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Levan Kvirkvelia, founder of Jigger, an anti-bot software has released a report asserting that 40% of the player base of web3 games are bots. The study found evidence of 20,000 bots across more than 60 web3 games.
Louis Regis, founder and CEO of Xborg, has exclusively confirmed to CrytoSlate that many games artificially increase their player base with bots and use multiple accounts to increase their value.
Outside of web3, many people have been buying and selling game accounts containing rare items, skins, or highly competitive ratings. Investigating the source of bots in web2 can be very difficult because the data is diverted through a VPN to hide the identity of the bad guys.
However, Kvirkvelia’s research uses blockchain transparency to link wallets and create a probability matrix to determine whether an account is a bot. Photos from Kvirkvelia’s company Jigger visually present interconnected accounts.
after analyzing 60+ games and services, we found 200 000 bots. on average, every web3 game has 40% bots.
link to the database with the results at the end of a thread 🧵 pic.twitter.com/vvvuhgeRLV
— Levan (@LevanKvirkvelia) August 29, 2022
The report lists several more web3 projects with corresponding bot rates. Some projects have more than 80% bots, there are even DeFi projects targeting the exploitation of referral programs.
Jigger has also released documentation summarizing all the results on its website. Users can request web3 token analysis through an on-page form.
Polkastarter Gaming CEO Omar Ghanem told CryptoSlate that he was not surprised to read the findings in the report.
“This happened not surprisingly; the truth is, the data we have in the space shows that almost 2 million wallets have interacted with dApps – which is not good information for real players.”
Ghanem cited Sybil’s problem with the current state of the web3 game and explained that one person can set up multiple wallets and play on multiple accounts.
On the other hand, Ghanem blames the monetization mechanism of web3 games for the bot problem.
“As long as we continue to have games that are basically clicks to earn money and get tokens through mission repetition at the core of gaming then surely bots will continue to exist.
This is why our Polkastarter Gaming focuses on supporting high-quality, skill-based & competitive games without barriers to entry”
Indeed, there is a move in the web3 industry to move from playing to making money and moving to playing and making money. Play & earn mechanics usually don’t require players to own a cryptocurrency wallet to get started easily. Xborg and Polkastarter gaming are two of the leaders in this field, focusing almost exclusively on gaming.
The above study is an advertisement for Jigger, but Kvirkvelia is not trying to deny this. The ability to track, analyze, and visualize blockchain data to reveal the hidden picture of the dApps user base is a powerful tool in the fight against fraud and manipulation.


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At their performance summit earlier this week Google announced new ways for businesses to promote their brands to the increasing number of consumers using mobile devices to perform local searches.
The change has been welcomed by owners of brick and mortar businesses wishing to take advantage of the integration of digital devices into our offline lives.
It is relatively well known now that more than 50% of all searches take place on mobile devices but the resulting change in the types of searches being performed has received less attention. According to a blog post published by Google a third of all mobile searches are now location based and this number is growing 50% faster than the number of mobile searches in general.
New Google Adwords Features
Google’s new local ads will transverse across both the Google website and the Google Maps app. Businesses who make use of the new Adwords features will be able to stand out above their competition with branded promoted pins on Google Maps.
The new local adverts will also give marketers the ability to inform people about special offers available in store. In conjunction with these changes local business pages are being revamped to include information about special offers available and even stock levels.
The impact of these adverts, which will result in an increase in the number of shop visitors rather than website traffic, can be measured through the Adwords system.
To maximise the return on your investment in Google Adwords we offer a complete Google Adwords management service.

domain: news


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Breaking: Suzuki called to answer fuel consumption manipulation claim
Suzuki’s Chairman Osamu Suzuki has been requested to front Japan’s transport ministry to answer claims the brand has manipulated fuel consumption figures.
CLAIMS OUT OF Japan suggest the car maker might have, like Mitsubishi admitted to recently, used improper methods to record the fuel consumption of its vehicles. The Japanese car maker has denied the allegation, with spokesperson Hidehiro Hirano telling journalists in Japan earlier today that there was no issue with the way Suzuki tested its vehicles.
But Japan’s transport ministry has requested that Suzuki chairman Osamu Suzuki explain the claims. Suzuki is expected to meet with ministry officials later today.
The story broke, in the wake of Mitsubishi’s recent revelations that it had lied about the fuel consumption of some of its JDM small car range (most of which were built under licence for Nissan) after Japan’s transport ministry ordered all Japanese car makers to audit their methods of fuel consumption measurement.
Reports in Japan suggest Suzuki to was inconsistent with its testing methods and may have breeched Japan’s rules around the methods of measurement.
Stay tuned for more as this story continues to develop across the day.
UPDATE: Suzuki chairman, Osamu Suzuki, has revealed to Japan’s transport ministry that the company used improper testing methods on 16 of its vehicles and that the improper testing method dates back to 2001. However, Suzuki stressed that after an internal investigation of its testing methods that none of its fuel consumption data needed to be amended.
“The company apologizes for the fact that we did not follow rules set by the country,” he said. Suzuki said it measured data related to components such as tires, brakes and transmissions, and combined those results with air resistance tests in a wind tunnel.
Storm in a tea cup? Maybe as no overseas vehicles are affected. Indeed, it seems that no vehicles are actually affected, if you get what I mean…


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SIG is investing €12 million in a pilot plant of its new Tech Center Europe, which will be located close to SIG’s packaging plants in Linnich, Germany.
Bringing further added value to SIG customers, the new Tech Center will help to expedite new product and packaging development, to meet the ever-increasing demand for more sustainable packaging solutions. To get the development and validation of such new packaging solutions and innovative materials even faster, more reliable and efficient, the Tech Center Europe will be an important lever.
In the new Tech Center Europe existing R&D Test Field & Prototype and combiLab facilities will be complemented with a new pilot plant, which will host state-of-the-art extrusion and finishing technology as well as advanced quality measurement systems and testing equipment. This will significantly increase serial production processability, system validation and future digital technology capacities.
Built according to the latest and most effective energy standards and food hygiene regulations, the pilot plant is scheduled to be operational by end of 2022. It will increase the co-development of products with SIG customers, speeding up innovation cycles by carrying out short-run test fillings. It will also serve as a showcase plant and modern location for project interaction with customers and stakeholder meetings.
Marcel Schopen, Department Manager Test Field, Prototype & Pilot Plant at SIG: “Our new Tech Center Europe will make us even faster and more efficient in bringing new products and packaging solutions to market. It will help our customers to keep one step ahead of trends and changing consumer demands. In the pilot plant and test field of our Tech Center we support all processes from start to finish, including sleeve production, filling products and pallet packing.”
The Tech Center Europe will accelerate new product and packaging development, enhancing SIG’s sustainable packaging solutions and supporting customers with complete end-to-end product launches. Working closely with customers, SIG sets the course with the choice of right product and packaging concept to meet consumer demands and boost their own business.
José Matthijsse, President & General Manager Europe at SIG: “Our new Tech Center will create capacities for packaging innovation that will shape SIG’s future growth in Europe. It will enable us to co-develop with our customers and better meet their needs, further strengthening our partnerships and expanding the service we provide to our customers in Europe.”
SIG is a leading systems and solutions provider for aseptic carton packaging. We work in partnership with our customers to bring food and beverage products to consumers around the world in a safe, sustainable and affordable way. Our unique technology and outstanding innovation capacity enable us to provide our customers with end-to-end solutions for differentiated products, smarter factories and connected packs, all to address the ever-changing needs of consumers. Sustainability is integral to our business and we are going Way Beyond Good to create a net positive food packaging system.
Founded in 1853, SIG is headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland. The skills and experience of our approximately 5,900 employees worldwide enable us to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of our customers in over 60 countries. In 2020, SIG produced 38 billion carton packs and generated €1.8 billion in revenue. SIG has an AA ESG rating by MSCI, an 18.8 (low risk) score by Sustainalytics and a Platinum CSR rating by EcoVadis. For more information, visit www.sig.biz
For insights into trends that drive the food and beverage industry and inspire us to innovate, visit our SIGnals blog: https://www.sig.biz/signals/en


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The European Union and Georgia signed on Thursday an agreement on mutual protection of geographical indications, paving the way for Georgian wines to be included on the EU's list of regionally specific products.
This agreement also means that the EU recognizes the quality of the products exported to the bloc by Georgia, the press service of the Polish presidency of the EU said in a statement.
Based on the agreement, 18 Georgian wines will be added to the list, including Manavi, Kindzmarauli, Akhasheni, Gurjaani, Tsinandali, Khvanchkara.
Georgia has long been famed for its wines, which were a major export earner, especially in Russia until a 2006 ban over health concerns. Since then, Georgian winemakers have been forced to look to other markets.
The agreement on geographical indications could help those efforts, while also allowing about 3,000 types of agricultural products to be exported from the EU to Georgia. It should also increase trade between EU and Georgia, which reached 1.71 billion euros in 2010, the Polish statement said, citing the European Commission.
This is the first such agreement with a country that belongs to the EU's Neighborhood Policy with several former Soviet republics, the statement said.
The EU considers geographical indications a very important part of its trade policy, and it is trying to have the concept included in World Trade Organization regulations.
It says many European countries and regions have a rich history of local and specialist agricultural production, citing products as diverse as Champagne, Melton Mowbray pork pies, Parma ham and Roquefort cheese.


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The owner of the Dayton Mall and Mall at Fairfield Commons announced today the area malls will be open longer hours starting Monday.
Both malls will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The Dayton Mall is located at 2700 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Miami Twp. and the Mall at Fairfield Commons is located at 2727 Fairfield Commons, Beavercreek.
“Dayton Mall and The Mall at Fairfield Commons remain focused on providing a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. In the continued need to address COVID-19, the town centers have proactively implemented additions to their Code of Conduct, effective until further notice,” the malls said in a statement.
Hours of operation for tenants may vary, so guests are encouraged to call ahead, the mall said.
Washington Prime Group, which owns both malls, in March released its earnings report for 2020, detailing $111.4 million in losses for the fourth quarter and $233.8 million for the year, leaving investors with an uncertainty if it could restructure in time to prevent Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
At that time, the company said it had reached an agreement with creditors extending until the end of March a deadline to pay a $23.2 million interest payment that was initially due Feb. 16. In an SEC filing April 9 the company said its agreement on the payment has been extended to April 28.


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Ryerson Holding sees Q4 net income ($14M)-($11M)
Ryerson Holding provided guidance for its fourth quarter ending December 31, 2016 in a regulatory filing. The company anticipates seasonally lower revenue for the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2016 due to fewer shipping days. The company expects fourth quarter 2016 net loss attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation in the range of $14M-$11M, which includes LIFO expense, net in the range of $14M-$17M. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO is expected to be in the range of $33M-$36M for the fourth quarter of 2016. Ryerson reported fourth quarter 2015 net loss attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation of $21M, which included LIFO expense, net of $11M. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO was $14M in the fourth quarter of 2015. Ryerson's end market metrics as measured in shipments per day showed sequential quarterly growth in construction equipment and oil & gas equipment, while food processing and agricultural equipment, HVAC, and commercial ground transportation sectors experienced sequential quarterly demand declines. Product pricing and material cost dynamics were driven by hot-rolled carbon sheet price volatility that saw CRU price deflation in the period from July through October of 20% followed by CRU price inflation in November and December of 22%, thus creating some expected margin compression in the quarter.


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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy expanded in January and early February in all parts of the country, but businesses reported they are under pressure to raise their prices.
A Federal Reserve survey released Wednesday showed that all 12 of the Fed's regions reported growth at a "modest to moderate pace" and it pointed to a pickup in job creation in each.
Retail sales picked up in 10 of the 12 regions, while falling in the Richmond and Atlanta areas. Factory activity rose in all districts except St. Louis.
The survey hinted at some inflationary concerns. Costs are rising for manufacturers and retailers in most areas. Manufacturers in many districts said they are increasingly able to pass on those costs to customers. Retailers in some districts said they have or soon will raise prices.
"There are beginning to be some troubling signs on inflation," said Steven Wood, Chief Economist at Insight Economics.
But other economists noted that the survey found little evidence that wages are increasing. Accelerating wages are "a necessary condition for a sustained, destabilizing high-inflation episode," said Dana Saporta, an economist at Credit Suisse Securities.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke endured tough questioning from members of Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday about the threat of rising inflation. Lawmakers raised concerns that the Fed's $600 billion bond-purchase program is laying the groundwork for higher prices.
Those concerns have been heightened by recent run-ups in the price of oil, corn, wheat and other commodities.
Bernanke told members of Congress that higher oil prices, which have risen due to turmoil in the Middle East, would likely cause only a temporary and mild increase in inflation.


text: As if you need another ad to watch, Microsoft recently launched a new video just in time for Valentines Day. The video shows a “Gmail Mail Man” opening other people’s mail, reading them, and also slipping in some coupons. Stefan Weitz, Director of Online Services, says, Microsoft wants people to pay close attention to its products like Bing and Outlook.com. Weitz said in an interview, “Google is a habit.” He doesn’t seem very pleased with his girlfriend since she uses Google. Ouch. That’s gotta hurt. Microsoft launched the Anti-Google Campaign last week, hoping they can get people to pay closer attention to privacy and how Google reads everyones content to deliver ads. I’m not sure if this video will get everyone to stop and think about privacy, but at least Microsoft is making an effort for change.


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Most industries would be more than happy if sales rose 6% in a year. For America’s craft beer world, however, which has positively flourished in recent years—production rose 42% in 2014, while sales grew 18% by volume and 22% by dollars—6% growth represents an off year.
And by that measure, craft beer is indeed having an off year. Thus far in 2016, craft beer sales are “only” up 6%, according to data cited by CBS News. “The consensus is that craft beer has slowed down significantly this year,” Trevor Stirling of Bernstein Research said. “The scale of the slowdown has come as a surprise to everyone.”
If craft beer sales are indeed starting to flatten out, the craze has had an amazingly good run. As far back as 2013, people were wondering if we had hit a craft beer “saturation point,” at which point it would be difficult for the movement to keep expanding. America had about 2,500 breweries at that point, and the truth is that we were nowhere near reaching Peak Craft Beer. There are now roughly 4,300 breweries in America, according to the Brewers Association, and in 2015 21% of all money spent on beer in the U.S. went to the craft segment. Craft beer’s market share has soared from 5.7% in 2011 to 12.2% last year.
Nowadays, craft beer is everywhere: Walmart sells its own private label craft products, and “cheap beer” brands like Rainier are rolling out craft products under classic brand names. Gigantic global beer manufacturers are buying up small craft brewers, muddling the market and confusing drinkers as what products, exactly, merit the “craft beer” label.
At some point, sales would have to start fizzling out; few industries could sustain growth of 15% or more year after year after year. The market for craft beer may simply be maxing out, and for some drinkers, the novelty of craft beer may be wearing off. If you’re not convinced that the craft product has superior taste and quality, there’s no justification for paying a premium now that craft is no longer the hot new thing.
But even as craft beer sales growth slows, it’s important to note that some very solid growth is still happening. Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewer’s Association, told CBS News, “It’s hard to know what the exact number is out there” regarding craft beer’s sales increase of late. “If it’s 6 percent or 10 percent, that’s a number that many industries in the U.S. economy would kill for.”
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At a certain boutique hotel in Toronto, each room is artfully designed with mid-century modern furnishings set against a brick wall, the bathroom is stocked with artisanal body products, and guests enjoy modern tech frills. The average cost of a room: $150.
So, why would anyone pay more for a luxury hotel room? The answer doesn’t lie in the decor, or the cachet of being at a ritzy property. Rather, it’s something much more elusive: the feeling only impeccable service can instill. “The key issue that separates the luxury hotel is as much an emphasis on the level of service, as on the physical product,” says Brian Stanford, national managing director at PKF Consulting in Toronto. “If I’m paying $120 at a select-service hotel, my expectations are pretty minimal. If I’m paying $350, and I’m staying at a luxury hotel you better know my name when I come in, and there better not be any hiccups in my stay.”
According to PKF, the luxury segment accounts for no more than one per cent of the 375,000 hotel rooms in Canada — but it fares well. “The luxury segment has always been a strong performer,” says Stanford. “It’s moved up a little bit but not dramatically better than the overall market.”
Nationally, occupancy grew by one point in 2012 and 2013, PKF reports, from 71.7 per cent in 2012 to 72.7 per cent in 2013; the firm forecasts 75.5-per-cent occupancy in 2014. The average daily room rate (ADR) grew from $247.29 in 2012 to $248.81 in 2013, with a forecast of $252.12 for 2014. “It’s really only been occupancy [in 2014] in the luxury segment that has been at a stronger level,” Stanford says. The upswing is tied to a more stable economy. Leisure and corporate travellers who might have stayed at a mid-scale hotel in 2009 have returned to luxury lodgings.
Between 2011 and 2012, Toronto welcomed four luxury condo hotels: The Ritz-Carlton, Shangri-La, The Four Seasons and the Trump International Hotel and Tower. Still, Stanford cautions that though the luxury segment is doing well in Toronto, the numbers are misleading. “We’re well ahead of [segment stats] in Toronto in terms of average daily rates, but we’re still continuing to absorb those four new hotels in the high end of the market,” he says, noting that occupancy is still in the upper 60-per-cent range.
That said, overall hoteliers operating in the luxury segment are enjoying “pretty decent balance sheets,” says Stanford. “The key challenges from an operator and investor perspective is making sure they keep the physical product at a high level, which means a lot of capital needs to go back into these hotels.” Keeping amenities — from foodservice to the spa — in tiptop shape is a given; another smart move is to invest in staff training.
You don’t have to tell Philip Barnes twice. The GM of Vancouver’s plush Fairmont Pacific Rim had a fantastic 2014, which he attributes to the social acumen of his team. “We’re coming up to our fifth birthday, and the repeat business factor keeps getting stronger,” he says. In that time, a number of visitors have stayed with the hotel more than 100 times.
Guest surveys tracked through Westlake Village, Calif.-based J.D. Power and Associates show the Pacific Rim rated number 2 in guest service in the Fairmont brand. Guests repeatedly praised the high service level, says Barnes. “You can have a beautiful room and a beautiful hotel, but unless you feel welcome, like it’s your home away from home, it’s just another hotel.”
One way staff at the Pacific Rim exceeds the service expectation is by being intuitive. Weary travellers never linger in a lineup. It would be nearly impossible, considering “90 per cent of repeat customers never get past the front door [without being served],” Barnes says. “We have their key, room ready, the doorman has all their information. People want efficiency and speed.”
Jean-François Pouliot, GM of the 152-room W Hotel in Montreal, also emphasizes the importance of guest satisfaction. “Design is no longer a luxury,” he says. “Everyone can design a hotel well, including limited-service places.” (Although the W Hotel’s guestrooms are being updated.) A property is set apart when its team offers authentic experiences and excellent service, he adds.
From the Maldives to Montreal, W Hotel’s Whatever/Whenever service (just one perk among many) caters to the hotel’s locale. For example, staff may help coordinate an unusual spot for a marriage proposal. It’s a genuine willingness among staff to make the guest experience special.
Meanwhile, during the 30 years Dimitrios Zarikos has been a hotelier serving the well-heeled crowd he’s seen it all, from excessively embellished room decor (hello, ’80s) to the latest in tech innovation. “I have worked in many places around the world, and you will never replace service as the definitive factor when it comes to true luxury,” says Zarikos, regional VP and GM of The Four Seasons in Toronto.
It can be as simple as using a guest’s first name instead of a generic greeting when he or she arrives. “The immediate assumption is that I know a lot more about you, than if I said, ‘Yes, ma’am,’ when I answer the phone,” says Zarikos.
But the most significant difference the GM has seen in the last five years is how a guest chooses a hotel. “There is a huge facility to the traveller to choose rates online. If their decision in the end is who is cheapest, we’d be empty,” he says. Zarikos continues vehemently: “We are not selling a commodity.”
The problem is that the online world lists similar hotels on a level playing field. How could a guest really know what it feels like to be pampered at a Four Seasons? For that reason, Zarikos recommends hoteliers and guests ally with a trusted travel agent. “Our best rates always come from the travel agents, because they are partners,” he says. “They see the product first-hand. We invite them here to experience it, to taste the food, so they’re able to describe it.”
Word-of-mouth compliments are nice, but lavish hotels are still subject to online critiques on sites such as TripAdvisor. Zarikos and his team respond to every comment, good or bad. “Human beings are good in principle. They don’t get up in the morning and say, ‘Who am I going to hurt?’” says Zarikos. “The overwhelming majority are honest comments. They may not be comments that are fair; they may be driven by emotion over fact. But, at the end of the day, all that matters is how the guest and the client feel,” he says, underscoring the importance of connecting with the visitor. “If we have failed to make them happy — whether we are right or wrong — is irrelevant.”
Volume 27, Number 2
Written By: Iris Benaroia


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Only four months have passed since GlobalFoundries majority owner ATIC made a bid to acquire Chartered Semiconductor, but things apparently proceeded quickly from there. GlobalFoundries now says Chartered and itself have started operating as a simple company under the GlobalFoundries umbrella.
The merger not only adds five 200-mm fabs and one 300-mm fab to GlobalFoundries' capacity; it brings in additional business, as well. GlobalFoundries now has more than 150 customers in total, including major semiconductor players like AMD (which was already a Chartered partner before this merger), IBM, Qualcomm, and STMicroelectronics—and the combined company only plans to pursue more.
Put together, GlobalFoundries and Chartered posted combined revenue of $2 billion for 2009, and they expect yearly capacity to increase to 1.6 million 300-mm wafers plus 2.2 million 200-mm wafers by 2014. Also, since all of Chartered's fabs are located in Singapore, GlobalFoundries is really living up to its name:
The combined company employs approximately 10,000 people around the world, anchored by headquarters in Silicon Valley and advanced manufacturing operations in Singapore; Dresden, Germany; and a new leading-edge fab under construction in Saratoga County, New York. These sites are supported by a global network of R&D, design enablement, and customer support in Singapore, China, Taiwan, Japan, the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Speaking of the New York fab, GlobalFoundries says it's still on track to start ramping production in 2012, although it'll now be called Fab 8, not Fab 2 as initially planned. The company also intends to expand capacity at Fab 1 in Dresden, Germany and Fab 7 in Singapore.
The announcement doesn't say how this merger impacts AMD's stake in GlobalFoundries, but that's not too surprising. When Intel and AMD agreed to settle all their legal disputes in November, Intel gave AMD carte blanche to get all of its processors manufactured in third-party fabs. (Previously, the two firms' cross-licensing agreement imposed limits on outsourcing.) AMD said at the time that these new terms could allow GlobalFoundries and Chartered to merge—looks like it was right.
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Ladies and gentlemen,
It is with great regret that I could not be with you today at the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Kuwait. I nevertheless wanted to share my thoughts with you on the importance of international trade to the Arab region, and the importance of the Arab region to the World Trade Organization.
Today 12 Arab countries are members of the WTO, with several of them having been party to the WTO's predecessor accord — the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. These countries have played an important role in building the multilateral trading system as we know it today, and in shaping its goals.
Another six Arab countries are in the process of acceding to the WTO, and include Algeria, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq. They are all in the process of negotiating their terms of entry; with some of these accession negotiations being at very different stages. The most recent Arab member of the WTO, Saudi Arabia, no doubt has a role to play in assisting other Arab economies in joining the WTO; a process which can only begin with a thorough understanding of the WTO rule-book.
The importance of international trade to the Arab region cannot be overestimated. The Arab economy that is most dependent on imports is the United Arab Emirates, whose imports of goods and services constitute 86 per cent of its GDP. It is followed by countries such as Jordan, Mauritania and Bahrain, whose import to GDP ratio is in the 70 per cent range. I would be remiss if I were not to mention that these imports have been vital to the region's food security.
The Arab world's export to GDP ratio also
testifies to the deep international economic integration of the Arab
region. Once again, the Arab economy that is most economically dependent
on exports is the United Arab Emirates, whose exports of goods and
services constitute 99 per cent of GDP. It is followed by Bahrain,
Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, whose export to GDP ratio is in the 65-90 per
These numbers speak for themselves and do not require much interpretation. The Arab region needs the outside world just as much as the outside world needs the Arab region. The numbers are equally stark for several of the six Arab economies that are in the process of acceding to the WTO. In Algeria and Libya, for instance, the export to GDP ratio is in the 50 per cent range, and import to GDP ratio around 30 per cent. There is no doubt, therefore, that these economies would benefit from orderly international trade, through the rules of the WTO.
Economic reform is under way in many quarters of the Arab world, and so is deeper intra-Arab economic integration, with several Arab economies gradually moving up in the scale of the world's most competitive economies. Some have even been considered among the top reformers; such as Egypt, with its recent efforts to reduce the cost of doing business in Egypt and in slashing red tape. All these efforts are to be congratulated and must continue to be pursued.
My message to you today is this: because international trade is so vital to your economies, the WTO must also be vital to you. A strong, coordinated and active Arab group in the WTO would no doubt help advance some of your economic priorities. The WTO Doha Round of trade negotiations, launched in 2001 in the capital city of Qatar, is still under way. It includes many areas of economic importance to the Arab region, such as energy services, transportation and distribution services, and negotiations on trade facilitation to do with the reduction of customs red tape, to mention but a few. I would ask that the Arab region prioritize these negotiations, and prioritize the formation of a strong Arab coalition on trade to vigorously pursue its interests through the multilateral platform that is the WTO.
Today as the economic crisis bites into our economies, and as protectionist pressures knock on our doors, we must recall the importance of the insurance policy against protectionism that the WTO offers through 60 years of global rule-making, and its dispute settlement system. Now is the time to strengthen the rules of international trade by concluding the Doha Development Round of negotiations.
I look forward to your cooperation in this endeavour, and hope to have the opportunity to visit your region in the coming period.
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More beautiful photos of Rihanna shooting an advertising campaign for Barbados Tourism last week have been added to our gallery.
“For the first time we will be able to launch a fully integrated ad campaign and we are very excited about that,” said Adrian Elcock, Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority.
Production on the promotional campaign is expected to begin soon and will be launched in September, in time for the winter tourist season. Rihanna has signed a three-year contract with the Barbados Tourist Authority (BTA) to promote the island, the Barbados Free Press reported.
Photos via Daily Mail.


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Microsoft shows off 30 new video games as Xbox turns 20, few to be up on its monthly subscription service
The company also highlighted titles that will be exclusive to Xbox, which competes with rival consoles Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
Dow Jones rises as Fed officials soothe inflation worries
Apple Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc added between 0.2% and 0.5%, as the yiel...
The Best Books I Read in 2020... and not all relate to Investing!
'These are not necessarily books on investing or stock market or even finan...
Amazon enters the fitness-tracking business with Halo, says it won't use data for ads
The fitness tracker costs $100 and has no screen; there's also a monthly $4 charge to use all of its features.
Can Jeff Bezos buy India? Apparently not
Last week, Bezos’s iPhone was hacked via a WhatsApp message sent directly from Crown Prince MBS.
Amazon Great Indian Festival sale: Deals on budget friendly smartphones under 15k
In the budget options, Samsung Galaxy M30s is available at Rs 13,999 and a higher price variant of Rs 16,999. The smartphone is equipped with a triple rear camera and a 16MP front facing camera.
Amazon Great Indian Festival: Up to 40% off on smartphones launched this year; Echo and Kindle nearly 45% cheaper
The festive sale will continue till Friday.
Don’t buy risk, go for B2B players in capital goods space: Samit Vartak, SageOne Investment
Don’t go by market cap, rather opt for dominant players available at cheaper prices
Loosen your purse strings: Amazon's Prime Day sale expected to make US $6.1 bn this year
E-commerce giant Amazon holds its eponymous Prime Day sale in July each year.
Amazon Prime Day Sale: Revenues grow while company gets more paid members
Retailers have also warmed to the idea of Prime Day, despite the preponderance of heavy discounts, which could eat into their margins.
Person of the Year: Definitely not Trump, Modi, Mbappe, MeToo brigade, Fed or FAANG!
Warren Buffett bit the Apple, but Microsoft excelled ahead to become the most valuable co.
Best smartphones that cost less than a weekend getaway
We are talking about the new range of super smart, well-priced range of smartphones by Vivo that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.
Chatbot as woman: Did industrial-age biases creep into new-age tech?
Is it really a coincidence that most assistance bots are named after women, like Alexa or Cortana?
Xbox One X review: Logical choice for power-hungry gamers
Playing the latest games in 4K is a delight.
Here's how tech products got their names
From Apple's Siri to IBM's Watson every name has an interesting story behind it.
14 reasons you should buy an Xbox One right now
Microsoft's third video game console has benefited from both major game releases and major system updates.
General Motors launches SUV Trailblazer at Rs 26.40 lakh
Trailblazer, powered by 2.8 litre diesel engine, is imported from Thailand and the company is looking to tap the fast growing SUV market in India.
Xiaomi, China's 'Apple-like' smartphone maker, to take on Samsung & Micromax in India
China’s smartphone maker Xiaomi doesn’t like being called an Apple clone and in fact wants to take it on globally. First stop: emerging markets like India.
Apple must set standards to stay ahead: Steve Wozniak
Without features to outclass competing devices, Cupertino, California-based Apple is having to rely more on its appeal as a premium brand.


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Farm groups are appealing to the Agriculture Department to relax payment rules and extend the signup deadline for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, citing the lagging pace of payments to farmers.
A $1 trillion coronavirus relief package that Senate Republicans are trying to finalize would authorize compensation to livestock and poultry producers and also aid ethanol plants as well as additional direct payments to farmers, a key senator said Thursday.
As Congress considers a new wave of aid to combat the financial pressures of the coronavirus, the trade group representing the nation’s pork producers says it’s critical the new package include aid sufficient enough to keep struggling producers in business.
Farm earnings are likely to fall sharply this year despite the $16 billion in COVID-19 assistance payments now being distributed, and farmers’ income is likely to drop again in 2021 without additional government aid, according to a widely followed forecast of the agricultural economy.
Cattle, dairy and hog producers as well as corn and soybean growers are expected to collect the largest shares of USDA’s $16 billion in coronavirus relief payments, which are designed to compensate for losses in sales or market value between January and April.
Farmers can start enrolling next week for $16 billion in coronavirus relief payments, but the Agriculture Department has decided to prorate the aid to ensure there is enough money to go around, Agri-Pulse has learned.
Farm groups are awaiting the release any day of USDA’s requirements for $16 billion in direct payments to compensate producers for the market losses caused by the coronavirus crisis. OMB completed its review of the planned program on Friday.


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The most important economic report of the week, the US inflation data, was released earlier today. As it turned out, in October, inflation rose, but not as much as expected.
In other words, it is cooling down on all metrics while persistent. As a result, both headline and core inflation in October were lower than expectations, triggering sharp moves in financial markets.
First, the US dollar got sold aggressively across the board. Second, the US stock market rallied.
Disinflation (i.e., rising inflation but at a slowing pace) is what drives the dollar lower because it implies that the Fed will have to think twice before hiking as planned. After all, the interest rate hikes need some time to make their way into the economy, and this is the first sign that tightening works.
Hence, the Fed would not want to hike too much as a recession might do as much harm to the economy as high inflation. Therefore, traders sold the US dollar and it might just be the beginning of a prolonged trend.
EUR/USD rallied today but not as much as other US dollar pairs. Nevertheless, it jumped from below 0.9950 to the current 1.0170, and there is scope for some more.
Traders should remember that the EUR/USD pair was one of the favorite ones to short, given the war in Ukraine and the ECB lagging behind the Fed. As such, a short squeeze should not be out of the question.
AUD/USD is back at 0.66 and rising. The last inflation report in Australia surprised to the upside, and so the RBA might want to give a strong signal at their next meeting. An attempt to 0.63 or more might be in the cards until the end of the trading year.
NZD/USD regained the critical 0.6 level after the October US inflation data. Should the EUR/USD rally continue, then the NZD/USD would have no problem climbing above 0.63 or higher.
All in all, today’s inflation data from the United States is a game-changer. The Fed was the first to hike, so it should be the first central bank to react to inflation is cooling off.


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Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 14
By Fikret Dolukhanov – Trend:
In January-October 2018, Uzbekistan produced 148,300 cars, which is 31.7 percent more compared to the same period in 2017, the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said in a report.
According to the information, the production of trucks increased by 5.3 percent – up to 3,370.
In the reporting period, Uzbekistan produced 532 buses, which is 32.1 percent less compared to the same period in 2017.
In the first ten months of 2018, Uzbekistan produced 115,340 automobile engines, which is 49.2 percent more compared to January-October 2017.
In January-October 2018, the production volume of tractors amounted to 2,710 units, which is 4.6 times more compared to the same period of 2017.
Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov


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A new video by UnboxTherapy has this week been released, claiming to show off the rear plate of the iPhone 6S ahead of its announcement, it shows how Apple may have strengthened the build of the iPhone after the iPhone 6 Bendgate controversy.
The video looks at the reported iPhone 6S backplate in detail to show how it is slightly larger than the current model in length, height and thickness whilst featuring an all round thicker build.
In fact it appears to be around 67 per cent thicker that the iPhone 6’s rear plate.
Despite all this it’s actually a lot lighter than the backplate for the iPhone 6.
This joins rumours that Apple has opted to use a new material on the iPhone 6, which is suggested to be the same 7000 series aluminium that they use for the Apple Watch Sport.
Check out the video below for a quick look at the leak.
Apple is expected to officially announce the iPhone 6S and a iPhone 6S Plus at an Apple Event in September, with rumours pointing to a September 9th announcement and September 18th release date.


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DALLAS -- Big incentives are edging back into new-car dealerships.
With the economy slumping and gas prices spiraling, incentives that began creeping up in January gathered steam last month, increasing to an average of $2,435 per vehicle sold in February, according to Edmunds.com.
The 8.4 percent increase from February 2007 is significant because it suggests that automakers - particularly the Detroit Three - are being forced to return to the high, profit-sapping incentives they have all renounced.
Two years ago, for example, General Motors Corp. said it was adopting "value pricing," in which it lowered retail prices to reflect actual transaction prices at dealerships and reduced incentives.
In recent months, though, "incentives have been boosted to the levels we saw regularly before automakers instituted the 'value-pricing' strategy that aimed to reduce sticker prices and minimize the need for incentives," said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds.com. "It's a car buyers' market, and that will likely be true for months to come."
Most big incentives are on full-size pickups and SUVs. But the amounts on some sedans are also growing.
In a recent list in Automotive News, the Chrysler Group had incentives on 24 cars and trucks, Ford Motor Co. offered them on 25 vehicles, and General Motors had 34 with cash on the hood.
Many offers were generous. Dodge had a $5,000 incentive on 2008 models of the Ram pickup, and Chrysler had $3,000 on its well-regarded 300C sedan.
Leo Griggs, who owns Park Cities Dodge in Dallas, says one of his challenges is selling the Dodge Ram in a tight market where gas prices are rising. The Ram is an older-design truck that's scheduled for replacement this fall.
Between dealer and customer incentives, "I can go $8,000 to $10,000 off the price of a Ram, and I can still make a good profit," he said.
Meanwhile, Ford was offering up to $4,000 back on its 2008 F-150 pickup - which, like the Ram, will be succeeded by a new model this fall.
Even the new Mustang, which was redesigned just three years ago and was once among Ford's hottest-selling vehicles, was carrying a $2,000 incentive.
Likewise, GM put $3,000 incentives on the full-size Cadillac DTS sedan and GMC Envoy midsize SUV, plus $2,000 incentives on vehicles such as the Chevrolet Silverado pickup, Tahoe, Escalade and Suburban SUVs.
Many industry observers expect incentives to keep going up until at least the summer.
"For a period there, incentives did go down," said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at Edmunds.com. "They were down in the $2,000 range. But we have seen them creep back up into the $3,000 range."
In a recent assessment, Edmunds.com found that the average incentive in February for the Detroit Three was $3,393 per vehicle, while European brands spent an average $1,945 per vehicle sold, Japanese brands averaged $1,313 per vehicle sold and Korean brands spent $1,807.


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The Google Investor is a daily report from SAI. Sign up here to receive it by email
GOOG Down As Market Flip Flops
The markets are bouncing around this morning on light volume as investors wind down the end of the year. Shares of GOOG are off $2 in early trading, significantly more than the rest of tech. Upcoming catalysts include continued Android growth; regaining momentum in China; updated software, adoption and media partners for Google TV; and progress in other newer initiatives (location-based services and mapping, gaming, social, etc.). The stock trades at approximately 16x Enterprise Value / EBIT, inexpensive relative to historical trading levels and the broader Internet group.
Analyst Says Google And Yahoo! Are Internet Buys (Forbes)
Looking for Internet plays? Hudson Square Research analyst Rory Maher suggests you look no further than Google and Yahoo. Maher picked up coverage of both companies yesterday with Buy ratings. He has a $750 price-target on Google and sites continued product improvements, shift of local advertising dollars online, growth from emerging countries, and material mobile searches. Maher also believes “the risks from social networks and other emerging online businesses are overblown.”
Will Google Become A Wireless Carrier? (CNN)
Google dabbles in selling phones, it licenses the Android smartphone operating system, and it is trying its hand at becoming an Internet service provider. But its biggest weapon is Google Voice. Google currently relies on the established carriers to sell and support its devices. But if Google has the ability to deal directly with its customers, why not cut out the middleman? If Google could find an easy way to transition into the cell space and provide mobile coverage, there would be some very serious advantages to that.
Logitech Says What Google TV Delay? (eWeek)
Logitech has come out swinging versus the media to refute reports that it had asked Gigabyte Technology to halt sending new appliances so that Google could upgrade the product. There’s no need to request a delay because the Google TV software upgrades are delivered over the air, the same way software updates are sent to Android phones.
Android Market Unofficially Hits 200,000 Applications (Android Guys)
The Android Market continues to populate at an enormous rate, adding new apps and games faster than most expected. Officially, Google puts the number of available titles at 100,000, however Androlib.com has pegged the figure at 200,000 apps.
Samsung rumoured To Unveil New Galaxy Tab At CES Next Week (The Korea Times)
Samsung is rumoured to be bringing their Galaxy Tab follow-up to CES next week. It’s a little surprising to hear, considering the Tab is only a couple of months old. Perhaps a larger model in the realm of 10-inches is in order.
Technically, Shares Of GOOG Should Be Watched (Investor’s Business Daily)
Google formed a cup-shaped base, part of a larger base right before the stock broke out in October and began to climb. Then it paused and fell back to its 50-day moving average line. That pullback has lasted long enough to become a base and so far that base seems to be a cup-shaped base with a short handle. But when the stock climbed past the peak, there wasn’t a clear breakout. That could be on its way. Watch to see if the stock can break out past that buy point on above-average volume.
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Online Censorship At Its Ugliest Face In South East AsiaMarch 3, 2016
With a growing middle class rising up across its population of more than 600 million people, Southeast Asia is truly a growth market. Added to that, the influx of mobile devices bringing Internet to hundreds of millions of people for the first — and putting it right in their pocket, no less — makes it a particularly exciting place for technology, which has the potential to be hugely transformative.
Unfortunately, while tech may be blazing a trail that includes improving communications, increasing access to resources, making payment methods more robust and more, attitudes across the region can be major hurdles that hinder development. Particularly from governments and other authorities.
To make that point clear, three prominent and very different examples of censorship from countries across the region made headlines last week.
Content Deemed Unsuitable
Indonesia grabbed the somewhat unwanted accolade of becoming the first country to block Netflix following its monster 130 country expansion announced in early January.
Telekom Indonesia blocked the service “from all of its platforms” last week, according to the Jakarta Post. While the government distanced itself from involvement, the state-run mobile operator’s concern focused around Netflix’s ability to run violent and adult content without adhering to content moderation regulations in the country, which has the world’s largest Muslim population.
The company also lacks a permit to do business in Indonesia — a problem that Uber and local rival Grab know well enough — which was cited as another reason. So, if you think challenges with licensing in your country are responsible for Netflix running a small library of content, imagine what it’s like in Indonesia where a lack of paperwork is responsible for switching off access to the service in its entirety for users.
For a reminder of how random/unclear bans can be in Indonesia, refer to motorbike taxi services, which were blocked then unblocked during a 24-hour period last month.
Give Us All Your Data
Exhibit three comes from Thailand, where the government — which came to power via a military coup in 2014 — is pressuring leading Internet companies Google, Facebook and chat app Line, which has over 30 million users in the country, to censor content on their services.
Thailand has cracked down hard on dissenting voices online since the coup — last week a politician was arrested for sharing a video mocking junta leader (and Prime Minister) Prayuth Chan-ocha — and it is reported to be developing a single internet gateway. If deployed, such a system would allow authorities to directly control the availability of online content without needing to liaise with mobile operators, ISPs or Internet companies like Google, Facebook and Line.
The Internet has the potential to positively impact life in this vibrant part of the world, but these three examples — and there are countless that are thrown up each week — show the kind of challenges that push back on progress.
We love bringing you this content and hope it helps keep you safe and secure online. Feel free to share it with your friends, too.
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The Zynga Platform
Mark Pincus, CEO of Zynga:
Today, we’re proud to share a new platform for play. The Zynga Platform is designed with two simple goals: more access to the best social games and more people to play with. In a few days we’re turning on a beta of Zynga.com which will feature our most popular games: Words with Friends, CastleVille, Zynga Poker, Hidden Chronicles and CityVille.
Bad news for Facebook. But good news, possibly, for social gaming:
It’s our hope that our Platform partners, and eventually anyone in the industry, can extend the reach of their games and connect to even more players on Zynga.com. Later this year we’ll make our platform available for all social game developers through a Zynga API.
Zynga is on a great trajectory. If they can overturn the US ban on online gambling, and improve the quality of their games, they will be in a very powerful position.
DISCLOSURE I own Zynga stock.


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Mistral owner Seth Greenberg plans to open a new French restaurant in Fort Point on Melcher Street, says the Globe. The article refers to Greenberg's new project as a bistro, and says it could open by "next spring" in what was once a textile factory. Greenberg's previous ventures include opening the Paradise, the Ames Hotel and co-founding Boston Common magazine. Could his new restaurant be the same restaurant planned for 49 Melcher Street? Stay tuned. And this isn't the only exciting opening in Fort Point's future: others include Ming Tsai's Blue Dragon, the Bee's Knees Supply Co. by M3 owner Jason Owens, Tavern Road by Storyville chef Louis DiBiccari, wine bar/coffeehouse Internal Matter, and maybe some restaurants in former warehouses.
Update: Though Seth Greenberg's bio on the Mistal website says that he "launched" the Paradise, restaurant critic MC Slim JB writes in via the comments noting that "The Paradise has been around longer than Greenberg has been alive."
· Seaport District gets another restaurant invasion [BG]
· Mistral owner to open French restaurant in Fort Point [BRT]
· Mistral [Official Site]
· All coverage of Mistral on Eater [~EBOS~]
· All coverage of Fort Point on Eater [~EBOS~]


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The latest in television technology will be ready for retail later this year, with a screen measuring about 7 feet wide and a price tag of at least $15,000, reports the New York Post.
The new technology is an innovation called 4K TV, which is said to be four times as detailed as the current high-definition resolution, according to the story. Sony has announced that it will start selling the first 4K sets later this year.
One key obstacle remains: No television shows or DVDs have yet been made for the technology. According to an interview with HBO’s chief technology officer Robert Zitter, the TV industry would have to build a new production and distribution infrastructure to take advantage of 4K, reports DigitalArts.
"That makes us look at 4K somewhat skeptically. From my perspective, I have looked at 4K and we are prepared to, if it really comes to pass, maybe offer it on an on-demand basis," Zitter said, according to the story.


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The evening traces the influence of food and farming in the preservation of Black history and culture under the theme From Farm to Table.
“We want people to enjoy the incredible cuisines that tie us to our past,” said Tam Hawkins, president and CEO of the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event. Guests will be treated to a variety of savory small plates created from archived recipe books and historic menus.
confit chicken seasoned as if touched by gods
I was invited to a preview tasting event at The Cook’s Nook, a culinary incubator, where chefs Demmerick Johnson and Shontae Moeller served their take on soul food classics. They presented a delicate salad built around a pork rind, confit chicken seasoned as if touched by gods, collards that could put your auntie’s to shame, and a spiced bread pudding drizzled with creole cream cheese.
Chef Moeller explained how trimmings and scraps once deemed “nasty bits” in Black cuisine are now considered prime culinary ingredients. Similar pieces of food history will be presented in a curated photo exhibition of black food from past to present.
The evening is also about economic development within Austin’s black community. Businesses that participated in last year’s Taste of Black Austin experienced a striking rise in sales, according to Hawkins.
even though we struggle, we also grow
“We hear a lot about the Black flight from Austin, but we don’t hear how the Black retail and trade sectors in Austin out earned all other Texas cities 3 to 1,” Hawkins said. “People have to know that even though we struggle, we also grow.”
The 2018 Taste of Black Austin: From Farm to Table will be held at Peached Social House at 6500 North Lamar Blvd at 6 p.m. on February 20. Tickets can be purchased online.


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Our expert Prof. Mischa Dohler has been interviewed with DigiAnalysys India last week about his envisions of the ongoing 5G technology deployments. Prof. Dohler envisioned that 5G is going to be a truly heterogeneous system, where the complex system blocks may break to little pieces of collaborative technologies. This way opened the doors in front of the small telco startups to be part of the 5G system development.
Prof. Dohler wishes that 5G makes the whole telco system breaks apart a little bit. A small startup usually can’t invest in the telco industry because it is such a very bulky system. The telecom industry wasn’t evolving as expected because everybody innovates on his own space. But, telcos are doing this now as one example of the software-defined networks (SDN), where software and hardware are decoupled.
‘’The only fully functioning and end-to-end 5G system in Europe that I truly have seen was from Ericsson, with some degree from Nokia. We realize that 5G will not be only as such radio technology but it should be a very heterogeneous system. The question is how to control such complexity. We, at the King’s College in London, have built an artificial intelligence orchestrator, we call it as real-time SDN slicing architecture to have a 5G system which works with the 4G, 3G, 2G, WIFI, satellite, Laura, Sigfox, etc. ‘’, he said.
Prof. Dohler classified the 5G use cases from both the consumer and industry perspective. Having the 5G will be great news for consumers because they can have immersive experience on the network such as high definition gaming, virtual reality, and many more applications. But, 5G is interesting because industry would use it as well. Prof. Dohler was the only one in the mobile congress panel 2013 in Barcelona who believed that 5G shouldn’t be only about consumers but the industry as well. Why is that? because for example communications delays have been reduced to industry standards, e.g., from 10 ms to 1 ms. This means tens of Gigabits per second with very reliable and low latency type of communications.
Prof. Dohler concluded his envisions by a comparison of the 5G business models worldwide. ‘’As you can see, South Korea and Japan follow the business model of the vendor-operator. Thus, you can see collaboration with DoCoMo and Huawei or Ericsson. Now what is the world first 5G model in UK?, in a few month, we are going to have a system which works across all these vendors and operators. We will be the first ones to establish an end to end 5G call or video call through different vendor equipment’s‘’, he said.
Full Interview with Prof. Mischa Dohler:
Prof. Mischa Dohler is the author of our flagship course – Internet of Things in 5G!
Prof. Mischa Dohler is a full Professor in Wireless Communications at King’s College London. He is the Director of the Centre for Telecommunications Research, co-founder of the pioneering smart city company Worldsensing, Fellow of the IEEE and the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), and a Distinguished Member of Harvard Square Leaders Excellence.


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Needless to say, Microsoft has a vested interest in retaining a cut of game sales even on PC. Microsoft is unlikely to ever lower its 70-30% split for console games simply because it sells every Xbox console at a loss and uses game sales and microtransactions to recoup those hardware costs. This is actually the main reason why Epic went to trial with Apple; Epic put its own payment processing system within Fortnite on iOS in flagrant attempt to avoid Apple’s 30% cut. Apple responded by yanking the game off iOS and claiming ToS breach. This led to a big trial that could shake up the industry. Source
News Highlights GamesHeadline: Windows 11 developers’ new 100% revenue share is for apps only, not PC gamesCheck all news and articles from the Gaming news updates.
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News Highlights Games
- Headline: The new 100% revenue share from Windows 11 developers is for apps only, not PC games
- Check all news and articles from the Gaming news updates.


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Hyundai gasoline-electric hybrid
Hyundai's long-rumored Toyota Prius rival, the company's first dedicated hybrid, has been spotted undergoing road tests in Sweden.
It is due in 2016 as a 2017 model and will likely be marketed in two body styles, similar to the Prius and Prius V. But it isn't expected to be offered as a plug-in hybrid, such as the Chevrolet Volt or Prius plug-in hybrid; the Sonata PHEV is expected to serve that market for Hyundai. It will be based on Hyundai's next Elantra, which will feature a new platform. Power will likely come from a 1.6-liter gas engine and electric motor using lithium batteries. Reports indicate Hyundai plans to showcase new technologies on the hybrid. And given that Hyundai's current compact Elantra delivers 40 mpg on the highway, the Hyundai hybrid could well generate north of 50 mpg or more.


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Across nation, building materials in tight supply
Philadelphia — Although home builders in many parts of the country are beginning to experience a decline in buyer demand, the shortage of some key building products is continuing.
Chief among the products in tight supply is cement. Although residential-construction starts may be lower now than during the boom of the last five years, increased demand from public and commercial building swallows more raw material than ever.
“U.S. cement plants are operating at maximum levels, as they did throughout 2004 and 2005,” said Ed Sullivan, the Philadelphia-based chief economist for the Portland Cement Association.
“Persistent low-cement inventories increase the vulnerability to demand surges or unexpected supply disruptions.”
Through the first quarter of 2006, cement imports increased nearly 40 percent over record 2005 levels, Sullivan said. Pennsylvania consumption is up 28 percent over 2005 levels year to date.
“Despite the industry’s efforts to ensure adequate near-term supply, cement consumption remains extremely strong,” he said.
Consumption of cement and other materials would be even greater if the Gulf of Mexico region were rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina at a faster pace, said Michael Carliner, an economist with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Lumber prices are much lower than at this time last year — a definite indication of a slowdown in residential construction.
Random Lengths of Eugene, Ore., which tracks prices of framing and panelized lumber (plywood and oriented strand board), has been reporting lower prices for both for several weeks.
Panelized-lumber prices are actually down about $100 per thousand board feet from the same period in 2005, and framing-lumber prices are lower by about $60 to $80 per thousand board feet.
Many factors are involved in lumber pricing, including the number of mills in operation at any given time.
But a recent Random Lengths report said that production was lower in the West, and that housing starts in both the United States and Canada have fallen this year, which has a definite impact on price.
As demand for lumber products drops, mills are taken out of operation, and that decline in supply will increase the price.
Carliner said that prices were definitely down from a peak in summer 2004, and that he expected the lumber supply this year to be adequate to meet residential-construction needs.
“Prices are down a little on our end,” said Gary G. Schaal, director of sales and marketing for Orleans Homebuilders in Bensalem, Pa., “and probably will fall more as the residential market slows further.”
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The company misclassified student workers so they could work overtime.
4 min read
This article has been translated from our English edition.
This story originally appeared on Engadget
Apple suspended one of its key manufacturing partners after it was discovered to be violating student labor rules. Bloomberg reports that Taiwan’s Pegatron misclassified workers so they could work night shifts and overtime. According to the report, Pegatron went to enormous lengths to cover up the misdeeds that Apple discovered a few weeks ago. Apple has previously said that Pegatron is now on “probation” until it can fix its house.
This is the latest in a series of high profile incidents Pegatron is involved in and how it treats its employees. In 2014, BBC brought hidden cameras into a facility to show multiple violations of workers’ living standards, use of ID cards and minor workers. The practice of withholding ID cards means, for example, that they cannot find work elsewhere, which prevents them from leaving their jobs.
The employees are also said to have lived in inferior dormitories and worked much longer than claimed. Other reports have alleged that workers were not provided enough PPE to work on hazardous production lines.
Apple outsources most of its manufacturing to third parties, but remains responsible for the ethical standards used. The most notorious third party relationship is with Hon Hai Precision Industry or Foxconn, where a number of employees died of suicide in the face of global outrage. In 2017, Foxconn found that students work 11 hours a day building the iPhone X, otherwise they would not graduate.
In 2018, another partner, Catcher Technology, was found to leave employees in a toxic environment for 10 hours a day without personal protective equipment. This included workers standing next to 80 decibel noise without earplugs and exposed to metal particles without glasses. Workers were expected to sleep in filthy dormitories that lacked hot water and even basic washing facilities.
And in 2019, Apple and Foxconn admitted the latter hired too many contract workers to cope with a surge in demand in violation of local laws. That same year, a human rights group said Quanta Computer, another manufacturer, was circumventing labor laws by using teenage “interns” to work night shifts.
Apple outsources almost the entire production to third parties via Unsplash / Image: Medhat Dawoud
According to Apple, the supplier screening program has worked hard to improve conditions and reduce rule violations in its supplier factories. When the program began in 2014, only 26 percent of factories were operating at maximum capacity, a figure that rose to 82 percent in 2019.
In this case, Pegatron fired the manager in charge, and Apple found no evidence of forced labor. The manufacturer added that it will fix the problem with its current practices and compensate affected workers.
Bloomberg A rival manufacturer could stand a chance of winning Apple’s lucrative iPhone deal, according to Pegatron’s suspension, which only covers new business. Luxshare, which the report says is the first company in mainland China that could be hired to build the new smartphones.


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The lineups were out the door for the official opening of the Waterloo Costco Wholesale store Tuesday morning.
Greeted by local dignitaries and store employees, hundreds of shoppers came to check out the new 155,000 square-foot store located at 930 Erb St. W., Waterloo.
The new store features a wide variety of specialty departments including an on site bakery, fresh meat and produce and services such as an optical centre, pharmacy and its own gas station. But it is the more than the 4,000 items for sale at warehouse prices that draw in customers who have to pay an annual membership fee, says the company.
Pierre Riel, senior vice-president and general manager of eastern Canada for the chain that now has 92 stores across Canada, said they knew there was a pent-up demand for another location in Waterloo Region. The Kitchener Costco location has been one of the chain’s top stores since it opened it 1991.
“Without you, we’re not here,” he told the crowd of shoppers gathered. “So please come back, not just this morning.”
The first customer in the store was Betty Tucker, who came all the way from Woodstock to check out the new store and deals available that day.
She said she’s been a longtime Costco customer and appreciated the company’s philosophy, including its generous return policies.
“We came to check it out a week ago and one of the guys told us there were door crasher specials,” said Tucker. “I like their policy that you can bring back something if you’re not happy with it.
“Other stores don’t take everything back, but here they take it back and they don’t even question you. They’re really nice.”
Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky acknowledged the work needed to get the infrastructure ready to support the new store, including two new roundabouts on Erb Street and the expansion of the roundabout at Ira Needles Boulevard. He said a true partnership between the city, the region, the developers and Costco made it happened.
“There are going to be a lot of people coming to Costco today and we wanted to make sure we got the roads right,” said Jaworsky.
That caused almost a year delay in opening the store as Costco and local government officials worked to make sure traffic capacity was in place to service the new location.
Jaworsky said the store’s addition to the west side of the city will be a boost for the local economy.
“The arrival of Costco in our city is just another example of how business continues to have confidence in Waterloo and our economy,” said Jaworsky. “The opening of this Costco Wholesale is a considerable investment, and adds more than 200 new jobs to our community.”
Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife was also on hand and acknowledged Costco’s history of being a progressive employer.
“They treat their employees well, they pay their employees well and you see little turnover because of that,” said Fife. “From my perspective, I value the fact that you’re a progressive employer and I’m confident that you’ve come to the right place.”
Ken Shantz, the general manager of the new warehouse and a longtime resident of the community, said they have a total of 265 permanent employees, with another 50 people in back up roles with the busy holiday retail season fast approaching. “Depending on the sales volume, we’ll continue to add staff as the business grows,” he said.
The company held a four-day job fair to fill those positions, and had more than 1,000 people apply. “I think Costco was ranked No. 2 behind Apple as one of the best places to work,” said Shantz.
Ron Damiani, a spokesman for the Costco, said people have been bugging the chain for years about when they might open a second location in Waterloo Region.
“We’ve been here for years and there’s been tremendous pent-up demand for a new place,” he said. “And the timing was good.”
Diamiani said Costco usually likes to lead the market, but in this case is coming into a robust retail space on the west side of the city.
Down the road there is more than one-million square feet of retail space at the Boardwalk development, and Canadian Tire anchors a retail development that spans the corners of Erb Street and Ira Needles Boulevard.
Costco’s difficulty came in securing enough land for a new expansion, as well as guarding their plans so they would have to pay an added premium for the property because of their reputation.
“But we’re thrilled to be out here and we expect this location to get off to a rocking start because the Kitchener location is probably one of the busiest ones we have in the country,” said Damiani.
“That one is a very successful location, and this one is about 40,000 square-feet bigger than the other one, so it’s a huge difference in terms of size.
“We have a little bit more merchandize, and the fresh produce and meat areas are bigger. Overall there are more rows and more cashiers, and in a bigger area. There are a lot of things different than the Kitchener location.”
Source: Waterloo Chronicle


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This year’s holiday shopping season could be light on the green, according to a new report by Washington, D.C.-based National Retail Federation (NRF).
The average holiday shopper will spend $737.95 on such items as gifts, greeting cards and decorations, according to a recent survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics for NRF.
By comparison, last year, the average consumer spent $752.24 during the holiday shopping season.
Why the more conservative attitude? In one word, Washington.
“Though the foundation for solid holiday season growth exists, Americans are questioning the stability of our economy, our government and their own finances,” observes NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “We expect consumers to set a modest budget for gifts and other holiday-related purchases, as they wait and see what will become of the U.S. economy in the coming months.
“Retailers have urged Congress and the Administration to seek a long-term solution for funding the government and extending the debt ceiling instead of kicking the can down the road once again,” Shay continues. “A band-aid approach is not the answer. Americans deserve to feel good about spending their hard-earned money on gifts for others, and this holiday season it’s evident some could second-guess their spending.”
In fact, when asked about the political gridlock in Washington, 29 percent of respondents stated that the situation would somewhat or very likely affect their spending plans, NRF reports.
To access the full NRF analysis, click here.


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Sirius XM is rolling out its new Essential subscription package in Canada. A similar package launched in the United States in April and now the satellite radio company’s Canadian branch is also adding access to this option. The plan includes a trial period where the first three months cost $1. The regular package costs $8 per month.
Essential is a listening option that takes the satellite radio service outside of cars. It is available on a range of smartphones and tablets as well as connected devices at home, such as Amazon Echo smart speakers, the Apple TV set-top box, Chromecast streaming sticks, PlayStation game consoles, and Sonos smart speakers.
“Our dominant position in the car and success at bringing the best audio entertainment to drivers is unparalleled and continues to be an integral part of our business, alongside our new focus on offering our expertly-curated content via our streaming service at a very competitive price,” said Paul Cunningham, SVP of sales and marketing for SiriusXM Canada. “We know that our new Essential subscription will be attractive to many consumers, especially younger consumers, who don’t own a car or don’t spend a lot of time in their car, and who want access to our unrivaled lineup of commercial-free music, news, entertainment, comedy and sports talk in a user-friendly, ‘lean back’ way that allows them to discover and enjoy.”


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SINGAPORE - Readers of citizen journalism website Stomp reported crowds at NTUC Tampines Mall, Guardian Pharmacy at Tampines MRT station, and the Unity outlet at Pasir Ris White Sands as people stood in line for N95 masks.
It was previously reported that there were long queues of people waiting outside pharmacies and retail shops in vain for new stock to arrive, as N95 masks had gone out of stock islandwide.
A Stomp reader known only as Titus wrote:
"At NTUC Tampines Mall, queuing for the N95 mask.
"There is a terribly long queue here.
"I just wish the authorities could see what is happening and the mad rush for the item.
"I was at the Guardian Pharmacy, Tampines MRT branch, but there was a message that the masks have not been delivered.
"Really, ridiculous situation."
Another Stomp reader, Shaalwin, commented:
"Long queues for N95 masks at Pasir Ris White Sands Unity shop due to the haze."


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NEW YORK - For the first time in history, one of virtually every set of valuable Canadian coins ever minted is being sold at the same time. Experts say the collection outshines the central bank's.
More than 1,000 pieces will be on the auction block in Manhattan Monday night, and numismatists are predicting the treasure could fetch as much as $10 million.
"This is without question the finest collection of Canadian coins ever assembled by any individual or institution, even better than the Bank of Canada's," says Bob Korver of Heritage World Coin Auctions.
The coins, owned by Sid and Alicia Belzberg, include a priceless part of the country's history. For instance, there are $10 gold pieces from British Columbia predating Confederation. And there's a 1911 silver dollar that's so rare it's expected to bring in as much as $1 million on its own.
"It really started as a labour of love for us," says Sid Belzberg. "But the coins over the years became more and more expensive, and it became harder and harder for us to acquire new pieces."
"It was becoming too much like an investment than a hobby."
Some collectors have urged Ottawa to step in and buy some of the rarest coins. But others doubt the government will be able to justify shelling out millions for old money when there are increasing demands to spend today's dollars on various social programs.
"I hope most of it goes back to Canada," said one collector who flew from Alberta to New York to bid on the collection. "It is always sad to see it in another country, when it is Canadian money."


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BEIJING—The Chinese government is putting the brakes on Dalian Wanda Group’s overseas deals, clouding the company’s ambitions to become a global entertainment powerhouse.
Regulators met with executives at the country’s big state-owned lenders June 20 and advised them that six of Wanda’s recent foreign transactions were at odds with government capital restrictions enacted last year, according to a document from one of the participating banks that was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
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Gorillapod goes magnetic
Gorillapod's camera tripods have become a common sight since they were released a few years back and there's a good reason for that - it's a great idea. Now Gorillapod designer Joby has announced a new addition to the range - the Gorillapod Magnetic - which incorporates magnets into the feet of the flexible tripod allowing it to be anchored to any magnetic surface.
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Other Images from this Gallery


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Ninety-eight percent of businesses surveyed want a trade agreement as part of Brexit negotiations.
The overwhelming majority of British businesses want a trade agreement with the EU after Brexit, according to a new survey by the British Chambers of Commerce published today.
The survey, which asked 2,400 businesses their views on what Brexit negotiations outcomes should be, found that only 2 percent of businesses wanted to leave the single market and the customs union and rely on World Trade Organization rules instead — the default outcome if the current negotiations between the U.K. and the European Union conclude without a future trade deal.
About 34 percent said they wanted to remain in the single market and the customs union, 11 percent of business want to remain in the single market only, while 13 percent want to remain in the customs union only. Around 28 percent supported the British government’s aspiration to replace the U.K.’s current trading relationship with the EU with a free trade agreement. Eight percent wanted some other kind of arrangement.
“Our results make it clear that there are a range of business views on what the U.K. should be seeking in a final deal with the EU, but there is near-universal consensus that a deep and comprehensive agreement is needed,” Adam Marshall, the BCC’s director general said. [...]
Full analysis on POLITICO
British Chambers of Commerce results
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>> The British arm of Toys R Us has gone into administration putting around 3000 jobs at risk. The toy retailer has struggled in the UK in recent years with shoppers increasingly preferring to spend online rather than visit its large out of town stores. Those tough retail conditions also shown as electricals chain Maplin, which has 200 stores in the UK and Ireland also went into administration on Wednesday.
Toys R Us is more than 100 British stores will continue trading. And administrators Maplin advisories says the company's global operations will not be affected. But the problems for retailers have also been doing damage on the other side of the Atlantic. Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States in September.
And in January, said it will shut down a 5th of its US stores in the coming months.


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Crypto Coins article White marble desks, a popular cryptocurrency in the Bitcoin world, are gaining popularity in China.
A new set of images surfaced on Chinese social media site Weibo, which show a set of white marble desks with bright colorful backgrounds, while other posts show similar white marble sets.
The backgrounds appear to be based on a popular white marble design, and many other photos show similar designs.
The white marble floors are also a popular design in the Chinese market.
In addition to the White Marble Desk, Chinese users have been posting pictures of other white marble styles, including a black marble desk with bright colors, and a white marble table with a black background.
There are also several posts showing white marble tables with different backgrounds.
One user posted a picture of a white cubicle, which appears to be an office cubicle.
A post by another user showed a white white cubby with an office window, which was also spotted in another Weibo post.
Another image shows a white desk with a different background.
The post from the user who posted the images said the desk was a new one.
However, there are several other posts showing similar desks, including an office chair with a white background.
Another user said the white marble furniture was a special item for a wedding party, which may have been the desk that was spotted.
The posts also show many different office furniture items, including the office chair, white desk, white table, white cubicles, white chairs, white coffee table, and white couches.
Chinese users also posted pictures of different office items, such as office chairs, chairs, and desks.
The White Marble desk appears to have a large white window that was left untouched, suggesting it may be a decoration.
Some users also reported that the desk has an office lamp, which could indicate it may have a function.
A user posted that the white desk has a special design that is only available in the Black Marble desk, which is the most popular set.
However the White marble desk has only a small amount of decoration.
Other posts showed photos of other office furniture, such a white sofa, white chair, and chairs.
A photo posted by another Weibos user shows a small white table with the words “white cubby.”
Another post showed a table with “white table” written in black, and an image of a small table with white letters.
Other Weibo users also shared a similar post with a photo of a table.
A Chinese user shared a photo from a different source showing a white cube with a dark background, with an image in red.
In another post, a user shared an image showing a White marble table, with the caption, “It’s white marble.”
A Weibo user shared another post showing a table that has a white wall and a dark window, with a caption, which said, “This is the wall of your house.”
Chinese users posted pictures and posts of different furniture, including white chairs and white coffee tables.
A Weibo user posted this photo of an office office chair.
Another Weibo posted this image showing the desk from the same source, which has a black and white wall.
A profile picture of the white chair from a Chinese user.
Another post from a user from China showing a similar white chair.
A few posts also showed a large set of office chairs.
Some posts showed different office chairs with different designs.
A couple of posts show white coffee boxes.
The table and chairs in this photo were shared by a Weibo Chinese user, who said they are the only chairs he has ever seen in his home.
In the photo, a white coffee box is also shown with a darker background.
Chinese posts shared several posts about the popularity of the White Marbles desk.
One Weibo posting, titled “White Marble Desk” is a picture from the Weibo Weibo page for the “White Marbles Desk.”
Another user posted an image with the text, “White marble desk.”
A post titled “Weibo white marble” shows a black-and-white White Marble Desktop.
In a post titled, “The most popular white chair in Beijing” posted on Weibo by a user named “Wang,” another post said, the desk in the White House is the best place for meetings and talks.
Another person shared this photo with the comment, “I have seen a lot of White Marble desks.”
One user shared this picture showing a black office chair and a black desk.
A group of Weibo posts shared a post that shows the white chairs that were seen in Shanghai and Beijing, with white chairs being popular.
One post shows a poster for a white office chair that has “White marbles” written on the back, and another poster has “white marble” written across the front.
Another poster shows a table in a black, white, and gray background, which features a “white marbles chair” and “white” written under the black background and the “black marbles table” with “black” written.


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Montreal-based Acquisio announced some Executive changes this week, as well as the appointment of a new Executive Chairman.
David McIninch who originally joined Acquisio’s as Vice President of Marketing, has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer. David brings nearly 15 years of marketing and leadership experience to Acquisio. The newest member of the Acquisio management team, David spent the better part of the last decade in marketing, sales and leadership roles at ADP both in Canada and most recently as the VP of Marketing for ADP’s Global Enterprise Solutions division.
Richard Couture, one of the Co-Founders of Acquisio, has now moved from an EVP PaaS role to CTO, and with run the new agile environment within the Acquisio workforce, development is moving faster than ever to release more upgrades, products and services to help both large scale agencies and local SMBs improve their digital marketing campaigns.
Alex Blum has been named Executive Chairman at Acquisio to work alongside CEO Marc Poirier. Alex brings additional strategic direction and operational expertise to Acquisio to support its growth agenda.
Alex is an Investor and Advisor to technology companies across numerous high growth sectors. Previously the CEO of KickApps, an Enterprise Social Media software solution provider. Prior to joining KickApps, Alex was President and COO of JumpTV. Alex also spent nearly eight years at AOL most recently as the Vice President of Product Marketing for AOL’s Audience business.


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Medieval Engineers Update 02.056 Overview
Medieval Engineers Update 02.056 makes some stamina system changes, plus adds a quick equip hotkey for torches.
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In a move that aligns Wendy’s Co. with the growing trend toward healthier fast and processed food options, the chain has announced it’s bringing an end to antibiotics in the more than 250 million pounds of chicken served annually at its restaurants by 2017. The chain said it’s also working toward reducing antibiotics in its pork and beef products by 2017 as well.
“We are working with our suppliers and farmers and ranchers to reduce the use of antibiotics that are important to human medicine,” the chain explained on its website. “To do so, we have joined our key suppliers in investigating environments, therapies and treatments that will reduce the need for preventive antibiotics.”
Currently, half of the chickens used by Wendy’s, the nation’s fifth largest fast-food chain, are already raised without antibiotics, putting the chain on target to meet its 2017 goal. Antibiotics in livestock feed are used not only to prevent and treat infections common in dense and dirty factory farms, but most often to enhance animal growth, reducing time to market weight and increasing the number of animals farms can raise each year.
The use of antibiotics in livestock considered medically important for humans has led to a concerning uptick in life-threatening antibiotic-resistant infections, leading the medical and scientific communities to scramble for effective alternatives. Antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” develop as humans consume animal products that contain traces of the antibiotics. Approximately 70 percent of all antibiotics in the U.S. are fed to livestock animals despite growing consumer demand for healthier animal-based products.
From the Organic Authority Files
But the tide is clearly turning. Wendy’s announcement comes in the same week that McDonald’s, the leading fast-food restaurant chain, announced a move away from antibiotics in chicken as well as the removal of artificial preservatives and high fructose corn syrup from some of its menu items.
Recently, Wendy's committed to working to transition to cage-free eggs, it added an organic tea to its menu, and it recently tested out a vegan black bean burger in several markets as part of its efforts to offer healthier food.
Related on Organic Authority
Wendy's image via Shutterstock


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The brand new 7 series LCI luxury sedan will be available in Bangladesh from now on. Long-wheelbase body variant BMW 7 LCI is offered for the Bangladesh market.
The official distributor and service
partner, Executive Motors Ltd is the partner of BMW vehicles in Bangladesh, has
proclaimed the availability of the luxury car; which will be available in the
showroom that is located in the Tejgaon area in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.
This is the new flagship model from the German automaker BMW, which comes with numerous amount of improvements in terms of magnificent looks and engineering along with cosmic changes and additional features.
Executive motors officials hope that
the sedan will add faster to the existing BMW 7 Series fleet of 127 cars on
Director of the operation, Dewan Muhammad Sajid Afzal and director of after-sales at Executive Motors Ltd, Md Bazlul Karim; along with top officials were present in the press conference at the Executive Motors showroom to mark the launching of new BMW 7 Series LCI, according to a press release.
Dewan Muhammad Sajid Afzal, director of operations, Executive Motors Ltd says that “there has been a surge in demand for luxury vehicles in Bangladesh. BMW has already developed a legacy of being the role model for an unmatched driving experience with sophisticated elegance. With the launch of the new BMW 7 Series and ensuring global standard services, we are looking forward to being the ultimate destination for high-end vehicles in Bangladesh.”
The authorities of BMW claims that this is one of the best luxury cars in the country, not just with looks but also with high-end performance. They also added that the personalities like the prime minister, president of the country, are using BMW 7.
In 2015, the 7 series was first initially launched in Bangladesh. In this year with the new version, the car comes with a life cycle impulse version with a 3-liter engine, instead of 2-litre one, was launched. The new flagship BMW 7 is a highbred vehicle with a maximum output of 394 HP and a maximum torque of 600 NM.
The price of BMW 7 Series cars starts
with a showroom price of TK 2.5 crore. Dozens of additional paid features and
kits can be added too. Executive Motors offers free after-sales services for


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Based in Belfast, SUKI – Tea Makers ethically source and blend loose leaf teas, herbal infusions and fruit blends from all over the world. Our commitment to quality is reflected in responsible sourcing, great taste and delivering the very best customer experiences.
SUKI Tea Makers in Northern Ireland has announced that it has moved away from the use of plastic packaging in its wide range of tea products as part of a longstanding commitment to the environment. The multi-award winning company recently announced a major brand refresh and packaging redesign. The new packaging demonstrates SUKI’s belief that eco-friendly is the future.
A link to our blog post: https://suki-tea.com/plastic-free-tea-packaging


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Chinese minister in Egypt: Trade with Israel has not effected on trade with Arabs
Egypt-China, Economics, 6/22/2000
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa convened yesterday evening with Chinese Minister of Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng and his escorting delegation currently visiting Egypt.
Following the meeting, the Chinese minister said "the talks with Moussa tackled means of enhancing the economic cooperation and enhancing the friendship relations between China and Egypt." He depicted the talks of being very fruitful and expressed his country's thanks to the Egyptian government for its support to China's joining to the World Trade Organization adding that the talks also tackled cooperation between Egypt and China for playing a more positive role in regional and international issues.
He stated there is an increase in the trade between the two countries as it has increased 35% from January till April of the current year especially in Egyptian export to China. He expressed his belief that there is a gradual change in the unbalanced trade volume between the two countries.
In answering a question concerning whether the developing cooperation between China and Israel could negatively effect China's relations with the Arab states, the Chinese official said that cooperation between Israel and Israel is a normal one that has no negative effect on the relations among his country and the Arab states.
392 million dollars are Egypt's exports to Iraq
600 million dollars is volume of the Egyptian - Chinese trade
Egyptian economy picture is not dim
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