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As tensions might drag over the next decade, investors have to learn to operate under prolonged uncertainty, said Warburg Pincus' Charles Kaye.World Economyread more
Billionaire investor Howard Marks, the co-chairman of Oaktree Capital, predicts there won't be a recession in the U.S. for another two years.US Economyread more
Network officials also said voters should expect more of a Koch focus on grassroots activism throughout the 2020 election cycle.Politicsread more
One person was killed and five others wounded on Thursday in a shooting on the streets of Washington, D.C., not far from the White House, police said.U.S. Newsread more
Stores are extending hours and cities are spending on light shows as China tries to encourage consumers to spend more money at night.China Economyread more
New research suggests fewer girls pursue careers in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — because they're better than boys at reading.Closing The Gapread more
Stocks in Asia Pacific edged up on Friday as investors digested a series of developments overnight on the U.S.-China trade front that dampened hopes of a deal being reached...Asia Marketsread more
GM's usage of temporary workers, potential closure of plants and health care contributions remain major sticking points, according to people familiar with the talks.Autosread more
In a room full of avowed capitalists, policies that sound to some like socialism are bound not to go over well.Delivering Alpharead more
Trump has criticized Facebook numerous times since becoming president, most recently posting on Twitter that the company's proposed digital currency, libra, will "have little...Technologyread more
Republicans and Democrats have long since separated themselves by ideology, leaving each more uniformly conservative or liberal than ever. And now a new data analysis by the...Politicsread more
Tesla's new battery pack is all about going the distance, and being quicker than any mass-produced car has ever been.
Tesla announced new versions of its Model S sedan and Model X crossover Tuesday, with substantially faster acceleration and longer battery range.
The company claims its Model S P100D with Ludicrous mode is the quickest production car in the world, in terms of acceleration. Tesla compared it to the likes of the LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder, which were accelerated faster, but were limited-run cars, while the Tesla will factory-produced for the general public. The Model S has a 100 kilowatt hour battery, with a 315 mile EPA range.
"I think this is going to send a great message to the public that sustainable transport is the future," CEO Elon Musk said.
However, after the announcement, shares of both Tesla and SolarCity gave up earlier gains of 2.49 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. At market close, both stocks were up slightly.
"I think what they have done here with the battery pack in terms of improving the capacity in the same form factor is an impressive feat from an engineering standpoint," said Oppenheimer analyst Colin Rusch on CNBC's "Closing Bell." "And this is a capability that we were very excited about with the auto platform, that they can do these sorts of things, that they will continue to roll these sorts of products out."
The Model X P100D, which also has Ludicrous mode — a performance mode that allows an increase in acceleration through electronics — is built to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds and will be able to travel 289 miles on a single charge.
The Model S P100D will start at $134,500 and the Model X 100D will start at $135,500.
The battery will also be available as an upgrade to P90D Ludicrous owners of both models for $20,000, and to customers who have ordered a P90D, for $10,000. Ludicrous mode originally debuted as a $7,500 hardware upgrade to the P85D, that boosted the current from the battery and delivered more power to the motor.
"This has been a very difficult development," Musk said, "going from roughly 90 to a 100" was "more like a 50 percent increase in difficulty."
Musk said that production volume will be "quite low because of the challenge of making such a complex pack."
"It is a very expensive car," Musk said,"but it is important to bear in mind that this is what is paying for the Model 3" both in terms of cash flow, and in terms of research and development.
The Model 3 is a smaller, more affordable electric car currently in development.
Oppenheimer's Rusch is still not convinced Tesla's merger with SolarCity will pay off, and is not bullish on the stock overall. But he does believe the owners of Tesla's high-models will "pony up" for these upgrades.


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After launching an OLED TV in 2013 and pulling it again the year after, Samsung is planning to return to the OLED TV market by switching to the same OLED panel technology that LG is using, according to Korean ETNews.
But no words on when
LG is still the only OLED TV maker and is currently expanding its line-up with 4K OLED TVs, but Samsung could return to the market and take on its Korean competitor after it put its OLED production on hold in 2014.
According to sources in Korea, Samsung wants to switch OLED panel technology to the WRGB type, which is the same technology that LG is using. The only problem is that the relevant patents for this technology, originally developed by Kodak, are now owned by LG Display. The two companies have already been engaged in a legal battle, but if Samsung decides to go ahead, things could heat up.
No timeline has been set and Samsung has not confirmed the information, but the company previously announced that it is investing billions of dollars in a new OLED plant for mobile displays. The new report claims to know that Samsung will use the same factory to produce some of the OLED TVs in addition to its dedicated OLED TV plant that was set up in 2013.
Sony and Panasonic are also rumored to launch OLED TVs in the near future.

domain: news


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The Blue Oval brand is bringing in only 315 cars, writes Paul Gover
AGENUINE pocket rocket has joined the Ford family. The new Focus RS is much more than a 2010 update of the outgoing Focus XR5 Turbo. It brings a sharp new edge thanks to everything from a 224kW— that is 300 horsepower — and special front suspension to giant 19-inch alloy wheels and a rallyinspired body kit.
The ultimate Focus is not cheap at $59,990, and it has only front-wheel drive, but Ford Australia has 315 cars and is expecting an early sellout, despite pitching the car against the rapid Volkswagen Golf GTi, RenaultSport Clio, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and Subaru STi.
The Focus RS runs against the tide for the compact Ford because it is built in Germany, not in a value-driven Thai factory, and promises to give the Blue Oval brand something extra to sell alongside its XR Falcons and FPV hotrods.
‘‘RS is overt performance. We have it,’’ Ford Australia marketing and sales vice-president Beth Donovan says. ‘‘The enthusiasts are really what we’re after here. This is a product that’s driven by a customer desire.
‘‘Performance is not just about large cars. It’s also about small. We’ve been doing quite well with the XR5 Turbo and, in our mind, the RS is a natural extension of that.’’
Ford is not giving any performance figures, but it’s likely to make a 0-100km/h sprint in about six seconds with a top beyond 200km/h. That should give it the right sort of punch to rival the Evo and STi, even with the kermitgreen paint that’s the car’s signature colour.
THE RS is a very expensive Focus. It’s more than double the starting sticker for the range.
Even so, it shapes up as a good-value car thanks to a well-stacked list of standard equipment and its go-fast gear.
‘‘We’re bringing them on with everything on them. We’ve just got three paint colours, and half of them are green,’’ Donovan says.
A lot of the extra cost goes into the drivetrain, but Ford also loads the RS with Recaro sports seats, extra dials, a short-shift gear lever and a solid sound system.
THE real story on the RS is in the engine room and suspension. The five-cylinder turbo punches out 224kW, but it’s the 440Nm that does the heavy lifting and, coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox, makes it so quick.
It also helps that the RS package includes a special Quaife limited-slip differential.
There is also a wider track and much larger 336mm front discs, sharper steering and the giant alloys with specially developed 235x35 Continental tyres.
Ford claims a lot of extra work on everything from cooling to noise suppression, but really crows about the car’s RevoKnuckle front suspension.
It is designed to eliminate torque steer and, working with control-blade independent rear suspension, to give the RS plenty of grip and balance in every driving condition.
THE RS takes its lead from the World Rally Championship, where the Focus is the only serious rival to the dominant Citroen C4.
Even the Ultimate Green paintwork is a steal from the BP battle colours on the Focus WRC.
So the bodywork is pumped and pummeled, with flared guards, a deep front spoiler, twinplane rear wing and cooling vents on the bonnet.
It’s not a beauty, but — just like the Evo and STi — it shouts ‘‘I’m fast’’ to anyone that’s listening.
The cabin is racer-boy special, from the chunky wheel and alloy pedals to extra gauges and RS badging.
So it’s not for everyone, but Ford already knows it will have no trouble finding 315 fans.
THE RS is a go-fast car and that could signal trouble on the safety side, but Ford has worked to tame the car.
It has a predictable package of airbags, ESP stability control and ABS braking.
But the real key to safety in a car like this is the basic grip and balance.
The ESP can be switched off, but Ford recommends taking this risk only on a track.
And it says the Focus RS is just as fast around the Nurburgring track with the ESP fully activated.
Limited edition: the Ford Focus RS is rated as one of the best Fords this side of an FPV-badged vehicle.


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Biden’s administration is now urged to do away with tariffs
Inflation has materialised in the United States, inflicting harm on businesses and consumers. The havoc propelled calls to Biden’s administration to remove tariffs imposed by the former leader.
Tariffs equate to huge blows
In its bid to protect domestic manufacturing and generate revenue for the government, former US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs. Unfortunately, for the steel market, manufacturers pay 40 per cent more compared to their global competitors. This claim was made to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) from various industry associations representing American manufacturers of home appliances, electronics and food service equipment.
In the letter, the associations asserted, “These higher costs mean finished goods produced by US companies cannot compete with cheaper, imported versions, putting American manufacturing jobs at risk.” It urged the Biden administration to lift the Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs that were initiated three years ago under the administration of former President Donald Trump. The letter added that US’ construction is a badly hit sector given it is reliance on domestic steel and aluminium supplies.
Port congestion is a major contributor
World’s biggest retail trade foundation, National Retail Federation (NRF) too appealed to the White House. In a letter by NRF CEO and President, Matthew Shay wrote: “The supply chain disruption issues, especially the congestion affecting our key maritime ports, are causing significant challenges for America’s retailers. The congestion issues have not only added days and weeks to our supply chains but have led to inventory shortages impacting our ability to serve our customers. In addition, these delays have added significant transportation and warehousing costs for retailers.” NRF’s recent survey findings revealed over 97 per cent of retailers were impacted by port congestion and shipping delays.
The complexity intensifies after adding shipping surcharges to the mix. Shay added that not every retailer has the bandwidth to absorb the additional costs. Some smaller ones would be compelled to pass the costs to consumers, while others risk folding. If it reaches a point of being unsustainable, it would be a continual vicious cycle from shippers to retailers.
Marine Online News Team
Please email us at firstname.lastname@example.org to contact the author for this article.


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More e-mails will be opened and read on mobile devices, thanks to the exponential growth of smartphone and tablet penetration.
This is according to Walter Penfold, MD of Prefix Technologies, who believes organisations use e-mail to engage more effectively with consumers in a way that drives conversations, not sales pitches.
According to market research firm, Nielsen, at least 45% of all mobile Web use is geared towards checking e-mail.
“This is a great opportunity for the mobile marketer with the foresight to design mobile-friendly mail templates,” says Penfold.
Last year, fellow research firm, comScore found that mobile phone and smartphone e-mail usage jumped 36% in the three months ending November 2010, compared to the same period a year earlier.
Mark Donovan, comScore senior VP for mobile, says having so many ways to communicate on so many devices means that a decline in Web-based e-mail use on desktops and laptops is not surprising.
Penfold points out that 2011 saw increased adoption of international best e-mail practice combined with impressive local innovation.
“So we can expect more of the same this year, as South African e-mail marketers continue to mature, which, in layman terms, means they will increasingly get their groove on. Or take their groove to new heights, or whatever.”
He also believes that cross-channelling will be another 2012 watchword, meaning that deeper integration will take place between e-mail and social media.
“Yes, social media has been a buzzword in SA for years as we looked enviously at the level of social media marketing sophistication overseas – but now we really mean it.”
Penfold explains that there is a growing base of analytics and an increasing number of tools that are giving marketers greater insight into, and control of, the cross-channelling process.
The low cost of creating a buzz for a product or event via social media platforms makes this a very cost-effective option for marketers, he adds. “Marketers who work across the various channels effectively will ride the cross-channelling wave.”
Another key trend will be the growing base of locally relevant e-mail marketing research that will be conducted during 2012, says Penfold.
“South African marketers are rapidly realising that, in today’s world, there is no one-size-fits-all model. If companies aim to succeed in effective customer segmentation and the delivery of genuinely relevant content, they will need the analytics to go with it.
“We can thus expect a surge in the amount of marketing research being conducted. This is because it will be the foundation on which all other success will be built.”
Those marketers that are able to focus their efforts on driving customer-centricity and effective cross-channelling on data-driven, multi-channel marketing strategies will lead the way during 2012, he concludes.
Source: IT Web.Co – 31 Jan 2012


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Tesco has lost its senior in-house lawyer, Deborah Prince, to the publisher of Which? magazine, the Consumers’ Association.
Prince, who was Tesco’s head of corporate, commercial and litigation, left on 8 June and joined the Consumers’ Association as head of legal on 12 June. Prince reported to Tesco’s non-lawyer general counsel Martin Field.
Prince said that after six years at the supermarket chain she had been “looking for a new challenge”. She was particularly attracted by the campaigning element of the job, she added.
Which?’s newest lawyer said the arrival of the Legal Services Bill last month will be of particular interest to its readers. The publisher has operated an in-house legal service offering a range of advice to consumers for several years. The irony of her move from Tesco to a body that has been offering high-street legal services was not lost on Prince.
“It’s too early for me to say what impact the Legal Services Bill will have on the service that the Consumers Association offers, but while a lot has been written about Tescolaw, we have been doing it for 10 years and not telling anybody,” she said.
Prince added that one of her first responsibilities would be to review the external firms that the Consumers Association currently instructed, although it was “unlikely” she would be looking to introduce a formal panel.


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The remote control for a range of ring lights marketed by Cygnett has been recalled for safety reasons.
Chinese smartphone maker vivo, one of the three main brands owned by B.B.K. Electronics, has announced discounts on some of its models from 1 April as an Easter promotion.
Chinese smartphone manufacturer OPPO has cut a deal with Australian behemoth Harvey Norman to stock its devices across the country.
Telco Singtel Optus has teamed up with retailer Harvey Norman to set up Optus Business Hubs for small businesses which would function as a one-stop shop for SMBs to obtain select telecommunications products.
With Apple's latest smartwatches now available, Oppo's coming soon, and more smartwatches than you can poke a stick at online, even from Kogan with its own branded models, there's plenty of choice, but with Fitbit now making its 2020 range available in store, a lot of its fans will be very happy.
There's one word missing in Nokia's press release for its new 8.3 model with 5G, and that's battery, and with 5G known to be a battery hog, will Nokia and Android's adaptive power save smarts save the day and ensure this 007 connected phone can likewise avoid an early death?
Australia’s largest telco Telstra and the Harvey Norman retail group have gone live on Apple Business Chat with online business messaging solutions provider LivePerson.
Billed as "effortlessly stylish, understated and compact", the Nokia 5.1 is now available at Harvey Norman.
Dubbed as potentially "the most important piece of digital equipment in Australian homes in 2018", Symantec says its Core router is "the solution to help keep cyber criminals out of Australian homes".
One, six, seven, eight, who does Nokia appreciate? Android! After years of faffing around with useless Windows Phone, Nokia reborn is doing a reboot with Android, and is doing good, with the new models launching this month.
Cloud-based business software provider Freshworks has opened its first data centre in the Asia Pacific region, choosing Sydney to begin the expansion of its footprint in the region.
Local Australian brands that have low levels of online shopping should be able to withstand any pressure from Amazon, more than brands which have a high percentage of online shoppers, according to Roy Morgan Research.
An email sent by Amazon third-party sellers indicates that the US retailing giant will begin selling on its Australian store today, with the obvious intention of stepping up things alongside Black Friday in the US.
Internet of Things solutions provider Quantify Technology has signed a deal with the Harvey Norman chain of retail stores that it claims will potentially bring in $30 million in annual sales.
Security vendor Kaspersky Lab has reacted to reports that Australian retailer Harvey Norman will no longer be selling its products by saying it respects the decision of any business to sell and market products as it sees fit.
Cartoon entertainment channels Cartoon Network and Boomerang have launched on Fetch TV following Fetch’s addition of the Turner CNN news channel in October last year.
Think about getting the latest smartphone/gadget, delivered to your office during work hours or your home as late as 10 pm.
The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) was enacted on 1 January 2011. Without doubt, it has shaken the very foundations of business to provide adequate consumer protection – taking down some very high profile organisations along the way.
EeeBooks ushered in the age of the netbook, but with a 14-inch screen, the E402 is a very affordable Intel Baytrail-M, Windows 10-powered notebook.
Lenovo has stretched out and manifested from within its factories two new premium Windows 10 convertible laptops, a sleek 11-inch model and its bigger 14-inch brother.
Thanks Sam! Best article I've read in a little while :)
NetComm was given an early Mac by Apple in 1984. I set about developing a NetComm program for it, and[…]
A partial victory indeed. Meanwhile Julian Assange is still stuck in gaol while lawyers and activists feast on his discomfort.[…]
Yes indeed, unwelcome scam calls are on the rise!add trojan and phishing links in unsolicited SMS to that list :)Interesting,[…]
the G-sync compatible TV is great but I wanted to read more on the LG Rolling Bot to see if[…]


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The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 series is also getting July's latest firmware update, as well as many other Samsung smartphones
On today's Pocketnow Daily, we talk about the new update that will fix the camera in your Samsung Galaxy S20, the possible delay of the iPhone 12 and more
Autofocus issues with the cameras in the Samsung Galaxy S20 series devices with Exynos processors are starting to get fixed with a software update
There is a solution for all the Google Home and Google Home mini speakers that have been bricked after the latest firmware update
The Samsung Galaxy Watch LTE versions for T-Mobile and Verizon are starting to get a third firmware update to improve performance
Microsoft needed way more time to admit there was something seriously wrong with the Surface Pro 3 than to actually fix the firmware mishap.


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Hancom launches mobile messenger-based translation app
Michelle Jung, April 5, 2017, 9:41 a.m.
Hancom Inc., a South Korean software maker, said Wednesday that it has launched an artificial intelligence (AI) powered mobile messenger application that translates conversations in a foreign language.
The app, available both on the Android and iOS operating systems, instantly translates texts between Korean and English, the company said. The service will be available in Chinese and Japanese sometime soon.
The homegrown software firm said it has applied a Neural Machine Translation (NMT) system to the translation platform to improve translation quality and reduce errors.
The NMT system is based on a deep learning framework that learns from millions of examples. Unlike previous machine translations, the new system considers an entire sentence as one unit. Previous systems independently translated words and phrases within a sentence.
"The company plans to make inroads into the overseas messenger market by adding more functions other than the AI-based translation function," said Lee Ga-bi, a Hancom official.
The company, well-known among South Koreans for its mainstay word processing computer software based on the Korean language, has been improving its translation software, "Genie Talk," to tap deeper into the burgeoning auto-translation market.
Earlier, the company unveiled a new interpretation wearable.
The neckband-style device, which comes with a wireless Bluetooth headset and a microphone, allows a user to talk with people who speak other languages through "Genie Talk." (Yonhap)


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The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter gets a PC release date
Polish developer, The Astronauts, has announced a release date for their upcoming mystery adventure game The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter on PC.
The game follows occult detective Paul Prospero who receives a disturbing letter from the young boy Ethan Carter. Prospero heads to Carter's home town of Red Creek Valley to discover that the boy has vanished just after a brutal murder.
The release date was confirmed by The Astronauts' Adrian Chmielarz on Twitter saying, “To be clear. PC version of The Vanishing of Ethan Carter = 25 Sept 2014. PS4 version = 2015 (the soonest we can).”
Chmielarz added, “We're looking into Mac OSX and Linux as well, of course.”
The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter was revealed as a PS4 title during Sony's Gamescom press conference last week. Click on the image to see a full gallery of screenshots.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 after all
- Tomonobu Itagaki's Devil's Third gets a release date
- Adr1ft is coming to PC and consoles at the end of the summer
- EA gives the new Mirror's Edge a name – Mirror's Edge Catalyst
- ZombiU PS4 and Xbox One port reportedly in the works
- Mike Bithell's Volume to be released this August
- Gearbox's new shooter Battleborn gets a pre-E3 trailer
- Steam Controller launches in October, Steam Machines arrive in November
- Gears Of War devs Black Tusk change their name to The Coalition ahead of E3


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How can you build a market for a cutting-edge product in an emerging field when people widely distrust it? That’s a catch-22 for the innovative businesses tackling automation in its many forms. On one hand, artificial intelligence can help people to be more productive at work while leading more convenient, cost-effective lives. On the other, experts predict that robots will replace humans in the workforce, which workers fear will take their jobs.
In the past year, something surprising has happened. Americans are warming to a future with automation, according to a new survey by Ipsos with the Center for Business Analytics at the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. The survey compared people’s attitudes about automation to a similar survey from the prior year.
It revealed that people are less worried that automation destroys jobs, less concerned about safety when using automated devices, and less fearful that automation leads to social isolation. They also believe more that smart technology has made products more accessible and are more favorable about its overall benefits. In other words, Americans seem more optimistic about the future of automation.
How consumers evaluate automation
Consumers evaluate autonomous technology on familiarity and risk of use, says Chris Jackson, a vice president at Ipsos. Technologies seen as familiar and low risk are those that people will have an easier time adopting. Technologies that people see as high-risk and less familiar they’ll have a harder time accepting. “The challenge for brands is to make the technologies they develop seen as low-risk and familiar,” Jackson says. “If they do that they will be more effective at broadening their audience.”
A convergence of trends has contributed to that, including ongoing experiments with self-piloted vehicles. Then consider that today we have robotic pizza, sushi makers and bartenders; self-operating vacuums and mowing machines, and touchscreen ordering kiosks at fast food chains.
Rise of the virtual assistant
At least some credit for boosting American’s familiarity with smart technology could go to the rise of the smart speaker. It uses automation for simple tasks like playing music, turning off your lights, or shopping for essentials, among others.
In June 2017, virtual assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Home were in just 8 percent of American homes with Wi-Fi. As of February 2018, one-fifth of households had a smart speaker. In just nine months, smart speaker ownership more than doubled, including a more than 40 percent increase during the holiday shopping month. They’re the fastest-growing consumer technology.
“It makes sense that more smart speakers means more chances to have people connect and automate their homes,” says John Carroll III, senior client officer at Ipsos.
Yet, just because Americans are becoming more favorable with automation doesn’t necessarily mean people don’t see risks. More than half of Americans (57%) still say that automation can be a social isolator. Just 15 percent of U.S. passengers say they would be comfortable in a pilotless plane even though most flights operate in autopilot between take-off and landing. Americans and Canadians are less receptive to the idea of driverless cars than people in other countries, according to a global Ipsos survey on mobility.
Gateways to automation
The flipside is that most Americans believe automation is making products and services even more accessible. Amazon just announced a slew of voice-enabled products, and it’s facing stiff competition from Google and other rivals. At the same time, smart speakers are gaining traction among consumers as a gateway to more automation.
“Smart speakers are central to that,” says Vincent Thielke, research analyst at technology industry analyst firm Canalys. “Now people are discovering the potential and opportunity for what they can do with their voice. And maybe it’s making them more accepting of home automation and technologies like smart lightbulbs, security cameras and doorbells.”
How can these technologies take advantage of this positive direction in social acceptance? Smart speaker makers appear to have found a powerful social psychology phenomenon, the “mere-exposure effect,” according to Janine Beekman, associate research scientist at Ipsos.
“If you have at least an ambivalent attitude toward something, the more you are exposed to it the more you favor it,” Beekman says, “We like that which is familiar. Continued exposure breeds understanding, which over time disarms the threat.”


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Bradesco expects to have lent over US$9bn to Brazilian exporters by the end of 2007, versus US$5.3bn one year previously, predicts Jos Guilherme Lembi de Faria, international area director at Bradesco.
Shorter-term ACC (adiantamento sobre contrato de cmbio) and ACE (adiantamento sobre cambiais entregues) lines account for 50% of the portfolio. Bradesco’s BNDES-funded loans are also important, Lembi remarks, and equated US$1.3bn in April 2007.
Pre-export financing can have up to 10-year tenors, while in 2004 those wouldn’t exceed six years, he notes. Taxes levied specifically on import financing transactions prevent this type of lending from advancing, he says. Per-country exposure is similar to the profile of Brazilian exports, Lembi says. Brazil’s main export markets in 2006 were the United States, Argentina and China.
Since 2005, tenors have increased, pricing has fallen and guarantees have become less rigid, he adds. As a result, the trend is to focus increasingly on small and medium-sized companies, says Lembi, as multiple lending transactions will help Bradesco make up for a shortfall in margins.


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MIDAS SHARE TIPS: At the double! 223p tip Mattioli Woods hits 428p and still looks good
Mattioli Woods is another financial firm, which advises wealthy people about how best to invest their money.
Tipped by Midas in July 2008 at 223p, the shares have almost doubled to 428½p over the past six years as the company has expanded and the value of the funds it administers has soared from £1.5billion to £4.3billion.
Chairman Bob Woods and chief executive Ian Mattioli, who founded the firm in 1991, remain fiercely ambitious. Large shareholders themselves, they hope to more than treble the funds they look after to £15 billion and take turnover from £30million to £100million over the next few years. If they succeed, the share price will undoubtedly continue to increase.
Business aid: Group offers a broad range of services to entrepreneurs, including buying shares and bonds
Many bosses have high hopes for their companies, but Woods and Mattioli’s track record gives shareholders cause for confidence so there remains strong long-term value in this stock.
Mattioli Woods built its name advising owners of small businesses and many of its customers still come from this sector. The group offers a broad range of services to these entrepreneurs, including advice on property, healthcare and banking, as well as buying shares and bonds.
The firm also sets up employee benefits for its customers’ staff and in recent years has attracted a growing number of customers from professions such as law and accountancy.
Brokers expect profits to increase by about 13 per cent to £5.2million in the year to the end of May 2014, accompanied by a generous 28 per cent rise in the dividend to 9p.
Midas verdict: Shareholders who bought six years ago have done well and could sell a quarter of their stock to bank some profit. However, Mattioli Woods should continue to perform, making the stock a comfortable home for long-term investors.
Traded on: Aim Ticker: MTW Contact: 0116 240 8700 or mattioli-woods.com
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Essen is a Springboard to Europe for Vellco
This year sees Vellco make its first appearance at Reifen 2008 in a move that also marks the company’s first show involvement outside of the UK. Vellco, which describes itself as “one of the largest and most successful truck tyre casing collection specialists in the UK” will be exhibiting in hall 6, stand 322, and is seeking to capitalise on the progress the company has made in European truck casing markets in recent years. According to company representatives, Vellco’s recent European progress has “enabled significant advances” for the North Yorkshire based company.
Vellco’s Business Development Director, John Campbell commented: “We have recently signed a three-year contract with one of the leading European tyre manufacturers to collect and pre-sort their truck casings and we view this new contract as an excellent springboard for Vellco’s future activities.”
As winners of the 2007 TAFF Award for the best environmental company in the UK tyre industry, Vellco has been nominated again in the same category for the 2008 awards. Vellco holds a number of contracts for extensive tyre collection and automotive waste recycling with some of the UK’s leading tyre retail chains.


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American food company OSI Group LLC has challenged the decision of a Chinese court that said the company sold out-of-date meat to companies including McDonald's and Yum Brands.
In 2014 a television report showed chicken nuggets being made from expired meat in Shanghai.
The incident resulted in prison sentences for 10 people and total fines of $365,000.
OSI said in a statement that the verdict is "inconsistent with the facts and evidence" presented in court, and that the company's employees were unfairly detained for 17 months.
The Wall Street Journal reports that internal OSI documents show that a disgruntled employee and two journalists staged the television report.
The company had been one of the biggest suppliers in China before the scandal, but McDonald's, Yum Brands and Burger King cut ties with the company soon after the story aired.
- U.S. Food Firm OSI Challenges Chinese Verdict In Meat Scandal (Wall Street Journal)
- OSI Defies China Court Verdict As Frustrations Grow Over System (Bloomberg)


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A recent survey of advertising and marketing professionals conducted by SQAD highlighted the large gap in the industry’s understanding of TV advertising costs compared to display advertising costs. While a majority (58%) of those polled were able to correctly identify which primetime television program (“American Idol”) had the highest 30-second ad price in the first quarter of 2013, a larger majority of those polled (75%) could not properly identify which website category (Finance/Insurance and Investment) reported the highest average CPM in 2012. The survey was conducted at the 2013 ANA Advertising Financial Management Conference.
The survey consisted of two questions and multiple-choice answers using data taken from actual ad buys found in SQAD’s databases. The first question asked, “According to SQAD’s NetCosts®, which first quarter 2013 primetime program series had the highest average thirty second price?” Fifty-eight percent accurately identified “American Idol” as the correct answer with no other answer coming nearly as close. “Glee” and “Two and A Half Men” came in second and third at 17% and 14%, respectively. The average price for a 30-second spot on “American Idol” in the first quarter of 2013 was $275,000, according to NetCosts.
The second question revealed that marketers generally do not know which online display advertising category is most expensive. SQAD asked, “According to SQAD’s WebCosts, which Website Category reported the highest Average CPM for 2012?” The most selected answer was the Entertainment category (30%), trailed by Finance/Insurance and Investment (25%) and Automotive (22%). The correct answer, the Finance/Insurance and Investment category, was overlooked by three quarters of advertising professionals. According to WebCosts, the 2012 average CPM was approximately $22 for all sites in the Finance/Insurance and Investment category and just $9.50 for all sites in the Entertainment category. The Finance/Insurance and Investment category features notable sites such as CNNMoney, Bloomberg.com, Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal.
“We are finding that many ad buyers are still in the dark about how much they should be paying for display ads, despite the proliferation of online advertising over the past decade. The opposite is true with broadcast advertising,” said Neil Klar, CEO of SQAD. “The industry needs to make display ad costs more transparent so advertisers can make the right the marketing decisions.”
For more information at http://www.sqad.com


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It seems raising prices and blocking Canadians from viewing its U.S. catalog hasn’t hurt Netflix much.
A new report from Solutions Research Group estimates that the streaming service added one million new subscribers in Canada just since June 2015, far surpassing subscriptions at the Canadian alternatives to Netflix — CraveTV and Shomi.
“SRG estimates that Crave and Shomi have fewer than one million households as active subscribers (combined) or about a one-to-seven service ratio for these services vs. Netflix,” the research firm said, as quoted at MobileSyrup.
With 5.2 million Netflix subscribers and 13 million households in Canada, the streaming service is closing in on being available in half of all Canadian households, CBC News reports. As recently as last June, the service had only 4.1 million Canadian subscribers.
By comparison, Bell-owned CraveTV and Rogers-owned Shomi had a combined 740,000 subscribers, the SRG report estimated. Those two services launched in 2014, while Netflix has been operating a streaming service in Canada since 2010.
The Financial Post estimates that Netflix’s Canadian operations are bringing in some $620 million in revenue annually, based on a monthly subscription fee of $9.99.
The survey also found Canadians are increasingly using streaming devices like the Sony PlayStation, Apple TV and Chromecast to watch TV, with 26 per cent of households (about three million homes) using some streaming device. Among millennials, that number rises to nearly four in 10, with 38 per cent in that age group saying they stream TV.
The report also found a record-high number of Canadians who are contemplating “cutting the cord,” or ditching cable TV in favour of streaming.
Fully 46 per cent of Canadians said they considered cutting the cord in the past six months, nearly double the rate seen in 2012. The cost of cable or satellite TV was the number-one reason cited for cord-cutting. All the same, more than 11 million of Canada's 13 million housholds still subscriber to some sort of TV service, according to industry estimates.
Netflix raised its prices for Canadian subscribers by $1 a month last fall, raising the price to $9.99. It raised prices for long-term subscribers this spring, ending the $7.99-a-month plan these early Netflix adopters were enjoying.
Netflix earlier this year announced it was cracking down on Canadians who hopped virtual borders to access the service’s U.S. catalog, which is largely considered to be better than the Canadian one (a point on which the company’s CEO disagrees).
Although some Netflix users threatened to quit the service over the move, the latest numbers from SRG don’t show a mass exodus of Canadians to other streaming services.
Netflix doesn’t report subscriber numbers for Canada, nor have Bell and Rogers broken out their subscriber numbers for Crave and Shomi, respectively.
SRG’s latest survey polled 1,000 online Canadian households in April of this year.
Also On HuffPost:


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Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPP), Houston, reported it has executed long-term, fee-based agreements that effectively sell out its 1.65 billion lb/year propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant scheduled to begin operating in third-quarter 2015.
Anticipating continued decrease in propylene supplies, EPP is discussing with more customers the development of additional PDH capacity.
Last year EPP announced plans to build a PDH plant that would consume as much as 35,000 b/d of propane to produce 1.65 billion lb/year of polymer-grade propylene (OGJ Online, June 21, 2012).
The plant will be integrated with EPP’s existing propylene fractionation that has a capacity of 5.3 billion lb/year. The PDH plant will also be integrated with EPP’s PGP storage, 102-mile distribution pipeline system, and export terminal.
A.J. Teague, EPP’s executive vice-president and chief operating officer, noted that demand is being driven by the combination of a 38% decrease in propylene supplies since 2006 due to additional ethane consumption by US petrochemical companies and the growing supplies of US propane from the nation’s shale plays.
“We are continuing our discussions with several customers that could lead to a second PDH unit or additional propylene manufacturing capacity,” Teague said.


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adidas World Cup Kits
adidas have unveiled the Kits that will be taking center stage at this year’s World Cup in South Africa. Representing the three stripes at this year’s football fiesta will be European powerhouses Spain, France and Germany, South American maestros Argentina, host nation South Africa, plus Asian powerhouses Japan along with Mexico, Paraguay, Serbia, Greece, Nigeria and Denmark. Each kit mixes traditional team colours and emblems with the latest in high-tech performance materials for a sharp, classic look. Look out for them to be lining the racks of sporting retailers worldwide in the coming months.


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On Oct. 24th make sure to come out and support Breast Cancer Awareness at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino’s annual Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Pool Party and Battle of the Bras fashion show in Maricopa. This event generates a fun, creative and amazing evening in support of a national movement with employees, management and guests.
Come out to Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino in Maricopa, Saturday, Oct. 24th from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and enjoy a fashion show unlike any other, known as the Battle of the Bras, free of charge. Various departments from Harrah’s will choose a male department manager to model a decorated bra. The model will wear the creation on the “catwalk” dancing to music with an entourage to win the Battle of the Bras contest! The Master of Ceremonies and Disc Jockey will make certain a good time will be had by all with dancing and cheering!
There will be no grand prize, but there are bragging rights, which creates phenomenal camaraderie with the crowd. The crowd will be the judges of the Battle of the Bras contest. Shouting, hollering, yelling, laughing and clapping lets the groups know who the winner is for another year.
Christine Todd, Harrah’s development system manager, met with Cowboy Lifestyle Network and was very excited to share the details of the event.
“We have a myriad of departments that participate and are very passionate about Breast Cancer Awareness,” Said Todd. “The day is a culmination of an entire month of breast cancer awareness. It’s the party where we let our pink hair down and have a great time for a good cause.”
Additionally, in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Pink Warrior drink is featured for $7 and a portion of the sales will be donated to the American Cancer Society. The drink, made from Southern Comfort, Amaretto, Peach Schnapps, cranberry and orange juices, a squeeze of lemon and topped with two cherries, as appropriate. Promotions will be taking place throughout October for Breast Cancer Awareness; please visit https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-ak-chin for more information.


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Engadget has confirmed that AT&T will allow iPad 2 users who purchased an unlimited data plan for the original iPad last year to continue using their plan with the iPad 2. When the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G first launched in the U.S. last spring, the carrier initially offered an unlimited data option for $30/month, however a few weeks later the carrier revised its plan structure replacing the unlimited iPad data plan with a $25 for 2GB per month option. The iPad 2 goes on sale in the U.S. this Friday and it is not yet known whether existing iPad Wi-Fi + 3G users will need to go through an activation process with AT&T to transfer their plan to the new device or can simply move over their existing micro-SIM card.
- Apple MacArthur Center closing amid mall safety issues
- Apple increasing sign language interpreters in stores
- Protect your iPhone 12 Pro Max with the Speck CandyShell Pro Case, now 36% off
- Apple official magic keyboard with number pad drops $13
- Cast and creators of ‘Ted Lasso’ to join PaleyFest
- Apple Yeouido set to open February 26
- Apple releases new details on App Privacy Labels
- Revamped Equality Act gets a thumbs up from Tim Cook
- iPhone 12S: TouchID, Improved Cameras, 120Hz Display
- iPhone 12 mini: Worth buying with the flaws?


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The Bengaluru-based Trimurti Group has chalked out an extensive expansion plan for its packaging business with several significant investments lined up. The company is adding a new 3-layer blown film extrusion line to its flexible packaging division, a state-of-the-art factory for IML in its injection molding division, and is further strengthening its newly launched paper packaging vertical. The company continues to focus on sustainability concerns with its in-house recycling plant.
The new 123,000-square foot factory for its in-mold label (IML) division is coming up at Vapi in Gujarat (about three hours from Mumbai), which is expected to be operational by April 2023. This is going to be a state-of-the-art factory with a Clean Room environment.
“Our flexible packaging unit has five multilayer blown film lines in operation, including a 5-layer high barrier film line. The latest one we ordered is a 3-layer line from Hosokawa Alpine. This new investment should significantly improve the quality and productivity.” says Ekta M. Chandan, director at Trimurti Group.
The Trimurti Group manufactures flexible films and thin wall containers, including IML and corrugated boxes. It largely caters to fast-moving consumer goods companies and the eCommerce industry. The company adapts both flexo and rotogravure technologies in its printing department. It has three stack flexo presses, two CI flexo presses, and two rotogravure presses at the plant in Bengaluru.
“Considering the technological advancements in CI flexo presses, and the growing acceptance from brands owners and the higher efficiency of CI flexo technology in terms of ink and solvent usage, we would adapt this technology in the future,” Chandan says.
Aaum Paper Products – the paper packaging division
In addition to its extensive investments on the flexible packaging side, Trimurti has launched a paper packaging division under the brand Aaum Paper Products. Established under the aegis of Chandan herself, this division specializes in the manufacture of paper packaging solutions such as mailers and bags for the fast-moving consumer goods, retail, and eCommerce sectors.
“The new paper packaging vertical is my personal start-up and has been launched under the brand Aaum Paper Products. The company specializes in customized sustainable paper packaging solutions for the eCommerce, fast-moving consumer goods, and retail sectors. Our next product is going to be paper-based envelopes that would give the cushioning effect of bubble wraps,” Chandan says.
A balance between plastic and paper packaging
Chandan believes that the way ahead for the packaging industry is to focus on sustainable solutions. To address this, Trimurti has an in-house plastics recycling plant and a global recycled standard certification. It makes compostable films, PE/PE recyclable laminates, and also paper-based packaging.
While there is an ongoing debate in the packaging industry about paper versus plastics, Chandan argues that having the right balance considering each packaging application would be the key. “Plastic is a great material, and some of its barrier properties (as of date) cannot be replaced by any other material, albeit the pollution that it creates cannot be ignored. Hence the key for this industry would be to innovate recyclable solutions, focus on waste collection and recycling,” Chandan says.
“There are applications which paper would replace in the near future, including those that are barrier based, and this would be a great solution since it’s a renewable material that can compost by the curbside. While doing this, the brand owners and we converters must seek FSC-certified papers to ensure we do not run out of trees and oxygen,” she concludes.


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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22
of ZippyPaws in Chino, Calif. “We have new
launches happening in 2018—I’m very excit-
ed to share these new collections with every-
one. With this new year, I have full confidence
in the ZippyPaws team that we will continue
paving the way for the dog toy industry.”
The Donutz toy line has been a bestseller
ever since Cao and her father started the com-
pany, officials said. The stuffing-free fuzzy
toys come in three sizes: regular, which has
a suggested retail price of $7.99; mini Donutz,
which retails for $5.99; and jumbo Donutz,
which retails for $10.99.
PET RELEAF DROPS PRICES AS A RESULT
OF “BEST HEMP HARVEST” IN 2017
Pet Releaf, a maker of cannabidiol (CBD) products for pets, reported its best hemp harvest
ever in 2017. Pet Releaf controls its entire manufacturing process, from seed to sale, from plant
to pet, starting with its joint-venture hemp farm
in eastern Colorado. The company’s multigen-erational family farming partners’ experience
and innovation has allowed Pet Releaf to sig-nificantly increase its acreage and use more of
Pet Releaf’s proprietary hemp strain PR- 33 than
ever before, according to company officials.
“From the beginning, we decided Pet Re-
leaf would control our entire manufacturing
process to ensure safety and consistency,”
said Steve Smith, president of the Littleton,
Colo.-based company. “Our dedication to the
entire process has allowed us to develop state-
of-the-art farming practices and production ef-
ficiencies like no other. With this year’s success,
we are happy to share these costs savings with
our loyal retail partners.”
The successful harvest means that Pet Re-
leaf is able to drop its prices without sacrificing
quality, officials said.
WAG N’ WASH NATURAL
FOOD & BAKERY
GROWTH IN 2018
Wag N’ Wash Natural Food
& Bakery, a full-line specialty retail and grooming
center, reported successful
growth in 2017 and started
2018 off with more development plans, said company
Wag N’ Wash opened
four stores in 2017 and is on
track to open at least four
new locations in 2018. The
new stores will be located in
Monument, Colo., Broom-field, Colo., Redmond,
Wash., and Minneapolis.
deals that have already been
signed and pending signings in the coming months,
Wag N’ Wash hopes to open
four to eight new stores
across the country by the
end of the year. There are
currently 16 locations open
and operating throughout
Colorado, Arizona, Nevada,
New Jersey, Maryland, Minnesota, Texas, Kentucky and
Worldwise has received a sig-
nificant minority investment
from consumer products-fo-
cused investment firm Visio-
Cap. Financial terms of the in-
vestment were not disclosed.
VisioCap’s investment will
enable Worldwise to fuel
continued product innova-
tion and expand the distribu-
tion for its suite of pet prod-
ucts, according to company
“In addition to capital,
VisioCap brings deep exper-
tise in the pet sector, having
owned and operated many
pet-related businesses over
their careers,” said Kevin
Fick, CEO of Worldwise in
Steve Marton, co-found-er of VisioCap, will join the
Worldwise board of directors and work closely with
the Worldwise executive
team. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
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Author: Barclay Ballard
21 Aug 2019
Since its release in 2009, bitcoin has captured the public’s imagination like no other development in the financial world. If the industry previously conjured up images of suits, ties and spreadsheets, then bitcoin replaced them with mysterious computer hackers, innovative start-ups and even criminal activity. Intrigue was also driven by the chance to get rich: bitcoin has experienced huge price spikes (and crashes) over the years, allowing some currency speculators to earn vast sums of money.
But while bitcoin has taken the headlines, it is actually the technology underpinning it that is likely to prove more important moving forward. Blockchain, the distributed ledger system that securely stores all of bitcoin’s transactional data and has subsequently been adopted by other cryptocurrencies, has also been used to support smart contracts, supply chain management and digital voting. Now, e-money can be added to that list.
In June, Icelandic fintech start-up Monerium became the first European company to receive a licence to issue electronic money over the blockchain. The decision gives the technology further legitimacy and suggests that, for all their hype, cryptocurrencies may not represent the future of money after all.
Bit of a let-down
Although e-money sounds like the latest disruptive technology set to shake up the finance sector, it has been around for a relatively long time. Quite simply, it is fiat money in digital form – an alternative to cash that exists on banks’ computer systems. It is used all over the world at any given moment to facilitate electronic transactions.
“E-money is a legal form of digital cash that is fully asset-backed, redeemable and supervised,” Monerium co-founder and CEO Sveinn Valfells told European CEO. “It is technically neutral and not tied to any specific electronic medium. E-money was first introduced in the EU in 2000, and there are tens of billions of euros of e-money in circulation in the eurozone, primarily as pre-paid cards.”
For all their hype, cryptocurrencies may not represent the future of money after all
Cryptocurrency, meanwhile, is an unregulated form of private money that exists as tokens on blockchains to serve a diverse range of use cases. Bitcoin, for example, is designed as an online payment token, while Ether is intended to pay for transactions on the Ethereum blockchain.
Not long ago, experts were signalling that nationally regulated currencies would eventually die out and be replaced by cryptocurrencies, but this has yet to take place. In fact, the number of practical use cases for cryptocurrencies remains small. While the amount of bitcoin received by top merchant processors increased steadily between 2015 and 2017, it has fluctuated wildly since; last year, several service providers, including Stripe and Expedia, stopped accepting the cryptocurrency at all.
By contrast, the amount of e-money issued by monetary financial institutions in the eurozone has grown every year since 2011, according to data from the European Central Bank. It is easy to see why its popularity is on the rise: unlike cryptocurrency, e-money is backed by a fiat currency and, as a result, is not subject to the same level of volatility. It is also extremely simple to understand and use: whatever amount of money an individual has in their regular bank account is the amount they have in their e-wallet.
Maybe crime does pay
While legislators are not quite sure how to get a handle on cryptocurrencies, the regulatory landscape for e-money is well established. Nevertheless, the level of trust in mobile wallets and pre-paid cards still has some way to go if it is to reach parity with traditional banks. For Monerium, the adoption of blockchain will help to improve this situation by adding another layer of security.
The reason why blockchains are attracting so much attention is that they are secure by design. Whenever a transaction is added to the blockchain, a new ‘block’ is created. To prevent this from being tampered with, each block is connected to the blocks that come before and after it. If a fraudster wanted to falsify information on the blockchain, they would have to do so for all the blocks connected to it – possible, but extremely difficult.
Blockchains are not infallible, and there has been some speculation that smaller networks could be particularly susceptible to attack
Additionally, every participant in the blockchain network has their own private key assigned to each transaction. And, as blockchains are decentralised, there is no single point of weakness for hackers to target. In order to successfully alter a blockchain and get away with it, an individual would have to access every node – or at least the majority of them – on the network and make the same changes at the same time. Again, this is a highly unlikely occurrence.
As well as providing security benefits, the ability to create e-money using the blockchain means individuals and businesses can use Monerium’s platform to send and receive money without the involvement of a financial intermediary, such as a bank. This will lead to some financial transactions being automated, providing huge efficiency benefits.
“Just like the world wide web gave rise to a new form of media on the internet, blockchains enable new types of online transactions for existing and new asset classes,” Valfells explained. “For example, atomic and programmable trading, and the settlement of securities and commodities around the clock. Such markets will not come about unless there is a reliable form of fiat money linked to blockchains – e-money is that link.”
Still, blockchains are not infallible, and there has been some speculation that smaller networks could be particularly susceptible to attack. Due to the computing power required, the website Crypto51 estimates that altering the majority of the nodes on the bitcoin blockchain for fraudulent purposes – known as a ‘51 percent attack’ – would cost in excess of $730,000 (€654,920) per hour.
For less popular blockchains, however, such barriers are not necessarily present. In January 2019, a hacker managed to steal $1.1m (€979,726) worth of the Ethereum Classic cryptocurrency by reorganising the network’s blockchain in such a way that they could spend the same coins more than once. Despite these concerns, the Monerium CEO believes it’s important that his firm is blockchain agnostic.
Unlike cryptocurrency, e-money is backed by a fiat currency and is not subject to the same level of volatility
“The technology is new and we want to support organisations that are starting to use blockchains to facilitate the adoption of the technology,” Valfells said. “Monerium believes blockchains can be used in many areas of e-commerce and financial services, and the diverse needs of global markets will require different types of blockchains.”
When bitcoin was released, it was the only blockchain around; today, that is no longer the case. Different use cases may require different types of blockchain, depending on transparency, speed, environmental impact and a host of other factors. For Monerium and other platforms adopting blockchain technology, security will obviously be important, but there certainly is good reason for taking a flexible approach while the field is still developing.
Although cash remains the most popular method of payment – in November 2018, the US Federal Reserve found that it was used for 30 percent of all US transactions and 55 percent of transactions under $10 (€8.91) – reports of its demise are never far away. As such, the race is on for businesses to enter the alternative currency space. Some major players are already involved.
In June, Facebook confirmed that it was creating its own global currency. Named Libra, the new digital token will be built using blockchain technology and enable users to send money via Facebook, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, as well as pay for products and services purchased online from selected third-party outlets. The key competitive advantage held by the currency is that it will be backed up by real assets in the form of the Libra Reserve. Interest earned on these assets will be used to cover operational costs, ensuring that users of the currency face low transaction fees.
Although Valfells is keen to stress that his company is not in competition with cryptocurrencies like Facebook’s Libra, these are important times for the nascent fintech sector. There has been a lot of hype, but not much progress among members of the public. As individuals continue to gradually transition away from cash in favour of digital transactions, a number of companies – not just Facebook and Monerium – will be looking to set the pace. The winner will need to strike a delicate balance between innovating and adhering to regulatory standards.
“Facebook’s new Libra blockchain project has the potential to be a big step forward towards a more global and inclusive financial infrastructure,” said US Congressman Darren Soto, who is also co-chair of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus. “We are encouraged by the possibility of increasing access to mobile and digital payments, which will ultimately benefit our society and become a driver of economic growth. While it is yet unclear how this new technology will be regulated, it is crucial Congress continues to protect consumers and the financial wellbeing of investors, while simultaneously promoting innovation for these virtual currencies.”
Facebook’s pulling power is obviously a huge advantage – both with members of the public and the corporate world. The social network has already managed to attract 27 other companies to join the Libra project, including eBay, Uber and Visa. But whether that will be enough to convince people to trust Facebook with their hard-earned cash remains to be seen. Mark Zuckerberg’s company has not exactly got a clean record when it comes to data privacy; it will have to do a better job concerning financial regulations.
Looking to the future, the fact that Monerium has obtained a licence from Iceland’s Financial Supervisory Authority is a significant step forward for the use of e-money across Europe. In order to receive the accreditation, the company did things a little differently from most fintech operators: instead of designing the technology first and then seeking regulatory approval, Monerium took a regulation-first approach, basing its technology on existing legislation.
“Acquiring an e-money licence required a concentrated and sustained effort by a team of people who have previously served in leading roles in asset management, central banking, IT [and] regulatory institutions, and who had helped prepare other licence applications,” Valfells explained.
Initially, Monerium’s services will only be available in Icelandic króna, but additional currencies will be made available in the second half of this year, or at some point during 2020. Crucially, as Iceland is part of the European Economic Area, the company has access to a huge market of some 520 million people.
For now, it appears to be advantage Monerium, but the decision to grant an e-money blockchain licence could also prove to be a big win for Europe more generally – particularly given that so many of the world’s recent tech developments have come out of Silicon Valley. If Monerium can further the growth of e-money across the continent while also bolstering the fledgling blockchain economy, then the company could play a leading role in the continuing digitalisation of money across the globe.


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PARIS — German luggage maker Rimowa has hired Rocky Jacob as chief product officer, signaling its ambition to ramp up innovation with products including intelligent objects, WWD has learned.
Jacob, previously lead industrial designer at smart thermostat and smoke alarm maker Nest Labs, will be in charge of products, design, marketing and research and development. He will report to Alexandre Arnault, joint chief executive officer of the company, which is owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
Arnault, the son of LVMH chairman and chief executive officer Bernard Arnault, holds a master’s degree in innovation at the elite Paris school Polytechnique and has been working closely with Ian Rogers, chief digital officer at LVMH, on initiatives such as the LVMH Innovation Award for start-ups.
Jacob was hired at Nest by cofounders Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers. Following its acquisition by Google, now Alphabet, Fadell left his role as ceo of Nest. A serial inventor who developed the iPod for Apple, Fadell was among the heavy-hitters on the jury of the LVMH Innovation award.
Jacob, who studied at the Offenbach University of Art and Design, will be returning to Germany, working at Rimowa’s headquarters in Cologne.
It’s the second high-profile appointment at Rimowa this month.
Hector Muelas, who rose to prominence in fashion as chief image officer at Donna Karan International, has been named as chief brand officer, charged with heading global brand marketing and communications, as reported.
Founded in 1898, Rimowa is credited with launching the first suitcases in aluminum and polycarbonate, in 1937 and 2000, respectively. Four-wheel designs and waterproofing are other breakthroughs.
More recently it introduced a case with an electronic tag that links it to a smartphone via Bluetooth, simplifying the check-in process.


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Thomas Houston writing for The Verge:
Third-party email app Sparrow just announced that it’s been purchased by Google. This morning, Dom Leca posted on the Sparrow blog that the company has been acquired by Google, and that they’re joining the Gmail team to “accomplish a bigger vision.”
I’m of mixed feelings on this, I use Sparrow daily for connecting to my gmail accounts, and also use the iPhone app (despite not having push notifications). The last time Google acquired a decent mail app, it disappeared off the store and nothing came of the app they bought.
Hopefully, this is a positive note and Google uses the tech from Sparrow to build an awesome mail client finally..
And yes, I already know Sparrow itself will go away, but we’ll see what becomes of their technology


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Over the past two years, the applications of virtual reality (VR) in healthcare has witnessed an explosion. At present, the technology is in the nascent stage before patients use it. So far, the medical use of VR has been mainly for education. In 2017, Royal London Hospital’s virtual surgery project involved the use of virtual reality. This involved surgeons in different geographical locations to perform operations together for experiential training.
We are experiencing disruptive technologies from the start of this century. Some of those are virtual reality, artificial intelligence, big data, and augmented reality. Those have become an integral part of our day-to-day lives. Recently, Slightly Mad Studios announced a new console with a high-speed performance for wireless VR headsets and 4K TVs. While such developments are commonplace these days, this one stands out because the company has no background
Flixbus is yet to launch a new feature in its upgraded version during the 2019’s. The inexpensive intercity bus service in Europe and the United States is to launch Virtual Reality feature. Virtual reality projects to be the first step in a great adventure into the world of imagination. The computer-generated experience takes place in a parallel environment. This imaginary environment can be like a fantasy or even the real
A wise man once said, “Spread Peace, Not war, Heaven will not be far”. The after effects of Second World War had petrified humanity to a level where nations came up to build peace and promised not to declare war on one another; at least not until it is really necessary. However, the silent competition of being the most powerful nation in the world is still continuing, but now in
The virtual reality may be notable experience, but the technology has certain boundaries. The technology giant, Google, has developed and patented the shoes which can compete with the virtual reality trough making it more engaging for clients. Meanwhile, originally, the patent was filed on 9th may, 2018, and detailed information about the shoes guide the consumers to move through virtual environment. Also, shoewear highlighted in the Google filling could be


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- A weak Retail Sales report questions the recovery
- Lower import prices, disinflation on the way?
- Waiting on consumer inflation data
The US dollar took an unexpected hit yesterday after the release of weak Retail Sales data and lower import prices.
The retail sales declined by 0.9 percent in December compared to November, and this month-over-month drop was the largest decline since January 2014. With a recent plunge in oil prices, a 6.5 percent decline in gas stations sales was expected. However, the market was surprised to learn that the sales decline was broad-based and covered many key spending categories. This suggests that perhaps consumers are not spending their windfall savings from lower oil prices.
The US economy is mostly driven by consumer spending. Therefore, a slowdown in retail sales, particularly over the holidays, is disconcerting. If consumers continue to hold back their spending in the coming months then the economy risks falling into another year of subdued growth and no wage gains.
Further darkening this prospect, December import prices fell by 2.5 percent, which was the largest drop since December 2008. A stronger dollar and falling oil prices are largely responsible for this decline. When lower import prices persist, general prices tend to fall because domestic producers are forced to lower their prices to protect their market share and thereby potentially usher in disinflation.
In summary, the prospect of subdued growth, no wage gains and disinflation are not good for the dollar and as a consequence, the dollar stumbled yesterday. But, one month’s data does not establish a trend. The market will be paying close attention to additional incoming data to discern if the economy can free itself from this gloomy prospect. This starts with this Friday’s release of December Consumer Price Index report – and there is much more to come.
EUR-USD gained yesterday but plunged this morning when the Swiss National Bank surprised the market and let the CHF float in the market instead of holding its promised EUR-CHF peg at 1.2000. It is too early to assess the full outcome of this surprise but stayed tuned.
GBP-USD climbed higher as the dollar took a hit from a weak retail sales data and falling import prices (as discussed). Some analysts now suspect that the timing of the Bank of England’s rate increase will not be too far behind the Fed’s move.
USD-JPY plunged yesterday, defying many forecasts which called for the USD-JPY to break a 1.20 level this week. A surprising gain in oil prices and a prospect of lower US rates made the yen more attractive to international investors who were seeking a safe haven currency.
Have a great day.


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South-South cooperation thrives, but efforts remain fragmented. International institutions need to adjust to the reality of a new distribution of power.
Governments are no longer the ones who rule the world, the power shifted to global megacorporations.
Why development aid should also target media and people working in the media
Book review: the necessary revolution
DDD’s 20th issue explores global work realities in the 21th century .
Ever more sophisticated robots are taking over jobs. Poverty might follow in step. But there is a concept, often derided as socialist utopia that could help.
The expansion of big retailers in developing countries poses a challenge for food security.
Instead of reducing gender inequalities, the current policy of financial institutions contributes to structural discrimination against women.
What we need to prevent financial crises is an entirely new operating system: a new exchange system.
Small investment groups called chamas are a big phenomenon in Kenya. People join to purchase land, start a business, or even to buy their Friday night beers.
How speculation on food commodities raises food prices in developing countries.
The problem lies not in food production, but in access to food. We are letting them starve - but we are not the perpetrators says Jean Ziegler.
Dubious banks take advantage of the poor in Nigeria. The mini-series “E-Go Better” educates farmers about the risks and chances of microfinance.
Insects are a sustainable source of protein since they eat bio-waste. Entofood aims to produce insects on industrial scale. An interview with its founder.
Basic Income Guarantees (BIG) were once laughed at as utopian. But they are already today changing the lives of millions worldwide – especially in the south.
The Organization ChunriChoupaal does not accept the male bias of the tech industry. Neither in Europe nor in Pakistan
Farmers know their needs best, concluded Kenny Ewan of WeFarm and created a global mobile platform for crowdsourcing agricultural information.
Thanks to a young entrepreneur, Swedish companies finally start employing immigrant workers.
Africa's start-up scene is driven by innovators in the field of digital media and IT. Some of them met through Ampion.
Sustainability is a key concept of the Post-2015 Agenda. Australian designer Leyla Acaroglu provides a fun and refreshing approach on how to implement it.
What do you take responsibility for? DDD issue #15 will show you a variety of approaches to the topic of “responsibility”.
About Partnership between Multinational Enterprises and International Non-Govermental Organisations
Ever since the tragedy of Rana Plaza, poor working conditions have increased in visibility. But do the huge labels really keep their fair production promises?
Considering normative expectations and the economic rationale, should corporations enter the political arena?
Testing textile firms: mainstream retailer H&M versus niche player hessnatur - who is more sustainable?
Campaigns for Sustainable Sourcing And Responsible Employment at London 2012
Ecological economists are innovating new markets
A Dutch company is taking the first steps towards a fairer mobile phone.
Ethical fashion conquers the world couture capital Paris: Good-bye hippe hemp sack, hello haute couture!


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Positive Outlook Comes On the Heels of Disastrous 2020 When Pandemic Forced Some Businesses to Close and Others to Deal With Major Losses.
Saratoga Springs, NY — Saratoga Springs business owners are seeing double digit sale increases as visitors have flocked to the Saratoga Race Course for the first two weeks of the 2021 season. This positive outlook comes on the heels of a disastrous 2020 when many Saratoga Springs business owners had to fight for survival during the COVID pandemic. During the summer of 2020, city sales were down 30-40% overall, and a survey found that 30% of equine related business owners were concerned about losing their entire investment.
For the summer of 2021, it is like night and day. The city of Saratoga Springs projects 2021 tax collection will surpass $14.5 million, more than $1 million more than the amount collected in 2019, pre-COVID.
Read the full article here


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Vue cinemas delay UK reopening by three additional weeks
Vue Cinemas will not open until July 31 at the earliest, citing delays to the release of blockbusters such as Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and Disney’s Mulan reboot.
- Read more: All the films and TV shows suspended due to coronavirus
The chain were set to reopen their branches on July 10 as lockdown restrictions eased across the UK, however that plan will now be abandoned in favour of a phased reopening of venues from the end of this month.
Speaking to Variety, Vue CEO Tim Richards said: “Having taken comprehensive steps to safeguard our staff and customers, Vue is ready to welcome back customers to its UK cinemas to enjoy the escapism of the big screen experience.
“We know from successfully re-opening cinemas across Europe […] that audiences after lockdown are itching to enjoy the big screen experience again, with the added reassurance of rigorous new operating protocols and appropriate physical distancing.”
He continued: “We also want to offer a great choice of content for the big screen experience and, despite having many classic films and recent releases lined up to whet the appetite of cinema audiences this summer, the worldwide rescheduling of the release dates of Mulan and Tenet has prompted us to review our opening dates.”
Rival chain Cineworld yesterday announced that they will also be delaying their reopening until July 31. Odeon are now the only major chain in the U.K. not to push back their reopening, with their cinemas still set to reopen on July 4.
Tenet, originally due for release on July 17, was first pushed back to July 31 and has now been further delayed until August 12.


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Tesla’s autopilot is said to be responsible for numerous crashes
The “Handelsblatt” evaluated 100 GB of internal data from the American car manufacturer. These should show how big the problems with the autopilot are.
The problems with Tesla’s autopilot are apparently greater than previously assumed. At least that’s what thousands of documents that the German «Handelsblatt» have been leaked by insiders. The newspaper checked the data and concluded that there was no evidence that it did not come from Tesla.
The so-called Tesla Files contain around 23,000 files. These include lists of former and current employees’ salaries, classified technical reports, and even Elon Musk’s putative vehicle and social security numbers. There are also nearly 4,000 autopilot complaints about unwanted self-acceleration and problems with the brakes.
Emergency braking on the A3 – full throttle in the parking lot
For example, the complaint of a Swiss customer who was driving his Tesla Model S on the A3 on July 26, 2021 is documented. After an overtaking manoeuvre, his car independently made an emergency stop. He had “become scared and anxious”. Fortunately, however, nothing happened.
Apparently, a driver in the USA fared less well. According to his own statements, in 2019 his vehicle made an emergency stop in the middle of the highway. The car behind hit him from behind.
In other cases, the Teslas would have accelerated for no reason. For example in 2021 with a doctor from California. When she wanted to turn around in a parking lot, her car suddenly went full throttle, drove first into one and then into a second concrete pillar.
Musk says autopilot will determine Tesla’s value
The “Handelsblatt” claims to have contacted dozens of people whose complaints appeared in the leaked files. They would have confirmed the incidents. Many of them were dissatisfied with how Tesla dealt with their complaints. The company accused the Californian doctor of stepping on the gas herself. The communication was primarily oral. According to the “Handelsblatt”, Tesla employees are instructed to only share “verbal” information with customers.
The numerous complaints about the autopilot are explosive in that they raise doubts about its functionality. It is Elon Musk’s central promise that his Tesla will be able to drive independently in the near future. In June 2022, he said in an interview that this would decide “whether Tesla is worth a lot of money or practically zero”.
According to Tesla’s website, the autopilot currently enables the vehicle to “steer, accelerate and brake automatically in its lane”. However, it requires “active monitoring by the driver”. Nevertheless, Tesla prominently promises that its vehicles will be able to drive “completely autonomously” in the future.
Self-driving video with question marks
For example, Elon Musk published a video on Twitter in 2016 that was supposed to show how a Tesla drove to the company’s headquarters and parked independently. However, a Tesla engineer later testified that the video was edited together. The driver repeatedly had to intervene while driving and the car hit a fence while parking. The link to the video in Musk’s tweet no longer works.
When the “Handelsblatt” confronted Tesla and Elon Musk with questions about the leaked data, they did not want to take a position. Instead, the company’s lawyer demanded that the data be deleted. In a letter to the newspaper, which the newspaper published, the lawyer writes that Tesla has reason to believe that a “disgruntled former employee” before leaving “abused his access as a service technician” to smuggle information out of the company .
The informant who sent the data to the “Handelsblatt” also handed it over to the German and Dutch data protection authorities. They confirmed this to the newspaper: “The state commissioner has serious indications of possible data protection violations by the Tesla automotive group,” writes a spokesman for the state data protection commissioner in Brandenburg, for example.
This would now check whether sensitive information was not sufficiently protected at Tesla. Apparently, a large amount of employee data was easily accessible to a large number of people. That’s why the leak should have been possible. “Should this prove to be correct, the matter would be particularly serious from a data protection point of view, also because of the large number of people affected worldwide,” emphasized the spokesman to the German Press Agency.
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Gateway Enhances All-in-One System
Gateway Inc. next month will start shipping new versions of its Profile all-in-one computer and its desktop-replacement notebook.
The Profile 5, which will ship Nov. 3, will offer new features that business customers have been telling the Poway, Calif., company are needed in the all-in-one, said Philip Osako, vice president of alternative form factor desktops at Gateway....
To read the full article, click here.
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Next-gen Indy game still on track
Staff cuts won't affect development.
LucasArts has confirmed the Indiana Jones game in development for PS3 and Xbox 360 is still in development, despite the recent lay off of up to 100 staff.
Speaking to Joystiq, the company said there are "no plans to outsource [the game's] development to an external studio".
The title was first unveiled at E3 2006, where an impressive tech demo showed how it'll make use of NaturalMotion's Euphoria animation engine. Read Kristan's full report for more details. Back then the game had a working title of Indiana Jones 2007, but that's since changed for obvious reasons - and there's still no word of an official release date.


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Irish Seafood has significant growth potential
Bord Iascaigh Mhara's chief executive today (Friday 4 March) opened the Irish Skipper Expo in Galway hitting a promising note for the future of Ireland's seafood industry. Jason Whooley, chief executive of Ireland's development agency for the sea fisheries sector outlined the very real potential for the seafood sector which is on target to generate 1 billion euro in sales and create an additional 3,000 jobs in this important indigenous industry by 2020, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to BIM.
Speaking at the opening of the two-day Expo, which attracts key players from the Irish and UK seafood industries each year, Mr. Whooley acknowledged the many difficulties facing those in the industry, particularly increasingly high fuel oil prices and restrictive quotas, however he firmly pointed to the seafood sector as 'an industry that has significant growth potential'.
'The inescapable fact is that seafood, a raw material which so many fishermen here today have control over actually makes the fisherman the most important link in the seafood industry chain. The resource that fishermen are sitting on is becoming increasingly valuable and by seeing themselves as part of an overall chain, major business potential will begin to become clear.' said Mr. Whooley. 'If we can begin to create a shift in focus from being a 'stand alone' fisherman to seeing ourselves as a 'supplier' selling his seafood to a major international market that has huge demand for this product, the opportunities for maximising the return to fishermen become more tangible.
Fishermen have to begin to see their livelihood as a business with major potential. The traditional routes for fishermen to bring their products to market have to be looked at in light of developing global trends if Ireland is to remain a strong player in the world seafood market. BIM are keen to begin this debate and assist our industry to make the right decisions to ensure they don't see this major business potential lost.'
This years Irish Skipper Expo is set to attract over 5,000 fishermen and their families and plays host to well over 100 exhibitors. In addition renowned photographer and star of 'The Deadliest Catch', Corey Arnold will present some of his work. BIM will be running seminars during the Expo, which will include an overview of technical conservation measures being implemented by the development agency in co-operation with fishermen. Irish Fishermen are increasingly proactive in adopting these measures and modifying their fishing gear to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability.


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Toyota Overtakes Volkswagen in the Midst of the Emissions Scandal
Earlier this fall, VW issued a recall for the 2009 to 2015 VW Diesel Jetta, Beetle, Golf, and Audi A3 and the 2014 to 2015 VW Diesel Passat. Owners of these vehicles may have a claim against VW. The industry leader deliberately misled consumers and federal regulators by installing “defeat devices” that turn off emissions controls when the cars are in normal driving conditions. That is when the cars are not being tested for emissions and fuel efficiency.
Now, the scandal is catching up with VW. VW has officially fallen from its glory as the world’s top automaker by sales. Toyota has now taken the lead. Between January and June of this year, VW sold 5.04 million vehicles. Toyota sold 5.02 million. VW managed to surpass Toyota in second-quarter sales. However, VW’s sales have tanked since the emissions scandal broke, allowing Toyota to pull ahead in the race for the number one spot. VW sold 7.43 million vehicles from January to September of this year, compared to Toyota’s 7.49 million.
If you or someone you know owns a Volkswagen model subject to recall, contact a board certified personal injury attorney about your potential claim.


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This Apple iPhone FaceTime bug lets people eavesdrop on you without your consent
Technology giant, Apple, has suspended a function within its FaceTime application after it emerged that a bug was letting users listen to another person's conversations without them actually answering their phone.
In some circumstances users were able to see video footage through the unsuspecting person's phone without them knowing or answering.
Apple was made aware of the issue by The Guardian newspaper and the bug was first reported by 9to5mac.com
Apple suspended the Group FaceTime function on Tuesday.
Apple's latest software update, iOS 12.2, is due to be released later this week and the tech-giant says it will include a bug fix for the Group FaceTime issue.
An Apple spokesperson said: “We’re aware of this issue and we have identified a fix that will be released in a software update later this week.”


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121 results found
Neil and Louise Davy have opened the UK's first olive farm after falling in love with the idea during their honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast in Italy in 2002.
Tessa Cunningham (pictured with her new partner Richard and inset, before she met him) said her ex-husband couldn't care less if she wore £200 Nicole Farhi dress or Primark jeans - now things are different.
Does cooking an entire two-course Sunday roast dinner in a glass bowl plugged into a wall socket sound too weird to be true? If so, think again. Welcome to the world of the halogen table-top oven.
Marks & Spencer's 'Dine In For £10' meals were lambasted this week at its shareholders' meeting by customers, here Tessa Cunningham, puts them to the test against their rivals.
From Poundland to Poundstretcher, Poundworld and 99p Stores, they seem to be mushrooming. Do they all sell the same products? And how do they keep their prices so low?
Top Christmas tree decorator Sharon Creates dressed three different trees with three very different budgets.
Chere Hunter, pictured, is a hospice chaplain whose role is to comfort patients and families at St John's Hospice in Moggerhanger, near Bedford.
'Last week, I went Christmas shopping with three girlfriends. It's a tradition, and after we've finished tearing round the shops, we always collapse in a coffee shop.'
Party time is upon us. And when it comes to festive nibbles, no one prides themselves on providing a more exhaustive selection than Iceland.
Naomi Thomas, our Inspirational Woman of the Year, is a breast cancer sufferer who has decided to devote the rest of her life to making the wedding dreams come true for others.
Tesco announced this week that two thirds of the store’s bagged salads, almost half its bakery goods and a quarter of its grapes go to waste.
Debby Walch had barely switched out the light when the phone on her bedside table started ringing.
Sales of fruit and herbal tea have shot up 15 per cent in the past year. But at 6p a bag, compared to 2p for PG Tips, they're not cheap.
This kitchen gadget doesn’t sound appealing. While ice cream and bread-makers conjure visions of yummy treats, a food dehydrator sounds like it belongs in a lab.
He knew my heart had been broken by my ex-husband. But Dad insisted I was far too young - at 'just' 54 - to give up on love. How right he was, writes TESSA CUNNINGHAM.
The Dippy Egg is a single, pasteurised, part-boiled egg that comes in its own pot. You don’t even have to get out a saucepan. All you need is a kettle and a teaspoon.
During the Seventies, yoghurt makers had pride of place in middle-class homes. Now, with sales up by 20 per cent, yoghurt makers are making a comeback, says Tessa Cunningham.
This extraordinary woman — who clawed her way up from abject poverty — invented skincare and make-up as we know it.
The price can be inflated by as much as 200 per cent - and sometimes the fruit is still rock hard and inedible. Supermarkets claim to use a raft of tricks to ensure their fruit is ripe. Femail put their efforts to the test …
When Tessa Cunningham's elderly father moved in, she had no idea how hard juggling his needs with those of her teenage daughters would be.
Subscribe to our RSS feed for these results
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group


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New factory set to boost supplies of 'gold standard' whey protein
Kemin, DSM expand partnership
Nestlé South Africa appoints new chairman and managing director
Improved liquid lecithins for pure flavour
Branson Chemicals opens new branch
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Alfiez (Nigeria) at African Fashion and Design Week 2016 (AFDW 2016)
The 2016 edition of African Fashion and Design week themed “Be Inspired” had the best of designers across Africa.
The fashion event hosted by Sika Osei and Uti Nwachukwu, took place on Saturday, October 8th with the finale on Sunday, October 9th 2016 at the prestigious Oriental Hotel.
Nigerian designer label, Alfeiz unveiled its collection titled “Mixed Feelings”.
See collection below:


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Published Dec 13, 2013Disclosure have now officially confirmed that a number of remixes will be tagged onto a special edition of Settle that arrives next week, but they're launching into the weekend by offering up a saucy revamp of "Latch" as whipped up by iconic hip hop producer DJ Premier.
The hop-and-skip house feel of the original is toned down in favour of a more subtle, slow-paced beat framed by a likewise minimalist piano and bass arrangement. Sam Smith's effortlessly sexy singing, however, is still pumped full of pheromones. You'll hear the newly imagined song down below.
Settle Special Edition arrives December 16 through PMR Records.


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Pet owners told to skip the treats and hit the streets
A deadly diet of treats and table scraps, coupled with a couch-potato lifestyle, is fuelling an obesity time bomb for Scottish pets, leading vet charity PDSA has warned.
Now it is urging pet owners to ‘skip the treats and hit the streets’ to tackle the growing problem.
The charity’s call comes as it kicks off its national pet slimming contest: PDSA Pet Fit Club.
New findings from the charity’s PAW Report reveal a staggering 5.7 million* UK pets (3.4 million dogs, 2 million cats and 260,000 rabbits) are fed treats every day. Loving but indulgent owners admitted ‘treating’ their pets to a range of dangerous foods including crisps, cake, cheese, chips and takeaways.
A further 3.9 million pets (2.4 million dogs, 1.5 million cats and 30,000 rabbits)** are also fed table scraps or leftovers as their main meals, further adding to the weighty problem.
PDSA vet Rebecca Ashman explains the reasons behind owner behaviour: “We love our pets and owners often enjoy showing their love by giving food. Nearly half (44%) of owners across the UK told us that they give treats because they believe it makes the pets happy, and over a quarter (27%) do it to make themselves feel good. And 13% confess to giving treats because their pets beg, puppy dog eyes are hard to resist.
“Treats and human food can be high in fat and sugars which are bad for pets’ waistlines and teeth. Some foods, like chocolate, are poisonous to pets and can even be fatal.”
Bad diets aren’t the only problem: millions of pets in Scotland are not getting enough daily exercise. Across the UK a shocking 1.6 million dogs (17%) aren’t walked daily, some of these are never walked because their owners mistakenly believe that playing in the garden is a suitable substitute. Scottish pets fare slightly better with just 12% missing out.
The UK’s cats are missing out too: according to PDSA research 440,000 cats (4% of the population) don’t exercise daily– including running climbing or playing.
Sadly, these diet disasters and lazy lifestyles are taking their toll, with the charity estimating that a third of dogs and a quarter of cats are now overweight or obese.
Seventy-eight percent of vet professionals believe that pet obesity has increased over the past two years. When asked which three issues will have the biggest health and welfare implication in 10 years’ time they picked obesity as the top one.
To help battle the bulge PDSA is launching its twelfth annual Pet Fit Club competition and is inviting owners of overweight and obese pets to take part in the UK’s biggest and most successful pet slimming competition.
“Prevention is always better than cure,” said Rebecca. “But even if pets are already overweight or obese, this can be tackled with the right diet and exercise. Over the years our Pet Fit Club competition has helped transform some of the UK’s fattest pets into fit and healthy animals,” said Rebecca.
“Owners have the ability to make a real difference to their pet’s health and happiness. PDSA is encouraging anyone concerned that their pet is overweight to enter them in Pet Fit Club.”
Pet Fit Club is a six-month diet and exercise programme, tailored and overseen by expert PDSA vets and nurses. The charity will select up to 15 overweight dogs, cats and rabbits from across the UK to participate.
Owners can enter their pets at www.pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub. Entry forms are also available from PDSA Pet Hospitals and Shops nationwide. The deadline for entries is Sunday 5 March, 2017.
PDSA Pet Fit Club was launched in 2005 and has already helped 78 dogs, 34 cats and 7 rabbits lose a total 68 stone 9lb - equivalent to a grand piano or 192 Chihuahuas.
Pet Fit Club participants receive free diet pet food for the duration of the competition, courtesy of Dechra. The overall Pet Fit Club Champ, crowned at the end of 2017, will win a year’s free diet food and a pet friendly holiday, courtesy of Sykes Cottages.