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Puma has set aggressive goals to reduce energy and water consumption and waste creation 25 percent by 2010, based on 2005/2006 results, according to the company’s 2007/2008 sustainability report.
According to the report, the reduction target for electricity was already achieved in 2008, while it still has a way to go to meet its water reduction target. Water consumption remains stable with the exception of a peak in 2007, which the company attributes to plumbing problems in one office. To reduce water consumption at its two largest facilities, the company installed automatic water shut offs for sinks in Boston and now uses grey water and dry urinals for toilets in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
Average waste production was reduced significantly on a per employee basis, according to the report. As of 2008, more than two thirds of Puma’s offices have engaged in waste recycling, resulting in the recycling of approximately one third of the total waste generated.
The company’s new headquarters in Germany, Puma Plaza, showcases several energy- and water-saving features. The plaza covers 50,000 square meters and includes an administrative building, Brand Center and a concept and factory outlet store. A photovoltaic (PV) power system is planned for the outlet building, which will produce 70,000 kWh per year of electricity. Automatic lighting sensors will also be installed to turn off lights if employees aren’t at their desks.
Combined with 140 square meters of solar modules, built into the window facades, the company will save 35 tons of CO2 per year, according to the report. The PV system is expected to last 25 years, which will save 875 tons of CO2.
In addition, water is heated partly through solar energy with solar roof panels on the administration building. In the future, toilets will be flushed with rain water collected in a cistern.
Puma is also focused on eliminating harmful substances from its products. The company said it was the first sporting goods company to ban PVC from its lines, and now uses alternative materials that are more sustainable or renewable. In 2007, Puma also enforced the mandatory testing by suppliers of all products against its restricted substance list (RSL).


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What has been decided – and what has not?
On 14 July 2021, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) approved a project to prepare for the potential issuance of a digital euro. Although the ECB stated the project does ‘not prejudge any future decision on the possible issuance of a digital euro’, this marks a significant step towards its launch.
Outside China, the ECB is now the only major central bank that has said it is seriously considering issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The apparent aim is a ’retail CBDC’ that can be used by end users in form of ‘a riskless, accessible, and efficient form of digital central bank money.’
The responses to the ECB’s consultation suggest that the public are enthusiastic about the introduction of a digital euro, which should give the project plenty of impetus. However, given the many uncertainties around the design and functions of a digital euro, the unclear impact on the business model of credit institutions and the functioning of monetary policy, the rapid technical developments in this area and reliance on end-user acceptance, a cautious and iterative approach seems prudent.
Will a digital euro become a DLT-based CBDC?
Alongside its decision, the ECB published its key technical learnings from the earlier experimentation phase. Most importantly, the ECB confirmed that ‘there were no major technological restrictions for any of the topics assessed’, although it had assessed a broad range of design options.
This means that the ECB can select from a broad range of technical solutions for its digital euro. The ECB concluded that a digital euro could be developed on centralised technology and distributed ledger technology (DLT), or a combination of both.
For instance, the Eurosystem-operated and central ledger system TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) could be extended to issue and distribute a digital euro. Alternatively, the ECB could issue value tokens called ‘digital bills’ via a DLT-only solution that would enable users to open wallet accounts with third-party service providers.
The ECB also tested combinations of DLT and central ledger design solutions that put more reliance on existing financial intermediaries in the issuance, distribution, and transfer of digital euros. These solutions are primarily account-based.
The alternative would be a bearer-instrument-based CBDC that permits offline peer-to-peer transactions. These bearer instruments may be understood as a true digital alternative for physical coins and bank notes, although also they would need to be synchronised with the online ledger at some point.
Further aspects that were tested concerned the interplay between anti-money-laundering requirements and privacy concerns, and how end-users could initiate transactions. The European Data Protection Board, which brings together the EU’s data protection authorities, recently emphasized the importance of such considerations and offered its support to ensure that user privacy and data would be protected ‘by design and default’.
Why should financial institutions take a closer look?
In its press release, the ECB mentions that it will define ‘a business model for supervised intermediaries within the digital euro ecosystem’ over the next two years. This clearly refers to the fact that the new CBDC may rely on financial intermediaries, such as credit institutions, payment institutions and wallet providers, for its issuance and related payment transactions. The ECB also emphasised that a digital euro would only be successful if it proved value for everybody involved, including financial intermediaries.
Whether institutions will actually benefit from a digital euro may depend on whether they are willing to adapt their business models to the changed payment infrastructure but also on the technical solution that will be implemented. Institutions should observe these developments closely to ensure that they have the technical capabilities to support a digital euro.
The ECB has established a new digital euro market advisory group (MAG), which will advise on the design and distribution of a potential digital euro from an industry perspective and complement the work of the Euro Retail Payments Board.
What are the next steps?
The ECB said that, in October, it will begin two years of further research and stakeholder engagement to determine the final design of the digital euro.
At the end of this period, the ECB aims to start developing a digital euro, which it expects will take another three years.
Therefore, a digital euro could be issued as early as at the end of 2026.
The wider EU and international context
Although it is being developed by the ECB, the digital euro very much fits into the European Commission’s broader strategic goals of economic, financial and technological sovereignty, as well as boosting the international role of the euro.
As set out in the Commission’s retail payments strategy, payments have become more strategically significant, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The drive towards instant payments (which we should hear more about later in Q3 2021) and the launch of the European payments initiative (EPI), a private-sector project that aims to offer a pan-EU payment solution (with Commission and ECB backing), are other elements of the Commission’s strategy to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in the payments sector.
In addition, as part of its digital finance strategy, the Commission has recently proposed legislation to create a comprehensive legislative framework for cryptoassets, including stablecoins. In the Commission’s view, the proposed legislation, which is currently going through the EU’s legislative process, aims not to regulate out, but rather regulate in, private-sector solutions (and thus enable them to compete fairly with any European proposition).
However, there are many voices, including in the European Parliament, who argue that such private-sector initiatives ‘undermine monetary sovereignty’ and that a ‘digital euro is a necessity for Europe to achieve digital sovereignty… [and] the best answer to private initiatives’.
We understand that the Commission, as well as the Eurogroup (which has shown full support for the initiative), will support the ECB in this next phase, including to understand whether any amendments should be made to the EU’s existing financial services framework. As set out in a letter accompanying its announcement, the ECB will continue its close dialogue with the European Parliament, particularly as its support is needed for any legislative amendments.
Work on a digital euro will, of course, continue in parallel to discussions at an international level, with questions inevitably arising regarding its use/interoperability internationally, including when it comes to cross-border remittances.

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Samsung SDI Co., the only South Korean battery major lacking manufacturing facility in the United States, has chosen Stellantis N.V. for its first overseas joint venture on EV battery production, making the cross-border automaking group behind Fiat Chrysler brands a finished car partner to two Korean battery names.
According to industry sources on Tuesday, Samsung SDI signed a memorandum of understanding with the world’s No. 4 automaker, a day after LG Energy Solution struck $3.4 billion venture with the multinational company on JV manufacturing facility with 40GWh annual capacity.
Details about Samsung SDI’s investment size and factory location will be announced later.
Samsung SDI has battery production facilities in Korea, China and Hungary, while none in the U.S. where its rivals LGES and SK Innovation have been eagerly expanding to ride on the U.S. EV and green push.
Samsung SDI during a conference call on second-quarter earnings admitted it no longer can delay a facility addition in North America in response to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) designed to benefit local production of electric vehicle parts in North America when it goes into effect in 2025. The company recently said it is considering multiple site candidates, including Illinois.
Stellantis born out of a merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and French automaker Groupe PSA in January recently announced it plans to invest more than 30 billion euros ($35.5 billion) in electric vehicles and new software through 2025 as part of a major push to transition away from internal combustion engines. It is the third-largest EV brand in the U.S. market.
Shares of Samsung SDI closed 3.12 percent higher at 727,000 won on Tuesday.
[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]


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|Exports of textile and garments, leather and footwear hit $15.9 billion in the first four months|
According to the latest report on trade and industrial manufacturing in the first four months by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the textile and garment, leather and footwear industry in the first four months has reached $15.9 billion.
This is a positive sign as some of Vietnam’s major export markets gradually recovered while Vietnamese companies have taken better advantage of new free trade agreements.
Especially, the export turnover of the textile and garment sector was estimated at $9.51 billion, up 9 per cent over the same period in 2020, while fibres of all kinds increased by 43.4 per cent to $1.64 billion (the same period last year was only $1.14 billion); and fabrics and other technical fabrics increased by 35.7 per cent, reaching $215 million.
Export orders also soared in the leather and footwear industry, reflected by an export turnover of $6.392 billion, up 18.7 per cent against the $5.38 billion of the corresponding period last year.
In April, the production index of textiles increased by 2.7 per cent over the previous month and by 17.3 per cent over the same period in 2020. The index for the garment sector increased by 3.9 and 29.4 per cent, leather and related products by 1.8 and 29.3 per cent.
For the first four months, the production index of the textile sector increased by 7.8 per cent over the same period, garments increased by 9.5 per cent, leather and related products increased by 11 per cent.
Some products achieved good growth in product volume against the past year, such as fabrics made from natural fibres (up 10.1 per cent), production of textiles from synthetic fibres and synthetic fibres (up 6.4 per cent); casual clothing (up 8.9 per cent), and leather footwear (up 13.3 per cent).
In 2021, the textile and garment sector targets $38-39 billion of export turnover, while the leather and footwear industry has set a target of over $20 billion.
By The Hai
- Vietnam expected to overtake China in leather, footwear exports to U.S. market
- Apparel sector urged to develop supporting industry to optimise EVFTA
- Footwear exports to expand this year
- Exporters to gain under trade pact
- Cambodia's garment workers fear EU trade threat but producers optimistic
- Securing Raw Materials Key to Competitiveness of Indonesia's Textile Industry
- Textile: Indonesia's New Export Darling
- Vietnam likely to achieve 10% export growth this year
- Manufacturing industry sees growth in February
- Exporters want to see tax waivers continued: Survey
- Businesses, management agencies team up to boost exports to Eastern Europe
- Vietnam’s export turnover to expand 8-10 pct in 2018
Flourishing exports in textile and garment, leather and footwear industries have 402 words, post on www.vir.com.vn at May 7, 2021. This is cached page on VietNam Breaking News. If you want remove this page, please contact us.


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The Samsung Galaxy J family is well and alive in Malaysia, with the 2016 models recently launched locally. However we may see yet another model coming soon to the market, and it may have the moniker Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime.
When compared with the recently announced Samsung Galaxy J7 2016, the Prime is set to feature better specs all around. It should receive a better screen (1080p rather than the 720p of the 2016 model), 3GB of RAM, and 32GB. The Prime is also set to receive a front 8-megapixel camera as well. Finally, a first for the J-series, the Prime will feature a front fingerprint scanner just like its bigger brothers.
Will we see this upgraded J7 Prime for Malaysia market? We have to wait and see – so stay tuned to TechNave as we bring more news of in in the near future.


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MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/01/2022) – In a groundbreaking new study, researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities used a custom printer to fully 3D print a flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. The discovery could result in low-cost OLED displays in the future that could be produced widely using 3D printers by anyone in the home, rather than by technicians in expensive microfabrication facilities.
The research is published in Scientists progress, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
OLED display technology is based on converting electricity into light using a layer of organic material. OLEDs function as high-quality digital displays, which can be made flexible and used both in large-scale devices such as TV screens and monitors as well as in portable electronic devices such as smartphones. OLED displays have gained popularity because they are light, energy efficient, thin and flexible, and offer a wide viewing angle and high contrast ratio.
“OLED displays are typically produced in large, expensive, ultra-clean manufacturing facilities,” said Michael McAlpine, Kuhrmeyer Family Professor at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and senior author of the study. “We wanted to see if we could essentially condense it all and print an OLED display on our tabletop 3D printer, which was custom built and costs about the same as a Tesla Model S.”
The group had tried 3D printing of OLED displays before, but they were struggling with the uniformity of the electroluminescent layers. Other groups partially printed screens but also used spin coating or thermal evaporation to deposit certain components and create functional devices.
In this new study, the University of Minnesota research team combined two different printing modes to print the device’s six layers, resulting in a flexible, fully 3D-printed organic light-emitting diode display. . The electrodes, interconnects, insulation and encapsulation were all printed by extrusion, while the active layers were spray printed using the same 3D printer at room temperature. The prototype screen measured approximately 1.5 inches on each side and had 64 pixels. Every pixel worked and displayed light.
“I thought I would get something, but maybe not a fully functional display,” said Ruitao Su, the study’s first author and a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2020. .a graduate who is now a postdoctoral researcher at MIT. “But then it turned out that all the pixels were working and I can display the text I designed. My first reaction was “It’s real! I couldn’t sleep all night.
Su said the 3D printed screen was also flexible and could be wrapped in an encapsulating material, which could make it useful for a wide variety of applications.
“The device exhibited relatively stable emission over 2,000 bending cycles, suggesting that fully 3D printed OLEDs have the potential to be used for important applications in soft electronics and portable devices,” said Su.
The researchers said the next steps are to 3D print OLED displays with higher resolution with improved brightness.
“The good part of our research is that the manufacturing is fully integrated, so we’re not talking about 20 years with a ‘pie in the sky’ vision,” McAlpine said. “It’s something that we actually made in the lab, and it’s not hard to imagine that you could translate that into printing all kinds of screens ourselves at home or on the go on the go. just a few years, on a small portable printer. “
In addition to McAlpine and Su, the research team included mechanical engineering researchers from the University of Minnesota, Xia Ouyang, postdoctoral researcher; Sung Hyun Park, who is now a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology; and Song Ih Ahn, who is now an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Pusan National University in Korea.
The research was funded primarily by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the National Institutes of Health (Prize # 1DP2EB020537) with additional support from the Boeing Company and the Minnesota Discovery, Research, and InnoVation Economy (MnDRIVE) initiative. via the State of Minnesota. Portions of this study were conducted at the Minnesota Nano Center, which is supported by the National Science Foundation through the National Nano Coordinated Infrastructure Network (NNCI).
To read the full research paper titled “Flexible 3D Printed Organic Light Emitting Diode Displays,” visit Scientists progress website.
The title of the article
Flexible 3D Printed Organic Light Emitting Diode Displays
Publication date of the article
Warning: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of any press releases posted on EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information via the EurekAlert system.


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The AFC South is going to have a slightly different look in 2018, and that's because half the division will be rocking new uniforms next season. The Titans announced on Thursday that the new uniforms will be unveiled on April 4. Although it's been known since last August that the team would be getting a new look for 2018, this is the first time the Titans have given a date on when their new uniforms will be revealed. Tennessee's announcement comes one week after the Jaguars announced they would also be unveiling new uniforms in April. So what will the Titans' new uniforms look like? Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk offered a few vague hints during an interview with Paul Kuharsky back in August.
Titans to unveil a new uniform in just weeks, here's what fans want to see
CBS Sports | Feb 24


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There’s been a lot of talk about record-breaking inflation, but the latest indicator of concern for financial institutions – pointing to a possible medium-term recession involves credit cards.
The latest data shows Americans owed $887 billion in credit card debt as of the second quarter. That’s a 13% increase from the previous period.
Worse yet, the same data shows that 60% of Americans who earn less than $50,000 per year are carrying a credit card balance month-to-month.
Experts say the time is now to reduce that debt load as quickly as possible. The feds increasing interest rates will continue having an impact on everyday borrowers who are using credit cards to pay for essentials.
FingerLakes1.com recently spoke with a Marion resident, who shared their frustration about the cost of practically everything.
“Using a credit card for minor expenses or everyday expenses wasn’t standard before,” Rachel Smith explained. The 34-year-old has two children. “Just the bare bones cost at the grocery store has increased $40 to $50 per visit, I’d say. Gas prices are also a lot higher.”
Utility companies are warning that home heating prices may also be significantly more expensive this winter.
Credit counselor Karyn Rando recently told 13WHAM-TV that the average consumer is spending upwards of $400 per month on essentials. “We’re seeing more people take out credit cards over the last year to supplement their income to pay for those living expenses they can no longer afford, and now they’re struggling to make those payments on those credit cards,” she explained.
Experts and consumers agree: It’s a tough combination, and a trend that likely cannot be maintained for long.


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Electric GT40 named ‘Racing Legend of the Year’
Everrati’s electric version of the iconic GT40 has been praised by GQ magazine for its authentic design and 21st-century EV powertrain.
The electric version of the iconic endurance racer is the first model to be developed by Everrati through a strategic partnership with Superformance. Based in Jupiter, Florida, Superformance is a global leader in the manufacture of 1960s-era continuation component sports cars.
Everrati’s mission is to preserve and enrich some of the world’s most revered automotive icons, equipping them for a new age of zero-emission mobility while maintaining and enhancing the character of the original.
The British company’s passion for celebrating classic high-performance driving in a contemporary, sustainable manner dovetails with GQ magazine’s radical refocus of its annual Car Awards for 2022.
Paul Henderson, speaking on behalf of GQ said: “For 2022, we made the decision to update the GQ Car Awards and make all the winners electric-powered. What remained unchanged, though, was our intention to pick machines that are inspiring, interesting, have automotive integrity and, most importantly of all, get our pulse racing.
“The GT40 is a legendary machine. Its place in history is assured by its back story and its performances at Le Mans in the 1960s. But what really appealed to GQ about Everrati’s Superformance GT40 is how authentic the car is engineered, while being enhanced by a 21st-century EV powertrain. Everrati and Superperformance have set the standard for continuation conversions that we think even Carroll Shelby would have approved of.”
Justin Lunny, Founder & CEO, Everrati Automotive Limited, commented: “It is a huge honour to have the GT40 we have developed with Superformance named ‘Racing Legend of The Year’ in the GQ Car Awards 2022.
“To have the car’s historical pedigree recognised in such an awards ceremony that focuses exclusively on sustainable, electric-powered cars is a double bonus.”


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Public opinion surrounding marijuana and cannabinoids has transformed remarkably over the last several decades. Many states now allow the use of marijuana, THC, or cannabinoid products for medicinal reasons. Substantially fewer states have legalized pot for recreational purposes, but even that would have been unimaginable even just ten or fifteen years ago.
Cannabinoids are any compounds produced by the cannabis plant (essentially, the marijuana plant). And we’re still learning new things about cannabis in spite of the fact that it’s recently been legalized in several states. It’s a common idea that cannabinoid compounds have widespread healing attributes. But research implies a strong connection between the use of cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms but there are also conflicting studies.
Numerous forms of cannabinoids
There are numerous varieties of cannabinoids that can be consumed today. It’s not only pot or weed or whatever name you want to give it. Other forms can include topical spreads, edibles, inhaled vapors, pills, and others.
The forms of cannabinoids available will differ state by state, and most of those forms are still actually illegal under federal law if the amount of THC is over 0.3%. So it’s important to be careful when using cannabinoids.
The issue is that we don’t yet know very much about some of the long-term side effects or complications of cannabinoid use. Some new research into how cannabinoids affect your hearing are perfect examples.
Research into cannabinoids and hearing
Whatever you want to call it, cannabinoids have long been linked with improving a wide range of medical conditions. According to anecdotal evidence vertigo, nausea, and seizures are just a few of the conditions that cannabinoids can help. So the researchers wondered if cannabinoids could help manage tinnitus, too.
But what they discovered was that tinnitus symptoms can actually be triggered by the use of cannabinoids. According to the research, more than 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid products reported hearing a ringing in their ears. And tinnitus was never previously experienced by those participants. What’s more, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to describe experiencing tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption.
Further studies suggested that marijuana use may exacerbate ear-ringing symptoms in those who already have tinnitus. In other words, there’s some fairly persuasive evidence that cannabinoids and tinnitus don’t really work well together.
The research isn’t clear as to how the cannabinoids were consumed but it should be mentioned that smoking has also been linked to tinnitus symptoms.
Unclear causes of tinnitus
The discovery of this link doesn’t reveal the underlying cause of the relationship. That cannabinoids can have an impact on the middle ear and on tinnitus is pretty obvious. But it’s a lot less evident what’s causing that impact.
There’s bound to be more research. Individuals will be in a better position to make wiser choices if we can make progress in comprehending the link between the numerous forms of cannabinoids and tinnitus.
Don’t fall for miracle cures
Recently, there has been a great deal of marketing hype around cannabinoids. That’s partly because perceptions about cannabinoids are quickly changing (and, to some extent, is also an indication of a desire to turn away from opioids). But some negative effects can result from the use of cannabinoids, particularly with regards to your hearing and this is demonstrated in this new research.
Lately, there’s been aggressive advertising about cannabinoids and you’ll never avoid all of the cannabinoid devotees.
But this research certainly indicates a strong connection between tinnitus and cannabinoids. So regardless of how many ads for CBD oil you see, you should avoid cannabinoids if you’re concerned about tinnitus. The connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms is unclear at best, so it’s worth exercising some caution.


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Washington, 19 September 1996 (RFE/RL) -- In 1992, as Russia was ending its traditional lavish funding for the arts, Kirov ballet dancer Andrei Bossov got what he thought was the chance of a lifetime -- an American businessman asked him to move to the United States to start and build a new ballet company.
Bossov jumped at the chance and soon his young company based in the north Atlantic coast state of Maine was winning critical acclaim for its productions of the classic ballets. But Bossov knew nothing of funding or business -- he had grown up in the subsidized ballet schools and companies in the U.S.S.R. -- and the local businessman who handled the financial side of the company didn't do very well.
Last December, according to the "Wall Street Journal," it looked as if certain bankruptcy after the company spent $200,000 on a production of the Nutcracker and sold only $80,000 worth of tickets. It turned out that bills had gone unpaid for months and angry creditors began hounding the company for their money. Bossov retreated to St. Petersburg, Russia, feeling completely overwhelmed.
But a retired 56-year-old U.S. Marine colonel, whose daughter was studying with the company, stepped in and agreed to take over the business side of the company.
Michael Wyly urged Bossov to return to Maine. When local citizens wouldn't help save the ballet company, Wyly called on old friends and colleagues from his days in the U.S. Marines, considered the toughest of America's fighting forces.
With the aid of a new board of directors now made up entirely of former marines, the ballet company is getting back on its feet and creditors are being repaid.
Bossov told the "Journal" that he trusted the marines because "In the Kirov when I danced, I saw a lot of (Soviet) marines there at any performance." He said the Soviet equivalent of the marines often came from ballet-loving families that were part of the aristocracy before the revolution.
Wyly and his old marine friends partly took the challenge because they thought Bossov's father had been a colonel in the Soviet marines. But when the translations were worked out, they found that Bossov's father was a shore-based naval officer, not a marine.
But the American marines were committed to the project and say they'll stick with Bossov.
"We consider Andrei Bossov part of the American dream," says Wyly.
U.S. Helicopter Maker Signs Deal With Romania
A U.S. helicopter manufacturer has signed a memorandum of understanding with the State Ownership Fund of Romania setting out the ground rules for a plan to purchase a majority ownership of IAR Brasov.
The purchase of the Romanian company is to take effect simultaneously with the issuance of a contract for 96 attack helicopters with the Romanian Ministry of Defense. First deliveries of the new helicopters, a variant on the American Bell AH-1W helicopter, are due to begin in 1999.
U.S. Brewer To Sell Beer In Russia
The Miller Brewing Company, one of the largest producers of beer in the United States, has signed a three-year distribution agreement with a Russian company, Stanley Beverages Ltd.
Miller says it will sell two types of beer in Russia -- Miller Genuine Draft, a traditional light American lager, and Miller Magnum 7.2, a new stronger beer devised for the Russian market. The beer will be sold in one-third liter bottles and half-liter cans. Stanley distributes beverages to 50 sites throughout Russia, according to Miller.
The End Of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status
For years, the term "Most-Favored-Nation" regarding trade status has confused people around the world because it sounds as if it confers some special ranking or position to another country.
When the term was first introduced into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) agreement decades ago, it did refer to a trade relationship between a handful of nations. But now, with more than 120 nations in the GATT successor World Trade Organization (WTO) and almost every nation on earth having MFN status with every other country, it simply means normal or regular trade relations.
But the name carries such exalted connotations that when the United States required that MFN status for communist nations be renewed each year, countries took it as a nasty slap in the face.
Now the U.S. Senate has passed a bill to remove the phrase from the American trade lexicon. If the bill is passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the president, Most-Favored-Nation trading status will become simply "Normal trade relations."
The bill's sponsors, Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-New York) and William V. Roth (R-Delaware), call it "a blow for clarity."
But for those who love grand-sounding titles and an image of superiority, there will be great sadness at the passing of Most-Favored-Nation status. "Normal" just doesn't impress anyone.


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Growth has been attributed to the fact that larger cruise ships are visiting the Caribbean tri-island state
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Author: Rebecca Gibson/Wednesday, September 16, 2015/Categories: News, Building and refurbishment, Cruise news, Fincantieri
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has laid the keel of Seabourn’s latest all-suite ship Seabourn Encore, which is set to debut in late 2016.
Held at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard in Italy, the keel-laying ceremony was attended by Antonio Quintano, the shipyard’s director, and Keith Taylor, executive vice president of Fleet Operations at Holland America Group.
“Set to debut as the most modern and acclaimed ship in the ultra-luxury segment, the keel laying of Seabourn Encore represents another pivotal stage in the evolution of small-ship cruising,” said Richard Meadows, Seabourn president. “This is an important milestone and we look forward to revealing further progress and highlights of Seabourn Encore in the months ahead.”
Modelled on Seabourn’s Odyssey-class ships and designed by Adam D. Tihany, the 41,700gt Seabourn Encore is the first of two luxury cruise ships Fincantieri will build for the line over the next three years.
The ship will be configured with one additional deck, new expanded public areas, suites with private verandas and is expected to carry just 600 guests.
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Not to sound like a broken record or anything, but the broad-based S&P 500 hit its fourth consecutive all-time record high.
Like yesterday, economic data had very little to do with the move so much as it improved earnings across a wide swath of industries. In fact, as you'll see below, today's three top performers all rallied because of their earnings results. Tomorrow's Mortgage Brokers Association Index and Thursday's initial jobless claims could be the big S&P 500 catalysts over the coming days, but earnings remain the driver in the meantime.
For the day, the S&P 500 finished higher by 8.46 points (0.52%) to close at 1,625.96.
Leading the S&P 500 higher was fashion accessories maker Fossil , which blew past the Street's estimates in the first-quarter and gained 9% on the day. For the quarter, revenue rose 15% to $680.9 million as adjusted EPS gained 16% to $1.08. Results were driven by double-digit watch growth, a 22% rise in direct-to-consumer sales, and a nice reversal in Europe, where its wholesale business grew 14%. Furthermore, Fossil raised its full-year EPS forecast for the year to a range of $6-$6.26 from its previous outlook of $5.85-$6.15. While I've long been a fan of Fossil, this report could also foretell that a big beat is coming for Michael Kors , with which Fossil has a watch manufacturing agreement.
Oil and natural gas driller EOG Resources had an incredibly strong day, gaining 7.7% following an estimate-crushing first-quarter report. Revenue for the quarter jumped 20% to $3.36 billion as profits soared 53% to $1.82 per share as it increased its oil production by a third. EOG attributed its success to new refinement techniques in completing wells in the Eagle Ford shale region, which should allow the company to expand faster than its rivals. Comparatively, Wall Street had expected just $3.12 billion in revenue and $1.17 in EPS. Led by a truly incredible CEO in Mark Papa, there's no reason why EOG can't head even higher.
Finally, satellite TV provider DIRECTV tacked on 6.9% after its first-quarter results also easily topped estimates. Thanks to $1.38 billion in share repurchases as well as the addition of 604,000 net subscribers, DIRECTV reported a nearly 8% increase in revenue to $7.58 billion as EPS increased to $1.43. Analysts, on the other hand, had expected $7.53 billion in revenue but just $1.10 in EPS. The key for DIRECTV is in the differentiation from DISH Networks, which is allowing consumers more choices and helping to increase average revenue per user in a very challenging economic environment. Still priced very reasonably, DIRECTV's run higher may not be over.
Can this hot retailer head even higher?
Michael Kors is one of today's hottest high-end fashion brands, and that's translated into one of the best-performing stocks in retail -- since its debut on the market in late 2011, the share price has more than doubled. But with all that growth, has the stock finally become too expensive or is there still room left to run? The Motley Fool's premium report on Michael Kors gives investors all the information they need to make the right decision. We cover the key must-watch areas, opportunities, and threats to the company that investors need to know. To claim your copy, simply click here now for instant access.
The article Today's 3 Best Stocks originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Sean Williams has no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen name TMFUltraLong, track every pick he makes under the screen name TrackUltraLong, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle @TMFUltraLong.The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Fossil. It also recommends DIRECTV. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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/// The newsonomics of the mobile aggregator roundup
What are we to think when the aggregators start getting aggregated?
That’s what’s happening in the mobile aggregation space. Put those two little words — mobile and aggregation — together, and you’ve got intrigue. Aggregation as in the long-debated snippetizing, curating, synthesizing, and more of the voluminous news content created by legacy companies — the kind of aggregation that once drove U.S. publishers mad and still drives German ones into a tizzy. Mobile as in the newest new, the landscape to which we’re all going — the untethered, Steve Jobs-powered Internet without cords.
So mobile aggregation is the hottest thing around. Ask Akshay Kothari and Ankit Gupta, the cofounders of tablet aggregator Pulse. Their three-year-old company just exchanged its independence for $90 million in fast-climbing LinkedIn stock. Ask 17-year-old Nick D’Aloisio, the English teenager who was the face of smartphone aggregator Summly and traded it to Yahoo in March for about $30 million. Ask Mark Johnson, CEO of Zite, which CNN snapped up last summer for a little less than what D’Aloisio got. All of that leaves the mobile aggregation leader, Flipboard, alone in its independence. It also makes it a greater object of affection. As Google and others eye Flipboard, its price tag has now reached $400-500 million.
So what we can make of this spate of deals, and what do they mean to news companies? As the unhealed wounds of the first round of web aggregation still chafe, what did publishers learn from it and how are they approaching this next mobile round? What are the newsonomics of this great mobile roundup?
It’s absolutely clear why companies are (over-)spending on mobile aggregator plays. Mobile is the greenest field around. We — news consumers — are flocking there. The speed of our migration is breathtaking. About a third of all traffic to news sites now comes from mobile, up from just 25 percent a year ago. Tablet usage, as early adopters are joined by legions of others, keeps growing, and smartphones (which just officially passed dumb phones) are markedly increasing news audience consumption worldwide. (The New York Times debuted a new mobile site yesterday, with the promise of more mobile movement to come.)
The common belief: Mobile traffic will exceed web traffic within two to three years.
But mobile monetization still gives everyone fits. Match up the 33 percent usage number for news publishers against ad monetization that amounts to no more than 10 percent of their overall digital advertising; for most, it’s considerably less than that.
Google and Facebook are, of course heavily investing in mobile ad plays; with Facebook’s last financial report viewed favorably because of its mobile progress. Neither are there yet; even as the tablet holds immense ad potential, the small screen of smartphones bedevils marketing muscularity. If you compare time spent on various platforms to ad money spent, mobile time is the most underrepresented. That will change, and the smartest digital ad players know today’s game is all about positioning, being ready to benefit from the flow of ad dollars, euros, and pounds as money moves more quickly from print, and yes, even web to mobile.
Mobile’s great ad growth is captured in the mid-April IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) report:
For the second year in a row, mobile achieved triple-digit growth year-over-year. The past year saw the mobile category surge 111 percent to $3.4 billion, pivoting off of 2011’s record-breaking 149 percent year-over-year rise to $1.6 billion. Mobile accounted for 9 percent of total internet ad revenue in 2012.
So in pursuit of Google and Facebook, Yahoo is clearly playing catchup — there as elsewhere — and Marissa Mayer’s acquisition of pubescent Summly, is just one small step in that pursuit. LinkedIn’s mobile strategy has been seen as lagging; Pulse’s tablet presentation — the conveyor belt, or the Automat of the last century brought to the new — helps it further position itself as a news stop for its business influential audience.
Design is an important part of these acquisitive moves. One reason these companies have value on the market is that they stand out. It must be said: For the most part, news companies have once again missed a chance to innovate, to make something new of a new platform. Flipboard, Pulse, and Zite each saw the potential of tablet news and magazine feature reading early and set to work to present it harnessing the glowing touchscreen. Now Flipboard 2.0 (build your own magazine) and Zite 2.0 are moving to a next generation. The best newspaper sites have mastered the utilitarian basics, but they hardly break new presentation ground. They also emphasize a single brand, where plainly many readers relish cross-title variety and a bit of serendipity. Innovation on tablet news design has been minimal, and it’s outsiders who largely deserve the credit for it.
One noteworthy exception: AP Mobile. While it lacks the finesse of Flipboard, it delivers a national and local experience, bringing in hundreds of local news feeds into its tablet and smartphone products, and is one of the top news apps downloaded in Apple’s App Store. AP Mobile is a rare case of newspaper cooperation, building a single customer experience; now it’s up to AP to deliver the next-generation mobile experiences.
By contrast, the magazine industry has gone another direction. Its Next Issue Media consortium stands as a first-of-its-kind compact among the Big Five magazine publishers and offers a great deal ($14.99 a month for unlimited access to 80 top titles) for consumers who want access to multiple titles. But it’s still a 1950s read-title-by-title paradigm in a partial Flipboard world (“The newsonomics of the Next Issue magazine future”).
Yes, a partial Flipboard world. Let’s return to the place of aggregation in a more mobile world. Web aggregation snuck up on news sites worldwide. At one point, Google was just a funny word. But within a few quick years, news companies saw that Google had become the web’s primary destination and that they were dependent on it for 20 to 40 percent of their traffic. They railed about the company’s unfair use of fair use, a legal doctrine born in the pre-digital age, but have been unable to do much about ceding their central place in the digital world to the search giant.
As the world’s moved mobile more quickly than anyone — including Google — expected, everyone’s trying to figure how news will be found on the smartphone and the tablet. If you’ll recall, in announcing his mobile breakthroughs, Steve Jobs declared the obsolescence of search: In an app world, who needed it? It sounded like great hyperbole, but it’s become unevenly true.
Think about how you access CNN or the Times or Slate or Fox News on your phone or tablet. There’s a good chance it’s through a tap on an app, either a native app, or one you’ve created out of the mobile browser. That’s quite different from the use of a browser’s address bar or search box we’re accustomed to on desktop and laptop. While Google still provides 20 to 40 percent of web referrals to news companies, its referral potency on mobile devices is reduced. By how much? The data is too disparate to measure precisely at this point, but the change in behavior is clear. (Just yesterday, BuzzFeed reported a significant drop in search traffic across its tracking network — although others dispute their math.)
So where do news companies find themselves, as desktop/laptop reading flattens in minutes and mobile increases? Are they concerned that Flipboard, Pulse, Zite, Summly and the rest will do what Google did to them on the web — get between them and their direct relationships with reader customers, reader customers who are now increasingly being asked to pay for digital and all-access? Not really. There are a couple of reasons why:
Flipboard may be the big dog, but’s it’s no Google — yet — in reshaping the publisher/reader relationship. Publishers say that while mobile may make up 33 percent of their traffic, Flipboard and other mobile aggregators only send a low single percentage point of readers to their sites. Their site traffic is heavily social and somewhat more direct, especially with those emphasizing native apps. Yet publishers can’t really quantify how much traffic may be going to Flipboard and not clicking through to publishers’ mobile sites. Indeed, in its latest numbers, Flipboard claims 53 million readers, and points to Flipboard 2.0′s inspired growth over the last couple of weeks. Those readers “flipping” 6 billion pages monthly have got to be spending less time elsewhere.
Publishers have taken a new tack with the new aggregators. They’ve been much more aggressive testing partnerships with the mobile aggregators than they were with web aggregators early on. Atlantic Media, Forbes, and Vanity Fair are among the more than 50 publisher partners who provide full-text feeds for Flipboard’s design optimization — and sell advertising shown next to that content on Flipboard. They give Flipboard about a 30 percent revenue share of those ads sold. That’s a join-’em-rather-than-fight-’em (or buy-’em) strategy for now. In a positive light, we can say that publishers have ceded much of the mobile aggregation play and the cutting-edge presentation technologies to startups, using those platforms to extend their audience and ad reach. In a questioning light, we can wonder whether Flipboard will become the Google of mobile aggregation and able to drive its own deals.
Given the roaring adoption of paywalls, the intersection of mobile aggregator and publisher interests reach a new crossroad. So far, Flipboard has agreed to only two full integrations, with The New York Times (allowing its paying customers full access within the app) and with the FT, which is still in progress. Flipboard tells me it is reluctant to commit to many more such integrations, especially with regional news publications. That’s understandable; it’s a lot of work, and without the scale of NYT/FT global news interest, Flipboard’s own return is smaller.
For its part, Pulse has tested a paid content niche test with the Wall Street Journal; both it and Zite have done ad sharing deals as well, but not on Flipboard’s scale.
Yet in a world in which all-access circulation is the leading core strategy, we’ve got to wonder if a distributed content strategy — such as partnering with Flipboard — is sufficiently served by simply selling advertising — even high-priced tablet ads. It may be. But much sooner than later, publishers will have to tote up their scores and see if they mastered the second round of aggregation much better than they did the first.
Nieman Journalism Lab - Ken Doctor, Author of “Newsonomics: Twelve New Trends That Will Shape the News You Get”


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Grazia's Lupita Nyong'o cover highlights hair bias in the media
Founder of World Afro Day Michelle De Leon shared her thoughts on channel 4 news regarding the recent row over Grazia magazine's Lupita Nyong'o cover.
In response to the row, Michelle said 'Our hair shouldn't be altered or changed by anybody to fit into a European beauty standard. That's what hair bias is about, it's about saying our hair is not acceptable by the beauty industry.'
Watch the full interview below.


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Wall Street took a pause near record highs as investors digest quarterly earnings and brace for FOMC tonight. Nasdaq underperformed slipping 0.5%, dragged lower by Microsoft and Tesla, whom despite earnings beating expectations have sold-off. Federal Chairman Powell is expected to repeat his longstanding message that irrespective of inflationary pressures, policy will remain accommodative until the economy and labour market recovers. Though a potential recalibration in quantitative easing could be on the horizon especially as the Bank of Canada last week become the first of G7 central banks to began scaling back purchases.
Results were mixed in Europe, but overall market action was subdued. The European Parliament will vote on the Brexit trade deal to approve the agreement and allow the EU to punish Britain with tariffs should post-Brexit obligation fail to eventuate. Meanwhile, the European Commission proposed new rules in response to the competitive threat foreign state-owned companies pose against domestic counterparts.
In Asia, the Japan’s Nikkei edged higher on better-than-expected retail sales figures. Australia’s S&P200 up 20 index points as inflationary pressures disappoint consensus giving ammunition for the RBA to remain accommodative.
Despite global demand outlook being uncertain arising from uncontrolled outbreaks in India, Brazil and now Philippines. The OPEC+ meeting concluded with member states in agreement to progressively increase production in the coming six months by 5.2m barrels a day. Still, crude rallied just over $1 to $62.95 on the news.
The U.S. dollar gained against a basket of majors as investors speculate potential groundwork could be laid by the Federal Reserve in tightening overall monetary policy. Elsewhere bitcoin closed back above $55,000.
Figure 1 (Source: IS Prime) XPDUSD Daily : Palladium set to post 3 consecutive weeks of advances as supply remains tight.
Headliner to Review
- Consumer confidence in the U.S. jumped from 109 to 121.7 beyond consensus as positive sentiment is spurred by the success of vaccinations and on-going government expenditure.
- Quarterly CPI figures disappoint in Australia posting 0.6% whilst 0.9% was expected. The biggest contributor to price increases was automotive fuels however was offset by a bigger than anticipated fall in durable goods.
Headliner to Watch
- Canadian retail sales is expected to expand 4.0% following further easing in social distancing measures.
- Crude inventory set to go back into deficit from 0.6M to -0.9M. despite the likes of India and Brazil clouding global demand.
- The Federal Reserve will announce their monetary policy today, with no changes expected to either the policy rate or purchases, but speculation is rife that outlook may turn less dovish.
Any opinions, news, research, analysis, prices, or other information contained on this website is provided as general market commentary, and does not constitute investment advice.


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Electronic Entertainment Expo eyes an online pivot
There's really no reason to leave the house
When all of this hellishness is over and in the rear view a decade or two from now, historians will remember 2020 as the year everything moved online. And that’s continuing in 2021, with news today that the Electronic Entertainment Expo is considering going strictly digital for its next edition.
First, the suggestion that everything is now online isn’t 100 percent accurate. As much as you can take a digital stroll through the park by pulling on your Oculus headset, there’s little denying you feel better by getting a little fresh air once or twice a month. But why bother going to the grocery store, movies, theatre, shooting range, ski hill, or local boxing ring when you’ve got your laptop, smart phone, Xbox, or Commodore64? More than ever, the entire world is at your fingertips.
It’s not exactly breaking news that COVID-19 has been both awful and great for the booming world of esports. The downside has been huge for those with a stake in enterprises like the Overwatch League, where the pandemic has torpedoed planned live matches in arenas across North America. On the positive side, with many of us sitting around the house with hours to kill, we’ve tuned into esports in a big way online.
And that bodes well for the 2021 Electronic Entertainment Expo.
The event also known as E3 has the proverbial rug pulled out from underneath it last year when COVID-19 upended the world. And with the pandemic still wreaking havoc across the globe, organizers have recognized there’s little upside to staging a physical version of the event in 2021.
The Video Games Chronicle has reported that E3 is pulling together plans for a digital version of the showcase. Traditionally the Electronic Entertainment Expo is where major gaming announcements are made by some of the industry’s major players.
VGC reports that there are plans for a three-day event from June 15 to 17. The showcase will be live-streamed and include everything from an awards show and previews to presentations from gaming influencers and publishers.
Still, there are details that need to be ironed out, including getting the greenlight by the gaming companies who are part of the Entertainment Software Association, which organizes E3.


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Stock markets volatility this week might be a sign that the long period of stock boom is coming to an end.
President Trump’s Thursday announcement of new tariffs on imports from China took US stocks down to the lowest in six weeks, and almost to the lowest point of the year.
Trump’s measures to limit Chinese influence on American economy weren’t limited by just tariffs on $60bn worth of products. There is a whole bunch of sanctions including restrictions on the acquisitions of American firms by Chinese ones and on technology transfers.
Investors fear that China now will place tariffs on American goods exported into China.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said Beijing would “take all legal measures to protect our interest” if the US took “actions that will harm both China and itself”.
Currently, the balance between Chine’s export to the USA and American export to China is tipped in favour of China. The country exports much more to its American partner and consequently benefits more of this trading relationship which was the cause of bitterness in Trump’s administration.
However, trade restrictions will negatively impact the volume of trading and companies in both countries will suffer.
Thursday’s plunge, when the Dow closed more than 700 points down, was not just about the companies most exposed to China, although they definitely performed worst: stock prices of Boeing and Caterpillar, for example, both dropped 5%.
Other shares also dropped including those of banks and tech firms: the tech-packed Nasdaq slid 2.4% and the broad Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index dropped 2.5%.
Facebook has also contributed to the general picture of gloom by losing about 10% of its market capitalisation in the wake of Cambridge Analytica case.
It looks like the bright optimism that marked the start of the year has faded down a bit with the looming trading wars and increasing borrowing costs for companies. The fear is that the negative impact will be widespread.
“Trade tariffs are starting to emerge as a bigger market head wind than originally thought. The strong U.S. and global economic and fiscal policy tail winds are starting to be overtaken by the proposed tariffs, the Fed’s softer-than-expected economic outlook for 2018 and the fallout from the Facebook issue.”
Ivan Feinseth, director of research at Tigress Financial Partners.


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Leakers have continued to reveal the government's cyberspying techniques and cybercriminals may now use the same techniques to hack you. » Read More
By: Todd Haselton
Dejian Zeng, who worked undercover at a Pegatron factory building iPhones, says assembly lines of US workers won't work. » Read More
By: Matt Hunter
The way to prepare for a more automated future is to know how to use technologies relevant to your work, said Google's Peter Norvig. » Read More
BlackBerry is interesting today is that it provides an example of an incumbent business being disrupted by sprightlier newcomers, The Verge reports.
Wireless carriers are being directed by regulators to add support for web and phone number links, as well as longer text messages.
One social enterprise is offering a win-win - combating food wastage by connecting hungry consumers to restaurants willing to sell leftover food cheaply.
Samsung acted with "arrogance" and "double standards" in the handling of its Galaxy Note 7 recall in China, state broadcaster CCTV wrote.
Apple's newest operating system, iOS 10, pits Apple against Facebook and Snapchat. That means some cutting-edge texting options.
A YouTube video purports to show iPhone 7 users how to self-install a headphone jack—with predictably disastrous results.
It's looking likely that iPhone models slated for 2017 will adopt a glass exterior, according to technology blog 9to5Mac.
Snap is expected to conduct a "closed" rollout of new camera-mounted Spectacles, The Information reported.
The move took 11 points off the Dow Jones industrial average, with the stock as the third-greatest contributor to declines in the index.
Component orders for Apple's iPhone 7 have risen, one report said, providing another hint at how the device may be selling.
BlackBerry says it will rely on partners for any hardware efforts, Recode reports.
Russia's answer to the iPhone will go on sale in 2018 for a starting price of only $130, the country's state news agency TASS has reported.
U.N. Creative Director Gabo Arora wants to make people feel and see pressing humanitarian issues through virtual reality storytelling.
Gary Dickerson predicts consumers will see a large adoption of OLED displays for mobile devices and more drastic changes to the screen.
Jabil Circuit's stock dipped on Thursday as it announced a restructuring, despite posting results that topped expectations.
Apple is spending more to manufacture its iPhone 7 smartphone than predecessor iPhone 6S, according to a teardown by IHS Markit.
Verizon has begun taking orders for Samsung's new Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, after stopping sales of the device earlier due to fire-prone batteries.
"The iPhone 7 for us has been a smashing success," Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure tells CNBC.
In a surprise announcement this morning, the software giant unveiled its latest Nokia 216 feature phone.
Global smartphone makers, like Apple and Samsung, are increasing looking to India for growth and the Indian government is flexing its muscles.
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ALBERT RENÉ EDITIONS ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT EUROPE FOR THE ASTERIX AND FRIENDS GAME!
Lyon, April 8th, 2016 – Drawing on this success, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe has decided to manage the game from March 2016. The game Asterix and Friends, developed by Sproing, is currently accessible by through a browser on the website https://apps.facebook.com/asterix-and-friends/ and is available in 4 languages: French, English, German and Spanish.
Albert René Editions are proud of their partnership with a world renowned company, a leader in the video game sector.
Baptiste Cazaux Head of Licensing: “We are very proud to announce this partnership with BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe on our game Asterix and Friends which is already a real success on Facebook. It’s very important for us to have a leader company to help us to continue the development of this fantastic game.”
“We are tremendously happy to be collaborating with Les Editions Albert René on the successful Asterix and Friends game. This move strengthens our portfolio of western licenses which, alongside our core IPs coming from the east, will allow us to truly provide more fun for everyone!” said Tatsuya Kubota, Head at Mobile & Web Gaming at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe.
New developments will be announced soon and without a doubt many players around the world will soon join the adventure in Gaul!


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Some want to sip mimosas and luxuriate over their mani-pedis. Others want their polish done just right, but in a jiffy. GLOSSLAB founder Rachel Apfel Glass is a busy mom who wanted elegance with efficiency on repeat.
Seeing a “gap” in the market for manis during the busy work week, Glass created GLOSSLAB, a hygiene-first, membership-based, waterless nail studio — that is soon to officially open its first DC location in Georgetown at 1533 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
Since opening its first location in New York’s Flatiron District, GLOSSLAB has become a favorite of famous names like Jennifer Garner, Neil Patrick Harris, The Bachelor’s Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell, P.K. Subban, and Minka Kelly, and is exploding with new locations up and down the East Coast.
Whether patrons want their classic mani/pedi constantly refreshed, changed to match each outfit, or touched up on demand, GLOSSLAB has every visit included in an unlimited membership.
If Georgetown’s membership is like other new locations, membership will begin at $99/month for the first three months ($135/month thereafter). This includes as many manicures, pedicures, polish changes, touchups, etc. as members like. And if those nails need a break, they can put GLOSSLAB on pause until ready again for polished perfection.
GLOSSLABS has hype and a commitment to focus on hygiene. DC’s new membership-based studio features technology-enhanced modern services (think online booking, cashless payment, and contactless check-in and check-out). DC-area members will also look forward to choosing from a variety of trendy performance-based products, like long-lasting gel and non-toxic polishes that they may not find at other nail salons.
According to EastBanc’s Philippe Lanier, who brokered the deal to bring GLOSSLAB to its Georgetown properties, “GLOSSLAB has taken the nail industry by storm and created an experience, grounded in its commitment to hygiene, that EastBanc believes will be well-received by the Georgetown clientele… We foresee GLOSSLAB quickly becoming a staple in D.C., as it has in many other cities, and look forward to watching their success in the years to come.”
GLOSSLAB is planning to open in Georgetown at 1533 Wisconsin Avenue NW in early 2022.


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Cidermakers have slammed the chancellor’s move in the autumn budget to raise duty on super-strength cider, while freezing duty on every other variety of alcoholic drink.
Philip Hammond said the tax crackdown on mass-produced ‘white cider’ between 6.9% and 7.5% abv would target “excessive alcohol consumption by the most vulnerable people” - which was “all too often through cheap, low-quality products”.
The level of duty is yet to be announced and will come into force on 1 February 2019.
Frosty Jack’s owner Aston Manor claimed the move had “no merit” and “clearly demonstrates a lack of understanding”.
A spokeswoman for the business said: “What this will mean is the vast majority of ‘white cider’ consumers - not the chancellor and his friends - will be disproportionately penalised.”
‘White cider’ represented just 0.27% of total alcohol and was in long-term decline, she added. “While all products are capable of being misused, the vast majority of ‘white cider’ is enjoyed by people on low incomes without issue.”
Such households were in fact lower per capita consumers of alcohol, she insisted.
“Either they will forgo enjoying a drink or they will simply switch to another category. When drinkers switch from cider they choose higher strength wines and spirits - products that are in most instances imported with a significant carbon footprint.”
A source at a major drinks supplier said the tax rise risked penalising makers of higher-strength premium ciders not associated with the kind of drinkers targeted by the hike.
“I’m not certain how legislation can distinguish between two different product types using alcoholic strength as a differentiator or whether individual products within an alcohol band will be able to be separated out.”
The National Association of Cider Markers welcomed the duty freeze but was “disappointed” Hammond had not responded to calls for a 2p cut.
Across the wider drinks industry however, the news was met with jubilance from suppliers and trade representatives.
AB InBev North Europe president Jason Warner called it “a timely boost to this iconic industry”, while Carlsberg vice president for corporate affairs Bruce Ray said the announcement would be “welcomed by brewers, publicans and everyone who enjoys a glass of beer in the pub” and would “support continued innovation and investment, create new jobs, attract tourists and ultimately benefit our beer-loving nation”.


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January 20, 2016
New York City-based Greatist, an online publication and media brand that focuses on health and wellness content, has raised $4.5 million, bringing its total investment to $8 million. Floodgate led the round, with participation from Strauss Zelnick, Andy Russell, John Gardner, David Pecker, and Startup Health. Previous investors including RiverPark Ventures, Vayner/RSE, Jon Miller, Ramit Sethi,...
November 24, 2014
One of the many rumors I heard prior to the HealthKit and Apple Watch reveal was that Apple was working on a new section of its iTunes store, like the AppStore, but instead of apps the company would begin selling health and fitness coaching programs or services. That never came to pass though.
Last week, however, an app launched to do just that.
Boston-based Change Collective offered up an iOS...
January 20, 2014
Welltok, the Denver-based creator of an online and mobile "social health management" platform, has introduced a partnership program to link technology with disease management and wellness programs.
The idea is to make it easier for population health managers from payers, health systems and accountable care organizations to provide services and actionable steps for program members.
"We're able to...
May 14, 2013
For many years there has been a common refrain for mobile health app discovery: There's no Consumer Reports for health apps. With tens of thousands of health-related smartphone apps, dozens of direct-to-consumer wearable health sensors now available, and various other websites and services -- how is the increasingly health-conscious consumer to choose? Or, perhaps, if you believe that digital...
September 20, 2012
Chemotopia's personalized chemotherapy decision tree
This week healthcare academy StartUp Health announced 12 more companies that would begin its three year program, which is designed to help them better navigate the world of healthcare. Like its inaugural class StartUp Health’s second class is includes a couple of well-known entities, including Dave Chase's Avado, CakeHealth, and Greatist....


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Grove Collaborative has introduced Grove Wellness, a product hub featuring a personalization engine designed to sharpen recommendations around consumers’ evolving health and wellness needs. Grove sells more than 200 products across 40 brands in this category, including multivitamins, women’s health, digestion, immunity, sleep and beauty. Grove plans to introduce more third-party brands throughout 2023, prioritizing products that offer ingredient transparency, National Science Foundation (NSF) certification and sustainable packaging.
Products sold on Grove Wellness must meet the company’s four-point Feel Good Wellness Standard:
- Strict ingredient standards;
- Expert vetting by a registered dietician;
- Price match and happiness guarantee, including a 30-day return period; and
- Plastic and carbon neutral.
“According to survey data, over 75% of our customers are currently buying wellness products and 89% of them trust Grove more than other brands to provide them,” said Stuart Landesberg, Co-founder and CEO of Grove Collaborative in a statement. “Our mission has always been to make consumer products a positive force for human and environmental health. The wellness industry is also larger than the home care industry and growing faster. This represents an incredible opportunity to advance our mission and grow our business.”
Grove has recently been expanding its retail presence, with its July 2022 debut in Kohl’s, Giant Eagle and Meijer and a bigger presence in Target. Additionally, Grove launched its flagship home care brand on Amazon and in select Walmart stores last month.
Grove was acquired by Virgin Group Acquisition Corp. II in June 2022 in a deal that took the company public. However, by December 2022 Grove’s low stock price put the company at risk of delisting from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The company’s 2022 financial results revealed net revenue of $321.5 million, down 16% year-over-year, and a net loss margin of 27.3%, an improvement over the company’s 35.4% loss in 2021. Grove secured a $35 million asset-based revolving credit facility on March 10, 2023.
“We made considerable strides toward profitability in 2022, ending the year at a significantly lower burn rate than that with which we began it,” said Sergio Cervantes, CFO of Grove in a statement. “Yet the macro environment remains challenging, consumers continue to feel pressure and we are seeing the impact across our business, particularly in retail sales. We view 2023 as a transitional year for Grove, during which we continue to focus on profitability, stabilize our core business as we lap the reduction in advertising spend that began in June 2022, and generate new sources of growth to position ourselves for profitable growth in 2024,”
CEO Stuart Landesberg spoke about long-term value creation for Grove Collaborative on the Retail Remix podcast in January 2023.


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TOKYO (Reuters) - Yahoo Japan Corp said on Friday it would buy a minority stake in a Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange, becoming the latest major Japanese financial services provider to shrug off security concerns and join the digital money industry.
Yahoo Japan, which is also the country’s biggest online auction site, said in a statement it would buy through a subsidiary a 40 percent stake in BitARG Exchange Tokyo, with services planned for launch in the autumn.
Yahoo Japan did not give details of the value of the investment. But a person familiar with the matter said it would likely total 2 billion to 3 billion yen (13.06 million pounds to 19.59 million pounds).
Shares in Yahoo Japan closed down 0.2 percent, against a 0.6 gain for the benchmark Nikkei average.
The deal comes after Japanese online brokerage firm Monex Group Inc said last week it would buy hacked cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck Inc for $34 million.
That saw Monex join other mainstream financial services providers such as larger peer SBI Holdings Inc and messaging app operator Line Corp in looking to enter the cryptocurrency industry.
Reporting by Thomas Wilson and Yoshiyasu Shida
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Nov. 1 - Walmart kicked off its holiday shopping deals one month early in what could be retailers' slowest holiday season in four years. Fred Katayama reports.
Christmas right after Halloween? Sounds freaky, but Walmart jump started its holiday sales season nearly one month early, offering huge online discounts on 7 items and deals on 360 others. For example, it's chopping 40 percent off the price for a 42-inch JVC LED HDTV at under $300. Normally, U.S. retailers launch holiday sales on Thanksgiving in late November and the day after, and they set aside heavily discounted bait online for "Cyber Monday" on the Monday after Thanksgiving. But here's why retailers want to get a headstart this year: this holiday season offers six fewer shopping days than last year. And the economy is still sluggish, with consumer confidence falling last month amid the government shutdown. ShopperTrak forecasts the slowest growth in holiday sales in four years. So get set for big deals. Morgan Stanley predicts this will be the most promotional holiday season since 2008. Holiday shopping is prime time because retailers get the bulk of their annual revenue during this season that ends with Christmas. Walmart shoppers may be particularly hard hit. Many of its shoppers live paycheck to paycheck.


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HubSpot Founder, Dharmesh Shah Introduces $30 Million HubSpot Ventures For Funding Startups
On Tuesday, Dharmesh Shah, CTO, and co-founder of HubSpot announced Hubspot Ventures to fund startups. On his Linkedin Pulse article, he mentioned that the company is introducing a new venture with $30 million to fund small businesses. He also noted that both the founders had the idea of taking this step since the beginning of the organization’s 12 years back. HubSpot Venture was introduced by the company with the aim to help customer-centric startup and companies seeking financial help in their early stage.
The $30 million venture fund will focus on the companies with the vision of building a long-term customer relationship. “In our early years of growth, we had the idea to start a HubSpot venture fund. Rather than making purely “strategic” investments, we’d also make philosophical investments. We’d support companies that shared our core philosophy that the way for organizations to grow better in the modern world is to take a more human, empathetic approach to marketing, sales and service.”, Shah wrote on Linkedin.
According to Shah, Hubspot Venture will not invest in the companies for ‘short-term wins’ rather it will go for the startups sharing its own philosophy. He added, the company will help only those startups following the client-first approach. Importantly, Hubspot Ventures will provide the funding for the SaaS-based startups. Moreover, prospective companies should follow the companies eligibility criteria including
Already raised a Seed, Series A, or Series B funding
Explicitly dealing with building SaaS product
Contributing to the HubSpot community
Strongly shares the Hubspot’s customer code and culture code
“We think there’s a big market opportunity out there for companies who serve SMBs, and this space has received disproportionately lower investment historically than companies focusing on large, enterprise customers,” added Shah.
Besides, the portfolio companies will also receive help and guidance from HubSpot leadership team.
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German carmaker Audi has restarted vehicle production, in a single shift, at its base in Győr (NW Hungary), Audi Hungaria’s communications director told MTI on Tuesday.
Mónika Czechmeister said about 2,000 people have started work at the car plant, as an initial step.
Audi restarted production at its engine plant in Győr two weeks earlier. Including those workers, some 5,000 of Audi Hungaria’s 12,800 employees are back on the job, Czechmeister said.
At the engine plant, a six-cylinder petrol engine production line was restarted on April 14. During the work week started on April 20, another six-cylinder and a four-cylinder production line were started up again.
Automotive Industry in Hungary Restarts Production Gradually, Effects May Still Remain
At the car plant, about 250 vehicles are rolling off the lines daily, but production will be ramped up in the coming weeks, Czechmeister said.
Production of all models the plant makes, the Q3, Q3 Sportback, A3 Cabriolet, TT Coupe and TT Roadster, have been restarted, she added.
Workers not on the production lines are using up their vacation days.
Audi Hungaria shut down its plant on March 23.
Audi’s local unit turned out almost two million engines and close to 165,000 vehicles in 2019.
Featured photo by Csaba Krizsán/MTI


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Local businessman soon able to sell romaine lettuce again
December 02, 2018 11:05 AM
Tony Battaglia has been in the wholesale grocery business his entire life. The California Food Service he runs in Menands has been selling produce to supermarkets, mom and pop stores, and restaurants in the area for more than a century.
When the Centers for Disease Control ordered a recall on Romaine lettuce back on November 20th, it wasn't a good day for him.
"It was problematic because it happened during Thanksgiving week, the biggest food holiday of the year" he said.
After dozens of people, in 11 states, became sick from eating contaminated romaine, Americans were told to toss it out, restaurants were warned not to serve it, and stores were ordered not to sell it.
Tony says he had no choice other than to throw out thousands of dollars worth of romaine, and then eat the cost.
"This has been a rather severe recall due to the nature of the holiday time it occurred and also because it was a transitional growing time. The prices on the other items, green leaf, mesclun mix and iceberg all spiked pretty severely."
For those who enjoy Caesar Salad , even though food inspectors haven't been able to pinpoint the source of the E. coli contamination, romaine growing has shifted from California to Arizona, and the CDC has given the OK for Tony and others to return to business they've grown accustom to.
Lettuce will be sold Monday morning.
Created: December 02, 2018 11:05 AM
Copyright 2018 WNYT-TV LLC, a Hubbard Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved


text: Taking cues from the FDA, Whole Foods Market has decided to start yanking homeopathic medicines from their own shelves. We need to speak up to defend access to homeopathy NOW! Action Alert! We have been hearing from our sources that Whole Foods Market has decided to end sales of single tube homeopathic medicines. These are the products that were in display cases in alphabetical order, but these display cases will soon be gone. Read more.


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The Chinese unicorn is currently focusing on edge AI chips for IoT and the automotive industry.
On September 9, 2020, Horizon Robotics released a new generation of AIoT edge chip – Sunrise 3 with two versions 3M and 3E, both using 16nm advanced technology. The computing power of Sunrise 3M can reach 5Tops, making it mainly for the high-end market, while that of 3E is 3Tops, for the low-end market.
With respect to the development plan of the Sunrise series chip, Horizon will skip the Sunrise 4 and directly release the 5 series of chips (M/E models) in 2021, which will adopt the BPU 3.0 architecture, with an equivalent computing power of 8Tops, and be equipped with quad-core/dual-core A55 processors respectively.
In addition, It also has in-depth cooperation with OPEN AI LAB in education and other fields. In the future, it will jointly launch overall solutions for peers in the fields of smart transportation and self-driving.
Other than AIoT chips, Horizon also ship car-level AI chips – Journey series, the third-generation of which is expected to be launched by the end of 2020.
Wang Cong, general manager of the Horizon AIoT product line, said: "Horizon Robotics is not just a chip provider, but an ecological enabler of AI chip applications."


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The national leasing and sales team of Faith Hope Consolo, chairman, and Joseph Aquino, executive vice president, and Arthur Maglio of Douglas Elliman’s Retail Group, has brought America’s favorite sandwich and salad chain Subway to 221 East Broadway.
Part of a seven-store block-front exclusively represented by Consolo and her team, the new store is in the heart of the food-friendly, trend-setting Lower East Side, on the Clinton Street side of the building.
“This is the first new retailer we’ve brought to a group of stores being repositioned for a changing neighborhood,” said Consolo. “Our goal is to uplift the profile of the block, one store at a time.”
Added Maglio, “The Lower East Side is a vibrant area with several new residential projects under construction or on tap. A recognized brand like Subway in the heart of all this activity has great appeal for workers and residents, alike, because it’s healthy and convenient.”
The exclusive agency comprises approximately 4,000 s/f of retail space spanning East Broadway, between Henry and Clinton Streets. The previous tenant was Manhattan Deli; and three spaces in the block-front are still available.
The Elliman team exclusively represented the landlord and tenant for the 10-year lease. Subway is anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2015


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The global pigments market is projected to reach approximately $26.6 billion by 2022, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1% from 2014-2022, according to a recent study from Allied Market Research. The global pigments market was valued at $20 billion in the year 2015 with major revenue contributor from the coatings application segment. Asia-Pacific reportedly holds the leading position in the global market in 2015, and is expected to maintain its lead through the forecast period.
Growth of the automotive and construction material industry is expected to fuel the market growth during the forecast period. High adoption of specialty pigments in flexible packaging, increasing demand for customization and personalization of products, the market growth of end-user industries and growing awareness regarding sustainable environment all drive the world pigments market. Advancements in the nanotechnology and the ongoing trend of developing sustainable organic pigments from renewable feedstock are expected to offer major opportunities to the world pigments market. In addition, stringent regulations implemented by government organizations to check the compliance of pigments with proposed standards to minimize environmental issues and prevent volatility in the pricings of raw materials are expected to affect market growth.
“The rise in construction activities, infrastructural development, automotive, and consumer goods sector has resulted in the increased demand for decorative paints and coatings, which boosts the demand for pigments in the paints & coating industry,” said Eswara Prasad, team lead of chemical research.
Rapid urbanization in economies such as India, China, Brazil, and others, have led to upsurge in civil construction activities and manufacturing automobiles, which is a key driving factor of the coatings industry. In 2015, the coatings application segment accounted for two-fifths of the share of the market in terms of value, and is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Moreover, an upsurge in commercial and residential construction activities in economies such as India and China are poised to drive the pigments market in the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information, visit https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com.


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Innovative automation, insightful software tools, and faster robots boost product quality and manufacturing efficiency
Advanced high-end printer, YSP10, praised for innovative high-speed, low-waste design
Scandinavia YAMAHA SMT distributor extends territory to boost sales & support in the Baltic region
Unique LCM100 flexible, scalable conveyor module and innovative robot and machine-vision features simplify integration, maximise performance and efficiency
On October 3rd, 2019, the first Polish edition of IPC Day, an event organized by the American association IPC in individual European countries, dedicated for representatives of the most significant companies in the electronics industry in a given region, took place.
LED-lighting manufacturers need BIN-code aware programming to streamline assembly and eliminate human error, while gaining flexibility to handle continuously varying inventory
New iVY2 imaging system leverages dedicated vision instructions of RCX340 multi-robot controller
Booth 323, Hall A3 to feature automation engineered for future-proof flexibility and productivity
Increase of the payload and reduction of the cycle time are achieved.
Yamaha Motor Europe Factory Automation Section will demonstrate technologies to accelerate robotic processes, including on-the-fly visual inspection and alignment, at Motek in Stuttgart, 7-10 October 2019.


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Tetra Pak has achieved a significant milestone towards its goal of producing 100% renewable packaging with Nestle Brazil’s launch of two
popular milks brands in carton packaging featuring caps made with green polyethylene (PE).
The first ever use of plant-based polyethylene in carton packaging further strengthens Tetra Pak’s renewability credentials, nudging still higher the average 73% of renewable material used to manufacture the company’s broad portfolio. Over time, as the company increasingly adopts plant-based plastics, it expects to be able to offer a carton range that is 100% renewable. The green polyethylene has been developed by Braskem, Brazil’s largest petrochemical company, and is made out of sugar cane derivatives, which are polymerized in plastics for cap production.
“This is a key step in our renewability journey,” said Tetra Pak President and CEO Dennis Jönsson. “Our cartons already have an excellent renewable material profile; now, with the introduction of caps using green polyethylene and our commitment to extend its use to other plastic components, the concept of a 100% renewable carton is becoming a reality.”
Source : www.adsalecprj.com


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Negotiators are scheduled to meet today in an attempt to head off a threatened strike of 17,000 meat cutters and clerks in 700 A & P stores in the metropolitan area. The walkout is threatened for midnight tonight.
The Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Retail Food Store Employes Union reportedly wants a guarantee that full‐time employes will receive their wages and welfare benefits for the life of a new contract. Irving Stern, a union negotiator, has said that the food chain has in the past replaced some full‐time employes with part‐time workers.
A spokesman for the A & P declined to discuss issues in the negotiations.Continue reading the main story


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Cryptocurrencies are all the rage among the cool kids these days. Therefore it’s not a surprise that politicians will jump on the bandwagon to grab their spot in the sunshine.
What are cryptocurrencies?
According to Option.Finance “A cryptocurrency is a digital currency similar to currencies such as the USD or Euro. It’s designed to exchange digital information through an encryption that generates money and verifies transactions. All confirmed transactions of a cryptocurrency are stored in a public ledger or Transaction Blockchain.”
Which MEP has been talking about cryptocurrency?
Lithuanian MEP Antanas Guoga has been posting on Linkedin “I am looking at NEM.io and it’s becoming obvious that NEM is the most transparent crypto out there. Will NEM become nr1 one day?”
What is NEM.io crypto?
According to their website about us section NEM is not just a crypto currency. But is a blockchain project which caters to much more than only handling it’s native currency tokens “XEM”. NEM is also a peer to peer platform and provides services like payments, messaging, asset making, and naming system. Their creators promise for a lot more to come as NEM is an evolving solution with an outstanding core blockchain technology.
What do other MEPs say about cryptocurrencies?
In 2016 May members of the European Parliament (MEPs)lead by German social democrat MEP Jakob von Weizsacker, set out in a resolution for the creation of a cryptocurrency watchdog to combat money laundering and terrorism by the European Commission.
What does the European Commission plan for cryptocurrencies?
The Commission has adopted proposals on 5 July 2016 for legislation to amend the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (4AMLD) that will bring virtual currency exchanges and wallet providers into the EU’s anti-money laundering framework.
What does the crypto industry say about the EU proposal?
At the Amsterdam Affiliate Conference 2017 Eric Benz, Managing Director of CryptoPay, London based online Bitcoin Wallet, which offers enhanced functionality than simpler services for buying and selling bitcoins, said that the EU proposal “is a lot of words for very little.”
Will NEM.io succeed?
Time will tell, wait and see. If you are curious about NEM or any other crypto coins but do not want to risk your own money, then there is a solution for your needs. Join Crypto Cashback Coin and earn crypto in any coin of your choice by shopping online with such well known retailers as Amazon, ebay, Booking and many other.
Crypto Cashback Coins is a free shopping club for the blockchain era. Once registered, a percentage of what you spend online with our listed retailers will be sent to your blockchain wallet in a crypto coin of your choice.


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The site, which is called Tell Your Friends, has been just over a year in the making after reality TV star sisters Lucy and Tiffany Watson decided they wanted to bridge a gaping hole in London’s vegan dining market in April 2017.
However, after initially working on the assumption the sisters would go it alone, Lucy, Tiffany and their father Clive – executive chairman of the City Pub Group – decided to pool their experience and work together.
"I ended up meeting up with our dad and saying that we wanted his advice as how we would go about creating something like this," explains Lucy. "Obviously, we don't have any experience in that sector.
"He went away and thought about it for a while then came back and said ‘why don't we work together on this?' It became more of a collaboration between us and City Pub Group.”
The working dynamic, in Tiffany’s words, “plays to everyone’s strengths”.
While the City Pub Group will handle site management and operation, she and Lucy, who published vegan cookbook Feed Me Vegan in late 2017, provide creative vision, control over what’s on the menu and – somewhat unsurprising given their combined Instagram following is just shy of 2m – public relations.
Rise of 'green' issues
The 1 May opening of Tell Your Friends could hardly have been timed better.
Financial results for the City Pub Group indicated that 2017 was a “pivotal” year for the company – with revenue rising by 35% to £37.4m and adjusted pre-tax profit up by 102% over the 53 weeks to 31 December.
The seven openings earmarked for 2018 mean the group has a pipeline that’s guaranteed to take it’s portfolio size to 41 sites in total as the company looks to double its collection of pubs and restaurants by 2021.
The group’s first all-vegan site also opens as ‘green’ and environmental issues such the banning of single-use plastics such as straws and stirrers are on industry lips.
"City Pub Group have never done anything like this before and they see that the industry is moving into more of a healthy direction as veganism is on the rise," says Lucy.
"We hope it will have a positive impact on the company’s pubs. I know they're getting rid of all their plastic straws throughout the company, which is amazing, and they're introducing more vegan and vegetarian options in all their pubs, so I guess Tell Your Friends is opening their eyes to another side of food and hopefully it'll spread.
"I think that everyone in this industry has a responsibility to the environment in terms of their use of plastic and materials that are harmful to the planet. We take that really seriously.
“It's closely related to veganism and moving forwards we definitely want to make sure we are as conscious as we can be.
“It's really important to us and we think it should be to anyone else in this industry."
Lack of vegan restaurants
A vegetarian since childhood, Lucy became vegan around three years ago with Tiffany quickly following suit. With father Clive’s experience in the hospitality industry, the best solution the pair could find to the lack of vegan eateries in London was to open their own.
"Lucy initially came up with the idea and kept saying to me 'I think it would be such a good idea, I think it would do really well',” says Tiffany. “I agreed completely that there was definitely a need for more vegan restaurants in London."
"I feel like there definitely needs to be more and especially the area that we live in,” Lucy adds. “There are a lot more in east and central London, which is great, but I think the number of vegans is rising every day."
While catering for the disproportionately high number of vegans living in London – a survey conducted in 2016 by the Vegan Society found that there are about 542,000 dietary vegans in the UK, of which nearly a quarter live in the capital – the Tell Your Friends menu isn’t designed exclusively for them.
Featuring chicken bites (jackfruit with a hemp and sunflower crumb), burgers (made from bean patties and cashew cheese) and fish and chips (breaded banana blossom and cashew tartare sauce), the menu aims to strike a chord with non-vegan diners as well as the core audience.
“I think having that familiarity is nice,” says Lucy. “We don't need to have any false advertising but recreating versions of people's meals that they used to eat all the time is what we wanted to do."
Tiffany adds: "I think it's getting a balance – you don't want to confuse people and then have non-vegans come in and think they're in a non-vegan restaurant. If you're careful and make it quite clear to people what it is then I think it's a good way to do it.”
Location, location, location
Though Tell Your Friends occupies prime real estate on the New King's Road, close to Parsons Green tube station, a home for a vibrant, neon-lit vegan venue – that also hosts yoga classes – hasn’t been easy to come by.
"Finding a location was quite difficult,” says Tiffany. “We struggled with that quite a bit. We took it quite seriously because I think finding a location that fits our original idea was a really important part of the process.
"There have been a few delays, which are always frustrating because you're so excited. You have your vision and just want to get it going – it's just having to learn to be really patient, just go with the flow and, if delays happen, working with them.
Lucy adds: "We've learnt that we can't really have things set in stone, we have to be flexible because we have to allow for issues within the site or outside of that – there are so many things that can arise during a process like this.”
The search for design inspiration, however, wasn’t as geographically restricted as their hunt for the perfect site.
"We got a lot of our influences from abroad, more internationally.” Tiffany explained. “Lucy and I love to travel a lot and, when we do, we always want to check out the vegan restaurants. We got info from travelling, going to vegan restaurants abroad and then tried to take that back here.
"We loved Australia, in particular Sydney and Melbourne, New York, Los Angeles. Those are the ones that stood out for us and that we took our main inspiration from.”


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A former investor in Facebook and Google “Roger McNamee” says that truly is sorry for helping these two social media giants to be what they are today.
He describes them as a greedy machine for selling more ads, and there is no limit to what they can do so consumers have to pressure the internet giants to stop.
He expresses how much regret he has for his role in creating today’s internet monopolies.
He adds also in an editorial for USA today that the executives at Google and Facebook are good people.
But the unintended consequences of their well -intended strategy is causing enormous harm to society, to democracy and to the economy.
They know you more than you know yourself
He explains that it is not the basic services they present like search or social networking but the advertising which is the main problem.
They borrowed techniques from the gambling industry to make their products more addictive, the more you feel it is important to use these products the more information they gather about you.
These internet companies know about your more than you know about yourself. This gives them a great power to control you and persuade you to do things that serve their interests.
The degree of harm grows overtime
Not only causing us harm and make us addict to checking our phones but also how the Russians use Facebook to spread misinformation and influence the elections in US.
People need to take back control on their lives specially using these ads driven internet giants; Facebook, Instagram, Google, Snapchat, twitter, Wechat, and WhatsApp.
Apple company makes its money selling hardware not ads which puts hope on Apple in getting this under control, they already done things like stopping autoplay of YouTube and block ad trackers in safari.
Consumers should start to take back control of their devices, not allowing notifications from machines.