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As the EU begins to impose punitive tariffs on Friday on a number of Chinese solar exports, the world's largest solar market, which once fueled China's wild solar expansion, is now behind the industry's slim-down.
The dust has finally settled on a long-standing spat between China and the EU -- a spat which once put the multi-billion-dollar solar trade at stake. Thanks to a compromise reached in mid-August, 121 Chinese solar makers, which together account for roughly 80 percent of China's solar exports to the EU, will continue to export their products to the bloc, but at prices and volumes that reduce their formerly dominant position in the market.
For Chinese firms not included in the deal, Friday effectively marks their departure from the once lucrative EU market, as a punitive tariff will price their solar products out of favor with European buyers.
"We have decided to give up the EU market," said Wang Yanli, general manager of Jiangxi Wafer New Energy and Technology Company Ltd., a solar maker with a production capacity of 300 megawatts, which has not been exempted from the EU tariff.
"The tariff will push our silicon module to five yuan per watt, much higher than the 4.2 yuan in the domestic market," Wang said.
Wang said the company has yet to lay off any of its 500 employees and is looking to sell in Japan and Australia, among other emerging solar markets.
Yet recovery may prove difficult as demand from these markets, though rising steadily, is far from enough to consume the massive photovoltaic (PV) capacity Chinese companies have accumulated over the years.
Inside an industrial park in east China's Jiangxi Province, two small solar makers cannot hold out any longer to wait for the market to turn around. A staff member with the industrial park's management committee told Xinhua that months of losses have brought production to a halt at these two firms.
In Jiujiang, 145 km away, the city's 20 solar makers are now empty shells of their former glory. Some of the firms' owners told Xinhua they were "too sad to talk about it."
Yet all of these failures pale compared with Suntech's demise. The company was among China's top solar makers until a high-profile bond default earlier this year sent its shares spiraling down and forced it into liquidation.
Analysts say the wave of bankruptcy that has hit Chinese solar firms highlights the increasingly hostile business environment companies face worldwide. Chinese authorities had previously deemed the solar industry an emerging sector and extended cheap credit for its expansion.
But that expansion was met with shrinking solar subsidies from governments in Europe, the largest solar market, and followed by trade sparring with Europe and the United States over the last two years. As a result, Chinese firms have been left with mounting debt and solar products with no place to go.
"Suntech's failure is very symbolic of the casualties caused by overcapacity and trade rows with major solar markets," said Wang Bohua, Secretary General of China Photovoltaic Industry Alliance.
Chinese companies have learned a lesson the hard way, as the sector is in the midst of mergers and restructuring to readjust to a changing market landscape.
Though the process may prove painful, the industry will eventually emerge healthier from the transition, Wang added.
This is the view held by Lux Research, a Boston-based research firm, which in May of this year predicted China would transform from the world's largest manufacturer of solar products to the biggest market in the next five years.
Projections from the research firm also suggest that the size of the global PV market will double in 2018 to nearly 62 gigawatts, driven mostly by demand from the United States, China, Japan and India.
"Manufacturers' nightmare is turning into a long-term boon for the industry. Record low prices pushed gross margins to near zero or below, but they have made solar installations competitive in more markets," said Ed Cahill, lead author of the Lux Research report.
"The solar crisis does not mean 'game over' for the entire industry," said Miao Liansheng, chairman and CEO of Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Ltd., another leading solar maker based in north China's Hebei Province.
Companies that survive the reshuffle will be those with strong market demand, brand and technologies, while small, inefficient players will be weeded out, Miao noted.
As a result, the success of companies trying to break the current conundrum depends on their ability to diversify into other emerging solar markets, including China.
The State Council, China's Cabinet, vowed in July to nearly quadruple solar generating capacity to 35 gigawatts in 2015 in a bid to open the domestic market for excess solar capacity that is now shut out of Europe and the United States.
It also said it would encourage mergers and acquisitions in the sector and promised financing for large and efficient solar makers.
Other markets are catching up as well, albeit slowly. Statistics from the China Chamber of Commerce of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) show Asia has replaced Europe as the largest overseas market for Chinese solar products, accounting for 37.99 percent of total Chinese solar exports in the first half of this year.
Wang Guiqing, vice president of CCCME, said the share of exports to Europe and the United States combined has shrunk from 90 percent to around 40 percent in the first eight months of this year.
Active deployment to emerging markets has rewarded companies' finances. Trina Solar Ltd. in east China's Jiangsu Province swung back to profits after eight consecutive quarters of losses. Others, like LDK Solar, have seen their losses narrowed this year.
"Silicon and wafers have seen a surge in price since the beginning of this year, and this speaks to rising demand for solar products," said Tong Xingxue, president and CEO of LDK Solar.
"The worst days are over, and we are confident about the recovery." Tong said.


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BOE will be the next manufacturer to be in charge of producing OLED screens for the iPhone 13.
In December 2020, BOE was approved by Apple as the next manufacturer of OLED screens for the iPhone 12. The report shared, BOE will be in charge of 10 ~ 20 million OLED panels this year.
However, there are also sources that BOE is currently only supplying OLED screens for refurbished iPhones.
Recently, BOE has also established a new production facility named Fab B11 exclusively for Apple. The company is producing prototype OLED screens for the next-generation iPhone.
There are three manufacturers that supply OLED screens for Apple. Including Samsung, LG and BOE. Samsung is currently the main OLED manufacturer for the iPhone 12. Meanwhile, LG is only responsible for supplying the screen for the iPhone 12 6.1, the rest are mainly handled by Samsung.
BOE’s participation in Apple’s display supply chain will help it reduce its dependence on two Korean companies. Especially Samsung, a mobile manufacturer that is currently a heavyweight rival of Apple.
Not only with the iPhone, BOE is expected to provide microOLED panels for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) devices.

domain: news


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Lifestyle brand Izzy & Liv is sprinkling brown sugar and black girl magic all over Detroit when they stop through during their summer showcase tour. “I created Izzy & Liv so that black women and young girls could lose themselves in the joy of discovering pieces that celebrate what makes them unique and special,” says founder Nicole Brown.
A selection of Izzy & Liv’s online products – accessories and apparel celebrating black pride and culture – will be on display and available for purchase at Macy’s inside Twelve Oaks in Novi June 2-Aug. 3.
Snag one of their famous graphic tees or the coveted Brown Sugar Box, chock-full of assorted goodies for the melanin-rich. Brown says, “I am so excited to see this showcase come to life. The Izzy & Liv supporters will not be disappointed in what we will be offering at each stop.”


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Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by roughly 700 farmer families, announced the launch of Ocean Spray Zero Sugar Juice Drink, the first beverage from Ocean Spray with zero grams of sugar and no artificial sweeteners.
Ocean Spray Zero Sugar will be available in two flavors: Ocean Spray’s iconic Cranberry flavor and Mixed Berry, a new flavor to the brand’s beverage portfolio, the company notes. Made with real fruit juice and sweetened with stevia, Zero Sugar is an excellent source of vitamin C, it says.
“From full flavor blends to refreshing diet and now bold zero sugar, Ocean Spray is committed to developing product innovations that continually meet the needs and desires of consumers who are seeking out more options for their juice drink,” said Trinh Le, vice president of next generation beverages and omnichannel marketing at Ocean Spray, in a statement. “We’re excited to be the first brand to introduce this new innovative product in the shelf stable aisle and continue our legacy of beverage innovation.”
Ocean Spray Zero Sugar Juice Drinks will be available nationwide at grocery stores and Walmart this month.


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Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s pending purchase of Minecraft creator Mojang AB for as much as $2.5 billion is one that is leaving many investors and analysts scratching their head as to what Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s plans for the company would be, and what it will mean for their overall involvement in the gaming business. Spark Capital General Partner Mo Koyfman discussed the planned purchase with Bloomberg today.
“I think Minecraft has cracked something with the audience, and it’s just an incredibly profitable company and obviously Microsoft believes that they can turn it into a franchise so we’ll just have to see. I’m curious to understand what their strategy is in gaming more generally and how this fits into it,” Koyfman said.
The allure of Minecraft is undeniable. It has risen from humble roots as an independently created game to sell more than 50 million copies and become one of the most played games in the world according to statistics compiled by gaming services like Raptr, where it ranked 5th in playing time in July behind only heavyweight titles like League of Legends and World of Warcraft.
Minecraft has already successfully made the transition into merchandising as well, which could be a greater area of interest to Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) than just the game itself, as they could eventually create an assortment of tie-ins around the game like movies and books.
There is also the potential Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) could use the deal as a coup of sorts to remove the game from Sony’s PlayStation 4 console and make the Xbox a little more appealing to consumers, though it has been reported by Bloomberg that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) would not do that should they purchase Mojang.
However, that would not preclude future versions of the game from only appearing on Xbox One, giving them a major advantage as a platform of choice amongst the series’ many fans. As Koyfman said, hit gaming franchises also tend to persist for some time and retain a great amount of interest among its fans for many years, as evidenced by the success of decades-old franchises like Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy, The Sims, Grand Theft Auto, and Pokemon.


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Men of color talk growth, identity and self-discovery through the evolution of their hair.
Beyoncé can't wait to reclaim her brand.
One of the biggest names in streetwear has leveled up. Rhuigi Villaseñor’s first collection with Bally is here.
Some applauded the brand’s constant ability to create out-of-the-box products.
Meet three Gen-Next visionaries who never even heard of fashion industry rules. Behold the new way to man TF up—massive personal style.
A new crew of models laced in throwback gear and retro cuts show us who got the juice now.
Dubbed the Telfar Live Price format, it will debut March 27.


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The health effects of chocolate are the possible positive and negative effects on
health of eating chocolate. Unconstrained consumption of large quantities of any
Jan 10, 2014 ... Despite the wealth of positive media coverage dark chocolate has received for its
myriad of health benefits, an article in “USA Today” states...
Mar 24, 2016 ... “Nutritionally, cocoa in chocolate contains many biologically active substances
that have positive effects on human health, including flavonoids, ...
According to Wikipedia, the negative effects of eating too much chocolate include
addiction and excessive weight gain. Excessive chocolate consumption can ...
Nov 1, 2013 ... Side Effects and Warnings. Note: Chocolate contains caffeine. The chronic use of
caffeine, especially in large amounts, may produce tolerance ...
Jun 1, 2016 ... However, according to Rashed Latif, who published a review of chocolate's
health effects in the Netherlands Journal of Medicine, it's not all bad ...
Feb 13, 2012 ... After 3 months eating chocolate with high levels of flavanols, their study subjects'
skin took twice as long to develop that reddening effect that ...
Nov 2, 2013 ... Read further and discover more about the negative effects of milk chocolate and
why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends you avoid ...
However, the bottom line for any type of chocolate is that it's high in calories. As a
result, one of the potential side effects from eating chocolate is weight gain.
Mar 4, 2016 ... Others had previously shown that eating chocolate correlated with various
positive health outcomes, but few had explored the treat's effect on ...


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Think that you're practicing smart food safety when you buy organic foods? On his July 17 talk show, Dr. Mehmet Oz featured the potential hazards that lurk in some of the most popular organic foods. Plus: Learn about detoxifying weight loss diets.
Dr. Oz introduced an activist Mike Adams who revealed the filthy facts about healthy foods. Adams went through his own battle with his weight until he vowed to take control his diet and health.
Now Adams hopes to help others by unveiling what's really in some products viewed as "health foods." The following foods and supplements contain potentially dangerous metals: Rice protein powders, cacao and ginkgo biloba supplements. Although those supplements often are advertised as good for the brain, some manufacturers do not screen for lead.
Adams said he is particularly infuriated that the FDA does not scrutinize imported foods and supplements from China. Instead, the burden is on the consumer to check and see which companies are testing for heavy metals.
Earlier this year, Dr. Oz created a two-week rapid weight loss plan that features rice protein powder. But with the new information about the lead in some brands of rice protein powder, he suggests using a different option. Safer types of protein powder include ones made with hemp, whey, nuts and seeds.
What can you do to detoxify your body? Dr. Oz says some foods have been shown to help, including strawberries, almonds, and cauliflower. In addition, when it comes to weight loss, Dr. Oz has featured plans designed to detoxify and cleanse your body while boosting your weight loss.
For example, Dr. Oz recently featured Dr. Mark Hyman. Dr. Hyman created a 10-day detox diet that is designed to boost weight loss while helping you kick addictions to foods such as sugar and white flour.
He also devoted a show to Dr. Junger's "Clean" detox diet and cleansing that featured Gwyneth Paltrow. Her physician, Dr. Junger, says that his detoxifying diet purifies your body while helping you shed pounds.
But not everyone believes in strict detox diets and cleansing diets. Candace Cameron Bure was feeling fired up about her decision to go on a detox weight loss diet, so she posted her excitement on Facebook. She found herself under fire as her fans attacked her plan, reported E News on July 16.
The brouhaha began when Candace cheerfully posted that she was "excited to kick off a 5 day cleanse" after a "very indulgent week in Napa." After fans responded with criticism, she attempted to appease them.
"After reading your comments, let me expand! I'm excited to start my 5 day cleanse not to lose weight but to get my body back on track, ridding all the toxins and unhealthy stuff I've put in it the last few months," she tried to explain. And she blamed "Dancing with the Stars" for her problems.
"Since being off Dancing With The Stars, my body has struggled to find its balance after having danced up to 8 hours a day and eating so clean," said Candace.
But while "eating so clean" caused problems for Candace when she returned to her normal diet, most health experts advocate a clean eating approach. It's typically defined as one that avoids processed foods, sugar and white flour and highlights "real food" such as fruit, vegetables, fish and healthy fats such as nuts and avocado.
Yet constantly setting a goal of clean eating caused a different kind of problem for one young woman recently. She became so obsessed with what she viewed as a healthy diet that it shifted to an eating disorder, reported People magazine on July 15.
Known as the "blonde vegan" for her upbeat posts on plant-based meals, Jordan Younger was secretly miserable. "Food was not enjoyable anymore," recalls the 23-year-old. "I was spending the entire day obsessing about eating only vegetables, green juices, fruits and occasionally nuts and grains."
Her focus on food became overwhelming. "I restricted myself from certain foods – even some that fell under the vegan umbrella – because they were not 100 percent clean or 100 percent raw. I was following thousands of rules in my head that were making me sick," admitted Younger.
She's since renamed her blog and changed her focus. And she has a message for others: "I think labels – as far as diet choices – are very, very dangerous. I'm a prime example of that."


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The COVID-19 pandemic has effected every business big and small. The Classic Farmhouse is no different. Fortunately, this is not another story of a small business shuttering its doors. Owner Katy Selden is, however, taking a break.
During the shutdown, Selden used the power of social media to share and sell inventory. Items were swiftly purchased, many by loyal repeat customers. Selden joked with her customers that they were helping her empty her storage, creating room for new inventory.
In a recent email sent to customers, Selden shared her gratitude for their support, “we want to thank you for all your support this year! We’ve had a super-strong comeback this Summer since reopening, and for that, I am so thankful!”
There was an unfortunate “but” after Selden’s thanks. “We’ve had to make the decision not to invest in the holiday season this year.”
The Classic Farmhouse will be temporarily closing for the remainder of 2020, beginning September 6. “We are looking at this as temporary, we are not going out of business!” assured Selden.
Selden explained the decision to close the gate on 2020 is due to the remainder of the year’s uncertainty, limitations in the Safe Start Reopen Plan, and other reasons she did not give details on. “We will truly miss celebrating the holidays with you like we normally do, but we will find creative ways to stay in touch,” said Selden.
So, That Summer Sale
Selden described the store’s final sale of 2020 as “pretty much the entire shop [being] 20% to
50% 75% off.”
Included in the sale are clothing (with extended sizes), home decor (fall decor now available), paint, candles, and more. Furniture is now 10% to 25% off.
“There are so many great deals throughout the shop! We’re still digging through our storage and have a few truckloads left to bring in,” said Selden. “Get down here and snag some deals before we close for the holidays!”
The Classic Farmhouse is located in downtown Auburn at 22 A St SW(inside the Sunbreak Cafe). The shop is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am – 2pm. Check out the store website and follow The Classic Farmhouse on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Be sure to keep an eye on their stories for sale updates and new items being stocked in the store.
And remember, this is only temporary.


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Bitcoin payment company, BitPay has now joined thousands of blockchain and crypto companies that have implemented a totally remote work routine
The COVID-19 pandemic led many companies, early this year, to take their operations online and adopt the WFH approach (Work From Home). The implementation of this approach varied between partially and totally, depending on the industry and other factors involved.
The latest company to switch to a permanent remote work approach is BitPay, the world’s largest provider of Bitcoin payment services and a wallet company.
The company’s CMO, Bill Zielke, reported that BitPay employees were working in a totally remote capacity until further notice. “Thus, employees will have the option to use our offices or remain remote. We intend to have offices for meetings, training, events for clients and business meetings and events ”He added.
The crypto industry is well suited for remote work
According to Stephen Pair, BitPay’s CEO, the new approach has been a success considering that the crypto space is a predominantly Internet-based industry.
“We were following the coronavirus closely and immediately recognized its relevance and scope. As a result, the executive team has implemented a virtual plan to continue business as normal for the well-being of our employees. The work at home policy worked well, so we turned to cyberspace to continue working ”Explained Pair
It looks like a trend now, given that BitPay also follows other cryptocurrency platforms, such as Binance, by taking – for now – a remote approach.
Most employees of the crypto industry prefer remote work
The success of the new approach is also driven by the fact that most employees in the crypto industry are in favor of the idea of remote working. According to a statement from Business Wire, the vast majority of employees (85%) would choose remote work, citing that it is more productive.
Explaining the change, BitPay’s marketing director, Andrew Kelin, said: “It took me a while to adjust to working at home because I am a sociable and outgoing person. I am grateful to have this flexibility and my team is able to collaborate and work together as if we were side by side. “
BitPay teams around the world have taken the new approach. “The Argentine team said they preferred to work from home and be more productive, 86% of US employees and 75% of Amsterdam also said so”Said Zielke.


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Is Intel Inside iPad, iPhone a pipedream?
Intel CEO Paul Otellini told investors this month that Apple could build its iPad and iPhone lineup on the Atom family of microprocessors any time it wants to. And he’s going to do everything in his power to make that prospect so enticing that Apple can’t refuse. Pipedream? Not hardly.
Now, I understand why some of you would consider this to be pure fantasy. Intel has been trying to pry its way into the smartphone and tablet markets for five years now, and until this year the company has had little to show for it.
One reason for the slow start is that Intel has had to retool itself in order to compete in these markets. The performance-per-Watt tradeoffs are necessarily different for smartphones and tablets than they are for notebooks, desktops and servers. Intel has been learning that, and also discovering what else smartphone and tablet designers want.
That’s all understandable. Anytime you attack a new market, you don’t know what you don’t know until you dig in and get your hands dirty. Intel’s hands now are finally dirty. And now, finally, Intel has a competitive part in Medfield, the latest Atom iterant. Design wins are beginning to materialize as a result.
OK, Atom is now better than it was. It’s in the stable of options. So what? That’s not going to get Apple’s attention.
Apple will want a solution that stands out from the field, not one that’s just now making its way into the lineup of viable options. And Apple will want custom variants made exclusively for its devices. Building custom parts isn’t a problem for the high-volume, standard parts manufacturer, Otellini says. He told investors that Intel is slowly bringing up a foundry business, and would entertain the notion of producing made-to-order chips for "strategic customers".
Apple likely would fall into that category, yes? Yes.
That could be a strategic move for Apple, as well. Today, Samsung builds the custom processors inside Apple’s smartphones and tablets. And it’s no secret that Apple views Samsung’s smartphone and tablet operation as possibly its fiercest competitor. The two are employing battalions of lawyers as they sue each other in courts around the globe.
Apple can’t be happy with the situation. But for the time being, it doesn’t have much of a choice. Because Apple wants its chips made at a leading-edge facility, and right now, the choice is down to two. One of those is Samsung.
And the other is Intel.
But Intel’s not an option for Apple’s processors. Not today, anyway. Because while Apple is a strategic customer, the processors inside its iPads and iPhones are not. They’re ARM-based. And Atom, along with most every processor Intel builds, is x86.
Otellini loves to say that Intel gets collections margins twice for every chip it builds: once for the manufacturing work and second time for the chip itself. Pure foundry work, or contract manufacturing, would mean no double-dipping. So as long as Intel can keep its fabs filled with x86 chips, any foundry business the company takes on would cut into profits.
Otellini says that Intel can keep its fabs busy with x86 through the 22nm generation now ramping -- and possibly 14nm as well. Which means he won’t consider building someone’s ARM chips for quite some time.
Alright, so it’s reasonable to assume now that a compelling offering from Intel will get Apple’s attention. So when might that happen?
That could be as early as next year. Intel hopes to outpace the competition by pulling Atom up sooner into its leading-edge manufacturing processes with each generation. In 2013, Atom chips will be made on Intel’s 22nm manufacturing lines. And in 2014, Intel plans to bring Atom to 14nm.
One of those just might be prove to be the tipping point. Or not. Nothing’s assured here, obviously.
But nothing more than a pipedream? No, not hardly.


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More than 300 Amazon warehouse workers at 50 facilities across the country have pledged to call out of work in the coming days to protest Amazon’s handling of the coronavirus—the largest mass action against the company since the start of the pandemic.
In recent days, Amazon has confirmed at least 75 coronavirus cases in more than half of its 110 warehouse facilities, and experts have warned that the number of positive cases is “likely to exponentially increase” in the coming days and months due to Amazon’s failure to implement an effective national safety plan for its warehouses.
“I will be calling out sick tomorrow to protest because Amazon is not allowing us to stay home and practice real social distancing,” Monica Moody, a 22-year-old packer at an Amazon Fulfillment center in Concord, North Carolina and a member of United For Respect, told Motherboard. “I have to go to work and risk being exposed to this virus. I need the money. If Amazon were offering it, I would use paid sick leave.”
In a series of blog posts, Amazon has outlined an evolving series of benefits and policies for its workers during the pandemic, including a $2 an hour increase in wages and two weeks of paid sick leave for those who test positive for coronavirus. While they are not punishing workers for calling out sick, the paid leave policy does not extend beyond those workers with confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases. Organizers and experts say that public pressure and worker organizing has played an important role in pressuring Amazon to expand its protections and benefits for workers but that safety equipment, cleaning protocols, and paid leave options still remain short of what is needed to curb the spread of the virus in warehouses and the communities where Amazon workers live.
Many of the hundreds of workers who have pledged to participate in the mass action led by the grassroots labor organizations United for Respect, New York Communities for Change, and Make The Road New York, will call out on Tuesday. Those who haven’t been scheduled to work tomorrow will call out of their next scheduled shift. A map of the walkouts and facilities with confirmed coronavirus cases has been posted online.
The nationwide protests follow strikes at Amazon fulfillment centers in Queens, Staten Island, and Detroit, and makes it look increasingly as if there is a growing appetite for a general strike led by frontline workers. At least two Amazon warehouse workers involved in the strike actions have been fired. Workers at Whole Foods, Instacart, and numerous other companies across the country have staged walkouts in recent weeks.
On March 18, Amazon confirmed its first case of coronavirus in one of its warehouse facilities, when workers shut down the Queens delivery center where their infected colleague had worked. In less than a month the number of reported cases has neared 100, and on April 14, Amazon confirmed the first death of a warehouse worker at a facility in southern California.
Rachel Belz, a stocker at a fulfillment center in West Deptford, New Jersey which she says has 11 confirmed cases of coronavirus, told Motherboard that she has not worked since March 13 and will call out sick on Tuesday in protest, because she lives with her immunocompromised mother.
“It’s definitely a financial hardship not to go to work,” said Belz, who is also a member of United For Respect. “My mother has trouble breathing on a normal day. If she were to go sick, it could kill her. I’m not going to put her health at risk to send people non-essential items. I’m not going to work this week, but I have a five year old kid and student loans and rent and car insurance to pay. I might not have a choice next week.”


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Release date for new season 2 is July 21st 2020.
The most watched German Netflix Original series in Germany, and highly rated (TVscorecards score of 91%) “How to sell drugs online fast” is returning to Netflix for season 2. The show is one of the top rated TV series, as it combines a mix of humor, action and suspense.
Watch season 2 previews
You can watch a preview of season 2 from the official Instagram account of “how to sell drugs online fast”. Or scroll down this page to view the trailer.
Nerd today, drug boss tomorrow
In the show, Zimmerman, a 17-year old German high-school student, leverages technical possibilities to open an online shop to sell illegal items “First rule of the shop – we do not talk about the shop”. He believes that really successful people started as “unbelievable nerds”. Nerd today, boss tomorrow.
Season 2 trailer is available
Watch the latest trailer for how to sell drugs online fast season 2:
What do we know about season 2?
Cast: Netflix has confirmed that all the key actors of the first season will return including Maximilian Mundt (Moritz Zimmermann), Danilo Kamperidis (Lenny), Damian Hardung (Dan), Lena Klenke (Lisa). There will be one addition, Lena Urzendowsky, who will play the role of a computer geek. MyDrugs ramps up their online business after a rocky beginning.
Plot: In the new season, the online store grows its business and customer. However, it also becomes more dangerous. Netflilx mentioned “Escobar said “All empires are built of blood and fire.” But, well, he didn’t have to do it while finishing high school”. See official Netflix announcement. There will be a total of six episodes, each lasting half an hour.
READ MORE: View other top drama shows, renewed for next season
Top videos on “How to sell drugs online fast”
View this highly rated video on how to sell drugs online fast.
Renewal/cancellation Status: Renewed for Season 3
TVscorecards user score: 91%
About this show:
To win back his ex-girlfriend, a nerdy teen starts selling ecstasy online out of his bedroom -- and becomes one of Europe's biggest dealers.
View our show page for more:


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In the face of high inflation, which continues to be the “headache” of the global economy, governments continue to take new measures to help citizens cope with rising food and energy prices and cover other costs.
The prices of energy, commodities and basic necessities remain high in many countries due to the supply problems caused by the Kovid-19 outbreak and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Global uncertainty triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war; High prices in the energy sector continue to trigger prices for other goods, while continuing to have a multidimensional impact, including on the global economy and finance.
While the world economy’s struggle with inflation continues, high inflation increases the cost of living of people in developed economies as well as developing countries day by day. While double-digit inflation continues to be seen in many countries around the world, the struggle of countries against high inflation brings along recession concerns along with tightening monetary policies.
Although inflation in some economies has started to decline slightly from historical levels reached in the middle of this year, governments are trying to mitigate the impact of inflation on citizens with new measures.
In the USA, the world’s largest economy, inflation has slowed down in recent months, after peaking in 41 years, especially due to the rise in energy and food prices. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the country increased by 7.1 percent year-on-year in November, less than expected.
The US administration, especially arguing that the increase in gasoline prices constitutes a significant part of the inflation, has struggled with inflation by taking measures to reduce gasoline prices.
In March, the US President Joe Biden administration allowed the launch of more than 180 million barrels of oil from the strategic oil reserve, as well as the $433 billion “Inflation Reduction Act”, which includes comprehensive health, climate and tax regulations to reduce inflation in August.
Most recently, the Biden administration announced last month that it will provide $13.5 billion in funding to help low-income households reduce heating costs in the United States.
In Canada, the other major economy of the Americas, support for low-income individuals and debt relief for students were also provided.
Canada announced a package of measures worth 4.5 billion Canadian dollars (3.4 billion dollars) in September to support low-income families in the face of high inflation. The package in question included tax relief and one-time rental support for low-income families.
The Mexican government also announced in August that it will raise the minimum wage by 20 percent next year, after allocating about 575 billion pesos ($28.7 billion) to fight inflation.
While the Colombian government announced that it will increase the minimum wage by 16 percent next year, the Ecuadorian government has determined the rate of increase in the minimum wage for next year as 6 percent.
The Brazilian Senate approved the constitutional amendment to increase the government’s spending ceiling by 145 billion Brazilian reals ($27.8 billion), while allowing financing for the next term extension of social assistance payments to poor families. Brazil’s oil company Petrobras has also cut its gasoline prices several times this year.
Argentina also announced that it will raise the income tax base next year. The government has reached an agreement with the major oil companies operating in the country to set a cap on increases in gasoline prices. In addition, the Argentine government has made deals with grocery stores and consumer goods suppliers to fix or strictly regulate the price of around 1,500 products to contain inflation, which is expected to reach 100 percent this year in the country.
Annual inflation in the Eurozone, which reached a record high of 10.6 percent in October, fell to 10.1 percent in November.
While the European Union (EU) member states continue to take special measures against energy prices, which suppress inflation upwards, the EU member states have finally agreed to apply a ceiling price of 180 euros per megawatt hour to natural gas.
Countries within the EU continue to take various importance, especially in the field of energy. As of January, the German government passed a 100 billion-euro law to set upper limits on electricity and gas bills for residential and industrial estates. In addition, the nationalization of the German energy firms Uniper and Sefe was also accepted.
France has also taken steps to nationalize energy group EDF, while the government has announced that it will limit energy price increases for households to 15 percent next year.
In Czechia, it has been approved to keep electricity and natural gas prices for large companies at the same level as those currently charged to households and small companies.
The Portuguese government has announced that it will limit the increase in the electricity price to 3.3 percent for around 1 million households and small businesses next year.
Slovakia has also announced that it will limit energy prices for households next year, with subsidies and an agreement with the main electricity supplier.
Croatia has decided to limit electricity prices until March.
Poland has announced that it will limit electricity prices for small businesses, hospitals and residences next year. In addition, the government has announced that it will raise the minimum wage twice next year, and more than previously planned.
The Italian government also said it plans to spend around 21 billion euros next year to help families and businesses cope with high energy costs.
The Hungarian government and private sector employers agreed on a 16 percent minimum wage increase in the country for next year, while the Romanian government announced that pensions will be increased by 12.5 percent by the new year.
Belarus, on the other hand, banned any hikes in order to avoid exorbitant prices.
In the face of price increases in Asia, governments continued to take new measures.
In order to mitigate the effects of inflation in Japan, a new $200 billion spending package was announced, which includes subsidies for energy expenditures.
In Thailand, where tax reductions were made in fuel and the minimum wage was increased by 5 to 8 percent in September, the consumption tax reduction for diesel fuel was extended until January 20.
In India, after the local governments announced aid packages of approximately 13 billion dollars, the government implemented new measures for food price increases. In this context, it was reported that 2 to 3 million tons of wheat will be provided to large consumers such as flour mills and biscuit producers. The Indian government also restricted rice exports in September to increase supply.
The Philippine government has decided to extend tariff reductions on imported rice and other foodstuffs until the end of 2023.
The Australian government has also implemented legislation that sets a one-year ceiling price on natural gas and aims to provide A$1.5 billion ($1.01 billion) assistance to households and small businesses.
In the Middle East, as part of the fight against high inflation in Egypt, a committee was established to determine “fair prices” for 10 to 15 strategic and basic commodities.
Social assistance expenditures increased in July in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE increased the financial support provided to low-income families to 28 billion dirhams ($7.6 billion), while Saudi Arabia allocated 20 billion riyals ($5.33 billion).


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MASHANTUCKET, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Foxwoods On Tap is bringing you more than 150 craft beers from over 70 breweries on November 11, 2017 at Foxwoods® Resort Casino.
Foxwoods On Tap is dedicated to showcasing specialty beers and craft breweries from around the country including local brews and new releases. This year’s event will feature styles from Two Roads, Broad Brook Brewing, Greenport Harbor, Narragansett and more, while also delivering authentic, craft beer-focused experiences filled with live music, great vendors, and delicious food. We’ll also be pouring up the signature Foxwoods IPA from Stony Creek Brewery!
“We are excited to once again partner with Paradigm Talent Agency for our second annual Foxwoods On Tap craft beer festival as we continue to build upon the tremendous success of last year’s event,” stated Monique Sebastian, Vice President of Entertainment and Entertainment Marketing, Foxwoods Resort Casino. “Foxwoods On Tap is yet another example of our dedication to continue to provide our guests with a variety of unique and fun experiences at The Wonder Of It All.”
The Foxwoods Resort Casino event will take place at the Premier Ballroom from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with special VIP early admission at 3:00 p.m. Throughout the event festival goers will enjoy live music from Foxwoods’ Battle of the Bands 2017 winner, The Noble Impoverished.
Discounted early bird pricing starts at just $30 until October 1, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit a local charity. VIP packages, which include early admission to the event and Foxwoods On Tap gear, start at $30. Also new this year is group ticket pricing, which offers 10 tickets for the price of eight tickets, available for both the VIP and General Admission sessions. Prices subject to change. For more information, and to purchase tickets to the Foxwoods On Tap event, please visit us at FoxwoodsOnTap.com.
About Foxwoods Resort Casino
25 Years Proud: Since 1992, Foxwoods Resort Casino has offered guests The Wonder Of It All as the premier resort destination in the Northeast. As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in seven casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to quick service, world-renowned spas, award-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, exclusive retailers and free-to-play online casino games at FoxwoodsONLINE.com. Foxwoods is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and was the first full-service casino built on tribal land, pioneering a nationwide movement that now includes more than 400 gaming properties owned and operated by over 200 tribes across the U.S. For more information on Foxwoods and the property’s 25th anniversary celebrations, visit foxwoods.com.
About Townsquare Media, Inc.
Townsquare Media, Inc. is an integrated and diversified media and entertainment and digital marketing services company that owns and operates market leading radio stations, digital and social properties and live events in small and mid-sized markets across the United States, delivering national scale and expertise to the communities it serves on a local level. The Company owns and operates 309 radio stations, over 325 search engine and mobile-optimized local websites in 66 small and mid-sized U.S. markets, making Townsquare the third largest owner of radio stations in the United States by number of radio stations owned, and approximately 650 live events. The Company supplements its local offerings with the nationwide reach of our owned, operated and affiliated music and entertainment websites, which, on a combined basis, attracted one of the largest audiences among music-focused digital advertising networks as of September 2015 as well as certain large scale live events. For more information, please visit www.townsquaremedia.com.


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SCEE Worldwide Studios VP Jamie Macdonald has told GI that social gaming on PlayStation platforms has been most popular in Europe, while Japan has yet to take to the concept with any gusto.
"I think... that the success we had in Europe with social gaming in the PS2 era was a surprise," he said. "Nobody foresaw it, and what we're trying to do now is to make sure that this whole new genre is catered for within future PlayStation developments.
"It's not that social gaming was ignored, it's that it was a surprise to everyone - and also, to be frank, from our point of view it's been more of a success in Europe than it has in Japan or the United States. It's still been relatively successful in the US, but I think it's fair to say it's not had much of an impact in Japan."
Despite social gaming's popularity on PS formats in Europe, PS3 wasn't designed with the niche in mind, MacDonald added.
"I don't think PlayStation 3 was designed with any particular genre in mind to be honest," he said.
"I think it was designed as a very high-specification digital media entertainment system."


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Upgrading your wireless router with a new model from Amazon is certainly a good idea if you’re working from home but new research from
has revealed that one of the most popular routers from TP-Link frequently featured on the ecommerce giant’s store ships with vulnerable firmware.
Shenzhen-based TP-Link is the world’s number one manufacturer of consumer WiFi networking products with yearly sales of 150m devices and a 42 percent share of the global consumer WLAN market. The company’s routers are also often awarded “Amazon’s Choice” badges in the “WiFi router” category on Amazon.
The TP-Link AC1200 Archer C50 (v6) is the best-selling “Amazon’s Choice” Wi-Fi router in the UK and is mainly sold within the European market though another version is also available on Amazon’s online store in the US.
During its investigation into this router,
CyberNews found numerous flaws within its default firmware as well as its web interface. For this reason, the news outlet recommends that all TP-Link AC1200 Archer C50 (v6) owners upgrade their devices to the latest firmware as soon as possible. Known flaws in default firmware
CyberNews, the TP-Link AC1200 Archer C50 (v6) ships with outdated firmware that is vulnerable to dozens of known security flaws. WPS is also enabled by default on the device which could allow an attacker to brute-force the router while its admin credentials and configuration backup files are encrypted using weak protocols that could easily be broken.
At the same time, the default version of the router’s web interface app suffers from multiple bad security practices and vulnerabilities including clickjacking, charset mismatch, cookie slack, private IP disclosures, weak HTTPS encryption and more.
Thankfully most of these flaws have now been patched but
CyberNews points out that some were only patched halfway through. For instance, the backend of the router still seems to be secured in such a way that an attacker could potentially find an entry point within the web interface and re-exploit previously known flaws. CyberNews reached out to TP-Link to inform the company of its discoveries and it said that it will force firmware updates on the affected devices while owners will receive “relevant notifications” about these updates via their management interface.
The lesson here is that while you may have purchased a brand new device from Amazon or any other online or offline retailer for that matter, you still need to take the time and ensure that your router is updated to the latest firmware to protect your network and your data.


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Bulova Corporation tapped Mediassociates to handle media planning, buying and campaign optimization. First work will include improving Bulova's digital advertising. "We are extremely proud to help
Bulova, one of the world's leading brands, continue to grow in the U.S.," said Scott Brunjes, CEO and president of Mediassociates. Bulova spent $3.1 million on measured media in 2013 and 4.3 million
in 2014, according to Kantar Media.


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Samsung Galaxy Note 7 pulled soon after introduction
Consumers who purchased the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 are being told to exchange them for another device in the wake of the discovery of a potentially dangerous defect. Some have exploded while they were charging.
The 5.7-inch Note 7 “phablets” went on sale just weeks ago at a hefty retail price of $850, but the company has already sold 2.5 million of them. The devices were touted for their water resistance and large storage ability. They can also be unlocked with the user’s iris. However, they have been pulled off the shelves until the battery issue can be resolved.
Samsung has said that only a “small number” of defective phones have been discovered, but that it is “taking a proactive approach to address customer needs.”
Several U.S. wireless carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, are offering customers exchanges for another device or, in some cases, refunds. Customers can also exchange their Note 7s for other devices via Samsung’s Product Exchange Program.
This isn’t the first case of electronics powered by lithium-ion batteries exploding. Exploding hoverboards and laptop computers have been in the news within the last year for exploding or catching fire due to their battery issues.
It’s not been reported that any injuries or damages (aside from a destroyed smartphone) have resulted from this most recent defect. However, that is always a possibility when any item could potentially explode or catch fire.
Fortunately, many leading manufacturers have learned that it’s best to recall potentially dangerous products sooner rather than later, even if the recall damages their brand and consumer confidence. This can help them avoid the potential for injury, or worse, and the threat of costly litigation.
Source: USA Today, “Samsung to recall Galaxy Note 7 off battery issue,” Mike Snider, Sep. 02, 2016


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The Commerce Commission is reminding businesses that they risk breaching the Fair Trading Act if price increases are misleadingly represented as being due to the GST increase. This follows a warning issued to the owners of Wellington’s daily paper, The Dominion Post, which represented that a price increase was ‘forced’ by the GST change, when this was not the case.
The Commission has received a flurry of complaints from consumers this week following the increase in GST to 15 per cent on 1 October. Many of the complaints concerned prices that had increased by more than the rise in GST but were allegedly advertised as being due to the increase in GST.
Among complaints received was that it was misleading to use the GST change to explain the reason for the increase in price of The Dominion Post’s weekday edition from $1.50 to $1.60. The GST increase alone would have resulted in a new price of $1.53. The notice explaining the price increase was on the front page of the newspaper on 1 October 2010.
The Commission has issued a formal warning to Fairfax New Zealand Limited, owners of The Dominion Post. When contacted by the Commission the company accepted the notice was “incorrectly worded” and in fact the 10 cent price increase included its annual scheduled price increase, which had been delayed from June 2010.
“Businesses can increase their prices whenever they like, for any reason. However, if a business offers a reason for the price increase it must not be misleading. To claim that an increase in price is due to the increase in GST, when the increase is far greater than the cost of the GST rise, is potentially a breach of the Fair Trading Act,” said Graham Gill, Enforcement Manager, Auckland, for the Commerce Commission. “Some businesses are choosing a price that is different from the GST increase to ensure that a price is practical, particularly for goods that are often paid for by cash. However, they need to ensure that any reason given is clear and accurate.”
“Consumers are entitled to expect accurate information when they buy goods or services. The Commission had earlier issued advice to businesses not to misrepresent the GST increase and it appears that message either did not get through or was ignored by some,” said Mr Gill.
The warning to Fairfax is the first issued by the Commission in relation to the GST increase. The majority of GST related complaints received so far have been assessed as either unlikely to breach the Fair Trading Act or have not met the Commission’s enforcement criteria. The Commission has four other GST cases currently under investigation and will make no further comment about those cases.
The Commission will continue to monitor the situation, and assess complaints received, and may take further action against businesses that continue to misrepresent the GST increase in the future.


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27 Jan. 2010
WHO’S NEXT AND PREMIÈRE CLASSE RISES ATTENDANCEThe last edition of French trade fairs Who’s Next and Première Classe which ended Jan. 26 registered a +17% rise in attendance compared to the Jan. 2009 edition. With nearly 50,000 visitors (49,460) this session of both Parisian trade shows achieved a record attendance. 17,974 foreign buyers visited the fairs which counts up to a 30.6% increase compared to last year’s edition. But also the number of French buyers grew. With 31,486 visitors there was a 10.6% rise compared to last January.
According to show organizers retailers were in a good mood and placed orders with no restraints; they even favored impulse buys which they had avoided the past seasons. Also the first edition of Petit Who’s Next which is devoted to kids’ fashion, proved very promising. “This creation area can only grow and it will be further developed next September thanks to increased efforts in terms of communications and identity”, Sophie Guyot, Who’s Next’s manager, said. The next edition of Who’s Next will take place at Porte de Versailles in Paris between Sept. 4 to Sept. 7, 2010.
|Back to home|


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When HP unveiled the TouchPad earlier this month, the best launch date that they could give was some time this summer. Since then, people have been speculating like crazy, trying to pin down a more precise launch date for the first webOS tablet. Digitimes has thrown their hat into the ring, claiming that HP will begin delivering TouchPads at the end of next month with actual sales to kick off in April. The site's sources believe that HP is aiming to ship around 4-5 million TouchPads in 2011.
Although HP did say that the TouchPad wouldn't be coming until summer, I'm sure they wouldn't mind surprising us all with a launch in April. Besides catching everyone off-guard, they'd also be in a better position to compete with the Android/iOS/BlackBerry tablets of the world. My only hope? If this rumor is true, the Pre 3's release will be moved up, too.


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Governor Gavin Newsome signed a controversial bill, known as AB 5 which went into effect on January 1, 2020. This bill comes out after months of uproar from businesses like Uber and Lyft for the reason that this bill will require businesses to hire workers as employees, versus independent contractors (minus a few exceptions). After an aggressive fight by Uber and Lyft, they ultimately lost this battle. Senators voted 29-11 in favor of AB 5 last week and the state assembly approved the amendments.
Current State of Affairs
Prior to this bill, tech giants like Uber and Lyft relied on hundreds of thousands of independent contractors to transport passengers, deliver food and other similar work. The advent of requiring companies like the aforementioned to treat these drivers like employees versus an independent contract completely changes the model on which these large companies operate.
The reaction to this bill is mixed. Now these workers will get labor protections and benefits that all employees get, such as insurance, health care, paid leave, overtime, rest break and a guaranteed $12 minimum hourly wage. Additionally, and very important, they could also potentially unionize. What this means for the companies is a lot of added costs.
How do you determine if one is an independent contractor or employee?
There is a test that is referred to as the ABC test. To be an independent contractor, you must prove that the worker is:
- Free from the company’s control;
- Performing work that isn’t central to the company’s business; and
- Has an independent business in that industry.
If a worker does not meet all three of these conditions, they are required to be classified and treated as an employee. This is a much stricter standard of proof than the pertinent federal laws currently in place.


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The new CHIPS+ law contains billions of dollars for significant manufacturing and R&D incentives to build the U.S. semiconductor industry. Funding opportunities are set to begin this month. We take a look at what's in the law and what you need to know.Read Now
Manufacturing startups have a few things to consider before choosing an investment partner, according to experts in the recent webinar “Raising Venture Capital for Industrial Technology Businesses 101.”
Automated wood reclamation. Additive sees more military adoption. Robots + additive. Movie time: manufacturing the C8 Corvette. Double feature: Marines > AI.
In Spring 2022, AMT began an alliance with Silicon Valley Robotics (SVR) to expand the growth of robotics in manufacturing. Watch video to learn more.
Despite some challenges, India's outlook is bright. With a massive boost in spending on projects such as roads, railways, electronics, and EV parts, its economy remains solid and in growth mode. For more industry intel and other tidbits, read on.
Located in the Southwest hotbed of manufacturing innovation, HOUSTEX is an event for manufacturing innovators to share expertise, introduce new technologies, and make connections – held Feb. 21-23 in Houston, Texas.
The new CHIPS+ law contains billions of dollars for significant manufacturing and R&D incentives to build the U.S. semiconductor industry. Funding opportunities are set to begin this month. We take a look at what's in the law and what you need to know.
Al Albrecht dedicated seven decades to manufacturing technology. He led major companies, developed patents, and authored a book on the industry’s history. Take a trip through time and be inspired as we pay tribute to an industry giant.
As manufacturers lean more and more into automation, the only way to measure the success of their efforts is with … measurement. Investments in metrology, like other forms of automation, contribute to the overall efficiency ...
Steve heads to KOVAL, a distillery in downtown Chicago that’s serving organic spirits. Housed in a former metal fabrication facility, KOVAL uses automation and machine monitoring to make their process repeatable.
Dude, there has been a lot said lately about a police department employing robots with deadly force capabilities. And sure, the idea of it conjures images of Skynet, Cyberdyne Systems, and T-Series robots nonchalantly blowing people away, but the reality..


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Check out pictures of the World’s Tallest Ferris Wheel now open in Las Vegas.
The Morning Show
Renee Robbins and Tim Smith, together with News Director Bill Lurken, host the KMIT morning show, with an entertaining combination of information, music, contests, special guests, news and weather.
E-mail Renee with any questions, comments, or requests at: firstname.lastname@example.org
Billy can be reached at: email@example.com
Bowlen, 70, is one of the NFL's most well-known owners and guided the Broncos to six Super Bowl appearances during his 30 years at the helm.
The In a Snap app will let you scan items in magazines and add them to your shopping cart.
A Dutch air force plane carrying the first 16 coffins with the remains of victims of the downed Malaysian airliner is on its way to the Netherlands.


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Reagor Dykes Property to Be Auctioned Off Saturday
On Saturday, June 8th, various items associated with Reagor-Dykes will go up for auction, including a Reagor-Dykes "Let's Roll" show trailer.
The auction will take place at 10 a.m. at 4125 East Slaton Highway. The auction will be on-site but there is also a provision to make online bids.
All items can be inspected Thursday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as Saturday at 8 a.m.
KAMC news reports that some highlights include a vintage Graco 1948 Service Merchandiser cabinet, a Model A Ford radiator shell, a 1950's vintage cigarette machine, a vintage gas pump, a 1966 Chevrolet C10 pickup and the Reagor-Dykes trailer mentioned above.
The auction website includes images of all items and instructions for participating online.


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Chris Montera visited the InBody booth at CES 2014 to learn more about a company that is looking to help decrease obesity in the industrialized world. One way InBody does that is through monitoring your body, defining problems to fix, and then setting targeted goals to fix them.
InBody systems from BioSpace give a person access to a bunch of information that could help improve their lifestyle and health. Using an 8-point tactile electrode method, the InBody system determines your body makeup and is already FDA approved to be used in the US. InBody says its system is extremely accurate and can return high-quality results that can really turnaround your life, improve your body fat and increase your wellness.
Get cash for your iPhone with Gazelle: Lock in your rate now at Gazelle.com
Get yourself a dropcam and see whats going on at home: Buy a Dropcam now
Follow TPN on Twitter: Techpodcasts; Facebook: TPNTV; Google+: TPNTV


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Sedalia Blockbuster Going Out of Business: What Business Should Move In?
"Everything Must Go!" reads the sign that sits in front of Blockbuster on South Limit. With the popularity of Redbox and Netflix, Blockbuster has been closing down stores at an extremely high rate. While some are upset about the closing of Blockbuster, others are excited about the possibility of something new here in Sedalia.
In the past year, you have told us some of the unique foods you want to see come to Sedalia. If we go way back in the blog machine, we asked what restaurants you wanted to see come to Sedalia. Blockbuster sits on South Limit, which is prime real estate for any business. I think it would be useful to have another entertainment store move into the location. Doug and I kicked around a few ideas of our own, we are both in agreement that a Hastings like the one in Warrensburg would be great for this town.
Sedalia has been growing quickly over the past decade, and the city has started some new building projects with new businesses coming to town. When one business closes its doors, it is a new opportunity for someone else.
The last official day of business for Blockbuster will be Oct. 25. I want to know what you, the people of Sedalia, want to see move into the location.


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Apple is rumoured to be holding a press event on 25th March where it will launch some new services – among them its TV streaming service. But it now seems we could see it unveil the much rumoured AirPods 2 there as well.
That’s the word from Spanish Apple website AppleSfera, which claims that a number of industry sources have confirmed Apple will launch the new wireless headphones at the event.
The site also reports they will actually go on sale just four days later, on 29th March.
This is backed up by an anonymous supplier who reportedly has connections with various Asian suppliers.
They claim that the lifecycle for Apple’s current-generation AirPods ends on 28th March i.e. the day before the next iteration goes on sale.
If Apple does put the new headphones on sale just four days after they’re announced, it would mark a big shift in strategy since the originals.
The first-generation AirPods took three months to come to market – an age in a product with a lifecycle of around two years – and even then they were in limited supply for the first few months.
So what can we expect from the new buds? Rumour has it they will have built in “Hey Siri” functionality for hands-free voice interaction, better water resistance and health tracking features like a heart rate monitor.
They should also have a new coating that will make them less slippery – handy for keeping them in your hands or your ears.
They’re said to come with a new portable charging case for keeping them juiced up on the go. Some reckon this could be the only change – a kind of AirPods 1.5 before the fully refreshed product launches further down the line.
This would still warrant the discontinuation of the original line, as it would ship with the AirPods as standard.
Apple’s AirPods are ‘true’ wireless headphones that connect to your device using Bluetooth.
Unlike some wireless pairs, they don’t have a cable connecting them to each other – they’re essentially just a pair of earbuds that talk to each other and your phone through the air.
Apple is also rumoured to launch its long-awaited TV streaming service at the 25th March event, along with its revamped news subscription service.
It could also finally launch its AirPower wireless charging mat – a product that was first shown off over a year ago.
AppleSfera, via PhoneArena


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NEW YORK: UK-based restaurant chain Pret A Manger has selected Sharp Communications as its first PR AOR in the US as it expands its business in the country.
Lewis PR previously managed the brand's communications globally, said Jennifer Nelson, marketing director for Pret A Manger USA. She added that the firm is still handling PR for the chain in the UK and will work collaboratively with Sharp.
Nelson declined to give details on the review process, but said a “couple” of agencies competed for the US business.
Sharp won the account because of its experience in the food space, as well as its “creativity and passion,” she added.
Pret A Manger decided to bring on a PR agency in the US because of the growth the company is seeing in key markets, including New York, Chicago, Boston, and Washington DC.
“It's so important that we make sure we communicate our ‘made today, gone today' message,” explained Nelson. “We make food fresh every day, we donate it to local charities, and with the amount of effort we put forth, the ingredients we source, and the passion our team members have, it's a wonderful time to make sure our message gets out there.”
Sharp's main responsibilities include consumer brand marketing, media relations, special events, and support of the company's philanthropic arm, the Pret Foundation.
With a team of four staffers on the account, the agency will engage press outlets and bloggers who cover the general consumer, food, and health and wellness categories, said James Brodsky, president and CEO of Sharp.
Social media is handled internally at Pret A Manger, said Nelson, but Sharp will help the in-house team with idea generation for social channels.
She added that the initial contract is for one year. Budget information for the account was not disclosed.
In addition to hiring Sharp, Pret brought on Walrus for US marketing and creative work in March, Nelson said.
Pret A Manger, which launched in London in 1986 and debuted in America in 2000, has more than 240 locations in the UK and more than 50 in the US.


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Number of Lancashire enterprises grows
The number of enterprises in Lancashire increased by 3 per cent between March 2013 and March 2014, the latest Barclays and BGF Entrepreneurs Index report reveals.The county is now home to 38,485 enterprises, an increase of 1,150 enterprises over the 12 months.
In the North West as whole there has been a 4.8% increase in the total number of companies in the year to March 2014, taking this number up tonearly 217,000 enterprises. This was the third largest rise across the country, behind only London and the North East at 7.7% and 5.2% respectively.This Entrepreneurs Index is the fifth in a bi-annual series tracking the UK entrepreneurial lifecycle, using data to measure start-ups, growth and share sales. In addition to the new enterprises starting up, the report also reveals that the North West saw a 2% rise in the number of partial or full company sales resulting in significant returns for investors, as many start to take advantage of more favourable economic conditions and return to the SME market.
Despite this growth in early-stage entrepreneurial activity and exits, in line with a trend seen across the UK, there was an 8.4% fall in the proportion of high-growth companies in the North West.James Bailey, director, Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, North West, said: “Despite the fall in the proportion of high-growth businesses, this edition of the Entrepreneurs Index paints a very encouraging picture of the entrepreneurial environment in the North West today. The fact that we are third out of 10 regions in terms of the growth in new enterprises is real testament to the strength of the local enterprise community. “It is now important that policy-makers focus on continuing to support this segment of the business community into the next level in their business journey, allowing them to grow and unlock the potential that they hold not only for the owners, but for the wider North West economy.”


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MBSI Steps into the 4-wheeler EV segment.
According to a Press release, the Shared Mobility platform of Yamaha Motors, Moto Business Service India (MBSI) has entered into the 4-wheeler EV segment. It has partnered with sustainable energy-powered vehicle service firm Malbork Technologies. MBSI basically offers services to tech startups that are focused on the shared mobility space in India. On the other hand, Malbork Technologies provides an app-based B2C taxi aggregator service in the city of Bangalore. Managing Director of MBSI, Shoji Shiraishi, in a statement, said: "We are excited to officially kick start our operations in the EV sector with Malbork. India is seeing rapid growth in sales of electric vehicles as travelers rush to switch from gasoline-powered vehicles due to the rising cost of fuel. Additionally, there are key signs of momentum in this key potential market of 1.4 billion Indians." Earlier, MBSI has also collaborated with bike rental company Royal Brothers. Mr. Shiraishi further added: "We will onboard electric vehicles across multiple cities and generate employment avenues. We plan to work with more mobility companies in the future and to transform the overall shared mobility space in India by bringing our financial and strategic experience from our shareholders." Moto Business Service India while citing a report also informed that by the year 2025 the Indian electric vehicle market is estimated to be valued at USD 7.09 billion.


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Minister Simon Harris has hinted that a return of outdoor dining could arrive as early as next month as the Government plans the next easing of restrictions.
It is expected that hairdressers and non-essential retail could reopen in May and, according to Simon Harris, outdoor dining could be on the agenda a lot sooner than expected. Last week, An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar suggested that outdoor hospitality could return in June but Harris said today that there could be "the potential for more" than has been indicated for May.
When pressed by the Irish Mirror on whether that meant a return of outdoor dining, the Minister agreed, saying he had seen 'safe outdoor activity in his own constituency, Wicklow, this weekend.'
He added: "things like outdoor dining and the likes. I’m not in a position to give a definitive view, but I think we need to start answering those questions next week.”
It is expected that at An Taoiseach Micheál Martin's next national address, he will lay out a path for the months of May, June and July, giving hope to businesses who wish to plan how they will be operating this summer.


text: A Kentucky company recalled 300 pounds of ground beef suspected of carrying the deadly E. coli bacteria, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Wednesday. The meat, which may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7, was packaged in 5- and 10-pound bags and sold to restaurants in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. No illnesses have been reported from the ground beef, processed by Thomas Food Service of Louisville on May 17, the USDA said. Boxes containing the suspect beef were stamped with the USDA mark 7914. The boxes were also labeled with the product name, Thomas Brand of Fresh Ground Beef, plus the number 1380. Consumers may want to ask restaurants in the affected states if the business received any of the recalled product, the USDA said. E. coli 0157:H7 is one of the deadliest foodborne illnesses.


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For decades now vulture capitalist like Mitt Romney have been taking good American jobs and shipping them overseas. Bain Capitol was well known for this and this could have been one of the reasons he ultimately lost the Presidential election.
People overwhelmingly agree that we should increase manufacturing throughout the United States. During the campaign President Obama said he want to create one million new manufacturing jobs right here at home.
With over 20 million still out of work, bringing jobs back and rebuilding the greatness that once was American Manufacturing should be a top priority. For Senator Chris Murphy, it is. He actually ran his campaign for Senate on this very principle. As a Congressional Representative from Connecticut, Murphy created the “Buy America” Caucus whose sole purpose was to push for policy changes to boost American Manufacturing. [mantra-pullquote align=”right” textalign=”right” width=”33%”]”I believe our economy cannot recover without a strong manufacturing base” Senator Chris Murphy [/mantra-pullquote]
Senator Murphy in partnership with the Alliance for American Manufacturing highlighted four areas that need to be changed that will bring jobs back to the US and help create new long-term jobs
1. Stop the currency manipulation from China by passing Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act. China continues to manipulate their currency to ensure that their costs are cheaper. Senator Murphy said “We’re already in a trade war with China, we’re just not fighting it. We need to get more serious.”
2. Tax Reform. Provide incentives for companies who bring jobs back from overseas and stop subsidizing companies who are outsourcing jobs.
3. Invest in our infrastructure. One of the issues with American manufacturing is the ability to products to our trade ports. By building better roads, bridges and trains, manufactures can quickly and easily move their products across the country or around the world.
4. The United States Government needs to practice what it preaches by buying American made products. Currently the ‘Buy America’ law states that 50% products bought with taxpayer money be made domestically. Senator Murphy says that number should be at a minimum 60% but would like to see it closer to 75%.
Senator Murphy also pointed out that the current ‘Buy America’ law has one very large loophole that must be closed. If the government buys a product, lets say a gun, but that product is not going to be used within the United States, the law says that it does not have to be made in the USA. This loophole has been exploited by defense contractors and the DOD. Think of how much money the US Government spent over the last decade fighting two wars. What would that have done for our economy if we made all of those guns and ammunitions right here at home? If you remember weapons manufacturing during World War II was one of the way we pulled ourselves out of the Great Depression.
To fight back against this stagnant economy we must start by investing in America, and American Manufacturing. We need to start building more products and selling them throughout the world. We need to show that products made right here at home are better quality and economical. The Alliance for American Manufacturing just opened their new office in Washington D.C. that was built and furnished with American Made products.
Labor unions have taken a beating in the media recently over reduced membership numbers. Do you want to see unions growing stronger again? If so then we must all start to insist on American Made products. When American Manufacturing once again flourishes the membership numbers will grow with it. Oh and that thing that the Republicans are always screaming about, the national debt, that will go away on its own when we increase our GDP.
So if you want to reduce the debt, put millions of people back to work and support labor across the country the answer is simple, BUY AMERICAN!


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Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (VRX.TO) (VRX.N) is planning to appoint a new CEO as Chief Executive Michael Pearson remains hospitalized, CNBC tweeted, citing Dow Jones.
The new chief executive would replace the committee currently running the company, CNBC tweeted, citing Dow Jones. (bit.ly/1VGwoDe)
14:34 Coca-Cola Elevating Operating Chief to CEO, Succeeding Kent15
21:49 Donald Trump’s Twitter posts seem awfully close to violating the platform’s rules on abusive behavior
19:34 CEO shift at Coca-Cola could usher in more dealmaking to refresh soda giant's growth12
22:11 Carrier factory union chief standing ground against Trump12


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Tonight will be filled with candy and costumes, but before you head out for some Trick or Treating, check out these five unusual little-known fun facts about Halloween.
1. Don't dress as clergy in Alabama!
If you live in Alabama be careful which costume you choose! It is illegal to dress up as any member of the clergy. The law reads: "Whoever, being in a public place, fraudulently pretends by garb or outward array to be a minister of any religion, or nun, priest, rabbi or other member of the clergy, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500.00 or confinement in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment."
2. Fear of Halloween is real.
While haunted houses and spooky costumes can make you jump and scream with fright, being scared on Halloween is much more serious for others, particularly those who suffer from samhainophobia, or the fear of Halloween.
3. Chocolate is the most popular Halloween candy!
Chocolate is the big winner on Halloween, as market research suggests it is the most popular candy choice on Oct. 31.
"According to a recent survey from the National Confectioners Association, 72 percent of all candy spending this Halloween will be on chocolate. Last year, more than $12.6 billion was spent on chocolate in the United States, 3.8 percent more than the year before," USA Today reported.
4. "Despicable Me" minions are the most popular costume!
Judging by the frequency of Google searches, it seems that the minion from the movie "Despicable Me" is the most popular Halloween costume of 2013.
"Minion costume" topped Google's list of trending Halloween searches in this month. It was followed by "Miley Cyrus costume," according to the New York Daily News.
5. Pumpkins are actually (technically) berries.
Pumpkins belong to a classification of plant that technically qualify them as berries. Pumpkins belong to the family Cucurbitaceae: cucumbers, melons, squash, and gourds all share the same designation.


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Supplier News Breaks Archives
Nipro honored as a top manufacturer in Florida
December 5th, 2011
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nipro Diagnostics Inc. has won the 2011 Manufacturer of the Year Award from the Manufacturers Association of Florida (MAF).
The diabetes management product company said Monday that it was recognized in the large company category (more than 500 employees). The MAF award is based on an evaluation of leading-edge management practices, manufacturing and process quality, and other performance-excellence criteria.
Nipro was presented with the award last week at the 2011 MAF Manufacturers Summit & Marketplace award ceremony, which was attended by leading Florida manufacturers as well as Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
"This award is a tribute to the employees of Nipro Diagnostics," stated Scott Verner, president and chief executive officer of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Nipro, said in a statement. "We build excellence into every aspect of our operations, and this recognition exemplifies our dedication to manufacturing quality blood glucose monitoring systems. I congratulate every employee who has helped us achieve and maintain our quality/value leadership position in our industry."
Out of the nearly 18,000 manufacturers in Florida, just 17 were selected as finalists, according to Nipro. In its category, the company competed against such other firms as Anheuser-Busch InBev Inc., BAE Systems, Georgia-Pacific Corp. and Publix Super Markets Inc.
"Congratulations to Nipro Diagnostics on receiving this recognition," Gov. Scott said in a statement. "As a low-cost manufacturer of products for people with diabetes, the company plays a vital role in making health care more affordable."
Earlier this year, Nipro was named South Florida Manufacturer of the Year in the 200-plus employee category by the South Florida Manufacturers Association.
In other news, Nipro on Monday also announced the purchase of two buildings in Fort Lauderdale. The company said it plans to expand manufacturing and other operations in the two facilities.
"The acquisition of these buildings solidifies our presence in South Florida and is another example of our commitment to growing our business," Verner commented.


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Digital transformation is causing a fundamental shift in the way that organisations deliver goods and services to market. While the process of employing technology to improve the processes, activities and competencies of each element of a company’s infrastructure and eco-system is inward facing, its impact has a far-reaching effect on the external environment in which the business operates.
The process of transformation is gaining momentum across the globe - and across all sectors. In our recent survey of 300 B2B organisations, we found that 63 per cent of companies have a digital transformation strategy in place, although adoption rates do vary widely across the globe. In the US nearly 80 per cent of US companies have a digital transformation strategy but this figure drops to down to less than half of companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
While defining a strategy is key to the success of a digital transformation project, organisations are not as far forward in delivering the programme of changes as many of us may have believed. Only 4 per cent of organisations globally have completed their roll out, with the majority still defining their process of implementation or mid-way through a test project to ensure that their approach is right.
Of course there are challenges to the success of the digital transformation projects. Unsurprisingly legacy technology is considered a barrier to success for 41 per cent of businesses trying to digitise the infrastructure. But internal culture is also considered to be a challenge with 40 per cent facing organisational resistance to change and a further 38 per cent having to deal with disconnected sales channels prior to implementation. But this hasn’t prevented fast deployments.
Speed appears to be key for many companies who’ve embraced digital transformation. A third are ‘acting fast’ and rolling out the project in the shortest time frame possible. But many are starting with a small project so they can identify wider opportunities to digitise the business.
So what’s the urgency? Are businesses using technology to transform their infrastructure as part of forward-thinking innovation programmes? Apparently not. Our research indicates that it’s an increasingly tough marketplace that’s driving digital transformation projects. 70 per cent of respondents globally cite competitive pressures as the main reason for optimising business IT infrastructure. And threats to the business are occurring from all sides. 38 per cent of respondents feel that existing competitors are the main challenge, whereas 35 per cent see pressure from new online market entrants; and 34 per cent from cheaper overseas suppliers. This indicates that while technology has enabled companies to attack new markets, it has also fundamentally created a more competitive environment at the same time. Over a third of companies believe that failure to complete digital transformation projects will result in competitors taking advantage.
While digital transformation projects are being driven by fears of increasing competition, companies across the globe recognise that using technology to get the customer experience right will help them fight off these threats. 88 per cent believe that customer experience is important to their business growth strategy. Over half of the respondents to our survey cited customer demand as a key driver to using technology to adapt their infrastructure.
With customer experience at the heart of digital transformation projects, companies are turning to online channels to optimise their interactions where possible. Our research shows that businesses are putting their e-commerce platform at the heart of their digital transformation strategy because it’s responsible for delivering the customer experience. 87 per cent believe that an e-commerce system can help personalise their customer’s buying experience and nearly three quarters state that e-commerce plays a vital or important role in digital transformation.
It’s not just the customer experience that is benefitting from digital transformation. Organisations putting e-commerce at the heart of their strategy have gained immediate benefits. Over 90 per cent of companies have seen an improvement in sales order process efficiency, three quarters have increased order processing, and 72 per cent have decreased order errors. The improvement to sales processes ensure that companies are able to deliver the back end to the customer experience.
While B2B organisations may have been more considered in the past than their B2C counterparts in the roll out of e-commerce and the understanding that the customer experience will determine their competitive positioning, most have fully embraced online platforms as a route to market. Nearly three quarters of companies will use their e-commerce systems to sell overseas, and a further 72 per cent believe that they will sell all of their product lines online in the future.
e-commerce is delivering clear ROI – in many cases in less than six months after implementation. Organisations have experienced, on average, a 22 per cent increase in revenue growth since implementing their e-commerce solution and they expect it to further increase revenue by another 23 per cent within the next two years.
Having embraced digital transformation as a way to meet competitive threats, B2B organisations are using it to deliver more advanced experiences to the market. Nearly 70 per cent of companies will use the Internet of Things or machine to machine to enable automated and/or predictive ordering for customers. 67 per cent believe that virtual reality will help personalise the B2B buying experience and most surprisingly two thirds will start using driverless cars or drones for delivery.
It’s clear from our research that companies are using technology to transform their processes, methods and their approach to new and existing markets. Underpinning their infrastructures and delivering efficiencies back to the business simply make it easier to compete and do business in new and existing markets. Yet it’s imperative that B2B organisations move their digital transformation projects on if they’re to remain competitive and benefit from the new opportunities that technology brings. Eat or be eaten is the new mantra.
Michiel Schipperus, CEO at Sana Commerce (opens in new tab)
Image source: Shutterstock/Wichy


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Facebook is searching for a CMO as it looks to rebuild its brand reputation following the Cambridge Analytica scandal and mounting questions over its role in areas from the spread of fake news to Russian interference in US elections.
According to a job post on LinkedIn, Facebook wants a CMO to “build, manage and inspire a global marketing organisation focused on its consumer business and overall company reputation”. Those hoping to apply will need at least 15 years experience at a consumer or tech company and understand everything from product and digital marketing to social media, analytics, branding, events and partnerships.
They will also need knowledge on how to “guide a brand’s reputation” and experience in crisis management. The CMO role is seen as a key member of the Facebook management team, but Facebook admits it is “still learning to capitalise on marketing’s impact” in a company that is engineering led.
The CMO role at Facebook has been vacant since Gary Briggs left at the start of 2018. He had been in the job since 2013 having joined from Google, and reported into chief product officer Chris Cox.
His departure left Facebook without a top marketer just as the company was hit by a series of scandals that have impacted its brand reputation. It is fighting fires on a number of levels – from the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, to its role in the spread of fake news and Russian interference in elections.
Advertisers are also increasingly concerned, not just about the issues above but also about measurement and effectiveness of ads on the platform after Facebook admitted to a series of errors. And in its latest results, Facebook said it had lost members in Europe and that people are spending less time on the site, all of which reduce advertisers’ ability to reach people on the platform.
All of this has impacted its brand. According to YouGov BrandIndex, Facebook’s Impression score, which is a balance of whether people have a positive or negative view of a brand, had been hovering at around +18 for the eight months before Cambridge Analytica hit the headlines.
In the wake of that scandal, Facebook’s score dropped as low as -19. It is now back up at around +6, suggesting attempts to rebuild its reputation, including a major marketing push, are having an impact. However, it is not yet back to pre-scandal levels.
Paul Morris, strategy director at Brand Finance, says: “Facebook has been dealt a harsh blow by the privacy scandal involving Cambridge Analytica and continues to face criticism over its data policies, altogether representing a fundamental challenge to its brand and overall business model. Its leadership appears to have recognised this by adopting a strategic plan to improve its relationship with consumers, including worldwide advertising campaigns appealing to customers’ emotions and reinforcing their proposition of connecting and making friends online.
“This may help the brand weather the storm, but the new CMO will have to work hard to restore Facebook’s brand reputation in the long term, not only with consumers but also with regulators and the wider public opinion. Advertising will only get the brand so far; there will need to be a demonstrated change delivered through customer experience and corporate behaviour.”
The CMO role is not the only job in marketing Facebook is recruiting for. It is also searching for a head of consumer and brand marketing for Instagram as it looks to build out the marketing team there.


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The Communications Council has launched a study into advertising effectiveness in Australia, for the first time using a new database of confidential data submitted with entries to the Effie Awards.
The report Australian Advertising Effectiveness Rules, co-authored by advertising effectiveness luminaries Rob Brittain and Peter Field, was unveiled at special Effies Work Behind The Work events in Melbourne and Sydney.
The report marks the first time outside the UK that a report on advertising effectiveness has validated the conclusions of Field's research work with fellow effectiveness guru Les Binet.
The data covers 143 campaigns entered in the 2018 and 2019 Effie Awards.
The key findings:
- Broad targeting remains the most effective approach in delivering larger impacts on brand profit growth;
- Longer duration campaigns are more effective in driving business measures;
- The impact of longer duration campaigns builds cumulatively over time, therefore longer campaign evaluation periods reveal stronger campaign effects;
- And emotional campaigns are more effective at impacting long-term market share growth.
“This is the first of a series of paper developed with Peter using the new Australian Effies Database, deriving learnings from some of the most effective Australian marketing campaigns," Brittain says.
He says that with Australia in a low economic growth climate, marketing budgets are at greater risk of being cut to meet bottom line targets.
“This environment creates more pressure for marketers to prove the effectiveness of their investment and can lead to a shift in focus towards efficiency," Brittain says.
"However the answer lies in understanding effectiveness, and through this understanding, marketing investment works at its hardest, delivering the future revenue growth that businesses need."
Peter Field says the new report is “an important addition to the evidence base about how advertising works”.
“If I had to single out just one area of this research it would be the ground-breaking findings on how campaign effects evolve over time, and how this differs for short and long-term campaigns. We’ve never been able to look so precisely at this before,” Field says.
“Looking forward, as an industry, we need empirical evidence of what genuinely works, more than ever. We need to be able to challenge each plausible-sounding new theory of effectiveness that comes along, and to see if they hold water before we rush in with our dollars.”
The Communications Council CEO Tony Hale says the Effie database will become over time the most valued resource in Australia when examining what is really driving marketing and advertising effectiveness.
“It is with great pride that we can now publish our very first edition of Australian Advertising Effectiveness Rules," he says.
In addition to research findings and recommendations, the report also includes two case histories drawn from the recent winners of the 2019 Australian Effie Awards, announced on 5 September.
Grand Effie 2019 winner Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) provides a case study into how taking the long-term approach led to Great Northern becoming Australia’s most popular beer, while Gold Effie winner NRMA Insurance’s Help case study showcases the power of emotional brand building.
In addition to the unveiling of the Australian Advertising Effectiveness Rules report, attendees at the “Effies Work Behind The Work” events in Melbourne and Sydney were treated to insightful ‘behind-the-scenes’ presentations of 2019 Effie award-winning campaigns from Clemenger BBDO Melbourne and CUB, AJF GrowthOps and Officeworks, The Monkeys and NRMA and 2019 Effective Agency of the Year BMF and ALDI.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at email@example.com


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After Sweden, it’s China’s turn to experiment with its own digital currency. Information confirmed on Monday April 20 in the Wall Street Journal by the Digital Currency Research Institute of the People’s Bank of China after multiple articles in Chinese government media this weekend.
A general deployment for the 2022 Olympic Games?
The global race for digital currency is underway, encouraged even by the world economic forum. China has had a research program in this direction since 2014, however, it was the announcement of the cryptocurrency, Libra, which prompted the People’s Bank of China to accelerate its research.
Four cities will test the currency now known by the simple acronym “DC / EP” (for digital currency, electronic payment). Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, where Huawei’s headquarters and the country’s third largest stock exchange are located, Chengdu, one of the major technological metropolises of Inner China, Xiong’an, a satellite city of Beijing and Suzhou.
The pilot program should be used to improve the functionality of the currency. It is a test balloon for a generalized deployment at the edge of the Winter Olympics 2022. To limit the risks of inflation, the diffusion of the currency will be local, in measured quantity, over a period well demarcated.
Digital currency does not promise the anonymity
The goal of digital currency is to replace, in time, part of the currency, in particular the currency in circulation. For the Chinese central bank, this government-managed currency will help fight money laundering, terrorist financing, and games of chance.
Digital currency is not a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin is or Libra could be. The Chinese government certainly promises privacy, but the operation of the currency will not be anonymized in such a deep way, enough to distrust the promises of the Chinese government rather known until now to monitor its population closely.