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Solar panels are essential in reducing carbon in US energy production, but there is a clear understanding that the global solar panel supply chain relies heavily on forced labor from China. Polysilicon is a key raw material in the solar photovoltaic supply chain and China is its major producer. Now, the US solar industry and design firms that specify the use of solar panels can no longer avoid addressing the gross violations of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region where the US government says China is committing genocide against the Uyghur people.
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act enforcement begins
On December 23, 2021, President Biden signed into law the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (Act). Enforcement of the new law started on June 21, 2022, and has implications for solar panels. The Act establishes a rebuttable presumption that any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China are not entitled to entry at any US ports. Those goods, wares, articles, and merchandise include those mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part with forced labor by Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Tibetans, and members of other persecuted groups in China, and especially in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
The Act requires US Customs and Border Protection to apply the rebuttable presumption unless the importer can overcome the presumption of forced labor by establishing through clear and convincing evidence that forced labor did not mine, produce, or manufacture wholly or in part the good, ware, article, or merchandise. This elevated standard will require the importer to not only use due diligence in evaluation of its supply chain, but also to respond completely and substantively to government requests for information regarding entries it may review.
Design firms and clients face reputational damage
Along with the possibility of government action, US design firms and their clients face the dilemma of installing solar panels associated with forced labor from China or avoiding one method of reducing carbon emissions. For both design firms and their clients, the specification and use of imported solar panels create a challenge to their commitments to environmental and social progress, including damage to their reputations by being linked to the gross violations of human rights in China. Because of the reluctance of major US manufacturers to compete in the solar panel market, the dilemma will last into the future.
China dominates the market and evades US constraints
According to a German research firm that provides information on the global solar industry, China has between 71% and 97% of the world’s capacity for various solar panel components, and Xinjiang alone produces nearly half of the world’s solar grade polysilicon and is the location of factories for some of the industry’s largest manufacturers.
The Obama Administration established tariffs of up to 250% as anti-dumping duties. Earlier this year, the US Commerce Department launched an investigation in response to a complaint from a California solar module manufacturer to determine if solar companies are circumventing the existing tariffs on Chinese panels imposed by anti-dumping duties. The investigation found that rather than boost US domestic solar panel manufacturing, the tariffs drove Chinese companies to move the vast majority of production to Southeast Asia. While China now makes up a mere 1% of solar imports to the US, panels produced in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia provide 83% of imported solar panels.
The Biden Administration extended the tariffs for four years on February 7, 2022, and recently issued a declaration of emergency under the Tariff Act of 1930, creating a moratorium of tariffs on solar cells and modules from the four Southeast Asian nations for two years. Biden also invoked the Defense Production Act of 1950 to spur domestic solar panel and other clean energy technology manufacturing.
US courts could restrict application of the forced labor law
It is likely that both of the actions discussed above will face challenges in the federal courts as importers attempt to control the solar panel market using Chinese materials or products while US manufacturers hesitate to invest in production facilities. With the assistance of importers, Chinese companies appear to have effectively evaded existing solar economic tariffs. The Biden Administration, however, may hinder those Chinese companies by enforcing the “very high” human rights bar of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.


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Body positivity might be on the rise, but as it turns out, plastic surgery is too.
Surgically enhanced beauty has become the international status quo, and the global cosmetic surgery market is expected to reach $43.9 billion by 2025. We’re quickly moving towards globalisation of beauty standards, but who is getting what done where? We broke it down for you.
According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), the most popular cosmetic procedure for women in 2018 was breast augmentation. Some groups estimate there were more than 20,000 of these procedures performed last year alone.
UK cosmetic procedures which have also increased in women include:
- Abdominoplasties: up 5%
- Liposuction: up 12%
- Rhinoplasties: up 3%
- Face/neck lifts: up 12%
In the US, figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show breast augmentation was also the most popular procedure in 2018. 313,735 were performed, which was a 4% increase from the previous year.
According to Professor Marcos Sforza, Expert Aesthetic Surgeon and Scientific Director of MyBreast Cosmetic Surgery, selfie culture plays a significant role in how we think about our bodies.
"Unfortunately, Western culture tends to hyper-focus on dieting and body appearance," he tells Irish Tatler.
"The rise in popularity of health and fitness does mean we’re starting to move away from extreme thinness and focusing more on feminine curves. And, while, in some ways, this could be a positive development, issues can still arise when people focus too much on what social media or reality television programmes portray.
"Extensive research also shows social media does appear to be correlated with body image concerns, which may explain the emergence of serious mental health conditions like Body Dysmorphia Disorder."
While in the West the average age for surgery is between 35 and 55, it’s reported that about one in three South Korean women aged 19 to 29 have had something done. Boasting wild statistics which claim that over one million procedures are completed in South Korea each year, face-altering tweaks are generally the most common, with double eyelid surgery being a long-coveted procedure, and fillers becoming increasingly popular.
The ASPS also reports that there’s been a 200% increase in non-invasive treatments like Botox and dermal fillers since 2000, and millennials are the biggest fans. Unlike past generations, they were the first to come of age when plastic and cosmetic enhancements started to become normalised and social media has played a huge role in homogenising non-surgical facial procedures.
"As a cosmetic surgeon, a clear red flag is when images become a reference point for a patient," Sforza says.
"When things like Snapchat filters or celebrity social media posts become how the patient sees themselves, or the patient wants to look exactly like that image, that is when there is a significant cause for concern.
"For those considering cosmetic surgery, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and understand how your environment and things like social media may be impacting how you think and feel about your body.
"If any professional in the beauty industry is unsure about someone’s psychological wellbeing during consultations, all potential patients must be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist for further evaluation."
The beauty industry has long been considered a fickle one. While Eurocentric beauty standards have become the most coveted aesthetic, those hailing from outside of the European gene pool are digging deeper for nip/tucks.
While that might not be a new phenomenon, the fact that procedures today are more accessible, cheaper, and often require less downtime means more and more women are turning to plastic and cosmetic surgery.
We’re living in an age where all over the world everyone is getting the same work done, often watering down their ethnic features and upholding a homogenisation of what is considered “beautiful” – and it shows no sign of stopping.
The more the demand increases, the more likely that the Kylie Jenner look will become the status quo. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is up to you.
Main image by @steven_meisel_photography
READ MORE: Botox-on-the-Go, Anyone?
READ MORE: The Beauty Procedure That Could Kill You

domain: news


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Donna Patterson and Hank Wells from Redneck Gardens in Horsefly were among the first contingent of local growers to make it back to the Williams Lake Farmer’s Market in August after the wildfire evacuation order was lifted for Williams Lake.
They were able to bring in the 11 kinds of sauerkraut and other pickled vegetables that Donna specializes in making using produce from their large market garden. Her fresh sliced coleslaw mix is a popular seller.
When the wildfires in July appeared to be advancing on their area they took steps to prepare for an evacuation.
They set up pens in a 14-foot trailer they have for all of their animals but fortunately were not within the Spokin Lake/Miocene evacuation order area.
“We were on the cusp of being evacuated,” Patterson said.
The the couple live off-grid on 40 acres at Horsefly so they were blissfully unaware of any power outages that may have been caused by the wildfires.
“We have solar power, a solar fridge and a generator so we are quite comfy,” Donna said. “We usually do everything on a wood cook stove but this summer we are using propane because of the threat of fire.”
They keep one acre in market garden produce and raise turkeys, chickens and pigs for meat. They buy locally grown beef and do all of their own butchering.
“When we started out we decided that we had to learn a new traditional skill every year,” Donna said.
The couple had been living the same back-to-the-land lifestyle in the Okanagan, except there they had hydro electric power. They decided to sell their property in Lumby and move to Horsefly in April, 2015 essentially so they could live mortgage free.
They lived in a tent through the spring and summer of that first year to concentrate of establishing their garden and provisions for their animals. They only starting to build a cabin for themselves once temperatures began to drop in the fall.
“We started the garden before we started to build the cabin,” Donna said. “It took about six weeks to build the cabin because it was getting really cold and we were really motivated to be inside.”
They are not a certified organic farm but they don’t use herbicides, pesticides, or commercial fertilizers.
In winter they use melted snow for washing and watering the seedlings they grow to plant in the garden in spring. They buy their drinking water in Williams Lake.
While living off grid, Donna says they usually turn on their generator on Sundays between 6 and 8 p.m. so they can receive satellite Internet service.
Donna can be reached at email@example.com for orders
The Williams Lake Farmer’s Market takes place on Friday mornings in Boitanio Park from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Visitors will find a wide variety of vegetable produce, frozen meat options, eggs, fruit from the Okanagan, baking, ready-made lunch options, craft items, and often music to shop by.


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Topic: Maynard Um
01/18/2013, 12:01 pm
With 2013 off to a tough start for Apple stock, one analyst attempted to ease investor concerns on Friday, noting that comparisons to a strong 2012 will begin to ease as the year goes on.
01/14/2013, 02:01 pm
Wall Street analysts are dismissing recent concerns over iPhone build plans, with one market watcher saying the order cuts could instead be a sign that Apple seeing improved component yields and product margins.
01/11/2013, 01:01 pm
Estimated Mac shipments for Apple declined 0.2 percent year over year in the U.S., according to IDC. But those figures don't account for international shipments, where Apple is expected to see more growth.
12/07/2012, 11:12 am
With Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook admitting that television is an area of "intense interest" for his company, pundits have debated whether Apple would build a full television set or simply enhance upon the existing Apple TV accessory.
10/18/2012, 10:10 am
Activation figures from Verizon show that sales of the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 were relatively strong prior to the launch of the iPhone 5, suggesting Apple's September quarter could be stronger than expected.
07/30/2012, 02:07 pm
With persistent rumors of a new iPhone, smaller iPad and new iPods set to launch soon, Apple saw its prepayment for inventory components increase by $1.15 billion sequentially in the June quarter.
07/27/2012, 09:07 am
Apple's reasons for purchasing AuthenTec for $356 million remain unknown, but the company's products may lead to secure fingerprint sensing technology for a future iPhone that could be tied in to a mobile e-wallet service, industry watchers believe.
06/27/2012, 09:06 pm
Wells Fargo Securities announced on Wednesday that it will resume coverage of Apple as it expects the 2012 iPhone to drive the "largest product cycle in consumer electronics' history" when it arrives later this year.
03/08/2012, 12:03 am
Shortly after Apple unveiled the new iPad, Wall Street analysts weighed in with their opinions of the device. Most are predicting that it will help "cement" Apple's market dominance.
01/25/2012, 09:01 am
Analysts on Wall Street were blown away by Apple's blistering holiday 2011 quarter, and promptly revised their estimates even higher following the news.
12/07/2011, 11:12 pm
Investment bank UBS now believes Apple will sell as many as 30 million iPhones in the December quarter, up from a previous estimate of 28 million.
11/30/2011, 10:11 am
Citing weaker-than-expected demand for tablets, Corning has reduced its sales forecast for Gorilla Glass, though disappointing sales are believed to be related to non-iPad tablets, not Apple.
11/09/2011, 09:11 am
A Taiwanese newspaper made waves on Wednesday by claiming that Apple has reduced orders for the iPhone 4S, but a trio of separate reports specifically dispute the rumor.
10/31/2011, 10:10 am
Apple's capital expenditures in its 2012 fiscal year are projected to increase by $3.4 billion, as the company gears up for major projects like its new solar farm in North Carolina, and a new corporate campus in Cupertino, Calif.
10/05/2011, 12:10 am
Following Apple's unveiling of the iPhone 4S on Tuesday, Wall Street's response was relatively subdued, though analysts remain optimistic that Apple sales growth will continue to rise.
08/24/2011, 11:08 pm
Responding to the news that Steve Jobs is stepping down as Apple CEO, Wall Street analysts affirmed the company's position, predicting a relatively uneventful transition for the company and calling Tim Cook "the ideal candidate" for the role.
08/24/2011, 12:08 pm
The addition of Sprint as the third iPhone carrier in the U.S. would add 1.2 million sales this year, helping Apple achieve its strongest holiday quarter ever, according to one analysis.
07/27/2011, 09:07 pm
Analysts for investment bank UBS raised their 2011 forecast for Apple's iPad on Wednesday, predicting total sales of 37.9 million units for a projected 63 percent market share.
07/13/2011, 08:07 am
Both Nokia and Apple have remained mum on the financial terms of their patent lawsuit settlement, but a glimpse at the deal Apple was able to broker is expected to be seen in next week's quarterly earnings report.
07/11/2011, 09:07 am
Categorizing Apple's rumored entrance into the high-definition television market as an "eventual" next step, a new analysis concludes that such a move could increase the company's market capitalization by $100 billion, or $100 per share in incremental value.


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The UK’s biggest ice sports store in the UK, Ice Locker – located in the National Ice Centre, has confirmed that it will continue to sponsor the Nottingham Lions for the 2013/14 season.
The Lions, who have coined the hashtag #FierceKitty on Twitter to demonstrate their passion and dedication on the ice, have been sponsored by Ice Locker for the current season and are delighted the store can carry on with sponsorship into next season.
Matt Bradbury, Lions Head Coach said:“We’re very pleased to work with Ice Locker, not only is it the biggest ice sports store in the UK, it has what I would consider to be, the most extensive range of hockey sticks I have ever seen in a hockey store in all my time involved in the sport! It’s great that we are a part of this exciting store.
“For the first time in the team’s history, we have our own merchandise available in the store and online as well as replica team shirts. We look forward to our relationship with Ice Locker going from strength to strength and we look forward to working on new opportunities in the future.”
Speaking of the Lions’ achievements this season, Matt continued:“So far, we’ve had a very solid season and are raising our profile through the good work that both the team, and the back room staff, carry out on and off the ice. I think that Ice Locker recognises that the boys work extremely hard and strive to achieve success and excellence. Ultimately, this is why the sponsorship works.”
As well as sponsoring the team, Ice Locker also sponsors two Nottingham Lions players – Lions’ hard-man, Mikey Rose and newly sponsored forward, Joe Wightman.
Joe said: “I’m very grateful that the Ice Locker team and the Nottingham Lions management have chosen me to be their sponsored player. The association with Ice Locker really makes me and my team mates proud to wear the company name on my jersey!”
As well as sponsorship of the team and two players, Ice Locker looks after other players on the Lions team offering generous player discounts and exclusive trials of new kit and equipment.
Phil Jones, Retail and Merchandising Manager at Ice Locker and the NIC said:“For me, it’s important for Ice Locker to play a supporting role as sponsor of the Lions and help as much as we can. We’ve experienced great success working with the team this season, they supported us during Ice Locker’s launch back in November as well as during supplier evenings and they have even recommend our store to other hockey players.
“Along with this, the sponsorship receives excellent social media support both through the Ice Locker account and the Nottingham Lions account, its great exposure for both brands.”
Phil concludes: “We look forward to the rest of the 2012/13 season and will continue to supply top end equipment for great prices as we move into the 2013/14 season! Go, Lions!!”.


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Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting
Only trucks with the standard twin-turbo V-6 are being built, with the new iForce MAX hybrid and TRD Pro models set to arrive in the spring.
This ridiculous American-made SUV shows a crowd of stunned on-lookers exactly what the Chevy Tahoe can do!
What are the best new and used luxury cars?
The maniacal Mustang has finally met a proper challenger.
The RZ450e looks similar in size and shape to the Toyota bZ4X but will likely offer more horsepower from Lexus' Direct4 AWD setup.
Replacing pads and rotors was a pretty straightforward job, but not everything went as planned.
Rotating sites would be one way for Formula 1 to add more cities, venues without expanding schedule.
No, not again…
Despite a 90 percent drop in volume, Mercedes is rolling out a new SL. Here's why.
If boxy rally rockets are your jam, check this 1979 Manx rally footage
You gotta have automatic emergency brakes, according to NHTSA. Adding thermal vision makes them much more effective.
This front-wheel-drive hot hatch proves more entertaining than some of BMW's more powerful AWD models.
Throw your family in and hit the road for an awesome vintage time!
Nissan has shown EV concept cars including a pickup truck, a convertible, and two crossovers.
Hamilton hopes series uses Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as opportunity to raise awareness of human rights concerns.
Dear Lamborghini, we have some requests…
This is one hellacious SUV!
The Renault 4 turns 60 this year, and for this anniversary Renault has teamed up with TheArsenale to turn it into a flying car.
The Aston Martin Bulldog was built to reach 200 mph, but the factory never quite managed to do that when funding ran out. Now it wants another crack at 200 mph.
We drove the 2021 Bronco Sasquatch.


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Off-White has just appointed stylist and editor Ibrahim Kamara as the label’s first Art and Image director 🙏
While Virgil Abloh founded Off-White in 2013, his death last November left behind a huge void and heavy sadness in the fashion world. The brand announced that the artistic direction would now be managed by a collective of creatives. Among them? Ibrahim Kamara, stylist and editor-in-chief of the famous magazine Dazed.
Born in Sierra Leone and living in London since he was 11, the man who studied at Central Saint Martins is officially joining the Off-White ranks. He will oversee the art direction and further develop the influence and vision of the collections, from image to content of the brand.
“I am honoured (…) to be part of the team that will tell the rest of the story that Virgil started to write for all of us,” said Ibrahim Kamara.


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Published on October 27, 2023, 7:10 am
Generative AI, the technology that enables machines to produce human-like content, has shown remarkable progress in recent years. From creating text to images and videos, generative AI has the potential for countless beneficial applications. However, it also poses significant challenges when it falls into the wrong hands.
Malicious actors with various motives can exploit generative AI to spread misinformation, defraud individuals, or manipulate public opinion. Platforms like Twitter have already faced challenges associated with bot traffic, which can spread propaganda and amplify divisive narratives. Generative AI will only accelerate these malicious activities by flooding the digital ecosystem with human-sounding content.
This flood of content blurs the line between authentic and artificially generated information, making it increasingly difficult to differentiate fact from fiction on a large scale. The reliability and integrity of digital content across platforms are at stake.
To address these challenges, public and private institutions must take prompt action to prevent trust erosion and the spread of misinformation. One effective solution is identity verification. By requiring users to provide valid and verifiable identification information when creating accounts or engaging in content creation or dissemination activities, platforms can introduce an additional layer of accountability and transparency.
Identity verification establishes a connection between digital identities and real-world identities. While individuals can choose to keep their true identities hidden behind pseudonyms or usernames on public platforms, verifying that they are real identifiable persons is crucial. This approach helps restore trust in digital content by enabling users to trust the authenticity of the content and credibility of its creators.
Identity verification also plays a vital role in combating online harassment and abuse. Anonymous accounts often drive online harassment incidents as individuals feel protected from facing consequences for their actions. By linking digital identities to real-world identities, platforms significantly reduce the potential for online abuse. Accountability acts as a deterrent and promotes responsible behavior online.
While identity verification holds immense potential, it also raises valid concerns about privacy and data security. Striking a balance between protecting user privacy and ensuring robust identity verification systems requires platforms to implement secure protocols that minimize the risk of data breaches and comply with privacy regulations.
To establish effective identity verification practices, technology companies, policymakers, and regulatory bodies must collaborate. Together, they can develop industry-wide standards that ensure consistency and interoperability of identity verification systems. Additionally, integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms can automate the verification process, reducing the burden on users while maintaining accuracy and reliability.
As generative AI continues to advance, the need for identity verification across all digital platforms becomes increasingly urgent. By associating digital identities with real-world identities, platforms can boost trust, combat misinformation, and reduce online abuse. However, it is crucial that the implementation of identity verification is accompanied by robust privacy measures and industry-wide collaboration to protect user data and establish consistent standards.
Taking proactive steps now will safeguard the integrity of digital content and create a more trustworthy and secure online ecosystem for all.
About the Author:
Mark Lieberwitz is the Co-Founder & CPO of KarmaCheck, a company specializing in candidate-centric technology for background checks. With 15 years of experience in Silicon Valley as a product and business leader, Mark has extensive knowledge in delivering mobile, web, NLP/ML products in various markets.


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‘Tis the season to spend less money.
Aldi is all about celebrating the holidays with a good deal. The discount grocery chain is already cutting prices in half to help us save on a traditional turkey dinner this Thanksgiving, and now it’s looking to help us with the rest of the holiday season, too.
The 2023 Aldi holiday food lineup is here and includes over 350 offerings, with more than 70 being brand new and under $10 each.
Aldi’s 2023 Holiday Food Offerings Under $10
We love all the fun and inexpensive Aldi finds, which excites us for what’s in store this holiday season. The latest lineup this year includes items from Aldi’s own Specially Selected label, with so many under $10 each.
Aldi already has a solid cheese selection but recently added a few more offerings, giving us over 75 specialty cheese varieties. One of the newbies to try this season is the Specially Selected Tete De Moine Rosettes and the Specially Selected Burrata, both priced under $5 (exact prices will depend on your local store).
We’re especially happy about these cheese prices since we always look forward to making a killer charcuterie board during the holidays. Aldi also has plenty of other items to add to the board for less than $10, including select meats like prosciutto (ranging from $3.65-$3.89), artisan crackers (starting at $1.99), and onion chutney ($3.29).
Aldi also has some affordable new wines we think will pair nicely with the charcuterie board. Aldi’s wine selection can start around $6.99, including the new Quarter Cut Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel. Aldi also has its own wine collection (the first of its kind), where you can find ten premium bottles from around the globe that start at just $7.99.
We love sipping on a warm mug of cocoa during those chilly winter nights, and there are two sweet treats we can’t wait to add to our cups. Aldi has the three-pack of Choceur Hot Cocoa Bombs ($5.99) and Choceur Hot Cocoa Melting Chocolate Snowmen ($2.49) that will help keep us warm while feeding into our sweet tooth.
These are just a few of the current holiday food offerings from Aldi, but the store will be adding more throughout the season, giving us plenty to look forward to when shopping now until the end of the year.
Read the original article on All Recipes.


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The Competition Authority of Kenya has ordered Cleanshelf Supermarkets to contact and refund all the consumers who bought hand sanitizers at hiked prices on Sunday.
In a statement CAK ordered the supermarket to submit evidence of refund by 26th of March 2020.
Cleanshelf Supermarket allegedly sold the 500 Ml of Tropikal brand of hand sanitizers at Ksh. 1000 instead of the normal Ksh. 800.
The supermarket reportedly sold 960 pieces of the hand sanitizer on the same day.
“Cleanshelf supermarkets normally retails the specific hand sanitizers at Ksh. 800. However the authority has determined that the retailer on 15th March 2020 sold the same batch of product to consumers at varying amounts above Ksh. 800 including Ksh. 1000 with the prices increasing within hours,” read the statement.
The authority has further appreciated members of the public who availed the necessary information for investigations.
“It is on this basis that we are encouraging persons with information relating to the above contravention to submit the same to the authority whose offices are located at Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefit Scheme Block D,” further read the statement.


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The Japanese auto giants agreed to establish a £1.6bn joint venture plant in the U.S. with equal funding contributions, with the goal of beginning operations in 2021 and eventually producing 300,000 vehicles a year. But because the new plant will build the Corolla, chances are it will be located near Toyota's current Corolla plant in MS to be close to parts supply companies. Instead, it will manufacture Tacoma pickups at the Mexico plant which is now under construction. Toyota and Mazda judged that it is necessary to heighten efficiency through cooperation.
He was appointed past year to lead Toyota's newly formed electric auto division, flagging the group's commitment to a technology it has been slow to embrace.
Toyota, which has been vying against the Japan-France alliance of Nissan-Renault, Volkswagen AG of Germany and USA manufacturer General Motors Co. for the spot of world's No. 1 automaker, stuck to its earlier projection for global vehicle sales for the fiscal year at 10.25 million vehicles.
"It is also the realization of our desire to never let cars become commodities", saidToyota President Akio Toyoda.
The Japanese automakers said in a statement Friday that the facility would be operational by 2021, but did not specify where it would be built. In February it announced a plan to co-operate with Suzuki in research and development, and already works with Subaru on a compact sports vehicle model.
Toyota has been forging alliances with domestic rivals in an effort to boost competitiveness.
The US President had previously attacked Toyota because it had planned to produce its Corolla model at a new plant in Mexico. "The new presidential administration has made it clear investments in the US are a top priority, and this plant may be another nod to that mindset", said Anand.
Toyota spokesman Scott Vazin said the company would continue to make the Corolla at its MS manufacturing plant, as well, with no changes planned there. "This plant is a great example of Toyota's know-how and ingenuity, and of course its match with the work force and our partners in the community Together, we make such a great team, and through this teamwork, we've made some fantastic accomplishments".
Teavana Closing Stores: All 379 Locations to Shutter
More than a dozen stores have closed at the almost 3-year-old, $315 million mall since its grand opening in October 2014. The 3,300 employees affected by the closures have been encouraged to apply for positions at Starbucks stores.
Why Trump has an opportunity in Kelly
"I'm on Team Trump and I look forward to helping him achieve his goals and his agenda for the American people", Priebus said . Priebus goes down in history as having the briefest run as an initial White House chief of staff at 189 days.
Bills trade Jones to Chargers for pick
Sending a seventh-round pick to the Bills for Jones makes sense for the Chargers . The Los Angeles Chargers added another passer to back up Philip Rivers .
Samsung officially introduces the SM-G9298 flip phone
There are many sensors on board, some of which include an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope, and a barometric pressure sensor. Similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, the flip phone does not come with a dedicated button for Samsung's Bixby.


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Yet another week passes by, and the number of attacks on innocent netizens only escalates. Hackers are undoubtedly on an endless spree of infecting devices with malware and disrupting the daily activities of people. While many users indirectly encourage attackers by easily giving them the demanded ransom, others choose to stay firm and not do what the hacker wants even if they have to struggle because of this decision. People may adopt the best phishing prevention measures, and yet the attackers will manage to find some tiny crevice to enter and breakdown their entire system. The internet is flooded with news of such incidents that have happened over the week. But here we bring you the most important headlines from the world of cybersecurity:
New Trojan Targets Facebook Ads Manager
In the latest phishing scheme, attackers are spreading a PDF reader, which in reality is an information-stealing trojan that steals Facebook and Amazon session cookies as well as sensitive data from the Facebook Ads Manager. Many websites distributing this so-called PDFreader have been spotted recently. The trojan has been found to have resemblance with AdKoob and Stresspaint and has been detected as “Socelars”. There are chances that this trojan derives inspiration from the others as the coding involved differs a lot.
The trojan initially steals Facebook sessions cookies from Chrome and Firefox by accessing the Cookies SQLite database and then uses it to connect a variety of Facebook URLs. This is where the user’s information gets extracted. Through the account billing URL, the user’s account id and access token get stolen, which in turn is used in a Facebook Graph API call to take details from the user’s Ads Manager settings.
This trojan manages to steal session cookies, access tokens, account ids, advertising email address, associated pages, credit card info (number, expiration date), PayPal email, ad balances, spending limits, etc. but what must not be ignored is that the trojan might be targeting Facebook at the moment but it can, at any time, try to steal session cookies for Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
This trojan enables attackers to use the stolen Facebook cookies to access accounts and create their own ad campaigns. Preventing phishing attacks of this sort is challenging as they work silently in the background, with the users being unaware of the presence of malware in their system. However, researchers found an interesting link according to which many of the requests to the PDFreader domains came from adware bundles that download unnecessary programs in a user’s system such as YeaDesktop.
Malware Infects Thanksgiving Emails
As the US celebrates Thanksgiving, attackers use the opportunity and send out malware such as the Emotet Trojan via holiday-themed emails. This scheme works by sending an impersonated Thanksgiving Day greeting cards and office closing notices with last-minute invoices. If a user falls for this trap and opens the attached Word documents, then he/she gets a nice Thanksgiving present of a computer infected with a password-stealing trojan and other malware.
The said malware comes in various forms; one form identified was that of a Word document file named “Thanksgiving-eCard.doc,” containing a Thanksgiving Day Greeting Card. In yet another form, the attackers pretend that they are replying to a previous email, but in reality, this contains a malicious Word attachment. The attackers have been very cunning in their approach and have mentioned in the email of being shut for the Thanksgiving holiday as well as upcoming future holidays, which nullifies the victim’s prospects of confirming the authenticity of the email. The Word documents attached to the email contain doubtful macros that either download malware from a remote host or extract it from an embedded payload. Clicking on the “Enable Content” button allows the macros to install malware on the user’s system. Once launched, the malware downloads further malware, steals passwords, and installs ransomware at last.
The measures to prevent email phishing remain the same. One must never open emails from strangers and, more particularly, the attachments in the emails. In case an email seems ambiguous, you must confirm its authenticity from the owner. Besides, the red alert message to identify a prospective attack is when an attachment asks you to Enable Content or Enable Editing.
Data Breach At Mixcloud Reveals 20M User Records
The U.K.-based audio streaming platform, Mixcloud, recently underwent a data breach, which has left more than 20 million users exposed and vulnerable after the data was put up for sale on the dark web. The data breach, which happened in early November managed to steal details such as usernames, email addresses, and passwords of users.
The details have probably been scrambled with the SHA-2 algorithm, which makes it almost impossible to decode the passwords. In addition, the stolen data gave records of account sign-up dates and the last-login date, along with the name of the country from which the user signed up, their internet (IP) address, and links to profile photos.
Although the exact number of accounts compromised is not known, the seller claims to list at least 21 million records on the dark web, but researchers say that this figure might go up to 22 million. The sellers were demanding a sum of $4,000, or about 0.5 bitcoin for the stolen records.
Upon being asked to comment on their phishing attack prevention methods, the spokesperson of Mixcloud – Lisa Roolant maintained silence. She also refused to disclose any significant information, including if the company planned to inform regulators under U.S. state and EU data breach notification laws. Mixcloud’s co-founder Nico Perez also maintained a similar silence on the matter. Perhaps the company will have to pay a fine, going up to 4% of their annual turnover for violations of European GDPR rules.
Database Security Lapse Reveals SMS Messages Of Users
TrueDialog – a Texas-based SMS provider for businesses and higher education providers recently saw repercussions of a database security lapse on its part. The company that boasts of having a unique feature that allows recipients to reply to the automated business messages, thereby creating a domain for two-way conversations with brands or businesses, left its database containing messages sent over a span of several years unprotected on the web. This database contained millions of SMS text messages, mainly sent from businesses to potential customers.
Leaving this database unprotected and without a password, let almost anyone view the dialogue between businesses and their customers of various companies. This database was discovered online by security researchers Noam Rotem and Ran Locar. The database contained information such as a customer’s phone number and SMS message contents. It also included information about university finance applications, marketing messages from businesses with discount codes, and job alerts. Among other things contained in the database are the two-factor codes and security messages, which can very easily let an outsider access the online accounts of a customer. The list doesn’t end here; the database also contained the usernames and passwords of the customers.
However, TrueDialog is taking anti-phishing protection measures and has already brought down the unprotected database. However, the company’s chief executive John Wright is avoiding confrontation regarding the breach. He has also refrained from disclosing whether they plan to inform regulators, such as state attorneys general, as per the state data breach notification laws.
Smith & Wesson’s Targeted By Hackers
Security researcher Willem de Groot from Sanguine Security located a Magecart that has compromised Smith & Wesson’s website along with some other sites. This attack is said to have happened a few days before Black Friday. The URL which has injected the malicious script is: live.sequracdn[.]net/storage/modrrnize.js. This script works undercover and is very hard to identify: it appears to be a normal 11KB and non-malicious script.
In this scheme, when a customer enters his/her payment details in the fake form created by the attacker, the information goes to https://live.sequracdn.net/t/ – which belongs to the attackers. The attacker can easily use this stolen information.
Hence, any person who has made purchases from Smith & Wesson in recent times needs to take adequate phishing protection measures and must keep in constant touch with their credit card company to look for any suspicious or fraudulent charges.
FBI Senses Security Danger From Russian Faceapp
Because of Moscow’s ability to access communications directly via internet service providers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is skeptical about the security policy of any app of Russian origin. The FBI regards any Russian app as a “potential counterintelligence threat”. The current suspicions are about the Russian Smartphone app, which has gained worldwide popularity because of its face-editing filter that ages photos of users’ faces.
Because of this prospective threat, the Democratic National Committee has already taken anti-phishing measures by warning their 2020 presidential candidates not to use the FaceApp. The Democratic U.S. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer too has asked the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission to have proper investigations regarding the threat factor of the app.
Although they lack evidence testifying FaceApp’s partnership with the Russian government, yet the FBI is ever doubtful of the app’s genuineness.
Launched in 2017, the FaceApp was developed by St. Petersburg based company Wireless Lab. The chief executive officer of Wireless Lab (who was also an executive at Yandex) – Yaroslav Goncharov has denied all accusations on it for selling or sharing user data with third parties. The company went on to say that their server auto deletes user data after 48 hours of submission and that there is no scope of transferring data to Russia.
Cybercrimes Triple At Scotland
The number of cyberattacks in Scotland has increased by an enormous 215% this year as compared to 2018. This indicates that the frequency of attacks has tripled in just a span of one year. The Scottish police remarked that it saw 4,495 cybercrimes reported from April to September this year, including stalking, sexual crimes, and fraud. However, this data is not cumulative of all the divisions, or else the total figure would have been much higher.
The police have also said that because of better detection and identification techniques that have been employed recently along with the latest anti-phishing solutions, the police force can now improve the quality and pace of reporting the cybercrimes in the country.
Malcolm Graham – the Deputy Chief Constable said that with the latest addition of sophisticated measures, the police can now better trace the digital nature of different types of cyberattacks. He said that there is always at least some amount of evidence which occurs in digital form, and therefore tracking the digital footprint of crimes is crucial.
The Scottish police have also initiated a campaign called “Tag it, Mark it, Log it,” whereby every member of the team has to label any crime which has a cyber-element. They believe that this new approach shall quicken the search process in today’s era, where different forms of cybercrimes can be interlinked. The boundaryless world of cybercrimes needs a solution that can trace their trail and hence this campaign of the Scottish police.
Data Breach And Ransomware Attack On BAT
A serious data breach and ransomware attack hit a Romanian web platform owned by British American Tobacco (an international tobacco company).
The data breach led to the loss of as much as 352 GB of data, and this attack was further intensified by a ransom demand from the attackers, which came in a readme file threatening to delete the data from the server if the ransom was not paid. The ransom was demanded in the form of a Bitcoin payment.
The data breach led to the compromise of user details such as their full name, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, gender, source IP, Cigarette and tobacco product preferences, etc. Although the security researchers in charge of ensuring protection from phishing have attempted to uncover the attack, yet the database continues to be available online for over two months now. The team has continuously been trying to reach out to concerned organizations since September 22nd, such as the local and global offices of BAT, the server’s hosting company, Romania’s National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC) and the certification authority (CA) – but all to no avail. However, the latest reports state that the database has been finally brought down.
Huawei Mobile’s Twitter Account Hacked
On Black Friday, the official Twitter account of Huawei Mobile Brazil was hacked by some unidentified parties who then posted derogatory messages from Huawei’s account and also provoked the company’s rival – Apple with some offensive messages.
While some of these messages insulted the needy people of Brazil who would never buy a Huawei Smartphone, the others targeted Apple and ended with the statement, “We are the best!”
The company has acknowledged the fact that its products are unaffordable for the vast majority of Brazilians and has disclosed its plans of giving out exclusive discounts from Black Friday. The company’s investments in Brazil continue, with new product launches in recent times, such as the FreeBuds Lite wireless headsets, P30, and P30 Lite.
Despite the company’s efforts to win the Brazilian masses, the tweets on Black Friday did much harm. Huawei now attempts to ensure protection against phishing and has apologized for the shameful conduct that wasn’t intended by the company.
Data Breach At Buyback Website
The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) in New Zealand recently identified a data breach that has pushed the government’s firearms buyback program in turmoil. As a result of this data breach of the buyback website, the police minister – Stuart Nash, has also been asked to resign.
As per COLFO’s report, the users of the buyback web site could access the full contact details, firearm license numbers, and bank address details of more than 37,000 gun owners, along with information on 70,000 firearm hand-in notifications.
Although the New Zealand Police shut down the website immediately after getting to know about it, but it remains unclear as to the period for which the information has been publicly available and accessible online.


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A brewery has had a major expansion to double its production levels to meet demand for its beer.
Wild Horse Brewing Company, based in Llandudno, has increased its annual brewing capacity from 175,000 litres (308,098 pints) to 350,000 litres (616,197 pints).
It is part of a £134,000 capital investment project backed by Rural Business Investment Scheme grant funding from the Welsh Government Food Division and a loan from the Development Bank of Wales.
The company has come a long since it was was established on Builder Street by husband and wife team Dave and Emma Faragher in March 2015, when it was producing no more than 250 litres per week.
It now supplies more than 100 pubs, restaurants and shops across North Wales and over the border.
Dave Faragher, brewer and founder of Wild Horse, said: “We’re incredibly excited to see this expansion complete after many months of planning.
"We’ve really struggled to keep our core and seasonal beers all available over the last four months so the additional capacity is going to be very welcome.
"We’re also looking forward to releasing some new one-off beers in the new year, which we've not had capacity to brew since May.”
The Welsh Government Food Division said: “The project has been supported with funding from the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, with Rural Business Investment Scheme Food (RBISF) grant.
"The RBISF scheme covers capital investment costs and supports projects that provide clear benefits to the food and drink industry in Wales.
"The scheme specifically supports Micro and Small Food and Drink businesses in Wales, supporting business growth, encouraging new business opportunities and creating new jobs in rural areas.”
Chris Hayward, of the Development Bank of Wales, said: “The funding for this deal came from the Wales Business Fund which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
"It’s always really rewarding to support local entrepreneurs and particularly encouraging to see businesses like Wild Horse Brewing develop and thrive.
"Our loan will support the purchase of the new brewing tanks and the creation of an improved cold storage unit leading to the introduction of new product lines and increased sales.
"As a highly regarded and fast growth business in Llandudno, we wish them every success."


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Intellectuals, publishers and authors participated in the second Qassim Book Fair, which was organized by Qassim governorate in collaboration with the Saudi Publishers Association.
The fair included lectures and seminars. One notable lecture was by Dr. Qais Al-Sheikh Mubarak, who highlighted the importance of reading and seeking knowledge.
Dr. Nora Al-Rashoud, a lecturer at Umm Al-Qura University, gave a lecture titled “Judicial efforts in family issues.”
There was also a symposium titled “The future of journalism: Between digital and print,” as well as poetry evenings.
The fair was attended by 200 publishing houses, as well as government and social agencies. It provided an opportunity for many companies and individuals to offer their services and products to visitors.
The fair included a pavilion for artists, one for families, and one for children to develop their skills and consolidate their love of reading.
The Kingdom is making efforts to promote reading culture among the youth. Authorities have organized a number of book fairs to make world literature available to the public.
Recently, an international book fair was held in Jeddah. The fair drew more than 50,000 visitors daily and publishers from 40 countries. Several workshops in fine arts, photography and calligraphy were also organized.


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Update: It happened! Snap fell down to its IPO price (for a few seconds) of $17 per share after its continued steady march south over the past several weeks. The company is now barely holding just above its IPO price.
Snap’s last earnings report resulted in a disaster, and while the company still managed to stay above $20 for an extended period of time, a string of bad days for the market — and likely increased skepticism for the company’s future among the rest of the bundle of growth stocks — is putting increased pressure on its price. There have been a slew of smaller IPOs since Snap as more and more companies try to get out the gate, but especially for non-traditional ad-driven companies (looking at Pinterest, for example), it may affect the future of the so-called IPO window being “open.”
We’re going to get another heat check on investor appetite in the next few weeks with Blue Apron, which filed to go public earlier this month. Like Snap, Blue Apron — a meal delivery service that’s as much a consumer service as it is a complex logistical operation — showed a growing business while logging a major loss in the most recent quarter. But Blue Apron also showed it at least has the capability of being profitable, with a $3 million profit in the first quarter last year.
This major decline might not be something that’s wrong on an absolute basis, since $17 is the price that Snap selected as a company going public. But these prices are set to raise as much money as they can while ensuring a “pop” of around 20% or more, making sure investors have an opportunity to lock in some gains. So, for the most part, we can call Snap’s IPO a “success” given its pop, even though the company’s shares have come crashing down to earth. It’s not great for the rest of the people that got into Snap, and it certainly isn’t good for the perception of the company as a potential growth stock like the traditional FANG (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google) bundle.
There are some implications for Snap’s stock decline — namely, a lower stock price can make it harder to attract talent because compensation packages tied to those prices start to become less valuable. Snap faces competition from other networks like Facebook, which is increasingly copying Snap’s portfolio of features and products. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but for a company that is trying to pitch to advertisers that it’s a unique prospect with high engagement, having a massive company with resources and a known ad product can make life increasingly difficult.
The stock continuing to tumble further below $17 is, of course, a Very Bad Sign — both for Snap and companies trying to offer new kinds of advertising pitches beyond Facebook and Google. But it did make a quick rebound after hitting $17 for a very brief moment in time. The market in general has had a bad few days, so we’ll see how this kind of behavior lasts.


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List of Awards
In the News
Should agencies stop pitching?
Why Couleur Locale's Dominique Trudeau released a manifesto stating he would no longer pitch for business.
On simplifying complexity
Dominique Trudeau on returning to a simpler time and finding truth in advertising.
Brother Canada names new AOR
The printer, scanner and label-maker company has picked Montreal-based Couleur Locale to head its marketing efforts.
When David kicks Goliath’s behind
Dom Trudeau's bedtime story for advertising moguls on the threat from tiny agencies.
Modern advertising alchemy
Dom Trudeau's essay on the exquisite and extremely delicate art of turning lead into gold.
Rethinking the keyboard
Take inspiration from this reinvention of an everyday object: The Minuum could change the way we type.
How to reinvent the wheel in three easy steps
Dom Trudeau says read only half the book, set paper on fire and break the rules.
Making love last: Advice for the jaded shopper marketer
Industry experts channel Dear Abby to weigh-in on data sharing and successful re-packaging.
Need for change
Couleur Locale's Dom Trudeau's call to action: disrupt everything. Innovate yourself. Change things like tomorrow depends on it.
Dominique Trudeau launches his own shop
The former Taxi Montreal ECD has kicked off Couleur Locale with an inaugural client list that includes Monsieur Felix & Mr. Norton and Raymond Chabot.
Taxi Montreal hires new ECD
Palm + Havas' VP/CD Pascal De Decker will join the Quebec shop in September, replacing Dominique Trudeau, who departed in May.
Dominique Trudeau leaves Taxi
The agency's former Montreal ECD confirms he's no longer working there.
Shine or bust: Advice for winning awards
Leo Burnett's Judy John, Taxi's Dominique Trudeau and JWT's Martin Shewchuk offer words of wisdom on how to bring home the hardware.
Back Page: The year of the app
Dominique Trudeau, ECD at Taxi Montréal, gives us a sneak peek of what we can expect to see on smartphones in the south of France this summer.
Taxi takes a stand against potholes
The agency's Montreal office has created an iPhone app that acts as a warning system for drivers.


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In the Romania libera daily, economic analyst and Minister of Reform in the ‘90s Ilie Serbanescu surveys the evolution of Romania’s industrial sector after 1989.
He starts from the statement made by president of the State Assets Realization Authority (AVAS) Teodor Atanasiu, that the coming to Romania of US trust Ford by the takeover of the Craiovabased auto plant marks the beginning of the "country’s second industrialization."
This statement is followed by thread "comments on the solid and efficient nature of this industrialization, accomplished under market economy conditions," versus the "first industrialization wave" of the communist time – not specifically mentioned, but seen as forced and inefficient, notes Ilie Serbanescu.
One cannot contest the major positive impact of Ford’s involvement in Romanian industry, but even if this adds to Renault’s presence, it is still not enough for the critical mass of change to pile up, that could give solid ground for talk about a (re)industrialization, says the analyst. In his opinion, the critical mass could be accomplished only if Mercedes or Mitsubishi’s plans to come to Romania materialized too.
Regardless the shortcomings of the country’s "first industrialization" after the fall of communism (in December 1989, Ed. note), this was followed by dis-industrialization that is mentally and physically not yet over, notes Serbanescu.
"Romanian industry, good or bad, as it may have been, lost at least 3.5 million jobs in the post-Decembrist period and is practically the only net loss-making sector from this standpoint. Industries with an international position were liquidated for lack of capitalization. Ill-management or ill-will drove Romanian industry off foreign markets and massive embezzlements gave the final blow to trades that were barely breathing," writes the commentator.
One can count successful privatisation deals in industry on the fingers of one hand, whereas failed deals stand at thousands, remarks Serbanescu. Industrial restructuring is not yet over, and the workforce outflow from industry is higher then workforce absorption, despite more investments in recent years. Labour productivity is slightly rising but not due to higher production, but to job axing and the massive exodus that made industry now face a structural shortage of skilled professionals.
One cannot say positive signals from industry and particularly from exporting sectors are absent, but to a certain extent they are just the result of the shift of forward-processing from textiles to the auto industry, mentions the analyst.
The second industrialization is fully explained by the impact of foreign investments but, says Serbanescu, just that is no guarantee for the country’s industrialization or re-industrialization. "Foreign investments can add to domestic investments, the absence or weakness of which make talk about real and sustainable (re)industrialization shallow."


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Moa narrows first-half loss, eyes new tie-ups
Moa Group narrowed its first-half loss after lifting sales while trimming costs, and said it expects to continue driving revenue growth while holding expenses at bay.
The loss narrowed to $1.2 million in the six months ended September, from $1.69 million a year earlier, the Marlborough-based brewer said.
Sales climbed to $3.7 million from $3.3 million, while expenses fell to $2.4 million from $2.7 million.
Moa has previously given guidance for full-year revenue of between $9-11 million, from $8.2 million in the 2016 year, but the forecast doesn't include New Zealand distribution for Wellington-based craft brewer Parrotdog, which began on October 1.
Moa shares rose 1.3% to 80c and have increased 64% in the past 12 months, while the S&P/NZX 50 Index gained about 13%. It listed in 2012 at $1.25.
The company raised $4 million in September via a placement and rights offer, although the rights issue component of $1.26 million is recorded as an event after balance date. It had cash on hand of $3.1 million at September 30, from about $1.8 million a year earlier.
Moa cited AC Nielsen Grocery data to show it ranks third in its share of the New Zealand craft beer market behind the craft-style beers of major brewers Lion and DB Breweries. In the first half, the volume of New Zealand sales rose 15% to 923,904 litres, while its gross margin widened.
Growth in New Zealand will accelerate through the second half helped by the launch of a new Reserve 6-pack range and as it rolls out its pale ale cans nationwide, the company said.
Moa brews its premium beers at its own facility in Blenheim and outsources the rest of its production. Following the tie-up with Parrotdog, the company "can now consider partnerships and acquisitions to cement its position in the New Zealand craft beer landscape in 2017," it said.


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Electronics Production | March 02, 2009
Harju Elekter to implement part-time work for 169 staff
Harju Elekter Group has submitted requests to the Labour Inspectorate and has also received permission for the application of part-time working time in subsidiaries AS Harju Elekter Elektrotehnika and AS Eltek.
According to need, it will be possible to apply part-time working time in the case of up to 169 people, in the period of time from 23 February to 30 April 2009. The need to apply part-time working time arises from a decline in production volumes due to a decrease in orders in the first half of this year. Part-time working time is 60% of the standard for working time or 24 hours a week, increasing the flexibility of the company in the organisation of work in a changing economic environment. At the present time, it is difficult to estimate when the situation will stabilise and normal business and production organisation will recover. The consolidated sales profit of the group in the fourth quarter was €13.1 million (4th quarter of 2007: €13.2 million), which was 1% less than the result of the comparable quarter. The sales volume of 2008 amounted to €55.7 million, exceeding the result of last year by €8.9 million. Regardless of the recession in the economy, the growth speed of sales profit in the financial year was 19.1%. During the financial year, the profitability of the group was affected the most by toughening competition, which resulted in pressure on sales prices, and a price drop that brought about the markdown of stock reserves in the final quarter of the year. The worsening of the payment habits of clients also had an effect, so the expenditure was higher than usual in the financial year due to the markdown of claims. The business profit of the reporting quarter before depreciation was €1.1 million, surpassing the results of the same period last year by more than 8%, and business profit was €0.7 million, which was 25% more than in the comparable period. The business profitability of the fourth quarter was 5.7%, exceeding the result of the fourth quarter of last year by 1.2 percentage points. The business profit of the financial year before depreciation was €4.4 million (2007: €4.5 million) and business profit was €3.2 million (2007: €3.3 million), decreasing by 2.8% and 2.6% compared to the year 2007, respectively. Operating margin was 5.8% (2007: 7.0%). The net profit of the group was affected the most by the financial income earned on financial investments. In 2007, a one-time income in the amount of €2.1 million was earned from the sale of financial investments. No financial assets have been sold this year. The reassessment of the reserves and financial instruments due to the drop in the market prices of raw material was the reason for consolidating a loss of €499 thousand from affiliated companies in the fourth quarter (Q42007: € -253 thousand) and the total of 2008 was € -260 thousand (2007: €5000). The consolidated net profit of the fourth quarter was €173 thousand (in Q42007: €287 thousand) and in twelve months, a net profit of €2.7 million was earned (in 2007: €5.5 million). As at the balance day on 31 December, there were 515 people working in the group, which is 29 employees more than a year ago. The increase in production volumes has brought about an increase in the number of employees as well as an increase in labour costs. In the fourth quarter, there was an average of 503 people working in the group (Q42007: 458). The annual average number of employees increased by 45 to 503 and the average monthly wages of the employees of the group increased by €25.56 to €1400. In the reporting year, wage costs increased by 10.7% to €8.2 million. In the 12 months, the Group has invested a total of €2.0 million in buildings, €241 thousand in production equipment and means of transport.
American Battery Metals, U.S. lawmakers convene American Battery Metals Corporation has completed a series of meetings with lawmakers and personnel in the Department of Energy and Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., to discuss issues critical to the domestic battery production and storage industry.
Cogiscan, Critical Mfg. form strategic partnership Quebec, Canada-based Cogiscan and Critical Manufacturing, headquartered in Portugal, have forged a strategic partnership to deliver smart factory solutions for electronics manufacturers.
Collins Aerospace expanding in North Africa Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp., has taken the first step toward the expansion of its existing site in Casablanca, Morocco.
The advantage of Vantage - Garrett Wong tells the tale Nordson Asymtek's Garrett Wong gives us a rundown of the business year and also details the Vantage Advantage
Sponsored content by Nordson ASYMTEKStart-to-finish conformal coating with reliability and efficiency Nordson ASYMTEK’s flexible, modular, Panorama™ S-Line delivers conformal coating process control in a space-saving footprint with overlapping line processes that minimize manufacturing floor space. This innovative, patent-pending line layout trims 50% of the line’s length by using the lower compartment in each piece of equipment for functional use. Combined with Nordson ASYMTEK’s global support, this complete conformal coating line delivers quality, product reliability, efficiency, and safety for all your conformal coating applications.
Saki’s Eddie Ichiyama details a very successful business year Eddie ichiyama from Saki gave us an update on how 2019 has been for the company and also shared some details on the recent expansion in the Czech Republic.
The ripple effect of Enrico Krog Iversen while being an active part in creating one of the fastest growing robotics companies in modern time might have been enough for most people, that does not seem to have slowed down a certain Danish entrepreneur.
Yamaha's Ichiro Arimoto on the business year and the company's new ventures Evertiq had the opportunity to talk to Ichiro Arimoto, General Manager of Yamaha Motor Europe, about the business year and the company's new ventures.
Mycronic, Indium forge strategic partnership Indium Corporation has announced a strategic partnership with Sweden-based Mycronic, to develop no-clean and water soluble solder pastes for jetting applications.
Sponsored content by NCAB Group Benelux B.V.Failure is not an option for a PCB More than 30% of the Gerbers NCAB Group Benelux B.V. reviews, have problems. However, the PCB are integrated in key end-user product with more and more High Tech PCB. We are here to support you on the new technologies growth to maintain a high reliability and quality. Contact us to review it together.
SCHMID delivers PlasmaLine to Hofstetter PCB SCHMID announced it has installed the company’s first PlasmaLine comprising ICP etch & sputter deposition of its Korean JV SCHMID AVACO at Hofstetter PCB AG in Switzerland.
Cobot market to reach USD 9+ billion by 2025 A new report from Tractica is forecasting continued rapid growth for the global collaborative robot (cobot) market over the next few years, reaching revenue of USD 9.7 billion by 2025.
MixComm scores USD 8+ million in series B round New Jersey-based fabless semiconductor company MixComm has secured USD 8.6 million in series B funding led by existing investor, Kairos Ventures.
SIA elects 2020 leadership The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) Board of Directors has elected ON Semiconductor CEO Keith Jackson as its 2020 Chair and Qorvo CEO Robert Bruggeworth as its 2020 Vice Chair.
Sponsored content by SourcengineComponent Aggregators vs E-Commerce Marketplaces What is the difference between electronic component aggregators and a marketplace?
67% of a buyer’s journey is now done digitally. Learn how marketplaces emerged as full-cycle procurement platforms and challenged the traditional component aggregators.
Si wafer shipments recede for fourth straight quarter Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments slid for the fourth consecutive quarter of 2019, according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its most recent quarterly analysis of the industry.
Decline in Q4 DRAM contract prices lessens as buying momentum recovers According to the latest analysis from the DRAMeXchange research division of TrendForce, Q4 DRAM ASP is as of yet undergoing a slight QoQ decline, but this decline has shrunk down to 5%.
Technica forms growth-focused equity fund San Jose-based Technica USA has reached an agreement on an equity investment centered on future growth for the global PCB fab and assembly supplier.
IHS Markit: 5G economy in the trillions by 2035 The IHS Markit 5G Economy Study, commissioned by Qualcomm Technologies Inc., is forecasting that 5G will generate USD 13.2 trillion in sales enablement by 2035.
Sponsored content by EsemdaContract manufacturer Esemda opens new facility in Vilnius and expands EMS The new facility has been built with reserved space for future expansions. As Esemda constantly grows, it is of great importance to be able to rapidly increase production capacity in large volumes.
ZEUS Battery partnering with Kruvand Associates ZEUS Battery Products and Texas-based Kruvand Associates Inc. have come to a formal agreement on a collaboration that began in January and covers Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico.
EPP with a new owner The company announces that is has found itself an ideal buyer – Photonics Systems Group – a manufacturer of micro-materials processing machines. With this takeover, PSG is strengthening is operations in the electronics industry and also laying the foundation for further growth.
Volkswagen starts pre-production e-mobility plant in China The new plant of the SAIC VOLKSWAGEN joint venture has been completed. It is purely built for the production of all electric vehicles on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB).
Kongsberg Maritime divests KM Contros GmbH Following a strategic review, Kongsberg Maritime AS (KM) has decided to divest KM Contros GmbH (Contros) to AML Oceanographic Ltd. (AML).
SUSS MicroTec adjusts outlook for fiscal year 2019 Based on the preliminary figures for the first nine months and the updated budget figures, SUSS MicroTec is substantiating its expectations for incoming orders, sales and earnings for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.
GPV's revenues soars 130% Danish EMS provider, GPV Group, announces that the company generated revenues of DKK 2.2 billion in the first nine months of 2019, a 130% year-on-year improvement driven by the acquisition of Swiss company CCS at the end of 2018.
Former GM plant now Lordstown Motors Corp. General Motors’ shuttered Lordstown plant in Ohio, which closed in March, is now in the hands of an electric truck start-up that is looking to begin production in about a year.Load more news


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AIAIAI announces a Headphones for Life initiative
The headphone manufacturer is taking back unused headphones to combat e-waste
Responsible design has long been at the core of the AIAIAI ethos, strengthened today by the company’s latest pledge to combat electronic waste.
Understanding that e-waste is a growing problem on our supercharged planet, which in the music industry is a byproduct of equipment like synthesizers, samplers, drum machines and digital audio workstations, AIAIAI has introduced a lifetime trade-in service for its headphones. This means that users can send in used or non-functional TMA-1 or TMA-2 headphones or parts and receive credit toward a future purchase.
Because the design of its headphones is modular, this initiative allows for individual components to be swapped out (as opposed to a single piece that needs to be replaced should it fail), not only maximizing their sustainability (by minimizing their impact) but also maximizing the value and cost of the headphones to the consumer. Buy one pair, and keep it for life.
“We believe that everyone deserves a product that will allow them to experience music in the best way possible, and without the need to constantly buy new versions,” reads a press statement by AI AI AI. “We are therefore focusing on creating the conditions where users will only need to invest in one pair of headphones for life."
According to AIAIAI, in a 2021 report by the Green Music Initiative, the music industry in Europe generated approximately 350,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions and 114,000 metric tons of waste in 2019.
The rapid pace of technological advancement is a huge factor in the short shelf life of electronic music production equipment.
A similar 2020 report by the United Nations University estimated that the total amount of e-waste generated worldwide was 53.6 million metric tons in 2019. Only 17.4% of this waste is properly collected and recycled.
The Headphones for Life campaign is the latest in AIAIAI’s longstanding commitment to responsible design. In December, the brand launched a similar scheme called Remixed that allows consumers to trade in, repair and repurpose their used headphones.


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CHIC EATS Across the street from Shoreditch House and perched five stories above East London’s bustling — if grimy — streets is Boundary Rooftop, the city’s latest alfresco destination from Terence and Vicki Conran. The new space features a bar and grill and boasts 360-degree views of landmarks including the Swiss Re building (known to Londoners affectionately as the Gherkin), the Barbican and the London Eye. Olive trees, decking and wicker seating around a central fireplace give the place a Mediterranean vibe, and thick plaid blankets keep the chills at bay. The menu includes a scallop-and-pancetta brochette and poussin with salsa verde.
A few tube stops away in the West End, St Martins Lane hotel will play host to a pop-up Armani Caffé. Furnished with pieces from the Armani Casa collection, it will serve light Italian bites in minimalist surroundings.
Armani Caffé at St Martins Lane 45 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4HX +44-207-300-5500 Sept. 17 to 22
GALLERY GARB Those needing to clear their palates of fashion week’s glamour and glitter should pop into the Sprueth Magers’ gallery in Mayfair to have a look at some decidedly untrendy pieces of clothing. Artist Andrea Zittel has created wraparound smocks and invited artisans to make designs for them. These “smockers” will create their own design in a range of colors, patterns and textures. The gallery says Zittel’s vision is inspired by a “non-status quo response to fashion,” and the Smockshop installation is aimed at supporting non-commercial artists. The garments will be available immediately after they’re completed. Smocks range in price from 260 to 600 pounds, or $434 to $1,000.
Smockshop at Sprueth Magers 7A Grafton Street, W1S 4EJ +44-207-408-1613 Sept. 19 to Oct.
Donatella Versace will receive the International Award at the 2018 @cfda awards, which were announced tonight. Tap link in bio for a list of all the nominees and honorees. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @rahirezvanistudio )
The 2018 @cfda Awards nominees are out! @virgilabloh for @off____white for is nominated for Womenswear Designer of the Year. Tap link in bio for all the nominees. #wwdnews #wwdfashion ( 📷: @simonelezzi)
@chanelofficial is suing high-end vintage retailer @whatgoesaroundnyc for trademark infringement, a move that could cost the retailer millions. The French fashion house claims that it’s not only unintentionally sold counterfeit goods on occasion, but that it’s “gone out of its way to create an association with Chanel,” which does not exist. Read Chanel’s statement on WWD.com #wwdnews (@aitorrosasphoto)
Exclusive: Guillaume Henry has left @ninaricci, the fashion house said on Thursday. “After three years of mutually gratifying creative collaboration, Nina Ricci and Guillaume Henry have together decided that the designer will depart the house after the presentation of the fall-winter 2018-19 collection,” Ricci said in a statement. Get all the details on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: @aitorrosasphoto)
“When Bella enters a room all heads turn,” said @peterphilipsmakeup, creative and image director for @diormakeup. Last night, the two celebrated the product launch of Dior’s Lacquer Plump in Los Angeles with other celebs like @parisjackson, @winnieharlow and more. Head to WWD.com to see the rest of the photos from the night (📷: @chelsealaurenla) #wwdeye
“These shirts are an art form, it’s about getting the message out to as many people as you can. It breaks down the pretentiousness of the art gallery,” says Kumasi Sadiki, cofounder of @ebayontheblock, a store that sells merchandise by New York artists who are shifting their attention to clothes as a wearable medium. Pictured here is a design by artist @joegarvey_, one of the first to spearhead this movement. Head to WWD.com to read @mistywhitesidell full story on how their designs have become merch for the underground elite #wwdfashion
@netaporter is dedicating a part of its website – called the Fine Jewelry and Watch Destination – to highlight its high-end jewelry. The hub will feature products on the site, as well as incorporate styling advice and educational content about high-priced jewelry items. Get more details on WWD.com. #wwdaccessories
For “The Cher Show,” an upcoming musical based on @cher’s life and career, @bobmackie is once again collaborating with the singer in designing the costumes. For decades, Mackie has designed glitzy stage costumes and red carpet looks for the 71-year-old Grammy winner. Pictured here is a sketch of some of the pieces in the wardrobe of the musical, which is set to debut in Chicago on June 12 before making its way to Broadway #wwdeye


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Google, Facebook Leading Threat To Competition: ACCC Chief
Anti-trust authorities around the world, including Australia’s Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, are joining in a global discussion on how they should respond to acquisitions by big digital platforms of smaller start-ups, possibly eliminating future competition.
ACCC chair Rod Sims revealed this during a speech at the 2019 Competition Law Conference in Sydney at the weekend.
Sims told the conference that Google and Facebook had commercial incentives to acquire nascent companies, even if the chance of them ultimately posing a competitive threat was small.
“Arguably, Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram eliminated the threat of a substantial potential competitor,” he said.
Sims noted that over the past 12 years, Facebook has acquired 66 companies for a total of US$23 billion, while between 2004 and 2014, Google acquired 145 companies for an outlay of $23 billion.


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See also: *Hispanic Barbie 'Can Be President,' Apparently *California Women Designers Behind Barbie, Bikinis and the '84 Olympics Without a change of scenery, life can get a little monotonous -- even for Barbie. After 41 years in her Malibu mansion, what Barbie is apparently craving even more than ... More >>
Flickr/Calgary ReviewsMcDonald's will find a new egg source for its McMuffins. McDonald's and Target dropped one of the nation's largest egg suppliers after an animal rights group released an undercover video last Friday of the egg producer's farms in three states, according to the Associated ... More >>
Our new system of global production
L.A. is a Wal-Mart town. Get used to it.
It all adds up to a supermarket strike
How a couple of middle-aged P.I.'s and world-class raconteurs survived the DEA, the mob and the tabloid wars to take on their most elusive target yet -- Hollywood


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IPC teams up with Microsoft for five-month ad blitz
By John Reynolds, mediaweek.co.uk, Thursday, 13 December 2012 11:33AM
Microsoft is linking up with IPC's Marie Claire title in a five-month cross-platform campaign to promote its Windows Phone 8 range.
This marks the latest advertising support by Microsoft behind the range of phones, following the TV ads, starring James Corden and Holly Willoughby, which ran in November.
The campaign, created in-house, will run across online, print, mobile and e-newsletters. It kicks off this month and will run until April next year. The size of the deal is unclear.
Universal McCann planned and bought the deal.
Print activity will include a series of advertorials, which will show Marie Claire editors "styling up" their Windows Phones to suit their passions.
The mobile element of the campaign allows consumers to transform their smartphone screen to that of a personalised Windows Phone.
Central to the online campaign will be activity running on www.marieclaire.co.uk, which will include its first page morph, in which IPC's creative unit worked with ClickTag.
Visitors to the fashion channel will see the homepage fold into the background, to be replaced by a Windows Phone ad.
The website will also run tailored ad units, which will feature Microsoft brand ambassador Holly Willoughby.Follow @johnreynolds10
This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk
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Team Leader: Laura Jewell MW
Heading the wine development team at Tesco and chairing the WSET, Laura Jewell MW is a shining light for women in the wine industry.
MEASURING INFLUENCE is an imprecise science, but when it comes to the global wine trade, the world’s third largest retailer should surely be featured on anyone’s list.
With well over 3,000 stores across the UK, and an empire that stretches into 12 countries, including much of Eastern Europe, China and South Korea, Tesco is doing more to shape the wine market than any critic, producer or celebrity.
While Dan Jago heads the retail giant’s global wine operation, it is wine category product development manager Laura Jewell MW who has been the driving force behind Tesco’s increasingly important own label and exclusive label business. In addition to this daunting day job, she has also broken new ground as the first female chair of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, which last year saw 48,434 students from 62 countries enrol for its qualifications. As a result of these twin responsibilities, it seemed only fitting for Jewell to be ranked among the top 10 individuals in the drinks business’ 2012 list of the most powerful women in wine, recognition that was swiftly followed by her accolade as the drinks business Woman of the Year 2013.
One notable element within her glowing citation for this latter award was a sense of not just how well respected Jewell is among her peers, but – unusually for someone who wields such influence, especially in the often criticised supermarket sector – how well liked. This friendly charisma is immediately evident in her response to the question of how it feels to have such a mind-boggling impact on what people around the world are drinking with their dinner tonight. “It’s very humbling,” she begins, before quickly admitting: “but it’s also great fun.” For all the corporate framework of a giant like Tesco, Jewell emphasises the freedom that comes with such an employer. “We can try things and have the scale that, if it doesn’t work, it’s not the end of the world.” At the same time, she acknowledges the enormous responsibility that comes when your buying power is so immense. “When Tesco puts out a tender it can have quite an influence on price,” she remarks, throwing in the startling statistic: “We buy around 10% of all Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.”
Jewell becomes even more conscious of the “scary” effect a customer like Tesco can have on smaller regions, such as Châteauneuf du Pape, where “we hoovered up quite a bit before Christmas”. Nevertheless, she counters the inevitable external criticism that accompanies such clout with an emphasis on Tesco’s commitment to “using our scale for good”. This ranges from raising money for charity to more direct initiatives for the local community, such as helping with emergency supplies and financial aid when Thailand was hit by severe floods in 2011.
Back at the commercial coal face, Tesco has been battling the sluggish economic conditions and declining volume wine sales of the UK market which, for all the retailer’s international reach, still accounts for 90% of its wine business. “We’re in growth – just,” Jewell reveals,
but notes the particularly stiff competition from the discount supermarkets, who have done such a good job of luring a new middle class customer base through their doors. Describing Tesco as “the broadest church” within the UK multiple retail sector, she insists: “It’s very
important we have a range that reflects that.” As a result, she says of the competition, “We’re very aware of what they’re doing, but very confident that with 1,500 wines we have something for everyone.”
Within this range, a striking 22% of Tesco’s wine sales are now derived from its own label offering, which is split between an entry level “Simply” selection and the more ambitious, adventurous “Finest*” brand. They’re also an important part of the retailer’s wine offer in its international stores. While Tesco in Hungary may have a buyer on the ground feeding customers’ demand for local wines, this predominantly domestic range will be rounded out by centrally sourced own label offerings. Meanwhile the retailer’s South Korean outlets currently stock 50 wines from the Finest selection and are expected to sell half a million bottles of this label in the year ahead. Indeed, it is this Finest range, currently 133-lines strong, which Jewell highlights as being particularly rewarding. “The business would say there’s a lot more scope in Finest and I think there is,” she remarks. “We’ve been pushing up the price points a bit and doing more limited parcels at the top end with £20-30 wines, but we’re also looking for the next one million bottle wine.” With this last comment, Jewell refers to the Tesco Finest Fiano, whose runaway success has proved the ability of own label to coax consumers a long way from their varietal comfort zone in a way that most brands have failed to do, or never even attempted. The rise of own label has certainly sounded alarm bells for the many big brand owners who rely on supermarkets to shift the required volumes. Nevertheless, insists Jewell, “It’s not so much about taking brands off shelf, but encouraging brands to do better.” What’s more, she acknowledges, “They have upped their game,” although the response has tended to vary by country.
Taking California for example, Jewell notes: “Own label is a lot less prevalent and they don’t really need to export so why would they go through the hoops we set up?” By contrast, she highlights the “huge opportunity” this route offers a country like France, where there is strong customer loyalty to certain regions.
Indeed, thanks to the insights gleaned from its Clubcard scheme by the retailer’s data analysis subsidiary Dunhumby, Tesco has an alarmingly clear picture of exactly where those loyalties lie. “Quite often it’s stopped us delisting something,” reveals Jewell, picking out apparently disparate examples such as Portuguese rosé, Corbières, hock and even a certain French brand with a distinctively shaped bottle which are all sacrosanct to customers.
Another area proving particularly successful for Tesco’s wine division is the exploding online marketplace. A report from Wine Intelligence at the end of last year suggested that the UK’s online wine market is now worth £800 million – compared to £170m as recently as 2005 – with the result that this sector now accounts for 11% of the country’s total wine sales. While a number of major retailers have been slow to join this race, Tesco enjoyed record pre-Christmas online sales in 2013 with a 29% uplift on the same period in 2012 for its Wine by the Case website and as much as 51% for its wine selection on Tesco.com. What’s more, Jewell feels there remains further scope for improvement. “It’s not as integrated as we’d like it to be yet,” she remarks of the relationship between the two websites. However, once again the Dunhumby data gives Tesco an important advantage in how it appeals to its customer base. “We can be minutely targeted with the offers we send out,” remarks Jewell, noting that it is those personalised emails sent to groups as small as 1,000 people which are rewarded with a “much bigger uptake.”
On top of this Clubcard information comes the significant volume of direct feedback offered by customers, whether via social media or Tesco’s well- established wine fair line up. The five events held last year attracted around 15,000 people, a figure expected to increase this year as the London fair occupies the larger space of Earls Court.
Stressing the value of this chance for her product development team to talk to their end consumers, Jewell says: “People tell you exactly what they do and don’t like.”
As with an increasing number of major wine retailers today, this product development role is becoming a vital element of the Tesco buying department. Having just added Charlotte Lemoine to its ranks, the retailer now has a five- strong team of product developers who work in tandem with its nine buyers. Drawing a distinction between the two roles, Jewell describes her product developers as “the sorcerers” or “the sniffers and spitters” who work particularly closely with winemakers and cover a broader range of countries than the buying team. Meanwhile the buyers’ role is more concerned with the commercial nitty gritty and administrative work required to get the wine physically onto the shelf, with relationships focused primarily on national account managers.
However, notes Jewell, “We do the insight together.” She stresses: “It’s a really strong relationship.”
Looking ahead, the Tesco team is anticipating strong customer demand in two key areas in 2014, neither of which is new, but both of which offer plenty of room for manoeuvre: “refreshing whites” and Malbec. While the former category remains dominated by Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, Jewell’s team is taking inspiration from the UK on-trade to nudge customers towards something “a little bit more interesting” such as Albariño or even Pecorino. As for Malbec, she classes this in the marketing term of a “need state”, a basic requirement without substitute, and maintains: “There’s a lot further it can go, both in Argentina and in France too.”
Another current focus for the Tesco team is building on momentum from the 1.5m bottles of Prosecco which flew through its checkouts last year. Those worried about the alarmingly cheap deals which have accompanied this category’s success may be pleased to note that Tesco is instead casting its gaze upmarket with plans to introduce a single vineyard Cartizze to its Finest range. Italy also tops Jewell’s prediction as the most likely source of her next million-bottle wine. “It’ll probably be an Italian red, something fresh and juicy at the £7.99-9.99 level; something like a Frappato,” she ventures.
As for the challenges on the horizon, for all the talk and subsequent launches centred on the lower alcohol wine category, this remains a problematic area. “I don’t think the trade is looking at lower alcohol in the right way,” suggests Jewell. “We all have a range of lower alcohol and no alcohol wines because we should and we will continue to do so, but what we’re finding it is they’re appealing to a very different consumer base.” Aligning this corner of the industry with “fruity” products such as Lambrini, flavoured ciders or the “amazing” French brand Rosé Pamplemousse, she argues: “Yes, there’s a customer out there who needs a lower alcohol option for whatever reason, but to me the excitement is in the flavours and that’s what I’m working on.” One important barrier linked to this issue is the way these lower alcohol wines are displayed, often a long way from other drinks with a similar flavour profile.
“At some stage we will have a ‘fruity’ section in our store,” confirms Jewell. Once the wines are in a better position to fly off the shelves, she also enthuses about encouraging people to enjoy wine over ice, saying: “Let’s stop being snobbish.”
Despite this criticism of the industry, as her WSET role indicates, Jewell remains a very active force for improvement within it. “I like to think I give stuff back to the industry that has supported me and I would always encourage women within the trade,” she remarks.
Reflecting on her own achievements and efforts to break down a gender barrier, which she admits is far weaker now than when she first joined the trade 20 years ago, Jewell concludes: “I wouldn’t say there was a glass ceiling, but it’s still very male dominated and we need that to change.” Spoken like a true db Woman of the Year.