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ALROSA, the lesser known of the two diamond mining giants, is emerging from its own shadows and may exert greater influence on the industry in 2013. While it still has a ways to go, it has become more transparent about disclosing its resource base, building its client list and developing its marketing strategy.
Not so long ago, the company supplied the bulk of its production to De Beers, the other giant, for distribution, leading to monopoly charges against the two that ultimately led to the partnership’s termination. It also heavily relied on the Russian state-owned depository Gokhran as a sales backup when the going got tough.
Today, the company issues regular press releases and updates in Russian and English, posts all its financials online and, has a dedicated sales website. It is in the process of renewing its long-term supply deals with clients and penning new ones so that it has a stable and willing customer base. The company also appears to be selling its goods at fair price. And, there are encouraging talks to privatize the government’s majority share in the company, or at least parts of it.
In short, while still a somewhat unknown entity in the industry, ALROSA at the start of 2013 is a more open company that is leveraging its strong position in the market in a seemingly responsible way.
Naturally, there remain some concerns about the company.
The Gokhran factor
For one, ALROSA has increased its diamond inventory over the past year. In contrast to De Beers, which has curbed production during the current period of weak demand, ALROSA has maintained its production level and held back supply. ALROSA’s production during the first nine months of 2012 fell just 3 percent year on year to 25.4 million carats, while sales by volume slumped 21 percent to 22.3 million carats. Accordingly, the value of the company’s diamond inventory increased 32 percent to RUB 27.75 billion, or around $904 million.
Historically, a miner’s growing stockpile makes an inventory-sensitive diamond industry nervous. In ALROSA’s case, that concern is governed by its option to offload goods to Gokhran, an even darker horse for the market. Hopefully that option will dissolve as ALROSA’s long-term strategy evolves and as a potential privatization takes shape.
So far it hasn’t. For the first time since the 2008-09 crisis, ALROSA sold rough to Gokhran, selling about $90 million worth in the second quarter of 2012 with further sales of $140 million made since then. Andrey Polyakov, head of ALROSA’s public relations department, estimates that total sales to Gokhran will amount to $230 million in 2012. The company sold over $1 billion worth to Gokhran in the 2008-09 slump.
One state entity selling to another is problematic on many levels, not least that of pricing. Dinnur Galikhanov, an analyst with Aton Equity Research, told Rapaport News that these sales are made at prices determined by the Finance Ministry, which correlate with the actual market prices. It is certainly preferable that ALROSA hold the inventory than the government. One expects that the more goods are sold to contracted clients, the less ALROSA will require the Gokhran backup.
But then, who knows what motivates Gokhran’s purchases or its sales for that matter. The Russian government’s inventory of rough, estimated at about $2 billion, remains an unknown shadow that could derail the market at any time. Galikhanov dismissed the possibility of such a significant volume of rough being dumped on the market as highly unlikely. Still, from a free diamond market point of view, the less involvement by any government the better, and one hopes that talks to reduce the state’s shares in ALROSA will transpire in 2013.
Furthermore, Galikhanov wrote in a recent note that a reduction in the state’s participation in ALROSA may in the long-term lead to the adoption of laws that could limit Gokhran’s ability to buy directly from ALROSA, unless the company wins the right to sell to the depository in an open tender process.
Currently, the Russian Federation owns 51 percent in ALROSA, the Republic of Yakutia holds 32 percent, and the Regions of Yakutia own 8 percent. Of the remaining 9 percent, 5 percent is held by legal entities and the other 4 percent by ALROSA personnel. Galikhanov noted there is little clarity on how the privatization will be carried out, and to what extent the government will offload its shares. An initial plan of a combined sale of 7 percent each from the Russian Federation’s portion and the Yakutia government’s share was reportedly met with resistance in Yakutia, as the republic stands to lose revenue royalties from the selloff.
However, the pending privatization, if it occurs, should have little bearing on the way in which ALROSA operates in the short term. The company will continue to woo clients with the promise of consistent long-term supply and expects to sell 70 percent of its goods via its contracts going forward, with the remainder split between its auctions and spot transactions.
Significantly, ALROSA has the capacity and supply volume to compete with De Beers from a rough marketing perspective as well as production. Hopefully, it will diminish the widespread influence that De Beers supplier of choice (SoC) program and pricing play on the market. How both companies determine their price points is a significant unknown. But, as more companies procure more rough from ALROSA, the profitability with which its supply can be manufactured or dealt on the secondary market will take on increased importance.
Rough dealers and manufacturers are encouraged by the latest round of ALROSA sales. They reported that prices improved and that all the goods were taken. At previous sales, mainly in the third quarter, ALROSA clients “deferred” taking portions of their allocated supply. Anecdotal reports earlier in the year indicated expensive ALROSA rough relative to the market; the company reported that during the first nine months of 2012, the average price of its gem quality diamonds rose 4 percent year on year to $199 per carat.
Galikhanov notes that ALROSA is currently selling larger volume at lower prices, thereby reducing some inventory in the fourth quarter. He expects that the deferred goods will be taken by the clients in the spring, which he claims is generally a stronger period for the rough market. By then, one assumes that prices will have increased as well.
Such sales flexibility has resulted from ALROSA’s long-term supply deals, which the company started to pursue after the 2008 crisis, and many of which expire at the end of 2012. Polyakov said the new sales strategy has already proved effective. “ALROSA has the best sales figures in its history, and the rea son behind this is not only the growth of rough prices, but also a more responsible and better thought-out approach to marketing in general,” he explained.
As part of that strategy, in the past month, the company notched up some of the strongest players in the diamond pipeline. These include new clients Chow Tai Fook and Tiffany & Co., both major jewelry retailers that do in-house diamond manufacturing, and renewing its contract this week with Rosy Blue, a manufacturing powerhouse based in India. Other such agreements will undoubtedly follow in the coming months.
Polyakov notes that the deals exhibit the geographic diversification of ALROSA’s sales going forward and the financial strength of its client base — in other words, the potential stability of its future sales.
Hopefully, ALROSA’s client list won’t reflect the De Beers sightholder list too strongly when it’s complete, though it most likely will. Like De Beers, ALROSA has the resources, and arguably more so, to attract the strongest manufacturers well into the future.
Carats in the ground
The company recently revealed, for the first time, that it has a total reserve and resource of 967.5 million carats of diamonds, which Polyakov indicates will preserve the current level of production for the next 30 years. Production is expected to fall slightly below last year at 33.8 million carats in 2012.
The company has nine operating mines and ten alluvial deposits, excluding its stake in Angola’s Catoca mine, with at least four of its operations on track to produce more than 4 million carats for the year. Those include the Nyurbinskaya pipe, the International underground mine, the Jubilee pipe, and the Udachniy pipe. The Aikhal and Mir underground mines each produce around 2 million carats a year and its alluvial placers and tailings have combined production of around 4 million carats.
Polyakov reports that ALROSA’s two main developments constructing underground mines at Mir and Udachniy are expected to boost capacity at both operations in the coming years, while waste stripping at the Botuobinskaya diamond pipe is projected to yield commercial production in three years. In addition, the Severalmaz subsidiary is working to bring on the Lomonosovski mine into operation by the end of 2014.
All operations considered, ALROSA expects to increase production up to 38 million to 40 million carats a year by 2021 with its underground operations accounting for 60 percent of the total, up from 50 percent currently.
It’s an enviable stash of diamonds, which ALROSA has been able to extract with relatively decent margins, a point that the company will undoubtedly stress to boost its investment potential. There’s no reason that investors shouldn’t take the bait. Hopefully, they’ll be given the chance. Hopefully, its long-term supply will be transparent and fair and provide effective marketing and pricing competition to De Beers. And hopefully it will break loose from its ties to Gokhran and manage its own inventory in a responsible manner.
There’s a lot of hope involved. But there’s also a lot at stake. And one feels there are many more unknowns, not to mention potential projects that may be further down the company’s to-do list. It might be viewing De Beers Forevermark activities with interest, for example, and a “Made in Russia” brand is hardly far-fetched. For now, the company remains relatively insular, despite its new-found transparency. As ALROSA continues to develop its operations and marketing strategy, and appears ready to emerge as a stronger influence on the diamond market, one suspects there’s a lot more to reveal.


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PMP’s exclusive survey finds that merging with a larger company can offer many benefits.
It was a record year for mergers and acquisitions in 2015. The Wall Street Journal reports that more than $4.3 trillion in deals went down last year. But would you jump at the chance to merge your company?
Pest Management Professional (PMP) surveyed readers to learn whether they plan to merge their businesses in the near future. We compared the data we gathered this year with the results from surveys we conducted in 2012 and 2014.
This year, our exclusive survey found that the majority of our readers have no immediate plans to merge. If that’s how you feel, too, you may wonder why you should even think about mergers at this point in your pest management career.
The reality is, planning for the future cannot wait. What will happen to the pest management company you worked so hard to create and maintain?
The economy certainly is a factor to consider when deciding to merge. A pest management professional who can prove the business is a success will have a better chance of making a deal with a company willing to pay top dollar. Respondents of each of our three surveys said they were less likely to strike a deal due to current economic conditions.
Despite that belief, the overwhelming majority of respondents agree that every business owner has a price. Even if you’re not actively seeking to merge with another company, our surveys show you will jump at the chance if the price is right. And what better reason is there for planning ahead? You never know when a prospective merger partner might come knocking.
Managing Editor Diane Sofranec can be reached at email@example.com or 216-706-3793.

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Smart door locks are maturing as a technology category, and with that maturity has come growth in sales and more market penetration, according to new data from Parks Associates.
Looking for the latest tech news? We have you covered.
Don’t be the office chump. Sign up here for our twice weekly newsletter and outsmart your coworkers.


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With her hair pinned in curls, her makeup half-finished, and wearing a skimpy, pink candy-striped silk Victoria’s Secret robe, multi-tasking Adriana Lima is talking to reporters while simultaneously posting a video to Instagram.
The Brazilian supermodel’s career was already well underway when the social media wave broke, but she’s by no means shy of fans, amassing a whopping 6 million and 2.27million followers on Instagram and Twitter, respectively.
However, the 34-year-old runway veteran admits that she has a few tricks left to learn.
“The photographer was teaching me how to tag him on Instagram,” she says. “I’ve just learned something new right now.”
Lima received her Victoria’s Secret wings in 2000, making her the brand’s longest-serving angel. She’s opened the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show several times in the past decade-and-a-half and worn the million-dollar, jewel-encrusted “Fantasy Bra”on three occasions.
This year, the brunette beauty is walking in the company of high-profile, social-media savvy newcomers Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner. In recent years, model agents have started to monetize their models’ social media following and when coupled with the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show audience topping tens of millions of viewers across 185 countries, it makes for very big business.
But while the selfie culture is now a part of every model’s arsenal, Lima understands that it’s very much a generational thing, with her young daughters (Valentina, 6, and Sienna, 3), who feature in Lima’s Instagram feed, already being more tech-savvy than their mother.
“Believe it or not, they are,” she confides. “I just try to do as best as I can.”
Understandably, Lima, like most celebrities, is keen to avoid any embarrassing fallout from a poorly worded tweet or embarrassing Instagram pic, something that could undermine her charitable work for the Caminhos da Luz orphanage in her hometown of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The devout Catholic has also given her time to the St. Luke Foundation for Haiti, as well as Bill and Hillary Clinton’s Clinton Global Initiative.
Lima doesn’t take her status lightly, explaining, “It’s a big responsibility because you have so much exposure worldwide and there are kids, and teenagers that relate themselves to you.So as much as I can, I try to have a good influence in whatever I say and whatever I do in my everyday life.”
The Victoria’s Secret fashion show will air Tuesday Dec. 8 at 10/9 central on CBS.


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Violet’s Bakery on Partition Street specializes in simple desserts, both sweet and savory, made by hand, not mass-produced.
“We want to bring a piece of the old world here,” owner Sina Clark said. The bakery, located next door to the century-plus old Montano’s Shoe Store, is named after her daughter Violet.
She said the smell of bread, pastries and sweet treats invites customers inside the tiny storefront. She wants to make them feel at home. “I want to make it feel like they’re walking into someone’s kitchen. I think we do a good job of achieving it.”
After being a fixture at area farmers markets for years, Clark opened a physical storefront for Violet’s in March 2020 at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing her to close for three weeks at the outset of the lockdown.
She was later able to reopen, and her daughter was usually on premises due to local schools going fully remote.
“She’d sit down and do her school work here at the shop,” Clark said.
Clark would balance helping Violet with her assignments and attending every school meeting with baking tasks like rolling out dough.
“Luckily she did great,” Clark said.
Looking back on the pandemic shutdown that devastated the restaurant industry across the globe, Clark said the slower days gave her time to work on her business, doing her own marketing and perfecting her recipes.
Clark, who has African, Irish, Flemish, French and German roots, loves to look back on old family recipes and across the globe for inspiration for her offerings. The family recipes include her grandma Rita’s potato chip cookies that are both sweet with powdered sugar on top, but with a bit of a crunch from the potato chip.
She said her grandma, who typically cooked Irish and German recipes, entered the cookies in a cooking contest back in the 1930s that was sponsored by a local newspaper.
Clark said she modifies the recipe a bit to suit her likings by removing the nuts. “I don’t really like nuts in cookies,” she said.
She is also working on her mom’s “holiday bread,” a tradition in her household around Christmas. It’s a braided bread with Swiss cheese baked inside, she said.
“My mom baked bread,” Clark said. “We couldn’t afford store bread when my father was getting his PhD in philosophy of education at Rutgers University.” Born in Ohio, Clark grew up in Union County New Jersey.
Clark is also helped by Kim Emerson who only works at the bakery very early in the mornings. “He is our bread baker,” she said.
She also buys baguettes from Catskill Bread, a tiny-one man operation she said is run out of the owner’s house.
Her most popular menu items span the globe including French Galettes and Frangipane with cooked almond filling, sweet and savory scones, lemon pudding and bakery fixtures like muffins and cupcakes. She also bakes a popular gluten-free flourless chocolate cake as well as Cornetti, an Italian croissant made with egg, milk and orange zest. “They are different than French croissants,” she said.
She bakes Bombolone, which she described as being a bit like an Italian donut with orange curd inside. The bakery offers cappuccinos made with beans that are her personal favorite.
“I love researching different recipes, stuff [a customer’s] grandma made when they came from different countries and they haven’t had since they were a child,” Clark said.
Being such a small bakery does come with challenges, she said, offering the example of having to do all her shopping as food-service delivery companies won’t service such a small account. “They have a $750 minimum weekly delivery,” Clark said. “I can’t even fit that much [in] here.”
But she said it also offers advantages as she can pick out everything when she shops, which allows for better quality control. Clark said being small also helps her control inventory and avoid waste.
“If I make something and they don’t sell 12, next time I’ll make eight,” Clark said.
And when Clark runs out she runs out— she wants no waste left behind. And she will only bake things seasonally, so don’t expect a peach pie at Christmas.
“I won’t use peaches out a can,” Clark said.
Clark said she never set out to be a baker, she went to college for film, and hoped to be a screenwriter, but she just never could find the right connections and instead she went into advertising. She moved to Brooklyn, where she lived for more than 14 years,
But just three years into working in advertising the dot-com bubble of the late-90s burst and Clark found herself unemployed and feeling depressed. All along she was making cheesecakes that were a hit among her friends. One of those friends suggested she sell them to restaurants.
Clark said she started going from restaurant to restaurant asking general managers if they were interested. Most told her to scram, but three signed on and she had her first wholesale customers.
She said she went to school for baking and pastry-making at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City and she landed an externship at Le Cirque 2000, a new iteration of a well-known Midtown Manhattan restaurant.
Clark later moved on to a small bakery just as it was undergoing an ownership change and she said that’s where she excelled. Moving up the chain from icing cakes and managing to become VP of operations where she worked with a team that helped the bakery expand to Chicago, Lost Angeles and Dubai.
“They’re still growing,” Clark said.
But she grew tired of the city. She started weekending in Saugerties and eventually moved for good in 2011, and began selling wholesale on her own once again.
Clark said she’s grateful for the support people give to her bakery and all the other local businesses in Saugerties. She said she loves to frequent other local small businesses herself.
“They’re all family or women-owned and the owner of the business is working in the store,” she said. “When you go in the owner is behind the counter, I love being part of that.”


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PV GAS CEO greets Samsung C&T delegates
Mr. Pham Van Phong, President & CEO of PV GAS, recently had a meeting and working session with Samsung C&T, led by President Oh Se Chul. The meeting was to explore collaboration between PV GAS and Samsung C&T in researching methods to increase LNG supply for industrial customers and utilize the cryogenic feature of LNG in the coming time.
The South Korean Samsung C&T is a construction and engineering company, having been involving in several successful cooperative projects in Vietnam. Recently, the giant formed a consortium with PTSC as the main contractor for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of Thi Vai LNG Terminal. During the working session, the President of Samsung C&T reported the entire process of their participation in bringing the first LNG cargo into Vietnam, expressing high pride in partnership with PV GAS to accomplish the essential stages of the terminal before transitioning into the operational phase.
Mr. Pham Van Phong greets Samsung C&T delegates
In the upcoming period, Samsung C&T would commit to continue perfecting the remaining tasks to successfully conclude the commissioning of Thi Vai LNG Terminal, ensuring the harmonization of interests among all parties. Furthermore, as a company with intense investments in research and development, accumulated experience, and mastery of advanced technologies, Samsung C&T desired to maintain its partnership with PV GAS, not only in the LNG sector but also in other related fields such as commerce, technology, energy, and investment.
Mr. Oh Se Chul shows high pride in collaborating with PV GAS
In response, the management of PV GAS expressed their confidence in the effective cooperative relationship over the past period. They particularly praised Samsung C&T's capability to work with PV GAS in meeting project deadlines despite being significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and numerous challenges during the construction phase.
The two companies are satisfied with this business partnership and look forward to the future cooperation opportunities
In light of that, both companies would look forward to future cooperation opportunities in various fields. Concluding the working session, PV GAS and Samsung C&T agreed to make further and stronger efforts in promoting the ongoing partnership, aligning with the potential and demand of each side.
PV GAS and Samsung C&T to promote their ongoing collaboration, aligning with the interests and demand of each side


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Huawei Uganda in partnership with MTN Uganda yesterday officially launched the Huawei Ascend P8 in Uganda at an invite-only event in Serena Hotel Kampala.
It was rather odd that the event didn’t have Wi-Fi given that “Uganda’s internet leader” was co-hosting the launch of a 4G LTE-capable premium smartphone!
At the price of Ugx 1,590,000, the Huawei P8 is without a doubt the most affordable flagship smartphone of 2015 in Uganda. That’s about Ugx 100,000 cheaper than its price last month when we first reported about its availability in the local market.
As with its predecessors the Huawei Ascend P6 and the P7, the P8 maintains a reasonably affordable price in the Ugandan market.
Huawei Ascend P6 price -> Ugx 980,000
Huawei Ascend P7 price -> Ugx 1,300,000
Huawei Ascend P8 price ->Ugx 1,590,000
Huawei Ascend P8 Lite Price -> Ugx 1,150,000
Now MTN Uganda is also giving away 50MB of free data daily for 60 days and a Free 4G LTE Sim swap for anyone who buy the 4G LTE-compatible device. That’s definitely a good deal — the most affordable high-end flagship smartphone alongside some free data for two months.
You obviously don’t want to take our word for it. Compare for yourself prices of 2015 smartphones in Uganda across the most plausible vendors and mobile networks in the country.
|smartphone||Best Price||Where to buy|
|Huawei Ascend P8||Ugx, 1,590,000||MTN Uganda|
|Huawei Mate 7||Ugx 1,700,000||Airtel Uganda, MTN Uganda|
|Samsung Galaxy S6||Ugx 2,000,000||Airtel Uganda, MTN Uganda, Simba Telecom, Midcom, Jumia Uganda|
|Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge||Ugx 2, 400,000||Airtel Uganda, MTN Uganda, Simba Telecom, Midcom, Jumia Uganda|
|Samsung Galaxy Note Edge||Ugx 2,600,000||Airtel Uganda|
|iPhone 6||Ugx 2,300,000||Airtel Uganda, MTN Uganda, Jumia Uganda, Elite computers|
|iPhone 6 Plus||Ugx 2,800,000||Airtel Uganda, Jumia Uganda, Elite computers|
|HTC One M9||Ugx 2,300,000||Airtel Uganda, HTC Hub Uganda, Jumia Uganda|
|Microsoft Lumia 1020||Ugx 1,650,000||Airtel Uganda, Midcom, Simba Telecom Uganda|


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Pushing further into Canada's so-called Cannabis 2.0 market, OrganiGram Holdings (OGI 17.14%) has introduced a set of new products. The company announced Thursday that it has sent the inaugural shipments of its high-end Edison vape pens to retailers in the country. It produces them in conjunction with the privately held cannabis technology company Feather.
OrganiGram, one of the better-known Canadian marijuana companies, said the vape pens "are designed to offer adult consumers a simple, intuitive user experience."
The Edisons are not the first vaping goods that OrganiGram has brought to market. Late last year, it began shipping several brands of its vape cartridges to selected Canadian retailers.
The company has also begun delivering Edison Bytes, a line of premium edible cannabis products aimed at the wealthier end of the market. Edison Bytes are cannabis-infused chocolate truffles, offered in both milk and dark chocolate variations for the discerning marijuana user. They will be sold either as single truffles containing 10 milligrams of THC, or pairs of chocolates infused with 5 milligrams of THC apiece.
OrganiGram has committed itself to the comestibles market, having invested 15 million Canadian dollars ($11 million) into a new 100% automated, high-capacity and high-speed production line for the truffles.
Regarding the Edison-branded products, OrganiGram said, "We are all committed to applying our experience and expertise to the development of a portfolio of novel products that delight our customers."
OrganiGram's U.S.-listed stock was up by nearly 3% in mid-afternoon trading Thursday.


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A new motorcross stunt game for mobile devices has gone live and it's called Hill Bill, it's a simple side-scrolling vehicular game where players are tasked with pulling off stunts across increasingly difficult levels, starting off in the bayou swamps and moving up to the big league stadiums.
Ajay Chadha, Founder of Balloon 27, the design group behind the recently released mobile title, commented about the game's release, saying...
“Hill Bill is our first foray into the mobile space, and we wanted to draw on our past console experience to make sure that the graphics are impeccable and that the game provides hours of engaging and addictive gameplay,”... “Hill Bill is a perfect meeting of fun, quirky art style, authentic sound effects, colorful environments and exciting gameplay, and we know that iOS gamers will continue coming back for more.”
The game is a “You can do it” style stunt racer, where players start off in the garage of Hill Bill, using his old junk bike to fly across small jumps in the swamps. Eventually, players will level up their skills, ramp up their technique and blast through more than 60 different levels across six different environments in order to fulfill Bill's destiny... the great jump across the Grand Canyon.
Players can unlock new bikes and outfits as they progress through the game, unlock new tricks and conquer massive jumps. A mobile game with actual replay value... you have got to give the developers some props for that, right?
The game looks like it could be a lot of simple fun as you spare some time or burn up your boredom while commuting or waiting around. The game has a cool art style and, so far, several gamers have commented on the hilarity of the voice acting to keep you playing and keep you entertained.
There are a selection of new screenshots released for the title that you can view below, along with yet another trailer just in case you needed a bit more incentive to put down $1.99 on this new iOS title. For even more information on Hill Bill you can head on over to the official website.


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Brits have been named the worst behaved tourists in the world, says new research for Expedia.
The annual Expedia Best Tourist research is carried out among 4,000 hoteliers worldwide and ranks nationalities according to who are the best and worst in terms of behaviour, politeness, respect for local culture, style and tipping waiting staff.
While Brits were voted the worst behaved by European hoteliers for flouting local culture, being rude, messy and loud, the Japanese, Germans and Americans topped the poll as the best-behaved tourists in the world.
The research revealed that Brits are not all bad news. They are viewed as big spenders on holidays coming a close second to generous Americans, the most polite after the Japanese, and best dressed after the Italians.
Expedia director of communications Alison Couper said: “It’s clear we’ve still got a way to go to shed our hell raising image while abroad, although a lot of this could be put down to blissful ignorance of local cultures.
“For anyone travelling this summer it is worth checking in with the local tourist office to find out what is appropriate to each local culture and what the big no-nos are in terms of local etiquette. However, it’s encouraging to see we’re winning in the popularity stakes in other key criteria such as trying out local foods, generosity and style. “
Other facts from the research
The Japanese tourists came out as the best in the world because of their quiet and tidy nature and quiet behaviour.
World’s worst tourist
Indians, French, Russian and Mexicans all came in for criticism for their behaviour whilst on holiday.
Fashion victims to fashion elite
The British penchant for ‘socks and sandals’ appears to be dead and buried, with hoteliers voting Brits the second best dressed tourists in the world, second only to the Italians. This is a significant improvement from last year, when the various British fashion disasters abroad put us as second worst dressers. The Americans are still the worst dressed by a very long way.
Tipping not included
French are the meanest tippers in the world, followed by Germans and British.
How clean is your holiday?
It seems the British obsession with programmes such as ‘How Clean Is Your House’ has no bearing on their attitude to tidiness abroad – they have been voted the messiest tourists in the world.


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Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya recently announced to the press that the ministry will be boosting its enforcement of tests on cosmetics that are already on the market, as well as those in development.
The Health Minister was speaking in response to a recent product ban which is illustrative of this new, stricter approach.
The ministry banned a skin whitening product sold by Syarikat Vida Beauty which was found to contain mercury. The brand was ordered to remove its ‘Qu Puteh Whitening Pro 9’ product from the market immediately, and was given just 72 hours to comply.
With the rise of e-commerce, a ‘global beauty consumer’ is emerging, as customers look to buy products manufactured and sold across the globe.
As a result, consumers increasingly expect coherent global regulation, believing that the quality, efficacy and safety of the products they buy should be assured, regardless of where the products are manufactured.
“We are moving closer to having a global consumer, so the expectations on safety are higher than they’ve ever been,” the head of the Canadian Cosmetics, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CCTFA) Darren Praznik has told CosmeticsDesign.
Regulatory alignment is also essential for trade across national boundaries, and is becoming especially crucial for the cosmetics industry in APAC region, as Asian beauty brands begin to dominate in the West.
One major hurdle for both countries and brands looking to get up to scratch when it comes to regulation is the rapid pace at which legislation across the region changes.
Speaking before the most recent in-cosmetics trade event held last year in Barcelona, Dr Khaiat, the founder of Seers Consulting, told CosmeticsDesign-Asia.com about the difficult rate of change brands are up against.
He explained that although sometimes a difficult feat, brands need to keep up with changes in order to present a viable beauty offering across the region: it seems Malaysia is one country now keen to up its game.


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News, views, and how-tos about streaming media players and content. Show notes at ludditelounge.com/episode28.
Today’s five topics in five minutes: Windows 10 battery charging fix, iOS 10 email sorting fix, unthreading option for Gmail on mobile, new Amazon streaming music service, and Galaxy Note 7 recall credit. Show notes at ludditelounge.com/episode17.
Today’s five topics in five minutes: Blogathon updates, contest heads up, Windows 10 reminder, Facebook video comments, smartphone sale. Show notes at ludditelounge.com/episode15.
Today’s five topics in five minutes: The future of Firefox, Kindle power, T4L series heads up, Facebook Live video updates, and Verizon Wireless/HBO NOW promo! Show notes at ludditelounge.com/episode11.


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The Latest News On The API Economy
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Travelex Business allows the company's partners including banks, credit unions, retailers and digital technology companies, to access a broad range of payments and foreign exchange services in one place. The launch of the Travelex Business platform follows a four-year digital transformation project.
Dwolla has adopted the Kotlin programming language, with a focus on helping its Java clients. Specifically, the company created a new Kotlin-based SDK for its API. Dwolla maintains that Kotlin is wholly compatible with Java and, more importantly, simpler to use and maintain.
Fifteen APIs have been added to the ProgrammableWeb directory in categories including Text-to-Speech, Passwords, and Travel. Highlights include APIs from TomTom for electronic vehicles and an API for displaying detailed golf course maps in applications. Here's a rundown of the latest additions.
The Edge browser team at Microsoft says adjusting its app for devices that fold might be better handled with an API. The recommendation comes ahead of the market debut of several folding phones from Huawei and Samsung. Both phone companies have worked directly with developers to customize apps.
Ballerina, the open-source project from WSO2 has reached 1.0 and now provides cloud-native middleware as a programming language. The language, based on creating and consuming APIs for app development aims to simplify how developers will build and deploy cloud-native distributed apps and services.
SWIFT, a financial messaging services provider that aims to be a leader in global banking standardization, has announced a new API standard for pre-authorization of funds. This new standard, which aims to simplify payment authorization, is the second standard proposed by the company this year.
Apple seeded an eighth round of betas to developers this week, bringing iOS 13 and iPadOS one step closer to public release. With Apple's annual iPhone event believed to be on deck for September 10, the new platforms should become available to regular people on or around September 17.
ABIB, a Baharain bank, announced the first opening banking API marketplace in the Baharain market. The marketplace is an API portal where third party developers can publish their FinTech APIs and integrate with the ABIB ecosystem. The portal is the first step of the company's open banking strategy.
Google this week distributed the fifth beta of Android Q. According to Google, this build is "very close" to what developers and consumers alike will see in the release of Android Q in the near future. Google is urging developers to update their apps for Android Q sooner rather than later.
If the number of APIs available in the Financial category of ProgrammableWeb is any indication, the FinTech industry has jumped all the way into the API Economy. There is a variety of subcategories, but the Financial category contains definitive API favorites from our members. Here are the top 13.
InstaReM has announced a new API-based platform that allows companies to deliver branded cards. The B2B platform allows third-party businesses to utilize InstaReM's ecosystem for payments and related issues. InstaReM ensures local compliance across geographies.
Microsoft has released an update to its WebView 2 SDK and announced broader access so that more developers can try it. WebView 2, a new WebView control that allows developers to host web content within native apps, was first unveiled at the Build 2019 conference in Seattle last month.
Google today released Android Q developer beta 4 with what the company says are the platform's final APIs and official SDK. This means developers now have the final set of tools they need to code apps for Android Q, which Google will release later this summer. Google also has plans for Firebase.
Apple's WWDC keynote showed the company any its polished best. The 2-hour, 15-minute extravaganza was heavy on user-facing updates to iOS for iPhones, watchOS for wearables, macOS for laptops and desktops, tvOS for Apple TV, and the brand new iPadOS for the iPad. Here's what's new.
Google has taken a renewed interested in user privacy and safety this year. It recently outlined a number of changes necessary for developers. Now, Google is moving further along this path with a focus on protecting kids from certain types of apps and in-app content in the Play Store.
Eighteen APIs have been added to the ProgrammableWeb directory in categories including Financial, Blockchain, and Recreation, and Movies. Highlights include the Play.tv API for video game streaming and the Boundless AI API for predicting user behavior. Here's a rundown of the latest additions.
IEX Group, Inc. has announced the release of IEX Cloud, a new platform that provides developers with access to curated financial data and various tools that streamline integration. This new offering will operate as an independent company, separate from IEX Group’s flagship stock exchange.
Dwolla has long used a ledger based organization system to track funds allocated through the Dwolla API. Now, Dwolla is exposing this functionality through a new API feature it calls Labels. Labels allow developers to track and identify fund allocation without duplicating accounts.
Mastercard recently announced the Mastercard Innovation Engine. The engine acts as a marketplace for next generation digital customer experiences. The marketplace allows Mastercard and collaborators to offer API access to customer-focused digital experiences through plug and play solutions.


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Companies briefsPUBLISHED: 18 Jan 2011 00:02:39 | UPDATED: 18 Jan 2011 00:02:39PUBLISHED: 18 Jan 2011 PRINT EDITION: 18 Jan 2011
Photon Group will write down the value of its Search Marketing businesses by $36 million in its most recent accounts, in addition to taking a $24 million loss on asset sales to date.
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Avoid Margin Erosion with Data-Driven Decisions: Retail TouchPoints Interviews Cheryl Sullivan, Revionics SVP of Product Strategy
At NRF this year, Cheryl Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Product Strategy for Revionics, spoke with Retail TouchPoints’ Alicia Fiorletta about how retailers can avoid margin erosion by taking a more data-driven approach to pricing and promotions. She stated that it’s critical for retailers to take advantage of the latest responsive merchandising science and technology innovations available in the market and to:
- Align their pricing policies against a strategic objective
- Understand which products they should be giving promotional offers and deals to
- Maximize the funds retailers obtain from their suppliers to help offset some of these promotions, so they aren’t doing these at the expense of their margins
Cheryl goes on to explain that it’s important to leverage the right promotional vehicles and how retailers can optimize the use of these different vehicles by using data and analytics to understand which products to promote, at what price, and in what vehicle, to generate strong demand, improve margins and strengthen customer loyalty. In short, bring your pricing and promotion strategies to life with an informed data-driven implementation approach.


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GRASONVILLE — The Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center has announced the release of their own brand of oysters called “Pearly Girl” in partnership with Harris Seafood Company.
The product launch party and dinner buffet will take place starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at Harris Crab House in Grasonville.
“We are pleased to partner with the Harris Seafood Co. on this endeavor as they have been long standing supporters of all of CBEC’s educational programs and restoration efforts as well as Harris Crab House,” said CBEC Executive Director Judy Wink.
“We truly have a unique partnership that showcases how the seafood industry and watermen can coexist with environmental community for the greater good," Wink said.
"The project has taken five years to get off the ground and 2019 will be our first harvest," said Vicki Paulas, CBEC Assistant Director and head of CBEC’s restoration efforts. "We are fortunate that our 2.8 acre lease is located right off the shores of CBEC and is only three nautical miles from Harris Seafood Co. so the public will be consuming very fresh oysters.”
CBEC will hold the event at Harris Crab House, which will provide a bull and oyster dinner buffet, along with wine and beer. Music will be provided by Justin Ryan. Pearly Girl merchandise will be available to purchase that evening as well as raffle tickets to win a pearl necklace pendant. Door prizes will also be given away.
Pre-registration is required and tickets to the event are $75 per person, which can be purchased only at www.bayrestoration.org/product/pearly-girl-eventregistration.
Proceeds from the event will be used to help support CBEC’s operations as well as expand its educational and recreational programs.
CBEC is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting stewardship and sustainability through environmental education, habitat restoration and recreational opportunities. The center, located in Grasonville, offers four miles of hiking and kayaking trails, as well as a myriad of wildlife for nature lovers to explore and observe. CBEC receives no state or federal funding for its operation. For more information about CBEC or to become a member, visit bayrestoration.org.


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Digital Toys Featured at Toy Fair
Posted on February 21, 2005The American International Toy Fair is underway in New York City. The Toy Fairlargest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere. More than 1,500 manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents from 30 countries showcase their toy and entertainment products.Each year the toys are getting more and more digital and Newsweek reports that the trend continues this year.
Jim Silver, the editor of Toy Wishes magazine, told Newsweek that by 2010 "they're going to have a toy dog that does everything but poop." Interactive toys this year include an upgraded Furby that can talk to kids and respond to words. Hasbro has an online video and website advertising the new Furby, your emototronic friend -- but don't get too excited yet -- the upgraded Furby isn't available until Fall 2005. Mattel's Fisher-Price is offering Elmo and Winnie the Pooh "Know Your Name" dolls that can remember and say a child's name. Not everyone agrees with the rush towards electronic toys.
Stephanie Oppenheim, publisher of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, told Wired, "I'm not convinced that having a doll that knows your name is important. Somehow, I think it robs kids of the magic of making up their own conversations."
Some big items can come out of each year's Toy Fair. For example, last year's Toy Fair saw the debut of Wowee's Robosapien, the dancing robot toy that was popular for the 2004 holiday season. This year Wowee has displayed The Roboraptor, which has sonar vision, hearing and can bite.


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HTC’s new One M9 is a beautifully designed phone that’s fast, lasts a long time between charges, and is genuinely fun to use. But like last year’s M8, the M9 is plagued with a camera that just can’t keep up with the rest of the smartphone competition. The M9 could have been a great phone, but its camera holds it back from being the best that it could be.
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#zeroby2040 has been trending on Twitter as Amazon, Unilever, IKEA and Michelin, among the 9 global corporations, have signed the ambition statement for purchasing ocean freight services powered by zero-carbon fuels by 2040. The deal, signed by Cargo Owners for Zero-Emission Vessels (coZEV), has been facilitated by the Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program (EEP).
The ambition statement sends an important demand signal to the maritime value chain and bunker fuel producers that freight customers want zero-carbon shipping and they expect the industry to rapidly accelerate its decarbonization efforts in the years ahead.”~ The Aspen Institute
The goal is to operate on fuels that will be sustainable across their whole life cycle, in order to decarbonize the entire supply chain of the freight customers.
Exploiting the benefits of Green Fuels
Keeping in mind the ever-increasing significance of sustainability throughout supply chains, increasing the usage of green fuels is a welcomed alternative.
Soren Skou, CEO, A.P. Moller-Maersk mentioned in his LinkedIn post that Maersk will continue its efforts to boost and grow the production of green fuels like ammonia and methanol. He also suggested that the green fuel revolution should transition at a global level to be thoroughly impactful.
“With logistics and distribution accounting for 15 percent of our total greenhouse gas footprint, it is vital we work with partners across industries to accelerate the transition to cleaner transport options”Michelle Grose, vice president, global (logistics), Unilever via LinkedIn post.
The initiative to minimize and eventually cease the usage of carbonized fuels was taken by coZEV in light of the alarming impacts of climate change throughout the world.
“The time to act is now!”Edgar Blanco, director, Amazon Sustainability
The news was welcomed by many in the global logistics and SC industry as it accelerated the metamorphosis towards zero emissions shipping and achieving the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.


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The winners were selected by an expert jury headed by an expert guarantor from CRIF – Czech Credit Bureau. The companies that participated in the competition literally form the backbone of the domestic economy and are among the most important employers in the Czech Republic. The fact that they are the driving force of the Czech economy has long been confirmed by family businesses – in 2023 they made up more than half of the nominees. Almost 40 percent of OCL participants belong to exporters, dozens of companies took part in the competition for the first time this year.
How are participants selected?
Traditionally, the nomination was based on the evaluation of the Cribis Index of the company CRIF – Czech Credit Bureau, which is the professional guarantor of the competition. Data from financial statements are collected for the last three years. Figures from 2020 and 2021 are evaluated, data from 2022 are only informative.
“We process the account data from the data listed in the collection of documents and they are automatically downloaded to the registration. Companies enter the competition on their own initiative or on the recommendation of the founder of the project,” informs the guarantor of the competition.
As is traditional, the three best companies in each region were also announced this year, and the winners of special categories also received awards: the Award for the greatest potential under the patronage of Enterprise Investors, the Award for Responsible Business under the patronage of CRIF Czech Credit Bureau and the All-Republic Leader under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which was supplemented this year by the new category Exceptional firm under the patronage of JŠK, law firm.
The Czech economy stands on the leaders
According to the founder of the project and business platform Helas, Helena Kohoutová, all nominated companies are important employers and ensure not only the economic but also the social stability of the Czech Republic.
“I have always been fascinated by the strength and tenacity of Czech entrepreneurs. They are people who are currently celebrating 25 or 30 years since the establishment of their business, and it is thanks to them that the Czech Republic has the wealth it has. I am talking about people who have built stable companies and it doesn’t matter if it’s a small, medium-sized, or large enterprise, but they are the ones on whom the republic stands, and without them there would be nothing to govern.” says Helena Kohoutová.
An important aspect is also the mutual connection of these leaders, Czech companies and corporations, who are trusted clients and suppliers, in the Business Platform Helas – Budujeme hrdé Česko.
“Participation in the project is free, but companies have the opportunity to join the community, which creates an extraordinary place for business development, relationships and inspiration. What is specific to our Business Platform Helas, which includes the Czech Leaders Award, Czech Exporters Award projects and the Award of Czech Businesswomen, is that it is made up of trusted clients and suppliers and thus creates a safe place for business and new relationships,” adds the founder of the project.
CRIF: Businesses have dealt with the crisis
CRIF – Czech Credit Bureau has been the professional guarantor of the project since the beginning.
Of the 97 nominated leaders, according to the Record of Real Owners, 48% have only one owner, 30% of them have two owners, and one tenth have 3 owners. More than 3 owners figure in 12% of nominees. Almost half of the nominated leaders are companies in which decisions about the status and future are concentrated in the hands of one person, because they have a single owner. The condition of companies is currently significantly affected by problems in the EU markets, especially in Germany. Rising wages, high interest rates and energy prices significantly increase the costs of Czech companies and reduce their competitiveness on the international market, which is a significant burden for an open economy.
“On the other hand, a relatively low rate of bankruptcies has a positive effect. Recently, the number of companies that are declared bankrupt on average annually has been decreasing. In 2021, there were 62 bankruptcies per month, a year later 58 and this year only 56. Favorable however, the development is not reflected in all sectors,” says Pavel Finger, member of the board of CRIF – Czech Credit Bureau.
“In the last twelve months, the transport and storage sector had the highest rate of bankruptcies, in which there were 27 cases per 10,000 registered companies. In terms of bankruptcies, the education, healthcare and social care sectors are doing best (3 bankruptcies per 10,000 companies) as well as the information and communication technology,” adds Pavel Finger.
“The number of companies continues to increase – that is, more companies are created than disappear, but the increase is slightly decreasing. This year, 18 new companies accounted for 10 companies that disappeared, a year ago there were 20 new companies, and in 2021 the ratio was 10:21. However, this positive phenomenon does not apply to all sectors. Companies in the trade sector have been declining for a long time. On the other hand, the highest growth was recorded in the sector of production and distribution of electricity, gas and heat, in which 43 new companies accounted for 10 defunct companies. The information and communication sector is also doing well technology with 38 new companies to 10 defunct ones. We are also recording positive news on the market, to which the participants of the Czech Leaders Award also contribute,” describes Pavel Finger.
You can read the entire press release HERE
ČTK publishes an image supplement to the report, which is available at http://www.protext.cz.


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John Opel, who served as IBM CEO from 1981 to 1985, passed away at the age of 86 last week, IBM confirmed Monday.
Apple became one of the world's most successful technology companies under Steve Jobs, and it remains to be seen whether new leader Tim Cook can sustain the company's market dominance and magic.
Cloud computing, security and the mobile space hold the most growth potential in the coming years, according to IT professionals surveyed by tech staffing firm Modis.
After a couple of high-profile departures, HP has announced some executive appointments, including a new CIO.
PayPal has opened a global operations center in Malaysia, its second in the region.
Phil McKinney, vice president and chief technology officer of Hewlett-Packard's Personal Systems Group, will retire from the company at the end of this year, he wrote in a <a href="http://philmckinney.com/archives/2011/10/goodbye-hp-2.html">blog post...
Olympus abruptly replaced its CEO on Wednesday after less than two weeks on the job, as pressure continues to build on the company over questionable deals in recent years.
IBM's announcement Tuesday that company veteran Virginia Rometty will take over on Jan. 1 as president and CEO from Sam Palmisano is the latest in high-profile changes at the top in key technology companies, including Apple, Yahoo, and Hewlett-Packar...
IBM has elected Virginia Rometty as president and chief executive officer effective Jan. 1, replacing Sam Palmisano, who will retain the chairman's role.
Steve Jobs was a brilliant-but-belligerent eccentric who transformed seven different industries, his biographer said in an interview that aired Sunday night on 60 Minutes.
Did you know that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs hated Android, Google's mobile operating system? I mean, really, really hated Android. How about the fact that the Apple II's design was inspired by a kitchen appliance and that Jobs never truly respected...
Hewlett-Packard's chief strategy and technology officer, Shane Robison, is retiring and will not be replaced, the company said Thursday.
Advanced Micro Devices has appointed former Apple iPhone development chief Mark Papermaster as chief technology officer, where he will take charge of developing AMD's future microprocessors and hardware.
CSC's Chairman and CEO, Michael W. Laphen, plans to retire from his position no later than a year from now, the company announced on Tuesday.
Robert W. Galvin, the son of the founder of Motorola and CEO of the company for 29 years, has died. He was 89.
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The Huddle Board’s built in program; Sharp Touch Viewing software allows us to easily manipulate and edit our documents (jpegs and PDFs) all at the same time on the dashboard.
The biggest perks for me would be that it comes with easy to use and comprehensive programs that make the collaboration process a whole lot more intuitive and organic
I rate the printer as a 5 out of 5 stars as it has been able to fit seamlessly into my busy and mobile lifestyle.
It’s perfect for mobile workers. Just take it out — it’s small enough to sit anywhere — turn it on, load a sheet of paper, and start printing.
The HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile Printer is a great device that fits perfectly into my fast paced and mobile lifestyle. My first impression of the printer itself was how incredibly compact and sleek the device was.
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Sony Imaging Edge software now available, allowing use of Sony A7R III’s new Pixel Shift mode
posted Friday, November 17, 2017 at 10:30 AM EDT
Sony has released the first version of their new editing software, Imaging Edge. The software allows for remote shooting, viewing images and RAW image processing.
The software can be downloaded for Mac and Windows by clicking here. If you want to take advantage of the brand-new Sony A7R III's Pixel Shift Multi Shooting mode, which is highlighted in the video below, you must use the new Sony Imaging Edge software because the combined RAW ARW files use a new proprietary format, ARQ.
For more information on the software and to download it for yourself, click here.
(Via Photography Blog)


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Plans to move to shift payment methods to parking apps is leaving many people who do not have smart phones disenfranchised, Brentwood Borough Council has heard. The complaint comes amidst the publication of the council's 10-year parking strategy for the borough which includes its “strategic fit” to meet its claim that “customers are conversant with technology”.
This includes a move to ‘pay on departure’ at all car parks, introducing automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology, account based parking for regular users, tap in, tap out systems, online payments and ‘easy to use parking apps’. But this plan has been met with concerns that not all motorists have smart phones or have the app on their devices to use this technology.
Councillor Phil Mynott (Lib Dem, Brentwood North) said at a meeting of the policy, resources and economic development policy committee on Monday: “I have had a resident coming to me who wanted to park in Sawyers Hall Lane – they were going to a doctors appointment so had to be there at a specific time - and found they could could only pay by means of an app. They didn’t have an app and didn’t have a smart phone.
"There are lots of people who don't have smart phones and by moving to a system where you have a parking app, which is great for people with a smart phone, leaves those who don't totally disenfranchised and cannot use Brentwood's parking."
The council has set out in its strategy that “through the use of technology, a modern parking service will make the experience of visiting, shopping and spending leisure time in our towns more enjoyable”.
It adds that reducing barriers and improving the service is one of the aims of a modern parking service. This will be achieved by making the choice of parking location easier and making payment for parking easier. In turn this will provide efficiencies for the council and greater benefits for the user.
It adds that modern systems will also make compliance easier, reduces the chance of users incurring a penalty and supports a better and fairer process of enforcement.
Greg Campbell, director of environment, said: "In term of apps and other things, we are looking at a modern car parking strategy and modern apps. It wont all be apps – it will also be tap in and tap out.
"Decisions like that if we are moving completely over to a service would come back to committee for discussion and decision and part of that maybe you would want to hold onto some cashless at some point.
"But the direction of travel should be moving away from that. Most people are moving to their phone with an app. It is the way society is going and we have got to prepare for that coming up in the future."
Councillor Chris Hossack, leader of Brentwood Borough Council, said: "This strategy runs us through for the next ten years. As we have done with all our strategies we revisit them from time to time but clearly the way people transact is changing.”
It is predicted that Brentwood town centre will require 850 parking spaces to serve the peak forecast in 2033 as car usage increases by 12 per cent. It adds the present parking provision of 1,000 spaces will be enough to cover the predicted future demand.


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While waiting for the definitive VAT regime on goods to be taxed in the country of their consumption, the European Commission last year announced four quick fixes to improve the current VAT system for intra-Community trade. These quick fixes should come into force from 1 January 2019. In brief they contain:
- a simplification and harmonisation of rules regarding call-off stock arrangements;
- a requirement that the VAT identification number of the customer will become a substantive condition for exempting the intra-Community supply of goods;
- a simplification of chain transactions to enhance legal certainty; and
- a harmonisation and simplification of the rules for proving the intra-Community transport of goods for the purposes of applying the VAT exemption.
These quick fixes were discussed during the ECOFIN meeting on 22 June 2018 but a decision was put on hold because certain EU Member States had introduced a fifth quick-fix relating to the VAT exemption for cost-sharing associations.
During the last ECOFIN meeting, the EU Member States and the European Commission came to an agreement on the (four) quick-fixes:
- the initial requirement of being a CTP for three of the four quick-fixes has been dropped. The Commission, who introduced this concept in VAT law, agreed to this outcome but stressed the importance of establishing the definitive VAT regime as soon as possible.
- the Commission committed itself to further examining the rules on the VAT exemption for cost-sharing associations and potentially will come forward with a proposal in this respect.
- after discussions in the European Parliament, the proposal on the four quick fixes can be adopted by the European Council.
- the four short-term quick-fixes are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2020. Thus, this has been suspended for one year compared to the initial Commission proposal.
Another important decision is the acceptance of the generalised reverse charge mechanism. This was a demand from the Czech Republic, who had previously blocked an agreement on the reduced VAT rate on e-books if this demand was not granted by the Council. Now, EU Member States will be able to use a reverse charge mechanism for all sorts of domestic supplies of goods and services, above a threshold of €17 500 per transaction. The mechanism can be installed up until 30 June 2022 and very strict technical conditions must be met. Among others, these are that 25% of the national VAT gap must be due to ‘carousel’ fraud and that appropriate and effective electronic reporting obligations must be implemented.
A third VAT decision is the authorisation for Member States to apply a reduced VAT rate for e-books. For many years this subject has led to various discussions between and amongst EU Member States, the European Commission and before the Court of Justice of the European Union. Now, the Commission’s proposal in this respect has been accepted. As a result, in the future it will be possible for EU Member States to apply a reduced VAT rate to e-books.
Lastly, in the ongoing battle against VAT fraud, further measures in the field of administrative cooperation between the EU Member States and between the national tax authorities and EU law enforcers have also been agreed to.
This ECOFIN meeting has shown that EU Member States are still able to compromise and to achieve improvements to the EU VAT system. However, the most important change still needs to be agreed on, namely the introduction of the definitive VAT regime for intra-community trade. The European Commission’s plan to tax intra-Community supplies in the country of destination, combined with a reverse charge mechanism for CTPs will certainly need much more discussion between EU Member States before it will be accepted. The outcome remains unsure.
Tiberghien’s VAT team continues to monitor all EU (and national) developments in the field of VAT law. If you would like to receive further information on any of the aspects discussed above (or any other aspects), then please do not hesitate to contact us.


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Google has just announced a new range of different programs and grants that are reportedly worth $25 million on Monday in order to fund works on other nonprofits and other social enterprises that are reportedly committed towards women empowerment.
According to an article by TechCrunch, Google.org’s brand new Impact Challenge, which was just unveiled during the International Women’s Day, is actually aimed at addressing the existing systematic barriers and other inequalities so that other women will be able to access economic equality, financial opportunities, and for them to be able to pursue entrepreneurism. This was according to the statement of Sundar Pichai during a recent virtual event.
Increasing the amount of women using internet
Jacquelin Fuller, the reported president of Google.org said at an event that whatever the teams need, they will be going alongside with them and also help them carry out their very own vision. The company also noted that it will be accepting applications coming from different teams worldwide up until the 9th of April.
Fuller then announced that they are also willing to invest another million in order to help the underserved women of India. Despite India being the whole world’s second largest internet market, women in general actually make up a very small percentage of the total online users throughout the country.
Google helps India
Some time five years ago, Google had launched a problem that they called Internet Saathi in order to bring internet literacy directly towards women in the rural parts of India. The company also noted that the program, for which they collaborated along with the Indian conglomerate Tata, was able to significantly help improve women’s participation over the Indian internet.
It was reported that four out of 10 internet users within the rural areas of India are actually women. This was according to Google that noted that this was up from one in 10 back in 2015. The company was also citing its own research noting that the Internet Saathi program also benefited over 30 million women over in India.
This is also now concluding that the main program will focus on some other efforts in order to continue the mission. The head of Google India, Sanjay Gupta, at a recent event, noted that the program actually created some sort of cascading effect.
One thing that is particularly important in this day and age is the internet, this is why the Google WiFi replacement is actually one of the most decent products manufactured by the company that can help boost the internet connection. For those wanting to take things a step further, Google Nest is something that helps users utilize the WiFi in order to turn their house into a smart phone.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.


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“Nick Mason is the only member of Pink Floyd to have played a part in every one of the band’s often turbulent incarnations. He bluntly stated in a new GQ interview that he thinks that Apple’s iTunes is rather passé,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.
It’s been interesting seeing how badly that went down. Let me be completely clear about my position: if Apple had come to me and said, ‘Nick, we want to release your album in exchange for £50m’, I couldn’t have thought of a better idea. [pause] Radiohead did something similar a few years ago [2008’s In Rainbows], and it worked. But this has backfired. It’s made everyone think again about how they want their music delivered, given or sold. Look, U2 are a great band, and Bono’s an extraordinary individual, so this isn’t an anti-U2 tirade.
But it highlights a vital aspect to the whole idea of music in the 21st century. What’s also interesting is that Apple seems to have gotten off scot-free. No-one’s blaming them. Apple has done great things, but it has also contributed to the devaluation process.
That said, iTunes is already beginning to look rather passé, and instead it’s Spotify that looks like the future. What we need is another two or three billion people using it, then it would make more sense for musicians.
Because of the internet music has become devalued. Maybe music was overvalued previously but it’s been devalued to a point where I think it’s a problem now because we miss out on a lot of good music that could be available but isn’t. — Nick Mason
More about MP3 player sound quality (or lack thereof) and a video of Mason discussing Apple, in the full article here.


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Wondering what LG has in store for the upcoming 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas? Wonder no longer. Today, about a week after taking the wraps off of new Google Assistant-equipped soundbars, the electronics behemoth detailed its forthcoming 2019 TVs.
The undisputed headliners are LG’s OLED sets: the Z9, W9, E9, and C9 series. The Seoul company says that all of its OLED TVs leverage an algorithm derived from a database of over a million “visual data” that determines the best way to display on-screen content. Moreover, the highest of the company’s high-end flatscreens — the 8K 88-inch Z9 TV — boasts higher processing capabilities, 8K upscaling, and improved noise reduction.
Driving those newfangled capabilities is LG’s Alpha Gen 2 AI processor, which can adjust picture settings to best suit ambient lighting conditions and “optimize” screen brightness in real time. It fully supports high dynamic range (HDR) content, of course, including standards like Dolby Vision, along with surround sound specs like Dolby Atmos. Additionally, it can optimize audio output automatically based on content type — for example, making voices “clearer” in movies and news broadcasts.
Joining LG’s premium lineup are a handful of cheaper LCD TVs: the 75-inch 8K (SM99) and “premium” SM9X and SM8X series. The latter two have a new brand — NanoCell TV — that’s a not-so-subtle nod to LG’s NanoCell technology, which it claims delivers superior color accuracy and viewing angles. They’ve also got “AI-enhanced” picture and sound, LG says, and support for 120 frames per second content playback. Other features of note include HDMI 2.1 ports (which support up to 8K signals at 60 frames per second), a variable refresh rate mode, and stutter-reducing automatic low latency modes.
Arguably more interesting than any one TV, though, is LG’s expanded partnership with Amazon, which will see an Amazon Prime Video shortcut join the button rows on LG’s new Magic Remote and Alexa ship on all of LG’s 2019 TVs.
Alexa on LG TVs is the full monty. Amazon’s voice assistant can control smart home devices, answer questions, tap tens of thousands of skills, trigger Alexa Routines, provide traffic information, check active Amazon orders, switch between TV channels, and more. It’ll also show “visually rich” results for some requests, like playback controls and album art, weather forecasts, and recipes.
LG is not hanging the Google Assistant out to dry, though. Google’s intelligent assistant is present and accounted for in LG’s ThinQ AI, which debuted on its 2018 TVs. Like Alexa, the Assistant can manage daily tasks, find answers, and control compatible smart home devices.
LG has yet to announce pricing for its refreshed OLED and LCD series, but don’t expect the OLED models to be cheap — LG’s 77-inch W7 OLED cost $14,999.99 when it was first released last year. We’re expecting to learn more next week.


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Edited by Lester Brathwaite on
Tanja Kiewitz, model and handless fox, recreated Eva Herzigova‘s classic Wonderbra ad. Reading “Look me in the eyes…I said the eyes,” the new ad is to promote Belgian’s handicap awareness group CAP48.
“I was a bit nervous about appearing like that in front of the photographer. I’m not a prude, but my arm has always been something very intimate for me.”
She went on to express the hope that handicapped people would be used in advertising. And why not? Disabled people buy things too.
Plus handless people are a lot less likely to shoplift.
LINK LOVE: The Huffington Post


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Alleging that the aggregators are disrupting the market by putting in huge sums of foreign investor money, the company said it has filed four different complaints with the CCI.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had earlier rejected similar allegations against Ola with regard to the Bengaluru market, saying there was no dominance as rival Uber too was a significant market player and denied interfering in taxi services market which is yet to fully evolve.
"We have filed four complaints against Ola and Uber in top four cities of operations. They have disrupted the dynamics of the business by pouring foreign funds in the market and selling services below cost and running into losses," said, Meru Cabs CEO Nilesh Sangoi. He further said though Ola and Uber are two entities competing among themselves, they have created a monopoly like situation.
Ola had announced raising $1.1 billion in a new round of funding from China's Tencent Holdings Ltd and SoftBank Group. Taxi hailing apps and radio taxi service providers are engaged in stiff competition in different markets across the country.
Ola and Uber could not be reached immediately for comments.
Sangoi alleged that huge subsidy to drivers, impractical discounts to customers offered by Ola and Uber have distorted the taxi service market. "Due to the capital backing, they sell below cost, add more cars on the platform and when they add more cars customers get the benefit of less waiting time and this in turn attracts more drivers as they get more trips," Sangoi said adding that this time the case is very strong to check on their unfair business practices.
He further said someone with no funding will have more price, less cars, less profits, more waiting time, and ultimately decline in the number of customers. The Indian taxi companies including Meru suffered huge setbacks and saw a blip in their business due to entry of Ola and Uber and competitors allege the rivals entice the drivers with lucrative schemes.
Tuesday, 05 Dec, 2023
- Poll Vault: D-Street Bulls Cheer BJP Feat in States
Analysts expect Sensex and Nifty to gain 4-6% ahead of Lok Sabha elections.Indian equities surged to all-time highs on Monday with the Sensex closing above 68,000 for the first time, as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong showing in state elections pumped up an already buoyant market.The High-powered ET Awards Jury
Next week, Mumbai will see a gathering of a distinguished group representing the best of Indian business: The high-powered jury that will select the winners of The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2023.


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*October 5, 2005 - *Olympus, which currently holds 15% of the Malaysian DSLR market, expects the introduction of the E-500 in November to boost their market share up to 30% by 2006, according an announcement made by Olympus (Malaysia) managing director Tan Tick Boon today. Tan added that DSLR sales in Malaysia averaged 1,000 units a month, with Olympus averaging 200, thanks to the E-300. Tan projected monthly sales of Olympus DSLRs to rise to approximately 600 after the E-500 hits the market, meaning that the E-500 is expected to sell to between 4,000 to 5,000 consumers by November of next year.
The EVOLT E-500, announced in the US on September 26, is the lightest DSLR currently on the market at 15.3 oz., and Tan hopes that the user-friendly portability will give Olympus an edge in appealing to entry level consumers. Growth of digital SLR sales in Malaysia is expected to double next year to 24,000, and Olympus clearly wants a piece of it.
Depending on which kit lens Malaysian users purchase with the E-500 body, the package is selling for 3,399 MYR or 2,999 MYR, equal to $900 and $795 respectively. This is exactly the cost of the two available US packages, although the more expensive US package includes two lenses rather than one. The available lenses in Malaysia are a 14mm-45mm lens or a 17.5mm-45mm lens.
Olympus is currently third behind Canon and Nikon in DSLR sales in Malaysia.


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French dairy company Danone SA (DANOY) announced the sale of its U.S. dairy business Stonyfield to Lactalis for $875 million Monday.
The sale is part of an agreement the company came to with the U.S. Justice Department's competition committee as part of its recent acquisition of fellow consumer brands company White Wave Foods Co. (WWAV) .
The sale is subject to final approval by the Justice Department, which is expected in the third quarter this year.
The sale price represents 20 times Stonyfield's 2016 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
Danone's shares rose 0.1% to $15.04 on Monday morning.
What's Hot On TheStreet
Here comes the Model 3: Tesla Inc.'s (TSLA) Model 3 has passed regulatory production requirements and the first cars will be on roads by July 28, its founder Elon Musk said Monday.
In a series of Tweets, Musk said the Model 3 has passed all regulatory requirements two weeks ahead of schedule and it is "expecting to complete SN1 on Friday", a reference to what could be the first model off the production line. The offering up of a delivery date is only likely to fuel Wall Street's obsession with Tesla and Musk. TheStreet takes a look at what is driving the infatuation.
The second half of the year is now underway: Get ready to pick some stocks. As the sun sets on the first half of 2017, TheStreet decided to look ahead to how the market may perform on the other side of June 30. We rounded up three of of top minds to ask what sectors and stocks they like going into the year's second half. While Amazon (AMZN) and Walmart (WMT) were two notable large-caps on the list, there are several other names that may come as a surprise.
Food halls are booming: As retailers like Macy's (M) , Sears, (SHLD) and J.C. Penney (JCP) sink deeper into the pit of no return, a star in the sector has risen and is shining brightly for purveyors and customers alike, TheStreet's Michelle Lodge reports.
The sparkly object? Food halls.
U.S. food halls are sprouting up everywhere, according to a new Cushman & Wakefield report: in the first nine months of last year, the number of food halls increased 61%, and more are in the pipeline, especially in New York, which has a fourth of them. By 2020, according to the study, some 200 major food halls, up from 150 currently, are expected to be operating throughout the country.
Google and AI: Google may be an "AI first" company, but few people who work there actually use the term artificial intelligence, TheStreet's Annie Palmer reports.
That's because it doesn't actually describe the seismic shift currently happening across all of the Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) unit's products. The better word for that process is machine learning, which is the technology that's making our computers think and act more like humans, said Peter Norvig, an AI scientist and a director of research at Google, in an interview with TheStreet.
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We also have our weekly look at the global dairy markets with Charlie Hyland at StoneX.
PFF Group invests £2m in packaging technology at new site
UK food packaging company PFF Group has installed a £2m ($2.6m) thermoforming system at its Sedgefield site as part of a £4m ($5.3m) investment program in new process technology for packaging in the dairy industry.
Developed in partnership with German manufacturer Illig GmbH, the thermoforming system was transported to the UK on five vehicles and is the first of its kind in the world.
It will be used to manufacture PFF’s fully recyclable, food-grade packaging concept, IMPAC-T, which was launched in response to increased demand from food manufacturers for reduced plastic in packaging.
Illig designs, develops and manufactures thermoforming machines. PFF’s technical team and Illig designed a system to produce PFF’s rPET hybrid pot with a card wrap in a single process. This results in a reduction in overall carbon footprint of the product.
PFF Group CEO Andy Bairstow said, “IMPAC-T is a technological breakthrough for the manufacture of food-grade packaging in the UK. As a business, our core values are innovation, sustainability and creativity, and this system meets each of these attributes, it’s been fantastic to see both companies work closely together to deliver the project.
“PFF’s bold strategy to invest in advanced technology once again demonstrates our commitment to the complete recycling process. Using rPET gives industries like the dairy sector an opportunity to switch from traditional polypropylene to circular economy packaging.
“Our IMPAC-T product has the potential to revolutionize not just dairy, but all other food sectors where sealed-in freshness is essential and where reduced plastic and lower carbon footprint are sought after by consumers.”
Matthew Revels, sales and marketing manager at Illig, said, “We took on this exciting development project in partnership with the team at PFF nearly two years ago and this week we have the pleasure of consigning this brand-new technology to the UK market.
“This partnership between Illig and PFF has proven highly successful through each stage of the design and development process. It has produced a strong working relationship between the two teams and established sound foundations for future development projects which are already in place to meet the demands of the ever-changing packaging market.”
MILCH and Novel Therapeutics Lab working on HMO use for chronic illnesses
As medical research further dives into viable all-natural medicines, there is a form of treatment drawing interest that comes from an unlikely source – human milk.
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are the largest non-nutrient, bioactive component of human milk.
While the use of HMOs for infant nutrition – in some formulas and, of course, breast milk – is not new, the concept of potentially using HMOs for chronic illnesses is. HMOs could completely change the way we treat complex chronic illnesses such as IBS, forms of arthritis, dermatitis and more.
Dr Ardythe Morrow is Professor of Epidemiology and Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. There, Dr Morrow co-directs the MILCH (Milk, microbiome, Immunity and Lactation in Child Health) and Novel Therapeutics Lab, and through her work has published extensively on breastfeeding promotion and human milk protection against infectious diseases.
PerkinElmer launches new FT-IR platform for quality and safety testing of dairy foods
PerkinElmer, Inc. has launched its new FT-IR liquid food testing platform including instruments, software and streamlined workflows.
The LactoScope 300 system, which expands PerkinElmer’s FT-IR dairy portfolio, detects key markers such as fat, protein and lactose levels in milk, cream and whey. Adulterants including urea, ammonium sulfate, maltodextrine, sucrose and water can also be detected in raw and processed milk.
Step-by-step pre-developed workflows and intuitive touch-screen and software interfaces enable users to simply place liquid samples into the instruments, push a single button and receive results on a 12-inch touch screen in under 45 seconds, allowing 60 samples to be run each hour. With the streamlined approach, new users can also learn to perform mission critical analyses in seconds.
“Dairy, wine, and other liquid foods are staple items on tables around the world and it should be simple to have access to important data to help create products that are safe and perform as expected,” said Greg Sears, VP and GM of food at PerkinElmer.
“Having intuitive, affordable and powerful testing and analysis solutions like the LQA300 and LactoScope 300 FT-IR systems gives customers the insights to make more informed, real-time decisions and take actions to improve quality, reduce waste and meet both regulatory and consumer demands.”
The new FT-IR platform is part of PerkinElmer’s food analysis portfolio spanning dairy, beverages, grain, seafood, meat, produce, oils and spices, and cannabis testing workflows.


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|Aflatoxin contaminated pet food also in the EU
Aflatoxin containing dog food has been identified in the USA some weeks ago. But regarding to the following statement of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this food has also been exported in 29 countries including those of the European Union. |
|FDA Statement FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 30, 2005
The FDA is conducting an investigation into the deaths and illnesses of dogs that consumed pet food contaminated with a potent toxin called aflatoxin.
To date, FDA is aware of 23 dogs that have died and another 18 dogs that have become ill. The pet food is made by Diamond Pet Food at its Gaston, South Carolina facility.
Customers who have purchased the recalled Diamond Pet Food manufactured in the South Carolina plant should immediately stop using it and return any remaining product to their retailer.
Aflatoxin comes from a fungus found on corn and other crops and can cause severe liver damage in pets. Consumers are urged to contact their veterinarian if their pets exhibit any of the following symptoms which may indicate aflatoxin consumption:
Loss of appetite
Jaundice (yellow whites of the eyes, gums, belly)
Severe, persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea
FDA also has discovered that some of the recalled product was exported to at least 29 countries, including countries within the European Union. These countries have been notified.
FDA is continuing to investigate the situation and is working closely with the state feed regulatory agencies in the affected states.
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Gloucestershire-based Tutex has selected an Iveco Trakker Hi-Land 6×4 rigid as the launch platform for its new Vac-Con X-Cavator – a powerful vacuum and high-pressure water system which allows companies to locate and excavate around utilities without causing damaging.
The firm, which holds the exclusive rights to distribute Vac-Con products in Europe, selected the Trakker (AD260T33) chassis to be its European demonstrator on the back of service delivered by local dealer Aquila Truck Centres.
“Aquila and Iveco showed a passion for the project which wasn’t necessarily shared by other truck dealerships we made enquiries with,” said Tutex sales manager, Jack Page. “It was clear from the start that they had our best interests at heart and the Trakker represents the perfect on/off road chassis for the terrain we’ll need to tackle.”
The Trakker chassis afforded bodybuilding flexibility for the Vac-Con X-Cavator system, which is manufactured in North America and designed for companies seeking to move large quantities of earth in a short amount of time.


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The statues, sarcophogi, urns and amphorae that crowd the new Greek and Roman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art might be ancient, but the revellery that took place there Wednesday night was nearly Dionysian. The Bulgari family hosted a dinner to celebrate the opening of their redone Manhattan store, drawing Margherita Missoni, Emily Mortimer, Victoria Traina, Serena Boardman and Fabiola Beracasa. Meanwhile, her mother, Veronica Hearst, Lee Radziwell and Gina Lollobrigida gave the younger set a run for their money.
“Don’t crush me on your way in everyone,” joked the museum’s director, Philippe de Montebello, as he welcomed the guests for a tour of the galleries before dinner.
Nearby, a well-heeled and almost exclusively Spanish-speaking crowd convened at Carolina Herrera’s Madison Avenue boutique to preview and purchase designer masks created for the upcoming El Museo del Barrio gala. “I love everything Latin. The food, the dance, everything,” Herrera said, leaning back and flourishing her arm as if she were to punctuate the thought with a grand “Olé!”
The designer’s enthusiasm for the cause was contagious. “I just had to buy Ralph Rucci’s mask,” Joanne de Guardiola gushed. “I could have bought five.”
Further down on Park Avenue, Arie and Coco Kopelman were honoring their daughter Jill Kargman and her new book “Momzillas.” The scene was practically a chapter come to life, with Manhattan mummies Jennifer Creel, Celerie Kemble, Helen Schifter and Muffie Potter Aston in attendance.
And down at the Gramercy Park Hotel, a fashion heavy crowd showed up to Allure’s party for photographer Patrick Demarchelier. Among those in attendance were Diane von Furstenberg, Andre Leon Talley, Michael Kors, Linda Wells, Amy Astley, and Rachel Zoe, all of whom said they love the designer, even if they cannot understand half of what comes out of his mouth. “He speaks his own language,” said Kors. Lowell called it “Franglish.” “I understand every third word,” said Wells. “The rule of the conversation is: Keep it simple,” advised Astley.


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Displaying results 1 - 8 of 8
EU should consider trade impacts of new climate change mechanism
14 Jul 2021
The mechanism could help avoid “carbon leakage”, but its impact on climate change would be limited – only a 0.1% drop in global CO2 emissions – with higher trade costs for developing countries.
Why trade must be part of the solution to biodiversity loss
21 May 2021
Unsustainable trade is behind the biodiversity crisis threatening our existence. But done sustainably, international commerce can help protect our planet’s precious resources.
Women in rural Namibia profit from biodiversity-friendly trade
19 May 2021
The sustainable use and trade of indigenous plants has created valuable economic opportunities for 2,500 Namibian women and their communities.
How regional trade agreements can improve access to medical products during crises
10 Mar 2021
By UNCTAD Economists
The developing world must get ready to adapt its trade to climate change
3 Mar 2021
By Isabelle Durant, Acting Secretary-General of UNCTAD
Countries hail leadership of outgoing UNCTAD chief
4 Feb 2021
Member states from across the world fete Mukhisa Kituyi for his stellar service and staunch support for the aspirations of the global south.
UNCTAD updates principles to promote biodiversity-friendly trade
18 Jan 2021
Guidelines to help governments, companies and consumers benefit from sustainable trade in precious plants and animals now include elements such as climate resilience and marine biodiversity.


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24th Sep 2020 in Community
As the kids are back to school, the darker nights draw in and it’s less than 100 days to go until the big day, many of Northern Ireland’s keenest Christmas fans may already have their festive preparations under way.
And producers at Cathedral Quarter based television company, Afro Mic Productions are no different, as they gear up to film a brand new documentary for BBC NI celebrating 60 years of Christmas in Northern Ireland!
The one hour documentary entitled ‘Our Christmas’, promises to be a feel good programme which will include couples, friends and families of all ages re-living memories from Christmas’ past – and producers are keen to hear from those who interested in taking part while sharing their Christmas videos and memories from across the decades.
Maybe you, your mum or gran still talk about favourite festive seasons from the 1960s, 70s, 80s or 90s, or perhaps the whole family had a few cracker Christmas’ more recently which they’d all like to share again?
Casting Producer of ‘Our Christmas’, Kerry Reid said, “we can’t wait to find some of the best Christmas stories out there, and want to hear from people who have Christmas home videos and photos that they’re willing to share with us and our viewers. Remember videoing the kids racing downstairs to see if Santa had been and left the latest toy? Cramming around the table for Christmas dinner? Dad sleeping off the Christmas pudding? And gathering around to watch Christmas movies? No matter what your story, we would love to hear all about it!”
Managing Director of Afro-Mic Productions, Emma Rosa-Dias said “This will be such a fun and joyous programme to take part in, as we will also be recounting moments in Christmas history – remember the Co-Op Santa sleigh, Christmas shopping at Leisure World and the annual grand reveal of Anderson & McCauley’s Christmas window display! There will be tons of nostalgia as we also take a look back at Christmas number 1s, Christmas movies and more recently, the battle of the best Christmas adverts!”
The production process will be contactless as the production team adhere to strict coronavirus filming guidelines, so if you’re interested in finding out more, please get in touch via email email@example.com or on 07946 234766