 187,000 users was collected from the currently discontinued Research app which Apple banned earlier this year, the app was banned for violations. In an email to Senator Richard Blumenthal’s office, Facebook said it collected data on 31,000 US users, including 4,300 young people. Other data collected was from Indian users.
Earlier this year, the US media survey found that both Facebook and Google are abusing Apple’s Enterprise Developer Certificate, which is used primarily to develop iPhone and iPad apps for corporate employees only. The survey found that these companies violate Apple’s regulations and provide applications for ordinary users outside the Apple App Store. These applications collect data from participants using the device, understand their usage habits, and pay users.
For this reason, Apple has revoked Facebook and Google’s enterprise developer certificates and banned these applications. However, in response to user’ questions, Apple said that the company did not know how many devices installed Facebook’s offending applications.
Timothy Powderly, Apple’s Federal Affairs Director, said:
“We know that the provisioning profile for the Facebook Research app was created on April 19, 2017, but this does not necessarily correlate to the date that Facebook distributed the provisioning profile to end users.”


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Our Town: Hawai‘i’s New Fish Auction
Brooks Takenaka runs the fish auction at its new Pier 38 home–where the fish is literally fresh off the boat.
|A local food institution
landed a new home. the United Fishing Agency's fish auction moved from its home
on 'Ähui Street in Kaka'ako to Honolulu Harbor's Pier 38.|
The last time the fish auction moved was in the late '70s, when it left its original address near 'A'ala Park. "[The Kaka'ako place] had a lot of character," says Brooks Takenaka of the humble old digs alongside Kewalo Basin, "but the new facility at Pier 38 is three times bigger, and certainly more up to date in terms of technology."
Takenaka runs the auctions, long an attraction for fans of fresh fish. For the consumer, he adds, "we'll now be able to offer a higher quality product." No longer will the mahimahi, opah and 'öpakapaka have to be trucked from the vessels to the auction. Boats will now dock alongside the new 18,000-square-foot facility and unload their catch directly, creating a faster, more streamlined operation. The fish will be iced down, auctioned off and trucked out in a display of efficiency-all amounting to a fresher slice of 'ahi on your plate.
The fish auction is the heart of the Hawai'i seafood industry. That is not hyperbole-all of the 130-plus long-line vessels bring their catches here where they are bid on by restaurants, supermarkets and wholesalers. The new fish auction is designed to be more open to the consumer, in a venue that will eventually have food stands and a diner.
"We're embarking on an effort to bridge this gap between the industry and the community," explains Takenaka. He and his consultant, Dr. John Kaneko, have been developing workshops for the industry and the culinary world, such as Seafood Safety. Takenaka mentions that Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi have also volunteered to give some demonstrations and cooking classes.
"We're going to be doing some exciting new things," says Takenaka. "For me, it's like beginning a new chapter. I'm really looking forward to it." Alex Barasch


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- Our Employees
THACO AUTO Chu Lai organizes “5 core tools in the quality management system” training for managers and senior executives23/03/2023
To improve the knowledge and skills of quality management at the automotive manufacturing factories in THACO AUTO Complex, on Mar. 11 and 15, THACO AUTO Chu Lai cooperated with THACO College to organize the course “5 core tools in the quality management system (APQP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, PPAP)” for 50 managers and executives in charge of technical, quality management and inspection departments.
Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee visits Nong Khang Airport22/03/2023
On Mar. 12, the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, led by Mr. Tran Quoc Phuong, Vietnam Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment cum the Committee's Vice Chairman along with members from the Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Government Office visited NongKhang Airport in Huaphan Province, Laos.
Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party leaders visit THACO AGRI Laos21/03/2023
On Mar. 13, a delegation led by Ms. Sisay Leudetmounsone, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party visited and worked at THACO AGRI Laos. Accompanying the delegation was Mr. Leth Xaiyaphone, Member of Laos Party Central Committee, Secretary and Governor of Attapeu Province.
Mazda & Peugeot test drives in Ho Chi Minh City21/03/2023
On Mar. 11 and 12, THACO AUTO organized test drives for Mazda and Peugeot, attracting a large number of "fans" who are enthusiastic about the European car brand and want to discover the experiences driving on new-generation Mazda models.
THILOGI works with ZIM and SITC Vietnam15/03/2023
The THACO's logistics sub-holding has recently welcomed the leaders of shipping lines to discuss future cooperation and business development plans in the coming time.
THACO AGRI opens convenience store at Snuol Complex15/03/2023
On Mar. 8, THACO AGRI opened a convenience store at Lot 74 of Snuol Agricultural Complex in Cambodia.
Automotive Spring Plant innovates the automated spring leaf processing system15/03/2023
Automotive Spring (under THACO INDUSTRIES) is one of the pioneering plants which take the lead in technological innovations, automation in production to build a smart factory model. In addition to its investment in modern production technologies, it also pays special attention to technical improvements to reduce costs, improve productivity and product quality.


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Samsung has introduced a new concept of smart bike which was developed by Samsung Maestros Academy, a Korean company program that encourages designers and other artists to create new products using the company's technologies.
There is no prediction of when the smart bike hits the market, nor how much it will cost. And you, what did you think of the concept? What other tools could be added to the smartbike project?
. (tagsToTranslate) Smart bike samsung (t) bike with wifi (t) samsung


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First-of-its-kind Virtual Garage for Car Fans Launched by New York Auto Show
NEW YORK - February 15, 2008: Described as "the virtual automobile community site" by Show Director, Candida Romanelli, Virtual Garage is designed to give car enthusiasts around the world the chance to show-off images and videos of their cars through the New York International Automobile Show (NYIAS) website. NYIAS is the first auto show to embrace the online community group phenomenon made famous by facebook.com and myspace.com with the NYIAS Virtual Garages section of www.autoshowNY.com.
"We put so much effort into creating this amazing event to showcase the latest cars and trucks to the public that we thought it is only fair that we get to see the vehicles that our website and show visitors own and cherish," continued Candida.
Virtual Garage members will be able to upload photos and video of their vehicles, enter their mini-bio and check-out other members' cars and trucks, and email each other. All the vehicles are cross referenced so that, for example, a Mercedes or Ford owner can see which members have similar vehicles listed on the Site.
"The beauty of the site is that it allows car enthusiasts to stay in touch with each other, and us, year round. We've made the process simple so that people can start sharing their vehicle pictures in seconds. We think that individuals, collectors, and car club members will enjoy making friends and sharing stories about their cars," she said.
The New York International Auto Show is the largest publicly attended show of its kind in the country; it is also the North America's oldest.
"The New York Auto Show has become an institution. It's hard to believe that the Show and the public's love of cars has been around for so long. We're thrilled to be custodians of this great event, and part of that responsibility is to make sure that we are on the cutting-edge of what our customers are looking for. Not only in terms of automobiles displayed on the Show floor, but in the way that we communicate to future generations of car lovers and car buyers," continued Romanelli.
Kicking off the springtime selling season, the 2008 New York International Auto Show will feature an impressive collection of cutting-edge design and remarkable innovation. More than four floors of displays from the world's automakers will feature the newest vehicles and futuristic concept cars. More than 1,000 cars and trucks will be on display at the Javits Center, filling 846,000 square feet of exhibit space. In addition, dozens of World and North American vehicle debuts are expected at the Show. NYIAS is owned and produced by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association.
For more information, or to purchase tickets for the New York International Automobile Show online, visit www.autoshowNY.com.


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New Ryanair flights From Germany!
Looking for fresh 2023 summer vacation locations to include on your itinerary? Look no further than Ryanair’s new destinations from Germany!
Ryanair, Europe’s leading low-cost airline, has announced an exciting lineup of new flight routes set to launch summer of 2023 from Germany! Whether you want to chill next to the beach and walk around a city, Ryanair has got you covered with their new 2023 summer destinations from Dusseldorf, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Cologne.
It’s time to start organizing your next journey with Ryanair since there are so many intriguing new places to choose from!
Look at the new Ryanair destinations from Dusseldorf
- Corfu, Greece – June 7th
- Sevilla, Spain – July 2nd
Explore new Ryanair destinations from Berlin
- Zadar, Croatia – June 2nd
- Athens, Greece – May 1st
- Chania, Greece – June 6th
- Kos, Greece – June 3rd
Check out new Ryanair destinations from Frankfurt
- Zadar, Croatia – June 3rd
- Corfu, Croatia – June 2nd
- Valencia, Spain – July 1st
Catch some sun with new Ryanair destinations from Cologne
- Athens, Greece – May 3rd
- Knock, Ireland – June 4th
So don’t wait! Head over to Ryanair’s official website to book your flights from Germany to new destinations!
Check Now the best places to visit this summer!


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A powerful and responsive, 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine is not usually what comes to mind when you think of “green” cars, but – if Bernie Towns and the crew at Speedriven get their way – it soon may be.
Bernie Towns is an engineer at HighMount Exploration and Production – a natural-gas-focused energy company based out of Houston, Texas. “Clean” and “green” are everyday buzzwords in the energy-production industry, and Towns’ company Future Power Technology well be no exception, promoting research into new ways to push CNG into the mainstream.
The object of Towns’ current automotive affections is a 2007 SL600 Mercedes-Benz roadster, which – after nearly a year of research and development work by Chicago-based tuning firm Speedriven – now develops over 800 horsepower and over one-thousand pound-feet of torque from its biturbo V12. Good enough for 10-second quarter mile runs and a top speed well in excess of 200mph.
The team believes the luxury car could do better if it ran on CNG, which also results in 80% less emissions than gasoline. The tuner announced that it has started working on
the CNG version of the Speedriven Mercedes SL600, which is expect to reach a top speed of around 230 – 240mph.
They do not just want to do a CNG Benz, though. They want to break records. Towns says:
Audi has the current record, at 364.6 kilometers per hour that they set back in 2009. That’s just over 225 mph, which they did in a heavily tuned Audi S4 making about 700 hp. That wasn’t standing-mile speed or anything, that was all they could get out of that car. The Mercedes has a bigger engine to start with, and it’s a slipperier car – from the factory at least.
The next test of Bernie’s car is scheduled for the Texas Mile event in March, and the SL600 is already at Speedriven’s Chicago facility, getting fitted with a new turbocharger assembly designed to push the boundaries even farther. Bernie Towns and the crew at Speedriven are moving forward and gaining support with each passing week. We wish them all the luck with this new project.


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AUSTRALIA: Billabong opens books to TPG Capital
Billabong has agreed to open its books to private equity firm TPG Capital, but said it does not believe the AU$694m bid reflects the "fundamental value" of the Australian surfwear brand.
TPG has submitted a $1.45 a share offer for Billabong, much less than the $3.30 per share offer it put forward earlier this year.
Billabong said TPG will be able to conduct non-exclusive due diligence in the hope that it will improve its "understanding and valuation of Billabong".
"The board of Billabong does not believe that the proposal reflects the fundamental value of Billabong in the context of a change of control transaction," a statement said.
It added that Billabong will seek to ensure that the medium to long-term prospects of the company and "its unique brands are reflected in the value realised by Billabong's shareholders".
Billabong said the due diligence process will take several weeks.
The surfwear brand is set to announce its full-year results on 27 August, with recently appointed CEO Launa Inman to unveil a three-year transformation strategy for the brand.
Goldman Sachs is acting as financial adviser and Allens is acting as legal adviser to Billabong.
The most read stories on just-style this week include a look at how sourcing is going to be in 2013, a spotlight on why buyer interest in Billabong has not yet turned into a deal, and M&S extending it...
Australian surfwear brand Billabong has received a rival bid for the brand from VF Corp and private equity firm Altamont Capital Partners, which matches an offer from US boss Paul Naude and Sycamore P...
Australian surfwear brand Billabong has appointed Peter Myers as group chief financial officer, replacing Craig White who resigned last month....
Australian surfwear brand Billabong has opened its books to a consortium comprising the company's former head of its Americas business. ...
Australian surfwear brand Billabong today (19 December) confirmed details of a AUD524m buyout bid - but shares fell 13.3% after the company issued another profit warning....
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A survey conducted by SMEinfo, the newly launched online portal dedicated to supporting the growing SME sector in the UAE, showed 45 per cent of business owners in the country believe expansion will be their biggest challenge in the next three years.
Conducted early this year, the survey asked more than 300 leading business owners what they thought were the most significant business challenges they expected to face until 2015.
Khaleej TimesExpansion was the top answer, suggesting optimism that the business climate will improve, to support SME expansion in the next 36 months. However, the recession was still a lingering concern, with 40 per cent of those surveyed fearing the economic slowdown will continue to be a challenge in the near-term.
The survey results provided insights to the development of the content and features of SMEinfo, an online portal aimed at building a business community offering knowledge-based support platforms for entrepreneurs to grow and nurture their businesses, as well as the establishment of the SMEinfo Awards, which was envisioned to help SMEs raise their profile and brand, by recognising success, growth and innovation.
For its inaugural edition, the SMEinfo Awards will honour SMEs who achieved distinction in the following areas — businesses, individuals, as well as sustainability and innovation. A stringent set of criteria have been established, and will be evaluated by a judging panel consisting of business personalities, SME enablers from the government, and highly-esteemed members of the UAE business community, including Dubai SME senior manager of strategy and policy Essam Omran Disi, SensAsia Urban Spas founder and managing director Salina Handa, Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development enterprise development and support department manager Saer Imad, Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development entrepreneurship development department senior manager Hussein Mohamed, e-Home Automation co-founder Khalifa A. Aljaziri and Ethos Consultancy owner Robert Keay.
The Business Awards will hand out recognition for businesses that have shown evidence of growth and achievement of key goals, delivering its company vision and mission, as well as innovation. Awards include Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Emirati Business of the Year, Online Business of the Year and Start-up Business of the Year.
Asia’s first covered Sukuk issued by MBSB
RAM Ratings has assigned a final AA1/stable rating to Malaysia Building Society Berhad’s (MBSB) MYR 495 million Tranche 1 Structured Covered Sukuk (Tranche 1 Sukuk). Tranche 1 Sukuk is MBSB’s first i
MARC assigns preliminary rating of AAAIS
MARC has assigned a preliminary rating of AAAIS to TNB Western Energy Berhad’s issuance of MYR 4.0 billion Islamic Securities (Sukuk) with a stable outlook. TNB Western Energy is a wholly-owned fundi
New guidelines for Islamic banks, Takaful
The Kuala Lumpur-based Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) has published guidelines on capital adequacy for Islamic banks and risk management of takaful, or Islamic insurance, as the industry bod


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- The pandemic has not been kind to Airbnb. In May, the company laid off 25% of its global staff to keep business afloat.
- In a July 22 webcast with Reuters, CEO Brian Chesky said that despite setbacks, rentals outside of cities, particularly unique stays like treehouses and Airstreams, are "booming."
- Chesky attributed the recent surge in bookings to people wanting to get out of their houses and reconnect in a safe way.
- He says he's hopeful for a "new golden age" post-pandemic, predicting the industry will move away from mass tourism.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Airbnb has had a trying past few months.
In May, CEO Brian Chesky predicted that Airbnb's yearly revenue will be half that of 2019 due to the pandemic's impact on travel. The homesharing company also laid off 25% of its global staff.
Despite having to make difficult decisions, Chesky told Reuters' Global Editor Rob Cox and Columnist Gina Chon in a July 22 webcast that he is "optimistic" about recent numbers. Earlier in July, Airbnb saw one million room nights booked in a single day for the first time since March. Chesky attributed this uptick in bookings people wanting to get out of their houses.
"I think what this is starting to tell us is that people want to connect, but they want to do so safely," he said.
Travelers are heading to suburbs and rural areas
Two thirds of those one million bookings were located outside of cities, and 50% were located within 300 miles from guests' homes, according to an Airbnb news release.
In lieu of touring major global cities and tourist attractions in double-decker buses, travelers are now heading to small towns where they can enjoy socially distanced activities, Chesky said.
"Paris" is out, and "Petaluma and Pittsburgh" are in, he told Reuters.
The pandemic has accelerated a new era of unique stays and 'private' travel
In particular, Airbnb's unique stays like treehouses and Airstreams are "booming," according to Chesky.
Not only are people booking rentals outside of cities, but they're also looking for "something more private, intimate, smaller, unique, special — something that could be a destination in and of itself," he said.
"Unlike a hotel where you're in a public space, Airbnb is a little more private," Chesky added. "So I think people feel like maybe for the first time in a long time, Airbnb is not the riskier option."
In June, Airbnb rolled out new cleaning protocols for hosts to assuage traveler and host concerns about COVID-19 safety while traveling. Guests can now look for an "Enhanced Clean" certification on listings to see whether a host has committed to following the new protocols, such as wearing head-to-toe personal protective equipment while disinfecting rooms.
Though no one knows when travel will fully recover, Chesky is hopeful that the industry is heading into "a new golden age of travel."
That future, he thinks, does not include double-decker buses filled with camera-toting tourists. "Travel will not be massive, but small and intimate," Chesky predicted.
Axel Springer, Insider Inc.'s parent company, is an investor in Airbnb.


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Vodafone customers can download Hard Candy a week early
Madonna new album will be available to download on mobile phones before it hits the shops.
Vodafone customers will be able to get tracks from Hard Candy a week before the record is officially released.
Madonna, 49, has collaborated with the likes of Justin Timberlake, 27, and Timbaland on the album.
Hard Candy hits the shelves on 28 April.
SEE PICS of Madonna at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Now’s Celebrity Spy gallery>>
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According to some excessively well paid bloggers (read: analysts) at Barclays Capital, Apple will probably choose to extend the iPhone exclusivity agreement with AT&T for this coming fourth generation of the popular handset.
The reasoning behind this is that the data plan for the iPad will be through AT&T, which is taken to mean that Apple is continuing its relationship with AT&T. From a behavioral standpoint, this makes sense: when Steve Jobs is done with you, he really gets done.
Another factor in the analyst speculation (and it is very much speculation as only Apple and AT&T know for sure right now) is AT&T’s recent drive to beef up their networks. AT&T’s long-standing inability to provide the data that iPhone users demand is one of the biggest complaints about the iPhone experience.
What the analysts miss for the most part is the effects that the rollout of 4G will have on the iPhone. If Verizon somehow were able to provide almost nationwide LTE coverage to users, it’s hard to imagine Apple not jumping to get on that bandwagon. When 4G really hits, smartphones will be almost immediately available to work with whichever network has it, and a lot of mobile users fed up with inadequate 3G speeds will move on to whichever phones are on that network. Given the rate at which they come out, that almost certainly will result in Android getting the upper hand.
On the other hand, 4G probably won’t happen this year, so Apple does not have a compelling reason to leave AT&T other than to tap the massive Verizon client base. But moving to Verizon’s existing CDMA infrastructure would look very bad for Apple. A touted feature of the iPhone is that the device allows users to use data while in a call, a feature of AT&T’s GSM network that Verizon does not have. This would make for two different iPhones, leading to differentiation too confusing for most in Apple’s fanbase.


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A Blackpool firm set up “by accident” in the owners’ front room, has grown in just six years to become a global business turning over £4m a year.
And it’s all thanks to... coat hangers!
Jacqui Green and Jim Elliot started Hangerworld Ltd after Jacqui was left with scores of coat hangers from her ironing business in Thornton.
And they have done so well that this month they were the only European company invited by online retail giant Amazon to its top sellers panel meeting at its US HQ in Seattle.
Jim explained: “We had lots and lots of second hand coat hangers so , almost for a laugh we said, ‘lets put them up on eBay and see what happens.
“They sold. We were mystified as to why, but we very quickly realised there was a market for hangers.”
They started with plastic hangers and then moved on to wire and wooden ones, sourcing new stocks.
Things got so busy that Jim decided to give up his job as a paramedic in Blackpool to help Jacqui full time.
“The interest is that everyone needs coat hangers and they are not especially available on the high street.
“Jacqui started out selling mainly plastic ones but now we package up the wire ones in batches of ten, 50 or 100 and sell them around the world.
“People in Denmark and Sweden will pay more to have them shipped out there than the things cost themselves.”
From operating out of a front room and garage, Hangerworld grew and now occupies a 35,000sq ft building in Cornford Road Marton, with offices, a large packing warehouse and 40 employees.
“We will be taking on more staff soon. The European market is growing and we have just started selling into the USA.”
From selling on eBay and online the company went on to sell through Amazon and are doing so well that they were consulted as apart of its Global Seller Panel, flown out to Seattle to attend two days of meetings and seminars.
“Amazon accounts for 80 per cent of our turnover now, which has doubled every year and is now up to £4m.
“Because we are selling so much in Europe, we may need to take on language experts.”


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A pair of upcoming conferences will address a number of issues currently facing the foodservice industry, including the importance of widening adoption of GS1 standards to help producers, distributors and retailers improve the efficiency and visibility of their supply chains.
Shifting regulations and rapidly developing technology have put foodservice operations in a transitional period and it is important for industry leaders to stay abreast of labeling trends and other relevant developments that will affect their businesses.
The first event, the Produce Marketing Association's Foodservice Conference and Exposition, is scheduled for July 20-22 in Monterey, California. The overall focus will be on how businesses in the industry can improve their operational efficiency. More specifically, the conference will feature networking events, presentations on industry trends and exhibitions of different companies' products and services.
The second event is being put on by the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) from July 22-24 in San Francisco. Attendees will hear a number of presentations from industry professionals that focus on analyzing current trends and identifying opportunities for different actors in the industry – especially distributors and retailers – to benefit from greater collaboration.
Britt Wood, vice president of programs and services at IFDA, and Gene Carbonara, senior director of operations at US Foods, will host a session dedicated to analyzing the progress of the Foodservice GS1 US Standards Initiative, a voluntary collaboration between businesses and industry organizations that has set a goal of getting 75 percent of the foodservice industry to adopt GS1 standards by 2015. The initiative was launched in 2009 by GS1 US, in association with IFDA and the National Restaurant Association.


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November 30, 2015 11:59
Korea's trade is expected to rebound in 2016 to surpass US$1 trillion.
The Korea International Trade Association projects that Korea's exports will rise 2.3 percent in 2016 to $544 billion, while imports will rise 4.8 percent to $461 billion, resulting in an $83 billion trade surplus.
KITA predicts improved trade conditions next year as the economies of advanced countries recover, while consumer sentiment improves amid low global oil prices.
The global economy is projected to grow 3.5 percent in 2016, compared to 3.1 percent this year, while world trade is forecast to increase around four percent.
Korea's exports of petroleum and chemical products will rise by an estimated 7.8 percent and 2.7 percent, leading overall growth.
The Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade also forecast exports will rise around 2.1 percent next year leading to trade surpassing the $1 trillion level again.
- Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com


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The head of Huawei promised to add services from Google overnight in the Mate 30 Pro
Due to US sanctions, as a result of which the Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro were the first smartphones of the company, deprived of pre-installed services and applications from Google, the Chinese giant decided not to release its smartphone in some European markets. And when reporters asked the head of Huawei whether his company plans to provide access to Google Play and other services of the American company in the event that the sanctions are lifted, he replied that Huawei would do it at the very moment it would be given such an opportunity. “We will do it in one night”, – said the head of the company.
Richard Yu also said that in his opinion, the ongoing trade war has an extremely negative impact on the two great nations. And in his opinion, this unnecessary confrontation will end in the very near future. He also said that he had high hopes for the November summit, which would bring together the United States, China and many other countries.


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Asian benchmarks were mostly lower on Friday, echoing a decline on Wall Street, after a quarterly report by Japan’s central bank rekindled worries about the world’s third-largest economy.
Shares fell in Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney and Shanghai. Markets were closed in Hong Kong for a holiday.
Recent data suggest that global growth is slowing, as countries grapple with renewed waves of COVID-19 outbreaks, soaring prices and the war in Ukraine.
In the Bank of Japan’s Tankan survey, the headline index for large manufacturers was nine, down from 14 in the previous quarter and the second straight quarter of declines.
The Tankan measures corporate sentiment by subtracting the number of companies saying business conditions are negative from those saying they are positive.
While the non-manufacturing indicators fared better, worries are growing because of pressures from a weakening Japanese yen.
The Tankan results might spur criticism over the Bank of Japan’s ultra-loose monetary policy, which is a factor behind the weaker yen, SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said.
“The Bank may wait until the Q3 survey is released before stepping away from its ultra-dovish setting,” he said in a report.
In a bit of positive news, a survey by a Chinese business magazine Caixin found that China’s factory activity last month expanded at its strongest rate in 13 months following an easing of COVID-19 restrictions that shut down Shanghai and other industrial centers.
A monthly purchasing managers’ index issued by Caixin rose to 51.7 from 48.1 in May on a 100-point scale on which numbers above 50 show activity increasing. New orders rose, while employment declined for a third month.
In Taipei, the TAIEX closed down 482.65 points, or 3.26 percent, at 14,343.08, declining 6.27 percent from a week earlier. Turnover totaled NT$300.098 billion (US$10.09 billion).
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.73 percent to close at 25,935.62, down 2.10 percent weekly, while the broader TOPIX dropped 1.38 percent to 1,845.04, down 1.16 percent on the week.
South Korea’s KOSPI lost 1.17 percent to 2,305.42, dropping 2.59 percent from a week earlier, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.43 percent to 6,539.90, posting a weekly decline of 0.59 percent.
The Shanghai Composite fell 0.32 percent to 3,387.64, but posted a weekly increase of 1.13 percent.
India’s SENSEX dropped 0.21 percent to 52,907.93, up 0.34 percent from a week earlier.
Additional reporting by staff writer, with CNA
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, has decided to slow down its 3-nanometer chip production as Intel Corp, one of its major customers, plans to push back the launch of its new Meteor Lake tGPU chipsets to the end of next year, market researcher TrendForce Corp (集邦科技) said yesterday. That means Intel has canceled almost all of the 3-nanometer capacity booked for next year, with only a small amount of wafer input remaining for engineering verification, the Taipei-based researcher said in a report. Based on Intel’s original schedule, TSMC was to start producing the new chipsets in
DATA SHOW DOWNTURN: Manufacturing in Taiwan contracted as production and demand slumped, while growth in chip exports last month eased in South Korea World chip sales growth has decelerated for six straight months in another sign that the global economy is straining under the weight of rising interest rates and mounting geopolitical risks. Semiconductor sales rose 13.3 percent in June from a year earlier, down from 18 percent in May, data from the global peak industry body showed. The slowdown is the longest since the US-China trade dispute in 2018. The three-month moving average in chip sales has correlated with the global economy’s performance in the past few decades. The latest weakness comes as concern about a worldwide recession has prompted chipmakers such as Samsung
Italy is close to clinching a deal initially worth US$5 billion with Intel Corp to build an advanced semiconductor packaging and assembly plant in the country, two sources briefed on discussions said yesterday. Intel’s investment in Italy is part of a wider plan announced by the US chipmaker earlier this year to invest US$88 billion in building capacity across Europe, which is striving to cut its reliance on Asian chip imports and ease a supply crunch that has curbed output in the region’s strategic auto sector. Asking not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, the sources said the
Malaysia is scrambling to protect its assets as the descendants of the last sultan of the remote Philippine region of Sulu look to enforce a US$15 billion arbitration award in a dispute over a colonial-era land deal. In 1878, two European colonists signed a deal with the sultan for the use of his territory in present-day Malaysia — an agreement that independent Malaysia honored until 2013, paying the monarch’s descendants about US$1,000 per year. Now, 144 years later after the original deal, Malaysia is on the hook for the second-largest arbitration award on record for stopping the payments after a bloody incursion


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As promised, WB Games and developer WB Montreal released the full trailer for Batman Arkham Origins this morning. While the video embedded above does not show any gameplay, the ensuing CGI fight between our beloved Dark Knight and Deathstroke is quite awesome to behold.
In other Batman Arkham Origins news, Kevin Conroy will be returning to voice the Batman in some unspecified fashion. This flies in the face of an earlier report stating WB Games was moving beyond both Conroy and Mark Hamill, who voiced the Joker in past Arkham games, with Arkham Origins. Multiple outlets have confirmed that Batman will be voiced by Roger Craig Smith (Assassin’s Creed’s Ezio, Resident Evil's Chris Redfield, and Sonic) for this prequel, while Troy Baker (BioShock Infinite’s Booker DeWitt) will voice the Joker. Maybe Conroy’s role this time out is that of a storyteller recounting these past events.
Lastly, the press release that came with the new trailer announces that Deathstroke will be a playable character to those who pre-order. However, he won’t be integrated into the main campaign; instead, Deathstroke will be playable in the game’s Challenge Mode. But if that’s something that interests you, run out and pre-order Arkham Origins at your favorite retailer.
Batman Arkham Origins launches on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on October 25, worldwide.
Enjoy the trailer above and some new screenshots, key art and box art below.


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Sometimes, those paperwork-intensive corporate rules about signing out and returning merchandise are actually good. So discovered Tiffany, as federal authorities recently moved in to arrest a former VP of product development on a charge that she stole more than $1.3 million worth of the chain's jewelry.
The essence of the charges is that between November 2012 and February 2013 Ingrid Lederhaas-Okun borrowed some 165 pieces of jewelry—including numerous diamond bracelets, platinum or gold diamond drop and hoop earrings, platinum diamond rings, and platinum and diamond pendants—and then sold it. The pieces were valued at less than $10,000 each so as to minimize suspicions. Tiffany policy was to count every piece of inventory with a value greater than $25,000. The federal indictment said that borrowing the jewelry, on its own, was not suspicious. "Her duties and responsibilities included ensuring that product designs could be manufactured and, to that end, she had authority to check out jewelry belonging to (Tiffany) for work-related reasons, such as to provide the jewelry to potential manufacturers to determine the cost of production," the federal complaint said.
Her role also gave her the authority to write off jewelry in cases such as it was damaged in transit. But Tiffany rules still required the damaged items to be returned. Where the case got messy was when she started offering reasons to Tiffany authorities why the pieces might be missing. She said some of the pieces had just arrived when she was laid off, but records contradicted that the merchandise had recently arrived. She also wrote to Tiffany managers that she had checked out the jewelry to prepare a presentation for her supervisor and that the draft of the slides was on her work computer. But a check of the computer showed no such slideshow, and her supervisor claimed no knowledge of such a presentation being prepared.
In a later email, the former VP said the checked-out jewelry was in a white envelope in the vicinity of her desk. No such envelope was found, the federal filing said. Really? Her argument was that she dropped $1.3 million in jewels—some 165 pieces—in a white envelope and just left it in unlocked in her office and left? What, as a tip for the cleaning crew?
This case raises quite a few retail procedural questions. Why were no questions raised sooner when the $1.3 million in jewelry weren't returned? Isn't there a fairly short time frame for such jewelry to be borrowed? Why did it wait for three months? Had she not been laid off—for unrelated reasons—in Febrary, how much longer would it gone on?
Another troubling question is, assuming the charges are correct, what was the VP's plan? It sounds like she had no clean excuse for why all of the jewelry had somehow disappeared. Given that she apparently sold it to a legitimate New York jewelry reseller, how could she not have expected those sales to eventually come to light? Tiffany's could simply have told the police that the jewelry was missing and all resellers would have been contacted with the exact item descriptions.
Something about this doesn't make sense. If an insider such a Tiffany's VP was going to engage in this big of a jewelry heist, wouldn't she likely have a better-thought plan for getting away with it? If not, what's the point?
Tiffany To Open First Store In Moscow
Tiffany Profit Tops Analyst Estimates, Led By Asian Demand
Larger basket size drives online growth for Tiffany & Co.


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ELKHART, Ind. — A merger of two giants in the local RV industry won’t bring many changes for employees, but significantly alters the make-up of the industry behind the scenes.
Thor Industries, the world’s largest RV maker, announced Friday it would acquire the family-owned Jayco Inc., a Middlebury-based manufacturer, for $576 million. But little will change for employees when they return to work Tuesday after the holiday weekend, including the management team at Jayco.
“We’ll continue to stay active as we have over the last 48 years,” Derald Bontrager, Jayco president and chief executive officer, said. “It’s going to be seamless for our customers, our dealers and our employees.”
To read the full story by The Elkhart Truth, click here.


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Domino’s Pizza 4Q results beat analysts’ estimates
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Domino’s Pizza Inc. said Tuesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income increased 19 percent, led by continued strength abroad.
Its latest results topped Wall Street estimates, and its shares edged higher in premarket trading.
For the period ended Dec. 29, the pizza chain earned $44.7 million, or 78 cents per share. That’s up from $37.6 million, or 64 cents per share, a year ago. Analysts predicted earnings of 76 cents per share, according to a FactSet survey.
Revenue climbed 5 percent to $566.5 million from $539.7 million. Wall Street expected $564.1 million in revenue.
Sales at locations in the U.S. open at least a year rose 3.7 percent. Internationally, the figure increased 7 percent.
This metric is a key indicator of a restaurant operator’s health. It excludes results from locations recently opened or closed.
Full-year net income increased to $143 million, or $2.48 per share, from $112.4 million, or $1.91 per share, in the previous year. Annual revenue rose 7 percent to $1.8 billion from $1.68 billion.
Sales at restaurants in the U.S. open at least a year climbed 5.4 percent. The metric rose 6.2 percent overseas.
Domino’s said that it opened a record 573 new stores internationally in 2013. It opened 58 new stores in the U.S.
Its shares rose $1.32, or 1.8 percent, to $76.01 in premarket trading about 90 minutes ahead of the market opening.


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Black Friday started earlier than ever this year, with some retailers opening up for bargain hunters on Thursday while the turkey was still in the oven.
Posted at 10:04 PM, Nov 22, 2012
and last updated 2012-11-22 22:05:13-05
Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Heinz can't count on ketchup
What went wrong at Kraft Heinz Co.?
Years before last month's jaw-dropping $15.4 billion writedown, the company had been on a mission to make over some of its quintessential products, removing maligned ingredients from its mac and cheese and hot dogs to better compete with newer, more natural upstarts. The reformulations weren't enough. A month after the startling acknowledgment, the shares still haven't recovered, a sign of how difficult the road is ahead for Kraft Heinz and its Big Food rivals.
While some of the packaged-food giant's brands are still growing the company in an email pointed to Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Lunchables-many iconic brands are losing market share. The days of loyalty to the big-name labels are waning.
Here's a look at some of the key reasons Kraft Heinz-and Big Food more widely-is under pressure like never before:
• Too processed: Consumers want healthier, more values-driven products and flavors that reflect the wider world. At Kraft Heinz, healthier has largely meant giving a facelift to old favorites.
In March 2016, it replaced artificial dyes in its macaroni and cheese with ingredients like paprika and turmeric. It was an implicit recognition of the clean labels movement-and the growing competition from Annie's, a once niche natural and organic mac and cheese maker acquired by General Mills for about $820 million two years earlier.
Then, Oscar Mayer in 2017 removed all added nitrates and nitrites from its entire line of hot dogs, as well as artificial preservatives. That move came two years after the World Health Organization said there was "sufficient evidence" that eating processed meat causes colorectal cancer, and after Hormel closed a $775 million acquisition of natural hot dog maker Applegate Farms.
"Stepwise reformulation is positive for those people who keep on eating products as they always have," says Margo Wootan, vice president for nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer health advocacy group. But for both products, tweaking around the edges isn't enough. "There's just a growing number of consumers that no matter what you do, they're never going to buy it."
• Competition: Ketchup isn't going away, and Heinz continues to be the dominant, and growing, brand in the category. But the condiments aisle is no longer limited to ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise, and even those standard bearers are now offered in no-added-sugar, no-added-salt and organic varieties-from Heinz itself and an onslaught of rivals. There's also chili sauce, ranch dressing, aquafaba (made from chickpea liquid), Sriracha, avocado spread-it's a growing list with no end in sight.
"The world of completely homogeneous, ubiquitous products is more and more coming to an end as the world continues to fragment," says Scott Norton, cofounder of Sir Kensington's, a condiment company that launched its natural ketchup in 2010 and was acquired by Unilever in 2017. "We are not one America, we are many Americas, and what we eat and what we buy needs to represent our diversity."
In coffee, too, consumers' options are expanding. Millennials, looking not for the best price but for the best story, are exploring a world beyond Peet's and Starbucks, trading up to brands like Equator, Blue Bottle and Intelligentsia. At the same time, value shoppers can buy Cafe Bustelo, McCafe or Dunkin'. Mergers and acquisitions, including Nestle's majority stake in Blue Bottle, and Peet's purchase of Stumptown and majority stake in Intelligentsia, as well as e-commerce, have meant geography is no longer a limiting factor to finding the right brew.
While Maxwell House launched Max Boost, a higher caffeine line focused on younger consumers, that demographic is turning to more artisanal roasters. "There's a generational stratification between older generations who have been drinking the Maxwell Houses for a lifetime and the millennial generation that grew up in the Third Wave of coffee and would never drink Maxwell House," says Ted Stachura, director of coffee at Equator.
"Retailers have been able to gain trust without traditional advertising," says Carrie Mesing, vice president of merchandising at FreshDirect. The company has private label 100 percent grass-fed organic hot dogs and blended, single-origin and organic coffees, too, with more than a hundred more items in the pipeline and double-digit year-over-year growth in most categories. "We're directly connected with our consumer."
• Made for kids: For Big Food, parents are proving to be a force to be reckoned with, whether its activists testing orange juice for the herbicide glyphosate or Michelle Obama pushing Darden Restaurants, the owner of Olive Garden, to change its kids menu. Even as nutritionists debate how much meat and cheese should be in any person's diet, one particular ingredient continues to be on the receiving end of near-universal scorn: sugar.
Kraft Heinz's Jell-O and Kool-Aid are both products with lots of sugar, no nutrition and made for kids, marks for a parent paring down a shopping list. Sales of Jell-O have dropped 26 percent from 2013 to 2018, according to Euromonitor data, outpacing the dessert mix category as a whole, which lost 22 percent.
But some of the company's other kid-targeted products are standing their ground. Kraft Heinz said in an email that its single-serve kids beverage business grew 1 percent in 2018, following multiple years of decline, lifted by items including all-natural Capri Sun and Kool-Aid zero sugar. Lunchables, which now include options like Organic Extra Cheesy Pizza, is still resonating with consumers. The brand climbed 27 percent in the six years through 2018.
• Going forward: Despite its reputation as a pure cost-cutter, Kraft Heinz has put some resources into new brands, launching Oprah's O, That's Good-a frozen soup, sides and cauliflower-crusted pizza line-and acquiring Primal Kitchen, which makes Paleo-friendly condiments. Both seem more aligned with consumer expectations, says Tim Barder, principal at consulting firm Arthur D. Little.
If consumers perceive something as healthy or natural, even though it may not be, they tend to flock to those products," he said.
Still, Kraft Heinz needs more than Oprah's blessing. "One particular launch isn't going to move the needle," says Erin Lash, an analyst at Morningstar. Investment into research and development and marketing is needed across the board, she says.


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For all of GamesBeat's E3 2015 coverage, click here.
LOS ANGELES — Nintendo is playing nice with Skylanders — and making a savvy business move in the process.
Donkey Kong and Bowser will be figures in the upcoming Skylanders Superchargers. By switching the base, they can work as either Amiibo or Skylanders. Amiibo are compatible with Wii U and 3DS games like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart 8. It’s the first such partnership in the four-year-old “toys to life” market, which has generated $4 billion in sales to date. A recent survey found that parents spent $131 on toys-to-life over the last six months alone.
The figures will come packaged with a Supercharges Starter Pack for Wii U, Wii, and 3DS. The new Skylanders comes out on Sept. 20.
These toy-based games have been strictly separated in the past, so this partnership is a big surprise.


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kkleiner writes: "Foxconn, the Chinese electronics manufacturer that builds numerous mobile devices and gaming consoles, previously said the company would be aiming to replace 1 million Foxconn workers with robots within 3 years. It appears as if Foxconn has started the ball in motion. Since the announcement, a first batch of 10,000 robots — aptly named Foxbots — appear to have made their way into at least one factory, and by the end of 2012, another 20,000 more will be installed"
"It says he made us all to be just like him. So if we're dumb, then god is
dumb, and maybe even a little ugly on the side."
-- Frank Zappa


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The Pharmacy and Poisons Board announced that it was set to develop a unique code that would be used to validate medicine.
Gov't reveals new trick you should use to detect fake medicine
Introduction of way to validate medicine
Pharmacy and Poisons Board chief executive Fred Siyoi who spoke during workshop on combating counterfeit drugs, explained that a short message code was being tried and will be rolled out in within the year
Siyoi further explained that the code that was being developed with the help of software developers, would also help to track the supply chain of all medicines in the country.
“At the patient’s level, they will be able to tell if it is genuine paracetamol, its side effects, the pharmaceutical it has been dispensed from and whether it is registered using the unique identifier number and a code.
“Currently, it is being developed and we have started its trailing. Once the trailing is done, we will launch it within the year,” remarked Siyoi.
Counterfeit drug problem
This comes after a directive that was issued by Health CS Sicily Kariuki in 2018, for the body to find a way to tackle the counterfeit drug problem that had gripped the nation.
“There is no short cut in ensuring proper medicines reach the public,” stated Kariuki.
The CS had noted the need for integration from the level of manufacturing to distribution and retail to ensure availability of drugs that are affordable to Kenyans.
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Bluesky backs small businesses
Samoa is indeed a nation of Small Business.
The small businesses are the livelihood of locals and with minimal barriers to starting; many operators have a wealth of opportunity to trade and operate in a flexible environment.
However Small Business in Samoa also comes with its long lists of challenges and competition.
In a small, dynamic market it’s easy to get lost amongst competition and the motivation to stay in business can be dampened.
And that’s where organisations like Small Business Enterprise Centre (S.B.E.C.) play a crucial role in assisting the sustainability of small business.
S.B.E.C assists small business start-ups and their expansion by offering business training; advisory and loan guarantee services that overcome some of the initial barriers to starting and doing business. As an operator for 22 years, it is responsible for over 2000 new businesses and generating employment to over 2500 individuals both in Upolu and Savaii.
“Bluesky understands the need of this audience and wishes to be part of a growing community that supports Samoa's bigger economy,” a statement from Bluesky said.
“As the largest Telecommunications provider in Samoa, Bluesky can support this group with technology and applications to grow their businesses.
“Therefore joining hands with S.B.E.C was a win-win for both organisations.
This relationship commenced with the involvement of Bluesky participating in the S.B.E.C. Business Awards and will continue the whole year around to support its membership base.”
Bluesky has contributed $5,000 in cash as a Gold Sponsor of S..B.EC’s Trade Fair in front of the government building and S.B.E.C’s first 2017 Small Business awards ceremony which will be held tonight at Taumeasina.
Bluesky County Manager, Alex Abraham, said Bluesky is glad to be able to help.
“We’re pleased to see S.B.E.C initiate the 2017 Business Awards for Industries and small businesses that don’t always get the reward and recognition they deserve,” he said.
“We want to be a part of what S.B.E.C is doing and we acknowledge the crucial role our small businesses play in the economy of Samoa.
This is an opportunity for us to also see what we can do better for our small businesses.”
Bluesky is similarly proud to be the official Telecommunications partner for S.B.E.C as part of this sponsorship.
S.B.EC.’s long term strategy is to provide incentives to ensure small business operators are motivated enough to remain in operation and aspire to succeed.
One of these incentives is the first time launch of S.B.E.C’s 2017 Small Business Awards. This awards ceremony tonight will officially recognise the efforts and contribution of small business operators nationwide.
There are nine Industries involved and 42 finalists across Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism, Manufacturing, Retail & Trade, Transport, Food & Beverage, Technical Services and Professional Services.
Best of luck to all finalists and may this be the beginning of a pivotal program which will bring big benefits to Small Business.


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Good News: McDonald's offering students free breakfast
McDonald's restaurants in Northern Nevada will offer free breakfast to students on Tuesday.
The offer is being extended to kindergarten through eighth grade students from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. All students must be accompanied by an adult when visiting a participating restaurant.
Breakfast items that will be offered to students include an Egg McMuffin, apple slices and milk.
For the restaurant's full menu and map of McDonald's locations in Northern Nevada, visit http://www.mcdonalds.com.


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The overwhelming majority of retailers surveyed by mobile experience management platform Artisan say they expect mobile commerce to grow at a faster pace in their organization than online commerce once did.
Of 200 retail executives working in the mobile marketing and mobile commerce areas of their company, 84% said they anticipate the growth curve of mobile commerce to outpace the historic growth of e-commerce. More than half -- 56% -- say they were are investing more this year in mobile development and mobile marketing than they did in 2012. And a strong majority -- 71% -- say their native mobile app development will be the strongest touchpoint for engaging consumers in the next one to three years.
There is an ongoing debate, of course, among mobile marketers and retailers over where to focus efforts -- the mobile Web or native apps. Mobile Web sites traditionally have been especially strong in acquiring new customers, because they are discoverable via search engines, and end-users themselves tend to look for brands by typing in the brand as a dot-com address in a mobile browser. Native apps, on the other hand, have proven to be much stickier than mobile Web sites, engage the loyal user more deeply, and offer a more seamless path to conversion and the sale.
Among the 200 retailers surveyed here, 72% agreed that investing in their mobile app experience would be among the top three priorities this year. Artisan, of course, is a company that develops a platform for mobile apps, and so the research is focused on this aspect of mobile marketing.
In their plans for managing and developing native apps, 67% of retailers said they would like to further personalize the experience, while 60% said they would like more capabilities for collecting user analytics.


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Twitter, which had its stock price dive nearly 20% in the first quarter of 2019, announced that it was shutting down the service in October 2019.
It shuttered more than 100 million accounts, the company said, and shut down all of its services to keep users from posting abusive or offensive content.
That means that Twitter will no longer be able to handle the traffic and user growth it needs to keep pace with the rise of other social networks, such as Instagram and Snapchat.
Twitter also shut down its API in October 2020, meaning that users will no long be able see the data it was collecting on them.
The social network’s business is still in a very nascent stage, with its revenue growing but it’s not profitable yet.
While Twitter was already in a tough spot in terms of growth, it also faced some serious challenges when it launched.
The company has faced a lot of criticism for what it’s doing with users’ data and for what critics have deemed its decision to sell off some of its data to the advertising industry.
Facebook has been criticized for allowing advertisers to target users with ads and for offering a number of services to make it easier for them to target people.
But in many ways, Twitter has had a lot more to work with, as Facebook is far less popular and less profitable than Twitter is.
But Twitter will continue to serve as a useful tool for social media marketers, who will continue using it to connect with customers and build their brands.


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For financier, China was clear winner
Founder of ChinaEquity group put his faith in nation’s entrepreneurs, and never looked back
1993 to 1998 and worked for China Development Bank as a senior banker for two years. After seven years working in China he was confident about his knowledge of the market.
However, going it alone to start ChinaEquity and build a new brand rather than relying on foreign investment companies or state-owned capital meant success would be hardearned.
“At the time, venture capital was not well understood in China,” he says, adding that the first few rounds of fundraising were done overseas.
“But the good thing is that after overcoming difficulties early on, we were able to remain independent and to build our own venture capital and private equity brand.
ChinaEquity first focused on helping Chinese returnees to start businesses, providing investment and related valueadded services, he says:
“There was this missionary zeal we had of helping overseas returnees link up with capital and realize their entrepreneurial dreams.”
The company has now expanded its range to cover entrepreneurs in China, no matter what their provenance. Half of ChinaEquity’s capital is invested in domestic entrepreneurs and businesses.
The country’s rapid economic growth has given the company great opportunities, and the development of the internet sector during the company’s lifetime has been notable, he says.
“We have witnessed, taken part in and promoted the development of the internet industry and other emerging industries. In the late 1990s there were just a few hundred thousand internet users in China, and now there are 700 million. That provides great
growth opportunities for our investment projects and companies.”
Wang says his strategy is always to invest in emerging industries and entrepreneurs but to be flexible enough to adapt to changes in the market.
“For example, 15 years ago all of our venture capital would have been invested in the technology, media, telecommunications and the internet sector,” he says. “Ten years ago 70 percent was in the internet sector, and five years ago that was down to 50 percent. Now it’s 30 percent, the rest going into the healthcare industry and culture industry, which includes sports and education.”
Wang says that despite China’s economic slowdown, his trust in investing in the market is undiminished, and he continues to see great potential.
His company now only invests in nine areas, he says: high-technology, advanced manufacturing, high-quality service and consumption, the cultural industry, the healthcare industry, the environmental industry, new energy, new materials and new business models.
China’s restructuring and transformation in traditional industries will present more possibilities for investors, he says:
“In the emerging industries in which we invested, the companies’ growth has been double or triple that of China’s GDP. The economic slowdown is not a problem, but it is a test of our insights and our ability to spot the opportunities in the traditional sectors.”
Wang says that in the past 17 years ChinaEquity has invested in more than 100 companies, the most successful being Baidu Inc. Now it’s getting the best returns in sectors such as healthcare.
I thought I should make myself useful and help them with their startups, help them with fundraising and provide the investment services.”
Wang Chaoyong, founder of ChinaEquity Group, says despite China’s economic slowdown, his trust in investing in the market is undiminished.


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The Canadian stock market saw tech stocks as some of the best performers in the industry. The stock market supported the tech industry for what seems like longer period than it should have. The current situation of the tech industry shows that investors are starting to grow tired of the best tech stocks.
Plenty of popular stocks from the tech industry climbed to record highs regardless of the threat of recession. The share prices, however, have slumped drastically to surprising lows.
While it might make you reconsider your position about tech stocks, I think investors should view it as an excellent opportunity.
The market downturn will correct itself eventually. On the other side of the recession in share prices, I have a strong feeling that some of the popular tech stocks will see a substantial boost in their share prices.
Where some might consider steering clear of tech stocks, there are two stocks that present an ideal buying opportunity for you. Let’s take a look at Shopify Inc (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP), and Lightspeed POS (TSX:LSPD) so we can determine whether or not they are good buys right now.
Shopify back in business
The year 2019 was a fantastic year for Shopify until this month. The company’s stocks witnessed excellent growth. The stock’s momentum was so great that it rose more than 190% from January to the end of August.
Investors began to worry that Shopify was going to fall when the stock climbed up to $541.49 by August 27, 2019. They weren’t wrong.
The past Tuesday, Shopify share prices fell to $390 per unit, only to see the price climb back up to $415.72 at the time of writing. All of this might make you wonder what Shopify is doing wrong.
The issue is with the industry, not Shopify itself. Shopify has managed to beat market analyst expectations again. The tech giant raised its guidance for the year despite a downturn in the market. Currently, investors can expect the decline to hold for a little while, but I don’t think investors should worry.
The fact is that Shopify’s recurring revenue is rising and the fulfillment centers can increase revenue even further. An increase in the number of Shopify Plus clients means that the company could be potentially poised for additional revenue increases rather than slumps in the future.
At the speed of light
Lightspeed POS made a robust entry into the stock markets with an impressive initial public offering in March 2019. Seemingly well positioned to overtake Shopify as Canada’s blue-eyed tech baby, the company took a turn for the worse from mid-August.
Lightspeed climbed up by almost 160% until mid-August, only to drop down to $33.06 at the time of writing.
Similar to Shopify’s current situation, the drop in Lightspeed’s share prices potentially offers an excellent buying opportunity. Lightspeed is part of the point-of-sale industry.
The company already has a majority of the market share, and this industry is expected to become huge in the coming years.
Lightspeed operates in over 100 countries, serving small- and medium-sized business. The company is essentially mimicking the early stages of Shopify that has recently moved into the enterprise-level clientele. We have already seen how Shopify grew, and Lightspeed is expected to do even better.
Lightspeed provides analysts and recommendations to clients using the POS software. Imagine enterprise-level companies coming onboard Lightspeed. The type of growth Lightspeed can see as the POS industry expands is unimaginable.
Both Shopify and Lightspeed share prices have seen a decline this month, but they can potentially become even more significant in the next few months. The share prices for both stocks are at a discount, which could prove to play out very well for investors as the tech industry recovers from the recent slump.


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Vrity, in partnership with Toluna, conducted survey-based research to understand how 2020 changed consumers. The results showed that 2020 was a tipping point for the Values Economy. Now more than ever, consumers want to support brands that share their values and they are willing to vote with their wallet.
This data is important for modern branding strategy. Values are the new differentiator, not price or features. Consumers are willing to pay more, some significantly more, to support the brands that are making the world a better place.
This infographic contains the highlights from the research and key takeaways for brands looking to thrive in the Values Economy.


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With the introduction of its much-anticipated “Big Picture Mode,” Steam introduces a style that Steam Deck users are already accustomed to.
The updated “Big Picture Mode” has been under testing for a long now at Valve. And now, Steam PC users can use the brand-new look that was inspired by the Steam Deck.
According to a claim by Windows C2entral, Valve, the company that makes Steam, has been working since 2022 to do away with the old Big Picture mode design.
It coincides with the rise in popularity of Steam Deck, a portable gaming console with an easier-to-use user interface. Because of how well-liked its software design has been by its customers, PC gamers were also demanding the same appearance.
It is important to note that Steam is transformed for users who have a large monitor or who utilize a TV as their display and gaming controller when they select the “Big Picture” option.
As a result, the gaming company put it to the test for around four months. The “Big Picture” feature has now formally moved past the beta stage.
Designs Inspired by Steam Decks
GameSpot mentions in their news article that Steam PC users have begun receiving the updated “Big Picture.” In essence, the update restores the UI that Steam Deck users have been enjoying for a while.
The latest version gives a simplified home screen, much like the handheld gaming device’s design. It now has a “Recent Games” feature that makes it simple for users to find the video games they’ve recently played.
The “What’s Redesigned” tab on the new home page now highlights current and forthcoming in-game events. Not to mention that it displays the most recent information regarding the various gaming offerings.
Users may easily access new games and information about their friends by using the other two tabs, Friends and Recommended.
According to the reports, the updated appearance also includes brand-new, interesting features. It now provides users with a global search function and a new gaming controller configurator.
The update also adds additional menu options, such as a system menu and a quick-access menu. The updated “Big Picture” user interface also makes it simpler for Steam users to view their achievements and game tutorials.


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What is the future direction of banking?
Still dealing with the damage to consumer confidence after the crisis of 2008 and the new opportunities being seized by FinTech businesses the big banks are caught in a perfect storm.
As Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England has said: “FinTech…will change the nature of money, shake the foundations of central banking and deliver nothing less than a democratic revolution for all who use financial services.”
Taking advantage of new technology and crowdfunding platforms, in 2016 Monzo raised an impressive £1 million in just 96 seconds via equity crowdfunding site Crowdcube, crashing their servers and setting the record for the fastest ever crowdfunding raise – writes Marc Hurr and Daniel Eduardo Suero, co-founders of iBAN Wallet.
Monzo went on to raise another £21 million in funding and secure itself as a challenger bank, putting the wind up long-established high street banks and proving the concept of a community-owned digital bank.
Similarly, alternative banking providers, such as iBAN, are using crowdfunding to fund the launch of new banking apps and features, such as peer-to-peer lending and free international transfers.
One thing these new banking providers promise is to put the customer at the centre of their business model, rather than treating customers like a commodity to be hoarded and exploited. In fact, a recent global PwC survey found that 61% of bankers thought a customer-centric business model is very important yet only 17% were very prepared for it.
It is this disparity that challenger banks are capitalising on by offering improved services based on technological innovation, something traditional banks are struggling to adopt due to their large size, complex infrastructure and existing business models.
The same PwC survey found that innovation within the banking industry was considered to be somewhat or very important by 87% of bankers, yet just 11% said that their organisation was very prepared for it.
With all this change, the direction banking is going means banking could be very different in ten years’ time. So, what can we look forward to?
Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics
Machine learning has been around for some years now, but it still hasn’t really come of age. Essentially, they are still in school – learning now to provide future benefits.
One of the main benefits to customers will be proactive assistance, not unhelpful hindsight. For example, challenger banks already offer balance warnings and advice, not a notification that you’re already over your overdraft limit.
In future, we will see these systems become even smarter, using behavioural pattern analysis and predictive analytics to find ways to help us save money and prepare for potential financial situations we might find ourselves in. In turn, this should help customers save money, providing more capital for these new banks to operate with.
We are already getting used to new forms of payment, such as contactless cards and mobile payments. So, in a sense, the future is already here.
Yet these systems still have lots of room for improvement. While convenient, contactless cards still have spending limits to avoid excessive spending through theft and fraud. They can still be lost, stolen or damaged. And you will still need your PIN at certain retailers and to withdraw cash.
The future of payment systems, however, may lie in biometrics. There are many biological features that make us unique as individuals. Even identical twins have different fingerprints, iris and blood vessel patterns, for example. These can be scanned and used to help secure our money without the need for PINs or cards, simplifying everything from purchases to online banking.
Banks have access to far more data than any other business. They know where we shop, who we work for, where we’re going on holiday, and almost everything in between. They also have access to vast amounts of data from multiple other sources, such as businesses, credit agencies, investment houses and central banks.
These data sources will increasingly be aggregated to provide a clearer picture of the world – from the micro to the macro level – allowing faster, more accurate decisions and advice. In a sense, banks can act as digital value aggregators, providing real-time value for businesses and customers.
Collaborators not competitors
In the spirit of generating value, banks can form partnerships with a network of individuals, businesses and service providers, and can leverage their power to lower costs on behalf of customers.
This stands in stark contrast to today’s approach of building more complex solutions for a higher price in order to compete against other financial institutions. It is this approach that created the complex financial instruments that, ultimately, played a huge part in the global financial collapse.
Agile and Light
Technologies like blockchain are enabling a quiet revolution – invisible and seamless – to enable more direct and transparent transactions between users. What started as peer-to-peer trading has morphed into complex networks backed by a digital ledger.
Not only does blockchain cut out the middlemen, offering traditional financial services at a fraction of the cost, it can make financial transactions more transparent and secure. Technologies built on top of blockchain, such as Etherium, are enabling the use of digital smart-contracts which make it almost impossible for financial fraud, embezzlement and dodgy trading practices to continue.
Ultimately, this technology can put users in charge of finance, rather than being at the control and whim of global financial institutions.
We believe machine learning, data aggregation, blockchain and greater collaboration will converge to offer users a more personalised and tailored service. Combine that with ever-improving digital assistants and you end up with a network of services that can use data to get smarter and be more helpful to customers, not ‘selling’ products in an attempt to extract ever-increasing profit from them.
Banks of the future can use their privileged position to offer a personal experience and form closer relationships with their customers. We think AI assistants will be the new, personal face of these banking services.
AR and VR
The way things are trending augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will become dominant in our everyday lives. We might interact with people and businesses via VR, gain real-time information in AR, and seamlessly switch between the two.
Imagine being able to gain a real visual understanding of your finances, where they are allocated, and what you may need to save for in the future. Almost like a time-traveller you’ll able to make highly-accurate predictions about your financial circumstances, providing unimagined confidence in your future financials.


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Improving South-South Collaboration for Children through Medicine and Health Technology Products
UNICEF and CCCMHPIE Hold Industry Consultation for Suppliers of Medicine and Health Technology Products in Shanghai
SHANGHAI, 18 June 2019 – UNICEF held industry consultations with potential medicine and other health technology suppliers at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre on 18 June 2019. The “Essential Supplies for Children” event was co-hosted by UNICEF and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines and Health Products (CCCMHPIE). The event brought together several organizations in the medicine and health technology industry across China and was a follow up to UNICEF engagement in the 2018 China International Import Expo.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Wang Maochun, Vice President of the CCCMHPIE, emphasized the Chamber’s unique position to meet the increasing market demand by facilitating the cooperation with international organizations and increasing the participation of high-quality Chinese product manufacturers in international markets. Mr. Maochun added that the “Chamber will continue to strengthen the medical and health products industry in China as part of its contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in China and globally.”
Dr Alison Jenkins, Senior Adviser for South-South Cooperation and Partnerships at UNICEF China, noted the importance of the consultation in fostering greater understanding of UNICEF’s strategies and business processes to create more opportunities for suppliers. “UNICEF procures over 5,000 essential commodities to address the needs of children; the total global procurement value reached US$3.48 billion in 2018 alone,” said Dr Jenkins. “We influence markets and products for children through strategic procurement to orient markets towards current and future needs of children and businesses engagement to drive product development and innovation,” she said.
The consultation targeted suppliers identified during the strategic and essential commodities for children market survey commissioned by UNICEF China. Close to 100 business representatives from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, including several prominent members of the CCCMHPIE, joined the event.
Senior experts from UNICEF Supply Division, Dr Abdallah Makhlof and Dr Mary Atieno Ojoo, provided an overview of UNICEF business opportunities, processes and achievements, with a focus on cold chain optimization. It was highlighted that, since the launch of the Cold Chain Equipment Optimization Platform, UNICEF, its partners and manufacturers have achieved greater efficiency in cold chain systems. These new innovative mechanisms for purchasing, delivering, installing and training is now used in 55 countries.
The access to medicine and local production were also echoed by Dr Zhou Kai of UNAIDS. She noted that an interagency statement on the promotion of medicines and other health technology local production was launched in May 2019 reiterating the commitment of GFATM, UNAIDS, UNCTAD, UNICEF, UNIDO and WHO to this initiative.
Participants also benefitted from the insights of Mr. Tang Yi, WHO China Office, who presented WHO prequalification processes and held one-on-one meetings with visiting experts.
UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
|Visit UNICEF Global website: www.unicef.org
Visit UNICEF China website: www.unicef.cn
Follow us on Sina Weibo: http://weibo.com/unicefchina
Tencent Weibo: http://t.qq.com/unicef


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Alibaba is on an acquisition spree. Yesterday, the company invested in Israeli QR code start-up Visualead. The Chinese e-commerce giant is also in talks to invest $575 million in India’s One97 Communications, which operates a mobile payment platform and online marketplace called Paytm. Now Reuters reports that Alibaba is planning to buy a stake in the state-run New China Life Insurance.
Chinese financial sector ripe for technological disruption
Sources familiar with the talks told Shanghai Securities News that the Chinese government’s investment arm Central Huijin Investment is the largest stakeholder in the insurer with 31.34% stake. Central Huijin is planning to sell part of its stake to Alibaba. The newspaper did not provide details on the size of the deal. New China Life Insurance currently has a market value of $24 billion.
Vanguard’s move into PE may change the landscape forever
Private equity has been growing in popularity in recent years as more and more big-name funds and institutional investors dive in. Now even indexing giant Vanguard is out to take a piece of the PE pie. During a panel at the Morningstar Investment Conference this year, Fran Kinniry of Vanguard, John Rekenthaler of Morningstar and Read More
On January 19, New China Life Insurance sought a trading suspension. The company said that it was in the midst of negotiations that might change its shareholding structure. Alibaba already has a presence in Chinese insurance market. Last month, Alibaba founder Jack Ma and Tencent Holdings were involved in a $4.7 billion investment in Ping An Insurance, the second largest insurer in China.
Alibaba’s strategic investments in insurance companies have sparked speculations that the company was planning to disrupt China’s financial sector. The deal with Ping An suggests that Alibaba and Tencent have been eyeing financial sector as a business ripe for technological disruption. What’s more, these two Internet giants, along with Baidu, are spending billions of dollars to back similar ventures in an attempt to create a one-stop shop for consumers.
Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent trying to woo same set of consumers
Not too long ago, Alibaba was an e-commerce company, Tencent was focused on social networking, while Baidu was a search engine leader. As the smartphone penetration in China continues to rise, consumers use smartphones for everything from booking restaurants to shopping. So, all three companies are investing in similar businesses to attract the same users.
For instance, Baidu invested about $600 million in Uber and agreed to help expand the U.S. taxi-hailing app in China last month. Last week, Alibaba led a $600 million funding round for Kuaidi Dache, the largest taxi hailing service in China. Tencent owns a stake in Didi Dache, another dominant player in the industry.


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Evoko support Google Apps
Timeless design now supports Google
The Evoko Room Manager, our room-booking solution with touch-sensitive screens that display the status of a meeting room at the door, is now introducing anticipated support for Google Apps.
If you know how to use Google Calendar, the rest is easy.
In the same way as with the company Microsoft Exchange Server, the Evoko Room Manager interacts with Google Apps for business accounts. This simply means that the system and booking procedure will be familiar to anyone who has ever booked a meeting in Google Calendar.


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International subscriber outlook
Strong local content targeting international subscribers across various geographies has helped Netflix (NFLX) maintain strong customer growth outside the United States. In 4Q17, the company aims to gain 5.1 million subscribers against 4.5 million added in the previous quarter.
For fiscal 2017, Netflix has estimated 61.5 million subscribers against 44.4 million in 2016, with an annual growth of 25%. It expects to add 17.1 million members in fiscal 2017 compared to 14.3 million in 2016.
From the graph above, we can see the strong international subscriber growth in the last five quarters. During that period, total international membership rose at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 9.5%. If the company is able to achieve its target for 2017, then the average quarterly subscriber addition to the video streaming leader will be 4 million in 2017 against 3.6 million in 2016.
Strong content to drive growth
In 3Q17, Netflix easily outpaced its guidance of adding 3.7 million international subscribers. The growing popularity of original content such as Narcos, The Defenders, and Stranger Things could allow the company to surpass its outlook again. Newly launched TV series in 2017, including Mindhunter and Ozark, could further drive subscriber growth in 2017 and beyond.
The company is also gaining traction in non-English-speaking countries such as Germany by launching the hit TV series Dark. Netflix is also targeting highly populated Asian countries such as India and South Korea by releasing Sacred Games and Kingdom, respectively.
The launch of new original shows could help Netflix achieve strong international subscriber growth. It could also help it stay ahead of Amazon Prime Video (AMZN), which is also aiming at international growth.