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There's been a third food poisoning outbreak this month among school children in Siberia. In all three cases, the culprit has been Yersinia enterocolitica.
In the most recent outbreak, 11 children, between 3 and 6 years old, were hospitalized in Krasnoyarsk (eastern Siberia) with symptoms of yersiniosis. A few days before, 65 children from a summer camp in Solnechny also were hospitalized in Krasnoyarsk with similar symptoms. And an outbreak of yersiniosis in Shaktyor sent 21 children from a summer camp to hospital.
While authorities suspect contaminated cabbage salad to be the source of these outbreaks, Yersinia enterocolitica infections most often result from consuming contaminated water, raw or undercooked meats, raw milk, or improperly pasteurized milk.
Rospotrebnadzora, described by the Moscow News Weekly as Russia's consumer rights agency, recently inspected 2,409 of the country's dairies. Fewer than 58% of the dairies were satisfactory; 19% needed immediate structural renovations, according to the Rospotrebnadzora report.
The inspections uncovered instances of lack of temperature control during pasteurization and delivery, as well as evidence of unsanitary conditions. The problems were especially severe in Far-Eastern, Siberian, and Ural federal regions, where 12.5% of milk samples failed to meet sanitary standards.
These major lapses in the safety of dairy processing and products translate into frequent, large outbreaks of food poisoning. Last year, several hundred children in the Stavropol region (in southern Russia) were hospitalized in two food poisoning outbreaks that were traced to contaminated kefir, a fermented dairy product. Several dairies in the region had allowed employees suffering from dysentery to continue working, and had fallen short of sanitation requirements in other respects as well.
Gennadiy Onishchenko, Russia's chief sanitarian, has suggested that the dairy industry return to an older method for delivering fresh, clean milk to consumers. He is advocating that consumers be allowed to fill milk jugs directly from parked trucks that haul milk in large refrigerated vats. Pilot projects to test this approach in North Osetia and Krasnodar proved successful, according to Onishchenko.
It's unclear how this "Back to the Future" approach would solve the problems of poor sanitation and lack of pasteurization temperature control that were reported by Rospotrebnadzora. I suspect that it would simply substitute a different set of control problems, shifting the onus to the Russian consumer to keep their milk jugs clean and to maintain correct storage temperatures.
Until Russia solves the structural and sanitation problems in its dairy industry, its people can expect a regular diet of news articles about yersiniosis, as well as other food poisoning outbreaks.


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Apple sends out a big thanks to those who have downloaded from the App Store. As of March 3, the Apple app store reached the 25 billion downloads mark, creating a new milestone for the company.
To celebrate, the lucky one that downloaded the 25 billionth app will receive a $10,000 gift card from Apple.
The winner of this contest hasn’t been announced yet and will be contacted by Apple soon.
Apple App Store downloads crossed 1 billion back in April of 2009, and then 10 billion in January of 2011. In comparison, Google’s Android Market passed the 10 billion app download mark back in December of 2011.

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We get sent loads of press releases every day, but we have to say that none are as awesome as this one from Mitch Delaplane of PitchPoint Public Relations.
Self biled as “The Most Amazing Press Release Ever Written,” the document’s strap line continues in a suitably confident fashion, “PR Professional Distributes Groundbreaking Press Release”.
And after that bombastic intro, Delaplan was off:
CHICAGO, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Mitch Delaplane of PitchPoint Public Relations has issued the most amazing press release ever written. While hundreds of press releases are distributed daily, Delaplane feels this particular release will go down in history as the most amazing press release that has ever been written.
“I’ve been in the business for over ten years and have to say, I’m speechless,” claims Delaplane. “The title alone grabs you and demands that it be read. Then there’s this quote that completely takes things to an entirely new level. I’m proud of this press release. In fact, I think it is [really] amazing.”
Typically reserved for company news announcements and other public relations communications, the press release has long been the favored default for informing media about exciting, groundbreaking news. Then this news release comes along and changes everything people thought they knew about press releases.
“I’m quoting myself again because the first quote didn’t do it justice,” says Delaplane. “If you’re still reading this news release, then you know what I’m talking about when I say it’s something special. In fact, it’s 483 words of pure awesomeness. When it crosses the wires, I believe history will have been made.”
The science behind this Earth-shattering news release lies in its simplicity – no science, just pure old press release craftsmanship. It started with an incredible brainstorming session that asked a very simple question: “what makes a press release amazing?” Elaborate notes from that brainstorm were then formulated into mesmerizing sentences, paragraphs and pages…all expertly designed to make you pause and reflect at the brilliance of this press release.
Every single word of this news release was track changed, stetted, then track changed again to its original draft. Upon final approval, it was spell checked, fact checked and printed for posterity. The result is a two-page, 1.5-spaced news release that is like no other news release in existence.
According to PitchPoint Public Relations you have just read the most amazing press release ever written. If you agree, tell Mitch at firstname.lastname@example.org or follow him on Twitter at Lifeisamitch.
If you disagree, issue your own press release and prepare for war.
As self promotional devices go, Mitch has certainly served up ther goods and put a smile on our faces. Good work, sir!


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EFTA and Singapore make progress on digital trade agreement
15 September 2023 11:23
The EFTA member states (Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland) are keen to conclude a Digital Economy Agreement with Singapore. At the start of September, representatives from both sides convened for the fifth round of negotiations and, according to a press release issued by EFTA, made good progress on a number of key points.
The partners reached an agreement on articles to effectively protect users from unsolicited commercial messages and to promote paperless trading and electronic invoicing by businesses, while progress has also been made on data protection issues. The negotiations first launched in February are set to be continued in the fall.
The planned agreement between the EFTA member states and Singapore is intended to create a clear framework to promote trade in goods and services on the basis of innovative technologies. In this context, the focus is on topics such as network security, signature services, electronic payment services and consumer protection, while the agreement should also form the basis for cooperation in other areas of interest, such as fintech and the token economy.
The EFTA member states and Singapore already implemented a free trade agreement in 2003, which the new agreement would now supplement. ce/ssp


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Melbourne auctions came roaring back to the streets as the public sales and open for inspection bans ended this week.
The welcome news also led to a rush of vendor activity, with about 1500 properties listed in Victoria since restrictions lifted, according to realestate.com.au.
Agents reaped in top results in front of up to 10 registered bidders yesterday, after hastily converting sales back to the city’s tried and tested method.
Nick Johnstone Real Estate director Nick Johnstone said the $2.31 million result at 1 Kyarra St in Hampton could not have been achieved via online bidding platforms.
“By having some human emotion back at auctions, it definitely makes a difference to the result” Mr Johnstone said.
“It’s also a nice way to do it, knowing everybody at the auction is registered and intends to bid.”
Harcourts Rata & Co agent Tony Lombardi said his agency had been “inundated” with owners in the northern suburbs who were ready to sell after Monday’s announcement by the Premier.
“Vendors are ready to go, so I think the market will see an increase in stock over the next three months and more buyers too,” Mr Lombardi said.
“We’ll go back to normal conditions relatively quickly.”
He sold a one-bedroom Thomastown unit at 3/45 Alexander Ave for $320,000 yesterday, with five bidders vying for the keys both in person and online.
Mr Lombardi said the shift to digital technology during COVID-19 would probably stick around as a way people could virtually participate with public auctions, or to accommodate for larger bidding groups.
Realestate.com.au economist Cameron Kusher said the website had a 9.2 per cent spike in Victorian listing numbers since Scott Morrison’s announcement easing restrictions last week.
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“It’s probably not just because restrictions on the property market were eased, but also because there’s confidence that we’re working back to a normal economy,” Mr Kusher said.
“Laying out the plan has given consumers a bit more confidence if they want to list their property.”
He said the “true test” would be in about four to six weeks, once auction activity ramped up and the clearance rate could accurately reflect market conditions again.
EYS Auctions director Fabian Sanelli said it would make “absolutely no sense” for vendors to not consider adding an auction date to their sales campaign.
“It’s very rare that you’ll get more than 10 bidders for an auction anyway, so that’s more than enough to have a cracking and energetic sale,” Mr Sanelli said.
“If there are more than 10 bidders, those who register late can always bid over the phone.”
He said while online auctions and virtual inspections had been helpful during the ban, they were unlikely to replace the street sales method anytime soon.


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In a new demo video posted to its Facebook page this morning, Fender teased its striking new Limited Mahogany Blacktop Stratocaster. You can check out the demo, which features JJ Rosa, above.
The model featured in the video is an HHH Olympic White with a contrasting black headstock and gold hardware, but HH models will also be available in Black and Red.
We don't have a whole lot of other information to go on at the moment, though—according to our pals at Music Radar—the new electric guitar will likely be a Europe-only model, valued at £699 (Olympic White HHH) and £659 (Black and Red HH).
We'll be sure to keep an eye on this model as more info is revealed.


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Beacon Drive-In featured on the Cooking Channel
While the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for restaurants to keep a steady stream of customers, it’s been a pretty good year for the landmark Beacon Drive-In located in Spartanburg.
After Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order closing inside dining at restaurants in March to prevent the spread of the virus, The Beacon’s traditional curbside service business increased dramatically. It’s a service customers have been using since the restaurant opened back in 1946.
Another advantage for the restaurant is it has an outdoor eating area where customers can enjoy their meals. While other restaurants had to come up with makeshift areas to provide outdoor dining for customers to comply with social distancing guidelines, The Beacon already had facilities to accommodate customers.
Steve Duncan, one of The Beacon’s three owners, said the restaurant lost some business during the first few months of the pandemic but has been doing well since that time.
“Our sales took a very big hit in April. Yes, our sales took a very big hit in March, but May and June have come back strong,” Duncan said. “We had to mind the rules and pay attention to what we were doing, but we survived and we feel like things are back to normal for the most part.”
However, the restaurant is facing some of the same challenges as others with regard to meat shortages. Duncan said they had to temporarily raise the prices on some of their menu items due to the increasing cost of beef, but that they’re monitoring the market and will return to regular prices as soon as they can.
The Beacon hosted its first car show of the year Saturday, and Duncan said it was the first time they’d had to make anyone wait for a table.
In addition to seeing business thriving, the restaurant can add another television appearance to its list of accomplishments. The restaurant recently was featured on an episode of “Food Paradise,” said Duncan, and the program aired June 14 on The Cooking Channel.
The episode, “At the Drive-In,” featured the specialties of drive-ins from all around the country. The episode, number 32 in their 14th season, is currently available to view on Hulu. However, the episode was filmed 18 months ago.
“It’s like an hour-long show and The Beacon had a good seven, eight-minute segment in there,” Duncan said.
Chef Charlie Bergamy, 84, who has worked at The Beacon for more than 60 years, demonstrated for the TV crew how he makes the restaurant’s Double Chili Cheeseburger with Bacon A-Plenty, a cheeseburger topped with bacon and The Beacon’s made-from-scratch chili and served with a heaping portion of onion rings and French fries.
Bergamy said crews also filmed him making the restaurant’s hash sandwich, Beacon burger, and pimento cheese.
“We showed them how we make it. We got to do it The Beacon way,” Bergamy said.
Duncan said filming was an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it’s not the first time The Beacon has been on TV. The restaurant was also featured on “On the Road with Charles Kuralt” in the 70s and, more recently, in the pilot episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.”
Open since Thanksgiving Day 1946, Duncan and fellow owners Karen Harwell and Mark McManus are looking forward to celebrating the restaurant’s 75th anniversary throughout next year.
“We tell people that The Beacon has been here longer than Burger King has. If you look at some of the fast-food industry in America, The Beacon’s roots are deeper. So it’s exciting that something this unique to Spartanburg is still operating,” Duncan said.
The restaurant was founded by John White and became a Spartanburg icon for its fair prices, large portions, and unique way of taking orders with “caller” J.C. Stroble, who worked at The Beacon for 57 years before his death in 2013. The streets on either side of the restaurant are named in their honor.
“At one time, we had J.C. on one side and John White on the other, and we’ll never duplicate that, can’t pretend we're ever going to duplicate that, but that system still exists, what they set in motion still exists as much as it can without them,” Duncan said.
The Beacon has served a number of politicians, including Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, and Joe Biden, and other celebrities. Bergamy said one of the most memorable happenings during his time at The Beacon was when Bob Hope visited.
Bergamy said one of the most notable changes over the past 60 years has been the number of out-of-town guests they serve.
“You got buses coming in from everywhere on the weekends,” Bergamy said.
James Smith said he thought that consistency of good food and quick service at good prices was what kept The Beacon going. Smith said he’d been working at The Beacon for about a year but had been eating there since he was 9 years old.
“To me, it’s very historic. The name has just traveled all throughout the United States. You go off and you can find signs way off in Florida saying how many miles to get to the famous Beacon restaurant,” Smith said.
As Duncan said, “You haven't been to Spartanburg unless you’ve been to The Beacon.”


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Mattel Inc., the world's largest toy maker, reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year results Wednesday thanks to healthy sales of core brands and doll lines including Barbie, American Girl and Monster High.
For the three months ended Dec. 31, the El Segundo company reported profit of $325.2 million, or 89 cents a share, compared with $328.4 million, or 89 cents, in the same quarter a year earlier.
Fourth-quarter sales totaled $2.12 billion, a 9% increase from the year-earlier quarter; sales in the U.S. were up 11%. The fourth quarter is the most important time of the year for toy makers, with many seeing nearly 40% of their sales come during the holiday rush.
For the year, Mattel reported a profit of $684.9 million, or $1.86 a share, a nearly 30% increase compared with $528.7 million, or $1.45, in 2009. Sales were $5.86 billion, an 8% increase from $5.43 billion in 2009; full-year gross sales were up 9% in the U.S.
"I am pleased with our strong results for the quarter and the year, with revenue growth across brands and markets, and improved profitability," Chief Executive Robert A. Eckert said in a statement.
"Our priority for 2011 is to accelerate our performance by inculcating our new vision and implementing a new organizational structure, uncovering the next layer of cost-cutting opportunities, generating significant cash flow and deploying capital in a disciplined and opportunistic manner," he said.
Shares of Mattel rose 22 cents, or 0.9%, to $24.37.
Last week NPD Group reported that the toy industry saw a slight uptick in 2010, with sales rising 2% over 2009. U.S. retail sales of toys totaled $21.87 billion, up from $21.46 billion a year earlier. Strong fourth-quarter sales, which were up 3% year over year, amounted to $10.2 billion.
Plush toys and building sets saw the most significant increases at 18% and 13%, respectively, the market research firm said. Outdoor and sports toys saw an increase of 9%, and dolls and infant/preschool toys had increases of 6%.
Even as Mattel reaps the rewards of an improved economy and better consumer spending, it's also back in the courtroom to renew the years-long battle with rival MGA Entertainment Inc. over ownership of the sultry Bratz dolls.
The retrial, which began in federal court in Santa Ana last month, is expected to last three to four months. The two companies are fighting over whether Van Nuys-based MGA, maker of the Bratz dolls, infringed Mattel's copyrights after Bratz creator and former Barbie designer Carter Bryant took the idea for the pouty-lipped, big-headed dolls to MGA after he quit Mattel.
A jury in Riverside sided with Mattel in 2008, awarding the company $100 million in damages. That ruling was reversed in July by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
During a call with analysts Wednesday, Eckert said it would be difficult for Mattel to scale back its legal expenses this year because of the trial.
"As much as I would have preferred to settle the dispute, that wasn't my unilateral prerogative. We have a strong case," he said. "And then I'm hopeful we can finally put this behind us. But I'll also say — having said that, this is a matter of principle, it's about righting a wrong, and I have confidence in the system and that we'll prevail."


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For about six years now, CubCrafters has kept a new two-seat taildragger design under wraps. Named the XCub, that secret airplane has now been revealed as the Yakima, Washington-based company achieved the coveted Part 23 certification from the FAA for the airplane on June 2.
Since the company self-funded the new design and certification process, there was no need to make an announcement or take orders prior to having the FAA paperwork in hand. XCubs are already rolling down the factory line alongside Carbon Cubs, Sport Cubs and Top Cubs, and several dealers have placed orders for the XCub already.
XCub is designed with a wider mission profile in mind, providing more speed and cargo carrying capabilities than CubCrafters’ previous modern Cub versions. Powered by Lycoming’s 180 hp O-360 spinning a composite Hartzel Trailblazer constant speed prop, the XCub cruises at 145 mph at 75 percent power and has a useful load of 1,084 pounds.
“Our development team set out to design a Cub with terrific STOL capabilities, like our Carbon Cub LSA, but one that could travel faster and farther while easily accommodating all of the gear that a pilot and passenger might want to carry for an extended journey,” said CubCrafter CEO Jim Richmond. “Now, after receiving type certification from the FAA, I’m proud to say that XCub is much, much more than I even hoped it would be.”
We had a chance to fly the XCub recently and experience its terrific flight characteristics, resulting in part from the redesigned ailerons, which are controlled by push-rods, and stabilizing dorsal fin. See the full flight report in the July issue of Flying.


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Pandemic accelerated PH consumers’ shift from cash to digital payments
More Filipinos are now using digital channels to conduct transactions — including critically important payments — due to the profound impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their daily lives, especially limitations on physical movement that are imposed by the crisis.
More importantly, as many as nine out of ten local users to electronic payment systems now prefer making cashless transfers over cash payments due to public health considerations.
Thus said international payments firm PayPal citing its latest study on the adoption over the last few months of digital solutions among Filipinos, the majority of whom had overwhelmingly preferred to transact in cash before the Covid-19 outbreak for reasons of convenience and practicality.
“While cash remains the most dominant method of payment in the Philippines, circumstances brought on by the pandemic have given digital payments a more prominent role in the everyday lives of Filipinos,” PayPal senior director and Southeast Asian head of sales Rajkishore Agrawal said.
The results of the online survey showed that that 87 percent of Filipinos increased their usage of digital payments during the pandemic, while 90 percent said they preferred to digital payments over cash during this time.
The 2020 PayPal Consumer Insights Survey was conducted among 500 local respondents with the objective of identifying the impact of COVID-19 on local payment behaviors.
“As the pandemic continues, health and safety need to be a fundamental part of our everyday decisions,” the official said. “But when you consider continued usage of digital payments, convenience and security also play vital roles.”
The findings jibe with a recent study by the World Bank and the National Economic Development Authority which suggested that the use of digital technologies such as digital payments, e-commerce, telemedicine, and online education helped the Philippine economy cope with social-distancing measures, business continuity and public service delivery.
At the same time, however, the survey found that 49 percent of respondents identified security as the topmost consideration when choosing which digital payment platforms to use.
More importantly, respondents said the new method of transaction is here to stay, with an overwhelming 99 percent saying they plan to keep using digital payments even after community quarantines are eased.
According to PayPal, the majority of Filipino respondents used digital payments to pay for bills (44 percent) and groceries (36 percent).
This digital shift has also introduced many locals to the convenience of overseas shopping.
“Usage of digital payments opens the door to global e-commerce markets for Filipino shoppers,” Agrawal said. “Once they experience the benefits—mainly convenience and security, it opens a wide array of options for them in terms of shopping choices.”
From May to August this year, 61 percent of the survey participants said they purchased from international merchants with the most common purchases being for fashion (41 percent) and technology (34 percent).
The survey also found that seven in ten plan to continue purchasing from international merchants in the coming three months.
When it comes to payment platforms for cross border purchases, 77 percent of respondents cited PayPal as their most preferred method. The digital payments platform has an estimated 361 million account holders in over 200 markets across the world. It is also available for different currencies, giving users unparalleled flexibility to make international payments.
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A late Wednesday post from the leader of Microsoft’s Xbox team, Phil Spencer, confirmed that the first “Project Scarlett” console is officially in the wild, ahead of its late 2020 launch window. And current Xbox One players appear to have already unknowingly connected to it.
“And it’s started,” Spencer posted on his Twitter account on Wednesday. “This week, I brought my Project Scarlett console home and it’s become my primary console, playing my games, connecting to the community and yes, using my Elite Series 2 controller, having a blast.”
Without any extra posts or clarification as of press time, we can only surmise so much from this single statement. But it’s admittedly dense. Primarily, Spencer affirms a few details that he and the Xbox team have previously announced about Project Scarlett, the current codename for the unnamed successor to the Xbox One console.


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March may not have been the best month for car sales, but there was a decent rebound from a completely moribund February. Sales were definitely helped by all-new models, as our Movers and Losers list clearly shows. Six of the top 10 are brand-new models with only one or two months of sales under their belts.
Two new models that barely missed the list’s sales threshold were the 2010 Honda Insight and 2010 Volvo XC60. Both were only on sale during part of March, so their days-to-sell numbers were artificially high. We expect both to make the top 10 Movers list in April.
The Losers list is pretty understandable, containing many outgoing models that will soon be replaced.
The average selling days for new 2008, 2009 and 2010 models was 152 days. For 2009 and 2010 models, the average was 68 days. These numbers are higher than they were in February, which were 110 and 63 days, respectively.
Remember, the Movers and Losers list reports the average number of days it takes to sell a model from the day it arrives on the lot until the final paperwork is signed by a buyer. This is not a days of inventory list like you may find on other sites.
The full lists are below.
Top 10 Movers
- 2010 Kia Soul: 8 days
- 2010 Mazda3 sedan: 10 days
- 2010 Lexus RX 350: 12 days
- 2009 Audi Q5: 13 days
- 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe: 13 days
- 2009 Toyota Venza: 17 days
- 2009 Nissan 370Z: 19 days
- 2009 Toyota Tundra crew cab: 19 days
- 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350: 20 days
Top 10 Losers
- 2009 Mitsubishi Galant: 175 days
- 2009 Pontiac G6 sedan: 160 days
- 2009 Kia Spectra5: 158 days
- 2009 Pontiac G6 convertible: 157 days
- 2009 Mazda RX-8: 154 days
- 2009 Hyundai Accent sedan: 149 days
- 2009 Dodge Caliber: 148 days
- 2009 Ford Mustang coupe: 147 days
- 2009 Chevy Cobalt: 146 days
- 2009 Saturn Aura: 142 days


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As part of ongoing renovations, Apple’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan will feature a dedicated broadcasting booth for the company’s Beats 1 Radio station, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke with MacRumors. It will be a “very unique area” for broadcasting Beats 1, said the source.
It’s unclear if the rumored booth will feature one of the existing Beats 1 anchors.
For context, Beats 1 Radio currently broadcasts out of Los Angeles, New York City and London. New York City anchor Ebro Darden, who appears to broadcast from a studio in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, may broadcast his Beats 1 Radio show in front of a live audience visiting Apple’s flagship store.
The Fifth Avenue outlet has been closed for renovations since January 20. When finished, the revamped store will feature Apple’s next-generation retail layout and over twice as much square footage as before.
Apple’s Vice President of Apps and Content, Robert Kondrk, and Apple Music’s content boss, Larry Jackson, told The Verge last month that Beats 1 is the biggest radio station in the world. Drake’s latest project, for example, was streamed 89.9 million times in just 24 hours of being available on Apple Music.
“It’s the biggest radio station in the world. There’s no way you’re going to find another station that has as many concurrent listeners and audience-wise as Beats 1, period,” Jackson said.


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Sales leaders know that a lot rides on the success of in-store product promotions; that’s why executing them well is often a top priority. But according to a survey by the Promotion Optimization Institute, 67% of respondents feel that the process of executing and reviewing promotions is burdensome.
That’s because when you launch a promotion, it’s impossible to see into hundreds of stores at once to check on your primary KPIs — pricing accuracy, competitor activity, and whether promotional material or displays have been properly set up. You can’t be the one to gather this information yourself; that’s one of the reasons you have a field team. But waiting for reports from the field can take days, or even weeks when relying on old-school reporting methods such as email and phone calls.
However, leading brands are now adopting a new model for improving execution in the field, called in-flight promotion optimization. By focusing on collaboration and data sharing between national accounts teams, field sales teams, and retail marketing teams, these brands are shaving months off of their reporting time. Able to spot execution gaps across hundreds of stores within just a few hours or days, national account managers can maximize compliance during the first few days of a promotion so promotions can have an immediate impact on sales in their accounts.
In Repsly's latest eBook, we go through the three steps to adopting an in-flight promotion optimization model, and highlight the success story of the Kraft Heinz team when they began prioritizing real-time data collection and reporting from the field. You'll learn how to:
- Visualize Promotion Execution in Real Time
- Share Promotion Performance Data With Retail Partners
- Close The Loop and Measure Sales Lift
Download the eBook below!


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Music streaming service Spotify has crept over the border into the unforgiving arctic north of Canada today, bringing with it the gift of music. Spotify touts its 20 million song catalog and 320kbps audio quality, but that's less special than it once was. What does make Spotify special for Canadians is that it's actually available in Canada unlike some services.
It's common for companies to eliminate redundancy when an acquisition takes place. So it should come as no surprise that Apple is reportedly in the process of shutting down Beats Music, the streaming service it picked up when it bought the company for $2.6 billion earlier this year. The timeline isn't clear, but the wheels are allegedly already in motion.
Remember when T-Mobile announced plans that included Music Freedom, which let users stream music from certain services without impacting their wireless data limits? Remember when it didn't include [insert your music streaming service of choice here], so you ignored it? Actually that isn't quite fair: Music Freedom support currently includes Pandora, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, which are the heavy hitters in the industry. But it's hard to deny that a lack of support for Google Play Music was kind of disheartening. Read More
DoubleTwist's unique Android music app has been able to stream audio to Apple's AirPlay standard for some time, and to Qualcomm's competing AllPlay WiFi speakers since May. But for some reason, the company's Pandora-style streaming music service Magic Radio wasn't included. They have now corrected this oversight, and the latest version of the DoubleTwist app on the Play Store can now stream Magic Radio to AirPlay or AllPlay devices. You'll need the $8.99 upgrade to access streaming. Read More
If you've been paying attention to the tech rumor mill as of late, you probably know that Amazon has been planning to buff up its Prime subscription service with a musical component. The web retail giant flipped the switch last night, and now Amazon MP3 is Amazon Music. If you already have a subscription to Amazon Prime (which offers free 2-day shipping and access to Netflix-style streaming TV and movies), then you're now subscribed to Prime Music, the service's premium competitor to Spotify and Google Music All Access. Read More
Rdio's Android app got a teensy, tiny update today, adding gapless playback to all devices running Android 4.1. According to the "What's New" section of the Play Store page, the feature was added in by popular demand. For the uninitiated, gapless playback is exactly what it sounds like: a seamless transition from one track to the next. It's a big deal for some users, and much harder to do on a streaming music service than on local playback. Read More
Wow, it's been over three years since we wrote about the official app for Digitally Imported Radio, or as it's known in your URL bar, DI.FM. (Fare thee well, "Android Market.") This app lets you access 65 finely-tuned streaming music stations focusing on electronic music and similar genres. The update to version 1.5 lets you sign in with either Google+ or Facebook. You can still log in with an existing DI account, or create a new one sans social network. Read More
The Spotify app on Android has gone through several iterations on its way to being not ugly, but the one rolling out now might be the most significant. A new dark UI is hitting devices with new fonts, icons, and a few tweaked features. Some elements of this interface have been appearing on devices over the last few weeks, but today is the official announcement.
The overlap of Radio Disney listeners with Android Police readers is probably small, but the new Radio Disney app is probably a big deal to certain demographics. If you've got kids around, this might be a thing for them to use. The app is basically a live stream with a handful of other Disney-esque features built-in.
If you purchase a Samsung phone in the near future, you're going to have yet another option for listening to music. However, unlike most of the other streaming services, the newly announced Milk Music is free and has no ads. The Milk Music app is live in Google Play and it's compatible with the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, Note 2, Note 3,, S4 Active, S4 Mini, and Mega at this time. Read More


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AWB's Rural Jobs Task Force will connect via conference call this Wednesday at 10 a.m. to discuss the latest legislation dealing with rural issues. The task force will also hear from proponents of House Bill 1422/Senate Bill 5208, the Rural Jobs Act. There is an amendment on the bill that now includes an allocation to rural broadband. Contact Connie Carlson or Mike Ennis to join the conference call.
A separate rural broadband bill, House Bill 2749, would allow a local sales and use tax credit against the state sales tax for high-speed internet infrastructure. Sponsored by Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, the bill would allow rural counties to impose an additional 0.05 percent sales tax as a credit against the state sales tax for development of broadband in unserved areas. Currently, counties can keep 0.09 percent of the state sales tax for economic development purposes and this bill would allow counties to keep an additional 0.05 percent restricted to rural broadband infrastructure. The bill will have a public hearing on Tuesday before the House Technology and Economic Development Committee.
Contact Mike Ennis, AWB government affairs director for rural issues and infrastructure, to learn more.


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A corporate merger should have no impact on a local business.
Jake Baxter, franchise owner and operator of the Robinson Sears Hometown store, said it will be business as usual here, despite the re-joining of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. to Sears' parent company.
Sears Hometown was spun off from Sears Holdings Corp., the former parent company of Sears and Kmart, in 2012.
Current holding company, Transform Holdco LLC, , controlled by former Sears CEO Eddie Lampert, is buying the rest of Sears Hometown it doesn't already own and reuniting the business with the Sears and Kmart stores.
Baxter, who has owned the local store for five and a half years, said the merger will allow Sears to place Hometown stores in markets where it previously closed larger Sears stores.
It also means Sears and Sears Hometown outlets will no longer be in competition with each other.
Transform said today it will pay $2.25 per share. ESL Investments Inc. and its affiliates, the majority owners of Transform, currently hold 58 percent of Sears Hometown's outstanding stock.
Under the deal, Sears Hometown can sell its Sears Outlet and Buddy's Home Furnishing Stores businesses (together, the "Outlet Segment") to a third party for not less than $97.5 million.
The going-private transaction is targeted to close in the third quarter.
The Robinson Sears Hometown store has been in business more than 20 years.


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New Pajaro location slated for successful cannabis dispensary
Long before recreational marijuana was legalized in California, Santa Cruz Naturals got its start in 2009 in Boulder Creek. Then, it was a small friends-and-family collective dedicated to providing legal medical cannabis to sick friends and neighbors.
Soon after that, owner and founder Colin Disheroon found the building that would become the business’ Aptos headquarters.
In 2010, California voters narrowly rejected Proposition 19, which would have legalized the plant for recreational use.
Industry insiders did not see the defeat as a failure, but a harbinger of things to come.
Buoyed by the near victory, and seeing a cultural shift in public perception of the once vilified plant, Disheroon waited, certain the issue would came back to voters.
It did in November 2016 in the form of Proposition 64, which was approved by more than 57 percent of voters.
“There was a new wave of energy going into this plant that was once prohibited, and was responsible for the incarceration of so many people,” he said. “Lives destroyed, families destroyed because of bad policies, and I saw the policies changing.”
Now, adults 21 and over — and anyone 18 and older with a prescription — can walk into dispensaries across California and choose from several strains of marijuana and cannabis-related products such as tinctures, oils and food products.
“It was a significant change, and it was a change that we saw on the horizon,” Disheroon said.
With the success of its flagship dispensary, Santa Cruz Naturals plans to open a second location in Pajaro, with an expected opening date in October.
Disheroon said he plans to hire about 25 people for the new shop, and is currently looking for bilingual employees.
The location, he said, will serve a community that does not currently have easy access to cannabis, and whose residents regularly make the trip north to his Aptos dispensary. He also hopes to offer pricing with the low-income community in mind.
Disheroon said he also sees philanthropic opportunities for his business in the Pajaro location.
“That’s the goal,” he said. “To embrace the whole community.”
A green philosophy
Still family owned and operated, Santa Cruz Naturals uses local growers as much as possible, and uses biodegradable packaging in its products.
The business also tries to keep their cannabis as pure as possible.
Because cannabis is not legal under federal law, it cannot be officially labeled as organic by the USDA, which makes such designations.
So the industry instead uses Clean Green Certification, a California-based organization that uses the same strict standards the federal government uses for organic produce, Disheroon said.
The redwood countertops, cabinets and surfboard-marijuana leaf logo were made from reclaimed wood, as is the pine flooring.
“A big part of our goal is to reduce our environmental impact,” he said.
What to expect
Dispensary Manager Louisa Disheroon — Colin’s wife — said that Santa Cruz Naturals customers can expect a “boutique” experience when they enter the showroom.
Indeed, several surprisingly well-informed “budtenders” stand ready to extol the properties of the several different marijuana strains and products, depending on whether the customers want a sleep aid, a way to ease anxiety or a more “cerebral” experience.
The business even has a customer loyalty program.
“We have a personal experience for our clients,” she said. “We’re here to answer questions for them. We’re here to give them guidance as to what products are going to serve them the best.”
Looking to the future
Now that the laws have changed, however, marijuana retailers have a new worry: corporate industries edging out small-scale growers in a bid for a piece of the budding cannabis industry. It is currently unclear how or when that will happen, but according to Disheroon, a large Canadian company recently purchased a dispensary in Santa Cruz.
Disheroon said he is optimistic about the future of his industry, despite the misgivings federal officials such as U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions about state laws supersede the federal prohibition on marijuana.
“I see policies changing at the federal level maybe in the next six months, maybe in the next year,” he said. “I think it’s going to happen pretty soon.”
Santa Cruz Naturals is located at 9077 Soquel Drive in Aptos. It is open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day. For information, call (831) 661-5367 or visit santacruzcannabis.com.


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For the fifth year in a row, gift cards top Christmas wish lists. And the trend is only growing. Consumers are expected to spend an average $155.43 on the cards, the highest amount since 2007 and up from $145.61 last year. Total spending? A whopping $27.8 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2011 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions survey conducted by BIGresearch, released last month.
A number of reasons affect the surge including, the ease of purchasing the cards online and then sending the cards via email, instant delivery of the cards through Facebook, personalized video and mobile options. Consumers interest in gift cards comes as overall holiday spending is expected to be down this year.
“When it comes to gift cards, holiday shoppers have the added advantage of convenience and creativity on their side this year,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “With discretionary gifts expected to be popular, many consumers will view gift cards as an everyday value item.”
Not only will more people purchase gift cards this holiday season (80.2% compared to 77.3% in 2010), gift givers will also spend more on each card they buy. Shoppers will spend an average of $43.23 per card, up from $41.48 last year. Men will spend significantly more on gift cards than women this year, shelling out an average of $164.24 versus women’s $147.06. People will buy an average 3.6 cards, on par with last year, with 80.2% reporting they would buy at least one.
Department stores will be the top recipients, with (38.7%) of shoppers reporting they will give a card to a friend or family member to shop at a store, followed by restaurants (33.8%) or an entertainment venue such as a night at the movies or music event (18.2%.) Others will buy gift cards to bookstores (19.8%), coffee shops (15.9%) and discount stores (13.0 %), the NRF study found.
Close to half of survey respondents said they would buy the cards so the recipient could choose their own gift. Another one in five said the cards are easier and faster to buy. There still are those shoppers, however, who find gift cards impersonal (26.1%), concerned about fees and expiration dates (17.4%) or because they’d rather buy items on sale to stretch their dollar (9.1%.)
Just over half (51.9%) said they would use Internet access at work to shop, that’s up from 42.8% in 2006.
Methodology: The survey polled 8,502 consumers and was conducted for NRF by BIGresearch from Nov.1 to Nov. 8, 2011. The consumer poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.0%.


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Due to an increase in raw material prices and fierce rivalry in the cement sector, HeidelbergCement Bangladesh Ltd lost Tk16.77 crore in the first quarter of this year.
The company’s revenue declined 2 per cent to Tk541.77 crore in the quarter, according to its financial documents.
According to a top executive at the company, the cement maker’s business has suffered as clinker prices and freight expenses have risen. In addition, due to intense competition in the sector, the company was unable to raise its cement price to meet the cost increase.
It recovered from losses in 2021 and recommended a 26 per cent cash dividend to its stockholders.
Source for more details:


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This week it was reported that YouTube attracts one billion unique visitors and over six billion views per month. We take a look at the top performing brands.
Evian Has the Fastest Growing YouTube Channel this Month
Evian managed to grow its subscribers from 24,000 to 67,082 in just over a week with its U.K advertising campaign baby and me, which has so far reached nearly 50 million views. Interestingly, the company chose to premier the advertisement on YouTube before screening it on UK Television. The YouTube views grew steadily and the television screening did not seem to affect or accelerate the growth of viewership.
Top Ten YouTube Channels by Subscribers
SMTown has seen its subscriber growth rise steadily over the last 6 months, increasing by over 200,000 subscribers. In fact, we can see quite clearly that the music industry and tech brands dominate the top ten list. This is not surprising, considering that both industries are able to upload a steady stream of entertaining content.
In a similar vein, Red Bull is also able to upload a large amount of engaging content focusing, on producing videos of people performing dare devil stunts and tricks – supporting it’s “Red Bull Give You Wings” claim.
However, it is not necessary or possible for all brands to develop a steady amount of content, and so the subscriber metric cannot be used as a measure of success for all companies.
It has recently come to light that YouTube has changed some of its rules, giving cash advances to dozens of video creators, to produce videos for the site. Beforehand, these creators were prohibited from distributing their videos on television or other sites for a period of several years. These rules have been relaxed in the recent months.
One thing is for sure, now that YouTube has more visitors than traditional television, if your brand doesn’t include the channel in its marketing mix, it’s missing a cost effective opportunity to engage with fans and consumers
Stay tuned for our next YouTube update on how brands can leverage this important platform.
Do You Know Your Numbers
Discover your performance versus your competition on Social Media
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We’ve reported extensively on some of the big changes coming to the McDonald’s menu.
The world’s largest restaurant chain has gone back to using real butter and eggs in its breakfast offerings, and will soon remove high fructose corn syrup from its bread and preservatives from its chicken nuggets.
McDonald’s proudly advertised that last point in a new commercial airing during the Rio Olympics. It depicts a boy in the 1980s and a modern-day girl, later revealed to be the boy’s future daughter, sharing “healthy” McNuggets.
While the commercial is undeniably touching, it did not sit well with at least one person.
“I was offended watching this (McDonald’s) commercial during the Olympics about the preservative-free McNuggets. I thought ‘you’ve got to be kidding,'” Ron Shaich, CEO of Panera Bread, told Business Insider. “Sure, you’ve got McNuggets that are preservative-free, but what are you dipping them in? Sauces that are filled with that stuff!”
Shaich said he believes the commercial gives customers the mistaken impression that everything on the McDonald’s menu is now free of artificial ingredients.
“What is wrong is when you (remove preservatives from) one product and you start advertising that, and you generalize or give the impression that the whole menu is that way,” he said.
McDonald’s has not announced plans to change the recipes of its sauces, including the 32-ingredient “special sauce” on its famous Big Macs.
“None of it is clean food,” Shaich said of kids meals at fast food and other chain restaurants. “It’s all full of artificial preservatives and artificial sweeteners and flavors and non-naturally occurring colors.”
He said too many meals for children are sold through “marketing gimmicks and toys” instead of the actual food, but Panera Bread offers a “kids meal promise” that adheres to a number of standards — no artificial flavors or colors, lots of choices for picky eaters, nutritious side dishes (yogurt or apples instead of fries), and an optional healthier drink (organic milk or 100% juice, never soda) for kids who don’t want water.


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This blog was updated on November 30, 2022
If Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2022 are any indication, online shoppers are back in full force. Electronics, smart home equipment, toys and exercise equipment had the highest numbers on Black Friday, according to Adobe Analytics. Overall Black Friday numbers reached new levels, with a record-breaking $9.12 billion, or a 2.3% increase from last year. Cyber Monday sales hit a record $11.3 billion, a 5.3% jump from 2021.
The data from Sovos’ global tax rate calculation engine and database also shows new levels of sales, but that it can keep pace with the growth.
On Black Friday this year, Sovos had a 22% increase in line item count from 2021 and a 12% increase in transaction count. Cyber Monday line item count showed a 94% increase compared to 2021 numbers, with a 6% transaction volume increases.
Sovos has prioritized investing in products and infrastructure to ensure seamless performance during these peak spending periods. From 24/7 monitoring to the state of Active/Active in place, Sovos teams are constantly working to give clients the best experience possible. This was recognized during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as uptime was 100% with an average response time around 55 milliseconds.
Sales and use tax remains, even as shopping trends fluctuate
Regardless of labor shortages, supply chain issues or a global pandemic, October through December are traditionally heavy shopping months. Sovos treats every day like its Black Friday or Cyber Monday, as any day could be the busiest day of the year for someone’s business.
That’s why it’s critical for times of record sales to still feel like “business as usual.” Companies want to know that they will have uninterrupted, reliable and fast service. As ecommerce shopping continues to remain a top option for shoppers, Sovos Sales and Use Tax clients had customer needs met and met quickly.
Learn how Sovos provides unparalleled uptime and performance, ensuring you stay competitive year-round – not just on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- With just one click, 11-year-old Anastasia Conner is able to learn more about people she has never and will never meet in 30 minutes or less than most people would learn in an hour-long conversation. It's not because they're on her television -- it's because Conner, like so many of her peers, is going to YouTube for her entertainment.
In a recent poll, 36.1% of kids between the ages of 8 and 15 said YouTube is their favorite website, more than quadrupling the second-ranked Web site's results. YouTube's parent company Google (GOOG), (GOOGL), which was ranked second among the responses, only received 8.8% of the votes, according to market research firm KidSay.
This number just keeps on growing, especially since young people are leaving behind traditional television and consuming more digital content. Conner admits to spending twice as much time watching videos on YouTube as she does watching television, and for Conner, one of the primary things she likes about YouTube is that she can pick and choose which advertisements she watches, unlike on television.
YouTube and its advertisers are positioned to gain as they tap into as this expanding younger demographic, and as is often reported, YouTube could benefit from an additional revenue boost.
Estimates show YouTube's 2014 revenue ranging anywhere from $4 billion to $6.1 billion and Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Post believes YouTube could generate $8.2 billion in revenues in 2015 and as much as $10.4 billion in 2016.
Google has never disclosed the exact amount of revenue the video sharing company generates, saying only that as a result of higher viewership more advertisements are not being clicked through but instead are being watched. "YouTube's contribution to our advertising revenue continues to grow at a strong rate year over year," former CFO Patrick Pichette in the company's first quarter earnings call. "And we're really pleased with how the YouTube business is progressing."
But it has reportedly struggled to turn a profit -- The Wall Street Journal recently reported YouTube is roughly breaking even, though the company has not confirmed this.
Profitability aside, YouTube and its advertisers are coming up with new techniques, like automatic targeting which programmatically places advertisements with channels that are best suited to the advertisers' needs, to attract their consumers.
"To put it from a marketer's perspective, if you're trying to reach a 14-year-old girl and you're only advertising to her from a television perspective, you're definitely not reaching her," Outrigger Media CEO Michael Henry, whose company monitors and measures the value of content for advertisers, said in a phone conversation. "And in fact you're probably wasting your time trying to reach them from television."
Henry said it is increasingly less likely that those under the age of 30 are relying on traditional TV for entertainment, which is why he thinks advertisers have to work harder than ever to get people talking about their brands.
"You have to know a lot more about this space then you have to about television," he said. "So if you're Hasbro (HAS) and you're use to buying television commercials, you need to know where your audience is but not too much about the demographics. But in a world where there are hundreds of thousands of producers on YouTube alone, it's much more serious game to understand the nature and quality of the content."
Interestingly, advertisers have been slower to embrace digital media than consumers, leaving plenty of room to catch up, according to research firm eMarketer analyst Paul Verna.
"This tells us that it's possible for video advertising to grow more or take more dollars away from TV than it already has been doing," Verna said in a phone interview. "It's certainly a possibility when you look at the trend lines and consumer behavior in terms of advertising."
Digital video ad spending reached $5.8 billion in 2014 and is expected to increase 33.8% to $7.7 billion in 2015, according to eMarketer. Advertising for mobile devices is driving a majority of this growth, and with the majority of teens now accessing sites like YouTube from tablets or phones, it makes sense that mobile content spending is increasing quickly.
Thirty percent of teens ages 8-15 report to using a tablet to get to the Internet, according to marketing research group KidSay, so it stands to reason that companies like YouTube are creating more mobile-friendly products to lure them in.
In February of this year, Google released YouTube Kids, an app created solely for children. From larger clickable features to easy search tools, the application has limited content to what the company deems appropriate for children.
Since its launch, YouTube Kids has been downloaded about 1.2 million times from the Google's Play Store and Apple's (AAPL) App Store, according to Xyo, a company that tracks app usage. And with at least 1.2 million users, advertisers have the chance to not only increase their brand awareness but also introduce a much younger audience to their brand with the hopes that those young viewers will use their products for many years to come.
YouTube's rollout of YouTube Kids did not come without blowback. Consumer watchdog groups filing a joint complaint with Federal Trade Commission accusing Google of mixing in commercial content in a way that was deceptive and unfair to children. YouTube Kids currently bans a wide variety of advertisements such as ones for politics, religion, relationships and food. The company also bans all advertisements for video games rated higher than "E for Everyone," according to the Web site.
Advertising to children directly on television is highly regulated by the FTC, and Verna said as YouTube's advertisers target children more through digital advertisements, the questions posed in consumer group's lawsuit will be asked more frequently.
"There's more and more native advertising and content marketing, and the FTC is really trying to understand if there is a way it can regulate or at least provide some guidelines there, and with children's advertising it's even more important," Verna said.


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IDIS to showcase latest innovations at ISC West 2019
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IDIS will celebrate five years at ISC West International Security Exhibition in Las Vegas, 10-12 April, with a comprehensive showcase of the South Korean manufacturer’s IDIS Total Surveillance Solution in booth #18059. Highlights of the company’s fifth anniversary with ISC West include areas of special emphasis on cybersecurity, deep learning analytics and facial recognition and solutions for the retail and banking sectors as well as a review of IDIS’s latest technology releases.
Founded in 1997 by experts in computer science and artificial intelligence, IDIS has grown to become the largest manufacturer of video surveillance technology within South Korea, anchored by the company’s flagship DirectIP offering—a true plug-and-play solution that eliminates the complexity of installing and operating networked surveillance systems and extending through to the modular, feature-rich IDIS Solution Suite software and IDIS latest Deep Learning Engine-powered analytics.
Among the specific innovations IDIS will highlight in booth #18059 at ISC West this year, are:
- the latest in IDIS cybersecurity innovation, including edge encryption and IDIS Chained Fingerprint, the company’s proprietary integrity check which chains adjacent images with stored digital fingerprints, allowing for the detection of possible tampering or alteration
- the newest IDIS Deep Learning Analytics offerings—powered by the IDIS Deep Learning Engine—including IDIS DV-2116 IDLA-ready hardware (with an embedded NVDIA GTZ1060 GPU chipset) and the introduction of IDIS Intelligent Search, allowing tracking by colour, object and number; and new IDIS face tracking technology
- latest-generation iterations of IDIS’s core surveillance offerings, including the DirectIP 12MP Panomorph and Compact Fisheye cameras—utilising IDIS’ dual-sided dewarping technology—delivering IDIS’ celebrated Fisheye technology in all the ways our users need them; and
- the official debut of the full IDIS Compact Solution and upgraded IDIS HD-TVI line ups
IDIS America President, Andrew Myung remarked: “The IDIS partnership with ISC West has been a fruitful one from the beginning. We chose ISC West to launch the IDIS brand in the Americas in 2015 and launched a year-long Americas-wide celebration of our Two Decades of Innovation on the ISC West floor in 2017 to celebrate our 20th Anniversary. We look forward to returning to the show for the fifth time since IDIS America’s successful debut to highlight the kinds of powerful innovation and market-responsive technology that are the IDIS signature and to engaging in the kinds of insightful conversations about the state and future of our industry that are ISC West’s signature in booth #18059.”
IDIS will also debut the IDIS “Create a Better World” campaign on the show floor this year. As described on the company’s official campaign page, “Creating a Better World is all about the kindness and generosity ‘caught on camera’ every day (so easy to overlook in these stressful times), and the many ways we all can do our part to create a kinder, warmer, better world.” The campaign will involve public participation and a contest and the kick off will offer visitors to the booth the chance to win gift cards and a Smart Home Starter Pack.
For more on these offerings, DirectIP, the IDIS Total Surveillance Solution, or the “Create a Better World” campaign, visit IDIS at ISC West in booth #18059. For immediate information on IDIS products or to book a demo, email firstname.lastname@example.org, phone (469) 444-6538, or visit www.idisglobal.com.


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Alma Lasers Launches 10-Year Anniversary Campaign for Accent Brand at IMCAS, Paris
Alma Lasers, a global innovator of laser, light-based, radiofrequency and ultrasound solutions for the aesthetic and surgical markets proudly announced today the launch of a 10 years anniversary campaign for Accent – one of its most successful and acknowledged brands for skin tightening, body contouring and aesthetic enhancement workstations. The first generation of the Accent branded platform was launched in 2007, with the FDA approval, and has technologically evolved throughout the past decade up to the newest addition to Alma Lasers’ family of body contouring products: Accent Prime. This latest platform combines the most advanced innovations in ultrasound and Unipolar™ radio frequency technologies to deliver fast, effective, highly customized treatments with long lasting results. Accent Prime, the fourth generation of Accent platforms launched in a 10 years’ timeframe, allows doubling the speed of body contouring and skin tightening treatments.
The Accent 10 years anniversary campaign will run throughout 2017 and generate engagement through Facebook contests, videos and digital content coverage, which will showcase the success of the brand.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the legacy of Accent and rejoice a meaningful and successful decade of brand establishment and technological peaks in the skin tightening and body contouring industry. The latest addition to the 10 years’ Accent Journey – Accent Prime – has changed the game rules by offering a groundbreaking solution for different skin types with unprecedented time and performance,” said Alma’s CEO, Dr. Ziv Karni


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The electric vehicle manufacturing company ‘Tesla’ has now submitted an application for building on a further 100 hectares east of the company’s plant in Germany, which will be expanding the area of the site by a third.
The electric vehicle company, which already has 300 hectares of land for the company’s automobile company and battery plant under the construction, which has been planned for building a freight station, along with the logistics areas and parking spaces on the additional space. The proposal is going to be discussed at a municipality meeting on 2nd June 2022.
The company ‘Tesla’ did not responded immediately to a request for making any comment. The electric vehicle plant of Tesla in Gruenheide, which at full capacity is going to be producing 500,000 electric cars in a year and has started the production in the month of March 2022 after a series of licensing delays that, Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla said regarding the urgency, which is needed for tackling the climate change.
The local water suppliers in the region has also given warning when the company had been granted the final approval to start the production at the factory that servicing any future expansion to the facility is going to be impossible without importing the water from several other regions across Germany.
Writing is a medium to express feelings and convey facts. A creative mind never rests in peace and this amazing platform gives me the freedom to write about what I like most.
I’ve been a writer/blogger for the last twelve years and have covered technology-related topics. However, I also have considerable years of experience in writing for various domains – Technology, Beauty, Fashion, Pharmaceutical, human psychology etc. Technology is my forte.
I’ve handled many interesting projects. Writing is my passion. As an author, I’ve learned a lot in my long journey of penning down my thoughts!


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Atari is back -- but it's not back in the way that'll make your heart warm and your gaming hand itch. Instead Atari is becoming a company that'll use its brand weight to launch online casinos and premium video content on YouTube.
For a company that has struggled to find its niche the news that it'll be launching online casinos it is as depressing as it is unsurprising. For a brand name this frequently attached to near-bankrupt companies, it's probably inevitable.
Surely there'll be games still? Yes there will be games, in fact Atari has been rebooting its classic collection for some time with what can only be described as mixed success.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 Mobile launched to very mixed reviews with critics panning its watered down approach and focus on in-app purchases.
In fact Atari has been throwing its brand at pretty much anything recently from iPad games to actual products like headphones, t-shirts and desk lamps.
Check out the final nail in the coffin of our beloved games brand by checking out these shameless things Atari has done to its brand:


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Views - 28 Tuesday, 24 October 2017 00:00
Colombo Shopping Festival, the most awaited shopping extravaganza is ready to bring an unmatched experience that shoppers will never forget from 16 to 23 December at the BMICH. The biggest shopping gala in the upcoming Christmas season is organised b
Views - 151 Tuesday, 24 October 2017 00:00
With Sri Lanka’s first-ever international fashion week— Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week — announced recently, there is much talk about the event in the usual fashion circles, and even outside them. There is a good reason why the public is excited ab
Views - 1041 Monday, 23 October 2017 00:00
Sri Lanka is to witness its first international fashion event this month with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Hosted as a joint coalition between Sri Lanka’s most dynamic design educator AOD, the automotive giant Dimo and the multi-billion dollar local
Views - 35 Friday, 20 October 2017 00:00
Design is often looked at as the icing on the manufacturing cake – something that most manufacturers leave to marketing and selling, and of course, early stage ideation.
Views - 38 Friday, 20 October 2017 00:00
The Singer Fashion Academy, celebrated for teaching the nation the art of sewing and nurturing creative skills among a large number of individuals expanded its branch network recently adding Academies in the towns of Warakapola, Mt. Lavinia, Pilimata
Views - 337 Friday, 20 October 2017 00:00
The unique Barefoot – The House Collection 2017 showcase will be held on 11 November at 7:30 p.m. at the Barefoot Garden Cafe.
Views - 43 Thursday, 19 October 2017 10:14
China’s emergence as an economic super-force has been a topic for over a decade now. Powered by the world’s largest populace, China’s rise has astonished, inspired and threatened other economies around the world. And just as the world prepared
Views - 49 Tuesday, 17 October 2017 00:00
The 2017 edition of the prestigious apparel and business meeting-of-minds – the South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum – has announced that the world renowned business foresight and innovation consultancy – Future Laboratory will be part of its i
Views - 33 Monday, 16 October 2017 00:00
Hong Kong (Reuters Breakingviews): Fast Retailing is tailoring a bright future in Asia. Full-year results show the 3.5 trillion yen ($ 32 billion) fashion retailer behind Uniqlo is back on track overseas: growing rapidly across the region, staunching
Views - 44 Monday, 16 October 2017 00:00
Reuters: Iconic luxury handbag maker Coach Inc risked Wall Street and social media ire last week by announcing a change of its corporate name to Tapestry Inc, as it evolves into a multi-brand upscale retailer.
Views - 73 Monday, 16 October 2017 00:00
Sri Lanka Apparel Brands Association (SLABA), an association established to protect and uplift the domestic garment manufacturers of the nation announced Azam Habib, the Managing Director of Grace Lanka Apparels Ltd., as the new president of its exec
Views - 40 Monday, 16 October 2017 00:00
Paris (Reuters): Italy’s Gucci will stop using fur in its designs from next year, joining a growing number of fashion houses looking at alternatives after coming under pressure from animal rights activists and changing consumer tastes.
Views - 32 Monday, 16 October 2017 00:00
Ocean Lanka, one of the largest weft knitted fabric manufacturer in Sri Lanka, recently held its second annual awards ceremony ‘Loyalty Awards 2017’ to felicitate more than 100 long serving employees who have served the company since its inceptio
Views - 90 Monday, 16 October 2017 00:00
Mercedes Benz, a globally-renowned automobile brand, and Diesel and Motor Engineering Company Plc (DIMO), in partnership with the Academy of Design (AOD), will be holding the first-ever international fashion platform in Sri Lanka from 27-30 October.
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The South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, which has been an influential voice in the local apparel industry’s evolution, recently announced its first independent edition held under the theme ‘Design & Make’.
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Continuing strongly on the environmental responsibility journey that they embarked on two years ago, leading high-end leather garment manufacturer Lanka Leather Fashion Ltd. (LLF) recently renewed its CarbonNeutral® certification for the third year
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The soon-to-launch Lankan sustainable lifestyle brand ‘Sri’ took to the catwalks of London Fashion Week 2017, wowing what is perhaps one of the most influential audiences in the world.
Views - 31 Monday, 25 September 2017 00:00
Lagos (Reuters): Nigerians who say a new online fashion magazine promotes homosexuality by featuring men wearing makeup or clad only in miniskirts have misunderstood its agenda, according to its founder.
Views - 65 Monday, 25 September 2017 00:00
Paris (Reuters): French fashion companies Kering and LVMH will stop hiring excessively thin models worldwide under a new charter developed in response to continued criticism the industry encourages eating disorders.
Views - 43 Monday, 25 September 2017 00:00
London (Reuters): US designer Tommy Hilfiger closed out London Fashion Week with a rock-themed show held at a venue famous for classic rock concerts, featuring model and social media star Gigi Hadid as the centerpiece of the event.
Views - 62 Wednesday, 20 September 2017 00:00
Fashion, Sri Lanka’s power industry, is changing. With major shifts in tech, social values, consumer needs, available material resources, politics and economics affecting and creating a new retail world, with it the types of professional roles that
Views - 22 Wednesday, 20 September 2017 00:00
The World Bank has stated that South Asia is best placed to attract garment and textile businesses as the region is an industrial powerhouse due to rising exports with growth fuelled by robust domestic demand.
Views - 322 Wednesday, 23 August 2017 00:00
A&E, a global leader in premium quality industrial and consumer sewing thread, embroidery thread and technical textiles, announced this month its strategic alliance with CGS, a provider of business applications, enterprise learning and outsour
Views - 813 Wednesday, 23 August 2017 00:00
Sri Lankan fashion accessory brand – Kantala – recently launched their range of vegan fashion accessories internationally, via the crowdfunding platform IndieGoGo, catering to the fashionable yet conscious consumer. Th
Views - 812 Wednesday, 9 August 2017 00:00
Kamil Hewavitharana and Brian Kerkoven, who showcased two of their latest collections at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, in Staten Island recently, wowed a gathering of Colombo’s elite ladies at a special viewing of their breathtaking collectio
Views - 724 Wednesday, 9 August 2017 00:00
Furniture and swimwear may sound like an odd coupling at first, but when showcasing high-end fashion design at the retail level, utilising the right conceptual space can do wonders in terms of presentation, for an item of clothing as intimate as a
Views - 1113 Wednesday, 9 August 2017 00:00
AOD represents Sri Lanka at Berlin Fashion Week 2017; marks the beginning of exploring German fashion links in collaboration with the German Embassy Sri Lanka with its nominated attendee, Prabath Samarasooriya at Berlin Fas
Views - 958 Wednesday, 2 August 2017 00:00
A delegation from Sri Lanka is attending a convention of the World Federation of Master Tailors (WFMT) in Taipei, Taiwan. The Sri Lankan team for the 37th convention of the WFMT is headed by Chaandana Wijesekera of the old-established Bristol Tail
Views - 1370 Wednesday, 2 August 2017 00:00
Multidisciplinary expert discussion at TrendSwim presented by Swim Week Colombo The second session of TrendSwim focused on ‘Good and Sustainable Fashion – Earth Conscious Future’. With the exponenti
Views - 922 Wednesday, 2 August 2017 00:00
The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Sri Lanka entered into its second year of corporate partnership with Emerald International Ltd., one of the leading menswear brands in Sri Lanka, to further strengthen the knowledge and expertise of marke
Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Have you not yet realised that the chances are now very high that at any stage or any moment in life, for a short time or for a long time, for different reasons, you or your loved ones could experience physical and/or sensory impediments, and fall in
Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Periodically the tourism industry is in the habit of coming up with some interesting name to describe a new emerging trend or situation in the industry. Sometimes the phenomena is not new, but has become relevant and topical enough to ‘package’ a
Wednesday, 26 September 2018
The rupee depreciated by Rs. 29 from 2005 to 2014 and the average year-on-year depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee was 2.8% per year. Official foreign reserves increased from $ 2.7 billion to $ 8.2 billion over the same period. In stark contrast, th
Tuesday, 25 September 2018
It was a memorable evening with a mega gathering for a meaningfully different reason. It was not just another book launch with ego-boosting speeches about the author. It was also not an event where a popular politician coming late and preaching about


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Ericsson Unveils U.S. 5G Roadmap
The deployment of 5G wireless networks for low-latency applications like the Internet of Things is accelerating with plans for production of the first U.S. radio base station by the end of this year.
Ericsson said this week it would begin producing 5G base stations at it Austin, Texas, ASIC design center. The Swedish telecommunications giants also said it would it would boost “U.S.-based” R&D in areas such as 5G baseband software, AI and other automation tools.
Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) opened the Austin design center in late 2017 to develop core components for 5G base stations. It now plans to open a software development center focused on baseband development. Baseband software provides intelligence to the radio access network. It also serves as the interface between the core network and radio units, processing and forwarding voice and internet data to end users.
Along with U.S. base station production beginning during the fourth quarter of this year, the company said Friday (Aug. 10) it would begin releasing 5G products and software that will be marketed internationally. The goal is to “shorten the timeline for new product introduction and product delivery to customers,” the company added.
Initially, Ericsson added it would work with an unnamed production partner to manufacturer the first U.S. 5G radios.
Given current trade frictions, the Swedish company stressed the need to be close to the huge U.S. market that accounts for the majority of its business. Ericsson projects that 5G subscriptions will eventually reach 150 million, with North America accounting for nearly half by 2023 as IoT devices, autonomous vehicles and data-heavy mobile subscribers connect to high-capacity networks.
A company report released in June estimates about 3.5 billion cellular IoT connections by 2023. Of those, China is expected to account for about 2.2 billion connections as large-scale IoT deployments ramp up.
For now, Ericsson and other 5G network specialists are focusing on the U.S. market as demand skyrockets for low-latency machine and device connections for applications ranging from IoT to autonomous vehicles.
“The United States is our largest market, accounting for a quarter of Ericsson’s business over the last seven years,” said Börje Ekholm, Ericsson’s president and CEO. “To serve the demand of these fast-moving service providers, we are strengthening our investment in the U.S. to be even closer to our customers and meet their accelerated 5G deployment plans.”
The company’s U.S. R&D investments include a new software development center expected to employ about more than 200 developers along with expansion of its AI and automation development that is also scheduled to be up and running by the end of the year.
Experts note that 5G is expected to usher new datacenter architectures such as multi-edge computing that enables processing closer to where data is generated. The emerging wireless standard is designed to provide 10 Gb/s peak data rates and massive amounts of device connectivity.
Vendors also note that cloud native approaches will be required to avoid inevitable 5G scaling bottlenecks.


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When Apple launched its next-gen iPhone back in September of last year, the company also announced a new wireless charger: AirPower. The company’s AirPower charger isn’t your regular wireless charger — it’s a charging mat that’s capable of wirelessly charging up to 3 devices at the same time.
And that’s delaying the release of the AirPower. The device is supposed to come out this year, and Apple initially planned on releasing it this month. But due to technical hurdles, the release has been reportedly pushed to September, according to Bloomberg. The company’s engineers are still working to mitigate overheating issues on the charger, since charging up to 3 devices at the same time is likely to make it really hot. Moreover, the separate charging sensors required to support up to 3 devices at the same time is apparently difficult to integrate. Apple engineers are also reportedly busy working on fixing the firmware of the device that runs a stripped down version of iOS required for device pairing.
AirPower isn’t the only device Apple has delayed recently — after the Mac Pro and HomePod, the delayed launched of the AirPower will likely disappoint a lot of Apple fans. But Apple usually introduces new iPhones and hardware in September, so launching the AirPower around the same period could be perfect timing. What really fascinates me is the fact that Apple previously looked into completely ditching external ports — yes, the charging port — on the iPhone X. This could change in the future, but only if Apple can figure out the cost-related issues associated with ditching the charging port and having to include a wireless charger with every iPhone. Right now, the iPhone X is already very expensive for most at $1,000.


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Silver companies shares up at 10 a.m.
Gold companies shares mixed at 10 a.m.
Unemployment rates fall in 31 US states, most gain jobs in final pre-election report
With Galaxy Note 4, embattled Samsung seeks chance to rectify missteps
2 UN human rights experts visit Detroit, say city should restore water to those unable to pay
US agency warns car owners to get air bags fixed due to potentially deadly inflator problem
Silver companies shares up at the close of trading
Gold companies shares up at the close of trading
Ikea pushes for growth, makes shopping more accessible


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Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge open in Tasmania
Freycinet Lodge’s new Coastal Pavilions have debuted in Tasmania and HM goes inside.
IHG buys control of Regent, set to rapidly grow the luxury brand globally
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has agreed to acquire a 51% stake in Regent Hotels and Resorts and HM has the d
TAA sounds alarm on ‘quasi hotels’, Airbnb hits back
TAA CEO Carol Giuseppi has hit out at Airbnb, claiming that listed residential properties are converting rapidly in
International travel sees one of the highest growth rates in last 20 years
Last year, 2017, was an exceptionally strong year for international travel, it was revealed at ITB Berlin 2018 this
Carlson officially becomes Radisson, plans to double Asia Pacific portfolio
Carlson Rezidor has officially rebranded to Radisson Hotel Group and has revealed plans to be the number three glob
Quorvus gone: Radisson Collection launches with 14 properties globally
Radisson Hotel Group has unveiled the Radisson Collection, a new brand that will replace the fledgling Quorvus Coll
Radisson Hotel Group unveils new Rewards program
The newly rebranded Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) has introduced a refreshed loyalty program, Radisson Rewards.
IHIF: European hotel values see impressive gains as demand booms
IHIF: Hotel values across Europe saw impressive growth of almost 4 per cent in 2017, says HVS.
DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin refurbishment underway
DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin has commenced the million-dollar upgrade to its 197 guest rooms and conferenc
Crown Perth opens its rooftop bar
Crown Perth opened its new rooftop bar, Hi-Line, last Friday (23 Feb).
STR: mixed performance for hotels in Asia Pacific
Hotels across Asia Pacific have reported mixed results in the three key performance metrics, according to the lates
Sydney hotels post solid numbers to start 2018
Sydney’s hotels have had a strong start to 2018, according to the latest data from STR.
Marriott International to open Le Méridien Melbourne in 2020
Marriott International’s Le Méridien brand is set to return to Australia in 2020 with a new property in Melbourne
Carlson Rezidor confirms Radisson Hotel Group re-brand
Following months of speculation, HM can confirm Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is set to be re-branded as Radisson Hot


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Struer, Denmark –
turned around years
of losses in its latest fiscal year and announced a five-year growth plan whose
initiatives include redesigns of B&O-branded stores, entering a new product
category by the end of the year, increasing its sales volume through channels
other than B&O stores, and launching sales through its own online store.
B&O also said
it would decrease the number of B&O stores in mature geographic markets and
accelerate store openings in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and
designs will focus on integrated audio/video solutions.
global sales of home audio and OEM-automotive audio rose 4 percent to 2,867
million Danish krone ($554.6 million) in the just-concluded 2010 to 2011 fiscal
year, with net profits hitting 28 million krone ($5.42 million) compared with
the previous year’s loss of 32.9 million krone ($6.36 million).
hit 59.8 million krone ($11.6 million) compared with the previous year’s loss
of 33.8 million krone ($6.53 million), and profits before taxes hit 40.1
million krone ($7.76 million) compared with a year-ago loss of 49.6 million
krone ($9.59 million).
sales were up 22 percent, presumably including retail home audio sales, sales
to upscale hotels and automotive OEM.
For the current
2011 to 2012 fiscal year, the company projected sales gains of 4.6 percent and
a 150 percent increase in profits before taxes to 100 million krone ($19.3
To boost sales and
profits over a five-year period, the company’s new initiatives will include an effort
to “leverage the scale and competencies of technology partners to a
significantly greater extent than is the case today,” a company statement said.
The company itself will focus more on its core competencies in sound and
acoustics to deliver more innovative products, the company said.
“By leveraging the partnerships, we will be
able to launch more successful audio and video products and increase our
effectiveness in product development, which will allow us to focus our
innovation drive on truly differentiating elements,” CEO Tue Mantoni said.
At the retail
level, B&O will redesign its stores to “create a more dynamic and engaging
customer experience” in B&O-branded shops around the world. “Whereas our
retail concept was revolutionary 10 to 15 years ago, today there is a
disconnect between our innovative and beautiful products and the look and feel
of our shops,” said Mantoni. “We want people to come into our shops, feel
welcome, play with our new products and get truly excited about Bang & Olufsen
and what we offer.”
independently owned, B&O stores are staffed by “enthusiastic and
knowledgeable retailers deeply passionate about Bang & Olufsen products,” the
company said in a statement. “Bang & Olufsen will find ways to convey this
passion in an even stronger way to the customers and demonstrate the fantastic
experiences that people can have with our products.”
declined to offer many details about plans to further expand worldwide sales
outside the B&O-branded store channel other than to point out that the
company signed an agreement to sell some products through Apple stores in
Europe to complement already established distribution through select Apple
stores and Apple’s online store in the U.S.
In the U.S.,
B&O has been selling its BeoSound 8 iPhone/iPad speaker system and BeoLab 4
PC speakers through about a dozen Apple brick-and-mortar stores and through
Apple’s online store. “Whether other distribution channels in the U.S. will be
included in the future, I cannot comment further on that,” he said. “But I can
mention that Bang & Olufsen in a few months is launching its own Bang &
Olufsen-branded digital online shop.”
The B&O online
store will be one of the outlets for the unnamed new product category that the
company will enter by the end of the year. The other outlets for the category will
include B&O stores and “complementary retail channels,” the company said in


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Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), said China is in no hurry in developing its own cryptocurrency.
Speaking at a press conference amid the Two Sessions, China’s annual political event, Xiaochuan said the development of a digital currency should be a prudent progress and excessive speculation must be avoided. He said the government must prevent substantial and irreparable damages, especially when it comes to a large economy.
“We must prevent major mistakes that would lead to irreparable losses, So we are cautious,” Zhou said.
The governor said that they also pay high attention to the application of technologies like blockchain and distributed ledger. He called for blockchain firms to be cautious – and not to grow too fast.
“For blockchain projects with technological potentials, they should conduct thorough testing before rolling out services,” said Xiaochuan. “Otherwise, a reckless expansion may incur serious security and financial stability issues.”
Regarding cryptocurrencies that are currently out in the market such as bitcoin, Xiaochuan struck a critical tone.
“Lots of cryptocurrencies have seen explosive growth which can bring significant negative impact on consumers and retail investors,” he said. “We don’t like (cryptocurrency) products that make huge opportunity for speculation that gives people the illusion of getting rich overnight.”
China, once home to the world’s most largest crypto exchanges, banned cryptocurrency trading and initial coin offerings (ICO) last year amid a broad-ranging clampdown on cryptocurrencies.
Technological development is a “dynamic” process, and the PBoC is closely working with the market participants on regulation policies, said Zhou.
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As coronavirus (COVID-19) shifts the global economic outlook into deep recession, reflecting the impact of social distancing measures on economic activity, no industry remains untouched. The defining characteristic as to how consumer markets weather COVID-19 is their exposure to discretionary spend. Industries such as luxury goods, apparel and footwear, personal accessories and eyewear will find themselves under more pressure than those like packaged food, fresh food and hot drinks (which are covered in the next article in this series).
Luxury goods hit hard in 2020
Luxury goods and those industries with a high level of luxury spend are set to see the biggest declines in 2020. Luxury goods, which was previously forecast to record 3% constant value growth in 2020, is now expected to decline by 18%. The market is heavily dependent on sales in countries where the impact of COVID-19 has been heaviest. Luxury sales in China are set to decline by 22% in 2020; this is a huge setback as China accounts for one-third of luxury sales, both on Chinese territory and abroad. The next largest luxury goods market, the US, will see sales fall by 25% in 2020.
On top of this, travel restrictions are a major blow for the sales of luxury goods. The industry is also under pressure from changing consumer attitudes towards conspicuous consumption and the fact that in lockdown the opportunity to wear or show off luxury goods has been eroded. As a result, luxury goods companies are having to reposition themselves to stay relevant, with many companies taking an early and active role globally in creating personal protective equipment for health carers or offering luxury hotels for health workers to stay in.
Fashion supply chain in chaos
Personal accessories (-13%), apparel and footwear (-11%) and eyewear (-8%) are all expected to sustain big losses in 2020. All of these consumer markets have a high level of exposure to luxury, are discretionary in nature and share many traits in terms of the impact of COVID-19.
The fact that people are limiting their socialising, combined with chaos in the supply chain, means 2020 will be a very difficult year for all three industries. COVID-19 has wrought havoc to both supply and demand across many industries, but it is particularly apparent for apparel and footwear. With unsold stockpiling up as stores remain closed, manufacturers have halted production, causing misery in countries such as Bangladesh. High-end apparel will take the hardest knock, whilst other categories are faring better. Athletic will outperform other categories, and low-cost, discount and off-price are set to benefit. E-commerce is faring better, but online outlets such as UK-based Next are limiting orders over concerns about maintaining the health of workers.
Tobacco faces longer-term uncertainty
Tobacco is set to decline in 2020 by 2% in comparison to the pre-COVID-19 forecast of 2% growth. In general, tobacco has a higher recessionary floor than other industries, with some evidence that people turn to tobacco more in times of crisis. However, in contrast to other industries, the main impact on tobacco is likely to be felt long term, as consumers become more conscious of their health. It is likely that COVID-19 will accentuate the long-term existential challenge faced by tobacco as consumers revaluate their nicotine consumption. To add to this, with governments across the world have spent vast sums propping up their economies and industries, they will be looking to claw that back by increasing levies on tobacco.
Lack of social occasions means beauty and personal care takes a hit
Another key consumer market......................................................
By: Camilla Butler
The article is property of Euromonitor International, a market research provider, and can be read in full here.