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Amazon hires Trump-allied lobbyist Jeff Miller as battle for Pentagon contract heats up.Politicsread more
In a series of tweets, the president addressed an unusual controversy stemming from a speech delivered Thursday by New York Fed President John Williams.Marketsread more
Companies aren't waiting for the U.S.-China trade war to be resolved, says the head of the world's biggest money manager.Investingread more
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it seized a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming it failed to follow international marine regulations.World Newsread more
More than a quarter of the S&P 500 companies report earnings in the week ahead, and that could buffet the market as investors await the Fed's meeting at the end of the month.Market Insiderread more
Executives from United Airlines and American Airlines were "shocked" that state-owned airline Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker was also invited to the meeting, according to a...Airlinesread more
Walmart is making further organizational changes as it continues to integrate its store and digital operations and leadership, according to a memo obtained by CNBC that was...Retailread more
George Nader helped arrange a January 2017 meeting in the Seychelles between Erik Prince and the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, who reported directly to Vladimir...Politicsread more
These are the stocks posting the largest moves midday.Market Insiderread more
"I'm not hearing people blame the Fed as much as they're blaming tariffs," says CNBC's Jim Cramer.US Economyread more
Earlier, Williams said in a speech that "it's better to take preventative measures than to wait for disaster to unfold."The Fedread more
Apple has told two suppliers of its lower-cost iPhone 5c that it is reducing orders in the fourth quarter, according to a report by Dow Jones news agency Wednesday, raising concerns about weaker-than-expected demand for the new product.
Apple began selling it's the new low-price option last month in 11 markets, including the U.S. and China, but consumers have focused on the more expensive 5s model, which was launched at the same time.
While demand for the costlier version, that comes with a fingerprint sensor and faster chips, outstripped expectations – especially the gold-colored version -- the iPhone 5c has failed to generate as much interest.
(Read more: Nobody seems to want Apple's iPhone 5c)
As a result, Apple told its Taiwanese assemblers Pegatron and Hon Hai Precision Industry that orders of the iPhone 5c in the fourth quarter would be cut by 20 percent and by a third respectively, according to the unnamed sources cited by Dow Jones.
The move comes at a time of increasing market competition in a crowded smartphone industry with phone makers Samsung and HTC also launching new handsets. At the time of the 5c's launch, tech-watchers said the handset was designed to beat off Apple's rivals in fast-growing emerging markets.
One market analyst dismissed concerns over Apple's slipping market dominance, however, saying that the most important issue for the company was the strength of its overall brand rather than the strength of its "sub-brands."
"Apple can afford to get things right and wrong because it has such a strong brand, I think this is just part of that overall play," Anthony Fry, senior advisor at Espirito Santo, told CNBC on Wednesday.
"It doesn't matter if you're Apple or anyone else, the mobile phone world is moving unbelievably quickly and every single phone and software manufacturer is trying to find a way of getting an edge on its competitors. So I see this as part of a long-term play against the strategy generally, not something of deep significance in the short term."
Ian Fogg, an analyst at IHS Electronics and Media said that proof of the poor performance of the iPhone 5c would only be confirmed when Apple releases earnings on October 28. The two important data points to look out for would be how many iPhones they have shipped compared to last year and what the evolution of their average selling price (ASP) is.
If the ASP has fallen then that would indicate that the iPhone 5c has been fairly popular, as the price point is lower than the range of phones Apple had at this point last year. If it stays the same, then it'll likely mean that iPhone 5c sales have disappointed, he said.


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Jul 22, 2021 (Market Insight Reports) -- Selbyville, Delaware According to the recent research report titled 'Global Smart Education Market: Analysis By Component (Hardware, Software, Service), End User (Academics, Corporate), End User Sub segments, By Region, By Country (2020 Edition): Market Insight, COVID-19 Impact, Competition and Forecast (2020-2025)', available with Market Study Report LLC, global smart education market was valued at USD 372.05 billion in 2019 and is expected to record an appreciable growth rate over 2020-2025.
Global smart education market growth is primarily driven by increasing number of schools and higher education institutions adopting smart devices in modern classrooms, cites the study.
Request sample copy of this Report: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/2679118/?utm_source=Marketwatch.com&utm_medium=AN
Besides, growing use of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in smart learning, rising acceptance of eLearning solutions, and proliferation of connected devices in education sector are significantly adding to the market development.
The education industry worldwide is witnessing a paradigm shift as individuals, government corporation, colleges & universities, as well as primary & secondary school districts are recognizing the importance of technology in effectively delivering information to educate students and other users.
Speaking of recent developments, governments across the globe have temporarily shut educational institutions to contain the spread of coronavirus. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has ushered a new era in higher education sector, transforming online learning landscape, changing application processes, and revitalizing crisis management tactics, thereby benefiting the market outlook.
Based on component type, worldwide smart education market is split into service, software, and hardware. Of these, hardware segment is expected to record considerable growth through 2025. As per end user scope, the industry segmentation comprises corporate, and academics.
Elaborating on geographical ambit, the key contributors to overall market remuneration are Americas (Mexico, Brazil, Canada, the United States), Europe (the United Kingdom, France, Germany), and Asia Pacific (India, Japan, China). The report states that Asia Pacific is poised largely contribute to worldwide smart education industry share over 2020-2025, with China at the forefront.
Key players profiled in the market report are Saba Software Inc., NIIT Ltd., Educomp Solutions Ltd., Instructure Inc., Ellucian Inc., Smart Technologies Inc., Adobe Inc., Pearson plc, Cisco Systems Inc., Blackboard Inc., and Boxlight Corporation.
Question and Answer: Global Smart Education Market
Q1) What are the primary growth stimulants of global smart education market?
Answer: Increasing number of schools and higher education institutions adopting smart devices in modern classrooms is primarily driving global smart education market growth.
Q2) How has Covid-19 pandemic impacted the worldwide smart education market trends?
Answer: The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has ushered a new era in higher education sector, transforming online learning landscape, changing application processes, and revitalizing crisis management tactics, thereby benefiting the smart education market outlook.
Q3) Which are the top firms in global smart education marketplace?
Answer: Key players profiled in the market report are Saba Software Inc., NIIT Ltd., Educomp Solutions Ltd., Instructure Inc., Ellucian Inc., Smart Technologies Inc., Adobe Inc., Pearson plc, Cisco Systems Inc., Blackboard Inc., and Boxlight Corporation.
Complete Report At: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-smart-education-market-analysis-by-component-hardware-software-service-end-user-academics-corporate-end-user-sub-segments-by-region-by-country-2020-edition-market-insight-covid-19-impact-competition-and-forecast-2020-2025?utm_source=Marketwatch.com&utm_medium=AN
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We streamline the purchase of your market research reports and services through a single integrated platform by bringing all the major publishers and their services at one place.
Our customers partner with Market Study Report, LLC. to ease their search and evaluation of market intelligence products and services and in turn focus on their company’s core activities.
If you are looking for research reports on global or regional markets, competitive information, emerging markets and trends or just looking to stay on top of the curve then Market Study Report, LLC. is the platform that can help you in achieving any of these objectives.
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Lil Wayne's 'Rebirth' Leaked… By Amazon!!!
Mine was delivered yesterday by the post office, and is, indeed, a copy of Rebirth.
According to sources and an e-mail to Billboard from an Amazon customer, the online merchant sent copies of the album to some customers who pre-ordered “Rebirth.” The album began arriving in mailboxes on Monday, Dec. 14, despite a change in the street date from Dec. 21 to February 1.
The release date change – the sixth time “Rebirth” was pushed to a new date – was made last month by Universal Motown, the distributing label for Cash Money, and its distributor Universal Music Group Distribution. Universal Motown and UMGD recalled the album, but roughly one million units were manufactured and about one-third were shipped to accounts when the decision was made to pull “Rebirth” from the schedule, sources say.
Props: Daily Swarm


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Posted on: February 9, 2018
The retail industry continues to strengthen the commercial real estate market in Florida, even with big changes in the way people are shopping.
Both brick and mortar stores as well as online retailers are buying up space—and the future looks bright.
We’d like to share a few recent articles with you that highlight how retail is positively impacting commercial real estate in the sunshine state and discuss why it’s a great time for Canadians to consider a foreign investment:
The expansion of healthcare facilities has also contributed to the strong commercial real estate market in Florida. The University of Florida recently opened its new 168,000 square foot tower, doubling the size of its campus. As the demand for access to health services continues to grow, medical real estate will have a significant positive impact on the market.
- CBRE Reports 8 New Trends That Will Shape Retail Sector By 2030
World Property Journal
CBRE’s The Future of Retail 2030 report also highlights some of the ways physical stores are changing. They predict that shopping malls will become general multi-purpose destinations, with more services based around healthcare, education, and leisure.
Establishments geared towards well-being will also grow, thanks to millennials’ interest in looking and feeling good. We can expect to see more fitness centers occupying malls, urban areas, and residential properties.
Retail and leisure will become even more intertwined. Stores will shift towards showrooms with integrated leisure elements, delivering customers an experience that aligns with their brand. This will become a unique advantage to physical stores—one area where online retailers can’t compete.
- Think Malls Are Dead? Not So Fast
Amid concerns about a decline in the popularity of malls, new research shows that stores are adapting in order to maintain successful physical retail locations.
The Q3 2017 Situs report on commercial real estate indicates that savvy stores are using new technology, like data analytics tools that monitor customer traffic patterns in a store, to improve their store layout and design—ultimately improving the shopping environment for consumers.
Kenneth Riggs, president of real estate research firm Situs, advises commercial real estate investors to carefully consider retail opportunities and look for properties that are using technology in creative ways to stay ahead of the curve and deliver an optimized customer experience. This is the key to success for physical retail locations
The online retail industry is booming as well—American e-commerce company Wayfair recently announced that it will open three new distribution centers in Florida.
Governor Rick Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Wayfair has chosen to expand in Florida with three new locations in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami. This expansion will also create 100 new jobs across our state, which is further proof that our work to make Florida the most business-friendly location is helping encourage global companies to invest in our state.”
This news will likely give a boost to the local economy and signal to other companies that Florida is an ideal location for expansion and development.
With physical retail locations adapting to meet the needs of today’s consumers, as well as the boom in e-commerce, the demand for commercial real estate in Florida will continue to grow. The increasing demand for healthcare services has also boosted the medical real estate market. It’s a great time for Canadians to consider investing in these types of properties.
MSR Holdings Inc. acquires exclusive commercial real estate investment opportunities in the US and Canada, providing sophisticated investors with profitable portfolio diversification opportunities. Contact us today to discuss becoming one of our select investors.
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AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB) November 30, 2017
Tiff’s Treats today announces the grand opening of its Steiner Ranch store, the 8th store in the Austin area. The warm cookie delivery company will recognize its 35th and 36th locations on the same day, also doing a grand opening of its new Sugar Land store on December 16. The Steiner Ranch store, at 5145 North FM 620 Rd., 78732, will celebrate with a grand opening event Saturday, December 16, from 9 am to 1 pm. Cookie sales will benefit the Andy Roddick Foundation, with Andy there to meet fans and sign autographs from 9 to 11 am. More at https://cookiedelivery.com/Company/About/New-Store-Openings/Events/Steiner-Ranch.aspx
Austin-based Tiff’s Treats, the first in the nation to create the warm cookie delivery concept, will now have 31 Texas stores, as well as five stores in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Recently, the company announced its move into Tennessee with a Nashville store opening in 2018. Earlier this month, Tiff’s Treats announced a $25 million funding round led by Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital, bringing its total funding over the past three years to $50 million, all intended to help the company continue its growth and expansion.
“November has been quite a month for us, announcing our $25 million investment from our new partner, Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital, and now opening two new stores on the same day,” said Leon Chen, co-founder of Tiff’s Treats. “We are so pleased with how people have responded to our brand. Our happy customers and their repeat business is fueling our growth, and our plan is to add at least 10 stores in 2018.”
The Steiner Ranch grand opening will include a fundraiser where Tiff’s Treats will be selling a dozen cookies for only $5 (no call ahead orders). Customers at the opening can purchase up to six one-dozen boxes filled with one of Tiff’s Treats most irresistible flavors: chocolate chip, snickerdoodle or oatmeal raisin, for just $5 a box, to a maximum of 6 boxes purchased per person.
All of the proceeds from this day (up to $5,000) will go to The Andy Roddick Foundation whose mission is to ensure youth in low-income communities have abundant opportunities to reach their full potential, through education and sports-based mentoring. Money raised will provide twice daily snacks and meals for 90 students during the summer learning program of the Andy Roddick Foundation.
People may also bring new children's school supplies (Crayons, Markers, Pencils, Children's scissors) to get a $5 Tiff's Treats gift card. Andy Roddick will be at the opening from 9 to 11 am to sign autographs, meet fans, and accept donations for his Foundation.
At each new Tiff’s Treats’ grand opening events, the company does charity fundraising where proceeds from cookie sales go to a local area non-profit organization. In its previous store opening events, Tiff’s Treats has raised more than $120,000 for charities.
Tiff’s Treats will also be giving away all sorts of prizes at this grand opening including gift cards donated from local area restaurants and shops, randomly inserted into boxes of cookies. The first 40 people in line at the 9 am opening will get a $100 Tiff’s Treats gift card. All others in line at 9 am will receive a $10 gift card.
The Steiner Ranch store is located at 5145 North FM 620 Rd., 78732, and will be open for regular business following the grand opening event.
All Tiff’s Treats locations deliver warm cookies, straight from the oven, to businesses and homes. Customers can order seamlessly via phone, online or via the newly released Tiff’s Treats app, all of which is supported by industry-leading technology and customer service. Tiff’s Treats is a delicious idea for dessert delivery to your home or business, client gifts and meeting snacks, birthday gifts, a sweet-tooth fix and more. Baked fresh when you order from premium ingredients, all cookies and brownies are delivered warm, straight from the oven, in a white box complete with a colorful ribbon. For those who appreciate the experience of a warm cookie made from scratch (of only the finest ingredients and right out of the oven!), Tiff’s Treats offers something thoroughly enjoyable, as it is the first company in the country to pioneer warm cookie and brownie delivery.
More About Tiff’s Treats
Tiff’s Treats created the warm cookie delivery concept. Tiff’s Treats makes and delivers classic, baked-to-order cookies and brownies straight from the oven to the home or office, WARM, in about an hour. Founded in 1999, what started as two friends baking cookies at University of Texas at Austin to help fellow students get through exams has now grown to 36 stores in Texas and Georgia, with more than 700 employees, baking more than 80 million cookies since its inception. And the company is consistently focused on giving back: with grand opening fundraisers that fill needs for charities (and hungry bellies for Tiff's Treats fans!), Tiff’s Treats has donated $125,000 to worthy causes. For more information, please visit http://www.cookiedelivery.com.


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“You are remembered for the rules you break.”
Over the past few days we have all seen the aftermath of Nike’s advert starring Colin Kaepernick who is seen an Icon to many and also a villain to many. How much of an impact will this have on one of the largest brands in the world? Was this a genius marketing ploy from Nike? Should politics have been mixed with business? There are so many unanswered questions.
Colin Kaepernick is an American football quarterback who had a successful career but rose to fame due to his political actions on the field. In 2016, he decided to sit during the US National anthem instead of traditionally standing up. After the game, he explained, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder”, referencing a number of events that led to the Black Lives Matter movement. He stated he would continue to protest until he feels like “the American flag represents what it’s supposed to represent”.
During the fourth preseason game, Kaepernick decided to take a knee during the anthem to show more respect to those serving in the military.
His decision to kneel attracted a number of criticisms as well as adulation from many. He was being seen as a huge icon in particularly with the Black Lives Matter movement and his shirt very quickly became the fastest selling jersey. On the other side, he attracted heavy criticism with thousands of people burning his jersey as they saw his actions as an attack on the United States of America’s constitution. Colin Kaepernick became one of the biggest polarizing figures in sporting history.
Many people (largely in USA) have been spotted burning Nike products or cutting their famous logo.
Before the advertisement had even aired, a survey suggested that 24 percent of consumers now viewed the Nike brand as unfavourable which was a huge increase from 7 percent prior to Colin becoming the face of the new marketing campaign, according to Morning Consult.
Last Tuesday by midday, shares of Nike fell by nearly 3% with #NikeBoycott being one of the trending topics on Twitter. Managing director of GlobalData Retail, Neil Saunders stated that the advertisement could ultimately alienate customers and turn them to rival products.
Nike’s rivals Adidas shares were up by more than 20% whilst Under Armour’s stock increased by a further 40% since the ad had been aired.
After the advert was released, Nike’s favorability rating had dropped from 69% to 35% according to Morning Consult. Furthermore, according to the federalist, Americans have stated they are now 10% less likely to purchase Nike products.
Donald Trump voiced his opinion on twitter.
“Just like the NFL, whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way? As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch, and always will, until they stand for the FLAG!”
The NFL suffered a huge ratings drop following more players taking a knee to the American flag.
Vice president of the Nike brand for North America Gino Fisanotti, said Kaepernick was “one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation. He has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward.”
According to Bloomberg, after Colin Kaepernick revealed the advert on Twitter, in less than 24 hours Nike received more than $43million worth of media exposure with the vast majority being neutral to positive.
It is clear to see that Nike are playing a long term game rather than a short one.
Under 35s are known to pay attention to when brands stand up for cause so they will pay attention to brands who stand up for movements such as #alllivesmater #blacklivesmatter They may have lost a number of older, conservative Americans but researchers show that it is younger generations who tend to buy a lot more trainers and sneakers. Nike’s online sales have risen by 31 percent since Colin Kaepernick was announced as the face of the 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign.
Nike worked out that 60 percent of its full-year revenue is actually generated outside of North America and the majority of the world does not believe America are dealing with there race issues well. Most Nike customers tend to be under 40 years old and are usually more progressive minded. It is important noting the demographic shifts which will make the millennials segment vital to Nike. In 2019, Millennials (people born from 1981 to 1996) are set to surpass the generation of baby boomers (people born from 1946 to 1964) for the first time. 44% of this group will be of colour in USA. Furthermore, Generation Z (people born from mid 1990s to mid 2000s) are 48% non-white , with more than 50% of children under the age of 10 being of colour.
Nike will know these statistics and will look to target these segments as generally speaking they tend to be more inclined to view Colin Kaepernick positively rather than the current 38% that have expressed negativity towards the advertisement.
Let everyone else call your idea crazy… just keep going. Don’t stop.
Nike at the end of 2017 announced that they would be focusing on 12 cities — Los Angeles, New York, London, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Milan, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and Mexico City. They stated that from the end of 2017 to 2020 they would expect 80% of its growth from these cities.
The cities named are very unlikely areas in which the MAGA hats would be worn or people fighting against the Black Lives Matter movement. Shortly following the 2016 election, 70% of New Yorkers held a negative view of the president with Los Angeles sharing a similar opinion.
In Phil Knight’s book Shoe Dog, there is an interesting piece of writing.
“Like my friends I wanted to be successful. Unlike my friends I did not know what that meant…I had an aching sense that our time is short, shorter than we ever know, short as a morning run, and I wanted mine to be meaningful. And purposeful. And creative. And important. And above all different.”
It is seems evident Nike have reverted back to this ethos. The new Nike advert falls completely in line with the origin story of it being a rebellious underdog taking on sporting giants such as Adidas.
Nike has shown like many other brands that you can’t win with products alone. The difference maker is now the brand. Brands can’t buy consumer relationships but through the right actions they earn it. The Colin Kaepernick Ad goes beyond it’s adverts for Michael Jordan who stayed away from the political scene. Whether you agree or disagree with the actions of Colin Kaepernick it was one of the boldest political statements made in sporting history. Nike have just returned to its founding philosophy and with Colin Kaepernick part of the brand, it may be the masterstroke that benefits Nike for many years to come.


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DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– We all have a responsibility to take care of the environment and the world around us. Sustainability must be a concerted effort and a global commitment. In late June, the Sustainable Future International Conference sponsored by Mary Kay Inc. was held at the historic Martinic Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thought leaders, experts, corporations and leaders from non-profit organizations across multiple industries came to the historic site to share, connect and educate audiences on innovative and sustainable standards that are thriving in the fight to conserve the world’s precious resources for present and future generations can be implemented.
This press release is multimedia. View the full press release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220830005153/en/
“Because of our global presence, we know that continuing Mary Kay’s legacy of doing what is right is our moral imperative – today, tomorrow, always. We focus on efficient production operations by reducing our environmental impact and identifying resource improvement opportunities. We challenge ourselves to further embed sustainable practices in our business through product development, design, responsible sourcing and plastic pollution reduction,” said Edita Szaboova, General Manager of Mary Kay Czech Republic and Slovakia. (Image credit: Mary Kay Inc.)
Mary Kay Inc., a longtime sustainability advocate, preempted the event by announcing its new 2021 sustainability strategy: Enriching life today for a sustainable tomorrow. Developed with the company’s key stakeholders, Enriching Lives Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, making Mary Kay an important part of a global coalition to bring about change for a better tomorrow.
The Sustainable Future International Conference was organized by Startup Disrupt, a global marketplace for startup companies keen to help a new generation of startup founders, engineers, developers, tech innovators and others succeed. The event focused on the topics Smart Cities (infrastructure, development), electric mobility (e-mobility, energy & renewable resources, economy & policy), sustainable business (environment, taxonomy, sustainable finance) and sustainable life (agrotech, food waste, fashion disruptors, smart farming).
Speakers with different backgrounds and experiences shared their wisdom at the Sustainable Future conference, representing different sectors such as startup founders, executives from big and small companies, ministries, associations, unions, chambers, investment groups, policy makers (European Commission), academia and research institutes, universities and non-profit organizations.
“Mary Kay’s Global Sustainability Strategy, Enriching life today for a sustainable tomorrow, is anchored in the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, environmental and social,” said Edita Szaboova, General Manager of Mary Kay Czech Republic and Slovakia. “Because of our global presence, we know that continuing Mary Kay’s legacy of doing what is right is our moral imperative – today, tomorrow, always. We focus on efficient production operations by reducing our environmental impact and identifying resource improvement opportunities. We challenge ourselves to further embed sustainable practices in our business through product development, design, responsible sourcing and plastic pollution mitigation.”
“There is no planet B! We should always keep this motto in mind. Within the European Union, many companies rely on sustainable business practices. At the Sustainable Future International Conference, we showcased the best of what we have achieved here in the Czech Republic, while at the same time inspiring best practices around the world. Mary Kay, with its strong sustainability vision, is an emerging force to work with,” said Patrik Juránek, Founder and CEO of Startup Disrupt.
The next summit hosted by Startup Disrupt will take place on September 13th in the Czech Republic at the Clam Gallas Palace in Prague. The theme of the summit is Diversity, which will bring together more than 50 keynote speakers from various Czech and global brands. Speakers and thought leaders will participate in roundtables on a variety of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) topics: prejudice and microaggression; employment of people with disabilities; Inclusive design and innovation and empowerment of women to name a few. Mary Kay Inc. Global Head of Sustainability and Social Impact, Virginie Naigeon-Malek, will speak at the summit on the theme of women’s empowerment and gender-responsive procurement as a powerful strategy for inclusive sustainable growth.
“Globally, one in three companies is owned by women. Yet, on average, women-owned companies around the world receive less than 1% of all procurement spending from large corporations and governments,” said Virginie Naigeon-Malek. “These two statistics are two sides of the same coin: the shocking reality on the one hand and the enormous opportunity on the other. Effective sourcing policies and practices can be used as a powerful strategy to support women entrepreneurs in our efforts to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic and rethink business practices with a DEI mindset – to shift to inclusive growth. This massive gap in representation provides an opportunity to advance action in support of women’s businesses around the world – a unique opportunity to not only rebuild better, but most importantly, to rebuild on an equal footing.”
ABOUT MARY KAY
One of the first glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: to enrich the lives of women. That dream has grown into a multi-billion dollar company with millions of independent salespeople in nearly 40 countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women in their journeys through education, mentoring, advocacy, networking and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and creating innovative skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements and fragrance. Mary Kay believes in enriching today’s lives for a sustainable tomorrow by partnering with organizations from around the world focused on advancing business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting… survivors of domestic violence, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn or follow us Twitter.
ABOUT STARTUP FAULT
Founded in 2020, Startup Disrupt’s mission is to help business and technology disruptors transform the “old” way of thinking across industries, products and services. The idea was developed by people from global entrepreneurial communities and startup enthusiasts. Startup Disrupt’s purpose is to become a startup platform dedicated to providing knowledge, inspiration, and connections to entrepreneurs, startup founders, technology innovators, and startup communities around the world. For more information, see https://www.startupdisrupt.com/.
Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications
972.687.5332 or [email protected]
Source: Mary Kay Inc.


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USSEC Hosts Kentucky Trade Mission to Thailand
- General News
A group of growers from the Kentucky Soybean Association and Kentucky Soybean Board led by Keith Tapp, chairman of the Kentucky Soybean Board and United Soybean Board (USB) director, participated in a weeklong trade mission to Bangkok, Thailand, from January 26-30.
Accompanied by USSEC Regional Director – Southeast Asia Timothy Loh, Program Manager Daphne Tan, Thailand Country Representative Opas Supamornpun, and Program and Marketing Executive Yaowaluck Boonsoong, the trade mission included visits to an oilseed crusher, a fully integrated food processor, a tour of USSEC aquaculture activities, and an up-close observation of vessel discharging operations anchored in open waters.
The program began on January 26 with a morning presentation by Mr. Supamornpun, on the Thai feed and livestock market and a review of the week’s program. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) agricultural counselor Bobby Richie covered various topics in a question-answer session, such as the price sensitivity of Thai soy importers, and the country’s openness to GMOs and U.S. food products in general. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community is expected to open up the market for labour and goods, Mr Richie said. Despite recent political upheavals, the Thai currency, the baht, remains relatively stable.
In the afternoon, the Kentucky team visited Thai Vegetable Oil Plc (TVO), the largest crusher in Thailand, located in the province of Thonburi, about a 1½-hour drive from Bangkok. Foreign trade manager Supachai Vitayatanagorn presented data showing the differences in protein levels between U.S. and Brazilian soybeans, giving U.S. team members a good idea of the importance placed on crude protein by some overseas customers. During the tour, the growers also got to see U.S. soybeans being transferred out of a river barge.
On the second day, the growers headed out on a ferry to observe bulk vessel operations in open water near the island of Ko Sichang, 80 km (50 miles) south of Bangkok. Assisted by Bunge Thailand, the group witnessed rapeseed meal being discharged from Panamax vessels at the grain-handling terminal of Laem Hin Khao as well as container handling and other port activities.
A visit to the feedmill and broiler processing facilities of Thailand’s second largest broiler integrator and exporter, Betagro, took place on January 28. Betagro ranks 27th in the world for livestock and feed production, with about 28 percent of the Thai domestic market for food products. The slaughterhouse at Lopburi, about 150 km (93 miles) northeast of Bangkok, handles 290,000 birds per day, all for export—60 percent to the EU, 30 percent to Japan and about 10 percent to other Asian countries. The plant is fully halal certified and there are plans to export broiler products to the Middle East.
The group also visited the Betagro feedmill located in the same district. The plant produces solely chicken feed (95 percent broiler feed, 5 percent breeder feed) and has a capacity of 55,000 metric tons per month. Awarded the Total Program Management (TPM) certification by the TMP body in Kyoto, Japan, the plant has operational standards in line with the requirements of its customers.
On the final day of the program, the Kentucky growers visited a production facility for Asian sea bass (also known as barramundi) and a partner in USSEC’s aquaculture program in Southeast Asia. Led by USSEC Southeast Asia Technical Director – Aquaculture Lukas Manomaitis, the growers were hosted at 88 Farm & Hatchery by Warawut Sophanowong, managing director and Narongsorn Rojanapiansitt, sales manager. In addition to a fish feeding demonstration and touring the hatchery and brooder facilities, a video was shared to inform about the activities conducted in cooperation with USSEC, such as fish tagging, tightening biosecurity and rebuilding of the circulation system.
Mr. Tapp said, “We know funding the Thai office has been a good investment but there’s nothing like coming over and seeing things for ourselves. We can better inform our board members back home of what we’ve seen and experienced.”


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Chinese tech Tencent applies for a virtual concerts patent with the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration, according to a report by CoinTelegraph on Thursday.
- The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) opposed the Metaverse and nonfungible tokens (NFTs) in November, arguing that it would monitor and track with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) tools.
- Despite the strong resistance against the Metaverse by PBoC, the Chinese multinational technology and video game giant Tencent has been leading China’s push into the Metaverse.
- Tencent sent out internal communications to its employees in October last year, relating to the creation of a new “F1” studio that will involve its employees from China, the United States, Canada and Singapore.
- On December 31 of 2021, Tencent conduct its first-ever virtual concert in the Metaverse referred to as TMELAND, with more than 1.1 million fans joining in the New Year’s festival.
Tencent has also bought Los Angeles-based animated concert company that adopts motion-capture innovation to create realistic virtual concerts. TCEHY: SEHK is down -1.09%


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On the eve of last year’s Diwali, the Supreme Court banned conventional firecrackers and ruled that only green ones with reduced emissions will be allowed. On the festival day, Delhi was clocking dangerous pollution levels. This was because green crackers couldn’t be developed, and old polluting stocks were used with impunity.
On Saturday, Harsh Vardhan, Union Health and Science & Technology Minister, promised that green crackers with 30 per cent less emissions will be available to help control pollution as well as take care of people’s sentiments. But a Mail Today reality check has revealed that green crackers developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), are still not available in most markets and the situation may not change on Diwali (November 27). Tuesday’s Dussehra may witness polluting fireworks, stockpiling of old firecrackers for Diwali has peaked and obnoxious Chinese products have already flooded shops, the reality check also showed.
NO GREEN CRACKERS
Very few traders have applied for licences to sell green varieties. Traders said the police began licence distribution for green crackers from October 7, with just 20 days to go for Diwali. They said since the effigies for Dussehra are prepared at least a few days ahead of the festival, there was a great chance that crackers used are of traditional varieties. Sadar Bazar, one of the biggest wholesale markets for firecrackers, has not been able to procure anything because traders say licences haven't been issued yet." "Our licences will be issued after Dussehra. We cannot sell green crackers for Dussehra, said prominent trader Harjit Singh Chhabra. Some traders, however, claimed that they are following norms. "I do not want to go to jail. And for us, nothing is beyond Supreme Court guidelines, said a shopkeeper at Star Fireworks.
Hazardous, ear-splitting fireworks, including Chinese ones, are being brought to Delhi from warehouses in neighbouring towns such as Ghaziabad and Meerut, Mail Today found. With no law enforcement around to curb the illegal business, shops are selling large quantities of fountains, sparkles, ground spinners, Roman candles, rockets, and Ravan bombs. MS Randhawa, DCP (Central), said: "We are keeping a close watch on vehicles coming from NCR towns to check transportation of firecrackers. We are raiding shops on tip-offs and taking appropriate action. The Delhi Police on Wednesday seized 146 kg of firecrackers from a warehouse in Dwarka. Last week, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) warned all investigating and intelligence agencies that a huge quantity of hazardous Chinese firecrackers has started reaching India illegally ahead of Diwali. Chinese crackers are not only dangerous for the environment but are also against Explosive Rules, 2008, as they contain banned chemicals like red lead, copper oxide, and lithium among others.
Most Ramlila committees are likely to use conventional crackers saved last year. This is because only ground spinners and sparkles are available as eco-friendly options, like at a wholesale shop in the Jama Masjid area of Old Delhi. Wholesaler Amit Jain from Ajit Fireworks said, Demand for green crackers is very high but there aren’t enough supplies. Prices for green crackers are also high despite government assurances.
A petition filed in the Delhi High Court in October last year claimed that around 10,000 effigies are burnt in the city on Dussehra. We wish to follow instructions and celebrate all festivals in an eco-friendly way, but we are not able to find these green crackers anywhere, said a member of Shri Ram Bhakt Ramlila Committee, Hari Nagar. We'll have to use old crackers in case we don’t find green ones, said a member of Janakpuri’s Shri Ramlila Committee. A Ramlila committee member in Patparganj said the use of old crackers would continue because green ones cannot match the grandeur surrounding Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana. However, there are some committees that claim to be sticking to green norms. Firecrackers will not be used in the oldest Ramlila near Delhi Fort. Three Ramlilas take place near the monument. Luv Kush Ramlila says it will use sound effects for firecrackers. Arjun Kumar, Secretary, Luv Kush Ramlila Committee, said, "We have some companies in South India that are selling green crackers and this time we have also arranged sound effects.


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LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WARC, the global authority on marketing intelligence, unveiled today the results of a study conducted in collaboration with iHeartMedia, the leading audio media company in America (NASDAQ: IHRT), on media consumption and audio investment in the US.
“The Investment Gap: Understanding the Value of Audio” highlights a divergence between consumption and investment. While 31% of the average consumer’s media consumption is now audio, only 8.8% of the average media budget is allocated to audio, and 25% of advertisers do not invest in audio at all.
According to the study, consumers of every generation are spending more and more time with audio content across radio, streaming and podcasts driven by audio’s ease and accessibility with the growth of wireless headphones and smart speakers adding to in-car, at home and at work listening.
Whilst WARC Data forecasts audio advertising spend in the US to reach $13.9bn this year, a double-digit recovery (+10.9%) from the pandemic’s 2020 cuts, the report highlights a large audio investment gap and the vast opportunity that exists in this mass reach and high engagement audio advertising market.
The study also identified four key types of advertiser attitudes towards audio:
- Audio Avoiders, the 25% of advertisers who do not invest in audio at all
- Broadcast Believers, who have seen the benefits of radio and are beginning to delve into more forms of audio
- Digital Only, those who have started to invest but are missing out on the full suite of audio options, particularly the 90% reach of broadcast radio
- Cross-Platform Champions, who explore audio’s full potential and continue to test, learn from and optimize their investments across platforms.
Furthermore, the study shows that audio is not a monolith. There are different and critical channels within the audio segment, and they play different roles in the minds of the consumers that advertisers should take advantage of.
Broadcast radio reaches 9 out of 10 Americans every month1 and is also the number one mass reach media among people ages 18 and over2. Podcasts are the fastest growing new audio platform and consistently deliver higher advertising conversion rates than all other digital channels, including social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and even Google.3Forecasts from IAB/PwC show podcast ad spend is expected to grow rapidly in the US this year, up 60% to top $1bn for the first time.
The study also highlights the effectiveness of audio advertising at a local, regional and national level and across every stage of the funnel:
- Increases brand awareness: Audio delivers wide reach and high frequency. Nielsen Share Shift data shows that adding audio to a TV campaign improves performance by 20% whilst reducing costs.
- Creates favorability: Audience members have close relationships with their preferred stations and platforms, audio boosts brand familiarity and consideration.
- Sparks conversion: By delivering urgent calls-to-action at the most relevant times and places, audio motivates the actions and interactions brands require.
Whether brands tap into broadcast radio for its mass reach or its effectiveness or dive deeper into podcasting for its highest conversion rates, the study points out how right sizing the audio investment will drive real impact and growth for brands.
Gayle Troberman, Chief Marketing Officer, iHeartMedia, said: “The Audio Investment Gap is the single-biggest growth opportunity for brands. With the growth of wireless headphones and smart speakers paired with in-car listening, audio is everywhere and consumers are listening in more places, more times throughout the day. But too many brands are on mute. Brands that right-size their audio investments and begin spending and innovating across radio, streaming and podcasts outpace competitors in finding new audiences, building brand affinity and driving sales.”
Paul Coxhill, Managing Director, WARC, commented: “The changing role of Audio has been a relatively under-researched area of the Marketing Media Mix. This study, with iHeartMedia, starts to address that. The study investigates whether there’s a disjoint between consumer consumption and media allocation of audio as a channel. The findings are fascinating and demonstrate a real opportunity for brands to expand their brand reach and, if done well, their share of consumer attention by expanding the role of Audio in their media mix.”
“The Investment Gap: Understanding the Value of Audio” study was conducted by WARC for iHeartMedia in September 2021 following an analysis of data from WARC’s proprietary knowledge base and research and in consultation with our experts. .
The findings included in the report were presented at the recent online event, AudioCon. The full report, available to download here, includes chapter analysis on audio investment, audio as an effective communications channel, future audio trends, the benefits to brands investing in audio and case studies.
About WARC – The global authority on marketing effectiveness
WARC is part of Ascential: the path-to-purchase company that combines intelligence, data and insights to drive growth in the digital economy. We do this by delivering an integrated set of business-critical products in the key areas of product design, marketing and sales.
For over 30 years WARC has been powering the marketing segment by providing rigorous and unbiased evidence, expertise and guidance to make marketers more effective. WARC services include 94,000+ case studies, best practice guides, research papers, special reports, advertising trend data, webinars, awards, events and advisory services; has 1,400+ client companies, 21,500+ active users in 100+ countries; collaborates with 50+ industry partners; has offices in London, New York, Singapore and Shanghai.
iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, reaching over 250 million people each month. It is number one in both broadcast and digital streaming radio as well as podcasting and audio ad tech, and includes three business segments: The iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group; the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group; and the Audio and Media Services Group. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
1 Nielsen Audio, Spring 2021
2 Nielsen Total Audience Report, 1Q20 Based on Radio; Live + Time-Shifted TV; App/Web on Smartphone; Internet on a Computer; App/Web on Tablet
3 Adstage Q1 2020 Benchmark Report; Podsights Q3 Benchmark Report Nielsen ROAS- Nielsen Catalina report


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A senior Cambodian official praised Chinese investment in the country’s infrastructure, citing its crucial role in enhancing the Kingdom’s competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly in manufacturing, at a recent economic forum in Shenzhen, China.
Sok Siphana, senior minister in charge of special missions, led the Cambodian delegation to the Global Chinese Economic and Technology (GCET) Summit, themed “Great Reset: Powering Growth, Technology and Regional Prosperity”, held on November 6-7.
“The Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have significantly transformed Cambodia’s trade environment. The change has created new opportunities for market access for [our] agricultural goods and commodities,” a press release from Siphana’s cabinet stated.
In a session focused on geostrategic and geo-economic challenges in a new multipolar world, he emphasised the evolving global order and the necessity to reinvigorate multilateralism to address 21st-century challenges effectively.
He pointed out that as BRICS – the bloc of countries representing Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – emerges as a strategic economic force, it has become increasingly difficult to diversify trade away from China. He advocated multilateralism as a solution for managing future global risks.
Siphana highlighted the longstanding evolution of China’s relationship with ASEAN, notably since 2003 when they upgraded to a strategic partnership. The enhancement has deepened economic integration, promoting connectivity and infrastructure development, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC).
The symposium sought to boost economic and trade opportunities within RCEP member countries. Discussions centred on the potential of BRICS nations as important economic players in a multipolar world and China’s role in this global power shift, according to the press release.
Emphasis was also placed on green energy’s contribution in driving technological advancements and sustainability, including smart city development and eco-friendly transportation.
The summit explored the digital economy’s transformative effect on government and business operations and its influence on emerging markets. It also examined the contributions of the global Chinese diaspora in entrepreneurship and the success factors within their dynamic community, as per the press release.
On the sidelines of the summit, Siphana held bilateral meetings with representatives from the China-ASEAN Business Association (CABA), Shui On Group, Gao Feng Advisory Company, China Development Institute (CDI) and China Daily Asia Pacific. The meetings focused on promoting trade and investment opportunities between Cambodia, China and Hong Kong.
Jointly organised by CDI and the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific (KSI), the forum attracted over 400 participants, including key figures from Malaysia and China, entrepreneurs, academicians, technology expert, and representatives from international and regional organisations from countries like Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Australia and Canada.
The event featured 50 distinguished speakers from China, ASEAN countries and other regions, as per the press release.


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Packaging Corporation of America (PKG - Free Report) , the fourth largest containerboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer in the U.S., reported stellar third quarter 2013 results with record net sales and earnings. Net income for the reported quarter increased to $84.2 million or 86 cents per share from $39.8 million or 41 cents per share in the year-earlier quarter.
Excluding a one-time charge of $5 million related to the proposed acquisition of Boise Inc. and annuity plans, recurring earnings for the reported quarter were $88.9 million or 91 cents per share compared with $53.3 million or 55 cents in the year-ago quarter. The recurring earnings exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2 cents.
The year-over-year rise in earnings was primarily attributable to higher prices for corrugated and containerboard products during the quarter. While high product prices contributed 44 cents per share to the recurring earnings, higher sales volume contributed 5 cents to the tally, partially offset by higher energy costs, higher fiber costs, higher labor and transportation expenses.
Net sales for the reported quarter hit a record high of $845.4 million, up from $723.5 million in the year-ago period, representing a year-over-year increase of 16.8%. Record sales for the quarter were largely driven by strong demands for containerboard and corrugated products as most mills ran well. Net sales for third quarter 2013 exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $831 million.
Corrugated products’ shipments increased 7.8% per workday in the reported quarter. Total shipments were a record 671,000 tons as box shipments set an all-time high for shipments per workday. Total containerboard inventories decreased 4,000 tons compared with year-end 2012.
During third quarter 2013, Packaging Corporation inked a deal to acquire Boise for $1.995 billion in cash. The transaction is expected to close by the fourth quarter of 2013, subject to regulatory approvals.
Based in Boise, Idaho, Boise produces a broad range of packaging and paper products. The strategic acquisition will increase Packaging Corporation’s containerboard capacity by 42% to 3.7 million tons. The deal is also likely to boost the company’s corrugated products volumes by 30%. Moreover, the acquisition will enable Packaging Corporation to facilitate mill grade optimization, reduce operating costs, and optimize corrugated products production. The company is expected to generate a pre-tax benefit of about $105 million from these areas within three years of the deal’s closure.
Management expects lower fourth quarter corrugated products volume compared with third quarter due to seasonality factors and lesser number of shipping days. In addition, production is also likely to be affected by annual maintenance outage at the Filer City, Michigan mill. Operating costs are also expected to increase due to high fuel costs and cold weather conditions. Consequently, the company anticipates fourth quarter earnings to be approximately 84 cents per share.
Packaging Corporation currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Other companies in the industry that are worth mentioning include Orchids Paper Products Company (TIS - Free Report) and KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation (KS - Free Report) , both carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).


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European Data Protection Day
Owen Roberts, Identity Protection Expert at Callcredit, available for interview.
• The Data Protection Day aims to educate consumers about the risks associated with the use and abuse of personal data
• This is timely because 93pc* of UK consumers are unsure that they're taking the right steps to guard against ID fraud
• 72pc have been affected or know someone who's been affected by
Across Europe, events are being held aiming to help EU citizens understand what, how and why personal data is being collected and used, what their rights are and what the risks can be.
With news of UK governmental data breaches reaching us almost on a weekly basis, the need to educate consumers about how their data is being used and potentially misused is more important than ever.
Owen Roberts, ID Protection Expert at Callcredit, can give advice to consumers on how to protect their identities when at work, shopping, travelling or surfing the internet.
Callcredit's top tips to protect your identity
• Don't throw your identity in the bin - always shred important
• Keep passwords and PINS safe and don't disclose them to anyone
• Don't broadcast your identity on the internet by failing to protect your PC
• Keep a note of useful numbers to contact should you suspect you have become a victim of ID fraud
• Make certain you are watching for warning signs by regularly checking your credit report on www.mycallcredit.co.uk
To arrange an interview please contact Julia Burchell on 0207 067 0017 or email@example.com
For further information, please visit www.mycallcredit.co.uk
* Populus, commissioned by Fellowes, CallCredit, Experian and Equifax, interviewed a random sample of 1005 adults aged 18+ by telephone between September 21st and 23rd 2007. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to be representative of all adults. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For more details go to www.populuslimited.com.


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TJX Companies Inc (NYSE:TJX) saw unusually large options trading activity on Tuesday. Stock traders bought 4,131 put options on the company. This is an increase of 861% compared to the average daily volume of 430 put options.
TJX opened at $106.46 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $62.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.66. TJX Companies has a 1-year low of $66.44 and a 1-year high of $107.26.
TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 21st. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $9.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.99 billion. TJX Companies had a net margin of 7.58% and a return on equity of 56.91%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.85 EPS. equities research analysts forecast that TJX Companies will post 4.85 EPS for the current year.
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 16th will be given a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 15th. TJX Companies’s payout ratio is presently 38.61%.
A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of TJX. Summit Trail Advisors LLC increased its position in TJX Companies by 7,162.0% in the 1st quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 3,321,292 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer’s stock valued at $3,321,000 after acquiring an additional 3,275,557 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $261,270,000. Millennium Management LLC increased its position in TJX Companies by 171.2% in the 1st quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,655,393 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer’s stock valued at $216,574,000 after acquiring an additional 1,676,204 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new stake in TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $146,241,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $121,730,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.03% of the company’s stock.
A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of TJX Companies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $109.00 target price for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 24th. Nomura increased their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, June 4th. MKM Partners set a $99.00 target price on shares of TJX Companies and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 23rd. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, June 21st. They set a “sell” rating and a $87.00 target price for the company. Finally, Loop Capital set a $84.00 target price on shares of TJX Companies and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $94.71.
TJX Companies Company Profile
The TJX Companies, Inc operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, accent furniture, lamps, rugs, wall décor, decorative accessories, giftware, lighting, soft home, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, kids, and gourmet food departments; jewelry; and other merchandise.
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The exhibition opening cannot take place as planned on 13 November due to the measures decided upon. As soon as we can reopen the house, the exhibition will be on display.
All works are still available for purchase on the fiftyfifty website.
The magazine fiftyfifty is turning 25 years old. Over 10 million copies have been sold during this time and countless housing opportunities for the homeless have been created. This is made possible among other things by donated works of many artists.
To ensure fiftyfifty's work will continue in the future, the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf is showing a charity sales exhibition with works by Boris Becker, Andreas Gursky, Candida Höfer, Klaus Klinger, Lior Körner, Masakazu Kondo, Katharina Mayer, Jonathan Meese, Gerhard Richter, Thomas Ruff and Thomas Struth, among others.
In Cooperation with


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The ongoing COVID-19 crisis and its economic consequences have led to international cuts and disinvestments in the innovation sector. However, there are exceptions to this trend in additive manufacturing.
Most countries are expecting a recession in 2020, and many companies are suffering from severe revenue losses – a circumstance that leads to cuts in innovation budgets in many cases. While traditional industries, such as aviation and automotive, are currently particularly hard-hit by the negative economic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, industries with a higher degree of digitization are significantly more stable. Some highly digitized companies were even able to increase their sales and stock-market values in this turbulent year. The additive manufacturing industry is at the interface between digital and traditional industries. The trend of many international players investing in 3D printing is also visible here.
International positive trend
In the spring of this year, Align Technology (www.aligntech.com) announced the successful takeover of Exocad (www.exocad.com), which specializes in AM software solutions. Unimpressed by the impending crisis, the specialist for 3D-printed dental solutions invested 376 million euros in this expansion and significantly increased its market value. The leading venture-capital company for additive manufacturing, AM Ventures (www.amventures.com), also reported impressive investments this year. Together with other investors, they invested a total of 35 million US dollars in four 3D-printing companies. The Boston-based company LightForce Orthodontics (www.lightforceortho.com) secured an investment of 14 million US dollars. LightForce manufactures personalized braces that are designed for individual patients via a digital platform in cooperation with orthodontists and produced using 3D printing. With the platform’s help and customized products, tooth-correction efficiency is significantly increased and treatment time is reduced. The Munich-based company DyeMansion (www.dyemansion.com) – a provider of finishing systems for industrial 3D printing –also secured a financing round of 14 million US dollars. Berlin-based AM software company 3YOURMIND (www.3yourmind.com) was pleased to receive over 5.5 million US dollars. And Dresden-based company Additive Drives, which specializes in the additive manufacturing of electric motor components, received a seed investment of over 1.5 million US dollars. Arno Held, chief venture officer at AM Ventures, is hardly surprised that investments are being made in additive manufacturing right now. ‘Additive manufacturing is a key technology for the future, and the current situation, in particular, shows how important alternatives to conventional supply chains are,’ says Held.
Austria continues to focus on expansion
Even if the COVID-19 crisis’s economic consequences cannot yet be conclusively assessed, many domestic AM companies are also continuing to expand. One example is the Austrian company CADS Additive (www.cads-additive.com), manufacturer of high-performance software for AM processes. The Austrian company announced a new cooperation with EOS (www.eos.info), a world-leading technology supplier in the industrial 3D printing of metals and polymers. CADS Additive’s software AM-Studio and AM-Studio for Creo® is now also offered for EOS metal systems, alongside other well-known machine manufacturers.
‘The direct access to EOS and its renowned AM devices is a milestone in our young history and symbolizes our success, which we have already achieved in this partly dominated market,’ says Dr Daniel Stadlmayr, head of operations at CADS Additive. ‘The direct partnership with EOS makes CADS Additive a unique software solution provider in the AM environment.’
Arno Held sees Austria’s situation in line with the international trend: ‘Our Austrian investments are also coming through the crisis strongly,’ he confirms.


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THERE might still be 133 days to go until Christmas, but that hasn’t stopped Card Factory, which has already filled its shelves with Christmas cards and other festive goodies.
Shoppers expressed their amazement that the budget retailer was so far ahead of the game with its stock – even while schoolkids are still on their summer break.
Some of the purse-friendly retailers’ branches have dedicated a section to festive greeting cards, gift bags and money wallets decorated with bears in Santa hats and snowy scenes.
And although there are more than four months until the start of 2020, wall calendars and diaries for the year ahead were also spotted on the shelves.
Some people took to Twitter to express their amazement that the Christmas goods were on the shelves so early.
This is not the first time Card Factory has been a bit premature with its Christmas displays.
Last year the company also unveiled festive stock in August – arguing that it helps people to spread the cost of Christmas and helps people who live abroad and want to get ahead.
One person tweeted that the company "should be ashamed of itself", while another wrote: "IT'S FLIPPING AUGUST!"
Others decided that the move by the chain, which has around 850 branches nationwide, means that the summer is officially over.
But some people were more excited.
One Twitter user wrote: "Card Factory already selling Christmas cards.. surely that means I can put the tree up now?!"
The Sun has contacted Card Factory for a comment.
Card Factory isn't the only retailer to get in on the act. Asda has already unveiled its Christmas menu.
Tesco's Christmas food this year will include a pigs in blankets stuffing wreath.
And Cadbury's revealed its new Christmas range which includes gingerbread bars and chocolate orange snowmen.
Source: Read Full Article


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In the first Snapchat interview with a U.S. lawmaker, possible 2016 presidential candidate and Republican Senator Rand Paul dishes on Hillary Clinton, drones, 2016 and what he does to unwind.
GoDaddy canceled plans to air its Super Bowl commercial featuring a puppy sold online after animal rights supporters objected.
About 8,500 flights were canceled this week because of winter weather. Christine Romans breaks down the cost to the economy.
Fluorescent sports uniforms are designed with young fans in mind.
Brian Stelter looks at the strict hierarchy behind the popular festival in the quaint mountain town of Park City, UT.
After a season plagued by domestic violence scandals, the Super Bowl will feature an ad bringing attention to the issue.
The Dow fell more than 350 points as companies like Caterpillar and Microsoft reported weak fourth quarter profits.
Blizzards cost retailers and airlines a ton of money, but will your wallet also take a hit from winter storms?
Does Amazon Studios' head worry about what Netflix is doing? Brian Stelter talks to Roy Price about the competition.


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Apple’s next flagship smartphone has been the center of tech rumor mill more so this year because 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the iconic iPhone. Apple hasn’t said anything regarding the upcoming device officially, but all tech quarter are in agreement that the iPhone 8 will bring some extra special unique feature not seen on any other smartphone to date. However, speculations are rife that those new specs won’t come cheap. Smartphones users are expected to pay a pretty hefty price in order to get their hands on the next iPhone.
As we discussed while reporting on previous iPhone 8 related rumors that the base price is likely to start from staggering $1000 bucks. Recently, Goldman Sachs analyst Simona Jankowski also corroborated these price claims.
Jankowski said that the next generation iPhone will be in high demand and Apple is planning to cash in on the hype surrounding the anniversary model of its famous smartphone by charging $999 for the 128GB storage capacity model and $1,099 for the 256GB capacity model. This is anything but cheap. But this large price tag will likely be justified by bringing quality hardware, software and design for the 2017 iPhone. Moreover, Simona is skeptical about the availability of the 32GB iPhone 8, which is the base storage capacity model for the current iPhone 7.
Relative to the 128GB iPhone 7 Plus, we estimate the new features and higher commodity prices to increase the bill of materials by over $70, which we expect Apple to offset via a $130 price increase, resulting in a starting price of $999 for the 128GB capacity and $1,099 for the 256GB capacity (we don’t expect the iPhone 8 to come in 32GB)
Numbers being reported are bonkers, especially when considering that the current generation high-end model of iPhone 7 Plus with 256GB storage capacity is being sold for $969 in the US.
Whatever the final price may be one thing is clear that the next iPhone will be an expansive device. So Apple fans better start saving money wherever they could to be to afford the upcoming flagship due for September release. Apple is being tipped to launch a flagship model with premium price and specs along with the lower-end model which will be priced less with modest specs. All eyes are on Apple for the 10th anniversary of iPhone.


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Sony and Facebook have cancelled their appearances on the Game Developers Conference this yr, each citing considerations concerning the new coronavirus. The yearly convention for game trade employees is often a supply of recent data every year, with displays concerning the improvement of influential games and interviews with studio members. Both Sony and Facebook are stepping again this yr based mostly on considerations for the well being and security of their employees.
Facebook are cancelling their bodily presence on the present however are nonetheless planning to current data digitally, they mentioned in a press release to GamesIndustryBiz.
“Out of concern for the health and safety of our employees, our dev partners, and the GDC community, Facebook will not be attending this year’s Game Developer Conference due to the evolving public health risks related to COVID-19. We still plan to share the exciting announcements we had planned for the show through videos, online Q&As, and more, and will plan to host GDC partner meetings remotely in the coming weeks.”
Similarly, Sony are additionally backing down from attending the occasion in particular person to guard their personnel.
“We have made the difficult decision to cancel our participation in Game Developers Conference due to increasing concerns related to COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus). We felt this was the best option as the situation related to the virus and global travel restrictions are changing daily. We are disappointed to cancel our participation, but the health and safety of our global workforce is our highest concern. We look forward to participating in GDC in the future.”
Sony’s change in plans just isn’t altogether stunning, on condition that they’d already cancelled their plans to attend PAX East subsequent weekend the place they have been anticipated to debut new details about The Last Of Us 2. For their half, GDC have outlined plans to fight well being dangers on website together with additional use of disinfectant and day by day carpet sanitization in expo corridor areas.
Prior to Sony and Facebook’s bulletins, different builders have been already pressured to cancel GDC attendance to adjust to travel restrictions into the United States in response to coronavirus considerations. Exhibitors based mostly in China—about 10 of 550, GDC say—can be unable to attend. Similarly, attendees from China or who’ve not too long ago traveled by the nation can even be unable to attend. According to the US State Department, the nation is “barring entry to the United States of most foreign nationals who traveled to China within the 14 days immediately prior to arrival in the United States.”
GDC will happen from March 16th to March 20th subsequent month in San Francisco. They have been updating their site as necessary attendance-related details about the coronavirus turns into obtainable.


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Category Archives: features
In honor of yet another landmark vehicle turning 25, let’s all raise a champagne glass to Lexus, Japan’s most luxurious marque. Now, set that glass down atop a pyramid of other glasses stacked on the hood of a dyno-strapped LS … Continue reading
The grand opening of the Datsun Heritage Museum was this weekend. Koji Yamaguchi of the Japanese Classic Car Show was kind enough to cover it for us.
New article up. A couple of classics showed up at the ongoing LA Auto Show. [LINK]


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ANUGA Cologne 2023 – Messe Cologne Germany
As a prominent exhibition show for the global food and beverages industry, Anuga food fair cologne needs no introduction. Dates for the year 2023 edition have been announced for the period October 7th – October 11th Anuga 2023 trade fair will follow the tradition of blazing new trails in the development of food and beverage industry. Given the unique trade fair concept, the benchmark appointment will feature 10 distinctive food and beverage shows. The international conference is a big draw with close to 165,000 participants anticipated to fill the halls of the exhibition center. The show takes place every 2 years in Germany.
When and where it will take place
For the first time, the food and beverage industry get-together will be augmented by the new digital format Anuga @home for 2 days between 7th to 11th October. This new development will encourage industry leaders from all around the world to participate in the show and provide them extended opportunities to bring forth their thoughts on the future of the industry. The show will host a range of leading manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, suppliers and trade agencies for food and drinks, catering technologies, fresh convenience products, and much more. It will give an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of visitors and interested buyers to explore the latest developments in the food & beverages industry, check out free samples and place orders if they like the product.
What ANUGA Cologne 2023 Germany will offer?
Anuga Cologne 2023 offers countless special events, product demonstrations, and congresses on 11 trending themes. With so many innovative programs and an impressive exhibitor group, ANUGA 2023 Germany stands as a biannual highlight of food & beverage industry. ANUGA Cologne 2023 in Germany will motivate start-ups to boost their presence in the industry and generate new opportunities for them to grow and explore the industry trends as it provides an interesting look, a clean, deep and sometimes a sudden understanding of developments in the FAB industry. Held once every 2 years, ANUGA Cologne 2023 is the most inspiring business platform for the food and beverage industry. The previous edition was held before the events of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought to Cologne 7500 exhibitors from roughly 170 countries and more than 165,000 visitors from 198 countries. The same or more is expected this time as well.
Be sure of booking your room for ANUGA 2023 trade fair as soon as you get your ticket for the show. With a reputed exhibition design company Germany, you can make your booth stand out from the rest and give your brand a notable presence in the eyes of the industry leaders as well as common people. Secure your seamless presentation at ANUGA Cologne 2023 with a modular booth design Germany, a perfect solution to add charm to your presence in the hall.


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June 16, 2014
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Steamboy promises to add a feature currently missing from PC and Steam gaming: portability.
The post Steamboy: it’s like a PS Vita, but for Steam games appeared first on Geek.com.
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Ottawa-based Ackroo (TSX-V:AKR), which develops gift cards and loyalty rewards technology for retailers, said it’s secured a much-needed cash injection and plans to hire more staff.
The firm previously said it had less than $13,000 in cash on hand as of Sept. 30 when it reported its most recent quarterly results late last month.
On Friday, the company said it had raised $1 million through a private placement.
“This financing was key to our next phases of growth,” said Ackroo CEO Steve Levely in a statement. “The funds allow us to support our working capital requirements while also providing us with additional funds to hire more staff back into ... sales, marketing and product development.”
The company reported a loss of $488,645 in its most recent quarter. That compares with a loss of $284,382 during the same period a year earlier.
Its quarterly operating loss from operations, excluding interest, taxes, amortization, stock‐based compensation and restructuring charges, was $107,960. A year earlier, Ackroo's loss from operations was $53,991.
Mr. Levely said in today’s statement that the additional employees would help the firm with “closing the final gap of our operating losses.”
In connection with the private placement, Ackroo issued five million common shares to subscribers at a price of 20 cents per share as well as 2.5 million common share purchase warrants.
Additionally, Ackroo granted options to purchase 235,000 common shares to officers, employees and consultants of the company at 20 cents each for a period of three years, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Ackroo’s stock price was up three cents, or 15 per cent, to 23 cents per share in late morning trading Friday.


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Discount hotel chain EasyHotel is coming to Israel. Owned by the same people as discount airline EasyJet, the EasyHotel chain has over 50 locations in Europe and is known for inexpensive but comfortable lodging. Recent polls and studies have shown that lodging in Israel is far more expensive than in most places in the world.
Now the chain will be opening in Tel Aviv, Globes reported. The company has signed a 20-year licensing deal with an Israeli group that will see the opening of three hotels in the city, totaling 667 rooms. The hotels are set to open by 2022. Locations have yet to be determined.
Along with the Tel Aviv hotels, the chain will open new hotels at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and in the U.K. town of Derby. In a statement, EasyHotel chief executive Guy Parsons said “I am pleased to report further progress against our strategy as we continue to expand our network of super budget hotels in city-center locations, both in the UK and across international markets. The Board believes that the current economic uncertainties will continue to present attractive investment opportunities for the brand and we look forward to announcing further updates in due course.


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For the segment of shoppers determined to find deals on the products they buy, whether in their everyday practices or when they go to invest in durable goods, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chain operations continue to be prominent. Consider three broad examples, related to food, holiday shopping, and appliances.
First, both low income people and the social services in place to help them are struggling mightily with food costs. The prices for staple pantry items such as peanut butter have risen from about $13 per case to an average close to $19. Sources of fresh protein, such as eggs, beef, and fish, are being subject to average price increases of approximately 15 percent. For low income consumers on tight budgets, such increases make it impossible to stretch their food dollars far enough to feed themselves and their families at all, much less with these sorts of fresh and healthy options.
The sources of such price increases are multiple, including the rising prices of logistics. For example, delivery by refrigerated trucks used require about $3000 per truck, before the pandemic; today, those delivery costs have reached $10,000 on average. Furthermore, shutdowns at various meat processing plants due to infections disrupted these supply chains so dramatically that production levels still have not made up for the gap.
At the same time as prices have risen and food supply chains have been disrupted, many more people have confronted financial instability and turned to social services, such as food banks, for help. Thus for example, the Oregon Food Bank received requests from 1.7 million people in 2020, more than twice the number who sought assistance in 2019. Faced with more demand, limited supply, and higher prices, nonprofit groups find themselves unable to meet their commitments to aiding people, with little hope for a resolution in sight.
Second, consumers across the income spectrum become deal-seekers around the holiday season, having been primed by years and years of sales promoted by retailers seeking to get them to buy gifts for everyone they know. But those sales are unlikely to be available this year, or if they are, they will not be as dramatic as in the past. According to one prediction, whereas holiday season discounts previously ranged around 10–30 percent, shoppers should expect deals (if they find them) of closer to 5 or 15 percent.
Here again, the reasons for these developments are multiple and closely related to supply chains. Because the bottlenecks created by COVID-19 have continued to keep products from flowing freely, many popular brands simply do not have inventory to sell. One web tracker identified a 172 percent increase in the number of out-of-stock messages appearing on retail sites across the Internet. With such a limited supply, the retail brands’ goal is to earn the best margins on the products they have, rather than lowering prices to move more inventory.
There is a potential bright spot for risk-taking deal seekers though. Because of delays in the supply chain, some seasonal items are likely to appear in stores later than they normally would. In these cases, retailers might be willing to offer deals on last minute decorations or gifts, to avoid having leftover holiday trends cluttering up their already messy inventory operations even further.
Third, when it comes to big ticket purchases like appliances, most consumers search for deals too, unless they are explicitly willing to pay more for high-end options. In the COVID-19–created supply chain context, those big spenders might be the only ones able to make any purchases. Due to the difficulties getting parts and raw materials for their products, most appliance manufacturers (as well as carmakers) have trimmed their production lines, focusing mostly on the most expensive models, on which they can earn higher margins. Whirlpool announced this strategy, noting that it had to prioritize building products at higher price points to be able to cover the increasing costs of the materials it purchases. Chevrolet stopped making inexpensive Malibu sedan models, even as it ramped up production on more expensive SUV models.
Beyond the cost factor, some of these limitations reflect the state of the global supply chain. Inexpensive Weber grills generally are manufactured in China, and getting them shipped to U.S. markets has proved difficult. But the more expensive grills get produced in the United States, so the company can make these versions more readily available to U.S. consumers—again, as long as they are willing to pay for the higher-end model.
These examples continue to reveal just how pervasive the implications of the COVID-19 have been, and will continue to be, for nearly every member of every supply chain, all the world over. But the risks for consumers already living with income insecurity appear more pressing. It’s one thing to cut back on Christmas presents. It’s another to be forced to go hungry.
- What are the prospects for low income or bargain shoppers with regard to the ongoing supply chain effects of COVID-19?
- Consider the various actors engaged in these different, conventional supply chains. What responsibilities does each of them have for resolving these challenges?
Source: Sharon Terlep and Austen Hufford, “Why It’s Easier to Find Expensive Appliances than Cheaper Ones,” The Wall Street Journal, October 4, 2021; Nelson D. Schwartz and Coral Murphy Marcos, “Higher Food Prices Hit the Poor and Those Who Help Them,” The New York Times, October 27, 2021; Suzanne Kapner, “Shoppers Find Discounts Are in Short Supply this Holiday Season,” The Wall Street Journal, October 25, 2021


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Capital Region Area Car Dealer Accepting Bitcoin
A Capital Region area car dealership is now accepting Bitcoin as payment for cars, claiming to be the first in the area to do so.
According to the Times Union, Michael's Auto Plaza in East Greenbush is now accepting Bitcoin. Bitcoin is hot right now as just around a year ago one was worth less than $1,000 and today it is valued at $18,000 U.S. dollars. Bitcoin is a digital currency that works without a central bank or single administrator and now trades on future exchanges. It is a worldwide payment system that is the first of it's kind. It was invented in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people under the name Satoshi Nakamoto.
I honestly don't know a lot about bitcoins personally but I wish I had bought a bunch of shares some years back because I'd be living pretty good right about now! What are your thoughts on car dealers accepting bitcoins for payment?


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The online travel-booking industry is as attractive as ever, but TripAdvisor (TRIP -0.36%) hasn't yet found a way to turn its vibrant travel community into a robust business. The company recently announced meager sales growth and net losses for its fiscal fourth quarter.
In prepared remarks, CEO Steve Kaufer and his team explained why those results have convinced them to focus on improving profitability over the coming quarters, even at the expense of market share.
Below, we'll look at a few key points that executives wanted to impart in that presentation.
It's a thriving community
The global TripAdvisor platform continues to generate strong network effects.
Visitor traffic grew 17% in the fourth quarter, and over the full 2017 fiscal year, user-generated content like reviews and opinions grew 30%. Executives credited the "refreshed look and feel" of the website and shopping apps for helping them deliver a more streamlined browsing experience that attracted 455 million visitors during the peak summer travel season -- up from 390 million a year ago.
We're not happy with the profit performance of hotels
Hotel segment adjusted EBITDA declines over the past couple of years have been unsatisfactory, however we are encouraged by our recent progress.
Until last quarter, TripAdvisor had posted nearly two straight years of declines in the profitability of its core hotel segment. As recently as early 2016 that division had been booking adjusted earnings margins of 35%, but the rate collapsed to a low of 16% in the third quarter.
Profitability shot back up to 26% of sales over the holiday quarter even though the user base continued to migrate toward shopping on mobile devices. That success was powered by a sharp drop in marketing spending that also resulted in lower user growth. Executives said they are willing to trade a reduced growth rate for a more profitable business, though.
The non-hotel business is strong
While we continue to move our hotel business forward on a more sustainable path toward long-term profitable growth, we continue to rapidly scale our Non-Hotel segment.
The non-hotel business logged a 20% sales expansion in the fourth quarter, compared to a 3% decrease for the hotel segment. That made the segment worth 24% of the overall business, up from 15% in 2015.
The division was solidly profitable for the year, generating $45 million in adjusted earnings compared to a $28 million loss in 2016. Management has been bullish on the long-term potential for the attractions business, which is why they've aggressively added to the portfolio of bookable attractions. Investors can expect to hear more about this segment in 2018 as the company expands its offerings to target an estimated $110 billion global tours and activities market.
Slow growth ahead
We believe our addressable market opportunity, our unique competitive position and our growth strategy position us to return to double-digit revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA margins in excess of what we have operated to over the past couple of years.
Kaufer and his team are aiming to continue prioritizing improved profits from the hotel business in 2018. As a result, that segment should shrink slightly even as adjusted earnings hold roughly steady, they predict. That formula would result in a stabilizing profit trend following three consecutive annual declines. The hotel business shrank from a 37% margin in 2015 to a 24% margin in 2017.
The non-hotel portion will likely enjoy another year of strong sales gains, according to executives, but the focus for now is on capturing market share rather than generating profits. Put it all together, and it's possible TripAdvisor will endure its fourth straight year of declining operating income after the figure peaked at $340 million in 2014 before sinking to less than half that result over the past 12 months.


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By Mark Dreyfus
As Australia's digital economy grows, government agencies and private-sector organisations are collecting and storing more and more personal information online. But for the digital economy to continue to thrive, it is essential that the personal information of Australians is held securely and that their privacy is respected.
At the moment there is an important debate taking place around the world about how much information we are prepared to allow law enforcement agencies to access in exchange for our protection. At a recent inquiry by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies made it clear how important data was to their investigations of serious crimes such as terrorism, murder and paedophilia.
I have consistently said we must have a balance between national security and privacy, and that any access to information by law enforcement agencies must be within an appropriate legal framework that includes checks and balances.
Long before the recent leaks in the US, the Gillard government had a bill before the Parliament aimed at improving privacy and better protecting personal information. This bill is now before the Senate and, if supported by the Greens Party and the Coalition, will help Australians respond as quickly as possible when their privacy is compromised.
When we provide our names, email addresses, credit card details, phone numbers or passwords to an organisation, we do so with an entirely reasonable expectation that these personal details will be protected.
Privacy or data breaches are sometimes caused by hackers, sometimes by poor security and sometimes by plain carelessness. Earlier this year, hackers exposed the personal information of 50,000 users of the ABC Online website. There have been a number of other high-profile privacy breaches in recent years, including the public release by hackers of information about 77 million Sony PlayStation users.
Data breaches like these make me concerned about the security of personal information online. So I am pleased that the government introduced changes to the Privacy Act last year requiring government agencies and private-sector organisations to take better care of the personal information they hold.
It also concerns me that people are not even being told when the security of their personal information has been compromised. Nobody wants to find out in a news story that their personal information has been exposed – especially if the company or government agency has known about the data breach for some time.
Up until now, there has been no legal requirement to notify people when a data breach has occurred. It has been up to the company or government agency to decide if and when to let their clients know that their privacy has been compromised.
That is why I believe the time has come for Australia to have data breach notification laws. Under the laws I have introduced to Parliament, government agencies and private-sector organisations will have to tell affected individuals as soon as practicable when there has been a serious data breach.
This means people whose privacy is breached will be able to take steps promptly to protect their privacy. They will be able to change passwords, update their online security settings, cancel credit cards and do whatever else they see fit.
Businesses will not be unfairly burdened by the proposed laws because the notification requirement will apply only to serious data breaches that may cause harm to individuals.
I believe people have a right to know when their privacy has been breached. That right should be enforceable. That's why the proposed laws will give the Australian Information Commissioner the power to direct agencies and organisations to notify affected individuals of a data breach. Serious or repeated non-compliance may result in fines under the Privacy Act.
The proposed laws will empower people to protect their privacy in the event of a data breach. They will also provide an incentive for businesses to store information securely. No business wants a reputation for not keeping its customers' personal information safe.
It's pleasing that the legislation has the support of key online companies such as Microsoft and consumer advocacy groups such as Choice and Electronic Frontiers Australia.
The government introduced major reforms to the Privacy Act only last year. But as the digital economy evolves it is important to be alert to new threats to privacy. The data breach notification laws prove that this government has an ongoing commitment to protecting the privacy of Australian families.
Mark Dreyfus, QC, is the federal Attorney-General.


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The City Council approved the final reading of a contentious zoning item Tuesday night to limit the growth of new auto-related businesses.
The rule aims to limit the growth of businesses like tire and lube shops, carwashes, repair garages and automobile sales lots, especially in business and light industrial districts, said Clayton Husband, principal planner for the city.
New auto-related businesses on land not previously used for that purpose will now need to get a specific-use permit.
Two members voted in opposition, one abstained and six voted in favor of the item Tuesday night, Husband said.
After approving the first reading Dec. 17, the council adopted minor changes to address concerns of landowners who lease to auto-related businesses.
The item, which has been discussed since early summer, is part of a major effort to update zoning ordinances from the 1980s.