text:
The Premier’s Sustainability Awards recognise businesses of all sizes and from every sector that are engaged in sustainability efforts in Victoria.
The Awards’ Large Business category is open to businesses employing 200 or more people and celebrates outstanding achievements in adopting and implementing sustainable practices.
Sustainability Victoria chief executive Stan Krpan encourages large businesses taking advantage of the opportunity to create sustainable products and markets to enter the awards.
“Businesses around the world understand that it makes good business sense to operate more sustainably. Not only can it boost their bottom line, but increasingly, customers are demanding good corporate social responsibility,” Krpan says.
“And not just through one-off actions – ongoing sustainability for big business is key.
“It can help them attract and retain the best staff, because they want to work for organisations that care about environmental and sustainability issues.
“It can also reduce costs and increase productivity through more efficient use of materials and energy, creating new jobs and markets for products.
“Making business more sustainable is a win for the economy, as well as the environment.”
The Premier’s Sustainability Awards has featured a Large Business category since they began in 2002. Past winners include Victoria Carpets for their efforts to reduce environmental impact and drive cost reductions, and Toyota Motor Corporation Australia for their “Next Big Step”, a cross-company sustainability program.
“The awards give these businesses the opportunity to demonstrate the best of sustainability practices across Victoria,” Krpan says.
It also offers a chance to connect with community organisations and support sustainability action more broadly.
The 2015 Premier’s Recognition Award winners, St Kilda Mums, Geelong Mums and Ballarat Mums, which recycle nursery equipment, attribute part of their success to great support from other large businesses.
“As an example, one of our volunteers made the introduction to Visy – the packaging, paper and recycling business,” chief executive Jessica Macpherson says.
“Visy sent out one of their really senior sales people to meet with us and they offered to provide three large bins for card recycling including the weekly pick-ups, completely free of charge.
“The impact of this support and service is tremendous.”
Krpan says that sustainability practices in businesses of all sizes encourage partnerships at every level.
“The Premier’s Sustainability Awards have always encouraged and promoted partnerships between governments, communities, businesses and individuals,” he says.
“I would encourage any large business to enter the Premier’s Sustainability Awards as a way of celebrating their hard work and having their stories heard.”
There are ten categories, all of which acknowledge the great sustainability work done every day by all kinds of people and organisations, right across Victoria.
Finalists will be announced in late August 2016, and winners announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday 20 October 2016.
Finalists and winners will be promoted in media and to the wider community.
Entries for the 2016 Premier’s Sustainability Awards close at 5pm on Monday 27 June.
For category criteria, profiles of past winners, to enter and more information go to www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Sign Up for the Milwaukee Business Journal Afternoon Edition Newsletter
Send this story to a friend
Focus on Meetings, Travel & Tourism
More room: New hotels increase supply in downtown market
- Jeff Engel
(Page 2 of 4)
But the downtown hotel market has healthy demand, according to data from Smith Travel Research Inc. in Tennessee. Room demand was up nearly 3 percent from January to May over the same period last year, returning to 2008 levels as area hotels continue to rebound from a horrendous 2009.
“So the hotels are opening into an environment where room demand is going up anyway,” said Jan Freitag, vice president of global development for Smith Travel Research.
Adding rooms “doesn’t necessarily equate to a decrease in occupancy,” although Freitag noted the two planned hotels will increase the number of downtown rooms by almost 10 percent.
“It’s going to be interesting to see what (adding the hotels) does to room rates,” Freitag said.
The Marriott will bring good business competition that will cause hotel operators to be “sharper” on pricing and other decisions, said Evan Zeppos, a spokesman for developer Jackson Street Management LLC.
In response to Marcus’ concern, Zeppos cited the project’s endorsement by Franklyn Gimbel, chairman of the Wisconsin Center District board of directors, which operates the Frontier Airlines Center, U.S. Cellular Arena and the Milwaukee Theatre.
“Usually the first thing they say is we need more hotel rooms,” Zeppos said of bringing more conventions and tourists to Milwaukee. “It’s not a case of the chicken and the egg. We’re bringing 200 quality rooms.”
Schwartz of First Hospitality Group said there’s no question there will be some “cannibalization” of business with the arrival of the hotels, but that’s more likely to occur during the less busy seasons.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
- Most popular
- Bucks announce investors, names include Kellner, Kacmarcik
- Lessons for Milwaukee: How Denver kept the Broncos and got the Rockies
- 'Shark Tank' call sees human hamster wheels, umbrellas for your clubs
- Sales, sin, ticket and jock taxes to be considered in September
- Centerpoint sells 12 industrial buildings by General Mitchell airport
- Gov. Scott Walker's Medicaid plan: Winners, losers and in-betweeners
- Legislation on Uber, Lyft and taxis passes unanimously
- Gov. Scott Walker says long-term cost of his Medicaid plan worthwhile
- First look inside the new Green Bay Packers Pro Shop: Slideshow
- For-profit Anthem College closing
Director of Guest Relations Milwaukee Public Museum | Milwaukee, WI
VP of Marketing Wigwam Mills | Sheboygan, WI
Senior Consultant Vaco | Maitland, FL
Associate Faculty Director and Professor of Business Practice Engineering Management Program - Univ. of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO
Senior IT Recruiter Robert Half Technology | Milwaukee, WI

domain: news


text:
Cargill participates in efforts to increase cocoa production; project shows positive early results
|Learn how Cargill connects their expertise in growing cocoa and developing responsible supply chains to helping farmers increase cocoa yields by controlling witches broom fungus in a small project based in Southern Bahia, Brazil.|
April 2011 – In an area hard-hit with decreased cocoa yields caused by the witches broom fungus, Cargill is participating in efforts to increase cocoa production.
Witches broom (vassoura-de-bruxa in Portuguese), a fungal disease that affected the cocoa trees in Southern Bahia, resulted in the country turning from a cocoa bean exporter to a cocoa bean importer. Cocoa is a cash crop in some of the poorer areas of the country and incomes of smaller farmers were negatively impacted due to the decreased yields caused by the witches broom fungus.
In an effort to bring back the cocoa, Cargill led the formation of a local organization – Industry Association of Cocoa Processers (AIPC). AIPC works with a number of small cocoa suppliers in using technology and improving farming practices.
The effort is called project Phoenix, and is sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture of Holland (through its Buffer Stock Fund), Cargill, and four other members of AIPC.
Choosing cocoa farms for the program
Each association member chose five of their cocoa suppliers – for a total of 25 farmers – in the Southern Bahia State region, in Brazil. Each participant farmers pays 15 percent of the cost of the program.
Laertes Moraes, Director of Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate, Brazil, said, “The selected suppliers are traditional producers with old farms and poor cocoa production yield. Overgrown and often fallow sections of their farms were used for the program. The program is deployed on 5 hectares of each farm.”
Deploying technologies and improved farming practices
|As well as tried and true methods, cocoa plants are grafted with witches broom-resistant clones, improving the cocoa plant’s ability to stave off fungus.|
The program consists of tried and true technologies, improved farming practices and grafting.
- Clearing and trimming trees to allow sun to reach the cocoa plants
- Using fertilizer on the cocoa plants
- Increasing the number of cocoa plants grown per hectare
Early results of increased cocoa yields
Early results of the program are positive:
- The first group of ten farms achieved 180 percent increase of cocoa yields in the first two years of the program: from 170 to 480 Kg/ha
- The second group of 15 farms increased 150 percent in the first year, with current production of 430 Kg/ha
- Positive early results for grafting of cocoa plants
Due to the time needed to evaluate full grafting results, the program will take eight years before a full evaluation is done.
Cocoa farms – then and now
The farms are different now. Before the program, the 5-hectare areas looked abandoned, with many trees and little light.
Moraes notes, “The areas are now clean and light. The cocoa plants have good pod loads and are healthy. Cocoa plants were added, bringing back the richness of the cocoa farms.”
Looking to the future of cocoa in Southern Bahia, Brazil
The association’s work with the small group of farmers has provided much needed technologies and improved farming practices.
Moraes said, “This program is showing the results of progressive methods in technologies and improved farming practices. To continue to increase cocoa yields, these methods must be put in place long-term and on a larger scale.”


text:
Jul 22, 2015 One company is trying to eliminate summer learning loss for low-income kids.
Jul 10, 2015 Curators will display a lesser-known side of the artist at MoMA in New York.
Jul 10, 2015 The world's biggest jeans maker tries to lure more women to its brand.
Jul 9, 2015 Paramount attempts a compromise between theaters and studios.
Jul 9, 2015 Ski resorts are experimenting with warm weather attractions to bring in business.
Jul 6, 2015 Midnight premieres draw in super-fans build buzz for summer blockbusters
Jul 1, 2015 Other business partners are distancing themselves from the presidential candidate.
Jun 30, 2015 Popcorn Time streams TV shows and films for free — and it's especially tough to shut down.
Jun 4, 2015 Lifetime pokes a little fun at itself in its upcoming "A Deadly Adoption."


text:
Digital brand activation company, McCollins Media has secured the account to handle all PR and social media operations for DownTown Café. Located in Karama, DownTown Café offers a menu selection for breakfast, lunch and dinner meals daily. McCollins media will be responsible for all strategic communications activities through PR and social media campaigns to establish the brand’s presence across the UAE.
“Having established a name for ourselves across the F&B industry in a short time, we were quite confident going in and that has been a major reason behind this prestigious acquisition,” says Meghna Kothari, Director, McCollins Media. “We pride ourselves, on being the kind of creative agency that comes up with out-of-the-box and notable solutions to get our clients the necessary mileage they need.”


text:
Buying a laptop? Look for Haswell.
Intel's new 'Haswell' chip will markedly extend battery life.
This winter is a good time to go laptop shopping. Intel released its latest line of processors for desktops, laptops, and lightweight Ultrabooks. This new generation of chips, code-named Haswell, will make computers faster and much more energy efficient than before.
"This is the biggest battery-life increase we've seen, generation to generation," says Pat Cassleman, Intel's Haswell product marketing manager.
For example, Apple's 2013 MacBook Air – one of the first computers to utilize Haswell – gets close to double the battery life of the 2012 model, according to a survey of independent reviews. The latest Air with a 13-inch screen can play video uninterrupted for more than 8 hours, compared with 5 hours for last year's model.
Intel also designed these "fourth generation" processors to help computers sleep for longer and wake up faster. Windows 8 Ultrabooks from Asus, Sony, and Dell can now drift into standby mode for more than seven days without needing a recharge. When you're ready to use the computer again, the new Ultrabooks bounce back to life in less than 3 seconds.
Many laptops, desktops, and Ultrabook models now come with Haswell chips, but the rollout has been slow and staggered. With the new year, however, most computers will have switched over.
"If you don't care much for battery life, the computing performance difference [over the previous Intel chips] is not that great," says Matt Smith, who reviews computers for Digital Trends. "It's not like, if you buy the third-gen, all of a sudden you're going to have a computer that feels really slow. You'll still be fine."
For this reason, people in the market for a desktop should not feel obligated to wait for a Haswell processor, he says. Look for one, but don't hold off your purchase.
There are a few ways to confirm that a new machine comes with Haswell. First, look for an Intel sticker that uses the words "fourth generation."
If you can't find one, check out the spec sheet. The company identifies most of its processors with a four-digit code, such as the Intel Core i7 4650U (the 4 at the beginning of the code stands for fourth generation) or the Core i7 3667U (which is third generation). Also, online reviews from CNET, The Verge, or Digital Trends often mention if the processor is a Haswell or not.
As with many of its past products, Intel named Haswell after a geographic area. The team originally wanted to dub this new line "Molalla," after the town in Oregon. But Intel ultimately nixed the name because people weren't really sure how to spell or pronounce it. Instead, they landed on Haswell, a town in eastern Colorado (pop. 70).
"Particularly on the high end, we're going to see computers update to Haswell in the next few months," says Mr. Smith. "So, if you can wait, that'll be good. With budget laptops, however, those are usually the last to see an update."
For more on how technology intersects daily life, follow Chris on Twitter @venturenaut.
This is an updated version of an article that ran in the August 12 issue of The Christian Science Monitor weekly magazine.


text:
Late payments on credit cards and auto loans are starting to pile up after a lengthy period when government stimulus payments helped keep the credit environment unusually benign.
The recent increase in delinquencies is most evident among subprime and low-income borrowers, whose late payments appear to be approaching pre-pandemic levels, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The New York Fed researchers stressed that the uptick is starting from “extremely low” delinquency levels, which were aided by pandemic-era fiscal relief and forbearance programs that helped consumers stay current on their payments.
But the rising delinquencies are worth monitoring, the researchers told reporters. They pointed to evidence of greater stress among consumers as inflation has hit a decades-long high.
The share of credit card debt in low-income ZIP codes that transitioned into delinquency status jumped to 2.38% in the second quarter, up from 1.92% a year earlier, according to the New York Fed’s quarterly report on household debt.
The latest figure remains below pre-pandemic levels of around 2.67%, but the jump among lower-income borrowers contrasted with mostly flat delinquency transition rates in higher-income ZIP codes, the report found.
The picture was similar in auto lending, where delinquency transition rates in lower-income ZIP codes jumped to 1.89% during the second quarter from 1.71% a year earlier. Borrowers in higher-income postal codes experienced a more mild deterioration, with delinquency transition rates creeping up from 0.7% to 0.73%.
Still, the New York Fed researchers noted the U.S. has “seen periods where delinquencies rise” despite a strong economy. They pointed, for example, to the increase in auto loan delinquencies that came in the months before the pandemic.
The report’s findings line up with recent commentary from bank executives, who have said that lower-income borrowers are seeing more signs of stress as their smaller savings buffers continue dwindling.
“If you really want to turn up the magnification on the microscope,” JPMorgan Chase Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Barnum said during a July 14 call with analysts, “if you look at cash buffers in the lower-income segments and early delinquency roll rates in those segments, you can maybe see a little bit of an early-warning signal.”
The big question is whether the delinquency upticks are “simply normalization” to pre-pandemic levels or the start of a more severe deterioration, Barnum said. JPMorgan is “not very exposed” to that segment of the population, he added.
If the strong U.S. job market stays on track, it “will guard against a large deterioration in debt performance,” analysts at Moody’s Investors Service wrote in a July 15 research note. But they also noted that the risks of a recession are rising and said that inflation is “eroding household resources and hitting certain demographics particularly hard.”
“The performance of some securitized U.S. consumer debt has already been weakening, with the benefits of pandemic-driven support for households fading amid high inflation,” the Moody’s analysts wrote in their note, which focused on securities backed by U.S. consumer and residential loans.
Overall, U.S. household debt rose by $312 billion to $16.15 trillion during the second quarter, driven primarily by larger mortgage and credit card balances. Card balances rose by $46 billion, notching a 13% increase from the same period last year and marking the largest jump in 20 years. Auto loans rose by $33 billion.
Mortgage balances increased by $207 billion in the quarter, helped by continued purchases of new homes even as a refinancing slump led to a slight slowdown in total mortgage originations.


text:
Argentinian soccer giant Club Atlético Independiente has become the latest club to announce the creation of fan tokens with crypto tokenization startup, Chiliz.
According to a Thursday press release, Club Atlético Independiente, aka El Rojo will launch its crypto-based fan tokens on the Chiliz-powered sports engagement platform, Socios, making the club the first from South America to go down that path.
Other European sides including Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, A.S. Roma, Atlético de Madrid, Galatasaray, and West Ham have all launched fan tokens on Socios, although the Juventus fan tokens are the only ones currently on sale.
The objective of these fan tokens is to enable clubs like Atlético Independiente to stay closer to their fan base who will through the Socios platform be able to vote in polls and surveys for exclusive rewards such as a matchday experience.
Notably, today’s announcement did not reveal the token offering date for Club Atlético Independiente fan tokens but only mentioned that Socios.com users can expect these tokens to launch in the coming months. Upon launch, users can purchase the fan tokens using Chiliz ($CHZ).
Commenting on the development, Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO & Founder of Socios.com & Chiliz said in the release:
Independiente boast a truly remarkable history, with a trophy collection envied the world over. We’re very proud to be able to welcome them as the first South American club to join the Socios.com platform.
The South American club’s marketing manager, Juan Cruz Filgueira also defined the deal as exciting, and “a new way” for fans to connect with the club by “participating in binding surveys on institutional issues and accessing special rewards.”
As noted earlier, the impending launch of Club Atlético Independiente fan tokens with Chiliz means the crypto tokenization platform is now home to some of the world’s largest soccer clubs, a feat that indirectly takes crypto to the mainstream.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Coinfomania reported in December that the Chiliz-powered platform reached 50,000 users in less than two months
Your crypto deserves the best security. Get a Ledger hardware wallet for just $79!


text:
Here’s how you can win.
It’s time for another giveaway! This time we’ve got a copy of Glass, out on 4kHD and Blu-ray today.
Scholastic wants YOU to take home some primo books from their AFK video game-centric line.
Butch Hartman is a busy man. Even while show-running two animated television series on Nickelodeon right now (the fan favorite The Fairly OddParents and the recently debuted Bunsen is a Beast), co-creating the new 3 o’Clock Club comic for Lion Forge (along with Jordan B. Gorfinkel), and constantly developing new content for his Noog Network […]
For the third year in a row, ComiXology will be at San Diego with a set of collectibles trading cards for comics creators. This year’s Series 3 includes a subset curated by Kevin Smith and billed as “Heavy Hitters.” Although that name conjures all kind of qualifications….it’s just very talented cartoonists including Kevin’s top six […]
Two weeks to go, people. TWO WEEKS. IDW (#2743) has just released a list of their exclusives giveaways and debuts and it’s HUGE. You can order some of them here. Every day IDW will offer a unique bundle package that will include trade paperback collections, hardcovers, rare variants, and TWO title-specific bundles that include […]
Now THIS is how you market to expand comics readership. In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Gene Luen Yang and Panda Express have teamed to give away a brand new comic featuring The Green Turtle — the first Asian American superhero and star of the acclaimed graphic novel The Shadow Hero.
Hey Elite Beat readers, as a thank you for your continued attention you’re among the first to get a crack at seeing an exclusive Behind-the-Scenes look and film footage from War for the Planet of The Apes, a new film in the Ape-tastic series debuting next July. Mo-Cap genius Andy Serkis, director MATT REEVES and Producer DYLAN CLARK […]
When the lights in New York Comic Con 2015’s Artist Alley dimmed low on Sunday, everyone thought that party was over. As it turns out, the celebration was just getting started. While artists packed their bags, Winsor & Newton, a prestigious art supply company in attendance the show, decided to give away their entire leftover stock of pigment markers to […]
Fandom-inspired fashion certainly isn’t going anywhere; gone are the days of unisex, potato-sack tees as companies like WeLoveFine, Hot Topic and other retailers capitalize on the craze. The latest launch from Hot Topic is one of the most fandom-specific ones I’ve seen. It actually all revolves around a single character: Harley Quinn. And we have […]


text:
Every other day, brands are hopping into bed with each other.
While some partnerships are as natural as Kim and Kanye, sometimes a partnership is so odd, it makes you sit back and go ‘huh?’
Here are some examples of surprising pairings.
Google and Nestle
What does a giant technology company have to do with a confectionary brand? Are they going to dunk Google Glass into a pot of chocolate? Apparently not but we’re not far off. The two companies teamed up to call one of Google’s Android platform updates ‘Kit Kat’.
Android updates, which refresh the software on Android devices, much like Apple does (settle down Apple fanboys and girls) have been named alphabetically ever since Android Cupcake, followed by Android Donut.
The tech company, named the second most valuable global brand in the 15th annual Best Global Brands Report put out by Interbrand last month, formed the partnership with Nestle in 2013. At the time, Tech Crunch reported it was a cross promotional deal between the two brands as both stood to benefit from the exposure.
There isn’t a brand cashing in on the current update which is known as Lollipop.
Guvera and Accor hotels
The Aussie music streaming company and the hotel chain joined forces in April. The partnership was developed as hotel chain Accor wanted to appeal to a younger demographic and affiliate its brand with music.
Guvera stepped in tailoring an advertising package specific to Accor Hotel’s needs, helping them reach the target demographic and speak to customers in a non-disruptive way.
The package included traditional advertising slots on the streaming platform, video and audio, as well as special deals for Guvera’s customer base, EDMs and curated playlists dedicated to the Accor Hotel brand.
For example, the ‘Paint it Red’ campaign this year from Ibis, an Accor hotel, fashioned discounted tickets for Guvera users and Guvera sent out push notifications to its users with Ibis discounts.
Mercedes and Nintendo
It’s certainly a different vehicle than we’re used to seeing SuperMario Brothers’ racing star in, but in order to promote a new model Mercedes enlisted the help of Nintendo.
Rather than jumping into the familiar red and blue car Nintendo players know and love, Mario sat behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV convertible model.
Forbes contributor Paul Tassi wasn’t a fan of the partnership. He wrote: “Obviously Nintendo needs to do whatever it takes to right their ship and stop losing money, and perhaps increased cross-promotion is a part of that. Still, this is pretty gauche for them, and just doesn’t seem like it fits with their brand.”
In a year where ‘business as usual’ is anything but, AFR BOSS reveals six of Australia’s most inspirational and outstanding young leaders who excelled during the pandemic. The six have been crowned the 2021 BOSS Young Executives in the prestigious awards program, now in its 18th year. Run in conjunction with global leadership consulting firm […]
HUMAN Security (formerly White Ops) today announced two new founding Human Collective members: Index Exchange and MediaMath. Together they participated in thought-provoking panel discussions during the recent IAB Tech Lab CTV & Video Advertising: Growing with Standards virtual event where they emphasized how important it is to work together in the fight against fraud on […]
SCA has announced the appointment of Cathrine McVeigh to head of audio production and operations. She will be part of the content leadership team. In the newly created role, McVeigh will oversee the creation of SCA’s new audio production and content operations hub and lead a combined team across the country to deliver a rapidly […]


text:
Kanye West new album on the way???
Kanye West never ceases to amaze in the world of music, fashion marital status and dating news, but after just celebrating a birthday on June 8th, selling out of his GAP debut “bubble coat with NO ZIPPER,” we may be finally getting some new music soon. Rumors are circulating that the new project will be titled “WEST DAY EVER” and fans can’t wait! This all came from a post on Instagram from Yeezy’s manager Abou “Bu” Thiam! G.O.O.D Music coming…stay tuned!


text:
Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene has explained the reasons behind the Scuderia exercising a veto regarding the cost of power units.
The FIA released a remarkable statement on Monday outlining its intention to push on with plans to introduce am alternative, cheaper power unit in 2017. In the statement, the FIA said Ferrari had vetoed cost cutting measures which had been agreed upon by the teams, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone to impose a maximum cost on the power units for customers.
Asked about the reasons for the veto, Arrivabene says Ferrari is simply protecting its commercial interests.
“Concerning the veto it is quite easy,” Wolff said. “We exercised our veto in compliance with our legitimate commercial right to do business as a powertrain manufacturer. There’s nothing to add.”
Pushed on the topic, Arrivabene replied: “Why do we have to justify it more?
“Here we are talking about commercial right. We are not talking about budget, we are not talking about anything else. If somebody, they are asking you, they give you a specification to produce apple, OK you produce apple in line with the specification. That somebody, they’re asking you, OK, we want to impose you the price of the apple’, what are you going to do? This is the principle. It has nothing to do with the rest.”
And Arrivabene insists the veto is not exercised for any reason other than to protect Ferrari rather than impact on one of its rivals.
“For the rest I totally agree with veto. It is not a position against the other team. It is a decision that is defending a commercial principle. For the rest we are open to finding any other solution … You have in a public company, as we are now, but also in a company as Mercedes is, you have research and development costs that somehow you have to recover. I don’t find any commercial entity all around the world that is giving their product out to the market for free – or at cost. So this is the principle.”
Click here for the F1 drivers' girlfriends gallery


text:
Event: Internet of Things World 2018
Dates:14 May 2018 - 17 May 2018
Location:Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, USA
Krakow, Poland – 7 May 2018 – AVSystem is excited to announce that the company will join the Internet of Things World 2018, where it will showcase its latest achievements in IoT device management.
Internet of Things World 2018 will gather the top technologies, strategies and case studies for every industry IoT impacts. With the growing interest around its IoT solution portfolio, AVSystem will be happy to take part in this world’s largest IoT event and to present its latest achievements and new features of its Anjay LwM2M SDK and Coiote IoT Platform.
The main goal of this year’s conference is to put the Internet of Things into action. And that’s exactly what AVSystem has worked on for the last couple of years. Today, the company’s IoT product portfolio includes top-notch solutions implemented for world-known telecoms and enterprises. Nonetheless, AVSystem admits that during the last several months, the greatest focus was put on delivering next-generation IoT device management services.
The industry is finally moving from POCs to actual live deployments of standards-based IoT device management projects. LwM2M is the clear technology of choice and AVSystem is proud to be the proven leader in providing a comprehensive LwM2M solution with the Anjay LwM2M SDK and Coiote IoT platform.
Eager to find out more? Join us at our booth #843 or contact us at [email protected] and book a meeting slot.
AVSystem, a global leader in advanced device management solutions providing Coiote IoT Device Management Plat...


text:
Nigerians will be able to use their mobile phones’ Unstructured Supplementary Service Data code starting the next week to conduct transactions on the eNaira wallet, according to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued the eNaira as legal tender, a digital currency supported by the law.
It is the Naira’s currency in digital form.
Nigerians can open an eNaira wallet on any phone of their choosing; using the designated USSD code in addition to transacting, according to Emefiele.
He disclosed that all Nigerians will need to do to do transactions on their phones is call *997# from their phones. The CBN boss announced these at the Grand Finale of the 2022 eNaira Hackathon in Abuja on Thursday, August 18.
“Nigerians, both banked and unbanked, will be able to open an eNaira wallet and conduct transactions by simply dialling *997 from their phones.
“Shortly after this, both merchants and consumers with bank accounts can use the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) to transfer and receive eNaira to any bank account.
“This will further deepen the integration of the eNaira with the existing national payment infrastructure.
“The CBN will increase the level of Financial Inclusion in the country because just like the Naira; the eNaira is expected to be accessible to all Nigerians. It would provide more possibilities to bring in the unbanked into the digital economy”.
In May 11 2022, Emefiele had revealed that central banks across Africa; as well as other parts of the world are trying to study Nigeria’s eNaira project.
“We feel delighted with what we are doing in the area of the Central Bank Digital Currency, CBDC.
”What we are doing in the area of eNaira is attracting the interest of different countries in the world.”
Emefiele stated this during an experience-sharing tour of the CBN’s CBDC (eNaira) by officials of the Bank of Uganda. Further, he noted that the CBN had been receiving a lot of enquiries from central banks in Africa; in addition to other parts of the world who were trying to understand what the bank was doing.


text:
``It`s just something about being able to wear men`s underwear. It`s like doing a no-no.``
What would Freud say about that statement from a young woman? What would Calvin Klein say?
Despite the psychological or fashion implications, many women students on Northwestern University`s Evanston campus have shed sweatpants for men`s boxer shorts, according to Susan Miller, a junior and a boxer-short booster.
For the last few years, students-more specifically the female students-have turned to these light warm-weather shorts.
``In high school I wore them, but not out to school,`` said junior Lisa Walker. ``But in college, the idea of comfort is more in. They`re like sweats; people don`t see them as underwear.``
But some people do still see them as undies: men. Walker observed that men still have a problem with wearing boxers the way the women do, but they will wear them hanging out from beneath a pair of athletic shorts.
You could join the most serious revolutionaries in the boxer rebellion with shorts with college insignia written on them. Or perhaps you`d prefer the ones covered with a cartoon cat like Garfield or Fritz. -


text:
The game developer has opened up an online resource for high schoolers interested in making games.
You still have a couple of days left to buy a gift for family members or friends via Amazon and receive free shipping.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wants to ship goods using unmanned aircraft. Some are skeptical, others nervous, but drones already are improving the way we live.
The world's biggest maker of mobile chips that power smartphones sees lots of room to grow next year. But a glitch in China may hold it back.
Profits tumbled a stunning 74 percent in Samsung's mobile business in the third quarter, and tough times may continue. Here's what Samsung can do to turn things around.
On a call with analysts, Apple CEO explains why the company's smartphone is doing well but its tablet isn't.
Get your calendars out! The next six years will be full of superhero cinema, and this infographic helps you plan for every action-packed minute.
The electronics giant is projecting stronger-than-expected sales this holiday even after delivering better-than-anticipated revenue in the September quarter. The only negative was another drop in iPad sales.
The firm shares updated stats, showing that it's grown the percentage of women in its overall workforce from 24 percent to 29 percent -- though in tech positions the figure is lower.
Prime Instant Video shifts its release strategy for the second season of the John Goodman political comedy by switching to the all-at-once tack of rival Netflix.


text:
Thanks To Demonetisation There Is An Increase Of 80 Per Cent In Digital Payments, May Hit Rs 1,800 Crore In 2017-18
Almost one year on since demonetisation, the merits and demerits of it is still a hotly debated topic. Those who supported the move points out how demonetisation has helped in fighting black money, corruption etc, those opposed to it highlights how the surprise announcement has destroyed the rural economy, especially of the farming community who till now have only used hard cash to do their transactions.
But one thing that both sides seem to agree is the increase in digital transactions in India since demonetisation.
Official statistics indicate an 80% increase in the value of digital transactions in 2017-18, with the total amount expected to touch Rs 1,800 crore.
The value of digital transactions till October this year, at Rs 1,000 crore, was nearly equal to that for the whole of 2016-17. It was a continuation of a trend, with June, July and August registering Rs 136-138 crore transactions on an average, according to the ministry of information technology.
Interestingly, the volume of digital transactions rose in March and April (Rs 156 crore in both months) when the effects of demonetisation in terms of lack of cash had begun to wear off. Thereafter, the monthly average of Rs 136-138 crore indicates a steady pattern even as the value is rising.
The report, shared with the finance standing committee of Parliament, shows significant increases in average daily transactions across all platforms, such as UPI-BHIM, IMPS, M-wallet and debit cards, since November last year.
There has been progress in establishing the 'Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile trinity', with 118 crore mobiles, a similar number of Aadhaar numbers and 31 crore Jan Dhan accounts.
The report card for government receipts is also improving, with 100% online filing by 72 lakh registered entities under the goods and services tax. There has been a 23% increase in e-filing of income tax returns in 2016-17 as compared to 2015-16.
"Since November 2016, there has been a 221% increase in volume of transactions and 118% increase in value of transactions in the non-tax receipt portal," the government said.
In close proximation to Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani's recent statement that the government had saved around $9 billion by eliminating frauds in benefit payments, the government said direct benefit transfer had resulted in savings of Rs 57,029 crore up to 2016-17.
There has been a big increase in e-toll payments from Rs 88 crore in January 2016 to Rs 275 crore in August 2017 but the number of tags remains low at 6 lakh till September 2017.


text:
Guests at this year’s UKWA Annual Lunch and Awards for Warehousing, which took place recently at London’s Dorchester Hotel, raised over £9,000 for Transaid, the international development charity.
Police are investigating whether a Nice-style terrorist attack, where 84 people were killed when a 19-tonne lorry ploughed through the streets of the French city, could be repeated in the UK.
The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) will introduce a ‘jury of 12’ experts to judge entries in the 2017 Awards for Excellence.
The United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) is organising a trade mission to China and Hong Kong for the UK logistics industry.
England’s 1966 World Cup final hero, Sir Geoff Hurst, has been recruited by MAN Truck & Bus UK to launch an exclusive, limited edition 66 registration plate MAN TGX tractor unit.


text:
An analysis of the consequences of the impact of the Thai floods on the hard disk drive market from Citi Group has warned that not only will there be shortages but OEMs, who will get stock priority, will have to pay higher prices.
OEMs will get stock ahead of the open channel causing the shortages to be felt most severely by distribution, warned the analysts.
Citi expects a shortage of 20-25m a quarter for the next six months with a warning that it will be in distribution where the impact is felt the hardest.
"Distribution, including the white-box PC market, should experience the bulk of the shortage," Citi added it was "already seeing significant increases in HDD pricing in the channel." There is also a warning that panic buying is going to cause price spikes in distribution.
The other impact of the floods will be to give a leg-up to those vendors that have not been too badly impacted by the natural disaster, particularly Seagate and Samsung, with Western Digital the largest victim of events.
Dave Stevinson, sales director at VIP Computers, said that the reports coming out of Thailand continued to cause concerns.
"The undetermined date for resumption of operations at the downstream component and sub-assembly manufacturers is particularly concerning," he said.


text:
cost moving recycled materials
moving the pieces - recycling today
oct 3, 2018 as china essentially closed its ports to the grade, material recovery facilities (csra) was reporting that recycled-content plastic pellets—of uniform size the news is welcome by pacific coast region recyclers, where state
recycling for profit: the new green business frontier
how companies can turn building demand for recycled products into a competitive at present, the cost of collecting and processing recyclable materials far .. a similar desire to outrun legislation moved bell atlantic directory services to
spring 2019 student move in/out - the city of ann arbor
in anticipation of student move-in/move-out this spring, the city of ann arbor will waste recovery and reuse while being efficient, accessible, clean and cost-effective. material that needs to be broken down to place into dumpsters contact recycle ann a
6 best companies for plastic moving boxes moving.com
sep 11, 2018 plastic moving boxes are an easy and affordable way to make your move as plenty of not-so-easy to recycle materials like packing tape and plastic wrap. . you'll need to request a quote on their site for a cost breakdown.
what to do with packing supplies after the move is done dumbo
feb 9, 2017 it goes without saying that used newsprint should be also recycled, since you can normally obtain it at a very low cost. on the other hand, you
capital - what's the real price of getting rid of plastic packaging? - bbc
jul 6, 2018 crunching the numbers on how much switching might cost us. the company has pledged to double the amount of recycled material in its plastic bottles in the uk and is trialling refillable we need to move away from that.
5 companies that provide plastic moving boxes - mover junction
aug 17, 2016 plastic moving boxes are eco friendly and cheaper than cardboard boxes. many of these plastic boxes are made from recycled materials unlike the cost of renting a bungo box for 1 week to pack items in ranges from $56
closed-loop recycled content dell
dell is using closed-loop recycling systems to reuse recycled materials over and over of a new closed-loop recycled plastics supply chain, dell is moving toward a true with the potential to show greater cost savings as the program scales.
green moving: the best eco-friendly packing supplies dolly blog
apr 18, 2018 cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape moving is not an eco-friendly activity. not only will the packing supplies cost you approximately $680, but how your fragile items need but are made from recycled materials.
9 ways to recycle moving boxes - the spruce
jun 27, 2019 ways to recycle your moving boxes. by diane there is no upfront cost to list your boxes, but they charge a commission on the sales.
'chilling effect:' manufacturers, recyclers feel brunt of china's ban on
aug 31, 2018 a move by china to ban imports of recyclable materials has “the commitment to remain landfill free/zero landfill means the cost to do so is
best price moving boxes colorado springs used moving boxes
best price boxes colorado springs carries the best selection of moving boxes, used moving boxes, and moving supplies in colorado springs and surrounding
what to do with packing materials after a move - my moving reviews
apr 23, 2019 so, before you decide to recycle your packing paper after the move, you will be a charged a small fee when the sale of your boxes goes
sustainability: recycled furniture and moving pads - u-haul
the process reclaims preconsumer textile waste cut from material used to manufacture jeans. today, the pads purchase some of our recycled moving pads.
recycling costs are rising fast. this is why. - hartford courant
nov 12, 2018 some recyclables are “very hard to move right now.” not all recycled materials are facing price drops, according to various connecticut
the world's recycling is in chaos. here's what has to happen
mar 13, 2019 recycled materials being stacked at a facility in costa rica last june. the move was an effort to halt a deluge of soiled and contaminated materials “we've seen increased cost to consumers, closure of recycling facilities,
eco friendly moving company tampa, fl – pete's ultimate movers
pete's ultimate movers is the most trusted moving company that takes care of environment. we recycle packing materials to provide eco friendly moving.
about: boxes - u-haul
the value of u-haul moving and storage boxes goes beyond their strength and u-haul boxes the best choice for the cost-conscious and recycle-conscious
recycling after china's plastic ban: american cities face a recycling
mar 20, 2019 a year after china's ban, u.s. cities are sending recyclables to landfills american cities confront a "slow-moving recycling crisis" california, where the high cost of land has made it cheaper to recycle than send trash to the&nb
recycled moving boxes lovetoknow
moving is expensive enough, considering the cost of renting a truck and fuel, opt for recycled moving boxes so the environment doesn't have to pay, too.
“green” your move: reuse & recycling guide - recycle ann arbor
recycle ann arbor offers, operation hours, and prices visit www.recycleannarbor.org. more than office supplies, building materials, and more accepted.
how to dispose of or recycle moving boxes - austintexas.gov
the recycle & reuse drop-off center (household hazardous waste disposal, electronics rates and fees. share how to dispose of or recycle moving boxes.
pack up a load of green moving tips hgtv
buying boxes from your mover can be costly, but you can likely get them free the company rents the reusable moving tubs made from recycled materials for "a
article: "all the ways recycling is broken—and how to fix them" - the
apr 4, 2019 if the final recycled material is bad quality, it's difficult for the recycling waste, especially when the cost of oil is low and virgin plastic is also cheap. . as materials move through a facility, the system uses gravity, screens, ..
the ultimate green moving - tips for eco friendly moving unpakt
recycle. moving can be a great excuse to kick that hoarding habit and donate or you'll use fewer packing materials and may reduce your moving truck gas this option can be more cost-effective than purchasing cardboard boxes and can
how recycling is changing in all 50 states waste dive
reported status of export restrictions and cost increases on local recycling heavy = recycling programs have been cut back, recyclable material is being .. willimantic waste paper reports spending $10-15 per ton to move mixed paper.
the era of easy recycling may be coming to an end
jan 10, 2019 waste experts call the system of dumping all the recyclables into one bin “single-stream recycling.” it's popular. but the cost-benefit math of it
quality used moving boxes for sale-cheap. green. guaranteed.
cheap used moving boxes and cardboard boxes for sale! ucb is the cheapest, easiest, and most earth-friendly way to get cardboard boxes and moving boxes.
cheap moving boxes, used moving boxes houston & dallas
used moving boxes for sale in houston and dallas, texas from debree reuse recycled and repurposed moving boxes are an inexpensive alternative to new and more cost effective options when moving themselves and their families.
- cost to build steps and railing
- cheapest composite decking but durable
- industry standard for wood fences
- pvc outdoor deck flooring prices in philippines
- supplier pvc external cladding panel
- solution for covering an old porch with plywood decking
- outdoor wood ceiling tongue and groove suppliers
- square deck for round above ground pool
- composite decking liquidators
- plastic lumber replacement panels for sale
- factory sale pvc waterproof interlocking composite decking
- exterior finish for wood deck natural
- gray and white pvc fence
- decking per sq metre
- ideas to raise a block wall for privacy
- pvc plastic wood board product morocco
- pvc decking joist spacers and standoffs
- wholesale wpc bench in hong kong
- composite porch swing plans
- pvc teak boat decking
- composite fencing and vinyl fencing supplier
- replacement park bench slats
- pvc tingkat memasang kos
- jam systems decking
- wpc wood wall panels exterior
- a fence that sits on a slope
- composite and wooden bench plans
- mounting fence posts to wooden retaining wall panel
- composite siding brands
- wood composite panel suppliers london
- eco clear roofing
- vinyl fence cheaploer than wood
- plastic lumber barbed wire wpc fences
- can you put upvc over wood panel outside
- price wood plastic composite fence thailand
- extend vinyl fence
- unfinished wood panels disadvantages
- synthetic farm fence
- usa wood plastic composite products
- cheap temporary outdoor event flooring
- shaw flooring waterproof snap together
- attach pvc fence to side of wood retaining wall
- convert 4 ft chain link fence to 6 foot wood
- small vinyl garden fence
- create walls for open pavillion
- recycled plastic picnic table replacement planks
- we are the biggest exporters of plastic wood
- how to hang lattice on an upper deck
- personalise pvc outdoor flooring
- do you know pvc outdoor flooring products
- us vinyl fence ireland ut
- ok brand cattle fence panel
- large plastic garden troughs
- synthetic wood trellis price
- cost of fencing thailand
- perspex cat safe fence panels
- wood fencing panels in kuala lumpur
- cotton powder can be used for pvc panel
- freestanding floating deck plans
- fireproof outdoor wood decking easy install


text:
When Jessica Pineda checked out via credit card at a Williams-Sonoma store in California, the store clerk requested her ZIP code. Pineda provided it, only to find that the store used that information, combined with her name, to learn her street address and send her marketing catalogs. Pineda then filed a class-action lawsuit, alleging that Williams-Sonoma violated a California law that bans marketers from asking credit card purchasers for personal identification information. This week, the California Supreme Court agreed with Pineda.
The Federal Trade Commission recently called on Web companies to create a mechanism that allows consumers to opt out of tracking by behavioral advertising companies that serve ads to users based on the sites they've visited. As of today, three browser manufacturers have answered that call. Google's Chrome, Mozilla's Firefox and Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9 have all released their own versions of do-not-track. None of the three, however, are foolproof.
To resolve a privacy lawsuit brought by Amazon and the ACLU, the state of North Carolina has agreed to stop asking all e-commerce sites for information about state residents who have made online purchases.
As expected, the Federal Communications Commission voted today to revise an $8 billion funding program by shifting subsidies from companies that provide telephone service to broadband providers.
Online data aggregator and broker Spokeo has come in for criticism by privacy advocates who argue that the company makes available financial data about Web users without also providing the protections of federal law governing credit bureaus -- like allowing people to correct inaccuracies.
The digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation is once again sounding the alarm about the Federal Communications Commission's open Internet rules. The organization says that it isn't opposed to net neutrality in principle. The problem, says the EFF, is that the Commission can't impose neutrality regulations without first claiming authority over broadband. But once the FCC asserts jurisdiction over the Internet, it might then attempt to regulate the Web more broadly -- such as by imposing indecency rules.
Last October, a Spanish appellate court ruled that sports site Rojadirecta didn't infringe on copyright by offering links that allowed users to find streams of sporting events. That decision apparently didn't carry much weight with the U.S. authorities. This week, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement seized Rojadirecta's domain name, along with the URLs of nine other sites that allegedly infringe copyright by offering streams of sporting events.
The prospect of an easy-to-use browser-based opt-out for behavioral advertising advanced this week with Mozilla's release of a preliminary version of a do-not-track header. But this newest tool is only an early -- and potentially buggy -- version of the header. An even bigger obstacle for people who want to test the feature is that it's still unknown whether ad networks will honor it.
A coalition of digital rights groups is backing ivi TV, a start-up online video distributor, in its legal battle with television broadcasters and content providers.


text:
Delivery centre to move from Rathbone Place to Mount Pleasant while customer enquires goes to new location in Fitzrovia
By News Reporters
Royal Mail’s London West End enquiry office at Rathbone Place will close and re-open at a new location on Monday 15 April 2013.
The new office will be at the Hanson Street side of the Collingwood House development at New Cavendish Street.
The office serves customers in the W1 postcode area.
The move is part of a major reorganisation of Royal Mail’s central London operation with the Rathbone Place site being vacated.
Royal Mail told Fitzrovia News: “This move precedes the planned relocation of Royal Mail’s West End (W1) delivery operations to Mount Pleasant mail centre later in the spring 2013. This was first announced in March 2011 as part of Royal Mail’s ongoing modernisation of our operations in central London.
“We will continue to provide a consistent and high quality of service to our customers. We have been working hard to ensure that this office relocation goes smoothly and we do not expect any disruption to the service we provide to customers. Mail deliveries and collections from business customers, postboxes and Post Office branches will continue as normal,” said a Royal Mail spokesperson.
The site at Rathbone Place was sold in 2011 to Great Portland Estates. Royal Mail retained an interest in the site until June 2013. Outline plans are for a mixed use development with retail, offices and residential with a full planning application likely to be submitted to Westminster Council in the summer of 2013.
The new enquiry office opens at 101 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6EA. The entrance will be in Hanson Street and will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 7am – 7pm; Wednesday 7am – 8pm; and Saturday 7am – 2.00pm.
Comments are closed.


text:
Yesterday, I wrote about the plethora of good news Papa John's
Domino's reported its second-quarter profit rose 47% as it generated net income of $23.4 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared with $15.9 million, or $0.18 per share, a year ago. Those results easily topped the high expectations of analysts, who were looking for earnings of $0.32.
Revenues were up 7% thanks to continued global strength at locations that have been open at least a year. Domestically, same-store sales (company-owned and franchise) grew 6.9%; this is on top of the 2.1% growth for the same quarter last year. The international market proved to be just as strong, as comp sales jumped 7.8% after gaining 5% last year -- which, by the way, marks 46 consecutive quarters of international same-store sales growth.
Despite the superior growth across the board, Domino's just maintained its outlook for the year rather than raising its guidance. It's being cautious because it feels that the strong sales from 2004 might be difficult to match. That was enough for some investors who chose to take their money and run, pushing the stock 2.5% lower on the news. You can't really blame them for thinking that perhaps the run is over after being rewarded with gains of nearly 80% in just one year.
Domino's reiterated its outlook for earnings growth of 11% to 13% with earnings per share of $1.24 to $1.27. Decent growth, right? Well, that's not enough for analysts who are expecting much higher earnings of $1.35 per share. Anything less would likely cause the stock to suffer, further validating those investors who decided to jump ship.
I can't say whether or not those investors who sold off made the right decision, and we probably won't know for sure until the end of the year, but it's difficult to justify walking away from such an appetizing company. However, given Domino's tremendous run over the past year, its somewhat cautious outlook for the second half, and the fact that its annual guidance is significantly lower than what analysts are expecting, it might be wise for investors to get their slice to go.
I would, however, keep a close eye on Domino's. I think any decrease in price would likely be short-term, and in the long run it should continue to offer decent growth, although I do think this is the last of its 80% annual gains.
For another bite, see:
Fool contributor Mike Cianciolo doesn't own shares of any company in this article.


text:
The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market across the region is becoming more fragmented as retailers respond to consumer demand for convenience, and this is creating opportunities and challenges to brands, according to the “Follow the shopper: The changing retail landscape in Latam” report from Kantar.
“Shoppers in Latin America are more willing than ever to try new retail formats in their quest to get the most from their grocery budgets. As a result, the channel structure in the region is changing rapidly,” writes Sonia Bueno, Kantar President–Brazil, Kantar Worldpanel Latam CEO in the report.
“Understanding the emerging channels, and having a clear strategy for being where shoppers are, is a critical part of brand building.”
Bueno adds that FMCG volume grew by only 1.7% in Latin America in 2017. Consumers are buying less frequently, but they are spending 10% more on their basic basket.
“Huge opportunities for brands”
Unlike other regions, private label accounts for only 1% of FMCG goods in Latin America. Contrast that with 30% in Europe, she said. (According to Neilsen, value share growth for private label increased by 32% in Europe in 2016, compared with 18% in North America. The value share growth for Latin America was 8%.)
“Shoppers regard “A brands” as aspirational, and improving their premium brands portfolio will be the key to long-term success for many retailers,” states the Kantar report. “This means there are huge opportunities for brands owned by manufacturers – but the channel structure in the region also creates a challenging environment.”
According to the report, discounters, cash and carries, wholesalers, and e-commerce are where a lot of growth is.
“Discounters reach over 60 million families across Latin America, and this will increase: in the last year alone discounters grew their footprint by 20%, and Kantar Worldpanel data indicates that the growth opportunity is worth $700m,” states the report.
The report then goes on to make recommendations for success in the Latin American retail environment, including:
1. Have a clear retail strategy;
2. Appeal to shoppers’ desire to spend less by offering alternative pack sizes, and other strategies;
3. E-commerce is an area of significant opportunity. For example, e-commerce will account for 10% of the Argentinian FMCG market by 2025;
4. Don’t lump Latin America together – every country is unique and strategies must be tailored for each; and
5. Consider out-of-home opportunities by thinking about on-the-go consumption and convenience.
For more information and to download the report, please click HERE.


text:
TORONTO (Reuters) - A global surge in the price of grain and other agricultural commodities is part of a long-term trend being driven by rising consumption in China and other emerging economies, Potash Corp’s chief executive said on Thursday.
“I think you are looking at multiple years here of higher grain prices and higher ag commodity prices around the world,” said CEO Bill Doyle, who heads the world’s largest fertilizer company.
While many are blaming weather-related crop damage for the recent jump, food price inflation is primarily due to the increasing demand from Asia’s fast-growing middle-class, he said in an interview with Reuters.
“You just have this rekindling of demand,” said Doyle. “We are seeing wealth creation and the same dynamics that were in place before the great recession have been ignited again.”
Higher grain prices have led to rising fertilizer demand, allowing Potash Corp and its peers to raise prices on nitrogen, phosphate and potash products.
Earlier on Thursday, Potash Corp said its fourth-quarter profit had more than doubled. The company also raised its 2011 earnings and sales forecast.
The United Nations food agency sounded a warning on cost of food earlier this month, saying prices jumped to record highs in December and that some grains could climb even further. The price of corn alone has more than doubled in the last six months, while wheat, soybeans and other crops have also risen sharply.
“We actually need a record crop now, every year, just to keep pace with demand,” said Doyle, who has worked n the fertilizer industry for close to four decades.
Analysts say the company’s growth now depends upon its ability to keep raising prices for its namesake crop nutrient, which comes from underground mines, mainly in its home province of Saskatchewan in Western Canada.
By the end of 2011 the price of potash for international spot market buyers will climb to at least $500 a tonne delivered, said Doyle, who has helped transform a loss-making state-owned entity into the world’s most profitable fertilizer producer.
While prices have jumped in North America to more than $550 a tonne, pricing gains in key overseas markets have not kept pace. Prices on the international spot market price hover at about $450 a tonne, and a recent contract with Chinese buyers settled at $400 a tonne.
Doyle said the Chinese contract price is likely to rise by at least $50 to $60 a tonne in the second half of this year.
The company won’t seek North American price increases until it sees prices rise in the overseas spot and contract markets, he said.
“You can’t have a huge disparity between domestic and offshore prices,” he added.
(Reporting by Euan Rocha; Editing by Frank McGurty)


text:
A recent trend in social media has people fascinated: posting photos of cats sitting in squares taped on the floor. What is so compelling about this? Cats seem powerless to resist the urge to park their bodies directly in the square.
But why are cats all over the planet doing this?
It turns out that it’s just a fact of life that cats like to squeeze into small spaces. They feel much safer and more secure. Instead of being in wide open spaces, cats prefer to huddle in smaller, more clearly delineated areas.
It is believed that close contact with a box’s interior simulates the closeness a cat felt as a kitten in cuddling with its mother and litter mates and releases endorphins – nature’s own morphine-like substances – causing pleasure and reducing stress.
The box may have no walls but simply be a representation of a box – say a taped-in square on the ground. This virtual box may provide some misplaced sense of security and comfort.
The cats-in-boxes issue was put to the test by Dutch researchers who gave boxes to shelter cats as retreats. According to the study, cats with boxes adapted to their new environment more quickly compared to a control group without boxes. The conclusion was that the cats with boxes were less stressed because they had a space to hunker down in.
Cats need boxes or other small spaces for environmental enrichment. Hidey-holes in elevated locations are even better. Being up high provides security and a better view of the world.
Without a real box, a square on the ground may be the next best thing for a cat, though it’s no substitute for the real thing. Whether a shoe box, shopping bag or a square on the ground, it somehow gives a cat a sense of security that open space just can’t provide.
For the full article visit http://theconversation.com/


text:
Keeping an eye on Communist, Totalitarian China, and its influence both globally, and we as Canadians. I have come to the opinion that we are rarely privy to truth regarding the real goal, the agenda of Red China, and it's implications for Canada [and North America as a whole]. No more can we rely on our media as more and more information on China is actively being swept under the carpet - not for consumption.
Monday, April 11, 2016
American Christmas: A holiday made in China
American Christmas:A holiday made in China
During this season of goodwill, cheer, toys that will be broken and thrown away within the next year, and ornaments that will gather in your garage, basement or attic, it is nice to reflect a bit on the objects of our short-lived affection; where they are made, who makes them, and why we buy them. When you are making your final perusal of near-empty store shelves and online catalogs, stop to think, "Did the person who made this Christmas ornament even get paid? Am I adding to the problem if I purchase this?" Many of the products that will be sold throughout this holiday season are made in China and other 'cheap-labor' countries by workers who suffer in a system that depends on our consumerist behavior. Every time a Chinese made Nativity scene is sold it not only helps an American show the certainty of their faith, it also puts another dollar into the pocket of a corporation that uses the lax labor laws in under developed countries to make a killing every holiday season.
In Bangladesh, a garment factory that supplies retail chains like Walmart and Sears caught fire from an alleged sabotage by one of its workers killing 112 people. This happened after the fire regulations at Bangladesh's approximately 4,000 garment factories were discussed at an annual meeting by many of the companies involved. According to one report, a Walmart representative said that "it is not financially feasible" to improve fire safety at these factories. Walmart is now saying that they had disapproved of this factory based on the poor conditions, but they have little control over who their suppliers get products from. Even with a profit of $30.5 billion just in this quarter, it seems that for Walmart spending some money to provide safer conditions for impoverished factory workers is not as important as getting cheap clothing to holiday shoppers.
A recent raid on a sweatshop in India found 14 children, as young as 8 years-old, making Christmas decorations that would allegedly be imported to the U.S. The children were victims of human-trafficking and worked up to 19 hours a day without pay or sufficient food and water. Is this what Christmas has come to? A factory in China making the new Nintendo Wii U had used underage 'interns' to meet the huge supply demand that it faced for Nintendo's anticipated product release. The company Foxconn legally used these 'interns' as laborers, according to China's work-study laws. However, they were forced to work long hours in unsafe environments or face expulsion from school if they were fired.
Consumerism is the true 'C' word in this season of ritual. Our image of this holiday is an illusion if we do not take steps to ensure that we do not support this system. There is so much hypocrisy in paying for products made by underpaid children to give to our children. Yet, so little can be done to stop people from being inundated by commercialism, it is a losing battle to proselytize against it.
This holiday season, take some time to think about what we really need in this life. Hopefully we can realize who suffers for the superficial gratification we cherish.


text:
Virgin Hotels, the jaunty new hotel brand from Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group which debuted its radical rooms in Chicago earlier this year, recently received the green light for a hotel in New Orleans, which would mark the entrance of the Virgin brand into NOLA.
Gatehouse Capital, a hotel development company, obtained final approval from the city of New Orleans earlier this week to construct a 14-story hotel at Baronne and Lafayette streets, on the border of the Central Business and Warehouse districts. Virgin Hotels will brand and operate the hotel.
The hotel will have 183 "chambers," Virgin’s marketing-speak for guest rooms, which feature two-rooms-in-one by separating the bedroom from the dressing area and bathroom with a thick sliding door. Virgin Hotels also boasts two key in-room amenities for guests—free and fast Wi-Fi, and mini-bar items at “street” prices. A restaurant, rooftop garden, pool, and bar are also planned for the New Orleans hotel.
“We still have a number of hurdles to pass before the deal is complete, but we feel confident we’re getting there,” Raul Leal, CEO of Virgin Hotels told Condé Nast Traveler. “New Orleans would be a great addition to our portfolio, not only for its robust tourism market which attracts people from around the globe for music and culture, but also because of the city’s goal on making it a Southern hub for entrepreneurship.”
Virgin will open just a few blocks over from the Ace Hotel New Orleans, expected to open sometime next year. A Four Seasons Hotel and Residences is also in the works for the former New Orleans World Trade Center, scheduled for late 2017. Both Marriott and Starwood Hotels have recently opened new properties in the city and, according to hospitality-research firm STR, hotel occupancy and average room rates are up from a year ago. As commemoration festivities for the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina get underway in New Orleans this weekend, the city's upward hotel scene is another sign of just how far this mercurial city has progressed in recent years.


text:
Since time immemorial, there has always been a public fascination with diet culture. In the past years, this has led to the introduction of fad diets like the Master Cleanse and the Cabbage Soup trend. However, while the above rely mainly on food deprivation, social media and celebrity influence have given rise to a new means to lose weight that involves drugs regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Called medical weight loss, this approach has gotten so popular recently that large-scale pharma has made billions in profit. In fact, Novo Nordisk and Ozempic just reported massive success in the form of a $500 billion market valuation thanks to their popularity in the obesity management field. This supports a 2023 KFF poll that found almost 50% of all adult participants were interested in taking weight loss medications.
That said, while headlines may focus on the quick and significant results that medical weight loss offers, there is much more to this intervention. If you’re a physical therapist (PT) who is interested or has clients who are, read on.
Understanding what medical weight loss really is
Accessibility and Eligibility
Contrary to how mainstream media like to portray medical weight loss as akin to simply purchasing over-the-counter medicines, this approach is dependent on the involvement of healthcare experts. A team of doctors is at the helm of medical weight loss, and it is through their guidance that patients are given tailored plans that involve the use of certain drugs and the adoption of lifestyle changes. Without a doctor’s approval, a patient cannot obtain medical weight loss drugs. This is crucial to ensure a patient’s safety and that supply can meet demand.
Speaking of patients, not everyone can be eligible for medical weight loss. Because this intervention does impact the body on a biological level, this is only considered for those who have not found success with other, more traditional weight loss methods and who need to lose weight for health purposes. As such, medical weight loss patients have consistently logged a BMI within the obesity range. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this means having a BMI of over 30, or close to it, with comorbidities that can worsen excess weight.
Medications and Efficacy
Although many online confuse these medications for generic diet supplements, they differ significantly. The FDA does not regulate the latter, and it usually comes in forms like pills, tablets, or even shakes. More often than not, these diet supplements claim to encourage weight loss by boosting the metabolism, although given their lack of adherence to FDA regulations, results are not certain.
Medical weight loss medication, on the other hand, has passed rigorous scientific trials to ensure efficacy. To illustrate, while many like to compare famous brands like Saxenda vs Wegovy, they're undeniably better and safer than unregulated diet supplements because they target biological factors that impact weight. Being clinically tested GLP-1 agonists, they stimulate the brain's satiety receptors, which influence appetite and hunger. As a result, instead of just claiming to "flush out" fat, these medications actually prevent overeating. Over time, this can result in a person losing up to 20% of their initial weight.
Long Term Sustainability
Finally, although many may think that medical weight loss drugs can be a forever solution to keeping off the extra pounds, it is not. While they are intended for chronic management, a patient’s needs may change as their weight lowers. That said, it’s important not to gloss over the fact that as prescription medications, they cannot just be quit cold turkey. Doing so can result in side effects, including regaining weight.
While it may not be as enticing for those looking for a passive quick fix, medical weight loss works long-term because it also involves adopting other healthy habits. This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, sleeping better, and reducing stress. In line with this, many doctors involved in medical weight loss work alongside other wellness practitioners such as dieticians and PTs. Through this multi-pronged approach, patients can learn how to navigate weight management sustainably. This includes healthy habits discussed in Dr. Sean Wells’ post, like opting for whole foods, finding ways to stay active, and being mindful of your intentions.
All in all, medical weight loss interventions are effective and worth looking into. However, it’s crucial that interested parties not overlook the facts in favor of the hype. As a PT, it is your responsibility to understand the intricacies of this approach so that you can also help guide your eligible clients to find a healthy way to address excess weight.


text:
While many Windows Phone 8 users are still awaiting the promised GDR2 update, some people are already looking forward to Windows Phone 8.1, also known as Windows Phone Blue. Earlier today, we posted up a detailed concept of what we would like to see in Windows Phone 8.1 but now it appears that a screenshot of the real thing may have found its way to the Internet from an unlikely source.
The head of Microsoft's Windows Phone division, Joe Belfiore, used his Twitter account to show a screenshot of his own Windows Phone 8 device. The odd thing about the image is that several icons on top of the Start screen, such as wireless signal strength, WiFi connection, and others are all grouped on the far top left side of the screen. In Windows Phone 8, those icons are more spread out on top of the screen.
Belfiore would certainly be one of the best people to test future Windows Phone builds and he might have thought that the Start screen was not enough of a reveal, and didn't bother to notice the groupings of the icons. WPCentral.com claims that, based on their own information, Belfiore's screenshot could in fact be the first public look at Windows Phone 8.1. However, the final version of the OS will likely not be released until sometime in early 2014.


text:
David Ogilvy, arguably the most influential advertising man in history, died 10 years ago this month. Patricia Sellers of Fortune remembered Ogilvy in Postcards and talked about the seven bits of essential advice he offered to businesses, including the well-known Ogilvy-ism, “Bear in mind that the consumer is not a moron. She is your wife. Do not insult her intelligence.” That one is particularly significant because Ogilvy, a pioneer in many ways, realized early on the immense purchasing power of women and that advertisers who talked down to them, as many did back in the early days, did so at their own peril. He was a class act. If you haven't done so in a while, get up off your ass, go to the bookshelf and crack open Ogilvy On Advertising. You'll be glad you did.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
"We don't see a recovery, but we feel we've hit the troughs," said John Wren, chief executive of Omnicom. He added that it will take a couple of quarters to cycle through the current downturn, and a couple more before growth comes.
"We believe the worst is behind us," said Publicis Chief Executive Maurice Lévy. "
Twitter has been talking about offering special paid services for businesses for quite a while. According to NY Time Bits Blog, on Thursday night, the start-up took one step closer. Twitter has unveiled Twitter 101, a series of Web pages and a downloadable slideshow that explains what Twitter is, and how businesses can use it, along with case studies of a few companies that use Twitter.
Maybe I’m crazy, but it seems to me if you want people to use your service, or invest in your company, publishing some kind of explanation about what the heck it is, and how it could benefit you, would be a good place to start. Why has it taken them so long to figure this out? Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. The software companies have been releasing half-baked versions of their products and expecting the public to figure out how to use them for years!


text: The Firm is representing and funding over 100 institutional investors in securities litigation in Japan against Nissan Motors Corporation (“Nissan”). On November 19, 2018, Nissan’s former Chairman and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, was arrested in Japan over allegations of financial misconduct. A subsequent internal investigation at Nissan found not only the financial wrongdoings of Ghosn and other executives, but also a lack of adequate internal checks and balances and other effective corporate governance measures at Nissan over a period of many years. The case against Nissan alleges that misconduct and lack of adequate internal measures also resulted in the Company violating Japanese securities and tort laws and causing damages to the Company’s investors. On June 22, 2020, the Firm and its local Japanese lawyers filed the first wave complaint and submitted demand letters to the Company on behalf of investors.


text:
Chip-creator AMD has recognized that a programmer took a portion of the organization’s illustrations IP and is purportedly requesting $100 million for its sheltered return. In an announcement to its site, AMD said it was reached in December 2019 by a person who professed to approach “test records” for the organization’s present and future illustrations items. A portion of these advantages was presented online on the discussion of the design GitHub before AMD brought them down with a DMCA notice.
This individual has gotten “extra documents” past the ones made freely accessible, AMD said. The organization said it’s working with law requirements and specialists in its criminal examination.
AMD endeavored to minimize the essentialness of the rupture, saying, “We accept the taken illustrations IP isn’t central to the seriousness or security of our designs items.” The organization proceeded to state that it has no motivation to accept the programmer has some other AMD tech in their control as of now.
TorrentFreak reports that the programmer took a design code identified with AMD’s Navi and Arden GPUs. The Arden GPU is said to be the codename for the 12-teraflop Xbox Series X GPU.
The individual professing to be the culprit disclosed to TorrentFreak that they found the source code on an “unprotected PC/server,” and got to it by utilizing “a few endeavors.”
This individual said the estimation of the source code is $100 million, yet it’s muddled how they showed up at that figure. Whatever the case, the individual, professing to be the culprit, said if nobody approaches with the money to purchase the code, they will “simply spill everything.”
GameSpot has reached Microsoft looking for extra explanation.
Here is a game you do not want to miss


text:
Brett Dennen will kickoff the festival on Aug. 27 at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City, according to Porterhouse Productions.
Because of last year's success, the festival has been expanded to two days, Aug. 27 and 28.
In 2009, the festival drew nearly 3,000 people in it's first year with over 25 national and Michigan breweries, six local restaurants and 30 musicians from around the country.
The summer festival raised over $10,000 for the local non-profit Little Artshram and inspired a spin-off winter version at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa which drew over 3,000 people and raised another $5,000 for Little Artshram.
The first night will feature a special beer tent with selected microbrews and craft food offerings.
The second day, for those 21 and up, will feature over 50 breweries, live music on three stages, craft food stands, vending plus other activities and events.
Pre-sale tickets will be offered from May 28-31 online and at outlets around Traverse City. A two-day pass will be available for $40.
Regular ticket sales, $30 or $50 for a two-day pass, will begin Tuesday, June 1.
Other musical guests include Euforquestra, Heatbox, Down the Line, Mike Moran, Levi Britton, Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums, with more to be announced.
Stay tuned to KalamaBrew for more details as they become available.


text:
Meta starts laying off a significant portion of its employees, numerous reports from US media suggest. The new episode of layoffs is the biggest in the tech company’s history. Facebook was founded in the year 2004 and in 2022, it renamed itself to 'Meta'.
This switch in name hinted at a major shift in the company's future plans and could also be one of the reasons why Meta is letting go of some of its employees. Meta will be sending out emails to employees during the early hours of Wednesday (Eastern Time). Reportedly, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had a word with the company's executives ahead of announcing his plans to layoff.
Mark Zuckerberg took responsibility for the entire situation. The Meta CEO claimed that the circumstances formed partly due to his over-optimism for the growth of the company.
The inflated workforce was a direct result of it. Meta has been under the investor's scanner due to a weak financial outlook for both the current quarter as well as the upcoming year. Meta witnessed a sharp dip in stock price after it announced that it is expected to make losses next year due to its investments in emerging technology. Zuckerberg later assured investors that they will be rewarded in the future if they continue to invest in the company.
At the end of September, Meta had more than 87,000 employees across the globe. A reduction of 13 per cent will lead to the biggest round of layoffs this year, in the tech industry. Apart from Meta and Twitter, many other tech brands are on a path to trim their expenditures fanning recession fears.
Meta offices in India will also be impacted by the announcement made by Zuckerberg. We tried reaching out to some employees but they haven't received any intimation from the company, so far.
Meta is not the only tech company to have laid-off employees. Brands like Apple and Amazon have frozen their hiring process. Even Google's parent company Alphabet is planning to reduce hiring by 50 per cent. Twitter is one of the recent tech companies to let go of employees. After Elon Musk's takeover, the micro-blogging platform removed over 50 percent of its workforce, roughly 3,700 employees. The layoffs and lower-than-expected earnings are leading to suspicion of a recession in US.
Meta has offered a broad outline of the layoff process for both US employees and those who are based in other countries. The benefits will remain the same which include basic pay of 16 months, and continued health insurance for a period of six months. Employees will also be referred to jobs in other companies on high priority.
Zuckerberg has outlined some key aspects of the severance pay that will be offered to its employees. In his statement he said, "We will pay 16 weeks of base pay plus two additional weeks for every year of service, with no cap."
In his statement, Zuckerberg acknowledges his mistakes in the past few years that led to the 'last resort' of firing over 11,000 employees. In his statement he claimed that Covid led to a massive spurt in revenue, which was expected to continue. However, growth flatlined with no improvements in revenue.
Meta had been struggling to achieve its advertising revenue targets mainly due to Apple's new privacy feature. This feature allowed Apple users to completely disable targeted ads, one of Facebook's biggest money makers.
This has been the biggest layoff in Meta's 18-year history. The company was founded in the year 2004 and for the most part, it has witnessed a fair amount of growth. However, the layoffs were preceded by weak financial outlook for next year and even the current quarter.
He took complete responsibility for the layoffs. He said in his statement, "I want to take accountability for these decisions and for how we got here. I know this is tough for everyone, and I'm especially sorry to those impacted."
Mark Zuckerberg shared a statement on the firings during the early hours on Wednesday.
He said, "Today I'm sharing some of the most difficult changes we've made in Meta's history. I've decided to reduce the size of our team by about 13% and let more than 11,000 of our talented employees go. We are also taking a number of additional steps to become a leaner and more efficient company by cutting discretionary spending and extending our hiring freeze through Q1."
Meta has issued a statement claiming to have sacked 13 per cent of its entire workforce. The 13 per cent amounts to over 11,000 employees. The company has a total strength of over 87,000 employees.
Copyright©2022 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today


text:
A new notification prompts Windows 7 and 8.1 users to reserve an upgrade to the upcoming OS, due to debut July 29.
The search giant has a low-cost contraption made of cardboard that can turn any smartphone into a virtual reality headset. The goal: mass appeal.
Commentary: Google's phone operating system has a huge problem -- and the new Android M update does nothing to fix it.
AT&T is in the process of eliminating service contracts and subsidies for its retail partners. But they will still be available at AT&T stores.
Priced at $120, the dime-size drive is tiny enough to use a plug-and-stay design, so you can keep it permanently attached to your PC or other device.
Finally, the photos app you've been waiting for.
Google's experimental hardware division talks smart textiles, and controlling them just by the touch of your hand.
Want to know what your next phone's operating system will look like, how Google wants to manage all your photos or how you'll pay with your Android phone? Look here.
The e-commerce company announces free, same-day shipping on over 1 million items in 14 metro areas across the US.
Inbox by Gmail gained five features today, many of them long-awaited by users.


text:
| Last updated
I hope your PC is up to scratch, because it sounds an awful lot like a remake or remaster of the original Crysis is on the way. The official Crysis Twitter account is suddenly active again after years of silence, and they've been posting multiple teasers and references that all lead back to the first game in the series.
The 2007 FPS was a big hit when it first released, and a staggering technical achievement. In fact, it was often regarded as the benchmark when testing what a computer could do... hence the enduring legacy of the "but can it run Crysis?" meme. Now, it seems, a whole new generation of PC gamers will be able to ask themselves that question for real.
Just to make things nice and confusing, the first tease arrived on April 1st. Crytek updated the game's official website for the first time since 2017 with looping footage of the the original game. Exciting stuff, but Crytek ultimately admitted that this was an April Fool's joke. It didn't end there, though.
Speculation heated up once again when the aforementioned Crysis Twitter account sprang back to life on April 13th with its first tweet since December 2016. That's a hell of a time to be off Twitter, but it could be argued that a lot of companies are just looking for new ways to engage fans while we're all stuck inside.
However, the actual content of the tweets the account has been sharing are notable in that they seem to be related to the original Crysis. Take a look for yourself below.
RECEIVING DATA- Crysis (@Crysis) April 13, 2020
More Like ThisMore Like This
Hey Nomad, you're still with us?- Crysis (@Crysis) April 14, 2020
To my mind, there really are only two possible scenarios here. There's either a bored social media manager who wants to try and whip up some engaging content during lockdown (which has clearly worked), or Crytek wants people to start thinking about the brand again ahead of a remaster/remake reveal.
At this stage, I'd say these are equally likely, so definitely don't get too excited. As far as I'm aware, EA still owns the rights to the franchise after publishing the first three games, unless Crytek picked it up off them at some point (it's all a little unclear).
I would point out that EA did tease more fan-favourite remasters last year, so if Crysis remains in the hands of the publisher, perhaps a collaboration with Crytek isn't such a fanciful notion. Watch this space.
Chosen for YouChosen for You
Most Read StoriesMost Read


text:
Poundland is launching a range of products priced at less than £1.
The retailer is piloting the 'sub-£1' ranges across stores in the Midlands.
It says the move will allow it to sell more items demanded by customers - such as 100ml Colgate Toothpaste for 75p.
Poundland said it's keen for customer feedback on the pilot scheme, but around three-quarters of products in the stores will remain at the core price of £1.
The first stores taking part in the pilot have already launched the new price ranges, beginning with the branch in Park Street, Walsall.
"We promise customers amazing value and we are committed to fulfilling that promise on the widest range of items. "While three-quarters of the products we offer will still be £1, it's important we look to broaden our ranges elsewhere, whether above or below £1.< "Our customers are among the savviest in the country. We know that and it's why we're moving at the pace they dictate to become the simple price retailer they want us to be."


text:
The global pandemic brought out the best in many manufacturers, but it also showed the weaknesses in the current supply chain. The result has prompted a fresh discussion of how supply chains should be built, how to account for disruptions and how close do you need to keep your supply chain partners—and how close those who use your products need to keep you.
View this discussion with supply chain experts to hear lessons learned during COVID-19 for manufacturing and how the future of the supply chain may be altered to meet the near-term and long-term realities of a changed world.
- Reframing the concept of supply chain resilience
- Building or bolstering foundational agility and flexibility in your operations
- Laying the groundwork for rapid response and recovery
- Bob Vavra, Senior Content Director, Machine Design
- Ganesh Rao, Director, Process and Systems Certification, UL
October 8, 2020


text:
Growing for more than 30 years with extensive policy and financial support from the state, the apparel sector is yet to come of age. The industry leaders still clamour for support and incentives on different pleas. Right at this moment, they are protesting the proposed increase in source tax.
In the proposed budget for the next fiscal year (FY2016-17), the finance minister has increased the rate of source tax from 0.60 per cent to 1.50 per cent for the export earnings of the readymade garments. At the same time he has reduced the corporate tax rate from existing 35 per cent to 20 per cent. But the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) are claiming that rise in source tax will put apparel sector in jeopardy. They are also not happy with the significant reduction of the rate of corporate tax.
In their post-budget reaction, owners of the garment factories demanded that both source and corporate tax rates have to be lowered. They demand that source tax should be 0.30 per cent and corporate tax, 10 per cent. Unless their demands were met, they fear that the industry would lose its competitiveness, exports will decline, workers will lose job and economy will suffer. These are old arguments repeated time and time again during the last two decades.
However, the readymade garments industry has continued to grow defying all odds. Three factors contribute to this growth: entrepreneurial dynamism of the owners, hard labour of the workers and uninterrupted policy support of the government. Thus the Bangladesh garment industry has become a strong global competitive player. The country is now the third largest clothing exporter in the world after China and European Union (EU), according to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Share of Bangladeshi RMG in the global exports stood at 5.1 per cent in 2014 while the share of Vietnam, India and Turkey were 4.0 per cent, 3.7 per cent and 3.0 per cent respectively.
The development of the apparel sector in the country is phenomenal. It is the source of 80 per cent export earnings of the country and provides direct and indirect employment of around 4.2 million people. Annual export earnings from the garment sector have increased from $4.8 billion in 2001 to US$25 billion in 2015.
But the industry suffers from some structural problems including the reluctance of a section of owners to improve working conditions in their factories and ensure decent wages for the workers. This section of garment owners and exporters dominates the leadership of the industry and always puts pressure on the government for incentives and privileges. A general tendency of the garment sector is not to accept market forces although the exporters have to follow market mechanism.
As per market rule, all factories are not equally efficient and all cannot make equal profits. Profit margin varies and in some cases zero profit is unavoidable. So some factories have to face shutdown. It is not wise nor does it make any business sense to provide support to them when they are not able to compete.
Against this backdrop, the proposed budgetary moves to increase source tax rate and reduce corporate tax rate are logical. The source tax on export proceedings is the final settlement for the garment industry. So, garment exporters don't have to make any readjustment. By paying only 0.60 per cent tax, they are actually paying lower tax compare with many others. In 2014, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) announced reduction of source tax on RMG industry from 0.80 per cent to 0.30 per cent for 15 months. A huge tax reduction was made to compensate damages faced by the industry during the political turmoil in the second half of 2013. For this, the government had to forego revenue worth Tk 20 billion in 15 months.
As the size of the country's budget is growing, the garment sector, which is the largest industry in the country also need to contribute more. Thus, 1.5 per cent tax at source shouldn't be considered as a barrier to grow further. Moreover, to ease the pressure of tax hike, the budget has also proposed to cut corporate tax rate from 35 per cent to 20 per cent. It means garments owners will pay one-fifth of their profit as tax which is currently estimated at one-third. This is clearly a big advantage for the industry and skilful manufacturers will tap the advantage.
While continuous demand for incentive is there, dynamic initiatives of entrepreneurs are also there. For the last couple of years, a few entrepreneurs have come forward to invest in environment-friendly factories. This is a reflection of effort to diversify the sector.
Thus garment manufacturers and exporters have to build and demonstrate their capacity to face future challenges. As China is gradually shifting from low-end products due to increase in labour cost, Bangladesh is in a position to fill the vacuum. While Vietnam and Cambodia are gradually advancing in this direction by taking geographical proximity to China, it is not too late for Bangladesh.
Two crucial things, however, need attention here. First, there is no way to depend on low wages anymore. Bangladeshi apparel manufacturers have to get ready to pay incremental wages to the workers along with better working condition. Second, fiscal incentives and other support measures will be reduced in near future. Still the industry is expected to contribute more to the national exchequer. A mature industry can't ignore its greater responsibilities to its own workers, to its society and its country.