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Mindshare Point of View: Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) was on Monday June 5. For brands and agencies alike, the event held both exciting possibilities and industry-changing announcements. The most relevant updates from Apple held true to the hottest tech topics in the industry: voice and AI, VR, AR and consumer privacy.
Mindshare Point of View: Google has announced that its widely used Chrome browser (just over half of all browsers used globally across all devices) will begin to ‘filter’ ‘annoying experiences’ (ads) from 2018. Reports suggest that the technology will be switched on by default on both mobile and desktop browsers.
Mindshare Point of View: The Digital NewFronts remain a key venue for publishers to unveil their latest wares. Digital publishers continue to innovate: bettering brand safety, investing in new vehicles like live streaming, piloting and growing AR/VR capabilities and enhancing the distribution available on their platforms.
Mindshare Point of View: Seven Independent ad tech companies set up a programmatic consortium to sync the cookies from their respective demand side and supply side platforms to create a universal identity asset. The consortium is managed by AppNexus, MediaMath and LiveRamp, who will also provide data matching.
Mindshare Point of View: It was the first conference since founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a 10-year plan for Facebook last year, focusing on technologies that will completely transform the way consumers use the platform.
Mindshare Point of View: Amazon announced an update to its Alexa Skills policy that limits the ability of brands and developers to incorporate sellable advertising units inside skills. Skills are the branded-content experiences accessible through Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa available on the Echo and Dot devices.
Mindshare Point of view: Google has announced that it will be launching a beta version of its header bidding alternative, which will be known as Exchange Bidding Dynamic Allocation or EBDA for short. Expected to launch in May 2017, the beta will be open to a select few of its technology partners and hundreds of publishers.
Mindshare Point of view: while Twitter did lose a major partnership, this probably isn’t going to be the make or break moment for the platform. Competitors like Instagram and Snapchat have increasingly been stealing the social share, resulting in a struggle to keep advertisers’ attention. Still, Twitter is making a large effort to stay in the game.
Mindshare Point of View: Digital advertising on platforms where content is user-generated and not curated has inherent brand safety risks. GroupM vigorously pursues every brand safety precaution and technology available to mitigate these risks, and we encourage all clients to make use of these tools.
Mindshare Point of View: Austin’s SXSWi festival just wrapped: There were panels, interactive activations and galleries dedicated to the ever changing world of digital. From marketers to developers, publishers to neuroscientists, the festival had a diverse group of attendees. Below is our highlights.
Mindshare Point of View: Instagram Stories, where users can share moments of the day in a slideshow format, has been a regular feature of Instagram since August 2016. The feature is now opening up to brand advertising with the launch of some new ad units following a two month beta.
Mindshare Point of View: Each year MWC gets closer to becoming the CES of Europe and in 2017 you can be sure that the trend of covering more than mobile will continue. Whether you are heading to Barcelona for VR, AR, Drones, 5G or IOT you’ll be among 100,000+ people getting their mobile geek on.
Mindshare Point of View: This Valentine’s Day, love and coffee joined together on WeChat as Starbucks launched “Say It With Starbucks” in China - the first branded social gifting experience on China’s most popular app.
Mindshare Point of View: Pinterest announced last week that it will be introducing a search advertising product. Although keyword based targeting has been available through third party providers such as 4C since 2016, the new product will include new targeting features and a shopping feed similar to Google’s product listing ads.
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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Experts say Target is risking more to take on companies like Amazon and Walmart.
The Minneapolis-based retailer announced Tuesday its offering free two-day shipping with no membership required.READ MORE: Derek Chauvin Trial, April 13: Will The Former Minneapolis Police Officer Testify?
Amazon has created fierce loyalty among shoppers who spend $99 a year for a Prime membership. It includes free shipping on all of products and streaming movies and music.
Target recently acquired Shipt, a company which offers same-day delivery service on grocery store items, also for $99 a year.
Recent numbers show more people are choosing Target after a few bumpy years. Marketing Professor George John has studied Target’s strategy for years.
“They were in survival mode, they’ve come out of that, they’ve sort of stopped the bleeding,” John said. “Now they are trying to find ways to get you in the store more.”
Target released this list of new offerings Tuesday:
It is an idea that intrigues graduate student Marko Doder.READ MORE: Pope Francis Asks For, Accepts MN Bishop Michael Hoeppner’s Resignation Following Sex Abuse Investigation
“I think I would be interested because it would save me time and I order online and pick it up,” Doder said.
He also likes same-day shipping, but busy mom Kathryn Spotts is not convinced.
“I don’t think I would use it,” Spotts said. “I have Amazon Prime and I can get things same day and I don’t because I don’t need anything that quickly. And if I do, I’ll just run into the store.”
John said time will tell if Target’s plan will pay off.
“I think the early returns look good,” he said.
Another change Target made is what they pay their employees. Minimum wage will increase to $12, and then to $15 by 2020.MORE NEWS: 40 Arrested In The Twin Cities After 2nd Night Of Daunte Wright Protests
Professor John said this kind of move is rather typical when an economy is doing well.

domain: news


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The upper echelons of Capcom decided to revamp their graphics engine technology, thus revealing the main advantages of the so-called “Rex engine“, which is an evolution of the “RE Engine”, the self-made technological solution that the house has used in recent years. As explained by the entertainment company, this new engine will be responsible for “expanding the diversification of the scope of its projects”, with the main goal of improving efficiency in asset processing and customization levels. .
From Resident Evil VII
To find the first title ported using the RE Engine, you have to go back to the premiere of ‘Resident Evil VII, was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in 2017. Since that moment, the technology has served those responsible for the production of superhero films such as “Monster Hunter Rise”, “Devil May Cry 5”, “Exoprimal” and even “Street Fighter 6”. ”. Other important works such as “Pragmata” and “Dragon’s Dogma 2” also use its structure.
According to Capcom’s announcement, the “REX Engine” is short for “RE neXt Engine” and promises to deliver five times more power than the current engine. Keeping in mind that this is an “evolution” and not a technology created from scratch, there are many possibilities that it will start using it in some of their titles with a release date soon. Although its functions are described sparingly, the directors of the famous video game house have not explained which of their patents they will start using from now on. Considering that we only have confirmed production “Pragmata”, “Dragon’s Doctrine 2”, and “Kunetsu-gami: Path of the Goddess”, The path is uncertain and raises some doubts. Leaks go a little further, pointing to new chapters for franchises like “Monster Hunter” and “Mega Man,” but nothing has been officially confirmed by the production company.
Positive financial balance
It is worth noting that on a financial level, Capcom is going through a good plan, especially in terms of popularity, with releases that have become accustomed to occupying spaces among the bestsellers on each platform. For example, the Resident Evil 4 Remake has reached 5.45 million units shipped since its launch. “Street Fighter 6” also performs reasonably well 2.4 million sales More players will need to register as additional characters start being released and the online seasons reach some speed. “Exoprimal” for its part, as a new brand, is in the initial stage of its journey and has not yet reached 1 million units sold. According to company reports, the video game will take new measures to increase the size of the group before the end of the fiscal year. However, with sufficient support, it is difficult for the ambitious project to take off.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 – Premiere
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Major technology companies like Amazon, Facebook and Google could reportedly face new European Union rules that would force the companies to be more transparent in their search results ranking process.
Reuters reports that the new rules are currently being drafted and are aimed at preventing such large companies from abusing dominant positions in the market.
The rules would force the companies to explain “how and to what extent the relevant ranking mechanism takes account of the quality of the products and services offered.”
In situations where companies have competing products, like Google’s business review service versus Yelp, tech firms would have to disclose prioritizing their own product in their terms of service. Companies like Yelp have accused Google of preferring its own services, hurting its ability to compete.
Companies would also have to provide a 15 day notice period before changing their terms and conditions and provide businesses with an “individualized” explanation of why they were booted from their platforms like Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
The reported proposal is only the latest blow for technology companies in Europe, as the European Commission takes steps to crack down on large technology firms.
In June, the European Commission’s Commissioner of Competition hit Google with a record almost $4 billion fine for prioritizing its online shopping service over competitors. In 2016, the Commission ruled that Apple must pay $15 billion in taxes it owes to Ireland following charges of unfair tax arrangements with the country.
The EU is also planning new taxes on tech firms’ profits. It believes that such companies are paying too little taxes as they run their profits through countries with lower tax rates like Ireland and Luxembourg.


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What unlimited breadsticks tell us about the economy
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Darden Restaurants, owner of Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille, among others, is set to release its quarterly results Thursday morning before the opening bell — and these results can offer insight into more than Darden’s bottom line.
Darden is able to capture multiple demographics across its properties, said Christopher Muller, a professor at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration. With high-end steakhouses and seafood restaurants, the company attracts “mostly urban, lots of expense-account kind of things and special occasions,” said Muller.
On the other hand, with its Olive Gardens and Bahama Breeze-type restaurants, Darden’s portfolio caters to “families and people who are looking for a nice outside-the-home dining experience, but also looking for a high value,” said Muller.
That mix of properties means Darden’s performance can reveal insight into how several consumer groups are spending.
B. Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the research and knowledge group at the National Restaurant Association says consumers still want to eat out. The industry group predicts restaurant sales will reach $863 billion this year, although Riehle himself expects growth to be moderate.
In addition to stiff competition as more and more restaurants open their doors, “the top challenge for restaurant operators, at the moment, is recruitment, retention of labor as well as labor costs,” Riehle said.
“From the restaurant operator perspective, it has been several years now where those higher labor costs have put substantial pressure on their margins,” he said. “Looking towards the future, it certainly doesn’t look like labor cost will suddenly drop to the bottom of challenges.”
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From time to time, the team at LineageOS will post changelogs of changes/fixes that have been implemented since the last changelog was published. It's been quite a while since the last one on September 23rd, and this new one contains some noteworthy information. Following every change Lineage makes isn't the easiest thing in the world, and this helps consolidate everything. Read More
Yesterday, security researchers published a paper on 'KRACK,' a security vulnerability in the WPA2 Wi-Fi protocol. I won't re-explain how it works here (click the above link if you want to learn more), but almost every modern operating system and device that can connect to Wi-Fi is affected. This includes Android, and if you're running Marshmallow or later, you're especially vulnerable. Read More
The following post was written by Ryne Hager and Corbin Davenport.
The vast majority of Android device buyers don't know or care what a custom ROM is. And that's completely fine - a phone or tablet's stock ROM will be enough for 99.9% of potential users. But for the 0.1% that like to tinker, the development community surrounding a given device can drastically impact the value. Your purchase can become a much better deal if there is a wealth of custom ROM options available, extending its lifespan for possibly years (and nearly a decade for the HD2).
There are quite a few popular custom ROMs in the wild, but LineageOS is probably one of the best overall. Read More
Our readers are probably quite familiar with Paranoid Android, as the developers behind AOSPA have been prolific over the last few months. The latest update for the ROM, v7.3.0, brings a lot of changes. But the biggest addition doubles down on the project's earlier commitment to photo quality. As of today, Paranoid Android has its own camera app. Read More
AOSPA has just released a new update to its long-loved Paranoid Android ROM, and it's bringing back a bit of the old with the new. The recent build is based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat, so it's the latest you can get. Along with Nougat, a few old features are making a new appearance. Most notable is the return of the pie mode alternate navigation bar — which some people (me) prefer even over real pie. To be brief, the ROM is absolutely fantastic and may become my daily driver going forward. If you'd like to know why, though, you'll have to read on. Read More
Since our last LineageOS post, the project has continued to add new features and support new devices. In addition to new Quick Settings tiles and changes to included apps, the ROM now supports 16 additional devices. Read More
As of April 3rd, 2017 the Nexus 6/Shamu has truly reached end of life status. Although we knew it was coming, it seems it was easier to keep the buildbots running until more major changes were made. We’d like to take this time to sit back and reminisce on our fond, and large, memories of the device. Death, however, is not the end, but a new beginning. Or, at least, an excuse for those of us without upgrade fever to move ourselves over to a nice and shiny new ROM. While Google may have given up on Shamu, some devices just can’t stay down. Read More
Google Assistant was introduced at Google I/O last year, as a more personal voice assistant than Google Now. Since then, it has been made available on several platforms - Pixel phones, the Google Home, Android TV, and Allo. But Assistant is still unavailable on non-Pixel phones without a special build.prop tweak. Now the Open GApps team has made enabling Assistant a little easier. Read More
It's no secret why CyanogenMod is the most popular custom ROM out there; not only does it support a metric crapload of Android devices, but it also keeps them going far past their primes. The latest devices to get support for CM14.1 (Android 7.1 Nougat) nightlies include two variants of the Galaxy S III, the second-generation Moto X, a few Oppo devices, two versions of the HTC One Max, two Xiaomi phones, and more. Read More
Earlier today, some disappointing news came from Steve Kondik, CyanogenMod's founder and Cyanogen Inc.'s cofounder; because of Cyanogen Inc.'s failure, "(CyanogenMod) is very much affected." For the time being, though, CyanogenMod maintainers are still churning out new builds of CM14.1 (Android 7.1 Nougat) for many devices. We've got seven new devices with CyanogenMod 14.1 nightlies this time around (well, more like five, since two pairs of the devices are almost exactly the same). Read More


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* Q3 order intake +29 pct yr/yr vs forecast +20 pct
* European truck orders soar 84 percent
* Buying of older, cheaper trucks lifts orders
* EBIT 1.97 bln SEK vs forecast 2.03 bln (Adds quotes, detail, background, share)
STOCKHOLM, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Truck maker Scania posted a bigger than expected rise in third-quarter order bookings on Wednesday as European customers rushed to buy older models before sales are halted due to new emission rules coming into force at year-end.
Scania, majority owned by Germany’s Volkswagen, said its order intake surged 29 percent year-on-year in the quarter to 21,809 vehicles, easily topping the 20 percent gain seen in a Reuters poll of analysts.
Europe’s heavy truck makers have seen orders climb in recent quarters, if from low levels, due to a growing need to replace ageing fleets and a buying spree of so called Euro 5 trucks that typically cost roughly 10,000 euros less than their successors.
“Order bookings in Europe improved significantly, also compared to the second quarter even though the third quarter is normally seasonally weaker,” Scania said, though adding the pricing environment had remained competitive.
“In Scania’s assessment, demand was supported by customers that are investing in Euro 5 vehicles before year-end.”
Scania, which has hiked output due to the better activity, said order intake of trucks in Europe, which accounts for roughly half its business, soared 84 percent while they eased in Latin America in the face of strong year-ago comparisons.
Latin America has provided a boost over the past year as incentive schemes in mainly Brazil have helped drive up demand.
While truck makers are basking in good demand now, a hangover may to be in store heading into the new year.
European demand is likely to ease once sales of the Euro 5 trucks are halted while the Brazilian government is expected to scale back the generous subsidies that has swelled the truck market in Latin America’s biggest economy.
Operating profit at Scania, which at the behest of its German parent is strengthening ties with likewise VW-controlled MAN SE, rose to 1.97 billion crowns ($309.19 million) from a year-ago 1.88 billion, just short of the 2.03 billion seen by analysts.
Scania is the first of Europe’s major heavy-duty truck makers to report on the third quarter with Daimler due on Thursday, AB Volvo on Friday and Germany’s MAN SE on Tuesday next week.
Shares in the Swedish truck maker rose 1.6 percent by 0754 GMT while local rival Volvo gained 0.4 percent. ($1 = 6.3715 Swedish crowns) (Reporting by Niklas Pollard and Helena Soderpalm, editing by Alistair Scrutton)


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The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) received the European Innovation Management Standard Certification. H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori,..
Zain Saudi Arabia (Zain KSA), announces historical record-high financial results for all key indicators for the full-year and fourth quarter ended..
Giving customers more of what they want, Ooredoo’s Deal of the Day promotion continues to bring subscribers great value and rewarding services...
Ooredoo Group confirmed today it has successfully trialled the first International 5G call in the Arab World. Ooredoo’s call took place on Tuesday..
Allowing customers to enjoy the internet for longer, Ooredoo is extending its Super Fibre Home Broadband 20, 50 and 100 Mbps plans for another month..
Etisalat today received ‘ The Most Valuable Portfolio Brand’ in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by Brand Finance as a recognition for the..
Empowering men and women through digital entrepreneurship courses, Ooredoo is gearing up to open enrolment for another wave of Springboard and Spring..
Continuing to allow customers to enjoy the internet, Ooredoo’s Shahry device instalment plans allow customers to get their hands on the latest..
The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) has opened registration for UAE Hackathon 2019: "Data for Happiness and Wellbeing" and invited the..
Keeping visitors connected throughout their journey in the Sultanate, Ooredoo will be giving tourists and business travellers fantastic value with..
As part of its keenness to better serve all society segments including deaf and people with hearing impairment and based on its belief that the..
Ooredoo has signed a new MoU with be’ah to manage the safe disposal of all Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recovered from its..
Continuing to develop female talent across Oman, Ooredoo saw three teams from its 8th wave of Springboard programme graduates make their mark after..
Empowering businesses in the Sultanate to ‘be digital’, Ooredoo’s popular Shahry+ promotion continues to provide businesses with more of what..
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) tweets on the social media platform "Twitter" received 64 million impressions in 2018, with more..
Continuing to offer customers a fast and reliable network experience, Ooredoo will be allowing customers to enjoy the internet with its..
Future Now, the innovation programme of Etisalat, has signed agreements with four scaleups to develop Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain..
To kick off the Asia Cup taking place in the UAE from 5 January to 1 February, Ooredoo is giving football fans a special Asian Cup Weekly plan in the..


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While piracy is always a pressing issue in the entertainment industry, traditionally, during the time immediately following the Oscars, such illegal activities tend to increase.
We chatted with Robert Jacobs, co-chair of Entertainment Litigation at L.A.-based law firm Manatt, Phelps & Philips (who primarily handles copyright infringement cases in the music industry) to find how he thinks the motion picture and TV industries can avoid the same damages of the music industry.
VideoAge International: Do you suspect that SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) Act and PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act) are dead in the water after being met with such strong opposition from Internet groups?
Robert Jacobs: It’s a political hot potato. There’s a decent chance that the indsutry will take another run at getting something done legislatively. I’m not too hopeful about it, though.
The issue is like a three legged stool –– with the creators, content owners and content distributors. If you take any one out of the equation it falls over. Each constituency has different leverage, but all their reasons and desires are intertwined.
VAI: You don’t think the issue should involve the government?
RJ: We need an industry solution not a legislative solution. We need to keep it in the hands of the companies.
Everyone — the online distributors, content owners and creators — need to sit down and talk about it.
They need to create some sort of service that offers revenue sharing between the three arms, that is better maintained, with better quality picture and sound than you could get from illegal sites. It also has to be cost effective for consumers.
VAI: What are some of the differences between piracy within the TV and movie businesses and the music business?
RJ: The most obvious off the bat is that a song is a much more truncated piece of content than a movie or TV series. It used to be a lot easier for pirates to deliver a song than a movie, but that’s not the case anymore. The technology is making it easier for pirates.
VAI: Do you expect Hollywood to handle the issue of piracy more effectively than the music industry did?
RJ: Everyone has learned from the recording industry’s mistakes. They were in denial for years, and are finally trying to embrace technology now.
The studios have learned from them, but with the recent acceleration of technology in the Internet space, the studios need to jump in and find a solution. It may not be analogous to what the music industry has come up with, but there needs to be more partnership with Silicon Valley.
Everyone has a legitimate postion at this point, and there’s a lot of money to split.
VAI: It sees to us that staggered international release dates make things even more complicated — and pirated content even more attractive around the world. How can the entertainment business deal with global leaks?
RJ: It’s tremendously complex because different jurisdictions have different attitudes toward the problem. It’s difficult to corral everyone. There was some success in France, but other countries-–– including some in the EU –– refuse to deal with the problem.
Keeping the issue in the hands of the companies helps avoid problems with countries’ differing rules.
VAI: What are some of your predictions for the future?
RJ: I think we need to come up with a viable alternative to online piracy that’s cost-effective and looks and sounds good.
But there’s no rest for the weary. The question is what can Hollywood do with the Googles of the world, and how can they marry their interests?
The trick is to harnass the power that the studios and Google have and come together so that everyone can get a piece of the pie. I think we’ll see a model with a royalty-type component that’s subscription-based, which is harnessed through the presentation of the Googles of the world.
VAI: What about the smaller producers and content creators?
RJ: That’s more difficult. The studios should be the first ones in. If they can figure something out, derivative formats can be made for smaller producers. It’s hard to imagine a one-size-fits-all answer, but if we start with larger players, than more will be achieved down the road. The studios have the biggest dogs in the fight.
VAI: Do you think that ultimately people are willing to pay for content on the Web? Or do they want it all for free?
RJ: If it’s well-priced, and has an interface and an experience that’s positive, they’re willing to pay for it. If it’s fuzzy images, poor audio, like many pirated sites are… people are going to want it for free.
But the truth is that the potential for legal repercussion doesn’t come to bear on most people, so you need to create an experience that they actually want to pay for.
VAI: Do you expect Hollywood to launch legal crackdowns on consumers viewing pirated material?
RJ: No, we see from the experience of the music industry that trying that approach doesn’t bode well. It’s a tremendous use of the companies’ and judicial resourced. There’s overall too much negative press surrounding that.
VAI: Online piracy has been around almost since the dawn of the Internet. Should more have been done earlier?
RJ: You can trace this all back to the mid-’90s when piracy took off. There was a complete refusal to accept the reality of what was happening. There was a culture that said whatever’s available on the Internet should be free.
Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but people should have been educated to understand that online piracy is theft. If we had done this earlier, consumers would’ve appreciated early on that what they’re getting is the hard, creative work of an artist and a lot of investment by content owners.
The trick is for the industry to harness the incredible value it has, and get consumers to understand that just as they’re paying for extra options on their cell phones, they should do that for entertainment, too.


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new world It continues to have success upon launch on Steam, which ironically also causes some issues Amazon, which decided to try to balance the overcrowding in the Internet world Character creation block on full servers.
With the new update applied to Server Manager, when one of them is full, it results in dark, without the possibility of selecting it to create a new character. Obviously the issue only affects new characters, so you’ll still be able to use existing characters once you’re logged in.
Amazon signaled this change with another message on Twitter, where it once again thanks the “adventurers” who visit Aeternum heavily these days and explains that with the new management, it is possible See right away If the server is full, making it inaccessible to new users.
Recently, Amazon also announced that it received more than 1 million players per day for New World, and also reported the upcoming activation of the ability to transfer between servers for free for greater guarantee Balance among the population among them and avoid creating waiting lists to reach them.
Even this new feature of reporting full servers and the inability to create new characters within them is part of the need to strike a better balance between netizens in the new world. Until today, the Amazon game itself has confirmed it Most played on Steam, having exceeded 800,000 players simultaneously and thus defeating the sacred monsters of the Valve platform such as Counter-Strike: GO and Dota 2.
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Trying to predict and respond to inbound customer contact demand while maintaining cost efficiencies and customer satisfaction scores is a tricky balancing act. And with digital transformation driving a shift in consumer behaviour away from the traditional outreach channels of mailer, phone and email, things are getting more challenging. Challenging – but there are ways […]
Future of the Contact Centre Conference
Contact centres are at a tipping point. Rapid advances in customer and employee facing technology have created a digital world in which contact centres have to adapt and change if they are to successfully deliver a consistent and joined-up customer experience across the customer journey.
Contact centres are ideally placed to become the beating heart of an organisation’s customer engagement strategy. It is the contact centre that can deliver the customer insight that is needed in a business environment where our customers are in control of the channels they choose to interact with organisations and where the customer journey is ever more complex.
Delivering great employee and customer experiences is recognised at board level globally as one of the key business differentiators driving competitive advantage and the view of the contact centre as being a cost centre is now outdated. Yes the contact centre is indeed at a tipping point and now is the time for organisations to capitalise on their unique position.
EBM Group Events
Customer Data Security Directors ForumBlue Fin Venue, London 31st January 2017
Future of the Contact Centre ConferenceVictoria Park Plaza, London 23rd February 2017
2017 Employee Engagement SummitVictoria Park Plaza, London 20th April 2017
Customer Engagement Transformation ConferenceVictoria Park Plaza, London 06th July 2017
Internal Communications ConferenceVictoria Park Plaza, Central London 15th September 2017
Evolution of Work ConferenceVictoria Park Plaza, London 15th September 2017
Engage Focus GroupsCounty Hall, London 26th September 2017
2017 Engage AwardsWestminster Park Plaza, London 13th November 2017
Customer Engagement Summit 2017Westminster Park Plaza Hotel, London 13th November 2017
Mobile operator EE has been fined £2.7m by the telecoms regulator, Ofcom, for overcharging tens of thousands of customers. The watchdog found that the UK’s biggest mobile network broke a billing rule on two occasions. Users who called its 150 customer services number while roaming within the EU were incorrectly charged as if they had […]
A benefit claimant has told the BBC she is still suffering as a result of having her payments wrongly blocked by the US contractor Concentrix. Two months after HM Customs and Revenue (HMRC) terminated its contract with the firm, the mother has described how she has been forced into debt as a result. Meanwhile a […]
Rolls-Royce has apologised for its behaviour and agreed to pay £671m to settle bribery and corruption cases with UK and US authorities. The aerospace firm is set to pay £497m plus costs to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which started investigating claims in 2012 of wrongdoing overseas. At the time, the SFO asked the firm […]


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Mining company Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) on Friday reported financial results for the first quarter of 2023.
- Net income attributable to common stock was $663 million or $0.46 per share in the first quarter, compared to $1.53 billion or $1.04 per share last year
- Adjusted net income attributable to common stock more than halved to $0.52 per share from $1.07 per share in the year-ago quarter
- Consolidated production totaled 965 million pounds of copper, 405 thousand ounces of gold, and 21 million pounds of molybdenum during the three-month period
- Consolidated sales were 832 million pounds of copper, 270 thousand ounces of gold, and 19 million pounds of molybdenum
- Total first-quarter revenues declined to $5.39 billion from $6.60 billion in the same period of last year
Looking for more insights on the earnings results? Click here to access the full transcripts of the latest earnings conference calls!
Discount store chain Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) will be reporting third-quarter results next week. Operating nearly 20,000 stores across the US, it is one of the largest supermarket chains
Shares of Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) were up over 1% on Thursday. The stock has dropped 13% year-to-date. The discount retailer delivered third-quarter 2023 earnings results that did not
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) reported its third quarter 2023 earnings results today. Total company sales were $34 billion compared to $34.2 billion for the same period last year. Identical sales


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When the world’s biggest boyband and the world’s most popular burger chains combined, it triggered utter chaos.
Indonesian branches of McDonald’s found themselves so swamped with demand for the newly launched BTS Meal they had to close.
Indeed, so many people ordered the meal inspired by the Korean boyband that there were fears it could cause a new Covid hotspot.
“We temporarily closed four of six McDonald’s stores here in Semarang for a couple of days,” Fajar Purwoto, the Indonesian city’s public order agency head, said, according to news agency AFP.
“I don’t want Semarang to be in the Covid-19 red zone again.”
The meal consisted of 10 chicken nuggets, chips, a coke and two sauces (sweet chilli and Cajun, for those who are interested).
Because of Covid-19, many people did not go to the branches themselves. Instead, they used delivery services – sending drivers to the outlets in droves.
Photos show them cramming into branches, with some drivers in the capital Jakarta saying they had waited more than two hours to collect their orders.
Police in Jakarta said in a statement that a total of 32 branches were temporarily closed across the city. There were further closures in other parts of the country.
However, McDonald’s was quick to remind people that the meal will still be available for the next month so there is no need to “rush and worry about running out of this product”.
McDonald’s Indonesia associate director, Sutji Lantika, added that the safety of customers remained the highest priority.
The seven-member K-Pop phenomenon that is BTS — broke global records when their last single Butter premiered last month, while they beat superstars like Taylor Swift to be named best-selling album of 2020.


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Sadly, this countryâ€™s schools have received millions of pounds of meat and chicken that do not meet f<"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/food_poisoning">ood quality and safety standards in place for fast food restaurants, said USA Today, noting food chains such as Jack in the Box and KFC. USA Today conducted a large investigation on the issue.
According to USA Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) argues that its meat, purchased and used for the National School Lunch Program “meets or exceeds standards in commercial products.” But, said USA Today, this really isnâ€™t the case and fast food and convenience locations, such as Burger King, McDonaldâ€™s, and Costco, actually have much more stringent processes in place to look for food borne pathogens. As a matter-of-fact, USA Today found that these outlets test their ground beef an astounding five-to-10 times more frequently than the federal agency tests beef for Americaâ€™s school children and have in place limits that are upwards of 10 times more strict than the USDA has for its school program beef.
The USA Today investigation also found that the USDA has provided schools with thousands of tons of meat from older birdsâ€”â€œspent hensâ€â€”that are slated for compost or pet food. So-called spent hens are not permitted in KFC foods, nor does the Campbell Soup Company accept this poultry, and hasnâ€™t for ten years, based on what it described as “quality considerations,” said USA Today.
“We simply are not giving our kids in schools the same level of quality and safety as you get when you go to many fast-food restaurants,” said J. Glenn Morris, professor of medicine and director of the Emerging Pathogens Institute at the University of Florida, quoted USA Today. “We are not using those same standards,” Morris added.
USA Today provided officials at the USDA with the findings from its investigation. Tom Vilsack, Agriculture Secretary, promised that an independent review of ground beef testing requirements that the Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) provides schools, will be conducted, said USA Today.
Meanwhile, USA Today looked at approximately 150,000 tests on beef bought for the school lunch programâ€”the USDA buys over 100 million pounds of beef annually for the programâ€”and found cases in which students were fed meats that would have been rejected by retailers and fast food establishments. Also, Beef Packer one of the more problematic meat supplies has been suspended as an AMS supplier on three separate occasions and has just been urged to close by Representative Rosa DeLauro (Democrat-Connecticut), following two recalls.
The AMS bought close to 500,000 pounds of ground beef from Beef Packers and another supplier, Skylark, from November 2008 through January 2009, that tested with very high levels of â€œgeneric E. coli,â€ a bacteria indicator, that can point to the dangerous, sometimes deadly, pathogenic food borne toxin, E. coli O157:H7.
We recently wrote that some 31 million children are at increased risk for food poisoning due to delays in tainted food products being removed from school cafeterias. USA Today also previously wrote, citing a federal audit it obtained, that federal agencies supplying food for schoolchildren are not ensuring swift removal of tainted food from cafeterias. These actions increase the risk of schoolchildren falling ill due to food borne contaminations, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
According to the GAO audit, the government did not release “timely and complete notification about suspect food products provided to schools through the federal commodities program,” noting that alerts could take over a week to be seen by schools, schools, “during which time (schools) unknowingly served affected products,” quoted USA Today.


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Britain’s anglers are reeling back their time on riverbanks as scorching temperatures lower water levels and harm fish.
That’s the warning from Angling Direct Plc, which said Thursday that cost-of-living pressures had also “significantly impacted” the business during the second-quarter of its financial year.
Unfavorable fishing conditions -- caused by the heat wave -- weighed on trading during the “usually busy month” of August, the company added.
Fishing gained popularity when people sought more outdoor activities after being locked down by Covid-19 restrictions, the Environment Agency said last year. However, there are now signs of people cutting back on the hobby.
Shares in Angling Direct dropped 18% Thursday, the company’s biggest one-day fall on record.
As a result of the headwinds, the Norwich-based company now sees revenues coming in slightly below market expectations.
The Office for National Statistics said Wednesday that inflation had hit double-digits for the first time in 40 years as the Consumer Prices Index rose 10.1% in July. The previous month, both Asos Plc and Boohoo Group Plc reported slowing sales, showing the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on consumer confidence.
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.


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By Tabora Bojang
Banjul Breweries Limited, the Gambia’s leading and only brewery recently distributed prizes and valuables worth over D100,000 to more than 70 winners who took part in their ongoing world-cola promotion in a colourful ceremony held at the BBL in Kanifing.
The presented items range from bags of rice, sugar, onions, potatoes, freezer refrigerators, flat television sets, smart phones, ram and polo t-shirts etc.
Speaking at the event Mr. Borry Darboe, Country Sales Rep BBL, said that the company was established in 1975 but actual production started in 1977 and since then the company is synonymous with excellence and is well committed to providing varieties of quality and affordable refreshments to their esteem customers.
According to him, world-cola was launched by Banjul Breweries Limited in July 2016, with the aim of providing variety of taste for their consumers to satisfy their taste and the need for refreshment.
He said the winner of any of the prices is going home with values ranging from D200 to fifteen (15) thousand or more only for D30.
“That is all because of your desire to choose world cola as your product and as soon as you choose world cola as your product and consume it, you become part of our family. So we believe with your ticket you have the chance to win these valuables, so wining prices whiles we celebrate our 40 years is very unique to us,” Darbo said.
He added that this is the beginning and there is no end to it, saying “it all depends on how you use your time to satisfy yourself with our products.”
For her part, the secretary general of BBL, Madam Fatou Sinyan Ergan, congratulated the winners for participating in the world-cola promotion, and for their unflinching support and patronage over the years.
Madam Sinyan cited that her organisation will continue to support and uphold with high esteem their consumers in providing quality.
As part of events marking 40 years since their existence in the Gambia, she said BBL will wish to recognise and pay back loyalty to their consumers for have being with them all along.
“We have been around for so many years and we have benefitted a lot, now we want to give back to our consumers who have been with us all along these years. We are starting with world-cola as one of our new products and that’s why we are all here today,” she added.
Ellen Mendy and Fatou Sowe among the winners both of Abuko thanked BBL for coming up with the huge promotion, saying the valuables will assist them and their families.


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Clogging of transpacific supply chains 'likely to persist for weeks'
CHINESE port congestion has increased as shippers rush to export cargo in the Chinese New Year period, compounding congestion at Los Angeles and Long Beach, reports IHS Media
16 February 2021 - 19:00
Delivery times have gone to nine weeks from four or five, says Judah Levine, research lead at freight rate marketplace Freightos.
'While post-Chinese New Year February is normally the slowest month of the year, reports that many manufacturers in China will stay open over the holiday to keep up with demand suggests the surge could persist through February and even beyond,' said Mr Levine.
Shipping technology firm Ocean Insights also warned in a report this week that supply chains were in for several months of disruption as the Chinese New Year period intensifies a breakdown in intermodal connectivity between factories and ports.
'The shipping lines have said the backlog of cargo will be cleared after Chinese New Year, and that will likely occur as the levels of deliveries from factories drop off, but supply chains may take several more months to return to some semblance of normality as inventory, now trapped further up the supply chain, will need to be cleared,' said Josh Brazil, Ocean Insights' chief operations officer.
Jon Monroe, a consultant to non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOs), said it was not clear which factories would be open over the holidays, and he agreed that trucking capacity was under pressure.
'The only certainty is that truck capacity is limited and factories may need to pay double, and in some cases triple, the normal cost to get a trucker's attention to pick up and deliver their container,' he wrote in a market update this week. 'The further south the factory is located, the more likely it will be open.'
Jens Lund, CFO for Danish forwarder DSV, said the supply chain was currently so 'clogged up' that it was difficult to move cargo.
'Carriers right now are so out of sync that they find it hard to honor most agreements,' said Mr Lund. 'Even if we buy millions of TEU, we can't force the carriers to take that volume.'
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Industry News: Restaurant & Foodservice – February 2013
American Restaurant Concepts, Inc. announced that it has hired Rick Akam to serve as COO for Dick’s Wings and Grill.
Ashford Hospitality Trust Chairman Archie Bennett Jr. retired, effective 1/18/13.
Back Yard Burgers Inc. appointed David McDougall as CEO.
Bloomin’ Brands CFO/Exec VP Dirk Montgomery resigned.
Burger King Corporation appointed Jerrell Moore as Chief Diversity Officer.
Cheddar’s Casual Café hired Peter Gaudreau as Exec VP of Operations.
Craft Brew Alliance announced that Martin J. Wall, VP of Sales, left the company 2/1/13.
Darden Restaurants made the following executive changes: Dave George has been named President of Olive Garden, Valerie Insignares has been promoted to succeed George as President of LongHorn Steakhouse, and Will Setliff has been promoted to SVP and Chief Marketing Officer.
Dion’s Pizza named Mark Herman as CEO.
Fiesta Restaurant Group named Nancy Clark as Chief People Officer.
Guckenheimer appointed Rex Roe to VP of Operations and Len Cerasoli to Director of Sales.
HEI Hotels & Resorts promoted Clark Hanrattie to CFO.
Homestyle Dining LLC, parent to the Bonanza and Ponderosa steakhouse franchises, appointed Thomas A. Sacco as CEO/President, replacing Tamara S. Jones. Other management changes at Homestyle included the following: Ed Herman was named VP of Company Operations; Andy Short was named Director of Operations Support, overseeing training and information technology; Chef Al Good will report to Dave McDonald, Senior VP of Purchasing and Distribution.
Host Hotels & Resorts appointed Struan B. Robertson as Exec VP, Chief Investment Officer.
Huddle House named Michael as CEO; he was most recently at Arby’s.
Liquid Nutrition Group Inc. announced the appointment of Dean Spokes to the role of VP Operations and Nelson Cabral to the position of VP Merchandise.
McDonald’s Corporation announced that Honorary Chairman and former CEO Fred L. Turner has passed away.
McKibbon Hotel Management promoted Randy Hassen to President and Bruce Baerwalde to Exec VP.
Papa John’s International promoted Steve Higdon to VP of Global Communications.
Panera Bread Co. named Roger Matthews Jr. CFO/Exec VP, effective 3/18/13.
Real Mex Restaurants named Charles Robinson as its new CEO/President.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers promoted Dana Benfield to VP of Engagement Marketing, responsible for its loyalty program, social and interactive media, gift cards, licensing and merchandising and guest relations.
Sonic Corp. announced that President Scott McLain will resign, effective 3/31/13. At that time, Chairman/CEO Cliff Hudson will assume the title of President.
Sunburst Hospitality CEO Kevin Hanley stepped down and was succeed by Pamela Williams.
Sysco Corp. appointed Mike Davis as President of Sysco West Texas and David DeVane as Market President of the Southwest Region.
The Marcus Corporation appointed Kirk A. rose as President of Marcus Hotels & Resorts.
The National Restaurant Association today announced that Matt Walker has been named Vice President of Government Affairs.
Tilted Kilt named Eddie Goitia as CFO.
Walt Disney Resort named George Kalogridis President, succeeding Meg Crofton who will assume the role of Disney Parks Operations President for the U.S. and France.
Wynn Resorts hired Gamal Aziz from MGM Resorts International as President/COO of Wynn Resorts Development.
BAB Inc. reported revenues of $2,675,000 for the year ending 11/30/12.
Buffalo Wild Wings reported total revenue of $1,040,530,000 for the year ending 12/30/2012.
Chesapeake Lodging Trust reported total revenue of $278,276,000 for the year ending 12/31/12.
Chick-fil-A reported systemwide sales of $4,600,000,000 for 2012.
Cineplex Inc. reported revenues of $1,091,866,000 for the year ending 12/31/12; concession sales were $329,332,000.
Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment reported revenues of $225,912,000 for the year ending 12/31/12.
Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. reported total revenues of $658,181,000 for the year ending 12/29/12.
Famous Dave’s of America Inc. reported total revenue of $154,988,000 for the year ending 12/30/2012.
Ignite Restaurant Group reported total revenues of $465,000,000 for the year ending 12/31/12.
International Speedway Corporation reported total revenues of $612,400,000 for the year ending 11/30/12.
Las Vegas Sands Corp. reported net revenues of 11,131,132,000 for the year ending 12/31/12.
McDonald’s Corporation reported total revenues of $27,567,000,000 for the year ending 12/31/12; systemwide sales were more than $88 billion.
Penn National Gaming reported net revenues of $2,899,465,000 for the year ending 12/31/12.
Starbucks Corporation reported total net revenues of $18,299,500,000 for the year ending 9/30/12.
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Apple American Group is now part of Flynn Restaurant Group LLC, following Greg Flynn’s acquisition of Southern Bells Inc., a large franchisee of Taco Bells; the latter are now operating within the Flynn group as Bell American Group.
Bob Evans Farms Inc. announced an agreement to sell its Mimi’s Café chain to LeDuff America; closure of the transaction was announced in mid-February.
Caribou Coffee was acquired by Joh. A. Benckiser Group in a move that privatized the company.
Ignite Restaurant Group announced that it has agreed to acquire Romano’s Macaroni Grill from private equity firm Golden Gate Capital; closure is expected in the third quarter.
Meritage Hospitality Group acquired two Wendy’s portfolios in GA and VA, bringing its total Wendy’s locations to 111.
Nimes Capital Group acquired TD Food Group, operator of Yum! concepts in Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan.
Northeast Foodservice Equipment was acquired by Kittredge Equipment.
PNC Riverarch Capital has acquired a controlling interest in Burger King franchisee Goldco LLC.
The Go Roma fast-casual Italian brand was acquired Wednesday by former Morton’s Restaurant Group CFO Ronald DiNella and his investment partners, the Roma Restaurant Investments group. The HQ will move from San Francisco to Chicago and DiNella is now CEO/President.
The Saxton Group acquired 20 McAlister’s Deli locations in OK, KS, and MO.
U-Swirl Inc. acquired the Yogurtini and Aspen Leaf yogurt chains, while simultaneously Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc. acquired a majority stake in U-Swirl.
Baskin-Robbins franchisees will open 249 additional shops across China over the next 10 years.
Bennigan’s opened its first location in the UAE.
Chipotle Mexican Grill is offering its Colorado customers catering options and expects to roll it out to all of its markets this year.
Cinnabon-Auntie Anne’s opened in Trinidad.
Dunkin’ Donuts announced an agreement for multiple locations in Vietnam over the next few years.
Fatburger has opened the doors to its first Pakistani location.
KFC plans to open its first location in Mongolia this year.
Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation announced that it opened its first franchise location in India.
Moe’s Southwest Grill opened its first location in Costa Rica.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen opened a location in Vietnam.
Punk’s Backyard Grill, an upscale independent restaurant serving American food, has closed in Annapolis MD.
Quiznos is expanding into Mexico with an agreement for more than 150 restaurants in the next 10 years.
Ruby Tuesday announced the closure of all its Marlin & Ray’s and Wok Hay concepts and is seeking a buyer for its licensed Truffles Grill locations.
Ruth’s Hospitality Group signed an agreement for the development of four Ruth’s Chris Steak House locations in China over the next few years.
Starbucks opened its first location in Vietnam.
The Cheesecake Factory opened its first internationally licensed restaurant in Dubai.
Baskin-Robbins is seeking franchisees in the Los Angeles area.
Bennigan’s announced agreements to develop 30+ restaurants in 2013 in AR, FL, MD, MI, MN, NJ, TN, TX, and VA, as well as Mexico, Cyprus, and Korea.
Bruegger’s Bagels is seeking franchisees for Nashville TN, Tallahassee FL, and Huntsville AL.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. plans to open 165 to 180 restaurants in 2013, including four in foreign countries.
Dickey’s Barbecue is expanding in new and existing markets in the first part of 2013 in areas such as WA, CA, CO, UT and VA; the company has more than 150 stores in development.
Dunkin’ Donuts is planning to open multiple units in Southern CA by 2015.
East Coast Wings & Grill expects to open 12 additional locations by the end of the year. New restaurants are scheduled to open in 2013 in AL, FL, GA, IN, KY, NC, PA, SC, TN, and TX.
First Watch has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement to open restaurants in seven cities in TN, KY and NC in the next five years; the first will open by mid-year 2013.
Jamba Inc. plans to open 60-80 new units globally, refresh 75-100 stores, and add JambaGO and Smoothie Stations to existing locations. Jamba announced a franchise development agreement for 15 new stores in KS and MO over the next nine years.
Ker’s WingHouse Bar & Grill plans to open three to five location across FL.
Kona Grill will open its first location in ID later this year.
Little Caesars is targeting small suburban markets and rural communities for franchisee growth.
Pancheros will open between 10 and 25 new units next year, entering new markets including CA.
Platinum Restaurant Group (dba Eddie Merlot’s) will open three locations in 2013, one each in CO, MI, and PA.
Saladworks has locations opening this year in FL, NC, NY, TX, KY, and TN. The company’s pipeline contains 150+ units for the next several years.
Sbarro Inc. plans to add 10 stand-alone locations this year.
Schlotzsky’s Franchise LLC is set to open tri-brand stores (Schlotzsky’s/Cinnabon/Carvel) in the new markets this year, including KY, NJ and NC as well as: Minneapolis MN; New Orleans LA; Orange County CA; Philadelphia; and Sacramento CA. The company plans 40-50 openings in 2013.
Sizzler plans to open six new restaurants in the San Francisco market and will remodel six more.
Starbucks Corp. announced that in the next five years, more than half of its new 1,500 U.S. locations will be drive-through.
The Saxton Group is seeking locations in the Kansas City area for 10 new McAlister’s Deli restaurants.
Togo’s has agreements for new restaurants in ID, CA, and OR. The company is targeting Portland, Phoenix, Seattle, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City for future development.
Villa Enterprises plans to open a dozen new units during the first quarter and the company hopes to open concepts in five additional countries in 2013.
Wendy’s Co. plans 25 new restaurants and 200 remodels in 2013.
Woody’s Bar-B-Q is seeking franchisees in Central and West Central FL; the company is targeting small towns in this area to develop its Woody’s Bar-B-Q Express, a smaller version of its traditional restaurant.
Elevation Burger joined the Organic Trade Association, a business association for the organic industry whose members serve certified organic products or provide services that serve the organic industry business.
Performance Foodservice launched its GreenBasis label for its branded foodservice disposable products that meet the company’s criteria for environmentally responsible manufacturing processes, product composition or product life cycle options. The GreenBasis label will be reserved for Silver Source and First Mark branded disposable products such as cups, napkins and cutlery. Products free of toxic materials or made from recycled content will receive the GreenBasis designation as will those verified as compostable, biodegradable, recyclable or reusable.


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Sep 15, 2007 By BSM Desk
Diverse machines from the john McMullen collection that came under the gavel
Jun 16, 2007 By BSM Desk
All the beauties at the Haig Vintage Rally
Apr 17, 2007 By BSM Desk
All the sweet machines from the 77th Geneva Motor Show
Apr 12, 2007 By Bijoy Kumar Y
The all new C-Class shows its colours in stormy Spain.We were there to do the driving.
Mar 13, 2007 By BSM Desk
The windy city's auto show has manufacturers locking horns
Feb 17, 2007 By Shubhabrata Marmar
An Aquila of all things, gets a Vardenchi makeover
Feb 13, 2007 By BSM Desk
The Detroit Motor Show gets its mojo back with these cars
Nov 16, 2006 By Joshua Crasto
Meet our maniac motorcycle - Maximus!
Apr 17, 2005 By Srinivas Krishnan
The nicest people drive a Honda. But which one?
Jul 11, 2004 By BSM
You’ve got Rs 7.5 lakh to burn at your neighbourhood GM showroom. Will it be the Optra sedan or the Tavera MUV? We couldn’t decide that easily either


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In the 1970s, a small group of feminists dusted off an obscure Old English word and disrupted the patriarchy in the process. By replacing the offending "e" with an empowering "y" in the word "women," the founders of the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival took a stand against prevailing gender norms, sending the message that language is power, that words contain meaning both hidden and intended, and that even a single letter can be significant. "Womyn" remains in use to this day to signify an expression of female autonomy and a rejection of patriarchal linguistic norms.
Animal and environmental advocacy groups today are faced with a similar moment. In December, over two dozen congressmen sent a letter to the FDA urging it to enforce its own regulations and prohibit plant milk companies from using the word "milk" in their labels. Their argument is that allowing plant milk companies to use terms like "milk" is "misleading to consumers, harmful to the dairy industry, and a violation of milk's standard of identity." (The FDA defines the word "milk" as "the lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows.") In January, Wisconsin senator Tammy Baldwin introduced the Dairy Pride Act, which would update the U.S. Code's section on "misbranded food" to prohibit plant-based products from using terms such as "milk," "yogurt" or "cheese" on their labels.
The FDA is wise to have thus far declined to enforce its own outdated regulation and should consider updating it to reflect the reality that that milk does not only come from "healthy cows." The current regulation is at odds with the dictionary definition of "milk," which does not limit the word to animal-derived fluids but rather recognizes that the substance comes from plants as well. And as the Plant Based Foods Association pointed out in their response to the Dairy Pride Act, plant-based milks are currently properly labeled with their "common or usual name."
The swirling controversy around whether plant milk should be allowed to continue using the "milk" label raises another, more provocative, question: Is "milk" even a word worth fighting for?
"Mylk," like "womyn," is an Old English word that contains within it the opportunity to envision — and create — a different world. "Mylk" is free of the suffering that is bound up in "milk," the separation of calves from their mothers at birth or a few days of age, the confinement which for most animals in the dairy industry means that they never see the light of day or feel the earth below their hooves, and which always, even on "happy" organic farms, ultimately ends in death. "Mylk" is unencumbered by the history of animal abuse, exploitation and commodification that "milk" cannot escape. "Mylk" is not saddled with the same greenhouse gas emissions that weigh "milk" down and tether it to climate change.
The word "mylk" has long been used within the vegan community to signify plant milk. The practice is gaining wider and more commercial appeal, with a range of companies selling plant-milk products, like U.K.-based Rebel Kitchen, L.A.-based Renew Juicery Wellness, and Australian-based Loving Earth, currently using the term to describe the plant-based milk in their vegan beverages and chocolate bars.
Plant milk companies should not adopt "mylk" to avoid misleading consumers; as Emily Byrd from the Good Food Institute (GFI) recently wrote, "[c]onsumers are not buying plant-based milk because they have been tricked into believing they actually came from a cow." Rather, companies should adopt "mylk" because like the word "womyn," "mylk" offers a departure from a problematic history and association with exploitation and oppression. It signals to the consumer a different narrative about milk, bringing up the injustices, exploitation and suffering bound up in the history of the word "milk" and offering a different path forward.
Perhaps the best way for animal and environmental advocates to stand up to the dairy lobby and the FDA is to let cows keep their "milk," and to instead embrace the power of the "y." Fighting for the widespread adoption of "mylk" may be the most powerful way to signal a demand for a kinder, greener and less exploitative world.
Iselin Gambert (firstname.lastname@example.org) is professor of legal writing at The George Washington University Law School, where she teaches courses in legal communication and rhetoric and runs the law school Writing Center. Tobias Linné (email@example.com) is associate professor at Lund University in Lund, Sweden, where he teaches courses in critical animal studies and is co-founder and director of the Lund University Critical Animal Studies Network.


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Londoners are not getting carried away with the fast-changing nature of retail compared with internet users around the globe, new research has shown.
Research from Ericsson found that an increase in people using smartphones to pay for goods and services was leading to a second shift of consumers calling on the help of 'digital shopping assistants'.
But compared to cities around the world, London was less keen on adopting this new tech.
Only 27 per cent of Londoners said they would use a digital shopping assistant to plan big purchases like furniture and cars, compared to 39 per cent worldwide.
And over a third (37 per cent) of people in the UKs capital said they would use a restocking assistant to buy products without their involvement, whilst the figures stood at 46 per cent globally.
The research by Ericsson also stated that Londoners were not keen on taking fashion advice from a digital assistant, as only 32 per cent from the city said they would use one compared to 47 per cent elsewhere.
"While fascinating in their own right, fast-changing consumer shopping behaviours are important to understand for anyone involved in 5G, smart homes, consumer Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence," said Michael Björn, Head of Research at Ericsson Consumer & IndustryLab.
"Brits – as well as other North Europeans – have a reputation for thinking about both pros and cons with new technology. This will likely push innovators to develop digital retail services with a high degree of maturity. But once Londoners start employing AI to automate everyday purchasing, this will rapidly create demand for IoT enabled sensors as well as a need for people to connect appliances in their homes."


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Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and Etisalat have formed a strategic alliance aimed at connecting 55 million unbanked Nigerians in the next few months, through the mobile payment system, that will enable them open a Tier 1 bank account, using their mobile phones. Announcing the initiative in Lagos last week, both organisations said the partnership would drive financial inclusion in the country, as championed by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Given the estimated population of over 170 million Nigerians, and with the recent statistics that 85 million out of the 170 million Nigerians are adults and that only 30 million out of the 85 million adult Nigerians own bank accounts with various banks, GTBank and Etisalat have assured Nigerians that they would be able to connect the remaining 55 million Nigerian adults that are without bank accounts. Both firms would help them open account without stress, in the next few months, through their mobile payment initiative.
Bolaji Lawal, Head of e-Business at GTBank, who blamed the huge gap that exists between the banked and unbaked Nigerians, on the issue of financial documentation, which he said, has deprived many adult Nigerians from enjoying the benefits of banking. He however explained that the initiative borne of the partnership between GTBank and Etisalat, would remove the barrier of documentation, which now make it easy for Nigerians to own bank accounts via their mobile phones, without visiting the banks. Guaranty Trust Bank and Etisalat Nigeria have partnered to introduce GTEasySavers, a savings account that is easy to open and easy to save, designed to enable under banked and unbanked individuals achieve their financial goals, while operating a regular bank account, via their mobile phone.
The strategic alliance, which will enhance service delivery of both brands, will offer customers, unparalleled lifestyle and loyalty benefits. Speaking on the partnership, Segun Agbaje, Managing Director of GTBank, said: “We are passionate about driving the CBN’s financial inclusion strategy in ensuring the under-banked and unbanked, begin to find the propositions of banking services more attractive and convenient and then take the bold step of patronising our numerous bank products and offerings, a passion which we fully share with Etisalat Nigeria. “This is a new chapter in the continuing growth of the banking industry, made possible through GTEasySavers by GTBank and Etisalat Nigeria. Enabling account opening via an Etisalat phone, will make it more convenient for individuals to carryout transactions, using the transformative power of the banking system,” Matthew Willsher, CEO at Etisalat, said.
He added, “We will continue to offer innovative products and services in fulfillment of the promise we made to Nigeria over six years ago when we commence operations in the country. The partnership will also begin a journey for unbanked customers from our over 22 million subscriber base.” Registered subscribers of Etisalat network can conveniently open a GTEasySavers account by simply dialing a short codec *737*0# via their mobile phones and a ten digit GTBank account number is sent via SMS immediately. Funding of the account can be done be done by cash deposits at Etisalat Experience Centres and GTBank branches; electronic transfers from otter bank accounts; cash deposit ATMs at GTBank branches and GTBank Express Agent locations.


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RIGA, July 28. /TASS/. Latvia’s Food and Veterinary Service has not yet received an official written notification from Russia’s consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor about a ban on the import of some Latvian canned fish products into Russia, head of Latvia’s food surveillance department Ernests Zavadskis told TASS on Tuesday.
"We have not received any official information from Rospotrebnadzor. Usually, in civilized countries, the competent authorities of one country shall first inform the competent authorities of another country of the deficiencies so that the exporting party could put forward valid claims or present its position, or take remedial action. We have not received such a letter from Rospotrebnadzor," he said.
Zavadskis also said he was surprised at the ban. "As for the import ban, I’m surprised by the presentation of the problem, because [Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary watchdog] Rosselkhoznadzor on June 4 this year, already banned imports of Latvian fish products, so I don’t understand what Rospotrebnadzor has banned in this case. How can you ban already prohibited activities?" he said.
Rospotrebnadzor reported on Tuesday that the import into Russia of canned fish produced by the Latvian enterprises - JSC Ventspils Fish Canning Plant, the GAMMA-A, Sabiedrba IMS, Unda, Suldus galas kombinats limited liability companies, is suspended starting from August 1, 2015. An inspection of these enterprises’ canned fish products has revealed that they "fail to meet the labelling, product weight content requirements, and their organoleptic indicators do not conform to the sanitary norms."


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Fake Wellcome coupon trader jailed for money laundering
A pier worker who used fake supermarket coupons to launder HK$1.2 million was jailed for 21 months on Friday.
Using the phoney coupons, Chung Chun-kit, 31, bought goods from Wellcome supermarkets and stashed them in a storage space he rented. He would later give the purchases to his employer for shipment over the border, for resale on the mainland, the court heard.
Police found goods in the storage space including 331 bottles of wine and brandy and 295 tins of infant formula, together valued at HK$180,000, the District Court heard earlier. They also found 3,537 fake coupons there.
The court earlier heard the goods Chung had purchased were worth HK$1 million. He also made HK$200,000 from selling fake coupons online.
Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng said Chung had reason to believe the goods he bought with the fake coupons – and the money he obtained from selling them – were the proceeds of an indictable offence.
Chung should have become suspicious when Wellcome and Citibank – which issued the genuine coupons – set a five-coupon-per-purchase limit and asked users to show their credit cards.
These circumstantial factors would have led a reasonable man to doubt the authenticity of the coupons, the judge said. Chung made his purchases from early January to February 16 last year.
According to a background report, Chung showed no remorse for the two money laundering charges, insisting he was a victim in the case, the court heard.
The judge earlier acquitted Chung of four charges relating to the use of false instruments. He said the prosecution had failed to establish beyond doubt that he knew the coupons were bogus when he used and held them.
Outside court, the police said they were still probing the syndicate behind the scam, which hired people to use the fake coupons.
About 15 people, including Chung, had been arrested so far, but the others would not be charged because they had used so few coupons, police said.


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South Korea’s central financial institution is shifting ahead with its nationwide digital foreign money plans because it now seems for a expertise provider to design a pilot platform for the digital received.
The Financial institution of Korea introduced that it launched a bidding course of to decide on a tech accomplice for finding out the practicalities of launching a central financial institution digital foreign money in a check surroundings, Reuters reported Monday.
The BoK mentioned that the most recent transfer is available in response to quick modifications within the world monetary system, stating, “The share of money transactions is lowering considerably. The steps we’re taking now are to arrange for the modifications within the fee settlement system, altering quickly.”
In line with the report, the BoK’s pilot CBDC platform will comprise simulations of business banks and shops, check funds by way of cell phones, fund transfers, and deposits. The pilot program is scheduled to run from August to December 2021 and will doubtlessly be prolonged into subsequent 12 months.
The Financial institution of Korea published a CBDC-related book in February, saying plans to check the distribution of a digital received and outlining the authorized challenges related to a state digital foreign money.
In March, main South Korean business financial institution Shinhan Financial institution developed a blockchain-based pilot platform for a CBDC in partnership with LG Company’s IT companies arm, LG CNS. The financial institution reportedly mentioned it was keen to collaborate with the BoK on growing a nationwide digital foreign money.


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Sony reveals PS4-only games that are compatible with PS5 console
The list is also said to be a subject to change and excludes demos, media, and non-game applications.
Sony has got console lovers all hyped up about its upcoming PS5. The company even revealed the price and the release date of the device adding more to the hype. However, there was some confusion among gamers on what PS4-only titles will it run. So, the Japanese tech giant has cleared the air. In a PlayStation support article, the firm has given a list of PS4 only games that are playable on PlayStation 5.
-Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One
-TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge 2
-Just Deal With It!
-Shadow Complex Remastered
-Robinson: The Journey
-Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
However, the list is also said to be a subject to change and excludes demos, media, and non-game applications.
Those who are playing a disc game on PS4, can upgrade the title to PS5 version as well. It is worth noting that the title should be eligible for a PS5 update at first place. Also mentioned is that “when using a PS5 console, you may have the option to upgrade a disc or digital PS4 game to the digital PS5 version. Depending on the game, this upgrade may occur at no additional cost, may require a purchase, and may be available for a limited time.”
That said, the console gamers in India may need to wait for some extra time to get their hands on PS5 as the trademark in in India is not with Sony yet.
According to a report by the Mako Reactor, the first PS5 trade mark application in India has reportedly been filed by someone named Hitesh Aswani from Delhi. The trademark was apparently filed on October 29 last year. Sony, however, filed an application for PS5 in February this year.


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The latest findings from the Auto Trader Fastest Selling Index reveal that second-hand car buyers are clamouring for EVs.
The Renault Zoe is particularly in demand. Renault’s long-serving electric city car takes up three of the top four fastest-selling spots. Zoes dating from 2017, 2016 and 2015 are selling, on average, in no more than 26 days. The 2016 Seat Alhambra diesel (automatic) takes third place among them.
It’s the third time that an EV has come top in the fastest-sellers chart. Last time, it was the Nissan Leaf in March 2019. Before that, it was the Zoe in July 2018. This is the first time, however, that an electric vehicle has taken first and second spots.
Overall, the MPVs and SUVs that normally dominate the top of the table have been deposed, with smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles breaking into the top 10. Examples include the Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Aygo and Volkswagen Up.
“This month’s result is hugely significant as it marks the first time a pure electric has taken both the first and second spot on our list of fastest turners, and it’s only the third time since we’ve been tracking the market that one has been named the overall fastest,” said Auto Trader’s director of commercial products, Karolina Edwards-Smajda.
Read more: Motoring Research


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MANILA -- The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is seeking the application of a move to rationalize tax incentives on domestic enterprises first, while retaining perks for export-oriented industries in the economic zones to enable them to benefit from the trade war between the United States and China, and other global opportunities.
PEZA Director General Charito Plaza said they “feel that Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Reform Act (CITIRA) is actually a very good program” as it incentivizes companies which are performing well.
“But let us not test it on the exporters because our exporters’ incentives must be globally competitive and the PEZA incentives are already tried, tested and proven effective, so why are we changing? Unless it did not work. We continue to gain, we did not lose,” she told reporters this week on the sidelines of digital disruption forum.
Plaza noted that local government unit (LGU) hosts of economic zones and industries are also showing continuous growth while providing jobs to more Filipinos.
Formerly called Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher-quality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill, CITIRA aims to reduce corporate income tax and rationalize tax incentives.
Plaza pointed out the CITIRA bill is ideal for domestic enterprises to encourage them to increase domestic production, manufacturing, and export capability of the Filipinos and thereby lessen importation-dependence of the country.
“Mas lalong ma-attract yung mga exporters (will be more attracted) because the value chain, the supply chain is complete and it will give them the lower cost of production, hindi na sila mag i-import (they don’t need to import anymore) because it’s available in the domestic enterprises,” he explained.
Plaza also appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to exempt PEZA from rationalization of tax incentives under the CITIRA bill to attract more investors amid global opportunities. (PNA)


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Cruise Critic posted a link
The number of cruise ships calling at Dublin will be halved as a result of plans announced by the Dublin Port Company (DPC).The decision to allow just 80 vessels to call at the port from 2021 -- compared with the 160 cruise ships scheduled to call this year -- is in light of the increase in freight business. The news has been met with dismay by local tourism representatives who say it will hit local businesses as well as the cruise sector.
Top contributors in Dublin
INSIDER posted a link
Hitting the road with your friends, your significant other, or as a solo traveler can result in incredible, life-changing trips for everyone involved. But if you're close to your mom and want a really memorable experience with her, a one-on-one mother-daughter vacation feels particularly special. If you're stumped on a locale, we've rounded up our 12 favorite mother-daughter trip spots around the world.
93 Likes5 Reposts
storiedhotels posted a link
Hotels have become the home of some of the most interesting jobs that have been seen within the last 10 years. With the hotel’s always trying to outdo one another and constantly striving to be the most extravagant and innovating. Each of these unique jobs gives the hotel their own one-of-a-kind experience that will be remembered by their guests forever.
Dublin has long been a must-stop on any proper European trip. The Irish capital, which is bisected by the scenic River Liffey, has much to offer travelers, after all: Its streets were once wandered by literary stars like James Joyce, while Trinity Co...
Doing things alone can be immensely therapeutic: A solo meal can help you really appreciate food; a solitary walk can be a rare opportunity to think; and traveling by yourself can be an incredible opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth. S...
127 Likes13 Reposts


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Trump Tariff Threats Have Done Little to Shrink German Surplus
(Bloomberg) -- Germany’s trade surplus with the U.S. is showing little sign of buckling under President Donald Trump’s accusations of unfair practices.
The nation’s exports to the U.S. exceeded imports by 24.4 billion euros ($28.3 billion) in the first half of the year, German data showed on Tuesday. That’s barely changed from the 24.5 billion euros in the same period of 2017.
The booming U.S. economy is continuing to suck in German goods from cars to chemicals, even amid repeated criticism from the Trump administration and threats of tariffs on Europe. Still, the latest figures show how tensions could flare up again, despite Trump’s agreement with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to refrain from any action while the two sides negotiate.
“At the moment, we don’t see much of a decline in the trading relationship with the U.S.,” said Jan-Philipp Schulz, treasury manager at Sparkasse Suedholstein. While some confidence indicators have weakened amid a worsening of ties, “this overflow into the real economy hasn’t happened.”
Trump, who has German ancestry, has lambasted the country for its underspending on defense, links to Russia and exports. He has complained on Twitter about the “MASSIVE trade deficit” with Germany and at a meeting with European Union leaders called the country “very bad” for selling “millions of cars” in America. His top trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has accused it of benefiting from a “grossly undervalued” euro.
Yet while German exporters do benefit from a weaker currency, and the euro has softened against the dollar recent years, the country doesn’t set the exchange rate. That’s largely a consequence of the European Central Bank, which is running looser monetary policy than the Federal Reserve because the bloc’s recovery from global financial crisis has been slower.
There’s little sign that dynamic will change any time soon, with the Fed pledging to keep raising rates at a gradual pace and the ECB saying it expects to keep borrowing costs at current record lows at least through the summer of 2019.
Exporters are still nervous about the outlook, even after Trump’s meeting with Juncker last month. The U.S. Commerce Department is continuing an investigation into car imports under an act that permits trade restrictions if needed to safeguard national security.
That’s a particular concern for Germany. Vehicles were its largest export category by value in 2017, accounting for almost a fifth of the total, and levies on vehicles including Mercedes-Benz, BMW AG and Porsche models would represent a significant blow to the economy. Chancellor Angela Merkel last month described potential auto tariffs as “a danger for the prosperity for many in the world.”
The U.S. is also Germany’s largest non-European Union export destination, taking 9 percent of the nation’s shipments last year.
The breadth of the economy’s manufacturing base shows how difficult it would be to curb exports through product-specific tariffs though. The country is also a major seller overseas of machinery, chemicals, electronics and electrical equipment.
The nation’s global trade surplus was 122 billion euros in the first half of 2018, putting it on track to match last year’s 244 billion euros, and within reach of 2016’s record 249 billion euros.
One area where the nation is largely dependent on imports is crude oil and natural gas. Trump has alleged the country is “captive to Russia” for its energy supplies and tried to pitch U.S. liquefied natural gas instead.
Juncker told the president at their meeting that Europe will expand imports of the fuel from the U.S. Even that may not add up to much though. Germany has so far been lukewarm to the idea of buying U.S. LNG, and analysts have noted that supplies from Russia’s vast Siberian fields are far cheaper.
©2018 Bloomberg L.P.


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Suck on it, AppleSoft — Google pulls a rope-a-dope
Now Is The Perfect Time For HP To Step Up And License WebOS
10 questions about Google's Motorola deal
$2.5 billion Google-Motorola break-up fee reflects sellers' concern and buyer's desperation
“Defending Android” — Bravo Google, well played.
With Motorola, Google TV just got a huge shot in the arm
Google buying Motorola: Nokia, Samsung, and other industry players react
Google just bought itself patent protection
Google's Motorola Deal Will Spur Antitrust Regulators to Action
FCC Probing Wireless Blocking by San Francisco Authorities
Did Apple alter photos of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in its injunction filing?


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The chairman of one of the world’s most ambitious emerging lithium producers says fears of oversupply of lithium “defies logic”, despite a sale of the company’s shares following the resignation of its chief executive. chief executive and as warnings mount of a glut.
A selloff that began last week erased more than 50% from Lake Resources’ stock price to close at A$0.87 ($0.60) on Monday after a slight rally.
This followed the sudden resignation of chief executive Stephen Promnitz on June 17, who sold his roughly 1% stake in the company.
Lake Resources was one of the most shorted companies on the Australian Securities Exchange last Tuesday, with more than 7% of shares held short, according to data from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.
The sale came as analysts warned that higher-than-expected investment in lithium supply could outpace demand as the threat of a global recession risks lowering demand for electric vehicles.
But Lake Resources Chairman Stuart Crow dismissed claims that Promnitz’s actions hinted at deeper issues.
“We are already in a lithium supply deficit,” he said. “The demand is exponential. Supply response is limited at best.
Lake Resources plans to extract lithium from brine in Argentina using new technology developed by US group Lilac Solutions, backed by Bill Gates.
It is aiming to produce 50,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year by 2025, around 10% of total global production last year, and has signed memorandums of understanding to supply US automaker Ford and to the Japanese trading company Hanwa 25,000 tons per year each.
But the company has not started commercial production and must clear a number of hurdles, including testing Lilac’s production capacity, before making a final investment decision.
A short seller, who asked not to be named, said the high rate of short selling was notable because the company’s shares were difficult and expensive to borrow, showing that short sellers believed the stock was significantly overvalued because they were willing to pay a premium to borrow. this.
He said Promnitz’s decision to sell his shares was a bad sign. “If I didn’t have faith in the company, I would quit and sell my shares when the price was high,” the short seller said.
David Talbot, mining analyst at Canadian group Red Cloud, said last week’s share price plunge was a “great investment opportunity to buy Lake Resources at a lower entry point.”
Crow, the chairman of Lake Resources, said the company was in the process of moving its headquarters to Miami in the United States and had been looking for a new US-based chief executive for six months.
He said Promnitz was not in contention for the top job and would have been demoted to a lower position in the company had he stayed. Promnitz did not respond to requests for comment.
Crow said Lake Resources was “one of the few ‘lithium producers’ with an uncommitted drawdown looking to go into production”, and predicted that would be an advantage as prices were likely to rise.
But Credit Suisse analyst Saul Kavonic said there were indications of oversupply in the lithium market.
“Just three or four months ago the lithium market looked like it was in the grip of prolonged deficits for the next few years and there was very little that could stop that,” he said.
“But we can now see oversupply developing for the lithium market next year. On the supply side, we are seeing much faster mining expansion in response to high price signals.
He said high lithium prices have prompted Chinese automakers to shift production from fully electric vehicles to hybrid electric vehicles, which consume less lithium.
He said this demand destruction could be heightened if a global recession hit consumer demand for electric vehicles, which he said were still luxury items.