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KARACHI: The Customs Exports has issued show cause notices to four factories, M/s Sulemania Garments Karachi, M/s Tufail Shah and Co Karachi , M/s Secure Traders and M/s Samar Knitting to recover evaded tax amounts.
According to the details, M/s Sulemania Garments used wrong Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) headings to get a consignment of printed lawn, white silk and others fabrics cleared on September 2 and caused a loss of Rs 1.34 million to the national exchequer.
During scrutiny of import data, the Customs Exports team found that the company used wrong PCT heading and issued a show-cause notice no: 213/2017 to recover the evaded amount of tax and duty.
Meanwhile, the Customs Exports unearthed another tax evasion by M/s Tufail Shah & Co Karachi who cleared a consignment of marble handicrafts show piece and hand word show piece. The customs authorities, after careful investigations, issued a show cause notice to the company and asked them to deposit the evaded tax amount within fortnight.
While M/s Secure Traders used wrong (PCT) headings to get a consignment of ready curtain and curtain fabrics which were cleared during 23rd of August and caused a loss of Rs 1.89 million to the national exchequer.
It is also necessary to mention here that M/s Samar Knitting cleared a consignment of kitchen accessories like folk set, spoon set, electric stove, and others, The custom authorities, after careful investigations, issued a show cause notice to the company and order to submitt relevant documents.


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Nintendo marketing chief leaving
George Harrison a 15-year veteran
Published 10:00 pm, Friday, September 14, 2007
Nintendo Co.'s U.S. marketing chief, George Harrison, who helped oversee the introduction of the top-selling Wii video-game console, will leave the company in December.
Harrison, 54, said in an e-mail Friday that he won't remain with the company when its marketing and public relations executives relocate from Redmond to Redwood City, Calif., and New York.
Nintendo is moving about 80 positions closer to major sales and research markets, the company said in June. About two-thirds of the workers will go to California.
Harrison, a 15-year Nintendo veteran, led the marketing efforts that helped make the Wii the top-selling U.S. video-game console since its introduction in November, with sales topping 4 million. Sony Corp., by comparison, has sold 1.75 million PlayStation 3 consoles since its November introduction, according to researcher NPD Group Inc.
"You'd have to give George Harrison some credit for at least part of the positive perception of Nintendo in the U.S. market and the position of Wii," said Evan Wilson, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities in Portland. But "I don't think, with the size of the company overall, the departure is something that would derail its current momentum."
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Harrison didn't say what he plans to do after he leaves.
Wii has attracted users with simple games played with a controller that can be swung like a sword or tennis racket.

domain: news


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— A GM airbag recall of about 7 million vehicles worldwide will eventually be announced, with 5.9 million of the following models on the U.S. list.
- 2007–2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 / Silverado 2500 / Silverado 3500
- 2007–2014 GMC Sierra 1500 / Sierra 2500 / Sierra 3500
- 2007–2014 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2007–2014 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2007–2014 Chevrolet Avalanche
- 2007–2014 GMC Yukon
- 2007–2014 GMC Yukon XL
- 2007–2014 Cadillac Escalade
- 2007–2014 Cadillac Escalade ESV
- 2007–2014 Cadillac Escalade EXT
The GM airbag recall in the U.S. will soon be announced after the automaker filed four petitions with the government in an effort to convince safety regulators that a recall of millions of vehicles isn't necessary.
General Motors claims the Takata airbag inflators are safe and likely won't explode, a claim the automaker made in 2016 when it announced a "preliminary recall" of 1.9 million vehicles.
GM filed its first petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by arguing the alleged airbag defects were "inconsequential" to safety. NHTSA continued to delay its decision by allowing GM repeated attempts to prove its case.
The automaker filed four petitions with the government since 2016 by claiming there are multiple unique differences between the Takata airbag inflators that have exploded and the inflators in the GM vehicles.
Additionally, GM says the airbag recall isn't necessary because the vehicle interiors “better protects the front-passenger inflator from the extreme temperature cycling that can cause inflator rupture.”
Over the past four years, General Motors collected Takata airbag inflators from vehicles involved in crashes and conducted ballistic tests on more than 4,200 inflators. The majority of those inflators came from Zone A areas, designated as states where high temperatures and humidity are common.
According to GM, an airbag recall is a waste of time because none of the tested inflators exploded. The automaker also performed CT scans of more than 1,500 inflators and concluded, “even the oldest (MY 2007) Zone A Takata GMT 900 inflators are not at risk of rupture.”
Documents filed with NHTSA indicate the above GM vehicles have been involved in nearly 67,000 crashes where the passenger airbags deployed. But GM says none of the inflators ruptured and all of the Takata airbags worked exactly as designed.
The GM Airbag Recall Petitions: Denied
In its decision to deny GM's four "inconsequential defect" petitions, NHTSA references the Cambridge Dictionary which defines “inconsequential” to mean “not important” or “able to be ignored.”
While GM's arguments appeared sound, NHTSA brought in an outside airbag expert who holds 25 airbag patents. Harold Blomquist reviewed GM's petition documents and determined the Takata airbag inflators were similar to the same inflators that have killed at least 30 people worldwide.
The chemical airbag expert found nothing inconsequential about leaving the current Takata airbag inflators installed in 7 million vehicles.
NHTSA also says GM focuses on the alleged claim the Takata airbag inflators aren't at risk of exploding by alleging the subject inflators are “more resilient” than other Takata inflators. But NHTSA found the automaker doesn't focus on the consequences to vehicle occupants if the inflators rupture.
"Based upon this information, and applying its expert judgment as the Agency charged with overseeing motor vehicle safety, NHTSA has determined that GM has not demonstrated that the defect is inconsequential to safety in the GMT900 vehicles." - NHTSA
GM says it will abide by NHTSA's decision, something that will cost the automaker about $1.2 billion.


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Well here's a major shocker! The developer of Miles & Kilo has confirmed that the Switch title is going to see release on 3DS! While there's no release date for the title just yet, we do know that it'll have stereoscopic 3D, all while running at a rock-solid 60fps. Looks like you'll have a reason to dust off your 3DS in 2019!
Who says the system is dead?!


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The number of counterfeit watches confiscated by Swiss customs officials has plummeted by around 80% since the beginning of the year, according to the Swiss watch industry. However, this is not because fewer dodgy watches are being imported, but because of government customs cutbacks.
“The Federal Customs Administrationexternal link has significantly reduced its activities regarding counterfeit watches as a result of savings made as part of the stabilisation programmeexternal link,” Jean-Daniel Pasche, president of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industryexternal link, told the Swiss News Agency. “There are fewer checks.”
This government programme aims to save up to CHF1 billion ($1 billion) a year through various measures in order to take the strain off the federal budget.
“This development is regrettable and perverse,” Pasche continued, explaining that the watch federation paid a fee for every check and fewer checks therefore meant less revenue for the government.
“This money should go straight to the customs administration, so it can maintain its level of controls,” he said.
Pasche said he was frustrated that the reduction in inspections was undoing years of work by the watch industry to combat counterfeit timepieces.
“Worldwide around a million fake watches are confiscated a year, with most coming from China,” he said.
swissinfo.ch and agencies/ts


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For today’s drivers, fuel efficiency is an increasingly important factor when choosing a vehicle. Whether drivers are concerned with going green for the environment, saving the green in their wallets, or both, there’s no denying the importance of improved fuel economy.
At Toyota of Morristown, we’re thrilled to offer our shoppers an inventory of advanced vehicles from an automaker that’s as concerned with fuel efficiency as they are. Toyota’s innovative models have long been forerunners in the realm of innovation under the hood, and the 2014 lineup at our dealership is chock full of efficient options in a wide array of styles.
Toyota isn’t content to let good be good enough, though, and is constantly striving to improve the technology that it offers for our customers. Recent innovations in the engine bay will soon have customers going even further with the fuel they use.
Improved Efficiency Helps Toyota Outpace the Competition
Among Toyota’s latest mechanical innovations is a new development in the automaker’s engines which allows for significant increases in thermal efficiency and, as a result, fuel economy. This new series of engines applies characteristics of Toyota’s tried and true hybrid powertrains to its traditional engines, allowing for upwards of 10% increases in fuel efficiency.
These newly developed engines take advantage of the Atkinson cycle, a process that many drivers will associate with hybrid engines. The process allows for significant energy loss reductions; when applied to traditional combustion engines, this translates to more output with less fuel usage.
Drivers can expect to see these new engines rolling out under the hoods of redesigned Toyota models in the near future. Ultimately, Toyota plans to release a total of 14 new engine designs between this year and next year.
For the latest information on Toyota’s constantly evolving lineup, including some of today’s most fuel efficient models, be sure to contact our Morristown Toyota dealership online or to call us directly at (800) 968-4141 today!


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Samsung are not only intent on constantly improving their smartphone range to compete with Apple, but they also want a piece of the MacBook Pro pie as well, which is evident with a recent video teaser of the new 2013 Samsung Series 7 Chronos laptop refresh. The company is very serious about their Series 7 range, as they have made a number of changes to the hardware, which you can see from the specs mentioned in the video below.
With CES 2013 just days away now we are hoping that Samsung will offer more details for the Samsung Series 7 Chronos 2013 refresh, but we can tell you that there is to be a new AMD Radeon HD 8870M GPU and a RAMaccelerator, which is said to increase app loading by at least 50 percent. There’s also going to be JBL speakers and a screen resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, but we are told that these are already features on the current 17-inch model, so these upgrades could be for the 15-inch model.
No matter how much this laptop looks like the MacBook Pro, we will have to wait and see just what the device has to offer during CES. There will be two key factors here; the 2013 Samsung Series 7 Chronos refresh price and also the full spec list as well. Okay, so some of you may be put off with Windows 8 because the OS is not to everyone’s tastes, but many of you will say that it is worth the compromise when compared to Apple’s pricing.
Would you choose the new Samsung Series 7 Chronos over a MacBook Pro? If we are to go on recent versions of this laptop then we would expect the 15-inch model to sell for around $1000, but some users would suggest that considering the specs in this sleek looking laptop, it is still overpriced, as is the MacBook Pro.
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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Things are looking good for Designer Childrenswear.
The luxury clothing retailer is set to create up to a dozen highly-skilled tech roles after opening a new office in Sunderland.
We have worked tirelessly and invested heavily in growing the digital side of the company over recent years but even we are surprised at the rate at which it has grown.Dionne Evans
The independent family-owned retailer that has been rooted in Sunderland for more than 30 years, has opened a new office in Sunderland Software Centre to cater for demand from overseas.
The company has reported a 50 per cent rise in online sales year-on-year since launching its e-commerce website in 2005, with the bulk of orders coming from customers in overseas markets such as the UAE, the US, China and Japan.
The new 353 sq ft office will allow the business to manage all of its creative, digital marketing and ecommerce activity in a dedicated space and will provide the space it needs to continue with its rapid expansion.
Designer Childrenswear employed just six people in 2015 and now employs more than 40 in a range of roles from retail to warehousing, photography and digital.
And, over the next six months, after receiving support from Sunderland City Council’s MAKE it Sunderland initiative, the company has bold ambitions to continue growing its headcount with the recruitment of up to a dozen new members of staff in highly skilled roles such as content creation and digital marketing, as well as ecommerce specialists.
E-commerce manager Dionne Evans said: “We have worked tirelessly and invested heavily in growing the digital side of the company over recent years but even we are surprised at the rate at which it has grown.
“For the first-time last year, we witnessed huge international growth and are now increasingly selling more and more products to customers overseas. The opening of this new, dedicated office, means we can centralise all of our digital activity and continue growing this side of the business which has huge potential for further expansion.”
“We work very closely with our colleagues in the newly opened store on Derwent Street as well as our photography and distribution teams, all of which are in the city centre, so it was vital that we didn’t move too far away.
“We also needed to ensure our new space had the right facilities in order to help us continue growing, such as superfast Internet and the ability to work beyond the usual 9-5.”


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Tehran hosted the Iran Expo 2023, where agricultural, food, construction, clothing, household items, chemical, and petrochemical industries were presented.
A total of 23 businessmen from Armenia also participated in this exhibition, the Ministry of Economy of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.
Within the framework of this event, B2B meetings were also held and certain agreements were reached between businesses from Armenia and Iran.
Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi attended the official opening of this exhibition.
A total of 750 large Iranian exporting companies, as well as businesses from a number of other countries participated in this event.


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Hello Bin Weevils!
Check out the latest items to arrive on the Bin Weevils What’s New blog today!
To celebrate the launch of the Bin Weevils Trading Cards, a Mulch Mayhem Party has arrived at Flem Manor!
Issue #139 of Weevil Weekly has also just hit the news stands today!
Weevil Along to Weevil Post to read it!
a special thanks to weevily world http://weevilyworld.wordpress.com/


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Prescription discount card scripts success for GC man
Garden City resident Lee Waid knows what it is like to not have health insurance or prescription drug coverage.
After overcoming adversity, he is now on a mission to help others afford the medicines they need as a representative for Watertree Health, a provider of prescription discount cards.
“These are free cards that allow consumers to instantly save money on out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs at 60,000 pharmacies across the nation,” said Mike Loughran, an account supervisor for DKC Public Relations, Marketing Government Affairs in New York City, NY.
Waid, who grew up in Plymouth and is a former Westland resident, underwent extensive surgeries to repair an aneurysm in his heart, and shortly after recovering from this ordeal, he was involved in a major car accident. Having to pay out of pocket for his prescribed drugs made his recovery more difficult.
After successfully recovering from his many surgeries, Waid stumbled across a Watertree Health job listing on Craigslist and applied.
“I tell people that I am in this for the right reason because I have been on the other side of that counter,” Waid said. “There’s so many people hurting out here. You have no idea how many people aren’t taking medications because they can’t afford them.”
Without prescription coverage, people sometimes choose not to fill the prescription when they learn the cost. If they do struggle to pay for them, they may split the pills once they arrive home.
Waid’s success has garnered attention.
“In less than two years, Lee has helped local consumers save over $3.5 million on prescription drugs, helping countless people manage their healthcare costs.” Loughran said.
A number on the card helps to track use.
Waid received additional compliments from management.
“We are very lucky to have Lee as an integral member of our team,” said Shane Power, president of Watertree Health. “The passion he brings to our mission and the dedication he has to help others save on their medications is nothing short of amazing,”
The competition is fierce and Waid points out that there are more than 800 similar companies. But he points out one difference.
“Watertree Health is big into philanthropy,” Waid said. “Every time you use my card, we give 50 cents to Make-a-Wish. Our goal is to give Make-a-Wish $1 million this year.”
Waid explained that Watertree is the company he works for. Watertree represents MedImpact which, Waid said, is owned by pharmacists.
“MedImpact is a full financial disclosure company,” Waid said.
Discounted prices vary according to medication and location. Consumers with co-pays often don’t realize or notice the full cost of their prescriptions. For those who go to Walgreens, for example, the amount that their health insurance provider picked up is listed on the bag.
More and more prescriptions aren’t being covered, he said.
“How many companies can you work for where you can make a difference in people’s lives?” Waid asked. “These are legitimate savings. We cover anything prescribed by a doctor.”
For more information, call 855-957-9777 or visit www.WatertreeHealthCard.com


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Naughty Dog has a new trailer out today for The Last of Us Part II, which is coming next month. It’s a short trailer but the tone is set from the moment it starts: this is a much darker world than we remember and it won’t go easy on you.
We’re six weeks away from the launch date and even now, it’s hard to avoid spoilers but I know it’ll be worth the wait. Seeing the state of the world, the state of these characters, it’s the build-up to this scenario that is keeping me going at this point. I want to know more but only through the video game.
The Last of Us Part II launches on PlayStation 4 June 19.


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William Hill Adds Lightning Box Games Content across Retail System
Today Gambling operator William Hill is set to go live with gaming content developed by Australian studio Lightning Box Games, it was announced. Games will undoubtedly be rolled down throughout the operator that is major licensed betting offices in the united kingdom.
As many dolphin treasure online as 2,300 gambling stores will go live with titles by William Hill’s new distribution partner that is content. Those will likely be installed on a lot more than 9,000 gaming devices. The initial roll-out is scheduled to commence into the 2nd quarter of 2017.
The agreement will secure the major gambling operator with exclusive usage of the Panda Power Deluxe and Silver Lion Deluxe games. Those have turned out to be well-accepted among international online players. More titles by Lightning Box Games will likely be put dolphin treasure slot free play into William Hill’s providing at a later on stage.
Peter Causley, Managing Director and Co-Founder associated with the supplier that is australian commented that the deal penned gives their business the chance to expand its footprint in the united kingdom gambling market. The state also added jugar dolphin treasure gratis so it provides opportunities for omni-channel partnership with William Hill that would consist of providing going live to the operator’s retail, online, and gambling that is mobile.
Lightning Box Games are usually open to European and North American players and have actually turned out to be quite successful among them. In accordance with Mr. Causley, their products will appeal to the British gambling audience, aswell.
Associated with the upcoming launch of games by the studio that is australian William Hill Head of Product and Content Andrew Sackey explained they are eager to see the above-mentioned two games be included with their diverse catalog of product providing and go live with regards to their online and land-based players.
Lightning Box Games had been taken to life in 2004 by industry experts with years of experience into the field. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, the organization focuses on the development of innovative gaming content for the land-based and online gaming industry. Since its inception, the organization has dolphin treasure island partnered with a few of this major players into the land-based, online, mobile, and social gaming areas. Lightning Box Games’ offering has become available to players in the usa, the UK, South America, Asia, and Australia.
UK Government Embarks on Gambling Business Probe
Tougher times are coming for UK-facing gambling operators once the government launched on Monday 52 dolphin dr treasure island fl a probe into Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and also the impact they will have on players included in an effort to curb gambling-related damage.
The review are going to be especially centered on the utmost stakes the B2 gaming devices (they grant as they are formally referred to as under the Gambling Act 2005) accept and the maximum payouts. Their allocation in licensed venues will fall under scrutiny also. Last but most certainly not least, the us government said that it is going to be considering the social responsibility measures used by anyone mixed dolphin treasure pokie machine up in UK gambling industry.
It was additionally confirmed that officials can pay special attention to gambling advertising inside their industry review. The us government wants to realize whether gambling products are promoted in a fashion that guarantees the susceptible part of the population is well-protected.
As reported early in the day this thirty days, British gambling operators may face a full daytime ban on television advertising, if officials find this fit. Presently, gaming and activities products that are betting solutions are marketed on tv after the 9 pm watershed. Any marketing activity ahead of that hour is allowed limited to bingo products and during major sports activities’ breaks.
Fixed odds terminals that are betting introduced across British gambling shops in the very early 2000s. Essentially, they provide gambling clients aided dolphin treasure big win by the chance to bet in the results of various games. Since their introduction, they’ve changed into major dolphin treasure book income contributors for high-street gambling operators because of their wide appeal among players.
The quantity of £1.7 billion had been lost on FOBTs in 2015, a record that is all-time. The B2 video gaming devices allow players to put maximum bets of £100 every 20 seconds. A gambling customer may lose hundreds and thousands of pounds within a very short period of time as a result.
Top UK officials have been voicing issues over the damage that may be triggered free dolphin treasure slot game to vulnerable players, talking about the gaming devices as extremely addictive people. Proposals have previously emerged that the optimum stake be reduced from £100 to just £2. It’s still too early to express whether this type of reduction that is major be arranged but reports from the past several months have been indicating that measures will probably be taken in that way.
The review that is FOBTs launched with a necessitate Evidence published by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism and Heritage, Tracey Crouch. Supplying her responses in the probe dolphin treasure gratis spielen ohne registrieren, Ms. Crouch said that gambling laws must make sure that individuals are protected, that they gamble in a responsible manner, and that the gambling industry just isn’t prevented from contributing to the economy that is overall. All of it comes to striking the right stability, as placed by the state.
The phone call for Evidence period began on Monday, October 24, and certainly will carry on through December 4. Officials aim at collecting enough evidence to assess the gambling that is existing and whether those should be amended dolphin treasure gratis spielen ohne registrieren at all.


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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has joined public health officials in two other states and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate a foodborne outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis associated with pre-packaged stuffed chicken products. The OSDH is informing consumers of the products that have been recalled due to this outbreak, and urges persons who purchase raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees, regardless of brand, to always use sound food hygiene procedures to prevent foodborne illness.
As of July 16, 10 cases in three states, including Minnesota (8), Wisconsin (1), and Oklahoma (1), have been linked to two multistate Salmonella Enteritidis outbreaks. Several brands of frozen, raw chicken products have been recalled, including Barber Foods, Meijer, Sysco, and Omaha Steaks. These products were packaged in smaller quantities for home use and in larger quantities for institutional purchase.
Specific Recommendations regarding this Recall:
· Oklahomans should check their freezers for the recalled frozen, stuffed chicken entrees (chicken Kiev, chicken cordon bleu, and chicken with broccoli and cheese). The recalled products, regardless of brand, will have one of the following two numbers on the packaging: "P-276" or "P-4230A."
· These products should not be prepared or eaten.
General Recommendations regarding these products:
· Consumers who purchase raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees, regardless of brand, should always handle them safely to prevent foodborne illness:
o Read the package carefully. Look for words like “Raw” or “Uncooked” to determine if the product is raw. The product may not look raw. It may appear to be pre-cooked because it may be breaded and browned.
o Follow cooking instructions exactly as they are written on the package.
o Use a food thermometer to check that the product has reached an internal temperature of 165° F, checking at the center, the thickest part, and the surface of the product.
o Clean and disinfect any surfaces and utensils that touched the raw product, including the product packaging or any breading that falls off.
o Wash your hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling the raw product.
o Keep raw poultry away from other food that will not be cooked before eating.
Symptoms of salmonellosis include: diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, headache, muscle aches, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Blood is sometimes seen in the stool. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, but may last up to two weeks. In rare cases, Salmonella bacteria may enter the bloodstream. People with compromised immune systems, infants less than one year old, and the elderly are more likely to experience severe or prolonged illness.
For a list of the recalled products, visit the CDC Advice for Consumers website:


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Tomorrow (November 18) marks the official debut of 16-seat Kimchi Kitchen at 847 Cambridge St., the former home of Cambridge Coffee & Pizza, Boston Magazine reports. Jeannette Park and her mother Helen Park own the counter-service Korean restaurant; Helen is an alum of Meju, Koreana, and H-Mart in both Burlington and Cambridge. Many of Helen's recipes are adapted from dishes her grandmother made, Jeannette told the magazine.
The restaurant will serve "a standing menu of classic Korean dishes" as well as "rotating seasonal items [that] share a fuller breadth of Korea's wide-ranging cuisine," according to its website. Everything, including the plentiful kimchi, is made in-house.
The debut menu includes dishes like japchae (sweet potato-based noodles with beef bulgogi), kimchi fried rice, soon-dubu jigae (a spicy soup with silken tofu), ice cream, and more. The restaurant soft-opened last week and has already racked up a five-star average over eight reviews on Yelp, with the early reviewers praising authenticity, portion size, and friendly service. "The beef bulgogi over rice was amazing," writes one new fan. "I would like to eat this every day until I die, and then every day in the afterlife."
Starting tomorrow, Kimchi Kitchen will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (except on Tuesday, when it is closed) and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.


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Tencent posted its first ever quarterly year-on-year income decline as stricter laws round gaming in China and a resurgence of Covid-19 on the earth’s second-largest economic system hit the know-how large.
Here is how Tencent did within the second quarter, versus Refinitiv consensus estimates:
- income: 134.03 billion Chinese language yuan ($19.78 billion) vs. 134.6 billion yuan anticipated, a decline of three% year-on-year.
- Revenue attributable to fairness holders of the corporate: 18.62 billion yuan vs. 25.28 billion yuan anticipated, a decline of 56% year-on-year.
Tencent missed each income and revenue forecasts. In the course of the quarter, Tencent confronted macroeconomic headwinds stemming from a resurgence of Covid in China and subsequent lockdowns of main cities, together with the monetary metropolis of Shanghai. Authorities have dedicated to a “Zero Covid” coverage which has induced disruptions the world over’s second-largest economic system.
China’s economic system grew simply 0.4% within the second quarter, lacking analyst expectations. That had an impression on the corporate’s fintech, cloud and promoting income.
In the meantime, China’s home video video games business has additionally confronted challenges as a result of stricter regulation. Tencent makes a few third of its complete income from gaming.
Final 12 months, Chinese language regulators launched a rule limiting the period of time youngsters below 18-years-old may spend taking part in on-line video games to a most of three hours every week and solely throughout particular instances.
Regulators additionally freeze the approval of recent video games between July 2021 and April this 12 months. In China, video games must get the inexperienced gentle from regulators earlier than being launched and monetized.
Analysts at China Renaissance stated in a be aware revealed final month that Tencent simply launched three cell video games within the second quarter. So the corporate has relied on its present standard titles to generate income.
Tencent has confronted numerous headwinds in 2022 together with a Covid-induced slowdown within the Chinese language economic system and a harder marketplace for gaming.
Bobby Yip | Reuters
Tencent stated second-quarter home video games income fell 1% year-on-year to 31.8 billion yuan, whereas worldwide video games income fell the identical share quantity to 10.7 billion yuan.
The Chinese language know-how large stated the worldwide video games market “skilled a post-pandemic digestion interval.” In the course of the peak of the Covid pandemic and lockdowns globally, individuals turned to gaming for leisure and corporations like Tencent and rival NetEase noticed a giant increase. However since international locations have re-opened, persons are spending much less time taking part in video games and the year-on-year comparisons for firms are powerful to dwell as much as.
Tencent additionally stated the Chinese language market was experiencing “the same digestion interval as a result of transitional points together with comparatively fewer large recreation releases, decrease person spending, and the implementation of minor safety measures.”
The corporate stated it noticed decreased income within the second quarter from a few of its long-established hit video games like PUBG Cellular and Honor of Kings.
Martin Lau, president at Tencent, stated throughout an earnings name with analysts on Wednesday that the regulatory surroundings in China is “progressing from rectification to normalization,” which ought to “bode properly for the business over time.” He stated within the gaming sector, regulation is trending in a “extra constructive” route.
Lau added that he expects Tencent to obtain recreation licenses from regulators within the “close to future” which can assist the corporate’s home video games enterprise over time.
Chinese language financial slowdown takes nice
The resurgence of Covid in China, lockdowns and subsequent financial slowdown has tricked via to main areas of Tencent’s enterprise.
On-line advert income within the second quarter totaled 18.6 billion yuan, down 18% year-on-year.
Tencent additionally runs one of many greatest cell funds companies in China referred to as WeChat Pay by way of its WeChat messaging app which has over 1 billion customers. The corporate additionally has a nascent cloud computing enterprise. It wraps income from these two below the banner of “Fintech and Enterprise Providers.” Income from this section grew 1% year-on-year to 42.2 billion yuan, a slowing from the quarter earlier than.
“FinTech Providers income development was slower relative to prior quarters as COVID-19 resurgence briefly impacted industrial fee actions in April and Might,” Tencent stated.
Ma Huateng, the CEO of Tencent, stated within the firm’s earnings launch that enterprise ought to choose up because the Chinese language economic system begins to get better.
“We generate roughly half of our revenues from FinTech and Enterprise Providers in addition to On-line Promoting that immediately contribute to, and profit from, general financial exercise, which ought to place us for income development as China’s economic system expands,” Ma stated.
On the earnings name, Tencent administration spoke at size concerning the firm’s “value management” technique to cut back spending within the enterprise. Lau stated that Tencent has shuttered some companies associated to areas like on-line schooling and “scaled again” loss making cloud actions.
James Mitchell, chief technique officer at Tencent, stated that with these value management initiatives, year-on-year earnings development will return within the “coming quarters even when our income stays because it does now.”


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Social networking site Twitter announced on Monday that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent them a draft complaint on July 28. The FTC is investigating a Twitter data breach in which the private information of users was used for marketing purposes.
The data, email addresses, and phone numbers were provided by users to Twitter between 2013 and 2019 for two-factor authentication. The information solicited was supposed to be for “for safety and security purposes.” Instead, it was used to help target ads.
Twitter anticipates that the FTC may make them pay $150 million up to $250 million in fines. A spokesperson for Twitter says the company “included an estimated range for settlement” because it received the complaint after it’s quarterly results were filed July 23.
“The matter remains unresolved, and there can be no assurance as to the timing or the terms of any final outcome,” Twitter disclosed in its 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Twitter allows private information to targets ads
Twitter disclosed the breach of user privacy in an October 2019, statement claiming that it “inadvertently” allowed the private information to be used, calling it an error. The FTC believes that Twitter misled consumers by not disclosing that their data may have been used in this way.


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Saudi Arabia has banned new cafés and beauty salons from being built near each other in a bid to reduce gender mixing, a local newspaper has reported.
New women’s hairdressing and beauty salons will not be allowed to open near cafés – typically only frequented by men – public parks and sporting stadiums, while new coffee shops will be banned from opening near women’s stores or having windows overlooking such shops, Arabic daily Ajel reported.
The conservative Islamic kingdom restricts interaction between unrelated men and women, particularly those who are not married.
Under King Abdullah, Saudi women have gradually been allowed to work in female stores such as lingerie shops and beauty salons, under strict rules that include a partition between male and female staff members’ working areas.For all the latest business news from the UAE and Gulf countries, follow us on Twitter and Linkedin, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.
Subscribe to Arabian Business' newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and business stories in Dubai,the UAE and the GCC straight to your inbox.


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Turkish police raided dozens of warehouses on suspicion of stockpiling produce such as potatoes and onions as part an “all-out war” against high inflation, the T24 news website reported on Wednesday.
The raids came after remarks made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan targeting wholesalers who stockpile basic goods amidst a currency crisis the country has experienced this year.
According to some Turkish media reports, there has been a public disturbance due to skyrocketing prices of onion and potato recently. In some markets, the price for a kilo of onion has doubled, reports said.
Erdoğan previously called them “opportunists” for benefiting from the crisis, although he was hesitant to admit that there have been economic problems in the country.
An Agriculture and Forestry Ministry official said 45 warehouses were recently raided in Ankara and that those who were stockpiling goods without permission would be subject to fines.
A similar inspection was held in Çorum province upon the order of Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, according to the report.
Turkey has been undergoing a currency crisis during which the lira has lost almost 40 percent of its value against the US dollar since the beginning of the year.
Albayrak last month launched an “all-out war” against high inflation that stemmed from the crisis.


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Photo courtesy of @shineonyoucraydiamond.
Construction zones are the new selfie hotspots. Instead of suffering through its expansion project, Galleria in Edina is celebrating by covering its barricades with interactive pop art—inspired by Miami’s Wynwood Walls—designed to make a great backdrop for photos. For every shot posted on social media in from the the Art + Heart walls, Galleria will donate $5 to Free Arts Minnesota. Tag @galleriaedina and @freeartsmn with the hashtag #galleriaartwalls, through April 30.
“The idea was to create fun colorful graphic backdrops that inspire people to take fun photos,” says Jill Emmer, Director of Art of Edina. Emmer (better known on Instagram as @shineonyoucraydiamond) curated the art wall exhibit, which spans 3,000 square feet on the upper and lower levels of Galleria's east side, with graphic designer Paul Johnson and help from local artists Matthew Custar and Chank Diesel.
Galleria is in the midst of a 20,000-square-foot expansion that will include new restaurants, stores and a new entrance opening this fall.
Photo courtesy of @shineonyoucraydiamond


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Wrap-up of Microsoft Inspire 2021
Unprecedented. The one word the world unanimously agreed adequately describes the last 18 months. At this year’s Microsoft Inspire event, the tech giant reflected on “an exceptional year of unparalleled disruption, accelerated innovation and digital transformation.” Clearly, that change has inspired some big, bold developments in the Microsoft camp.
The Parallo team once again attended the annual virtual event – here are our top three takeaways:
1. Reducing commercial marketplace fees to 3%
Microsoft announced it has lowered its marketplace transaction fee from the industry standard of 20% to 3%, after experiencing a 70% year-on-year increase in transactive applications in its commercial marketplace including Azure Marketplace and Microsoft AppSource.
This is a major cut and one that will drive growth by helping partners get to market faster, with more margin available to invest in scaling.
2. Continued investment in the cloud with Windows 365
Another worthy mention is the new Windows 365 which will be available later in the year. Windows 365 takes the operating system to the Microsoft cloud, streaming the full Windows experience – apps, data and settings – to any device.
Alongside securing and storing information in the cloud, not on the device, Windows 365 will also create a new hybrid personal computing category called Cloud PC, which combines the power of the cloud and the capabilities of the device to provide a full, personalised Windows experience.
For SIs and MSPs, you can help organisations get the most out of their entire Windows estate, and ISVs can continue to build Windows applications – and deliver them in the cloud – to support your customers in their ongoing digital transformation journey.
3. Changes to Microsoft ISV, improved focus on SaaS
Lastly, the Business Applications ISV Connect program will be getting some enhancements to help ISVs develop, publish and market their apps even more. The overall aim is to reduce app development time, so you can get to market faster, create products that meet customer needs and scale more efficiently in new markets.
Embrace the new opportunities
We know (from years of experience) that the key to start-up success is acquiring new customers and getting product releases out quickly, and we’re excited about what these Microsoft changes mean for fast-scaling start-ups. Get in touch with the Parallo team today to discuss these changes in more detail – and what they could mean for your business.
Our latest eBook, From start-up to hyper-growth: how to set your SaaS business up for scale, explores the roadblocks that often trip up fast-scaling businesses – and why busywork is what sends so many SaaS companies to an early grave.


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Blog: A little too sunny for saving money?
Joe Ayling | 21 May 2008
The tricky balance of providing good value, top quality fashion products on a regular basis is evermore dizzying in today's business environment, thanks to sustainability.
Yesterday (20 May) just-style attended the ASBCI's annual conference, where speakers presented a host of burning issues facing the fashion industry. 'Flip-flops or Fleeces? - Weathering an unpredictable fashion climate' was the theme for this year's event, at Dunchurch Par Hotel, Rugby.
Short-term weather fluctuations are a retail consideration, especially for fast-fashion high street retailers able to react in time, but the wider concern is the long-term damage that greenhouse gas emissions could have on the world's climate.
The conference started with a "weather forecast" from Royal Meteorological Society's chief executive, Professor Paul Hardaker, and at first I was thrilled by predictions that the UK's summer would be hotter than average, with cooler spells in between.
However, it was a little disconcerting to then hear that global temperatures are set to rise 2-5°C by 2010 as a result of global warming.
Most governments and businesses are clearly doing their utmost to minimise further damage to the environment with sustainable business models and greater transparency. But the difficulty seems to be achieving this without damaging something else - profit.
Having said this, yesterday's event highlighted a number of working solutions for the apparel sector, including the use of recycled polyester, organic cotton, hemp and wool. US climbing gear specialist Patagonia even wants customers to send back their old cotton T-shirts and fleeces to be recycled into new products, while Tesco is running a hanger recycling initiative...
The pollution caused by sourcing from countries thousands of miles away remains, and will continue to do so with depleted manufacturing bases closer to home. But adopting a sourcing hub that is a little more expensive but a lot closer helps readdress this difficult sustainability balance.
By Joe Ayling, news editor.
This year's ASBCI conference was given the theme ‘Flip-flops or Fleeces? Weathering an unpredictable fashion climate’ and discussed how extreme weather, environmental issues and economic downturn are ...
Some of just-style’s more eagle-eyed readers might have noticed a small change to the menu bar on the homepage: the addition of the word re:source. Yes it might be a small change – but it marks the co...
Over the past week just-style has continued to try to unravel the potential ramifications of Donald Trump’s election as the next president of the United States....
One event dominated the international airwaves last week, and on just-style too we took a closer look at the surprise election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States....
- Steps to piloting living wage in garment factories
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- Myanmar garment industry "lacking labour rights"


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HONG KONG (MarketWatch) — Hong Kong is suffering an economic chill that could soon go global, according to analysts who say the territory is showing omens of a dire economic outlook.
Quarterly gross domestic product data released last week showed activity contracting in the April-to-June period from the previous quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis. That means Hong Kong could technically fall into recession if figures for the current quarter ending in September are similarly weak.
A deepening slowdown, however, is a near certainty, according to Daiwa Capital Markets, which said that what had been viewed as a soft patch will eventually be seen as a more serious downturn, dragging on growth in the current quarter.
“We see grave implications as the Hong Kong economy is now halfway into a recession,” wrote Daiwa economist Kevin Lai in research note following the GDP release.
In fact, if the slump materializes as Lai expects, a technical recession will be in place from the second half of this year. Lai expects the recession to last for four quarters, while official data will show cooling but will holding on to a full-year expansion of 4% for 2011.
Hong Kong’s economy contracted 0.5% during the three months ended June 30, compared to a 0.7% quarter-on-quarter expansion expected by analysts. Exports shrank 11.1% from the first quarter, a dramatic reversal from a 14.4% rise in January-March.
Credit Suisse said it was caught off guard by the slump in trade, and slashed it 2011 GDP outlook to 5.2%, down from an earlier forecast of 5.5%.
“We expect the drag from net trade is likely to be stronger than we previously envisioned,” wrote Credit Suisse analyst Chrisitiaan Tuntono in a note.
Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami disrupted supply chains and dampened consumer spending, weighing on shipments through Hong Kong during the second quarter.
However, Daiwa’s Lai cautioned against being too dismissive of the wider reasons behind the export slowdown.
Hong Kong, he said, is arguably the best barometer of global activity, as its reliance on exports makes it among world’s most leveraged to external activity.
Weak spending on weaker global consumption was also a factor in the Hong Kong slump, especially as Japanese orders largely recovered by the end of April, he said.
The emerging environment is a mirror image of the recovery that took hold following the Lehman Brothers crisis, where government support in the form of low interest rates and emergency stimulus helped power a global turnaround, Lai said.
“Stimulus demand from the U.S. and China has played a critical role,” said Lai, referring to the recovery that began in the second quarter of 2009. “As this demand had started to wane, a reversal of this process now seems inevitable.”


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The Rimbey Chamber of Commerce is working behind the scenes to launch a program that could give fledgling businesses the roots to grow and finally, the wings to fly.
The incubator project, which is up and running successfully in Rocky Mountain House, may catch on here, said chamber president Jackie Stratton.
The program works by providing a large commercial space, dividing it into smaller areas, and allowing small businesses to set up shop there.
Businesses would be given reduced rent, have access to mentoring services and receive promotional suggestions and encouragement.
The incubator project is successful in other communities such as Rocky Mountain House.
Michelle Andrishak, manager of the program in Rocky, attended a meeting in Rimbey recently. She said government funding for the program helped the incubator project get off the ground, adding there were receptive business owners who were willing to participate.
“We were fortunate. We had renters right off the bat,” she said. “We were ready to rock and roll in three months.”
Andrishak said she was pleased to help the renters become self-sustaining.
“They were my chickens in a hen house. I really wanted them to survive.”
While the businesswoman said she would be happy to help Rimbey in an advisory capacity, a manager would be needed to oversee the project.
“I would be happy to act as an advisor and assist you in any way,” she said. “I can advise you, but you would manage it.”
The project is simple, she said.
“If you can’t afford a house, you get a roommate. It’s simply a commercial version of that.”
At a Rimbey Chamber of Commerce meeting, held last Wednesday, Mayor Rick Pankiw told chamber representatives to suggest the town supply seed money for the project for one full year in their business proposal.
While Pankiw didn’t confirm the town would dish out the seed money, he said the town is “interested in helping.”
The chamber plan to work on a business plan and approach home businesses within Ponoka County to gauge the interest.
Chamber president Jackie Stratton is optimistic the incubator program could work here.
“I could certainly see it here. It certainly would give small businesses the opportunity to test the waters when they are just starting out.”
Some of the businesses in Rocky Mountain House who participated in the incubator program were Pure Healthy Essential Oils, That Game Store, KES Graphic Designs, Cougar Ridge Bookkeeping, Coldwell Banker Realty and Deep Reflections, a registered psychologist.
For more information about the incubator program, contact Jackie Stratton at 403-843-2727 or Carrie Baartstra at 403-843-2944.


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In the business of tech, battles are fought over research, but war breaks out when money is at stake. That’s finally happened for chatbots, or software that allows people to hold conversations with machines.
Investors and the tech press overhyped bots a couple of years ago, but companies from insurers to health providers are increasingly using them to boost their bottom lines. Earlier this week Google planted a major flag in the war as it pushes further into the enterprise business dominated by Salesforce, SAP and Zendesk announcing bot technology for call centers alongside a raft of other machine-learning tools for its cloud customers.
Business can use Google’s tool, called Contact Centre AI, to attach a phone number to a virtual assistant that can take calls. It’s built on Dialogflow, which uses Google’s expertise in natural language processing. The technology is similar to Google Duplex, a cloud-based voice bot tool. Google CEO Sundar Pichai demoed it in May 2018 by playing a recording of Duplex calling a hair salon to book an appointment for its “client,” a person using Google Assistant. The synthetic voice sounded eerily human, even injecting ums and ahs into its speech.
Google potential customers, or pretty much any company that has a call center or customer services department, can do something similar with Contact Center AI.
Research suggests chatbot technology is already improving bottom lines. Healthcare companies and banks who use chatbots to deal with customer queries can save around four minutes, or more than 50 cents per inquiry, according to a report last year by Juniper Research, a British market intelligence company.
Helvetia, a Swiss insurance company that booked $1 billion in 2017 pretax profits, says it boosted its conversion rate for getting customers to buy a new policy when it deployed bots, with the help of Berlin, Germany-based startup Rasa, to chat to them via text message.
Ergo, a division of German insurance giant Munich Re, has been using Rasa’s chatbot technology to automate around 30% of its customer service inquiries and save money, says Rasa’s founder Alex Weidauer.
The good news for these companies and others is that there’s already a vibrant market for selling virtual assistant technology. Among the big players: IBM sells access to Watson Assistant, Facebook offers free access to wit.ai, with restrictions, Microsoft sells access to Luis via an API, and Amazon sells access to Lex as part of its larger AWS cloud service.
Weidauer says his startup and the other smaller players in this race have an advantage in offering a more customized service. One of his customers, the smart-scheduling startup Meekan, switched to Rasa from Microsoft Luis to develop its robot assistant because the latter charges for each “call” to its API; the more bot users you have, the more you pay Microsoft.
Having switched, “we can scale up without worrying about surprise bills,” says Meekan’s CTO, Eyal Yavor.
A jump in downloads to Rasa’s open source software, which usually sees a sliver of product managers buy a subscription, suggests its sales are growing. Weidauer says the strongest demand right now is coming from insurance, banking and, in the last six to 12 months, healthcare.
The British healthcare startup Babylon Health, which expects revenue in the tens of millions for 2018, bases its business largely on a chatbot it developed for giving advice on ailments. There are similarly automated symptom checkers from startups like Britain’s Ada Health and Israel’s K Health. The latter built its chatbot technology from a database of 2.5 million patient records spanning 20 years, obtained from Israeli insurers.
For both businesses, the chatbot aims to reassure patients with enough information to keep them away from relatively more costly (and often overworked) human doctors. Doctors have said that between 50% and 80% of their patients shouldn’t even see them, says Mark Tluszcz, a partner at venture firm Mangrove Capital who has invested in K Health. “Our society has become [a] hypochondriac,” and self-learning systems like chatbots can help address that collective need, Tluszcz adds.
Gartner, the research firm, posted a survey of chief information officers earlier this year that showed 21% of enterprises plan to deploy some kind of conversational interface in the medium to long term. So far just 4% of comparison have done so.
“Every company in the world will have some form of AI and machine learning embedded in their contact center in the next couple of years,” says Mikhail Naumov, the chief operating officer of startup DigitalGenius, which has built customer service bots for KLM, Unilever and Eurostar. “The contact center is ripe for AI disruption.”


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'Work needed' to boost Irish firms Down Under
"Significant" work needs to be done to improve Australian businesses' knowledge of the Irish market.
In a report, the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce said that the island of Ireland is an "attractive" destination for Australian investment.
However, it added that work needs to be done around increasing market knowledge in order for companies to fully consider Ireland's potential as a place to do business.
To date, Australian investment in Ireland stands at around AU$17bn (€11bn).
Last year, trade between Australia and the European Union (EU) as a whole was worth more than €70bn, according to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Common language and availability of a skilled workforce were cited as the main appeal for Australian businesses when considering investing in Ireland, the report from the chamber found.
Also of priority to businesses when considering Ireland was the country's ongoing membership of the EU, as well as its growing economy.
"In a post-Brexit Europe, Ireland represents an attractive gateway to the EU for Australian businesses and reciprocally, Australia should be the preferred option for Irish businesses seeking new markets in the Asia-Pacific region," Barry Corr, chief executive of the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce, said.
Among the other findings from the survey was strong support for an Australian-EU free trade agreement.


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IHC orders lift ban on online game PUBG
The Islamabad High Court on Friday ordered the government to lift the ban on online game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).
The decision to lift the ban was announced by Justice Amir Farooq while hearing a petition filed against the banning of the game.
The decision comes a day after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had announced that PUBG will remain blocked in Pakistan.
In a statement released on the Twitter, the country’s telecommunication and internet regulator said it reached the decision to keep the game banned after a detailed hearing conducted at the PTA premises on July 9 on the directions of the Lahore High Court.
It said the hearing was attended by other interested parties also.


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Today, 75 percent of Panera’s business takes place after 11 a.m. It’s 10–15 percent around standard breakfast times and another 10 percent between breakfast and lunch.
Burnett says value was in the “double-digits” from a food perspective from the attachment.
Another alluring result was the fact close to 75 percent of coffee redemption occurred off-premises. When Burnett underscored why Panera is better positioned to launch a subscription program than anybody else, this was a critical reason why. “We’re the only people who have the coffee and food,” she says. “We’re the only ones who have an ecommerce platform that’s robust enough to handle this along with omnichannel ways for you to get it. So whether it’s Rapid Pick-Up, drive thru, delivery, or on-premise. And we’re the only one with a loyalty program to really enable it.”
Panera 2.0, the company’s technology label, includes, to Burnett’s point, mobile ordering, Rapid Pick-Up, delivery—both in-house and through third-party, kiosks, and other rolling changes.
Panera expanded its menu to capitalize on convenience and to-go back in 2012, which feels like ages ago in this off-premises restaurant rush. Digital assets got an upgrade, too. By 2014, Panera was testing delivery with its own drivers (outside services also covered 7–14 percent of restaurants). This past August, when the company announced it was bringing on aggregators, it estimated it had delivered more than 28 million orders, or 7 percent of overall sales.
Panera’s 38-million-member loyalty program, which connects across channels, is among the largest in the business. For perspective, Starbucks has 18.9 million active U.S. members.
And there’s reason to believe the coffee subscription feature will balloon this figure even further. In the pilot, Panera saw about a 25 percent increase in new MyPanera members asking for the deal. And a vast majority of those were new to the brand, meaning it actually drove light users into restaurants. “It is a really, very interesting a desirable value proposition for the guest,” Burnett says.
Panera also picked up one additional insight, which Chaudhary said is “perhaps the most important.”
Guests can sign up for the program month-to-month currently. Other options, like semi-annual, will likely be introduced later on. But thus far with the current model, Panera is enjoying a 90–95 percent renewal rate each month, “which is fantastic,” Chaudhary says.
Guests coming in more often, buying more food, driving off-premises orders, and renewing. Together, “it gives us a ton of confidence in the business model,” Chaudhary says.


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The public commenting period is now open for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposal for labeling products that use GMOs, and you can add your comment by following the below link (luckily the process is simple and the link takes you directly to a simple-to-use comment submission form).
The deadline for the new rules to be finalized is July 29, 2018.
According to Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, the new proposal constitutes “a gift to industry from our now Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, who authored the legislation to squash the Vermont GMO labeling law and mandatory labels.”
She especially believes that the proposal is deceptive because most consumers don’t know what the term bioengineered means, as most know the term GMO or genetic engineering, the latter of which is usually used on packaged foods in Europe that are labeled (most are imported since Europe largely bans the cultivation of GMOs).
“(The) USDA’s exclusion of the well-established terms, GE and GMO, as options will confuse and mislead consumers, and the agency must instead allow the use of those terms,” said Andrew Kimbrell, executive direct for the Center for Food Safety.
The new rules also allow companies selling potential GMO products like sweet corn to include the label “may be bioengineered,” and also allow companies to use a system of QR codes instead of labels, which are time consuming and discriminatory to the 1/3 of American shoppers who don’t have smartphones, consumer advocates say.
“This is a ‘Call to Action’ to all Americans who have waited for decades to finally have GE foods labeled,” says Kimbrell.
“In 1991 the World Health Organization challenged scientists to create a simpler, safer, cheaper way to vaccinate children. Scientists … about plants, since plants naturally make a number of different compounds, they could be reprogrammed to make edible vaccines.”


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The hashtag #ALDUBforMcDoTVC has been trending on Twitter for hours now. 🙂 Photos from what seems to be a TV commercial shoot starring Maine Mendoza (“Yaya Dub”), half of the phenomenal AlDub loveteam, have been surfacing online.
Some fans have been so observant that they noticed previous posts by Alden and Maine consuming the brand. Well, Alden has already been endorsing McDonald’s. Remember the National Breakfast Day with Xian Lim and Mateo Guidicelli?


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Most people are already familiar with the concept of investing in travel and tourism. In a nutshell, it is setting up travel agencies. It can mean building hotels in tourist destinations and providing services to give each weary traveler the relaxation they yearn for. These aspects of the travel industry can be profitable to investors—especially if they put their money on publicly-traded firms with a wide customer base, quality offers, and value-for-money services.
Enticing a traveler
The internet plays a big role in many industries. Those who invest in travel and tourism businesses consider it as a determining factor in their decisions. When it comes to offering travel and tourism services, providers usually build upon an online presence. This is because travelers are most likely to head online; in doing so, they get a sneak peek at their destinations through websites, testimonials, and social media platforms.
Publicly-traded companies such as Expedia, Priceline, AirBnB, and Orbitz exemplify how to take advantage of the internet’s reach. According to a report, sales of these websites increased 20 percent annually for five years, with stocks under their belt increasing for far more.
The success of investing in the segment depends on what investors choose to put their money on. According to the Travel and Tourism’s Economic Impact Research, Asia is becoming a leader in the industry. Jones Lang LaSalle’s 2013 Hotels & Hospitality Group’s Asia Hotel Investment report also stated that hotel transactions in Asia exceeded market expectations, reaching $1.3 billion and registering an 85 percent increase over 2012 figures.
According to a forecast by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), China will overtake the United States as a leading investor in the niche by 2021, accounting for a 19 percent share of total global investments. Singapore is also a good example of an Asian country whose travel industry is reaching new heights. The country rose to sixth place from the 13th spot in the previous year as a top global investor in travel and tourism.
India is expected to do well too. In particular, it has overtaken Japan as the third highest global and travel investor. This is after it cornered a five percent share of the market.
Future tourist attraction
Offbeat tourism is another potentially good investment angle to pursue. In Appalachia, old mines are attracting tourists from all over the world for cultural and historic explorations, boosting the income of a number of municipalities in the area. This goes to show that the success of local tourism goes beyond pristine beaches and overwhelming landscapes.
In Far Eastern Russia, there’s the scenic mountainous region of Amur Oblast. It is also a draw for tourists, although its beauty is not the only thing that’s promising. Replete with mineral deposits, it has attracted the likes of mining companies, encouraging a probable economic boom in the area.
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The Votes are in – The Washingtonian is Back
Get ready to cast your ballot, Taco Junkies, because Torchy’s Tacos is bringing back The Washingtonian as November’s Taco of the Month, featuring smoked pulled pork, grilled onions, jack cheese, pickles, sour cream, fresh avocado, with chipotle BBQ sauce, all served on a flour tortilla. The Washingtonian is available now through Nov. 30th at all participating Torchy’s restaurants.
“Growing up right outside of Washington and being in Texas for over 15 years has heavily influenced the tacos we create,” said Torchy’s Tacos CEO Mike Rypka. “The Washingtonian brings a little taste of Texas to you with mouthwatering flavors like smoked pulled pork, grilled onions, and chipotle BBQ sauce. No matter who you are or what side you stand for, everyone can agree that this taco is a winner.”
Torchy’s is also featuring $1 off New Belgium Brewing pints for its Drink of the Month special at participating restaurants.
Portions of the proceeds from Taco of the Month sales go to Torchy’s charitable partners, including the Make a Wish Foundation, MD Anderson and Phoenix House.
About Torchy’s Tacos
The Torchy’s Tacos story began 16 years ago in Austin, Texas, when a man with a dream bought a food trailer and a vibrant red Vespa. Mike Rypka, founder of Torchy’s Tacos, built a menu out of experimental tacos that were coined by fans as “Damn Good.” Today, Torchy’s Tacos has over 100 locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, Ohio, Arizona, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee that are committed to serving only the highest quality ingredients. By living the Damn Good mantra, Torchy’s Tacos is always innovating to deliver the most unique tacos, coveted queso and refreshing margaritas in the taco game, including the Taco of the Month, an untraditional taco offering that keeps taco junkies coming back for more. Visit www.torchystacos.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information on Torchy’s Tacos.


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8 picks for Harley’s 115th Labor Day anniversary
This Labor Day weekend, Harley-Davidson is celebrating 115 years of riding with the biggest free party in town, featuring new events that bring the thrill, freedom and fun of motorcycles front-and-center. From Aug. 29 to Sep. 2, anyone with an adventurous spirit and a love for the freedom of two wheels should make plans to attend.
Most activities will be free and open to the public, but for those looking to maximize the fun, Harley-Davidson has designed special anniversary rally packs that include exclusive experiences and limited-edition merchandise. Packs start at $50 and include dozens of specials — such as early access to factory tours, private lounge access and behind the scenes tours of Juneau Avenue HQ — and free souvenirs including artwork, headphones, cameras, clothing and glassware.
Out of the numerous worthy events held throughout the 115th anniversary celebration, we’ve narrowed down eight – many of which are free – that can satisfy any craving for excitement.
1. Ride home with the pack
During the 115th anniversary, the city will host riders who are coming from all four corners of the country — San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Maine; and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida — before convening for the party. Check out the routes and join up with one of the rides as they converge at Veterans Park on August 29 for a get-together that’s free and open to the public.
2. The Harley-Davidson Museum
Consider the Harley-Davidson Museum the epicenter of all the anniversary activities and a must-attend feature of the weekend. With entertainment on two stages, motorcycle field games, a custom bike show, tattoo artists, local food and exclusive exhibits spread across several acres, it’s a museum experience unlike any other. Paid admission is required to enter the museum, but most of the activities on the museum campus are free. Additionally, all Harley Owners Group members will enjoy complimentary admission.
3. Motorcycle races and competitions
Harley-Davidson is returning to its grassroot passions: Motorcycles and throwing parties for people. Thrill seekers can get their fix at several motorcycle-centric competitions and exhibitions that celebrate past traditions and mark new ones, including:
Hillclimb motorcycle racing : Hillclimbing was an early tradition of motorcycle culture that Harley is helping to revive, with a vertical-riding competition at Little Switzerland Ski Hill — a 200-foot-high ski hill — that brings new meaning to “monumental.” (105 Cedar Creek Road, Slinger, WI 53086 on Saturday, September 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Flat Out Friday : For those who enjoy their heat on the track as opposed to under the sun, this bar-to-bar race is held indoors on a soda-soaked track at the UWM Panther Arena, with plenty of good seats to catch the action. (400 W Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203 on Friday, August 31 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
Bradford Beach Brawl : For the first time in more than 100 years, watch bikes kick-up the sand on Bradford Beach. This free event is open to the public, who can check out new and vintage bikes while witnessing history in the making. (2400 N Lincoln Memorial Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53211, Friday, August 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, September 1 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
“Run What You Brung” drag racing : The iconic Great Lakes Dragaway will host a head-to-head heart stopper that’s gritty and fast. (18411 1st St, Union Grove, WI 53182 on Friday, August 31 from 12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.)
4. Demo the brand-new 2019 motorcycles at a local dealer
Get a first peek at the 2019 Harley-Davidson motorcycle lineup when you visit a dealer, where you can take one for a spin or speak with gear specialists for free. If you decide not to take one home, you can still find exclusive anniversary merchandise and accessories at these locations.
5. 115th & HOG 35th Moto-Carnival
The Harley Owners Group (HOG) is one of the largest and longest-running motorcycle groups in existence, and as Harley-Davidson celebrates its 115th, HOG rings in 35 years. To celebrate both, a free five-day moto-carnival kicks off on Wednesday as riders roll into Veterans Park. All weekend long, the Full Throttle Saloon will serve up high-wire motorcycle thrill shows, the Wall of Death and more. It’s the perfect environment for cold drinks and good friends, with a celebration of — what else — all things motorcycle.
6. Street parties
The legendary street parties of Harley-Davidson anniversary weekends are a beloved staple for a reason. With local culture, food, bikes, bands and music during 10 nights of street parties in five different neighborhoods, it’s the perfect way to celebrate anytime, but especially since attendance is free and the parties are during Labor Day weekend. Expect more announcements as the weekend nears and don’t forget to bring your bike — many of the events include designated motorcycle parking.
Drawing motorcycle fanatics, community members and thousands of riders, the free-to-attend parade is a special celebration of the birthplace of Harley-Davidson. The parade will include custom bike builders, stunt teams, charitable groups and HOG chapters, as well as a few surprise guests. It kicks off at 45th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, continues east through downtown Milwaukee and lands at the Harley-Davidson 115th and HOG 35th Moto-Carnival at Veterans Park. (Sunday, September 2 at 1p.m.)
8. Local rides: explore Wisconsin on self-guided tours
Even locals will love Harley’s self-guided tours in partnership with Milwaukee County Parks. The scenic journey takes riders from the Harley-Davidson Museum through different Milwaukee County Parks and finally to the seven local Harley-Davidson dealerships. There’s plenty to see en route, and at the parks you’ll find scenic views, yard games, rest areas, concession stands and two beer gardens, where 115th rally pack wristband holders receive a complimentary special glass, co-branded by Harley-Davidson and Milwaukee County Parks to commemorate this special trip.
Make sure to keep an eye on Harley-Davidson’s social media channels as riders from all over the world share their stories using the hashtag #hd115. In the meantime, you can now purchase the special anniversary rally packs that include dozens of exclusive specials in advance of the event.


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Fresh out of 2012, Samsung is promising that they are reinventing television for 2013.
Several months ago, the company teased about revealing “something new” at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show happening in Las Vegas later this month.
Today, they unveiled a video of the new product, an odd, seemingly translucent television. The video was posted on the “Samsung Tomorrow” blog (which is written in Samsung’s native Korean). According to the video teaser, Samsung’s latest project is engineered utilizing “an unprecedented new TV shape and timeless design.”
The striking image of the television set looks more like a window or an arty photograph. Judging from the photos and video, it’s very probable that the screen is somewhat translucent, with a snazzy bezel design. Also, the set would be positioned like a portrait, unlike the landscape format we’ve experienced television in for like, oh, sixty years.
Heavy on the goofy side, the teaser trailer proclaims this television is a gamechanger, a revolution for the industry. We’ll see how that pans out when Samsung presents the full reveal at CES 2013.
Any real facts about Samsung’s mysterious television are hard to grasp from a few promo shots and a trailer that actually reveals more-or-less nothing. But, even though the portrait format is incredibly novel, it would also be a major problem. Almost all television programming is shot in 16:9 widescreen format—would all TV shows everywhere have to be reshot?
I think most likely the television can switch between landscape and portrait mode and Samsung took the photos in portrait orientation because it is definitely tantalizing. However, the switching theory begs more questions. Can it switch remotely? Would you have to buy a rotating wall mount? And why would you ever really want to have the screen in portrait mode?
The new television, like most TV innovations currently in the works from tech titans like Apple and Google, will probably be, essentially, a giant media player. It will probably stream movies, music and pictures (hence why a portrait mode might be desirable, if it’s the best way to show off your latest photographic masterpieces).
The translucent aspect could be, potentially, very, very cool, albeit gimmicky. A television that pretty much disappears when it’s off would be neat for interior decorators, but there isn’t much practicality to it—and probably a hefty price tag. Samsung has previously released products, like refrigerators, with translucent or semi-transparent displays.
However, based on these materials, 2013 already looks like it will be a landmark year for television.


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SCHAUMBURG, ILL. (July 24, 1:40 p.m. ET) — More evidence that the long-suffering home construction industry is beginning to recover comes from a market report on windows. Sales of vinyl windows — along with the overall sector, regardless of material — will steadily increase through 2015, as the industry rebounds from the low-point recession year of 2009, said a trade association report.
This in-depth report provides analysis and discussions of economic and political conditions, market trends, legislative/regulatory activity impacting supply and demand, business opportunities and threats, materials pricing, manufacturing technology, as well as strategies being implemented by thermoformed packaging companies. In addition, there are reviews of 25 leading thermoformers in the packaging segment, assessing their growth initiatives and performance metrics over 10 years.Learn more
This 75-page report features in-depth analysis of the automotive industry for the Americas. It includes discussions of market trends, legislative/regulatory activity impacting production and threats as well as design strategies being implemented by the major automakers. Detailed charts and data tables outline North American automotive production over the last five years.Learn more
This report provides in-depth analysis of the plastic building and construction market for North America, including discussions of trends, opportunities, threats and the latest developments in construction trends that impact plastics processors.Learn more


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Fosun International, the Chinese conglomerate which recently bought the holiday company Club Med, has taken a 5 per cent stake in Thomas Cook.
China’s largest privately-held conglomerate has paid £91.8 million for the stake, buying 73,135,777 shares at a price of 125.59p per share, a 4.1 per cent premium to Thursday’s closing price.
The 174-year old UK tour operator jumped 11.6 per cent on Friday morning following the news to 134.6p.
Thomas Cook said Fosun intended “over time” to purchase further shares on the open market to increase its stake to approximately 10 per cent.
It called the deal a “strategic partnership” to build international co-operation across a number of business areas, which could include Club Med as Fosun looks to turn the struggling business…


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For Kazuaki Nagata's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Feb 26, 2008
After a spate of food mislabeling frauds and the recent scare over pesticide-laced "gyoza" dumplings imported from China, consumers are perhaps more conscious than ever of the origin of what they eat. Many routinely check the origins of the foods they buy, especially imported products, which Japan relies heavily upon.
Feb 8, 2008
Jan 26, 2008
Jan 25, 2008
The mother of a university student who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in 2005 accused Paloma Industries Ltd. and parent Paloma Co. of failing to stop unauthorized modifications of their gas-powered water heaters that they knew were defective, as the manufacturer's Tokyo District Court negligence suit opened Thursday.
Jan 23, 2008
Dec 26, 2007
whether they would be able to be re-employed or not," she said. "We had to believe the company as much as possible because we wanted to regain a sense of security as soon as possible." National Union of General Workers Tokyo Nambu, a Tokyo-based labor union whose ranks include many ex-Nova teachers, also decried G.education's sudden announcement.
Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division.


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France's governing fashion body boosts measures to help emerging labels
The French Haute Couture and Fashion Federation (FHCM) is boosting its resources dedicated to emerging labels, in order to help the latter weather the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. FHCM has introduced a series of initiatives, notably setting up an aid fund and creating a specific digital showroom, in partnership with B2B platform Le New Black. Some 80 emerging labels, from France and elsewhere, orbit around the Paris Fashion Week galaxy. Of these, 60 are closely followed by FHCM, 15 of them via Sphere, the FHCM’s showroom dedicated to young designers.
The aid fund has been set up “as a complement to the initiatives deployed by FHCM with the help of DEFI (France’s Committee for the Development and Promotion of Apparel), and to the activity of other stakeholders in the fashion industry's eco-system,” said FHCM. Other national fashion industry associations around the world have deployed similar measures. On March 27, the British Fashion Council created a crisis fund to aid British designers, and on April 14, the Italian Fashion Chamber (CNMI) set up a fund to help emerging Italian labels.
“The aid fund will be activated following a funding round,” said Pascal Morand, executive president of FHCM, speaking to FashionNetwork.com. The resources will then be allocated following a painstaking selection process. “There will be a call for projects. The applications need to be very precise in financial terms, and will first be examined by a steering committee, which will make recommendations, then by an executive committee consisting of FHCM and financial institution directors, who will decide whom the grants will be allocated to, the same way a bank would operate,” said Morand.
The FHCM’s other signature project is to transform the Sphère showroom, usually staged at Paris’s Palais de Tokyo during the Fashion Weeks, into a digital showroom in partnership with B2B platform Le New Black. The eight emerging labels which have been picked to take part in Sphère's June session will be able to showcase their collections for free in a dedicated virtual environment.
“Also, Le New Black’s platform will be open at preferential rates to other emerging labels interested in joining a virtual showroom,” said Morand. He added that these labels would also be able to take part in the alternative initiative scheduled by FHCM in June, in place of the Paris Fashion Week Men. FHCM is still busy developing this project, which is “focused on creativity, communication and branding,” and will disclose more details about it in the next few weeks.
The introduction of lockdown measures, in France like elsewhere, has led to fashion store closures and to the cancellation of orders placed with the weaker brands. FHCM, which regularly supports emerging labels, has taken action to help them, providing bespoke support to facilitate their access to the measures introduced by the French government, from postponement of national insurance contribution payments to staff furloughs.
FHCM has provided practical help, for example assisting labels in drawing up applications for extra funds to manage their cash-flow situation, and to access state-backed loans.
In a press release, FHCM stated that “emerging labels are bearing the brunt of the Covid-19 crisis, which is endangering the economic fabric of the country. They find themselves in a delicate situation, having to weather the storm, deal with working capital shortages, anticipate the structural changes which are occurring increasingly fast, and transform the way they work.”
At the same time, FHCM is staging seminars on operational challenges like finance and cash-flow management, digitalisation and innovation, and labour, tax and commercial law, together with some of its professional partners, like RSM and Fabernovel. FHCM has also forged closer links with the French Fashion Institute (IFM), so that emerging labels can benefit from the masterclasses and educational programmes set up by IFM during the crisis, like the Labels Solidaire support platform.
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The small-scale industry in Karnataka has been negatively affected by the sluggish economy, and timely action for revitalizing the sector has become urgent to restore its vibrancy, said Kassia President B P Shashidhar on Saturday.
At a meeting with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday to outline the problems faced by the state’s Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Kassia presented a memorandum to the state government outlining various measures to kickstart economic activity on the MSME front.
The industry said that it is already under the jurisdiction of multiple acts such as Pollution Control, Factories Act, Shops & Establishment Act, ESI & PF Act which are of statutory nature. It said that the trade license imposed by the government encompasses MSME units as well.
But these units feel that since the industries are governed by several other acts, the insistence on trade license is an additional burden and dilutes attention from the productive angle, proving detrimental to the growth of the industry.
Kassia requested that the requirement of trade license for the small & micro industrial segment be waived and the EM-2 (Permanent Registration Certificate) issued by Department of Industries & Commerce and clearance from Pollution Control Board be treated as sufficient in place of a trade license.
The industry body said that property tax which was at Rs 2.50 per sq ft for own use and Rs 5 per sq ft for rented has doubled to Rs 5 per sq ft and Rs 10 respectively, which is too high. “State government should formulate a moderate property tax structure throughout the state for small scale industries,” Kassia said in its memorandum.
It noted that because of the prevailing ambiguity in procedures adopted by government corporations and public undertakings in the 15 per cent price preference given to small industries, this policy has been withdrawn, following which SMEs are unable to supply materials to any government undertaking.
The industry body requested the chief minister to reinstate the 15 per cent price and purchase preference and prescribe a procedure as in the case of KSRTC, where if the SME supplier is ready to match the prices offered by larger manufacturer, it is given preference.
On the subsidies which have not been released under the Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) scheme to fund capital equipment purchases by MSMEs, many of whom contribute substantially to the state’s exports, Kassia requested the chief minister to ensure that the entire subsidy amount of about Rs 7-8 crore is cleared without delay.
Kassia also requested representation for MSMEs on the boards of the Karnataka State Financial Corporation, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, besides reservation of land for small-scale units in industrial estates.


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It’s good to have scarcity, but not frustration.” It’s prescient advice coming from Nicolas Baretzki, CEO of Montblanc, a Richemont brand, that is built around desirability. At various points, it has had the likes of superstars such as Hugh Jackman, and more recently Zinedine Zidane, become the face of the brand. “My main concern is keeping scarcity at a certain level because it demonstrates your desirability. People are prepared to wait for something worthwhile. But frustration is never good for anyone.”
Walking the tightrope between controlled scarcity and avoiding the ire of frustrated customers is something that Baretzki has to contend with daily, heightened perhaps by the launch of the new Jimi Hendrix writing instruments collection last month. Jimi Hendrix’s professional career spanned just four years – although his impact on the cultural zeitgeist and diverse music genres has traversed several decades. More than half a century after his death in 1970, the influence of Hendrix hasn’t waned. Montblanc recently launched a series of writing instruments dedicated to the American guitarist and the biggest moments in his short-lived career.
The collection includes the Great Characters Jimi Hendrix Special Edition with the name of the artist’s debut album – Are You Experienced – noted at the top of the clip. The date of 18-06-1967 is engraved on the platinum-coated barrel ring which refers to the date of his performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. The Jimi Hendrix Limited Edition 1942 is limited to 1,942 pieces and is a tribute to his birth year. The Jimi Hendrix Limited Edition 99 meanwhile is the most limited offering in the collection and is restricted to a set of 99 fountain pens. Cleverly, just as Hendrix was capable of turning around right-handed guitars to play left-handed, here too instead of removing the cap to reveal the nib, it is the barrel that needs to be unscrewed to reveal the nib on which his portrait is engraved.
“There has been such resilience within the writing instruments segment. Right from the Victoria and Albert Limited Edition collection [launched earlier this year] leading to this Jimi Hendrix collection,” observes Baretzki. The luxury writing instruments segment is one in which Montblanc has the lion’s market share worldwide. Capitalising on that lead, in May, it opened the doors to Montblanc Haus located close to the brand’s headquarters in Hamburg. Montblanc Haus is dedicated to furthering the art of handwriting, and includes the likes of handwritten texts by five Nobel laureates, an autograph by French writer Voltaire that dates back to the 18th century, several writing desks and, of course, historic writing instruments from Montblanc’s own collection. “The idea for Montblanc Haus started from my predecessor, and was one of the best decisions taken in the last five years in the company. Today, we own the segment of luxury writing instruments, and it’s our duty as a maison to promote that world of handwriting and educate people that writing is at the very root of who we are at Montblanc,” says Baretzki. Another factor that is contributing to the popularity of Montblanc Haus, according to Baretzki, is its location in Germany. “Hamburg has become a cool place in Europe ever since the Elbphilharmonie launched five years ago. All of a sudden, Montblanc Haus is becoming a landmark next to all these beautiful buildings in Hamburg.”
While writing instruments is Montblanc’s existential category, its watches and leather offerings are its two other core categories. This year’s watch novelties included the 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date diver’s watch and the 1858 GMT Automatic Date – both excellent sports watches in their own right. The Monopusher Chronographs with Minerva movements meanwhile show how the Laurent Lecamp-led watchmaking department at Montblanc can dig into its archives and create modern interpretations of its vintage classics. Its other big release for the year, the Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen LE290, was entirely encased without oxygen. This watch was significant because alongside its launch Montblanc also appointed Nimsdai Purja – the record-breaking mountaineer – as its ambassador. As Baretzki explains, when it comes to sporting sponsorships, Montblanc would rather consider the person – Purja or even Zidane – rather than sponsoring sporting championships and events. “When we collaborated with Nimsdai, for example, I was not looking for an alpinist, but really a man who is challenging so much of what can and cannot be done. Here is someone who has climbed all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in six months. The same goes for someone like Zidane. He could have been from any sport, but what I love about him is his values, his style and the fact that he’s always striving to come out on top,” says Baretzki.
On the leather front, Montblanc’s creative director Marco Tomasetta is steering the ship. This year, it unveiled its Extreme 3.0 collection of leather accessories including a backpack, crossbody sling bag, belt, laptop case and a key pouch, among other items. Here too, Tomasetta stepped into the brand’s archives and was reportedly influenced by its Bauhaus-style advertising campaigns from the 1920s.
Tomasetta and Lecamp both took on their high-profile roles at Montblanc last year. “Both have very similar characters, which is quite rare for creative people. They work at the service of the maison and not at the service of their ego or their characters. Both dwell on the roots of the company and use that as a starting point. Before even the public debut of the Iced Sea [watch collection] by Laurent and Marco’s Meisterstuck collection, I was convinced that I had hired the right persons,” says Baretzki.
While Montblanc’s product strategy across its writing instruments, leather and watches is barreling down the right path, Baretzki is increasingly turning his attention to distribution. He says that from Dubai, it oversees key markets including the GCC, Africa, Levant and India. One of the most significant markets for it regionally is Saudi Arabia. “We already have six directly operated boutiques in Saudi Arabia. I was in Jeddah a few days ago and what I see is a very strong and buoyant market in Saudi,” notes Baretzki. He says that globally, the expansion of the luxury market will be strongest in second- and third-tier cities, especially in Southeast Asia where a strong surge of demand is underway in Thailand.
This year, Montblanc has revamped its flagship boutiques in a few destinations because, as he says, it is intended to give its customers a uniform Montblanc experience across markets that they may visit. “Our VIP customers travel around the world – from New York and Paris, to Dubai, London, Milan, and so on. There are probably 15 top cities in the world where we most often see those clients travel. I want to be able to offer them a similar experience of Montblanc in those boutiques, but each with a local flavour.” He points to the example of the Montblanc Suite 4810 Paris concept boutique on the Champs-Elysées where customers who purchase an item are given a key to open a safe to collect their item. It’s a model that he wants to replicate across its other major boutiques around the world.
Looking into 2023, when asked to make a quick SWOT analysis for Montblanc, he’s quick to identify the strengths (“writing instruments”) and opportunities (“definitely leather”), but is a little more pensive when considering the weakness and threats to the brand. “The weakness is still production. I’m spending a lot of time [working on] the supply chain. We all need suppliers, no matter what our levels of integration may be, and we are all facing difficulties to get those raw supplies. As for threats, these will come from the outside. We could all do with a little de-escalation so that we don’t face unnecessary pressures and uncertainties. What I can tell you is that any threat to Montblanc will be from the outside, and not from the inside.” That isn’t likely to change at Montblanc as long as Baretzki is its inside man.