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A post over at NeoGAF has announced that the Financial Times has announced that Sony will announce details of its restructuring plan tomorrow. Last month the company called for the closing of five to six plants and cut 16,000 jobs in an attempt to save $1.1 billion a year. Analysts predict however, that Sony may likely need to implement more drastic measures to fight the decrease in demand for electronics as the global recession spreads.
“Sony’s not in a position to halt all domestic production but it has to do something that drastic,” said Mitsushige Akino, chief fund manager at Ichiyoshi Investment Management. “If it announces plans to move production overseas while keeping only planning and development functions in Japan, that would be a positive.”
With more than 75% of Sony’s revenue coming from overseas and a stronger yen making Japanese exports less price competitive, it is unsurprising that in October, Sony cut its annual operating profit forecast by 57% and said profit would fall even further if the yen’s strength persists.
What this all means for us consumers I don’t know, seeing 16,000 people lose their jobs though is never pleasant.


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Continuing the discussion from Record Vertical camera video:
ANAFI Ai is the first drone to use 4G as the main data link between the drone and the operator.
For the first time, ANAFI Ai embeds a Secure Element in the drone and in its Skycontroller 4. The 4G link between the drone and the user’s phone is encrypted. The Secure Element protects both the integrity of the software and the privacy of data transferred.
ANAFI Ai’s uniquely designed obstacle-avoidance (OA) system detects obstacles in all directions, using stereo cameras to sense objects and automatically avoid them.

domain: news


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Self-catered festivals are set to resume from April 12 under the latest step of Prime Divine Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown. However, Mr Johnson has warned that some provisions could be put back in place at any time, should the data suggest it is predetermined.
As a result, one travel expert is warning Britons not to forget travel guaranty when booking their UK break.
While travel insurance is typically contemplated as essential for overseas travel, amid the ongoing uncertainty of the UK lockdown, Antony Martin, managing official at Insurefor.com explained why it is also essential for staycations.
“While we await accessory details on the Government’s Global Travel Taskforce’s ‘traffic light organization’, there continues to be uncertainty around when we’ll be able to travel widely this year, so the focus for many Brits is on booking staycations,” he ventured.
“We want to remind them that it is important to take out travel security to ensure they are covered for cancellation and curtailment.”
READ MORE: Calder sprees places most likely to be on UK travel green list
Over the closing year, many Britons have seen their plans do away with neutralized and changed for all manner of reasons relating to the pandemic. As a result, insure.com slung a special “COVID-protection” package.
From last-minute lockdowns to positive Covid try out results, Britons should ensure they are protected against monetary loss.
“While we hope that restrictions will ease according to the nominated dates in the Government’s roadmap, this may cause a spike in cases, so we inform Brits to ensure they have the necessary cover, should their elect accommodation be required to close,” continued Mr Martin.
“Our travel insurance offering protects consumers against COVID-related issues both pre-departure and during their delay to ensure they don’t lose out if their UK holiday is cancelled.”
Drill into saw ‘worst day of the year’ yesterday after enjoying huge boost [GRAPH]
Croatia red-letter days: New rules detail what tourists will need to travel [Sensitivity]
Passport nightmare as holidaymakers warned of 10 week wait [Tip]
However, it isn’t just Covid-related issues that travel insurance provides maintain for.
“It is also important to take out travel insurance for a staycation under average circumstances to cover various issues such as cancellation, curtailment in state you have to cut your staycation short, transport delays, lost or borrowed luggage and personal liability to cover legal expenses if you’re held reliable for causing damages or injury to another person while on holiday.”
Much identical to with foreign holidays, the timing of a travel insurance purchase is also major.
“It is strongly advised that you book your travel insurance as shortly as you have made a financial commitment towards your trip,” simplified Mr Martin.
Speaking previously, the Prime Minister shared hopes his roadmap out of lockdown purposefulness be “irreversible”, although he admitted there could be situations when blueprints could be put on hold.
Rules and restrictions could be implemented at a local unfluctuating should a new COVID-19 variant or outbreak strike.
In February, Mr Johnson averred: “We will not pull the rug out for the duration of the pandemic the Government will continue to do whatever it do the tricks to protect jobs and livelihoods across the UK.”
From April 12, only self-catered respites will be given the go-ahead to resume, however, they can only be infatuated with members of the same household.
From May 17, a further letting up of rules is expected, with hotels and B&Bs given the green light to reopen.
At this mention, the rule of six will apply to all people staying in the same accommodation.
Two households may also recess together.
International travel remains under review; though the Prime Charg daffaires has shared hopes some international travel could resume in May.


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Thursday 8th February 2018
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Michael Hill International expects first-half earnings will more than halve with A$20 million coming from the jewellery chain's exit from the US and scaling back its Emma & Roe branded store footprint.
The Brisbane-based company said earnings before interest and tax was about A$20 million in the six months ended Dec. 31, down from A$40 million a year earlier. Of that, about A$8.4 million arises from onerous lease provisions and another A$11.4 million from impairment charges on property, plant and equipment, it said in a statement.
"Despite the one-off accounting impacts from store closures, the decisive actions taken to reduce the Emma & Roe store footprint and exit the US are critical to strengthening the foundations of Michael Hill International as we focus on building significant long-term value in our core business across Australia, New Zealand and Canada," chief executive Phil Taylor said.
Last month the jewellery chain announced plans to quit its decade-long investment in the US and overhaul its Emma & Roe brand into demi-fine products with a smaller physical store footprint. At the time of the announcement, the company said it expected to write down the Emma & Roe assets by A$7 million, but wasn't sure of the financial impact from the US exit.
Michael Hill is still negotiating with landlords over the Emma & Roe stores and US exit and hasn't determined the final timing of cash cost of the closures, it said.
The dual-listed shares fell 2.1 percent to A$1.18 on the ASX.
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Annual exports to China top $15 billion for first time
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Westpac says RBNZ capital proposals would add $6,000 p.a. to an Auckland mortgage
Cavalier says market conditions still challenging
Ryman hikes dividend as annual earnings grow on wider development margin
24th May 2019 Morning Report


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Arla yesterday (23 May) said that sales across its important Middle Eastern export markets have yet to recover from the boycott which began in January in response to cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed that were printed in a Danish newspaper.
Before the boycott, the Middle East and North Africa had been lucrative growth markets for the dairy company. Last year, Arla’s Middle Eastern turnover totalled approximately DKK3bn. However, an Arla spokesperson told just-food, the company does not expect sales to return to pre-boycott levels in the near future. “We have come a long way, but there is still much further to go,” Arla said.
Since the Danish dairy group successfully negotiated the return of butter, cheese and milk powder to a large number of stores throughout the Middle East sales have slowly been creeping up, but remain at a low level.
“In the Saudi market, many consumers are continuing to avoid Danish products. Either because they wish to continue the boycott or because they’ve become used to buying competing products,” said Finn Hansen, divisional director. “It’s positive that we’re back on the shelves of many stores and that sales are increasing, but we’ve still got a great deal of work ahead of us.”
However, the company did see signs of improvement in other, smaller, markets in the region. In the Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen and Lebanon sales have returned to between 50% and 90% of pre-boycott levels.
Overall, in the Middle East and North Africa, Arla has regained 15-20% of sales levels before the consumer and retailer embargo of Danish goods.


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MobileNOW takes second in Best of Show! A great product deserves a great booth and a great team!! Congratulations to the entire #MobileNow team and thank you to the #ipiconf staff for an extraordinary job!
The 2014 IPI is the biggest conference and parking expo in the world. With over 230 exhibitors and thousands of attendees. “MobileNOW! is thrilled to have our new exhibit space awarded such a distinct honor from the International Parking Institute,” said John Oglesby, CEO of MobileNOW!. “We look forward to NPA in Las Vegas later this year and showcasing our newest products and services in the pipeline.”
MobileNOW! is a world pioneer and leading provider of mobile phone and other cashless payment methods for the parking industry. In addition to enabling virtual payment and collection options, the MobileNOW! platform offers full enforcement, management and reporting capabilities. For more information, visit Mobile-NOW.com
42-40 Bell Blvd, Suite 604
Bayside, NY 11361
Mobile: (303) 884-3710
Office: (718) 819-2100
Fax: (718) 819-2100


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In a press release, Bandai Namco has announced the SoulCalibur VI 2B release date! In case you didn’t know, 2B, the protagonist from NieR: Automata, will be joining the roster of SoulCalibur VI! Bandai Namco has announced the SoulCalibur VI 2B release date for December 18, 2019 for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC!
If you’re not familiar with 2B or NieR: Automata, the action-RPG is made by the fine folks over at PlatinumGames (Bayonetta), and is published by Square Enix.
Here’s the official description from Bandai Namco regarding this new fighter:
A new guest character will be joining the stage of history! Meet YoRHa No. 2 Type B from Square Enix’s NieR: Automata. 2B and her dual blades, Virtuous Contract & Virtuous Treaty, are designed for combat against machine lifeforms, employing acrobatic leaps and mid-air slashes, lightning-fast evasions and perfectly coordinated strikes! She will be making her way to the #SOULCALIBURVI along with her own stage and background music.
You can watch 2B’s SoulCalibur VI reveal trailer right here.


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Auto trading companies will no longer need to gain authorization from automobile brand owners to sell vehicles from July, according to new measures unveiled Friday.
The preceding measures implemented since 2005, which require that all car dealers secure authorization from brand owners, will be repealed from July 1, 2017, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said in a statement.
The authorization system had helped safeguard market order and contributed to the rapid development of the Chinese auto market, the MOC said in a statement.
However, the system also gave rise to monopolistic practices, dragged on competition and made auto parts expensive.
In the future, both authorized and unauthorized car sales companies will be allowed to operate, according to the new measures.
"Automobile marketplaces, stores and e-commerce outlets will be the new ways to sell cars in China," the MOC said.
The new measures will help improve sales and after-sales service across different auto brands, an approach that will save resources, improve efficiency and improve services, it added.
China had remained the world's largest automobile manufacturer and market for eight consecutive years by 2016, with both auto output and sales exceeding 28 million units last year.


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Even though the supervisory board of state-owned rail infrastructure company EVR Cargo approved the company’s now infamous Russian railcar deal yesterday, chairman Neeme Jõgi emphasizes that the decision was conditional. He still finds the business to sport a high level of risk that will in the future be on Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kadri Simson.
Postimees shed light on EVR Cargo’s ambitious business project in July: to take out a loan and procure €35 million worth of railcars from Russian plants to be rented out to major Russian companies suffering from a corresponding shortage. The idea was met with a lot of attention and criticism as it was the first major Estonian state investment to Russia.
The first stage of the project is already underway, meaning that EVR Cargo has spent nearly €18 million on 500 cars. The company had taken delivery of 85 cars by Friday last.
If the previous supervisory board of the company, headed by now Finance Minister Toomas Tõniste, approved the Russia project, the new board, under Neeme Jõgi, applied the brakes regarding the second part of the plan after finding it controversial and risky.
A month later, Jõgi is still convinced risks are considerable. “It is a business project that goes beyond the regular activities of a state company, sports a very high level of risk, and does not correspond to the owner’s, which is to say the state’s, principles of conservative business,” Jõgi said.
If, weeks ago, Jõgi said the management board and CEO Raul Toomsalu’s railcar rental business plan was lacking, things have improved by today. At the same time, the supervisory board’s estimate of the profitability of the business plan falls well short of the initial forecast of the management.
Jõgi did not wish to analyze the risks of the business via the press but said they are first and foremost tied to CIS countries like Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan investing in which entails dangers. He added that the state company’s foreign investment is too dependent on the fluctuations of the global transit sector and circumstances that cannot be controlled from Estonia.
That is why the supervisory board chairman suggested the company put the second stage of the plan on hold at least until the business, using the first 500 cars, has had time to justify itself.
Why did the supervisory board decide to green-light it? “Unfortunately, my proposal of holding off did not find enough support,” the chairman said. He added that now responsibility will transfer to Economy Minister Kadri Simson.
Jõgi said that as the owner the state is free to do with its property as it will. “The owner is free to trade its shares for well-ironed candy wrappers or whatever. We cannot make that decision for the owner in the supervisory board,” he said, and added that the best the board could do was to point out the risks and shortcomings of the business plan. From there it is in the minister’s hands.
Jõgi was reluctant to comment when asked whether the management board, owner, or other members of the supervisory board tried to pressure him. Will Jõgi be responsible for the deal going belly up? “Legally I am not responsible as we are executing the owner’s will. We would be responsible if we had given our consent without the owner’s decision. That is something I would not have done,” he explained.
EVR Cargo’s Russian railcars business ambitions have been defended by CEO Raul Toomsalu and Kadri Simson.
Toomsalu has previously told Postimees that EVR Cargo’s advantages in Russia are access to cheap loan money and necessary business know-how. Risks are allegedly managed through entering into contracts with European subsidiaries of Russian companies so transactions would be made in euros. “Our transaction does not sport a high level of business risk. It is impossible for our assets to disappear,” Toomsalu said.
Minister Simson has pointed out that EVR Cargo would continue operating in loss were it not to expand its business. “As concerns the firm’s railcar rental plans, it is not a new business. The rental service was available last year under a reformist minister,” Simson said. The investment is also not in contrast with the West’s sanctions against Russia.


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Swatch is planning on launching its own smartwatch operating system into the ever-expanding market - with its 'Swiss OS' platform set for an early 2019 release. That's according to a spokesperson for the company as quoted by Wareable.
Swatch is said to be planning on setting the OS free on a Tissot-branded smartwatch and the Swiss watch specialist has stated Swiss OS will have fewer software updates than rivals such as Google's Wear OS, and will boast "Swiss vault"-grade protection of user data.
Swatch has previous, sort of, in the smartwatch space. Back in 2015 it launched the Touch Zero One; a beach volleyball focused connected timepiece (yes, seriously) and later that year it revealed the Swatch Bellamy; an NFC connected smartwatch, that went on sale in China and boasted contactless Visa payments for wearers.
Swatch has been promising a 'proper' smartwatch for some time now. The company’s CEO Nick Hayek described the Apple Watch as an "interesting toy" and has has some interesting things to say about the tech-genre in the past...
February 2014: "I have always said it's an opportunity for us, but we are not a consumer electronics company. We are not going to transform and put the mobile phone on the wrist. Let the others do it. Samsung did it, Sony did it, everybody does it."
July 2014: “We will integrate fitness features in the Swatch Touch by 2015. The device will remain a watch, but it will include commonly used fitness features to monitor your body. We already have all the know-how, we do not need a partnership.”
August 2014: "All the big technology firms want to work with us and I don't rule out that we are or could be collaborating in some areas. But we can also do many things on our own."
May 2015: "Whoever brings a battery for a smartwatch to the market that you don't need to charge for six months has a competitive advantage. We're working intensively on this problem with our research group Belenos and battery producer Renata. Next year we will come to the market with a revolutionary battery, not only for watches but also for automobiles."
March 2015: "We are the world champions of integrating smart functions into a watch. We don't want to produce a mini mobile phone on your wrist. Others can do that."
The timing of the potential new contender in the smartwatch space is interesting. On the hardware side, Qualcomm has just revealed its Snapdragon 3100 processor - a dedicated smartwatch SoC and, as well as Google's Wear OS and Apple's watchOS, Samsung, Fitbit and Huawei also have high profile smartwatches on the market rocking their own proprietary systems. It will be interesting to see where Swatch and its platform fit in.


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Editor’s note: Check out the detailed sources below for further reading, including the officialy press release from Bordeaux.com about the newly approved varieties. See our current course offerings of the Wine Scholar Guild’s French Wine Scholar.
Even well in advance of its oft-anticipated harvest reports, the Summer of 2019 belonged to Bordeaux. That’s when the wine world’s virtual water-cooler was abuzz with the news that France’s highest-profile fine wine region was taking the unprecedented step of permitting the inclusion of seven new grape varieties (four red, three white) in its blends.
What’s more, the new grapes approved by the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur Association (and now awaiting a final okay from France’s National Institute of Origin and Quality, or INAO) are mostly varieties with which few consumers will be familiar. They include Arinarnoa, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Marselan for reds, and Liliorila, Petit Manseng, and Alvarinho for whites—varieties that traditionally have more in common with the Iberian peninsula than Bordeaux.
For the collectors among you, before you start frantically calling your Bordeaux Futures investment house in a panic, there are several aspects about the changes that wine lovers need to keep well in mind. As Decanter’s digital editor Chris Mercer puts it, “Don’t expect to see a blur of shovels hurriedly digging up Cabernet and Merlot vines from Médoc to Saint-Émilion.” The changes, while important, aren’t nearly as radical as they might first appear.
This Isn’t New News
The combination of an historically steadfast region opening up its Appellation regulations in the first place, and to relatively under-the-radar grape varieties in the second, is understandably newsworthy in the usually cautiously conservative fine wine business. But the news isn’t exactly new; investigations by Bordeaux into grapes that could resist increasingly extreme weather conditions began over 10 years ago, and hit renewed vigor in 2017 after the region’s harvests were hit particularly hard by frost. The changes have been in development for some time, and for now are a practical response to the challenges facing Bordeaux’s grape growers.
Your favorite Second Growth Bordeaux is safe from these new changes. If approved, the expanded regulations would permit the newly-included grape varieties in Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur appellation wines only. You won’t be seeing any varietal Bordeaux Petit Manseng anytime soon, either—the “new” grapes can only constitute no more than five percent of a producer’s vineyard plantings, and make up only ten percent of any final blend. Plantings wouldn’t begin until 2020 at the earliest, with bottled wine made from those plantings still a few more years away.
Bordeaux is Making a Statement
Given that limited scope, the boldest thing that Bordeaux is doing with these changes is making a firm and resolute statement about the reality of climate change and its impact on the future of winemaking in one of fine wine’s most storied regions. “This move shows how climate change is really concentrating minds in Bordeaux,” notes Mercer. “This decision is designed to give winemakers more tools to adapt to climate change, which itself poses threats to Bordeaux’s signature styles.”
Calm Down, and Drink Your Claret
For now, Bordeaux lovers can expect fascinating discussions around that virtual wine news water cooler, but little actual impact on their favorite beverages. As Mercer summarizes the news, “the new grapes symbolize a willingness to loosen notoriously strict appellation rules to help winemakers test solutions, and it will be fascinating to see how that trend develops. Châteaux in the top appellations will be watching developments—despite staying out of it for now. We are many miles away from ‘First Growth’ Touriga Nacional; if I were a Futures buyer, I’d be much more worried about the exchange rate and release prices!”
See our current course offerings of the Wine Scholar Guild’s French Wine Scholar.
- Interview with Chris Mercer


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We custom-design everything we build to fit the home, the neighborhood, the homeowner’s lifestyles and the homeowner’s budget.
MIAMI, FL (PRWEB) June 20, 2013
Venetian Builders, Inc., has reaped the benefits of its marketing campaign through Home Depot stores with an increase so far in 2013 in Coral Gables sunrooms, patio covers and screen enclosures, the president of the Miami builder said today.
“We’ve seen a marked increase in sales leads in Coral Gables in 2013, due in large part to our placement of retail sales displays in two nearby Home Depot stores,” Noe said. “The displays, which we designed and fabricated, were placed in the Coconut Grove and Pinecrest Home Depots. Both have attracted attention from Coral Gables homeowners.”
The displays are made of actual building components, including windows, doors, insulated panels, framing and screen.
Venetian placed retail sales displays in 41 Home Depot stores in South Florida beginning in the second half of 2012 and continuing into the first quarter of 2013, Noe said.
“At this point, our sales from Home Depot leads almost equal our consumer-direct sales, until last year our only sales method,” Noe said. “Our sales increase is strong in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and especially ascendant in Palm Beach County, pushing residential sales up 150 percent.”
The firm’s design services make aluminum additions and screen enclosures appealing to Coral Gables homeowners, Noe said. “We custom-design everything we build to fit the home, the neighborhood, the homeowner’s lifestyles and the homeowner’s budget,” Noe said. “Our craftsmen can finish any room to complement the home’s exterior and interior.”
Venetian avoids a one-style-fits-all philosophy, Noe said: “We understand that the best Cocoplum sun room isn’t necessarily the best Snapper Florida room or Southeast Gables solarium. Needs differ, and so do our designs.”
Over the past three months, Venetian has been installing giant code-compliant skylights in some new Florida rooms. “These translucent panels are engineered to be an integral part of the roof, so they are stronger and more storm-resistant than smaller, traditional skylights,” he said. “They’ve been instantly popular.”
Company designers also specify heavier-gauge aluminum framing in screen pool enclosures, retaining aesthetics but adding strength, Noe said. “We’re accustomed to meeting and surpassing the toughest regulations of the Florida Building Code, for high-wind areas such as along lakes, ponds, inlets, bays, canals, golf courses and parks,” Noe added.
Venetian serves all neighborhoods in Coral Gables, including Biscayne Bay Sea, Biscayne Bay View, Cocoplum, the Country Cub Section, Douglas, Granada, Hammocks, Hammock Oaks, Old Cutler, Pine Bay Estates, Snapper and Southeast Gables.
At-home consultations, including the Venetian mobile showroom, are free, as are written, detailed estimates.
For more information, call 866-596-2427.


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Monkhill Confectionery, a division of Cadbury Trebor Bassett, has implemented software across four manufacturing sites to improve supply chain transparency. The chocolate and gum manufacturer needed...
India's Cosmos Bank targeted in sophisticated attack by North Korea's Lazarus Group, according to reports
Imminent attacks believed linked to compromise at major card issuer
Mirai-friendly CCTV and DVR maker Hikvision also banned under new US government security laws
CVE-2018-3110 is easy to exploit with possibly severe consequences


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Who is the CEO of Microsoft?
Jump to navigation Jump to search. CEO of Microsoft. Satya Nadella (/nəˈdɛlə/; born 19 August 1967) is an engineer and Indian American business executive. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft , succeeding Steve Ballmer in 2014.
Who are the top executives at Microsoft?
Senior Leaders. Satya Nadella. Chief Executive Officer. Judson Althoff. Executive Vice President, Worldwide Commercial Business. Chris Capossela. Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Marketing and Consumer Business. Jean-Philippe Courtois. Executive Vice President and President, Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing and Operations.
How much did Microsoft CEO Steve Nadella make in 2013?
Nadella’s 2013 base salary was nearly $700,000, for a total compensation, with stock bonuses, of $17.6 million.
Is Nadella’s Microsoft a “CEO upgrade”?
From an investment perspective, Nadella’s Microsoft is a great example of a “CEO upgrade” situation when a good/great business that’s been mismanaged for some time gets a right CEO with the relevant skillset and mindset who subsequently unlocks the hidden potential of the business.
Is Microsoft’s Bill Nadella a good CEO?
In the years since becoming CEO, Nadella is viewed as having done well, with Microsoft stock having tripled by September 2018, with a 27% annual growth rate. In December 2018, Comparably called him the best CEO of a large company in the United States, citing anonymous Nadella employee reviews.
Who is Microsoft’s new CTO?
Microsoft appoints Kevin Scott as Chief Technology Officer – Stories Skip to Main Content Learn how Microsoft is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and find resources to help Skip to main content Microsoft Stories
Who is new Microsoft CEO Clare Barclay?
Microsoft has announced that Clare Barclay, currently Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft UK, will become Chief Executive Officer from October 1, 2020. Barclay succeeds Cindy Rose, who was appointed in 2016 and will become President for Microsoft’s business across Western Europe, which comprises 14 countries*.


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Health and food trends are a dime a dozen these days, no thanks to TikTok. However, a focus on protein consumption has existed long before even Facebook. The idea that we need to consume more protein for weight loss, strength, and overall health has been around for decades, and these messages usually come with recipes for protein shakes and affiliate discount codes for powders or supplements.
“In today’s health-conscious world, the allure of natural remedies for enhancing skin, hair, and nail beauty has taken hold,” said Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, Ph.D., a dermatologist. “Many individuals are turning away from conventional medicine or cosmetic procedures, citing concerns about potential side effects. In their place, they seek alternatives, such as protein-rich foods, that can be easily incorporated into their daily diet.”
The truth is that studies show that most Americans consume enough protein from their diets already, so you likely don’t need any additional powders or supplements. That’s good news for your skin, hair, and nails. Experts explained the link between protein and your grooming regimen.
We don’t just consume protein. Our body creates protein — tons of protein.
“The body produces over 10,000 types of protein, including elastin, collagen, and keratin, that all fall into seven different categories, all serving unique functions, including antibodies, contractile proteins, enzymes, hormonal proteins, structural proteins, storage proteins, and transport proteins,” said Dr. Matt Grazios, Ph.D., MS, the senior director of nutrition and regulatory compliance at Chobani.
We must consume what our bodies don’t make for our health (and even hair care).
“Complete proteins have all nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot,” said Vanessa Rissetto, RD, a registered dietitian and CEO of Culina Health. “Incomplete protein has some of the nine amino acids, but not all, and usually comes from plants.”
What does all of this talk of amino acids and protein have to do with hair, skin, and nail care? Grazio mentioned elastin, collagen, and keratin above. They may sound familiar — all three are in many hair, skin, and nail care products.
“Hair, nails, and skin are primarily composed of keratin, a type of protein that provides them with their strength, flexibility, and resilience,” Dr. Kazlouskaya said. “Consuming an adequate amount of protein is essential for maintaining the health of these tissues.”
The opposite is also true.
“Individuals who follow strict diets or experience malnutrition may notice noticeable changes in their hair, skin, and nails,” Dr. Kazlouskaya said. “These changes are primarily due to nutrient deficiencies, as the body prioritizes essential functions over maintaining the health of these non-essential tissues.”
The good news is that most people get enough protein. How much is that if you want to bolster nail, skin, and hair health? It is the same as the general guidance for protein consumption.
“The amount of protein someone needs daily depends on their size,” Rissetto said. “Generally, for an adult, we are looking at somewhere between 70-150 g of protein per day, respectively.”
Protein is essential for good hair, skin, and nails. The good news is that you likely get plenty from your diet. Even if you don’t need to add more protein to your life, you may be in a meal-planning rut. Getting creative with consuming protein is one way to make eating more fun. Experts shared tips for adding protein to every meal. Get ready to eat your way to healthier nails, skin, and locks.
- Two eggs and half an avocado. Rissetto says you get a dozen grams of protein from the egg and two grams from the avocado.
- Greek yogurt bowl. Swap out high-sugar cereals for a protein-rich yogurt bowl. Dr. Grazios suggests one with Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, and whole-grain granola.
- Salad with chicken. Rissetto suggests consuming 4 ounces of grilled chicken, which will net you around 30 grams of protein. You might add it to a salad to liven up a plate of greens.
- Lettuce wraps. If you crave mid-day sandwiches, Dr. Grazios recommends lettuce wraps. Bibbs lettuce, oranges, cabbage, a cup of diced chicken, and a yogurt-based dressing are among the ingredients in one of his favorite wrap recipes.
- Yogurt drinks. A yogurt drink or smoothie and a piece of fresh fruit make for a worthy morning or mid-day snack that will hold you over until the next meal, Dr. Grazios said.
- Trail mix. You don’t need to hike to enjoy trail mix. Combining ingredients like nuts and gut-friendly pumpkin seeds can fuel even a long commute home thanks to protein and fiber, Dr. Grazios said.
- Dinner. Remember, balance is key. Despite what you might see on TikTok, protein is part of a plate, not the whole shebang. “Balance your plate with one-fourth lean protein like salmon or grilled chicken, one-fourth fiber-rich carbohydrates like brown rice, and half with non-starchy vegetables like zucchini or cauliflower,” Dr. Grazios said.
Do I need a protein supplement for better hair, skin, or nails?
“In general, if you’re not food-compromised or vegetarian, your protein intake should be pretty good,” Rissetto said. “We tend to put too much protein in food, so generally, no concerns there.”
Dr. Grazios agrees.
“Most adults in the U.S. are not protein deficient, so additional protein supplements are not necessary,” he said. “However, it’s important to consider the type of protein and ensure that protein is being incorporated into the diet throughout the day.”
Meeting with a dietician can clear up concerns.
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A high power Argentina delegation led by Norberto Yahuar, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Argentina and Ruben Caro, Argentine Ambassador in the UAE, visited Jafza to explore opportunities to strengthen trade ties between the two sides.
The delegation was received by Adil Al Zarooni, Senior Vice President, Jafza Commercial Sales at the Free Zone. The Argentine delegation and Jafza officials discussed ways to strengthen and further develop the flow of Argentinean agri-food products into the Middle East, North Africa and South Asian markets, which Jafza as the hub, serves.
Norberto Yahuar commenting on the visit said: "Argentina seeks to boost its agri-food and livestock exports particularly meat, fish and poultry products to the Middle East and seeks Jafza's support to achieve its ambitions in the region. The visit aims at exploring opportunities to strengthen our trade ties with Jafza in order to have larger presence in the region." Al Zarooni in his brief presentation highlighted the strategic strength of Jafza as the trade and logistics hub for the region. He invited Argentinean companies to come and establish their regional base in Jafza to explore opportunities in the rapidly growing markets in the region.
Argentina wants to use Dubai as a hub to export and market their agro-industrial and livestock products in the Middle East and globally. Ministry of Agriculture, livestock and Fisheries, Argentina and the Department of Economic Development, Dubai had signed a joint statement of co-operation to this affect in May last year. The present visit was one more step forward in that direction.
Argentina-Jafza trade has doubled in the last four years to cross Dh 220 million in 2012 from Dh 104 million in 2009. The trade essentially reflects Argentina's growing exports to the GCC markets. Argentina's desire to strengthen its presence in the Free Zone will certainly provide huge boost to their agri-food, meat, fish and poultry exports to the region. – Emirates News Agency, WAM


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A Review of Roblox Toys
Roblox has recently expanded its market with several interactive and entertaining features to delight travelers and kids alike. It also provides the best shopping experience with its over-the-top collections of gadgets and items. Based in Europe, Roblox acquired Robotic Solutions International Ltd., a joint venture between Kompulsa and ESTA. ESTA is Robotic Systems Ltd., a company located in Korea. In turn, ESTA manufactures Roboquad, a robotic toy created by Robotic Solutions International.
In May 2021, Roblox received a cease and desist order from the United Kingdom’s consumer product advertising watchdog organization, the CSA. This is based on a complaint filed by an anti-free-will firm. The CSA cited Roblox as being in violation of section 5(a) of the Data Protection Act which states that companies must provide users “with adequate information and clear instructions regarding how they can exercise their right to request the removal of data or information”. Based on this citation, Roblox was banned by the UK consumer products regulator, the Information Commissioner, from selling Roboquad in the UK.
Is Roblox still allowed to sell its interactive robotic and toy toys in the UK? According to the CSA, Roboquad is not a toy and is instead a toy computer and game system. Therefore, it is not protected by the toys act. However, according to the United Kingdom’s Department for Education, it is not actually a toy, despite being technically a toy. Instead, the Department for Education believes that a toy is an educational tool. Because it is considered a computer and game system, a computer or game system is legally defined as a toy under UK law.
Roboquad is not the only interactive toy that was taken off of the shelves by the UK’s consumer product watchdog. In January 2021, the CSA prohibited the makers of Furby from using words that might be offensive to younger children. The toy was pulled from sale in several countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The makers, Mattel, agreed to remove the Furby from the sale, without offering any explanation. In the United States, a similar situation occurred when the company, LeapFrog, removed the popular Let’s Play Robot toy from the shelves. Neither toy was found to be in violation of any laws in those countries.
Regardless, Roblox still makes a significant amount of its revenue from overseas markets. Some analysts believe that the video game market in the UK is a much smaller portion of Roblox’s global business than was previously thought. As well, there are other reasons why the company makes money from foreign markets. According to one industry watcher, these other markets “are a good chance for Roblox to test new ideas and to create new markets.”
One area where Roblox has had an impact is the manufacturing of video games. Although computer games were not a major component of the toy when it was first launched, the market has changed dramatically since then. Many parents have expressed concern over the effect that childhood violence can have on children who spend too much time interacting with electronic toys. Roblox has responded to this concern by releasing titles that incorporate guns into their games. At present, there are no plans to release a gun-based video game for kids that incorporate Roblox toys.
Another area in which Roblox has had an influence is the design of some of its more creative toys. For example, the 2021 holiday line featured animals from all over the world. Roblox also collaborated with the National Park Service to create a series of collectible animal figurines. Some of these figurines feature animals from all over the world including Roby Presents (the official toy of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats), and a bear. Each animal has a different expression, and they are designed in such a way as to appear as if they are actually walking around the toy.
Roblox has created a name for itself as the manufacturer of children’s fun toys. The toy design crew headed by Bill Bass created a line of toys that are geared towards all ages and skill levels. Whether you are looking for a simple board, a robot, or an animal in every size and shape, there is a wide variety to choose from. Many parents have expressed concern about the impact that robotic toys might have on their children, but with Roblox, they have found a way to avoid this worry altogether.


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Revolutionary Angels Closes Down, Shelves Business-Plan Contest
Revolutionary Angels, a Cambridge, MA company that planned to give away as much as $300,000 in a private business plan competition, has mothballed its contest after failing to attract enough participants to pay for the prizes.
The contest, which was presented as a financing alternative for startups traditionally excluded from the venture and angel investing culture, was to have raised the money for the prizes through contestants’ own entry fees. About 20 companies had entered Revolutionary Angels’ first competition, ponying up $4,995 each. But the organization needed a lot more than that, about 50 to 60 participants, to make the contest viable, according to the company’s founder and CEO, Chris Hurley.
“We had more people interested, but they just weren’t pulling the trigger,” Hurley tells Xconomy. “I decided that we just weren’t going to reach the goal, and that the best thing to do was refund people their money, shut it down, and move on.”
Hurley, a former member of the corporate development group at Sun Microsystems, closed the company on May 1. He has since taken on a new role as vice president of corporate development and strategic alliances at Thinking Phone Networks, a Cambridge startup that helps companies integrate business applications such as SalesForce.com into their telecommunications infrastructures.
But he says he hasn’t given up entirely on the idea behind Revolutionary Angels. “It’s on the shelf,” he says. “The domain name is not going away, and I’m not going away.” The Revolutionary Angels website is still in place, and does not mention the contest’s shutdown.
A lack of contest participants wasn’t Revolutionary Angels’ only challenge. From the start, Hurley’s plans were met with derision from many in the venture and angel investing community, who attacked the program as an attempt to swindle startups out of their scarce cash. Seth Levine, managing director at the Boulder, CO-based venture firm Foundry Group, criticized the Revolutionary Angels contest as a “pay to pitch” operation that made contestants cover screening costs that investors themselves ought to bear.
“There is no circumstance in which entrepreneurs should pay to pitch their business to prospective investors. Period. End of story,” Levine wrote on his blog. “The fact that Revolutionary Angels calls their scheme a ‘business plan competition’ is reprehensible.”
Numerous critics echoed Levine’s sentiments, including … Next Page »
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Opko Health has agreed to sell its in RNA interference research products to RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp., prompting investors to push its stock to a new high.
Miami-based Opko (NYSE: OPK) will give the Westborough, Mass.-based company (OTCBB: RXII) an intellectual property portfolio that includes 12 families of patents. RNA interference is designed to suppress the expression of specific genes that are linked to diseases. Opko’s RNAi products were being developed for the treatment of eye disease, cancer, immune disorders and inflammatory diseases.
In return, Opko would receive 50 million shares of RXi and could receive up to $50 million in milestone payments, based on the progress of the products that were sold. Opko would also receive a royalty payment upon the commercialization of those products.
Shares of RXi closed Wednesday at 14.5 cents, so 50 million shares were worth $7.25 million.
RXi also announced it will raise $16.4 million through a private placement of 113 million shares at 14.5 cents each. That financing was led by Opko and Frost Gamma Investments Trust, which is led by Opko Chairman and CEO Dr. Phillip Frost.
“RXi has contributed a major advance to the RNAi field with its self-delivering RNAi technology,” Frost said in a news release. “This technology overcomes a major delivery obstacle of prior RNAi technologies by significantly enhancing the uptake of the gene-targeting drug into cells. We also are impressed with RXi’s development capabilities, as evidenced by its rapid advancement of RXI-109, an exciting product candidate for the potential treatment of dermal scarring.”
The RNI interference patents were the first things that Frost acquired in 2007 when he formed Opko. The company launched a Phase III clinical trial for wet age-related macular degeneration using that technology, but Frost decided the product wasn’t commercially viable after the trial delivered disappointing results.
Opko’s business also includes pharmaceutical sales in Latin America and developing diagnostic tests.
“We are honored to have the privilege to extend Opko’s ground-breaking work, while at the same time deepening our product pipeline and broadening our technology platform and intellectual property position,” Dr. Geert Cauwenbergh, president and CEO of RXi, stated in a news release.
Opko shares reached a 52-week high of $7.49 on Thursday morning, before retreating to $7.43, which was still up 11 cents from the opening mark. The 52-week low was $4 on Aug. 2.


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Following the recent National Budget speech in South Africa, various proposals were tabled for consideration including a proposed amendment to the Electronic Services Regulation No. 37489, dated 28 March 2014.
Albania joined the group of countries which require non-established e-service providers to register for VAT for supplies made to private individuals.
Effective from 1 January 2015 the Albanian VAT legislation deems the place of supply of “telecommunication, transmission and electronic services” to non-taxable persons to be where the non-taxable person receiving the service is “placed, has a permanent address or resides usually”, regardless of the place where the supplier is established.
The Tax Authority of Buenos Aires (AGIP) has established a new turnover-based (i.e., provincial sales tax) withholding tax system for foreign suppliers of e-services to Argentinian private consumers located in Buenos Aires (B2C supplies).
According to initial provisions of the new regime, effective February 1, 2015, withholding agents (Argentine credit card companies) that collect payments for such services should withhold 3% turnover tax from the payments made by final consumers to the non-resident service providers. Credit card companies have, however, formally asked the AGIP for additional time to make the necessary amendments to their systems, enabling them to identify whether the payments relate to taxable services to be used in Buenos Aires. As a result, the AGIP has postponed the enactment of the new regime until withholding agents can adequately modify their systems to be able to collect the tax.
The Swiss Federal Council has published its commentary to the partial revision of the VAT Law. If the draft legislation is approved by the Swiss parliament, the changes will come into effect on 1.1.2016. Among other changes we set out below those which are most relevant for ebiz & e-commerce.
In Iceland the reduced VAT rate applicable to e-books and electronically published music increased from 7% to 11% as of 1 January 2015. Therefore, it must be ensured that you account for VAT on such sales at the appropriate rates. You can access further information of the overall Icelandic tax rules in 2015 here.
Japan’s current JCT regime was established in 1989 – before the rise of the digital economy. Accordingly, the taxation of B2C supply of eservices by non-established companies to Japanese customers was not considered and currently these are not subject to JCT.
This provides an unfair advantage to non-established eservice providers compared to Japanese businesses in this field, which has become more apparent since the JCT rate increased form 5% to 8%, with another increase to 10% estimated from 1 October 2015.
On 1 October 2014 the pre-registration period in which EU and foreign suppliers alike can register for the Mini One Stop Shop regime has started. This pre-registration can be made on the website of the tax authority of the EU Member State that is chosen by ebusinesese for MOSS registration.
For non-EU suppliers, this could be practically any country in the EU. For EU entities, the country of establishment will be the country of MOSS registration.
The websites of tax authorities from several countries are already up and running, however there are still EU countries, where the online registration is still not possible.
Any registrations made in the pre-registration period, will be effective from 1 January 2015.
As previously reported here, the implementation of South African VAT on electronic services and associated obligation for non-resident businesses to register for VAT purposes in South Africa, has been delayed by 2 months and will be effective as of 1 June 2014.
PwC’s Indirect Tax Webcast series continues with a follow-up session of the latest developments in the South African legislation.
The presenter will be again Gerard Soverall, Tax Partner of PwC South Africa, who is specialised in e-commerce and cross-border indirect taxation.
On 4 April, the European Commission has published Explanatory Notes to prepare businesses for the new VAT rules for telecom, broadcasting and electronic services, which will enter into force on 1 January 2015.
The aim is to help businesses to be fully prepared on time for the change-over, whereby VAT on telecom, broadcasting and electronic services will be charged where the customer is based, rather than where the seller is.
The Explanatory Notes are available on the EU Commission’s website in English (click link). (It will later be translated in all EU languages, as well as in Chinese and Japanese.)
We will discuss the key provisions and critical issues of the EU Commission’s Explanatory Notes with businesses, delegates of the Member States and the Commission during our next B2C 2015 Working Group meeting in Brussels, on 23 April 2014.


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According to recent filings with the SEC, ServiceMaster is considering a sale of its landscape division, TruGreen LandCare.
The company’s landscape division has been pinched by a drop in revenue, an increase in technician overtime costs and charges related to executive separations, according to its most recent 10-Q form.
As a result, ServiceMaster is “exploring strategic options relating to TruGreen LandCare, including the potential sale of the business,” the filings state.
Pat Spainhour, CEO of ServiceMaster, said this in a statement:
“Like all companies, we continuously review our businesses against competitive and financial factors to ensure we are maximizing the value of our assets for our customers and investors. Given the challenges of the current economic environment and the performance of TruGreen LandCare, our commercial landscaping business, we have decided to explore strategic options for this single business. These options could include the sale of the business, a sale of certain assets of the business or a restructuring of the business.
“While we believe TruGreen LandCare remains a valuable business with a strong management team and the potential for significant growth, we believe that all opportunities must be explored in order to best maximize this asset.
“The decision to explore strategic options for TruGreen LandCare does not impact our TruGreen lawn care business, which provides residential and commercial lawn, tree and shrub care. The TruGreen lawn care business is not impacted by this announcement and will continue to serve its 14,000 commercial customers within the United States and Canada.”
The documents, filed in mid-November, show that the company’s landscape segment – which includes landscape maintenance – reported a 7.9 percent decrease in revenue and a $5.2 million decrease in operating income for the third quarter of 2010 compared to 2009.
See the filings here.
Contract maintenance revenue was down 9 percent, and enhancement sales were down 8.3 percent, according to the filings. Sales were down, the filings go on to say, because of “contract cancellations and pricing concessions granted in 2009 and 2010 in response to the impacts of a difficult economic environment.”
With 2009 revenue of $1.3 billion, The TruGreen Cos., part of Memphis, Tenn.-based ServiceMaster, was listed as the largest company in the green industry on Lawn & Landscape's annual Top 100 list.


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With the firm on track to complete their best week of 2016 in terms of client results, Sales and marketing experts Fortitude Plethora have revealed how their recent travel commitments and road trips have helped them to boost their overall performance.
About Fortitude Plethora: http://www.fortitudeplethora.com/about-us/
Based in Manchester, Fortitude Plethora provides a quick and easy route to market for clients in a range of sectors, including Finance, Beauty and Telecommunications. The firm believes that in the current marketing world, customers are struggling to get their voices heard by brands, and as a result brand loyalty is on the decline. Fortitude Plethora is on a mission to change this, while still delivering exceptional sales results to their clients. To increase customer engagement and drive a consistent ROI Fortitude Plethora specialise in pop-up sales and marketing campaigns, which allows them to meet with their client's consumers one on one and communicate in a more meaningful way. By meeting in person on behalf of their clients, Fortitude Plethora can listen to each consumer's needs and preferences, and tailor a brand experience which is entirely unique to them. This personalised, hands-on approach to marketing and customer service has led to Fortitude Plethora becoming one of Manchester's most exciting sales and marketing firms – offering a guaranteed return on investment and high customer retention.
Due to the success of their personalised marketing approach, and their reputation continuing to soar across the North Fortitude Plethora recently revealed that they are currently on track to achieve their best weekly results of 2016. Breaking previous sales records, the firm is set to generate the highest sales results for the client base ever, and end 2016 on an incredible high.
As well as being close to reaching this fantastic achievement Fortitude Plethora has also confirmed that in the last few weeks they have been able to help not one, but three young sales and marketing professionals progress to the next level of their business journeys.
In the run up to 2017, these achievements have put Fortitude Plethora in a strong position for further business growth and development over the coming 12 months. As to what has influenced this boost in performance, Managing Director of Fortitude Plethora Toni Stewart believes that the firm's recent travel opportunities have contributed significantly. ‘We've spent a lot of time on the road recently, taking our client's campaigns to new markets, as well as travelling internationally for business events. I think it's hard not to be inspired by a change of environment, and believe this to be a great source of motivation'.
Fortitude Plethora is confident that their commitment to travel has helped them to drive averages and keep their workforce inspired and engaged. Working in the same environment day in day out can lead to lethargy and a drop in focus and creative thinking. Switching up the work environment and encouraging people to travel not only offers a more stimulating environment which instantly increases focus, but it also presents the opportunity for people to meet and learn from new people, helping them to gain new perspectives and source greater motivation.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Fortitude Plethora, on Tuesday 8 November, 2016. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/


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Economic activity in the first quarter of 2018 proved resilient, despite a trifecta of factors: a particularly capricious and snowy winter, combined with fresh international trade tariffs and a new tax framework. Real gross domestic product rose at an annual rate of 2.3 percent during the first quarter of the year, based on the first estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The figure follows on the heels of a fourth quarter 2017 advance of 2.9 percent.
The economic gain came from a notable increase in business investments, boosted by positive consumer spending, rising exports and government spending. Business investments maintained momentum at the start of the year, as optimism about the lower corporate tax rates met the reality of accounting strategy adjustments. Nonresidential fixed investment increased at a 6.1 percent annual rate in the first quarter. Corporate investments in equipment rose by 4.7 percent. Investments in intellectual property products—software, research and development—advanced at a 3.6 percent annual rate, spurred by a double-digit increase in software spending. The noticeable gain for the quarter came from spending on structures, which increased at a 12.3 percent annual rate. Investments in residential real estate were unchanged during the quarter.
Consumer spending—the main component of GDP—increased at a more moderate 1.1 percent annual rate, as the promise of the tax act’s higher paychecks trickled slowly into payrolls following the Internal Revenue Service’s release of updated withholding tables. Most of the spending gains came from services, as consumers—perhaps recovering from the fourth quarter holiday shopping season—cut back on purchases of goods by 1.1 percent. Spending on cars and light trucks took a 15.0 percent cut, even as consumers continued buying recreational vehicles and goods, as well as household appliances.
Even as the White House imposed tariffs on few imports, international trade remained brisk in the first part of the year. Exports rose at a 4.8 percent annual rate, with manufactured goods experiencing strong demand abroad. Imports—a negative factor in GDP calculations—rose at a more modest 2.6 percent annual rate, marking a slight improvement in the balance of trade.
Spending on government programs also increased in the first quarter, with a 1.2 percent annual gain. The federal government increased spending both on defense and nondefense programs by 1.7 percent. State and local governments’ spending advanced by 0.8 percent.
The second quarter GDP should improve upon the first quarter, possibly hitting 3.0 percent growth rate. Consumer spending will improve from tax cuts, and homebuilders look to boost construction to relieve housing inventory shortage. However, apartment building activity may fall because of rising vacancy rate and moderating rents.
The economic picture also brightened on the employment front in the first quarter. Payroll employment in posted solid gains, with a net increase of 605,000 new jobs, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figure reflected a particularly strong February hiring spree.
Private service-providing industries accounted for a majority of new positions, with 434,000 net new jobs. Within the service industries, the quarter’s strongest gains were in the professional and business services and health care, which added 126,000 and 104,600 new jobs. Retail trade contributed a notable 54,800 new positions to payrolls, followed by the leisure and hospitality sector, with 49,000 new jobs. Financial services added 35,000 new positions, boosting demand for office space.
The manufacturing sector added 176,000 new positions to payrolls, a strong quarterly showing in the wake of the prior quarter’s 198,000 jobs, and the second-best quarterly figure since 2006. Both construction and manufacturing firms drove the solid gains. The wholesale trade sector added 25,400 new jobs during the quarter, while the transportation and warehousing sector contributed 43,100 new positions to payrolls. The gains in these sectors added wind in the sails of industrial properties.
The unemployment rate was flat over the first three months of 2018, at 4.1 percent, based on data from the BLS. The number of workers employed on a part-time basis for economic reasons picked up slightly from the prior quarter, but declined 10.5 percent on a yearly basis. The labor force participation rate was flat during the first quarter of the year compared with a year ago, at 62.9.
With an improving labor market, consumer confidence rose higher, with the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence index advancing by 8.2 percent year-over-year, to 127.1, the highest quarterly value since the fourth quarter of 2000. Separately, the Consumer sentiment index compiled by the University of Michigan also posted an increase in the first quarter of the year to 98.9, compared with the 97.2 value from the first quarter of 2017.
SIOR Index Results
Based on the SIOR Commercial Real Estate Index, the commercial markets continued riding an upward path, mirroring broad economic activity. The SIOR CRE Index, representing first quarter 2018 data, increased 4.2 points from the fourth quarter of 2017. Compared with the prior year, the index rose by 6.8 percent. The national index, based on 10 variables pertinent to the performance of U.S. industrial and office markets, closed at 134.7. An index value of 100 shows a balanced market, meaning that the current value of the national index is pointing to growing conditions, having surpassed its historical average. The figure represents the highest value since the index’s inception in 2005, and the sixteenth quarter with a value above the 100-point threshold since the Great Recession.
Conditions in office and industrial markets improved at a solid pace. The office index advanced from a value of 113.8 in the fourth quarter to 123.9 in the first quarter. On a yearly basis, the office index recorded a 8.6 percent gain. The industrial index rose to 146.7 in the first quarter of this year, a 10.8 percent gain year-over-year. Both office and industrial indices posted record-high values.
SIOR members reported gains in fundamentals.
- Leasing activity exceeded historical levels for 63 percent of SIORs who responded to a market survey.
- Rents showed signs of stabilization—78 percent ascertained that rents were above historical trends. Meanwhile, 21 percent indicated that rents were in line with long-term averages, and only one percent of SIOR members considered that asking rents were below those of one year ago.
- Vacancies continued declining, with 64 percent of respondents reporting lower availability rates.
- Subleasing availability also declined, with only 5 percent of SIOR respondents feeling that there was ample sublease space in their markets; 64 percent considered subleasing to have a small influence on the market.
- New construction of office and industrial spaces remained positive, with 56 percent of SIOR members reporting new construction during the quarter, and 16 percent indicating new building development close to historical averages.
- Development conditions continued shifting in favor of sellers during the period, with 70 percent of SIORs rating it a seller’s market. Investment prices moderated, with 34 percent of respondents indicating prices were above construction costs.
Local economies provided positive contributions to local real estate markets, with 74 percent of SIOR respondents indicating that their local economies were strong and improving. Only 3 percent of SIOR members felt that their local economy was slowing or contracting. The national economy also delivered a boost to local markets, with 73 percent of SIOR responses indicating a positive impact upon their markets. Only one percent of SIOR respondents experienced a negative impact upon their markets from national economic conditions (the remainder was neutral).
Regionally, the survey respondents expressed improving conditions during the period. The South posted the highest index value, at 143.4, with a 9.2 percent yearly gain. The West recorded the second highest regional index value, at 140.9, and the highest year-over-year advance. The Midwest—with an index value of 134.5—notched a 5.4 percent gain from a year ago. The Northeast rose 7.2 percent from the prior year, to a value of 126.8 during the quarter.
The outlook for 2018 remained positive, as the majority of SIOR members expect conditions to improve—64 percent of respondents indicated growth in the 1-15 percent range, while 31 percent felt the markets would maintain current levels. Only 5 percent of SIOR members expected conditions to decline.


text: 'Tis the season to be careful.\u00a0That should be no surprise. Given that the online holiday shopping season is peaking, cybercriminals would be expected to ramp up their efforts as well.But it might be a bit surprising -- not to mention depressing for security evangelists -- that one of the oldest and typical scams aimed at online buyers is still successful: PayPal email phishing.Paul Ducklin wrote this week on Naked Security\u00a0that Australian PayPal users are being targeted. But there is also word of the same thing happening in Ontario, Canada.It won't stop there. Chester Wisniewski, a senior security adviser at Sophos, noted that PayPal is used worldwide."It is a global phenomenon. These guys are equal opportunity exploiters," he said.Even though the scam is common, Wisniewski said it remains successful. He said nobody but the criminals know just how successful they are, however. "Scams that aren't working die quickly, so we can assume that these must work quite well considering the frequency that we see them," he said.Fred Touchette, a senior security analyst at AppRiver, said that "most victims shy away from admitting their losses except to perhaps their banking institution when attempting to recover their loss."And even if the number is relative small, phishers have succeeded, said Catalin Cosoi, chief security researcher at Bitdefender. "Attackers don't need high rates of success, as phishing is just like handing out leaflets in the mall," Cosoi said "If one gets two or three customers out of every 100, mission accomplished."The scam is by now familiar not just to security experts but to any reasonably savvy Internet user. It starts with a somewhat credible-looking email with the PayPal logo "acknowledging" a payment for something that the intended victim didn't buy. It provides an embedded link inviting the recipient to click on it to dispute the charge."And that's the ploy, of course," Ducklin wrote. "Hovering over the 'Press here to cancel this payment' link should be enough to reveal the bogosity. You won't be sent to PayPal but to a lookalike impostor site that helps itself to your login details."Click on the bogus link and the criminals will steal your identity.Wisniewski said he believes the primary victims of the scam are less savvy Internet users, whether that be old, young or simply not technical. But anyone can get stung by the social engineering. "Sometimes more tech-savvy people fall victim as well when they don't think things through before they click," he said.[See also: Phishing - the basics]\u00a0Touchette said the season makes the scam more successful.\u00a0"Many people are waiting on what are often multiple purchases to arrive from multiple sources, and may be eager to read any sort of notification about said purchases. This can really bring one's guard down," he said.Wisniewski said his own mother, who lives in Michigan, "actually clicked one of these things last month. Thankfully Sophos Anti-Virus picked up the payload -- a Zeus banking Trojan in this case."By now, the advice on how to avoid such scams ought to be familiar too, but given its success, it bears repeating. PayPal itself has a list of warnings and advice on its website, including a "challenge" to customers to find out how much they know.But there are some general rules about unsolicited emails, including:Don't click on a link embedded in an email. Go to the vendor's website and log in from there.Failing that, before clicking on any link, at least hover over it to check the site's web address (URL). Larry Magid at the Huffington Post notes that, "if it's Sears, for example, make sure it's really Sears.com and not something like Sears.somethingelse.com." Also check the spelling -- scammers frequently register a site with a single letter different from a legitimate site.A legitimate PayPal email will never ask for a full name, password, driver's license number, Social Security number, credit and\/or debit card numbers, PIN numbers or bank account numbers. Don't provide them.A legitimate PayPal email will also never contain an attachment or software update. An email with those will likely contain spyware or a virus.Beyond those, Touchette said users should not assume that because they're somewhat savvy that they are invulnerable. "Knowing that scams exist and that anyone can be a victim, provides a gentle reminder that the, 'It will never happen to me' attitude can be dangerous," he said. "A little vigilance goes a long way."Cosoi added that online shoppers should not use their primary personal email. "Use a dedicated email address for sensitive operations such as registering for accounts with payment processors," she said. And one last bit of advice: "Last, but not least, use a solid antispam solution."


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22 October 2020
Springbok Captain, Siya Kolisi to join industry luminaries at AfricaCom and AfricaTech
AfricaCom and AfricaTech are anchor events of the new Africa Tech Festival, which will take place – online – from 10-12 November this year. Acknowledged as the world’s largest Africa-focused digital infrastructure and emerging tech event, the Africa Tech Festival has always attracted a stellar line-up of critical thinkers, analysts, futurists, keynote and inspirational speakers. 2020 will more than deliver on that reputation, with a stimulating array of visionary industry presenters, raconteurs and even some sporting greats.Find out more
22 October 2020
Men need to be part of the solution for there to be more women in technology - AfricaCom and AfricaTech set the stage for necessary robust discussion in 2020. An exceptional line-up of speakers at this year’s Africa Tech Festival, are set to raise awareness around the different challenges facing Africa.
AfricaCom and AfricaTech have become synonymous with industry change in the digital infrastructure and emerging technology space, their evolution, as well as robust debate over the years. In 2020, that tradition continues. One such innovation that is sure to attract its share of controversy and attention, will be the second ‘Women in Tech Takeover’, that returns to the AfricaTech Centre Stage and the AHUB as part of the new AccelerateHER programme of content.Find out more
08 September 2020
Africans aren’t always looking to connect to the digital world for work or health reasons; a significant motivator is leisure, or ‘timepass’, says Aubrey Hruby, who will chair a number of sessions at this year’s virtual Africa Tech Festival.
Central to this year’s AfricaCom and AfricaTech events (anchors of the new virtual Africa Tech Festival), taking place 10 – 12 November, is how to connect the next billion Africans to the Internet. Several sessions over two days, will focus on how to include the currently disconnected, whether through the deployment of satellite, balloon or standard infrastructure roll out, as well as the motivating factors that are driving Africans to get connected.Find out more
15 July 2020
Africa-focused technology and digital connectivity events – AfricaCom and AfricaTech – will take place in 2020 as fully-virtual events, under the umbrella of the new Virtual Africa Tech Festival.
The events will run simultaneously from 09 – 13 November 2020. Being virtual and providing access to content for free, the events hope to welcome an even greater number and range of participants.
“After an extensive period of review and consultation, we have decided to proactively transform our events into fully-virtual events in 2020 with AfricaCom, AfricaTech and all our co-located conferences now forming the virtual Africa Tech Festival,” said Event Director and the Portfolio Director of Connecting Africa at Informa Tech, Tom Cuthell.Find out more


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“At Magaya, we are so proud to play a role in supporting our customers to make the adjustments needed to adapt their businesses in the face of unprecedented supply chain pressures,” said Nomar Ramis, Chief Customer Officer at Magaya Corporation.
MIAMI (PRWEB) April 17, 2020
Magaya Corporation, the leading provider of end-to-end logistics and supply chain automation software, today announced that it has enhanced its library of free online learning resources for clients amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Supply chain businesses are facing an unforeseen need to scale their operations and make use of new features to meet rapidly-evolving needs. Additionally, the demand for distance learning as a whole is increasing as companies move their teams to a remote workforce. In response to the growing need for online educational resources to get acquainted with additional software features and capabilities, Magaya has moved quickly to add new topics to its already extensive offering in self-paced video e-courses.
According to the Institute for Supply Management, more than 80 percent of companies believe that their organization will experience supply chain impact because of COVID-19 disruptions. A capacity for businesses to adapt and evolve quickly is essential as we move through these challenging and unpredictable times.
Like so many businesses, Magaya has also moved to a remote workforce while continuing to collaborate internally and fully support its customers. The company’s existing cloud infrastructure and collaboration tools made it possible for a rapid shift while continuing to maintain regular support channels and hours for customers. There has been no disruption in service to Magaya customers and the company has maintained its full workforce during this time of crisis.
“Supply chain professionals have become everyday heroes as part of the pandemic response, fulfilling a critical need in society, moving essential goods like personal protective equipment, medicine, and medical supplies to where they are most in demand. At Magaya, we are so proud to play a role in supporting our customers to make the adjustments needed to adapt their businesses in the face of unprecedented supply chain pressures,” said Nomar Ramis, Chief Customer Officer at Magaya Corporation. “Our feature-rich, highly-configurable and extensible platform, cloud services, and online education resources have put us in an excellent position to support our customers as they adapt to these uncertain times. From the first days of the crisis, the Magaya team rose to the challenge, helping some customers rapidly migrate their on-premises systems to the Cloud to ensure business continuity as their teams pivoted to a remote-only workforce.”
“In the face of extraordinary economic uncertainty, we are still seeing strong demand for Magaya solutions and services. The reasons we continue to be successful now are also what drove our double-digit growth last quarter: our proven solutions, satisfied customers, and dedicated team,” added Mark Buman, Chief Revenue Officer. “Our solution helps businesses automate and optimize their processes and grow the bottom line, equipping them to face the current situation and preparing them for the road ahead.”
Magaya Corporation develops the leading platform in logistics and supply chain automation. Our Magaya Supply Chain solution, combined with our ecosystem of apps and extensions, is an end-to-end platform enabling logistics and supply chain businesses to streamline complex and redundant processes, optimize productivity, reduce costs, and grow revenue. At Magaya, we are passionately devoted to ensuring our customers’ success through our innovative solutions and comprehensive array of related professional services. We take great pride in our people, experts in the field of logistics automation, who are always willing to go the extra mile for our customers. Visit magaya.com to learn more.


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Las Vegas, NV, Oct. 24, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — through NEWMEDIAWIRE — Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP) updates its shareholders on the initially phase of processing its higher cannabidiol (CBD) hemp crops in Medford, Oregon. According to executives, the Corporation has harvested what will be more than 85,000 pounds of higher CBD hemp flower. Hemp, Inc.’s drying procedure lends itself to producing its higher top quality variety of “King of Hemp” pre-rolls and higher CBD hemp flower. The sheer size and scope of this year’s crop is practically nothing brief of astounding and is anticipated to be a enormous game changer for Hemp, Inc. in terms of anticipated income. To get a glimpse of the size and scope of this operation, click right here.
The Oregon harvest is anticipated to place the firm on the frontlines of generating some of the nation’s very best smokable hemp flower. “Many individuals, authorities in the market, have come out to see our develop and we’ve gotten a lot of optimistic comments. Lots of have stated it is the very best crop in Southern Oregon,” stated Bruce Perlowin, CEO of Hemp, Inc. “We anticipate this to be the biggest on-going profit center in Hemp, Inc.’s 10 year history. The benefits of this harvest are proving to be extremely promising. Moreover, our shareholders and prospective consumers have a one of a kind chance to watch the thriving roll-out, on a every day basis, of Hemp, Inc.’s pre-rolls and higher CBD smokable flower, as it goes via each and every of the distinctive methods of production.” These methods of production incorporate: preparing the field planting developing harvesting drying curing bucking trimming bulk packaging rolling and packaging the pre-rolls and, fulfillment.
The Corporation has employed more than 200 personnel in the course of its harvest season to additional help the infrastructure required for neighborhood and substantial scale farmers operating in the hemp space. According to Perlowin, market authorities predict 65% of hemp grown in America will under no circumstances make it out of the fields and into the final retail stage. Contrary to this statistic, “Hemp, Inc. has survived and flourished and will be element of the 35% that truly tends to make it to the marketplace,” says Perlowin. Hemp, Inc. executives anticipate millions of dollars in income.
The projected launch date of the pre-rolls, according to executives, is December 1, 2019. The Company’s “King of Hemp” solution line will give higher-finish goods that are an helpful and flavorful option to cigarettes, vaping and other hemp consumption approaches. The pre-rolls and higher CBD buds are compliant with federal regulations and do not exceed .three% THC, producing Hemp, Inc.’s pre-rolls legal in all 50 states primarily based on the 2018 Farm Bill.
To see 1-minute videos of Hemp, Inc.’s existing activities, as it goes via the several phases of producing the “King of Hemp” pre-roll line, stop by Bruce Perlowin’s individual Facebook web page, exactly where he shares every day posts of Hemp, Inc.’s activities about the nation. Moreover, adhere to Hemp, Inc. on Facebook, right here on Instagram, right here and on Twitter, right here.
CBDs are continuing to soar recognition as the Corporation continues to make their footprint across the nation by strategically creating out their hemp developing and processing infrastructure in Oregon to help the improvement of their “King of Hemp” solution line. The Corporation has also garnered an array of news coverage. Most lately, the Corporation was featured in a top digital publisher of genuine-time monetary news, The Fly. The published short article options an exclusive interview with Hemp, Inc. CEO, Bruce Perlowin, for its current edition of “Rising High”. Throughout the in-depth conversation, in the short article entitled “Rising Higher: An Exclusive Speak with Industrial Hemp Corporation Hemp, Inc.”, Perlowin discusses smokable hemp giving green options via a wholesome, eco-friendly method the Company’s social mission, expansion, competitive benefit, challenges and possibilities and the crucial significance of infrastructure for hemp in America.
These interested in acquiring Hemp, Inc.’s pre-rolls must e mail email@example.com.
WHAT IS HEMP, INC.?
What is Hemp, Inc.? With a deep-rooted social and environmental mission at its core, Hemp, Inc. seeks to make a business enterprise constituency for the American tiny farmer, the American veteran, and other groups experiencing the ever-rising disparity among tapering earnings and soaring costs. As a leader in the industrial hemp market with ownership of the biggest industrial multi-objective industrial hemp processing facility in North America, Hemp, Inc. believes there can be tangible rewards reaped from adhering to a corporate social duty program.
FORWARD-Hunting DISCLAIMER AND DISCLOSURES
This press release may well include particular forward-searching statements and facts, as defined inside the which means of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is topic to the Protected Harbor made by these sections. To clarify the problem of OTC putting a cease sign subsequent to Hemp, Inc.’s stock trading symbol, that symbol indicates Hemp, Inc. does not report their financials. As a non-reporting pink sheet firm, Hemp, Inc. is not needed to report. The firm does, nonetheless, decide on to publicly report its quarterly and yearly financials on its internet site. According to the company’s CEO, the OTC cease sign is a misrepresentation of that reporting reality. This material includes statements about anticipated future events and/or monetary benefits that are forward-searching in nature and topic to dangers and uncertainties. Such forward-searching statements by definition involve dangers, uncertainties.
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announced record orders for the fourth quarter on Friday.
The Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based company said new home orders rose 31% to a record 8,465 in the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2003.
For the full year, new orders totaled 34,989, an increase of 13%.
"We continue to expand our product offerings to serve all buyer segments: affordable, first and second move up and active adult," said the company.
Demand was particularly strong in the central and western parts of the country.
Pulte shares rose $1.09, or 2.5%, to $44. Shares in


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DOWNTOWN — With indoor dining limited, Chicago restaurants have majorly revamped their outdoor spaces to welcome more customers.
At Il Culaccino, 2134 S. Indiana Ave. in the South Loop, owner Frank Ruffolo converted his outdoor private event space into a patio with a retractable roof and heating and cooling system. The area can seat 120 people and has become the restaurant’s main source of revenue during the pandemic.
“I’m very happy that we have the private event space and that we were able to turn this … into our year-round patio, because it’s really the only way you could adapt right now,” Ruffolo said.
Ruffolo worked with Viewpoint Systems, a company based in suburban Burr Ridge that is helping restaurants redesign their outdoor spaces to accommodate health restrictions and maximize business.
Viewpoint Systems President Jeff Pavlatos said business has increased as restaurants seek options to make it through the pandemic. Viewpoint creates outdoor spaces that can serve customers even when bad weather hits, said Greg Flynn, the company’s head of sales.
“We’re trying to capitalize on the market there to give restaurants and hospitality groups a full-year-round use operation, which is seemingly more critical during the pandemic,” Flynn said.
Viewpoints has worked with restaurants such as Beatnik in West Town, Athena in Greektown and City Winery on the Riverwalk, Pavlatos and Flynn said.
Pavlatos said proper ventilation and fresh air is critical for the outdoor spaces they build to protect the health of patrons and staff.
Officials have repeatedly said being outside — with fresh, flowing air — is safer than being inside with recirculated air as it lessens the spread of coronavirus. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the air-conditioning in a restaurant in Guangzhou, China, was responsible for spreading the virus to 10 customers.
Scott Weiner, owner of Roots Pizza in Printers Row, said customers feel more comfortable dining in outdoor patios. Roots’ new outdoor space, built by Viewpoints, has allowed the restaurant to continue making money.
“While we still had to lower what our real seating capacity would be …we’ve definitely been able to capture more revenue as a result of this,” Weiner said. “I think from a public perception standpoint, people do feel a lot safer because they essentially are dining outdoors.”
City officials reopened restaurants and bars to indoor dining and drinking at a limited capacity during Phase 4 of the coronavirus recovery plan. Several weeks later, however, the Mayor’s Office announced bars and breweries without a food license could no longer serve customers indoors due to an uptick in new cases in Chicago.
Even before the pandemic, Roots Pizza — which opened July 10 — had planned to add a retractable roof and large open windows to make the second floor of the restaurant an entirely outdoor space.
“Timing to open up a restaurant during COVID probably couldn’t be worse, but in regards to maximizing the amount of seats that we can have with the current restrictions, it did work out in our favor,” Weiner said.
Ruffolo said restaurants are hoping to serve as many people as they can in the safest way possible.
“So as long as people are ready to go, we’re ready to serve you,” he said.
Block Club Chicago’s coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. Block Club is an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom.
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Sanctions no obstacle as Iranians get their iPads
U.S. products are widely available in Iran's IT market; Economic and financial sanctions did not stop imports; Dubai-based Iranian businesses mull shifting to Turkey.
January 20, 2011 10:52 by Reuters
U.S. GOOD IN DEMAND
Washington and its European allies have followed up the U.N. sanctions with their own measures aimed at making it more difficult for Iran to gain access to international banking services and hampering outside investments in its vital oil and gas sectors.
But all this has not stopped U.S.-branded goods from making their way into the Iranian market.
“Global sanctions might have brought more limitations for Iranian traders, but they have learned how to meet their needs,” said Bahman, a shop owner selling Apple products who asked that his surname not be used.
Imported goods in Iran come mainly from Europe or Asia. Still, in the digital field, it is relatively easy to find a product made in the United States or under the license of a U.S. company.
“We had iPad in Tehran less than a month after it hit the global market,” Bahman said. “It was the same for other American brands like Dell, Hewlett-Packard, BlackBerry or Motorola.”
Like Apple’s iPhones, BlackBerry smartphones, made by the Canadian company Research In Motion, act as platforms for a range of applications that cannot be obtained via Iran’s tightly controlled telecommunications networks. This limitation on their functionality, however, has not reduced their appeal to fashion-conscious Iranians seeking a high-tech status symbol.
“People in Iran have a desire to move along with the world in using the latest electronic products — even if some of their new features do not work here,” Bahman said.
Some features of new digital products — such as TweetDeck in iPad for users of the Twitter social network, or Kindle, which allows users to download e-books from the online retailer Amazon — do not work in Iran because of poor and restricted Internet and telecommunication connectivity.
While U.S. officials assert that it is sanctions that are responsible for hampering the development of Iran’s nuclear program, the situation is different in the personal technology sector.
Retailers and consumers say that if anything is going to slow the trade in electronic gadgets, it will not be sanctions but rather Iranians’ reduced spending power. And the blame for that, they say, rests with domestic economic policies and not international steps against Iran.


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Sales at Haskins garden centres are 8.5 per cent up this year thanks to added community involvement and a greater concentration on second half non-gardening sales, according to retail operations director Philip Evason.
He said sales for Christmas have been "brilliant" with best ever December weeks succeeding each other at the four-centre south coast group.
Evason added that footfall and average spend was up on 2008 with pent-up demand helping sales.
"We're making ourselves more of a destination centre," he explained. "We're bigger with gifts, cards and books and in the second half of the year and when planting's not so big that's a necessary balance. The front end was great for everyone and now we're seeing the benefits of extra efforts with gifts and Christmas."
Meanwhile, the 39-store Hobbycraft chain, owned as a separate company to the garden centre group by Haskins chairman Warren Haskins, is looking to sell to chief executive Chris Crombie or another buyer next year.
Sales over the year to 22 February 2009 rose by 11% to £68.7 million and pre-tax profits rose to £5.4 million. In the 35 weeks since the year end, like-for-like sales at the chain have risen by 9%.
Subscribe to Horticulture Week for more news, more in-depth features and more technical and market info.


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PRO ORGANIC by Shin Nong, an organic fertilizer company based in Piermont, New York, has launched an environmentally friendly line of lawn food for customers across the United States.
Piermont, United States – August 31, 2021 /PressCable/ —
The company’s latest product helps keep soil and plants healthy while minimizing environmental impact. Made with rice bran, castor meal, and 17 natural minerals, the fertilizer is completely chemical-free, organic, and vegan.
For more information, please visit https://shop.shinnong.org/products/lawn-food-22-lb
According to a recent study from Princeton University, nitrous oxide gas represents almost half of the United States’ agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. With the latest announcement, PRO ORGANIC helps customers combat climate change through natural fertilizers.
Synthetic fertilizers in the United States produce more nitrous oxide than plants require. As a result, the plants emit excess nitrous oxide gas — a substance that traps 265 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
As well as reducing emissions, PRO ORGANIC fertilizers enhance a lawn’s health. The company designs its fertilizers to improve root development, seed germination, color, plant biomass, fruit production, and disease resistance.
To create vibrant green lawns, PRO ORGANIC uses minerals that bind to the plant’s proteins and promote growth and enzyme activity. The other minerals stimulate the conversion of protochlorophyllides to chlorophyll — the pigment that gives plants their green color. Additionally, the fertilizer protects against pests and disease by producing more immune proteins.
With PRO ORGANIC, customers need only spread the fertilizer on their lawn every 3-4 months to boost plant and soil health. The 22lb bag also treats up to 2,200 sq. ft. of grass. In addition to lawn food, the company offers organic products for flowers, trees, and bonsai plants.
With the launch, the company reaffirms its commitment to fighting climate change through organic fertilizers.
About PRO ORGANIC
The company’s products are certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute and GrowNYC, an environmental group focused on food accessibility and conservation.
“Our plant has treated us well,” said a spokesperson for the company. “It’s time to change the way we treat it — love your plants and the planet with our 100% organic and vegan products. Trust us, and you will see excellent results.”
Interested parties can learn more about how the company fights climate change by visiting https://www.ktvn.com/story/44599640/how-lawns-are-affecting-climate-crisis
Contact Info: Name: John YunEmail: Send EmailOrganization: PRO ORGANIC by Shin NongAddress: 5209 Overlook Cir, Piermont, NY 10968, United StatesWebsite: https://www.shinnong.org/about/
Release ID: 89043721
COMTEX_392472483/2773/2021-08-31T03: 01: 23
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|Business Confidence Retracts|
|Tuesday, 10 November 2009 11:09|
The SACCI Business Confidence Index (BCI) for October 2009 was released today, 9 November 2009. The SACCI Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell by 3.3 points to 82.2 in October 2009 diminishing the gain of 2.5 points in September 2009. Although still higher than the depressed level of 78.9 measured in March 2009, the return to a level of four months ago indicates that maintaining higher business confidence levels will need continuous efforts to stimulate a favourable business environment.
It appears that the extent of the short-term improvements in the sub-indices is not enough to move the BCI onto a clear positive trajectory. Most economic activity is still below their long-term trend lines although the lower cyclical turning point may have been passed.
On a month-to-month (m/m) basis, seven of the BCI sub-indices had a positive impact on the BCI in October 2009 while on a year-on-year (y/y) basis a majority (nine) of the BCI sub-indices still had a negative impact on the index. The financial sub-indices on inflation, the rand exchange rate, precious metal prices and share prices were positive on a month-to-month as well as on year-on-year basis in October 2009. However, it appears that the extent of the short-term improvements in the sub-indices is not enough to move the BCI onto a clear positive trajectory.
Between September 2009 and October 2009 only five sub-indices impacted negatively on the SACCI BCI namely, liquidations, manufacturing output, retail sales, new vehicle sales and real financing costs. One sub-index remained unchanged i.e. real private sector borrowing.
The Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) does provide an insight into government’s plans ahead of the Budget in February next year. The MTBPS reaffirms government’s spending priorities and indicates that servicing public debt will lay claim to more resources in the medium term.
SACCI is concerned that the increase in the deficit before borrowing to 7.6% of GDP is going to demand more capital from the economy and that dis-saving by government can again become a feature of public finance. The borrowing requirement by the public sector, estimated at 11.8% of GDP, may be an underestimate and will pressure the domestic savings pool available to the private sector.
SACCI believes that business confidence will benefit from the easing of exchange controls announced by the Minister. While businesses are still reeling from the consequences of the recession and households are uncertain, government’s strategies must be based on proactive responses to evolving economic conditions in order to re-establish confidence among economic stakeholders.
For more information contact:
Mr. Richard Downing Economist for SACCI 082 822 5566
Released by the SACCI, Johannesburg – 10 November 2009