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The Mars Reports in each edition of SWZ|Maritime teach that, as a seafarer, you can never be alert enough and should take all lessons in acting safely seriously. But also that safety is an ongoing process of constantly thinking through what new safety risks each change and/or innovation brings. The electric car has already shown that it requires a different way of fighting fires than fires in petrol or diesel cars. An ordinary sprinkler system on a car deck of a ro-ro ship or car carrier is also of little use against burning electric cars with sizable battery packs.
Meanwhile, more and more ships with hefty battery packs are being built to operate emission-free at least while in ports. But what if there is a slight instability in the battery pack and the ship catches fire? Is such a ship fire still extinguishable? How many fire brigades in how many ports around the world know how to extinguish a fire in a substantial battery pack used to power a ship?
Quite rightly, a major marine insurer like Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty has been signalling for quite a few years now that the number of shipping accidents may have been declining for some time, but the occurrence of marine fires continues to increase, see also the report in our news section, both in this magazine and on our website. Of course, there are still many more causes of fires, such as the most irresponsible and sometimes downright criminal fraud in declaring what cargo is actually in containers.
Fire safety of ships
So all the more reason for our colleague Björn von Ubisch to focus on the fire safety of ships. The article on yacht fire safety again makes it abundantly clear that we cannot do without effective regulation. And above all, learn from what can go wrong in unforeseen situations such as with the blackout on the Viking Sky that was saved in the nick of time.
Safety on another front is the question of how we keep our navy up to standard, see our editor Jaap Huisman’s article on the replacement of the Walrus submarines.
There is also room for some lighter fare in this edition of SWZ|Maritime such as Riekelt Pasterkamp’s article on the anniversary voyage of the new Rotterdam (VII) in honour of 150 years of Holland America Line (HAL). At the time the HAL was founded, people still thought very differently about the use of alcohol on board, as Willem de Jong’s contribution shows. With that, we hope this issue offers plenty of reading pleasure.
This is editor-in-chief Antoon Oosting’s editorial accompanying the December 2022 issue.
Our digital archive is once again available to subscribers and they can read the digitial version of our December issue there. Subscribers can register here to gain access. Not yet a subscriber? Visit our subscription page.
The articles in SWZ|Maritime’s December issue
In addition to the regular sections such as Dutch news, Maritime monthly, Book reviews, news from the KNVTS and Mars Report, the articles (some in Dutch) in the December issue are:
- Vervanging van de Walrus-klasse onderzeeboot
- Ship fires not decreasing
- Battery fires
- Tackling blackouts
- Alcohol aan boord
- How safe are yachts?
- Vessels at sea are exposed to mounting security risks
- Methanol, waterstof en drop-ins voor jachten
- ‘Cruise ship more economical than a car’
- Hoe gedragen bellen zich in water
- Visserij is niet voor één gat te vangen
SWZ’s December cover picture: Multraship is providing three Emergency Rescue & Towing Vessels (ERTVs) to the Netherlands Coast Guard to monitor shipping safety in the Dutch part of the North Sea. The Multraship Commander will take care of wind farm Borssele and the Multraship Protector will take care of wind farms Hollandse Kust Zuid. The Guardian, with home port Den Helder, monitors shipping safety in the northern part of the North Sea (photo Flying Focus).


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MRI Software announces Saurabh Abhyankar as CPO
Real Estate software company MRI Software has named Saurabh Abhyankar as its new Chief Product Officer. Mr. Abhyankar will be responsible for leading the company’s global product innovation, strategy and evolution.
"I'm very excited to welcome Saurabh to MRI's executive team during a time when the strength of our global solutions and our growth are at record levels," said MRI Software CEO Patrick Ghilani. "I'm confident that he will accelerate our industry-leading innovation and interoperability while bringing a renewed focus on easier access and use of smart data. Saurabh brings a strong multinational view, creativity with discipline, and an extremely user-centric mentality that our clients will quickly see in our go-forward product approach."
Mr. Abhyankar brings more than 15 years of experience in inventing, bringing products to market, building and leading product management teams to MRI. He has been a senior product manager at SAP, and most recently was Chief Product Officer and SVP of Product Management at MicroStrategy.
"Ultimately, technology holds the potential to enrich people's lives and make the communities in which we all live, work and play smarter and more efficient,” said Mr. Abhyankar. “By applying innovations in data analytics to MRI's open and connected platform, we have the opportunity to help our clients around the world improve the financial performance of their business and create more value from their real estate assets."

domain: news


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As part of its wider plans for an electric future, BMW has confirmed that a fully-electric MINI will go into production in 2019.
The MINI’s existing diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains will be joined by an electric three-door model. The electric powertrain will be manufactured in Germany and fitted into the car at the MINI plant in Oxford.
The German manufacturer has also announced that from 2020 its vehicle architecture will be structured in such a way as to allow for the fitment of either a combustion engine, plug-in hybrid or fully-electric drivetrain.
The brand is one of many to have committed to an electric future, with nine electric models already on the market. Toyota, Volvo, Aston Martin and smart are among other manufacturers looking ahead to an electric future.
BMW electric models set for launch include the i8 Roadster next year, the X3 in 2020 and the iNEXT in 2021. By 2025, the company expects electrified vehicles to account for 15-25% of its total sales.
BMW hopes to sell 100,000 electrified vehicles this year, bringing the total number of its electrified models on the road to 200,000.
- Read more BMW news, reviews and features at The Car Expert
- Read more MINI news, reviews and features at The Car Expert


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Maryland sports fans now have another online sportsbook to register with even before apps officially launch in the state. This PointsBet Maryland promo code will mean free bets when the app launches.
After months of little to no progress, online sports betting in Maryland is suddenly nearing a launch. Sportsbooks that are expecting to receive the green light have begun announcing pre-launch offers with PointsBet being the most recent. All bettors need to do is register and sign up to receive the offer
New users who sign up here with can claim two bonuses worth up to $700. Here’s everything you need to know about the PointsBet Sportsbook Maryland promo code.
What is the PointsBet Maryland Promo?
New PointsBet MD users who sign up will get $200 in free bets as well as five $100 second chance bets.
Your $200 in free bets will be split into $50 increments and deposited into your account once a week for four weeks.
The five second chance bets are exactly what they sound like. If any of your first five bets result in a loss, PointsBet will match your wager as additional free bet credits. You can wager more than $100 but only the first $100 of your bet will be eligible for the second chance bet.
How to Sign-Up for a PointsBet MD Account
If you have yet to sign up for an online sportsbook account, the process is simple.
- Use this link to sign up with PointsBet Maryland even before the app officially launches in the state
- Download the PointsBet app via the App Store or Google Play Store. You can also sign up on PointBet’s website.
- Create an account by providing the required identity-verifying information. This includes things like your name, address, and birthdate.
- Place your first bet on launch date.
With pre-launch offers, some sportsbooks like DraftKings Maryland and FanDuel Maryland do not require deposits, so you can choose to fund your account later.
What Sportsbooks Could Launch in Maryland?
PointsBet already operates a retail sportsbook at the Riverboat on the Potomac and is expected to receive a mobile operator license. Here are the other nine sportsbooks that will be discussed at the next SWARC meeting right before Thanksgiving.
- Parx Interactive
DraftKings and FanDuel already have pre-launch offers available for Maryland bettors. DraftKings has $200 in free bets up for grabs along with a chance to win a $100,000 free bet.
FanDuel is offering $100 in free bets and users will also be able to claim the standard $1,000 no sweat first bet welcome offer.
When Will PointsBet Maryland Launch?
We are still unsure when mobile sports betting apps will launch in Maryland. We should know more when SWARC meets before Thanksgiving. SWARC has announced that apps will launch on a rolling basis as licenses are approved and apps are tested.
Does PointsBet Offer Competitive Odds?
The easiest way for sportsbook operators to lose customers is to offer subpar odds. This is especially true in Maryland where there could be upwards of 60 online apps available.
Here are some examples of how PointsBet stacks up to the competition.
PointsBet Moneyline Odds
Here’s an example of the moneyline odds PointsBet was offering for a game between the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers compared to DraftKings and FanDuel. Moneyline wagers are the simplest bets to place and therefore are one of the most popular bet types. With moneyline bets, you’re simply picking which team you think will win.
While PointsBet doesn’t offer the best price for either side, we can see they’re on par with the two biggest online sportsbooks. All three sportsbooks offer the same moneyline odds for Washington, while DraftKings has the best price for bettors who want to back the underdogs.
PointsBet Futures Odds
Let’s compare PointsBet to DraftKings and FanDuel once more but with the Baltimore Ravens odds to win Super Bowl 57.
|Ravens Super Bowl Odds
When it comes to the Ravens futures odds for Super Bowl 57, PointsBet and DraftKings edge out FanDuel.
Although these are just two examples, it shows PointsBet offers competitive odds when compared to the industry leaders.
Between the enticing pre-launch offer, unique features, and competitive odds, PointsBet is an online sportsbook that should be at the top of your list when considering which mobile apps you want to sign up for.


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Suman Das, 34, grew up in West Bengal's Rasan village, drinking chai in mud cups with his younger brother Subham and his family of six, including the parents. "Chai was our national drink," he says, smiling.
Now, as a lead roaster at Blue Tokai, one of India's fastest-growing and biggest specialty coffee companies, Suman drinks 30-40 cups of coffee every day. As a roaster, sipping coffee and trying different varieties of what others may like drinking is part of the job. "Coffee kya hai ye mujhe Blue Tokai mein aake samajh aaya (I learned what true coffee is here at Blue Tokai)," he says. Before joining Blue Tokai over a decade ago, Das ran errands at an advertising agency in Delhi.
Suman, who studied only till Class 10, isn't just a lead roaster; he also sets up and operates all the latest machines Blue Tokai procures for making coffee. His brother Subham is now among a rare few "Q Graders" based in Bengaluru. The Das brothers also take pride in the fact that they have converted the parents into regular coffee drinkers. "I love machines and opening them up, learning new things," adds Suman.
Suman Das of Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters.
Photo Credit: Pankaj Mishra
The New Coffee Economy
Co-founded by Matt Chitharanjan and Namrata Asthana in 2013, Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters is among a generation of specialty coffee companies riding a wave of coffee consumption in India, mainly triggered by the country's economic growth. India has witnessed a surge in economic prosperity in recent years; the per capita GDP soared by 7.9% to reach ₹2.12 lakh in FY24, nearly doubling from FY16.
HumbleBean, Maverick & Farmer Coffee Roasters, Nandan Coffee, KC Roasters, and Araku Coffee are among other companies shaping a socio-cultural change towards specialty coffee in India. There are different, often varying estimates for the Indian coffee industry. From nearly $500 million in 2023, the Indian coffee industry is expected to cross $1 billion in revenues by 2032, growing at about 9% on average, according to Custom Market Insights.
According to Statista, India's coffee market is set to generate a revenue of $0.5 billion in 2024. This market is expected to grow annually by 9.22% between 2024 and 2028. India's per capita revenue for coffee is estimated at $0.36 in the same year. By 2028, the total volume of coffee in the Indian market is forecasted to reach 62.5 million kilograms, with a 5.3% volume growth expected in 2025 alone. The average coffee consumption per person in India will be around 0.04 kg in 2024. This growth is driven by an increasing demand for specialty and artisanal coffees among Indian consumers.
Apart from the rising income levels of an affluent middle class in India, a more health-conscious young population is also drifting towards coffee, mainly black. One afternoon in January, I sat across Kamlesh Kumar, a 25-year-old real estate sales professional, in Delhi's Khan Market. As I ordered my cup of coffee, a light roast bean from the Riverdale Estate, Kumar went for his usual Vietnamese cold brew.
"I first drank coffee while doing a weight loss programme, where I had to give up on chai and anything with sugar and milk," Kumar told me. "I have not returned to chai or instant coffee since then."
As the Indian coffee landscape matures, it's not just the cafes that are evolving, but the habits and preferences of coffee enthusiasts too. Pavitra Jayaraman, co-founder of Bengaluru-based mental health startup The PARC, wants convenience and quality, even on the go. "I use the Blue Tokai easy pour (Attikan Estate) when travelling. A pour-over in a travel pouch!" she says.
Yet, her current preference lies elsewhere. "But my favourite beans to brew at home right now are from roasters called KC Roasters. I prefer coffee with nutty and chocolatey notes. I like their Marvahulah and Kelagur Estate Coffee." Pavitra's choice reflects a growing trend among Indian coffee drinkers - a shift towards exploring and appreciating a variety of beans and roasts from different roasters. "I think the big change for me with this new coffee explosion in India is that I used to ask relatives and friends to bring me coffee from their travels abroad; now, I send them my favourite ones instead," she adds.
Drinking coffee was always considered 'cool' among India's youngsters, much before the new-age specialty coffee startups came by. For instance, V. G. Siddhartha's Cafe Coffee Day and its tagline, "a lot can happen over coffee", appealed to a generation of youngsters growing up in the 2000s. Starbucks entered India in October 2012, though it took over a decade for the company to cross Rs 1,000 crore in annual revenues.
The Blue Tokai Story
When Starbucks launched its first India store in Mumbai on October 19, 2012, Matt and Namrata had started putting together Blue Tokai Roaster's initial building blocks in Delhi. Building a coffee company was among other startup ideas, including mushroom farming and a beer brewery.
"That's when Namrata suggested coffee, primarily because we were struggling to find good quality coffee in Delhi," says Matt. "We got a tiny 500-gram roaster from Taiwan and a small grinder. We imported them as we needed more capital and wanted to start small, avoiding large loans or investments. We found this roaster made by an individual in Taiwan - not a company, just a guy known in coffee forums - and decided to go for it."
Matt Chitharanjan, co-founder and CEO of Blue Tokai.
Photo Credit: Pankaj Mishra
Blue Tokai aims to become profitable next year and achieve Rs 1,000 crore in annual revenues within three to five years. From 94 cafes currently, Blue Tokai plans to keep adding 30 to 40 outlets every year for the next five years.
"The goal isn't just valuation but building a globally impactful coffee brand from a coffee-producing country, benefiting India's coffee community and industry," says Chitharanjan.
The world's top coffee-producing countries, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, Mexico, and India, have been mostly exporting coffee. Now, as some of them achieve growth and prosperity, domestic coffee consumption is rising, led by an affluent class. "I believe there's an unfortunate power dynamic at play, where major coffee brands predominantly hail from the global West, while the global South is relegated to the role of a raw material supplier, primarily in agriculture. This imbalance often overshadows the rich contributions of these regions in the coffee industry," says Chitharanjan.
Meanwhile, the economics of coffee production have undergone a dramatic shift. Farmers, once tethered to the whims of fluctuating commodity prices, are witnessing a significant transformation. "The rate we pay for green coffee has surged by over 100%," Chitharanjan explains. "What was once around 240 per kilogram when we started has now escalated to approximately 500," he adds.
This steep increase reflects a broader trend: with traditional commodity prices lingering at dismally low levels, growers are increasingly focusing on specialty coffee. Here, they find higher prices and a degree of stability previously elusive in the standard market. While the pricing of specialty coffee maintains a correlation to standard commodity rates, it enjoys a markedly less volatile nature, offering a more sustainable and lucrative avenue for these coffee cultivators.
For Blue Tokai and others, convincing coffee growers to share their produce with the farm's identity was challenging during the early days. Most farmers were sceptical about whether Indian consumers would pay for expensive coffee, and also about the perceived "low value and quality" of locally produced coffee. Their advice was to blend our coffee with chicory or robusta, or to lower the price, as they felt the market wasn't ready to pay for the quality they were exporting. "Don't tell anyone where the coffee comes from," Chitharanjan recalls coffee growers telling him during the early days. The suggestion was to give the coffee a generic name, like 'Misty Clouds' or 'Jumping Berries', to prevent others from tracing its origins and replicating it.
The challenge for fast-growing specialty coffee companies is to maintain consistency in quality, something mature coffee drinkers such as Pavitra are quick to spot. She notes a variability in experience: "At the moment, I find that the coffees across Blue Tokai outlets are inconsistent. A lot depends on who the Barista is, I guess."
A Humble Farmer's Dream
Far away from all the glitter of venture-funded coffee startups and the noise of their hundreds of thousands of cafes, HumbleBean started as a quiet, cultural revolution, with coffee growers at the heart of the enterprise.
Soomanna and Puja started HumbleBean Coffee in 2017 as a community movement of farmers who wanted Indian consumers to taste coffee in its purest form. More importantly, HumbleBean offers free assessments to coffee farmers, educating them in better processing techniques.
Soomanna, 47, grew up watching his father struggle with maintaining his coffee plantations in Coorg. "Yields would take seven years and more, and it wasn't an open market back then, with the Coffee Board dictating pricing, etc.," recalls Soomanna. "Until then, it was a hand-to-mouth existence for a small and medium farmer."
Soomanna, Co-founder and CEO of HumbleBean
Photo Credit: Pankaj Mishra
Later, in 2017, Soomanna gave up his decade-and-a-half banking career to return to his roots. "Relating to the soil teaches me resilience. I have woken up in the middle of the night to painfully watch more than half of my crops rained away twice," he recalls.
When Soomanna started exploring how to get funding from investors, it was quite a reality check. "We need patient capital, but most typical VCs are looking for their next exits, and while they say they love the idea of sustainability, they mean something else," he says. Recently, HumbleBean raised fresh capital from an individual who backs autism-related initiatives. "A truly sustainable business like ours deserves conscious capital."
As coffee growers such as Sujit Subiah agree, there cannot be a sustainable coffee business if the farmers don't see enough value to stay invested in farming. Sujit's Kanamad Estate in Coorg, which has partnered with HumbleBean since 2017, is a testament to this belief. This collaboration has led to a significant uplift in the estate's financial returns - over a two-fold increase in the price of specialty coffee compared to standard commodity coffee.
"You're not at the mercy of commodity coffee pricing anymore," says Subiah. "It raises our confidence in specialty coffee."
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Sujit's journey is its influence on his daughter, Veda Subiah. Recently accepted into Rice University in Houston, Veda has developed a deep interest in sustainable coffee. Her engagement with the subject went beyond academic interest; she conducted research and led an outreach programme in collaboration with HumbleBean. This initiative was recognised for its 'Highest Potential' by Harvard University's Sustainability and Innovation Program.
"I was pleasantly surprised when she said she wanted to pursue her interest in sustainability," says Subiah.
Meanwhile, for a generation of new-age coffee consumers, such as Devika Chitnis in Bengaluru, the culture is shaped by the distinct blends and experiences offered by HumbleBean. "I fell in love with coffee because of my mum. First, it was a massive glass of milk plus a pinch of Nescafé. Then, where I would go, I would hunt and look for that comfort in a cup. Being lactose-sensitive after pregnancy, I was hunting for a cup of good oat milk cappuccino without sugar. From Starbucks to Third Wave, all had a very manufactured taste," she says. "My cappuccino with oat milk is the perfect sugarless blend I can have."
For Devika and many others who frequent HumbleBean, it's more than just the beverage. It's about being part of a community and the unique approach the place offers. At HumbleBean, a customer isn't immediately greeted by a Point of Sale (POS) system or an espresso machine, typically the most prominent features in a standard coffee shop. With the workflow of a brew bar, this deliberate design aims to create a different kind of first impression.
Apart from winning new-age coffee consumers, for Soomanna, the battle is to keep helping coffee growers become more competitive and efficient.
"A farmer is free to sell this to anyone who offers them good prices. This is with the sole intention not to tie them onto us but build a level playing field for the farmer," Soomanna adds.
Soomanna's fight for farmers highlights a crucial, often overlooked fact: 60% of a coffee's distinct taste, its very soul, is rooted in the green bean, a testament to the farmer's labour. Yet, these farmers receive a mere fraction of the revenue, a paltry 10% for their substantial contribution. This inequity not only undermines their livelihoods but threatens the diversity of coffee itself. Painstakingly nurtured over centuries, heirloom varieties and unique flavour profiles stand on the brink of extinction. Social media chatter, clever marketing, and paid content from more aggressive coffee brands make it even more challenging for purists like Soomanna.
"The biggest challenge we face from the industry is that big VC-funded companies use words like sustainability, organic, D2C, etc. when they are not [practising all that]. Specialty coffee is not even remotely understood and is mentioned loosely in India. So, authenticity is challenged by paid algorithms on social media, which I call deception," he says.
For both Soomanna and Blue Tokai's Chitharanjan, getting Indian specialty coffee on the world map is a mission. "We've been in Japan for about a year and a half, starting on a small scale as an experiment. We're now expanding there and looking at the Middle East, beginning with Dubai. Saudi Arabia is also a significant market we're considering," Chitharanjan says.
Women at Blue Tokai's office in Gurugram sorting coffee beans
Photo Credit: Pankaj Mishra
Beyond the Bean: Faces of India's Coffee Evolution
As I write this story sipping my favourite coffee, a unique blend from Riverdale, I learn the beans' journey from the Shevaroy Hills of Tamil Nadu.
Prakashan Balaraman, the man behind this estate, turned to specialty coffee as a lifeline when his farm faced the threat of closure. Inspired by his brother and a coffee expert from Melbourne, Balaraman delved into the art of coffee making, choosing a variety known for its enticing floral notes.
Their process of using local red fruits for fermentation caught my attention. Imagine coffee cherries mingling with plums and fermenting for 90 hours to create flavours that dance between cranberry, red apple, vanilla, and caramel. This meticulous process brings out the coffee's distinct character, one that I have come to cherish in my daily cup.
I think of Suman Das, Blue Tokai's lead roaster, who played a significant role in perfecting the roast profile of this coffee.
Ultimately, India's coffee revolution is more than just beans and brews. It centres around people. Suman Das, for instance, moved from rural chai traditions to the art of coffee roasting. Entrepreneurs like Matt and Namrata anticipated a shift in India's tastes. Professionals like Kamlesh Kumar and Devika Chitnis turned to coffee during personal life shifts. Most importantly, individuals like Soomanna work tirelessly for fairness and dignity in the often-neglected realm of coffee farming.
Disclosure: The author was highly caffeinated while reporting and writing this story.
(Pankaj Mishra has been a journalist for over two decades and is the co-founder of FactorDaily.)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author.


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Investors, servicers, sponsors and other professionals involved in securitizing real estate debt are pinching themselves over the success their industry has enjoyed the past couple of years. But everybody knows the good times will not roll on forever. What's keeping investors up at night is figuring out when the other shoe is going to drop. That was the buzz at January's Commercial Mortgage Securities Association CMBS Investors Conference held in Miami.
With everything humming along, spreads between the tiered credit rankings have tightened. That poses a risk. The lack of any downturns in CMBS means that fewer people in the industry have experience working through a down cycle.
“We don't have a lot of skilled people with experience to deal with workouts,” said Charles Spetka, president of CW Capital Asset Management. When things do go bad, experts expect there will be a race to hire anyone with experience navigating choppy waters.
Of all the property types, CMBS investors are the most bearish on the retail sector. Randy Mundt, president and chief investment officer for Principal Real Estate Investors, cited the lack of optimism for the retail sector, which prompted this exchange.
“We're most cautious on retail today,” Mundt said. “We're concerned by consumer-related issues and worried about retailer credit. … And now, there's a lot of LBO activity, which is worrisome.”
Michael Gilberto, managing director for JP Morgan Asset Management, added that he wasn't too optimistic about shopping centers because of the amount of construction in that sector. “Those centers have built more space than any time since 1990,” he said.


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A new Siri icon spotted in iOS 11 appears to confirm rumours about the upcoming iPhone 8's design. Apple is widely expected to drastically change the look of the iPhone this year, with the company seemingly set to take a similar approach to Samsung. The Galaxy S8 ditched the physical home button for a stunning "all-screen" design, which makes all other handsets on the market look outdated, and the next iPhone will almost certainly follow suit. The I.F.O. is fuelled by eight electric engines, which is able to push the flying object to an estimated top speed of about 120mph. The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session A man looks at an exhibit entitled'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Electrification Guru Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart talks about the electric Jaguar I-PACE concept SUV before it was unveiled before the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, U.S The Jaguar I-PACE Concept car is the start of a new era for Jaguar.
Jun-22-2017, 13:20:03 GMT


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In an another sign that it is about to enter the wearables space, Apple has poached a senior executive from Tag Heuer, the Swiss luxury watch brand that is part of the LVMH conglomerate. Tag Heuer confirmed that ice president for sales, Patrick Pruniaux, left the company today and was headed to Apple.
A Tag Heuer spokesperson told Reuters that Pruniaux “was probably head-hunted” but did not say what his new role would be. For its part, Apple declined to comment. It is likely though that Pruniaux will be involved in some capacity or other with the launch of the Apple iWatch.
While the iWatch is likely to sell for less than many luxury watches, Swiss watchmakers are watching carefully. Jean-Claude Biver, head of watch brands at LVMH and chairman of watch brand Hublot, expects that the iWatch will disrupt some areas of the watch market. “The iWatch will have the same status symbol power as many other Apple products, especially at the beginning,” he said. “I personally believe it [the Swiss watch industry] has the potential to be a threat for the industry, and it should not stay with its arms crossed.”
The latest rumours suggest that Apple wil launch the iWatch in the fall. Apple could unveil two models at the same time. The “Sports” model will come with a rectangular design and a wide array of sensors focused on health and fitness. The “Designer” model will sport a circular design and a stainless steel construction and will be aimed at more fashion-conscious customers.
Note: The image above is a concept of what the Apple iWatch could look like.
Source : Reuters


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In light of the huge increase in public demand for puppies since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) has partnered with the Scottish SPCA to urge consumers to buy puppies safely online, and to avoid illegal and low-welfare breeders who put profit over the health of the breeding dogs and puppies they sell.
TSS is also supporting the Scottish SPCA in its appeal for dog breeders to join its Assured Puppy Breeders scheme – a free and voluntary initiative open to any dog breeder in Scotland. It has developed a framework for responsible breeding and inspectors will assess applications and visit breeding premises annually to make sure high welfare standards are in place.
Prices for puppies have almost doubled due to high demand during the pandemic, with some popular breeds now costing more than £3,000. The increased demand has encouraged illegal puppy farming, with many puppies being taken from their mothers too early or catching infectious diseases due to lack of vaccinations or the unsanitary conditions they were raised in. Sadly, this has led to many puppies passing away in their new homes, or new owners having to pay for expensive veterinary treatment.
Research by the Scottish SPCA shows that two out of five illegally bred puppies bought online die before their fifth birthday and more than one in six get sick or die in the first year.
As part of the campaign, TSS has published a podcast with guests from the Scottish SPCA, Police Scotland, SCOTSS and Vistalworks to discuss the consequences of buying puppies from low-welfare farms or dealers, and to provide guidance to the public on how to buy a puppy safely.
In response to the growing number of problematic adverts for puppies on online marketplaces, tech firm Vistalworks has also updated its online checker to show a ‘high risk’ warning message on Gumtree URLs selling puppies. The message directs potential buyers to the Scottish SPCA’s Say No To Puppy Dealers website for more information about the signs of badly bred puppies and encourages them to walk away from the sale if they are in any doubt.
Advice to buyers
- You can never do too much research before buying a new pet. Illegal dealers may use the same description and photo on more than one advert – try Googling the text of the description and photo to see if they have been used on any other puppy adverts;
- Research the seller – is their phone number or email address linked to different profiles? Are they advertising several different breeds of dog? Are they reluctant to answer questions about the puppies’ mother or provide paperwork?
- Don’t buy a puppy without seeing paperwork and certificates for vaccinations, microchipping and worming;
- Insist on seeing the puppy with its mother in the home in which it was raised – be suspicious if the seller wants to meet in a car park or public space;
- Don’t pay a deposit without seeing the dog in person – be suspicious if the seller tries to rush you into handing over cash.


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Police are investigating a Birmingham foreign currency exchange store which closed suddenly, leaving customers worried that they have lost large sums of cash.
Currency Point, on Stratford Road, in Sparkhill, which dealt mainly with Asian customers sending money abroad, shut its doors two weeks ago.
Worried customers who visited the premises since were met with a notice asking them to call a phone number. However, the number does not work, and there has been no sign of activity in the shop since the shutters went up.
Currency Point has another store in Slough, Berkshire, which shut its doors about the same time as the Birmingham branch.
A notice at the Slough branch told customers there had been a burglary and that the store would be closed as an "internal inquiry" is carried out.
Thames Valley police initially investigated the burglary but then switched their attention to the finances of the company. The notice on the door advised customers to send their bank details and receipts to a PO Box address in London.
According to one source, customers who tried to contact Currency Point have received holding letters back saying that they should do nothing for 28 days. The postmark on the letters is from Birmingham.
The business was set up two or three years ago to help British Asian people transfer money to friends and family in Pakistan and India.
It is also understood Currency Point took charity payments from Muslims at the end of Ramadan, telling the customers they would be able to process the donations.
Birmingham City Council trading standards department was notified of the store's closure, but has passed on the investigation to West Midlands Police.
It is unclear whether detectives will deal with the matter as part of a criminal investigation, or if it will be taken up as a civil case by customers.


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How do the AMD Radeon VII, Nvidia RTX 2080, and AMD’s RDNA-based Radeon RX 5700 XT compare in professional applications? We take these solutions for a spin, with a particular examination of the new Blender version, 2.80.
One question gamers often raise is how GPU performance evolves as cards age. Ongoing security patches related to Spectre have also raised concerns about CPU frame rates. We investigate across both AMD and Nvidia cards.
AMD’s new RDNA architecture is a major advancement over and above GCN. If it delivers the improvements AMD has promised, it’ll be the company’s most important GPU launch since 2012. Let’s take a look at what AMD has brought to the table.
Nvidia’s CEO tore into AMD and Intel at CES, blasting the Radeon VII and lying about the fundamental operational state of AMD’s FreeSync standard.
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This Bridgeland dispensary may be the most beautiful in the city (PHOTOS)
Calgary’s about to get a brand new cannabis store, and it is a stunner.
The Bridgeland Cannabis Store is set to host its grand opening on Thursday, February 20, but a few photos were sent out to media prior to the celebration showing just how much care went into the store’s aesthetic.
With healthy greens, soft tans, and some wall art that will have you looking at your own living room in shame, the Bridgeland Cannabis Store is proof that the cannabis business has come a long way from the dingy basements and back alleys prior to legalization.
- See also:
“Our store is an urban cannabis sanctuary created by passion-driven social entrepreneurs who love cannabis and love people,” said Bridgeland Cannabis Store owner, Mina Tabei, in a release.
“Our mission is to grow with the industry and be an integral and responsible member of our community.”
The store features products from many local companies, including “The Dewbie” by local ceramicist The Devil’s Lettuce, which can rehydrate overly dried cannabis — a problem that can easily arise in Calgary’s dry climate.
Shoppers also receive 5% off their purchase if they bring in empty containers from previous purchases for recycling.
Here’s a look at one of Calgary’s newest cannabis stores — though as the store is currently open, you can always go check it out for yourself!


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Huawei's recent launch of its latest smartphone, which uses an advanced 7-nanometer chip made in China and an unidentified South Korean chip, has raised questions about whether the regime in Beijing has breached U.S. sanctions.
The Chinese telecom equipment company unveiled its Mate 60 Pro smartphone in late August as U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo wrapped up her visit to China.
The new Kirin 9000s chip used in the Mate 60 Pro is equipped with advanced 7-nanometer chips developed by Chinese company SMIC International. Although it hasn't reached the most advanced level, the Huawei Kirin 9000s chip's launch still raises questions about whether the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has evaded U.S. sanctions.
Huawei was put on a U.S. trade control blacklist in 2019 and on the U.S. entity list in September 2020, making it no longer able to cooperate with TSMC to produce Kirin chips.
After the Mate 60 Pro was disassembled, a smartphone-specific LPDDR5 chip and NAND flash chip made by South Korean chip giant SK Hynix also were found. It also isn't clear how Huawei obtained the SK Hynix chips.
SK Hynix stated that after the United States imposed sanctions on Huawei, the company fully implemented the U.S. government’s export restrictions and has stopped doing business with Huawei. The company also stated that it has reported the incident to the Industrial Security Bureau under the Department of Commerce and has opened an investigation.
The U.S. government has begun a formal investigation into the advanced Chinese-made chips in Huawei's new mobile phones, while voices to tighten sanctions on Chinese chips have emerged in the U.S. Congress.
In order to evade U.S. sanctions in the semiconductor field, the CCP has used various tactics to secure semiconductor equipment.
Purchase of US Chip Equipment
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) warned in August that Huawei, which has been involved in wafer manufacturing since 2022, is purchasing U.S. semiconductor manufacturing equipment in the name of other companies and building a secret semiconductor manufacturing chain in China in order to sidestep Commerce Department sanctions.
SIA also revealed that Huawei has received about $30 billion in support from the CCP authorities, has acquired at least two existing factories to date, and is building a third.
That means that Huawei may have circumvented the U.S. restrictions by indirectly purchasing U.S. chipmaking equipment.
In addition, since the United States restricted the export of high-end computer chips in September 2022, black market outlets for chips—such as the Huaqiangbei electronics market in Shenzhen—have emerged in China. Black market suppliers are selling the A100 artificial intelligence chip made by Nvidia, a leading U.S. chipmaker, at double the original price.
According to Reuters, suppliers get the chips in two main ways. One is to snap up excess inventory that Nvidia has shipped in bulk to large U.S. companies; the other is to import them through local companies registered in Taiwan, Singapore, and India.
There also has been speculation that Beijing might have imported U.S.-controlled semiconductor equipment through friendly countries, according to an August report by Business Korea.
According to United Nations trade statistics, Malaysia’s imports from the world’s three largest semiconductor equipment countries—the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan—increased by $580 million in 2022, which was a year-over-year increase of 127.7 percent. At the same time, China’s imports of semiconductor equipment from Malaysia increased to $590 million.
There's speculation that China may have used Malaysia to circumvent U.S. export restrictions on semiconductor equipment and secure additional equipment, Business Korea reported.
In addition, an increasing number of South Korean headhunters are recruiting semiconductor experts for Chinese companies without disclosing the names of these companies.
Recruiting Chip Experts
In 2008, the CCP launched the Thousand Talents Plan, which was halted when the United States investigated it as an industrial espionage operation led by Beijing. However, it's returning after being quietly rebranded as the Qiming Program, which is recruiting overseas talent and offering incentives such as housing subsidies and hefty signing bonuses.
China has also tried to acquire semiconductor companies in other countries. In 2021, Chinese private equity fund Wise Road Capital sought to acquire South Korean system chip maker MagnaChip Semiconductor for $1.4 billion. However, the sale was ultimately blocked by U.S. authorities on national security grounds, which led to the deal's collapse.


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Netflix’s (NASDAQ:NFLX) hit streaming series Squid Game recently sent shares of NFLX to new 52-week highs last week. NFLX stock rallied after posting strong subscription growth in its quarterly results.
Yet those quarterly figures are not Netflix’s highlight. On the conference call, management and analysts calling to ask questions couldn’t get enough of Squid Game, the company’s best series launch ever, which garnered 142 million viewers in just a few weeks.
What is even more impressive is the viewership outside of the North American market. Netflix owes dominance in South Korea to its content team in the country. They ended up choosing the biggest title of 2021.
Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said that the Netflix team in Korea recognized something no one else did. This created an environment for the creators of that local show to succeed. Furthermore, the show became viral. Viewers could identify with the deep struggle of deep financial debt as the rich became richer. The inexpensive cost of producing show relative to its gargantuan return will spur competitors to copy Netflix’s model. Streaming firms may copy the Squid Game’s underlying story without any success. Copy-cats will not have an easy time emulating the show’s originality. Netflix could release a sequel, which will probably fail, too. The writers probably did not expect the story to resonate as well as it did. Any rushed writing on a sequel will not appeal to viewers.
Here are 7 streaming stocks to tune into after Netflix struck gold with Squid Game:
- Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX)
- Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)
- Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA)
- Disney (NYSE:DIS)
- fuboTV (NYSE:FUBO)
- Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU)
- AT&T (NYSE:T)
Apple, Netflix, and Roku are the highest quality among these picks according to StockRover. As a trade-off, investors must pay relatively more for those stocks. By contrast, fuboTV has the lowest value and quality score. Readers should interpret the score as temporary and unreflective of upcoming growth. As FUBO’s sports-betting offering grows, those scores should increase.
Netflix posted revenue growth of 16.1% year-over-year (YoY) to $7.48 billion. Earnings per share topped $3.19.
In the fourth quarter, the company expects revenue of $7.71 billion and EPS of 80 cents. Global streaming paid net additions of 8.5 million make for a healthy forecast. Before Squid Game’s success and the strong subscriber growth, investors abandoned Netflix stock. But the global streaming giant proved that it can acquire content at low costs. Viewers are more than willing to watch foreign streaming series for their unique cultural offering.
Besides its hit Korean series, Netflix continued to demonstrate strong average revenue per membership. In the emerging markets, ARM was $11.65, up 7% YoY. Asia Pacific ARM grew by 4% YoY to $9.60. Latin America’s ARM was $7.86, up 8% YoY. And in US/Canada (UCAN), revenue rose by 10% YoY to $14.68. UCAN is Netflix’s biggest market, accounting for $3.2 billion of total revenue.
The reopening of businesses post-Covid could hurt viewership. Netflix’s Chief Financial Officer, Spence Neumann, thinks that the service will benefit from a big return on English language series, including Cobra Kai, Tiger King, and The Witcher.
Apple recently disrupted the mobile advertising market with its new privacy settings. It also launched new Mac computers, refreshed the iPhone and iPad line-up and updated its AirPods. Its TV streaming service will benefit from a growth in device sales.
On Apple TV Plus, the service has new series releases including Invasion and The Morning Show. Streaming services are still in a growth phase, especially considering Apple said that it had under 20 million subscribers. It probably would have preferred not to reveal the figure, but needed to do so because at the time, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees was planning to strike.
Apple’s streaming service is a bonus to the underlying stock. The device giant will benefit from protecting user privacy. This will prevent its users from getting tracked by advertising firms. Growth in iPhone sales will give Apple a chance to pitch its streaming music and video services and the company will benefit from low acquisition costs for sign-ups.
Comcast reportedly spent billions on Peacock, its flagship streaming service. Peacock started slowly when it debuted; in July, it had only 3 million paying subscribers out of its 14 million monthly users.
Peacock had films like Halloween Kills showing simultaneously online and in theaters. This may attract sign-ups but ultimately cost more than it was worth for Comcast. As companies end plans for simultaneous releases, Comcast will need to modify its video over the internet strategy.
In the chart above, CMCSA stock failed to break out above resistance at the 50-day simple moving average. Below the stock chart, you can see that the moving average convergence divergence slope rose.
The rising MACD and falling stock price suggests that Comcast stock could rebound next.
Comcast is still in the early days of integrating streaming apps with the Peacock platforms. As more people use Peacock each month, Comcast may cross-sell its cable subscription and Internet plans to customers. The more customers save on a bundled plan, the higher Comcast’s revenue and margins will rise.
On Wall Street, analysts have an average price target of around $68.00, according to Tipranks.
Disney’s theme parks will thrive as the pandemic-related lockdown eases. This should more than counterbalance any unlikely falling momentum in its streaming service.
Disney+ is a growth opportunity that will lift DIS stock. The service costs less than Netflix when customers buy an annual subscription. And as filming activity increases, Disney will add more content and expand globally. This will boost subscriptions at rates higher than investors expect.
Disney shares are trading in a range. It could break out to the upside after the company reports quarterly results on Nov. 10. But bears are speculating that streaming will slow. Hybrid movie releases also add to the revenue uncertainties.
Disney will need to find a balance between maximizing revenue from theatres and boosting subscriptions through exclusive releases on its streaming service. Investors will frown on slowing subscriber growth by assigning a lower revenue multiple to the stock. P/E multiple declines are a potential risk factor.
Cautious investors will get better insight into Disney’s streaming services growth in the next quarterly report. Management will need to explain how Disney will reinvest growing earnings from its theme parks to streaming content.
FUBO stock traded close to $35 earlier this month before falling to $21.42. But investors are ignoring that fuboTV increased its lead in its sports-first live TV streaming platform.
Last month on Oct. 11, it announced a carriage agreement with AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain. fuboTV will stream AT&T’s regional coverage of three professional sports teams. They are the Seattle Mariners from the Major League Baseball, the Portland Trail Blazers from the National Basketball Association, and Seattle Kraken from the National Hockey League.
To complement its sports streaming, fuboTV ‘s Fubo Gaming unit is getting licenses for mobile event wagering. For example, it received a license to offer mobile event wagering from Arizona’s Department of Gaming on Sept. 2. Previously, it received approval to offer online sports wagering in Iowa. In its Q4 shareholder letter, fuboTV said, “We plan to launch free-to-play predictive games in the third quarter (first to fuboTV subscribers and later to all consumers) and our sportsbook in the fourth quarter.”
Fubo will integrate Sportsbook into its live TV streaming platform. Viewers will have both seamless viewing and may enter wagers.
When the world experienced the first wave of the pandemic, Roku stock plunged in March 2020. It then staged an incredible run-up to peak at almost $500. ROKU would subsequently report disappointing subscriber growth in the last quarter, hurting the share price.
Roku’s dispute with YouTube TV could hurt the stock further, creating a better entry point for investors. Roku wrote that YouTube TV could come off its platform if the two companies cannot negotiate a deal that would resolve search concerns. Roku said that big tech enterprises are exerting their market power to extend control over independent businesses.
Roku accused YouTube of putting the fair and open competitive streaming marketplace at risk. Since it does not make any money from YouTube’s ad-supported video sharing, it can drop the service. Still, this is a lose-lose scenario because Roku users may find YouTube’s offering appealing.
Roku is building its content library to attract subscribers. It launched 23 Roku originals on Aug. 13, including four all-new premiers available in the U.S. Canada, and the U.K. As the company adds more content, user activity will increase, lifting the value of Roku’s platform.
Other than a recent “sell” rating from one analyst, others remain bullish. The average price target is $408, according to Tipranks.
Last Friday, AT&T stock closed at a 52-week low. Short-sighted investors need to look at the movie ticket sales in the quarter.
AT&T’s Dune stands a good chance of topping the weekly movie box office in the next few weeks. AT&T also streamed the movie simultaneously with the theater release. This could spur HBO Max subscription growth without hurting movie sales. Plus HBO Max is streaming the film on a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Movie buffs will likely prefer to watch it in large format on IMAX.
In the third quarter, CFO Pascal Desroches said that HBO Max had around 70 million global subscribers. This is due to growth in its international markets. The average revenue per user remains low because of the high international base. In late June, AT&T launched HBO Max in Latin America, and will next be entering Spain and the Nordic region. This should result in a sustained growth rate for the streaming service.
But HBO MAX’s launch in Europe will not come cheap. The company expects significant costs ahead. Also, it will have high advertising sharing costs through the WarnerMedia and DirectTV advertising sharing arrangement. After forecasting a free cash flow target of around $26 billion, AT&T is an income-generating stock and a play on the growth in streaming.
On the date of publication, Chris Lau did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.


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Shanghai Tang launches first up-cycled collection
We’re very excited to be able to wax lyrical about the recent launch of Shanghai Tang’s first ever up-cycled collection, which hit Hong Kong and Singapore stores earlier this month. While working alongside the Shanghai Tang team last year, The EcoChic Design Award 2014/15 winner, Kévin Germanier, created this capsule collection, up-cycled using the brand’s beautiful surplus textile stock. Shanghai Tang are donating 10% of proceeds of the collection to support the work of Redress.
Read more about the collaboration here.


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YouGov’s new report explores attitudes and behaviours of socially responsible sports fans and reveals what it means for marketers
YouGov’s Global Sports Report 2022, that features 18 international markets, reveals just over a quarter of sports fans (who follow at least one sport) in Singapore (27%) agree with the statement, ‘I prefer watching women’s sport over men’s’, accounting for the second-lowest level of interest in Asia, after Japan.
The report also measures sports fans’ attitudes around the issues of social responsibility and equality, spotlighting their expectations of sports rights holders and their sponsors to get involved in these matters, and ultimately champion change.
Although women’s sport is less popular than men’s sport worldwide, data from YouGov’s Global Profiles, a global audience intelligence tool, shows there is an appetite for it. Over a third of global sports fans say they prefer to watch women’s sports over men’s (34%), with interest growing even more significantly among younger generations aged 18-24 (44%) and 25-34 (40%).
Within the APAC region, numbers in Singapore are comparatively lower, suggesting there is still work to be done to raise the profile and interest of women’s sports in the country.
A deeper dive into the data shows sports fans are also more likely than the average consumer to care about issues associated with diversity and inclusion. With sports being a demonstrated platform to bring people from different cultures and nationalities together, almost two-thirds of global sports fans agree diversity and inclusion should be considered when putting on events (65%). A further seven in ten feel more could be done, with 68% agreeing that ‘Sports need to be more inclusive’, suggesting there is room for improvement within the sector.
Looking at support for considering diversity and inclusion during events, Singapore made up the third-highest level of agreement with this statement among sports fans in the region (70%), after Indonesia (75%) and Hong Kong (73%). Fans in Singapore and Indonesia were also the most likely in the region to say sports need to be more inclusive, with three-quarters expressing agreement (75%).
For more insights and analysis, download the full paper, Global Sports 2022: Uncovering the Socially Responsible Sports Fan, here.
Global Sports 2022: Uncovering the Socially Responsible Sports Fan connects research from our YouGov syndicated research surveys, including YouGov Profiles, YouGov Global Profiles, YouGov Global Fan Profiles, and YouGov BrandIndex, whilst also leveraging a small amount of custom research using YouGov Direct.
YouGov Profiles tracks 2 million+ data variables from YouGov’s 20 million+ global panel members in 49 markets, covering demographic, psychographic, attitudinal, and behavioural consumer metrics, with data collected daily and updated weekly.
YouGov Global Profiles tracks 1,000+ questions in 43 major markets, offering the largest globally consistent audience dataset.
YouGov Global Fan Profiles provides an instant view of the size, make-up, attitudes, and behaviours of fan bases in 50+ markets. Identify how big the fan base is, who the fans are, how they consume content and how they align with the thousands of brands and audience trends tracked daily.
YouGov BrandIndex measures brand health, from thousands of consumer interviews every day across 54 markets.


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Marvel Entertainment has unveiled a new game, which is being built for the Oculus Rift + Touch VR headset and hand controls. The users can play as different Marvel characters, like the Rocket Raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy and the Incredible Hulk from Avengers.
Marvel Powers United VR: What is it about?
The user can team up in the game and use hand gestures to use their superpowers against enemies in a 3D virtual world. The title of the game shows the increasing momentum for the emerging medium of virtual reality, which is anticipated to be a $25 billion market by 2021. In 2018, the game will debut as an Oculus exclusive. The demo showed three players working together in various parts of a level with limited movement.
In the game, the incredible Hulk of the avengers can do things like catch projectiles, throw his fists into the distance, and hurl the projectiles back. We can see Caption Marvel and Rocket Raccoon in the video as well. The D23 Expo of Disney is covering all aspects of its entertainment empire and recently, the studio disclosed that the VR is coming to the Marvel universe. Oculus and Sanzaru Games will be making the Marvel Powers United VR and will allow the players to be characters like Captain Marvel, The Hulk, or Rocket Raccoon.
During the “Level Up” gaming panel, the said announcement was made. The announcement about the new game included updates about upcoming Spider-Man game of Insomniac Games and Star Wars: Battlefront II.
The marvel game is coming to Virtual Reality
The game will probably be exclusive to the Touch controllers and Oculus Rift headset. The major selling point of the game is going to be co-op experience. Several players can team up together, where each player can take on the role of a different Marvel character to play together in Joint missions. The company ‘Disney’ is also planning to announce additional characters for the game from next week at San Diego Comic-Con. In addition to this, Powers United VR is targeted for a release next year.
The multiplayer aspect of the game, aside from the attraction of Marvel characters, has enough potential to assist the game in standing out. In its report, The Verge notes, “Much like Star Trek Bridge Crew, another VR game built around the idea of multiple players collaborating towards a common goal, it sounds like a perfect title for location-based VR installations. Whether in standalone VR arcades, or a potential set-up in a movie theater or other location, multiplayer VR games should help encourage adoption by incentivizing players to bring in friends that otherwise haven’t tried the platform, growing the base of people used to playing and paying for VR.”


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Compass Diversified Holdings has acquired a controlling stake in CamelBak Products for $257.5 million. CamelBak provides personal hydration gear such as hydration packs and reusable BPA-free water bottles, as well as other products, for outdoor, recreation and military use. The company has previously been backed by Irving Place Capital.
Since the beginning of 2008, PE investors have invested in 191 companies in the Consumer Durables industry, according to the PichBook Platform. With 36 deals completed in the industry so far this year and West Coast-headquartered companies attracting more deals than those of any other U.S. region, 2011 is on track to match 2010's final deal count, which represented a significant rebound from 2009.


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Mastercard has launched a initiative to better understand central bank digital currencies. His ” CBDC Partner Program The “CBDC Partner Program” includes several figures from the crypto space, including ConsenSys, Fireblocks or Ripple.
The global payments giant Mastercard launched on Thursday its ” CBDC Partner Program “to provide a “better understanding of the benefits and limitations” of central bank digital currenciesand “understand how to implement them in a secure, transparent and useful way”.
Well-known companies in the crypto ecosystem have been announced as partners in the initiative. These include, Ripple and its CBDC platform, Ethereum studio Consensys, multi-CBDC solution provider Fluencythe digital identity consultant Hyperion or crypto-custody firm Fireblocks.
While more than 9 out of 10 central banks are currently involved in work on the CBDCMastercard’s aim is to promote collaboration with “key players”.
As we look to a digitally driven future, it will be essential that the value held as a CBDC is as easy to use as other forms of money. By bringing together the strengths, deep expertise and different capabilities of these partners, we can drive innovation in the central banking community and along the CBDC value chain,” said Raj Dhamodharan, head of crypto and blockchain at Mastercard.
So far, only a few countries, including China, have begun issuing such a currency. According to the Bank for International Settlements, 24 central banks could launch a CBDC by 2030 (13 retail and 9 wholesale).
“Poorly implemented, a CBDC could create disruption in the established payment system and crowd out private sector investment,” Mastercard warns, however.
To follow theCrypto news and Web3find RoyalsBlue.com on TwitterGoogle News, Linkedin, Facebook or Telegram


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From luxury shopping to bar-hopping and sightseeing, tourists have come to favor iconic U.S. streets. The hairpin turns on Lombard Street and wrought iron balconies of Bourbon Street are Instagram gold.
To quantify which strips, boulevards, and streets people love the most, Wanderu, a travel search platform, analyzed Instagram hashtags of the country’s most iconic streets. The team limited the research to places like #oceandrive and #bourbonstreet since some places like Broadway and Wall Street are used more often to describe institutions than literal streets.
Here’s the 10 streets that appear to be most famous, at least according to Instagram.
No. 1: Ocean Drive in Miami,
→ Continue reading at Forbes


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In July the government waived import taxes on electric and hybrid vehicles as well as equipment used by charging stations, saying it hoped the move would accelerate Rwanda’s transition from fuel-based transport and “reduce greenhouse gas emissions”.
Rwanda Electric Motors CEO Donald Kabanda told AFP his pitch to riders rested on the long-term affordability of electric vehicles. He said a single electric battery charge could cover up to 60 kilometres (37 miles) compared to 35 kilometres for a litre of petrol.
It costs around 900 Rwandan francs (87 US cents) to charge the battery compared to around 1,000 Rwandan francs for a litre of petrol, he added.
Read more: TechExplore


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Take-Two CEO: GTA 6 will set a new bar in the gaming industry
Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick reported to investors and talked about the creation of GTA 6. In his opinion, the game will become a new quality standard for players and other developers.
Strauss Zelnick also noted the success of GTA Online. With the game's release on next-generation consoles, the number of players has grown by more than 40%, and they spend 36% more money on the game than players from the previous generation of consoles. GTA+ has seen steady growth since launch.


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Oakley's latest optical innovation has their Olympic athletes ready for victory
Xeus is the latest evolution of its PhysioMorphic Geometry lens technology.
Oakley sets its sights on sport's top prize with the Kato Prizm 24k
The brand's sponsored athletes will be wearing the style at this year's games.
Omega accents the Seamaster Diver 300M with the colors of the Olympic Rings
The watch celebrates the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Games.
Oakley brings back one of its wildest creations, the OVERTHETOP
The frame made for one of the most memorable moments of the 2000 Sydney games.
Omega celebrates its Olympic history with special edition Seamasters
The watches commemorates an 86-year partnership.
Apple gets into the Olympic spirit with a series of special edition watch bands
Apple releases a colorful collection of Olympic watch straps
Oakley Unites Its Olympic Athletes with the Green Fade Collection
The company takes it back to the 80s.


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Mind Candy has laid off up to 30 people in the last few weeks, bringing its total headcount down to 100 people.
That's a sharp decline from the peak of its success in 2012, when the Moshi Monsters developer had a staff of around 200. The latest round of redundancies was reported by Techcrunch, who also talked to founder Michael Acton Smith about the company's "bumpy" expansion of its product line.
"There have been layoffs. It's not ideal, I wish it wasn't so," he said. "But we're still hiring and very well capitalised. Like all fast growing businesses you have to make adjustments from time to time.
"In the highly competitive mobile market where 'In-App Purchase' rules, it is extremely difficult to build magical, safe and commercially successful products for kids. Mind Candy is not the only family entertainment company grappling with this big challenge."
Acton Smith dismissed one rumour that the 30 redundancies were from the Moshi Monsters team, though he admitted that some staff had been reassigned to new projects, and a "small number" were indeed let go. The big issue facing Mind Candy is the transition to mobile, as the core Moshi audience has moved away from its original online incarnation and towards touchscreen devices.
"We launched our first app in 2010 and now have seven Moshi mobile apps for android and iOS," Acton Smith said. "They are loved by our fans and get healthy download numbers but none come close to generating the commercial returns we need for the investments we have made."
Whether Moshi Monsters can return to the height of its popularity is an open question, but Mind Candy clearly sees the need to expand its portfolio and spread the risk. The company launched PopJam earlier this year, while the more ambitious World of Warriors hasn't yet been released.
Acton Smith stepped down from the role of CEO in July in order to concentrate on the creative aspects of the business.


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Shop Direct has launched another round of redundancies across its retail, people and finance teams, Retail Week can reveal.
The online retailer is understood to have axed its entire employee engagement team, including director of employee relations and engagement Colin Watt.
Home and living buying director Sara Lomax is also understood to have left the etailer.
A Shop Direct spokesman told Retail Week: “We announced plans in July to reshape our executive board as the first step towards better aligning the way we work to the way our customers shop.
“As the next step, we have made some changes in how our teams across retail, people and finance are structured. As a result, a small number of colleagues will be moving on from Shop Direct over the coming months.”
The retailer did not disclose the total number of redundancies being made as a result of the restructure.
Retail Week understands director of investor relations Will MacLaren has also left the business but that his exit is not related to the redundancies.
This is the latest round of job cuts at Shop Direct in recent months, which unveiled plans to shut three of its fulfilment centres in a bid to further automate its supply chain in April, putting 2,000 roles at risk.
Many senior executives have left the business. Retail technology and data director Jon Rudoe departed in July following a board reshuffle, while former executives Jonathan Wall and Kenyatte Nelson were both snapped up by Missguided.
Shop Direct appointed Henry Birch as chief executive in March, succeeding Alex Baldock.


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At the start of winter quarter, Lathrop Cupboard Cafe joined the list of alternate dining options on campus. Located below the 24-hour study room, the new cafe offers a selection of wraps, paninis, salads, pizzas and other savory foods.
“We are going to do a lot more international flavors — heavily on Asian flavors,” executive chef Chona Piumarta said. “We’re doing great, exciting rice bowls with seasonal vegetables, a lot of fresh ingredients and a lot of vegan options, which I think the campus is really asking for.”
The cafe setup is similar to that of Olives: Food is ordered directly from the chefs, who then prepare it in view of the customers. Visual displays are provided for each menu item. Away from the food counter, coffee and other sides can be purchased.
While the cafe currently does not accept meal plan dollars, it is considering providing an alternative form of credit for students in the future.
Piumarta hopes that the cafe will bring a restaurant-quality dining experience, making it stand out from other options on campus.
“As far as setting us apart, we have a bakery in San Francisco, so all of our pastries come in fresh everyday,” Piumarta said. “Our croissants are hand-rolled; they aren’t machine-made or frozen when they come in.”
Piumarta also owns the Pastry Cupboard, a bakery in San Francisco. Customers at the Lathrop Cupboard Cafe can pre-order bakery food with one day’s notice.
The cafe has a large dining area with a variety of seating options. The lighting and blue-green color scheme creates a vibrant atmosphere despite its underground location, and the dining room itself is spacious but includes plenty of booths for privacy.
The current operating hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. but will likely be expanded in the future.
Contact Jackson Milo Lallas at jlallas ‘at’ stanford.edu.


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Amid the industry hype about 4G (fourth-generation) mobile technologies this week at the CTIA Wireless trade show, the Wi-Fi Alliance will play up the growing importance of wireless LANs on mobile phones.
The number of phones shipped with Wi-Fi jumped to 139.3 million in 2009, up from 92.5 million in 2008, the group said. ABI’s research indicates that annual shipping number will surpass 500 million units by 2014, when 90 percent of all smartphones will have the technology. And even as smartphones make up more of the handset market, Wi-Fi is expected to grow more common in less-expensive phones, said Kelly Davis-Felner, Wi-Fi Alliance marketing director.
Wi-Fi gives cell phone users a tool for browsing the Web and downloading data faster than on a cellular connection, as well as a safety valve for carriers with overburdened networks. Some, such as AT&T, have been steadily adding Wi-Fi hotspots to their infrastructure in pursuit of both of these goals. AT&T acquired hotspot provider Wayport in 2008. In addition to providing a place for laptop users with data cards to work, those freely available networks for AT&T subscribers can give frustrated iPhone users a bump in speed while reducing the strain on the carrier’s 3G network.
At the same time, cell phones are becoming a bigger part of the Wi-Fi world, the organization said. About one-quarter of the 580 million devices that the Wi-Fi Alliance certified last year were phones, including 1.9 million specialized Wi-Fi-only phones.
“We knew we were going to hit that number in the next few years, but we weren’t really expecting it for 2009,” Davis-Felner said.
She estimated that the Alliance certifies about 95 percent of all the handsets that have wireless LAN capability and gives them the Wi-Fi seal of approval. The worldwide lineup of phones that include Wi-Fi is no longer limited to a small upper echelon of products: In 2008, the Alliance certified just over 100 individual handset models. In 2009, it signed off on 252 such products.
The latest Wi-Fi technology, IEEE 802.11n, is also starting to find its way into phones. At least one phone with 11n — Samsung’s Wave — has been announced, and Google’s Nexus One reportedly contains the hardware for it. The move toward 11n is inevitable across the Wi-Fi universe as that technology becomes the default for more products, driving up 11n chip production volumes and driving down prices, Davis-Felner said.
Most phones won’t achieve the high throughput that 11n can deliver on other products — 200M bps (bits per second) or more — because they typically will be built to handle just a single stream of data in and out of the device. But 11n phones should get a more reliable signal over a longer distance from the access point, Davis-Felner said. An 11n network is also more efficient, so the phone will expend less energy communicating, she added.
Handset owners eventually will also be able to take advantage of the next major feature being pushed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi Direct. With this technology, which the Alliance expects to begin certifying in the third quarter, devices can organize themselves in ad hoc networks without an access point. Laptops will probably be the first devices with Wi-Fi Direct, but phones will follow shortly after, Davis-Felner predicted. With it, phones will be able to stream content directly to consumer electronics devices such as TVs. As long as carriers allow it, they will also be able to serve as hubs for small local networks, linking several devices via Wi-Fi and letting them share the phone’s 3G or 4G Internet connection.


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Bitcoin and different shares tied to the success of crypto felt the ache, too. Riot Blockchain, Marathon Digital and Block (previously Sq.) have been all decrease by round 7%, whereas Microstrategy was down about 6%.
The broader markets have been additionally buying and selling decrease on the recent inflation learn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However crypto shares noticed steeper falls than main indices just like the Nasdaq Composite, down round 1.9%, and the S&P 500, down about 1.2%.
In current months, a rise in inflation has been adopted by volatility on Wall Road. That is as a result of extra disappointing information on inflation means the Federal Reserve could implement bigger rate of interest hikes, additional slowing financial progress.
Thursday’s CPI information probably cements consecutive 0.75 proportion level charge hikes in November and December. That diminishes investor’s appetites for riskier property, like cryptocurrencies and crypto-related equities.


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Food sector exceeds 4-year target in 3 years
19 February 2010
Food and grocery expert IGD says 124million HGV miles have been taken off UK roads as part of its Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) UK Sustainable Distribution initiative
The miles saved initiative has exceeded its four year target of removing 120million road miles by the end of 2010, a year early - the equivalent of removing 2000 lorries from Britain's roads - and conserving 60 million litres of diesel fuel per year.
Originally spearheaded by companies involved in ECR UK under the auspices of the IGD, the activities have been extended across the industry and now includes 40 of the UK’s leading household retailer and manufacturer brands. Engaging in initiatives such as the use of double-deck vehicles and the sharing of lorries to deliver grocery products, these companies are significantly reducing the environmental impact of transporting food and groceries in the UK.
Joanne Denney-Finch, Chief Executive, IGD comments: “This is an outstanding achievement. Sustainability remains top of the agenda for both the food industry and the Government. This successful initiative demonstrates that even in a highly competitive industry, companies remain committed to minimising environmental impact, meeting consumer demands, and at the same time reducing costs.
"This innovative and efficient way of working could shape the way we transport food and grocery items in the future. "
Chris Tyas, Business Services & Group Supply Chain Director, UK & Ireland, Nestlé comments: "One quarter of lorries on our roads are still estimated to be running empty on their way back from delivering goods. This offers huge scope for more companies of all sizes to implement similar activities, potentially saving millions more road miles in the UK.
"ECR UK continues to be the collaborative forum helping companies to secure high performance from its operations. Despite the recessionary environment we have seen companies come together to collaborate and make a real difference to the environment."
The road miles saved have been generated through a mix of best practice internal projects and external partnerships between retailers and suppliers. IGD has helped to contribute towards the miles saved by providing the industry with a suite of online resources designed to capture and share best practice across the supply chain. These resources can be found at www.igd.com/ecr.
Participating companies now include the UK’s largest food and grocery retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers listed below.
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Latest Odor Stories
Pheromone Advantage reviews have been popping up all over the Internet, and GentlemensUniversity.com reveals the truth about this cologne that claims it makes it so much easier to attract the
That fruit fly joining you just moments after you poured that first glass of cabernet, has just used its poppy-seed-sized brain to conduct a finely-choreographed search, one that’s been described for the first time by researchers at the University of Washington.
The new fragrance, NI-712 Passionfruit, is expected to be a popular follow up to Neutron’s signature Orange, which was the first NI-712 scent to be introduced using the continuous spray delivery
The strength of a lemur couple's bond is reflected by the similarity of their scents.
Stinky Feet No More: Only Goodness Inside Announces Revolutionary All-Natural Foot Deodorant: My Goodness Foot Deodorant Proven to Provide Long Lasting Odor Control Los
BIRMINGHAM, England, January 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Aroma Beads, a business started with the help of a government funded start up loan is to begin selling it's exclusive
New research from the Monell Center reveals humans can use the sense of smell to detect dietary fat in food.
Leading natural product manufacturer Body Bliss is pleased to introduce a new concept in spa aromatherapy – the Aroma Design Bar with Intentional Aromatherapy™ App.
CHICAGO, Jan. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Suppose while shopping for a perfume at a retail store, a consumer samples a series of perfumes using scent strips provided by the store.
Known across the counter-culture industry as a widely-acclaimed odor-eliminating company, Kushley is a brand that designed its product specifically around patients who use marijuana as an alternative
- Stoppage; cessation (of labor).
- A standing still or idling (of mills, factories, etc.).


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A Two-Stroke Revolution Under the Hood
FROM the outside they look like ordinary Fiestas, the Ford Motor Company's European minicar. But what is under the hood could launch an automotive revolution.
In the next few weeks, Ford of Europe will begin field tests on a new type of engine dubbed the two-stroke. Actually, two-strokes aren't all that new. But they were symbolized by cars such as the East German Trabant: rough, noisy, and belching pollution.
A new generation has been designed by the Orbital Engine Corporation, an Australian firm. It is lighter, simpler, and at least 11 percent more fuel-efficient than conventional four-stroke engines used in today's cars.
Perhaps most important, the designs appear to be able to meet California's proposed tough new clean-air standards.
"This should quiet critics," says Ken Johnsen, president of Orbital's United States subsidiary, the Orbital Engine Company.
Ford, an Orbital licensee, plans to put about 50 Fiestas into fleet use and if they prove durable and reliable, a production version could follow.
"Within something of a three-year time frame is ... what we're looking at," says Brian Cumming, Ford's two-stroke engineer. A US model might follow a few years later.
Orbital plans to meet the initial demand for two-strokes from its new engine plant in Tecumseh, Mich., which has a production capacity of 100,000 units a year. Meanwhile the Chrysler Corporation is working on its own unique two-stroke design and hopes to have it in production in the US by 1996.


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The Z3 features 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor, 1.5 GB RAM, 8 GB internal memory (expandable upto 32 GB) and 5MP rear camera.
The research firm says IT spending will pick up this year as infrastructure and related IT demand picks up after elections.
The broadband surge would be augmented by low-cost smartphone penetration, rollout of 3G and 4G-LTE services and mobile adoption of OTTP apps.
With 33.1 per cent share, Dell is also the top notebook brand in the country, according to an International Data Corporation report.
The finance ministry is likely to approve the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) plan to raise about $1 billion rupee-dominated bonds.
The primary IT security concern for many large corporations was stopping the loss or theft of physical disks with customer information.
Economic data issued on Tuesday did not have an immediate impact on the yuan's movements, traders said, with the market waiting for Chinese GDP data on Wednesday.
International Finance Corp will infuse Rs 160 crore into micro finance institution Bandhan, which is to be transformed later into a full-fledged bank.


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Betting firm SportPesa made a net profit of Sh12.9 billion for its owners in Kenya during its first five years of operation when the brand was under Pevans East Africa, revealing the lucrative earnings in gambling.
Pevans premiered SportPesa in 2014, making a net profit of Sh44.2 million. The earnings climbed to Sh1.6 billion in 2015 and topped Sh6.2 billion the following year.
Their earnings dropped to Sh2 billion in 2017 and later climbed to Sh2.8 billion in 2018 before it lost its licence due to a hefty taxation by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
Revelation of Pevans’ mega profits between 2014 and 2018 have been made in a court case filed by Asenath Wachera Maina, who is pushing the court to affirm the company as the owner of the SportPesa brand.
The betting brand (sportpesa) was brought back in October 2020 by Milestone Games, a company owned by a section of individuals who owned Pevans and are accused by Mrs Maina of fraudulently transferring the trademark to the new company.
The earnings of Milestone are not known but it’s believed to be making large profits since it owns the SportPesa brand that’s big in betting business.
The High Court has temporarily barred Milestone where Ronald Karauri is the majority shareholder — from using the SportPesa brand until the parties have a hearing of the dispute on May 31.
Pevans made cumulative revenue of Sh228.4 billion in five years as the firm also spent a total of Sh4.4 billion on advertisement over the same period.
Its average net margins were nearly 5.6% but KRA argued in court that the gambler exaggerated its costs to pay less tax.
Pevans shut down its operations after its licence was cancelled in July 2019 over unpaid taxes and penalties, which KRA computed at Sh95 billion.
But sportpesa remains the most popular brand in the lucrative sports betting industry with an estimated customer base of 12 million Kenyans who placed bets worth Sh150 billion in 2018 alone.
Data from Safaricom show that Kenyans spent Sh169.1 billion to place bets through M-Pesa in the year to March.
Results also disclosed that the value of bets jumped 23.8% from Sh136 billion in 2021, against the government’s attempts to stop gambling through the imposition of higher taxes on betting firms and punters.
Betting has become the second-largest business line by revenue under M-Pesa’s business payments after business-to-consumer (B2C), which generated sales of Sh11.4 billion in the year to March.
Kenyan Business Feed is the top Kenyan Business Blog. We share news from Kenya and across the region. To contact us with any alert, please email us to [email protected]


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Jet2 launch Icelandic city breaks
Jet2 Holidays, and its lastest venture Jet2 Citybreaks , has launched a range of three and four night breaks to Iceland staring in 2021.
The holiday company will operate the breaks over the Winter 21/22 season operating three weekly services from Manchester and Birmingham and offering a total 37 three and four-night breaks from seven other UK airports including Belfast International, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and London Stansted.
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays Chief Executive Steve Heapy said: “We are delighted to be announcing a new programme of scheduled services and once-in-a-lifetime trips to Iceland for Winter 21/22.
“With scheduled flights operating from Manchester and Birmingham, in addition to 37 once-in-a-lifetime trips from seven of our other UK bases, independent travel agents can now offer customers great choice and flexibility when it comes to visiting this bucket list destination.”


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Beekeepers association receives donation of equipment |18 February 2022
The Beekeepers Association of Seychelles has received a donation of beekeeping gear from the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment.
The donation, comprising protective clothing and smokers, was handed over by the principal secretary in the department of Agriculture, Keven Nancy, in a small ceremony yesterday at the office of the association, Union Vale.
The vice-chairman of the association, Patrick Samson, said they are grateful for the equipment which will benefit the association by promoting beekeeping as an art.
Mr Samson noted that rearing honey bees brings many benefits to the community as a whole, adding that in Seychelles we are lucky as the local honey bees are in good health and are not plagued by diseases that are affecting the majority of bees throughout the world.
“If we don’t promote what we have today, it will be dire for us in the future,” he emphasised.
Mr Samson has launched an appeal to the beekeepers in the community to join the association to further encourage and promote beekeeping in Seychelles.
The equipment that the association has received has been donated to members of the association individually to further develop their craft.
PS Nancy has added that they expect to see more locally produced honey on the market as the beekeepers are now more equipped and has grasped the concept of beekeeping.
He said he hopes to also see more local fruit and vegetables on the market as the rearing of bees will also increase the chances of pollination.
Arthur Toule, the chairman of the Beekeepers Association of Seychelles, said that among the association’s aims is to raise awareness on the rearing of bees for the promotion of more food and beautification of the area.
He also stressed that honey has many health benefits as “it cures all ailments except death”.
The association has previously received beekeeping boxes as donation and the new equipment will give a boost the beekeepers’ craft.
Mr Toule hopes that the association will continue to grow and that in future it can depend on its own financing.
The association will soon be starting classes on beekeeping and welcomes all members of the public to join.


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One of the few areas upon which most of the Democratic presidential candidates and Donald Trump agree is that we need to “get tough with China” and adopt protectionist trade policies. A few days ago, President Trump , after a number of smaller escalations, announced that as of September 1 he would impose a 10% tariff on $300 billion of Chinese goods. Now China has has announced what one expert describes as a “massive” retaliation: “on a scale of 1-10, it’s an 11.”
Trump’s tariff is aimed at retail goods manufactured in China, which includes electronics–including Apple products–and much of what Americans buy at Walmart and department stores. Those tariffs alone will make all of those products more expensive for consumers who have become used to low prices.
But now China has let its currency, the yuan, drop 4% in value against the dollar. The Communist government controls the value of the yuan, rather than letting it be set by the market. This devaluation will mitigate the effects of Trump’s tariffs–perhaps lessening the impact on consumers–but it will also make American exports far more expensive in China, hurting American manufacturers.
Moreover, China has said that it will stop all purchases of American agricultural products. Instead, China will buy its soybeans, corn, hogs, and other commodities from South America. This may prove devastating for American farmers, who have grown dependent on the vast China market.
On Monday, on news of China’s retaliation, the stock market dropped nearly 800 points.
Trump’s hopes for re-election have been tied to the booming economy. But a downturn due to a trade war could elect a Democratic competitor.Already farmers in the electorally-important farm belt have been lamenting “Trump’s tariffs,” which have so far done only minor damage, but a complete shut-down of the China market could be ruinous to American agriculture. And though the farm states have been highly supportive of Trump, that could change in light of his trade war escalation.
Similarly, industrial workers in the Rust belt states came through for Trump, but they are likely to vote their pocketbooks if the combination of increased Chinese tariffs on American goods and the lower yuan proves devastating to U.S. manufacturing.
President Trump tweeted that the retaliations “will greatly weaken China over time!” He’s right. But that may take a long time.
American companies can start making the electronics, clothing, and other retail products that we have been buying cheaply from China. But it will take a significant amount of time to make that transition.
Here is where China has an advantage in the trade war:
(1) China is Communist. It does not have to worry about its consumers.
(2) China is not Democratic. It does not have to worry about voters.
The government of the United States, by contrast, has to worry about consumer concerns and political fallout.
Market expert Chris Krueger said, “The announcements from Beijing represent a direct shot at the White House and seem designed for maximum political impact.”
Russia tries to influence American elections by buying fake Facebook ads. China tries to influence American elections by trying to wreck our economy.
Perhaps Americans will rally around the flag, as they tend to do in shooting wars, resenting China’s actions and supporting the president in his efforts to challenge the unfair trade practices that virtually everyone acknowledges.
Will Americans have the patience for a protracted trade war? Will the prospect of an economic downturn make the president cave to the Chinese? Who will get the blame for any economic pain inflicted by the dispute? China for its retaliation, or Trump for picking the fight and for escalating the stakes?
Illustration by Mohamed Hassan, Pxhere, CC0, Public Domain.


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As the President unveils his budget for the coming year, 33 major U.S. companies, including eBay Inc., Nike and Limited Brands signed a “Climate Declaration,” urging federal policymakers to take action on climate change, asserting that a bold response to the climate challenge is one of the greatest American economic opportunities of the 21st century.
“The signers of the Climate Declaration have a clear message for Washington: Act on climate change. We are, and it’s good for our businesses. The cost of inaction is too high. Policymakers should see climate change policy for what it is: an economic opportunity.” said Anne Kelly, Director of BICEP (Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy) coalition.
Together, the Declaration signatories provide approximately 475,000 U.S. jobs and generate a combined annual revenue of approximately $450 billion. Extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy have affected several Climate Declaration signatories and exposed the United States’ economic vulnerability to climate change. Signatories of the Climate Declaration are among the country’s best-known consumer brands, including Starbucks, Levis EMC Corporation, IKEA, Jones Lang LaSalle, L’Oréal, the North Face, the Portland Trail Blazers, Timberland and Unilever, among others.
“From droughts that affect cotton crops to Hurricane Sandy, which caused extensive damage to our operations, climate affects all aspects of our business,” said Eileen Fisher, CEO of New York-based apparel firm Eileen Fisher, which suffered severe damage and business interruption during the 2012 storm. “As a socially and environmentally responsible company, we are trying to affect positive change, but business can’t do it alone. We need the support of strong climate legislation.”
The signatories of the Climate Declaration are calling for Congress to address climate change by promoting clean energy, boosting efficiency and limiting carbon emissions – strategies that these businesses already employ within their own operations.
“Businesses understand that planning for a successful future takes investment today. One of the most important things Congress can do to grow our economy and protect our planet is to pass smart climate change legislation this year. Our workforce, supply chain and consumers are counting on us to lead the way,” said Anna Walker, Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy at Levi Strauss & Co.
BICEP members have supported several climate-driven policies, including historic automotive fuel economy standards signed into law in 2012 and the extension of the Production Tax Credit for wind power. Innovation within the transportation, electric power sectors and IT sectors, among others, will be essential to meeting the climate challenge.
“eBay Inc. is committed to driving a future for commerce that embraces clean energy innovation and is ultimately more sustainable,” said Lori Duvall, Global Director, Green at eBay Inc. “Our efforts extend across our data, employee and distribution center portfolios, our shipping and logistics infrastructure, as well as the actions of buyers, sellers, and merchants on our platforms. We see our participation in this coalition as a key element in bringing to life our vision for enabling greener forms of commerce over the long term.”
The Climate Declaration comes on the heels of the President’s renewed commitment to combat the threat of climate change and a recent study from Ceres, Calvert Investments and WWF indicating that a strong majority of Fortune 100 companies have set renewable energy or greenhouse gas reduction goals. Recent polls conducted by Gallup and Yale University, respectively, indicate that a majority of Americans believe climate change is happening and that corporations, as well as government officials, should be doing more to address the issue.
Originally Posted on Eric Block on Responsible Branding.