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Natasha Singer and Mike Isaac of the New York Times write about Facebook chief executive Marc Zuckerberg’s recent decision to create the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a new L.L.C. with the express purpose of coordinating the charitable giving of Mr. Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan. The article begins as follows:
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the organization that the Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, introduced this week, has three important letters at the end of its name: L.L.C.
L.L.C. stands for limited liability company, which is a specific type of business structure. The use of such an entity, revealed on Tuesday when the couple said they intended to give away 99 percent of their shares in Facebook during their lifetimes, shines a spotlight on an atypical but increasingly popular financial vehicle in philanthropy.
Traditionally, philanthropists have set up nonprofits to make charitable donations. Under the federal tax code, charities and foundations are required to spend a minimum of 5 percent of the value of their endowment every year for charitable purposes. There is also a nonprofit tax designation for advocacy groups, like the Sierra Club or the American Civil Liberties Union.
But a limited liability company is a structure that acts partly like a corporation and partly like a business partnership. The structure can provide benefits, and specifically one important advantage to the young billionaires: more control. (Some of them are giving away money earlier in their careers compared with benefactors of past eras — like the Rockefellers and Andrew Carnegie, who largely began their philanthropy closer to the ends of their lives.)
Read the full article here.
See also the following articles on the same topic:
- Suzanne Woolley, Four Reasons the Facebook Fortune is Going into an LLC
- Paul Caron, NY Times Debate: Mark Zuckerberg’s Use of a LLC Rather than a Foundation for his $45 Billion Charitable Giving
- Pui-Wing Tam, Daily Report: Mark Zuckerberg Explains His Use of Limited Liability Company
Posted by Logan Davis, Associate Editor, Wealth Strategies Journal.


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Professional Community for Car Dealers, Marketing, Advertising and Sales Leaders
ATLANTA, June 17, 2020 -- PureCars, a leading provider of digital marketing and advertising insights for automotive dealers, today announced it has been certified as an official provider of digital advertising for the Porsche Dealer Program. PureCars is now certified in a total of 14 OEM programs across the U.S.
PureCars' digital advertising insights are powered by Meridian, its premier automotive marketing platform that combines powerful business intelligence tools with…Continue
Added by John Sternal on June 18, 2020 at 11:28am — No Comments
Credit Approvals See Significant Rebound from April Rates
CINCINNATI, OHIO (June 18, 2020) – Swapalease.com, the nation’s largest car lease marketplace, reports car lease credit applicants registered a…Continue
Added by John Sternal on June 18, 2020 at 8:05am — No Comments
Beep among initial participants selected to promote the safe development and testing of autonomous vehicles across the United States
Beep, an Orlando-based autonomous shuttle service provider, is among 17 initial participants selected by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the Automated Vehicle Transparency and…Continue
Added by John Sternal on June 16, 2020 at 8:44am — No Comments
View the latest COVID-19 data report from PureCars.
Background: We’re far from “all clear” but evidence of COVID fatigue is everywhere you look. Depending on where you live, you can either step…Continue
Added by John Sternal on June 10, 2020 at 6:42am — No Comments
Partnership will enhance payment capabilities for lenders and finance companies across the Inovatec system…Continue
Added by John Sternal on June 9, 2020 at 6:00am — No Comments
Breakdown of Brand % of Sales May 22 - May 28
Added by John Sternal on June 2, 2020 at 8:30am — No Comments
Online Training Program Helps F&I Personnel Elevate Skills to Improve Profit and Customer Satisfaction Levels
CHESTERFIELD, MO (May 20, 2020) – Protective Asset Protection, a leading provider of F&I programs, services and dealer owned warranty company programs, has made available its library of professional development training courses to all dealership personnel and agents. This…Continue
Added by John Sternal on May 20, 2020 at 5:56am — No Comments
Inovatec, a cloud-based software solutions provider, today announced that it has been awarded the Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (TISAX)…Continue
Added by John Sternal on May 12, 2020 at 11:30am — No Comments
Here is the latest COVID-19 report for auto dealers, filled with data and insights from PureCars that shows that continued impact the pandemic is having on the industry, tips to help dealers make the right decisions for their business, and trends that show where dealers in some of the earliest and hardest-affected…Continue
Added by John Sternal on April 28, 2020 at 6:00am — No Comments
Lease Approval Ratings and Consumer Shopping Habits Shift Amongst COVID-19 Pandemic
Swapalease.com, the nation’s largest car lease marketplace, reports car lease credit applicants registered a 69.3% approval rate in March, a slight decline from the February rate of 72.3%.
March experienced a higher number of applicants with qualifications…Continue
Added by John Sternal on April 23, 2020 at 7:33am — No Comments
Given the unprecedented climate that has taken place resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak and containment efforts, we have received a large number of questions in regards to how this event impacts credit reporting particularly given the recent…Continue
Added by John Sternal on April 21, 2020 at 9:00am — No Comments
Majority of Finance Executives Report Deficiency in Sophisticated Systems to Help Manage Complex Loans and Transactions
BURNABY, BC (April 16, 2020) - Inovatec Systems Corp., a provider of industry-leading, cloud-based software solutions for all financial institutions, today announced the results of its latest survey, showing 61% of executives who finance equipment reported their organization lacks modern process management…Continue
Added by John Sternal on April 16, 2020 at 12:41pm — No Comments
Thu, Apr 23, 2020 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Join PureCars Founder and CEO, Jeremy Anspach, as he sits down with fellow thought leaders David Kain and Rick Ricart to discuss what recovery looks like for auto dealers as we begin to look toward re-opening from the COVID-19 Crisis. Jeremy, David and Rick will discuss the bold strategies that are paying off big for…Continue
Added by John Sternal on April 16, 2020 at 12:07pm — No Comments
The COVID-19 has impacted virtually every aspect of personal and business life including the credit reporting marketplace. The recently signed CARES Act includes measures related to reporting information during these times. The automotive industry is responding by leveraging credit reporting codes that are available for times of disaster to help mitigate the potential negative impact of late, missed, or deferred auto loan payments.…Continue
Added by John Sternal on April 15, 2020 at 9:07am — No Comments
Automotive dealer advertising and attribution technology provider, PureCars, just released its weekly COVID-19 Dealer Report for the week of April 10, 2020. It is the third installment of its weekly report. The report offers weekly data insights on shopper trends to help auto dealers make up-to-the-minute decisions that are best for their business. Please …Continue
Added by John Sternal on April 13, 2020 at 11:19am — No Comments
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), Beep Inc. and NAVYA partner with Mayo Clinic to safely transport COVID-19 samples on their Jacksonville Campus
For the first time in the United States, autonomous vehicles are being used to transport medical supplies and COVID-19 tests at Mayo Clinic in Florida.
At a time when healthcare resources and personnel are…Continue
Added by John Sternal on April 2, 2020 at 10:20am — No Comments
F&I program provider, Protective Asset Protection, is making the following proactive measures to assist dealers and lenders currently during the COVID-19 outbreak and containment efforts.
Dealers and lenders continue to face great challenges as the nation continues to try to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Here are several ways Protective is trying to help:…
Added by John Sternal on March 24, 2020 at 1:53pm — No Comments
Automotive Manufacturers Offer Aggressive Lease Deals on Many Vehicles Amidst Sales Slump in Response to COVID-19
Wantalease.com, the nation’s first online marketplace for new lease deals, reports the latest update on new lease offerings for the month of March. Several brands offered significant discounts on mid-size cars and SUVs, likely a result of falling sales due to COVID-19. OEM’s are offering aggressive deals on lease payments to attract shoppers and potential…Continue
Added by John Sternal on March 24, 2020 at 12:34pm — No Comments
As the Novel Coronavirus continues to spread and reports of hand sanitizer and toilet paper shortages increases, our team wanted to do something to help support car dealerships that have recently shut down their showrooms.
After many discussions with clients & partners, the team created materials for dealerships that don't have the internal marketing staff or resources to update their website and enhance their customer communications.
Added by John Sternal on March 23, 2020 at 8:13am — No Comments
Online Credit Applications Increase as Shoppers Seek Alternative Means of Vehicle Acquisition
Swapalease.com, the nation’s largest car lease marketplace, reports car lease credit applicants registered a 72.3% approval rate in February, an increase from the January rate of 70%. The desire to have more flexibility in a lease has continued to be a primary driver for more people to seek vehicle leases with shorter terms that they can afford on secondary markets such as…Continue
Added by John Sternal on March 19, 2020 at 11:30am — No Comments

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IBM, Sanyo Test Fuel Cells With ThinkPads
Although the collaboration won't produce a viable product for some time, IBM executives touted the prototype as an example that the fuel-cell technology was viable and capable of governing the future direction of ThinkPad hardware, which will be transferred to China's Lenovo Group later this year. The external fuel cell pack, which looks very much like a docking station, works with existing ThinkPad X-Series, T-Series and R-Series models.
"It's the first step in a long journey, really," said Howard Locker, chief architect for mobile and desktop systems at IBM, in an interview.
Read the full story: IBM, Sanyo Test Fuel Cells With ThinkPads.
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If you're looking to work for a company with the potential for huge growth, and you have the chops, there are dozens of newly launched tech startups looking for you, and you don't have to go all the way to the San Francisco Bay Area's Silicon Valley to find one.
So many startups have chosen to locate in Westside LA coastal communities that the area has been dubbed "Silicon Beach."
Local news from across Southern California
The rebound from the "great recession" has been called the "jobless recovery," but new companies need employees, and tech is in the midst of an ongoing boom seemingly untouched by the ongoing problems elsewhere in the economy.
It's providing opportunities not only for experienced computing engineers and product developers, but also 20-somethings eager to get in on the ground floor at a company before it takes off.
Fresh out of college, Kiran Sandhu of Simi Valley had worked two years as a sales rep for the Nestle Company. But the opportunity to join a young, fast-growing company led her to interview with Santa Monica-based Edgecast Networks, and she was hired as a project manager.
"I didn't have much tech, but I'm willing to learn," Sandhu said.
Her new employer is one of the growing players in the field of Internet content delivery networks.
"We basically deliver service to make the Internet faster," said James Segil, Edgecast President, a serial entrepreneur who co-founded the company just five years ago.
Within another year, its goal is to be facilitating 10 percent of all worldwide Internet traffic.
Edgecast is staffing up to keep up with its ambition. Segil said Edgecast currently has 120 employees.
"We want to hire 40-50 in the next six months," Segil said.
Edgecast is not alone, and new startups are appearing every month.
Logan Senn, 29, was already working for an established web company, managing websites, when he heard about a startup called SteelHouse.
"I saw an opportunity here I couldn't pass up," said Senn at Steelhouse's headquarters in a business park near the banks of Ballona Creek.
SteelHouse was founded by Mark Douglas, a Silicon Valley veteran turned entrepreneur. Douglas had a vision for "behavioral commerce," and SteelHouse is developing software technology for Internet retailers.
"We basically help them understand you as a consumer," Douglas explained.
SteelHouse promises increased sales to retailers; the carrot for online consumers is real-time discounts or other incentives to sweeten the deal.
A 10-fold increase in the number of e-tailers using SteelHouse's "The Opportunity Machine" has compelled the company to increase its workforce, Douglas said.
For key positions in product development and sophisticated engineering, demand for talent has led to competition and bidding wars between startups.
"If we make an offer and they're not getting an offer from someone else, we wonder if we're making right offer," Douglas said with a laugh.
SteelHouse, like a number of tech companies, lures talent with perks such as an onsite play room (think pingpong and RC helicopters) and unlimited vacation time -- take as much as you want, so long as you get your work done. And Douglas promises Steelhouse will pitch in $2,000 to cover your vacation cost.
For sought after talent, a major incentive is the chance to be on the cutting edge of "the next big thing."
During his two decades in tech, product developer Marwan Soghaier had previously worked with Douglas, and rejoined him at Steelhouse.
"We're here to break some serious ground with our technology," Soghaier said.
One major source of talent is in-house referrals from current employees. Edgecast encourages this by offering generous incentives, from a new kitchen or home entertainment system all the way up to a trip around the world.
The seed money for new startups continues to come from angel investors and venture capitalists. Clearstone Venture Partners is among those making their home base on Silicon Beach; in Clearstone's case, just a block from Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade.
"The (new) companies are all here, Marina del Rey, Venice, Santa Monica, other parts of West LA, so we decided we wanted to be with them." said William Qigley, a Clearstone managing director.
He foresees continuing growth in a number of Internet areas, including e-commerce, and particularly, online gaming.
The growth provides opportunities for qualified job-seekers. Quigley cautions them to do their homework on startups they're considering, and go where the future is brightest.
"You have to decide if the growth prospects are good," Quigley advised. "You don't want to pick a (business) that's going to be obsolete."
Where to find the tech jobs? Well, connections are important. The Internet is invaluable, with web-based services such as StartupHire, LinkedIn, and even Craig's List.
Senn, Steelhouse's recently hired sales account executive, is convinced he chose well: "This business is just exploding."
At Edgecast's expanding office space near Santa Monica airport, project manager Sandhu said the learning curve is steep, but not overwhelming.
"I continue to grow every day," she said.
For young people about to enter the job market, Edgecast's Segil suggests studying the expanding spectrum of what digital technology can provide.
"Figure out how it works, how to build it, and you'll be hugely valuable to an employer like me who's desperate to find someone like you," Segil said.
Steelhouse's Douglas agreed: the key is to pursue your passion.
"Money can't lead to happiness. But happiness can lead to money," Douglas said.
Back to Work: This story is one in a weeklong series focusing on jobs and employment in Southern California.


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realme announces KL Rahul as the brand ambassador for the smartphone category
realme, the world’s fastest-growing smartphone brand, today announced the appointment of international cricket sensation KL Rahul as its brand ambassador, to endorse its smartphone category. realme’s partnership with the seasoned sports star, who has traced a phenomenal journey in cricket, reinstates the brand ideology of being powerful, stylish and youth-oriented. The celebrated and internationally acclaimed cricketer will work with realme to help grow the smartphones category under the broad umbrella of product offerings.
realme is currently ranked No. 6th brand in the smartphone category globally. The partnership further complements the brand's attitude of setting new benchmarks, inspiring thousands of millennials across the country. An inspiration and a dedicated sports personality, Rahul has created a recognisable niche among the youth. His enigmatic performance in the sport, inspiring growth story, and effortless off-the-field style aligns with the brands’ ideology to be powerful and stylish.
Commenting on the partnership, Francis Wong, Chief Marketing Officer of India, Europe and Latin America said, “With the onboarding of a talented and renowned sports personality KL Rahul, we envision to combine the synergies of both. We are optimistic that the partnership will add unprecedented value to the smartphone category since we will also be able to target the massive fan following Rahul enjoys. We are certain that the partnership of such stature with a seasoned celebrity like him will strengthen the brand proposition of making cutting edge technology, fun, stylish, quality-driven products available to the audience.”
Commenting on the partnership, the cricket star KL Rahul said, “I am honoured and excited to partner with the world’s fastest-growing smartphone brand realme. The fact that the brand has established itself as one of the leaders in the global market makes me proud to have associated myself with them. realme boasts unparalleled products that are stylish and powerful. Furthermore, its ethos of ‘Dare to Leap’ is something that I strongly resonate with. The smartphones are style packed with strong performance and I am certain that the smartphone range provides the right choice for the consumers”.
realme’s appeal amongst the youth has grown overwhelmingly and established its leadership position across the countries. The value of realme products lies in making cutting-edge technology fun, stylish, quality-driven, and within everyone’s reach, ensuring a premium user experience across all price segments.
realme’s ‘Dare to Leap’ approach of constant innovation, product differentiation, and user orientation has helped the young brand set multiple industry benchmarks and firmly establish itself as a domain leader in the fastest time.


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This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.
Facebook's (NASDAQ:FB Libra can't catch a break, as its planned PR boosting in Switzerland with a high-profile US lawmaker hasn't assuaged fears.
Democrat Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who heads the House Financial Services Committee, led a group of six members from the U.S. House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee and met with Libra Association executives as well as Swiss regulators in Switzerland this weekend left the meeting with further doubts “allowing a large tech company to create a privately controlled, alternative global currency.”
"I look forward to continuing our Congressional delegation, examining these issues, money laundering, and other matters within the Committee’s jurisdiction," Waters said in a statement.
The Swiss officials were helpful in understanding the “status, complexity, and magnitude of Facebook’s plans,” Waters said.
Concern about Libra's impact on the global financial system are not just limited to US politicians. China is said to have accelerated development of its digital RMB in response to Libra, fearing that Libra's adoption by Facebook’s 2.38 billion users would only further solidify the USD's grasp on the global economy (it is pegged to the USD). Sensing a business opportunity, Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, recently announced that aims to create regional stablecoins collateralized by local fiat currency -- all in collaboration with local governments.
Libra Isn't DOA -- It Just Needs Reform
Given the intense scrutiny by regulators, some have said that the cryptocurrency is effectively DOA and risks falling apart even before it has launched.
There's definitely a pathway forward for Libra, should it chose to reform itself.
First, the token should be available in multiple denominations and not just USD. That would assuage many fears, both within the US and abroad, that Facebook would have outsized control of the USD -- and thus further entrench its importance within world trade. Having regionalized versions of Libra, just like how Binance is proposing regional stablecoins, and working with respective governments would help this greatly. Facebook, and its Libra Association partners, would still get to challenge incumbent financial institutions by pushing down costs given its scale but it would start to erase the target on its back.
Next, when possible Facebook should push Libra as an open standard that works as well on Facebook's competitors as it does Facebook's products. Although Libra advertises itself as "open-source software" regulators fear that it would give an unfair advantage to Facebook's core products over its competitors. So to nullify these fears, Facebook should work to ensure that Libra is available in competing chat apps like LINE or Telegram so that Libra isn't perceived to be giving Facebook's products an unfair advantage over the competition.
And don't forget about Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media's suggestions. In an open letter he suggests a name change to the "Mark" (as Germany adopted the Euro over 20 years ago, the name "Mark" for a currency is up to grabs per Forbes). Why? The name is bad luck.
"The “Libra” was a measure of weight from the Roman Empire, and we know where that ended up."


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Picture Source – TheVerge
Amazon says it has eliminated pictures with racist language from some listings for headphones on its UK web site, The Monetary Occasions reported. Customers posted screenshots to Twitter of search outcomes for “AirPods” and “bluetooth headphones” that appeared on the e-commerce web site. As an alternative of pictures of headphones, the search outcomes confirmed pictures that contained the N-word.
The listings appeared to be restricted to the UK web site, and appeared on the pages of latest Amazon sellers, most of whom had few or no buyer evaluations, the FT reported.
As of Sunday morning the pictures didn’t seem on Amazon’s UK web site. An Amazon spokesperson advised Reuters
Amazon didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from The Verge on Sunday.


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KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), a concern of Transcom Foods Limited, started journey in the port city through launching its first outlet here yesterday.
Transcom Foods Executive Director Akku Chowdhury inaugurated the outlet at Ameen Centre of Lalkhan Bazar Ispahani Intersection through cutting cake in the afternoon.
"We take pride in making debut in Chittagong, enriched with history of revolution and liberation war," said Chowdhury.
Fanfare and festivity marked the inaugural ceremony.
"Responding to the demand of our valued customers we will introduce some new items to the existing 11 secret spices recipes while ensuring further first-rated services and overall outstanding dining experience,” he said.
The company boss hoped that the international chain's new outlet would add an extra appeal to the customers.
"We have a plan to open a outlet in the beach city of Cox's Bazar soon," he said.
Both KFC and Pizza Hut are subsidiaries of the world's largest International restaurant company Yum. Pizza Hut has also been successfully serving in Chittagong since 2005.


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Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher are currently interviewing Apple’s CEO Tim Cook at the AllThingsD’s D11 Conference.
Walt Mossberg asked Tim Cook whether Apple’s lost its cool factor, if it’s in trouble based on the stock price, which is down significantly and competition from companies like Samsung, which has grown stronger. He also pointed out that Android has a larger marketshare in the smartphone market compared to the iPhone.
Tim Cook had this to say:
Absolutely not. Let’s zoom out and get perspective. We’re a product company and we think about products. We’ve sold 85 million iPhones. 42 million iPads.
More importantly than the numbers, customers love them. Satisfaction ratings are off the charts — unprecedented. Usage is off the charts. Our share of web usage is 59 percent.
I look at that and say, I feel pretty good about that. I feel pretty good. We came out of December of last year with an unprecedented number of new products.
We’ve always had competent rivals. We fought against Microsoft, still fight against Microsoft in the PC space. We fought against hardware companies that were viewed to be incredible hardware companies, like Dell. But we’ve always suited up and fought. I don’t see that different today.
Maybe 15 years ago we were in a different place because we were worried about going out of business.
Our north star is always on making the best products. The best phone, the best tablet, the best PC, the best MP3 player.
If you look at the stock, it’s been frustrating. Frustrating for investors and all of us. This too is not unprecedented. The beauty of being around for a while is you see many cycles. You guys have seen many cycles — you’ve been around as long as I have.
I think what we have to do is focus on products.
While it is highly unlikely that Tim Cook will reveal any details about upcoming products, last year Tim Cook gave us hint at the possibility of Facebook Integration coming to iOS and improvements to Siri during his interview. It will be interesting to see if he gives any such hints this year.
Excerpts of the interview courtesy of The Verge who are live blogging the event.


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Former Stryker CEO Takes Reins at sBioMed
STERIPLEX SD To Lead Global Fight Against Healthcare Associated Infections
OREM, Utah, Nov. 1, 2012 -- sBioMed, an emerging leader in infection control, announced today that Stephen P. MacMillan, former Chairman and CEO of Stryker, has joined the company as Chief Executive Officer and become an owner of the company.
sBioMed has developed breakthrough patented antimicrobial technologies, offering an unprecedented level of efficacy and safety. The company's flagship product STERIPLEX SD is the first and only Clostridium difficile sporicide and broad-spectrum, one-step disinfectant, which is also remarkably safe, completely non-fuming, non-corrosive, and contains no bleach.
The technology is similar to the company's anthrax remediation product, STERIPLEX Ultra, the only EPA-registered product available that kills anthrax spores.
Brian Larson, sBioMed's cofounder and chairman, said, "After a decade of research, over 500 studies and EPA-registration, we are excited to enter the full-scale commercialization process. With Steve's leadership, we can help eliminate Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) globally."
"It's rare to find a product with such revolutionary potential," MacMillan said. "STERIPLEX SD will save lives, improve healthcare delivery and protect caregivers, while reducing healthcare costs and preserving the environment. I'm also excited about the chance to work with the sBioMed team to build a very special global company based in Utah."
With the growing incidence of C. diff and other superbugs, infections are now the fourth leading killer in the U.S., at a cost to the U.S. healthcare system of tens of billions of dollars annually. Effective January 1, 2013, costs associated with HAIs will no longer be reimbursed, giving hospitals a strong incentive to eliminate HAIs. Hospitals currently employing STERIPLEX SD have charted a significant drop in HAIs.
STERIPLEX SD is EPA-registered for use on food contact surfaces (NSF D2) and can even be used on children's toys. With the best MSDS health rating of "0," STERIPLEX SD provides broad-spectrum sporicidal disinfection for institutions that want to reduce HAIs, increase workplace safety, and eliminate their use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Learn more about STERIPLEX on the company's website, www.steriplex.com .


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Nikki and Brie Bella have discussed returning to WWE, just over a year after announcing their retirement from the ring.
The twins, who are both new mums, appeared on the Tamron Hall Show and discussed coming back to WWE to challenge for the Women's Tag Team titles.
"When Nikki and I left, the Tag Team titles came and we were like, wait a second, those titles are for the Bella twins, how'd they come after us?" Brie said.
"So Nikki and I said we definitely have one more last run in us. It's not anytime soon. We'd kind of like to do it in a couple years is what we're feeling because we'd like our boys to be 2 and watch us."
Nikki went on to say that "the dream" would be for their sons to see them ringside as they compete, while Brie said the tag titles were on the "Bellas' bucket list".
Nikki added: "We both felt like our last run, we're like, that's not what we want to end on, like our careers officially. We just have that one more left in us."
Last year, Brie teased returning to WWE for a shot at the Women's Tag Team titles, telling Digital Spy: "You might not see us anytime soon, but you will see us down the road at some point eyeing those tag titles.
"It's just hard to live in a world where we're the Bella Twins and there are Women's Tag titles out there. We will cross paths."
Just under two hours earlier, Brie announced she had welcomed a son named Buddy with husband Daniel Bryan. Brie and Bryan are already parents to daughter Birdie.
Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access the latest edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner – we'll be bringing you our pick of the very best Black Friday tech and entertainment deals right here.


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The state legislature legalized medical cannabis in 2021. Now two years later, 21 businesses in the state have been awarded licenses to take part in the industry.
The most sought-after license was for integrated facilities, garnering 38 applications for just 5 available. Businesses labeled as integrated facilities authorize everything from seed to sale and allow for the operation of five dispensaries.
Flowerwood Medical Cannabis Group was awarded that license, and owner Christina McInnis says they’re ready to hit the ground running.
“We got to get to work on the way home today. So we’ve got a lot we have to do, from security system to websites, to other different things to make sure we can get the information out,” McInnis said.
The company is based in Baldwin County, and McInnis says they plan to open dispensaries in that county as well as in Mobile, Monroeville, Gadsden and Montgomery.
However, other applicants weren’t so lucky. Antoine Mordican’s company, Native Black Cultivation, was denied a cultivator license.
“We’ll do whatever we need, appeals, investigation, whatever it takes to really understand the reason why we weren’t selected to make sure we can put our best effort forward for the next go around,” Mordican said.
The University of South Alabama evaluated each application, scoring them based on factors like financial ability, facility security and quality control. The commission took those scores into consideration for their votes.
Sen. Bobby Singleton cosponsored the bill that made this all possible. He says once the industry is up and running, the legislature may look into expanding.
“Between now and the next five years, we might be looking at opening up this legislation again, to be able to grow this industry,” Singleton said.
He also says this could open the door for legalizing recreational cannabis down the road.
“I didn’t say it but yeah,” Singleton said. “If you look at what other states have down, other states have come back within 18 months after passing medical to do recreational, and tax dollars drive that. So it’ll be interesting to see what my colleagues see when dollars start rolling in, when we start getting testimonies from people saying it helps.”
The applicants who were awarded have 14 days to submit the license fee to the commission, which will officially issue licenses at the July 10 meeting.
Here is a full list of the businesses awarded licenses:
- Integrated Facility License
- Flowerwood Medical Cannabis, LLC
- Southeast Cannabis Company, LLC
- Sustainable Alabama, LLC
- TheraTrue Alabama, LLC
- Verano Alabama, LLC
- Cultivator License
- Blackberry Farms, LLC
- Gulf Shore Remedies, LLC
- Pure by Sirmon Farms, LLC
- Twisted Herb Cultivation, LLC
- Processor License
- 1819 Labs, LLC
- Enchanted Green, LLC
- Jasper Development Group Inc.
- Organic Harvest Lab, LLC
- Dispensary License
- CCS of Alabama, LLC
- RJK Holdings AL, LLC
- Statewide Property Holdings AL, LLC
- Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries, LLC
- Secure Transport License
- Alabama Secure Transport, LLC
- International Communication, LLC
- Tyler Van Lines, LLC
- State Testing Laboratory License
- Certus Laboratories


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It’s much less playful than earlier than and might sit amongst different jewellery extra simply,” says Fine Matter’s Preston. Finally, a comprehensive Talks programme completely for jewellery lovers will run this yr at Jewellery Arabia on the Diamond Dialogues Stage. However, engaged on nuances corresponding to design development, innovation and production can help or not it’s seen as far more than just a low-cost manufacturing centre. The model of new parliament, which was not on the market, was made by the group of jewelry manufactuerers who’re members of SJMA. Peter Gough of Oilean Jewellery specialises in distinctive handcrafted pieces inspired by Irish land- and seascapes.
India’s diamond business plans to cut back its financial institution financing requirements by a 3rd, targeting $4 billion for the present fiscal yr, down from $6 billion in FY23. Traders are specializing in clearing current inventory somewhat than accumulating more, which would necessitate additional borrowing. “Natural diamond jewelry gross sales were up 5.1% by items and 4.7% by revenue in November, when vacation purchases picked up within the US. Loose diamond unit gross sales rose 16% in November on a year-on-year foundation,” said Vipul Shah, chairman of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council . Jewellery and watch business enterprise news, perception and releases, from UK, Europe and around the world. Find out what’s going on in retail jewelry, jewelry manufacturing and up coming occasions.
- The company’s expansion plans embrace opening 20 to 30 more areas in North America and the Middle East collectively over the subsequent two to a few years.
- With costs beginning within the $25-$35 range, it puts Pandora throughout the attain of most consumers’ wallets and its expansive range of allure designs assures there is something within the collection for everybody.
- In the face of the heightened uncertainty, Lacik supplied reassurance, stating that the corporate has “the financial energy to maintain a prolonged interval with lockdowns”.
Kanchi is the detailed gold waistband studded with diamonds rubies, pearls and emeralds. It has small bells which, according to the temple authorities, symbolise purity. The idol of Ram Lalla is adorned with jewellery pieces carrying significance conforming with scriptures, the temple belief stated. A Tanishq jewellery showroom in Gandhidham city of Gujarat’s Kutch district has put up a notice on its door, apologising to Hindus within the district over the brand’s controversial TV advert which has been withdrawn. In states where publicity expenditure was low in an election yr, the incumbent authorities Jewelery News mostly misplaced the election and did not get reelected, an SBI report, based mostly on evaluation of 23 state elections in last 5 years stated. Zomato recently confronted a massive backlash on social media over an agent asking a user from the state to study Hindi – the nationwide language – when the shopper known as to complain about a lacking item in the food order.
On Saturday 20 June, the City of Melbourne’s Pedestrian Counting System recorded 2,753 individuals at its Bourke Street Mall North sensor between 2pm and 3pm. Paul Zahra, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association , said that while the retail sector was “shifting out of disaster in direction of recovery”, the economic recession indicated that “recovery will be slow”. However, the payments were, at the time of publication, as a outcome of expire on 27 September. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics , retail turnover figures noticed their largest fall on document in April 2020.
On his left hand, there is a gold bow with pearls, emeralds and the right has the arrow. Decorated with a large ruby and diamonds, the Kaustubha Mani adorns the heart of the idol. The Trust said according to scriptures, all incarnations of Vishnu put on this gem in their heart. The gold crown embedded with rubies, emeralds and diamonds has been crafted in North Indian tradition. BJP patriarch L K Advani had chastised the media through the Emergency when he said, ‘You were asked to bend, you crawled.’ There is not any Emergency right now.


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Some Penneys stores were forced to open early this morning as hundreds of people waited in queues to get inside.
On Mary Street in Dublin city centre, some shoppers had been queuing since 3am, with the queue stretching right around the block.
The store had not been due to open until 10.30am, however, according to the Irish Mirror, the opening time had to be pushed forward to 8.45am on the advice of gardai as the queue continued to grow.
There were also similar scenes in Cork this morning as a queue stretched hundreds of metres down several streets as shoppers waited for their turn to enter the store.
And the Patrick Street store was also forced to open ahead of the 10.30am scheduled opening.
The store have strict measures in place in store to protect staff and customers.
Primark CEO Paul Marchant asked yesterday for cooperation from customers in adhering to social distancing measures.
He said: “While it might take a little longer to get into store, once inside, customers will find all their favourite Penneys products and plenty of choice as usual.
"We have worked hard to make sure that clear signage and extra help will be there to guide them through the changes we have made to allow for social distancing.
“We are also asking customers to respect the measures we have put in place to help ensure shopping at Penneys is an enjoyable, safe experience for everyone.”


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Google's parent company Alphabet announces fourth quarter 2020 & full year financial results, big increase in profits with the momentum of YouTube and Google Cloud
Google's parent company Alphabet has released its fourth-quarter and full-year financial results for 2020. In 2020, the global economy stagnated due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), but Google's earnings increased year-on-year in both the fourth quarter and the full year. Most of this revenue comes from Google search advertising revenue, but YouTube advertising revenue also jumped 46% year-on-year, boosting overall revenue.
Alphabet Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2020 Results
Alphabet reports Q4 2020 revenue of $ 56.9 billion --9to5Google
YouTube Ad Revenue Pops 46% to $ 6.89 Billion, Fueling Alphabet Q4 --Variety
According to Alphabet's announcement, revenue for the fourth quarter to December 31, 2020 will be $ 56.9 billion and net income will be $ 15.65 billion. That thing. Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $ 46,075 million and net income was $ 10,671 million, compared to the same period last year. Revenues were up 23% and net income was up 46%.
Below is a table showing revenue, operating income and net income for the fourth quarter.
For the full year of 2020, Alphabet reported revenue of $ 182.5 billion and net income of $ 41.2 billion.
Analysts predicted Alphabet's fourth-quarter earnings of $ 15.90 per share, but actually surpassed it by $ 22.30. ..
Regarding YouTube, which recorded advertising revenue of 6.89 billion dollars (about 720 billion yen), which increased by 46% in the same period of the previous year, Google and Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat said that the fourth quarter results are not only Google search but also YouTube Also mentioned that it was towed. YouTube was hit hard in the early spring of 2020, the early pandemic of COVID-19, but through TrueView Discovery ads it doubled the number of advertisers and recovered in the third quarter. Revenue growth is also linked to consumer and business activity recovering in late 2020, as well as an increasing platform replay time.
Google Cloud has also grown significantly, recording $ 3.83 billion (about 400 billion yen), up 46% from the same period of the previous year.
Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said, 'The strong results this quarter show that our products and services are useful to people's lives and businesses, and that the move to online services and the cloud is accelerating. That means. Google's success means the success of our customers and partners, and now that our business is heading for the digital future, we're looking to strengthen our meaningful partnerships. ' It was.
On the other hand, “Other Bet”, which develops new businesses, continues to be sluggish, and Verily Life Sciences , which aims to eradicate mosquitoes, and Google Fiber, a project to build broadband Internet, earned $ 196 million (about 20 billion) this term. In yen), it is only a slight increase from 178 million dollars (about 18 billion yen) in the same period of the previous year. Google's revenue still comes from the advertising business, with advertising revenue accounting for 81.2% of the total.
in Web Service, Posted by logq_fa


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At tonight's Game Awards event, Telltale unveiled a trailer for The Walking Dead: A New Frontier.
The eponymous frontier isn't all that's new. Telltale's latest Walking Dead saga stars Javier, a character struggling to help his family survive at what appears to be the outset of the zombie apocalypse.
Javier won't have to go it alone. At the end of the trailer, he meets up with a familiar face from Telltale's corner of the Walking Dead universe.
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier will be available to download on December 20.
David Craddock posted a new article, Game Awards 2016: The Walking Dead: A New Frontier trailer introduces Javier
Looks like more of the first season gameplay to me.


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The Sunday Telegraph understands that the leading City figure and chairman of Centrica is favoured by the board's nominations committee and Nick Rose, the senior independent director leading the search for a replacement for the present chairman, Dick ...
Marks & Spencer's store staff could see their meagre �100 bonus trimmed or ditched after the retail bellwether posts a further fall in annual profits this week.
The latest UK government paper on the impact of Scottish independence will claim the UK is better placed to manage the risk of a financial crisis.
Every British taxpayer is being cheated out of �183 a year as global giants including Google and Amazon avoid paying annual taxes of as uch as �5.5billion.
Nuffield Health, the charity that runs gyms and private hospitals, is the second organisation within a fortnight to offer small investors a high-paying bond.


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There was no bling in Tiffany’s holiday ales. The company announced on Tuesday that sales slumped 5% at stores open at least a year, due mostly to the strong US dollar that scared away tourists.
The company downgraded its 2015 profit outlook and moved to cut costs by slashing jobs.
The poor sales mark the first time since the Great Recession that Tiffany has been forced to cut jobs, according to Wells Fargo.
Tiffany says the cuts will focus on a “range” of functions and will be announced later this month. The company has not revealed how many people will be fired.
“It’s good they’re doing this, but it’s also a little concerning. Is this a sign they think this sales instability is going to continue? Maybe. It doesn’t exactly give you confidence,” said Ike Boruchow, an analyst who covers Tiffany at Wells Fargo.
The company’s stock dropped by 5% on Tuesday. It’s down 15% on the year.
Tiffany blamed its poor sales figures on “challenging and uncertain global economic conditions.”
The company cited “weak tourist spending” in New York and some other markets as visitors to the US purchased less jewelry and foreign visitors avoiding higher costs caused by the US exchange rate.
Nearly 25% of Tiffany sales are from foreign tourists who shop at its flagship store on Fifth Avenue.
The company’s international stores didn’t translate well either as profits converted back into US dollars were lower than normal.


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How Has Bitcoin Disrupted The Insurance Industry In India?
The world’s largest democracy is one of the many markets in which digital currencies have gained a foothold. Although India has closed the door on bitcoin trading through banks, its rapidly growing economy shows great potential for disruption through cryptocurrency technology.
Considering that only 9% of Indian citizens currently use bank accounts, it’s possible that cryptocurrencies could have a profound impact on daily financial transactions in India.
Five ways by which Bitcoin disrupts the insurance industry in India
1) The Indian Government is not supporting Bitcoins, but it allows the public to transact using virtual currency. However, it has introduced taxes for both buyers and sellers of bitcoins.
This means that India’s issuance and acceptance of digital currencies are not legal tenders. However, Indians can transact with other individuals or virtual currencies (like Bitcoin). “
2) The lack of clear directives from the Indian Government has led to a lack of trust in Bitcoins. Moreover, this also creates a situation where many people are confused as it’s still not clear whether Bitcoins will be treated as an asset or currency under the IT Act and other existing laws. As a result, there is a lot of ambiguity around the legal status of Bitcoins in India.
3) Lack of awareness is another reason behind the slow growth of bitcoin traders in India. Most Indians are not aware of virtual currencies or how they work. Hence, only a fraction of the population is using bitcoins at present. If you want to invest in bitcoin, then you can visit the official platform of bitcoin trading.
4) The RBI has banned Indian financial institutions from dealing with virtual currencies directly. But buying and selling bitcoins is not forbidden, and individuals can still trade them on exchanges or through P2P transactions.
5) Indian Government has imposed a tax of 18% on all bitcoin sales and purchases and imposed a capital gains tax of 20%. There are no regulations for virtual currencies in India, though the RBI has warned that those dealing in virtual currencies do so at their own risk.
Five reasons why Bitcoin disrupts the insurance industry in India
1) Most small and medium business owners do not have insurance, which is critical for their growth. If they invest some percentage of income in buying bitcoins, they can use them as an investment vehicle and invest in other traditional instruments like shares, bonds, etc. Thus, Bitcoin act as an asset to people, which is why banks and financial institutions started investing in Bitcoins.
2) Both individuals and organizations can purchase insurance using bitcoins. If you have a product that has no demand in an offline market but can sell online, you should offer your customers the option of purchasing that product using bitcoins. In addition, many online stores are offering their products using bitcoins, thus increasing their utility.
3) Bitcoin exchanges provide services by which you can quickly buy or sell your Bitcoins. Most of these exchanges are based on US Dollars or Japanese Yen, due to which the Indian Government has become strict in regulating them under rules and regulations of Income Tax Act 1961.
If Insurance companies start offering insurance policies on bitcoins, it would be easier for exchanges to become fully compliant. All financial activities will be recorded and stored by Insurance companies.
4) The Reserve Bank of India has said that life insurance companies should not accept payment through Bitcoins. However, this step does not affect the usage of Bitcoins as a capital investment or in any other form.
5) Bitcoins do not take up a lot of memory so that you can store your Bitcoin Wallet at multiple places, and it is entirely secure. This also gives Insurance companies an edge over the traditional method of transactions as they can get access to more customers.
The Indian Government is clear about its part on Bitcoins. They are not legal tender, and people dealing with them do it at their own risk, but the RBI has not banned these currencies completely. The usage of bitcoins in the Insurance industry can create many positive effects for small and medium business owners in India, so the Indian Government should encourage its usage in various forms.


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The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has expanded an investigation into Whole Foods Market after the department says it found evidence of systemic overcharging on pre-packaged foods at the city’s stores.
Representatives of the food industry continue to express their displeasure with the Vermont law that requires the mandatory labeling of genetically modified food and are not going down without a fight, despite the April court ruling that denied a preliminary injunction to block the law from going into effect.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued its final rule on menu labeling, requiring food establishments with 20 or more locations to provide consumers with calorie and other nutrition information for standard menu items.
In an effort to increase awareness of celiac disease, the Canadian government has approved “gluten-free” claims on specialty produced oats and foods containing these oats. This labeling change marks new opportunities for food processors and oat growers.


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Alibaba Selling 11 Main in US Online Market
Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant group has announced it will offload its US shopping subsidiary 11 Main. On Tuesday, Alibaba selling 11 Main, an online marketplace that started only a year ago, to OpenSky, an online-marketplace operator based in New York. In exchange, Alibaba is taking a 37.6% stake in OpenSky.
Alibaba started 11 Main last year based in California, envisioning a shop-window for small-time US merchants and brands as Alibaba sought to lessen its dependence on its home market. The website wasn’t a top priority for the company, which is focused for now on helping US retailers sell to China.
According to Telegraph UK, Alibaba will also sell three support and logistic subsidiaries for 11 Main – Auctiva, Vendio and SingleFeed – to OpenSky.
“OpenSky and 11 Main will be joining forces, and we believe together the combined business will be a strong and healthy independent company in which Alibaba will continue to have a significant equity stake,” Alibaba said.
Alibaba selling 11 main in order to keeps focus on home turf. Alibaba said that the company’s international strategy would focus primarily on helping overseas merchants and brands sell their goods to Chinese consumers, rather than expanding electronic-commerce services that compete head-on with the likes of Amazon in Western.
Alibaba, which went public for $25 billion initial public offering of stock on last September 2014 ( more than Facebook and Coca-Cola), might pursue electronic-commerce opportunities in the U.S. in the long run, but for the time being, analysts and investors are paying more attention to Alibaba’s efforts to solidify its strong position in the Chinese market. Alibaba holds roughly 80% of China’s online shopping market.
Apart from 11 Main, Alibaba has increased its presence in the U.S. market as an investor. In March, Alibaba invested $200 million in Snapchat Inc.


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Which? singles out big brands for lack of environmentally conscious packaging.
By Rebecca Smithers, Consumer affairs correspondent
Crisps, chocolate and cheese are among the worst foods for packaging recyclability, with big brands such as Pringles, KitKat and Babybel singled out for failing to do more to help the environment, a new investigation has claimed.
The consumer group Which? analysed 89 of the UK’s best-selling branded groceries and found only a third (34%) had packaging that was fully recyclable in household collections. About four in 10 (41%) of items had no relevant labelling, leaving even environmentally conscious consumers in the dark about disposal.
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NetGuardians: The Trusted Financial Security Partner
NetGuardians selected in the annual listing of 10 companies that are at the forefront of providing Artificial Intelligence AI solutions and impacting the APAC industry.
There is no denying that the future of banking is digital. While the financial industry has been increasingly witnessing a rapid evolution of digital technologies in the last few years, the added impetus of the COVID-19 pandemic is what has really sealed the digitalized fate of this sector. We are now witnessing banks quickly adapting and improving their digitalization tools to interact with their customers online. As such, we can see a multitude of virtual services like online account opening, P2P payments, mobile payments, and digital wallets quickly coming into prominence around the world.


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Amazon has extended its popular AutoRip service to vinyl records. AutoRip was introduced in January of this year to give customers free digital copies of CDs they purchase. When customers purchase an AutoRip vinyl record, a digital copy of that music will be automatically added to their Cloud Player libraries where it will be available, free of charge, for immediate playback or download. Customers no longer need to go through the hassle of making a digital copy of a vinyl record.
Additionally, customers who have purchased AutoRip records at any time since Amazon first opened its Music Store in 1998 will find digital copies of those albums in their Cloud Player libraries – also for free. Thousands of records, including titles from every major record label, are available for AutoRip, and more titles are being added all the time—just look for the AutoRip logo.
AutoRip features include
- Free digital copies: Amazon customers who purchase AutoRip vinyl records get free MP3 versions of the albums delivered directly to their Cloud Player libraries—automatically, immediately, and at no cost—no more hassling with finding a way to get them onto your favorite devices.
- For vinyl record purchases dating back to 1998: MP3 versions of AutoRip records that customers have purchased since the launch of Amazon’s music store in 1998 will also be delivered to their Cloud Player libraries for free.
- Enjoy everywhere: Music can be played instantly from any Kindle Fire, Android phone or tablet, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Samsung TV, Roku, Sonos, from any web browser, and from Ford SYNC Applink-equipped vehicles, giving customers the freedom to enjoy music from more devices than any other major cloud locker music service.
- Free storage and backup: All AutoRip MP3s are stored for free in customers’ Cloud Player libraries and do not count against Cloud Player storage limits. Customers can buy music and know that it is safely stored in Cloud Player and accessible from any compatible device.
- High-quality audio: AutoRip music is provided in high-quality 256 Kbps MP3 audio.
AutoRip for vinyl is the latest in a series of new digital music features from Amazon launched in recent months. Recently, Amazon announced a new Cloud Player for iPad app, just following the launch of an Amazon MP3 store optimized specifically for iPhone and iPod touch. Earlier this year, Amazon announced Cloud Player integration in Ford SYNC Applink-equipped vehicles, giving customers access to their Cloud Player libraries while on the road.


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Cameroon Poultry Farmers Urge Europe to Ease Trade Restrictions
Cameroon's poultry farmers and sellers are calling on authorities at home and in Europe to loosen trade restrictions put in place over the coronavirus pandemic and avian influenza, which have more than doubled the price of chicken.
Scores of chicken sellers in Cameroon's capital held a one-hour sit-in Monday at the Mvog-Ada chicken market to protest the continued restrictions, which have pushed all but about 25 sellers -- out of 300 last year -- out of business.
One of those remaining chicken sellers is 33-year-old single mother Patricia Lamou, who says providing food and education for her four children is proving difficult.
Lamou says her business started to nosedive in March 2020 when Cameroon reported its first cases of COVID-19. She says her supplier blamed COVID-19-related travel restrictions by Cameroon and Europe for making regular supplies of chicks and hatching eggs impossible.
François Djonou, president of Cameroon's Interprofessional Association of Poultry Farmers, says European countries and Cameroon reduced commercial flights to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The poultry shortage was further aggravated in November 2020, when the European Commission reported that multiple European countries had outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu. The viral infection can cause disease or death in birds and people.
As a precaution, Cameroon banned the import of chicks and hatching eggs from Europe. However, the avian influenza outbreak has since eased.
Cameroon's chicken sellers are pleading with authorities on both sides to drop the trade restrictions, as they are creating a scarcity of chicken and driving up prices in the region.
Since January 2021, the retail cost of 1.5 kilograms of chicken has jumped from $5 to $12 in Cameroon, and up to $15 in neighboring Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, which import from Cameroon.
The poultry farmers group says the situation has forced more than a third of Central Africa's 45,000 large- and small-scale chicken farmers and sellers out of business.


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The week ahead: August 17, 2020
On Wednesday, the Office for National Statistics will publish inflation estimates for July. Price growth is likely to remain below the Bank of England’s 2 per cent target for some time to come, but economists are pencilling in a small increase from 0.6 per cent to 0.8 per cent for the consumer prices index, which excludes housing costs. The opening of non-essential shops in July is likely to have put pressure on prices for services and core goods.
Although cost pressures will be reflected in the July figures, the producer prices index will remain weak. Economists expect input prices to have fallen by 6 per cent in the year to July, down from 6.4 per cent the previous month. Input prices are expected to have


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As part of a continual drive for internal improvements, we are proud to have received our Cyber Essentials security accreditation. This certification assures us and, most importantly, our clients, that the sites we build, host and support are protected from cyber attacks.
E-Commerce is ever-changing and constantly evolving. As such, there are plentiful opportunities but it can also be easy to be left behind! Despite its harsh nature, the industry is booming. There has been a rapid increase in e-commerce specific events around the UK, like E-Commerce Show North and Supercharged Commerce, suggesting that retailers are clearly hungry to grow their retail tool kit.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force across the EU on May 25th 2018. The intention is to “create a landscape of consistency”, providing individuals with more control over how organisations use their personal data and enhancing privacy as a human right.
As deadline day draws nearer, it's vital to ensure that you are fully informed and prepared for compliance. So here's a reminder of the important changes, what effect they will have and some unavoidable actions that we all must take.
On the last weekend in September 2017, I attended the PHPNW conference in Manchester on behalf of CTI Digital. This was something of a special occasion being the 10th anniversary of the conference, but also something of a sad one as it turned out to be the last conference for the foreseeable future.
What is GDPR?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new directive which will come into force on 25th May 2018, superseding the 1995 Data Protection Directive. In a nutshell, GDPR harmonises the standards and creates a uniform data security law on all EU members. Besides EU member states being subject to GDPR, any company that markets goods or services to EU citizens also must adhere to the new regulation.


text: A more comparable statistic for the two markets is the amount of ad dollars each platform will add each year. Despite digital video’s astronomical rise percentagewise, eMarketer projects that TV will add more new dollars this year—$2.19 billion more than 2013, compared with a $1.76 billion increase in digital video ad spending. In addition, we estimate that TV will continue to outpace digital video in dollar growth through 2018. In 2016, for example, our projections show TV almost doubling the amount of new dollars going to digital video channels, due chiefly to advertising surrounding the upcoming US presidential election that year. Read the rest at eMarketer.


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Business & Finance
Morgan Stanley MS +0.57% Morgan Stanley U.S.: NYSE $35.21 +0.20 +0.57% Sept. 15, 2014 4:01 pm Volume (Delayed 15m) : 9.44M AFTER HOURS $35.30 +0.09 +0.26% Sept. 15, 2014 6:33 pm Volume (Delayed 15m) : 195,087 P/E Ratio 16.23 Market Cap $68.74 Billion Dividend Yield 1.14% Rev. per Employee $778,059 09/16/14 Bank of America Merrill Lynch ... 09/16/14 BAML Gets Morgan Stanley Deal ... 09/16/14 Meiya Power Seeks US$231 Milli... More quote details and news » is becoming the latest firm to cut jobs on Wall Street, as it plans to lay off 1,600 employees in its institutional securities business.
Sony's 6758.TO +1.69% Sony Corp. Japan: Tokyo ¥2,163 +36 +1.69% Sept. 16, 2014 3:00 pm Volume (Delayed 20m) : 12.32M P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap ¥2,230.34 Billion Dividend Yield 1.16% Rev. per Employee ¥55,815,900 09/16/14 Nintendo Sells 1 Million Copie... 09/14/14 Investors Bet on Japanese Stoc... 09/14/14 Classical Singer Jackie Evanch... More quote details and news » CEO said the company aims to establish itself as one of the world's top smartphone makers, but he doesn't see a need to acquire another handset maker to solidify its position behind Apple and Samsung.
Google GOOG -0.44% Google Inc. Cl C U.S.: Nasdaq $573.10 -2.52 -0.44% Sept. 15, 2014 4:00 pm Volume (Delayed 15m) : 1.58M AFTER HOURS $573.60 +0.50 +0.09% Sept. 15, 2014 7:55 pm Volume (Delayed 15m) : 15,206 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap $392.48 Billion Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee $1,321,030 09/11/14 Chipheads and Gearheads, Drag ... 09/10/14 Google's Hardware Shift Takes ... 09/10/14 Paving the Internet of Asphalt... More quote details and news » named Karim Temsamani head of the Asian-Pacific region in the Internet giant's latest executive change following the departure of Marissa Mayer to rival Yahoo YHOO -0.77% Yahoo! Inc. U.S.: Nasdaq $42.55 -0.33 -0.77% Sept. 15, 2014 4:00 pm Volume (Delayed 15m) : 71.37M AFTER HOURS $42.88 +0.33 +0.78% Sept. 15, 2014 7:59 pm Volume (Delayed 15m) : 1.04M P/E Ratio 35.17 Market Cap $42.65 Billion Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee $378,594 09/15/14 Alibaba IPO Is a Bonanza for S... 09/15/14 Morning MoneyBeat: Dwindling B... 09/12/14 U.S. Stocks End Lower More quote details and news » last year.
India said its proposal to restrict imports of high-tech products, a move Western companies fear could undermine their business plans, is aimed at protecting the nation's security while encouraging more local manufacturing.
Police officers involved in a weekend shootout were relieved of their duties and restricted to headquarters as the government launched a probe of the incident.
President Obama will nominate Jacob Lew to be U.S. Treasury secretary.
Le Luong Minh, Asean's new secretary-general, pledged to work for maritime security in the South China Sea and formal economic integration during his five-year term.


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APPLE'S latest iPhones open for pre-order today, with the 5G gadgets expected to sell out in minutes around the world.
The high tech mobiles will hit buyers' doorsteps next week – here's how to bag yourself one.
Follow our iPhone 12 launch event blog for the latest news and updates…
New iPhones – What are they?
The iPhones 12 series make up the latest and greatest smartphones from California tech titan Apple, and are the company’s first to come with 5G connectivity.
Apple boss Tim Cook said: “Today is the day of a new era for iPhone. We’re bringing 5G to iPhone.”
He added that 5G “will bring a new level of performance for downloads and uploads.”
In total, Apple announced four new mobiles during its October 13 “Hi, Speed” event, which was streamed live to fans around the world from its Apple Park headquarters.
They're the 6.1-inch iPhone 12, 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro, 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max and a palm-sized, 5.4-inch iPhone Mini.
New iPhones – Price and release date
Apple is staggering this year's iPhone releases.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro open on October 16, while the two mobiles will go on general sale a week later, on October 23.
The 12 will ship for £799 in the UK and $799 in the US, while the 12 Pro will go for £999 / $999.
Pre-orders for the beefy 12 Pro Max and midget iPhone Mini will come a little later, launching on November 6.
Those two handsets will ship on November 13, starting at £699 / $699 for the Mini and £1,099 / $1,099 for the 12 Pro Max.
We've put together a handy guide on which iPhone is best for you here.
New iPhones – Where to get them
Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro open at 1pm UK time (8am ET) on October 16.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone Mini open at 1pm UK time (8am ET) on November 6.
They'll being going live on Apple's website, and will hit major online retailers like Amazon, Argos and deals site Mobiles.co.uk soon after.
All of the mobiles will be available at Apple's brick and mortar stores on their respective release days, too. As a reminder, that's October 23 for the 12 and 12 Pro, and November 13 for the 12 Pro Max and Mini.
On top of all that, the big-hitting mobile networks in both the UK and US will be stocking the new handsets.
They include Vodafone, EE and Three in the UK, and Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile in the US.
To bag a pre-order, head to any of their websites or stores shortly before pre-orders open for a chance to bag the phone you want.
Keep your fingers and toes crossed, as the mobiles will be in high demand and so will sell out quickly.
iPhone 12 deals
Apple's new mobiles were only announced on Tuesday, meaning deals are a little short on the ground at the moment.
Most retailers and mobile carriers simply have pages where you can register your interest for one of the phones ahead of their release.
In time, more pages will announce their pricing and push any deals they cook up to tempt option-swamped consumers.
We'll be sure to update this page when those start rolling in.
In the mean time, Apple's finance offer lets you pay over time using an instalment plan.
The payments are made with either Baclays or PayPal and you can choose how much you want to chip in each month.
They're subject to a 14.9 per cent interest rate, though, so you'll end up paying more for the phone than if you bought it outright.
Why an October iPhone release?
Apple detailed its new iPhones during its livestreamed "Hi, Speed" showcase on October 13, 2020.
The company normally unveils new gadgets in front of a raucous crowd at Apple Park during its annual September event.
However, the coronavirus pandemic has forced event organisers to do things a little differently this year.
Apple exec Luca Maestri confirmed in July that, due to the outbreak, the new iPhones would be pushed back by "a few weeks".
That meant the company had to host a rather subdued September event without any iPhone news, with headline announcements including minor updates to the iPad and Apple Watch.
The big guns – a handful of new 5G iPhones – were pushed back to an October 13 showcase to line up with delayed production schedules.
In other news, Apple recently unveiled the latest version of the Apple Watch – its cheapest smartwatch in years.
There's a new iPhone homscreen in iOS 14, and fans are divided over it.
Find out about all the new iOS 14 features here.
What do you think of the new iPhones? Let us know in the comments!
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]
Source: Read Full Article


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Recommendations about how much paracetamol can be sold at one time are being ignored by many retailers, researchers have warned.
Currently, UK legislation restricts the sale of paracetamol to packets of no more than 16 tablets, although registered pharmacies can supply packets of up to 32 tablets.
The drugs watchdog has also recommended that only one packet of the common painkiller be sold at a time, a measure designed to prevent deaths resulting from paracetamol overdose, although there is no law against selling two or more packets in one go.
However, research published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal suggests that this advice is being ignored.
The study surveyed over 100 patients who had been brought to a London hospital for treatment of paracetamol poisoning, finding that three quarters had taken more than 16 tablets in one go.
Of these, 16 reported that they were able to buy more than one packet at a time.
The study's authors themselves found that they were able to buy as many as 48 tablets at a time in nine of 16 outlets they visited in central London.
Reacting to the study, drugs watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) commented: "We have worked with the Over The Counter (OTC) medicines sector and major retailers to promote voluntary restraints on multiple sales, such as till bars on purchase of more than two packs of analgesics and avoidance of multiple sales promotions.
"The MHRA continues to review the need for additional measures to protect public health."


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British mCommerce company Weve will officially be stepping in to the mPay ring over the next year.
According to statements made by company CEO David Sear, the new service will allow consumers to pay for good and services by tapping their phones.
He further noted that the Weve will begin rolling out its mPay system in early 2015 as handsets with integrated contactless payment chips are made more widely available to consumers.
"What's Hot" is aggregated content. PYMNTS.com claims no responsibility for the accuracy of the content published by the original source.


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The need for improved customer service is paramount as utilities strive to become customer-centric business entities. While most customer service enhancement initiatives may focus at first on the utility call center, there is another utility-to-customer communication medium that is more pervasive: the monthly billing statement. A residential or small commercial customer may go a lifetime without ever picking up the phone to call the utility customer care center, but the billing invoice provides a consistent touch point between a utility and its customers. Forward-thinking utilities are focusing efforts on the billing department as a means of enhancing their overall customer service functions.
For good reason, electronic bill payment and presentment (EBPP) has been receiving the lion’s share of attention in regards to billing technology, but EBPP is not the only advancement in billing. As more utilities diversify their service offerings and look at providing additional services such as telecommunications and Internet access, convergent billing has emerged as a concept that can improve not only customer service, but the utility’s bottom line as well.
The Location Maintenance window shows the service categories that form the basis of the new billing solution in use at the Utilities Commission of New Smyrna Beach.
Convergent billing is the practice of integrating charges from multiple services onto a single customer bill. While it’s not necessarily a new concept-some utilities have been using a certain level of convergent billing for years-advancements in software and systems have made convergent billing perhaps a more viable option than it has been in the past.
The Utilities Commission of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., has been issuing combined billing statements to its customers for some 17 years, but a recently installed system has made the task much easier for the municipal utility, taking the billing chore out of the IT department and putting it in the hands of customer service representatives. The Commission provides a number of services to residents and commercial enterprises in and around the smallish Atlantic Coast town of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., located about 15 miles south of Daytona Beach. The Commission serves more than 21,000 electric customers and 17,000 water customers. In addition, the Commission oversees bill payments for Internet services to more than 14,000 customers and garbage collection services for about 14,000 customers. It also collects the county tax for Volusia County, city tax for New Smyrna Beach, and sales tax and gross receipt taxes for electric services for the state of Florida.
All told, the Utilities Commission either provides or bills for 11 distinct services. That would be quite a stack of bills for the Commission to send out on a monthly basis-and quite a stack for New Smyrna Beach residents to sift through and pay each month. Many of the Commission’s customers subscribe to more than one of the Commission’s 11 billable services. The solution for the Commission has been convergent billing, and it has employed that tactic since 1983.
“When you have a combined bill, you save money on postage and time when it comes to processing payments,” said Roberto Montalvo, Utilities Commission chief financial officer. “More importantly, it (convergent billing) improved our service, which makes our customers happy.”
Until two years ago, the Commission had been managing its billing process in-house on a Hewlett-Packard mainframe system. All of the billing system’s code was written in COBOL or 4GL, and all the inputting of customer billing information was done by employees in the computer department. All pertinent customer information was hand-written by customer service employees and then passed to the computer department where it was coded into the convergent billing system.
In 1998 when the Commission decided to upgrade its system, it discovered HP was no longer supporting the 4GL code the Commission used for programming. Rather than continuing with a mainframe system, the Commission decided it needed to switch to a client/server solution. “We could no longer upgrade the system without having to totally rewrite all of our online code,” said Connie Hodges, a programmer/analyst with the Utilities Commission. “That was a big reason for us to go client/server.”
Besides the technical necessity of the upgrade, the Commission had some other practical reasons for wanting to move to a new billing system, one of which was the need for an easier-to-use system. Five years ago, the Utilities Commission of New Smyrna Beach staffed 189 employees; today, 120 employees carry the work load. The market reality of needing to do more with less called for a user-friendly billing system. “We wanted to take the customer data entry work out of the hands of the computer department and put it in customer service,” said Hodges. “We always thought that was where it belonged, but with the system we had before, it was very difficult to do that.”
After researching a number of client/server billing solutions the Utilities Commission implemented Aquilium Software’s Customer Management Solution in January 1999 to manage its billing process. Having looked at a variety of client/server solutions, Montalvo said Aquilium was the right choice because it offered the most value and flexibility for the type of work the Commission needed to do. More importantly, the Commission was drawn to the fact that the new system was based on Microsoft Windows NT/SQL server and could seamlessly integrate with the Commission’s financial management software from Great Plains Software. The system also integrates fully with the Commission’s metering department. Inputs from the metering department are immediately reflected on the customer service side, Montalvo said.
“By using the Customer Management Solution, we’re now able to track information more easily and efficiently, and complete accounting documents in minutes,” said Montalvo. “The solution can track meter readings as well as consumption estimates which has also helped us improve our service.” The solution’s ability to integrate all the information being processed through the system has also helped the organization manage its customer relationships more effectively. The end result, so far, has been enhanced business efficiencies and better customer service.
According to Montalvo, the implementation of the new billing solution took about six to eight months, about four months of which was needed for converting data from the legacy system to the new Aquilium system. “It was a challenge for us,” he said. “We had to learn and implement new procedures to accommodate the software, but we were able to do that.”
Moving from the legacy system to the updated solution also meant there was a steep learning curve for the staff members who would actually be working with the system on a day-to-day basis. “The learning curve was probably the most difficult part of the implementation,” said Hodges. “The customer service reps who had to enter the information into the system had never had to deal with coding the services before. We made some mistakes at first, but everything worked out.”
With the new system, customer service representatives no longer have to hand-deliver information to the IT department to have it coded into the billing system. “All that has changed,” said Hodges. “Everything is now done while the customer is on the line or in the office with customer service. All the information is immediately put into the computer.”
“It took the customer service people a while to get used to the new system,” said Montalvo, “but now they’re flying with it.”
Looking ahead, the Utilities Commission hopes to further improve its customer service by delivering convergent online billing. By some estimates, companies can save from 50 percent to 60 percent by implementing an Internet billing program. Market information and consulting firm PSI Global predicts that Internet billing activity will soar to nearly 5 billion consumer and business billing transactions in 2005. Jupiter Communications has predicted that by 2003 18.4 million household will be paying their bills online. “That’s the way we’re headed,” said Montalvo. “The ability to issue statements without having to print them out will save us money and time. For our customers who are using the Web more extensively, this will certainly provide an added service.”
Convergent online billing is probably not too far in the future for the Commission. Despite its relatively small service territory in a state which has shown reluctance about moving to a deregulated utility environment, Montalvo says that the utility realizes the need to stay current with technological advancements. The currently installed billing solution will allow the Commission to grow with the times.
But even without making the move to online billing, Montalvo says the updated billing solution has proven worthwhile-both to the utility itself and its customers. “Even just changing one aspect of our business, like the new billing solution we’ve implemented, makes our work easier and eliminates mistakes,” said Montalvo. “That’s passed on to our customers as improved customer service.”


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Steam autoclave plant to enable recycling of up to 80 per cent of black bin waste
A North East company has this week revealed plans for a new £50m recycling centre that has a "giant pressure cooker" technology it claims could single-handedly solve the problem of recycling mixed waste...
BusinessGreen brings you the latest green business news from around the world
This issue isn't going away for the e-commerce giant - and other industry leaders should consider themselves on notice
It's the largest purchase order by any company in the US
BREAKING: PM to resign leadership of Tory party on June 7, with Boris Johnson is favourite to win leadership election


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ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – A new survey from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranks Missouri as among the worst states for legal fairness toward business. The survey of senior company attorneys and executives found the state’s reputation for big jury awards could hurt whether companies locate or expand in Missouri.
Plaintiff’s Attorney Jim Onder, whose law firm won big verdicts in the talcum powder trials here, says companies that don’t like Missouri should change the laws.
“They need to go to the legislature and say we want to be to provide a product that’s poisonous, cancerous, and we don’t want to tell anyone about it, and then when people do lie about it, people want to be immune from liability,”
Last year, four St. Louis juries awarded more than $300 million in verdicts against Johnson and Johnson in talcum powder ovarian cancer trials. The company is appealing.


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Dalton—Shaw Industries announced that it is exiting the area rug business and will convert its current Ringgold, Ga., rug facility into a new state-of-the-art luxury vinyl tile (LVT) manufacturing facility.
“The economics of the rug business today simply do not allow for future growth or encourage further investment,” said Vance Bell, chairman and CEO. “We have been intentional about exiting this business at a time when more opportunities exist for our associates.”
The vast majority of the 400 associates employed by the Shaw Living Rug Division will have opportunities at other locations in the company. Customers will be serviced through a transition period.
LVT is the fastest-growing category in the flooring market today. Shaw has been participating in this market for three years, but up until this point has not manufactured LVT. In repurposing the current facility to a new LVT manufacturing site, Shaw will be able to shorten the timeframe to begin manufacturing the product, utilize an existing facility, and keep jobs in the Ringgold area.
“We will continue to invest in businesses where we see future growth and opportunities,” Bell said. “Over the past few years, we have developed a significant business and market-leading position in the LVT flooring category. This new facility will provide domestic manufacturing for a portion of our product line, allowing us to further enhance our product development, service, and overall customer satisfaction.”
Shaw plans to invest more than $100 million in its new LVT manufacturing facility and when complete, the investment is expected to generate 200 new jobs in the Ringgold, Ga., area. This investment follows $250 million in other recent expansion announcements by Shaw in carpet tile, hardwood flooring, yarn extrusion, and distribution.


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Equifax announced a doozy today that when all is said and done could involve 143 million consumers. This is bad.
Read more: https://tctechcrunch2011.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/what-happened-to-equifax-today/
TechCrunch is a leading technology media property, dedicated to obsessively profiling startups, reviewing new Internet products, and breaking tech news.
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Smart Homes are not a thing of distant future anymore. Artificial Intelligence and IoT together has become the key to turning your entire house into sentient beings that would bend to your command. Amazon stepped into this field with Echo, the smart speakers that could process user commands via its AI, Alexa. Now, it seems that Microsoft is ready to give some tough competition to Amazon.
Microsoft is currently working on introducing a HomeHub feature into the Windows 10 operating system. Instead of controlling hardware, the OS will instead aim to create a friendly environment for the users via connecting multiple apps to it. The company has been reluctant to announce what features would be included in this new addition, but many leaks over the time gave us a good approximation.
The biggest feature is the digital corkboard that will serve as a regular corkboard for all intents and purposes, except for being completely digital. This display will be always on and allow users to create to-do lists, quick notes and access basic apps like calendars and calculator. A new Welcome Screen has been designed specifically for its purpose. Like Alexa, all the commands will be processed via Cortana. However, Microsoft does not want it to look like an embedded smart home system; instead, it aims to let it remain as an extended functionality of its Windows 10 PCs.
However, this does not mean that Microsoft does not intend to cover home hardware. It is already looking to support controlling small appliances like Philips’ Hue Lights, and might soon cover a lot of other devices. Currently, Microsoft is trying to emulate Apple’s Home app, instead of copying Amazon’s Echo. It aims to cover voice search, calling and device control, but the primary objective remains to be considered a Personal Computer first.
But, the path for this is not easy. For starters, a lot of improvement needs to be done in Cortana for better response towards voice commands, something that could rival Google Now. This has been done continuously in the past few updates of Windows 10, but a lot more has to be achieved. A lot of smart devices need to be supported in order to fully harness the potential of the idea. For this, Microsoft is already working in order to support Hue, Wink, Nest and few other devices. Lastly, the biggest problem is the support of the necessary hardware in order to make this dream a reality. Microsoft is holding talks with a lot of Computer manufacturers over this, and it might be resolved in the upcoming convention in May. Already, Lenovo and HP are into the fold and are working on making the package PCs, which would both support the enhanced voice command of Cortana and the new Welcome screen.
While it currently focuses on small kitchens, the model (if successful) could soon cover entire households. With more and more tech giants jumping into the race, the day when your entire home will respond to your voice is not far away. The future is close enough.


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An executive with Tyson Foods Inc. calls recent public interest in “pink slime” a “two-week event” that has hurt beef sales, but expects demand to recover quickly.
Tyson Chief Operating Officer Jim Lochner spoke about the ground beef controversy at an investor presentation on March 27. Lochner said recent news has hindered ground beef consumption but turned his focus to a long-term outlook. As the industry stops selling the ground-beef filler beef supplies will tighten and prices will move even higher.
"We'll probably see a two percent to three percent reduction in the available beef supply," Lochner said.
Fox News reports the product’s nickname, “pink slime,” has fueled opposition to the product.


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Mercedes E-Class convertible and estate delayed
Even if the initial rumors claimed that the convertible would be unveiled this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, we have some bad news for you. The future E-Class convertible won’t make its auto show debut until the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
Even worse for those who have to bring the kids to soccer practice, the wagon has been put on hold until 2012. Apparently, Mercedes Benz has made the decision to halt the progress of the E in order to continue development of their future four-door coupe sensation, the CLS.


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Blizzard Entertainment has released its schedule for BlizzCon 2018, an annual gaming convention used to promote itsIPs and celebrate the community. The opening week runs from October 25–29, 2018, with the main events happening on Friday, November 2, 2018 and Saturday, November 3, 2018. As usual, this year’s BlizzCon is packed with panels, esports events, series spotlights, and community nights.
Both Friday and Saturday include matches from the Overwatch World Cup, as well as competitive Hearthstone, World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm, and Starcraft II. And of course, there are plenty of panels.
Friday’s scheduled is filled with Blizzard looking to the future, featuring a few “What’s Next” panels for games such as Overwatch and Diablo. BlizzCon also gives folks a being the scenes look at what’s happening at Blizzard, with the “Behind Blizzard’s Music” panel being just one example.
Saturday fans can get insight into the voice acting in Overwatch, as well as how heroes are made. A Diablo Q&A panel allows attendees to steer the conversation. And the “Play Nice; Play Fair” panel gives players a chance to “learn more about how [Blizzard is] using machine learning and social feature design to empower Blizzard player communities to have the most epic experiences ever.”
Tickets for BlizzCon 2018 have sold out, but you can still get tickets for the opening week’s esports events here. You can catch a lot of the action by purchasing a virtual ticket to unlock access to live coverage of developer events and community events taking place on all stages minus the esports events. Virtual tickets cost $49.99 and can be purchased here.


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BTA warns tourism could take years to recover from Covid-19
It will take years for the tourism industry to recover from impact of the Covid-19 crisis, the Bermuda Tourism Authority warned yesterday.
The warning from Charles Jeffers II, the BTA’s chief executive officer, came despite predictions from some in the industry that the island would see a recovery to pre-pandemic levels as early as 2023.
Mr Jeffers said: “The stark reality is that a return to 2019 levels is not expected for the next few years.
“And, while the entire industry has endured a challenging environment since 2020, there is reason for optimism, particularly with news of changes to border protocols and growth in the European market.
“Our team has renewed our focus on generating group business opportunities. We’ve positioned ourselves as a smart choice for meeting planners from key markets and have seen a spike in interest in group business for 2022 and beyond. “
He was speaking as the authority unveiled its 2021 end-of-year tourism measures report.
The report said that the widespread take-up of vaccination saw the travel sector feel “the first ripples of a comeback”, but that a return to 2019 levels would be “slow”.
It added: “Although there was significant upward movement from 2020, the 2021 year-end statistics highlighted stark declines on crucial metrics compared to 2019 baseline figures.”
Business travel dropped by a massive 87 per cent against 2019 figures and was down more than third — 34 per cent — on 2020.
Airline service was down 59 per cent on 2019 — but up on 2020 figures.
The number of leisure air visitors was down 71 per cent compared with 2019 and spending by the segment slumped by 69 per cent to $122.57 million.
Cruise arrivals were virtually wiped out as they plummeted by 97 per cent.
But the BTA said there were some glimmers of hope, despite the grim figures.
The report said the length of stay by leisure travellers increased by 27 per cent to an average of 6.92 days compared with 2019.
Tourists who arrived by air also spent more per head — almost 14 per cent up on 2019 figures.
Super yacht visits also increased, up 6.5 per cent compared with 2020, when new legislation designed to promote the sector came into force.
The report added: “Over the past 12 months, a fluid public health situation meant that several high-profile events were postponed, repositioned or downsized.”
He added that the SailGP races had been held during a lockdown last April and the event pumped $5.7 million into the economy, despite the hospitality components being cancelled.
Mr Jeffers added that the World Triathlon Series event scheduled for Bermuda in 2021 had to be postponed as well because of a surge in Covid-19 cases last September.
Mr Jeffers said: “This year has tested our agility and resilience as an industry.
“We continue to collaborate with our stakeholders, hoteliers and island investors while we support initiatives that drive interest and bookings through media initiatives and sales promotions.
“We are focused on plotting a steady road to recovery and the outlook is promising.”


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Charity show to provide warmth to people in need
Globally spread non-profitable organization ‘The Clothing Bank’, established by 100’s Group has tasted a slice of success in Nepal after four years of its establishment. This non-profitable organization has been collecting used clothes since the last four years by keeping open cloth stations in and around the valley along with some major cities of Nepal.
On December 17, ‘A Walk For Warmth’ was successfully organised at Kathmandu Marriott Hotel by the youths spearheading the 100’s Group, designers from three different institutes, various notable Nepali models and personalities.
‘A Walk For Warmth’ is a charity event; a fashion show where old donated clothes are used to make new wearables. The vision of the event was ‘share clothes, share warmth, share love, save life’. The event was not just about collecting clothing items, it was also about spreading awareness among people about the shared culture of clothes. The group has targeted to help pregnant woman, elders and children of the Bara district by providing them with mattresses and blankets made out of those collected clothes.
The death toll of people due to cold is increasing day by day in Nepal. So youths are volunteering from different parts of the country to spread warmth to people who are in need. Every year, the group donates blankets and mattresses in various parts of the country. “Sharing foods spreads love then why do we hesitate to share clothes” is the sentiment shared by many of the group members.
A group of 9 models choreographed by Prashant Tamrakar ramped in the floor of Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, wearing the re-designed clothes which were collected. Coordinator of the organization, Avini Dixit clarified that the event was a non-profitable charity and all the models and team members were volunteering in the event. The team of Marriott also said that they will keep a notifiable container in the hotel so that guests can also donate clothes. The event was followed by a fantastic cocktail dinner.


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Developers will be able to use the revamped App Store to advertise their wares in search results and give developers a bigger cut of revenues on subscription apps. Apple has already dramatically sped up its app-approval process.
Apple's goal is to sustain the cycle which is at the heart of the hugely lucrative iPhone business. The apps for iPhone are made by software developers because its customers are willing to pay, and those customers also pay a premium for the device because it has the best apps.
App store is now very important for Apple as sales of the iPhone begin to level off and the company looks to software and services to fill the gap. On a recent conference call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the revenues of App Store gained 35 percent over last year.
It would not be wrong to say that the App store has also bore the brunt of its own success. Eight years after its launch, it is packed with more than 1.9 million apps, analytics firm App Annie said.
"The app space has grown out of control," said Vint Cerf, one of the inventors of the internet and now a vice president at Alphabet Inc's Google, who was speaking at a San Francisco conference on the future of the web on Wednesday. "We need to move away from having an individual app for every individual thing you want to do."