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brindafella writes "Look out, Stonehenge, here come the Wurdi Youang rocks in the Australian state of Victoria. The semi-circle of stones has been examined by an astrophysicist from Australia's premier research group, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), who says this arrangement of rocks is a carefully aligned solar observatory that may be 10,000 years old. It would have been created by local Aborigines, the Wathaurong people, who have occupied the area for some 25,000 years."
RedEaredSlider writes "The Daily, the digital publication designed specifically for Apple's iPad, is now available on the App Store. The publication's launch came during a press event at New York's Guggenheim Museum. News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch and Apple Vice President of Internet Services Eddy Cue were joined by The Daily's Editor-in-Chief Jesse Angelo. The Daily, which copies the look and feel of a newspaper or magazine, is aimed at embracing the multimedia capabilities of Apple's iPad. Rupert Murdoch said that The Daily offers 'unthinkable innovations' to the world of publishing."
Vectormatic noted the rumor floating around that the most recent PS3 patch has a backdoor, and "Sony can now remotely execute code on the PS3 as soon as you connect. This can do whatever Sony wants it to do, such as verifying system files or searching for homebrew. Sony can change the code and add new detection methods without any firmware updates."
Variety reported last week that Atari secured the rights to a Ghostbusters video game from Activision Blizzard, intending to publish something next year to coincide with the first movie's 25th anniversary. "The Ghostbusters game, which features all four actors from the original movie and a new script by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, is a follow-up to Ghostbusters II." Now, Eurogamer confirms that the game is indeed in development for the PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 and DS.
Ars Technica reports on a recent study by Ipsos MediaCT which evaluated gamers with respect to a large variety of social parameters. Among their findings: "55 percent of gamers polled were married, 48 percent have kids, and new gamers — those who have started playing videogames in the past two years — are 32 years old on average." Also, "In terms of hard dollars, the average gaming household income ($79,000) is notably higher than that of nongaming households ($54,000), but the value of the gamer as a marketing target can be seen in a variety of ways. 39 percent of gamers said that friends and family rely upon them to stay up-to-date about the latest technology." The press release for the study is available at IGN.
ruphus13 writes "As mentioned earlier, there was a kernel bug in the alpha/beta version of the Linux kernel (up to 2.6.27 rc7), which was corrupting (and rendering useless) the EEPROM/NVM of adapters. Thankfully, a patch is now out that prevents writing to the EEPROM once the driver is loaded, and this follows a patch released by Intel earlier in the week. From the article: 'The Intel team is currently working on narrowing down the details of how and why these chipsets were affected. They also plan on releasing patches shortly to restore the EEPROM on any adapters that have been affected, via saved images using ethtool -e or from identical systems.' This is good news as we move towards a production release!"
There is an old Japanese proverb that goes, "Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher." This week's mail is all about teaching. Whether it is about the seriousness of psychic ability, a short history of trolls or explaining how much free time and malice your dad's attorney has, these people just want to impart information. If what they sent me is any indication, they had a lot of sick days. Click on the link below to become enlightened.
Ant writes "Popular Mechanics reports if the looming Discovery mission or any other between now and the spacecraft's retirement loses control, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is prepared to ditch it in the Atlantic ocean — or blow it up. The article also shows complete no-fly-zone maps and a photograph of the switch."
modemac writes "Sacramento, California Assemblyman Charles Calderon wants to expand a 75-year-old sales tax on 'tangible personal property' to include music downloads from iTunes and other music-download sites. The tax would specifically apply to music downloads, but the estimate used in this article for revenue generated by 'Net downloading also "includes pornography downloads." The measure, AB 1956, will be considered on Monday, April 14th."
StarEmperor writes "A team of Canadian and German scientists have fabricated a room-temperature superconductor, using a highly compressed silicon-hydrogen compound. According to the article,"The researchers claim that the new material could sidestep the cooling requirement, thereby enabling superconducting wires that work at room temperature.""
NMajik writes "Although BattleBots has been largely removed from the public eye since episodes stopped airing years ago, a new deal has recently been struck with ESPN to return combat robots to the living room. Episodes will be broadcast as a series on ESPNU and ESPN2 after filmed at the competition in June 2008. This is the first notable progress towards televised combat robotics in years."
djasbestos writes "NASA is planning to smash a spacecraft into the Moon in order to look for hydrogen deposits in the poles. More notably, it will impact with significantly greater force (100x, per the article) than previous Moon collisions, such as by the Lunar Prospector and Smart-1 probes. Admiral Ackbar was unreachable for comment as to the exact location and size of the Moon's thermal exhaust port."
Peter writes to tell us about a research group at the University of Sydney in Australia, who in the middle of some calculation wanted to check the numbers everybody uses for the thickness of our galaxy at the core. Using data available freely on the Internet and analyzing it in a spreadsheet, they discovered in a matter of hours that the Milky Way is 12,000 light years thick, vs. the 6,000 that had been the consensus number for some time.
ChromaticDragon writes "Astronomers have crunched some numbers on a galaxy to discover that its rotation can be fully explained by the gravity of the observable matter — in effect, this galaxy seems to lack dark matter. This shouldn't come as a total surprise given that one of the stronger observations of Dark Matter was the Bullet Cluster where supposedly a good deal of Dark Matter and good old fashion regular matter had separated."


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Takeover offer for owner of Dulux has big implications for UK
Sky's Ian King says a US approach for Azko Nobel would threaten UK jobs and wider economic damage if it resulted in a takeover.
Wednesday 22 March 2017 16:32, UK
Imperial Chemical Industries, or ICI for short, was once the bellwether for Britain's industrial sector and one of the country's most famous companies - until it was taken over for £8bn in 2008.
Now Akzo Nobel, the Dutch chemicals and paints company that bought ICI, is itself fighting for its own independence.
The company, which traces its origins all the way back to 1646, has received an unwanted €22.4bn (£18bn) takeover approach from America's PPG Industries, the world's biggest supplier of car paints, which today raised its offer.
Ordinarily, an American company bidding for a Dutch one might seem of minimal interest in Britain, but not in this case.
Akzo Nobel employs getting on for 3,500 people here in the UK, manufacturing famous brands such as Dulux paint, Polycell wood and wall filler and Hammerite, the metal paint. PPG, too, has a significant UK presence.
The owner of brands including Leyland Paint and Johnstone's Paints, it has 10 manufacturing and R&D sites across the country, mainly in the Midlands and Yorkshire.
A combination of the pair would probably lead to a significant number of job losses in the UK and could also harm the UK's balance of payments.
While three in every four tins of paint sold in the UK is made here, 30% of all paint manufactured in the UK is sold overseas, making Britain a net exporter of paint. The industry, whose annual UK sales last year were £2.4bn, is a significant export earner for the country.
Akzo Nobel has a fight on its hands. Elliott, the US activist investor, revealed last week that it has built up a stake of more than 3% in the Dutch company and today said that, while PPG's latest offer for the business was "inadequate", it was urging its management to start talking to their American counterparts.
Colombia Threadneedle, another of Akzo Nobel's top 20 shareholders, has also called on the company to engage with PPG.
The backdrop to the takeover approach is that there has been a wave of tie-ups in the paints sector as well as in the wider chemicals sector. The two US giants Dow Chemical and DuPont have announced plans for a $120bn merger; Germany's Bayer is trying to buy Monsanto, the agri-business company, for $57bn and, in paints, while Sherwin-Williams is on the point of completing a $9bn takeover of its US rival Valspar, the world's sixth-largest paint manufacturer.
Akzo still has plenty of cards to play. Some 45,000 jobs depend on it globally, many of them in the Netherlands, while local politicians, including the Economy Minister Henk Kamp, have already argued that the deal would not be in the Dutch national interest. Dutch takeover rules may also come to its defence as they oblige directors to evaluate whether a merger or takeover is in the interests of wider stakeholders.
And, even before its starts building a takeover defence based on the quality of its management, Akzo Nobel can also mount other formidable defences. A foundation exists that owns priority shares that can more or less prevent a hostile takeover because it has "ultimate discretion" over who sits on Akzo Nobel's management and supervisory boards.
Yet the Dutch takeover rules may also benefit PPG, since they allow a bidder to sweeten their terms at any time, even after their official offer has been posted. PPG can also point out that, under the latest terms it has tabled, Akzo Nobel shares are valued at 40% more than the price at which they were trading before it made its interest public.
Any takeover is likely to be pored over by competition watchdogs. This takeover would see the world's biggest maker of paints and coatings taking over the second-largest. America's anti-trust authorities will also be watching closely.
They investigated five suppliers, including PPG and Akzo Nobel, 16 years ago for possible price-fixing of car refinishing products. There is also likely to be interest from the Competition & Markets Authority here as to whether a combination of the two companies would create a business with a dominant position in the supply of paint.
This saga potentially has a long way to go - and thousands of British workers will be watching anxiously.

domain: news


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May 19 (Reuters) - General Motors’ (GM.N) Swedish unit Saab Automobile on Tuesday sought court approval to extend a grace period during which it is protected from creditors while it looks for a new owner and fresh cash.[ID:nLJ583031]
Below are some key facts about Saab Automobile.
* Headquarters: Trollhattan, southwest Sweden.
* Financials: Saab has not made a profit since 2001.
— In its first court filing in February Saab estimated its 2008 loss at 3 billion Swedish crowns ($392 million) and said it expected a similar result for 2009. The company hopes to reach profitability around 2011.
— In 2007, Saab made an operating loss of 2.19 billion Swedish crowns, according to the Swedish Companies Registration Office.
* Employees: around 3,400 by May 18, 2009.
* Sales: 93,295 vehicles globally in 2008, or 1.1 percent of total GM sales volume, down 25 percent from 2007.
* History: Saab has made cars in Trollhattan since 1949. GM bought 50 percent of the firm in 1989 when Saab Automobile was established as an independent company. GM bought the rest of Saab Automobile in January 2000.
* Products: Saab’s 9-5 and 9-3 models are built in Trollhattan. The 9-3 Cabriolet is made by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria. GM plans to move production of Saab 9-5 to its Opel factory in Ruesselsheim, Germany, in 2009. There are also plans for new 9-5 and 9-3 models and a 9-4 sports utility vehicle.
* Subsidiaries: GM Powertrain Sweden AB and SAAB Deutschland GmbH. The latter has a German sales and service subsidiary. (Sources: Saab Automobile, GM Sweden, GM Europe, Swedish Companies Registration Office) ($1=7.866 Swedish Crown)


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Verizon Wireless, which recently announced it was hopping on the Android smartphone OS bandwagon big time, has started whetting our appetite for It's launched a TV ad for the phone, the Droid, and a teaser site. And so far, it's mostly promoting the phone by bashing the iPhone, with pseudo-Apple text pointing out that "iDont" have a physical keyboard, (third-party) multitasking, a five-megapixel camera, much in the way of customization options, widgets, "open development," the ability to take photos in the dark, or a removable battery. The Droid (whose name is licensed from Mr. Lucas) presumably has all of the above.
It's an entertainingly combative ad, and a pretty effective one given that it doesn't even show the phone (which apparently looks like this). Of course, the fact that the Droid beats the iPhone on a number of spec- and feature-related fronts doesn't make it a breakthrough. It's quite common for smartphones to theoretically trump the iPhone in multiple ways, but the iPhone's level of hardware/software/service integration and the vast quantity of available apps remain unique. No other phone is going to catch up with the iPhone's software catalog anytime soon, so if I were an Apple competitor, I'd concentrate on trying to vaunt into the same league in terms of integration. Not that that'll be easy. The Droid arrives next month, so we won't have to wait long to judge it.
The other interesting question about the Droid commercial is this: Does all its cheeky iPhone-bashing signal that Verizon has no plans to sell the iPhone anytime soon? It not only mocks the phone but mocks Apple in a way that suggests that it doesn't plan to go into business with it, despite rumors. I took the implied message of the ad as being something like this: "Yes, we know that a lot of people want a Verizon iPhone, but hold on-we're going to have a smartphone that's better than an iPhone."
(Then again, I'm fascinated by this Verizon ad that says a non-Verizon BlackBerry is a paperweight-it might be an effective ad, but it seems like an odd thing to do to BlackBerry maker and Verizon partner RIM.)
Anyhow, here's the "iDon't" ad:
This story, "Verizon's Droid Targets iPhone" was originally published by Technologizer.


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NEW YORK (
) -- News from
on Tuesday that it was considering spinning off Lands' End and possibly selling its Sears Auto Centers suggests that CEO and hedge fund manager Eddie Lampert has more interest in taking the company apart than resurrecting it. If that is indeed the case, would consumers even care?
From the decline in mall shopping to the ramp-up in e-commerce and social media influence, there are profound shifts in the way that consumers, particularly the younger generation, use retail concepts and where they buy certain items. Sears,
and other big box retailers have been under attack.
"If Sears failed to exist, where would they go? They're already going there," said Mark Hall, president and founder of Firehouse, a Dallas-based independent advertising agency. "I think people have already found solutions," in the form of specialty stores like
, for instance, he said.
"Brands are living things. They have to stay active and vibrant. You don't have to reinvent, but boy, you sure have to stay relevant and that requires care and feeding," Hall added.
Sears was either "too slow or too willing to believe that the equity they had in their heritage and ubiquity would see them through a very dynamic shift in the way that people shop and source stuff," he said. "They've been caught a little flat-footed."
At one point, Sears' brands like Craftsman and Kenmore carried great strength but competitors have created just as good, if not better, alternatives. The lack of investment in Sears' stores over the years has further hurt the brand.
Brian Sozzi, CEO and chief equity strategist at Belus Capital Advisors, shared recent
after visiting a Sears location, showing just how much the company has deteriorated.
"They're selling their future to survive today, and why are they selling these assets off? It's because they need money to fund inventory next year, they need money to keep their vendors at bay from sticking it to them in terms of prices and cratering the stock which what we have seen in respects to J.C. Penney," Sozzi told
on Wednesday. "So they're not living for the future, they're living for today."
The Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based company on Tuesday announced plans to improve its "financial flexibility" and "accelerate" a transformation into a "leading integrated retailer" by fostering relationships with members through its Shop Your Way rewards program.
Sears plans to sell five Canadian store leases to Cadillac Fairview Corp. for $400 million (Canadian). It also is considering a spinoff of its Lands' End business, which it bought in 2002 as well as a possible sale of its Sears Auto Centers business.
"We believe separating the management of these two businesses from Sears Holdings would allow them to pursue their own strategic opportunities, optimize their capital structures, attract talent, and allocate capital in a more focused manner while bringing our business unit structure to life outside of the Sears Holdings portfolio," the company said in a release.
The company also announced preliminary loss expectations for the quarter. It expects its third-quarter adjusted operating loss to fall between $250 million and $300 million, compared to a loss of $156 million in the prior year's quarter. It also said that quarterly comparable-store sales through Oct. 26 dropped 3.7% overall and by 4.8% in its domestic stores. Sears releases full third-quarter earnings on Nov. 21.
The stock jumped nearly 12% on Tuesday following the news, closing the trading session at $62.09. However, Sears' shares retreated on Wednesday, falling 5.5% to $58.67. Shares are up 42% this year, based on Wednesday's closing price.
"The business is increasingly competitive," said Michael Appel, president of Appel Associates, a turnaround and performance improvement consulting firm. "There are plenty of others places to shop. There are too many instances of large companies that have either merged or closed ... and you know what? The business gets absorbed and people go somewhere else."
"The whole business is changing in that regard. I think that if you're not competing and don't continue to evolve and upgrade and stay current, you're going to have a hard time" in the retail industry, Appel said.
-- Written by Laurie Kulikowski in New York.
Disclosure: TheStreet's editorial policy prohibits staff editors, reporters and analysts from holding positions in any individual stocks.


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The CEO of payments giant MoneyGram says the company is expanding its use of Ripple’s XRP-based On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) into four new corridors. In a new interview at Swell 2019, Alex Holmes talks about the company’s early experience with the cross-border payments product formerly known as xRapid. “We’re pushing today about 10% of our volume […]The post Payments Giant MoneyGram Goes Crypto, Launches Ripple’s XRP-Based Remittance Solution in Four New Corridors appeared first on The Daily Hodl.
Bitcoin-sell.nl shows the most accurate live prices, charts and market rates from trusted top crypto exchanges globally. Bitcoin-sell.nl have over 2100+ cryptocurrencies, trusted historical data, details of active, upcoming and finished ICOs. The website provides a list of cryptocurrency and bloclchain related events, valid and authentic list of cryptocurrency wallets and Bitcoin mining pools. We also provide rich advertisement campaings to advertise your bussiness on this website.


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Have you ever thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if I could pick up a bottle of wine at Safeway while I’m out getting my groceries?”
You’re not alone. After all, residents of Ontario, not to mention many U.S. states, are already able to buy alcohol in grocery stores. Now, it looks like Vancouver may be next.
The B.C. government is actively considering allowing sales of beer and wine in supermarkets, according to an article by Tiffany Crawford in the Vancouver Sun. The proposal is being considered alongside eight recommendations from the Canadian Restaurant and Food Association submitted to B.C.’s Liquor Policy Review.
Alcohol would likely be sold using the “store within a store” model employed in Ontario. Currently licensed wine and beer retailers, as well as B.C. Liquor Stores, would be allowed to operate within supermarkets.
The proposal has received overwhelming support during the public review process, according to John Yap, parliamentary secretary for the B.C. Liquor Policy Review. Some 80 percent of comments during the nearly three-month consultation process have endorsed selling beer and wine in grocery stores.
Many residents of rural B.C. are already able to buy liquor in grocery stores – including spirits, cider, wine and beer – an indication that the system can work in the province.
Among the other suggestions put forth by the Canadian Restaurant and Food Association is a proposal to allow happy hours in the province. Currently, B.C. laws prohibit changing liquor prices over the course of a day, ruling out the possibility of happy hours. While drinkers might welcome the cheaper booze, the Vancouver Police Department has come out staunchly against the proposal, which it says will encourage binge drinking.
Additional suggestions brought up during the consultation process include allowing the sale of craft beer and wine at farmers’ markets.
Would you like to see wine and beer sold at Vancouver grocery stores? Let us know below.
For more updates on Vancouver and beyond, follow me on Twitter @RemyScalza.


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With the signing of the California Consumer Privacy Act last week, privacy advocates and commentators are beginning to consider and comment on the potential result of this action. Provided below are extracts from two recent articles highlighting the bill and the potential scope of its impact.
New California Privacy Law: Consumers 1; Internet Companies #!@%!
Extract from article by William Vogeler
Privacy advocates love California’s new personal data law; internet companies, not a data bit.
No sooner had Gov. Jerry Brown signed the California Consumer Privacy Act than Silicon Valley began to erupt in protest. Consumer groups, on the other hand, saw it as a sign of good things to come.
“This is a milestone moment for privacy law in the United States,” said Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. It may also be an epic harbinger of privacy lawsuits.
The law gives consumers the right to know what personal information is being collected about them and whether it is being sold and to whom. It also empowers them to delete the collected information and to stop the sale of their information.
California’s New Privacy Law Sets Stage for National Debate
Extract from article by David McCabe
The privacy bill signed into law in California on Thursday won’t settle the global fight over privacy, but it does usher in a new phase that could lead to a new national model for regulating data online.
The big picture:
Policymakers around the globe — in Washington, Brussels and now Sacramento — are all articulating different visions of how consumer data should be handled online. There may only be one internet, but there are many jurisdictions, and tech’s colossus companies must deal with all of them.


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India’s small but growing probiotics market is dominated by strains from non-Indian companies and so the mooted guidelines suggest probiotics should be tested on local populations before they receive safety approval because of differences in Indian gut flora.
“The commercial probiotic cultures currently used in India are of foreign origin,” said the Indian Ministry of Health & Family Welfare-backed Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which has been working on the guidelines.
“Inherent differences in gut flora of Indian population are known to occur, hence it is imperative to carry out efficacy studies in Indian population prior to their use in the country.”
The ICMR added that in addition to these kinds of trials, there was a supplemental need for India to develop specific, “indigenous probiotic strains for expressing optimal functionality”.
“After a public debate, once the draft is finalised, we would send it to the Drug Controller General of India, department of biotechnology, Food Authority of India. We have tried to harmonise the standards with international norms as large section of probiotic products produced in the country is also exported,” NK Ganguly, ICMR former director-general, said in press reports.
The research group also proposed an adverse event surveillance system as part of the voluntary guidelines that have the potential to be mandatory at a later point in time.
It noted that many probiotic products in India bore claims not backed by science and therefore said strict labeling controls were required.
The Indian probiotics market is growing at about 40 per cent annually, according to Frost & Sullivan data, which valued the market at €17.5m in 2007.
Global probiotic leaders, Danone and Yakult, which have a 50-50 joint venture in India, welcomed the guidelines,
“There is lack of regulations in this area and it is important that guidelines for probiotic products are established to ensure product safety, quality, reliability for all companies introducing and producing probiotic food,” Yakult Danone India Private Ltd head of science, Neerja Hajela, told Indian news sources.
“The draft guidelines have a provision for assessment of efficacy, safety and health claims made by the probiotic foods that are being launched in India and defined parameters required for a strain/product to be classified as a probiotic.”


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The Maratopia Headlines – 7th March 2018
Let’s have another gander at the Maratopia Headlines – our regular round-up of the best stories in digital media.
Take a look at our highlights for 07/03/18…
Is Facebook winning the battle against ad fraud?
(Via Ad Week)
‘Ad fraud is often described as a cat-and-mouse game, with networks’ best efforts at detection a few short steps behind bad actors’ best efforts at defrauding customers and advertisers without getting caught. (And those mice are eating a lot of cheese. Last year, the ad verification company Adloox predicted ad fraud could cost advertisers $16.4 billion in 2017—or about 20.5 percent of total global digital ad spend.)…’
Are you ready for the attribution changes coming to Google AdWords?
(Via Search Engine Land)
‘There is an old saying: the only constant in life is change! Word on the street and from Google is they’ll stop supporting last click attribution sometime this year. This means advertisers will have to opt into one of several other attribution models available in Google. In this article, I’ll provide some general commentary on attribution as well as an overview of the different models available in Google AdWords…’
Asos on why digital must be a balance between mass reach and targeting
(Via Marketing Week)
‘With 51% of its sales now coming through a mobile device and an ecommerce platform built around the likes of Instagram, Asos knows a thing or two about being a digital first brand. And according to Celina Burnett, head of marketing analytics, the key to success in social and digital channels is about achieving a balance between mass reach and targeting. In an interview with Marketing Week, Burnett claimed marketers often fail as they get too preoccupied choosing one over the other…’


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Taco Bell Is Apologizing for Its Breakfast Menu With Help From Pete Davidson
Taco Bell is offering an outright apology for its breakfast menu, and it has recruited Pete Davidson to star in the advertisement.
When a major brand apologizes, they've usually done something pretty horrific. In this case, Taco Bell has voluntarily apologized, but only because of its own food. News recently broke that the popular fast food chain would be issuing a new ad in the form of an apology for its breakfast menu, and would be recruiting comedian Pete Davidson to star in the ad.
Taco Bell's new ad will be called 'The Apology.'
Taco Bell is officially acknowledging that some of the items on its breakfast menu, which included a Naked Egg Taco and a Waffle Taco, were a bit too much.
“We honestly over-innovated in breakfast,” Sean Tresvant, Taco Bell’s chief brand officer, said during an interview with CNN. “When you look at today’s consumer and the [fast food] breakfast business, it’s about familiarity and it’s about comfort.”
Since the breakfast menu relaunched after the pandemic, Taco Bell claims it has been focused on simpler items that aren't quite as excessive as some of what they've come up with in the past. Now, the breakfast menu largely consists of items that are also available later in the day, with the sole difference being that they are filled with eggs and cheese instead of meat and beans. Sean said that this simpler menu has translated to sales that are above 2019 levels.
Taco Bell has enlisted Pete Davidson to highlight its breakfast options.
Taco Bell is planning to run two 30-second ads featuring Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson that formally apologize for its past breakfast-related mistakes. Steve said that the partnership between them worked out because Pete was already a fan of the chain (shocking, I know), and he also appeals to the younger audience that Taco Bell is hoping to reach with these spots.
In one of the spots, Pete acknowledges that it's possible to just take things too far.
“Sometimes, we go too far. I have, and that’s why Taco Bell has hired me to make an apology for them," he says in the spot. In the other spot, Pete wakes up from a dream in which he's been thinking about the breakfast menu. The spots are set to run until Dec. 24.
Multiple chains are now prioritizing breakfast.
CNN also reports that Taco Bell's new push to emphasize breakfast isn't unusual. Multiple fast food chains have introduced new items in an attempt to sure up their customer base, in part because it's the one area where sales have been steady in spite of rising costs. Analysts have attributed the steadiness in sales in part to a return to normal working conditions, which means that many people are returning to their morning commuting routines.
Whatever the reason, it seems that Taco Bell is eager for people to know that its breakfast options are better than they once were. If Pete Davidson can't convince the general public to give Taco Bell's breakfast another try, who knows what will?


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Money is not a client of any investment adviser featured on this page. The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Money does not offer advisory services.
Many U.S. consumer companies are brushing aside worries that China's weakening economy and sputtering stock market will dramatically damage their bottom lines even with early trouble signs in recent earnings reports.
Most notably, companies dependent on Chinese infrastructure growth, such as United Technologies and Caterpillar, are claiming soft second-quarter earnings and a downgraded outlook based on weakened Chinese demand.
Consumer companies like United Continental Holdings, Apple and General Motors, on the other hand, continue to paint a rosy picture based on continued strong demand by the Chinese consumer.
The Chinese economy has faced difficulties this year as decelerating growth in factory output, retail sales and domestic investment has been compounded by a slowing property market.
China's economy is expected to expand 7%, with growth slowing to 6.7% in 2016, a Reuters poll of analysts showed on Thursday.
"We have been worried about it," Steve Weeple, head of global equities at global asset manager Standard Life Investments in Boston, told Reuters. "We would certainly not be surprised to see some of the big consumer packaged goods companies, some of the industrials, reporting that China activity is probably a little below headline growth rates."
Furthermore, a 30% early summer selloff in the Chinese stock market could hit companies more broadly in the third quarter.
Names that have a reliance on infrastructure growth in China have been hit the hardest so far this quarter. United Technologies fell 7% on Tuesday, its worst drop in nearly 4 years, after cutting its full-year profit outlook, in part due to slowness in its elevators business in China as the nation's housing market cools.
Caterpillar shares had their worst performance in six months on Thursday after the construction and mining equipment maker reported lower quarterly profit and sales, citing slower construction in China.
Even smaller names, generally thought to be more insulated to global economic pressures as a greater portion of their revenue is derived from within the U.S., have noted softness within China's infrastructure.
"We're seeing real industry pressure in construction, in agriculture, in truck and bus inside China - there's been industry contraction in construction (business) year-on-year," Rich Lavin, CEO of Commercial Vehicle Group Inc which supplies cab-related products for trucks, bus, farming and other types of vehicles, told Reuters in mid-June before entering its quiet period ahead of earnings.
GM, United, Apple More Upbeat
But consumer-facing companies are telling a brighter tale.
Harley-Davidson Inc saw a 5 percent pop in its shares on Tuesday, its biggest percentage gain since October, after its quarterly results showed a 16.6 percent jump in Asia-Pacific sales, which the company attributed to strong demand for its street motorcycles in China and India.
"You have to look company by company and product line by product line because there are some things for which there is no substitute," said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst, Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. "It's the cool factor for Harley Davidson."
United Continental, which flies more to China than any of its U.S. rivals, says the region remains a good investment. "The demand is still growing," said Chief Revenue Officer Jim Compton.
Despite flat June auto sales in China, General Motors Co also cited continued strength in China in its earnings report on Thursday, and said it expects to maintain strong profitability there. Shares of the automaker advanced 4 percent to $31.50.
The same brand name appeal mentioned by Forrest may be bolstering Apple's China sales. Though the company's shares tumbled nearly 7 percent after its forward-looking guidance missed estimates, it reported a 112 percent sales increase in China over last year and said it plans to open 40 stores in China in the next 12 months.
"China was simply spectacular for us," said Luca Maestri, Apple's chief financial officer. "We feel it is a long runway for us in China."
--Additional reporting by Joseph White, Jeffrey Dastin, Julia Love and David Gaffen


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AAA Michigan: Statewide Gas Prices Up Ten Cents
Gas prices have increased from last week, AAA Michigan reports. Michigan's current statewide average is about $2.42 per gallon, up about ten cents from last week.
Of the cities surveyed by AAA, the cheapest price for self-serve unleaded fuel can be found in the Marquette area, where it's about $2.33 per gallon. The highest average gas price can be found in the Traverse City area where it's about $2.45 per gallon. Gas prices in and around the Flint area are slightly under the statewide average with prices around $2.41 per gallon.
AAA says despite falling prices the majority of last month, retail averages maintain the potential to inch upward short-term as the summer driving season approaches. It's estimated that even with prices reflecting seasonality, consumers are expected to see prices move lower leading up to the peak driving season this summer.
For more information, including the cheapest prices across the country, visit www.AAA.com.


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Google is expected to unveil a new streaming game service at the 2019 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco this week. The tech giant will be making its foray into online gaming, joining Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo in a $140 billion industry.
Google has kept the project carefully under wraps and not much is known about the service, set to debut Tuesday, March 19. There is expected to be both a software and hardware component to Google's announcement. Last year, Google unveiled Project Stream, a game streaming platform that allowed gamers to play select titles at high internet speeds using just a browser and internet connection — novel software that bypassed the traditional use of a gaming console. On the software front is "Yeti", the nickname for Google's rumored subscription-based streaming platform that could create a cloud-oriented "Netflix of video games," for game aficionados to lose themselves in.
Google's head of hardware, Rick Osterloh, tweeted about GDC last week, increasing the likelihood that an actual game console has been developed by the search engine giant. According to Forbes, it's possible Google's device will be similar to the company's Chromecast digital media player, and will likely be a small, low-cost streaming device designed for connecting to a television and controllers of some sort.
Google's rumored technology of cloud-gaming could be a breakthrough for the gaming industry. Right now, if gamers want to play a specific title, they need to buy both a bulky gaming console — either XBox, Wii, or PS4 — and then purchase a specific title as either a physical disc or download a large file. But if Google is able to change the equation with its own innovation of cloud-based gaming, one that requires only a small streaming device and controller, then gamers everywhere could be on the brink of experiencing a brave new world of gameplay.
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Kalmar has received a €20m (US$21m) order for 15 additional all-electric rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from Cosco’s Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT) in Greece.
The terminal, which received 12 Kalmar’s RTGs in 2013 and nine in 2015, will take delivery of the new cranes between 2016 and 2017.
The new units, which are part of the manufacturer’s E-One2 RTG series, are zero-emission cranes with a 41-ton SWL capacity, a 9+1 width and 1-over-6 height.
In a statement, Kalmar said that the cranes’ electric power system, which eliminates all emissions, engine noise and the need for hydraulic oils will help the model achieve a maintenance interval of 1,000 hours.
The new units are equipped with Kalmar’s SmartRail automatic gantry steering system, which also features in the terminal’s existing RTG cranes made by the manufacturer.
Like the previous units delivered by Kalmar, the new cranes will be manufactured in China at Rainbow-Cargotec Industries.
Li Jianchun, deputy general manager of PCT, said: “These latest Kalmar E-One2 Zero Emission RTGs will be working in the Pier III expansion area, helping us to enhance capacity in the yard. The RTGs apply new technologies that enhance productivity, reliability and flexibility, which we consider to be tremendous achievements.”
In addition to the RTGs, PCT operates Kalmar’s straddle carriers, reachstackers, forklift trucks, empty container handlers and terminal tractors.
The Port of Piraeus ranked 38th in the 2015 issue of CM’s World Top Container Ports, having handled 3.6m teu in 2014, a 13% increase from the previous year.
Piraeus Port Authority, which operates the other container terminal at the port, is currently facing a slow privatisation process, with Cosco, Maersk’s APM Terminals and Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) among the port operators expected to submit their binding bids next week.


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Fukuburger, the wildly popular food truck serving all-American burgers with a Japanese twist, will be the first to occupy the food truck station in the Asian market at FAME – Food·Art·Music·Entertainment, when it opens at The LINQ in May.
Fukuburger has become a Las Vegas favorite since it started serving food all over the city, said Chul Park, director of HIG Management, the parent company behind FAME. With a parking spot at FAME, locals and visitors will have a chance to eat at Fukuburger, day or night, without having to track down the trucks destination.
Fukuburger will debut brand new flavorful menu selections for FAMEs customers when the restaurant opens. The local food truck will also serve the same popular menu items and will give fans, old and new, a taste of local flavor with signature bites including: Fukuburger, an all-beef Fuku-patty topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, wasabi mayo and drizzled with Fuku sauce; Tamago, an all-beef Fuku-patty topped with furikake, teriyaki, wasabi mayo, finished with crispy onion strings and a fried egg; Naga Dog, one-third pound hot link topped with grilled kimchi, Daikan relish, wasabi mayo, spicy kabayaki and harinori; and Togarshi garlic fries served with crack sauce and ketchup, and more.
We are very excited to be the first to take over the food truck space at FAMEs Asian Market, said Colin Fukunaga, founder of Fukuburger. Being stationed at one stop on the Strip will be an opportunity for us to feed a new group of Fuku fans in the fun, energetic setting of The LINQ.
FAMEs Asian Market, located on the lower level, will create a culinary bazaar, combining the great street foods of Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, China and Vietnam on a menu serving dim sum, stir-fry, ramen, barbecue, crepe and more. The stationary food truck will offer fusion fare and will host various vendors, beginning with Fukuburger.
In addition to the various dining options on the main level, a vast selection of microbrews from an array of Asian countries will be served in bottles and on tap. Live Asian-inspired entertainment, such as tiger and dragon dances and Taiko drum performances, along with Gangnam-style beats will keep the market festive.
The upper level will host Fôchun, serving a hybrid of innovative Asian cuisine by celebrated chef Bryan Emperor in a dynamic setting, open daily for dinner, only.
FAME Food·Art·Music·Entertainment will open this spring at The LINQ, Caesars Entertainments shopping dining and entertainment district. The 12,000-square-foot venue will include an Asian marketplace, several casual dining options and a formal restaurant all offering authentic Asian cuisine including Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese. For more information, guests may e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org, visit the website at www.fame-lv.com.


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Yorkshire-based wall panel manufacturer and retailer Naturewall has invested £1million into a new manufacturing plant in Beverley, East Yorkshire.
The 26,00sqft site will allow Naturewall to bring all cutting and CNC in-house, which it reports will reduce costs and increase capability for delivering bespoke products to the contract market, and create 25 jobs.
As well as housing reportedly the UK’s second largest beam saw, it will feature a new adhesive bonding line and bench joinery area.
Naturewall has pioneered a new bonding process for its SlatWall product which uses adhesive rather than staples to bind wooden slats to backing-cloth.
The new technique, developed over the last 12 months, has been created so SlatWall panels can be used in smaller sizes and awkward areas by consumers.
Co-Founder and commercial cirector at Naturewall Philip Brown, said: “As part of our commitment to provide our customers with the very best quality wall panelling products, we have invested over £1m into our new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Beverley, East Yorkshire.
“This huge investment has been 18 months in the planning stage, and we are delighted to, as of March 2024, launch the site into full production.
“The facility will allow us to rapidly scale up our production capacity but, most importantly, provide an increased range of high-quality wall panelling products to the UK retail and trade market.”
The company, which is headquartered in Leeds, will turn its existing SlatWall manufacturing centre, in Hull, into a specialist despatch and warehousing site.
Founded in 2018, Naturewall makes decorative wooden wall-panels for the residential and contract markets and is the only UK manufacturer of SlatWall.


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Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The central bank of Bangladesh sold US$2.31 billion to the scheduled banks directly in the just-concluded fiscal year to keep the market stable.
“We’ve sold the foreign currency to the banks to meet the growing demand for the greenback in the market during the period under review,” a senior official of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) told the BBN in Dhaka.
The banks are forced to buy the greenback from the central bank mainly due to mismatch between demand and supply of the US dollar in the market in the recent months, according to market insiders.
Higher import payments against lower export receipts have created such mismatch in the market, they explained.
The country’s overall imports increased significantly due to higher import of consumer goods including food-grains, petroleum products and capital machinery.
On the other hand, the central bank had resumed providing the foreign exchange support in the recent months through selling of the US currency to the banks directly to keep the market stable.
As part of the moves, the provided a US$2.311 billion foreign currency support to the banks to settle import payment bills. It was $175 million in FY 17.


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- Losses now total $333 million for past two financial years while total sales is up 42 per cent year-on-year.
- New and experienced managing director appointed to turnaround business and he is already making changes.
- 10-to-15 new outlets per year to be opened.
Woolworths has revealed that its Masters business lost $176 million during the 2014 financial year, bringing its total loss for the past two financial years to just under $333 million. CEO Grant O'Brien said the supermarket giant's venture into home improvement, in partnership with US retailer Lowe's, will not meet forecasts and will not break even until at least the 2017 financial year.
Despite this dire announcement, O'Brien said Woolworths remains committed to the DIY market, as does Lowe's, and that it makes sense to persist in the category, which is valued at $45 billion and dominated by Bunnings, which has 17 per cent share, and is ripe for disrupting, according to the Woolworths chief.
"We are disappointed not to reach [previous market] guidance," the company said in a statement. "However, we were right to set challenging targets for the business and will continue to set stringent internal hurdles for the Home Improvement business."
Woolworths entered the home improvement category three years ago and has since opened 49 Masters outlets in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. Reasons offered for the poor financial performance focus on the immaturity of the business, with uneven store coverage leading to warehouses cannibalising nearby locations, logistics efficiencies remaining unexploited and low foot traffic.
On the plus side, Woolworths reports that Masters now has much improved brand awareness (75 per cent unprompted, apparently), total sales have increased by 42 per cent year-on-year to $752 million and Matt Tyson, an experienced big box retailer, has been recruited to be the managing director of Woolworths' home improvement division, which also includes Home Timer & Hardware, which is marginally profitable ($7 million EBIT off $775 million in sales in FY2014).
Matt Tyson spent 28 years at Kingfisher, a British multinational hardware chain publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange. Woolworths says he has an "extensive home improvement background in retail operations and format development". He has been charged with bringing Masters to maturity — its "next phase", according to Grant O'Brien — and Tyson says he will learn from consumers and adapt to the Australian market to help Masters achieve profitability.
A large component of this will be continued and targeted expansion, which is seen as essential in extracting logistical and operational scale advantages. Masters will soon be expanding into Adelaide, with two stores earmarked for opening in the coming months, while the longterm strategy is to open 10-t0-15 warehouses per year until the previously announced target of 90 nationwide outlets is achieved. Sources say that Masters, along with similar warehouse style retailers like Costco, has struggled to find suitable, metropolitan locations for its stores, which have enormous footprints, especially in high density regions, like Western Sydney.


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THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ
Press Release Article
JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WINS TOP AWARD
FROM LEADING CARGO TRADE PUBLICATION IN ASIA
Date: Jun 11, 2004
Press Release Number: 74-2004
John F. Kennedy International Airport has been named the best cargo-handling airport in North America by more than 12,500 readers of Cargonews Asia, an industry trade publication. Port Authority Shanghai Representative Mu Lan accepted the award this week on behalf of the bistate agency.
The survey voters – shippers, importers and exporters who use freight transport services – based their selections on criteria including “suitable cargo-related infrastructure; cargo-friendly, cost-competitive, fee regime; timely and adequate investment in new infrastructure to meet future demand; and facilitation of ancillary services, including logistics and freight forwarding facilities.”
Published every two weeks, the Hong Kong-based 28-year-old Cargonews Asia covers news from the international and regional cargo and logistics industry for senior executives in Asia. Its annual Asian Freight & Supply Chain Awards recognize excellence in companies from Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia, and are widely regarded as the most authoritative and prestigious awards for the industry in Asia.
All returned nomination and final ballot forms are verified by an internationally respected auditing firm.
Roughly half the size of Manhattan, JFK has ample room for cargo infrastructure development and is capable of handling any type of commodity from fresh fish to farm animals. Its 4.4 million square feet of cargo buildings accommodate the needs of more than 80 scheduled airlines that serve the JFK air cargo market.
Situated in the world’s largest air cargo market, the Port Authority’s airports handle more than 2.5 million tons of air cargo in a typical year. The bistate agency’s two international airports, JFK and Newark Liberty, handle nearly a quarter of all air cargo imported to the U.S., and are home to more than 1,000 cargo companies, including airlines, cargo handlers, brokers, truckers and freight forwarders.
Since 1998, the Port Authority and its private sector partners have invested nearly $275 million to develop more than a million square feet of new, state-of-the-art cargo facilities.
The region’s air cargo industry generates 85,000 jobs and more than $9 billion in annual economic activity, including $3 billion a year in wages and salaries.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates some of the busiest and most important transportation links in the region. They include John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and Teterboro airports; the George Washington Bridge; the Lincoln and Holland tunnels; the three bridges between Staten Island and New Jersey; the PATH rapid-transit system; the Port Authority Downtown Manhattan Heliport; Port Newark; the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal; the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island; the Brooklyn Piers/Red Hook Container Terminal; and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan. The agency also owns the 16-acre World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. The Port Authority is financially self-supporting and receives no tax revenue from either state.


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Linton is Lloyd's List's deputy editor. He is also editor of Lloyd’s List’s monthly special reports and annual publications, including our end of year ranking of the 100 most influential people in shipping.
An award-winning journalist, he specialises in the global container market with a particular focus on Europe, writing regular market reports, features and commentaries, whilst keeping our readers up to speed with the latest breaking news from the box industry.
Prior to his position at Informa, Linton was editor of a respected maritime trade journal at a UK publication house.
Linton is also a diehard Tottenham Hotspur fan and proud father to his daughter Luna.
Latest From Linton Nightingale
The week in charts: Box volume growth eases | Capesize daily rates breach $80,000 | Special Report: Greece & Cyprus 2021
At the start of box shipping’s peak season, volume growth is slowing against even 2020’s pandemic-strained figures, while tonnage tightness drives capsize rates up and above the $80,000 per day mark
The week in charts: Demolition drought | Surge in Venezuelan subterfuge STS transfers | Weighing the economics behind boxes on bulkers
Sky-high box and bulker rates have led to a dearth in demolition numbers across both sectors, while tanker scrapping too has slowed owing to demand for vintage tonnage from sanctioned trades
The week in charts: Chinese hull usurps Lloyd’s | Disruptions dent box traffic | CMA CGM signs Abu Dhabi terminal deal
Latest figures from IUMI show China’s rise to prominence in the hull insurance market at the expense of Lloyd’s, for centuries the world’s dominant marine insurer. Meanwhile, black swan events hit container volumes through July
French shipping giant agrees 35-year concession at the UAE port in partnership with Abu Dhabi Ports to manage a new 1.8m teu capacity terminal
The initial outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic brought a volume bloodbath to the container port sector in the first half of 2020, but as the world emerged from lockdown restrictions, the box business mounted a second-half recovery
Box ports look set to post strong volume growth in 2021, gaining back traffic from last year’s coronavirus-induced shortfall. Yet a new strain of the virus could quickly turn fortunes, while supply chain disruption continues to plague ports


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Sent! A link has been sent to your friend’s email address. Join the Nation’s Conversation To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Researchers see comeback for Europe’s rare animals AP 1:02 p.m. EDT September 26, 2013 European bison also known as wisent, gather in the woods near Bad Berleburg, Germany in September. (Photo: Marius Becker, AP) Wild boars, greys wolves and white-tailed eagles have made a comeback in Europe Study claims dozens of species have been brought back from the brink of extinction Researchers noted that many of the 18 mammal and 19 bird species studied in the report remain in peril SHARECONNECT 19 TWEET COMMENTEMAILMORE BERLIN (AP) Wild boars, greys wolves and white-tailed eagles have made a comeback in Europe thanks to decades-long conservation efforts. A study published Thursday by the London Zoological Society claims dozens of species have been brought back from the brink of extinction and some are now thriving. Researchers from BirdLife International and the European Bird Census Council contributed to the study, which found that protecting habitats, restricting hunting, reducing pollution and the careful reintroduction were key to the species’ survival. The population of European bison, also known as wisent, has increased more than 3,000 percent since the 1950s, the study said. Still, researchers noted that many of the 18 mammal and 19 bird species studied in the report remain in peril. Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. USA NOW
Europe include five Ryder Cup players for Seve Trophy
Online revenues continue to grow in the Netherlands, even if at a slower rate than in previous years. Between 2010 and 2011, online revenues from products grew more than online revenues from services. In 2011, the online shopper rate in Portugal was slightly higher in the male than the female population and overall the age group of 25 to 34 had the highest online shopper penetration rate. Group Shopping and Coupon Websites continue to increase in Popularity in Eastern Europe In 2011, the increasing number of Internet users in Russia was one of the main reasons for the growth of B2C E-Commerce there, which rose by nearly a third compared to 2010. The highest online revenue figures were recorded in the categories “consumer electronics and household appliances” and “computers”. B2C E-Commerce revenues continue to grow at a low to mid-size double digit percentage figure in Poland as well. In 2011, price comparison, user rating and group shopping websites were especially popular there. Categories that were most frequently ordered online in the Czech Republic in 2011 were “fashion and shoes” and “tickets”. The leading online shops in terms of revenue were Alza.cz and Mall.cz. Online coupon sites mark a growing trend in Hungary, where their number grew from less than 10 to almost 60 in barely a year. Online shops of this kind were the ones prompting more individuals in Hungary to shop online. Aside from traditional B2C E-Commerce Mobile Shopping is very popular in Scandinavia In Sweden, B2C E-Commerce revenues continue to grow constantly by a low double-digit percentage. Furniture retailer Ikea’s online shop had the highest number of unique visitors there in May 2012, followed by mass merchant Ellos. In 2011, approximately three million online shoppers in Denmark conducted more than 70 million online purchases. “Fashion and shoes” and “computer hardware and consumer electronics” were the most frequently ordered product categories.
Europe B2C E-Commerce Report 2012
Jose Maria Olazabal, captain of Europe’s Ryder Cup winning-team in 2012, named Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, Peter Hanson of Sweden and Italian Francesco Molinari. Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, who recently won the European Masters, is also in the team along with Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez. They will be joined at St-Nom-La Breteche Golf Club in France by Finland’s Mikko Ilonen and Italian Matteo Manassero, who have played in the event before. Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, Dutchman Joost Luiten and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen will make their debuts. Sam Torrance leads Britain and Ireland who have handed debuts to four players. English trio Tommy Fleetwood, David Lynn and Simon Khan, and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher join up with the experienced Paul Lawrie, Paul Casey and Torrance. Chris Wood, undefeated in the Seve Trophy in 2009, was included along with Marc Warren, Jamie Donaldson and Scott Jamieson. “I think we have a very strong team this year with a good mix of players with Ryder Cup experience and some exciting, talented younger players such as Matteo, Joost and Thorbjorn,” Olazabal said. Torrance is captaining in the Seve Trophy for the first time. “I think we have got a good blend of players in the team, and I’m really looking forward to working with all of them,” he said. Continental Europe won the first Seve Trophy 13 years ago but Britain & Ireland have won the last six matches. Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, the leading Britons in the rankings, decided not to play in the event. (Reporting by Ian Perkins, editing by Ed Osmond) Tweet this


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Kampala- Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has warned landlords of commercial buildings in Kampala to stop charging tenants electricity prices that are outside the gazetted rates.
The warning comes on the back of raising concerns pointing to landlords charging tenants outside official tariff guidelines.
In a notice published yesterday, ERA said it had received multiple complaints from stakeholders decrying a hike in electricity charges in commercial buildings.
“ERA [has been receiving] complaints from tenants in commercial buildings, markets and the civil society in Kampala... relating to electricity charges beyond those approved by ERA,” the notice reads in part, warning that this was against the law and those “found engaging in any practice that is inconsistent shall be criminally prosecuted”.
The practice, ERA said, is mostly found among the bulk metering system customers, some of who continue to act outside regulations of electricity distribution licensees.
The notice said, a landlord who is bulk metered and later redistributes to other tenants should charge identical tariffs as would have been charged by an electricity distributor such as Umeme.
“Unit owners or tenants are supposed to pay based on their actual power consumption as displayed by their sub metres,” the notice said.
Mr Julius Wandera, the ERA manager consumer and public affairs, confirmed the warning, noting that they had advised landlords to install Yaka metres in each stalls or shops for the consumers to manage their payments.
Ms Florence Nsubuga, the Umeme chief operations officer, yesterday told Daily Monitor they were aware of the practice and have previously engaged some landlords.
For instance, she said, they had encountered resistance from particularly two landlords - who she could not name - but said they continue to insist on overcharging tenants.
ERA’s approved charges for commercial tariffs where arcades and shopping malls fall is Shs686.1.
The warning follows a revelation by Mr Isa Sekito, the Kampala City Traders Association spokesperson, who, during a public hearing organised by ERA, said some landlords in Downtown Kampala charge tenants as high as Shs1,000 per unit.


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Sotheby’s in London just sold masterpieces by some of the most iconic fashion photographers for more than $2 million, with the priciest images being the works of Irving Penn, Peter Lindbergh, and Richard Avedon. Penn’s surrealist beauty shot, Mouth (which is rarely seen at auction, according to Sotheby’s), brought in the biggest bucks—it was snatched up by L’Oréal New York for a cool $322,218.
Lindbergh’s 1990 portait of mods laughing it up on a beach in L.A.—Estelle Lefébure, Karen Alexander, Rachel Williams, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, and Christy Turlington—sold for $118,462. The image was considered so avant-garde at the time—Lindbergh had said he felt a responsibility to “free women, and finally everyone, from the terror of youth and perfection”—that the commissioner, American Vogue, said they couldn’t use it.
In third was Avedon’s famous portrait of Marilyn Monroe, shot in his New York studio in 1957 and capturing an off-screen, candid expression, which went for $112,995.
“These fashion photographers broke conventional rules and tastes for their time,” said Brandei Estes, Sotheby’s photographs specialist, in a statement. “We were thrilled to offer a such a strong and powerful selection, a reflection of the surge in interest of fashion photography—an area in the market that has grown from strength to strength. As with previous sales, we were again delighted to welcome so many new collectors into our world today.”


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NYX Gaming Causes Italian Retail Debut NYX Gaming Group a recognized provider of solutions for the gambling industry, announced it enter Italy’s retail gambling market that it has signed a landmark deal the dolphin treasure island that would allow. Working together with local partners FM Gaming and PSM Gaming, the Canada-listed supplier is now able to deliver omni-channel offering to brick-and-mortar gambling properties throughout the Southern country that is european.
Although the iGaming industry has been growing quickly over the past several years, vendors and operators prefer not to neglect the importance of retail markets. The blue dolphin tours treasure island agreement that is latest came as a extension of NYX Gaming’s strategic initiatives to ‘bridge the gap’ between iGaming and land-based gaming, the organization itself revealed.
Its partnership with Italian land-based businesses had not been the end result from an arbitrary choice. The nation’s Comma 6a retail market, because it is called, is certainly among the list of brick-and-mortar gaming markets that are largest around European countries.
Included in the deal, NYX Gaming 63 dolphin dr treasure island fl has already delivered two video gaming titles Holly Madison and Sky Winners, on Comma 6a gaming machines. The games are now available for Italian gambling customers to try out at land-based stores. Both games are among NYX Gaming’s most widely used ones while having formerly been launched to tens of thousands of desktop and mobile players.
NYX Gaming Regional Manager Southern Europe Andrea Guzzon elaborated in the latest announcement by saying that their business is committed to delivering omni-channel experience as well as the latest on-property launch of its products comes being a milestone in its development strategy. Continue reading “NYX Dolphin Treasure Island Florida Gaming Causes Italian Retail Debut NYX Gaming Group”


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Teva ($TEVA) may have just dodged a lengthy delay in closing its $40 billion-plus deal for Allergan's ($ACT) generics business.
On Thursday, the drugmakers offered up concessions to EU regulators that they hoped would allay antitrust concerns over the transaction, which, if it closes, will bolster Teva's position as the world's leading generics maker. Following the submission, the body extended its deadline to rule on the deal until March 10, Bloomberg reports.
If the EU comes down in the companies' favor, Teva and Allergan can sidestep a deeper probe into the deal that could take 90 business days. That would delay the end-of-March closing that the pair--and their investors--have been hoping for.
While the EU didn't provide any details on the companies' proposal, drugmakers can often win over regulators by promising to sell off units or change their behavior, Bloomberg notes.
"Both of these companies have been through this drill several times in the past and have a good understanding of how the EU will assess their overlaps, and therefore likely have a good perspective on what concessions will be needed to get clearance," Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jennifer Rie told the news service. "They will likely be fairly realistic in what they offer up and close to what the EU may want."
Meanwhile, other deal-hungry knockoff makers could stand to benefit if Teva jettisons any of its assets. Top rival Mylan ($MYL)--which Teva pursued as a deal partner before jumping ship to snag Allergan's generic offerings--could be among them, analysts have said.
But Mylan isn't just sitting around waiting to pick up Teva's castoffs. Last week, it inked a $7.2 billion deal for Sweden's Meda, a tie-up that will further its ambitions in the OTC space.
- get more from Bloomberg
Special Reports: Top 10 generics makers by 2012 revenue - Teva - Actavis | Pharma's top 10 M&A deals of 2014 - Actavis/Allergan


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Store detective says Aldi wanted him to spy on staff
A private detective who worked for the German discount supermarket chain Aldi has accused it of using Stasi-style surveillance tactics - including hidden cameras - to spy on staff and gather information that could be used against them.
The claims were published by the news magazine Der Spiegel, which said its unnamed informant was employed by Aldi for years to help it combat shoplifting. The whistleblower said: " I had to report everything that came to my attention. I had to say if an employee was working too slowly, engaged in having an affair and reveal other private details such as their financial situation."
Aldi flatly denied the allegations yesterday and insisted that its store detectives were expressly forbidden to use surveillance techniques to assess staff performance. It said it had not issued any instructions to find out personal information about staff.
Similar accusations were made against Aldi earlier this year by a former manager, Andreas Straub, who quit in disgust over management practices that he described as a "system of control and fear".
In his book Aldi - Simply Cheap, Mr Straub accused the chain of blackmailing, threatening and coercing workers it wanted to get rid of. Mr Straub said that after publishing his book, he received an anonymous phone call in which he was told: "Shut your face - we will make you pay for this."
In 2008, managers at Aldi's German rival Lidl were said to have intimidated and bullied their staff. In one case, a woman cashier was refused permission to leave her till to use the lavatory. Lidl subsequently apologised.


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B.C.’s restaurant eco-certification system Green Table Network is preparing to relaunch as a national program.
In partnership with food safety consultant Surety group, the made-in-B.C. certifier will launch this month in Ontario, home to more than 40 per cent of the country’s restaurant industry, said Green Table founder Andre LaRiviere.
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In preparation for the changes, Green Table has reinvented itself with an eye to lowering the cost of participating and securing widespread industry buy-in.
“Before we started to hit the marketing thing too hard, we wanted to make sure we had everything working,” said LaRiviere.
Green Table 2.0 is a web-based guide to green purchasing with approved suppliers, energy conservation instruction, rebate opportunities for equipment purchases and renovations, and recycling that restaurateurs can execute themselves to earn a Green Table certification, awarded after an on-site audit by a field agent.


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Kang Sheng company president Dai Zhikang (micro-blog) (Tencent technology plan)
technology news (Li Songwei) May 19th news, Kang Sheng company president Dai Zhikang said, before the guest Tencent micro-blog Discuz! X2 will be held in May 21st 2011 China Internet webmaster annual meeting officially released, related components will include QQ, the Internet will be released.
Dai Zhikang in 2001 from the independent design and development community forum system, now Discuz! Discuz! Has become one of the world, the largest number of users in the PHP community forum software and the latest version of Discuz! Discuz! X2 compared to the Discuz X1.5 function point increased by 50%.
micro-blog interview began, Dai Zhikang that he will answer the 2011 station annual meeting, Discuz as far as possible!, open platform various sharp and sharp questions ", because he knew," make a product, the user at more concern more, use more, also shows there are a lot of room for improvement can be improved Discuz, always in the effort ".
indeed as expected micro-blog online interview just started, a net name is "sister nest" throws a polite question: "you have guts, now these several new features, brothers can’t spray die you!"
was sprayed for many years, has not died." Dai Zhikang replied.
in the next 2 hours of time, Dai Zhikang answered the Tencent micro-blog users including Discuz! X2 QQ, community development, group purchase group, more than 60, at the same time to collect information about the Discuz! X2, open platform for many valuable comments and suggestions.
following Dai Zhikang micro-blog interview wonderful view:
Discuz! X2 will be officially released at the general assembly, will bring their own QQ related components. Do products, the more users curse, indicating that the more attention, the more use, but also that there are a lot of room for improvement, Discuz.
was sprayed for many years, has not died. There is a golden idea can not be based on the idea of relying on is not a continuous operation. Internet vertical, fine differentiation trend will continue to strengthen, this is the opportunity for webmasters. General business to large companies to do, vertical, subdivision of the business by many owners to achieve entrepreneurs.
client should be in order to meet the needs of some kind of web can not be met, should not be occupied by the owners and the owners of the desktop user generated. I think the first luxury business sites do not have much success, the site is very very good understanding of the Internet industry channels, do a website can let you learn a lot. There are also some successful cases of high school website, such as Li Xiang.
The following is the Dai Zhikang
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Palm NFT Studio, a crypto startup, raised $27 million in a Series B round led by Microsoft's venture fund M12. Palm NFT, co-founded by ConsenSys founder and Ethereum cofounder Joseph Lubin, offers creators strategic and technical help in building nonfungible token (NFT) marketplaces.
Griffin Gaming Partners, RRE, Third Kind Venture Capital, Sfermion, the LAO, Warner Bros., and SK Inc. are among the other major backers.
The funds will allow the team to scale the Palm NFT Studio's technology platform and offer it to third parties looking to deploy NFT projects across movies, games, music, and art while maintaining regulatory compliance and environmental sustainability, according to a statement posted on their company blog.
"Within three years, they will give most NFTs away for free," says Dan Heyman, cofounder and CEO of Palm NFT Studio.
"We envision programs that produce millions of useful NFTs; social objects that connect communities, drive engagement, and reward loyal fans." We're grateful for amazing partners like M12 who share our vision."
The Palm Network, an Ethereum side chain that allows users to create NFTs, was co-created by Palm NFT Studio. According to the company, any NFTs created on the Palm Network or Ethereum main net can be bridged from the Ethereum main net to the Palm Network side chain, or vice versa.
M12, as new board members, issued a statement welcoming Palm NFT to their portfolio and emphasizing the company's commitment to sustainability:
“The company and third parties have run tests that show the Palm Network requires magnitudes less computation and subsequent energy to execute transactions than proof-of-work chains. The Palm Network also has a carbon tax built into its bridge configuration, enforcing payment when main net resources are used.”
Palm NFT Studio has collaborated with DC Comics to release an NFT collection of tokenized comic book covers and with Damien Hirst to release The Currency collection since its launch earlier this year.
The article was written by Amit Caesar
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The economy grew solidly last year and the first quarter of this year. Unemployment is low and consumer confidence high.
So how do we explain this recent headline in the Los Angeles Times: “California’s job engine is slowing as U.S. nears recession, UCLA predicts.”
The U.S. economy grew 3.1 percent in the first three months of the year, according to the Commerce Department. Even the direst prediction of economists says the U.S. economy will continue to grow through the end of the year, albeit at a slower rate.
A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of economic contraction. Barring a completely unforeseen event, that is not in the cards this year. According to the Wall Street Journal‘s survey of economists, just 2.4 percent say we’re likely to have a recession this year. That number rises to 35.7 percent for 2020 and 52.4 percent in 2021.
But even that overstates things. A year ago, 59 percent of economists said a recession would strike by 2020. In October 2016, 58 percent said a recession would strike by 2020. Now that’s down to 35.7 percent simply because as we got closer to 2020 and economic growth remained solid, economists pushed there prediction of a recession further out into the future.
In other words, economists are always predicting that a recession is in the offing in a few years. It’s a pretty safe bet because history shows expansions do not last forever. And the odds favor that the further out you go, the more likely a recession is.
A few years ago, the San Francisco Fed looked into this. It found that in any given year ahead period there’s always around a 23 percent chance of recession and a 77 percent chance of continued expansion. So what are the odds that you’ll continue to expand for two years in a row? The odds of getting the same result decline. So two years out, the chance of a recession rises to 41 percent. After three years, it rises to 56 percent. After four years, there’s a 65 percent chance.
Think of it like flipping a coin. On each flip, you have a 50 percent chance of getting heads and a fifty percent chance of getting tails. What are the odds of the flips coming up heads four times in a row, the equivalent of avoiding a recession four years in a row? Just six percent. You can do the math yourself: 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5=0.0625.
Of course, recessions are not completely random. And the odds assigned by economists move around a lot. But the predictions of recessions over the next few years do not tell us much about the state of the economy. Pay attention to the prediction about next year, if you must. Ignore everything else.
In some sense, it is true that the U.S. is getting close to a recession every single day it is not in a recession. The number of days until the next recession hits shrinks with each passing day. The same is true of a book: as soon as you read the first page, you are nearer to its end. Each of us “nears death” for every day we are alive. Every single thing that exists on this mortal plane moves inevitably toward its end. Economic expansions are no different.
Back to the Los Angeles Times. Does anything in the story justify its dire headline? Not in the slightest. In fact, it is full of good news.
California’s low unemployment rate should persist through the next two years, but the state’s generation of new jobs will lose steam, a new UCLA economic forecast predicts.
“The California economy is slowing down,” wrote Jerry Nickelsburg, director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast, released Wednesday. “The state is, quite simply, running out of people to be employed.”
In other words, job creation will slow down because there are fewer people looking for jobs. There’s no lack of demand–a traditional cause of recessions–or a supply shock indicated. Just a slowdown in the rate of job creation as the economy moves toward full employment.
I would not say journalists are wishing for a recession to strike. A more charitable view might be that they are simply so wrapped up in hatred for Donald Trump that they think a recession must be coming. How could the bad orange man not cause a recession?


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The Montreal Gazette's front page on Friday is a flashback to the front page exactly 50 years ago, on the opening day of Expo 67.
Do not adjust your set. The Montreal Gazette’s front page on Friday is a flashback to the front page of this newspaper exactly 50 years ago, on the opening day of Expo 67.
The main headline of the April 28, 1967, front page says it all: “Mayor Calls For Eternal Expo As Greatest-Ever Fair Opens.”
For once, the hype was accurate. For the next six months, until Oct. 29, 1967, more than 50 million people flocked to the Expo site. Dignitaries. Celebrities. Families from all over Canada. And, of course, Montrealers.
I have not met a native Montrealer over the age of 55 who did not attend. If you grew up here in that era, you probably have fond memories of the minirail, the food and the colourful, multicultural thrum. Many of you even have your passports, stamped with the names of the pavilions you visited.
There seemed to be something in the air that made us believe Montreal was at the centre of the known universe. As the Gazette’s editorial said then:
Anyone who has been in Montreal in the last few days could not help being swept into the typhoon of excitement surrounding the opening of Expo. A joyful realization has seized the city.
We’ve posted a copy of the original page on our website, along with a couple of other pages from that day’s edition so you can enjoy some of the news stories and advertisements from 50 years ago.
One word about the Expo timeline: The 50-year-old front page talks about Gov.-Gen. Roland Michener “performing the honours” to open Expo. There was a launch for politicians and dignitaries April 27. The fair opened to the public on April 28.
We have also published a love letter to Expo written by longtime Gazette contributor Arthur Kaptainis. You can read his two-page article and enjoy some of our favourite Expo photographs.
That’s our salute to Expo. We’d like to hear yours.
Share your favourite Expo memories and photos and we’ll publish them in print and online later this spring. Please keep your anecdotes short — 400 words or less — and send them and your photos to email@example.com or our offices, Montreal Gazette, Suite 200, 1010 Ste-Catherine St. W., Montreal, H3B 5L1.
Please put the words “Expo 67” in the subject line of your email or on the outside of the envelope. And please do not mail us original photographs. We do not want to lose irreplaceable family memories.
I hope you will join us in the Expo 67 love-in. We’ll publish as many submissions as we can.
Fore more Expo content, click here.


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Cornerstone will put on a launch day “stunt” to mark the release of E L James’ Grey (Arrow) this week.
Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as told by Christian will be published this Thursday 18th June– the same day as the fictional Christian Grey’s birthday.
James will be in the US on publication day, where she will be doing a signing at Barnes & Noble in New York City, but Cornerstone said there would a yet-to-be-revealed launch day stunt with a media partner in the UK as well as fan activity at a later date.
Activity includes a one-day takeover on publication day of the screen at Piccadilly Circus in London, with an animated creative that will include a birthday message for Christian. There will also be a takeover on Thursday of the websites for both Heat and Closer, while there will be a “huge” brand awareness mobile advertising campaign.
Cornerstone will be sending celebrities and bloggers a “dedicated Grey mailing” in grey jiffy bags, and reviewers at books and news desks across a variety of media will be sent a copy of Grey on publication day to ensure it “dominates the headlines”.
The publisher is also working with broadcast media to arrange for TV crews to go into retailers on Thursday to get footage of fans buying books.
On social media there will be a series of posts in the lead up to publication, with “Happy Birthday Christian” post on publication.
The Facebook and Twitter sites for Fifty Shades of Grey will also engage with fans, bloggers and influencers, including by running competitions.
A two-week London Underground campaign began yesterday (15th June), with the aim of reaching 3.3m commuters.
Cornerstone’s director of publicity Charlotte Bush, and Century and Arrow PR director Natalie Higgins are working with Jennifer Doyle and Sarah Ridley in Cornerstone’s marketing department on the campaign for Grey.
Bush said that “pre orders are very strong and we have great support from retailers in all our markets around the world”.
Grey leapt to the top of the bestseller charts on the basis of pre-orders shortly after news of the book’s publication was released. It is still number one in the Amazon and Kobo e-book bestseller charts, and also on the Amazon books chart.


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Cincinnati police didn't give out any citations in Piatt Park last night, saving the people in the Justice Center a lot of paperwork and wasted time. Some occupiers and local homeless activists have planned a march on Saturday to highlight causes of homelessness.
New York officials delayed a monthly park cleaning that would have meant having to clean lots of protesters too. The movement is spreading to Canada, where occupy protests are scheduled to begin this weekend in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Halifax.
Do you think America's many problems would be best solved by “simple solutions and a leader willing to say 'I don't know'?” Vote Herman Cain! Also, even business groups are calling Cain's horseshit 9-9-9 plan a “jobs killer.”
Americans are cool: U.S. retail sales rose more than expected in September as Americans spent more on cars, clothing and fuel, an indication that consumers remain willing to shop despite high unemployment and a weak recovery.
Meanwhile, in Texas... Rick Perry's wife says poor Ricky was "brutalized and beaten up and chewed up" by the presidential campaign last month. Ricky nods his head in agreement.
Hey Cleveland Browns fans: We know your team sucks, but you still have to bring your kids home from the football game even if they didn't have a good time.
Materialistic couples have more trouble than couples who don't care much about possessions. Ha.
Years of previous research have turned up compelling evidence that materialism isn't great for anybody, Carroll said. Multiple studies have found that people who are materialistic are also more anxious, depressed, and insecure than non-materialistic types. A stronger love of money has also been linked to trouble at home, as these individuals tend not to balance family evenly with work.
50 Reasons Why The World Is Ending On October 21, 2011
Oh no! Gap is going to close 21 percent of its namesake retail stores by 2013. Where are we supposed to get our pants?!?
BlackBerry's recent outage is a threat to the brand, causing people who knew it was still a brand to wonder why, how.


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Gamezop, a multi-game platform, on Thursday said it has raised Rs 32 crore in a funding round led by BITKRAFT Ventures. Other participants in the round are Velo Partners, New-York based FJ Labs, Survam Partners (Suman Kant Munjal's family office), and German venture capital investment firm AECAL, Gamezop CEO and co-founder Yashash Agarwal told PTI.
He said in February 2016, Gamezop had raised USD 350,000 in a seed round led by KWAN Entertainment & Marketing Solutions Pvt Ltd.
"The (latest) investment will be used to grow the mobile esports format and establish presence in select overseas markets through its piggybacking model. As we have seen some staggering numbers from the mobile esports format, a sizable portion of the fund infusion will be to expand in the segment," Agarwal said.
Also, the company is focusing on establishing physical presence in selected overseas market through its model of partnering with popular apps, he said.
Operated by Advergame Technologies, Gamezop was founded by Yashash and Gaurav Agarwal in 2015. It has 34 million monthly active users.
The company licenses HTML5 games from top developers and embeds them in over 1,600 popular apps – including Myntra, Grofers, ShareChat, MX Player, Glance (InMobi), and PhonePe – enabling users of these apps to play games casually or competitively for cash.
The partner apps see an average 40 per cent boost in engagement time through games, in addition to getting a 50 per cent share in revenue made by Gamezop, Yashash said.
"Growth of mobile esports is truly democratising the access to competitive gaming and the ability to win real rewards. We decided to take it one notch further by going HTML5 and eliminating the need to force app sideloads – saves us a lot of money and our users a lot of friction," Gamezop co-founder Gaurav Agarwal said.
He added that over the past few years, Gamezop has scaled to 1,600 apps that have integrated their games and by 2021, the target is be on 5,000 apps with at least one of its platforms.
Gaurav said at current levels, the company's revenue numbers are expected to grow 5-6X in the next 12 months but declined to provide details.
"We are also exploring other formats of real money gaming as well as free-to-play gaming. With the present user base of 34 million monthly active users, we have the numbers to test any new gaming format and analyzing results quickly," he said.


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Local tourism and hospitality sectors are benefitting from a rapid rebound driven by a multi-phase roadmap being executed by the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing.
Prominent players in the industry have experienced a surge of interest from across the world since the reopening of the city to international tourists on July 7th.
“Since then, we have been greatly encouraged by the market’s response in the current second phase of our recovery strategy, which was activated along with the gradual resumption of economic sectors, as well as the staggered and tentative restart of travel across the world,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of Dubai Tourism.
Improving global market sentiment and the perception of Dubai as one of the safest destinations in the world are key drivers of the increasing momentum for recovery.
“People are much more optimistic and well informed now and are ready to go on holidays to destinations that are safe and have put in place strong health and safety protocols,” said Al Almarri.
Hotels and airlines have also reported an uptick in business.
“We have received considerable interest from international markets, particularly Europe and Russia,” said Jose Silva, chief executive of Dubai-based Jumeirah.
“In the first week following the reopening to international tourists, online bookings for planned stays on Jumeirah’s website doubled from the previous week while its properties registered an average daily increase of 109 per cent in booked room nights.”
Bookings being received by Emirates Airline and flydubai are also showing positive signs for the tourism sector.
Emirates will be operating to a total of 70 destinations across six continents in August, while flydubai is set to expand its network to 66 destinations over the summer.
However, at the height of the global Covid-19 crisis, the mood was circumspect.
The international tourism industry bore the brunt of worldwide restrictions in domestic and cross-border mobility.
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Covid-19 pandemic could cost global tourism and related sectors between US$1.2 and US$3.3 trillion in lost revenue depending on the timing of recovery.
For Dubai however, the peak of the crisis was a time to explore a strategic reset.
During what Al Almarri calls the ‘pause phase’, the focus was on planning and repositioning.
Tourism authorities worked to create a framework for meeting tourist expectations once restrictions would be removed.
“We rethought business strategies and plans working closely with stakeholders and partners to develop innovative initiatives to manage the ‘new normal’.
“In cooperation with key authorities, we mapped out stringent health protocols and precautionary measures that would reassure even the most demanding safety-conscious tourists,” the head of Dubai Tourism said.
Rekindling the domestic tourism market was a key element of the recovery plan.
Since opening for domestic tourism in May, Dubai saw strong pick up in numbers with hotels creating offerings to meet pent-up demand for staycations.
From an early stage, beach properties registered occupancy rates of above 80 per cent over the weekend.
Today, hotels are continuing to offer a range of staycation deals to UAE residents ranging from discounts on room rates and food and beverage to family entertainment offerings.
As part of stimulating the broader domestic tourism market, industry stakeholders are working in tandem to encourage residents to experience all other destination offerings such as malls, attractions and entertainment centres.
“The domestic market has proven extremely important and we are seeing increased demand at Jumeirah properties, particularly over the weekends.
“Dedicated staycation offers are helping to drive ongoing interest together with the introduction of new dining concepts to enhance the experience. For example, we recently opened our French Riviera pop-up at Jumeirah Al Qasr and have other new dining activations planned for the coming months,” said Silva.
The effective management of the pandemic by Dubai, resulting in dwindling infection numbers and rising recovery rates, enabled the city to reopen itself to tourists on July 7th.
“The UAE and Dubai were decisive, strategic and methodical in tackling the pandemic.
“We are grateful to the federal and local governments for their comprehensive measures, which prepared the ground for the revival of tourism and other sectors.
“We also remain optimistic due to the pivotal role being played by our key partners like Emirates and flydubai in facilitating tourism growth through a wide range of measures designed to instil confidence among travellers and encourage them to make the city their destination of choice.
“As we continuously assess the current situation and take steps to consolidate the industry revival that is underway, we expect to see good progress in the last quarter of 2020 based on strong growth strategies that we have adopted to accelerate momentum ahead of the full reopening of the sector,” said Al Almarri.
In the run-up to the city’s reopening to foreign tourists, Dubai left no stone unturned to assure tourists of a smooth and safe experience at every stage of their travel journey, from arrival at airports to the point of departure from Dubai.
“We knew that most travellers will look at the type of healthcare services and processes in place before selecting a holiday destination.
“We put in place a zero-tolerance approach in the management of health and safety protocols at hotels, retail outlets and tourist attractions with regular monitoring to ensure compliance,” said Issam Kazim, chief executive of Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DCTCM).
“We are fortunate that Dubai has mature tourism, hospitality and retail sectors.
“Establishments truly understand that maintaining high health and safety standards are critical to the success of their own business as we work to meet the demands of the new norm,” the chief executive noted.
Jumeirah believes that the certified health and safety measures it put in place were some of the key factors in the growth in bookings.
“Jumeirah Al Naseem was the first hotel in the world to receive the prestigious Bureau Veritas Safeguard Label, followed by three of our other Dubai-based luxury hotels, with certifications of the remaining properties to follow suit.
“We believe this has gone a long way in helping to restore confidence for both domestic and international travellers,” said Silva.
“Examples of the vigorous new protocols we have put in place include circulating three times more fresh air throughout our hotels, provision of hygiene amenities, leaving rooms vacant between guest stays, using disinfectant fogging for rooms and thermal hygiene processes for our bedding and pillows,” he added.
To recognise and foster industry-wide compliance, Dubai Tourism rolled out the ‘Dubai Assured’ stamp, with the aim of reinforcing the emirate’s positioning as one of the safest destinations in the world.
To obtain the stamp, establishments have to submit to stringent checks by inspectors to verify adherence to high standards of safety and health precautions.
Over 1,000 establishments have already been inspected for compliance as part of the programme, making them eligible to receive the stamp.
Besides the standard precautionary measures of social distancing and wearing of masks at all times by guests and employees, Dubai hotels have deployed enhanced disinfection measures across all their facilities, including the fitting of equipment for contactless screening of guests at entrances.
Dubai also implemented technologically-integrated advanced safety controls, to prevent, monitor, detect, and ring-fence any incidences within the tourism ecosystem.
A wide range of air travel protocols for visitors has further boosted the confidence of tourists.
All travellers, including tourists, residents and citizens arriving in or transiting through the UAE, must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result obtained 96 hours prior to departure.
Arrivals from some countries require a coronavirus test before boarding the plane and again on arrival.
Along with implementing health and safety standards, Dubai Tourism set in motion an aggressive international marketing strategy involving close coordination with more than 3,000 partners worldwide to drive tourist bookings.
A series of digital campaigns were among notable global marketing activities launched to ensure the city continued to stay top of mind among tourists.
Two high-impact digital campaigns, #TillWeMeetAgain and #WeWillSeeYouSoon, were rolled out ahead of the reopening while the third titled #ReadyWhenYouAre was launched just as Dubai reopened itself to overseas tourists.
The marketing campaigns resulted in Dubai becoming one of the most sought-after destinations among tourists looking to travel again.
According to Dubai Tourism, the emirate is currently among the top five destinations for internet searches or tourist considerations.
With numbers in the initial reopening phase showing promise, Dubai hopes to maximise opportunities once the tourism sector is fully reopened, which will mark the final stage in its recovery strategy.
“As a destination, Dubai is always prepared to evolve in the face of global challenges. We expect to see significant progress and are looking forward to galvanising growth as confidence builds further in the months ahead,” Kazim concluded.
To find out more about visiting, head over to the official website.


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