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Personal care giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) has reported a net profit rise for the full fiscal year 2022, though beauty and grooming dipped in the fourth quarter and challenges remain ahead, according to its CEO.
The beauty sector might be one of the hottest arenas in e-commerce, but there looks set to be boundless new opportunities on the horizon for digital-savvy brands, from social commerce advances to the metaverse.
Walmart launched BEAUTYSPACENK with Space NK to bring prestige personal care to the retail giant's online and instore sales spaces . CosmeticsDesign spoke with Laurie Tessier, merchandising director for prestige beauty at Walmart, about the launch.
Several major beauty brands and retailers have suspended operations in Russia amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict – action that aligns with widespread consumer sentiment and the increasing difficulties of doing business in the country, according to one...
French beauty giant L’Oréal Group has credited the boom in luxury fragrance to the growing appreciation among Chinese consumers and expects it to continue growing by double-digits in the years to come.
Active lip care brand Esho is continuing its rise in beauty with a flurry of new launches and retail partnerships on the horizon as its founder aims to bring lips to the forefront of personalised routines.
Consumer goods major Unilever has reported growth in full-year 2021 net sales and net profit, with a strong performance in beauty and personal care, but has said a dramatic rise in input costs remains a considerable challenge.
International beauty major L’Oréal has reported a significant rise in full-year 2021 sales and net profit globally, with Latin America and North Asia performing particularly well and business in its Luxe and Active Cosmetics divisions leading the surge.
Tis the season for brand acquisition before the New Year, and a research analyst as Euromonitor says P&G’s acquisition of Ouai is part of a larger trend of multinationals absorbing cult-favorite indie brands.
International personal care major Colgate-Palmolive is continuing to take worldwide pricing action and strengthen innovation and productivity to counter the ongoing cost inflation crisis, its chief financial officer says.
Beauty major L’Oréal has signed an agreement to acquire US superfood skin care specialist Youth to the People in a move set to deepen its ethical offering in an increasingly competitive market, say experts.
Unified commerce where online and offline are intrinsically linked, a sharper and smarter focus on data, and investment in the metaverse must be the future focus for beauty brands and retailers, says a retail expert.
Arkay was recently recognized for its philanthropic efforts around Alzheimer’s, and the company’s CEO attributes their success to authenticity, realistic giving goals and integration into the business.
Personal care major Unilever has reported a net sales rise for its third quarter (Q3) of 2021, with strong growth in the Americas and across its prestige beauty division, but the future will prove challenging as price inflation continues.
Personal care giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) has reported a net sales rise for the first quarter (Q1) of fiscal 2022, though profits suffered due to a challenging cost environment – an ongoing issue it plans to overcome with price hikes.
UK-Singapore headquartered biotech startup Sequential Skin has secured more funding in its latest seed round that it plans to use for global expansion of its at-home skin diagnostics patch, in both a B2B and D2C capacity, its CEO says.
Estée Lauder Companies CEO has remarked on the strength of China’s beauty market, and said he was expecting it to grow by double-digits next year on the back of the acceleration of its online business.
This week, the private equity – owned cosmetics and personal care ingredient distribution company announced signing a strategic partnership deal with GREAF Biotech, an active ingredients manufacturer based in Shanghai, China.
The sun care ingredient company is based in the National Research Council facility in Montreal, Québec. And thanks to the government’s economic recovery efforts, Elkimia is buying new equipment and developing more sun care actives.


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In order to promote its non-hydrocarbon exports, the Algerian government has established a National Consultative Council for the Promotion of Exports (CNCPE), an institutional body whose mission is to define, regulate and evaluate the national strategy in this area. of exports and to support companies in their efforts.
Established by the Prime Minister, Aïmene Benabderrahmane, on July 31, 2023, the CNCPE is part of the government’s policy which aims to boost non-hydrocarbon exports, which have recorded promising developments over the last two years. They have in fact increased from 5 billion dollars (1 dollar = 0.93 euros) in 2021 to 7 billion in 2022, and they could reach 13 billion dollars in 2023.
Made up of ministerial services, establishments, representatives of different chambers as well as professional associations, this body will allow full access to African markets and other markets which guarantee success to producers and national products. According to the Prime Minister, the CNCPE will be equipped with a digital platform through which the various questions relating to the act of exporting will be addressed and which will allow the rapid processing of the concerns of operators and institutions.
Reforming the act of exporting
According to Mr. Benabderrahmane, the CNCPE will propose legislative and regulatory measures to simplify the act of exporting, facilitate access to foreign markets, strengthen competitiveness and support exporters by removing obstacles linked to exporting. According to him, the Council will also have the mission “to monitor the results of the activities of the free zones and take all measures capable of removing the obstacles that arise from the export operation in these zones.”
“The mission of the CNCPE is to define obstacles and implement mechanisms to stimulate exports,” says Ishak Kherchi, economics expert. “The body will be responsible for reforming the regulatory framework and reviewing the various cooperation agreements so that they are more favorable to the national economy,” he adds, citing that existing with the Union European Union (EU) which, according to him, does not allow Algerian products to enter the markets of the European continent.
“This institutional body must propose mechanisms to improve and develop national production,” he underlines. “We will have to be able to satisfy our national needs and adapt our export strategy according to demand from external markets,” he specifies, pleading for the publication of periodic reports (every six months) to determine the added value that this organization will provide in support of the government’s export strategy.
Conquest of international markets
In order to promote exports, the Prime Minister indicated that incentive measures have been put in place by the government in favor of exporting companies. Among them, tax and customs measures, including exemption from global income tax (IRG), corporate profits tax (IBS) and professional activity tax (TAP). Aïmene Benabderrahmane announced that annexes of the National Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Trade (Algex) would be established in many African countries.
Asked by Arab News in French about the contribution of economic diplomacy in conquering markets, Mr. Kherchi pleads for increased efforts in this area. “We expect this organization to open an acceptable number of representations in Europe, where there is a strong Algerian community demanding Algerian products. The export potential in this region is considerable, particularly in food and craft products,” he explains.
Thus, Ishak Kherchi pleads for the opening of bank branches and active participation in international exhibitions and fairs. “These are means which will make it possible to attract operators who are interested in Algerian products and to bring Algerian exporters to establish links with foreign operators.”
Such a strategy will also make it possible to establish a relationship of trust and synergy between economic operators, he underlines, specifying that “the CNCPE will be responsible for developing large-scale initiatives which will stimulate global trade and respond to the challenges to come, in particular by investing in the potential of the African continent. Finally, to stimulate exports, the economist calls for the creation of a ministerial department devoted exclusively to exports.
This article is originally published on arabnews.fr

domain: news


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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The state’s largest medical marijuana company just got bigger, opening its 100th store in the same city where it all first began: Tallahassee.
“I think it exemplifies our future,” Valda Coryat, Chief Marketing Officer at Trulieve, said.
Trulieve is by far the largest medical marijuana company in the state of Florida. Soon as many as 19 additional competitors will have a chance to join the marketplace, but the company says that’s a good thing.
“I think it will make us all better, right?” Coryat said. “It will be good for the industry and in the end, it will be great for our patients.”
Trulieve is also supporting a proposal that could turn customers into competitors.
“One of our core values for Trulieve is absolutely accessibility to all patients and with that we support home grow,” Coryat said.
Michael Minardi, the man behind the citizen initiative seeking to legalize home grow, said the support of the cannabis industry makes good business sense.
“Eventually they’ll be able to sell seeds and clones and sell to an adult-use market,” Minardi from Regulate Florida, said.
Trulieve has petitions available in all of its stores. So far, Sensible Florida says it’s already collected nearly 50,000 signatures.
“At a minimum, we will hopefully have enough signatures for supreme court review by the end of November,” Minardi said.
The citizen initiative still has a long way to go.
Nearly 223,000 signatures are required just to get a review by the State Supreme Court, which has already blocked two previous legalization efforts from appearing on the ballot.


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Coronavirus doesn’t jeopardize tap water, but it might be carried in raw sewage
Bottled water has been disappearing from store shelves as fast as toilet paper. And, like toilet paper, there’s no practical reason to stockpile bottled water.
“People need to stop hoarding water,” said Damon Micalizzi of the Municipal Water District of Orange County. “Your tap water is regulated more strictly than any bottled water you buy.”
Tap water is treated specifically to remove infectants like the new coronavirus, which “is a type of virus that is particularly susceptible to disinfection and standard treatment,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website.
But what about streams, lakes, bays and oceans? What about sewage getting into those?
In addition to the websites of the EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and the Surfrider Foundation, the Southern California News Group reached out local water and sanitation officials to assess possible risks.


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(PTI) The country's largest pure-play credit card company SBI Card along with Aditya Birla Finance on Thursday announced the launch of a co-branded credit card.
The 'Aditya Birla SBI Card' is a co-branded credit card offering significant reward points to customers on their purchases in telecom, fashion, travel, dining, entertainment and hotels, among others.
This makes 'Aditya Birla SBI Card' one of the most compelling cards for customers across segments, offering exciting benefits on both premium and mass brands that belong to Aditya Birla Group, a joint release by the two companies said on Thursday.
The rewards-centric credit card has two variants - 'Aditya Birla SBI Card SELECT' and 'Aditya Birla SBI Card', on the Visa platform.
"This partnership will enable us to issue credit cards to Aditya Birla Group's customer base, thereby providing them a great product for all their spending needs. This is in line with our strategy of enhancing value for both customers and co-brand partners," Rama Mohan Rao Amara, MD and CEO of SBI Card, said.
Rakesh Singh, MD and CEO of Aditya Birla Finance Ltd, said this card will immensely benefit the 35 million (3.5 crore) customers of Aditya Birla Capital and help in leveraging the customer ecosystem of the Aditya Birla Group.
Aditya Birla Finance Ltd (ABFL) is the lending subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Ltd.


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Beyond the Footsie: Wednesday close
TAKEOVER talk helped the FTSE SmallCap index close up 6.1 points at 2,653.5. Cider maker Merrydown led the gainers, up 23½p at 126p after it confirmed it is in talks which may or may not lead to an offer for the company.
Whitehead Mann was 30p firmer at 166p after the recruitment firm confirmed it has received a number of approaches. Whitehead, which warned on profits and ousted its chief executive last month, is believed to be in takeover talks with US rivals Korn/Ferry International and Heidrick & Struggles..
Hopes of consolidation in the sector lifted peer Reed Health 5p at 60½p.
Desire Petroleum gained more than 33% or 12½p at 50p as traders continued to warm to yesterday's upbeat drilling news.
Ultima Networks ticked up 0.12p to 1.87p. The company has snapped up 55% of telecoms start-up company C2 Communications.
An upbeat statement and solid half-yearly numbers provided the impetus to Aveva Group, which rose 16p ahead at 603½p.
The engineering data and design IT systems company said it expects results for the year as a whole to be in line with forecasts as it reported a strong performance for the first half.
Volex Group plunged 23p to 132½p after the electrical and electronic cable company failed to move back into the black in the half-year to October 3.
Pretax losses narrowed to just £39,000 from £5.815m, nevertheless, despite high commodity prices and operational issues in North America, which included a fire at its Tijuana plant. Arbuthnot had factored in profits of £500,000 for the period.
News that iTrain, the Aim-listed provider of IT training software, has agreed to buy Applied Interactive Ltd for a maximum £1.2m sent the shares 1p lower at 9.12p.
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A new Walmart in Estero is raising some old concerns about pedestrian safety and sidewalks.
Estero Mayor Nick Batos said getting sidewalks along Estero Parkway has been tough. Some places have them and others don't.
Batos hopes the new Walmart will make the project more of a priority for the Lee County.
"It's a good thing and it's gonna bring a ton of business," he said.
A new Walmart across the street from Headquarters Barbershop means new opportunities for manager Aubrey Downes.
"It'll definitely bring a lot more traffic to this area in terms of car traffic and foot traffic so hopefully it will help all the businesses in the area," Downes said.
City leaders say the new business also draws attention to some old problems - such as the lack of sidewalks, something Batos said has been an issue for years.
He said the Estero doesn't have the money - more than a million dollars - needed to pave the almost three-miles of sidewalk.
"Unfortunately, because of the economic condition, there has not been funding for it."
Now they're asking the county for help.
"They put in partial sidewalks and didn't have them connect to one another. It's been on the list of things that we wanted to have done for many years. The county has it on their list. It's been high on the priority list," Batos said.
In the meantime, residents have high hopes for new money flowing into the community.
"It'll bring more people, it'll bring more revenue to the community, so that's a plus," said resident Nocholas Koenig.
The new Walmart opens Wednesday and brings with it about 300 new jobs.


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It seems like this story never gets out of the news. The defective Takata airbag has recently killed a 10th person in the United States and now the NHTSA is recalling another 5 million vehicles. One of the largest recalled models is the 2004-2006 Ford Ranger. There have been 391,000 recalled within the last few days amidst the 10th death from a Takata airbag that exploded in a 2006 Ford Ranger.
According to NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/), other automakers are expected to announce more recalls soon as the Takata inflator mess continues to grow. It now covers 14 auto and truck makers and totals about 24 million vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the number of recalls is likely to expand further.
Takata uses the chemical ammonium nitrate to cause a small explosion that creates gas and inflates air bags in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate over time when exposed to high heat and humidity and burn too fast, blowing apart a metal canister designed to contain the explosion.


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According to the latest NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Report, Tablet shipments will surpass notebook shipments in 2016. Overall mobile PC shipments will grow from 347 million units in 2012 to over 809 million units by 2017. Tablet PC shipments are expected to grow from 121 million units to 416 million units in this period, while notebook PC shipments are expected to increase from 208 million units in 2012 to 393 million units by 2017
“Consumer preference for mobile computing devices is shifting from notebook to tablet PCs, particularly in mature markets,” said Richard Shim, senior analyst at NPD DisplaySearch. “While the lines between tablet and notebook PCs are blurring, we expect mature markets to be the primary regions for tablet PC adoption. New entrants are tending to launch their initial products in mature markets. Services and infrastructure needed to create compelling new usage models are often better established in mature markets.”
Mature markets, including North America, Japan and Western Europe account for 66% of shipments in 2012 and remain in the 60% range throughout the forecast period while Tablet PC shipments will grow from 80 million units in 2012 to 254 million units by 2017. The notebook PC market will remain the largest part of the mobile PC market during the forecast period, accounting for 60% of mobile PC shipments in 2012, declining to 49% by 2017.


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IBM is pushing forward in the world of smart assistants, giving Watson an upgrade to meet the needs of consumers around the world.
The company has teamed up with brands from around the globe, including HARMAN, Munich Airport and Royal Bank of Scotland to bring new capabilities to IBM Watson.
Together the brands aim to transform Watson into an enterprise AI assistant, building solutions that can bring together data from various places and things customers visit on a daily basis.
Watson’s new capabilities have been incorporated into a single app, which is easily accessible for consumers wherever they are. The aim of bringing together data from various aspects of an individual’s life is to make day-to-day jobs seamless for the consumer.
Data that is collected is specifically set to the daily preferences of an individual, securely shared between their vehicle or preferred hotel as well as a coffee shop that they visit daily. IBM Watson sources data from conversations, texts, videos and locations and is then analysed to provide predictive suggestions to consumers.
The benefits of IBM’s update to Watson is that customers will only get recommendations based on the data they allow Watson to access, making it perfectly tailored to their needs. Additionally, it makes journeys much more seamless by adjusting necessary arrangements based on real-time information. For example, if a flight is delayed and transport to a hotel has been booked Watson can use this data to reschedule a booking.
From a business perspective, it allows organisations to give their customers a much more personalised service than has ever been available before ensuring the best customer service.
The new capabilities of Watson also coincide with the new GDPR regulations, by giving customers control of their data by choosing what, where and how their data is shared based on personal preferences. Any data individual’s do not want Watson to have, they simply will not share. Equally, IBM has said any data stored in the app will remain there, reassuring users their personal information will not be exploited to third party applications.


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Volkswagen AG unveiled its redesigned Beetle (call it the new New Beetle) today, and as expected it looks a bit sportier and more aggressive than the previous model, which has been around since the 1998 model year.
But really, it isn’t much of a departure from its predecessor, and after the hype-heavy buildup that started last year, the new car is a letdown. Why not just say you’re going to make minor tweaks to the car’s appearance, revamp the suspension and just roll with it. I was halfway expecting the return of, well, maybe the Karmann Ghia.
But a car with the Beetle’s signature shape is limited in how sporty and aggressive an image it can project. Even the original Beetle, the people’s car, was largely regarded as an automotive parody in the U.S. And for the last 13 years the New Beetle has been a caricature of that parody. It looks like the original but has none of the mechanical features that largely necessitated the old Beetle’s shape like a rear-mounted engine and cargo trunk up front.
The 2012 Beetle come with a 2.5-liter five cylinder gasoline engine, a 2-liter diesel or a 2-liter turbocharged gas engine. Transmission choices include a 5-speed manual, 6-speed automatic or 6-speed dual-clutch version, depending on the model.
The long-running New Beetle was more of a Rabbit or Jetta in disguise — a retro gimmick that sacrificed function in the name of form. A lack of useable interior space was a longtime problem with the Beetle, especially for anyone who had to ride in the cramped back seat. While never a huge seller, the Beetle has put up fairly reliable numbers for VW. The company sold 55,842 Beetles in 1998, its first year on the market. Last year it sold 16,537.
In November Volkswagen used “The Oprah Winfrey Show” as a platform for launching the redesigned Beetle roughly a year before it was to go on sale. Winfrey showed a silhouette of the 2012 Beetle, and then said she’d give one to each member of the studio audience — 275 cars in all.


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We’re now in week two of food scrap collection in Arlington.
If you receive Arlington County’s residential trash collection service, then you can now place compostable items in your green organics cart instead of the trash. Earlier this summer the county distributed a countertop caddy and compostable bags to residential collection customers as a way to collect food scraps in the home.
(Apartment and condo residents who receive private collection service can drop off food scraps at designated locations.)
Examples of items that can be composted include:
- Vegetables and fruits
- Meats, including bones, and old meat grease (sopped up with a paper towel)
- Dairy products and eggshells
- Coffee grounds, paper coffee liners and tea leaves (but not tea bags)
Food and beverage containers that are marked as compostable, some of which actually contain a plastic lining, should be kept out and placed in the trash instead, officials previously said.
For those who still have questions about how to best go about collecting and disposing of food scraps, a dedicated county web page has answers and a new county-produced video, below, also offers tips. Among them: place a paper towel at the bottom of the bag to soak up liquids, and be sure to wash the caddy with soap and water regularly.
County Mulls Immigration Policies — “The Arlington County Board unveiled a draft framework for a Commitment to Strengthening Trust with Our Immigrant Community… ‘We are sharing an updated framework and seeking…
Just Reduced this week includes a 4 BD/3 BA single-level home perched on the corner lot of a tree-lined street.
This post is exclusively for ARLnow Press Club members. Not a member? Join here. Members can sign in here.
Local candidates offered differing takes on police oversight and demographic disparities in public schools during a candidate forum last night. The Arlington branch of the NAACP hosted Monday’s forum, featuring…


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Mobile content revolution: What brands need to know
InMobi’s Glance provides personalised media content, news & casual games to smartphone users, the InMobi team said at the recently held e4m Content Upfront Festival Edition
At the recently held e4m Content Upfront Festival Edition, the InMobi team spoke about Glance, a subsidiary of the InMobi Group, which provides personalised media content, news, and casual games to smartphone users on their lock screen. Glance maintains tie-ups with nearly every top Android smartphone vendor including Xiaomi and Samsung.
Glance uses AI to offer personalised experiences to its users. The service replaces the otherwise empty lock screen with locally relevant news, stories, and casual games. Glance, unlike any other popular internet service, has gained their first 100 million daily active users in what appears to be the shortest duration ever of 21 months.
“For an advertiser, we can drive high-impact branded content, stories, and vertical videos on Glance. We can also help drive influencer marketing on Roposo, our short-form video app, and amplify the reach through Glance to these million users,” shared the InMobi team. “Glance reaches 100 million daily active users and of all age groups from 18 to 55 years. Roposo, on the other hand, is scaling on a daily basis with growing advertiser interest on what they can do to ride on its popularity, especially among the non-urban smartphone users. Lately, over thousands of influencers including Dabboo Ratnani, Baba Sehgal, Babita Phogat, Chandro Tomar aka 'Shooter Dadi' have joined the short-form video app.”
Sharing how InMobi is offering unique solutions to brands using its leadership position, the InMobi team said: “We curate branded video shows featuring original content designed for the Glance experience. It delivers great branding impact via the lock screen of the connected consumer's primary device.”
“Mobile is the gateway to high-quality audience intelligence and insights, which we leverage on our InMobi Marketing Cloud to help brands with precise targeting. With a growing consumer trend of online shopping and focus on contactless delivery practices, InMobi's household targeting and shoppable ad solutions are poised to help brands maximize impact this festive season. Shoppable ads will be a key asset for all the brands aiming to shape their direct to consumer marketing strategies,” they added.
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Exports declined to HKD 296.5 billion after edging down 0.1 percent in May. Sales to Asia as a whole grew 0.5 percent, mainly to Taiwan (+10.1 percent), India (+9.2 percent), China (+1.8 percent) and South Korea (+0.9 percent). On the other hand, decreases were recorded for Singapore (-9.4 percent), Thailand (-9.1 percent), Japan (-8.2 percent) and Malaysia (-8.2 percent). Outside Asia, shipments to the United Kingdom (-10.3 percent) and the US (-7.3 percent) fell while those to Germany (+1 percent) increased. By product, sales declined for office machines and automatic data processing machines (-10.6 percent); miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly jewellery, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares) (-15.4 percent) and articles of apparel and clothing accessories (-16.4 percent).
Imports went down to HKD 342.1 billion. It is the smallest decline in seventeen straight months of falls. Imports from some major suppliers declined: Switzerland (-18.6 percent), the US (-17.9 percent) and Malaysia (-9.2 percent) but increases were registered from South Korea (+17.2 percent), Singapore (+11.7 percent), India (+4.5 percent) and Thailand (+3.4 percent). Imports from China edged up 0.2 percent.
For the first half of 2016, exports of goods dropped 3.9 percent over the same period in 2015 and imports of goods slumped 5.6 percent. A visible trade deficit of HKD 199.6 billion, equivalent to 10.8 percent of the value of imports was recorded.
Considering the second quarter only, exports increased 6.9 percent from the previous period. Within this total, the value of re-exports rose 7.1 percent while domestic exports went down 3.6 percent. Meanwhile, imports of goods increased by 4.5 percent.


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Electric vehicle startup Fisker is planning to lay off 15% of its workforce and says it likely does not have enough cash on hand to survive the next 12 months. The company says it is trying to find a way to raise that money as it works through a pivot from direct sales to a dealership model.
“[W]e have put a plan in place to streamline the company as we prepare for another difficult year,” founder and CEO Henrik Fisker said in a statement.
Fisker said Thursday that it finished 2023 with $396 million in cash, though $70 million of that is restricted. The company says it is talking with one of its lenders about making “an additional investment” in the company. It also claims it is “in negotiations with a large automaker for a potential transaction which could include an investment in Fisker, joint development of one or more electric vehicle platforms, and North America manufacturing.”
The company’s financial struggles come as it is trying to move to a wholesale model built around partnerships with dealers, a shift that Fisker says has “negatively impacted” its sales so far. It’s currently sitting on inventory of thousands of vehicles that are collectively worth more than $500 million. Fisker says it has received interest from around 250 dealerships but has only signed up 13 to date.
Fisker has also been dealing with a number of problems with its Ocean SUV, its only model so far, as TechCrunch reported earlier this month.
This story is developing…


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Mobily and Ericsson sign agreement to scale up 5G technology
The partnership will enhance Ericsson’s position in 5G services and accelerate the use of 5G applications by all sectors and consumers in Saudi Arabia.
Mobily has signed an agreement with Ericsson to exchange experience and avail of its global program for partnerships in 5G applications that will help it contribute to the digital economy mandate of Vision 2030.
Vision 2023 allows partnerships between communications service providers, leading companies and startups aiming to develop innovative solutions and applications over 5G.
With Mobily, Ericsson is further cementing its efforts to commercialise 5G opportunities with hands-on solutions and business plans for communications service providers to take to market.
Jasmeet Singh Sethi, Head of ConsumerLab at Ericsson Research, said: “We are really looking forward to collaborating with Mobily through the Ericsson Startup 5G program to drive 5G consumer innovation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia leveraging our curated selection of global startups.
“The collaboration offers Mobily the ability to cater to consumer demands for innovative apps and digital services and to drive monetisation of new 5G consumer offerings,” he continued.
Enhancing Mobily’s advancement in the 5G field
As part of the agreement, Mobily now has access to 25 years worth of ICT research from Ericsson’s ConsumerLab. This research will enhance Mobily advancement in the 5G field.
Additionally, Mobily will also gain exclusive access to a worldwide network of 5G startups who aim to digitally transform 5G networks in the Middle East.
On top of this, the company will also be introduced to partners cutting edge solutions for gaming, entertainment, and education, to develop innovative 5G services for the consumer market.
Ekow Nelson, Vice President of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, said: “We are very happy to collaborate with Mobily and have them onboard our 5G program. We believe this collaboration will not only help Mobily develop innovative consumer-centred 5G services but will also massively aid the expansion of 5G in the Kingdom which is a key pillar to achieve Saudi Arabia Vision 2030.”
“5G technology has the potential to tremendously enhance the user experience of Mobily and we hope to help the region realize and develop on this,” he added.
Scaling up 5G in Saudi Arabia
Together, Ericsson and Mobily will scale up 5G technology in the region and the partnership will support Mobily’s efforts in developing innovative consumer-centric 5G applications and services.
It does this by linking Mobily to a wide range of companies that provide AR and AI solutions. Due to the low latency provided by 5G, new use cases can be supported in the field of embedded experience, AR and AI games, e-sports, music and entertainment services.
Recently, Ericsson released the largest global 5G consumer study report titled 'Five Ways to a Better 5G', which estimates that an additional 300 million users would take up 5G in 2021.
- BT unveils partnership with AWS in boost to UK businessesCloud & Cybersecurity
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- Ericsson ConsumerLab reveals status of global 5G adoptionData & Data Analytics
- AST SpaceMobile and Nokia partner to expand connectivityDigital Transformation


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Those who wanted to play short lost it again. It seemed that the losses of the traders (accumulating to 5 billion USD, according to some sources) who wished to make a fortune on the decline of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) stocks should have taught the rest a lesson.
Alas, the current situation demonstrates that the bears still refuse to believe that Tesla stocks may go on growing. They still stake on their falling, no matter how often Elon Musk warned them against it. In confirmation of his own words, he bought Tesla stocks for 25 billion USD at the price of 243 USD per stock in May 2019. The current price is 350 USD, so the sum of his investment has increased by 11 million USD.
Musk turned out to be not only a talented engineer but also a good trader.
Quarterly report of Tesla
The report of Tesla for the third quarter turned out to give traders unexpected information. The company's income turned out to be 6.3 billion USD against the expected 6.43 billion USD and 6.35 billion USD in the previous quarter. Well, here nothing special happened, the company failed to exceed neither the forecasts of analysts nor the income of the previous quarter.
However, the return on stock was beyond expectations. It was forecast around -0.46 USD but turned out to be 1.86 USD. The net profit of the company was also a nice surprise. Even Musk himself admitted at the conference that he had expected the third quarter to end with a small loss but in reality, the company made a profit of 143 million USD against the loss of 408 million USD in the previous quarter.
Normally, financial results are compared to those in the previous year; however, in this case, such a comparison would be incorrect because last year the company was not building a plant in Shanghai; what is more, Tesla keeps increasing its production volumes.
For example, in the third quarter of 2018, the company managed to produce 80,142 electro cars, while by the end of the third quarter of 2019, the production had reached 97,000 electro cars; however, all funds were spent on the new plant in China.
To understand the scale of the spending on the construction, it is enough to look at the picture of Gigafactory Shanghai.
It is literally huge, and all we can see in the picture has been built in 10 months, which was unexpected for the investors.
In the end, now we need to track the dynamics of the company quarter after quarter. The demand for Tesla cars remains high. When the company manages to satisfy it and some surplus emerges, it will become legitimate to compare quarters year after year because the seasonal factor will start influencing the income.
Launching mass production
Last week, Tesla got permission from the Chinese authorities to start mass production of cars on the plant in Shanghai. The first delivery is due at the beginning of 2020.
Thus, with this plant, the company is planning to double the production of the most popular Model 3. Simultaneously, according to Tesla representatives, the expenses on the workforce will be 10 times less compared to those spent on American workers in California.
This is the way the business is solving the problems of the trade war initiated by Trump. They build plants outside the US to avoid fees and make their product competitive on other markets. At the same time, they create new workplaces in those countries and their economies develop.
Tesla plant in Germany
It is not surprising either that Tesla is starting the construction of a plant in Germany. The media pay a lot of attention to the conflict between the US and China; however, the same thought at a smaller scale is going on between the US and Europe.
In Europe, they have their producers of electro cars but Tesla remains the most popular one. The production of Tesla in Germany will increase rivalry and thus stimulate the development of the sphere. For the consumer, this will mean that high-quality cars will become available at lower prices.
It had been unknown until recently where the new Tesla plan will appear exactly. The company was choosing between Britain and Germany but the Brexit problem was one of the arguments against the latter. For the business, political stability and an understanding of what will be happening tomorrow are important.
The risks of the decrease in the net profit
So, upon completing the construction in China, Tesla will start building in Germany. This means the net profit may again become negative as the construction ion Germany will be much more expensive than in China due to the expensive workforce.
So, those who keep trying to make money on a decline in Tesla stocks will have a chance to sell, which they will for sure declare as soon as they see another losing quarter.
Anyway, it should be realized that Tesla is still developing. If we look at such giants as Ford (NYSE: F) or General Motors (NYSE: GM) we will see that they are not building but shutting their plants down, so investors clearly will choose Tesla.
Humankind has not mastered teleportation yet, so a car will remain the key means of transport for quite long, and the most promising branch here is the production of electro cars, and the leader here is Tesla.
Tesla is not just increasing production but also increases the number of models available so the investors are optimistic about its future. It is worth noting that the development of the crossover Model Y is proceeding ahead of the schedule; mass production is planned for autumn 2020. Also, next year a limited series of Tesla SEMI is due.
The planned plant in Germany is expected to supply its first line of electro cars in 2021; while the plant in China will stimulate the production and sales of electro cars.
In the end, Elon Musk was right telling the investors to buy the stocks when they cost under 250 USD; now we can only watch them grow in price and wait for a pullback to buy them cheaper.
Tesla stocks tech analysis
In June, we had a post about Tesla in which we considered the possibility of the price breaking the historical maximums. The scenario has changed just slightly. The results of the third quarter of 2019 that surprised all, sped up the process.
Currently, the price is trading above the 200-day Moving Average indicating the renewal of the uptrend in the stock price. The beginning of the plant construction in Germany will influence the net profit which may affect negatively the stock price. So, we may suppose that it will reach the resistance level of 390 USD, after which it may correct to 300 USD. This very price may become a very good entry point for long-term investments.
However, this process should extend until the publication of the report for the fourth quarter of 2019 scheduled for February 2020 but the New Year rally and the optimism of the investors may correct the forecast. As a result, we may see the price break out 390 USD, after which the pullback to 300 USD will become very improbable.


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Radisson Blu’s aim is not to collect honey — though it does so when honey is available, and infuses it into the food and drinks at the FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar and into skin-care products for in-room relaxation packages. The purpose of putting beehives atop the hotel is to support bee research and bring attention to a larger issue: the importance of pollinators and the threats they face.
“We’re not just talking about honeybees,” Mendel said. Other pollinators include butterflies, bats and birds, and “some of them are very much endangered.”
The 20,000 species of bees globally are a critical link in the pollinator chain that affects us all. According to a 2016 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report, 75 percent of the world’s food crops — including almonds, avocados, chocolate and coffee — are dependent on pollination, and one of every three bites we eat is thanks to the work of pollinators. Unfortunately, some species of bees are facing issues due to habitat loss, pesticides, disease and climate change.
“Bees are the ‘canary in the coal mine,’ ” said chef Matt Sanchez, Marriott International’s first licensed beekeeper, who manages more than 30 hives at Sawgrass Marriott in Florida. “They’ve always been stress beacons for us” humans, he said. For example, if pesticides are used within a three-mile radius of his hives, the bees may die, alerting him to something amiss in the area. “By keeping bees, you’re more aware of and connected to everything in your community,” he said.
As part of the travel and tourism sector — the second-fastest-growing sector in the world — hotels are uniquely positioned to spread the message and generate buzz about bees and pollinators.
“Every kind of person” walks through the doors of the Radisson Blu Mall of America, Mendel said. Although guests aren’t permitted on the rooftop, Radisson and the Bee Squad occasionally bring a few resident bees to the lobby and bar to assist with on-site events that spark important conservation conversations with its global guests — such as “Honey Bee Helper” demonstrations to introduce guests to the honey-making process; and “Bee Happy Hour” featuring special rooftop honey-inspired menu items, with the Bee Squad on hand to answer questions. “They’re able to reach a lot of people and provide education,” Mendel said. “People start thinking about where their food comes from . . . and suddenly [they’re] looking at not only our agricultural food system but all of our natural ecosystems. And they’re tied into it.”
Court Whelan, director of sustainability and conservation travel for Natural Habitat Adventures, believes travelers are seeking opportunities to better understand and connect to our environment, a trend that is “only going to grow as the world becomes more fragile and imperiled.” Furthermore, he added, “in a general sense, travel is the search for the authentic. What is more authentic than having beehives and sourcing your own local honey from the area?”
Local honey quite literally gives you a taste of a place. In Portland, Ore., there are three Provenance Hotels properties within blocks of each other. Yet, as Kate Buska, vice president of brand development and communications, explains, the honey produced in each rooftop apiary has its own distinct flavor, depending on what flowering plants are nearby. “For example, if you taste the honey from Hotel Lucia — which is closest to the river, where there are cherry blossoms — it tastes different from the honey at Hotel deLuxe,” she said. “At Hotel deLuxe, you can taste the rose blossoms that are closer to that property.”
The ability to connect to the unique “fingerprint” of a place, as Sanchez calls it, makes for a meaningful experience. Whelan said that whether he’s leading a trip to Myanmar, Tanzania, Madagascar or some other destination, if there’s “a chance to source local honey, people are all over it.” Consuming honey from bees that have gathered nectar from local flowers provides “this tangible connection to the local environment through food — something everybody needs and loves.”
Executive chef Isabel Chung of Fairmont Chateau Whistler also has observed a growing interest among travelers “about where things come from and how you source them.” Fairmont Hotels & Resorts facilitates this connection between its guests and the local environment through the Bee Sustainable program, placing beehives, pollinator-friendly gardens and miniature “bee hotels” on the rooftops of more than 20 of its properties around the world.
When the weather in Whistler, located in British Columbia, Canada, is honeybee-friendly, from around June to October, the resort offers guided tours of the rooftop garden and hives. (Chateau Whistler’s bees spend the winter in nearby Lillooet with Steve Gourley, beekeeper and owner of Goldstrike Honey.)
Even a guest not previously concerned with sustainability may be intrigued enough by a hotel hive to dip a finger into some hyperlocal honey and consider dipping a toe into bee conservation, asking, “ ‘What can I do?’ ” Chung said.
If they’re at Chateau Whistler, they can dine on honey-glazed Yarrow Meadows duck or sample the Honeybear Blonde chocolate bar made with honey, blueberries and almonds — ingredients that wouldn’t exist without pollinators. Or they can support the cause by ordering a beeswax gin “Bee’s Knees” cocktail; for each one purchased, Fairmont donates a dollar to Pollinator Partnership, the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting pollinators.
The properties emphasize that guests can take action without building a honeybee hive on their roof (in fact, installing a hive without proper training could do more harm than good to the bee population). “There’s so many things an individual can do, even without a lot of outdoor space or time, to help sustain the populations of pollinators,” Chung said. “Plant a pollinator-friendly plant in your garden or on your windowsill. Reduce or avoid using pesticides that are potentially dangerous. Put up a small solitary ‘bee hotel’ [a wooden structure to serve as a nesting place for wild bees] so they have somewhere to lay their eggs.”
Accor Group, Fairmont’s parent company, recently did just that, opening its first tiny bee hotel, arguably the most adorable lodging in Paris, at its headquarters. Chung was sent to do a honey tasting for the opening and was thrilled to see such excitement about and attention paid to the cause. “There’s 4,000 people in that office” at Accor headquarters, she says. “And they were talking about sustainability and the beekeeping program at Fairmont — that had never happened before.”
Travel industry professionals are teaming up with beekeeping experts like the Bee Squad, the Best Bees Co. and Bee Local to create memorable experiences for guests and safe spaces for honeybees to thrive in all kinds of locations: oceanfront at the Terranea Resort in Los Angeles, in the city center at New York Hilton Midtown, at quaint Cape Cod B&Bs Aerie House and Sesuit Harbor House, atop luxury hotels such as Taj Boston and the Merrion in Dublin, and in multiple locations across Qatar, thanks to a partnership between Mandarin Oriental Doha and Bu Saif Apiaries.
When you think about it, it makes sense that honeybees are at the heart of a travel-related trend — after all, they are an incredibly social species with an intricate community structure, always on the lookout for an authentic, hyperlocal meal.
Fitzgerald is a writer based in Amman, Jordan. Her website is thisissunny.com.
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Aramark, the leading US-based provider of food, facilities, and uniform services, has announced a new 2025 sustainability plan called Be Well. Do Well. Its project focuses on positively impacting people and the planet.
The recent report from the market research company, Technavio, estimates that the Plant-based Meat Market is expected to grow by $3.17B, at a CAGR of 17% by 2024. The report includes the geographical areas of APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America. And the types of plant-based meat mentioned include beef, chicken, pork, and others.
The fast-casual sandwich chain, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, known for its award-winning Cheese Steak sandwich, launched a trial run of the Impossible Cheese Steak. The plant-based option is available exclusively in its Las Vegas locations and is the first launch of the Impossible Cheese Steak worldwide.
Daring Foods announces today its arrival into the US through a strategic partnership with industry leading food service supplier, Rastelli Foods Group, which will act as the exclusive national distributor of Daring Foods; bringing its plant-based chicken to restaurants and retailers throughout the country


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Intel announced last week it will spend $20 billion building two new fabs in Arizona to take it into the foundry business, aiming to make chips for large, important customers like Apple, Microsoft or Qualcomm.
That’s good news, but it doesn’t solve the fundamental problem of US dependency on Asia for the manufacture of chips. Our analysis suggests the problem will get worse, not better, as more US chip design companies rely on Asian manufacturing. The fundamental driving force is the short-termism of the US chipmakers. This drives US tech companies out of manufacturing and global chip manufacturing into non-American locations. This financial analysis of the global chip industry shows how this dynamic works.
We compared the largest US-owned chip companies to the largest foreign-owned chip companies. We found that US chipmakers spent far less of their profit on capital spending last year and returned far more of their profit to shareholders than did foreign chipmakers.
The data shows that chipmakers in general are highly profitable companies. Table 1 shows that US chipmakers generated operating profit of 25% last year. Foreign chipmakers generated a similar return, 28%. These rates of profit are roughly double that of a typical industrial company. Microchips, or semiconductors to use the more formal name, have been highly profitable since the birth of the modern industry in the early 1980s. The profitability is due, firstly, to their enormous functionality. One chip less than one square inch can run a mobile smartphone or a laptop computer or an automotive entertainment system. The list of tasks such a processor chip can manage is truly amazing. For example, a recent smartphone processor from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 768G, contains about 6 billion transistors. It can simultaneously manage 5G telecom reception, Wi-Fi reception, a phone display screen with fast-moving graphics in hundreds of colors, a camera up to 36 megapixels resolution, audio sounds, and more, all at the same time.
All that functionality allows chipmakers to charge premium prices for their products. According to one industry estimate, that Qualcomm Snapdragon might cost around $500. That’s roughly half the retail price of the typical consumer 5G smartphone built around it. The second reason chipmakers are highly profitable is volume. Chipmakers generally sell millions of each chip, so economies of scale allow for big profits.
The third reason for the strong profitability is less well-known but equally important. Chipmakers generally have very little competition. There are usually just two, sometimes three, chipmakers making a product for each product category. For example, the only competitor to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon is a chip made by Taiwanese chipmaker Mediatek. The dominant chips for the servers that power the Internet are made by Intel. Intel’s only serious competitor in the data center is AMD. And so it goes. When there are only a very small number of competitors, there is less competition and prices tend to be high.
Capital Investment vs. Returning Money to Shareholders
What do the chipmakers do with all those profits? Here there is a big difference between the US chipmakers and the foreign ones. US chipmakers tend to return their profits to shareholders. Foreign chipmakers opt instead for capital investment, investing back in their own businesses. Our data, covering 13 of the largest US chipmakers, shows that last year the US chipmakers generated total operating profit of $51.6 billion. Of that total, only $27.3 billion was reinvested in the form of capital expenditure. At the same time, $42.8 billion was returned to shareholders. In other words, the US chipmakers spent 57% more on returning money to shareholders than they reinvested in their own businesses.
The picture is reversed for foreign chipmakers. The foreign chipmakers in our sample invested $21 billion in capital spending while returning only just over half that total, or $11 billion, to their shareholders. Our foreign sample is smaller, including just five large foreign chipmakers, since several major foreign chipmakers, including Samsung and Sony, do not break out the financials for their chip business separately. Nevertheless, the comparison is striking. Of the $11 billion the foreign chipmakers returned to shareholders last year, fully $10.2 billion of it was in the form of dividends. Only $807 million was in the form of repurchasing their own stock.
In the US case, $19.5 billion went back to shareholders in the form of dividends. A larger sum, $23.3 billion, was returned via shareholder buybacks. Almost half of their profits went back to shareholders as buybacks. The sole reason for a company buying back its own shares is to boost its share price. By spending billions of dollars buying their own shares, the management teams of the US chipmakers are essentially saying: “we are more interested in raising our stock price than in investing in our own business.”
Outsiders often attribute the fixation on managing the short-term stock price to financial pressure from the investor community. That’s part of the story. The US stock market and US public company managers are focused on the short term. But typically, the short-term mindset is stronger among company management than in the investor community. Many professional fund managers are searching for companies they can invest in for the long term. Warren Buffett is well-known for saying his favorite holding period for a stock is “forever.” Ron Baron, one of Wall Street’s best-known mutual fund managers, explains his investment philosophy in his most recent quarterly newsletter this way: “…we have 10-year time horizons that we focus on…not on results in the next quarter…or even the next year.”
In contrast, the CEOs and senior executives of many tech companies are determinedly short-term. They want to keep their stock price on an upward trajectory for the three to five years they typically serve in their job. That will let them pick up a total compensation package in the millions (tens of millions for the CEO), and then move on to a bigger and better job. Since sales and economic cycles are inherently unpredictable, company leadership uses a steady stream of share buybacks to put some steady upward lift into their stock price. Another popular strategy to boost a share price is to sell off assets. This reduces the cost base and frees up cash—which can be used for more share buybacks.
Let’s compare the largest US chipmaker, Intel, with the largest foreign chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, known as TSMC. Last year, TSMC generated $48 billion in revenue and $20.2 billion in operating profit. It reinvested $18 billion in capital investment, a huge sum of money which will go into upgrading its network of chip manufacturing facilities. It returned $9.2 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends. TSMC is focused on maintaining its position at the front of the pack in chip manufacturing. That’s why it invests so heavily. It is also a mainstay of the Taiwanese economy and the Taiwanese government keeps a watchful eye on it. It pays a reasonable dividend at the normal rate for a tech company, no more and no less.
Intel is an integrated chipmaker and the world’s largest chipmaker. It both designs and manufactures chips. Last year, it pulled in operating profit of $23.9 billion on revenue of $77.9 billion. Despite its broader portfolio than TSMC, its capital spending budget was lower, at $14.5 billion last year. It returned $5.6 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends…and an astonishing $14.2 billion in the form of share buybacks! This is a staggering sum, over $1 billion a month. Why is one of the world’s leading technology companies, the architect of a huge part of the personal computer revolution and the Internet revolution, returning huge amounts of cash to shareholders? Many investors simply shrug helplessly at this fact—and with good reason. They’d much rather the company of Gordon Moore and Andy Grove spent money on great new ideas for new products.
A few weeks ago Intel made an important management change when it brought in veteran technologist Pat Gelsinger as CEO. We can only hope that it will do less financial engineering and more investment in its business.
Table 1: US vs. Foreign Chipmakers: Key Financial Parameters
|Millions of Dollars
|Total Capital Expenditures
|Capex as % of Op. Profit
|Repurchase of Stock
|Total Cash Returned to Shareholders
|Cash Returned as % of Op. Profit
Source: Company Reports, Seeking Alpha; All data for Fiscal Year 2020
US chipmakers include: Intel, Broadcom, Qualcomm, Micron, TI, Nvidia, AMD, ADI, Microchip, On Semi, Skyworks, Qorvo and Marvell
Foreign chipmakers include: TSMC, ST Micro, Infineon, NXP Semi, and Renesas.
Asset-Light Fabless Chipmaking
For US chipmakers, the trend for the last 20 years has been to get out of manufacturing and focus instead on the asset-light business of chip design, to become what is known in the industry as a “fabless chipmaker.” Almost every chipmaking company founded in the US this century has been fabless.
There has been a global bifurcation in the chip industry. The US concentrates on asset-light companies dedicated to making a small number of people rich in a short time. Foreign companies saw a complementary opportunity and leapt in. They began manufacturing the chips that US companies don’t want to make. So we have a division of labor where foreign chipmakers focus on the manufacturing side, generating healthy, moderate levels of wealth for a large number of people, including manufacturing workers and the many workers and companies that support them. In the 1980s, Taiwanese government officials saw that chip manufacturing could produce wealth on a national scale, actually making a material difference for a significant number of that nation’s 23 million people. South Korea, Singapore, and Israel made the same calculation and also supported chip manufacturing in their countries.
If you speak to people at those foreign chipmaking companies, they’ll tell you they’re proud to be part of companies that contribute substantially to their nation’s wealth and economic fabric. They’re building companies they hope will last for 20, 50, or even 100 years. If you speak to executives in Silicon Valley, they are proud of the products they’ve created, and they believe technology is “changing the world.” But many of them would not be surprised if their company gets acquired, or disappears, in the next five years. They have little or no interest in the state of the rest of the USA, or even the rest of California.
If we don’t change the economic time horizons in this country, we will increasingly become a nation focused on asset-light companies that make fewer and fewer people richer and richer, and ignore the 90% of the population that can’t share in producing leading-edge technologies.
Solving this problem will require measures to make corporate success dependent on performance over 10 or 20 years, not the 3 to 5 years of today. Another solution could be to ban or tax heavily share buybacks. We need more companies with the goal of being an industry leader for the next century, not just until the current crop of stock options vest.
Working closely with my former boss, the founder and CEO of a successful Silicon Valley chipmaker, I’ve come to believe there are three principles for a successful tech startup: first, choose to do something that is really hard, even or especially if others believe it’s impossible; second, when you do finally figure out how to do it, make sure you are the best in the world at it; third, when you bring your product to market, try to make sure there are very few other competitors in that specific product category. Zero other competitors is the best number.
One company that has met all three of those objectives is Taiwan’s TSMC. TSMC is making chips with 3 nanometer transistors. That’s really hard. Nobody else is doing it today. And it’s the best in the world at it. The result is that TSMC is the company with the highest profit margin of all 18 companies in my sample. Last year its operating profit margin was 42%. That’s right. TSMC makes more money per dollar of sales than any asset-light fabless chipmaker.
The Taiwanese government of the 1980s made a better investment than any US venture capital firm. Now that’s some shrewd government capitalism.


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Ahead of this week's Tiger Summit, a new report challenges the ability of the proposed Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) to save the wild tiger.
According to the study’s authors, Michael ‘t Sas-Rolfes and Kirsten Conrad: “The GTRP ignores the fact that a seventeen-year ban on trade in tiger parts has failed to sufficiently reduce tiger poaching. In fact, attempting to enforce this ban may be part of the problem rather than the solution.”
Demand for tiger parts, which are used in traditional Chinese medicines, persists and may even be increasing with rising levels of Asian affluence.
Similar to illicit drug demand
“Many consumers are aware of the tiger’s plight and that it is illegal to buy their parts, yet they continue to do so, even as prices increase. In this respect, the demand for tiger parts is similar to the demand for illicit drugs”, explained the authors.
The GTRP has set aside a budget for law enforcement and demand reduction, but there is no guarantee that this approach will succeed. The authors reveal:
“Past efforts to eliminate persistent illegal trade like this have failed. Despite huge financial resources and enforcement efforts, the trade in illicit products such as cocaine and marijuana continues to boom. Sophisticated crime networks behind such illegal trade are always one step ahead of the law.”
The authors are especially critical of suggestions to reduce the numbers of tigers in “tiger farms”, captive breeding centres in China and elsewhere.
“If farmed tiger products are being sold, this is probably helping wild tigers, not hurting them. Preventing such sales means that any demand for tiger parts must be met with wild tigers, and organized crime will have a monopoly on supply. Instead, we should focus directly on anti-poaching efforts to protect wild tigers in their natural habitat.”
The Tiger Summit takes place in St. Petersburg, Russia this week.
I want a tiger cub too!


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Minecraft Xbox 360 Update: TU12 Release Date Farther Away? 4J Studios Urges For Patience During Bug Testing
By Staff Writer | July 23, 2013 09:43 PM EDT
4J Studios posted a message via Twitter on Tuesday, asking fans to remain patient as the developer finishes bug testing, signaling the possible delay of the TU12 release date.
The developer also announced last Friday that it is still bug fixing its TU12 update and awaits a certification test, prompting speculation the game might encounter a delayed release date.
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And Last week, the 4J Studios announced they finished developing Skin Pack 5 for Title Update 12 (TU12), pointing to a release date for Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition that could have been days away, but the company's update might mean gamers might have to wait a few more weeks.
Once the update enters Microsoft Certification testing, it will take at least one week, possibly two, before it is released for everyone to download via Xbox LIVE, Examiner reports.
4J Studios announced that game coding changes made to address software architectural differences between Microsoft and PC might have produced a delayed release date.
"We're still working on TU12- there are lots of software architecture changes needed for this update. Thanks for your continued patience," 4J Studios posted on Twitter earlier this month.
Xbox 360 editions of Minecraft have sold over 7 million copies around the world, according to a tweet posted by 4J Studios earlier this month, bringing hope to Xbox One enthusiasts looking for a copy on the next-generation console.
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Finnish packaging company Huhtamaki has agreed to acquire International Paper’s foodservice packaging operations in China for €15m.
The acquisition will include two manufacturing units in Shanghai and Tianjin, which employ around 200 people.
The product range of the units to be purchased is same as the existing product range of Huhtamaki in China.
The to be acquired business generated net sales of €19m in 2016.Post acquisition, they r will come under Huhtamaki's Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania business segment.
Huhtamäki CEO Jukka Moisio said the acquisition strengthens the company’s operations in China significantly, both geographically and from a capacity point of view, allowing it to serve its customers even better in the future.
Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania executive vice president Eric Le Lay said: "We have an ambitious growth strategy. This acquisition consolidates our business in North Asia and offers good possibilities to boost our growth.
“In addition, with the footprint expansion we improve our coverage of the vast market of China, which is good for our customers."
Huhtamäki, headquartered in Espoo, has 76 manufacturing units and 24 sales offices across 34 countries.
The firm has around 17300 employees and its net sales stood at €2.9m in 2016.
The company’s primary outputs include paper and plastic disposable tableware, such as cups, plates and containers for retail stores, caterers and vending operators, flexible packaging and labels for food and drink, pet food, pharmaceuticals, household and hygiene brands.


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Is Baidu’s Majority-Owned Video Site, QiYi, Looking to Raise $300 Million?
Posted: July 25th,2011 | By: doug.herman
According to a story that initially appeared in the Chinese version of the Wall Street Journal, the Chinese online video market is becoming a big sector for new investment capital. According to the report, QiYi, the online video portal launched by search engine leader Baidu, Inc. ((ADR) NASDAQ: BIDU) just over a year ago is already looking to raise a follow-on round of private equity financing in the neighborhood of $300 million. When the company was launched in February 2010 it was announced as a partnership between Baidu and Providence Equity Partners (“PEP”) which invested $50 million into the venture.
Over the past year the online video market has become a hot sector with the industry leader, Youku.com Inc. (NYSE: YOKU), going public in December 2010 to an enthusiastic and receptive investor community. Following its IPO Youku’s share price increased 233% over its first two days of trading, peaked with a closing price of close to $68 on April 19, and is now trading at around $34 per share. In May the company held a $400 million follow-on offering. In addition Tudou Holdings Ltd., a key competitor to Youku, has filed to go public in the U.S., and PPLive Corp., another Chinese online video competitor, has also floated the idea of an IPO.
So despite the volatility in Youku’s stock price there is plenty of activity among online video players in China to raise additional funds and prepare for public offerings. With that backdrop Qiyi has joined the fray with news a couple of weeks ago that that it was in negotiations to raise an additional $300 million. According to the Chinese version of the Wall Street Journal (in Chinese), Hony Capital could lead the investment via a $200 million commitment with Baidu injecting the remaining $100 million. Under this new financing round Qiyi’s pre-money valuation would be around $700 million.
Since the initial report of this fresh funding round Qiyi has issued a statement denying it:
“The news is not true,” Qiyi.com said in an e-mailed statement today, denying a July 15 report by Dow Jones & Co.’s LBO Wire. The online-video company will disclose its capital raising plans at an “appropriate time.”
– Reported by Bloomberg (July 18)
Since Qiyi’s denial there have been no further reports confirming that any new financing is under consideration.
Related Digital East Asia posts include:
- Qihoo 360, China’s Third “Most Popular” Internet Company Files to Raise Up To US$200 Million in IPO -- March 18, 2011
- RUMOR: Tencent Preps to Enter China’s Online Video Market; Qiyi’s CEO Dismisses its Significance -- March 18, 2011
- Qiyi, Baidu’s Hulu, Adds Content and Goes Live -- April 26, 2010
- IN BRIEF: Qiyi.com, Baidu’s Version of Hulu, Enters Beta Testing in China -- April 8, 2010
- Chinese Government Finally Enters Online Video Market with State-Owned CNTV.cn -- December 28, 2009


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Alumnus Maya Hightower and Witherite Law Group have made a generous donation to support students at Crete-Monee High School.
Hightower, a 1996 CMHS graduate, serves as director of community relations for the law firm. She recently contacted Principal Lamont Holifield and asked him to create a wish list for a donation.
On that list were 50 Amazon gift cards to reward students for their citizenship and making the academic honor roll, along with 25 Amazon gift cards to use as teacher/educator incentives and support for the school’s upcoming girls’ empowerment event on Saturday, April 15.
In addition to the gift cards, each in the amount of $25, Witherite Law Group contributed $3,400 for the empowerment event. The firm has also organized five $1,000 alumni scholarships, for a total donation of $10,275.
Principal Holifield has already been asked to create another wish list for next school year. CMHS is incredibly grateful for these contributions and look forward to seeing the impact they will have on students!
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- Mostly cloudy
CINCINNATI - Kroger Co. shares were up more than 3 percent Thursday on news that the nation’s largest grocery chain expects stronger sales growth than previously projected.
In a conference call with Wall Street analysts, CEO David Dillon credited the company’s “customer first” operating strategies but also pointed to signs that U.S. consumers are moving beyond bread-and-butter buying.
“It is still quite fragile but it continues to improve and those signs of improvement are many,” Dillon said. “There’s lots of categories and items and areas that you would say are more kind of discretionary items that people buy more of today than they were before, areas like apparel and cosmetics and toys and greeting cards, Starbucks, sushi, all those areas, natural foods, Boar's Head Cheese, prepared meals, all of those are doing really well and growing at a good pace.”
Kroger isn’t the first local company to notice the trend toward splurge spending. Macy’s Inc. Chief Financial Officer Karen Hoguet told analysts in August that it suffered weaker sales in the second quarter because “consumers seem to be choosing to make purchases in non-department store categories such as cars, housing and home improvement.”
Kroger met Wall Street expectations with a second quarter profit of $317 million, or 60 cents per share. It also increased by a full percentage point with its guidance on identical-store sales growth. The company now expects revenue from stores open at least a year to grow by up to 3.5 percent in the 2014 fiscal year.
Kroger shares surged more than 3 percent in morning trades, reaching $38.85 by noon, up $1.18 from Wednesday’s close.
Kroger executives cited a variety of factors in its decision to lift sales projections for the full year, including a continuing increase in “loyal households” who are visiting Kroger stores more often and spending more on a monthly basis.
Another growth driver is produce. Chief Operating Officer Rodney McMullen said the introduction of new organic products and locally-grown produce is resonating with customers.
“Our produce team has done a great job connecting with local suppliers,” he said. “We’ve significantly increased the amount of local produce that we have and we’re doing a better job telling the customers about it.”
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Thinc Group subsidiary The Commerce Centre is targeting 8,000 introducers in a direct recruitment drive and is hoping to sign up 2,000 advisers by the end of 2007.
The Commerce Centre, specialist introducer for non-regulated financial products, says it already has 1,400 advisers using its services and is committed to extending its offering to sign up 4,000 more by late 2008.
A specialist professional introducer website has been launched to support the directmail approach and in a bid to show advisers the business opportunities that it sees in the non-regulated sector, The Commerce Centre is investing in sponsorship of all e-business seminars held by The Exchange.
Managing director Neil Harkin says: “The expansion of The Commerce Centre is significantly ahead of our targets and the response from the market has been highly enthusiastic. We believe that we offer the most advanced non-regulated proposition available and our aim is to become the biggest and most successful portal in the market.
“A proactive approach to recruitment is essential and we look forward to welcoming more introducers in the coming weeks and months.”


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Since 2021, there has been talk about reinventing Dacia, adopting a new brand identity and transposing it into all the cars of the Mioveni manufacturer, even in the company’s representative offices.
In the middle of last year, the first images related to the Dacia rebranding started circulating on the Internet. Immediately afterwards, all promotional materials, press releases and documentation adopted a new visual identity. In 2022, we will see the same visual identity in the Dacia representations, but also on the actual cars. As a reference, the new logo should arrive on cars starting in the fourth quarter of this year.
The same Dacia, but otherwise, more futuristic, more digital
“Since last year, since the launch of Duster facelift, we have also announced the change of brand identity. It is implemented in three steps that involve changing the color to khaki green and the logo. We started the process of changing the image in the summer of 2022 with the digital part and «visuals». From the beginning of this year we move to the second stage, that of renewing the image in dealerships and showrooms, and towards the end of the year we will implement the new logo and the new brand identity on the entire range of cars “, explained Andreea Guinea, during the conference from Paris this week, quoted by Economica.
The first showroom that has already adopted the new visual identity was unveiled in the Paris region, where the above frames were also immortalized in Melun. The implementation of these aesthetic details in the other Dacia representations will continue in the spring of this year in different corners of Europe. It is important to note that the peculiarities related to the reinvention of the interior of representations are still in the defining stage.
The facade of the showroom is framed by a wide khaki stripe. This reflects the robustness, simplicity and outdoor spirit of the brand. The marking also highlights the Dacia logo, made of bright letters, whose color – khaki during the day, turns white at night. A large totem makes it easy to identify the brand. A second proximity totem, located next to the front door, provides customers with practical information. The two totems highlight the Dacia emblem. They are made of two materials: the khaki element is made of metal, while the support, with a wood-like appearance, evokes the outdoor spirit. The design is deliberately massive and imposing, according to Autoblog.md.


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Originally scheduled for Q2 launch, Intel's new Wi-Fi chipset code-named "Kedron" will be unveiled at an event next Tuesday, TG Daily has learned.
Kedron is the wireless component and was intended to be introduced in tandem with the new mobile chipset code-named "Santa Rosa" in Q2 of this year. Kedron will be based on the draft-n wireless standard and promises to increase data transfer bandwidth as well as range of wireless devices.
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The famous football simulation video game FIFA will change its name to EA Sports FC, according to the American video game publisher Electronic Arts on Tuesday, May 10.
This is a small earthquake in the world of video games and football. Due to the non-renewal of the contract between the International Football Federation and the American firm after 2022, the video game will have to change its name, since it can no longer be called that. Goodbye FIFA, say hello to EA Sports FC. FIFA 23, scheduled for September 2022, will be the last game to bear that title.
Only the name changes, players and clubs remain
To prevent players from being too disoriented, Electronic Arts promised that only the name would change, stating that it would “not affect” the games. Even if the FIFA license is not renewed, users will still be able to enjoy the real names of the 700 teams and 19,000 footballers included in the database, as well as the authentic clothing of many European competitions (UEFA) and South America (Conmebol). such as the Champions League, Europa League and Copa Libertadores.
Some clubs, such as Paris Saint-Germain in France or Real Madrid in Spain, have already announced that they will be betting on video games next season. Something to appease some fans.


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After a recent suspension for misconduct, CEO of Lotus Danny Bahar has been officially cut from the company.
Lotus has been in the media a lot recently after the announcement that the company was supposed to be sold, followed by a rebuke and announcement that everything was fine. Then, word went out saying that production was halted indefinitely due to funding issues. Clearly a lot has been happening at the company, although most of it was held under relatively tight wraps.
Adding to the media frenzy surrounding Lotus is the dismissal of CEO Danny Bahar. There is no official word on why, the only clue we have is the ‘misconduct’ that he was suspended for. Apparently he was being investigated for refurbishing several personal houses on the companies dollar.
Lotus has already named Aslam Farikullah as the new CEO of the company.


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By Katie Collins
News Eagle Reporter
With an assortment of bicycles, Sickler's is a store for cycling enthusiasts and those who just want a quality bicycle. The store has recently opened a new location in the Hawley Silk Mill with others in Clark's Summit and Exeter.
David Kaplan, owner of Sickler's said he has opened the stores because of his passion for bicycles.
Assembled in Bedford, PA, Cannondale bikes will be sold at the store, which, general manager, Zach Wentzel said is special because Sickler's is the only bicycle shop in the region to sell them. He added that the bicycles in the store are better than what people would find in chain stores.
Calling the store, "full scale," a manger of Sickler's, Mark Mackenzie, said there will be bicycles for children two years of age and older.
Wentzel said the staff has many years of experience, with the "best mechanics around." MacKenzie said the staff of Sickler's will be able to repair any make or model of bicycles.
Aside from the bicycles, other cycling accessories will be sold at the store. The store opened March 1 and will have a grand opening May 11.
They are located on the first floor to the right of the main entrance. Their posted hours are Monday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Tuesday closed; Wednesday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.


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Telis Demos of The Wall Street Journal discusses GoDaddy’s IPO and business model.
BNP Paribas North America CEO Jean-Yves Fillion weighs in on the economy and how clients are benefitting from a low-rate environment.
FlashFunders founder Vincent Bradley on how the platform gives startups more efficient access to funding.
Softtech VC founder Jeff Clavier discusses investing in early stage start-ups.
FBN’s Rich Edson on the latest sanctions issued by the U.S. and European Union against Russia.
ETX Capital’s Mark Priest on the latest sanctions against Russia and the European markets.
Jilliene Helman, CEO of Realty Mogul, and Kickstarter’s Julie Wood weigh in on the benefits Kickstarter provides for professional women.
Arcview CEO Troy Dayton on the types of businesses investors are looking for when it comes to marijuana.
Walkers global managing partner Ingrid Pierce on the hedge fund industry trends.
Kissinger Associates vice chairman Robert Hormats and V2V Associates managing partner Rob Morgan discuss the state of energy in the U.S.
Crescent Capital Group co-founder Mark Attanasio gives tips for investing in the markets.
FNEX CEO Todd Ryden on his online marketplace for alternative investments.
Serial entrepreneur David Steinberg has hit the highest highs and lowest lows in creating three $100 million businesses over the past decade. Here’s what he’s learned, and why he is more cautious than ever with his current venture, Zeta Interactive.
Transmission Founder Jason Cahill gives his elevator pitch on his ‘Transmission’ mobile logistics marketplace and the judges weigh in.
Former Indiana Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh explains the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors to combat the growing threat of cyber warfare on American firms.
Dealflow.com Founder and CEO Steven Dresner discusses dealflow.com, crowd funding in 2015 and the top Kickstarter campaigns of the year.
PwC Deals Partner Neil Dhar on the outlook for the IPO market.
OnDeck Founder Mitch Jacobs on debuting on the NYSE and the company’s bid to make a splash in the peer-to-peer lending space.
Swerve Fitness Founders Eric Posner, Chelsea Kocis and J.H. McNierney discuss team competition spinning classes heading to Wall Street.
David Horowitz, CEO of Touchdown Ventures, on why we are seeing a rise in corporate venture capital.


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Earlier today, Canonical Engineering Manager Alan Pope told OMG Ubuntu that the firm plans to launch a downloadable image of Ubuntu for the Galaxy Nexus in late February.
The mobile OS was announced right at the start of the year, with the lofty goal of bringing the full desktop OS to smartphones and tablets.
Canonical has built the mobile OS to use Android's own drivers and kernals, giving any existing Android device the potential to run Ubuntu.
Ubuntu ready for prime time?
Ubuntu on smartphones will initially launch only for the Galaxy Nexus - the device Canonical used as its primary test and demo unit for the OS so far.
However, the OS will not have all of its features at launch, with features like voice control and an app store reportedly still missing while other features may exist but are only partially implemented.
The unfinished state of Ubuntu for Galaxy Nexus might make it too great a risk for the average user to install, but it will provide an excellent testing ground for developers.
Canonical originally said that the Galaxy Nexus version of Ubuntu would arrive in the coming weeks, though it seems that timeframe has been pushed back to late February.
Conveniently, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) is also taking place late next month, giving Canonical a much larger stage to show Ubuntu running on Galaxy Nexus to the world.
Via OMG Ubuntu
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September 10, 2020
Huawei's HarmonyOS coming to smartphones
Huawei has announced its HarmonyOS software is set to come to smartphones.
January 21, 2020
Huawei 'inks deal with TomTom' for Google Maps alternative
Huawei has signed a deal with navigation firm TomTom to replace Google Maps on their devices.
December 09, 2019
Huawei to roll out Harmony OS on more products in 2020
Huawei's Harmony OS operating system will be used on more products in 2020.
September 17, 2019
Huawei Mate 30 users will be able to access Google apps
Huawei Mate 30 users will be able to have access to Google apps, despite the smartphone not having a suite of apps at launch, ...


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Disney+ has gained 8 million subscribers.
The media company's on-demand app - which was launched in 2020 and is now thought to have almost 90 million subscribers worldwide - made the revelation during its annual Q2 earnings report on Wednesday (12.05.22), just weeks after rival streamer Netflix lost 200,000.
In the report documents, Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, of The Walt Disney Company said: “Our strong results in the second quarter, including fantastic performance at our domestic parks and continued growth of our streaming services—with 7.9 million Disney+ subscribers added in the quarter and total subscriptions across all our DTC offerings exceeding 205 million—once again proved that we are in a league of our own,. As we look ahead to Disney’s second century, I am confident we will continue to transform entertainment by combining extraordinary storytelling with innovative technology to create an even larger, more connected, and magical Disney universe for families and fans around the world.”
Since its launch, the streaming app has given fans easy access to all the Disney classics such as 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Mary Poppins' but as well as Disney Channel sitcoms and original movies but also managed to secure the streaming rights to all 32 seasons Fox's classic series 'The Simpsons' and has partnered with Hulu to bring viewers current hits like 'Pam and Tommy' and 'The Kardashians.'
Meanwhile, rival Netflix dropped 200,00 subscribers in the first quarter of 2022, followed by a 35 per cent stock price drop and could be set to lose 2 million more over the course of 2022.
Co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos said at the time: "We’ve got to compete, and we’ve got to continue to improve on the core service which is making TV series and films and now games that people really love. That’s what we’re really focused on and that’s a thing we can continue to grow the business in. Now, we talked about being highly penetrated in some of those core markets with users, which means that it’s harder to get them to join Netflix if they are already using Netflix. So we’ve got to figure out these different models that we’re doing now to more effectively monetize that viewing."


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Teams from the Ministry of Commerce and Investment on Monday fanned out in all regions of the Kingdom to ensure prices are under control and the consumers are not being overcharged.
The teams will also be ensuring that all wholesale and retail trade stores are adhering to the approved preventive protocols to check the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
Business activities across the Kingdom began on Sunday after restrictions imposed in the wake of the pandemic were lifted.
The inspection teams monitor the prices of goods through electronic price monitoring systems and compare them with neighboring countries. The teams have been authorized to apply immediate fines in the event of an unjustified exaggeration in prices, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.
The ministry called on all consumers to file complaints 24/7 at the link: https://mci.gov.sa/C-app or the call center on the number 1900 or the official website of the ministry.


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South of England dealer group Caffyns is holding its AGM today where chairman Richard Wright will state the company has made "an encouraging start" to the current financial year.
"In the trading quarter to June 30 2014 we increased new car unit sales on a like for like basis by 3.9%, despite four of our thirteen showrooms being out of commission due to refurbishment upgrades," he said in an interim management statement already released to the London Stock Exchange.
"Used car unit sales increased on a like for like basis in the quarter by 14.2%, on top of a strong increase in the corresponding period of the previous year of 18%. Aftersales revenues were up by 4.2% on a like for like basis."
Wright said the refurbishment at Caffyns' Vauxhall dealership at Ashford was completed during the quarter whilst those at its Audi Eastbourne branch will be completed in August and at our Skoda and Seat dealership at Tunbridge Wells in September.


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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Like many of us in the commonwealth this season, Lindsey Gibson is trying on hats. This year, for her and her family, these hats mean more than a fashionable derby accessory.
Gibson is helping to pursue her mother’s passion project — Kim Heath’s Hats for Hope fashion show.
Gibson’s mother, Kim Heath, passed away in January after a long battle with metastatic melanoma.
She wanted to reach out and help others who were going through the same problem that she was going through.
During her illness, Heath was treated at the University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center.
Before her death, Heath was able to help other cancer patients by organizing a fashion show with the center.
Her family and friends are making sure her passion project comes true.
“You know, we always say that your pain can be your prisoner or your purpose. And we made this our sole purpose. Everyone who loved her and was involved really dove into this,” said Chris Fulkerson, director of the fashion show and a friend of Heath’s.
Cancer patients and survivors, UoftL Health physicians and Heath’s family and friends will be included in the fashion show. Social Hate, maker of derby hats, is matching the hats to the costumes featured at the event.
“We need to come together as a community and support these cancer patients on stage, support all cancer patients, honor those who have lost their battle with cancer,” Fulkerson said.
It looks like Heath’s legacy will continue to grow beyond this year’s fashion show.
“I have big plans to take this and make it bigger and you know what it’s like to take what my mom started and make it bigger,” Gibson said.
Giving hope to all cancer patients one hat at a time.
Kim’s Hit Hats for Hope Fashion Show 2016 It will be held March 19 at the Olmsted in Louisville. Check out their website to learn more about the event.


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It is already clear that HTC is trying to brand the “U” series of HTC devices as their premium handset offerings with devices like the HTC U Ultra and the HTC U Play. The upcoming smartphone under the U Series so-far known as the HTC U is expected to be launched sometime during this month itself.
Today, thanks to the popular leakster Evan Blass (@evleaks), we now have an allegedly leaked image of the upcoming HTC U.
The HTC U is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 835 chipset and will also feature a 5.5-inch Quad-HD resolution display. The primary camera will be having 12MP resolution whereas the selfie shooter will be of 16MP. The HTC U will come in two storage variants: 64GB and 128GB. The device will be powered by the latest Android version 7.1 Nougat operating system and the HTC Sense 9 custom UI will run on top of it.
According to previous rumors, what will set the HTC U apart from its competing devices would be gesture controls. The HTC U is said to make use of the Edge Sense Technology which will let control their device using user-defined gestures that are performed on the metal frame of the device itself.
We expect HTC to officially unveil the HTC U by the end of this month and it should go on sale by mid-May 2017.


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Owner of Louis Vuitton has pledged his contribution towards the containment of coronavirus by making hand sanitizers to stave off the shortage across France as the disease excavates.
The French luxury goods group which has brands that include Loius Vuitton, Moet and Henessy announced that the disinfectant gel will be made from the production lines of its perfume and gels and make it all available in hospitals free of charge.
“These gels will be delivered free of charge to the health authorities, in particular the 39 public hospitals in Paris.
“LVMH will continue to honor this commitment for as long as necessary, in connection with the French health authorities,” LVMH said in a statement.
The company hopes to produce, as from today, 12 tonnes of the sanitizer this week , instead of the usual Chrisian Dior, Guerlain and Givenchy fragrances and cosmetics made at its three French sites


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The Federal Trade Commission is set to launch a probe of Google according to a report in The Wall St. Journal.
The report says Google will be served with a civil subpoena from the FTC to examine the Mountain View, Calif. based company's market power in its search advertising business. Search advertising is Google's main source of revenue. The FTC will be looking to see if Google sends users to its own network of services more often than its rivals. In Europe, the European Commission began to investigate Google on similar charges back in November of last year.
Approximately 60 percent of all web searches are done through Google according to market research firm ComScore. Companies like Travelocity, Expedia, Yelp and TripAdvisor have all complained Google has promoted links to its own sites rather than theirs. This has given Google's sites more traffic than the aforementioned companies.
According to the Journal report, the investigation will last a year or two. Additionally, the report says because the FTC fought hard with the Justice Department to take this case against Google, it is likely that some kind of action will be taken against the company.
This is not the first dealing Google has had with the FTC. Recently, it was forced to settle with the FTC after the government organization investigated the Google Buzz social network and whether it was unfairly using people's personal information. From that investigation, Google agreed to 20 years of privacy oversight from the FTC.
Google has also had to deal with government organizations regarding various acquisitions. In the past, the FTC has investigated Google's purchase of internet advertising companies DoubleClick and AdMob. Recently, it made a deal with the Justice Department allowing it to purchase ITA Software for $700 million. Google agreed to be monitored by the government and specific conditions to complete the deal.
The company is looking to avoid the same fate as Microsoft, which was served a lawsuit from the Justice Department in the late 1990s. With that lawsuit, Microsoft was nearly divided but an appeals court rejected the Justice Department's request for that to happen.
Google did not respond to a request for comment on the investigation.


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OVO x ASG.
Drake's murdered out "OVO" Air Jordan 12 will reportedly be releasing for the NBA's All-Star weekend in February, alongside a bevy of other highly anticipated sneakers including the new "Chameleon" Air Jordan 6 and whatever Nike Basketball has planned for their signature athletes.
The white and gold rendition of the "OVO" Air Jordan 12 released in October and it featured a line of apparel as well some "OVO" Jordan slides and an OVO backpack. We expect some similar gear to accompany the black, stingray laden 12s when they launch for NBA All-Star, although at this time nothing has been confirmed.
At their core, this pair of Js is nothing more than an all-black Air Jordan 12 but we already know the hype will be real regardless of how many better looking sneakers will be releasing during that weekend.