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Over the past few months, there has been a step-change in the push for sustainable business practices and policies on a global scale, thrust into the limelight with the announcement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Travel shout out
The travel industry is mentioned and associated with three of the 17 SDGs (Goals 8, 12 and 14) where travel and tourism is cited as an important sustainable development driver, generating jobs and income for local communities with the aim to reduce negative impacts and maximise the positives such as protecting culture, heritage, and the natural environment.
Sustainability has been a recurring theme throughout the conferences that I’ve attended over the past three months – the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s Global Summit, World Travel Market celebrating its 10th year of its Sustainability Day and the World Bank Group’s Tourism Summit recently in December 2015.
It is common knowledge that tourism demand is already large and will continue to grow apace, with 1.2 billion international arrivals in 2015, and set to rise to 1.8 billion by 2030 in a best case scenario.
Travel is already one of the world’s leading industries with 10% of global GDP, accounting for 1 in 11 jobs worldwide – set to grow to 1 in 9 potentially by 2030. Dr Kim, President of the World Bank has thrown his support behind the cause, where for every US$1 spent in a destination there is a ripple effect of US$3 elsewhere in the economy so the potential benefits are great. However, as Helen Marano, Vice President of the WTTC warned at the WBG Tourism Summit “growth will kill us if we don’t manage it responsibly”.
The travel industry is not above reproach and there is still a lot of hard work to be done to ensure that the economic and social benefits transfer to local destinations in a fair and responsible way.
UNEP reports that leakage from tourism expenditure is as high as 40% to 50% for emerging economies, and around 10% to 20% for advanced economies, where leakage refers to the tourism revenue that is repatriated. In terms of revenue flight, it runs into billions, with an estimated US$300 billion being lost to destinations. Common causes of leakage include airfares, taxes, wages and imports. Unfortunately the countries that would benefit most from tourism revenues are the most exposed to revenue flight.
For all-inclusive package holidays, the direct amount left in the local destination is even smaller, where leakage is reported to be 80% or more. For travel operators like TUI, the all-inclusive offer will be increasingly difficult to justify once the SDGs come into force.
Leakage from Inbound Tourism Receipts US$ million 2015
Source: Euromonitor International from UNEP and UNCTAD
Call to action
Some destinations are already taking direct action including outright bans on visitors, quotas, restrictions and preventive measures. Cillian Murphy, Chair of Loophead Tourism, Ireland mentioned that they’ve taken the approach of ensuring a sustainable community and that determines tourism development, so they’ve banned tour buses at their main heritage site, actively dissuading day trippers, preferring higher spending longer-stay visitors.
The travel industry and its global bodies have until 2017 – the official international year of sustainable development – to agree on the necessary tools and metrics to ensure that they can deliver their promises. It will also be necessary to protect the nomenclature to ensure that terms like “sustainable” and “local” do not become vacuous. The travel industry may need to follow the same certification path for labelling as the food and drinks industry did with “organic” to preserve the value of such terms and guarantee standards.


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Best new cars coming in 2023
There are so many new cars coming in the next few years; we’ve narrowed them down to some of the best
Best sports and performance cars coming in 2023
Despite encroaching emissions regulations, the next Ford Mustang has retained its giant 5.0-litre V8 engine. Due to arrive in the UK in 2023, the seventh-generation Mustang blends old-school muscle car power with a futuristic design and technology. On the inside, Ford’s latest pony car gets a contemporary dual-screen infotainment setup alongside an involving six-speed manual gearbox – a 10-speed automatic will also be optionally available.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 remains one of the most well-rounded and striking electric cars on sale. However, Hyundai’s sporty ‘N’ division – founded by ex-BMW M boss Albert Biermann – has plans to release an even hotter version of the retro-futuristic hatchback. Set to be called the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the new car will feature a racier bodykit and a dual-electric motor setup with over 500bhp. Hyundai has also announced the Ioniq 5 N will debut its new N-Shift technology, which is said to replicate the feeling of a traditional gear change on a combustion-engined car.
The original Maserati GranTurismo was on sale since 2007 and was in dire need of a replacement. The second generation of Maserati’s grand tourer, announced in 2021, will arrive in 2022 with a choice of a petrol V6 engine from the MC20 supercar, or a fully-electric powertrain. The electric model, dubbed the Folgore, is set to produce around 750bhp and will be able to travel up to 279 miles on a single charge. No matter which version you choose, all GranTurismo models are billed to offer a thrilling driving experience, with an upcoming GranCabrio convertible model set to enhance the excitement even further.
In an effort to simplify its ever-growing model range, Mercedes has decided to combine the C-Class and E-Class Cabriolets into one new model: the forthcoming Mercedes CLE. Expected to be available as both a hard-top coupe and a power-folding soft-top, the CLE will feature Mercedes’ latest MBUX portrait-style infotainment setup as well as a choice of petrol and hybrid engines. High-performance AMG models are also expected, using the same 671bhp four-cylinder hybrid setup as the new C 63 E-Performance.
Porsche Macan EV
Months of testing on the Nurburgring race track have revealed that Porsche is close to revealing an all-electric version of its best-selling Macan SUV. The Porsche Macan EV will be sold alongside its petrol counterpart, however, it will adopt all new underpinnings and a radically different design, reminiscent of the Porsche Taycan. With that car, Porsche succeeded in making a large and heavy EV drive like a sports car, so we can expect the German marque to do the same with the Macan.
Volkswagen ID.3 GTX
The Volkswagen ID.3 has consistently been overshadowed by its mechanical sibling, the Cupra Born, in terms of sportiness and driver engagement. However, a new version of the ID.3 is on the way courtesy of VW’s electric-only performance sub-brand, GTX. The ID.3 GTX is likely to utilise the same 295bhp twin-motor setup as the larger ID.4 GTX SUV, potentially meaning a 0-62mph time of under six seconds. All of this is expected to come alongside a facelift for the ID.3, due to arrive in mid-2023.
Vauxhall Corsa Electric price slashed by £5,550 with new Yes Edition
Vauxhall Astra gets new mild-hybrid tech for improved fuel efficiency
Dacia Spring UK debut: budget EV arrives with new style
Hot car deal: sporty Skoda Octavia vRS Estate for £278 a month
Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Hot car deal: racy Cupra Ateca SUV for just £234 a month


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- No patch yet for zero day in Symantec Endpoint Protection software driver
- Tor hints at possible U.S. government involvement in recent attack
- Internet of Things devices contain high number of vulnerabilities, study finds
- Antivirus products riddled with security flaws, researcher says
- 'Right to be forgotten' ruling is unworkable and misguided, UK Lords say
taxi - News, Features, and Slideshows
Cab booking app developers have welcomed new taxi rules in Victoria as further opening the market for competitors to the taxi establishment.
Taxi app startup ingogo has raised another $3.4 million as it pivots into a mobile payments.
In another attack on the traditional taxi payment model, the Australian startup ingogo is placing its own payment terminals into cabs to process payments from its mobile app.
The money continues to roll in for taxi apps, with Sydney startup goCatch today announcing it has secured $3 million capital in its latest investment round.
Australian taxi-hailing startup GoCatch has announced a play for corporate travellers, signing BlackBerry and American Express as partners in the initiative.
Australian startup Ingogo raised $1.5 million in a new investment round to fund its cab booking mobile app, despite public attacks from the taxi industry.
A New South Wales minister said regulation is likely required to settle the taxi industry’s concerns about independent mobile apps like GoCatch which help users book a cab.
A fight brewing between mobile app developers and the taxi industry could end up in the courts and may result in new regulations, according to independent taxi app developers.
An independent taxi app maker has rejected claims by the taxi industry that its mobile app is not safe and should be banned.


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Johnson & Johnson, the world’s largest healthcare products company, has been embroiled in a number of lawsuits alleging that the talc contained in its feminine hygiene products causes ovarian cancer when used over time. At issue is the main ingredient found in products like Shower to Shower which was heavily marketed to women, particularly in the 1980s.
The lawsuits allege that the talc, when frequently applied to the genital area, can eventually make its way to the woman’s ovaries. Over time, this frequent application can cause ovarian cancer. In 2016, a St. Louis jury found that not only were Johnson & Johnson talc products causing this cancer, but that the company knew about the potential and either failed to act on that knowledge or actively tried to cover it up. In fact, J&J switched its baby powder products to a corn starch, rather than talc base, in the 1970s. Feminine hygiene products were, however, left with talc.
A new development has surfaced in the issue recently; and, it has absolutely nothing to do with feminine hygiene products or ovarian cancer. The cancer in these cases is mostly associated with the lungs, and J&J just lost a case that claimed that asbestos present in the talc in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder caused a man’s mesothelioma.
New Jersey resident Stephen Lanzo and his wife were awarded a combined $37 million in compensatory damages in the decision over his claim that routine use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder exposed him to asbestos fibers, thus causing the condition. A ruling on punitive damages is still outstanding.
For its part, the company denied all allegations in Lanzo’s trial and stated categorically that its Baby Powder product does not contain asbestos or cause cancer. It is worth noting, however, that Lanzo’s claim states that he’d used the product since being born in 1972. This would raise the question of when – or if – the Baby Powder product was moved to a corn starch base.
Only one other asbestos-related talc case has been brought against J&J and the corporation won that verdict in a Los Angeles Superior Court. Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal this latest decision.


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Car giant Ford has urged the UK to secure an "ambitious" Brexit deal that includes full tariff-free access to the entire customs union of European countries.
The US group also called for a "transitional period" to ensure free trade is maintained.
Trade unions recently blamed Brexit for causing Ford to review its engine plant in Bridgend, which is expected to put 1,160 manufacturing jobs at risk.
It is understood that Ford has projected the job losses over the next five years, based on the assumption that it is unable to bring in any new work at the plant.
Following a meeting with the company earlier this month, Unite called on the Government to secure tariff-free access to the European single market as it claimed Brexit was "clearly a factor" in Ford's review of the plant.
A spokesman said: "We need an ambitious Brexit deal that maintains strong EU and UK economies, and creates a competitive and investment-friendly environment.
"Any deal must include securing tariff-free trade with the wider customs union and not just the EU27, whilst retaining access to the best talent and resources."
Ford builds vans in Turkey, which is not part of the EU but is in the EU customs union.
Ford also warned over the impact of a failure to reach an agreement with the EU amid fears over a hard Brexit since Prime Minister Theresa May declared that "no deal is better than a bad deal".
The carmaker said: "No deal would be the very worst case for the UK auto industry and would put at risk the competitiveness of the industry."


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London’s Cookie Has Returned With Fiery Joint “Vamping”
30 Jul 2020
Cookie has returned with a brand new and highly-awaited explosive single titled, Vamping.
The South East London rapper made his debut earlier this year with Dirty Spinner, catching the eyes of many the rising rapper is back with a brand new street heater! Setting pace, Cookie proves his versatility; Vamping is embellished with an overriding energy, punching flows and dynamic wordplay!
Watch the visuals for Vamping exclusively on Mixtape Madness above.


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2020 has been a year of surprises and not all great ones. In the list of the surprises that actually came as good news for many, Apple has just now announced new products to be launched. For the first time in the history of the company, the set of computers to be launched this time around will be using a processer designed entirely by Apple itself!
There is to be a live-stream of the Apple Event for the release of all the new products Apple has lined up. Rumor has it, the line-up will include a 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Both are expected to be powered by Apple A14. Additionally, it is almost certain that macOS Big Sur is to be released alongside as Rosetta 2 or Universal 2. These are likely to allow x86 apps run on Apple’s ARM chipset and help developers build apps that run on x86 and ARM, respectively. Big Sur aims to bring a smooth transition for apps developed for macOS, iPadOS, and iOS to be used across all platforms. Apart from this, there may even be an all-new MacBook Pro 16” ready for launch. Apple is expected to announce 14.1” and 16.1” MacBook Pros with mini LED displays in 2021.
There has been a lot of speculation about the release of AirTags (coin-shaped trackers primarily for phones). It is not very likely for thee to be released this time, however, as it only makes sense for them to accompany the new iPhone line-up. Another unlikely addition to the line-up is the AirPods Studio (Apple’s first over-ear headphones). Because of some issues with the headband prototype, the launch has, reportedly, been pushed back to 2021.
For more information visit OLX to find a wide range of automobiles and choose the one that best suits your preferences and budget. With thousands of ads posted daily, OLX is the smarter choice.
OLX Pakistan as an online classifieds’ marketplace is providing access to affordable devices to a large population of this country, and playing its role in the digitization of the country.


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"Security is something we take seriously all year round," she said.
According to Pyramid Management Group Inc., which owns the mall, and Purple Tree technologies, the system will be used as an early warning system that will be able to notify every store in the mall of both "natural and man-made," emergency situations.
The system can transmit unlimited messages to key personnel and store managers within seconds.
"Safety is our No. 1 priority, and we anticipate using the system to notify our merchants and customers of weather situations and other emergencies," said
Terri Walsh, general manager of Crossgates Mall.
Police said that aside from the usual holiday crime, the spirit of giving can sometimes give way to the giving of spirits.
"It's not just a larceny, shoplifting or a drive off. It goes further than just that. What we also see is an increase in domestic violence," Heffernan said. "Everyone can relate to the financial situation, but during the holidays, what do people do? They drink."
Heffernan said he sees a connection between the large volume of domestic dispute calls during a time when people are financially strapped, stressed out and consuming alcohol.
"One in four women are affected by this crime," said Maggie Fronk, the executive director Saratoga County Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services Center.
Fronk said that a tough economy during the holidays not only increases tension and raises the chances of domestic violence, but that a poor economy also makes it harder for victims to leave.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 75 percent of all cases of domestic violence, the offender is drunk at the time of the offense.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the period between Christmas and New Year's Day is the deadliest time of year for alcohol-related traffic deaths, citing 40 percent of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol-impaired drivers.


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Baby shaker app for iPhone stirs up controversy
You'll find plenty of fun loving software available for the iPhone through its app store. But a surprising App managed to find its way past all those tightly scrutinizing eyes for approval from Apple. The Baby Shaker app, developed by Sikalosoft, enables users to shake the phone uncontrollably in order to quell the crying from a hand drawn baby until red X marks appear over its eyes. Raising children can be quite a challenge, but who says that this app can be used as a stress reliever? Advocates against the tiny bit of software, such as The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, protested heavily against the popular program that only costs 99 cents to download. Apple eventually showed humility and admitted fault for approving the controversial app and quickly removed it from further distribution.


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BBC - Newsbeat - Golden Joystick Awards: Portal 2 named ultimate game
Portal 2 has been crowned the ultimate game of the year at the Golden Joystick video game awards.
It beat competition for the top prize from the likes of LA Noire, Call of Duty: Black Ops and Gran Turismo 5.
With more than two million votes cast across 14 categories, organisers claim it is the biggest video games award ceremony in the world.
However this year, with no game winning more than one award, there was no particular standout title.
Angry Birds continued its seemingly unstoppable rise to the top of the smartphone gaming world, with the best mobile award for its Rio edition.
The biggest seller of the last 12 months, Call of Duty: Black Ops, had a quiet ceremony by the series’ standards, picking up just one award, best shooter.


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Road trip — no petrol needed
Drive the Coromandel the electric way.
That’s the new way of seeing Whangamata and the surrounding districts, driving electric cars charged from local charge stations.
Car enthusiast Max Christoffersen had to check out the curious looking object across the road from the Coastal News offices.
He found a car charging station in pieces as Test & Tag registered electrical inspector Bill Mitchell took the complex device apart for testing, maintenance and repair.
Mr Mitchell has an extensive background in electrical engineering and had recently driven around the Coromandel Peninsula without using a drop of gas.
“It is possible now to fill up on electrical power at charging ports located at Thames, Tairua, Whitianga, Coromandel and Whangamata. It makes for a near silent and enjoyable road trip minus the engine noise and with quicker pickup.”
The question that dogs most EV car enthusiasts is how far between charges. With the map printed on the back of Whangamata’s charging station it is possible to plan the trip with stops to top up at each station.
“It is recommended that drivers allow around 20 minutes for a charge on the road and aim for 80 per cent of storage capacity. That will get them back on the road quickly.”
For local EV car enthusiasts the road is open to the Coromandel and beyond. Electric car power is the way forward and at the equivalent of 30 cents per litre, it’s economical.
Max Christoffersen wonders if there are any takers for an EV road trip around the Coromandel at the next Beach Hop with a TV familiar yellow electric Ford Fairlane leading the pack!
Power to the people.
Test & Tag registered electrical inspector Bill Mitchell checks out a charging station.
Electric cars are becoming more popular.


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National Basketball Association star Stephen Curry released his fourth signature shoe, Curry 11, under Curry Brand powered by Under Armour on Oct. 13.
The eleventh iteration of Curry’s signature shoe is equipped for the first time with dual-density Under Armour Flow technology to, they claim, help players stay at the top of their game like Curry. It’s design has a “bold and disruptive flair,” according to a press release by Under Armour provided to Black Enterprise via email.
Curry is a big name in the league and is known for his three pointers. According to the release, the signature iteration supports athletes’ game through a comfortable fit with “a softer top loaded piece.” Another feature of the new design is, “a segmented plate that helps athletes maintain stability throughout the midfoot and underfoot with more flexibility at the forefoot,” the release noted.
The point guard for San Francisco’s Golden State Warriors said about the Curry 11 shoe, “When designing this shoe, we wanted athletes to have the ultimate experience on and off the court – both when it comes to comfort and to traction – and the Curry 11 does just that. Nodding to the ‘Future of Curry,’ this shoe is designed to set the season’s tone for what is in store for Curry Brand. I know I have a lot left on the court and Curry Brand itself is truly just getting started.”
The NBA star also said, “To be on the 11th signature shoe is an honor and something I get really excited about – unveiling what we have been working on, allowing people from all over the world and the next generation to be a part of the story.”
RELATED CONTENT: Sacramento Kings Star De’Aaron Fox Becomes First NBA Player Signed To Steph Curry’s Athletic Brand
Source: Black Enterprise


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When the Great American Beer Festival kicks off in Denver on Thursday, Oct. 2, more than 700 breweries from around the country will be represented on the convention hall floor through , all vying for the attention and taste buds of potential customers one small sample of beer at a time.
Many of the breweries at GABF, which runs through Oct. 4, are well-known among craft-beer aficionados, but most are smaller and midsized regional breweries looking to stake their claim in an increasingly crowded marketplace. For newer breweries and especially those participating in the festival and its related beer competition for the first time — including Boulder County breweries 300 Suns, Odd13, J Wells, The Post, Sanitas and Shine Brewing Co. — simply being at GABF represents an important milestone and an opportunity to give their business a boost at a time when it needs it most.
“Festivals in general are a great way to raise awareness, and of course GABF is the biggest,” said Ryan Scott, brewmaster and co-founder of Odd13 Brewing in Lafayette.
Odd13 began bottling and distributing several of its beers earlier this year and plans to install a canning line later this fall to help increase its reach. Scott said he’s looking forward to networking with fellow brewers at GABF, as well as getting the word out about Odd13 and its beer and, hopefully, doing well in the competition.
“It’s easy for a brewery of our size to get lost in the crowd there, but we feel like we have some good beers and can be competitive,” he said. “That would be a huge boost at a time when we’re expanding.”
Boulder’s Sanitas Brewing Co. also has been working to expand its distribution, and co-founder and CEO Michael Memsic said the brewery has made a “big push” into Denver in the past several months. In addition to participating its first GABF, Sanitas is also taking part in several corollary events around town and has secured tap handles at popular beer bars such as Falling Rock Tap House.
“Getting noise is what we all push for — we all want people talking about us and recognizing our brand — but there’s so many breweries and so many beers that it’s really hard to make noise at GABF unless you win medals, and you can’t count on winning medals,” Memsic said.
Memsic would know. He has both won, and lost, at GABF during his time as a brewer with Boulder Beer Co. And while winning a GABF medal can bring a huge boost in business, Memsic also has witnessed the potential pitfalls of sudden notoriety, especially if customers are clamoring for a medal-winning beer that a brewery doesn’t make on a regular basis or one that stretches a brewery’s production capacity to its limits.
Bryan Selders, brewmaster and a partner at The Post Brewing Co. in Lafayette, is also a veteran brewer who has seen his share of GABFs as former brewmaster at the high-profile Dogfish Head Brewery. This will be his first GABF with The Post.
“A GABF medal can mean quite a bit for a smaller brewery, but one of the challenges they face with the notoriety of winning is being able to sustain the level of production and, more importantly, the consistency and quality of their beer,” Selders said. “That oftentimes can be a make-or-break moment for a small brewery.”
Still, the prevalence of so many smaller, regional craft breweries at GABF “certainly raises the profile all around for smaller breweries and what we’re doing and brings those beers to people who wouldn’t typically have an opportunity to try them,” he said.
The buzz surrounding GABF also extends along the Front Range with beer tours and events.
Mike Kasian, head brewer at Shine in downtown Boulder, said that while he’s excited to see how his beers fare in competition, he’s looking forward to simply being a part of it all.
“There’s high value in winning a medal, but the value there is mostly for the brewer or as a marketing point,” he said. “For a small brewpub like us, there’s much more value in interacting with our customers and just being involved and having fun at the festival.”
As Memsic put it: “This is our Super Bowl.”


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Transportation TIP List: Week of January 28th, 2018
This past weekend, prominent icons gathered to recognize the brightest in the music industry at the annual Grammy awards. And this week we’ve put together a star-studded TIP List that features new supply chain growth strategies and insight into the role that collaborative logistics can play in the physical internet. Grab a front-row seat and catch all of the trends impacting transportation below!
- It’s Time for CFOs to Rethink Their Supply Chain Management Strategy: Growth was the number one business priority for CEOs in 2017, according to a recent survey by Gartner Inc. And since supply chain costs are typically the biggest portion of a company’s profit and loss, CFOs are taking a more hands-on, strategic approach to supply chain management to drive growth.
- Collaborative Logistics’ Role in the Emergence of the Physical Internet: Imagine moving cargo across continents as smoothly as computers process data. If the physical internet reaches its full potential, it could have the power to transform the movement of goods and people – and could be embedded into freight supply chains by 2050.
- U.S.-NAFTA Freight Value Posts 13th Straight Monthly Gain: U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $100.6 billion in November as all five major transportation modes carried more freight by value with partners Canada and Mexico in November 2017 compared to the same time a year earlier.
- As U.S. Truck Capacity Tightens, Shipments Cross-Modal Lines: The lines that traditionally divide truckload and LTL shipments are blurring as truckload capacity gets tighter and retail demand stronger, said speakers at the SMC3 JumpStart 2018 conference. LTL and truckload carriers are carving out a “middle lane” between their sectors as freight volumes rise.
- Tax Incentive Puts More Robots on Factory Floors: New tax rules are hastening automation and modernizing U.S. factories by giving manufacturers an incentive to buy machinery and boost productivity in a tight labor market. The revised tax code allows companies to immediately deduct the entire cost of equipment purchases from their taxable income.
What top industry trends do you have your eye on?


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Pesticides at illegal pot farms
Pesticide use is rampant at illegal marijuana farms on California’s public lands, according to researchers and federal authorities. Carbofuran, an extremely toxic pesticide, was found at 72 percent of grow sites in 2017. For reference, a quarter of a teaspoon of Carbofuran can kill a 300 pound bear. It’s nasty stuff. Learn more about this environmental hazard here.
Medical marijuana for pets is a possibility in New York
New York may be expanding its medical marijuana law to include pets. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow veterinarians to recommend medical cannabis to pets. If the bill passes, New York will become the first state to legalize medical marijuana for our furry friends.
California Senate seeks state cannabis bank
The California Senate just approved a bill that would create a state bank for cannabis enterprises. This is welcome news for California’s many marijuana businesses that are forced to operate largely in cash. The bill is now on its way to the State Assembly. Wish it luck.
Utahns to vote on medical marijuana
Utah has a lot of marijuana-haters, but they couldn’t stop a medical cannabis initiative from getting on this year’s ballot. We’re looking forward to seeing how this plays out come November.
Cannabis cooking show coming to Netflix
In a few short weeks, Netflix will debut “Cooking on High,” a competitive marijuana cooking show. Get the details here.


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This popular electric scooter of TVS has become expensive, know the new prices
tvs i cubeImage Credit Source: TVS Motor
TVS People thinking of buying a new electric scooter have got a big shock. Indian two-wheeler company launches popular electric scooter tvs i cube The price has been increased. Recently the Government of India fame II Subsidy has changed. The government gives this subsidy on buying electric vehicles. Now that the subsidy has come down, the company electric scooter have increased the prices of The company has increased the prices for New Delhi. If you now buy iQube electric scooter, then see how much money you will have to pay.
If you live in New Delhi, the price of TVS iQube has increased in the range of Rs 17,000 to Rs 22,000. The prices have been increased according to the variants of the electric scooter. From June 1, the increased prices of TVS electric scooters will be considered applicable. Overall, the price has been increased only for Delhi.
Also read- Hero’s new Dhansu bike has come in the market, see the price and features
TVS iQube: new prices
Those who have booked till May 20, 2023 will have to pay Rs 1,16,184 for iQube. At the same time, Rs 1,28,849 will have to be spent for iQube S. Those booking from May 21 will have to pay Rs 1,23,184 for the iQube while Rs 1,38,289 for the iQube S. All these are Delhi on-road prices.
Leave the myths for the bedtime stories. TVS iQube helps you bust popular myths surrounding EVs #smartlysimple With manner and in style. This way!#smartlysimple #TVSiQubeElectric #TVSiQube #TVSMotorCompany #myth vs fact pic.twitter.com/1ZmgX6Z3iz
— TVS iCube (@tvsiqube) June 14, 2023
TVS iQube: sold 1 lakh electric scooters
TVS Motor’s Senior Vice President (Electric Vehicles) Manu Saxena said that TVS is driving the EV transformation in the country. In the last financial year, TVS iQube touched the sales figure of 1,00,000 units. According to Saxena, this figure shows that people are quite happy with TVS electric scooters.
TVS iQube: Range and Top Speed
In May 2023, TVS has achieved the milestone of selling 20,000 units. Currently you can book TVS iQube and iQube S. The top speed of both these electric scooters is 78 km/h. Once fully charged, the iQube can cover a distance of 100 km. At the same time, it takes 4 hours and 30 minutes to charge from 0 to 80 percent.
Also read- Competition between Jimny and Thar is fierce, Mahindra is giving bumper discount


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How Tim Cook became CEO of Apple
19th March, 2021 at 2:32 am by Sam
- Before Cook joined Apple, he spent 12 years at IBM and 6 months at Compaq.
- During his time at Compaq, he was given the position of executive vice president of worldwide sales.
- On August 24, 2011, Cook took the position as CEO of Apple, after Jobs died of neuroendocrine cancer in 2011.
Cook graduated from Alabama's Auburn University in 1982 with a degree in industrial engineering. Before joining Apple, he spent 12 years with IBM as director of North American fulfillment. Cook was a part of IBM’s still-new PC division — before Microsoft Windows was even a thing. He also ran the manufacturing and distribution functions for IBM.
After 12 years at IBM, Tim Cook left the company and moved into a COO role at a company called Intelligent Electronics. He spent some time there before moving to Compaq to become vice president of corporate materials. At the time, Compaq was one of the hottest PC manufacturers around, with Cook at the helm of managing the company’s extensive product inventory.
Meanwhile, Steve Jobs had just come back into power as Apple's CEO in a dramatic shakeup of the company. Jobs had the tough task of turning the company around after many years of neglect. In 1998, Steve Jobs invited Tim Cook to join as the senior vice president of worldwide operations for Apple.
I listened to my intuition, not the left side of my brain, or for that matter, even the people who knew me best. No more than five minutes into my initial interview with Steve, I wanted to throw caution and logic to the wind and join Apple. My intuition already knew that joining Apple was a once in a lifetime opportunity to work for the creative genius. — Tim Cook
Just one year earlier, Apple was an industry laughingstock: Michael Dell, one of Microsoft's closest partners, said that if he were in Jobs' shoes, "I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders."
Tim Cook was the vice president of worldwide operations from 2002 all the way to 2005, when he was promoted to chief operating officer. At the time, he was also the head of Apple‘s Macintosh division. Starting that year, Cook made investments that would lay the groundwork for the future of the company, including forming critical deals with manufacturers on flash memory, the computer-storage component that would form the basis for the iPhone and iPad.
In January 2011, Cook took over as interim CEO once again while Jobs was on medical leave. In August 2011, Jobs resigned his role to focus on his health — the board then named Cook permanent CEO of Apple. When Jobs died in October 2011, Cook had the flags of the Apple campus flown at half staff in his memory. In the months following Jobs' resignation and then his death, there was a lot of uncertainty over whether or not Apple could keep the momentum going under Cook.
However, that has not been the case, with Cook overseeing the release of multiple new products and record-shattering sales for the company. In August, the company hit a $2 trillion market cap, becoming the world's most valuable company.
Cook has pledged to give away most of his wealth and has gifted millions in Apple shares already, according to Bloomberg.
And that folks is how Tim Cook became CEO of Apple.


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Despite base prices from factories remaining relatively unchanged from last week for spring lambs, it appears the trade is strengthening coming into this week.
Reports indicate some factories paying up to €8.40/kg to producer groups for spring lambs this week as demand strengthens which was also evident at mart sales on Monday.
This, along with what Agriland reported yesterday of lamb prices being in a much stronger position than this time last year, when factories inflicted significant cuts on lamb prices, goes to show the strong position the trade is currently in.
Coming into this week, factories have continued to stay with what they were offering last week for spring lambs with regards to base prices, which are ranging from €7.90/kg up to €8.10/kg. While quality assured lambs are moving at prices ranging from €8.00/kg up to €8.20/kg.
This is leaving spring lamb prices at the top end of the market ranging anywhere from €8.25-8.40/kg with some reports indicating deals up to 10c/kg above this also for larger lots.
A wide gap in base prices on offer from factories for hoggets has opened up in recent weeks, with base prices ranging from €6.95-7.20/kg.
However, top prices for hoggets remain largely the same at €7.30-7.40/kg.
The ewe trade continues to remain in a strong position with factories quoting €3.80/kg. Top prices for ewes are ranging from €3.80/kg up to €4.20/kg.


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You think a TV show is unfair; you don't like what a movie says about your country. Protests over entertainment content can work -- in part, in whole, or not at all.
Since viewers of traditional TV are continuing to enroll in digital subscription services like Netflix, former Hulu executive Jason Kilar believes digital viewers might now be ready to add short-form video services as well. Kilar's new effort, Vessel, hopes to grab passionate consumers of YouTube's channel content -- as well as providing content creators with better deals.
Authentication. Do you need it? Do you hate it? More importantly, will the word be passe in TV's future lexicon?
We know what effect the stolen data has had on Sony Entertainment -- at least from a business/marketing perspective. It's not just what was said among emails and other pieces of information pulled from Sony Entertainment, it's the loss of trust among producers, directors, and talent -- as well as perhaps the leaking of into of media campaigns -- that could dramatically shift business.
Out of the media fire, into the media fire. Jeff Bewkes, chairman/chief executive of Time Warner, teased about a potential mega-media merger, floating names like CBS and Viacom as possible merger partners with his company -- or possibly with each other. The two companies had previously been together as one publicly traded entity. Bewkes claimed some knowledge about a certain mega-media merger -- but couldn't offer details.
Generally TV broadcasters still reign supreme in viewership numbers -- which is why Dish Network, as well as other pay TV companies, needs to have them as part of their programming portfolio. Now Dish wants to change the game for new digital offerings. The company might not want TV broadcast stations to be included in the basic plan of its upcoming cloud-based TV service, according to the Wall Street Journal.
About a year and a half ago, some broadcast networks threatened to become cable networks due to over-the-top services like Aereo transmitting their stations' signals without paying for them. The Supreme Court's subsequent ruling against Aereo took care of that threat and issue. Now the Federal Communications Commission wants to set up an auction to sell -- for a good deal of money -- some of the broadcasters' over-the air spectrum. That has broadcast executives again mulling a move, from a different financial perspective.
Some TV executives aren't interested in ratings, while many others will tell you TV viewership shifts are very important. Digital streaming video is on the rise, especially from subscription video operators like Netflix, with just under 40 million U.S TV homes. Now David Poltrack, chief research officer of CBS Corp., says Netflix has had a hand in why there has been 3% decline in TV ratings - an idea that also jibes with other analyst's theories.
A Google study of its display advertising platforms revealed that 56.1% of impressions were not seen; the average publisher's viewability rate came in at 50.2% TV advertisers would have a fit if networks revealed similar data.
Here's a key marketing question: Are you creating content for your advertisers or viewers? Or are you just doing good "art"? Think about the rise of content marketing, especially with the wide-open platform of digital media. What's the goal? TV seems a more traditional, but workable, platform for marketers.


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Apple have announced that Apple Arcade – Apple’s new gaming service for the iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, and Mac – will be releasing to everyone on the 19th of September for $4.99 per month in over 150 countries. It also comes with a one month free trial!
Apple Arcade is Apple’s newest service, which focuses heavily on gaming. For a monthly fee, you’ll be given access to a library of games that have been made for Apple Arcade. A key element about Apple Arcade is that there is no ads, no in-app purchases, over 100 games available to play, offline playing, and access for up to six family members.
Apple have called Apple Arcade a “groundbreaking” service that’s “unlike any other”, so I’m curious to really start playing all the games and seeing for myself!
This is just one of the recent announcements at the Apple Event! Follow us for more live information at the event!
Are you watching the event? We’d love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter @Apple_Informed


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New stricter VAT rules for North American companies selling online to customers in Europe
The United Kingdom (UK) has realized that many North American companies are not following the local VAT regulations when selling goods in the UK via online marketplaces. In attempt to make non UK companies VAT compliant, the UK has decided to take action by giving HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) the power to make an overseas business appoint a UK VAT representative. Together they will be responsible and liable for any unpaid UK VAT. In addition, the newly introduced UK VAT laws will also allow HMRC to hold an online marketplace liable for any unpaid VAT on behalf of an overseas company that sells goods in the UK via the online marketplace’s website.
The reason for these new VAT laws within the UK is that HMRC has noticed that overseas businesses that sell goods that are located in a UK warehouse at the time of sale to UK costumers via online marketplaces such as Amazon, Ebay and others are not registered for VAT, and are also not paying VAT on the full retail price. This makes it challenging for non UK companies that are legally registered for VAT since goods that shipped and stored in a UK fulfilment warehouses by non VAT registered companies before being sold to UK consumers are offered a lower price.
These new measures will begin in 2017, and HMRC will be on the lookout for any North American company that is not VAT compliant. These companies will be tracked down one by one to appoint them with a UK tax representative, or have them register for a local VAT number. In order to avoid back taxes and penalties, and to find out if your company is required to register and charge VAT within the EU, please contact our VAT experts.
Return to Latest VAT News


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Do you feel you have ever been ripped off getting a ticket for a concert or a sporting event?
Well the B.C. government wants to hear from you. The province has kicked off a public consultation campaign to “clamp down on high-priced ticket scalping” and controversial ticket bots.
“Potential legislation will deal with the issue of inability of British Columbians to access tickets and what they see as the unfair way in which scalpers get the tickets, bots get the tickets. It seems that anybody other than a regular British Columbian gets the tickets,” Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said.
LISTEN: B.C. government to crack down on ticket scalping
The three-week survey will ask British Columbians about their experiences with ticket buying, reselling and buying from resellers. The recommendations are expected to be made public in June, with new legislation set for B.C. in the fall.
Other jurisdictions, including Quebec, have tried to crack down on ticket bots without much success. The bots are often based outside of North America and are hard to track and punish. The rapid ticket-buying software often will scoop up available tickets and then resellers will offer them back to the public at a hefty price.
The Alberta government has introduced rules to force ticket vendors such as Ticketmaster to actively identify tickets purchased using bots and cancel them, and to let consumers and vendors sue offending bot users.
Secondary ticket-sellers doing business in Alberta, such as StubHub, would have to refund the full price if a ticket sold was counterfeit or was cancelled because it was purchased by a bot.
If not, the province could investigate and level fines.
“The legislation elsewhere is pretty variable, so who we want to hear from is the industry here in British Columbia and the people here in British Columbia,” Farnworth said. “We want to learn from the failures, as well as the successes of other jurisdictions.”
Vancouver-West End NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert has been lobbying for changes to the industry for years and applauds this first step.
“British Columbians are frustrated by ticket price-gouging, and want action,” he said. “Working with the people of B.C., our government is acting and will develop and bring forward new consumer protections to help make the ticket-buying experience fairer and more affordable.”
The survey is open to British Columbians and can be found here.
There has been public outrage in Vancouver over tickets being sold out in seconds to major concerts like U2, the Eagles and most recently Pink.
But not all events are created equal. Below is a look at four Rogers Arena events, some have re-selling prices three or four times higher than the list price and the Canucks tickets are lower. Buying tickets online is not an exact science, but it is clear someone is making a lot of money off reselling tickets.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild, Rogers Arena, March 9, Section 310
Seat Geek: $41.21
Showtime Tickets: $35.00
Face Value: $67.75
Rod Stewart, Rogers Arena, April 10, floor seat around row 34:
Seat Geek: $168.70
Showtime Tickets: $585.00
Face Value: $149 plus service fees and taxes
Shania Twain, Rogers Arena, May 5, floor seat around row 32:
Seat Geek: $333.53
Showtime Tickets: $325.00
Face Value: $189.95 for most expensive ticket
Pink, Rogers Arena, May 12, Section 111, around row 19:
Seat Geek: $634.96
Showtime Tickets: $485.00
Face Value: $260.10 plus fees for most expensive ticket
— With files from The Canadian Press
© 2018 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.


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Stihl Inc. is tapping into America’s sense of patriotism and unity with its new national advertising campaign. Leading with the message, “Made in America. Three words not everyone can say,” the campaign aims to reinforce the company’s continued support of and investment in American manufacturing while also reinforcing that a majority of Stihl products sold in the U.S. are made in America of U.S. and foreign materials. The multimedia campaign integrates all marketing platforms, including print, online, traditional broadcast and streaming digital pre-roll.
“The Stihl name has always been synonymous with quality and performance across the globe,” says Ken Waldron, Stihl Inc. national marketing manager. “However, we also want our customers to know that while we began producing just one chainsaw model in America back in 1974, we now proudly manufacture many of our products right here at our Virginia Beach facility.”
More than 75 models of Stihl equipment are currently made in America of U.S. and foreign materials at the U.S. facility, with plans in place for additional category expansion, the company reports. Products made at the Virginia Beach facility include: chain saws, trimmers, edgers, brush cutters, pole pruners, backpack and handheld blowers, sprayers, shredder/vacuums and more. The Stihl Inc. facility also produces battery equipment.
Since its inception in 1974, the Stihl Inc. campus has grown from a single 20,000-square-foot rented warehouse to more than 1 million square feet, and spanning more than 150 acres. The highly automated manufacturing facility boasts the latest in manufacturing technology and is vertically integrated. The Virginia Beach plant also manufactures many of the components and accessories used by other Stihl facilities around the world.
“The Made in America campaign will run throughout 2022,” says Waldron. “However, given Stihl Inc. remains committed to continued investment in American manufacturing and expanding our American-built product categories this campaign may continue for years to come.”


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More than ever, businesses need a reliable marketing partner to navigate emerging tech and industry trends. We leverage data to increase your success and help you make sound marketing decisions.
Team SI announces the introduction of a new ag-marketing company, SI EQ, a TraDigital™, data-driven marketing firm focused on the agriculture community. Originating out of Team SI, the experts at SI EQ have worked with agriculture equipment dealers for nearly a decade and are well-known as result-oriented marketers in the ag industry.
On Monday, October 4th around 10:30 AM CT, Facebook-owned platforms – including Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp – were reported as experiencing outages according to Down Detector. Facebook confirmed the outages soon afterward.
John Morgan, Director of Analytics at MHP/Team SI discusses the latest Google Algorithm and how it may impact your SEO performance.
The TraDigital™ Experts at MHP/Team SI discuss Google Core Web Vitals, answer your FAQs, and talk about how we are testing our clients’ sites.
Lannie Byrd, chief operating officer at MHP/Team SI, discusses the latest news from Google announcing the delay of removing third-party cookie tracking.
Andrew Levenson, director of growth at MHP/Team SI discusses that latest data privacy update that may impact your advertising. Google has announced that Google Play will follow Apple’s privacy measures and will be changing how they handle the unique device identifier that allows markets to track users between apps.
For the fifth time since 2015, Inc. Magazine announces that MHP/Team SI, a full-service, data-driven marketing agency based in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been ranked in its 2021 list of 5,000 fastest-growing companies across the nation. The agency was listed as number 2,285 in this prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.
Here at Team SI, we’re all about implementing data-backed strategies to drive results for our clients. We care about our clients’ successes and like to show off the results of their campaigns.
Arkansas-based company, Team SI, was recently recognized as one of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America by Entrepreneur magazine’s Entrepreneur360™ ranking, a premier study delivering the most comprehensive analysis of private companies in America. Team SI, which was ranked No. 185 on this year’s list, is recognized as a well-rounded company that has mastered a balance of impact, innovation, growth, leadership and value.
Data is the currency of the internet. At MHP/Team SI, we follow data because it can tell us where your marketing campaigns are working and where we need to make changes. By practicing data-driven marketing, we’re not just trying to reach a higher number of impressions on your ads each month. Instead, we’re looking to reach the right person at the right time with the right content at the right frequency. These data-driven methods can be the difference in gaining or losing a customer.
So much to be thankful for - clients who believe in our company and employees who give their all despite the challenges of 2020.
More consumers are becoming wary of who they interact with and trust online. With a world of information at their fingertips, consumers are more likely to be skeptical and research your business online before working with you. This is the time, now more than ever, that you have to establish yourself as a business that can be trusted.
In today’s digital age, effective content marketing is crucial. As web content becomes more and more readily available, people are expecting to receive what they want, when they want it. With this, however, comes a decreased patience for things they don’t want to see - like ads.
We asked Chip Culpepper, partner at the MHP/Team SI Family of Companies and creative leader, what he thought about the ads and messages shown during Super Bowl LV. Read below to get his play-by-play of which brands won the night.
The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) announced that Little Rock’s Team SI made the 2019 Inner City 100 list, published in Fortune magazine, of the fastest-growing inner city businesses in America based on revenue growth.
Despite the temptation to bring in your marketing efforts and manage them with an in-house team, a new study by the Association of National Advertisers, Boston Consulting Group and Reed Smith suggests certain struggles with in-house agencies that marketing firms could handle instead.
People want to connect online with other people and brands. Your business can connect with them by producing quality content. You just have to come up with a great strategy to keep up your momentum. While some industries feel it’s difficult because they have to constantly run content past compliance rules or feel like they have nothing interesting to write about, there is great value in content marketing. Here’s why it’s worthwhile for your business.
Social media has always been a two-way conversation, but, as marketers, we tend to focus more on our own messaging more than listening and feedback.
Let’s be honest. You realize your marketing strategy can help bring in a lot of business, but it can also be difficult to develop a successful marketing plan on your own. It can be overwhelming to even think of all the factors that go into marketing these days — social media, content management, a mobile-friendly website, digital advertising, traditional advertising and the list goes on.
Would it make your jaw drop if we told you that in-store traffic dropped a whopping 60 percent from 2010 to 2015? What if we told you 1 in 3 sales, if not more this holiday season, will come from mobile, and of those customers, 80 percent were influenced by online ads they saw before purchasing? You can pick your chin up now.


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In a means, Important is one thing of a pioneer. Earlier than the iPhone X helped the world reluctantly embrace the display screen notch, the corporate proudly displayed one atop its first flagship. Since then, in fact, it’s turn into a function, not a bug, with an extended record of corporations speeding to embrace it on their newest flagship.
However Important’s clearly hoping to resolve the problem with numerous patents trying to stick a digital camera instantly behind the show. The Andy Rubin-founded firm has been on fairly a patent run in current months — however the ones pertaining to a “digital camera built-in right into a show” are essentially the most compelling of the lot. And if it involves fruition, it may breathe new life into the corporate’s upcoming handsets after an admittedly sluggish begin.
The patent describes a multi-layered show with digital camera during which a “considerably clear area permits gentle from exterior to succeed in the digital camera to file a picture.” The patent factors to a possible utility during which the digital camera is mounted behind the LCD.
Within the imagery accompanying the put up, the digital camera is positioned in its customary spot up high — you realize, the place the notch needs to be. In one other iteration of the identical concept, the digital camera is positioned behind the display screen’s coloration layer and “information the sunshine from the surface coloured by the colour filter layer.”
A separate patent has “an irregularly formed digital show, together with a hollowed out show inside which a sensor, corresponding to a digital camera, might be positioned. The manufacturing strategies allow the creation of the hole anytime through the manufacturing course of. The ensuing digital show occupies the total facet of the cellular system, with the sensors positioned inside and surrounded by the show.”
There are a ton of Important patents revolving across the concept, and as Rubin just lately identified on Twitter, the corporate additionally holds a two-year-old patent describing a digital camera that pops out of the highest of the telephone — an idea that started exhibiting up on precise gadgets final month at MWC, together with Huawei’s new nose-view keyboard digital camera.
Each patents embody a enjoyable little addition, whereby the digital camera is positioned behind a digital camera icon. Tapping the icon would activate the digital camera. In fact, relying on how all of that is applied, you most likely don’t need to put a digital camera in a spot that’s going to build up a considerable quantity of your disgusting finger grease.
“The built-in digital camera serves two functions: to file photos,” the patent reads, “and to behave as a digital camera icon, that when chosen prompts the digital camera. By eradicating the digital camera from the entrance facet of the cellular system, or by integrating the digital camera into the show display screen of the cellular system, the dimensions of the cellular system show display screen might be elevated.”
In fact, the usual patent disclaimers apply right here — there’s no assure the corporate plans to (or is even in a position to) implement the applied sciences outlined in these kinds. Such patents are sometimes pie within the sky concepts or simply IP grabs. We reached out to Important and the corporate declined to remark any additional on the patents.


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Beautiful women on the cover of a fashion magazine? Pretty standard. Beautiful women on the cover of a fashion magazine promoting a good cause? Now THIS IS BIG.
Gigi Hadid and Halima Aden are both cover girls for the September issue of CR Fashion Book (photographed by Pieter Hugo) and LOOK: they’re both wearing UNICEF tees! In fact, the entire issue is dedicated to raising awareness about the global refugee crisis and how everyone – supermodels, activists, you and me – can help change the world.
And Carine Roitfeld couldn’t have picked better models for the cover. Both Gigi and Halima are UNICEF ambassadors and have their own stories to tell when it comes to refugees.
“I was born in a refugee camp in Kenya, it was a UN camp,” explains Halima in a video for CR Fashion Book. “So I remember seeing UNICEF. I remember seeing the staff.” Halima was 6-years-old when she moved to the US (and eventually started smashing goals as the first hijab-wearing model to sign on to a major modelling agency!)
Meanwhile, Gigi is the daughter of a refugee – her dad Mohamed Hadid writes he was “only about 18 months old. After we were expelled from our beloved Palestine into the Syrian refugee camps.” It wasn’t until Mohamed was a teenager that his family would make it to America.
View this post on Instagram
I was only about 18 month old. After we were expelled from our beloved #Palastine into the Syrian refugee camps .. My dad got a brief job at the university of Damascus in #Syria .. This was our family pictures for a Palastinian Refugee Card. The Hadid Family, my beautiful mother Kharia Daher Hadid. My father Anwar Mohamed Hadid. My sisters Ghada,Raida, Sana, and me. Thank you #Syria for taking us in. And thank you America for allowing All of us to realize our dreams …
Gigi and Halima have also started a crowd funding campaign to coincide with this special September cover. They’re urging their MILLIONS of fans to help #childrenuprooted by ongoing conflicts and natural disasters. For more info or to donate, you can go HERE.


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The Official Merchant Services Blog returns to a topic that it covered thoroughly throughout 2011: The Durbin Amendment. With the Stop Online Piracy Act getting most of the headlines lately, Durbin Amendment’s continued impact on the payment processing industry has gone into stealth mode. Until today that is. Stick with us as we offer a whirlwind roundup of all things Durbin related.
Bank of America Took a Beating
We’ll start off our tour Durbin tidbits with this article by ABC News. Apparently Bank of America took a substantial hit from their plan to charge $5 per month to use debit cards. According to the article: “Bank of America’s failed plan to impose a $5 monthly debit card fee led to a 20 percent increase in closed accounts in the last three months of 2011 and a public relations headache.”
The article quotes Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan as saying, “yes, we had some impact from the $5 debit fee. That’s why we made a decision to reverse it.”
It wasn’t all bad news for Bank of America though, as the bank reported earnings of $2 billion in the last three months of 2011, up from a net loss of $1.2 billion in the same period a year ago, boosted in part from a one-time gain on the sale of China Construction Bank.
Small Lenders Strike it Big
The next little bit of Durbin aftermath comes from this article by NACS online. As was seen in the Host Merchant Services in-depth analysis of the legislation, The Durbin Amendment only applies to lending institutions with assets over $10 billion. Smaller banks and credit unions are exempt from the Durbin Amendment. As a result of being exempt, a Wall Street Journal report cited by the NACS article states that these institutions have been “collecting fees that are often three times those imposed on cards by large banks.”
For comparison, the article says: “The WSJ notes that a $100 sweater purchased with a debit card would incur a fee of 95 cents on a card issued by a smaller bank and only 26 cents for those issued by big banks. “
The article also suggests that banks face further uncertainty by April 1, 2012, when “all U.S. banks and credit unions must offer retailers more choices of companies used to process debit card transactions, a move that is expected to lower interchange fees further.”
New Target: Credit Card Swipe Fees
Time Magazine Online Feature Moneyland reports something that Host Merchant Services has already touched on before in The Official Merchant Services Blog — that Credit Card Swipe Fees may be the next target of legislators and financial reform. From the Time article: “There’s another interchange fee fight in the offing — this time over credit cards. According to CNBC, equity analysts who cover the financial sector have expressed worry that ongoing litigation involving several major banks could lead to a cap of 0.5% on credit interchange fees — one-fourth of what’s currently charged — potentially dragging down bank earnings. If that happens, consumers who are used to generous credit card rewards programs complete with double miles, accelerated earnings, and big sign-up bonuses might get a rude awakening.”
The Official Merchant Services Blog on December 13, 2011 covered the topic of a Credit Card Swipe Fee. In that blog we wrote: “the plan would end up working much like the Durbin Amendment has worked. Where the idea of reform would get overshadowed by how banks and credit card companies reacted to the law. There would be some shifting, so in that sense the reform would cause change. But that eventually the burden for paying for any losses that banks and credit card companies get forced into through reform would end up squarely on the shoulders of the consumers.”
The Time article notes something that Host Merchant Services already pointed out regarding a Credit Card version of the Durbin Amendment — Banks would take another huge hit because Durbin has language that freed up banks and merchants to market and promote options to the consumer directly. In short, Durbin’s language freed merchants up to promote credit over debit. And because of that, a lot of merchants did just that as Banks offered new programs to make credit the more attractive choice. Subsequent changes that would now penalize Banks for doing that would create a lot of negative momentum for Banks and added onus for consumers who get stuck with no good choices overall.
New Hampshire Law
This article from credit.com reveals that one state legislature is already making moves to see a Credit Card Swipe Fee Cap become reality. As the article states: “A piece of legislation introduced in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, House Bill 1319, has drawn some attention for the way in which it would drastically alter the credit card landscape between businesses and payment processors. The law will limit the amount banks chartered within the state are able to charge businesses for processing credit card transactions to just 1 percent of the total purchase value.”
The article goes on to state that many businesses pay costs that range from 0.67 percent of the transaction’s value to 4.76 percent and that a MasterCard spokesperson told the Nashua Telegraph that the average 1.75 percent.
Cash Still Rules Everything Around Me
Our last news brief on the topic of the Durbin Amendment and swipe fee caps is a little different. This article from the Huffington Post shows a study that reveals cash is still king. The gist of the article: “More than three-quarters, or 79 percent, of consumers said they made a cash purchase in the last seven days, according to a report released on Tuesday from Javelin Strategy & Research, a market research group for financial services. Compare that to about 65 percent of credit and debit cardholders who say they swiped their plastic in the last week.”
The article suggests that this is a consumer reaction to card swipe fees. The article states that consumers are choosing to pay for items with cash to avoid fees on small, everyday purchases. The convenience of plastic gets overrun by the savings consumers perceive they get from going back to cold, hard cash. The study indicates that cash is replacing debit for small purchases, and credit is replacing debit for big purchases and the Durbin Amendment’s lasting legacy may simply be that it pushes Debit out of the consumer’s arsenal of payment options.


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D – Under the motto “Let’s celebrate!” Kalfany Süße Werbung celebrated three anniversaries simultaneously on July 15, 2016 at the Europa Park, a theme park in the Black Forest: Whilst the sweets specialist celebrated its 35th anniversary, the brand Pulmoll’s history – one of the most successful products in the line-up of the company from Germany – looked back on 60 years. Last, but not least, the sugar refinery, Tangermünde Fr. Meyers Sohn, which became Zertus GmbH in 2002, was founded 190 years ago. The holding company of Kalfany Süße Werbung has shares in eight specialised food companies. Almost 2,000 employees work for the group at eleven production sites and a further seven locations in six countries.
The Executive Directors of Kalfany Süße Werbung – Fritz Haasen, Klaus Richter and Elmar Schlesinger – summed up the company history of the confectionery specialist during the gala dinner. Founded by Pieter Schubert in 1981 as a confectionery business in the Black Forest, the company has developed into one of the leading sweets suppliers of the promotional products market over the course of the years. The company has been producing at the location in Herbolzheim since 1998 and disposes of its own fruit gum and sweets production, a chocolate factory, a modern printing technology centre offering digital, flexo and pad printing as well as a packaging company. Certified quality and exclusive brand partnerships, including among others Ferrero, Katjes, Dextro Energy and My M&M‘s®, all contribute to the recipe for success of Kalfany Süße Werbung. The Pulmoll sweet that was introduced onto the German market by the French pharmacist Jacques Lafarge in 1956 also makes up part of the company’ portfolio. The pastilles in the red tin are still produced according to almost the same recipe.


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WASHINGTON — Educating the public about automated vehicles is crucial to deploying advanced transportation technology on U.S. roads and highways, according to speakers at Mobility Talks International, held in Washington last year.
DETROIT — Chevrolet, Jeep and Kia took home 2020 North American car/truck/SUV of the year honors for the Corvette, Gladiator and Telluride, respectively, according to voting by a jury of 50 American and Canadian automotive journalists.
RICHFIELD, Ohio — Nexen Tire Corp. has secured an OE supply position with Canoo Inc., the Los Angeles-based company that's developing an innovative electric-vehicle platform designed for the emerging shared/autonomous transportation sector.
DETROIT — Sales of new light vehicles in the U.S. are expected to fall below the 17 million threshold in 2020 for the first time since 2014, according to the lastest forecasts from LMC Automotive and J.D. Power.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California's roads might soon become even busier, now that the California Department of Motor Vehicles will allow the testing and commercial use of light-duty autonomous delivery vehicles on the state's public roads.
DETROIT — U.S. light-vehicle sales will fall 1.2% to 16.8 million next year as slower job growth, lower consumer spending and affordability weigh on demand, according to the latest National Automobile Dealers Association () forecast.
The advanced driver-assistance systems that have migrated from luxury vehicles to less expensive mass-market cars have the potential to cause major financial disruption to the dealership service department's traditional business model.
TOKYO — Subaru Technica International Inc. (STI), Subaru Corp's tuner arm, has selected Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600A tires as OE fitment on the limited-edition STI S209, a high-performance version of the Subaru WRX STI built for the North American market.


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Buy now, pay later services are on the rise in Australia with OpenPay, Humm and Zip announcing a string of new partnerships with retailers.
A number of fin-tech payment providers have this month announced new additions to their retail partnerships.
The news comes just weeks after research from Which-50 found more than half of shoppers are now using buy now pay later services.
The news was first announced with Openpay last week announcing the growth of its portfolio with partnerships with Seed Heritage, French Connection and Nine West.
Just a week later Zippay announced a string of new partners set to join the platform including the Just Group, Hanes Australasia (Bonds, Berlei, Sheridan and more), Lorna Jane, Brandbank and General Pants.
The BNPL service also took on Koko Black, Grill’d, Schnitz and Carsales.
Fran Ereira, General Manager of Sales and Solution Delivery at Zip Co said the move was part of the company’s ongoing push to disrupt the finance industry.
“Zip is a credit card disrupter and wants to be everywhere you’d consider paying for items on plastic, whether that’s lunch, picking up a gift or booking an ad to sell your car.”
Just a day earlier humm joined the pack and took on a number of homewares, electrical and health retailers including Temple & Webster, Bing Lee, Jaycar and 1300 Smiles.
Commenting on the announcement, Rebecca James, Chief Executive Officer at flexigroup said the company is making new inroads in the sector.
“Retailers are favouring humm’s broader demographic and spending power, helping them drive higher value sales. And shoppers are embracing the ability to make larger lifestyle purchases more affordable by paying in interest free instalments.”


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SEOUL, March 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's surplus in goods trade with the United States posted a double-digit fall in 2018, keeping a downward momentum for the third consecutive year, a government report showed on Thursday.
The country's goods trade surplus toward the United States was 13.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, down 22.9 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Export to the United States grew 6 percent to 72.7 billion U.S. dollars on demand for locally-made chip, oil product and construction equipment.
Import from the United States jumped 16.2 percent to 58.9 billion U.S. dollars on the sharp growth in imports of crude oil and natural gas, which marked a triple-digit expansion last year.
South Korea's surplus in goods trade with the United States continued to rise for the first four years since the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) came into force in March 2012, but it turned downward in 2016.
Meanwhile, South Korea's deficit in services trade with the United States was 16.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, up from a deficit of 14 billion U.S. dollars in 2016. The services figure is unveiled a year later than the goods trade number.
The Asian country's services export to the United States was almost unchanged at 14.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, but the services import increased 10.3 percent to 31.3 billion U.S. dollars on demand for U.S. law and accounting services.


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April 09, 2016 — BSave, creators of a new generation of Bitcoin savings account, announced an...
Tag Archive: 2FA
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During security testing a vulnerability was exposed on the Authy app, a two-factor authentication tool....
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Steam is one of the most popular gaming-related platforms in the world these days. As...
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Making the Bitcoin ecosystem more secure is of the utmost priority to every individual and...
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Security has always been a big concern for the crypto currency industry. Since its emergence security has always been a very important issue, too big for businesses and entrepreneurs to ignore. The growing need for increased security led to the development of enhanced applications like 2FA to guarantee complete security for companies trying to act in the crypto currency ecosystem.
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Airbitz, a simple to use mobile wallet for iPhone and Android, has launched a unique...
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Clef, the two-factor authentication service from the future, has partnered with crypto crowdfunding platform, Koinify,...
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Clef, a two-factor authentication platform, has recently gained traction in the Bitcoin space with companies like Koinify integrating...
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Security has come to be a real important issue when it comes to bitcoin wallets, and the ecosystem is always in constant demand for new features and innovative developments. The bitcoin authenticator is a new open project aiming to bring new developments and innovations to the Bitcoin security industry, and the first to introduce a bitcoin wallet to offer a practical decentralized wallet security solution.


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Research In Motion Ltd. is launching a new version of its poor-selling PlayBook tablet in Canada that will run on the latest high-speed cellular networks, the company said on Thursday.
The current version of RIM's tablet connects to the Internet via local Wi-Fi networks, but it can also access the Web by tapping into a user's BlackBerry cellular connection.
The new version of the PlayBook tablet, a device that has not sold well since its launch in April, 2011, will be available at BCE Inc.'s Bell Mobility, Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. starting on August 9th. The device, which also received a software update in February after criticisms that it lacked RIM's signature e-mail service, will be able to run on these carriers' fourth-generation (4G) networks, a service also known as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and which is touted as having faster connections.
The company also moved quickly late Wednesday to counter a report out of India that RIM was ending a long-standing dispute with the Indian government and had granted security service there full access to its encrypted messaging services.
A report on the website of the Economic Times of India quoted an official saying that RIM had finally satisfied the government's demand for access to the BlackBerry's secure messaging service. The newspaper, which is part of the Times Group company that also owns the Times of India, also quoted someone from India's Department of Telecommunications who said the government's access extended to RIM's encrypted corporate e-mail service.
Although not all of a BlackBerry's messaging functions are encrypted, RIM has long maintained that it is unable to grant anyone access to its corporate e-mail service, which is encrypted from end-to-end. RIM responded in a statement late on Wednesday, saying it was necessary "to correct some false and misleading" information" that had appeared in the Indian media.
"RIM is providing an appropriate lawful access solution that enables India's telecom operators to be legally compliant with respect to their BlackBerry consumer traffic, to the same degree as other smartphone providers in India, but this does not extend to secure BlackBerry enterprise communications," the company added.
This spat has gone on for several years. One one side, Indian government officials are anxious to assure the media that security services are able to monitor all of the traffic flowing over India's wireless networks, particularly because of the domestic Naxalite insurgency and the potential for more terrorist attacks like the attack on Mumbai in 2008. On the other side, RIM is anxious to assure its corporate customers -- and perhaps particularly those working in countries where governments are involved in the economy -- that private communications between employees cannot be accessed by interested third parties.
On Thursday, RIM did not make available to The Globe its government affairs chief, David Paterson, saying he was in China. In an interview with Reuters, Mr. Paterson said: "The fact is that BlackBerry enterprise communications in India remain secure and encrypted. No change has been made or ever can be made in India or anywhere."


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New Left 4 Dead in the works, but it might not be the one you're hoping for
Left 4 Dead Survivors being specifically designed for Japanese arcades.
A new Left 4 Dead game is in the works, but it might not be the one you were hoping for. Valve has partnered with Japanese publisher Taito for a new game in the series called Left 4 Dead Survivors, which is being designed specifically for Japanese arcades.
This isn't the first time Valve and Taito have teamed up for an arcade game. In 2006, Taito released Half-Life 2: Survivor for Japanese arcades. You can see a video of it here.
Unfortunately, we don't know much about Left 4 Dead Survivors, apart from a live-action video released earlier this year, when the game was known as "Project Z." A teaser website for Left 4 Dead Survivors says it is "coming soon."
There is growing speculation that Valve is in fact working on a third entry in the Left 4 Dead series. Left 4 Dead 3 was spotted in a project tracker last June, and another listing for the game appeared just months later. The original Left 4 Dead launched in October 2008, with its sequel, Left 4 Dead 2, arriving just one year later.
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email email@example.com


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- Nigeria’s automotive industry is advancing towards actualizing the manufacturing of electric and gas-powered vehicles
- Promise Emmanuel, spokesman to the deputy governor of Kogi state, says electric vehicles will be of great benefit to Nigeria
- Apart from being a government official, Emmanuel runs a transport and logistics outfit in Lokoja, Kogi state - KRCabs and Integrated Services
Lokoja - Promise Emmanuel, the chief press secretary to the deputy governor of Kogi state, Chief Edward Onoja, on Saturday, December 11 declared that Nigeria can take the lead for Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Africa.
Emmanuel made the declaration while delivering a presentation at TEDxBudon in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital on the topic: The Nigerian Automobile Industry: The future of Electric Cars.
Emmanuel who is popularly known as 'Kogi Rebel' and tweets from @kogirebel on Twitter, stated that Nigeria is a very important market where EVs can thrive.
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“As a country, Nigeria can take the lead for Electric Vehicles in Africa. But the market has not kickstarted because of lack of policy and regulation. Nigeria still has key structural issues that prevent the mass adoption of EVs.”
On how the government can create a suitable and holistic policy and regulation which will create the enabling environment for electricity, Emmanuel said:
“For the government to do this, there are several aspects of the Electric Vehicle Ecosystem and value chain that must be taken into consideration.
“There need to be sufficient and workable charging stations put in place. Investors also need to know that there is a demand for EVs before they invest in the construction of charging stations across the country. Right now, there are too few EVs in the country to convince investors to key in.
Uber, Bolt in trouble as House of Reps moves to probe ride-hail businesses in Nigeria over tax compliance
“Nigeria intends to adopt the fleet method of adoption of EVs, which involves individuals or businesses buying them and investing in charging stations. We have seen this with a few companies.
“Nigerians also need answers to how much time it takes to fully charge the cars. For example, the Kona takes 10 hours to charge and has a power rating of 7.2 kilowatt hour. This is a lot depending on the different parts of Nigeria. It can also be cheaper than fueling a petrol-powered car.
“But Nigeria has been known over the years to have a bad track record on electricity. Many areas and states can't boast of 12 hours power supply, electricity isn't constant and also very expensive. How then can Nigerians charge their EVs?
“For this mass adoption to be possible, there is a need for the government and investors can boost renewable energy in form of solar energy and make it affordable for people.”
Zeetin Engineering to Produce Electric Cars, Heavy-Duty Equipment in Nigeria
Legit.ng had earlier reported that the multi-billion naira Zeetin Engineering factory is already preparing to produce car engines and electric cars.
The engineering firm has acquired and installed the most sophisticated production machines (CNCs, Plasmas, 5Axis Milling, Lathes, etc) in the metal works industry in Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists during a tour of the facility, Azibaola Robert, founder of the firm, said he has been able to invest his personal funds totaling about N3.5 billion in setting up the place.
Nigeria Keying Into Electric, Gas-Powered Vehicle Manufacturing, Says Jelani Aliyu
Recall that during the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, the director-general, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu, told the world that Nigeria was advancing towards actualizing the manufacturing of electric and gas-powered vehicles.
According to the NADDC director-general, the recent assembly of Electric Vehicles by the Hyundai Kona EV and the assembly of AutoGas powered OMAA CNG Minibus by a division of KOJO Motors are all testimonies to the effort the country is making in that direction.
Aliyu also stressed that Nigeria could not afford to be left behind as nations around the world advance technologically.


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New PR Wiki has a useful list of corporations who are blogging.
Steve Reubel reports /a> on the launch of gada.be a new search engine from Chris Pirillo which could be a really useful tool for journalists wanting to set up persistent searches on topics which you can run time and time again – just add the word you want to search on in front of “gada.be” and save to favourites [eg. boeing.gada.be].
The Blog Herald reports in its Blog Count in Octoberthat there are now over 100 million blogs in the world.
The Blog Herald reports on the launch of The Blooker Prize a new literary award set up to honour books which started life as blogs…
Steve Rubel picks his top 10 blogs, listed in “no particular order”
Technorati charts the rise in daily blog postings with an interesting chart detailing significant events.
Intelligent Bacon has 16 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Blog


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PPB Group Bhd has posted a marginally higher pre-tax profit of RM332.4mil for the first half ended June 30, against RM329.5mil in the same period a year ago, despite a 27% rise in turnover to RM5.39bil.
Net profit inched up to RM171.2mil, or 34.9 sen per share, from RM168.7mil or 34.4 sen in the previous corresponding period.
The marginal increase in bottomline is mainly due to the lower profit in the second quarter.
For the second quarter ended June 30, pre-tax profit dropped 13.6% to RM147.8mil from RM171.1mil although turnover grew nearly 32% to RM2.8bil from RM2.13bil. Net profit fell to RM73.2mil from RM85.7mil in the quarter, while earnings per share shrank to 14.93 sen from 17.47 sen.
The group said profit from its sugar and grains trading, and flour and feed milling divisions were dragged down by higher raw material costs. Contribution from its oil palm plantation operation was also lower due to a translation loss of US-dollar denominated loans recorded by Indonesian-base subsidiaries arising from the weakening rupiah.
The edible oils refining and trading operations achieved a 14.4% growth in profit to RM44.7mil on higher revenue of RM4.18bil amid stronger prices of processed palm oil and related products in the first six months.
Executive chairman Datuk Oh Siew Nam said profit from the oil palm division was expected to be higher than in the preceding year should the current crude palm oil prices prevail.


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Boracay rehab to boost external payments - BSP
MetadataShow full item record
The rehabilitation of Boracay island is likely to boost the country’s external payments position in the long term through a more sustainable tourism industry, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the impending six-month closure of the world-renowned tourist island would involve short-term costs of forgoing immediate tourist receipts. “But over the long term, it should result in a more sustainable tourism industry. That should be expected to bring in more and more substantial income that could further support the external payments account,” Guinigundo said.
Agcaoili, L. (2018, April 10). Boracay rehab to boost external payments - BSP. The Philippine Star, pp. B1, B2.
Associated contentOnline version
- The Philippine Star
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
Tumampos, Stephanie (BusinessMirror,
October 1, 2018, on page A9)The US Navy, not spared from repercussions, had to pay in full to the Philippine government after two years the damage to the corals caused by its ship. It paid around P87 million (equivalent to $1.87 million) in 2014 based ...
Binay, Jejomar (Manila Bulletin,
August 1, 2018, on page 11)According to the LLDA, IPM Construction and Development Corp. and Level Up Construction and Development Corp. have illegally reclaimed 47 hectares of the lake. The LLDA has ordered the closure of the sites, and have filed ...
Celis, Angela (Malaya,
January 8, 2019, on page A1-A7)The Medium-Term Boracay Action Plan (BAP), which formally lays out the proposed programs for island's rehabilitation, has an estimated total investment requirement of P25.27 billion, according to the National Economic and ...


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“This pandemic has hit everyone hard, especially the small business owners of our communities,” Moylan said. “Our state’s agencies have directed their full attention toward delivering resources to businesses facing new challenges, and this webinar serves as another opportunity for local businesses to learn about what is available to them.”
The OMEE webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 at 2 p.m. This webinar will cover federal and state resources available to small businesses amid the COVID-19 crisis. While OMEE focuses on specific communities, particularly people of color, women, the disabled, veterans and other historically disadvantaged communities, all are welcome to participate. Residents can register for the webinar and submit questions at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=nwgia7qOPEaE9TFxIQ-QBVycEpn70gJNq5YHAOtDJMVUMENLWFkyV1JTSEtFTVZDT01BVzNXRThKNSQlQCN0PWcu.
“Even if a business is unable to participate, I encourage them to reach out to my office and we can help connect them with available resources and answer questions,” Moylan said. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and we need to do everything we can to support them through these unprecedented times.”
Residents with concerns about COVID-19 are encouraged to call the Illinois Department of Public Health’s hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email firstname.lastname@example.org. To stay up to date with all new information about COVID-19, visit coronavirus.illinois.gov.
Visit Rep Moylan’s website
292-S Stratton Office Building
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What Google's hefty GDPR fine means for Australian marketers
- 23 January, 2019 14:59
In the wake of Google’s 50 million Euro fine, the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, and an increasingly educated and concerned consumer, experts are stressing Australian businesses and brands, marketers, and adtech businesses can no longer afford to assume having generic consent policies in place for data use are adequate.
France’s data protection authority fined Google 50 million Euros (AUD$79.4 million) for breaches of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the first fine to be levied since the act came into effect in May 2018.
The National Data Protection Commission (CNIL) charged Google with violating transparency and information rules around user information, as well as a lack of valid consent around ad personalisation. Specifically, the group has said Google’s information to users about how data is being used is neither clear nor comprehensive, while the structure of information does not enable it to comply with GDPR.
This follows the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) fining Facebook £500,000 for ‘serious breaches of data protection law’ last year, under old legislation.
The fine related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, when more than 310,000 Australians may have had their data improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica, according to a Facebook update in April. Facebook collected the information of up to 87 million people. This included up to one million UK residents, according to the ICO.
AMSRO president, Craig Young, said the CNIL fine against Google sends a strong message to all companies, both local and global, that if you are using personal information, it needs to be done with consent which is specific and unambiguous, and the explanation of how personal data will be used needs to be comprehensive and transparent.
"The regulators mean business and brands, marketers and ad tech businesses can no longer afford to assume that having some generic policies in place which provide, for instance, ‘general consent’ for data use are adequate. As the recent decision from CNIL has shown, this is not the case," he said.
"Protection of consumer data has always been something of an obsession of legitimate market research organisations, as we know that our industry’s continued existence depends on the goodwill of the pubic whose information we are entrusted with. Other parts of the boarder marketing services industry are now finding that the regulatory environment is finally catching up with advances in technology and the implications, specifically for digital ad personalisation, are profound. The impact is likely to be felt in the hip pocket by brands and agencies who do the wrong thing both in fines from regulators and the inevitable consumer backlash.
"If the marketing services sector expects to continue to use consumer data for personalisation of advertising, there needs to be a general increase in the level of detail provided to consumers about exactly how their data is going to be used."
ShareRoot CEO, Noah Abelson-Gertler, saw tech giants being used as examples for the rest of the world, both now and in the future, and warned local companies to take note that GDPR compliance is vital, and it has teeth.
“Since the GDPR came into play, both consumers and companies been waiting to see which of the tech giants would be made an example of first. It turns out that Google is the first to be hit with a fine, whereas most people were guessing Facebook was going to be the lucky winner due to its headline-grabbing security and data breach issues,” he said.
"For smaller companies, this Google infringement will serve as the first of many benchmarks regarding compliant and non-compliant activities for businesses interacting with EU citizens - which is essentially every business with an online presence. More benchmarks and flags will be established in the near future as the tech giants get hit with more fines, which will in turn, enable the smaller companies to form an idea of the landscape they need to navigate.
"There may have been companies both in Australia and throughout the world who previous to this fine, thought that the GDPR would be a piece of legislation without teeth, but moving forward, starting with this fine and following with many more, the deniers will dwindle in number and hopefully before it's too late, they will face the reality that compliance is the only path forward.
"Smart businesses will realise the GDPR and the resulting need to respect consumer privacy and data will only serve to help their business. Consumers want to be respected by brands and will respond and interact in kind if a company or business establishes an equitable relationship."
In Australia, Young said AMSRO members have pioneered protecting personal information under a legislated, registered industry privacy code for more than 15 years to ensure personal information for market and social research conducted by its member organisations is collected only with (truly informed) consent and under strict codes and practices.
"This latest development in Europe proves that it’s high time other organisations collecting, storing and sharing personal information and data comply with a similarly rigorous regime," he said.
Young added the OAIC is also getting the message out locally, with the Australian Information Commissioner, Angelene Falk, sounding a warning the OAIC ‘can seek civil penalties of up to $2.1 million per privacy breach through the Federal Court’.
GDPR was formally introduced across the European Union in May 2018 and is one of the most significant data privacy reforms to come out in years. The ambition is to give users more rights to protect their personal data, and the regulation covers concepts such as ‘right to be forgotten’, data breach accountability, and data portability.


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COAL CITY – The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to be on the lookout for a pair of porch pirates on the loose in the Goose Lake area of Coal City.
According to reports, Deputies were alerted to the area of Goose Lake last night after a report of Amazon delivery packages stolen from the front porch of a residence. The incident happened Monday sometime around 9 pm when a resident reported two men in black clothing taking packages from their porch.
The men left the area in a older red pickup with a ‘loud muffler’ headed south on Coal City Road.
Grundy County Sheriff’s Office is advising residents to take preventative action to prevent such thefts, including having a signature verification requirement on delivered items or investing in a security camera.
If you should have a package stolen this holiday season, or at any time, contact your theft to police and contact a vendor immediately.


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Cyber Monday has arrived! Time to get great deals on electronics, clothes, shoes, furniture, and so much more.
But officials say last Friday on-line shoppers spent over $3 billion. A 21 % over last year! So Cyber-Monday may be losing some of it’s luster as online shoppers look to get an ever earlier jump on holiday sales.
Today big retailers are promising even more deals as they roll out the on-line red carpet for shoppers. Some of the hottest deals are on electronics and clothes!
By: Dianah Gibson