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A record tailspin
Updated: 2012-06-29 09:00
By Yang Yang (China Daily)
Music fans browse through CDs and records at the Indie Music record store in Jiugulou Dajie, Beijing. Yang Yang / China Daily
China's music industry is struggling to turn a profit, but there is light at the end of the tunnel
In January, Song Ke, arguably the most popular music producer in China and a vocal pessimist of the industry, announced he was quitting the business to run a roast duck restaurant. Five months later, he made an equally surprising return.
Song, the former deputy general manager and producing director of Warner Music China and founder of Taihe Rye Music Co Ltd, was hired in June as the general manager of upstart Evergrande Music. But though the news about the producer's return made waves across the nation, it was his departure at the beginning of the year that revealed more.
As Song put it in January, "China's music industry is at a crossroads. We all need to think about what to do".
What his abrupt departure showed most of all is that the Chinese music industry is struggling badly. With piracy and the rise of digital media, the industry and its music producers, both domestic and foreign, are trying to find their way in the Middle Kingdom.
In 2011, China's music industry accrued $82.8 million in total sales, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Sales of media, which include compact discs, records and cassettes, totaled $19.9 million across the country, but 76 percent of that total revenue figure came from digital sales.
Although China is the world's second-largest economy and has a population of more than 1.3 billion, its music sales ranked 22nd in the world in 2011.
The main reason? Piracy. In the age of the Internet, the advancement of technology and rise of new media, record sales are dropping globally. In China, record sales reached $55.5 million in 2006, but in 2011, sales dropped to $19.9 million, according to IFPI.
In 2010, more than 70 percent of the revenue from China's music companies came through digital music sales, although IFPI said that 99 percent of the music in China was pirated.
Here's another alarming figure: Although the population of online users in China is double the total in the United States, digital music sales per capita in China is just 1 percent of the US'.
And in addition to piracy, there is another factor harming China's music industry: the distribution of revenue.
If a song generates 100 yuan ($15.7, 12.6 euros) in revenue, only 2 yuan goes to music producers in the form of royalties, according to industry insiders. The rest goes to telecom operators such as China Mobile as well as Internet service providers such as the search engine company Baidu and web portals Sina and Tencent.
In many other countries, music producers take a bigger share of sales. In the US, the world's largest music market, music companies can get up to 70 percent of music sales, while in Japan, the second largest market, 90 percent goes to producers, says Zhan Hua, CEO of Taihe Rye Music.
"When talking about the music market, people always say the business is very bad. But actually, it is not bad at all. Music makes enormous money. It's only we producers don't get much," Zhan says.
Music producers complain they are losing out on the ring tones business. China Mobile made more than 26 billion yuan in 2010 from ring tone sales and more than 30 billion yuan in 2011, according to China Audio-Video Association.
"They make so much money on music, but (mobile phone service companies) pay very little to us," Zhan says.
To try to make ends meet, many producers are finding other outlets to survive.
Taihe Rye Music, once the largest pop music company on the Chinese mainland, did not renew contracts for all of its singers two years ago, including popular singers such as Chris Li and Pu Shu. Now about 70 percent of its revenue comes from royalties from more than 2,000 songs the company owns.
With limited income from their records, many bands are turning to touring.
Tian Jianhua, spokesman for the punk band Reflector, says the band puts on more than 200 performances a year. Their best-selling record has sold only about 100,000 copies.
"If we made a living purely on selling albums, we would have already starved to death," Tian says.
Modern Sky has in recent years gone the way of music festivals. Each year, the company with a staff of 20 holds the Strawberry Music Festival, China's largest, in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an.
Similarly, 13-Month, a company famous for finding folk bands, has held an annual national tour called Folk on the Road since 2009. It is also producing short films. Only 10 percent of its more than 10-million-yuan revenue last year came from royalties.
Domestic record companies are not the only sufferers from the demise of the industry in China. The world's biggest music company, Universal Music, is finding it tough to survive in the nation.
In 2012, although the company will release more digital albums, it will slash the number of CDs and records from 200 in 2011 to 160.
"It's mainly because of piracy," says Janis Chang, general manager of Universal Music Group International China. "We cannot even recover the production costs."
US pop singer Taylor Swift, who is signed to Universal Music, has so far sold 7 million albums worldwide, but only 100,000 in China.
Starsing Records is the agent of three multinational music companies in China. When the company wanted to publish British singer Adele's album 21, they found more than 100 pirated records in the market.
For Chang, challenges for the Chinese music industry include informing people of the harm that pirated online music can do to the industry and recruiting support from the Chinese government to make protective laws and policies.
But when asked why they are still making music, many in the record business attribute their perseverance, their love of music and their hopes that the business will evolve someday.
"The current chaotic market needs regulation. And music companies need to find the rules of its development," says Chang, adding that "in the past years, industry booms like ring tones promise a very huge market potential. Once the environment gets better and we find the rules, you can imagine how many opportunities we will have".
Shen Lihui, general manager of Modern Sky, is also optimistic. "I think in three to five years, China's law on copyrights will be perfected and everything will get better."
Guo Biao, China's chief representative at IFPI, agrees and says "this industry will not stop. Once the business environment gets better, the market will boom very quickly".
The reason for their optimism partly stems from the recent efforts by the Chinese government to protect intellectual property.
Since 2005, it has been cracking down on online music piracy. Last year, the State Council, the chief administrative authority of China, established the National Leading Group for IPR Enforcement, which is headed by Vice-Premier Wang Qishan. In a three-month campaign in 2011, 17 major illegal websites that offered unauthorized services, such as free downloads of books, movies and research papers, were shuttered.
Another reason for optimism is a circulating draft that will amend the copyright law. The draft demands that commercial activities using music for commercial purposes must pay music companies or musicians a fair price. If the law is passed, restaurants, cafes, TV stations and radio stations will need to pay musicians if these venues use their music in their businesses.
In 2011, performance rights - fees that record labels charge users for commercial usage of its music - accounted for 6 percent of the labels' revenue in the world and is on the rise, according to IFPI.
Francis Moore, CEO of IFPI, commented at the China International Copyright Expo on June 22, that "here in China, there has also been important progress for music and creative industries".
Sun Yuanqing contributed to this story.
(China Daily 06/29/2012 page10)


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In this week's Self-Publishing News Special, ALLi News Editor Dan Holloway looks at the US bookselling industry's call for antitrust action against Amazon.
ALLi’s new guidebook, 150 Self-Publishing Questions Answered: ALLi’s Writing, Publishing, and Book Marketing Tips for Authors and Poets, written by ALLi’s Outreach Manager M.L. Ronn (Michael La Ronn), is available now. You can read an excerpt in this blog post and you can purchase the book here. As with all our guides, ALLi members can access their complimentary e-book copy in the member zone. Members: just log in and navigate to “Guidebooks”.
Is Amazon Too Big?
Of course we know that before Covid, people in the book world had a lot to say about Amazon. They have always been controversial, of course. But in the past year or so the antipathy has grown. Most notably we have seen bookstores refuse to stock titles shortlisted for major awards if their publisher was an Amazon imprint.
But in the last few months, the increase in antipathy has accelerated even more. We saw just recently that sales for the behemoth have grown more than 40% during lockdown whilst bookstores have struggled. Now there is a rare show of unity between authors, publishers, and booksellers in the USA. And Amazon is in their sights. Specifically, they have written to the House Antitrust Subcommittee saying Amazon’s levers are just too big and too many. It’s too big to do anyone any good, that is, except Amazon.
It’s worth reading this alongside Passive Guy’s take. He points out that the Big 5 is hardly the poster icon for a diverse and flourishing industry.
Bookshop – A Good Alternative to Amazon?
One of the problems alleged with Amazon is they are so big they squeeze the terms everyone gets. Bookshop is the largest app set up as a way to offer an alternative to Amazon. If you buy through the app, you can nominate a local store to benefit from the sale. Great. And recently $1m was shared among 861 stores. Great. But this week, the American Booksellers’ Association has started to grumble. Bookshop’s margins are tight. They have to be, of course, because they are competing with Amazon. But that means bookstores struggle to work with them. It’s a dilemma I’m not sure we can work around. And as long as we can't Amazon's size will continue to hover over us all.
Too Many Books?
Back in the early days of my time self-publishing, I remember a lot of talk about “the long tail.” One of the things that, as indies, we celebrated was that in our world there is space for everyone. Of course, not all commentators saw it that way. In the next phase of self-publishing we had to cope with phrases like “tsunami of crap.” And the fact that there are so many books self-published has always made many slightly uneasy. It makes industry figures based on ISBNs or statistics from Bookscan feel almost quaint. And in more sinister ways, the sheer numbers can hide some pretty nefarious practices like scraping and even plagiarism.
And at the same time, words like “curation” have gained traction. Publishers and bookstores have used it to distance themselves from us. And even in indie ranks, many are keen to make themselves stand out because they do the things the industry does.
This week, we had an illustration of just how different the two communities’ approach to numbers of titles really is. Lockdown has, we know, delayed many a launch. Just as it has done in the film industry. The result is now that things are easing, the industry is going to be overwhelmed. There are just too many titles all coming at the same time. In a single week, there will be a whole, gigantic…600!
Audio in Lockdown
We have heard a lot about the impact of Covid-19 on various forms of reading. As has been the case for several years now, audiobooks have been at the forefront of this. First there was speculation that sales would plummet because no one was commuting. Then there was speculation sales would soar because everyone was using subscription services.
And then the figures started to emerge – and the latter camp most definitely seemed to have it. This week, we have more to support this. Storytel’s Q2 figures have increased 43% year on year. And a Bookwire barometer offers a fascinating insight into the impact of Covid-19 on audiobook sales in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. What is clear is not so much that lockdown has increased or decreased sales. Rather, the growth if audio seems to have continued regardless.
And on the subject of Bookwire, the organization has been brought under the umbrella of EDRLab. European Digital Reading Lab is a group that (thanks to Mark Williams for the quote) is “working on the deployment of an open, interoperable and accessible digital publishing ecosystem in Europe.” Which sounds a lot like the work that W3C does for the internet as a whole.US booksellers, publishers, and authors call for antitrust action against Amazon, and top #selfpub news stories for #indieauthors, in one quick read, by #ALLi News Editor Dan Holloway @agnieszkasshoes #digitaleconomy… Click To Tweet
Upcoming Conferences and Events
Help us fill this with great online events in the coming weeks and months.
Dublin International Writers' Festival, 10-13 Sep
Frankfurter Buchmesse, 14-18 Oct [Frankfurt/online]
Over to You
Let us know about online events of interest to indies in the comments below.

domain: news


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Over-the-counter hearing aids expected this fall in the US
Millions of Americans will be able to buy hearing aids without a prescription later this fall, under a long-awaited rule that was finalized on Tuesday.
The regulation creates a new class of hearing aids that do not require a physical exam, prescription and other specialist evaluations, the Food and Drug Administration said. That is expected to increase competition and ultimately reduce costs. The devices will be sold online or over-the-counter at pharmacies and other retail stores.
This device is intended for adults with mild to moderate hearing problems. The FDA estimates that nearly 30 million adults could benefit from hearing aids, although only about one-fifth of people with hearing problems currently use hearing aids.
“Today’s action by the FDA represents an important milestone in making hearing aids more affordable and accessible,” Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra told reporters. reporters on Tuesday.
The FDA first proposed the rule last year, and it will go into effect in mid-October. The move comes after years of pressure from health experts and consumer advocates to make it clear. for devices that are cheaper and easier to buy.
Cost is a major obstacle these days. Americans can pay more than $5,000 for a hearing aid, between the device and the fitting service. Coverage is limited and Medicare does not pay for hearing aids but only for diagnostic tests.
“The requirement to see an expert is not only burdensome and uncomfortable for many consumers, but it actually creates a competitive barrier to entry,” said Brian Deese, economic adviser to the White House.
Deese cites government estimates that Americans could end up saving up to $2,800 per pair. But FDA officials cautioned against predicting the size of the savings or how quickly they might arrive, noting much will depend on when manufacturers release products and how they price them. .
FDA officials said they expect increased competition from new manufacturers as well as new products from existing hearing aid makers.
According to Kate Carr, president of the Hearing Industry Association, which represents manufacturers, medical tests and accessories currently account for about two-thirds of the cost of hearing aids. Five companies, she noted, make most of the devices sold in the US, though about 80 have registered with the FDA to market the products.
“Given that this has been discussed for five years now, I doubt businesses have had a chance to think about their plans and prepare for this,” Carr said.
The new over-the-counter status will not apply to more severe hearing loss devices, but will only apply to prescriptions.
Glenda Greer, of Loudon, Tennessee, said she struggled to hear conversations at work and in crowded restaurants for seven years before recently being fitted with her first hearing aid. .
“It just makes things a lot easier because I don’t have to focus on people’s faces and try to read lips,” said Greer, a recently retired nurse. said.
Consumer electronics companies have for years produced lower-cost “personal audio amplifiers” devices, but they haven’t undergone FDA review and US regulations forbid them from being sold. marketed as hearing aids.
The FDA said it changed several parts of the original proposal in response to public comments, including clarifying how the rule would impact state regulations.
Tuesday’s announcement comes at the urging of health committees and Congress, which in 2017 directed the agency to plan for over-the-counter hearing aids.
The Associated Press Health and Science Division receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Department. AP is solely responsible for all content.


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Yesterday we were discussing the launch of GeForce GT 540M GPU and today we will be talking about GeForce GTX 570 which comes loaded with 480 CUDA cores running at 1464 MHz with a 732 MHz graphics clock. It will have 1.25 gigs of GDDR5 memory which will be backed up by the processing speed of 3.8 GHz which is actually huge.
Like all NVIDIA “DX11 Done Right” GPUs, the GTX 570 delivers the world’s fastest performance for DirectX 11 (DX11) games in its class. When compared to the closest competitive product, the GTX 570 is up to 128 percent faster(i) in today’s newest DX11 tessellated games, and even 30 percent faster(ii) in previous-generation DX9 and DX10 games as well. With all of this performance under the hood, it is no wonder why GeForce GPUs remain as the world’s number one brand for consumer GPUs.
The GeForce GTX 570 has been built from the DNA of GTX 580 and has finally been launched in the market to tap into the holiday season. The vapor chamber cooler and the rest of the physical construction for GTX 570 is almost similar to the GTX 580. The closest cousin for the GeForce GTX 570 could be tagged as the GTX 480.


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Published May 2002
During the last quarter of 2001, while the economy was still reeling from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, companies looked for ways to cut costs to improve their bottom line.
Bonuses were frozen along with pay raises. Overtime hours were reduced, and the annual holiday party was either downsized or, in some instances, cut altogether.
For established planners, caterers and others in the event industry, a loyal customer base and a desire to innovate have pulled them through, said David Lersten, President of Action Entertainment & Event Planning (www.action-entertainment.com).
While his company has weathered the post-9/11 storm and the ensuing slowdown almost unaffected, others weren’t so lucky, he said.
“Some companies have really been hit hard, where they’re not even doing anything ... it’s either they’ve got money or they don’t have money,” he said.
And for those companies that do have money, they’re “just not spending as much,” said Lersten, whose company specializes in corporate events and picnics from Bellingham to Portland.
Over at Celebrate! Catering (www.celebratecateringinc.com) in south Everett, co-owner Sherri Hansen reports that some of the company’s big accounts have cut their catering expenses, but that day-to-day business lunches have continued at a good clip.
Hansen has noticed a cost-cutting trend, though: Clients are holding their corporate lunches and dinners in-house, using boardrooms and conference rooms on site rather than spending money on space elsewhere.
To accompany that trend, Celebrate! has created a new “comfort food” menu “to get the feeling of casual elegance into the boardroom,” Hansen said.
Included on that menu are turkey and chicken dishes, meat loaf, stuffed baked potatoes, apple pie and bread pudding, among others. Zucchini and banana breads are part of the snack line.
“These are things that people recognize and that people enjoy,” Hansen said. “Everybody loves a good apple pie.”
“It’s gotten a great response from the dinners that we’ve done,” she said.
Response for the 2002 holiday season also is encouraging in comparison to last year, Lersten said.
“Right after 9/11 there was a definite drop-off, but now (business) is progressively getting better,” he said. “Holiday parties are really starting to come on strong. People are getting back to spending money again.”
For companies who are planning a company party, dinner or picnic, timing is an important factor when it comes to saving money, Lersten said. He advises companies to plan the event on a weekday rather than the weekend, as those are not peak times.
“Even Friday would be cheaper than a Saturday or Sunday,” he said. And for corporate picnics, plan for June, rather than July, August or September.
© The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA


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40 Lorries into CAA custody
Posted in Local News
Forty Lorries taken into custody by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) officers this morning at Hanwella and Peliyagoda for transporting vegetables and fruits without using plastic containers, Consumer Affairs Authority officials said.
They said legal action would be taken against these owners soon. The CAA official launched an operation to track down vehicles transporting vegetables and fruits using plastic containers since last night (SJ)
Courtesy: DM Online


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Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — A pair of national clothing chains will be opening locations in the Town of Lockport this summer.
Rue 21, a well-known clothing chain for young people, will open a store in the Town of Lockport in about 90 days, Supervisor Marc R. Smith said this week. The chain was one of the retailers town officials wooed at the International Council of Shopping Centers conference.
The annual event is designed to connect municipalities with retailers and businesses. Lockport often participates and has seen results from those trips, such as the arrival of Rue 21.
“We’re really happy they’re coming to Lockport,” Smith said.
Smith said the town is awaiting interior design plans for the store’s 3,000-square-foot space soon. Rue 21 has 1,003 stores in 47 states, according to its website. Among those locations is one at the Fashion Outlets Mall in the Town of Niagara.
The Rue 21 store is to open in the Tops Plaza on South Transit Road, the same plaza in which a former Sears Hardware store is being renovated into a TJ Maxx department store that is expected to open soon.
“They’ll open in August, maybe closer to the end of July,” Smith said. “They’ll definitely want to be open in time for back to school shopping.”
Also finishing in August will be the general construction of the long-awaited Walmart Supercenter, located on South Transit Road not too far from the Tops Plaza. The supercenter is expected to open in October.
Smith said Walmart gave its contractor an Aug. 15 deadline to finish the building.
Other new South Transit businesses coming soon include Aquacates Mexican Restaurant, which is going into the former Masterpiece Pizza. White Rabbit Frozen Yogurt will open its seventh local store, this one in the Home Depot Plaza in the former GameStop location.
Building up the South Transit corridor has been a goal for Lockport town officials.
“The whole idea was to get that area going, we’re pretty excited,” Smith said.Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241 or follow him on Twitter @joeolenick.


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We all know that vitamin D is beneficial to our bodies, but whether taking it as a supplement in addition to a healthy diet provides genuine health advantages has long been contested. According to the most recent research, such supplements may lessen the chance of having a heart attack.
While the study found just a minor increase in the chance of a “major cardiovascular event” while taking vitamin D, it is certainly valuable for learning about the interaction between these and other health factors.
According to the study’s principal author, epidemiologist Rachel Neale of Australia’s QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, it is the second largest study to date looking at vitamin D supplementation and the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Consider it an inconclusive study about cause and effect, but with a large enough sample size – 21,302 patients aged 60 to 84 – that more work can now be done to examine the relationship in more depth.
“Our study found that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, and the protective effect may be greater in those taking statins and other heart disease medications,” Neale said.
“This suggests that further research is needed into this.”
For up to five years, study participants were given either a vitamin D supplement or a placebo, with approximately 80% of those in the vitamin D group remaining taking the supplements at the conclusion of the five years.
Six percent of vitamin D group individuals had a significant cardiovascular incident, compared to 6.6 percent of placebo group participants. According to ScienceAlert, the vitamin D group had a 19% reduced rate of heart attacks, while there was no difference in stroke rates.
The vitamin that reduces the risk of heart attack
The figures revealed that those who were taking statins or another type of heart health medicine at the start of the trial benefited more from vitamin D supplements – another intriguing discovery that needs to be investigated further.
“We’re not sure why this happens,” Neale explains. “It could be an indicator of higher risk early in the study, so there’s more room for improvement.”
The researchers emphasize that no one, especially older persons with pre-existing illnesses, should begin using vitamin D cardiac supplements without first visiting a doctor.
Meanwhile, the supplement discussion rages on. If you want to increase your vitamin D levels naturally, the answer is enough of sunlight and meals like fatty fish and egg yolks.
“While previous randomized controlled trials have not found supplementation to be beneficial for this outcome, the findings from the D-Health Trial suggest that it is premature to say that vitamin D supplementation does not change risk,” Neale said.


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DRESDEN, GERMANY--(Marketwired - May 6, 2015) - ZMD AG (ZMDI), an award-winning global semiconductor company headquartered in Dresden, Germany, and specializing in enabling energy-efficient solutions, today announces that it will be exhibiting at this year's international Sensors Expo & Conference at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, June 9-11, 2015. As a global supplier of analog and mixed-signal solutions for automotive, industrial, medical, information technology and consumer applications, ZMDI values this opportunity to present their leading-edge sensor technologies at this major event.
Since its founding in 1986, the Sensors Expo & Conference has been the leading event in North America focusing exclusively on sensors and sensor-integrated systems. According to its website describing the event in 2014, the trade show has "emerged as one of the largest and most important gatherings of engineers and scientists involved in the development and deployment of sensor systems." The conference website notes that the market for sensors has been expanding at a phenomenal rate (www.sensorsexpo.com).
"ZMDI has led the way through the development of sensing solutions for automotive, medical and mobile products. This year, we will be featuring a wide array of product demonstrations within our mobile and multi-market sensing portfolio and introducing some exciting new products that will offer our customers enhanced performance and value, including our new magnetoresistive bridge sensor interface family," according to Steve Ramdin, Product Line Manager ZMDI Sensing.
Sensors Expo attendees are invited to visit ZMDI's demonstration booth in collaboration with its distribution partner, Servoflo (http://www.servoflo.com). ZMDI's booth can be found in the main hall at #322. To arrange a meeting with ZMDI's signal conditioning experts at Sensors Expo 2015, click here http://bit.ly/1IKzy1Y. Visitors will have a firsthand look at ZMDI's latest technology.
Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden AG (ZMDI) is a global supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors solutions for automotive, industrial, medical, mobile sensing, information technology and consumer applications. These solutions enable our customers to create the most energy-efficient products in sensing, power management and lighting.
For over 50 years, ZMDI has been globally headquartered in Dresden, Germany. ZMDI serves its customers with sales offices and design centers throughout Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, China, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the United States.
See more at www.zmdi.com.
The URL for this news release is http://www.zmdi.com/news/press-releases-news/
Like ZMDI on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ZMDINT
Follow ZMDI on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ZMDINT
Join ZMDI on Linkedin at http://linkd.in/NiUwKx
ZMDI Global Director of Corporate Marketing
+001 438 288 3668
NewsMaker is an Australian Press Release Distribution and Social Media Marketing service founded in 2004. The company today represents over 22,000 brands who seek to share their content with journalists, bloggers and the community.
P: +61 414 69 70 71


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Nottingham’s Doughnotts Nabs a Spot on PETA’s ‘Top Vegan Sweet Treats’ List
For Immediate Release:
7 August 2017
Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 222; [email protected]
NOTTINGHAM’S DOUGHNOTTS NABS A SPOT ON PETA’S ‘TOP VEGAN SWEET TREATS’ LIST
Bakery Wins Award for Its Decadent Egg- and Dairy-Free Doughnuts
Nottingham – PETA has finalised its list of the Top 12 Vegan Sweet Treats across the UK, and scooping a coveted spot is popular Nottingham eatery Doughnotts, whose delicious egg- and dairy-free doughnuts and decadent cronuts come in a variety of mouth-watering flavours, including double chocolate and cherry Bakewell.
“Doughnotts’ delectable cruelty-free doughnuts make it possible to indulge your sweet tooth while also being sweet to animals,” says PETA Director Elisa Allen. “As all the compassionate eateries on PETA’s list prove, choosing vegan treats today is a piece of cake.”
Rounding out PETA’s list are Vx in Bristol, The Lady Luck in Canterbury, Science Cream in Cardiff, The Caffeine Drip in Edinburgh, Rabbit in Exeter, Our Kitchen in Liverpool, Yorica! in London, Ice Shack in Manchester, Luna Rossa in Sheffield, and ASK Italian and Shakeaway, which have locations across the UK. Each winner will receive a framed certificate.
PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat or abuse in any other way” – notes that the consumption of eggs and dairy foods, which are high in cholesterol and saturated fat, contributes to the UK’s obesity epidemic, which is linked to many of the country’s top killers, including heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and cancer. Not only are plant-based meals better for our health and the planet – since animal agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to climate change – they also spare millions of animals the horrors of factory farms every year.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.


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- Articles tagged "nvidia optimus"
NVIDIA was the first to implement switchable graphics, where a notebook has both integrated and discrete graphics and one can switch between the two as desired. Taking this step further, the company has announced its Optimus technology, where the switching is done automatically. We check out this new feature that will soon be heading your way.
- Lenovo officially brings Moto back into Singapore with six launch devices
- Lenovo will pre-install Microsoft Office, OneDrive, and Skype on its Android devices
- Team leaders appraise your Pokémon in latest Pokémon Go update
- Opera brings its free VPN to Android
- These Sony Xperia devices are getting the Android 7.0 update
- The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games medals may be made from recycled smartphones
- Windows 10 Anniversary Update causes webcams to freeze, Microsoft apologizes
- ASUS updates their in-car dashboard camera range with the new Reco Smart


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A group of investors is set to open Fort Washington Fitness Friday at 4:00 in the morning. The owners will honor the memberships of former gym members. They have hired many of /*Gold's Gym*/ trainers and instructors.
The new owners hope to lure many old members back, by offering the same classes and familiar faces.
Mark Gleaton said, "There's a very social aspect to the fitness industry to being a member of a club. People join to get healthy but they stay for the social interaction."
Neighboring businesses are thrilled to see the gym re-open. They say foot traffic drastically declined once Gold's went out of business.
The new owners plan to unveil a marketing plan to not only keep current members, but also recruit new ones.


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MUMBAI: In an industrial area in a Mumbai suburb, Godrej Appliances is attempting to reinvent itself. More than 25 electronic engineers, designers, business strategists and coders were ‘hacking’ their way to new products over the weekend using 3D printers and power tools, part of a new innovation drive at the appliancesmaker.
Hackathons and innovation bootcamps are all on the cards, spearheaded by a recently set-up innovation cell. “This, for us, is a prototype. I am trying to introduce startup thinking in the organisation itself. We will learn from this. Then we can evaluate for ourselves whether we want to do it every month, once a year or half a year.
So, we will do this one step at a time. This will not be the old thinking where we have a roadmap for the next five years,” Nishant Bhaskar, design specialist at the Godrej Innovation Centre, told ET. Bhaskar has been loaned to the Appliances business to set up an innovation cell. He still reports to Navroze Godrej, who oversees all innovation at the more than a century-old Godrej Group.
In Bhaskar’s role at the group’s Innovation Centre, he is also looking at the startup ecosystem to see how the group can engage with startups, though that process is at an early stage. The innovation cell at the Appliances division was set up six months ago. It consists of six core members including designers and engineers, while the extended team includes the head of the appliances business Kamal Nandi and other Godrej top executives. “We work together with the business, when we have ideas, we bring them in. We are also talking about changing the thinking in the business.
In the recent strategic business plan, I suggested that we should not be product centric, we must move to capability centric thinking and from execution-based thinking to search and learning-based thinking,” Bhaskar said. Bhaskar believes that when customers get tired of the ‘avalanche of features’, appliance companies with a focus on how ‘humans interact with appliances in their homes’ will benefit. The weekend hackathon, which was held at the Makers Asylum, saw teams building products around concepts such as childcare, elder care and connected homes.
Some of the products being built include a baby bottle that tracks feeding, a way to track electricity consumption at home to avoid blame games and a smart surface for older folks that could connect to the internet that can do everything Apple’s speech recognition program Siri can do. But even if no product makes it to the market, Godrej will consider the hackathon a success. “We can have interesting things come out of this. And even if we don’t, we are cultivating the kind of people who can think in a more meaningful way,” Bhaskar said.
Godrej is one of the first conglomerates to hold a hackathon in a core business and the latest in a long string of old world companies to tap newer technologies such as the IoT. In October, Federal Bank held amobile hackathon to develop ‘mobile-first’ products in conjunction with IBM. Citibank also launched a mobile hackathon combined with an accelerator programme. ET has reported earlier that other companies, such as Edelweiss Financial Services, are tapping engineering students for innovative ideas.


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04 January 2016, Abuja – Following the reduction in the pump price of petrol by the federal government, there has been slow compliance by filling stations in the satellite towns of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Daily Trust findings showed.
Our reporter observed that while NNPC stations had adjusted their pump prices to N86 per litre, some stations owned by independent and major oil marketers remained unchanged especially by retailers in the satellite towns.
This was just as the federal government yesterday began enforcement of sale of fuel at the N86.50 per litre for marketers and N86 for NNPC retail stations across the country. The government announced the new prices for petrol on Tuesday.
Shidok, however, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance so far by marketers in the cityand assured that, it would extend to the satellite towns to ensure all marketers comply.
- Daily Trust


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Prior to the acquisition of the PLANTERS® brand in 2021 by Hormel Foods, DKSH had been the exclusive marketing and distribution agent for the reputed snack brand for over a decade. With this extended partnership, DKSH's Business Unit Consumer Goods further capitalizes its regional leadership position in the distribution of fast moving consumer goods in Asia and beyond.
Hong Kong, June 24, 2022 – DKSH Business Unit Consumer Goods, a leading partner for FMCG companies seeking to grow their business in Asia and beyond, and Hormel Foods, a global food company, have jointly announced their new partnership. DKSH will provide a tailored market expansion blueprint to Hormel Foods to continue growing the PLANTERS® brand legacy in Hong Kong and Macau.
The partnership creates synergies between the innovative spirit of Hormel Foods and DKSH’s market expertise, including marketing and sales, market intelligence, trade and food service channels, and supply chain network. While the integrated effort is directing the growth of PLANTERS® nuts and cheese series, it also aims to deliver a new direction for the brand to broaden and strengthen its appearance and fusion projects.
Apart from Hong Kong and Macau, the collaborative footprint of DKSH and Hormel Foods include Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
Bonita Wong, Global Marketing Lead and Senior Brand Manager, Hormel Foods International Corporation, approvingly commented on the partnership: “The partnership between Hormel Foods and DKSH has already proven successful in other APAC regions. We are excited to now partner with DKSH Hong Kong to continue growing the PLANTERS® brand and provide value to our customers and consumers.”
Hugo Reyes, Vice President, FMCG, DKSH Hong Kong, added: “We welcome Hormel Foods on board. Having been entrusted to continuously support the PLANTERS® brand shows that we have been ideally catering to our clients’ and customers’ needs. Hormel Foods’ and DKSH’s partnership was built on shared values, is being fueled with ambitions, and will be strengthened with new visions. We look forward to this exciting journey with Hormel Foods and the PLANTERS® brand.”


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UPS, the American package delivery company, may spark a bidding war for Exel, the UK logistics group which last week said it was in merger talks with Deutsche Post.
The Germans, who would swallow up the much smaller Exel headed by John Allan, could offer as much as £3.5 billion, or around £13-a-share. UPS, which recently scooped up Overnite Transportation for $1.25bn, is known to be hunting further acquisitions.
UPS boss Mike Eskew has told Wall Street analysts he would consider acquisitions in attractive markets that offer compelling synergies that 'leverage our strengths'.
There have been persistent rumours linking UPS with Exel; yesterday there was speculation that Eskew had retained investment bank Goldman Sachs as financial advisers with a brief to look at the possibility of outbidding Deutsche Post, where the German government holds a significant stake. But other bidders could also emerge, including TPG, the Dutch logistics group.
There are signs that many of Deutsche Post's investors are balking at the idea of management paying a hefty premium for a British company, which they feel might take years to integrate. One analyst said there 'is a whiff of Deutsche Börse's aborted bid for the London Stock Exchange about this'. Deutsche Börse scrapped a bid for the LSE after a rebellion by a some shareholders in April.
Exel is negotiating from a position of strength: it is the world's largest freight forwarding service and its customers include 75 per cent of the world's 250 largest non-financial companies. It runs warehouses for Marks & Spencer and counts DaimlerChrysler among its blue-chip customers. Last year, it had annual turnover of £6.3bn and employs 110,000 people in more than 130 countries.
Deutsche Post wants to diversify from its core postage and package businesses into a broader range of logistics services.
Exel's model is different from competitors in that it does not own planes or delivery trucks, using instead third-party carriers to ship its customers' freight, meaning its cost base is relatively small.
Speculation has been rife for months that Exel was a bid target and the shares have soared. But as recently as July, Allan argued that the company was a 'special animal' and had no need to seek out a merger partner. However, under Takeover Panel rules, the company must put any firm offer to shareholders or run the risk of being sued for negligence.


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With dozens of companies preparing to roll out new electric vehicles, we're about to see the dynamics of the EV industry change dramatically. In this Fool Live video clip, recorded on Oct. 18, Fool.com contributor and auto industry expert John Rosevear discusses what he thinks investors should keep in mind before adding any automakers to their portfolio.
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John Rosevear: The thing I will always remind people considering investments in any electric vehicle company, including Tesla (TSLA 10.97%), is that in two to three years they're going to be an awful lot of electric vehicles on the market. It's all of the automakers you've ever heard of, and some you haven't heard of are coming to market with electric vehicles, some of which on paper are very good, very promising. I think Ford's (F 1.02%) going to sell every F-150 lightning pickup they can make, for instance. Months before the vehicle ships, they've already doubled their investment in the plan to scale it up faster.
If everybody is driving electric vehicle, the question is not to ask who is going to sell the most electric vehicles over the next couple of years? It's if every new cars and electric vehicle by 2030-2035 in places like China and Europe and developed markets in North America, and so forth, who's going to have what big piece of that? Clearly Tesla's here to stay around. I wouldn't bet against companies like Ford and General Motors (GM 0.44%) holding onto a significant share of the U.S. market. Maybe even gaining some ground as everybody jumps for electric vehicles because they're a little bit further ahead of the Japanese automakers and Stellantis (STLA 0.92%), the company that now owns Chrysler.
You have to remember that those companies aren't going away. This is a thing I've been trying to tell investors for a decade now. Promising new electric vehicle company comes in, begins production, gains some share, gain some steady customers, wins customers, it's a big playing field. Tesla sold what? Half a million cars last year. In a good year there are 90 million cars sold around the world. A lot of those are cheap cars in emerging markets, but companies like Toyota (TM -0.47%) sell a lot of those vehicles. The individual profit per vehicle is fairly small, but when you're selling 10 million over a year, etc. It's a big space to dive into.
I think there is room for Lucid (LCID 1.47%) to establish itself as a significant player in the electric vehicle market for someone who wants something a little different, and interesting, and well executed. Are they going to be America's leading automaker in five years? They're not scaling for that and investors shouldn't bet on that. But then we have to ask in this new world, what are these companies worth? That's a whole other discussion when we start talking about the value of these ancillary services or something. What you could argue that Tesla is expensive, but the legacy companies that will survive and thrive through this transition might be cheap, too.


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Is Footpath Business Becoming Big Issue for Kathmandu?
Kathmandu, the capital city of the country Nepal, ran into its first problems with the footpath collection for these years. The KMC clarified that the business of footpath is restricted and that this business will be removed according to laws. And this is where the problem arises. Kathmandu, being the commercial capital of the country, is a prime location for footpath shops. Locals here are constantly fighting against the constant struggle just to find a way out.
What is the issue?
For a long time, Footpath Business has been flourishing in the chowks and streets of Kathmandu. The Footpath business is booming, whether it’s blocking the road or causing traffic jams. The Kathmandu Metropolitan believes that this has caused many problems. Government officials are of the view that the sidewalk trade has also played a major role in increasing road accidents. Traders believe that those who rented expensive shutters are also affected.
What types of footpath business in Kathmandu?
From daily necessities to food, snacks, vegetables, fruits, clothes, and other electronics goods are being traded on the sidewalk. Carts have also been used extensively in such trade along the roads and at main checkpoints. But the most interesting thing is that such shops are very crowded.
Are footpath businesses cheap?
Many customers have the experience that goods are cheaper on the footpath than in other shopping malls and business centers. There is a lot of understanding that there can be a lot of congestion on the footpath as there is not much difference in quality but there is a lot of price difference.
What did the KMC say about the footpath stalls?
It has been declared by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) that the operation of the footpath business will remove permanently. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City clarified that footpath trade in Kathmandu city is illegal. The head of the KMC’s public relations said that the stalls were removed based on the practice of the law during the 18th SAARC Summit. He said that those who have been operating the footpath shops were violating the laws. But the problem is still the same.
What are the rules for operating footpath stalls?
Many laws govern the operation of footpath stalls in Nepal. A KMC spokesperson told that the operation of footpath stalls is illegal and that these stalls were removed as per the laws. The KMC also said that the operation of footpath stalls and illegal hawking is punishable by law. Violators will be prosecuted according to law. But other officials maintain that the operation of footpath stalls should be allowed as it is considered to be a form of business. The issue is that KMC has not yet conducted a study on whether or not the operation of footpath stalls is legal. It is also unclear whether the operation of footpath stalls would be permitted during the upcoming days.
What can be done?
To market their product, many vendors were forced to change their business to selling food from stalls, side roads and, other public places. Now, the foundations of these stalls are being removed by the KMC, and the vendors are struggling to find new locations. This is frustrating for vendors as they are now having to do the same things. But not only KMC but also the central government needs to decide on this.
What do the officials and rights activists say?
Everyone has their own views and opinions. Government officials consider that street trade illegal and insist that it be removed immediately. Similarly, culture and tourism experts seem to agree with the government officials on some issues about Kathmandu. Cultural experts and tourism experts are of the opinion that road business should be organized. But right activists say that those who do business should be given a large discount. They say either the government should provide proper employment or the street trade should be given space or time.
What is the solution to the problem?
KMC’s initiatives do not seem to be enough to solve the problem. The biggest problems are unemployment and centralized governance. The root of the problem is the lack of proper work even though the country has gone to the state system. It is necessary to develop other cities and provincial capitals. This will reduce the population density of Kathmandu and help reduce the footpath business in Kathmandu.
Whatever the reason, the sidewalk business is a big issue for Kathmandu. The only way to solve the problem of footpath business in Kathmandu is to create jobs and decentralize the centralized governance system. Such actions will reduce the pressure on Kathmandu. And the Footpath Business can be ended forever in Kathmandu.


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The age of yellow- and blue-uniformed food couriers sprinting through workplaces and scurrying down chinas streets could be coming to an end.
Food delivery groups meituan and , possessed by alibaba, have actually launched tweaks with their algorithms as they attempt to head off a growing societal backlash contrary to the stringent needs put on their drivers just who became heroes to a lot of chinese during countrys coronavirus lockdown early this present year.
The brand new policies will allow chinas an incredible number of scooter-riding couriers a bit more time to provide each meals purchase, changes which may have a company effect. meituan, including, has built its business on eking out a lot more deliveries a day from its about 4m couriers and reached profitability last year.
Nonetheless it had been that drive for performance that arrived meituan and in an advertising debacle this week. in an expos posted by chinas people mag, one previous manager of meituan cyclists recounted how the companys time period limit for doing a 3km distribution had ticked straight down from one hour in 2016 to 45 mins in 2017, and 38 moments in 2018.
Another driver said that they had been in the hook for time penalties even when customer activities such as for example perhaps not getting their particular phones caused the late delivery.
The quick and erratic driving regarding the companies couriers is certainly a way to obtain criticism. in shanghai alone, there were 325 delivery-related accidents in the 1st half 2019, with two-thirds concerning meituan or cyclists.
Its all fortune whether i go beyond the allotted time or perhaps not, stated one 27-year-old motorist surnamed wu. including, on tuesday, we just had seven purchases during lunch but nonetheless three of those had been belated, stated mr wu. those three late sales cost him rmb84, or about one-third of their daily earnings, as couldn't spend his distribution cost and hit him with fines of rmb20 per purchase.
Scooter-riding couriers donning meituans bright yellow coats or s blue are becoming ubiquitous as chinas online food delivery market grew to a lot more than 400m monthly energetic people and rmb600bn in transactions just last year, relating to general market trends company trustdata. most cyclists work 26 to 28 days each month, plus in chinas biggest towns and cities they can work up to 17 or 18 hours a day, according to bernstein research.
After drivers had ferried meals and food during pandemic to scores of homebound chinese, the report on the needs quickly went viral.
Facing algorithms, folks become resources, typed one commenter on wechat.
These platforms ought to be even more tolerant of these motorists. we have been not in a big hurry, stated another audience.
launched it can quickly launch a new option enabling customers to offer motorists a supplementary five or 10 even more minutes to produce and said it can perhaps not penalise motorists with a history of on-time deliveries. meituan moved further and stated it can provide bikers an extra eight minutes on all purchases before these were penalised for belated distribution and work to guarantee riders a safe timeframe.
John choi, of daiwa capital markets, stated providing longer per order could affect food distribution companies functional efficiency.these systems have-been truly pressing hard to reach the perfect amount as this is the way they tend to be increasing their profitability, he stated.
Meituan declined to review. a representative for stated: driver protection is a top priority for therefore we have many measures in position to safeguard their welfare.


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Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico – With the arrival of Joe Biden to the U.S. presidency and the appointment of new members of his administration, authorities and agricultural producers of Jalisco will resume the negotiations for the export of avocado to the United States.
The president of the Council for Agricultural Agroindustrial Development of Jalisco (CDAAJ), César Iván Silva, said that the state has the capacity to take advantage of the potential market for this fruit.
“The United States consumes around 1.3 million tons of avocado, 964,000 are exported from Michoacán. Jalisco expects to export around 310,000 tons of avocado,” stressed the president of the CDAAJ.
The sector leader stressed that the entity currently produces about 300,000 tons of the green fruit that has the required certifications to export to the U.S., and there are new plantations that will increase the production capacity in the entity.
In 2016, Jalisco authorities announced that they had the approval of the U.S. government to begin exporting avocado, and even gave the starting signal to two trucks loaded with avocado produced in Zapotlán El Grande, in the southern region of the state.
However, the 120 tons of avocados from Jalisco were not allowed to cross the border with the United States because of changes in the regulations.
Avocados from Jalisco are in great demand around the world. In 2019, avocado exports from the Mexican state increased almost 30%, even as producers in the state remained locked out of the lucrative United States market.
Source: El Economista


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|Bid||0.00 x 1400|
|Ask||0.00 x 900|
|Day's range||74.68 - 77.42|
|52-week range||58.01 - 138.70|
|Beta (5Y monthly)||0.50|
|PE ratio (TTM)||106.87|
|Forward dividend & yield||N/A (N/A)|
|1y target est||N/A|
Tims China and Freshippo, Alibaba Group’s omnichannel retail chain, are collaborating to introduce co-branded coffee products Tims China Announces Partnership with Alibaba’s Freshippo Tims and Freshippo Co-branded Products: Velvet Cocoa Coffee and Chestnut Latte Tims China Announces Partnership with Alibaba’s Freshippo Freshippo Store SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TH International Limited, the exclusive operator of Tim Hortons coffee shops in China (Nasdaq: THCH) (“Tims Chin
HANGZHOU, China, November 17, 2022--Alibaba Group Holding Limited today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.
HANGZHOU, China, November 14, 2022--Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, has once again excelled in its mission of supporting the group’s 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, thanks to its high-performance computing and innovative technology. Drawing on self-developed infrastructure upgrades, the group saw an 8% year-on-year saving in computing cost per resource unit from April 1 to November 11.


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What’s going on this September? National Preparedness Month. This will be the time to increase your awareness of the safety of your business, family, pets and community. During disasters, communication is key. National Preparedness Month concludes on September 30 with the National PrepareAthon! Day.
It would be like a science ...
National Preparedness Month is happening right now. It’s the perfect time to take action for you and your community. It’s all about making plans to remain safe, and when disasters do strike, to keep communications going. September 30th is the culmination of NPM, with the National PrepareAthon! Day.
If a ...
Although Israel is widely described as the “startup nation,” the country’s tiny market means that Israeli startups need to look beyond Israel if they want to succeed. Not surprisingly, you’ll frequently find Israeli startups exhibiting at technology trade shows throughout the US and Europe.
One upcoming opportunity for many ...
'Email is dead' is a popular proclamation that generates buzz and gives tech websites the much needed page-views. But a slew of new investments made by leading venture capitalists for start-ups built on email technology prove why these proclamations have been wrong.
Last week, Agari announced that they have raised ...
Two major trends in the technology industry are the movement of communications to all IP networks, while another major trend is the increasing prevalence of APIs (Application Programming Interface). In computer programming, an API specifies how some software components should interact with each other. Using a popular site like ...


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Slated to go into effect next week, the tariff imposes a 25 percent tax on all foreign imports of steel and a 10 percent tax on foreign imports of aluminum.
In response, the EU may add a 25% tariff to American exports, which could affect brands including Levi's and Harley-Davidson.
"They've been talking with me". He called it "a slippery slope" to target only some countries with increased tariffs while exempting others.
Politicians aren't the only ones worries about what these tariffs could mean for Canada's economy.
But, whether this is true depends on whom you ask. "They've been brutal to us". "In practice, this is rarely the case, as countries use different data sources and statistical methods".
Canadian oil and gas industry purchases of U.S. goods and services are expected to have an impact of US$45.6 billion on the U.S. economy from 2017 through 2027, according to the Canadian Energy Research Institute.
Trump went on to suggest similar things are happening along the "northern border states with Canada, having to do with lumber and timber".
U.S. Department of Commerce Wilbur Ross recommended implementing tariffs last month based on a 262-page investigative report, finding that mounting steel and aluminum imports, particularly from China, were a threat to national security.
"The general consensus of the president was tariffs had to imposed, and they should be across the board without country exemptions", Navarro told CNN's Jake Tapper.
"I encourage the president to carefully consider all of the implications of raising the cost of steel and aluminum on American manufacturers and consumers", Sen.
"It's troubling to see an American administration revert to some of the failed policies of the past that not just discourages growth, but punishes [it]", Scheer said. "As soon as he exempts one country, his phone starts ringing from heads of state of other countries".
Steel prices have been increasing since the recession.
Trump, though, doesn't appear to be backing down.
Many Republican allies of Trump oppose the tariff plan. "The WTO will be watching the situation very closely".
In a sign of how much these numbers matter, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., David MacNaughton, cited U.S. data - not his country's own - in refuting Trump claiming a trade imbalance in December.


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One of the biggest challenges new parents face is getting their baby to sleep through the night
Pittsburgh, PA (Vocus) January 29, 2009
4moms , a company that creates innovative juvenile products, has announced that its new product, the Goodnight Sleep Trainer, is now available in Target stores for the first time.
Click for Video:
"One of the biggest challenges new parents face is getting their baby to sleep through the night," explained Rob Daley, co-founder and CEO of 4moms. "Sleep experts have written dozens of books detailing proven sleep training methods, but let's face it -- when its 4a.m. and your baby is crying, it's not easy to remember what you read in a book."
To address this challenge, 4moms worked closely with Dr. Jim Tucker, a pediatrician who has been preaching these sleep-training methods to hundreds of families over the last 26 years, to develop the Goodnight Sleep Trainer.
"For the first time, this product takes the proven book- based methods of sleep training and puts them into a simple to use electronic device," said Dr. Tucker. "By gradually increasing the time parents let their children cry it out, the children learn to soothe themselves to sleep while still getting the parental support that is key to good child development."
Retailing for $29.95, the Goodnight Sleep Trainer is easy to use and addresses two areas of sleep training. First, the product offers a progressive timer to help parents as they teach their children how to soothe themselves to sleep. By gradually increasing the time that parents let their children "cry it out", the children learn to soothe themselves to sleep while still getting the parental support that is key to good child development. The Goodnight Sleep Trainer also has an option that allows parents to connect to the web to track sleep patterns on-line, monitor how their child is progressing and compare the data against statistical norms.
The Goodnight Sleep Trainer is also available via Target.com, Amazon.com, and Buy Buy Baby as well as specialty retailers and boutiques throughout the United States. The product will be available in Babies R'Us stores and on BabiesRus.com in February of 2009. For more information on using the product, go to http://www.goodnightsleeptrainer.com.
Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 4moms has also created the innovative Cleanwater Infant Tub, which has been on the market since 2006. Created after months of market research and dozens of focus groups with real moms, the product is the result of a simple idea: an infant tub with a hole in the side that allows dirty water to drain out while clean fresh water flows in. The product also has a digital thermometer so parents can monitor the temperature.
Committed to making routine tasks easier for parents, 4moms is revolutionizing the juvenile products industry with dramatically innovative products. Market research that included a group of 5 moms with fifteen children among them led the company to focus on the juvenile products industry. By leveraging the declining costs of technology, the company is able to develop products that are completely unique and revolutionary, yet would have been cost prohibitive just a few years ago. Today, the moms are still involved in the research and the company has a team of fifteen robotic engineers and researchers (and parents to twenty-eight children), who are focused on applying new technologies to create award winning products that are intelligent and offer real life solutions for parents. For more specifics on all 4moms products, click on their website at http://www.4momsOnLine.com.
Kelley Denny/Lynn Seay, prwerks


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In my previous article, I outlined the beginnings of an internal, employee-focused “longevity strategy” that organizations can use to reap the benefits of an aging workforce. In this one, I’ll discuss its external, consumer-facing complement.
The market for products and services for older adults is already strong, and it will become even stronger. With distinct consumption habits and service needs, Americans over 50 accounted for $7.6 trillion in direct consumer spending and related economic activity in 2015, and controlled more than 80% of household wealth, according to a 2016 joint report from Oxford Economics and AARP. Further, a 2010 AARP survey reveals that 90% of older adults say they want to be able to remain in their own homes as they age. Envisioning how communities will respond to the needs of aging people will keep many more of them in their homes and contributing to the economy. Bank of America Merrill Lynch projects that the global spending power of those age 60 and over will reach $15 trillion annually by 2020.
But the potential for forward-thinking companies goes beyond just an interesting business opportunity. Older adults are poised to shape consumer and capital markets in the years ahead. The McKinsey Global Institute concludes that the 60-plus population, one of the few engines of global economic growth, is on track to generate half of all urban consumption growth between 2015 and 2030. “The Longevity Economy is redrawing economic lines, changing the face of the workforce, advancing technology and innovations, and busting perceptions of what it means to age,” states the Oxford Economics/AARP report.


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During this year’s upfront market, TV networks more than ever will have to compete outside the box.
For decades, the main rivals in the annual springtime haggle over commercial inventory in TV’s new fall season have been, well, other TV nets. In an earlier era, broadcasters wrestled among themselves for money from Procter & Gamble and Heinz. Then cable joined the mix. Now all sorts of digital video players are threatening to keep Big TV from wielding a club.
To be sure, TV has been fending off YouTube, Yahoo and the rest of the digital field for the past few years. But in 2014, advertisers seem more comfortable embedding their messages in all kinds of video — and that may give rise to new dynamics in this old-school advertising market.
The upfront buying and selling frenzy that is the dominant force in the U.S. TV ad market typically erupts in early June. And it’s preceded by a string of promotional events from networks and cablers large and small. With more outlets jockeying for premium ad dollars, it’s no surprise that upfront presentation season seems to get longer every year.
On Feb. 26 the startup cable network El Rey, backed by director Robert Rodriguez and Univision, unveiled its programming slate with an upfront-like pitch to advertisers. Weather Channel, Hallmark and Nickelodeon have been among the early movers this year with presentations (followed, quite often, by cocktails) for media buyers in the coming weeks.
“The forces that are at play are making it more of a video marketplace in general, and not so much a television marketplace,” said one media-buying executive. With so much to choose from, advertisers are being very selective and trying to find growth areas, the executive said. Already, Time Warner’s Cartoon Network has unveiled a plan to beam videos just ten to fifteen seconds in length in the hopes of capturing more young viewers whose ties to linear TV are growing more tenuous. Weather Channel also beat its digital chest, telling ad buyers about the robust set of “video minutes” it offered to the digital set, or a new emphasis on investigative video it would unspool via its digital properties.
To be sure, new players are dwarfed by more traditional ones. Advertisers spend $60 billion to $70 billion annually on U.S. TV of all stripes — broadcast, cable, local, syndication and Spanish-language. Meantime, 2012 Internet ad spending came to approximately $36.6 billion, according to the Internet Advertising Bureau. Of that total, just $3.4 billion was spent on mobile advertising.
But there’s a growing sense TV’s market share is ebbing. Ad-buying firm ZenithOptimedia has projected television’s portion of global ad spending will begin to fall marginally after 2013, tumbling to 39.3% in 2016 after peaking at 40.2% last year.
TV networks, however, have had something to crow about in the early part of 2014. After a choppy fourth quarter, demand for scatter advertising, or commercial time not booked in advance, is on the rise, according to analysts. Primetime commercial ratings for viewers 18-49 were up 1.6% for broadcast and 3% for cable in January, according to research from MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson.
TV networks will rail against the upstarts by touting big audiences and an increasing reach into digital, social and mobile.
But TV will have to prove more flexible to keep the ads coming in. El Rey, a startup that is tiny in the broad scheme of media, has secured ad deals with both General Motors and Heineken USA by agreeing to weave those companies’ products into its shows, and to have Rodriguez create promotional videos that can air on the network. If viewers are tuning in for the sensibility provided by the director of “Machete” and “From Dusk Till Dawn,” executives suggest, then using his filter to craft the ad messages makes sense.
In 2013’s upfront market, a moderate approach worked best. Ad commitments flowed more readily to those networks willing to accept a lesser rate of price increase than they took in 2012. ABC and NBC found negotiations with advertisers more protracted, while CBS, Fox, the CW and several cable outlets drove volume by practicing temperance.
“There’s certainly more competition for dollars now, and if you push away money because you are stuck at a certain price, you are playing a more dangerous game than ever,” said the buying exec.
Even Leslie Moonves, chief executive of CBS Corp., is mixing optimism with restraint. “I feel confident saying right now that we will lead the marketplace in pricing and volume,” he said during a recent conference call with investors, “but no, I’m not going to make any exact predictions just yet.”


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Markus Niederberger’s team of researchers at ETH has used stretchable materials to develop a battery that can be bent, stretched and twisted. For applications in bendable electronic devices, this is precisely the kind of battery they need.
Today’s electronics industry is increasingly focusing on computers or smartphones with screens that can be folded or rolled. Smart clothing items make use of wearable micro-devices or sensors to monitor bodily functions, for example. However, all these devices need an energy source, which is usually a lithium-ion battery. Unfortunately, commercial batteries are typically heavy and rigid, making it fundamentally unsuitable for applications in flexible electronics or textiles.
A remedy for this problem is now being created by Markus Niederberger, Professor for Multifunctional Materials at ETH Zurich, and his team. The researchers have developed a prototype for a flexible thin-film battery that can be bent, stretched and even twisted without interrupting the supply of power.
What makes this new battery special is its electrolyte – that part of the battery through which lithium-ions move when the battery is charged or discharged. This electrolyte was discovered by ETH doctoral student Xi Chen, lead author of the study that recently appeared in the scientific journal Advanced Materials.
Systematically employing bendable components
Following the design of commercial batteries, this new type of battery is built in layers like a sandwich. However, it marks the first time that researchers have used flexible components to keep the whole battery bendable and stretchable. “To date, no one has employed exclusively flexible components as systematically as we have in creating a lithium-ion battery,” Niederberger says.
The two current collectors for the anode and the cathode consist of bendable polymer composite that contains electrically conductive carbon and that also serves as the outer shell. On the interior surface of the composite, the researchers applied a thin layer of micronsized silver flakes. Due to the way the flakes overlap like roof tiles, they don’t lose contact with one another when the elastomer is stretched. This guarantees the conductivity of the current collector even if it is subjected to extensive stretching. And in the event that the silver flakes do in fact lose contact with each other, the electrical current can still flow through the carbon-containing composite, albeit more weakly.
With the help of a mask, the researchers then sprayed anode and cathode powder onto a precisely defined area of the silver layer. The cathode is composed of lithium manganese oxide and the anode is a vanadium oxide.
Water-based gel electrolyte
In the final step, the scientists stacked the two current collectors with the applied electrodes on top of each other, separated by a barrier layer similar to a picture frame, while the gap in the frame was filled with the electrolyte gel.
Niederberger emphasises that this gel is environmentally more friendly than the commercial electrolytes: “Liquid electrolyte in today’s batteries are flammable and toxic.” In contrast, the gel electrolyte that his doctoral student Chen developed contains water with a high concentration of a lithium salt, which not only facilitates the flow of lithium ions between cathode and anode while the battery is charging or discharging, but also keeps the water from electrochemical decomposition.
The scientists joined the various parts of their prototype together with adhesive. “If we want to market the battery commercially, we’ll have to find another process that will keep it sealed tight for a longer period of time,” Niederberger says.
Numerous potential applications
More and more applications for a battery like this are emerging every day. Well-known manufacturers of mobile phones are vying with each other to produce devices with foldable screens. Other possibilities include rollable displays for computers, smartwatches and tablets, or functional textiles that contain bendable electronics – and all of these require a flexible power supply. “For instance, you could sew our battery right into the clothing,” Niederberger says. What’s important is, in the event of battery leakage, to ensure that the liquids that come out cause no damage. This is where the team’s electrolyte offers a considerable advantage.
However, Niederberger stresses that more research is necessary to optimise the flexible battery before they consider commercialising it. Above all, the team has to increase the amount of electrode material it can hold. A new doctoral student has recently begun refining the stretchable power supply. The inventor of the initial prototype, Xi Chen, returned to his homeland of China after completing his doctoral thesis to take up a new job – as a consultant for the battery industry.
Learn more: A battery with a twist
The Latest on: Stretchable materials
via Google News
The Latest on: Stretchable materials
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via Bing News


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What to expect at Apple’s 25 March “It’s show time” Event
Apple's expected to dive deep into the subscription streaming market at its upcoming launch event.
Apple has sent out media invites for an event to be held in the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino California at 10am PT on 25 March 2019.
While Apple never confirms anything specific prior to a launch event, the company is using the "It's showtime" tagline for the event, which gives us a pretty fair idea of what's likely to be unveiled.
Of course, it could just be that Apple's Tim Cook is a massive fan of classic cult flick Beetlejuice. But we doubt it.
What time will the Apple Event be on in Australia?
That pesky international dateline means that you'll have to get up a little early on 26 March 2019 to catch Apple's live stream of the event. 4am AEDT, to be precise, and even earlier if you're in Western Australia, the Northern Territory or South Australia.
Can I watch the Apple Event in Australia?
Yep. Apple Australia already has a placeholder image up at its local event site, which means that it'll stream it through compatible browsers at the very least. It should also pop up on the Apple Events channel for Apple TV owners.
So what can I expect to see?
Seeing is rather the point of this particular launch, at least according to current rumours. Apple last used the "It's show time" tag to launch the Apple TV all the way back in 2006, but it's expected to be pushing more in the way of software services rather than shiny new hardware this time around.
Specifically, it's said to be putting a much heavier focus on subscription services with a distinctly Apple flavour. Apple already has its Apple Music streaming platform to cover your tunes, but it's being suggested that it will launch an all-you-can-eat style newspaper and magazine subscription service for Apple users at the event. There's not much word on pricing or title availability, and the variety of publications may mean that it's a launch for the US only – at least at first.
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It's also expected that Apple will reveal some details around its upcoming video streaming service, set to take on the likes of Netflix, Stan and Amazon Prime Video. Apple has definitely invested heavily in video production of new series, but it's a supremely late comer to the space for the purposes of launching a subscription video service.
It's not expected that Apple's actual service will go live on 25 March, but that we may be presented with more of a picture of what it will be and when it's likely to become available. If Apple does stick to only offering up its own content, there should at least be few barriers to it launching that service globally.
Will there be new Apple hardware?
Maybe... but it seems less likely. There's some suggestion that Apple may use the event to refresh its regular iPad line, possibly to tie into the idea that the standard iPads are more consumer-centric devices.
There's also a few "missing in action" devices, such as wirelessly charging AirPods, or for that matter the whole Apple AirPower Charging Mat that could possibly make their debut.
If you're hanging out for a new iPhone, the odds seem incredibly slim that Tim Cook will unveil anything on that front. While Apple did at one time run with launching new iPhone SE models in the earlier part of the year, that space appears to be filled right now with the lower-cost Apple iPhone XR.
Apple iPhone XR
Apple's more affordable flagship
The iPhone XR provides Apple's latest processor and operating system in a package that's more affordably priced than the iPhone XS Max.
Do I really have to get up that early?
Not at all. We'll be covering all the news from Apple's 25 March 2019 event, so you'll be able to catch all the news, pricing info and analysis over breakfast (or at your leisure) on 26 March.


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Oakland County Sheriff's Office part-time deputy Sherry Prose was fired last month over a photo she posted on Facebook. The photo depicted four Jack-O'-Lanterns, three…Read More A Michigan deputy was fired after posting a racist photo of a watermelon Jack-O’-Lantern she said depicted Kamala Harris on Facebook
We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights. This year’s…Read More Why do we celebrate Halloween?
Pin I wasn’t aware of this until recently, but Halloween is a very divisive, love-it-or-hate-it holiday. And my husband hates it. I didn’t know people hated…Read More What if One Parent Hates Halloween?
Halloween in the U.S. tends to be a garish affair. There are rotting zombie faces, ghoulish Frankensteins and bloody vampires everywhere. But Starbucks Japan has…Read More Starbucks Releases 2 New Halloween Drinks — but There's a Catch
Chrissy Teigen just took our avo-obsessions to new levels. The mother-of-one shared a sneak peek shot from her new cookbook—and its of daughter Luna and herself…Read More 22 Creative Ways to Dress Like Food for Halloween
Kendall Jenner Has Somehow Managed to Outdo Herself Every Single Halloween When you’re part of one of the world’s most famous families, with access to…Read More Kendall Jenner Has Somehow Managed to Outdo Herself Every Single Halloween
Freeform is making it nearly impossible to not get swept up in the Halloween festivities this year. Instead of debuting the traditional 13 Nights of…Read More Freeform’s ’31 Nights of Halloween’ Music Video Will Put A Spell On You


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Motorola broke its promise.
Moto G4 is not getting Oreo update. Last year when Motorola launched the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus, it promised to update both of these devices to Android N and Android O. But now, as the Android Oreo is official, Motorola has announced the list of devices which will be upgraded to Android Oreo and the list does not include the Moto G4 and G4 Plus.
Most of the smartphone manufacturers support their phones for up to 2 years now. Moto G4 is not even 18 months old and Motorola specifically mentioned that it will get the Android O update and now it has broken its promise.
Motorola has silently removed all references to its promise upgrading the Moto G4 update. Take a look at the poster when the phone was launched:
Motorola updated the banner before releasing the list of devices getting Android Oreo. Take a look at the current banner:
Take a look at the last 2 lines of the advertisement. Motorola has cleverly removed the Android O from the banner. This move by Motorola is totally unethical. The company is trying to misguide its customers which is pathetic. You can check the new banner at the Moto G4 page of Amazon India.
That’s not all. The official Motorola India page also tweeted that the G4 Plus will get the Android Oreo update and sadly the tweet was removed after a while. Here is a screenshot of the tweet.
Motorola has gone too far misleading its customers and that is totally uncool.
Well, here is the list of Motorola devices which are getting the Android Oreo update. (Unless Motorola removes some of the devices from this list as well).
- Moto Z
- Moto Z Droid
- Moto Z Force Droid
- Moto Z Play
- Moto Z Play Droid
- Moto Z2 Play
- Moto Z2 Force Edition
- Moto X4
- Moto G5
- Moto G5 Plus
- Moto G5S
- Moto G5S Plus


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Unilever Global Change location
Our brands are on a mission to create a better planet and society
Find out how we’re taking action on the issues affecting the world through the Unilever Compass, while helping our business grow
Our performance, strategy, and governance.
Unilever will release its Q4 and Full Year 2022 Results on 9th February 2023.
The results will be available here shortly after 07:00 am (UK time). There will be a webcast at 08:00 am (UK time) hosted by Alan Jope (CEO) and Graeme Pitkethly (CFO).
The webcast will be available on this page.
Keep up to date with our financial reporting calendar.
Access our financial results, conference presentations and investor webcasts.


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Gamers in India spend 8.5 hours a week playing: Report
From 2020 to 2021, the average for binge gaming in India increased from 4.1 hours to 5.5 hours.
Indian gamers spend more than eight hours and 36 minutes each week playing, according to a report by Limelight Networks Inc.
Binge gaming has emerged as a phenomenon with over 60 per cent of Indian gamers have spent more than three hours consecutively playing games, said findings of the report released on Monday.
From 2020 to 2021, the average for binge gaming in India increased from 4.1 hours to 5.5 hours -- largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic as people are forced to stay at home for long hours due to subsequent lockdowns.
Three quarters (74 per cent) of gamers are interested in purchasing a new console due to updated technology (32 per cent) and faster gameplay (31 per cent). Gamers in India are among those who are most likely to consider upgrading their console (88.4 per cent), said the report.
More than 94 per cent of Indian gamers say the process of downloading games is frustrating and that it needs to be improved. Moreover, gamers who spend anywhere between five to 15 hours in binge gaming account for a whopping 54 per cent of gamers.
Three in five (62 per cent) gamers say they prefer to play video games versus watching a movie or television show. India leads the chart in this case with more than 75 per cent preferring to play games over watching or streaming shows and movies on television or OTT platforms.
"Social interactions improved game performance and latency-free environments are expected by Indian gamers as it gives them an opportunity to connect with gamers across the world and remain engaged for longer durations," said Ashwin Rao, Country Director of Limelight Networks in India.
"Edge-based content and computing can provide top-notch environments to users for gaming and even emerging economies like India will need that emphasis."
Video game playing rose to a new level across the world with consumers' playing time up by 14 per cent over last year. Gamers across the globe are playing video games at an average of eight hours and 27 minutes each week, said the report.
New data shows that the spikes in gaming over the last year are driven by gamers' desire for social connections. Half of the global gamers (53 per cent) say they have made new friends through online games in the past year and one in three (36 per cent) say the ability to interact with other players is extremely important.
Opportunities for interactively and social engagement are likely drivers for video game adoption with a majority (64 per cent) of global gamers saying they started playing video games in the past year.
Limelight Networks Inc is a leading provider of digital content delivery, video, cloud security and edge computing services. It empowers customers to provide exceptional digital experiences.
Limelight's edge services platform includes a unique combination of global private infrastructure, intelligent software, and expert support services that enable current and future workflows.


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2020 Hyundai Tucson Facelift Finds Its Way to Auto Expo 2020
India is finally getting the updated version of the Hyundai Tucson SUV. Widely known as the 2020 Hyundai Tucson Facelift, the model boasts a mid-cycle refresh that gives it an immediately sportier, more aggressive look.
The car is currently on display at the ongoing Auto Expo 2020 in India for all the world to see. If you ask us, we'd certainly welcome this version of the Tucson locally.
Exterior-wise, the new Tucson comes with noticeable albeit minor changes that manage to stick to the brand’s soon-to-be-abandoned Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language (it has already been replaced with Hyundai’s new Sensuous Sportiness style theme in some models).
The façade gets the biggest changes, with the louver-type grille dropped for a more contemporary mesh design. Chrome accents have also been dropped in favor of blacked-out inflections. Even the standard wheels are decked out in black. Likewise, the dual bumper lighting elements on the old model have also been synergized into one, highlighted by boomerang-shaped LED daytime runners.
As for the mechanicals, they remain the same—a 2.0-liter Nu MPI gasoline variant, as well as a 2.0-liter CRDi e-VGT diesel option. The gas engine does 152 hp and 192 Nm, while the diesel engine dishes out 182 hp and 402 Nm. Transmission options are also the same—a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic for the lower trims, and an 8-speed automatic for the top-rung diesel CRDI trims.
This new model also has an all-wheel-drive option available. Though we don’t have this option locally—all four Tucson trims sold in the PH are two-wheel-drive—hopefully we soon will, given the new Tucson’s sportier leanings.
On the inside, the Tucson facelift is expected to arrive with enhancements such as a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that evolved from a 7-inch unit. There’s also Hyundai’s Blue Link Connectivity suite, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera.
Though the South Korean company has expressed its commitment to electrification, there’s no word yet from the company on whether the Tucson will get an all-electric version, or at least a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) one.
Auto Expo 2020 runs from February 7 to 12, and is being held at India Exposition Mart Ltd., Greater Noida, India. It is considered to be Asia’s largest motor exhibition, and second largest in the world next to the Frankfurt Motor Show.


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Slay Model Management Throws Down The Gauntlet
Slay Model Management is the first exclusively transgender modeling agency. The agency is working to break down barriers that have prevented trans models from rising to the top echelons of the fashion industry.
“It’s time the world recognizes the amazing talent the trans community has to offer,” says founder Cecilio Asuncion, a former film director who entered fashion after his documentary film focusing on transgender issues, “What’s the T?”, won awards at major LGBT film festivals. “We believe one’s gender identity should not be a hindrance to one’s fashion dreams.”
While being trans is a prerequisite for all models on the Slay Model Management roster, it is not a guarantee for being signed with the agency.
“We do not sign just anyone,” Asuncion clarifies. “Models must have the right height, measurements and a drive like no other!” He works alongside Genesis Ilada, a makeup artist and photographer whose work has appeared in “Vogue,” “Kit,” “Defure,” “Trash,” “Bello” and “Jute” magazines, in scouting new talent.
They say they view talent as models first and trans individuals second. “We’re competing against the world’s top girls. We’re not asking clients to give our models special treatment,” says Ilada. Adds Asuncion, “We’re simply saying, if trans models can do the job, let them do the damn job.”
He points out that trans models such as Lauren Foster, Caroline Cossey and Tracey Africa have had successful careers for years, appearing in fashion magazines and campaigns. “But they often had to hide who they were in order to secure opportunities. We’re encouraging our models to wear their gender as a badge of honor. We want them to view their uniqueness as an asset that may help them to stand out in a crowded fashion field.”
At 12 years old, Alex is the youngest trans girl on the Slay Model Management board. Her mother says she signed her daughter with Slay because she’s more comfortable with her daughter’s participation in the fashion industry being represented by an exclusively trans agency.
Arisce, formerly with Ford Models, is perhaps the most recognizable face on the roster. This month, she is featured in German “Vogue.” She believes being represented by an agency that consists solely of transgender models frees her from the need to conform to preconceived notions of what a top model should be like.
Claudia Charriez echoes Arisce’s sentiments. Having forged a modeling career with stints on “America’s Next Top Model” and “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency,” Charriez is excited to be part of a community that understands and supports one another in an industry that still considers them outsiders.
2015 has been a year of progress for the trans community, with many exciting breakthroughs. There was the reality show devoted to Caitlyn Jenner’s life and transition. Laverne Cox of “Orange Is the New Black” on the cover of “Time” magazine. And the recent hire of Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, the first transgender appointee in the White House. But Asuncion is quick to draw the line between progress and acceptance. “Trans issues are being talked about more, but it’s too early to assume it’s all better.” In his view, he’ll believe real change has been made the day a trans model appears in an ad for Target or Walmart. “The day I see a trans model pushing a shopping cart in a campaign for a major retailer – and no one bats an eye – is the day I will know my work is done.”
Photo: Genesis Ilada


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Chadds Ford, PA (PRWEB) September 03, 2015 -- In response to headlines filled with talk of Target, Home Depot, Michaels, and their respective data breaches, Bridgeforce looks ahead to the impact this will have on the regulatory environment. Inconsistency in fraud capabilities and resources present significant regulatory risks. Institutions will need to be quick to adopt solid strategies, practices and controls to effectively manage fraud. The new white paper titled “Focusing in on Consumer Fraud Operational Risk Challenges” is the first in a series that will focus on fraud and how banks can protect themselves and their customers. The paper highlights three main areas that will most likely be the focus of regulatory attention:
1. Policies, procedures, and delivery of internal controls
2. Solutions in place for prevention and detection
3. Protection of consumers while using the institution’s products
According to Michelle Macartney, Managing Director of US Banking Practice at Bridgeforce, “Planning and preparation are paramount if an institution is going to stand up to regulatory scrutiny around Fraud Operational Risk practices.” This highlights the need to be proactive and implement these practices and capabilities consistently to stay ahead of regulation.
“We have been actively monitoring the increasing regulatory scrutiny and the changes it has brought across the financial services industry,” adds Michelle, “Based on the national media attention in the fraud space, we fully expect that our clients are going to see the focus shift to the protection of consumer data while using banking products. The time is now to ensure operational risk practices in fraud functions are on par with other areas of financial institutions.”
Bridgeforce is a specialized multi-national consulting firm serving a variety of clients involved in almost all aspects of the consumer and small business lending and payments space. Over 75 percent of Bridgeforce consultants come directly from client-side leadership positions across multiple parts of the credit lifecycle. Combined with subject matter expertise in operations, technology, strategy and regulatory issues, Bridgeforce has the knowledge and experience to make the hard choices in developing and implementing best-fit solutions that are both achievable and lower the risks of execution to ensure sustainability. Bridgeforce success can be attributed to a culture fostering innovation and evolving experienced-based best practices recognized within the industry. For more information, visit http://www.bridgeforce.com.
Christy Trautman, Bridgeforce Inc., http://www.bridgeforce.com, +1 (302) 319-8090, [email protected]