text:
Kenya has one of the biggest and most diverse tourism industries in East Africa, with offerings in a range of niches including the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) segment and safari ecotourism. However, in recent years challenges have arisen for the sector that have negatively affected the country’s economy, including two high profile terrorist attacks. Following the attacks, a raft of security advisories were issued from countries that traditionally make up a large percentage of Kenya’s target market for tourism, putting pressure on visitor numbers and hospitality revenues. In response, the government and a number of private investors are taking steps to improve security and re-establish Kenya as a safe, attractive destination for visitors.
While the short-term forecast is concerning given the role tourism plays in revenues, foreign exchange and employment for Kenya’s economy, the medium-term and long-term outlook is more encouraging. The recent challenges have spurred operators to explore new revenue streams, including business tourism and domestic tourism.
In many ways, the drivers of long-term demand in Kenya’s tourism sector, including supply diversity, infrastructure quality and destination accessibility, remain extremely attractive and are among the strongest, not just regionally, but across the whole continent of Africa. However, exogenous pressures, including the global financial crisis and the terrorist attacks on both the Westgate Mall in 2013 and, more recently, on Garissa University in April 2015, have had a substantial impact on the country. Tourism earnings, visitor numbers, hotel occupancy rates and hotel stay unit nights have all been negatively affected over the past few years. “Right now our members are deeply affected by the security situation. The travel advisory has really affected tourist numbers,” Jackie Odudoh, HR manager of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators, told OBG. “Trade is down across the board.” Indeed, as a 2015 report published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicates, Kenya’s total annual tourism earnings dropped by 7.4% in 2014 to KSh87.1bn ($958.1m). The report also shows that earnings have been decreasing steadily by around 2% each year since 2011, when they peaked at KSh97.9bn ($1.1bn).
The sector is a big contributor to Kenya’s overall economy, meaning that the affects of the industry downturn are being clearly felt in terms of the country’s overall economic output. According to the “Economic Impact 2015” report for Kenya by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the tourism sector’s total contribution to GDP, including both direct and indirect activity, was KSh561.8bn ($6.2bn) in 2014. Although total value has increased from KSh462.8bn ($5.09bn) in 2013, the sector’s share of GDP has fallen from 12.1% to 10.5%.
Meanwhile, room revenue in the hospitality industry has been in decline since 2012, shrinking by 7.1% in 2014 to $540m according to a hospitality outlook report for the region by professional services firm PwC South Africa. Since 2011, room revenue has fallen cumulatively by 16%. PwC also reports that Kenya suffered a 5.3% decline in stay unit nights in 2014. At the same time, occupancy rates have been dwindling. Across all classifications the average occupancy rate for the country came in at 55.4% in 2014, down from 59.5% in 2013 and 66.1% in 2011. PwC predicts a further fall to 50.7% by 2016.
Despite these negative indicators, the outlook going forward is somewhat brighter due to the industry expanding its links with new source markets as well as strengthening perceptions of security. In its report, PwC predicted a further decrease in room revenue of 4.1% in 2015, before modest growth of 2.9% in 2016. In general terms, the firm forecasts a recovery for the Kenyan hotels sector in terms of 4.7% growth between 2015 and 2019, with stay unit nights returning to 2011 levels by around 2018. Many local industry operators seem to agree that the current pressures are in general short term and are attributable to recent security issues. Some European tour operators and travel agents, however, do not expect recovery to begin until the end of 2016.
The recent slowdown has had adverse effects on both jobs and businesses, particularly in the beach tourism segment, “Hotels across the coast that were full until recently are now registering 10% to 20% capacity, which is not sustainable,” Kiiru Mahiaini, CEO of Incentive Travel, told OBG.
By Q4 2014, the number of charter flights into Mombasa airport had fallen to four a week, compared to 32 per week in Q4 2013. Hotel occupancy rates in Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city, halved in the same period – from 70% to 35%. In the tourist towns of Kilifi and Kwale, occupancy in November 2014 was even lower, averaging 20% and 18%, respectively.
In March 2015, before the Garissa attacks, Mohammed Hersi, chairman of the Kenya Coast Tourist Association, told local media that 25 hotels in the coastal region had been forced to close down, with job losses amounting to almost 20,000.
Kenyan operators are now seeking to diversify revenue streams through the expansion of source markets in order to grow the tourism sector. “The key markets thus far have been the UK and the US,” Odudoh told OBG, “but there’s a lot of interest in Asian markets and also Latin America.”
Kenya Airways has already begun taking steps to boost its links with Asia by increasing flights to China; In November 2013, the airline introduced non-stop flights to Guangzhou and in 2014 it launched additional one-stop services to Beijing and Shanghai, via Bangkok. China Southern Airlines also launched a service between Guangzhou and Nairobi in a code share with Kenya Airways in August 2015. The carrier is planning to run 20 flights per week to service growing numbers of passengers between the two countries. Overall, in 2014 around 120,000 passengers flew between China and Kenya, a figure expected to increase by approximately 15% per year.
While the increase in air-passenger numbers can be partly accounted for by demand within the leisure market, it also speaks to the growing potential of business tourism in Kenya. According to PwC, with sector growth forecast to show an average compound annual growth of 4.7% beginning in 2016, the business and hospitality industry is helping to compensate for the shortfall in leisure tourists by providing Kenya with business customers. “Corporate travel has been booming. Since the third quarter of 2014 it has been pretty stable and reliable,” Manish Nambiar, general manager of the Kempinski Villa Rosa, an upscale hotel in Nairobi, told OBG.
Meanwhile, high-end hotel chains in Nairobi continue to thrive: room rates at a typical five-star hotel such as the Sankara are published at around $400 per room per night, and actual average rates are between $220-250. Occupancy rates are as high as 70%, achieved through corporate guests who make up around 95% of the hotel bookings.
Located in prime urban locations, and with five-star facilities, Kenya’s leading high-end hotels are well positioned to benefit from government plans to grow MICE tourism (see analysis). According to hotel media outlet Hotel News Now, in July 2015 the upscale hotel market boasted significant annual growth in both the average occupancy rate and revenue per available room. The former jumped from 11% to 61%, while the latter grew by 33.6% to KSh9354.16 ($102.90). The segment also benefitted from a visit by US President Barack Obama in the same month.
In a testament to the long-term appeal of Kenya’s tourism industry, Nairobi is set to see the construction of a number of hotels within the next two years, including several by domestic firm Simba Corporation aimed at mid- to low-budget travellers. By the end of 2015, three new high-end hotels will also hit the local market – the Golf View Hotel, the Radisson Blu and the Grand Sapphire – which will provide a combined total of 672 rooms. In total, 1600 new rooms are planned for 2015 and 2016, according to PwC. Moshi Perera, general manager of the Sankara, told OBG, “We are forecasting growth of 28% in bed supply from now until the end of 2016 in the three- to five-star segment of the market. This will force average rates in the industry down.”
The upcoming growth in supply is not only confined to the capital. In the leisure market, the beach and safari segments continue to receive investment and additional supply. For example, in May 2015 the Chinese company Sultan Palace Development announced that it had begun working on the construction of 198 luxury vacation homes in Kilifi County on Kenya’s coast. Liu Tiancai, general manager of Sultan Palace Development, told local media, “The decline in tourism numbers is only a short term occurrence. We have invested in the coast because we believe that Kenya has the potential to return to its glorious days sooner than many think.”
A leading source of revenue for both new developments and existing facilities in the short term is expected to be the domestic market. “Domestic tourism has saved the industry. Without it, hotel occupancy would be near nothing,” Mahiaini told OBG. “Domestic tourism did not even exist 10 years ago, for the most part. This year even August, normally a busy month for foreigners in Kenya, saw many more Kenyans visiting the coast than foreigners. The emerging Kenyan middle class is driving this.”
Indeed, the industry has begun to pay more attention to the domestic tourism segment as it continues to evolve into the sector’s primary source of income. According to the WTTC, domestic travel spending accounted for 58.1% of direct travel and tourism GDP in 2014. This figure is expected to grow by 5.5% in 2015, to reach KSh233.9bn ($2.6bn). Over the next decade, the WTTC forecasts that domestic spending will continue to increase at an average annual rate of 5.2%, reaching KSh386.7bn ($4.3bn) in 2025.
A crucial source of support for the hotel segment, domestic tourists have bolstered revenues for hotels in Kenya’s coastal towns and cities. Over the 2014 Christmas period, for example, occupancy rates in Mombasa’s hotels were between 80% and 90%, with some achieving nearly 100% occupancy. Kenyans accounted for 70% of all festive bookings. Sam Ikwaye, executive officer of the Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers, told local media at the time, “We have an influx of Nairobi residents who have come down to the coast. They have really supported us. We are telling those who are still undecided on where to go that Mombasa is the place.”
Hotels are also trying to capitalise on local trade by bolstering their ancillary revenue streams, such as food and drink. “It is key for hotels to offer much more in the Nairobi market, so a lot of them have substantial bar and restaurant offerings. For example, Kempinski has five restaurants with a total capacity of 600 people,” Nambiar told OBG. “With a dual occupancy rate of 1.2 across 200 rooms, the maximum number of guests we can accommodate is 240. Thus a key driver of food and beverage revenue is the local population coming to eat and drink in our restaurants.”
In steps to stimulate the sector, the government has introduced a number of measures, the first of which was the launch of the Tourism Recovery Taskforce in July 2014. Headed by private sector hotelier, Lucy Karume, the taskforce was charged with developing a comprehensive strategy for reviving tourism, including initiatives to improve security, develop infrastructure and shift the perception of the country in foreign markets. The short-term budget for the body was set at KSh200m ($2.2m).
The general response within the industry has been positive, “The taskforce is helping. It is composed of people from across the whole tourism spectrum, including the private sector. We believe that whatever they put forward will be implemented.” Odudoh told OBG. Initial confidence building measures have included re-training the Tourism Police Unit.
In its first few months, the taskforce spent much of its time lobbying foreign embassies to remove or soften their travel advisories for the country. “We’ve had one-on-one meetings with the British High Commission, the Americans, the French, the Australians… and a team of EU and Europe ambassadors,” Karume told local media in October 2014.
Although the terrorist attack in Garissa in April 2015 was a tragic setback for the taskforce, the lobbying effort had some success, with the British government modifying its travel advisory in June 2015 to state that travel in most of Nairobi was safe.
The taskforce has also launched an extensive marketing campaign to promote Kenya overseas. In April 2015 the Kenya Tourism Board, alongside a number of private sector representatives, sent a delegation to the World Travel Market Africa exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa, in order to promote the “I choose Kenya campaign” and speak about the enhanced security measures that the country is taking. Prior to the event, Muriithi Ndegwa, managing director of the Kenya Tourism Board, spoke to local media about the importance of reassuring Kenya’s source markets that the country is ready for business. “The destination has faced some challenges recently and we have to rebuild confidence. This is the first time that we will be participating in World Travel Market Africa and we strongly believe that it is a good platform to reassure the African markets,” he said.
Additionally, the Ministry of East African Affairs launched a new branding and tourism campaign called Make It Kenya at the Milan Expo 2015 in Italy. Developed with the help of PR company Grayling, the campaign aims to utilise technology as a tool to promote Kenya to both tourists and investors worldwide. Digital content on the campaign’s website can easily be accessed and shared on portable devices such as smartphones and tablets. Phyllis Kandie, cabinet secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, told local media, “With the continued rise of globalisation, it is imperative that Kenya has a nation brand that can differentiate us and tell our story.”
In May 2015 the government announced that it would increase the tourism promotion budget significantly to KSh7bn ($77m) for fiscal year 2015/16. Annual security spending also increased by 12% in July 2015 to KSh223.9bn ($2.5bn). “Tackling insecurity remains the top priority of the government’s strategy to sustain the growth momentum of the economy while creating jobs,” National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said in his budget statement.
In Q4 2014 the government implemented a brand new programme geared towards improving quality assurance and standardisation across all of the country’s tourism facilities. The scheme is overseen by the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA), and will, in effect, bring Kenya in line with the rest of the EAC, whose standardisation criteria regulates hotel grading and classification in Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
The TRA has already carried out classification training exercises for hotels and restaurants in both central Kenya and the South Rift Valley region, and it expects to complete the programme by June 2016. There will be 19 officials delegated to conducting assessments of facilities and hotel classifications will be held for a period of five years, although individual properties will have the opportunity to apply for a new classification or re-classification within the same period at a cost of approximately $50. The impact of the programme at the top end of the hotel spectrum, however, is expected to be somewhat limited. “The ratings initiative won’t really affect the corporate branded hotels, as they already have their own standards they stick to,” Nambiar told OBG.
There is one government measure that many within the industry are keen to see the removal of – the value added tax (VAT). Introduced in 2013, a 16% tax is added onto sales, which some say is harming the recovery of the sector. “In the tourism industry, there is strong competition throughout the East Africa region. VAT has never been levied in other countries, and its removal would mean that we can once again operate on the same level,” Odudoh told OBG. Indeed, neighbouring countries, unhindered by the VAT, are becoming increasingly competitive in terms of prices. In July 2014 Karume, who was then chairperson of the Kenya Tourism Federation, told local media, “Kenya remains the only EAC state that is currently levying VAT on tour operator services, transportation of tourists (hire of vehicles) and conservation fees. This is affecting the sector.”
The effects of the VAT have been compounded by government steps towards devolution, as mandated by the amended constitution of 2010, which has led to several county governments introducing other taxes on tourist establishments. For example, in 2013 the Mombasa County Government introduced a monthly $5 bed tax for all hotels and resorts, plus a $40 per month levy on all tourist vehicles. At a time when the hotel sector is struggling for occupancy and tour operators are closing down, there are indications that these additional expenses are causing frustration for many within the industry.
Kenya’s tourism sector, the second-largest foreign exchange earner after the tea industry, is currently navigating a number of significant issues that are proving challenging to its growth, ranging from security concerns to taxation.
However, the current difficulties have been recognised by the government, which is making substantial investments in the promotion and growth of the industry. There are also encouraging signs from the private sector, as businesses seek to tap into new markets and business avenues, including the Asian leisure market, business tourism and the domestic segment. The industry, forced to diversify in the face of the ongoing slowdown will, upon the return of the core international markets, emerge much stronger.


text:
Sign up for our newsletters
Receive the latest in Footwear, Fashion, Music and Creativity in our newsletters.
HYPEBEAST 100: The innovators from all realms of creativity in the spotlight.
With in-depth interviews, focused features and fashion-forward editorials, our print publication features long-form coverage of the topics valued by readers.
Explore and be inspired by the latest women's fashion news and trends.
uniform experiment preps for its Fall/Winter 2012 collection with the release of the latest imagery
Furthering its Fall/Winter 2012 collection, uniform experiment has joined Forest of Gingko for a
For Fall 2012, uniform experiment introduces its lookbook video to promote the seasonal range.
uniform experiment presents as part of its 2012 spring/summer collection this PVC Tote Bag in the
uniform experiment teams up with longtime workwear purveyor Carhartt on a new collection of apparel
uniform experiment meets American label Carhartt this Spring/Summer 2012 in yet another installment
Prominent Japanese designer and creative mind behind uniform experiment, Hirofumi Kiyonaga,
Japanese label uniform experiment has unveiled this small collection of Musician T-shirts for 2012.
The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation has contributed several iconic black and white photographs from
uniform experiment and Carhatt have collaboratively dropped some more June releases. The summer

domain: news


text:
Despite fasting for 30 days, people in some parts of Ghana are celebrating this year’s Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, on a low-key note over the tough economic challenges the country is currently going through.
According to some citizens, they are not able to afford the usual products, including new clothes, live fowl, goats, sheep, rice, and other associated food products that they need to make their celebration a joyous one.
A visit by Xinhua to the homes of some faithfuls of Islam at Zongo-Laka, a Muslim community in Ashaiman, near the country’s eastern port city of Tema, indicates that the usual ecstasy, pomp, and pageantry that characterize the celebration are relatively low-key.
Ahmed Nasamu, 58, a civil servant and father of four, observed that times are hard for his family as he was not able to provide money for shopping ahead of the Eid al-Fitr celebration.
“In fact, my family is keeping this year’s celebration on a low profile because I simply don’t have the money to buy the items we need for the celebration due to the increasing cost of a bag of rice, fowl, and everything else at the market,” said Nasamu.
According to him, prices of goods and services in the market have more than doubled compared to last year.
Hajia Meimunatu Adams, whose family in past celebrations killed cows and shared them among his neighbors, said the situation has changed this time around and that they were only able to afford a goat due to the high price of products in the country.
“We are not able to afford the usual items we used to buy for the celebration. This year, my family was able to buy a goat, and that is what we are going to share with a few friends and relatives around us. We wore the same clothes we had last year for the Eid prayers,” Hajia Meimunatu told Xinhua.
She appealed to the government to put in place the necessary interventions to improve the current economic situation.
At the central market in Ashaiman, traders are also complaining about low sales, as according to them, patronage is relatively lower than last year.
“The customers are coming in their numbers to ask for prices, only to turn away after hearing them. They wish to buy but cannot simply afford it. We, the traders, cannot reduce the prices because we will run at a loss if we do that,” said Abena Atta Aidoo, a vendor in the market.
“I sold over 5,000 broilers last year on the day of the celebration. Today, it’s past 3 p.m. and I’m yet to sell 500 birds,” she added.
Ghana’s economy is currently going through difficulties with high inflation, prompting the government to seek a 3 billion U.S. dollar bailout from the International Monetary Fund to manage the situation.


text:
Banca Sistema, an institution specialised in meeting the cash flow needs of businesses with public sector receivables on their books, and Banca Popolare del Lazio, which for over a century has helped drive the economy of the Region, have signed a partnership agreement for the provision of factoring services.
The agreement unlocks the expertise and specialist services of Banca Sistema for Corporate customers of Banca Popolare del Lazio, in a region where average collection times for public sector receivables are still very long. With a DSO of 135 days1 in January 2018, payment times in the Lazio Region are still far off the mark of the term set by law.
The aim of the partnership is to offer companies the opportunity to sell, with or without recourse, their trade and tax receivables. For the latter in particular, a specialist cash financing service is available for companies with VAT credits, following the introduction of the split payment mechanism.
The new partnership reinforces the capacity of Banca Popolare del Lazio to meet the needs of its Corporate customers, while indirectly expanding the presence of Banca Sistema in the region, building on the historical foothold of the regional bank throughout the Lazio area.
In the words of Andrea Trupia, Factoring Sales Director for Banca Sistema: “With this agreement, which adds to the other 18 partnerships in place with various banking institutions operating across the country, Banca Sistema has expanded the distribution channels for its products, especially in the Lazio region, where demand for specialist financing services by businesses is strong.”
Massimo Lucidi, Chief Executive Officer of Banca Popolare del Lazio, stresses how “With this agreement, our institution has expanded its specialist business financing services for the local region, marking an important step forward in improving customer service and helping enterprises latch onto a recovery which is slowly, but surely, getting underway.”


text:
After hitting the 1 Million mark in Japan, the Nintendo app, Miitomo, is heading for the UK and US this week.
Thursday sees the launch of the iOS and Android app which will be the first major app store launch for the company and shows a new interest in mobile technology ahead of Nintendo’s new console launch, believed to be at the end of this year.
What is Miitomo? It’s a social media style communications app which lets you connect your Mii and take part in various activities. Expect to see this connect to new game titles in the future and have a closer tie to the new console, codenamed the NX by next year.


text:
Indianapolis-based appliance and electronics store hhgregg announced on Tuesday it would be coming to .
The retailer is set to enter the St. Louis market with four stores. In addition to St. Peters, hhgregg will be opening stores in Chesterfield, Fenton and Fairview Heights.
The St. Peters hhgregg will be located at 301 Costco Way. The address might not ring a bell, but residents may remember that building as the site of the old , which closed in 2011.
A company spokesman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that a concrete opening date is unknown, but all stores should be open by Labor Day weekend. The St. Peters store already has new signage out front, replacing the old Ultimate Electronics motif.
With the new stores, hhgregg said it would be hiring 240 employees in the area, or 60 at each store. Individuals interested in applying for the open positions should visit the "Careers" section on hhgregg's website.


text:
Aircraft Company has announced several achievements and milestones in the
development of the HondaJet during a press conference at the European Business
Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland. The company
revealed the first production HondaJet. The aircraft is ready for ground tests
and features a new paint scheme, a deep pearl green with a gold stripe. The
company also shared its progress in preparation for HondaJet entry into service,
the company stated in a press release.
Aircraft Company's most important goals are achieving Federal Aviation
Administration Type Certification and delivering the first customer
aircraft," said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino,
adding, "Our total effort is focused on reaching these much anticipated
milestones in the first quarter of 2015."
first production aircraft is in final assembly with the first set of production
GE Honda HF120 engines recently delivered to Honda Aircraft. The engines have
been installed, and Honda Aircraft will soon begin conducting ground tests on
the airplane. Its first flight is anticipated this summer. The aircraft debuts
a new exterior paint scheme in a deep pearl green with a gold stripe. With its
debut, all five exterior colour options are represented in the HondaJet fleet.
The deep green finish will be offered in addition to the vibrant silver, red,
yellow and blue exterior colours currently available to appeal to a variety of
ReadyAssist, an autotech startup plans to invest USD 8 million over a year to augment EV infrastructure in the country. It will kick-off the initiative by setting-up Grid, a phygital store (Physical s...
Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) has announced its new campaign with the 6- and 7-Seater SUV – Alcazar, featuring Shah Rukh Khan and the four 4 Indian Women Cricketers -Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigu...
Leading two wheeler automobile manufacturer TVS Motor Company has announced the integration of the innovative location technology, what3words into its customer app – TVS Connect. TVS Connect users ca...


text:
McLaren Cutting Massive Number of Jobs from Supercar and F1 Divisions
Even prestige automakers are feeling the pinch right now.
You might have heard the rumors that McLaren is in a bit of trouble at the moment. While there are a number of theories as to why, the BBC recently reported McLaren will cut nearly 25 percent of its workforce, a move that all but confirms the supercar, racing, and engineering firm's financial woes.
By now we're all aware of how the ongoing pandemic has affected the livelihoods of many people who work for automakers—in addition to every single other sector of our economy—including smaller companies like McLaren. "We now have no other choice but to reduce the size of our workforce," McLaren chairman Paul Walsh told the BBC, "This is undoubtedly a challenging time for our company, and particularly our people, but we plan to emerge as an efficient, sustainable business with a clear course for returning to growth."
As a result, McLaren will lay off 1,200 employees, most of whom live in the U.K. A vast majority of those will be from McLaren Automotive—the part of the company that builds its road cars. McLaren told the BBC that about 70 will come from its 800-person strong Formula 1 team.
McLaren said that while the coronavirus is part of why the racing team will shed employees, that portion of its decision has much more to do with the rules changes for 2021 that include a budget cap. Because McLaren will have less money to work with, a number of positions on the racing team have become redundant. McLaren has launched a number of new models and multimillion dollar specials on a regular basis over the last few years, but demand has dwindled in the face of the pandemic.
MotorTrend Recommended Stories
2025 Honda Passport: Everything We Know About the Redesigned Midsize SUV
2024 Mercedes-Benz S450d Driven: Forbidden Fruit Writ Large
11 Pros and Cons of Our Plug-In Hybrid Kia Sorento As a Daily Driver
2024 BMW X2 M35i xDrive First Drive: A Better Basic Sporty Bimmer?
No-Reserve Dodge Demon 170: Is This the One That Breaks the Price Barrier?


text:
Seven Seas Saga has enjoyed a relatively successful launch so far, so much so that they are introducing a brand new server for fans to enjoy. The new server will be called Balaeric and will be online starting today. Players of the original server, Alboran, are welcome to come and create a new ship on the newest server to start a new adventure and meet new players from around the world.
With the launch of the second server, Joyhubs is hoping to continue the growth and add more events, treasures, and additional ways to play the game. MMO ATK has teamed up with Joyhubs to offer new players to the Balearic server a gift pack which can be found in our giveaways section.


text:
Pocket MapleStory hit our mobile devices like a whirlwind recently, bringing the popular MMO IP to our pockets. As an MMO, there's a lot players need to know, and we're here to help.
We started... by QuintLyn3 hours ago
Say what you want about Star Wars: Battlefront's gameplay, but one thing that cannot be disputed is that it's an attractive game. But one modder has taken it to a level of authenticity that... by Daniel R. Miller3 days ago
With World of Warcraft: Legion coming next year, Blizzard has been releasing small tidbits of information every week. And this one definitely seems like it's been a long time coming. I mean. why... by Goldenbolt3 days ago
Well Marvel Fans rejoice! Magik voiced by Tara Strong has been added to Marvel Heroes 2015. Developer Gazillion ran a poll back in the San Diego Comic-con seeing which character fans would like to... by cdiponzia4 days ago
Everyone likes free stuff -- especially when it comes to video games, right? Well, good news! Star Wars Battlefront DLC The Battle of Jakku is not the only free content coming to the game.
A post... by Samantha Wright5 days ago
Global game developer and publisher Nexon announced that the popular manga and anime series The Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex will be receiving a shooter on Steam and Nexon launcher with... by Andrea Koenig6 days ago
League of Legends is always looking to rework their champions -- not only graphically, but mechanically. Sion, to provide an example, underwent drastic changes last year. Riot does this from time... by John Adamczyk6 days ago
If you're a fan of Destiny and want some exclusive new gear, then all you need to do is get your hands on a friend. Bungie's new Refer-a-Friend will get Destiny vets a handful of cool... by Andrea Koenig7 days ago
Once more, we're in alpha season for a World of Warcraft expansion, and anyone who keeps a tab on Blizzard activity knows that means one thing: datamining, datamining, and more datamining.
With... by John Adamczyk7 days ago
It's been alleged that Electronic Arts is trying to pay celebrities to publicly endorse Star Wars: Battlefront in an attempt to boost its popularity.
The alleged marketing plan emerged when... by Stan Rezaee1 week ago
Bungie revealed a bunch of images for December Destiny update on the game's Instagram page. It showcases a lot of the new weapons and armour coming to the popular shooter.
Some of the items... by tobes3251 week ago
Recently, NEXON Games released a portable version of its popular side-scrolling MMO MapleStory -- and so far, the game has been a hit. Fans of the original MapleStory are able to take a... by QuintLyn1 week ago
If you’ve enjoyed Tree of Savior so far during this closed beta testing (CBT) period, I have great news for you. IMC Games announced that they will be extending the 2nd CBT by two weeks -- meaning... by mrivera2691 week ago
Every year, ground-breaking MMORPG World of Warcraft brings lots of fun in-game rewards to its players in celebration of its anniversary. Last year, fans of the game were rewarded with a ton of... by Goldenbolt1 week ago
We've been waiting since 2005 for a new Battlefront game. We've heard rumors and seen leaked footage of Free Radical's attempt at Battlefront 3. Now, DICE has taken it upon themselves to reboot... by Elijah Beahm2 weeks ago


text:
Jolla has already made a pretty sweet smartphone that did pretty well. Now they are going to Indiegogo to get the funding they need for the new Jolla Tablet. Of course, they hit their huge goal of $380,000 within only an hour of the campaign going live. The 7.9-inch tablet is going to be selling for $189 and will be shipping in the spring of 2015.
The tablet has a 2,048 x 1,536 pixel resolution. Under the hood it has a 1.8GHz quad core Intel processor and a 5-megapixel camera. It will run on the company’s own Sailfish OS which is based on Linux and originally created for the Jolla Phone.
The operating system is way different than anything else out there. It is navigated by swiping mostly, and different apps can appear on the screen at the same time instead of having to switch between them. Super cool for multi-tasking.
Of course, it isn’t an Android tablet. But you do have the option of using quite a bit of the Android apps out there. You can’t use the Google Play store, but there are a lot of third party Android app stores that you will be able to use with the device. So you can still use Facebook, Google Maps, Netflix, and almost anything you can think of.
The Sailfish OS was originally made just for the Jolla Phone. Of course, it didn’t sell as many units as an iPhone or a Galaxy, but it was only made as a limited edition type of thing to test the waters. The new tablet is supposedly going to be available to a lot more people than the Jolla Phone. This means that it is going to be a bigger competitor to tablets like the iPad or the Nexus.
The company itself is really cool too. They care what their customers think, and they are using Indiegogo as a way to get feedback from their users on things that could make the Sailfish OS better. What more could you ask for in a company? Either way, this is going to be a cool tablet that I would suggest checking out.


text:
Giant Kong puts stop to shop monkey business
4:11pm Wednesday 18th December 2013 in News
Shoplifters beware! Anyone thinking of taking liberties at an Ammanford indoor shopping centre is in for a big surprise this Christmas.
Welsh Treasures, the Aladdin’s Cave of old and new in Shopper’s World, has taken on a security guard – and he is nine-foot tall and all too familiar with the rough and tumble of jungle life.
Kong the gorilla will certainly not be putting up with any monkey business.
Kong was the brainchild of shop manageress Georgia-May Jones, who fell in love with giant fibre-glass primate while on a buying trip.
“I first saw him at an exhibition in the NEC in Birmingham,” said 19-year-old Georgia-May, from Betws.
“I was looking for something to help promote our gardens section and the moment I saw him I thought he was fantastic.
“I was completely lost for words, but I knew I just had to have him.”
Getting him proved slightly more difficult than Georgia-May first imagined.
“I had to get him sent over from the Philippines,” she said. “Of course with the problems they have had over there recently it took a bit longer than expected.”
Kong arrived in Ammanford in an articulated lorry last week and needed four men to unload him.
“He has certainly been worth all the trouble,” said Georgia-May.
“He has already become the talk of the town and people have started calling in just to see him.
“It is great fun to see people’s surprise when they spot him through the window as they walk past.”
One thing is for sure, Kong looks set to become a permanent member of Welsh Treasures staff and is sure to become Georgia-May’s right-hand man.
“I’ve already had a number of people asking whether I would be interested in selling him and for how much,” she said.
“But Kong is not for sale for any price. He is already part of the Welsh Treasures family.”
Comments are closed on this article.


text:
Internovo Ventures acquires Mera Cashier, will rebrand it to Indibook
The acquisition will allow Internovo to penetrate deeply into the small business and merchant segments.
Internovo Ventures on Friday announced that it has bought the rights to Mera Cashier, a technology platform offering 'khata' solutions to small merchants across India, marking this Intervono's first acquisition.
Internovo Ventures is a joint venture between Karan Desai, Founder, Interface Ventures, and Akshay Srivastava, Founder, DSFX Technologies.
Following this transaction, Mera Cashier will be rebranded to Indibook, said Akshay Srivastava. “Internovo’s soon-to-be-launched B2B2C loan origination platform Indirow will be deeply integrated into Mera Cashier and the technology stack of RULoans,” he said.
By combining fundamental accounting with fully integrated loan arrangement services, the transaction will enable Internovo to penetrate the small company and merchant categories, as per Desai, Director, Internovo Ventures.
“Credit is a critical need for these merchants including small grocery and stationery stores, and food stalls, and hence we want to offer a deeply integrated platform to our merchant community which will allow them to maintain their books and avail credit on the go,” he added.
To help small businesses digitise daily transaction records and effectively track credit sales, Mera Cashier was developed and launched in 2019. It replaces the manual registers kept by the businesses and keeps better track of unpaid invoices from their local and known customers.
Suneel Kumar, Co-founder, Mera Cashier, said that Internovo’s extensive network in financial services and lending sectors and their in-house technology development capabilities will help the platform to evolve and remain competitive.
“The management team of Mera Cashier will stay closely involved in the development and re-launch of the platform, as it embarks upon the journey to assume a new avatar and enhance operational profitability in the shortest possible time frame,” he added.
Disclaimer: This story has been updated to correct the designation of a person quoted in the story.
Edited by Akanksha Sarma


text:
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands was announced during Summer Game Fest and will take Borderlands fans into a fantasy-style shooter.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is the new entry in the Borderlands franchise following the success of Borderlands 3 in 2019, Tiny Tina is taking the world of Borderlands into the fantasy realm in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, an all-new, full standalone game from Gearbox gives players a new story-driven co-op campaign for up to four players.
In Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, players explore a fantasy-based world brought to life by the unpredictable Tiny Tina. The 13-year-old not only makes the rules, but also changes the world on the fly as she guides players through the wild adventure. Players can create and customize their own multiclass heroes as they fight their way through dungeons, battling monsters with a combination of Borderlands-style weaponry and traditional fantasy weapons like swords. On top of the story itself, players can expect repeatable endgame content that hopes to bring players back for more time and time again.
“Wonderlands is a culmination of over a decade of on-and-off development at Gearbox Software towards a role-playing shooter set in a fantasy universe,” Gearbox Entertainment founder and executive producer of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Randy Pitchford said in a press release. “For me, bringing actual Borderlands guns to fight dragons, skeletons, goblins, and more in an original fantasy world imagined by the galaxy’s deadliest 13-year-old, Tiny Tina, as a new, full-featured triple-A video game is a dream come true.”
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands comes to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via both Steam and the Epic Games Store) in early 2022.


text:
MarketsFarm — Despite an ever-changing economic environment due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, ag commodity prices may be sheltered from the worst bearish sentiments.
“Global import businesses have taken off this week due to lower commodity prices,” said Terry Reilly of Futures International in Chicago.
“If we do see an economic slowdown, we’ll probably see it made up on the back end,” he said. “Everyone needs to eat.”
Wheat prices on the Chicago Board of Trade saw some stabilization mid-week, due to a surge in global import tenders.
However, the same sort of demand has not materialized for corn.
Corn futures have been “decimated” by lower crude oil prices, which in turn weighed on demand for ethanol.
“Our outlook for corn prices it to grind lower along with crude oil over the next week or so,” Reilly said.
The United States and Canada on Wednesday announced a joint effort to close the U.S.-Canada border to all non-essential travel. An initial tweet from U.S. President Donald Trump said trade would not be affected, but further details would follow.
“As far as agriculture goes, most countries have the most relaxed rules and controls when it comes to moving bulk commodities,” Reilly said, noting Indonesia has recently relaxed restrictions on transporting palm oil.
— Marlo Glass reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.


text:
The latest news and updates from the Philippine and global automotive industry, and matters that affect motoring.
Ford's new research center in Silicon Valley will focus on advanced automotive technologies
posted January 31, 2015 10:58 by Martin Aguilar
The Lotus Exige S Automatic can change gears in as quick as 240 milliseconds
posted January 30, 2015 14:48 by Marcus De Guzman
Spyker's bankruptcy status has been deemed null and void following a successful appeal giving the Dutch carmaker a new lease on life.
posted January 30, 2015 12:47 by Marcus De Guzman
The 2015 Prius C comes with a restyled front bumper, new fog lamp design, aggressive headlights and redesigned taillights
posted January 30, 2015 12:33 by Martin Aguilar
The 3rd generation Toyota Alphard is longer, wider and more spacious
posted January 30, 2015 11:57 by Marcus De Guzman
Toyota Motor Corporation is seeking ways to decrease electrical losses in hybrids and electric vehicles with new semiconductor
posted January 30, 2015 08:27 by Eric Tipan
Toyota Motor Philippines announces Toyota Insure, their newest service providing full-service coverage for new vehicles
posted January 30, 2015 08:01 by Eric Tipan
The 21-hectare plant is part of the MMPC's preparation for further expansion
posted January 29, 2015 16:03 by
New high performance McLaren, the 675LT, teased in a video
posted January 29, 2015 14:18 by Martin Aguilar
The DPWH has extended the submission of bid proposals for the Central Luzon Link Expressway
posted January 29, 2015 11:49 by Martin Aguilar
Popular this week
Connect with us!
Follow @autoindustriya on Twitter!


text:
Gulf News Report www.gulfnews.com
Emaar Properties has hired consultant Mc-Kinsey to conduct a strategic review of its international operations, sources said yesterday. The McKinsey review mainly relates to the developer’s property segment, said the sources.
It will cover Emaar’s foreign units which span the Middle East, Africa and Asia, in countries like India, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The developer is expected to announce the plan later this month. A spokesman for Emaar was not immediately available for comment. A McKinsey spokesman declined to comment. The review may prompt Emaar to focus on expanding its hospitality business — it operates malls, hotels and golf resorts — in key emerging markets, such as China, Brazil and Africa.


text:
First Midwest Hotel Gains LEED Gold Certification
City Flats, a hotel in Holland, Mich., is the first hotel in the Midwest to be constructed to LEED Gold certification standards, according to the hotel’s Web site.
City Flats uses 30 percent less water than the baseline for similar hotels, and it uses energy optimization techniques.
Within the hotel, the seating and decor was made from rapidly renewable resources like cotton and bamboo. City Flats says that 30 percent of the materials that went into the hotel were sustainable, and that most of the elements were shipped to Holland and made locally.
Consumers increasingly have more tools to learn about sustainable and green choices in hotels. For instance, Travelocity has a green directory.
A survey by Ernst & Young found that the hospitality industry is using numerous methods to make operations more sustainable.
Energy Manager News
- Battery Storage Giving Businesses a Break
- Could Ratepayers Foot the Bill for New Hampshire’s Pipelines?
- CenterPoint to Acquire Continuum’s Retail Energy Services Division
- LED Projects Must Be Carefully Planned
- Energy Managers Buoyed By Supreme Court’s Demand Response Decision
- Dover, N.H., Saves More Than Projected Under EPC
- Datacenters Underestimating Coal Use
- Transmission Upgrades Give SPP a $240M ‘Bang for the Buck’


text:
Target Corp. is reopening its doors to Amazon.com’s products after a four-year break, bringing one of its biggest online competitors back into its nearly 1,800 U.S. stores.
The Minneapolis-based retailer had removed Amazon products such as Kindle e-reader from its shelves in 2012 as it sought ways to fend off the competitive threat of the online retail giant.
Amazon Fire TV and Kindle e-readers will appear in Target stores on Oct. 9 and are already available online. But Amazon Echo and Tap, newer voice-recognition devices, are notably not available.
“Target continually evaluates our assortment to deliver quality products at a great value,” the retailer said, noting it will be able to offer competitive pricing on the items.
Target CEO Brian Cornell, who came to the retailer two years ago after a substantial data breach slammed sales and shopper traffic, has focused on several categories, such as baby and wellness items.
Target has also made an aggressive push to sell more private-label and exclusive merchandise. The return of Amazon’s gadgets could help bolster Target’s flagging electronics division.
Target and Amazon have a long history. Target outsourced nearly all its online operations to Amazon in 2001 but ended the relationship in 2011 after it decided that it needed to take control of its online operations.


text:
COVID-19 STATEMENT: We would like to reassure all of our customers that the iStorage team is fully committed to serving you during these challenging times. Our operations continue as normal, with no adverse impact on our products, services and delivery times. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and post any further updates on our website as and when necessary.
Media – Latest news
KDVR Morning Television, June 2019, datAshur PRO featured in a Father’s Tech Gift Ideas section: “One of my favourite tech gift ideas” “This is the coolest USB drive I’ve seen in a long time” “Super super secure”
Infosecurity Europe, June 2019, interview with Zaia Gisso introducing cloudAshur:
IT PRO Today, June2019, cloudAshur article featuring Prof John Walker “The testing conducted against this device has gone well beyond attempting to guess the key sequence,” he said. “The core technology of all iStorage devices has also been subjected to penetration testing and attack at the lower levels of the operating stack, including physical tampering, […]
cloudAshur is our answer to the biggest issue with the cloud – data security. It uses a FIPS certified AES 256-bit encrypted encryption key, stored within a dedicated iStorage secure microprocessor
“This was the start of my introduction into their new iStorage Flagship product to secure the Cloud branded as cloudAshur – a product based on their proven hardware based hard drive systems, but in this case its application was cloud centric, and turns what are, potentially insecure Cloud environments into secure and manageable trusted storage […]
iStorage Unveils the Game Changing cloudAshur – The Future of Cloud Data Security
iStorage LaunchesdatAshur PRO²: their most secure PIN authenticated, hardware encrypted USB flash drive
iStorage diskAshur PRO² wins Best Encryption Product at the Infosec Awards 2019 run by Cyber Defense Magazine
iStorage CEO, John Michael, explains the importance of using PIN authenticated, hardware encrypted storage devices such as the iStorage range, following recent news that major flaws in several self-encrypting SSDs allows attackers to decrypt data they contain.
iStorage launches enhanced USB 3.0 flash drive to safeguard personal data anytime, anywhere.


text:
Rafi Balouzian, founder of shoe company Cydwoq, has some modern, artsy styles, but as a manufacturer, he’s as old-school as they get.
All of the company’s shoes are made by hand in its 15,000-square-foot, two-story factory in Burbank, which employs about 35.
Balouzian, 55, is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who made shoes in Armenia in the early 1900s and later established a factory in Lebanon to supply military boots. Balouzian’s father kept up the tradition.
Balouzian, who came to the United States from Lebanon and started Cydwoq – pronounced like “sidewalk” – in 1996, said his designs combine elements of the distant past and the modern world.
“In ancient times, this is the way people made shoes, and with the designs, a lot of them are very futuristic and architectural,” he said. “It’s a very unusual combination of the old with the new.”
And now his 24-year-old son, Ari, is part of the family tradition, too. He has designed a line called Cliff Dweller at a lower price to appeal to more cost-sensitive customers. The company simplified the construction of 15 styles to get prices in the $200-$300 range.
The company’s other shoes include vintage-style women’s boots that sell for $568; sandals are in the $250-$320 range.
Balouzian said he wanted to produce a more affordable shoe without sacrificing quality. His son, who has designed for the company for five years, has developed a clean aesthetic that helps him appeal to younger customers.
“We complement each other,” Balouzian said. “He’s younger and he knows his age group.”
Balouzian moved the company to its current location in 2008. The factory makes 70 to 150 pairs of made-to-order boots, sandals and lace-ups a day.
Manufacturing everything in Los Angeles is more expensive than outsourcing, of course. One of the biggest challenges of the business is that the company has not been able to afford the publicity campaigns to get recognition in big fashion magazines.
Nevertheless, he said he has increased sales by 15 percent to 20 percent over each of the last two years. The factory makes more than 20,000 pairs a year. Plus, having all the components on hand lets him restock retailers’ shelves more quickly.
“It’s a very flexible operation,” he said.
– Ryan Faughnder
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, CLICK HERE.


text:
A 5MW/2MWh battery has been dispatched to Western Power’s Kalbarri microgrid, where it will help deliver cheap reliable renewable power to the W.A. resort town.
- Q Cells tips $5m into SwitchDin to tap solar and battery management technologyby Sophie Vorrath on 2 June 2020 at 2:23 PM
- Australia rooftop solar market powers on, despite Covid-19 blipby Giles Parkinson on 1 June 2020 at 9:13 PM
- Australia’s distributed solar faces blunt options without the right databy Andrew Mears on 1 June 2020 at 4:40 PM
- NSW government triples EV fleet pledge, to ease regulations for charging infrastructureby Michael Mazengarb on 2 June 2020 at 2:53 PM
- Fully Charged Live is considering coming to Australia in 2022by Bridie Schmidt on 2 June 2020 at 1:07 PM
- $32 for 94,000kms: BMW i3 owner details two years of EV and rooftop solarby Bridie Schmidt on 2 June 2020 at 1:04 PM


text:
Lexus has recently launched its 2014 Design Award, an international design competition targeting the next generation of innovators around the world. The theme for the next year’s Award is Curiosity.
The competition provides an opportunity for the winners to showcase their works while receiving feedback from world-renowned design professionals. Additionally, two winners will work with a famous designer as a mentor to create prototypes of their designs.
Twelve (12) entries will win awards and only two of them will receive up to five million yen (more than US $50,000) each to cover prototype production costs.
The designers of the two entries will create prototypes of their award winning designs between January and March 2014 through sessions with two assigned mentors and will be invited to Milan Design Week 2014 to show their prototypes.
Through this initiative, Lexus hopes to contribute to supporting the next generation of creators.


text:
The group is especially concerned about ‘smart toys.’
Baltimore, Md (KM). This is the time of year when many parents go shopping for toys to give to their children for the holidays. “Toys have definitely gotten a lot safer over the past 30 years. We have made a lot of progress,” says Kyanna Cadwallader, an organizer with the Maryland Public Interest Research Group.
But Cadawallader says there are still some dangerous toys on store shelves, and available for order on line. . “We found six types of Slime that have boron, which is a toxic chemical that can cause nausea, vomiting and long term reproductive health disorders,” she says.
In addition, PIRG found a toy plane that was excessively noisy. “And we also have a smart toy, the Wonder Works Shop-Robot, that shares information with third parties, and may also sell information to advertisers. And the last hazard we highlight every year are choking hazards,” she says. They include balloons, which present a choking hazard and do not have warning labels that say this product is not for small children.
“Smart” toys could be a hot item during the holiday season. “It’s not something new. Smart toys have been fairly exploding in popularity. But the problem is that a lot of parents don’t know what information the toys are recording on their child, and they don’t who that information is being shared with,” says Cadawallader.
If parents decide to purchase a “smart” toy, they need to protect their children’s privacy. “Is there is an option to turn off those features of information sharing,” she says. “A lot of times there’ s not, or you can’t fully turn it off. So that’s something to look for. And then just consider how this information on your child can propose a potential security risk.” That includes identity theft and a child’s habits being shared with advertisers.
The Trouble in Toyland report can be downloaded on the line from https://marylandpirg.org.
By Kevin McManus


text:
Results For "Puneet-Das"
10 News Found
Laqshya Media lights up innovative Tata Tea Gold dual-screen 3D anamorphic display
In Campaigns By M4G Bureau - October 19, 2023
The awe-inspiring installation at South City Mall, Kolkata depicts the splendour of Durga Pujo through an intricate tapestry of Bengal's five distinct handlooms
TATA Tea Premium hosts all-women Shobhayatra in Pune, Aurangabad
In OOH News By M4G Bureau - April 05, 2022
The grand event brought together 300 plus ‘Sarvaguni’ women across these 2 cities, dressed in authentic Maharashtrian Nauvari Sarees and accessories, riding their bikes with a pillion rider.
Tata Tea Premium celebrates ‘Odisha’s ‘kadak’ and colourful spirit with 3D projection mapping
In Campaigns By M4G Bureau - April 04, 2022
As part of its recent focus on celebrating local culture, the brand had an iconic 3D Projection Mapping Show on Esplanade Mall, Bhubaneswar, which highlighted Odisha’s rich art forms, architecture and history on the occasion of ‘Utkal Divas’ or Odisha Day on April 1.
Tata Tea Premium celebrates Holi party in Metaverse
In OOH News By M4G Bureau - March 18, 2022
Makes debut in the metaverse world in line with brand’s focus to deliver distinctive customer experiences
Wavemaker India wins media mandate for Tata Consumer Products’ brands in India
In OOH News By M4G Bureau - January 11, 2022
We’re delighted to extend our partnership with Wavemaker for our media mandate, says Puneet Das, President, Packaged Beverages, India & South Asia, Tata Consumer Products
Tata Tea Chakra Gold now celebrates the flavours of Kondapalli toys, Kuchipudi dance & Kalamkari art…
In Campaigns By M4G Bureau - October 12, 2021
In its latest brand initiative to honour regional culture, TATA Tea Chakra Gold engaged consumers with a larger than life 3D Projection Mapping Show on the exteriors of Beach Mall, Visakhapatnam celebrating the iconic elements of AP and Telangana.
TATA Tea Premium ‘Desh Ki Chai’ celebrates rich cultural diversity of India this Independence Day
In Digital OOH By M4G Bureau - August 13, 2021
Launches #DeshKaKulhad collection to support local art and artisans.
Tata Tea Premium’s tribute to Odisha with sand art installation
The brand partners with Sudarshan Pattnaik to create a sand art Installation #OdishaKe Liye capturing the symbols of pride of Odisha
Tata Tea Premium touches Delhiites’ hearts via its lifeline
In Campaigns By M4G Bureau - December 18, 2019
As part of the integrated hyperlocal campaign, the brand takes an interesting route to evoke Dilli's regional pride by Delhi metro wrapping


text:
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 29th (International Observation) Energetic Vitality Gains the World——The World Welcomes the Chinese Spring Festival Consumption Boom
Xinhua News Agency reporter
During the Spring Festival, the Chinese consumer market ushered in a “good start” in 2023. The number of tourists in urban business districts has increased, the number of tourists to popular scenic spots has soared, and the demand for “food, accommodation, travel, shopping and entertainment” has been released intensively. The hot consumption scene makes overseas people and the media feel the strong resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy, and captures the positive signal of the upward trend of the Chinese economy. It is widely expected that China‘s economy will resume strong growth this year and will continue to release more global dividends.
Spring Festival consumption reflects growth momentum
“Foreign New Year’s goods” are dazzling, and the catering business is booming… The consumption recovery during the Chinese New Year is accelerated, which reflects the strong internal driving force of China‘s economic development, and makes global trading partners more optimistic about the prospects of the Chinese market.
“Chilean cherries are the ‘star fruit’ that people give to each other and share during the Chinese New Year!” Chilean “Agricultural World” magazine website reported this way a few days ago. Claudia Soler, manager of the Cherry Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association, said that with the strong demand growth in China‘s second- and third-tier cities, the market is expected to be very optimistic this year.
Argentina’s “Commercial breaking latest news” said that high-quality agricultural products such as South American fruits, red wine, and beef are popular in the Chinese market, and new export opportunities will usher in the new year.
In addition to the traditional “foreign New Year products”, many high-end brands also took advantage of the Spring Festival to launch products related to the Year of the Rabbit. Caroline Reyer, director of high-end brands at Pictet Asset Management in Switzerland, said that the market believes that Chinese consumers will return.
According to the value-added tax invoice data released by the State Administration of Taxation of China, during the Spring Festival holiday this year, the sales revenue of consumption-related industries across the country increased by 12.2% compared with the Spring Festival holiday of the previous year.
Alex Ampaben, a Ghanaian fiscal policy expert, said that the festivities during the Spring Festival in various parts of China are heartening, which shows the vitality of the world‘s second largest economy. Fawoz Bahar, editor-in-chief of Kuwait’s Al-Arab, said that the consumption power of the Chinese market strongly supports the stability of the Chinese economy.
The recovery of the cultural tourism market stimulates global expectations
“Exuberant vitality” and “more optimism”… During the Spring Festival, China‘s cultural tourism market reproduced the strong vitality of the “holiday economy”, arousing new expectations for global tourism and other industries.
South Korea’s “Asian Economy” believes that the “Spring Festival economy” is heating up, and the vitality of tourism and cultural industries has reappeared, which has raised the outside world‘s expectations for China‘s economy in the first quarter of this year. Singapore’s “Straits Times” analyzed that the box office of China‘s “Spring Festival” movies in 2023 will increase significantly compared with 2022, which is expected to boost the Chinese film industry affected by the epidemic.
Bloomberg reported that the data from the Spring Festival holiday made the market generally believe that China‘s overall economic growth will be faster than previously expected.
According to the data center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, there were 308 million domestic trips during the Spring Festival this year, a year-on-year increase of 23.1%. At the same time, during the Spring Festival, immigration management agencies across the country inspected a total of 2.877 million people who entered and exited the country, of which 1.443 million people left the country, an increase of 117.8% over the same period during the Spring Festival last year.
Peivi Puonti, an analyst at the Finnish Institute of Economic Research, said that during the Spring Festival, many Chinese tourists choose to travel abroad, bringing dividends to the economies of neighboring countries. More Chinese tourists “going out” will also benefit Finland and other Nordic countries. Make a positive impact.
Hamdi Taba, president of the Arab Merchants Union and the Jordanian Merchants Association, said that during the Spring Festival, the Chinese cultural tourism industry presents a nationwide consumption boom. The Chinese people’s overseas travel and vacation once again let the world see the strong resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy.
Alicia Garcia Herrero, Chief Economist for the Asia-Pacific region of Natixis Bank, told reporters that during the Spring Festival, not only the consumption of culture and tourism in China is booming, but also the consumption of durable goods is also picking up. The Chinese economy will show a clearer and rapid growth after the festival. sign.
Developmental vitality increases the world economy
Many institutions and overseas people believe that the consumption boom during the Chinese Spring Festival shows that the vibrant Chinese economy will provide important support for the recovery of the world economy.
The United Nations recently released the report “World Economic Situation and Prospects in 2023″, predicting that China‘s economic growth rate will reach 4.8% in 2023. UBS Group also stated in a report a few days ago that as an engine of global growth, China‘s economic growth not only benefits Chinese companies and people, but also brings benefits to many developing and developed countries.
Wolfgang Bicheler, CEO of Germany’s EKD Group, is full of confidence in China‘s economy. He said that the Chinese economy plays a “fundamental role” in the recovery of the global economy, and the stability of China‘s supply chain is related to the development of the global market.
“The boom in consumption during the Spring Festival has provided impetus to the world economy,” said Magdi Hamid, an economics professor at Cairo University in Egypt. Villen Phetchaon Paddy, director of the Thailand-China “Belt and Road” Research Center, believes that with the further recovery of trade and personnel exchanges, the Chinese economy will resume rapid growth this year, boosting confidence in the recovery of the world economy.
Mexico’s “High Level” magazine published an article saying that China is an important market for tourism, automobiles, and food consumption in the world. China‘s strong economic growth means huge demand, which is a positive factor for all countries. Yasin Anwar, former governor of the Central Bank of Pakistan, said that in 2023 the world will witness a strong rebound in China‘s consumer demand, and China‘s economic policies to promote growth will benefit more economies around the world. (Participating reporters: Liu Yanan, Huang Zemin, Yao Bing, Wang Zhongyi, Yin


text:
TGS: Delivery of Kingdom Hearts PSP Scheduled for JanuarySquare Enix will give birth by sleep early next year in Japan.09.27.09 - 11:47 AM
Among the many games on display at Square Enix's Tokyo Game Show booth was Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
, the series' debut on PlayStation Portable. As predicted by director Tetsuya Nomura during an interview
last month, Square Enix announced the game's release date only after it had decided on when to ship Final Fantasy XIII
. With the latter now set for a December 17th release in Japan, the company revealed at TGS that Birth by Sleep
would be available in January.
The new trailer shown at Square Enix's TGS booth also hints that protagonists Tera and Aqua are about to undergo an exam that, if completed successfully, would make them masters. The guest of honor is the future leader of Organization XIII, Master Xehanort. In the trailer he is seen lecturing Tera. Apparently at that time, the future bad guy is still a widely respected person.
The trailer also showed off various Disney worlds including as Peter Pan's Neverland and Cinderella's world. Another scene of interest depicted a board game. Famitsu speculates that this might have been a glimpse at the game's still-mysterious growth system that Nomura had previously described as "fairly weird" and similar to a mini-game.


text:
Catering news - For this month's news - View magazine »
Out-of-home food and drink index makes brewer top dog with 193% growth
BrewDog, the dynamic Scottish brewer and bar operator, has taken the top spot in an index of the fastest-growing companies in the UK eating and drinking out market.
The 2013 Zolfo Cooper Profit Tracker, which charts the profit growth of the sector’s most successful privately owned operators, saw BrewDog beat rivals such as Drake & Morgan, Côte and Jamie’s Italian.
The Profit Tracker, produced in association with trade business journal M&C Report, is an annual list that highlights the top 50 companies with the fastest-growing profits within the sector over a three-year period.
Famed for its controversial marketing exploits and anti-establishment ethos, BrewDog has achieved profit growth on a compound basis (known as CAGR or compound annual growth rate) over the three-year period of 193.3% - impressive growth for a group that opened its 11th site earlier this year.
James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog, responded to the group’s placing in the Zolfo Cooper Profit Tracker in typical forthright fashion. He said: “BrewDog's growth is not a reflection of simple business performance, but of a seismic shift in perceptions of beer in the UK. Customers are increasingly discerning about the quality of the beer they drink and the type of establishments they drink them in.
“We set out to change the stereotype of beer in the UK and, while many lauded this effort, others laughed in our faces. They are not laughing now. The craft beer revolution is not a flash in the pan – it's a permanent change in consumer demand.”
Raoul Federman, finance director of Drake & Morgan – the London-based bar-restaurant chain that was second in the index - said: “It's fantastic that Drake & Morgan have taken this position in the UK's only profit tracker for the eating and drinking out market. We have an exceptional team who are passionate about the brand and committed to delivering growth and this is reflected in the performance in this index.”
The list again highlights that both established and fledgling groups across both food-led and wet-led categories have continued to prosper during the challenging economic climate. The appearance in the list of Nando’s, Pret A Manger and Caffè Nero also highlights that impressive profit growth is being delivered by larger companies, even with estates of 250 sites and above.
London-centric and regional-focused groups are equally represented, underlining a growing sense of stability returning to the wider market.
Paul Hemming, partner at Zolfo Cooper, said: “In an operator-led market, the Zolfo Cooper Profit Tracker provides clear evidence that there remains a plethora of high-quality businesses that are thriving, posting significant and sustainable profit growth. The delivery of such performances is all the more impressive given it is being achieved in the face of the current economic flux.
“With the benefit of another year’s data, it is increasingly clear that an index of companies by profit growth is a very effective and meaningful vehicle for identifying the sector’s outstanding companies. This year’s 50-strong index comprises many of the eating and drinking out market’s most admired companies, with some of the most talented management teams at their helm.”
The index, in its second year, defines profit as EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), with director remuneration added back in. Growth in profit is measured over a three-year period, with an average rate of growth (CAGR) used for the overall comparison.
The full top 50 was published in the April issue of M&C Report. Further analysis and commentary can be found in the Zolfo Cooper Profit Tracker 2013 report, which can be accessed from here. The top 10 in the 2013 list were:
- Drake & Morgan
- Jamie’s Italian
- Bill’s Restaurants
- Pub People Company
- Novus Leisure
- Amber Taverns
Previous issues - For latest news & articles view this month's magazine »
Inside this issue
Well done, Jerome Calayag From Sweden Announced As The Winner Of S.Pellegrino Young Chef Regional Semi-Final, And W… https://t.co/zS8M8u7Yks
RT @FishNChipAwards: We love a friday... not just because it's the end of the week but also because it gives us an excuse to get fish and c…
With the festive season nearly upon us, now is the time to check that all is planned and ready both to embrace and benefit from this particularly busy time of year. Read more >
Britvic’s 2017 research into the importance of soft drinks at Christmas revealed that almost half of consumers (45%) were set to buy more soft drinks at Christmas and over a fifth (21%) planned to drink less alcohol. Read more >


text:
Grocery Wars: Alibaba and JD.com Compete Against Supermarkets, Corner Stores
(Beijing) — For China's 720 million Internet users, websites run by the country's two biggest e-commerce companies, Alibaba Group and JD.com, have increasingly become the preferred shopping destinations. From trendy clothing and exquisite accessories to household appliances and the latest tech gadgets, a mouse click can get them almost anything.
Now the e-commerce behemoths are going after everyday indispensables — groceries and household items. Over the past few months, both have poured hundreds of millions of yuan into a price war aimed at dragging shoppers away from supermarkets and corner stores. Amazon.com Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other online retailing giants are blazing a similar trail in the U.S.
- MOST POPULAR


text:
UNL Partners with Panhandle Farm to Research Hemp
The Panhandle Research and Extension Center has embarked on a partnership with a family farm corporation in Scotts Bluff County, Western Farms LLC, to conduct scientific research on growing industrial hemp for seed production in the Panhandle.
The public-private joint venture will take place in Scottsbluff and is titled “Evaluation of Hemp Seed Production in a Greenhouse Environment in Western Nebraska.”
For UNL, the project leader is Dipak Santra, alternative crops breeding specialist at the Panhandle Center. Other team members are Jeff Bradshaw, entomologist; Bob Harveson, plant pathologist; Nevin Lawrence, integrated weed management specialist; and Bijesh Maharjan, soil and nutrition management specialist. Jack Whittier, Panhandle Center director, is project advisor.
Panhandle Center faculty will conduct research at Western Farms’ 22,000-square-foot greenhouse. Western Farms LLC is providing $31,152 to fund the project, which began Oct. 1 and will extend to Dec. 31, 2020. Results from the study will be made public to assist other growers considering this option.
The objectives are to research several aspects of hemp production for CBD under greenhouse conditions, including identifying:
- The best varieties for high seed production with high CBD and low THC. CBD stands for cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound that is being used for its pharmaceutical qualities for a variety of conditions and illnesses. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychoactive chemical in the plant.
- Pest and disease issues. At this time, no pesticides are labeled for use on hemp.
- Weed management options for hemp fields.
- Optimized nutrient management for hemp production under varying soil types.
The project started when the Hoehn family approached the Panhandle Center about a possible collaboration, Santra said. The Hoehns have relatives in Minnesota who operate Midwest Hemp Farms, which has been growing hemp for several years. Their experience in Minnesota familiarized them with the economics and genetics of raising hemp for CBD oil. According to their website, Midwest Hemp Inc. focuses on growing industrial hemp for several products, such as flower, CBD products, and processing.
Nationwide, interest in industrial hemp as an agricultural crop has grown rapidly since the 2018 farm bill removed industrial hemp from the controlled substances list ― opening the way for production ― and required regulation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state departments of agriculture. Nebraska legalized hemp production for fiber, grain, or CBD in 2019, with the condition that plant parts of industrial hemp have a THC concentration of less than 0.3 percent. (See the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s (NDA) Hemp Program webpage.) The 2019 legislation authorized NDA to regulate the growing, harvesting, and processing of hemp for research in Nebraska under a licensing agreement until further action is taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
NDA operated a pilot program in 2019. The agency received 176 applications for the 2019 growing season and approved 10 applicants, according to a list on the NDA website. They are in Scotts Bluff, Richardson, Buffalo, Dodge, Saunders, Otoe, Thurston, Platte, and Cass counties.
NDA is drafting regulations and a state plan for hemp production for the 2020 season. Production and use of marijuana and THC for medical and recreational purposes remain illegal in Nebraska.
As soon as NDA approved the pilot permit process in June 2019, Santra and members of the Hoehn family met to discuss a potential project where Western Farms would provide a research facility for hemp seed production. The Panhandle Research and Extension Center obtained a research permit from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, a blanket permit to conduct research on industrial hemp, Santra said. Western Farms LLC is awaiting approval of a permit from the City of Scottsbluff before operations can begin at the greenhouse.
Santra said the entire permitting process is tightly controlled. The Panhandle specialists submitted details of their proposed research component to Hector Santiago, assistant dean and assistant director of UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Agricultural Research Division. Santiago is the university’s liaison with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture for hemp research. Santiago submitted the information to NDA, and agency approval is required before faculty can perform research as outlined in the package. Santra said he anticipates NDA will grant approval.
Santra explained that the arrangement is similar in some ways to field trials with cooperators for other crops. In this arrangement the cooperator provides the research infrastructure, access to the crop for researchers, and supplies such as seed, soil, and fertilizer, and funding to conduct the research. They will harvest the seed and other plant parts and use them in their business. UNL researchers will collect data and make it available to the public, so others who are interested in growing hemp will have the data available.
This research, related to production technology for hemp production under a controlled greenhouse environment, will be relevant to people who want to do hemp production in similar circumstances, Santra said. Hemp seed production must be under a controlled environment to avoid cross-pollination.
Industrial hemp is grown for either CBD or fiber. Fiber hemp is grown outside, and CBD hemp could be grown outside or inside, Santra said.


text:
The Motley Idiot Canada » Investing » IPO Alert: This Canadian EV Maker’s Stock Tripled Cash in 5 Days. Ought to You Make investments? The shares of GreenPower Motor (TSXV:GPV) — the Canadian electrical car (EV) maker — proceed to rally after it filed its U.S. IPO final week. The corporate plans to lift as much as US$35 million with the IPO.
GreenPower’s TSX Enterprise Alternate-listed stock practically doubled in a single day on Monday and settled at $3.99 per share with 84% features for the day. GreenPower Motor is a Vancouver-based EV maker based in 2007. It has a market capitalization of practically $437 million as of August 24.
On this article, we’ll have a look at GreenPower Motor’s latest financials to search out out whether or not its stock might proceed rallying even after its U.S. IPO. However first, let’s perceive why its IPO might be receiving a lot consideration.
Tesla’s extraordinary features and GreenPower Motor’s IPO
At a time when the shares of Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) — the American electrical carmaker — are on fireplace, GreenPower Motor’s U.S. IPO appears to be attracting many huge buyers’ consideration. Notably, Tesla stock has risen by about 147% on NASDAQ within the final three months. Tesla posted its all-time intraday excessive of $2,129 per share yesterday however settled with a 1.8% drop for the day.
Tesla turned destructive in the direction of the top of the Monday buying and selling session as a bear analyst gave an especially low stock price goal of $87 per share — hurting buyers’ sentiments. The bear analyst Gordon Johnson claims that Tesla “is detached from reality.”
Strong electrical car demand
Nonetheless, no analyst for the time being can deny the immense future progress potential of the EV phase. Regardless of constant criticism, rising EV demand and rising client consciousness about environmental points make the way forward for massive EV makers like Tesla vibrant.
The robust EV demand additionally might be attracting buyers’ consideration in the direction of different small electrical automakers, corresponding to Canada’s GreenPower Motor. This might be one of many causes driving its TSX Enterprise Alternate-traded stock greater forward of its U.S. IPO and NASDAQ itemizing.
Set reasonable expectations for GreenPower Motor
GreenPower Motor manufactures and sells battery-powered buses, together with cargo and supply, transit, and college buses.
Earlier than investing your cash in auto firms like GreenPower Motor or Tesla, it is advisable to perceive that car manufacturing is a capital-intensive trade, not like tech or e-commerce. Figuring out that is vital to set reasonable expectations from the companies you’re about to speculate your cash in.
Excessive capital necessities additionally have an effect on the profitability of electrical vehicle-making firms. That’s why you shouldn’t anticipate GreenPower Motor to generate very excessive revenue margins and may keep away from evaluating its profitability with tech and power firms.
On July 29, GreenPower Motor introduced that it obtained a 100 EV Stars bus order from Canadian vanpooling service supplier Inexperienced Commuter.
In its fiscal yr 2020 (resulted in March 2020), GreenPower Motor reported US$24.5 million income — greater than double as in comparison with US$13.5 million in fiscal 2019. Its income grew by 73% within the earlier fiscal yr. Throughout its fiscal 2020 earnings occasion, the corporate neither gave clear steering on its profitability expectations nor revealed any particulars of its pipeline. Bay Street analysts anticipate it to show worthwhile in fiscal 2022, although.
Must you purchase GreenPower Motor stock?
Contemplating the anticipated constant rise in electrical bus demand, energetic buyers may contemplate shopping for GreenPower Motor stock on TSX Enterprise Alternate. Conservative buyers ought to contemplate shopping for its stock or IPO funding provided that they may maintain it for the long run, as I anticipate its stock to stay extremely unstable within the close to to medium time period.
Idiot contributor Jitendra Parashar has no place in any of the stocks talked about. David Gardner owns shares of Tesla. Tom Gardner owns shares of Tesla. The Motley Idiot owns shares of and recommends Tesla.


text:
Pictures and specs have emerged for Pininfarina"s high-end electric supercar, codenamed PF0, which is due on sale in 2020.
The famous Italian coachbuilder and design house, which is now owned by Indian firm Mahindra & Mahindra, announced last week that it would start producing its own vehicles as Automobili Pininfarina, a new division created to stand alongside the existing consultancy business.
• Best electric cars on sale
Now Pininfarina has issued sketches showing the rakish design of the PF0, and issued the first technical information. The firm claims that the pure-electric PF0 will be capable of 0-62mph in less than two seconds, and crack 0-186mph in less than 12 seconds. The top speed will be 250mph, Pininfarina says, and the PF0 will be capable of up to 310 miles between charges.
The vehicle’s design will be carried out under the direction of Automobili Pininfarina’s newly appointed design director Luca Borgogno, who has moved across from the consultancy division. The sketches released by the firm are said to be Borgogno’s early vision for the car – and they’ve been shown to prospective clients at exclusive preview events.
Mahindra was one of the original teams for the all-electric single seater series, Formula E, entering in the inaugural 2014-15 season and has said that the lessons learned from its participation will be applied to the cars it makes. The team is currently third in the Constructors’ Championship this season, having racked up two race victories.
The company has named former Volkswagen Group executive Michael Perschke as its first chief executive officer, who said: “I am honoured to lead Automobili Pininfarina and our ambition is to make it a respected and desirable brand recognised by connoisseurs who value design heritage, substance, and sustiainable high performance EV technology”.
Do you think the new Automobili Pininfarina will be a success? Let us know below...Nguồn: www.autoexpress.co.uk


text:
We’re finally getting a good look at the new 2017 Civic Si coupe prototype after Honda introduced it yesterday at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
“With the new Honda Civic Si, we're injecting even more sporty goodness into our 10th-generation Civic lineup. This will be, hands down, the fastest, best-handling Si we've ever offered to our customers," said Honda's senior VP and general manager Jeff Conrad.
Supporting his claim is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but we don’t have exact horsepower and torque numbers yet. It could produce anywhere from 205 horsepower (what the previous Si was capable of) to 306 horsepower, which is what the previous Type R’s output was.
What we do know is that the engine will be mated to a short-shifting six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. Also, the Si coupe will come with cross-drilled brake rotors, active steering and dampers for better handling. There’s also going to be a high-performance tire option.
Overall, the Si’s coupe body appears to have the same dimensions as the standard coupe, but some design changes have been made including larger air intakes, lower front splitters, a fixed rear spoiler, 19-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels, and a single hexagonal tipped center-exit exhaust.
Honda has only debuted the coupe Si, but we can expect to see a sedan version as well.


text:
General Motors' decision to name Mary Barra, a 33-year veteran of the company, the automaker's new chief executive officer on Tuesday has been called a "sledgehammer to the glass ceiling," but will it encourage other companies to follow suit?
CBS News contributor and analyst Mellody Hobson -- who dubbed the decision a "sledgehammer" move -- said Barra has become an emblem in the historically male-dominated industry. So maybe, she said, the old catch-phrase based on former GM president Charles Wilson's saying will be a harbinger for change in the country's upper echelons of power: "As General Motors goes, so goes the nation."
Hobson said, "Dan Ackerson, the outgoing CEO, had been hinting at this. He talked about the fact that the big three automakers were all run by non-car guys and that one day perhaps there would be a car gal.
"Everyone who talks about Mary Barra talks about the fact that she is smart, no-nonsense, get things done, has been helping to restore growth and profitability to GM," Hobson said. "And that she is the right person for the job."
"This is making a big statement," Hobson added. "So it's great that she's extraordinarily well-qualified, but also that she can be a symbol."
Of the Fortune 500 companies, there are just 22 women CEOs, and 10 percent of companies listed don't have a woman on the board, Hobson also noted.
"This is a huge deal," Hobson said. "There has never been a woman atop one of the big three auto manufacturers. ... We still have a long way to go. To go from less than 4 percent (of female CEOs at Fortune 500 companies) to 50 percent -- which is where we should be -- will be a long time, but this is a great start."


text:
Voice Commerce, the innovative financial services group, today announced that it has appointed Lindsay Harben to head up and launch its issuing division.
Harben joins the group following a six year career in the Payments Industry and her appointment follows the recent announcement that Voice Commerce Group has become a full member of The Payments Council.
Harben's responsibilities will include leveraging Voice Commerce's existing Visa and MasterCard membership in 2010. Prior to joining Voice Commerce, Harben worked as an independent consultant to issuing Banks and programme managers within the cards and payments space. In addition Harben has held business development positions at commercial companies including IDT Financial Services Ltd and Affinity Cards Ltd. Harben will work closely with and report directly to CEO Nick Ogden, and is based in the Cambridge, UK, head office.
Nick Ogden, CEO of Voice Commerce Group, said: "2010 was a strong year for Voice Commerce and the appointment of Lindsay Harben underlines our strategic plans for growth in 2011. Lindsay's extensive experience in the payments industry will serve us well as we look to further penetrate the market with new and innovative offerings surrounding mobile and e-money."
Lindsay Harben, head of issuing, Voice Commerce Group, added: "The opportunities for e-money, coupled with the increasing use of mobile devices, are substantial. Voice Commerce Group has also integrated authentication and KYC and I am personally very excited about developing these services throughout the EU."


text:
Post Office urges people not to collect parcel post unless urgent
The Royal Gibraltar Post Office has urged people to avoid online shopping and collecting parcel post during lockdown and has introduced special measures for those over the age of 70.
The postal service is a “key part” of Gibraltar’s infrastructure and is doing everything to run efficiently to provide a reliable and efficient service to the community, Glendon Martinez, Director of Postal Services said.
Mr Martinez explained that any person over the age of 70, or with a compromised immune system who needs to isolate, can arrange for a delivery of parcels or registered items by emailing the office on email@example.com or calling 200 57514 or 200 78364.
As a precautionary measure, postal delivery workers will sign on behalf of the recipients and insert registered letters into letter boxes and, for parcels, will knock and leave outside the door.
Those who need to send a letter can contact the Post Office and arrangements will be made to collect the mail for delivery.
As for those who are spending their time online shopping while on lockdown, Mr Martinez urged members of the public to wait until the social lockdown is lifted by the Government.
“There is no need to collect swimsuits, high heel shoes, colouring pens or duvet covers,” he said. Unless Parcel Post has an important personal or business item awaiting collection, such as passports, work contracts, permits, essential supplies, medical items or health supplements, he asked the public not to collect them.
Mr Martinez said that all other items will not be returned to the sender and everything will be securely stored in the offices.
The Post Office will continue to provide next-day local delivery for as long as possible, while providing its services in line with guidance from the Government of Gibraltar and the GHA.
In order to protect post office workers, work shifts and opening hours have been adjusted to minimise the amount of people working at any one time.
“The delivery of parcels and letters keeps Gibraltar connected to the world, helps businesses continue operating and help people who cannot leave their homes communicate,” Mr Martinez said.
“The postal workers work hard to collect, process and deliver as much mail and parcels as possible in these exceptional and difficult circumstances.”
Staff at the Post Office are also assisting the GHA in mailing appointments, health cards, and moving equipment.
In addition, the Government of Gibraltar, businesses and individuals continue to send application forms, letters, certificate statements and documents, so it is essential that the postal service continues its 7am daily pillar box collections, a next-day delivery local service, counter service and international deliveries, Mr Martinez said.
“Postal workers are grateful for the kind messages and words of encouragement as they go about their daily jobs,” Mr Martinez added.
As for those worried about international mail not reaching its destination, Mr Martinez said: “We are working closely with Royal Mail, British Airways, Correos and other postal partners across the globe to maintain services where possible.”
“The number of countries that we can access is changing daily.”
“Most major export routes remain open via the Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre (HWDC) and we continue to accept and process mail.”
During this period of social lockdown, the Post Office in 104 Main Street and the Parcel Post Mail Centre will be open from 9.30am to 1pm from Monday to Friday, and people can purchase stamps online at post.gi with free local delivery.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Our reporters are working round-the-clock to bring you the latest news on Gibraltar and the Covid-19 crisis. All our coverage on this critical issue is available free outside the paywall. If you find it useful, please help us reach more people by sharing our journalism. And if you want to support our work further, please consider subscribing to the digital version of our daily newspaper and all our premium online content. You can subscribe via our website or for iOS devices via the iTunes store. Thank you.


text:
In this post, read about “Lizbeth Rodrguez: Who Is She? Viral Video On Twitter”. Check Out Celebrilla for more posts like this
Lizbeth Rodrguez: Who Is She? The video from Twitter has gone viral on other social media platforms as well.
Hello there, social media fans. As we all know, an Internet personality named Lizbeth Rodrguez is gaining a lot of attention these days. With her recent photographs and videos floating all over the internet, the prominent online face steals the show. The video of the OnlyF model is circulating on popular social media platforms such as Twitter and Reddit, with netizens eager to investigate the video’s sexual nature. Personal has become one of the most talked-about things on the Internet recently, following the virality of some of her platform videos.
Lizbeth Rodrguez is a model and actress
The online star’s fame is growing because to the rapid distribution of her photographs and videos. She has not only established a social media presence, but she has also established an account on the well-known paid subscription video streaming site, where she has attracted a large number of subscribers with her enticing content. Along with obtaining the well-known Rodrguez, a large sum of money was also earned. Internet users are going crazy over the videos that have been circulating recently.
As the Internet personality becomes more well-known, internet users are eager to discover more about him or her. However, she gains a lot of attention all of a sudden and makes others want to learn more about her. However, there isn’t much on the internet at the moment. So far, a list of information has been evaluated, including her genuine name, family background, and love life. As a result, any reference of her would be inappropriate. Her name, accounts, and current videos are all she needs to attract people’s attention and entice them to subscribe to her popular platform page.
According to some details about the popular YouTuber, she was born on May 22, 1994, and she is currently 28 years old. She is a well-known YouTuber and actress who was born in Mexico. She was also a former member of Badabun, a YouTube and Facebook group known for creating original viral material.
Her YouTube channel has just attracted over 9.02 million subscribers. With 11 million followers on her official Instagram account, she also earned the label of Instagram influencer. Readers who are interested in receiving regular updates can follow her on social media. For more details, stay connected to Social Telecast.


text:
With the excitement of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest fast approaching, fans around the world are familiarising themselves with entrants’ music videos in the annual warm up to the biggest music competition on Earth. This year’s entry from Iceland is the enigmatic Johanna Gudrun Jonsdottir (often known simply as Johanna), whose ... Read More...
- Uncover the advantages of a multi-cloud strategy October 19, 2020
- 60% of companies are not filing full or correct domestic VAT returns October 7, 2020
- demicon takes home the 2020 Adaptavist Partner of the year award September 30, 2020
- Preventing infection spread in Iceland’s healthcare settings as data specialist’s Lýsir and Sani nudge partner September 15, 2020
- Good Agricultural and Collecting Practices (GACP) Certification Granted To Plena Global September 15, 2020
Submit Your Press Release at eNewsWire
eNewsWire is an online press release service offering both free and paid distribution. eNewWire distributes business, organisational and personal news and press releases using the Internet. Submit your press release here.