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Ski company offers to pay school fines
The debate over what to do about the inflated prices parents have to deal with in order to take their children on holiday outside of term times progresses ever further, it seems, with one ski holiday company offering a rather controversial deal.
MountainBase, a Bedford-based operator selling skiing holidays in Morzine in the French Alps, caused a storm of opinion this week after offering a deal via Facebook that directly targeted the issue.
The company said it will cover the costs incurred by any fines administered to parents who take their children outside of school for a term-time skiing holiday, with any booking made in March and April excluding the free ski pass option eligible for the deal.
Attached to the offer was a highly provocative image of a family enjoying a ski holiday, over which the words ‘Are schools taking the piste?’ were superimposed.
Following condemnation from the National Union of Teachers, who claimed holiday firms would help parents out more by lowering their prices at peak times, the company admitted that the offer encourages parents to break the law.
Lee Quince, the owner of MountainBase, blamed Britain’s illogically timed school holidays and added that “ultimately the decision [is] down to the parents.
“It is a sporting holiday and not just sitting on the beach. Skiing is a skill they can learn and develop,” he said.
However, the Department of Education reminded parents that they could well risk prosecution, higher financial penalties and a criminal record by adhering to Mr Quince’s offer.
The issue of families paying inflated prices during school holidays has become a major discussion point recently, after the Department of Education hardened its stance on parents taking their children out of school.
This has led to condemnation of the travel industry across Britain and a call for more flexibility on half term and summer holidays.


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CMA CGM Headlines
Comment / Analysis: the container shipping industry and its major players in 2018
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News / Words of caution from the world’s biggest shipping line
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News / Container shipping rates in calmer waters as carriers look ahead to new contracts
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Merger with MacAndrews means OPDR shipping name will disappear after 135 years
CMA CGM has announced that from 1 January, it will merge its shortsea subsidiaries, MacAndrews ...
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- 1.The end of 'business as usual' for logistics as digitisation and the disruptors arrive
- 2.Temasek and Kuehne + Nagel to invest in early-stage logistics tech firms
- 3.Analysis: the container shipping industry and its major players in 2018
- 4.Port-Liner launches first emission-free barges on Europe's waterways
- 5.Maersk still weighs in as the world's largest container shipping line
- 1. Stefan on Maersk and IBM launch blockchain joint-venture to 'reshape global supply chains'
- 2. Alex Lennane on Amazon buys more land at Cincinnati airport in $1.5bn air freight hub development
- 3. firstname.lastname@example.org on Amazon buys more land at Cincinnati airport in $1.5bn air freight hub development
- 4. email@example.com on Choose a ‘happy’ colour for liner success
- 5. Chris Osborne on Costs rise at Southampton as bigger ships and new services drive box congestion

domain: news


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Cold days spell bad news for Car2Go drivers, say customers
Some customers say they have run into some problems with a popular car sharing service in Calgary, especially in cold weather.
Car2Go has become popular across the city after opening for business last summer.
For a one-time membership, drivers can take any of the company's small, white and blue SMART cars available around the city for a small flat rate and leave it in any public parking spot at no extra cost.
But some customers, including Arielle Land, say they've run into a few glitches when it gets cold.
"Car2Go is an amazing idea when it works," she said. "And it can be convenient, it can be environmentally efficient, but if you're relying on it, you could have some frustrations with it."
Land says she's had a few problems with the card reader and touch pad in the car on cold days.
The company says it hasn't seen widespread problems because of the cold and encourages customers to contact them with any concerns.
- For more on the story from CBC reporter Dave Gilson, click on the image above.


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Lobbying is stepped up to halt changes to tax-free shopping rules
As part of the Retail Export Scheme, non-EU travellers can claim Vat refunds on goods over €30 that are purchased in the EU and taken out of the continent
Retailers and tax refund services have intensified their lobbying efforts against proposed changes to Ireland’s tax-free shopping rules that could “gut” the visitor retail business.
As part of the Retail Export Scheme, non-EU travellers can claim Vat refunds on goods over €30 that are purchased in the EU and taken out of the continent.
In the event of a no-deal Brexit, British visitors to Ireland would also be able to claim...
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The Last Post: Political page-turner takes a fresh look at a leader less ordinary
Charles Haughey was perhaps the most controversial politician in Irish history. A fine biography by academic Gary Murphy allows us to reappraise his life, though not forgive all of his shortcomings
Dan O’Brien: As inflation rises across Europe, Germany and the ECB are watching Italy with interest
Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, says its official position is that recent price increases are transitory. But if inflation does take off, the ECB will be in a nightmare scenario
Vincent Boland: Europe’s most unloved sector beginning to attract advances
The competition-heavy, investment-light approach to the once heavyweight sector has led it to near-extinction. Is the interest of US private equity firm KKR likely to bring one such casualty, Telecom Italia, back from the brink?


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Win 8 was Microsoft's way of modernizing PCs amid the rise of smartphones and tablets. But it came across as trying to shove a square peg into a round hole. With Windows 10, everyone gets along.
Tech giant Google today announced an update to its Google Translate app that expands its instant visual translation capabilities by 20 additional languages, for a grand total of 27.
Windows 10 comes out on Wednesday, but it might take a couple of years before the OS gains acceptance among big businesses, experts say. Two issues will hold back upgrades for a bit.
As Apple has hopped from a global afterthought to the world's fifth-largest computer maker, Microsoft's Windows OS has endured on its status as a must-have work tool, not something a user could love.
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Luxury Italian fashion house Valentino is being sold to an unidentified sovereign wealth fund for USD738 million (approx. 7.5 billion AED)
The sale comes five years after Valentino was bought by London-based private equity firm, Permira, at the height of the credit bubble together with Hugo Boss, in a holding company called Red & Black.
The fashion house had a tumultuous five years but has once again become widely praised in fashion circles, winning acclaim for shows at Paris Haute Couture Weekand its ready-to-wear collections. It is a staple of the Oscars and is worn by stars Florence Welch, Alexa Chung and Keira Knightley.
The current deal, which will separate the Valentino brand from Hugo Boss, will see the design house sold to one of Permira's investors. The sovereign wealth fund has not been identified.
The company is thought to trade on a multiple similar to that of other luxury goods houses, which can sometimes be valued as high as 30 times earnings.
However, Valentino has not always been so easy to manage for the London-based buy-out group. Bought in 2007, the investment soon faced problems, from the aftermath of its founder Valentino Garavani's departure to the sustainability of the billions of debt attached to the deal.
The chief executive, Stefano Sassi, brought in designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, who together have rekindled a Valentino renaissance. Mr Sassi has also been working on pushing the brand into Asia.
Good luck Valentino ;)


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MIDAS SHARE TIPS: It's a hit! Grab a slice of US sports stars' huge salaries with TLA Worldwide
Major League baseball is big business. The most popular sport in America, it is extremely lucrative, making more than £18billion over the past four years, dwarfing the Premier League, whose revenues were around £8billion over the same period.
Sports agency and baseball specialist TLA Worldwide is ideally placed to benefit from the Major League’s appeal and the shares, at 37p, are worth a closer look.
The company is listed on AIM but its business is almost entirely in America, where it is one of the largest sports agencies. It makes most of its money by negotiating contracts for players and taking a cut.
Smash: On the baseball pitch, TLA represents top players such as Carl Crawford and Jose Reyes (pictured)
Baseball players’ salaries rose 8 to 10 per cent this year to an average of $3.95million (£2.3million), though top players make considerably more.
About 70 per cent of TLA’s revenues come from baseball, but it is involved in other sports too, such as golf, American football and athletics. Clients include champion golfer Jim Furyk, American football star Reggie Bush and even new fitness guru Jen Selter, who signed up with TLA in January.
On the baseball pitch, TLA represents top players such as Carl Crawford and Jose Reyes. The group was formed in 2011 from the combination of two businesses – an on-field division, which looks after athletes’ contracts, and an off-field one, which covers the other ways that sports stars can make money, such as sponsorship and TV commentary.
TLA was founded by New Zealander Bart Campbell and New Yorker Mike Principe. Campbell previously set up AIM-listed sports marketing firm Essentially, which was sold to public relations group Chime Communications in 2009.
Principe ran one of America’s fastest-growing sports companies, Blue Entertainment Sports Television, before it was sold to French media giant Lagardere. Results on Tuesday should show group sales up 32 per cent to $19.9million, while profits are expected to surge 39 per cent to $7.1million for 2013.
Impressively for a small AIM-listed firm, TLA pays a dividend, set to rise 31 per cent to 0.7p. The company began paying dividends last year, but future payments are likely to be reasonably generous, particularly as TLA should deliver strong growth over the next few years.
There are 30 teams in the Major League, which last year negotiated an eight-year TV contract worth more than $12billion, double the previous agreement. The deal is likely to mean more money for players and hence TLA.
Baseball contracts also tend to last for five to seven years and TLA has some of the highest earners in the sport on long-term deals worth more than $100million. Commissions are about 4 to 5 per cent and last for the duration of a contract, so the business has plenty of recurring revenues.
Fortunately for TLA, the baseball agency business has high barriers to entry. It is tightly controlled, so all agents have to be vetted initially and at regular intervals thereafter. Also the process of becoming a baseball player can take years and athletes earn little in the early days.
The most successful agents are those who find and sign players early, nurturing them until they are able to earn serious money. This takes time and financial clout.
As TLA has serious earners on its books it can afford to scout for talent and has a strong pipeline of junior players who will contribute to growth over the next decade.
The group is expanding its presence in other sports and in marketing, where there is huge potential for growth. Encouragingly for potential investors, serial entrepreneur Nigel Wray is a 10 per cent shareholder.
Midas verdict: TLA is in a fast-growing industry and Campbell and Principe are determined to deliver value for shareholders. Buy.
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Fallout Shelter will be released on PC this week, along with game update 1.6 - the biggest update so far.
Specific timing is harder to pinpoint; yesterday the Fallout Twitter account tweeted that there were five days to go. But we don't know whether that counts yesterday or how it translates into European time zones. Whatever, we're looking at a release in the second half of the week, possibly as early as Wednesday.
Update 1.6 introduces a new combat system and lets you send dwellers out on quests, and also adds new locations, enemies, and characters for your vault. What new things the PC version will bring to the table, even whether the same free-to-play micro-transaction business model will be used, we don't really know yet.
Fallout Shelter, a base-building mobile game, was released amid an explosion of Fallout 4 hype at E3 2015, and was massive, topping charts and making piles of cash. It's bound to be a big event on PC.
Gameplay is like This War of Mine or the base-building bits in XCOM: you expand your vault by cleverly juggling resources, in this case energy, food and water. Christian Donlan spent a few hours with Fallout Shelter last summer and found it engrossing but a bit hollow.
Playing Fallout Shelter? Check out our Fallout Shelter guide to get bottle caps and resources easily, increase dweller happiness and much more.


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Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev held a working meeting with the Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forest Policies of the Italian Republic, Teresa Bellanova. The parties discussed the main areas of cooperation in agriculture and trade development.
In 2019, the trade exchange in agricultural products and food between the two countries amounted to $ 1.2 billion.
The Head of the Russian AgMinistry expressed interest in further increasing export deliveries to Italy, including grain crops, sunflower oil and dried legumes.
“Agriculture is one of the directly invested sectors of the Italian economy. We are ready to assist Italian companies on the territory of the Russian Federation, to strengthen and keep up a constructive dialogue, which will also contribute to the growth of exports of the Russian products,” said Dmitry Patrushev.
Patrushev also noted the successful implementation of investment projects by Italian companies in Russia.
According to him, the opening of joint ventures confirms that economic cooperation between the two countries is developing.
Moreover, the cooperation between Russia and Italy can develop successfully in other areas of agricultural sector, for example, the exchange of experience and technologies in viticulture, winemaking and organic agriculture, because Italy has a leading position in terms of organics.
At the meeting the parties reached an agreement to discuss promising areas of bilateral cooperation within the framework of the upcoming meeting of the Russian-Italian Joint Working Group on Agriculture.
Dmitry Patrushev invited Teresa Bellanova to visit the Golden Autumn exhibition.
It will be held in Moscow in October 2020, as well as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Eastern Economic Forum.


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The move comes amid a spate of recent recalls for drop-side cribs, including one today for Pottery Barn Kids cribs. The government says at least 32 deaths since 2000 have been attributed to drop-side cribs, whose rails can detach from the crib if the hardware fails or if the crib is mis-assembled. Since 2005, the CPSC has recalled over 9 million drop-side cribs.
Major retailers have already stopped selling drop-side cribs and most major crib makers stopped manufacturing them in the past year. However, millions of these cribs are still being sold in second-stores and on Craigslist.
No word yet if the CPSC plans to recall cribs from defunct crib companies (we discussed this issue earlier on our blog).


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- Beverage company Mighty Craft’s (MCL) low calorie beer, Better Beer, launch has exceeded expectations and expands its range before Christmas
- The Better Beer Zero Carb bottles were sold out in one week of the launch and due to this overwhelming response the company will release a keg version just before Christmas
- Mighty Craft estimates around three million litres of Better Beer will be sold in FY22, which would have the business on track to be one of the biggest mainstream beer launches of the year
- The company has confirmed a restock of the beer will happen this weekend (December 11), with around 600,000 litres ordered pre-Christmas
- On market close for the day, Might Craft is up 4.76 per cent and trading at 33 cents
Beverage company Mighty Craft (MCL) has exceeded expectations for its Better Beer launch and expands its national ranging.
Better Beer is an exclusive retail partnership between Endeavour Drinks Group, Mighty Craft and Torquay Beverage company.
The Better Beer range is a zero carb, zero sugar and 87-calorie alcoholic beer, created by the Inspired Unemployed. The range can be found in all Dan Murphy’s’ and BWS stores.
In November, the Better Beer Zero Carb bottles were launched and, due to the overwhelming demand, the company will release keg versions of its beer.
The kegs are planned to be launched this month, just in time for Christmas and the New Year period.
Mighty Craft is estimating around three million litres of Better Beer will be sold in FY22, which would have the business on track to be one of the biggest mainstream beer launches of the year.
Commenting on the announcement is Endeavour Group Beer Category Manager Harriet Wischer.
“As the exclusive national retailer for Better Beer, we certainly suspected that the launch was going to be huge in Australia, but it has been bigger than anyone could have expected,” she said.
“Better Beer is our most successful new brand beer launch this year.”
Notably, the initial volume of stock to support the launch sold out within the first week of the release. Mighty Craft confirmed that stock is back in stores from the weekend of December 11, with around 600,000 litres ordered pre-Christmas.
Mighty Craft Managing Director Mark Haysman is excited about the future of Better Beer.
“Mainstream beer is a huge category in Australia and Better Beer has clearly struck a chord with a wide spectrum of enthusiastic beer consumers. The Inspired Unemployed boys have a huge following across Australia with over 2.5 million followers across their platforms and importantly it is one of the most engaged platforms in the country,” he said.
“This unique partnership is definitely disrupting this category and offering a popular new
alternative that has very quickly gained sales momentum.”
On market close for the day, Might Craft was up 4.76 per cent and is trading at 33 cents per share.


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Luxhabitat Sotheby's has now sold a Jumeirah Bay Island plot for nearly double its original price at AED 61 million.
Words by Aneesha Rai in Company News · Aug 19th, 2021
It seems that nothing can slow the fast-paced growth of the Dubai luxury property market. Having consistently remained a relatively stable GDP performer, 2021 has seen a huge jump in enquiries and sales from international buyers and investors. Following the sale of the most expensive property in Dubai this year to date in Jumeirah Bay at AED 121 million, Luxhabitat Sotheby’s International Realty has now sold a Jumeirah Bay Island plot for nearly double its original price at AED 61 million.
Building A Home To Remember
The waterfront plot LV11 is one of only a few left remaining on Jumeirah Bay Island. Originally purchased for AED34 million, the recent sale completed by Luxhabitat Sotheby’s International Realty saw its value rise to AED 61 million in under six months, making it the most expensive plot ever sold of its type. Bought by a prestigious Russian buyer, this stunning corner plot not only offer the chance to create your own personalised mansion villa, but it also comes with breath-taking views and its rarity makes it a highly sought-after commodity; only further increasing its value and selling price. The unnamed buyer will now be able to construct a magnificent home to their exact specifications, all on one of the world’s most enviable island locations.
The Island Of Dreams
Jumeirah Bay Island is an exclusive new community nestled off the coast between the iconic Downtown Dubai area and the famous World Islands. Already one of the most coveted addresses in the city, the island is sculpted in the shape of a titanic seahorse and boasts some of the most breath-taking views imaginable. This year QoQ, the area had already received an uptick of 26.9% at AED 689 million, as per data from the Dubai Land Department. It is also the site for the illustrious Bvlgari Resort & Residences, a truly unique haven of luxury. Immense local and international interest in this renowned brand has seen its occupancy soar in recent months, thereby substantially increasing the demand across the whole island complex. Given the limited space available, these rare units are now top of the list for luxury property buyers looking for a bespoke home surrounded by extravagance in a secluded and private environment.
The Rising Wave
According to Luxhabitat Sotheby’s International Realty’s CEO George Azar, this type of exclusive deal is part of a continuing trend in the Dubai luxury property market. Currently responsible for over 70% of the luxury property sales in Dubai, Luxhabitat have been at the forefront of the market’s explosion in 2021. As Azar explains, “Ultra-high net worth individuals from all over the world are looking for the perfect place to build their dream home. With its unique range of extraordinary properties and zero tax economic benefits, Dubai is the obvious choice. We are seeing more and more enquiries from buyers in the US, Europe and Asia who recognise the stability, innovation and prosperity of the UAE.”
Given their recent record for the most expensive property sold in 2021 so far, a Marsa Al Arab Villa at AED 121 million on Jumeirah Bay Island, Luxhabitat Sotheby’s is evidence of a booming period in the Dubai property market and exciting economic growth for the city as we move into 2022.


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While so far various international and domestic companies have announced, grudginly, they would expand production in the US, and hire US workers, after being called out by president-elect Trump on his favorite "bully pulpit", Twitter, on Friday the push for insourcing took on an unsolicited twist, when Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry, also known as iPhone maker FoxConn, and one of the largest employers in the world, and its Japanese subsidiary Sharp, have begun studying the possibility of building an LCD panel plant in the U.S., a Sharp executive said Friday cited by Nikkei.
The Taiwanese electronics contract manufacturer, and its Japanese alliance partner SoftBank Group reportedly told Donald Trump they would jointly make significant investments creating new jobs in the U.S. when SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son met the President-elect in New York last month according to the Japanese paper.
The joint investment plan was proposed by Son, the Sharp executive said, and was put 'on the table' in response to Trump's 'Make in America' call.
While it was reported before that Foxconn may consider making iPhones in the US, that speculation was at a very preliminary stage, with nothing definitive confirmed. It also took place prior to the diplomatic fiasco following Trump's statement that the "one China" policy is negotiable.
Whether this is "gratitude" by Foxconn exces to Trump for siding with the small island is unknown. Officially, with Trump urging American manufacturers to bring operations back to the U.S., Hon Hai is considering production in the U.S. due to its huge market for TVs and other home appliances.
In late December, an LCD panel maker jointly owned by Hon Hai and Sharp announced it would build one of the world's largest panel plants for LCD TVs in Guangzhou, China. The plant is to be jointly built with the local government at a cost of around 1 trillion yen ($8.69 billion) and is scheduled for completion in autumn 2018.
Details of the possible new U.S. plant, including the amount of investment and the date for the launch of operations, have yet to be decided. But people familiar with the plan said approximately the same amount may be spent on the U.S. project as it would entail the construction of a similar facility to to the one in Guangzhou.
Foxconn and Apple both have manufacturing facilities on a very small scale in the U.S., but the newly discussed facility by Foxconn and Sharp would be notably larger. Currently, Foxconn has plants in Virginia and Indiana, along with logistic locations in California and Texas.
As reported previously, Hon Hai, a major producer for Apple, is also considering producing iPhones in the U.S. As an incentive, Donald Trump in November told Tim Cook that he would offer the company a "very large tax cut" to make its products in the U.S. Cook was said to have remained largely neutral on the subject during his call with Trump, later pointing out that one of the major reasons Apple's manufacturing is so heavily centered in China is due to the country's large number of individuals with the required "vocational kind of skills."


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Net ad groups sue over 'click fraud'
GOOGLE, Yahoo and nine other search-engine companies are being sued in the US for so-called click fraud, a scam that involves increasing the claimed number of clicks on adverts to drive up the amount paid for them.
Billions of dollars are spent each year on search-generated advertising. Repeatedly clicking on adverts, or using software to automate the clicking, can escalate costs for rival businesses.
As many as 58% of advertisers are worried about click fraud, according to Kevin Lee, chairman of Sempo, an organisation working to increase awareness of search engine marketing.
The suit, filed in Arkansas, alleges that the search companies improperly charged the plaintiffs, a group of online retailers, for fraudulent clicks.
Google is well aware of the problem. 'I think something has to be done about this really, really quickly, because I think, potentially, it threatens our business model,' chief financial officer George Reyes told an investor conference sponsored by Credit Suisse First Boston.
The search companies claim they can detect fraud and constantly pay back overcharges, but have revealed few details.


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They’re back! And we’re happy to say the Manufacturer’s Annual RV Show pulled into the Alameda County Fairground on the weekend on Jan. 11 and runs through Monday, Jan. 20. More than two dozen dealers representing nearly 50 different brands will be available to demonstrate and generally show-off their new lines.
This is the 32nd year for this big show, and we are excited to see how it’s grown over the years.
After a day of walking and talking (and gawking) about the way you might travel on your next vacation, you’re going to want to defuse. If you’re staying with us, we’re ready at The Rose Hotel.
The fire in the fireplace will be lit, there will be comforting libations available just off our lobby, and your room will be warm and welcoming.
And, by the way, even if you’re not staying with us, stop in and say hello! While it is undeniably true that our guests have options on cookie jars and other treats strategically located throughout the hotel, we also have treats throughout our lobby areas.
You don’t need to be a registered guest to discover our small, warm and inviting bar area. Stop by and enjoy a sample of local wine – or perhaps a re-imagined classic cocktail made just for you.
More things to do in Tri-Valley
Besides the big and exciting RV show, lots more is happening this month in Pleasanton. Here are just a few of the events you might want to check out (and check in to stay!):
- The LumiNight Lantern Festival continues at the Alameda County Fairgrounds through Feb. 2, extending through Chinese New Year. It is one of the largest light shows in the Bay Area, and just a short 5 minutes driving distance from the hotel.
- Happy Year of the Rat! On Jan. 25, the “official” Chinese New Year celebration begins in Pleasanton at Pans on Fire.
- Tri-Valley Women’s March on Saturday, Jan. 18 celebrates 100 years of the 19th Amendment and 55 years of the Voting Rights Act. Find more info at Tri-Valley Women’s Action Group on Facebook.
- On Jan.24, the Shrine Center in Livermore hosts the Tri-Valley Crab Feast, with (literally – well, almost!) a ton of crabs for feasting, dancing, an auction – and great fun at a benefit for the entire Tri-Valley region.
There’s lots more going on this month in Pleasanton. Check out news from the Pleasanton Downtown Association.


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- DMCC made a collaboration with CV VC and CV Labs to release Crypto Valley.
- This is the first, however not the final license in the nation.
Recently, the official opening of Crypto Valley in Dubai passed off and work began, the Swiss company TRES Group, the developer of SIMBA Storage enhances a crypto property purchasing and selling license for making over-the-counter transactions with digital assets so as to create the crypto business within the UAE. Notably, this is the first, however not the last license in the nation.
DMCC Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Bin Sulayem said,
“The DMCC Crypto Centre, operated in partnership with CV Labs, achieves precisely that – a complete ecosystem that absolutely helps every type and sizes of companies working within the crypto sector.”
Moreover, the two of their main goals for the Crypto Centre is to make creativity within the blockchain and crypto area. However, with a spread of business leaders on the Crypto Centre, progressive rules set out by the Dubai authorities, and the pre-existing framework set by DMCC. He added that they thought Dubai will be the place that all crypto agencies appear to like for progress alternatives.
Crypto Property Buying and Selling Licenses
Previously, the crypto property buying and selling license within the UAE was unlawful and inaccessible, which imposed various restrictions on massive banking and institutional buildings which are prepared to perform actions with cryptocurrency within the nation.
Crypto property buying and selling licenses is a huge step within the growth and formation of the blockchain innovation. More so, it also opens up a massive alternative to institutional traders and banking buildings with the crypto ecosystem that had been beforehand and not accessible for them. Even more, this will provoke a surge inside the whole crypto market capitalization.
James Bernard, Director Sales/Business Development & Head of Corp Sales at DMCC also highlighted the benefits of the DMCC Centre ecosystem. Moreover, it provides the perfect destination for any business focused on any number of areas over this growing innovative tech sector.
TRES specialists highlight the prospects for the event of the crypto business within the Arab international locations, along with ones started from the worldwide pointers change especially when it comes to know-how.
SIMBA CEO Anton Katin attracts analogies, mentioning the widespread transition to electrical automobiles, photovoltaic vitality and the will of many international locations to move away from the same old patterns of consumption, import and export of non-renewable funds.
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Christmas is here and we’re delighted to announce the winner of our festive lights competition.
Margo and Jim Hardie of George Street in Armadale have been chosen thanks to their home made plywood Christmas decorations which they said they created to cheer up children on their way to school.
And taking pride of place is their old Christmas tree that they bought the first Christmas they were married, in 1973, from Emma Paterson Florist Bathgate.
The couple have won a £50 gift card courtesy of The Centre Livingston.
We teamed up with The Centre to spread some cheer with our competition to find the best festive lights.
We asked readers to send in pictures of their decorated houses so we can celebrate the most colourful and brightest homes - and we weren’t disappointed.
Margo said she and her husband are delighted to be named winners.
She said: “We decided to make an extra effort this year as it’s been challenging in so many ways for everyone.
“We have visited New York a few times and loved our visits to Dyker Heights where the homes are like the Griswalds’ home on steroids.
“Initially I just wanted two nutcracker soldiers for the porch pillars, but once we started we kept going. We had plywood and paint left over from Armadale Gala Day projects.
“Jim cut out the ply and we both got cracking with the paint and varnish.
“Our house is on a busy school route and after seeing them enjoy our Halloween decor we thought it would have a good idea to do Christmas too.
“We are so happy to see the excited smiles and laughter from the kids - and adults - it’s made the days spent in the garage so worthwhile and the icing on the Christmas cake was to win the Christmas lights prize.
“We will use the voucher to buy a Swarovski snowflake decoration for our tree.”


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NDOT to redo Smith's intersection next year
The Nevada Department of Transportation will begin seeking bids next month on a project to redesign the entrance to the Smith's Food and Drug shopping center in Dayton.
NDOT project coordinator Steve Bird said construction probably would start in April and be completed within three weeks.
The project will include the installation of an island intersection at the center entrance to Smith's that will prevent left turns from that intersection onto eastbound U.S. 50. Instead, traffic turning left out of the shopping center will use either Retail Road at the east end of the shopping center or at Pine Cone Road on the west end.
"Overall, while it doesn't solve all the problems, it does help reduce them," Lyon County Public Works director Mike Workman said.
In addition, Workman said NDOT has been working with the Hone Group, owners of part of the shopping center, to redirect traffic inside the shopping center.
"If you've ever been at Smith's when it's busy, the internal traffic inside that shopping center is chaotic," Workman said.
Workman said he is supportive of the project and has worked with NDOT representatives for the past year to ease the congestion in front of the shopping center.
At a public meeting last spring at Sutro Elementary School, several Dayton residents complained it is unsafe to turn left out of the shopping center because of the speed of traffic on U.S. 50 and the difficult sightlines created by the shopping center's location between two curves.


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If things are going the way they sound like they could be going, Jay-Z is about to net another enormous payday – conceivably the biggest of the hip-hop mogul/entrepreneur’s career.
Sources indicate that Apple is in serious talks with H.O.V.A. about a potential acquisition of the music streaming service he founded, Tidal.
In February, Samsung was also engaged in talks to acquire the music streaming service, but talks fell through and no deal was ever struck. At the time, some industry execs quoted Tidal’s value to be around $100 million, down from $250 million when it first launched.
However, given the recent success of both Kanye West’s The Life Of Pablo album release and music video debut of ‘Famous’ via Tidal, investors are seeing much value in the exclusivity of the user experience. Some believe that $250 million valuation may again be valid, if not exceeded should an acquisition take place.
The Wall Street Journal offered up some more information bout the ongoing business talks:
The talks are ongoing and may not result in a deal, these people said. Apple is exploring the idea of bringing on Tidal to bolster its Apple Music service because of Tidal’s strong ties to popular artists such as Kanye West and Madonna.
Terms of the potential deal aren’t known.
[Jay-Z] has given 19 famous artists and bands small stakes in Tidal and promised each millions of dollars worth of marketing, according to people familiar with the matter.
A Tidal spokesman said Tidal executives had not held talks with Apple.
Deny, deny, deny! First rule of business, nothing’s final til the ink is dry.
All things considered, this wouldn’t be a bad payday for Jay-Z & co. at all, considering his investment in Tidal was only $56 million when he purchased the company in March of 2015.


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Apple on Tuesday announced financial results for its fiscal 2019 third quarter ended June 29, 2019. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $53.8 billion, an increase of 1% from the year-ago quarter, quarterly earnings per diluted share were $2.18, down 7%.
While the revenue figure was Apple’s highest ever for the June quarter – just beating out the same quarter a year ago – profits were down on lower margins.
Gross margin for the quarter was 37.6% compared to 38.3% in the year-ago quarter, with international sales accounting for 59% of revenue.
“This was our biggest June quarter ever — driven by all-time record revenue from Services, accelerating growth from Wearables, strong performance from iPad and Mac and significant improvement in iPhone trends,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “These results are promising across all our geographic segments, and we’re confident about what’s ahead. The balance of calendar 2019 will be an exciting period, with major launches on all of our platforms, new services and several new products.”
Apple is providing the following guidance for its fiscal 2019 fourth quarter:
- Revenue between $61 billion and $64 billion
- Gross margin between 37.5 percent and 38.5 percent
- Operating expenses between $8.7 billion and $8.8 billion
- Other income/(expense) of $200 million
- Tax rate of approximately 16.5 percent
Apple’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend payment of $0.77 per share, payable on August 15 to shareholders of record as of August 12.
Apple will provide live streaming of its Q3 2019 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PDT (5:00 p.m. EDT) on July 30, 2019 at www.apple.com/investor/earnings-call/.


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As cannabis legalization continues, the agricultural needs of cannabis are becoming more apparent.
A new report from the data firm New Frontier studies the long-term implications of energy consumption due to the cultivation of cannabis.
“Marijuana is the most energy-intensive agricultural commodity that we produce, and that’s largely because of the very high energy costs associated with its cultivation and production indoors,”
said John Kagia, director of industry analytics for New Frontier, to the Washington Post.
“We wanted to focus on this issue of energy use in the marijuana industry because we think it is one that is going to have very significant long-term implications.”
The new report suggests that the marijuana industry consumed one percent of the nation’s electricity.
Growing marijuana on an industrial scale requires massive amounts of electricity to control light, heat, humidity and HVAC conditions in indoor growing operations. While there are climates in the United States that can support marijuana growth, local and state laws often restrict outdoor growing operations. “There are some environments, by regulation or because of the environmental conditions, you would not be able to,” said Kaiga. While outdoor conditions might seem ideal, pest control becomes a significant issue, and has already caused product recalls due to the presence of pesticides.
To conserve energy, experts have been recommending legislation and incentives for growers to use clean energy, like solar energy and LED lighting.
“To date, they have still not been able to surpass the cost performance threshold offered by existing lights, but we are getting there, and we think this innovation that is happening around the lighting sector is one of the ways that this industry will be able to decouple itself from this extremely high energy use,”
In the meantime, Colorado and other states are taxing growers for excessive energy use. Even with the added costs, growers are still able to make a profit. However, that could change as more states legalize marijuana. “Currently, energy accounts for approximately half of the wholesale prices of marijuana, and as those prices fall, the share of energy and the total production cost will continue to increase,” said Kaiga. If falling prices are not an incentive for growers to change their methods, marketing cannabis products made with clean energy could entice consumers who are environmentally conscious, as it has in other industries.


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South Parade Pier has distanced itself from the recent reopening of the Ice Cream Emporium on its landward end, after residents criticised the move for breaking guidelines.
The Southsea cafe reopened its doors on 24 April, and though the pier itself is still closed, locals have questioned the prudence of the return to business.
“The Owners of South Parade Pier would like it made clear that they are not responsible for the decision that has been made regarding the reopening of the ice cream shop on the front of the pier,” stated the pier via social media.
“The shop operates independently and as far as we are aware is following all government guidelines and will continue to do so. South Parade Pier will remain closed until further notice.”
Despite the critical comments, the kiosk’s owner Trevor Bratty stated the emporium is “adhering to Government guidelines.”
“We deliberately did not advertise our reopening to avoid unnecessary travel.”


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For those of you into Whrrl and who have an Android powered smartphone or tablet device, might be excited to know there is now a Whrrl Android app. Whrrl bring the popular location aware social network straight to your Android mobile device and is available for free in the Android marketplace. Here’s what the Whrrl developers had to say about the new Android app today:
We’ve been hearing from our community for months about how bad they’ve wanted an Android app; we’ve been hard at work creating it, and the day has finally arrived! This launch represents a major step toward our mission of ending “social rut” by opening up Whrrl to a wider set of users.
Here’s a video of the Whrrl Android app:
You can get Whrrl by visiting the Android marketplace from your device.


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JCDecaux Africa is proud to be the Loeries branding partner and sponsor of the 2017 Outdoor and Out of Home category.
See some of the work they have done this year:
JCDecaux Africa is proud to be the Loeries branding partner and sponsor of the 2017 Outdoor and Out of Home category.
See some of the work they have done this year:
Outdoor Advertising and Media Company, Marketing Kraal is assisting Nkukhu-Box CHICKEN to create awareness about the new Grilled Chicken brand in the townships.
Utilising their cost-effective wall murals advertising media platform, the advertising campaign intends to create brand awareness and market share growth.
Nkukhu-Box is a home of grilled chicken embracing Kasi “township” flavours and lifestyle. The first Nkukhu-Box store was launched in Mamelodi West in July 2016 according to CEO Itumeleng Mpatlanyana. The store concept is made from specially designed shipping containers, making it cost-effective and movable in around township spaces. There are currently stores in Mamelodi,Shoshanguve,Atteridgeville and Jouberton Klerksdorp.
We are honoured to be working with Nkukhu-Box on this exciting marketing campaign, says Lebona Moleli, Founder and CEO of The Marketing Kraal. We are not only in the business of advertising and marketing but we also support entrepreneurship in line with our core values of innovation and wealth creation, concludes Lebona.
By Brent Lindeque
The taxis will travel on conventional routes in the cities of Tshwane, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein and also in the rural areas of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Certain of the taxis will also be highly visible in the creative hubs of the metropolitan areas.
“Because one of the aims of the SA Taxi Foundation Art Award is to provide opportunities for emerging artists to expand public awareness of their work, we felt that it was important for the finalists’ pieces to be constantly on view in areas, such as Maboneng and the Market precinct, where people are pro-actively looking for fresh, innovative products,” says SA Taxi Foundation project co-ordinator, Queeneth Brown.
“At the same time, the taxis running on conventional routes will promote the finalists’ work to people who would not otherwise have the time or funds to go to a creative hub or to an art gallery. As they do every year, these taxis will do a crucial job in terms of giving the broader public access to art of a globally high standard.”
Having finalists’ work circulate the country on minibus taxis is an essential part of the role the SA Taxi Foundation Art Award plays in deepening South Africa’s pool of multi-disciplinary creative professionals.
It is the only award that requires artists to create an original work and then translate it into a decal that can be wrapped around a minibus taxi – as a form of mobile art. Mobile art is a growing trend around the world.
In addition, artists and designers must work to an external brief and a deadline as they would in the corporate sector. For artists, this exposes them to a different process from the one used in creating an artwork, where the parameters and creative expression are self rather than client defined. From the perspective of designers, the competition allows for freer expression than they usually experience in their professional lives.
Entrants also work in more than one medium in order to deliver a product that works as well in 3D format, on the taxi, as it does in its original medium.
Every year, therefore, the Award engenders among progressively more artists and designers multi-disciplinary creative capabilities that are also professional.
“These skills are essential if South African creatives are to benefit from a global art market industry that, according to the 2016 Art Market Report issued by the world’s pre-eminent art and antique fair, TEFAF, achieved total sales of $63.8 billion in 2015,” Brown says. “Consistently participating in even a small section of such a market would contribute significantly to our economy overall and it would put our own art sector on a nicely sustainable footing.”
The minibus taxi sector also benefits directly from its involvement in the Award, with the vehicles that carry the decals drawing more commuters, thereby improving profitability and helping to brand the operators’ businesses.
Freddy Matotoka, the operator of a vehicle that has carried finalist decals since the Award was launched in 2014, says that having an artwork on his vehicle illustrates his values as an operator: being concerned for the safety and comfort of his passengers.
“Also, you can’t see all four sides of the taxi at once and there’s a different picture on each side. This gives commuters the sense that they are seeing a new taxi each time they approach it from a different angle. It causes a lot of discussion among commuters. They will actually hurry to get on it so that they don’t have to ride in a boring taxi.”
“I’ve noticed, too, that, passengers enjoy being looked at by other people when they are riding in my taxi. Everyone likes to be part of something special.”
Each of the six decals will be carried by 10 minibus taxis for the next six months. The specialised work of producing the decals and mounting them on the taxis is undertaken by Taxi Media, a division of SA Taxi geared to helping taxi operators generate more income by carrying advertising inside and on the outside of their vehicles.
Members of the public are encouraged to upload their photos of the art taxis on their social media platforms using #spotthesataxi as a hash tag.
In this guest piece, Posterscope business executive Theodore Buscemi (pictured above) explains why marketers shouldn’t look past the out-of-home media channel to control how their brand appears in market.
The ad industry never fails to breed controversy. Like a hot summer sun and dry dead grass, it is just a spark away from a full-blown firestorm.
Digital is stealing all the attention these days – everything from fat-fingers and ad fraud to flawed metrics and evil algorithms. Not to mention the proliferation of fake news, which has garnered widespread attention since the 2016 US presidential election cycle.
Meanwhile, giants like Facebook and Google suffered as a result of the recent online video debacles. These issues went beyond financial implications of misspent marketing dollars – brand image itself was the real victim. And when a brand entrusts Google with a portion of its marketing spend, it is Google’s responsibility to protect the brand image of the client.
Why is it so important for brands to consider where and how they are represented in market?
As Scott Goodson, author of UpRising and founder of global cultural movement firm StrawberryFrog, puts it: “Products have life cycles; brands outlive products”.
Brand is power. It represents a company; its products, services, and the value code it operates by. Brand is trust. It is reputation. It has its own intrinsic value. Brands take years to build and can be crippled overnight.
Pepsi’s recent campaign fail illustrates this well. By numbers alone, the campaign did great. It received global attention with plenty of video views, comments and social amplification. This, of course, is not the full story. Widespread backlash damaged the brand and alienated the very audience the campaign aimed to engage.
Once a campaign is released into the wild, it is anyone’s guess how the public will respond. McDonald’s also saw this firsthand after pulling an ad using a child’s grief for his dead father to tell a brand story.
So, how do clients exert some control over how their brand is viewed in market? Well this is where the power of out-of-home media comes into play.
Attribution and ROI measurement is increasingly more important to clients, and digital channels provide strong metrics in this area. However, it is crucial that clients don’t just look at media channels through this lens – particularly out-of-home.
Out-of-home traditionally hasn’t been used in this way, though there are new tools and technologies being developed to illustrate the medium’s role in the conversion process.
One of out-of-home’s greatest strengths is its role in creating impact and awareness. Don’t just think about static billboards here – think about the new, dynamic, digital out-of-home technologies helping brands tell more engaging stories.
Out-of-home media also has the ultimate trump card up its sleeve: it can’t be switched off. Unlike other media, consumers can’t avoid out-of-home. There are no out-of-home ad blockers.
As such, out-of-home gives the client maximum control over where and how ads are displayed. The promise of control in digital media has proven difficult across content-rich platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Out-of-home doesn’t face these complexities.
What this means for clients is greater power to align brands with an audience or environment that enhances its image. Premium clients can target affluent audiences in c-suite office towers, and brands rooted in family values can play in retail and entertainment spaces where the risk of appearing alongside offensive content is almost zero.
Sales are crucial, conversion is key, but brand is power and needs protecting. So, take back that power and use out-of-home to control how your brand appears in market.
Golf Ads™ is proud to announce the launch of a brand new promotional segment on Golf TV™ – the Golf Equipment Segment. The segment is specifically designed to showcase golfing equipment, which is extremely relevant to the golfing audience.
The Equipment Segment is a new feature on the digital television network, which flights in golf club houses nationwide. The new feature offers product news space to golf equipment brands that want to showcase product to an audience that is relevant, discerning and, because of the environment, captive.
Golf TV™ has become synonymous with content that is niche, informative, entertaining and completely relevant to the golfing community. The channel airs to an audience of 500 000 viewers every month, providing excellent exposure and assimilation for brands advertising on it. It is for this reason in particular that the new equipment segment will appeal to brands that want to showcase their range of products exclusively and directly to this target audience.
Golf Ads’™ Golf Equipment Segment includes advertising space where brands are not limited to a single product, but may use the platform to showcase various items related to golf including golf clubs, golf balls, clothing and other related elements.
Golf TV™’s Golf Equipment Segment is the ideal space to showcase your brand to an audience that is characteristically attentive to golfing merchandise. For more information on how your brand can benefit from exposure on the golf course, contact Peter KohlÖffel on 0861 776 826 or [email protected] or go to www.provantage.co.za/golf-ads
Air travel is booming. The number of trips taken by plane somewhere in the world could increase to around 13 billion by 2030 and demand for air travel has doubled every 15 years this century, according to Global Construction Review magazine. The global industry is expected to grow by an average of 4.7% a year, which means a huge increase in passenger numbers. All this suggests that airports are changing in a way that works in the marketer’s favour – who wouldn’t want to reach a burgeoning market of largely affluent business and leisure travellers, some of whom are the SADC region’s key decision-makers?
In addition, not everyone visiting an airport is a passenger. Airports are now destination brands in their own right, with food and retail outlets bolstering their non-flying revenues, and for every passenger in transit a further 2.5 people accompany them to airports.
Although Africa’s aviation market accounts for only 3% of global passenger traffic, this still equates to millions of passengers every year. South Africa’s OR Tambo International takes the prize for most passengers –20 million passengers a year – while Cairo International Airport in Egypt has the second-highest number of passengers and services over 65 international airlines. Other countries in the African top 10 include Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya.
The latest figures from Airports Company South Africa indicate that there has been a year-on-year increase in the number of passenger numbers, with the exception of the 2013/14 fiscal year. According to 2016/17 figures, 39 877 142 passengers passed through ACSA’s airports, up from 38 643 284 in 2015/16.
South Africa’s busiest airport, O. R. Tambo, exceeded 20 million passengers in the 2015/16 period and is expected to improve upon that figure for the 2016/2017 period; meanwhile, Cape Town International Airport is to be commended on exceeding one million passengers for the first time in a single month in December last year. The airport clocked up an impressive 10 211 390 passengers from June 2016 to May 2017.
What this will mean for airports is an ever-increasing investment in infrastructure – many airports are expanding to accommodate a growing number of travellers. Lanseria is in the process of building a multi-storey parking facility – part of its proposed upgrade, which includes a renovated passenger terminal and improved road access to the airport itself. Cape Town International Airport is expected to upgrade its runway and taxiways to the tune of approximately R3.18bn and O. R. Tambo International Airport is set to construct ‘remote apron stands’ that will house larger aircraft and provide space for passengers who need to be bussed from the aircraft.
As already world-class airports expand to accommodate more passengers, so an increasing number of upper-LSM consumers will pass through their doors – many of whom stay for a number of hours (airports are known for their high dwell times). Advertisers could find their brands at the centre of these ‘aerotropolises’, which are known for their retail and entertainment services as much as their ability to get passengers from Point A to Point B.
A study conducted by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has shown that travellers are receptive to brand messaging in the airport environment – 85% of passengers claimed to enjoy airport advertising, while 85% were open to finding out about new products and services through these channels. In addition, 73% of air travellers said they took time to read advertisements.
With its ability to reach targeted audiences in 13 airports (12 in South Africa and also Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Zambia), Airport Ads® is well placed to assist brands wishing to reach consumers. It enjoys access to all ACSA-owned airports in South Africa, and exclusive rights at Lanseria, Kruger and Polokwane International Airports.
When marketing and brand managers are ready to expose their brands to the right target markets, Airport Ads can deliver the exposure, revenue and ROI desired.
Primedia Outdoor has recruited a “KasiKrew” – community based videographers – for four of its Rank TV sites, according to Peter Lindstrom, Primedia Outdoor’s Sales and Marketing Executive.
Much like a reporter from a local newspaper, the videographer’s job will be to cover events within local communities – everything from weddings to soccer matches, interviews with community personalities and beyond. “Our intention is to create vibrant local content for the people of a specific community,” says Lindstrom. “Content that tells stories about familiar people and places, and that is relevant and interesting to the people using a particular rank.”
The Screen Scene
Rank TV is a South African outdoor commuter channel with large LED (and LCD) screens situated in over 12 sites, nationally. With a viewership of around 2 million a month and programming aimed specifically at the day-to-day public commuter, the platform hopes to cement itself as the people’s channel – and the locally based KasiKrew are a concrete step towards making this happen.
Recent Wi-Fi research has been conducted by Primedia Outdoor and Visualitics to provide figures detailing the unique reach, impacts and frequency for each of these installations. With sites located in eight of the nine provinces, the entire network (excluding Vryheid and Bloed Street, which are set to be measured at a later stage) offers a unique reach of 1 914 600, with impacts of 8 622 999, and an average frequency of 5 per month.
Ranks are the new shopping centres
According to Lindstrom, these figures aren’t surprising. “Ranks are the new shopping centres, where thousands of people converge on their way to work, shopping and other destinations,” says Lindstrom. “They are also often a last point of contact before a purchase decision is made, making them a good location from which to reach out to the mass market. They play to an economically active audience, who are receptive to trends and marketing that focuses on their lifestyle.” “Ideally, we’d like Rank TV to help build a sense of community that transcends geographical locations,” says Lindstrom. “Rank TV should transform a dull commute into a journey filled with the discovery of new places and stores, the sharing of stories, and the chance to ‘meet’ new people.”
The client’s ‘Stay Wider of the Rider’ safe cycling campaign aims to change the mind set of motorists by providing them with a visual picture as to why it is essential for a motorist to pass cyclists with a berth of at least one metre. The campaign is ideally suited to the animated/video capabilities of our network and it is especially satisfying when the client produces clever and engaging creative as they have done.
Forecourts are an obvious OOH platform, and now being digital, the dwell time allows for the creative to be fully absorbed and enjoyed. The hope that the wide geographical coverage and the large number of sites will further add to the “Top of Mind” and start changing road user’s behaviour towards cyclists.
We look forward to growing this relationship with this client so that we can really add value to their efforts.
On Tuesday, 9 May, learners, teachers, and Provantage Media Group (PMG) executives came together to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the founding of the PMG Training Academy, as well as kick off two new learnerships.
The Academy was founded in 2015 by ProActive™, a division of PMG, to provide opportunities for unemployed learners interested in pursuing careers in marketing. The first SETA-accredited 12-month learnership was intended to complement the brand ambassadorship training already offered by ProActive™.
Upon completion of the course, learners received an NQF Level 4 FET certificate in marketing. PMG has subsequently introduced new learnerships that will broaden the learners’ skills base.
Provantage CEO, Jacques du Preez, welcomed the new intake of students with a talk about setting goals. “Never underestimate yourself. There is nobody on the planet like you – you are unique,” he told the 200 assembled learners registered for the business administration course.
Only unemployed learners who do not have the means to study are permitted to sign up for the course – the Services SETA equips learners with a stipend and course material, while PMG provides training, support, and work experience.
The PMG Academy will run two learnerships this year – business administration and project management (which will conclude in May and June 2018 respectively).
Renee Fouche, Provantage Media Group training manager, says, “We teach skills and competencies that are useful in the workplace, but beyond that, we offer mentorship, which impresses upon learners that they should never give up and not be afraid to try something new. Confidence and self-esteem are important components of the life skills we impart.”
Tshego Sefolo, Provantage Media Group chairman and CEO of Agile Capital, who attended the event with Agile co-founder Londeka Shezi, says, “These types of initiatives make a dent in our unemployment statistics – learners are no longer sitting at home unable to find work. They are taking a valuable opportunity to gain skills and expertise. PMG then either absorbs learners into the business or sends them out into the world with marketable skills. This is a critical intervention we are proud to support.”
Shezi adds, “Many companies talk about empowerment, but few can make a difference at a granular level. PMG benefits by incorporating learners into its activations business and learners benefit by supporting their families and communities – this is a strategic business model that other companies should emulate.”
In just two years, the PMG Training Academy has developed a contingent of skilled brand ambassadors and marketing graduates who have already impressed with their capabilities and professionalism.
“If you want to achieve something in life, and you want it badly enough, and do whatever is necessary, you can do anything,” says du Preez. “Learners who make the most of these learnerships will go a long way and become an asset to their communities and to society. We are very proud of our graduates and wish the new learners success.”
Michael ‘Mike’ Tyquin, cofounder of goa Billboards, and his brother Brian, founder of Outdoor Systems were honoured last night in Stockholm for their outstanding contributions to the Out-of-Home industry with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by FEPE, the worldwide association of outdoor advertising companies.
The first Australian recipients of the award, Mike and Brian were recognized for their outstanding contribution to Out-of-Home in Australia over their 50+ years in the industry at the 58th FEPE International Conference held in Stockholm, Sweden.
The event has seen delegates and industry professionals gather from all over the world, each with their unique viewpoints on how Out-of-Home will continue to thrive. Each year, the congress recognises four individuals, presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award, Leadership Award, Technical Innovation Award and Creative Award.
Appearing in Stockholm to collect the award in person, Mike expressed to his peers that he was “very honoured and humbled” to receive it.
Having worked in Out-of-Home for over 50 years, Mike’s nomination for this award is a testament to his significant impact on the evolution and growth of ‘outdoor’ within Australia, since his start in the industry back in 1959.
Starting in the street poster business, Mike purchased a small company in 1959 which became Australia Posters in 1970 and later, the development of new technologies in the 1980s saw the introduction of digitally printed vinyl skins that allowed a production quality not obtainable previously.
Mike is a cofounder of goa Billboards which started back in 1983, operating out of a humble shed in Bowen Hills, Brisbane. Today, goa is Queensland’s largest billboard and signage company and launched Australia’s first digital billboard network in 2009.
goa is still family owned and operated with Mike’s three sons managing the day to day running of the business. With the head office in Brisbane and sales offices in Sydney and Melbourne, goa Billboards develops the best solutions for some of the top brands in Australia to get them noticed.


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While there have been rumours of a new album, SRC Vinyl will release QUICKSAND‘s second album “Manic Compression” on vinyl on February 26th, two days before the 18th anniversary of its original release. The gatefold LP, available in four colours, is available for pre-order here.
Originally released on February 28, 1995, “Manic Compression” was the follow-up to QUICKSAND‘s 1993 classic debut “Slip” and became their most successful release, peaking at number 135 on The Billboard 200 in America. Despite the success of “Manic Compression“, it proved to be their final album before their first break up.
* Lacquers created by Lucky Lacquers
* Gatefold jacket, reverseboard
* Includes 18 x 24 poster
* 500 copies: 180-gram green / black swirl
* 500 copies: 180-gram red / black swirl
* 500 copies: 180-gram army green (retail exclusive)
* 250 copies: 180-gram red


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McDonald’s is raising wages at company-owned restaurants
McDonald’s is the latest restaurant to say it’s raising wages in a bid to attract workers. The company is increasing hourly employees’ pay by about 10 percent, it announced Thursday — but the change applies only to a small percentage of staff.
Entry-level employees will earn at least $11 to $17 an hour, the company said in a statement. Shift managers will earn at least $15 to $20 an hour, CNN reports. The company has already started implementing the increases and will continue to roll them out in the months ahead. Hourly wages should reach $15 on average at the restaurants by 2024, the company said.
The increase will impact about 36,500 employees who work at McDonald’s corporate-owned restaurants, which make up just 5 percent of its US stores. The remaining 95 percent of McDonald’s US restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees, who can make their own decisions about wages.
And the move falls short of the $15 minimum wage supported by President Joe Biden, many congressional Democrats, and labor activists.
As restaurants reopen their dining rooms, they are ramping up hiring efforts. McDonald’s wants to hire about 10,000 employees at its company-owned restaurants this summer, the company said.
That could be challenging.
Restaurants across the sector have pointed to staffing as a serious challenge, according to CNN. Some restaurant operators said that job postings that would have drawn in prospective hires in droves in the past are failing to attract applicants.
In an effort to bring in desperately needed staff to an industry in which people are notoriously underpaid, some chains and independent restaurants are raising wages.
Chipotle, for example, said this week that it is raising worker pay to an average of $15 per hour and that some employees will become eligible to make a six-figure salary after just a few years on the job. The fast-casual chain wants to hire 20,000 employees ahead of the summer and is also rolling out a $200 employee referral bonus. Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden and others, announced its own wage increase in March.
& © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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03 Aug 2020
Posted in Automotive
Daimler’s sentimental upswing driven by positive cash flow and June recovery
Amidst quarterly losses, Daimler’s sentiments rose by around 93% in Q2 2020 (quarter ended June 2020*) as compared to Q1 2020 (ended March 2020), driven by improvements in cash flow and June sales, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic driving financial constraints during Q2 2020, free cash flow (among the top mentions in the earnings transcript) grew by over 100% as compared to Q1 2020, improving from past negative margins. The company’s unit sales also recovered to pre-lockdown levels in June 2020.
There were signs of recovery in June 2020 as monthly passenger car unit sales grew by around 28% as compared to May. Positive comments on improving sales and profits in the upcoming quarters also influenced sentimental growth.
Rinaldo Pereira, Senior Analyst at GlobalData, says: “Daimler’s restructuring helped it offset financial struggles during the pandemic. In 2019, the company announced restructuring plans in an attempt to save US$1.6bn by 2022. The luxury carmaker now expects to boost its labor cost savings by cutting jobs, as it looks to improve its cash flow further. According to the company, its stringent cost-cutting measures helped it weather the impact of plant shutdowns. Daimler has also come to a consensus with German unions to cut employee hours and bonuses.”
In the Q2 2020 earnings transcript, S-class was a top brand mention as the company witnessed a late recovery of the S-Class Maybach luxury sedan, according to CFO Harald Wilhelm. Mentions of pricing in Daimler’s earnings transcript also rose in Q2 2020, as the company witnessed favorable overall pricing growth.
Pereira concludes: “The luxury carmaker expects the strongest growth in the high-end luxury segment. However, there is a cloud of uncertainty over Daimler’s future performance, as fears of a second wave of coronavirus may cause governments across the globe to enforce further lockdowns.”
*(Earnings transcript released on July 23, 2020)


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The China Tourism Industry Expo opened Friday in northern China's Tianjin Municipality, highlighting the integration of culture and tourism.
The expo, jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Tianjin municipal government, will last for three days.
Covering an area of 50,000 square meters, the expo boasts 2,700 booths showcasing more than 100,000 pieces of tourism products including tourism equipment, creative culture and intangible cultural heritage products.
Hundreds of enterprises from 28 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions are attending the expo.
The China Tourism Industry Expo has been held for 10 consecutive years in Tianjin. The expo last year saw on-the-spot and intentional transactions of nearly 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion).


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GENEVA — Some companies ya just don't mess with in a Web domain name.
Like Disney. Or Lego.
The maker of building blocks and tiny multipiece toys for children has won a case against two website domains offering Lego porn.
The World Intellectual Property Organization has ruled in favor of Denmark-based Lego Juris AS against FreeLegoPorn.com and LegoPornXXX, charged with trademark infringement (not to mention besmirching the Lego name, but that's another story).
Domain News reports both sites created or shared porn featuring Lego toys. That's actually not unusual: A quick Google search will bring up plenty of Lego porn on the Internet, from photos of the toy figures to videos. And Lego can't stop all of that.
But using Lego in a porn website name? Those sites should’ve seen it coming.
According to the documents from the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, Lego has trademarks in more than 190 countries and is also the owner of some 450 domain names containing the term Lego. The Lego trademark goes back to 1953, and sales in just the U.S. have exceeded $1 billion over the last 10 years. Lego became about more than little building blocks some years back, teaming up with major film studio licensing partners to create products for such franchises as Star Wars, Batman and Indiana Jones.
The disputed porn domain names were registered by the same company through GoDaddy.com in October 2008 and both domains linked to the same toy porn site.
The respondent in the case, represented by P N S Enterprises, attempted to defend the site names, saying they don't use the word Lego, but the word Legoporn.
“Lego is a Latin word defined as ‘to study or build.’ Lego is the building of comedic stop-action animation pornography with dolls and the like,” an e-mail to the WIPO argued. “At no point did we even allude that we represented the Lego Corporation. We have no interest in selling their products and we never used the Lego mark.”
The e-mail went on to point out the thousands of results that pop up on searches for Legoporn or Lego Porn and also noted that its Lego porn website content is comedic, “like a South Park, Family Guy or Simpsons TV show.”
The WIPO didn’t buy any of that and ordered the two domain names transferred to Lego Juris AS.
“The content available on the site consisted of animated mini-figures doing very explicit things. We were not amused,” said Lego attorney Peter Kjaer, according to PC World.
The mediation ruling was in compliance with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, a procedure established by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers in dealing with domain-name brand abuse and disputes.
As PC World notes, despite efforts to stop it, such cybersquatting continues as newly registered domain names play on the names of established company brands — including slight misspellings that drive traffic to sites by exploiting small mistakes made by Web surfers when typing a name in a search engine.
Many phishing sites, seeking to gain user info and personal details, operate in that manner and are far more dangerous than a cheeky website offering porn parodies of iconic toys.


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The Minister of agriculture and food of the Republic of Mordovia held a meeting with representatives of the ECO HALAL trade house
On January 22ndFirst Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Mordovia Vladimir Sidorov held a meeting with representatives of the ECO Halal trade house. Director of the company Talip Abubekirov and Head of the Department of international economic activities Ruslan Maksimov told the Minister about the results of the year, about the geography of sales of products from broiler chicken meat under the ECO HALAL trademark, produced at the Chamzinskaya poultry factory. During the meeting, the main attention was paid to the topic of export, the implementation of the regional project "Export of agricultural products of the Republic of Mordovia". Vladimir Sidorov gave a good assessment of the company's activities, especially according to the results of the year of 2019-2020, during which the company increased its export volume, and also became the winner in the "Exporter of the Year" contest. Also during the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture and representatives of the ECO HALAL trade house discussed company's expected future developmentof export of agricultural products.


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The Center collaborates with industry and academic partners to jointly develop regulatory science resources that are shared in the public domain. Examples of such collaborations are highlighted below.
Digital Health Regulatory Pathways
CRS contributed to an exciting industry collaboration led by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) to develop free resources to help digital product developers and founders optimize their regulatory strategy to drive the development of high-quality, trustworthy digital health products that best meet their commercial goals and the needs of patients. The resources – including U.S. RegPath, the world’s first tool for navigating U.S. regulatory pathways for digital health products – were developed as part of a DiMe collaborative project, Digital Health Regulatory Pathways.
“Digital health solutions offer enormous promise to address some of the most pressing and persistent challenges in healthcare but to fully realize the benefits of novel digital offerings, concomitant innovation in regulatory science and education for a new group of health technology leaders is necessary. Dr. Ariel Stern and CRS played an integral role in the development of these new, action-oriented resources,” said Smit Patel, Associate Director for DiMe.
A survey of digital medicine stakeholders in 2022 found that 25% of medical product developers didn’t know whether their digital health products should be regulated. Of those surveyed who did know their product should be regulated, 75% reported not knowing the optimal regulatory pathway.
A fit-for-purpose regulatory strategy that includes a bespoke timeline and approach to if, when, and whether to seek regulatory oversight offers end users, patients, and clinicians confidence about the tools and products they are using. It can also improve market access, support payment strategies, and optimize the impact on patient care and outcomes. Finding ways to help innovators navigate regulations and incorporate a robust regulatory strategy into their business plans is critical to addressing some of the most pressing and persistent challenges in healthcare.
The new resources became available March 1, 2023 and can be accessed for free on the DiMe website here.


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More than 400 pieces of cardio, strength and functional training equipment fill the exercise floor at Life Time Frisco. (Courtesy Life Time)
Read the top business news from the past week from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Life Time resort in Frisco to open Feb. 11
Life Time resort will hold a grand opening on Feb. 11 at 4913 Throne Hall Way, Frisco.
Berries & Batter Café to open Frisco location on Main Street
Berries & Batter Café plans to open a Frisco location by April at 2727 Main St., Ste. 600.
House of Bread opens first Texas location in McKinney
Texas’ first House of Bread opened in February at 7551 Eldorado Parkway, Ste. 100, McKinney.
Keller-Roanoke-Northeast Fort Worth
Outback Steakhouse now open at North Freeway in Fort Worth
An Outback Steakhouse location opened Jan. 31 at 9701 North Freeway in Fort Worth, according to a press release from the restaurant.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill to open on Valentine’s Day in Alliance area of Fort Worth
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill will hold the grand opening for its new location in the Alliance area at 2900 Amador Drive in Fort Worth on Valentine’s Day, according to the restaurant’s website.
Matt Payne, Brooklynn Cooper and Bailey Lewis contributed to this report.


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(WXYZ) — The Detroit postal district is kicking off a district-wide campaign to raise public awareness to prevent dog attacks.
- Video shows dog viciously attacking mail carrier in Detroit
- Owner of dog who attacked Detroit mailman speaks
The postal service says that in 2018, 5,714 postal employees were victimized by dogs. When a dog attacks a letter carrier, USPS says the dog owner could be held liable for all medical expenses, repayment of lost work hours, replacement of the uniform and other costs, which can run into thousands of dollars.
"That's why we're delivering this important message to the community," said District Manager Karlett Gilbert in a release. "Several of our letter carriers know first-hand about both the prevention and the pain of animal attacks, and we want to do whatever we can to help educate the community - especially parents and pet owners."
In February, a video showed a dog viciously attacking a mailman on a street in Detroit. The mailman was bleeding from his hand and has his knee banged up. Several witnesses tried to get the dog off the man. The owner of the dog said she never had any issues with her dog in the past.
USPS dedicates a week each April to dog bite awareness. Here are tips from USPS to prevent dog bite injuries:
- Door delivery: If a carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Some dogs push through screen doors to attack visitors. Dog owners must keep the family pet secured. Never take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may see this as a threatening gesture.
- Electronic fencing: Carriers may assume, if they see no physical fence around a property, that the property is animal-free. This can be a dangerous mistake. Postal Service officials request that you keep your dog restrained or inside when the mail is delivered. Although the electronic fence may keep your dog from wandering, it does not protect your carrier, who must enter your property to deliver the mail. Even homes with curbside mailboxes may have oversized packages or signature-needed items that require the carrier to approach a doorstep and cross the boundaries of the electronic fence. This poses a serious risk to carrier safety.
- Dog in the yard: Make sure your dog is properly restrained on a leash and away from where your mail carrier delivers the mail. If the carrier deems a residence unsafe because of an unrestrained dog, mail delivery service can be interrupted. When service is interrupted at an address or in a neighborhood, all parties involved will have to pick up mail at their local Post Office. Service will be restored once assurance has been given that the animal will be confined during regular delivery hours.
- Tracking: Dog owners who have access to postal notification features for letter mail and package tracking are urged to use these features to determine when the carrier is on their way and to ensure their dog has been properly restrained. Expecting a postal package delivery on Sunday? Postal officials urge dog owners to restrain their animals on Sundays as well, as more residences now receive deliveries throughout the weekend.


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Following reports that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) intends to abandon plans to raise iPhone production this year, the company's shares are trading down on Wednesday morning.
Apple instructed suppliers to scale back plans to extend the iPhone 14 product line by as many as 6 million devices in the second half of this year, according to a Bloomberg story citing people familiar with the situation.
Prior to the release of the iPhone 14, Apple reportedly upped its sales outlook, and some of the company's suppliers reportedly started preparing for a 7% rise in orders.
According to the report, lower demand for the iPhone 14/14 Plus is likely offsetting the stronger-than-anticipated demand for the iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max. Apple's new goal is to create 90 million iPhones in the second half of the year as a result.
The report is in line with expectations at the company, according to Morgan Stanley analysts.
"Lead times for the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pro in the US are still lengthy at 4-5 weeks, ranking second and third, respectively, among all models introduced in the previous six years. However, the lead times for the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are very short, at 2 days and 0 days, respectively.
The analytical group highlighted that the 90 million production estimate is consistent with its projection.
Morgan Stanley said. "However, it is still early in the iPhone 14 cycle, and the next 3 to 5 weeks will remain critical in determining the strength of the iPhone 14 cycle," the company added.


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Macworld Expo: Tuesday Report|
Mike Pasini, The Imaging Resource
(Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 15:20 EST)
We cover the highlights of the keynote address and find a few products on the floor to discuss.
Our Macworld Expo cover continues with our report on the keynote product introductions -- the MacBook Air, Time Capsule -- and revisions to the Apple TV and iPod Touch.
Then we discuss new image editor for anyone running Leopard. It's even available at the moment as a free public beta.
We ran across two new 13x19 printers on the show floor, too. One from HP based on its high-end B9180, and another from Epson with a roll feeder.
Read our report for the full story.


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TORONTO — Federal, provincial and territorial trade ministers said Tuesday discussions to create a new internal trade deal are about halfway finished and there is a “historic” amount of agreement between them.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Canada’s western premiers have sent a joint letter to their provincial counterparts calling for them to help create a domestic free trade zone by knocking down internal trade barriers estimated to cost the country $50-billion a year.
The ministers met in Toronto to talk about renewing the 20-year-old Agreement on Internal Trade.
Industry Minister James Moore says it’s “completely backwards” to have less economic freedom within Canada than the country has agreed to with the rest of the world.
He says there is agreement among the ministers to make sure Canada is as open interprovincially as it is to Europe and the United States on trade, labour mobility and the movement of goods and services.


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AT the age of just 14, Raymond Culverwell got his first job delivering newspapers for J G Riley, in Locksway Road, Milton.
And having started at the bottom, 50 years later he is celebrating his 30th anniversary of running the newsagents.
Raymond worked part-time in the shop for 10 years with the previous owner before taking over in 1982.
At that time the shop sold packets of five Woodbine cigarettes and copies of The News cost just 12p.
Now, 30 years on, Raymond said he still loves running the shop as much as the day he first opened up.
And to mark the occasion he decorated the store with bunting and offered discounted prices on cards in the store.
He said: ‘It’s quite an achievement to make it to 30 years, lots of people who open shops these days don’t make it past a year.
‘I’m really chuffed to have made it this long, but it’s all thanks to the customers. Without them I wouldn’t still be here.
‘The secret to survival in this tough economic climate is to make sure that you satisfy the customers and give them what they want.
‘I always try to help them in whatever way I can and if I don’t have something that they want then I’ll try to get it in.’
Raymond has made many changes in the shop since taking it over, including upgrading the tills from old hand-operated tills to touch control electronic ones, and trebling the size of the shop when he bought a property next door.
He has become a well-known face in Milton, and even employs the grandchildren of some of his former fellow paper boys to deliver papers.
He added: ‘I have seen lots of my customers and my paper boys and girls grow up.
‘They all know me and I know them really well too.
‘It’s so nice when they come in and tell me all about how they’re getting on.’


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Debit Overdraft Fees Clobbering Unsuspecting Consumers Again!
- Mary Hunt DebtProofLiving.com
- 2012 8 Aug
Editor's note: This article appeared originally at Debt-Proof Living on June 29th 2012.
If you use a debit card, no doubt you recall the way banks used to slap you with outrageous bounce fees if you happened to operate close to the edge. It was so crazy, a six-dollar burger could end up costing $45 or more if all you had in your account was $5.99 when you made the swipe.
What irked us here at DPL, as well as millions of people across the country, was that the banks allowed those debit overdrafts to go through. Most people, when surveyed, said they would rather have the transaction denied than have the purchase covered with the bank’s money as a short-term loan and get clobbered with exorbitant overdraft fees and penalties.
In 2010 a new federal law became effective requiring banks to get customers’ written permission before covering debit-transaction overdrafts and the high penalties and fees that go with them. Without it, banks would have no choice but to deny that burger purchase or whatever else a customer tried to buy with a debit card if the amount exceeded the available balance in the account.
With the stroke of a pen, banks were out more than 24 million dollars each year in overdraft fees. As you can imagine this did not sit well with them. I warned you that they would be exceedingly creative in finding new loopholes, new ways to recover all that lost revenue. And guess what? They have.
Banks got very sneaky about how they manipulated customers into “opting in” for overdraft protection. They created consumer confusion.
In a recent survey by the Pew Charitable Trust, over one-third of those surveyed were unaware that their bank even offered overdraft coverage until they incurred a penalty for having used the service!
Here’s a weird loophole in the 2010 law: It only requires that banks get written opt-in approval for transactions where a customer takes money from an ATM machine and day-to-day debit-card transactions. If you write a check and overdraft your account, that is not covered by the law requiring written opt-in permission. I’m confused just writing about it.
All kinds of people in the survey believed if they didn’t do anything when presented with the opt-on form, their bank would charge them huge fees if they were to unknowingly commit a debit-overdraft. They signed the forms so the bank could not charge them!
Bottom line, and this is what most people do not understand: The law does not forbid banks from charging unlimited overdraft fees on debit-card transactions. It simply requires the issuing bank to get the customer’s permission to do it. And it appears that banks stop at nothing to get customers to agree, even if that requires them to confuse, manipulate and deceive.
The Pew survey turned up other startling information, as reported by CBS Money Watch:
90 percent of overdrafts are unintentional, but about 10 percent of those who have overdrawn their checking accounts did it on purpose at least part of the time.
75 percent of consumers said they would much rather be declined when they had insufficient funds than covered by the bank at a cost.
54 percent of those who had paid an overdraft fee in the past year believed they declined overdraft coverage; just 37 percent of those paying the fee knew they had opted in; another 8 percent said they didn't know whether they'd opted into coverage or not.
35 percent of those surveyed had closed an account as the result of overdrafts.
26 percent of those who learned they'd been charged an overdraft fee found out only through a monthly checking account statement, while about 21 percent credited some form of communication initiated by the bank through email, a phone call or a text message.
If you insist on keeping your card, please call right now to find out if you opted in for overdraft protection. If you did, please cancel it.
Look, if you are worried that you might accidentally spend more than you have in your account, you should be living with cash, not plastic. And if you aren’t worried about going over, then why do you need the protection?
© 2012 Debt-Proof Living. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
"Debt-Proof Living" was founded in 1992 by Mary Hunt. What began as a newsletter to encourage and empower people to break free from the bondage of consumer debt has grown into a huge community of ordinary people who have achieved remarkable success in their quest to effectively manage their money and stay out of debt. Today, "The Cheapskate Monthly" is read by close to 100,000 Cheapskates. Click here to subscribe.
Publication date: August 8, 2012