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Monday march 25
9:00 – 10:45am
10:45am – 12:45pm
The New Normal? Signal vs. Noise in the Time of Chaos
Collusion, obstruction, human rights, “the wall”: two years into the Trump Administration, Americans are perceptibly more divided than we have been for generations. Is Trump’s unprecedented approach to leadership responding to this cultural shift or driving it? Is this chaos a sign of the times, or does it portend a coming change? How will our country find its balance with a crowded Democratic field and a president with an uncertain future? Kasie Hunt, who covers Congress across all NBC News platforms and hosts MSNBC’s “Kasie DC” on Sunday evenings, has some opinions. Michael I. Roth, CEO & Chairman of IPG, speaks with her to ponder the state of the nation, what lies ahead, and the impact on our business.
Change All Around Us: A Call to Arms!
Trust. Transparency. Fraud. Complexity. Cost. These are the clear and present danger zones for the advertising industry today—and they’re the issues we as agencies must together decide how to address. As we seek to unite in our quest for agile leadership and growth, Nick Brien opens the industry discussion around change, and calls out the imperatives for agencies to take charge of their future.
Nick Brien, CEO, Americas, Dentsu Aegis Network
Charting Our Future: Agency CEOs Talk
In this pivotal time for the industry, agency leaders must actively align for change—or collectively suffer the consequences of confusion and inaction. Given the high stakes, the CEOs of several media network agencies will convene onstage to discuss and debate how to address the issues facing the media agencies and speak candidly about their visions for the future.
Moderator: Nick Brien, CEO, Americas, Dentsu Aegis Network
Mat Baxter, Global CEO, Initiative
Tim Castree, CEO, North America, GroupM
Scott Hagedorn, CEO, Hearts & Science
Tim Jones, CEO, Americas, Publicis
An Investor’s View on the Industry
Across agencies, publishers, platforms, and marketers, what’s the industry diagnosis—and prognosis—from the investor’s seat? Brian Wieser of Pivotal Research, who focuses on this sector, is renowned for his clear-eyed guidance on the future. Today, he casts an investor's eye toward the marketplace to share his vision for our road ahead.
Brian Wieser, Senior Analyst, Pivotal
12:45 – 1:45pm
1:45 – 3:00
Technology is a Differentiator
Much about the industry’s relationships with clients, partners and customers hinges on its capabilities and trust with data management. When a holding company acquires a data company, how does it build that trust? In this session, Philippe Krakowsky tells the story of IPG’s bold acquisition of Acxiom—from the initial opportunity through the process of the transaction—and discusses what the early days of this new model may tell us about what’s coming next.
Philippe Krakowsky, EVP, Chief Strategy & Talent Officer, IPG, Chairman and CEO, IPG Mediabrands
The Independent Agency View on the Future
Independent agency leaders face many of the same challenges as their larger counterparts. But they may not envision the same solutions as the media network agencies—or even the same future. In this discussion, independent media agency leads share and compare their approaches to working within a rapidly evolving business landscape and reflect on the opportunities it may raise.
Karlo Cordova, Director of Media & Communications Planning, Wieden+Kennedy New York
Sabrina Jordan, VP, Group Media Director, GSD&M
Jeff Larson, President, Mediassociates
Andrea MacDonald, President & CEO, MacDonald Media
Michelle Selby, President, MediaWorks
3:00 – 4:00pm
Breakout Sessions —Working Sessions to Drive Actions and Outcomes
Modernization & Transformation using Blockchain and Emerging Technology
Technology Empowers: AI, AR and Voice
4:00 – 6:00pm
Why Relationships Matter: A Marketer-Agency Conversation
A productive working relationship between a marketer and an agency—characterized by mutual respect and a cohesive vision—results in an outcome with clear benefits evident to all. Kelly Clark, Global CEO of GroupM, talks with a senior client about how a successful partnership drives great results and uncompromising value.
Kelly Clark, Global CEO, GroupM
Senior marketer TBA
Charting Disruption & Winning Hearts — Audi of America
The auto industry takes a far longer view than merely marketing today’s models to customers. The vertical’s leading players are those who focus on the future, exploring electric, hybrid and self-driving vehicles and converting consumer insights into new models and features while serving distinct market segments. Audi of America’s Loren Angelo discusses his team’s strategies for keeping the brand relevant, growing market share, and securing its place in consumers’ hearts for today and the day after tomorrow.
Loren Angelo, Vice President, Marketing, Audi of America
US Media 2018 Year in Review
COMvergence reviews media industry year in new biz wins, total volume and other significant industry changes.
Olivier Gauthier, Founder & CEO, COMvergence Worldwide
Marketers on How Collaboration Gets Results
Agencies aren’t alone in feeling the pressure of a rapidly evolving and increasingly complicated landscape. Marketers also feel the heat to drive stronger results—so it’s urgent for both sides to address the concerns together. In this open and transparent discussion, marketers discuss how seamless and visible collaboration translates into a better partnership in the media pitch process, setting up relationships for success, and weighing agency assignments against in-housing capabilities.
Moderator: Tom Denford, CEO, North America, ID Comms
Scott Grenz, Vice President, Global Head of Media, GSK Consumer Healthcare
Rob Rakowitz, Global Media Head, Mars Incorporated
Additional panelists TBA
Tuesday march 26
8:45 – 12:45am
Trust as the Foundation: A Client-Agency Conversation
What makes an agency-marketer relationship work? And how do you keep that relationship strong? Steve King, Global CEO of Publicis Media, speaks candidly with a senior client about the trust in their partnership as the foundation for a relationship that moves business forward.
Steve King, Global CEO, Publicis Media
The Strategic Data Management Imperative
While strategic and flexible data management are crucial components of success both to agencies and marketers, one key challenge is how to coordinate tools and systems for optimal intelligence. In this panel discussion, speakers will address how agencies approach this challenge and how platforms are helping to solve for some of the issues. The session will also cover challenges yet to be solved.
Moderator: Ed Montes, Chief Revenue Officer, DataXu
Adam Gitlin, President, Annalect
Martin Kihn, SVP, Product Strategy, Marketing Cloud, Salesforce
Laura McElhinney, Chief Data Officer, Horizon Media
Jon Williams, VP, Agency & Consultancy Development, Oracle Data Cloud
Louisa Wong, Chief Transformation Officer, Carat US
Video growth on multiple platforms has major advertising implications for sellers and buyers alike. In this session, players on both sides explain how they seize the opportunity to build an integrated approach for distribution, planning, buying, targeting, and optimization. The speakers will also address how the industry needs to prepare for the future—and the challenges yet to be solved.
Moderator: Sean Cunningham, CEO & President, Video Advertising Bureau
Dave Morris, Executive Vice President, Advanced Advertising and Client Partnerships CBS Corp.
Lyle Schwartz, President of Investment, North America, GroupM
Catherine Sullivan, President of U.S. Investment, Omnicom Media Group
Additional panelists TBA
New FTC, New Congress, New Priorities
The 116th Congress aren't the only new faces in Washington. In the past year, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has sworn in five new Commissioners to oversee the agency tasked with protecting consumer welfare. In this one-on-one chat, we'll hear from new Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips on his thoughts on the most pressing issues facing our industry, including the increased calls by consumers and advocacy groups for the FTC to pursue more aggressive enforcement actions against companies in the digital space.
Regulation Could Rock Our World
The year 2018 will likely go down as a watershed year in the world of data privacy. With the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming into play and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CPPA) becoming law, a new era in regulating data collection and usage began. This panel will discuss what lies ahead in 2019, including the threat of state-by-state privacy legislation, as well as what comprehensive federal privacy legislation might look like.
Moderator: Alison Pepper, Senior Vice President, 4A's
Rachel Glasser, Global Chief Privacy Officer, Wunderman
Christian Merida, VP, Federal Affairs, American Express
Michael Signorelli, Partner, Venable LLP
12:45 – 1:45pm
1:45 – 3:00pm
The Future of Automation
Love it or hate it, machine-to-machine decision-making is a method of exchange that will be with us for a long time. 4A's and 614 Group recently launched a major study to explore the confusion around programmatic media, including its origins, key issues—and how the industry needs to come together to manage this technology forward to realize its promise of higher value and deeper satisfaction in the value chain. This presentation offers an overview of the study and significant qualitative findings.
What do buyers and sellers need in media? At the moment, the industry doesn’t have a clear understanding across media of consumer consumption. The situation calls for new measurement standards and methods. In this session, speakers will take a practical approach to the issue, identifying our most recent industry initiatives to solve for cross-channel measurement, and how we’re planning to move forward. After a panel discussion, industry experts will share initiatives that lead to solutions.
Moderator: Howard Shimmel, President, Janus Strategy & Insights
Julie DeTraglia, Vice President & Head of Research, Hulu
Peter Sedlarcik, Chief Intelligence Officer, Havas
Jonathan Steuer, Chief Research Officer,Omnicom Media Group
Karima Zmerli, Ph.D., Chief Data Sciences Officer, Wavemaker
In Brief: Seven-Minute Sessions
Jane Clarke, CEO & Managing Director, CIMM
Future of Television (FoT)
David Cohen, President, North America, Magna Global
Jim Spaeth and Alice Sylvester,Co-Founders, Sequent Partners
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
Breakouts—Working Sessions to Drive Actions and Outcomes
The Measurement Quotient: Agencies’ Perspective
A First Look at the Future of Automation
GDPR and Beyond: Strategies for Safer Data Management
Applications for Blockchain in Advertising and Media
3:45 - 5:15pm
Brand and Consumer Safety—The Journey Forward
The forces driving fraud and piracy are forever present, as is the unacceptable monetization of harmful content. Brand safety remains a critical concern. Consumers regard brand safety as marketers’ responsibility, making fraud and content breaches highly damaging to the brands we work so hard to build. Witness how and why agencies and marketers must vigilantly preserve the safety of our brands and our consumers—and why, despite our industry’s progress, so much hard work in this area lies ahead.
A series of updates on key brand safety efforts:
Joshua Lowcock, EVP, Chief Digital & Innovation Officer, UM
Mike Zaneis, President & CEO, Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG)


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MANAGUA – The bill promoted by the government to charge producers between $1 and $5 per quintal of coffee in order to finance the National Development and Transformation of Coffee Plantations will not directly affect the export sector as it is only producers who have to pay the tax, however, they believe that this is not the time to establish such fees.
“It is difficult to contribute when you’re experiencing financial difficulties. Production has fallen because of the ravages caused by rust and production costs are higher than the price being paid on the international market ($106.60 per quintal).
Therefore they are already losing out and on top of this they want to retain a portion,” said Jose Angel Buitrago, president of the Coffee Exporters Association of Nicaragua (EXCAN).
After several meetings of the sector with the government a consensus was almost reached on the creation of this fund, however, negotiations were suspended and the executive sent the bill to Congress, the official lamented.
According to the chief of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep), Joseph Adam Aguerri, this is not the first time this has happened, but he is confident that Congress “will use the query mechanism in order to end up reaching a consensus” and avoid affecting the industry.”

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With its 700th aircraft now equipped with seat-back screens, Delta is giving more customers than ever before convenient access to its industry-leading Delta Studio lineup, which will soon include a suite of fan favorites from Hulu.
“Customers continue to tell us entertainment is a top priority,” said Ekrem Dimbiloglu, Director – Onboard Product and Customer Experience. “That’s why we keep extending our lead in having more aircraft with seat-back entertainment than any other airline in the world, and continue partnering with entertainment giants like Hulu to bring customers at-home favorites at 30,000 feet. These investments reinforce Delta’s reputation as the entertainment airline.”
Hulu Originals coming to Delta Studio
Thanks to a new partnership with streaming giant Hulu, Delta customers can watch award-winning Hulu Original content on board starting next month – think “The Handmaid’s Tale” and recent Emmy®-nominee “The Act,” must-watch documentaries like “Fyre Fraud,” and more.
This new content is in addition to the more than 3,000 movies, TV shows and music options already available through Delta Studio – free of charge to all customers in all cabins. In addition to investing in seat-back entertainment, customers can choose to stream Delta Studio to their personal devices on the airline’s entire mainline fleet and most regional aircraft.


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Global hotel occupancy is “closing in” on pre-Covid levels as travel demand continues to rebound in 2023, according to the latest data from travel technology firm Amadeus.
In a new report on the hotel sector, Amadeus revealed that occupancy reached 63 per cent in the first quarter for the year – just below the 67 per cent level seen during the same period of 2019. It was also well ahead of the 53 per cent occupancy rate recorded in the first quarter of 2022.
“The trend is mirrored throughout the rest of 2023, with bookings close to 2019 levels and ahead of those recorded in 2021 and 2022,” said Amadeus in its Catalysts for Change report.
Figures from Amadeus Demand360, the company’s hospitality market intelligence platform, found that global hotel occupancy for June was at 32 per cent in early May, which was just three percentage points lower than at the same point in 2019.
Amadeus added that some leading European destinations, such as Rome and Paris, were seeing hotel occupancy levels in June ahead of the same month in 2019. This was also true of some major Asian cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore, “illustrating a robust, global recovery”.
The company’s data revealed that global average daily rates (ADRs) at hotels are also now above pre-pandemic levels – standing at $216 per room for June 2023 compared with $184 in June 2019.
The very late-booking pattern for hotels seen during the pandemic period is also dissipating and returning to pre-2020 trends. Last year, 64 per cent of hotel reservations were being made within seven days of travel, according to Amadeus, but this has dropped to 51 per cent in 2023, which is close to the 50 per cent figure seen during 2019.
“Travel confidence is on the rise in 2023, demonstrated by the 14 per cent of hotel reservations booked 61-plus days out, matching 2019 figures,” added Amadeus in its report.
Amadeus also explores the latest trends and expectations of hotel guests including personalisation, which is now “of paramount importance” to travellers.
“Today, various travel players are moving in this direction, but this has not yet been applied at every step of the customer journey – something that would achieve the truly personal end-to-end experience travellers are looking for,” said the report.
“In keeping with a demand for personalisation, travellers increasingly expect the hospitality sector to offer seamless journeys. This refers to travel using a variety of modes of transportation – all organised through a single booking process or ticket.”
Travellers are also seeking “value-driven” digital solutions, as well as looking for travel providers to “offer peace of mind” during a trip and options that “protect them” should major changes impact their travel plans.
Amadeus added that business travellers also have “different needs” following the pandemic, including a desire for more pre-paid content when booking so they do not have to cover any costs personally. This has also led to an increase in the popularity of virtual cards as a payment method.
Combining a work trip with leisure time is also a trend that has “continued to accelerate following the pandemic”, according to the report.
“Travellers are looking to maximise the value of their time - and this can mean adding on family time at the end of a trip or arriving at a destination a day or two ahead of a meeting to enjoy the cultural side of a location,” added the report.
Francisco Pérez-Lozao Rüter, president, hospitality at Amadeus, said: “Travellers want more options; they want them to be tailored to their preferences and they want the process to be frictionless.
“To continue to drive demand across these sectors, providers need to be able to personalise their offering to maximise their revenues. For travel sellers, having access to this integrated content is a gamechanger.”


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Investors with losses in excess of $100,000 are encouraged to contact the firm before June 15, 2021; click here to submit trade information
LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Franklin Wireless Corp. (NASDAQ: FKWL) investors that acquired shares between September 17, 2020 and April 8, 2021. Investors have until June 15, 2021 to seek an active role in this litigation.
It is alleged in this complaint that on April 1, 2021, Franklin stated that it "ha[d] been notified of reports of battery issues in some of its wireless hotspot device" and that it was "working with its battery and device manufacturing partners and carrier customer to determine the cause and extent of the problem." Then, on April 8, it was reported in the media that Verizon Wireless "is recalling 2.5 million hotspot devices after discovering that the lithium ion battery can overheat, creating a fire and burning hazard." The "recall impacts Ellipsis Jetpack mobile hotspots imported by Franklin Wireless Corp and sold between April 2017 and March 2021." The stock price fell 14% on this news, to close at $17.33 per share on April 8. 2021. Franklin announced the next day that Verizon "has issued a voluntary recall of its Jetpack Hotspot devices imported by Franklin." Franklin's stock price fell nearly 23% on this news, to close at $13.26 per share on April 9, 2021.
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 15, 2021.
Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.
The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims arising from corporate wrongdoing. The Firm’s founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.


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BELOIT, WI — Building products distributor ABC Supply Co. Inc. has opened its newest branch at 201 Butcher Road in Waxahachie, Texas. The location offers steep- and low-slope roofing, roofing insulation, siding, windows, doors, and other select exterior building products and materials.
David Wassermann will manage the branch. Wassermann joined ABC Supply in 2015 as an outside sales associate at the company’s Carrollton, Texas, location. As the Waxahachie branch manager, Wassermann will build relationships with the area’s contractors, helping them find solutions for their business challenges and achieve their goals.
ABC Supply now has 40 locations throughout Texas with the opening of the Waxahachie branch.
“David and his team are ready to hit the ground running with the area’s contractors, making sure they receive the personalized support they need to make their jobs easier and help their businesses succeed,” said John Yonkin, vice president of ABC Supply’s Southwest Region. “We’re also looking forward to becoming members of the Waxahachie community.”


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Employers have been warned that staff using their own laptops or tablets to transfer and store confidential business information could potentially compromise their business.
Text messaging, rather than talking over the phone, is now preferred by many Australians, according to a new survey which found that 56% of Aussie adults avoid making phone calls, turning instead to messaging apps or even email.
Closely monitoring your child's mobile phone or tablet use is a contentious issue. But if it is something you believe you should be doing and you trust an overseas company with your child's communications data and metadata, then the TeenSafe monitoring software is now available in Australia.
Almost three in five Aussies say they call their family and friends less frequently since the rise of social media, according to newly released research.
Apple has a dirty secret. There is a massive hole in its iPhone messaging system.
Many young drivers are tempted to read and write text messages and otherwise engage in social media when behind the wheel of a car. Bad idea.
Aussies are being taken to the cleaners when it comes to sending text messages, according to Australia's peak communications consumer body ACCAN.
If you text and walk, you're a bloody idiot - new research is showing that people that text while walking are at risk of ruining their balance and posture, and severe injury.
Victorian drivers who text while driving will face big fine increases, which come into effect today.
Texting your significant other all the time should mean you're deeply in love, right? Apparently not, according to some new research.
If you text and drive you're a 'bloody idiot' and you'll now also face a much harsher penalty in a push from the Victorian state government for tougher texting laws.
Texting and driving has long been accepted as illegal, but the Northern Territory has taken the extraordinary step of banning texting while walking.
The New South Wales government today launched a $1.5 million road safety awareness campaign, designed to discourage people from texting while driving.
Massively popular messaging app WhatsApp is in negotiations with Google over pricing of a takeover, if ‘insider sources’ are to be believed.
Internode has added NodeMobile mobile phone plans to its product roster, offering a generous amount of social media specific data.
Optus mobile customers are now able to donate to Red Cross relief funds for specific appeals via SMS under a facility set up by Optus and digital marketing company, Be.interactive.
A new survey called the Internet & American Life Project, by the Pew Research Center, found that U.S. adults send or read text messages while driving just as much as do teenagers. Actually, 1% more adults text and drive than do teens--27% versus 26%.
If you are one, or have one lurking in a bedroom right now, it probably comes as no surprise that Millennials think email is somewhat quaint - a way to communicate with a great aunt perhaps.
the G-sync compatible TV is great but I wanted to read more on the LG Rolling Bot to see if[…]
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Definitely vital to check that whatever USB-C multi-port / multifunction hub/adapter you get, if you are buying for Windows OS,[…]
Hi Bob,Yes, it looks like $89 is the best price. https://www.staticice.com.a...Not sure how to answer whether that price is expensive[…]
I was only able to find one entry for an Australian retailer selling this device. Cost was $89. Personally I[…]


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You have searched for "Westworld"
Showing 1-10 of 73
Whether it was the dystopian society of 'The Handmaid's Tale' or the alternate history of 'Watchmen', the costume designers nominated for this year's Emmy Awards in the fantasy/sci-fi category sought to ground their looks in reality.
The 'Charlie's Angels' actress talks about her 'black sheep' status in Hollywood early in her career.
Amazon has announced plans to develop one of the most popular computer game franchises into a TV show for subscribers of its Amazon Prime streaming service.
The Last Of Us Part 2, a game in which a deadly virus has destroyed humanity, is coming this summer after all.
Ben Barnes, whose one of his earliest film roles was as the heroic 'Prince Caspian in The Chronicles Of Narnia' films, has of late gotten really good at playing characters whose true intent may not be that heroic.
The British actor has been staying home in Los Angeles since a stay-at-home order was issued at the state of California.
Malaysian actress Cheryl Chitty Tan shot a very short scene in the first episode of 'Westworld' Season Three, where she plays a woman who encounters Aaron Paul on a train.
In the time of “Netflix and quarantine”, more people than ever are looking for the next great TV show to binge-watch. But with literally tens of thousands of titles across multiple streaming services, it's tough to zero in on the ones you're most likely to love.
The coronavirus crisis may have found an unlikely hero in Kylie Jenner.
Astro offers complimentary viewing of all movie channels to subscribers observing Malaysia's movement control order


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A blast of cold weather is expected to begin marching across the country next week from the Golden Gate to Cape Cod, sending temperatures down by 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit in the eastern United States by Friday or Saturday. That is good news for retailers still well-stocked with cold-weather gear like jackets, gloves, scarves and space heaters.
Weather and retail analysts at Planalytics expect weather-driven demand for cold weather gear to surge compared with last year, when December temperatures were the warmest in 120 years.
This year’s colder temperatures could put an extra $107 million into the cash registers of apparel stores next week, compared to the same week in 2015. The northern tier of states could see more snow next week, and that means sales of shovels, snow blowers and ice melt should perk up as well.
According to Planalytics, North American weather-driven demand for warm jackets will rise 7% above normal for this time of year and 14% above demand last year. Demand in Los Angeles is expected to rise 70% compared with last year and 22% more than normal. New Yorkers demand for jackets is forecast to rise by 18% year over year and 15% above normal demand.
Accessories like hats, gloves and scarves are expected to see North American demand boost of 19% compared with last year and a rise of 2% above normal. Sales in Minneapolis could rise by 40% compared with a year ago to 19% above normal sales levels.
North American demand for space heaters is expected to rise 57% compared with last year to 3% above normal for the week. Houston could see a 70% year-over-year jump and a gain of 10% above normal levels. In Boston, demand is expected to rise by 50% compared with last year and to soar to 53% above normal.
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Earlier today, the Senate passed legislation to avoid a rail strike that was said to be catastrophic to the economy.
The House passed the legislation just yesterday.
The bill now heads to the President’s desk for his signature, who has been urging Congress to swiftly pass it.
The vote passed 80 to 15.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture recently released its updated import and export projections, shedding light on the intricate dynamics influencing the agricultural market.
Research conducted under the Beef Checkoff program provides valuable insights into consumer demands, ensuring that the industry stays attuned to evolving preferences.


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We just received a press release from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) that assures us that plastic baby bottles using Bisphenol-A are entirely safe, stating: "Sound and respected scientific research has consistently shown there is no danger to consumers when products are used as intended. Trace levels of bisphenol A (BPA) from consumer products are well below any level that could cause harm to adults or to our children."
This is the same JPMA that has argued against banning phlalates in toys and promoted a scare campaign against the family bed.
In case you're concerned, the press release indicates that the FDA is on the job: "The FDA has just announced the formation of an agency-wide task force to review the safety of BPA....The FDA continues to recommend that consumers refrain from discontinuing use of BPA-containing products."
This is the same FDA that's trying to track down that problem with Heparin and Chinese-made drugs. The same FDA that approved Vioxx.
For further reading, JPMA provided links to the following websites:
www.babybottle.org - Run by JPMA itself. Likely non-biased info.
www.CoalitionForConsumerChoice.org - No info is provided about who runs this site, but it's meant to appear to be a grass roots website created by consumers who want to maintain their right to buy Bisphenol-A. Domain is registered by domainsbyproxy.com, which allows its customers to set up a website anonymously. Hmmm...could this be set up by some industry trade group...?
www.bisphenol-A.org - Is a website run by a Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group, which is organized regionally at the American Chemistry Council, PlasticsEurope, and the Japan Chemical Industry Association. I'm sure these folks don't use glass bottles.
Our question---why can't an industry facing a public relations problem just fix their product and make it better instead of trying to defend something like Bisphenol-A? Huh?


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Duesseldorf, Germany – Adidas’ first SpeedFactory in Ansbach, Germany, will be joined in 2017 by a second such facility in the US, according to Chris Holmes, director, materials engineering, future team at Adidas AG.
Adidas to add US SpeedFactory in Atlanta
High-volume production, said Holmes, is scheduled to begin in the near future both at the German facility and the new US unit, to be located in Atlanta. SpeedFactory units, he added, will be established in other global region in subsequent years.
Covering more than 74,000 square feet, the Atlanta factory will be fully functional in the second half of 2017, producing running footwear. Adidas is targeting production of 50,000 pairs in 2017, ramping up to 500,000 pairs of shoes.
The US plant, which will create around 160 jobs, complements the first SpeedFactory in Germany. Both facilities are being operated by Adidas’ strategic partner Oechsler.
Holmes was speaking at a VDMA Industry 4.0 platform at K2016, where he introduced the first output from the German plant – comprising 500 pairs of running shoes equipped with sensors that can generate performance data for wearers.
The shoe, made in Germany, uses Adidas’ ‘Boost’ shoe cushioning, which is based on an expanded thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer developed in collaboration with BASF.
The sensor data is based on material performance properties such as elasticity and modulus, translated into terms more readily understood by consumers. The product has gone on retail at special events in Germany, selling at 250 euros a pair.
Under its "Creating the New" business plan launched in 2015, Adidas aims to develop a series of “independent and scalable” manufacturing cells in operation by 2020.
It also has links to advanced manufacturing initiates led by the German government.
“Today we don’t have production (in those countries) because it is too expensive. In the future (production) can be much more flexible.”
The aim, said the CEO, is to increase the company’s ability to respond to fast-changing consumer trends achieving, for example, concept-to-shelf targets of 45 days for its Adidas and Reebok footwear brands.
The SpeedFactory employs highly integrated automation and intelligent robotics to provide customised products in very short lead times.
The Adidas project is being carried out in collaboration with industrial partners, including suppliers of materials, moulding machinery and automation systems.


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The Dollar Tuesday’s high opening – albeit still below the psychological barrier of the S / 4 – signifies a positive impression of a one-day meeting between US retail data and the leaders of the world’s largest economies, which could one day alert investor sentiment due to political uncertainty.
At 9:10 am, the dollar was trading at S / 3.9983, up 0.08% at the end of the day, compared to S / 3.9950, according to Bloomberg data.
Previously, the dollar fell less than the S / 4 and recorded its lowest level in more than two weeks in the local market. Greenback has accumulated 10.48% profit so far in 2021.
Uncertainty created by the political environment has increased the demand for the dollar among investors, which has raised the exchange rate in recent weeks, traders said.
The executive is facing a new lawsuit following pressure from the presidency’s secretary general, Bruno Pacho, after Walter Ayala officially announced his departure from the defense ministry over complaints about pressure for promotion in the armed forces. To Louis Vera, President of the Sunnat, in support of two companies with tax debts.
Globally, the dollar has risen to a 16 – month high due to good mood among investors, Reuters reports.
The dollar index, which measures Greenback’s performance against a basket of six major currencies, was up 0.42% at 95,808. On the other hand, on the Exchange House and the streets of the capital (parallel market), the exchange rate was S / 3,980 buying and S / 4,020 selling in the morning.
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When Degrassi and Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev and best friend Julianne Hough (Dancing with the Stars) decided to create their own wine label, they knew they wanted to market it to wine lovers who enjoyed active, health-conscious lifestyles similar to their own. Their new label, Fresh Vine Wine, follows in the celebrity wellness-space marketing path paved in 2020 by Cameron Diaz’s Avaline brand.
"I am Eastern European, so tasting wine as a late teenager was acceptable in my family," Bulgaria-born Dobrev, who grew up in Canada, told Wine Spectator via email. "From an early age my palate started forming, but it wasn’t until Julianne and I started this venture that we really started to learn more about wines, and the process of making them, and the joy of making them." She’s preceded in the on-screen vampire–turned-vintner space by Diaries co-star Ian Somerhalder; Discovery of Witches lead vamp Matthew Goode (formerly of Downton Abbey) co-hosted The Wine Show docuseries with actor Matthew Rhys.
Growing up in Utah, Hough's passion for wine started later in life, thanks to visits to Tuscany and Napa. As the idea to start a wine label took shape a few years ago, Dobrev and Hough decided to focus on Napa because of their familiarity with the region. The longtime pals partnered with winemaker Jamey Whetstone for the project, who previously held posts at Turley and Domaine Dujac and has his own Napa winery.
"There is something extremely exhilarating about crafting and creating art, and I think about wine the same way," Hough said. "We just didn’t know the 'how' to go about making it, and that’s why Nina and I decided to partner up with Jamey and our Fresh Vine team."
Like many wines, the Fresh Vines lineup is gluten-free and vegan friendly, but Dobrev says they went the extra step of having the wines certified as such by ETS Laboratories, an independent analysis company serving the wine and spirits industry.
The Fresh Vine lineup includes a 2018 California Chardonnay ($18), 2018 California Pinot Noir ($19) and 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon ($22). There’s also a rosé coming in the next few month and a Napa Cabernet Limited Reserve ($80) set to be released in the fall.
“[Nina and I] lead very active and physical lifestyles, with a holistic approach, so we wanted to make a product that not only complemented our lives but was also still of premium quality and impeccable taste,” Hough said in a statement. “If we learned anything from the experience of living through the year 2020, it was that connection and celebrating the small things in life are so incredibly important to the emotional, mental and physical well-being of humankind.” It goes without saying that these are all incredibly important for vampirekind as well.
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Cherokee Nation citizens Adam Childress, left, and Amanda Ray, along with actor and Northeastern State University Drama faculty member Chris Miller star in Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” on Feb. 15 at the NSU Playhouse in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. ROGER GRAHAM/CHEROKEE PHOENIX
Ray stars in ‘Virginia Woolf’ production
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation citizen and Sequoyah High School drama teacher Amanda Ray starred in Northeastern State University Drama’s production of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” which ran Feb. 15-18 at the NSU Playhouse.
Ray, a NSU graduate, said as an acting teacher she’s a firm believer that if she’s going to teach it she needs to do it well.
“I think coaches should play a game every once in a while. I think it’s good for you.” Ray said.
“In my career I have been fortunate to inhabit numerous different roles, whether it was a straight drama or a fun musical, but no experience comes close to playing Martha in Edward Albee’s Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, ‘Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ It has been one of my favorite plays and by far my favorite role, and one I didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to play. NSU Theatre Company, which is my home stage, gave me that chance this past February, and I can’t thank my director, Dr. Robyn Pursley, enough for choosing me for this role.”
Ray said it was “exhilarating” being on the stage again in a role that was “emotionally draining and so rewarding.”
“It meant so much to me that so many of my students, friends, family and a few of my fellow faculty members were in the audience. I don’t think a lot of people are aware of how much work goes into a production like that and also that the heart of theater is to make you think, feel, contemplate, and that supporting the arts is more than just getting off your duff and going to see a play, but as teachers it is setting an example for our students. The heart of the theatrical experience is empathy. A concept so basic and yet so fleeting in this day and age that we have classes devoted to learning what empathy actually is and how to implore that emotion.”
She said the arts can be overlooked in this part of the state yet they are beneficial.
“My former speech/debate/drama students are excelling at the college level at NSU, Harvard, Brown, NYU (New York University), OU (University of Oklahoma), OSU (Oklahoma State University). Some, but not all, are pursuing theater degrees, but what they have in common is a work ethic, a broad and exploratory intellect, writing and public speaking skills that were utilized and enhanced through their involvement in the performing arts. I love what I do, and feel so extremely lucky to have a career in the arts in Tahlequah.”
Ray started working at Sequoyah in 2008. She started its speech and theater program. Her classes range from acting, theater history, musical theater, Native storytelling and performance, speech/debate and honors competitive speech/drama/debate, which are devoted to preparation for the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association’s speech/debate tournaments.
Along with teaching full time, she directs, creates costumes and choreographs one act plays and main stage productions each year for Sequoyah. She also oversees a traveling troupe that performs Cherokee children’s play and puppet shows at the Cherokee Heritage Center, as well as elementary schools.
SALLISAW, Okla. – Cherokee Nation citizen Justin Pettit grew up with a passion for radio broadcasting after listening to sports on the radio during his early years.
Pettit said he grew up listening to broadcasts of the University of Oklahoma Sooners and University of Arkansas Razorbacks basketball teams.
“Now, I do my own stuff. I do basketball or game of the week here on 105.1 (KXMX in Sallisaw). I do the play-by-play, the color (commentary), all my own stats, everything,” he said.
He initially thought about going into the radio broadcasting business in 2010 while working as realtor in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
“I always had a passion for radio, and I got a note from one of my friends about doing broadcasting school, and it was all online so I was able to do it,” Pettit said.
In 2011, he graduated from the American Broadcasting School and started with Cumulus Broadcasting Inc. in Fayetteville. While there, Pettit honed his skills as a radio broadcast host by covering local and college sports.
In 2015, he became a host at Mix 105.1 FM with a show called “JP in the Morning.” He is also the station’s sports director.
“I’m on the air 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. having a good time, getting people ready for the morning, getting them ready for their job or school or whatever it is they got going on,” Pettit said.
He said one of his favorite aspects of the job is interacting with listeners and fans.
“I love the interaction. That’s probably my favorite part. We’re a local radio station. We’re not owned by any big company. We get to do whatever we want. So if there’s a big event happening across town that involves the kids or anything, we’re there. We go out and interact with all the people. They love us,” he said.
He said the radio station provides more than just a show to its listeners.
“We play a mix of music. We play country, rock, Christian, all of it. They know any type of music they like they know they can listen to us and we’ll have it there for them,” he said. “They know if they need any kind of breaking weather, if there is any news happening in and around the area they tune to us. We’re live on the air. A lot of radio stations aren’t live anymore. So if there’s an accident or a road’s blocked off or anything, the people know they can tune to us or call us and we’ll let them know where to be and where not to be.”
He said to work in radio his personality has to come through in his voice.
“In radio you got to have a big personality, and a lot of guys have a radio voice. I don’t really have one. I don’t put it on because when I go out with the public, we have a lot of interaction. People say ‘well you sound just like you do on the radio.’ Well I don’t put the big…radio voice on so that’s kind one of my trademarks,” he said.
Pettit said though the radio station is only 3 or 4 years old, the ratings “are up there with the guys” who have been in the radio broadcasting business for 30 or 40 years.
His fellow employees praised Pettit for his work ethic.
Delanna Nutter, sales director, said Pettit steps up when they need him to do extra voice work and that he is “always right on point.”
“I’m just a normal guy working the job that I love and living the dream,” Pettit said.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee Nation Election Commission, with one commissioner and its attorney absent, held a special meeting to discuss the approval of past meeting minutes and take possible action on items for the upcoming Tribal Council elections.
On the agenda were items including vault sign-in procedure, delivery drivers and candidate financials as well as possible action on new badges for EC employees.
PRYOR, Okla. – Nanabelle’s Boutique in downtown Pryor has a mission to motivate women and assist them in purchasing trendy clothes that will help them feel “good” no matter their sizes.
Owner and Cherokee Nation citizen Jennie Marlin, 22, said her boutique offers a broad range of clothing sizes because it was “needed.”
“I started this boutique because I thought there was something we needed in downtown Pryor that wasn’t even being offered in other places,” she said. “I, as a plus-size woman, would like to look trendy, and I wanted to be able to do it and still be able to afford it, especially being younger and going to college. When you walk in you’ll be able to find everything in our store in a size small through 3X.”
She said after gaining experience as a part-time manager for a retail store she decided to “take a chance” and open a shop.
“I started a pop-up shop when I was 20 years old at a little event we had in downtown Pryor. I kind of got some good feedback from that, so I decided while I was in college that I was going to open up a little spot in the back of an antique mall. Then whenever I did that I got even more great feedback, and social media was really positive and I just keep growing and growing. So about 10, 11 months ago I opened here in Pryor,” she said.
She said she wants to help women feel “good” in their clothing. “I just kind of wanted to…create an environment where women can come in and shop no matter what size you are, what your budget is like and be able to find something trendy that you’ll be able to feel good in.”
She said her prices don’t fit the “boutique pricing range,” with the most expensive item being a $49 pair of jeans.
“I know when a lot of people think boutique clothing they think, ‘oh, expensive.’ We kind of want to stray away from that,” Marlin said. “The most expensive thing that I think we’ve ever carried was a pair of our denim brands and those were for $49. We do a lot of things like coupons and reward points. So we’re able to make it affordable that way people of any income can be able to come shop.”
She said something Nanabelle’s will offer in the coming months is the “Belle’s Box,” a monthly subscription in which women can pick their budgets, fill out their style profiles and new outfits or a couple of new items will be mailed to them each month.
“We’re going to have bronze, silver and gold levels. We’ll send them an outfit or a couple of items based off their style profile within that budget. So you’re kind of getting a personal stylist that’s mailed right to your door each month,” she said.
Marlin said her goals for Nanabelle’s have been “blown out of the water,” which led her to a second location in Coffeyville, Kansas, set to open in late January.
“So we’ve been growing a lot quicker than what I expected, which is a good thing, I’m very thankful for it. So that’s kind of how we’re able to open up our second location,” she said.
Marlin said she and friends are also working on a children’s store called the Hanger.
“There’s a need in a lot of places for children clothing, especially something that’s affordable because kids grow out of stuff so fast,” she said. “As soon as I get my Coffeyville location done I’m going to go full force for the children’s store. I’m excited about that.”
Marlin said she’s happy to inspire people to make their dreams a reality.
“I love that I have this platform that people can come in, and especially women can come in, and see what I’m doing and get inspired by it,” she said. “I was always told growing up, ‘figure out what you want and just go after it.’ So if I can kind of spread that along and help somebody…kind of achieve their own dreams too. I think it’s all worth it.”
Nanabelle’s Boutique is on south Adair Street and open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/nanabboutique.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Through the efforts of Sequoyah High School senior Maddie Lamb, she and her fellow students received a DJ’d dance party and taco festival on Jan. 9.
This past fall, the 17-year-old Muskogee (Creek) Nation citizen entered an essay contest through the Get Schooled Foundation’s “2016 Homecoming Court.” After her essay made the top 20, Lamb received the most online votes.
“You had to enter 150 words about how to prevent bullying in your school,” she said.
She is the Junior Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and bullying prevention is a part of her platform, which she said made her decide to enter the essay contest.
“My platform is teen dating, violence, abuse and awareness. And so I told how that tied in with bullying,” she said. “And so I ended up winning… that’s crazy!”
For winning, Lamb received $100, a Microsoft surface Pro 4 and DJ dance party for the entire high school and $5,000 worth of food from Taco Bell, which was one of the contest sponsors. Lamb and Sequoyah Schools also won one more prize – money to create a mural in the old SHS gym.
“We got a call about a week after I won,” she said. “They (Get Schooled Foundation) said, ‘well we got some extra funding, and we’ve never done anything like this, but do you know any artists?’”
Being an artist herself, Lamb said yes, and as she put it, “It just kind of worked out.” With the assistance from renowned artists Dana Tiger and Daniel HorseChief, Lamb created a mural and a method in which each high school class could contribute to creating the mural.
“Once we drew the design on the wall, we divided it into sections. The freshmen had a section, then the sophomores, juniors and seniors. The whole goal of it was just to let everyone in the entire school help out with it,” she said.
Get Schooled Foundation’s Director of Strategic Partnerships Naomi Jefferson, who came from the Get Schooled New York City office, explained the foundation’s mission.
“We at Get Schooled really stand for empowering students and supporting them to fill their passions and to make sure they have the resources, support and tools they need to pursue their education to the highest degree,” she said. “Maddie Lamb and Sequoyah High School are great examples of what student leadership looks like.”
For more information on the Get Schooled Foundation, visit getschooled.com.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation citizen Angela Locke recently opened a clothing store named Kachina’s after her grandmother’s Kachina doll collection that was passed down to her.
Locke is from Los Angeles where she manufactured clothing for department stores.
“This was a transition. This is our first retail store…we’re able to give such great prices and good quality clothing, so we wanted to bring that to Tahlequah,” she said. “We’re hoping to get the (Clothing Assistance Program) voucher program from Cherokee Nation to afford the kids some better quality clothing at better prices. So if that happens, we’ll open another nine locations within the next year.”
Locke has been in the fashion business for about 16 years. In that time, she said she has established relationships with manufacturers that allow her to offer such great prices.
“Over the years of my experience, I have a lot of connections, and I’m able to get affordable or deals from factories and suppliers that other stores aren’t able to access,” she said. “We manufacture some of it (clothing) and some of the items come from wholesalers and overseas suppliers.
She said her store offers “a big variety” of men, women and children’s clothing including jackets, sweatshirts, shoes, socks, undergarments and T-shirts.
The store also offers accessories and jewelry as well as a plus-size clothing area for women.
Some of the prices include jackets starting at $12.99 with fleece leggings starting at $5.99 along with men and women’s T-shirts starting at $5.99.
“We have sweatshirts starting at $12.99, so we’re very affordable. There’s nothing in the store over $30,” she said.
Locke said she returned to Oklahoma because her father lives here and he became ill with cancer. After moving to Tahlequah she noticed a place in the market for a men, women and children’s clothing store to offer affordable and stylish clothing.
“So he was battling cancer, so I was taking care of him for a long time here, and I really liked the town and the people, so that’s is why I decided that I’ll do my first store here,” she said.
Kachina’s Clothing Store is Tribal Employment Rights Office-certified, 100 percent woman- and Cherokee-owned and has 100 percent Cherokee employees.
“It is important for me because women usually they don’t have as much opportunity as men. So to be 100 percent woman-owned business and a minority and then also be able to have that opportunity to be able to employ Cherokee citizens, it means a lot to me. So that is what my goal is, to put Cherokees back to work,” she said.
The store is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s located in the shopping center next door to Rib Crib off Highway 82 along Mimosa Lane.


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Kia Motors news
The shut down comes at a time Hyundai's U.S. sales have fallen more than the market average, and after it recently announced plans to expand its SUV lineup and launch a pickup truck in the market in an attempt to reverse the slide.
The extended hot hatch retains the athleticism of the current proceed model, while combining its striking visual presence with a dash of real-world versatility
On Tuesday, Hyundai Motor's Chinese joint venture with BAIC Motor Corp Ltd suspended production at one of its plants in China after a German supplier refused to provide parts due to delays in payment - its second such incident in as many weeks.
Until last year, Hyundai and Kia ranked third in China by sales. But sales for Hyundai alone have slumped 41 percent from January to July, making this the biggest crisis since Hyundai entered the Chinese market in 2002.
On Thursday, a court ordered Kia Motors to pay 1 trillion won ($887.11 million) to its workers in unpaid wages, giving encouragement to unions engaged in hundreds of similar disputes against employers across the country.
The payout, though significantly less than the roughly 1 trillion demanded by workers, is a blow to South Korean automakers as it will raise labour costs just as they are battling a sales slump in major market China.
With cobalt prices rising, Asian battery makers have been trying to develop new lithium-ion batteries with a higher proportion of nickel for use in electric cars.
Leichtfried said the deal also included extra payments to buyers of more environmentally friendly cars. He said that for potential buyers of electric cars all available financial help could add up to around 10,000 euros ($11,750) per vehicle
Like Toyota Motor Corp, Hyundai had initially championed fuel cell technology as the future of eco-friendly vehicles but has found itself shifting electric as Tesla shot to prominence and battery-powered cars have gained government backing in China.
The automaker and affiliate Kia Motors Corp, which together rank fifth in global vehicle sales, also said they are planning 31 eco-friendly models by 2020, up from a previously flagged 28.
Horacio Chavez, managing director of Kia Motors Mexico, said he is not losing sleep over the possibility that Mexico, the United States and Canada could impose the maximum tariffs allowed by the World Trade Organization.
Tae-Hyun Oh, the chief operating officer, Kia Motors Corp and head of international business division informed ETAuto that it will produce at least three models and more in three years after starting operation in 2019.
Kia in April announced that it would invest $1.1 billion to build a factory in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district. The additional investment will be to create the supplier base, said Tae-Hyun Oh, the chief operating officer of its international business division. Marketing budget will be outside of this, he told ETAuto.
Slower demand in the United States, the automaker's No.2 market after China, has also been taking a toll, a trend the South Korean firm cautioned will persist through the rest of the year with its mainstay Sonata sedans losing ground in a market powered by sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
Domestic retail sales decreased by 10.5% year-over-year, resulting in 47,015 units sold, mainly due to some pulled-up demand caused by the termination of the temporary reduction in vehicle consumption tax effective end-June 2016.
The Kia Dealer Roadshow gives prospective dealer partners the opportunity to meet executives from Kia Motors India and learn more about the cars due on sale in India from 2019.
The plant in Chongqing is part of efforts to strengthen competitiveness by making compact sedans and sport utility vehicles (SUV) tailored to Chinese tastes, the automaker said in a statement.


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Foreign workers send extra £118m home every month due to weakened pound
Migrants living in the UK and their families are losing out financially in the wake of the weakened pound following Britain’s decision to exit the EU, according to research by Azimo, the online money transfer service.
As we approach the anniversary of last year’s Brexit vote, Azimo’s study has found that over half of migrants living in the UK are having to increase the amount of money they transfer home in order to meet their families’ needs.
With the value of the pound decreasing, an overwhelming 2 in 5 are sending up to £100 more per month than they had done previously, with 37 per cent seeing their outgoing payments reach up to £50 more every month.
Migrant workers say they must go without so that they can maintain their financial support of loved ones abroad with over 85 per cent revealing that Brexit has significantly affected their life in the UK.
A quarter of those surveyed said they have less money to spend on food, while shockingly 1 in 5 have had to move house as they can’t afford their rent, as well as not being able to afford to travel home to visit their family.
Marta Krupinska, Co-Founder and GM of Azimo, said, “A huge majority of our customers are migrants – people living or working abroad who regularly send money home to their families. Our data clearly shows the overwhelming dedication from UK migrants to continue to support their loved ones despite the change in the economic climate in the last year.”
“At Azimo we are proud to be supporting our customers and continuously offering the lowest fees and a much-needed reliable money transfer service in these uncertain times,” Marta concludes.
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Two of the country’s largest car-sharing companies, Zipcar and Flexcar, announced Wednesday they would be merging, as officials with both companies promised more widespread service in the Bay Area and nationwide after the two combine forces.
The new company will take on the Zipcar name and install existing Zipcar technology into Flexcar vehicles. Combined, the new Zipcar will have approximately 180,000 members.
The merger, which went into effect at midnight Wednesday, could mean faster consumer rewards in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., since those are the only two cities in which both companies operated, company chairman and CEO Scott Griffith said.
Massachusetts-based Zipcar was founded in 1999 with the goal of providing an urban car-sharing service that, as Griffith put it, “makes getting a car as easy as getting cash from an ATM.”
Seattle-based Flexcar was also founded in 1999 on the same principles and has expanded to major cities in addition to San Francisco that include Portland, Ore., Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
Cars are parked in neighborhoods that are tougher to park in or near offices — many lots are located in downtown San Francisco, Griffith said. People can sign up online for the service, which typically costs $9 per hour of car use. A patented card allows access to the vehicle and only one card works at a time.
“In a relatively short period, one technology will be available so members of both companies in San Francisco will be able to use the entire fleet,” Griffith said.
Since all cars in the new company will be configured with existing Zipcar technology, existing members of Flexcar will be briefed on the new protocol for reserving a car and using the technology, Flexcar spokesman John Williams said.
Part of the appeal of joining forces was to combat increasing moves on the part of major car rental companies to make inroads into this market that, though it started as one, isn’t quite “niche” any longer, Williams said.
There is currently very little overlap between the two companies and officials with both saw a merger as the easiest “just add water” approach to growing into new areas, Williams said.


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ARM is planning to launch a flagship mobile GPU in 2022 that is said to be about 30% faster than the current Mali G710. This was announced by ARM’s senior technical director of the company’s machine learning business during a developer summit.
It is worth mentioning that the Mali G710 already brought a 35% jump in computing power compared to its predecessor, which is an impressive feat.
The name of this new GPU was not revealed, but the company has promised a major performance leap. In addition to the 30% increase in raw computing power, the new ARM GPU is claimed to be more efficient for machine learning tasks and will feature FP32 4.7 times greater than the Mali-G76.
This new GPU was made possible thanks to a joint venture between ARM, MediaTek, and Tencent Games. As a result of this collaboration, ARM was able to develop a GPU capable of ray tracing on smartphones. Though the best part is that this tech can easily be ported to other platforms and ecosystems.
It appears that ARM’s new GPU is shaping up to be a rival to Samsung’s upcoming Exynos chipset that will flaunt an AMD GPU. Samsung recently showcased how this new Exynos chip will be capable of ray tracing on mobile phones.
Neither of these chips is expected to arrive until early 2022, so stay tuned for updates.


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As I begin to write this brief, the markets are in free fall, it seems like fear is spreading faster than its root cause, the Coronavirus. Enough is being written and said on the virus and its impact to “normalcy” either through the CDC or WHO sites and while it is disheartening to see the number of fatalities increase, this is not a brief that addresses that. Early in the onset and spread of this virus, John Manners-Bell wrote eloquently on the long-term implications of epidemics and challenges to the Supply Chain. While, a couple of months ago, along with the fatalities the talk was about the supply shock to the economies globally; today demand shock – the significant hit to travel & leisure and entertainment – seems to be receiving the scrutiny and stimulus that it deserves.
With a nod to C-TPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism), the focus of this brief will be on the impact that it has on the Supply Chain in comparison to other major, disruptions including calamities and disasters this century. C vs. TPAT (Coronavirus vs. Tsunami, Protectionism and Tariffs). I am sure Supply Chain professionals smarter than me can/have learn/ed lessons from each of these disruptions to tweak their supply chain, especially because these highly disruptive lower probability black swan events are occurring with greater frequency.
There is no gainsaying the fact that China’s shadow on the global economy has lengthened substantially since the SARS epidemic almost 20 years ago. Even as it spread, the US economy was recovering from the Dotcom bubble and China had not become the dominant manufacturing basket of the world. In this instance, Covid-19 following the trade and tariff battles of the past two years seems to compound the shock. Of course, it does not help that the impact is widespread in Japan and South Korea. SARS is, perhaps, not the correct yardstick to compare the supply chain disruptions today and in the near term. At least from a Supply Chain perspective, the earthquake in Japan exactly 9 years ago or the floods in Thailand may serve as better markers for lessons learned.
The 2011 Japan earthquake and Tsunami unravelled the famed just-in-time system pioneered by the large Japanese firms, led by Toyota, at least temporarily. It, however, resulted in the major auto firms/suppliers adding additional manufacturing capability/location, rethinking inventory on hold and even the way they source and produce a majority of the parts in a car assembly. While the supply chain was on autopilot (pun unintended), the major firms took months to identify and create a comprehensive database of all suppliers and prepare themselves for future emergencies.
Since the earthquake in Japan, we have experienced floods in Thailand which again impacted the tech and automotive supply chains. Along with natural challenges, there has been a significant change in the political landscape in several major countries. Arguably these political changes – a la UK, US, India – will have a more significant impact on the supply chain as these natural disasters. Protectionism is here to stay
Recently, a Wall Street Journal article highlighted the slowdown in trade between China & US and its overall impact on global trade. The article cited IMF data to highlight the fact that growth in global trade fell from 6% in 2017 to 1% in 2019. While the beneficiaries of the US-China trade war were their neighbours, with several firms setting up additional operations/facilities in those countries whether it was Vietnam/Cambodia or Mexico/Canada, the US consumer and farmers were impacted the most.
While alternative locations, to mitigate risk, were being scouted for production and sustainability reasons, I expect this to accelerate over the next few years largely driven by the current events. I reckon that most large firms will migrate to a tri-polar strategy for their supply chain. With SARS and the Japan earthquake, the expectation was that most firms would hedge their bets and source from multiple geographies, however, costs and inertia played in role in the postponement of those decisions. Also, the dilemma that most firms will have in setting up alternative production locations is to ensure that consumers (prodded by the government) in countries like China do not abandon their brands and go local, thereby ceding a very large market. While it may take several years, it is easier for a consumer electronics firm like Apple to migrate than it is for chip manufacturer. Regardless a firm like Tesla, which has set up a factory in China and is in the process of building one near Berlin, have seen where the market is and have positioned themselves to move/increase production as needed.
I know we have heard this plenty of times before, “this time it is different”. While I suspect that almost all Fortune 1000 firms should revisit their supply chain, the innovators who source their entire product portfolio from a single country will also have to rethink their strategy. I believe this is a role that large Logistics firms have ceded to product marketing and development professionals and would be better positioned to serve. Only time will tell if indeed “this time it was different”.
This is a guest post from Raghu Ramachandran of 13 Colony Global LLC. you can contact Raghu at [email protected]
Source: Transport Intelligence, March 17, 2020
Author: Raghu Ramachandran


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Ford has to adjust the fuel consumption ratings for its 2013 and 2014-model year hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as most 2014-model year Fiestas.
The automaker said this week it identified an error with fuel consumption ratings on certain vehicles through its internal testing and notified EPA in the U.S.
The units affected include the C-MAX hybrid and plug-in hybrid, Fusion hybrid and plug-in hybrid, MKZ hybrid and the entire Fiesta lineup.
The MKZ experienced the biggest change with a combined highway/city rating jump from 4.2 litres/100 km to 5.2 litres/100 km.
EPA retested the vehicles to determine the correct fuel consumption ratings resulting in changes made to published ratings.
Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO apologize for the error in a press release issued Thursday. He noted the company would provide goodwill payments to affected owners.
“We also are taking steps to improve our processes and prevent issues like this from happening again.”
“This is our error. When we see an issue, we address it,” said Raj Nair, Ford group V-P of global product development.
Ford said its error was specific to a factor called “total road load horsepower” or TRLHP. TRLHP is a vehicle-specific resistance level used in vehicle dynamometer testing that determines fuel consumption ratings. TRLHP is established through engineering models that are validated through vehicle testing, including physical track tests referred to as coastdown testing.
Use of these engineering models is a common industry practice, consistent with EPA regulations. These models normally are more reliable and consistent than physical vehicle tests, which can exhibit variability.
As an ongoing practice, Ford conducts tests on production vehicles to validate its engineering models. Based on coastdown testing of the Fusion Hybrid, the company found the TRLHP did not match the values used for the dynamometer testing.
“Upon further testing, Ford also discovered an error specific to how we correlate wind tunnel results into the TRLHP model. Ford’s error was the result of a recent process change, which the company has since corrected,” the company said.
As a result, Ford has communicated to its dealers that new fuel consumption EnerGuide labels will be available in approximately 10 business days and that dealers may continue selling the vehicles until the new labels are received.
Ford estimates that approximately 13,000 of these vehicles have been sold or leased to customers in Canada. Affected Ford and Lincoln owners and lessees in Canada will receive a goodwill payment for the estimated average fuel cost of the difference between the two fuel consumption labels.
Affected Canadian fleet owners will be contacted by their local Ford representatives.


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The A4-sized panel of Piezoelectric film converts sound waves into electrical charge via interlaced quartz crystals, this is fed into a small battery and onward to a connected mobile device
Visitors to the UK's best-known music festival are almost guaranteed three things - mud, loud music and a dead mobile device battery. Happily, Orange has increased the number of Chill 'n' Charge tents to help make sure lines of communication stay open and - in what is now becoming as much of a tradition as Glastonbury itself - the company has announced the development of a new green charging technology. Previous projects have included a Power Pump and last year's Orange Power Wellies, and the latest prototype charger is no less impressive. As the name may indicate, the Sound Charge t-shirt turns sound waves into electric charge, allowing the wearer to top up a device battery while thrashing around in the mosh pit.


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With less then a week left until Christmas, many retailers on the Central Coast are anxious to see how the weather affects sales on Super Saturday, which is one of the biggest shopping days of the year.


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A big interest payment is due Feb. 1, but Nio will likely go out of cash upfront
Numerous reports arrived on Jan. 15 that Nio had raised $1 billion in financing from Guangzhou Automobile Group (OTCMKTS: GNZUF ) wednesday.
Nevertheless, on the South China Morning Post reported that Guangzhou Automobile had confirmed that it would potentially invest up to only $150 million in Nio thursday.
Nio Is Starving for Cash
Nio’s report that is third-quarter released on Dec. 30, 3 months following the end of their matching quarter. The report shows cash that is nio’s was down seriously to just $274.3 million.
But on June 30, 2019, Nio had $503 million in money and assets readily available. Which means Nio lost $228.7 million within the quarter that is third.
So that the company cannot manage to keep on burning through such considerable amounts of money.
Throughout the quarter that is third Nio burned through $228.7 million. In addition to business likely burned through the same quantity into the quarter that is fourth.
Will $150 Million Really Assist Nio?
Nio will probably need certainly to raise significantly more than $150 million to be able to endure. I estimate that by Dec. 31, 2019, the ongoing business had $45 million or less readily available
How come i believe therefore? Here’s just what Nio said about its cash stability when you look at the report december:
“The business runs with constant loss and negative equity. The Company’s cash stability is maybe perhaps not adequate to produce the desired working capital and liquidity for constant procedure within the next year. The Company’s continuous procedure … is based on the Company’s capacity to get adequate external equity or financial obligation funding.”
The report additionally said that it’s “working on several financing projects” and will announce any developments whenever appropriate.
Therefore here may be the issue. By Jan. 31, for a price of $229 million per quarter, Nio will burn off through another $76 million. But it probably just had $45 million on hand at the conclusion for the 12 months.
Despite having another $150 million from Guangzhou vehicle, that will just provide it $195 million. Perhaps the ongoing company may survive 8 weeks on that, however it is not yet determined. When I talked about, the company is burning $229 million per quarter.
If you have no statement of outside money because of the finish of 2020, investors should likely expect the worst january.
Huge Debt Service Requirements
More over, one analyst published that by Feb. 14, Nio must create an interest payment that is large. Nio sold $650 million in senior notes that are convertible with rates of interest at 4.5per cent, in February 2019. The attention is payable semi-annually.
Which means that Nio has got to produce a $14.6 million interest payment on Feb. 1 — only a weeks that are few today.
Failure to produce that re re payment would place the ongoing business in standard. And it also may likely trigger a true wide range of bad activities.
Therefore, if Nio knows it will likely montana installment loan online enter into a bankruptcy filing, in order to protect its remaining assets from creditors that it can’t make the payment. Unfortuitously, which will likely imply that current shareholders could end up getting no value with regards to their stocks.
Even though the convertible senior records are investing available in the market well below their par value, they are trading greater in past times many weeks. Perhaps these investors suspect that Nio can pull a financing round off. Perhaps the Feb. is believed by them 1 payment can be made on time.
Therefore, that knows really what will take place with Nio’s funds? If Nio helps make the interest re payment utilizing the $150 million from Guangzhou, it could perhaps perhaps not keep money that is enough endure.
The conclusion on Nio Inventory
To express that Nio stock is extremely speculative will be underrating the specific situation. I’ve been warning concerning the company’s funds in many of my articles that are previous.
Something is for certain. There is absolutely no margin of security right here. This is simply not a play for defensive investors. In reality, this indicates very likely that Nio stock shall come into bankruptcy.
Which may mean investors in Nio stock would end up with no value due to their shares.
One of the ways the business could endure is if it offered it self or a big amount regarding the business. We penned about that at the beginning of December. Whatever the case, it could nevertheless suggest a giant dilution for existing investors.
So then buy the stock if you think that there is a future for Nio. At this time, it would be a significant bargain if you think both the company and the present Nio stock will survive. Needless to say, there are no guarantees about whether Nio stock will survive whatever “financing project” that the motor automobile business will come up with.
Around this writing, Mark Hake, CFA doesn’t hold a situation in almost any regarding the securities that are aforementioned. Mark Hake runs the Total Yield Value Guide which you are able to review right right here. The Guide is targeted on high yield that is total shares. Members be given a two-week free trial offer.


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Hogwarts Legacy has been delayed to next year. Warner Bros has announced that the game, which was originally meant to release by the end of 2022 has now been pushed into next year. Originally, we didn’t have a release date at all for Hogwarts Legacy. In fact, we were hoping for a date soon but Warner Bros was clearly assessing the current development cycle. Hogwarts Legacy will now release on 10 February 2023 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. The Nintendo Switch launch date has not been announced yet.
Warner Bros didn’t share any specific details with fans regarding the game’s delay. In a tweet on the official Hogwarts Legacy account, it simply states that the team needs a little more time to deliver the best possible game experience.
We recently got a closer look at Hogwarts Legacy during an Autodesk showcase event. The game was a highlight during the show as much of the game’s assets have been built on the various Autodesk platforms. The showcase played host to the character creation, some monster sizes, a new cinematic and more. You can read all about that here.
Warner Bros will likely share new information with us soon about Hogwarts Legacy. The one and only gameplay trailer debuted in March and fans are excited to see more. Now that the game has been delayed, we’ll need to practice some patience.
Hogwarts Legacy will launch on February 10, 2023 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. The Nintendo Switch launch date will be revealed soon. The team is excited for you to play, but we need a little more time to deliver the best possible game experience. pic.twitter.com/zh0EsOvDb7
— Hogwarts Legacy (@HogwartsLegacy) August 12, 2022


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Cox Media Group, Amazon | July 22, 2021
CMG Local Solutions today announced a strategic partnership with Amazon Advertising, which will allow CMG Local Solutions advertisers to access local audiences via Amazon Advertising's digital services. CMG Local Solutions advertisers throughout the country may now programmatically acquire display and OTT ads via Amazon DSP and evaluate their campaign performance using Amazon Advertising's suite of full-funnel measurement solutions. These new offerings, when combined with CMG's premi...
marketing-interactive | January 23, 2020
Gojek, Southeast Asia’s multi-service technology platform, and The Trade Desk , a self-service digital and advertising platform technology company, have launched an exclusive partnership to provide advertisers with insight into the impact of their online advertising campaigns. This will extend to offline sales, which can improve the efficiency of marketing decisions to boost business growth. According to the press release, the partnership marks the first online to offline (O2O) measurement...
Poshmark Inc | August 13, 2021
Second-hand retailer Poshmark Inc on Tuesday forecast third-quarter revenue largely below estimates and warned that its marketing efforts were taking a hit from Apple Inc's new privacy controls over digital advertising tracking.
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Comscore | October 28, 2021
Comscore (Nasdaq: SCOR), a trusted partner to more than 3,000 clients across local stations, national networks, station groups, advertising and media agencies, and the entire Movies ecosystem, today announced an agreement with Vistar Media, the leading global provider of programmatic technology for digital out-of-home (DOOH). Under the agreement, Comscore Activation audiences, spanning demographics, personas and cross-platform media consumption, are now available for the first time for DOOH prog...
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DUBLIN — More than half the world’s people lack “social protection coverage” and have been left wide open to “economic shock waves” since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). The ILO, a United Nations body, said in its World Social Protection Report 2020-22 that the pandemic has shown up how billions of people are vulnerable to “high levels of economic insecurity, persistent poverty, rising inequality, extensive informality and a fragile social contract.” While most Western countries and others such as Japan and Singapore “marshalled social protection as a front-line response to protect people’s health, jobs and incomes” as the pandemic spread and related curbs on economic activity were imposed, many low and middle income countries have struggled to emulate wealthier counterparts.
DUBLIN — Most of the world’s big economies are running below pre-pandemic levels despite “accelerating” growth in the second quarter of this year, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Overall gross domestic product (GDP) across the OECD remains 0.7 per cent below that reported at the end of 2019, shortly before the coronavirus pandemic was declared, the Paris-based OECD said on Monday. That’s despite GDP expanding 1.6 per cent across the Group of 7 (G7) economies in the second quarter, up from 0.4 per cent in the first three months of the year. There were “strong variations” among what the OECD calls the “Major Seven” economies, which does not include China, which does not inclide the world’s second biggest GDP after the the US. Britain grew growing the fastest of the 7, at almost 5 per cent from April to June, after a near 2-per-cent contraction during the previous three months, when, like in many Western countries, economically-debilitating pandemic restrictions were in place.
DUBLIN — The pace of growth in “major economies” is likely to moderate, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said on Tuesday, warning of “persisting uncertainties” despite the lifting of pandemic restrictions in many countries. The Paris-based OECD said China could expect “steady growth” in industry, while Britain, much of the European Union, Japan and the US face a general “moderating pace of growth at above-trend level.” For India, which recently was hit with a huge coronavirus surge, “stable” growth prospects have been forecast, but France and Brazil respectively face “below trend” and “slowing” growth. The forecasts came after lower-than-expected second-quarter gross domestic product growth (GDP) numbers for the US and China, by far the world’s two biggest economies.
DUBLIN — For the first time on record, multinational corporations in Ireland last year produced more gross-value-added (GVA) than all other parts of the economy put together. According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), “sectors where foreign-owned multinational enterprises are dominant grew by 23.1 per cent,” pushing their share of GVA from around 45 per cent in 2019 to almost 53 per cent in 2020. But, with Ireland’s government imposing some of Europe’s longest-lasting pandemic restrictions, domestic-focused sectors, including construction, farming and retail, shrank by almost 9 per cent. The CSO said in June that around three-quarters of Ireland’s smaller enterprises reported falling turnover last year.
DUBLIN — A NASA-led research team has developed a “unique” satellite-based deforestation tracking system they hope could avert a “tipping point” for the world’s shrinking jungles. The plan is for the new “tropical vulnerability index” to enhance “early warning” about rainforests facing destruction. According to Sassan Saatchi of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, “frequent droughts, higher temperature and longer dry seasons, along with increasing pressures from deforestation and degradation in the last two decades, have pushed the tropical rainforests to the verge of a tipping point.”
DUBLIN — Despite often living in some of the world’s most resource-rich lands, people in many developing countries face continued poverty due to reliance on commodity exports, according to the UN. In a report published on Wednesday, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said many of the world’s poorer nations depend too much on exporting natural resources and are seemingly “locked into this undesirable state.” A “commodity-dependent” economy gets 60 per cent of merchandise export revenues from sales of goods such as coffee, gas, metals and oil, according to UNCTAD – trade which is “strongly associated with low levels of technology” and “low levels of labour productivity, low productivity growth.” In 2019, two-thirds of developing countries were commodity-dependent, compared to 13 per cent of wealthy or developed economies.
DUBLIN — The global economy is facing losses of up to 4 trillion dollars due to the collapse of international travel, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The coronavirus pandemic and ensuing containment measures have caused a “crisis with devastating effects on developing countries, especially those dependent on tourism,” UNCTAD said on Wednesday.” The worst affected region is likely to be Central America, where gross domestic product (GDP) could shrink by almost 12 per cent by the end of the year in a worst-case scenario.
DUBLIN — Even as the coronavirus pandemic has receded in some parts of the world, coffee drinkers might not be able to sip in peace anytime soon: According to a recent analysis, coronavirus restrictions have likely spurred a crisis across the global coffee industry. In a study published by the National Academy of Sciences in the US, researchers led by academics from Rutgers University said “socio-economic disruptions” since the start of the pandemic “are likely to drive the coffee industry into another severe production crisis.” Lead author Kevon Rhiney warned of “serious implications for millions of people across the globe” if there is turmoil in the sector.
DUBLIN — Foreign direct investment should revive in 2021, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said on Monday, after a 35 per cent global drop last year when lockdowns “slowed down existing investment projects.” According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2021, global investment should “recover some lost ground” by growing 10-15 per cent, as multinational enterprises resume work paused due to “prospects of a recession” last year. The global economy shrank by over three per cent in 2020 but is expected to rebound this year with 5-6 per cent growth, according to recent World Bank and OECD estimates. Though overseas investment is expected to bounce back in tandem with GDP expansion, it will remain 25 per cent below 2019 levels after a tough 2020, according to Unctad’s James Zhang.
DUBLIN — Wealthy city-state Singapore is no longer the world’s most competitive economy, according to the Institute for Management Development (IMD), which on Thursday put Switzerland top of its 2021 World Competitiveness Ranking. Singapore topped the list for the previous two years and was the sole Asian representative in the top five, which was rounded out by Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. Though most European countries were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, measured by lives lost and case numbers, the Lausanne-based IMD said the continent’s economies “weather[ed] the health crisis better than most other regions,” with Switzerland ranked highest after it “kept a disciplined financial strategy.” Singapore’s fall from first to fifth came despite being it being relatively lightly hit by the pandemic – and was down to “problems with job losses, lack of productivity and the economic impact of the pandemic,” the IMD said.


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A 10-member delegation of Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) will participate in Inter textile Shanghai fair starting from August 27 at Shanghai, China to showcase their products to attract foreign buyers and investors.
PFC Chief Mian Kashif Ashfaq while presiding the board of directors’ meeting on Friday, said that the fair would provide an opportunity to explore new avenues by sharing vision, expertise for formulation of future policies, economic studies, sectoral and project specific reports besides promotional efforts.
According to press release issued by PFC, Kashif said that the government was working on strengthening and improving Pakistan’s relations with China.
He said that during one-on-one meetings with their counterparts in China, they would inform Chinese investors about the philosophy and vision behind the “Naya Pakistan” slogan, which would raise hopes of hurdle free opportunities of investment in Pakistan.
“Pakistan has made progressive strides recently for improvement of ease of doing business and created a favourable environment to attract investment. Pakistan’s large population and geo-strategic location makes it an ideal investment destination,” he added.
He further apprised the meeting of the current economic position, despite imbalances in volume of trade between Pakistan and China, economic and trade relations between Pakistan and China held great potential and there was dire need for Pakistani business community to focus on improving their competitiveness in the Chinese market.
He urged the businessmen to take full advantage of concessions granted by China under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA).
He said that the trade increased despite the fact that Pakistani businessmen used only 3.3% of the total tariff lines. He said Pakistan could only export in 253 tariff lines out of the total 7550, where average export value was $500.
He said that there was a great demand of Pakistani furniture products abroad as its designs are unique besides popularity of properly processed high quality wood for its durability.
He said exporting furniture to China could be an uphill task for Pakistani manufacturers due to the neck to neck competition in Chinese markets but still many are succeeding to tap Chinese furniture market with patience and the right partners.
Mian Kashif said despite a small branch in the furniture industry, outdoor furniture contains huge market potential and they would try to exploit this branch as outdoor furniture was in great demand due to the Chinese government’s ever increasing attention to expand public gardens in China.
PFC Chief said Pakistan has the capacity to gain its fair share in the international markets but the government needs to provide robust backing to the furniture industry, otherwise, individual efforts may not fetch the desired results.
Secretary PFC Aqal Sardar said that if Pakistan could earn foreign income of $8 million to $12 million in a year from furniture exports, a sizable spike in these figures could be seen if effectual and appropriate measures are taken by furniture manufacturers in Pakistan and vigorous support is provided by the government.


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Blog: Inditex inches ahead
Leonie Barrie | 11 June 2008
Signs that consumers across western Europe are tightening their belts were seen today in a slowdown in sales and profit growth at Spanish retail giant Inditex.
Yes its first quarter profits rose 10% to EUR219m and sales were up 9% to EUR2.218bn, but its previously invincible Zara fashion chain was weighed down by a slowdown in the Spanish retail boom, tighter credit conditions and unseasonably cold weather which hurt sales of summer clothing.
The retailer, which also operates the Bershka, Massimo Dutti and Oysho chains, was partly shielded from troubles in its home market – where it generates more than a third of its sales and has almost half its stores – by new store openings overseas.
And it plans to continue its aggressive rollout this year, with between 560 and 640 new stores in 2008 helping to diversify its exposure risk to fluctuating markets.
Closer to home, a recent report suggests there are also growth opportunities in Spain’s still underdeveloped out-of-town sector, the fledgling multi-channel offer and internet retailing.
Fashion retailer H&M and UK based glove and leather manufacturer Pittards both say they are monitoring the situation in Ethiopia closely after the country's government declared a state of emergency af...
Increasing competition for garment sourcing contracts is seeing China not only being challenged by other countries in Asia, but by sub-Saharan African and even Russian suppliers too. And it is pushing...
The monthly minimum wage for workers in Cambodia's textile, garment and footwear sector is set to rise to $153 from January next year, following a vote on the issue last week. The increase marks a ris...
The results of two highly-anticipated initiatives in the sportswear sphere were revealed last week: the launch of Under Armour’s new UAS lifestyle brand and the first pair of running shoes created at ...
- Fashion fit for the future – strategies for speed
- Digitisation to drive new apparel-making models
- Will new Vietnam wage hinder competitiveness?
- Under Armour Lighthouse will disrupt production
- How TAL Apparel is staying ahead of the game
- Gap to shutter all UK Banana Republic stores
- M&S "unappealing" clothing a barrier to growth
- Reebok Liquid Factory reinvents shoe production
- Child refugees found in Turkey apparel factories
- Bangladesh tops China as lead cotton importer
- Africa-Med strategic sourcing review – comparing East Africa, North Africa and Turkey
- REPORT BUNDLE: Africa-Med, Southeast Asia and Central America strategic sourcing pack
- Southeast Asia strategic sourcing review – a focus on Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar
- Apparel (GLOBAL) - Industry Report
- Global Sports and Fitness Wear Market 2016-2020


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Hasbiotech, the health investment of BUBA Ventures, is the company of Biosplice Therapeutics, Inc., which draws attention with its Turkish partners and investors. They started a joint project with Biosplice Therapeutics, Inc. from now on, it will continue to invest in generic drug development related to androgenetic alopecia in Turkey together with Hasbiotech.
With this joint project, Hasbiotech aims to present its effective product against hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) to the health system as an original Turkish Medicine, according to the results of the Phase 3 study, successfully completed by Biosplice Therapeutics, Inc. in many centers in Turkey.
Offering the original products brought from abroad in Turkey to the health system since 2009, Hasbiotech continues its investments by including original molecule development projects with this project.
“Our new vision has become the goal of developing an original molecule by breaking new ground in Turkey”
Hasbiotech, which plans to ensure that the original product, which will be developed with an investment plan extending from Turkey to the surrounding countries and Europe, turns into a successful commercial product in the world market, plans to continue its innovative original product investments with the projects it will implement in Turkey and the world.
Muhip Asutay, General Manager of Hasbiotech, delivered the following statements regarding the agreement, “As a Turkish company, we are proud to be involved in an investment that will enable the use of products in the Turkish market with Biosplice Therapeutics, Inc., one of the important biotechnology companies of San Diego. As one of the rare companies in Turkey with the vision of drug development on a global platform, Hasbiotech, with the partnership it has established, we believe will be an important step for Turkey to become a player in the field of original drug development in the world. The goal of developing original molecules by breaking new ground in Turkey has become our new vision.”