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The Biden Administration of the United States has relaunched the International Entrepreneur Parole (IEP) Program that grants the leadership of promising foreign start-ups temporary residence in the United States to grow businesses with sturdy economic and job-creation potential.
The program was finalized under the Obama Administration in 2017, but the Trump Administration shelved it due to its dormancy. However, the Biden Administration is relaunching IEP Program to grant promising foreign entrepreneurs who fall short of the eligibility criteria of existing visa programs to remain in the United States to grow their businesses and make contributions to the country’s economy.
Nonetheless, this is a discretionary and temporary permission to enter and stay in the United States – essentially, a parole. The qualifying entrepreneurs are not eligible for permanent residence unless they qualify under another United States immigration program.
To be permitted for parole, foreign entrepreneurs must satisfy specific benchmarks, including being an established US start-up business within five years of the candidate’s application for parole. The candidate must be an active and central role player in the functioning of the business and should hold an ownership interest of at least 10 percent in the start-up. Also, foreign nationals that partly satisfy the criteria for funding are expected to provide compelling evidence additionally related to the start-up’s substantial potential for fast job creation and rapid development. Bear in mind that for each start-up, no more than three foreign entrepreneurs may be granted parole.
Entrepreneurs can stay in the US for the commencing period of up to 30 months – if permitted, with a license to work for a foundation business. Set as an optional grant, the US government can nullify parole during any period if the foundation business collapses or fails to display a significant public advantage to the United States.
Truly The Land of Opportunity?
What this scheme offers is essentially an opportunity for an entrepreneur to launch and sustain their business in the states. Still, this boost has conditions that ensure that the USA gets the better deal in its investment in the foreign hustle by ensuring that both the American people and the economy benefits from the business. Despite the advantages tipped in favor of the American state, entrepreneurs wrestle to gain a foothold in the American market. Essentially, programs like these are critical to the sustenance of the ‘American Dream’.
This is a tremendous opportunity that holds a symbiotic advantage for both the USA and the entrepreneurs. But many entrepreneurs will get filtered out due to the stringent criteria. Additionally, all businesses do not have profit as their defining goal, which will cause them to diverge from the capitalist goals of the US government. Instead of hoping that the USA adopts lenient immigration norms, other countries should make concerted efforts to make their internal affairs, regulation, and administration more business-friendly. This way, countries do not have to suffer the brain drain that occurs when their daring and insightful take off to promised lands for entrepreneurial success.


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Stocks edge higher
NEW YORK - Stocks edged to new highs Thursday after recovering from an afternoon pullback spurred by another increase in interest rates in a jittery bond market.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained about 38« points, about 3 points better than Tuesday's record finish to give the red-hot blue-chip barometer its seventh new high in nine sessions. According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 38.49 to 6,765.37, barely beating Tuesday's record finish at 6,762.29.
Microsoft, Intuit agree on Internet banking standard
NEW YORK - Financial software rivals Microsoft Corp. and Intuit Inc. on Thursday proposed a unified technical standard which they said will make it easier to bank over the Internet.
The proposal, also announced with CheckFree Corp., a processor of Internet transactions, is a step toward allowing customers to use any available financial management software at the financial institution of their choice when banking online.
The proposed standard is called Open Financial Exchange. It is as if the technology providers were agreeing on a standard electrical socket design and asking lamp designers to make their lamp plugs fit the standard socket.
Federated chairman to step down in May
NEW YORK - Allen Questrom will step down as chairman and chief executive of Federated Department Stores Inc., ending a 30-year career with the company he helped pull from bankruptcy and grow into one of the nation's premier retailers.
Questrom, 57, will leave in May, handing over the responsibilities to James M. Zimmerman, who as president and chief operating officer since 1988 also played a large role in Federated's recent turnaround.
Wall Street was stunned by Thursday's announcement of Questrom's departure, but analysts said the new management team would likely follow through with the company's plans for earnings and growth.
McCrory plans to close 300 stores
YORK, Pa. - McCrory Corp. plans to close about 300 stores nationwide, leaving 3,500 people out of work, the York Daily Record reported Thursday.
The closings will leave McCrory with about 160 variety stores left nationwide, operating under several names, including McCrory, McLellan, H.L. Green, T.G. & Y., J.J. Newberry and G.C. Murphy.
McCrory has operated under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code since February 1992.
Most of the remaining stores will be concentrated in the eastern United States, though some "highly profitable" stores will remain in New Mexico, Arizona, northern California, Oregon and Washington, McCrory senior vice president Paul Weiner told the paper.
Liquidation sales are expected to occur from Jan. 24 to mid-April, Weiner said.
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This year’s Super Bowl will not only take place in the Bay Area, but will feature a Sonoma County advertiser as Rohnert Park-based outdoor clothing maker Marmot rolls out its first television spot for the big game.
The 30-second ad, scheduled to show up during the first half of Sunday’s game, features the animation-enhanced friendship of a marmot and an eager-beaver outdoorsman. It seeks to introduce a brand long known among mountain climbers and skiers to a wider audience — and to do it on a day where advertisers typically spend tons of cash and pull out all the stops.
“We’re creating a new message that the outdoors is for everyone,” Tom Fritz, Marmot’s vice president of marketing, said Wednesday. The hope is that viewers “will fall in love with Marmot ... and scramble to learn more about the brand.”
The ad slots reportedly are fetching as much as $5 million for 30 seconds during the game in Santa Clara between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers, though how many companies actually pay that amount remains a matter of conjecture.
Regardless, the Super Bowl spot is a milestone for Marmot, which in 2014 spent a total of $4.6 million on television, radio, print and online advertising, according to ad research company Kantar Media.
Marmot, named for a large member of the squirrel family that lives among Alpine crags, doesn’t disclose such financial matters. But Fritz acknowledged that Sunday’s advertising opportunity is “absolutely as big as it gets.”
The chance came through Marmot’s parent company, New York-based Jarden Corporation. Its collection of 100-plus companies includes such familiar names as Mr. Coffee, Sunbeam and Coleman. Marmot was the first of its businesses to be selected for a Super Bowl ad campaign.
“Jarden felt it was worth the investment to see where it could take the brand,” Fritz said.
Already Marmot has put up three small teaser videos on its website. They show the marmot making pine needle angels, eating marshmallows by a campfire and relieving itself at the edge of a cliff.
Super Bowl ads involve big bucks and big risks, but occasionally result in big rewards, said Thomas O’Guinn, a professor of marketing at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
“This is a long-running question of whether they’re worth it,” O’Guinn said. “And most of them probably aren’t.”
Rare are the big winners like Apple’s 1984 ad, created by “Blade Runner” and “Alien” director Ridley Scott, which announced the coming of the Macintosh computer amid an Orwellian tableau inspired by the novel “1984.”
“That ad set the tone for a whole new chapter in Apple history,” O’Guinn said.
Humor, a basis for many Super Bowl ads, can work well when the punch line cements the message with the brand, he said. An example was Budweiser’s ad for its new light beer in the mid-1980s, in which the request at bars of “Gimme a light” was met with flaming arrows or flashlights, prompting the patron to add the phrase to make it a “Bud Light.”
However, many times the result is an ad that is memorable for the wrong reasons. While Super Bowl viewers can easily recall the cute characters in an ad, they often skip over the brand it was supposedly all about.


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Michelle Ogihara, Senior Sales Manager with Seika Machinery, Inc., a leading provider of advanced machinery, materials and engineering services, will attend the Seika Sangyo GmBH Booth 317 in Hall A2 at the upcoming Productronica International Trade Fair, scheduled to take place November 15-18, 2011 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre in Munich, Germany.
At the show, Seika will display the McDry™ MB-1001 Low Temp Baking Cabinet
The ultra-low humidity cabinet conforms to IPC-J-STD 033B.1 specifications maintaining a baking temperature of 40°C and less than 5 percent RH level to bake and recondition moisture-sensitive components.
New low-cost PCB McDry Electronic Drying Storage Cases will be highlighted at the show along with the new McDry Baking Cabinet and Alarm/Signal Tower System. The new systems feature new economy prices with the high performance and value that McDry is known for.
McDry units come in one and three percent RH models to comply with the strict standards required for proper storage of moisture-sensitive materials requiring ultra-low humidity levels.
Visit Michelle Ogihara, Senior Sales Manager, in Hall A2, Booth 317 at the show to discuss the new McDry products and features. For more information about McDry Storage Cabinets, visit www.seikausa.com.


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Volvo has already set out an aggressive plan to migrate to plug-in hybrids and all-electric models but CEO Håkan Samuelsson said Thursday that he would “be surprised” if Volvo was selling anything but pure battery-electric vehicles by 2030.
While falling just short of a firm commitment, Volvo appears to be moving in the same direction as a growing list of its competitors, an industrywide shift accelerated by new emissions and fuel-efficiency standards making it harder and harder to sell vehicles relying on internal combustion engines.
“I would be surprised if we wouldn’t deliver only electric cars from 2030,” Samuelsson said during the Financial Times Future of the Car Summit on Thursday.
Volvo was one of the first automakers to commit to using some form of electrified drivetrain across its line-up. It now offers the plug-in T8 “Twin Engine” in products like the XC90 SUV and S60 sedan. The automaker also has launched its first all-electric model, the XC40 Recharge, for the 2021 model year.
It also launched the electrified Polestar sub-brand this year. Polestar currently offers both a high-performance plug-in hybrid and an all-electric offering. Going forward, the marque will add only pure battery-electric vehicles, or BEVs.
Under its main badge alone, Volvo expects about 20% of its global sales to come from electrified offerings this year, with such products targeted to yield fully half of its volume by 2025.
How fast the brand goes to an entirely BEV line-up will rely on external forces, Samuelsson said during the automotive event.
“The way forward would be to have clear rules on when we need to exit the combustion market,” he explained, adding, “Once you have realized that the petrol and diesel engine are really not part of the future, it’s rather easy to see you have to move fast into the new world.”
Pressure to move fast has been mounting in recent months. In November, for example, the United Kingdom announced that it was moving up to 2030 a ban on the sale of vehicles relying solely on internal combustion engines, though hybrids will continue to be marketed through 2035. The UK originally planned its IC ban to go into effect in 2040.
Japan, meanwhile, is considering a similar ban on IC engines sometime by the mid-2030s, according to a new report by the Nikkei Asian Review.
A number of other countries, including France, Germany, Norway and India, have either enacted similar bans or are studying such rules. China, for its part, this autumn said it is targeting a 20% mix of “New Energy Vehicles,” including plug-ins and BEVs, by 2025. The Asian nation, the world’s largest car market, is investigating an outright ban.
A number of states and cities, including Berlin, London and Paris, are also expected to ban both the sale of ICE vehicles and even their use in central zones. California, meanwhile, is moving forward on its own phase-out of gas and diesel cars and trucks and its rules will be copied by many other states across the U.S.
Volvo’s push into electric vehicles likely will depend upon another factor: the broader strategy of its Chinese parent, Geely Automotive, which also sells vehicles under the Geely, Lynk & Co, Proton, Lotus and London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) badges.
Geely, meanwhile, announced a deal last month to work with Germany’s Daimler AG to develop what was jointly described as a “highly efficient” hybrid drive system. Details were not revealed but it is widely believed to be a plug-in design that could be used by all the various Daimler and Geely brands, including their Mercedes-Benz and Volvo units.


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Online lending platform LoanTap on Tuesday said customers whose repayments were delayed during the Yes Bank's moratorium period will not be levied any charges.
In the first week of March, Yes Bank was placed under moratorium and withdrawal limits were imposed, due to which its banking operations were affected.
There will be no penal interest on customers whose repayment is delayed due to the moratorium on Yes Bank, LoanTap said in a statement.
"In the process, customers associated with Yes Bank or partnered institutes could have faced uncertain payment patterns. LoanTap has taken all steps to ensure uninterrupted service," it said.
At the same time, the company is taking steps to ensure that the customers do not bear the brunt of the incident, it added.
Satyam Kumar, co-founder, LoanTap, said, "We are ensuring that no penal charges or penal interest is levied on those customers whose repayment is delayed due to moratorium on Yes Bank. We will also ensure that there is no impact on their credit scores. Our customer service team is striving to provide seamless service and convenience.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Biggest Announcements from Apple’s WWDC 2023 Event
Table of Contents
Introduction to Apple’s WWDC Event
Welcome to the Apple WWDC 2023 event, where tech enthusiasts and Apple fans alike gather together to witness the latest technological advancements from this prestigious company. This year’s event was no exception, with numerous announcements that left us all in awe. From new products and services to revolutionary updates on existing ones, Apple has once again proven why they are one of the most innovative companies out there. In this blog post, we will be discussing some of the biggest announcements made at the event that you definitely don’t want to miss.
Overview of Apple’s New Products and Services
At the WWDC 2023 event, Apple unveiled a range of new products and services that are sure to excite tech enthusiasts.
- The Release Of The Latest iPhone Model : One of the most notable announcements was the release of the latest iPhone model – the iPhone 15. This highly anticipated device boasts a stunning OLED display, improved cameras, and advanced facial recognition technology for added security.
- Newest Addition To Their Smartwatch : Alongside this groundbreaking phone release, Apple also revealed their newest addition to their smartwatch collection – the Apple Watch Series 8. This sleek wearable device has an edge-to-edge display with faster processing speeds and a longer battery life than its predecessors.
- Updates To Their Existing Macbook : Moreover, Apple announced exciting updates to their existing Macbook line-up with impressive performance upgrades thanks to their cutting-edge M-series chips. They have also introduced new accessories such as AirPods Pro Max in various colors including gold and pink.
- iOS 17 : In terms of software advancements, iOS 17 now includes more customizable widgets on home screens while iPadOS 17 offers multitasking capabilities that make it easier for users to switch between apps seamlessly.
Details on the Release of the Latest iPhone and Apple Watch Model
Apple’s WWDC 2023 event was highly anticipated by Apple fans worldwide, and for good reason. The company announced a slew of new products and services, including the release of the latest iPhone and Apple Watch models.
- Several Impressive Features : The new iPhone model boasts several impressive features, including a larger screen display and improved camera technology that enables users to take stunning photos even in low-light conditions. Additionally, it is equipped with an A16 Bionic chip that provides lightning-fast performance and increased energy efficiency.
- New Health Monitoring Capabilities : Meanwhile, the latest Apple Watch model introduces exciting new health monitoring capabilities such as blood glucose tracking and advanced sleep tracking. It also includes an always-on display feature that allows users to check notifications without having to raise their wrist or tap on the watch face.
Benefits of Apple Silicon Chips
One of the biggest announcements from Apple’s WWDC 2023 event was the introduction of their new silicon chips. These chips will power a variety of products, including Macs and iPads, replacing the previous Intel processors.
- Performance And Efficiency : First and foremost, they allow for improved performance and efficiency. With Apple’s custom-designed architecture, these chips can better optimize tasks and reduce energy consumption.
- Apple Silicon Chips Enable Greater Integration : Additionally, Apple Silicon Chips enable greater integration between software and hardware. This means that apps will run smoother and faster on devices with these chips installed. It also allows for seamless transitions between different devices in the Apple ecosystem.
- Increased Security Measures : Another benefit is increased security measures. The new chip includes an advanced security feature called “Secure Enclave,” which protects sensitive information like passwords and payment data from being accessed by unauthorized parties.
Apple’s WWDC 2023 event was truly revolutionary. With the introduction of new products like the iPhone and Apple Watch models, as well as exciting updates to their software and services, Apple continues to set the bar high in terms of innovation and technology. The announcement of their latest processor chips for Macs is a game-changer that will provide users with faster speeds and improved performance. These advancements are sure to contribute significantly to enhancing user experiences across all devices.


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Crayon Named a Leader In
Market and Competitive Intelligence Report by Independent Research Firm
Forrester's New Wave methodology enables analysts to evaluate top products in emerging markets
BOSTON – Oct. 22, 2019 – Crayon, the competitive intelligence backbone for mid-market and enterprise businesses, was named a Leader in The Forrester New Wave™: Market And Competitive Intelligence Platforms, Q4 2019 report. The Forrester New Wave™ evaluated 12 vendors on 10 criteria and grouped them into four distinct categories: Leaders, Strong Performers, Contenders, and Challengers.
The report states that Crayon leads the pack with a focus on measuring the platform’s impact on sales and provides out-of-the-box integration, enabling the setup of competitor-specific battlecards that automatically update within the CRM. By combining battlecard engagement statistics with sales users’ comments, it can associate battlecard usage with a sales win.
Crayon customers have seen significant results in win rates and revenue, including Alex McKenzie, Director of Sales at Allego: "In less than six months of using Crayon, the sales win rate in our most competitive segment has doubled, and the win rate against a top competitor has tripled to 95%.” Hundreds of the world’s leading companies have chosen Crayon to power their CI programs and drive meaningful impact in their organizations.
“We’re thrilled that Forrester has named Crayon a leader in their New Wave report on Market and Competitive Intelligence Platforms,” said Crayon CEO Jonah Lopin. “We’re deeply aligned with Forrester’s view that the biggest challenges in our industry are filtering out the noise to surface meaningful signals, as well as driving action with competitive insights. We’ve built our platform to help customers extract insights from the noise and then use those insights to drive action and move metrics. We look forward to continuing to innovate and evolve our platform to help our customers get next-level results.”
The Forrester New Wave™ also cited Crayon as “the best fit for companies with a heavy focus on web sources for intelligence. Crayon is differentiated in catching and annotating changes to the complete domain of a company website, including a company’s deep website pages.”
On specific criteria results, Crayon scored a “differentiated” rating (the highest possible rating) in the following categories:
- User experience
- Data collection/taxonomy
- AI/ML-enabled search
- AI/ML automation
- Distribution of intelligence and usage analytics
- Product vision
- Market approach
Crayon monitors more than 300 million pages across 7.6 million domains and 2.4 million companies and applies algorithmic and machine learning techniques to synthesize and extract actionable competitive intelligence insights for customers. Crayon also released Battlecards last year as an extension of its flagship market intelligence platform, allowing businesses to easily create, distribute, and measure battlecards that are wired to the latest market movements, enabling them to win more competitive deals while dramatically cutting time to collect and update intelligence.
For access to the Forrester New Wave™ Report, go here.
Crayon is the competitive intelligence backbone that enables mid-market and enterprise businesses to see and seize opportunities and create sustainable advantages in their markets. Hundreds of organizations use Crayon to capture sharp insights that can be easily activated in order to drive broad, measurable, and meaningful impact.
Laura Taylor, CMO
Are you ready to Compete Like You Mean It?
Discover the complete, ongoing picture that Crayon has captured for your competitive market, and how you can leverage it to create a sustainable advantage.


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Excited about iPhone 14? Here's what we know so far
Apple releases new iPhone models every fall, and 2022 will be no exception. Four new iPhones in 6.1 and 6.7-inch sizes are expected. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will be normal, more cheap variants, while the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be higher-end "Pro" editions.
In 2022, we can expect a 6.1-inch "iPhone 14 Pro" and a 6.7-inch "iPhone 14 Pro Max," similar to the iPhone 13 Pro series. Because Apple is adding improvements to the Face ID camera, rumors claim there may be some big design alterations between the iPhone 14 Pro versions and the normal iPhone 14 models.
The iPhone 14 Pro variants are said to include two display cuts instead of a notch. The Face ID dot projector and other Face ID components will be housed in a pill-shaped cutout, while the front-facing camera will be housed in a circular cutout. The regular notch is anticipated to remain on non-Pro versions.
The iPhone 14 Pro versions will receive camera enhancements. Apple is anticipated to unveil a 48-megapixel camera with 8K video capture. There might possibly be some telephoto lens enhancements, as well as an improved Ultra Wide camera. The 48-megapixel Wide camera, telephoto lens upgrades, and LiDAR Scanner will all be reserved for Pro users. All versions might get an enhanced front-facing camera with a larger aperture and focusing capabilities.
In addition to camera enhancements and notch modifications that will not be available on the iPhone 14, speculations say that the iPhone 14 Pro models will receive an improved A16 chip, while the non-Pro versions will continue to use the A15 chip seen in the current iPhone 13 series. If this occurs, it will be the first time Apple has included a speedier processor in a Pro iPhone model. Both basic and Pro iPhones have previously utilized the same processor.
The size of the camera bumps on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max compared to the iPhone 13 models may be seen in 3D printed mockups. Because of the camera bump and chassis variations, covers made for iPhone 13 devices are unlikely to fit iPhone 14 models.
According to display specialist Ross Young, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max would have somewhat bigger displays when measured in a conventional rectangular form. The iPhone 14 Pro will feature a 6.12-inch screen, up from the iPhone 13 Pro's 6.06-inch display, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max will have a 6.69-inch screen, which is slightly larger than the iPhone 13 Pro Max's 6.68-inch display.
According to the report, both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will be available in a purple tint with a distinctive finish that changes tone depending on illumination.
If the purple rumor is true, Apple has previously utilized the same color for the normal iPhone and Pro models, but in different tones, so that might be what we see in 2022. The iPhone 14 and 14 Max are expected to be offered in black, white, blue, red, and purple, with graphite, gold, silver, and purple for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Subscribe to our newsletter for more blogs like these and be the first to know when launch our own iPhone 14 cases.


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You are here
Fred Morganthall, longtime president of Harris Teeter Supermarkets, has been named SVP of retail divisions for The Kroger Co., Harris Teeter's parent company since early 2014.
Rod Antolock, currently Harris Teeter's EVP, will succeed Morganthall as president of the southeastern regional banner.
Morganthall has been president of Matthews, N.C.-based Harris Teeter since 1997, and remained at the helm after Kroger acquired the chain as a wholly-owned subsidiary. "Fred is an exceptional leader who is respected throughout the industry," said Mike Ellis, Kroger's president and CEO. "We continue to learn a lot from Fred about building even stronger connections with our customers. We are delighted that he is taking on this broader role at Kroger."
With nearly four decades of grocery industry experience, Morganthall began his career in grocery retail in 1978 at Spartan Stores in Grand Rapids, Mich. He joined Harris Teeter in 1986 as director of grocery merchandising, and went on to serve in several key leadership roles including vice presidents of merchandising, distribution and operations, before taking his current role as president. Morganthall has also been an active leader in industry organizations, including the Food Marketing Institute.
Antolock began his retail career in 1978 with Albertsons, where he held a number of leadership roles before joining Harris Teeter in 2000. Antolock has served in several executive positions, including SVP of operations, and of operations and merchandising. He has been serving in his current role since 2012, where he is responsible for merchandising, operations, marketing, human resources, loss prevention, store development, quality assurance and distribution, as well as manufacturing.
"Rod's leadership has contributed to Harris Teeter's success for more than 15 years," Ellis said. "He has been instrumental in developing Harris Teeter's exceptional customer service and product quality. We look forward to his continued leadership in his new role."
Cincinnati-based Kroger operates 2,625 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. Harris Teeter operates stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.


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11 March 2020
Michael Woodward, UK automotive lead at Deloitte, comments on investment in the UK’s EV charging infrastructure:
“With the UK on the cusp of large scale adoption of electric vehicles, the Chancellor has today announced a £500million investment package to support the roll-out of a fast charging network.
“Our most recent research shows that access to charging is the number one barrier in stopping consumers switching to electric. Whilst a good start has been made, more investment will be needed in order to fully prepare for the anticipated growth in demand for electric over the next ten years.
“As well as providing investment, additional guidance is now needed to lead the way in providing a more joined up, long term strategy around charging infrastructure. This will no doubt include providing incentives for private companies to invest in it.”
Financial incentives for Electric Vehicles
“The decision to extend the plug-in car grant to 2022-23 is a welcome addition to this Budget. As consumers continue to make the switch to electric vehicles, and with around 30 new models being launched in the UK this year, we are on the verge of a tipping point, which could see EVs enter the mainstream.
“Financial incentives have proven to be a key factor in driving EV growth in countries like Norway and the Netherlands, aided by additional incentives such as priority parking spaces and city access. A similar strategy in the UK could help stimulate further demand.”
Incoming company car tax changes
“Today the Chancellor confirmed company car tax rates for the next five years, providing a clear financial incentive for businesses and their employees to switch from fossil fuels to electric. As previously announced, the rate of company car tax available on fully electric vehicles will fall from 16 per cent to zero per cent for the next tax year, rising by one percentage each year for the subsequent two tax years before being frozen at 2% for a further two tax years. Based on our calculations, this could result in an employee experiencing savings of around 95 per cent by choosing electric as their next company car, over a comparable diesel vehicle.
“Today’s announcement puts businesses in a unique position to enable and accelerate the move to electric vehicles. The success of this scheme in replacing higher emission petrol and diesel vehicles on our roads could be a big step towards achieving net-zero targets. However, there is still a lot of work to be done in order to maximise the scheme’s impact. In order to take advantage of the new tax scheme, businesses will need to resurrect company car schemes or think beyond their standard approach to company cars. Similarly, manufacturers will be under pressure to manage supply and we will need to see an improvement in the UK’s charging infrastructure.”
@DeloitteUK for live comment;
@DanielFLyons1 for Daniel Lyons, Head of Tax Policy; and
@IanStewartEcon for Ian Stewart, chief economist
Experts from Deloitte are available now and on the day of the Budget for comment. On Wednesday 11 March, please call the Deloitte Media hotline on 020 7007 3333, where you will be directly connected to one of our spokespeople.
Deloitte LLP is the United Kingdom affiliate of Deloitte NSE LLP, a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”). DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL and Deloitte NSE LLP do not provide services to clients. Please see About Deloitte to learn more about our global network of member firms.


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Uniós beavatkozás az e-kereskedelembe
Potential new antitrust investigations and broaden dialogue with national competition authorities
The insight gained from the sector inquiry will enable the Commission to target EU antitrust enforcement in European e-commerce markets, which will include opening further antitrust investigations. In February 2017, we already informed you that the Commission already opened three separate investigations into holiday accommodation, PC video games distribution and consumer electronics pricing practices that may limit competition. As mentioned above, it is likely that the Commission will open more investigations, similar to those already launched at the beginning of this year. Consistent interpretation of EU competition rules on e-commerce related practices is essential for businesses when devising their distribution strategies in the EU. On the basis of the sector inquiry findings, the Commission will therefore broaden the dialogue with national competition authorities within the European Competition Network on e-commerce-related enforcement to achieve this. More enforcement by the Commission will also provide guidance to stakeholders on specific e-commerce related practices.
Sector inquiry as “leverage” to adapt business practices
The Commission mentions that the sector inquiry they performed has already encouraged companies to review their commercial practices on their own initiative This happened for instance for some companies active in the clothing industry but also companies active in other retail sectors.
Main findings on consumer goods
The report confirms that the growth of e-commerce over the last years and, in particular, online price transparency and price competition, had a significant impact on companies' distribution strategies and consumer behavior. The final results of the sector inquiry highlight the following market trends:
The Commission mentions that some of these practices can be justified, for example in order to improve the quality of product distribution. Others, however, may unduly prevent consumers from benefiting from greater product choice and lower prices in e-commerce and therefore justify Commission’s actions to ensure compliance with EU competition rules.
It is important to note that the results of the e-commerce sector inquiry do not appear to question the principles of the Commission's approach to selective distribution as reflected in the current rules for vertical agreements between companies operating at a different level of the distribution chain
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The company started conducting the first phase clinical trials for its treatment in Taiwan in 2015 and completed phase three trials recently this year. The Korean company plans to launch the product by the end of this year.
“The launch in Taiwan has a symbolic meaning as it can set the foundation for the advancement of the company’s product into the Chinese economic sphere,” the company said. “Taiwan is one of the top five BTX markets in Asia, which is growing more than 11 percent annually.”
Gateway into China
As the first Korean company, Hugel expects to have an edge in the market, and anticipates sales to increase at the first quarter of next year. Currently, there are only three overseas suppliers approved for sale in Taiwan: Allergan, Merz, and Ipsen.
With the Taiwanese approval, Hugel said that it has opened its way into the Chinese market.
“The entry into the Taiwan market is meaningful because it is a testbed to judge the entry into the Chinese market, which is one of the three major global markets,” said Hugel CEO, Sohn Ji-hoon. “We plan to concentrate all possible resources with the aim of achieving 30 percent market share within three years.”
In September, Hugel established a new subsidiary as it prepared to launch Botulax, which it described as the “first step of our global initiatives”. It was established in a joint venture with Croma-Pharma GmbH, its Austrian partner to develop and commercialised its BTX, as well as its other products in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
In October, Hugel reported that Botulax showed negative growth in Asia due to sales channel restructuring. Latin America and Russia, on the other hand, showed impressive growth of 46% year-on-year.
Additionally, the company said it was continuing efforts to expand its portfolio. “In the fourth quarter, our major products, Botulax and Chaeum, are expected to hit peak season, expand into Taiwan, and show strong growth in major exporting countries, including Latin America and Russia,” said Sohn.
Additionally, Hugel said that its cosmetic business continued to show phenomenal growth. Its brand Wellage, saw strong growth, thanks to its travel-retail initiatives.
In the same report, the company recorded sales of 34.9 billion won ($30.6 million) in the third-quarter of this year, an 18.5% drop from the previous quarter.
The Korean manufacturer also registered 5.1 billion won in operating profit in the same period, losing more than 69.3% from the previous quarter.
However, the company managed to increase its net profit to 23.8 billion won, increasing 49.5% from the second quarter.
In order to stabilise share price and enhance shareholder value, Hugel decided to initiate share buyback worth 30 billion won.
Hugel said it has decided on share buyback as part of its shareholder return policy, which in turn, will boost both the shareholder value and its corporate value.


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A new Age UK charity shop will open inside a former bakery in Lincoln city centre in June.
The new Lincoln shop will be located on Guildhall Street in the unit formerly occupied by The Ticklebelly Lane Bakery and Tea House, which was put back on the market in October 2018 just a year after opening.
Age UK Lincoln and South Lincolnshire confirmed it hopes to open the new shop in June, but an exact date has yet to be finalised.
Four jobs will be create across two sites – Lincoln and Boston – with the charity hoping to have 19 volunteers at each shop.
Age UK Lincoln and South Lincolnshire operates as an independent local charity and a new store opened in Boston just last week on Friday, May 24.
The charity relies on donations and fundraising support from the public and local businesses. The recent opening day in Boston was a big success with around 300 customers.


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Amazon.com Inc is cutting hundreds of jobs in its headquarters at Seattle and in its global operations, the Seattle Times has reported, citing one person familiar with the matter.
The layoffs are primarily focused on the online giant's consumer retail businesses, the Seattle Times said, citing two people familiar with the matter.
Amazon employed about 566,000 full-time and part-time employees at the end of 2017, according to its latest annual filing.
The corporate cuts come after an eight-year hiring spree, taking the company from 5,000 in 2010 to 40,000 in its Seattle headquarters and gobbling up several retail businesses throughout the country.
However, according to the report, Amazon’s rising employee numbers over the last two years left some departments over budget and with too many staff on hand. In the last few months, the company implemented hiring freezes to stem the flow of new workers, cutting the number of open positions in half from the 3,500 listed last Summer.
The layoffs will mainly focus on Amazon’s Seattle office but there have already been cuts in some of its retail subsidiaries in other parts of the country such as the Las Vegas-based online footwear retailer Zappos, which had to lay off 30 people recently. And the company behind Diapers.com, Quidsi, had to cut more than 250 jobs a year ago.
The moves suggest Amazon may be trying to reign in spending and consolidate some of its retail businesses.
The cuts also don’t indicate Amazon, which employs more than half a million people globally, has any intentions of cutting more or of slowing down its hiring practices elsewhere. According to its most recent quarterly earnings report, the company’s has upped its global workforce by 66 percent over the last year. Amazon currently has more than 4,000 job listings on its site for Seattle.
We have yet to hear back from Amazon about the latest report, but a spokesperson for the company told the Seattle Times the move was part of the company’s annual planning process and that, “We are making headcount adjustments across the company — small reductions in a couple of places and aggressive hiring in many others.”
According to the report, several employees have already been told they’ve been laid off and those layoffs are expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
“For affected employees, we work to find roles in the areas where we are hiring,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Amazon did not immediately respond to request for comment.
(With Reuters inputs)


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Research from the CBI and Finastra, canvassing the opinions of UK small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), suggests that there’s a gap between the ambition of firms to trade internationally and the reality of doing so. While just 44% of businesses surveyed currently engage in international trade, only 23% said they were not interested in doing so. One third of respondents believe there’s potential value, but do not trade internationally due to perceived barriers and a lack of support. Continue reading
EA Sports’ Fifa football videogame series is arguably the most successful sports gaming franchise of all time. Since its debut in 1993, it has sold over 260 million copies across 29 iterations. This position was reaffirmed in 2022, with its latest instalment, Fifa23, reported as the UK’s highest selling videogame at Christmas.
Welcome to this special report on the food industry, the fourth instalment in our series on where the global economy is heading in 2023. It follows recent articles on inflation, energy and the cost of living.
Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, an initiative by leading integrated healthcare provider Aster DM Healthcare, to recognize the contribution of nurses to the community, has announced an extension of the deadline for nurses based and working in the UK till 10th January 2023, given that London will be hosting the awards ceremony on International Nurses Day – 12th May, 2023. Applications from all countries, except UK, closed on 12th December. Continue reading
The 3rd APEC Women Connect “Her Power” Entrepreneurship Competition came to an end on December 16 with a livestreamed ceremony. Over four months, the competition engaged over 1,000 participants interested in social commerce from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Italy, Nigeria, Malawi, Venezuela, and China. Continue reading
Christmas is said to be a time for connecting with friends, family and having fun. But it can also be time of loneliness. Indeed, the results of a 2018 survey looking at loneliness during Christmas time in the UK revealed that 17% of people felt more lonely over the festive period.
“You know what’s wrong with scientific power? It’s a form of inherited wealth. And you know what assholes congenitally rich people are.” That’s how filmmaker Michael Crichton put it in Jurassic Park nearly 30 years ago. The problem of scientific colonialism has not, however, gone away.
Kim Kardashian is refining her personal brand. Right-wing news outlet Fox TV is gaining viewers through attention-grabbing headlines. Photographer Gabriele Galimberti is gaining notoriety. All this is due to a recent advertising campaign from leading global fashion brand Balenciaga that has caused widespread controversy.


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Almost half a year separates us from the launch of Cyberpunk 2077, but there's no denying that production already sparks a lot of emotions. Even before the title was presented at the E3 2019, players were keenly interested in the new work by CD Projekt RED. In June the atmosphere was heated by Keanu Reeves' memorable performance, and later we didn't have a chance to forget about the game, because the creators revealed more and more information about the game. In this situation, no one should be surprised by very optimistic forecasts regarding the financial situation of the Polish developer, which are joined by the ranking of the most promising companies in 2020 - Bloomberg. The agency has selected 50 out of more than 2,000 companies surveyed by analysts, to which investors should pay attention next year. CD Projekt RED has been included in this list as the biggest winner.
Polish devs took the first place in two categories: "Estimated sales growth" and "Estimated earnings per share (EPS) growth". In the first case, analysts expect a nearly 4.5 times better result than this year, while in the second case, they expect an increase of almost 1200%. And all this with assets at the level of USD 304.19 million, much smaller than other distinguished companies. In comparison, the Chinese insurance company Ping An, which opens the list of companies, has resources of 1.1 trillion dollars.
It is also worth noting Matthew Kanterman's quotation attached to the ranking. According to the analyst, Cyberpunk 2077 could reach 20 million copies by the end of 2020. This number would be impressive in itself, and it should be remembered that the biggest hit of the Polish studio so far - the third Witcher - took four years to achieve a similar result. However, that would not be a big surprise. There have already been reports suggesting that Cyberpunk 2077's pre-order numbers are not only topping the third installment of the Witcher series, but that it also has a chance to get the best opening in the history of RPGs and new IPs. Wheter this truly will be the case, we'll see in six months' time. The game will debut on April 16 on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.


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With diesel cars’ emissions accounting for only 11% of London’s nitrogen dioxide (NOx) and approximately 18% of roadside NOx emissions across the UK*, it is paramount that the Government adopts a ...Read more Read more
In May 2017, passenger car registrations across the EU increased by 7.6% to 1,386,818 units, according to official figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). In May ...Read more Read more
It’s been coming for some time now but from April 2018 any non-domestic property let out will need to have a minimum energy performance rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The ...Read more Read more
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has published the latest data on the EU automotive sector and revised its forecast for 2017 car registrations upwards to +1.5-2%. The ...Read more Read more
A host of industry experts will tackle a range of issues facing automotive retailers in AM’s eight masterclass sessions as part of its one-day expo event Automotive Management Live. Taking place on ...Read more Read more


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Namibian charcoal exports are expected to increase to 200 000 tons by 2020 from 160 000 tons that are exported annually.
There are currently around 650 charcoal producers in the country and most producers are commercial or emerging farmers who organise charcoal production on their land, Namibia Charcoal Association (NCA) has said.
“The actual charcoal burning currently supports approximately 6000 workers, making the charcoal sector one of the largest employment generating sub-sectors of the Namibian economy. Most workers are from mobile and migrant populations, primarily from the Kavango and North-Central regions,” the association said.
Adding that more than 30 million hectares of Namibian rangeland are affected by high densities of bush and the causes of bush encroachment are manifold and include unsuitable rangeland management.
Currently, there are 13 charcoal processors in Namibia who purchase charcoal in bulk, process it and distribute it to different clients and markets and they refine the product according to the technical parameters agreed with their international clients such as carbon fixation, ash content, volatile matter and moisture content.
Meanwhile, the NCA held its annual conference and expo under the theme ‘Fuelling an economically, socially and environmentally beneficial charcoal industry in Namibia’ at Otjiwarongo whereby most charcoal producers attended the event, NCA office administrator Rolien Coffee has said.
“The event was attended by almost 400 participants and 28 exhibitors. Last year we had 260 participants and 14 exhibitors, making this the highest number of stakeholders to date since the NCA has been organising the sector-wide event,” she said.
She added that the NCA is also supporting the development of Namibia’s own Charcoal Standards which are expected to be finalised by the end of this year.


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For some years now, big name car makers have been using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as selling points: buy our car and it'll do great things with your phone! But from 2024, General Motors is going to go its own way. According to Reuters, GM is going to phase out its support for CarPlay with a little bit of help from Google.
It'll begin with the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV, but the goal is to replace all models currently running CarPlay with a new, GM-specific system built by Google. You'll still get access to the likes of Google Maps and Google Assistant, but there are a few reasons to be concerned here.
Do you want to rely on your car firm's entertainment tech?
The official line here is that GM doesn't want to make in-car systems that expect you to have a phone, but given that its Blazer EVs start at around $45,000 it's hardly a leap of faith to expect EV drivers – some of the most affluent and enthusiastic early adopters around – to have iPhones or Android phones.
What's much more likely is that GM feels that by using its in-car system as a screen for CarPlay, it's missing out on data collection and money charging opportunities. GM can't charge you for an iOS update on your phone, or for using Google Maps on your Android. But it can charge you for ongoing updates or for specific app access if the apps you use are running on its own OS. According to GM's chief digital officer Edward Kummer, "we do believe that there are subscription revenue opportunities for us."
As the driver of an ageing estate car whose navigation system can't be upgraded past 2018, I'm very wary of trusting car firms' long-term commitment to in-car tech – and it seems to be the same here, with GM promising that you'll be able to use the likes of Google Maps "at no extra cost for eight years". That's maybe not an issue for the people who'll be buying these vehicles new, but it could be a problem for future owners.
If you already have a GM vehicle with CarPlay, you're not going to lose that feature – GM says it's going to stick with its existing tech for the remaining internal combustion vehicles it intends to make – and you'll still be able to use your phone to make calls or play music over Bluetooth if you'd rather use your phone OS than your car one. But it's clear that for GM at least, in-car entertainment is something they want to keep in-house.


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While 93 per cent of brands are making some efforts to make their mobile checkout experience better for consumers, it seems that too few are exploring genuine innovation and advanced optimisation in this area. At present, the average mobile checkout process is three web pages long, increasing the chances of customers abandoning their purchase out of frustration.
During a Q3 earnings call, Twitter’s CFO Ned Segal remarked that “two million or more” new users visit Twitter every day. (This definition of “new” includes users resurrecting old accounts.) But that growth is undermined by the number of existing users the platform is losing at the same time.
Instant messaging service WhatsApp and its parent company, social giant Facebook, have been accused of “non-compliance” with EU data protection laws, specifically in instances of WhatsApp sharing user data with Facebook without adequately making users aware and securing their consent.
Ride sharing app Uber has listened to its users and is finally solving a long-standing issue by incorporating a new “add a stop” feature, which will allow people to pick up or drop off friends on their route.
Streaming app Spotify is reconsidering its efforts in original video, and pulling the plug on its current programming while it goes back to the drawing board. Spotify has struggled to make sufficient money from video, despite partnering with ESPN and Comedy Central on licensing deals.
BuzzFeed has been in the business of selling ad space for some time now. More recently, it started selling gadgets, too. Now the company wants to do both, BuzzFeed Product Labs plans to make original ads for inventors, in exchange for a cut of the sales of their gadgets.
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Various advertisements are designed to be banned so that the resulting earned media will gain more attention than if they were shown without the ban.
The recent TV commercial of the Christmas orangutan in Iceland is the latest in a series of ads banned in the UK. The ad was originally created by Greenpeace and selected by Iceland because they knew it would be banned because it was considered âpoliticalâ. This is a common technique in public relations and advertising called âcontroversial marketingâ.
The goal is to cause a scandal in the press that generates public interest in the campaign, then an online petition magically appears on social media to share the story, and it goes viral. The advantage for the company is not to spend money to buy media space, and to ensure that the press and the public effectively become the broadcasters by sharing the ad on social networks and in the media. news. This saves Iceland hundreds of thousands if not millions of pounds by buying airtime on media channels. In the case of Iceland, the ad has been viewed millions of times although it has never been shown once on television.
Another example emerged this summer: the Beyond Life funeral advertisements which were banned by TFL (Transport For London) because the bold copy promised “roasting temperatures” for a “low cost cremation” service. The ads were then toned down, but not before the original âoffensiveâ versions were shared on Twitter by the company and mentioned on various news platforms for more than three days, allowing the brand to run its campaign for free.
It’s great to have helped start the conversation around death. It is our common reluctance to talk about death that creates an environment where we can get ripped off by predatory businesses,https://t.co/8H7UVscA60
– Beyond (@BeyondLifeUK) July 31, 2018
Some advertisements are deliberately designed to shock, and this technique is called âShockvertisingâ. An extreme example is the 2016 PETA Vegan vs Meat eater commercial which was submitted for airing on America’s most-watched TV show, SuperBowl, seen by over 90 million Americans on a Sunday afternoon. The ad featured a side-by-side comparison of two couples having passionate sex. One man is a meat eater and the other a vegan. The meat eater loses his erection and later dies, while the vegan continues to satisfy his consenting partner through various multiple orgasms. The ad was banned and PETA immediately broke the news to the press., causing more than 1.1 million views on YouTube in just three days. Without spending a single dime on media and sparing PETA the cost of purchasing 30 seconds of Superbowl airtime, or more than $ 3 million, their message was received internationally.
In Mexico, the shock ad was used for a two-minute online ad for a vinyl toy from a company called Alimana. A trade magazine said that the Ursula and Spore 2.3 ad was so violent that it was an “ad imploring an NC-17 rating” (for under-17s only) because it features some of the most deadly death sequences. more “shocking and bizarre”. each filmed. YouTube banned the ad after reaching more than 100,000 views, but the product was already sold out.
Another explanation for how shock advertising appears in the media is that advertising companies often run advertisements without the client’s permission, which is called âscam adsâ or âtruchosâ. This is how agencies can showcase their advertising product in creative award shows. Often, these contests have entry rules that state that ads must be shown at least once in order to be entered into the contest. Advertising agency JWT caused a global uproar for its client Ford India by suggesting that the new Figo car had so much room it could fit at least three nearly naked Kardashians in the trunk. It was free publicity that Ford didn’t want to have.
As brands make it harder to reach their target audiences and media costs rise, clients and their PR and advertising agencies are forced to find cheaper techniques to get their message across. The use of “controversial marketing” and “shock advertising” has grown in popularity.
The authorities banning ads were designed to prevent the public from seeing the ad, but in today’s multi-channel digital environment, these rules have the opposite effect.
Carl Jones is Senior Lecturer in Public Relations and Advertising at the University of Westminster


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Looking back a year ago, there were fears in the automotive and transportation industries that we may never fully recover from the pandemic. But as businesses embraced change and stayed resilient, they were soon rewarded for their forward thinking. While technology has been rapidly evolving for fleet operators, it has become apparent that it is no longer a commodity but an essential tool to remain successful and grow. A recent report commissioned by Verizon shows how the adoption of new, connected technologies has impacted fleet businesses in the last year.
The overarching theme of their report is that, while some may think connected tech can only bring complexity and confusion, the truth is entirely the opposite. The study showed that 96% of fleets using GPS fleet tracking software found it to be beneficial, and a full third of businesses that implemented new tech saw a positive return on their investment in just six months.
44% of survey respondents reported that increasing costs is a top challenge; it may not seem like the best time to adopt new software, but Verizon’s study showed doing so could help significantly reduce costs, and the potential for positive ROI is relatively high. Study participants reportedWith an average 8% decrease in fuel costs, and an 11% reduction in accident costs.
Among our own customers, we know that retail automotive fleets can save about $70 per vehicle each month. And that comes with important ancillary benefits, including reduction in the time needed to fill out paperwork, and an increase in overall fleet efficiency that can contribute to higher volumes.
Surely there are financial and logistical benefits of fleet technology, but another valuable benefit can be found in customer service. This study shows that customer service emerged as one of the key areas of improvement for fleets that integrate tech. We all know how competitive this industry can get, so keeping customers happy is crucial to ensure they return, and between visits talk about your company in a positive light.
In another study conducted by J.D. Power, Dealerware customers reported increasing their CSI scores by more than 27 points after implementing our solutions. With things like contactless contracting in less than a minute, simple agreements that set clear expectations, and the ability to implement pickup and delivery, it’s clear why our customers stand out from the competition.
While some of the survey results do apply to logistics and construction companies that may have enormous fleets, a sizable portion of the respondents manage smaller fleets (50% manage up to 50 vehicles; 34% manage up between 50-499). At Dealerware we strive to make fleet technology a valuable investment for fleets of all sizes, and that’s why our platform is affordable and can be integrated in as little as one week.
You may be hesitant to invest in technology for your fleet, but it’s soon going to become essential to remain competitive if it isn’t already in your area. Fleet tracking software is growing rapidly, with Verizon Connect survey respondents reporting usage is up 8% to 72% in just a year. As this number continues to grow, fleets that are early adopters are going to see their investments pay off, and sadly those that fail to realize the benefits of tech will be left behind.
Check out the full Verizon Connect study, and talk to a Dealerware representative today to find a solution catered to your fleet.


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Five sections that may go off Facebook business pages
Digital marketing experts say the sections mission, company overview, biography, affiliation and personal interests may go
- Published 19.06.19, 12:58 PM
- Updated 19.06.19, 12:58 PM
- a min read
Digital marketing experts have alerted on social media that Facebook may in its next business page update remove five of its information sections.
The fields Mission, Company Overview, Biography, Affiliation and Personal Interests will no more be exhibited on Facebook's business pages from August 1.
Do people really need to see your personal interests on your business page? Does your biography really matter - or is that just another variation of your page description? Or is this a step to boost Facebook’s user security.
One theory is that not many users dwell on these particular fields, so it makes sense for Facebook to not exhibit them.
However, Nimesh Shah, the CEO of Windchimes Communication which is a leading national digital agency, believes the change could be a part of a broader effort to restrict details on data.
“The company has been under constant pressure regarding its data protection policy. They could be cutting down on unwarranted information. If I answer five questions by you about a certain thing, instead of answering ten questions on the same matter, I am protecting unnecessary information from being out in the open. It seems like a similar case here. It’s a minor change but not for no reason,” he told this website.


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The saga continues. After informing us in September that the IAC-owned Bloglines was to be shut down permanently, Ask.com (the IAC property that operates Bloglines) has resurrected the troubled RSS feeder, the company tells TechCrunch exclusively. IAC has transferred ownership of the property to an unlikely new patron: MerchantCircle, an online marketing network for small business owners. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but we do know that the deal was sort of in the family—IAC invested in MerchantCircle back in 2007. We are told Ask.com will maintain the current Bloglines service until December 1 of this year, after which the service will be transitioned to MerchantCircle.
IAC and Ask.com put Bloglines out of its misery after a tumultuous history. Bought by IAC’s Ask.com in February 2005 for around $10 million, the site has been in trouble, facing competition from Google Reader and a shift away RSS to realtime news streams.
While we heard IAC was looking for ways to either refurbish, or sell Bloglines, it looks like they finally got around to the latter. But MerchantCircle is a surprising candidate considering that it is not a media property.
MerchantCircle, which has been quietly snapping up companies, provides a business directory for merchants in smaller towns and currently lists 1.4 million small businesses. The startup has long targeted merchants in small locales versus catering towards the consumers, as sites like Yelp and CitySearch do. MerchantCircle has local business members in 95% of the 24,600 U.S. cities and towns with populations over 200. And the company could be eyeing an IPO in the coming year.
Ben Smith, co-founder of MerchantCircle, says he has big plans for Bloglines. The technology will be integrated into MerchantCircle to allow business owners to create RSS feeds on local news around their town, or city as well as their specific trade (i.e. feeds around plumbing, law, or construction). Smith says the platform will also be able to bring in feeds of local daily deals and coupons.
For all you loyal Bloglines users (the site has 2.7 million users), don’t fret. MerchantCircle will be keeping the former standalone service in place for non-MerchantCircle users, at the RSS platform’s present URL and Smith assures the the transition will be seamless for previous users (i.e. same log-ins and UI). One notable feature that will be missing is the Clippings feature, and users won’t be able to merge their saved clippings to the new platform. MerchantCircle will also offer Bloglines users customized local RSS feeds that users can opt into for hyper local news and deals. Smith adds that Bloglines has been tweaked slightly for a “richer, faster experience.”
Doug Leeds ,President of Ask.com says Ask was approached by a number of companies who were interested in giving new life to Bloglines but in the end MerchantCircle makes sense a new parent because they are “corporate cousins.”
Here’s the full email IAC will be sending to Bloglines users tomorrow:
As you may have heard, Ask.com has entered into an agreement with MerchantCircle who has agreed to keep Bloglines up and running. Stay tuned over the coming months as MerchantCircle works to improve the Bloglines service by creating a richer and more local user experience.
In the near term, your news feeds and access to the service (with your same password) are still available. You can read more detail about MerchantCircle and its plans for the service at the MerchantCircle blog.
For now, here’s what we want you to know:
Timing: Ask.com will maintain the current Bloglines service as is until December 1, 2010. After December 1, 2010, the service will transition wholly to MerchantCircle. During the month of December, you will be able to easily port your feeds over to the MerchantCircle-powered service. It’s an easy process, and we’ll provide you with complete instructions well in advance.
Logging-In: You will keep your same password as before.
Current Bloglines features: Your Bloglines subscriptions will seamlessly transition to the MerchantCircle service, however, the Clippings Tab will no longer be available and you will not be able to transport saved articles to the new service. We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this will cause – the infrastructure requirements and costs are simply too great to justify maintaining


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Bloomberg Businessweek announced today that it plans to expand its reach in Europe and Asia with two new regional editions in early 2012, increasing the global weekly print circulation to 980,000 from 900,000.
The Europe edition will feature bespoke content, unique front covers and separate advertising pages. The European and Asian editions of Bloomberg Businessweek will also feature content from the global edition of the magazine combined with some additional regional reporting from more than 800 Bloomberg reporters in Europe and 500 in Asia.
Bloomberg Businessweek president Paul Bascobert said:"Bloomberg Businessweek has been consistently growing and we're building on this strong momentum and reader demand to expand our audience in the European and Asian markets.
"We're excited to be able to provide our readers and advertisers with new, regionally-focused products by tapping into Bloomberg's incredibly vast global network of editorial staff."


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Meet the new Muslim Consumer (Campaign Asia Magazine, October 2010)
While there is no doubting the potential of the Muslim market in Asia, it nonetheless needs to be handled with great care writes Michael O’Neill.
When it comes to big consumer markets, Asia is not short of contenders. China and India, with their billion-plus populations have led the way, while a number of large emerging markets are now also catching the eyes of marketers. But the region is also home to another sizeable consumer bloc, one not defined by country but by a shared religion.
According to conservative estimates Asia is home to an almost 700 million Muslims, some 60 per cent of the global total. While Indonesia is often quoted as the world’s largest Muslim country — it accounts for an estimated 13 per cent of the number of Muslims worldwide — other countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and India can also boast Muslim populations of more than 100 million.
When even a country such as China can claim Muslim populations of between 20 million and 100 million, depending on which data is used, it is clear that this is a market to be reckoned with.
Surprisingly then, save for one or two examples, most brands have been slow to directly target their products and services to this market. “Most MNCs have never really asked themselves whether those consumers have got anything special about them, whether they have got a different relationship with brands, for instance,” Miles Young, global CEO of Ogilvy & Mather, says.
In the past, when Asian Muslim consumers have engaged directly with brands, it has tended to be for negative reasons. Though marked differences exist between Muslims in various countries across the region, when the united Muslim voice comes together, it can be a powerful force. A number of US brands found this out in 2009 when Muslim activists in Malaysia urged consumers to boycott products from companies such as Coca-Cola, Colgate and McDonald’s over US support for Israel’s attack on Gaza.
“The Islamic religion is a highly sensitive topic in Malaysia and must be addressed with respect and tact to avoid untoward incidences,” explains Tze-Lian Ng, Partner, Insights at Mindshare’s Malaysia operation. “One very clear insight is that Malays here are very much in solidarity with Muslims around the world. Any issues affecting Muslims in other countries which draw media attention here will affect local sentiments.”
More typically, though, negative sentiment is simply a case of brands misjudging the Muslim consumer. It is not only Western brands that have suffered here. Bintang Zero, a non-alcoholic beverage produced by the Indonesian brewer Bintang, was meant to appeal to religious Muslims who abstain from alcohol. For obvious reasons, the marketing failed. As one commentator said at the time: “What next? Halal pork?”
It seems, though, that brands are learning quickly from their mistakes. Whether a result of the adspend slowdown in Western markets, or a recognition of the growing affluence among many Asiabased Muslim consumers, brands — and their agency partners — are taking the Asian Muslim market far more seriously than before.
A key part of understanding the Islamic market in Asia will depend on being able to segment the Muslim consumer. While religion is the uniting factor, Muslims across Asia are very different from one another and respond to religious messaging in a variety of ways. “Brands need to be careful not to generalise the Muslim community because they are not homogeneous, “ says Guy Hearn, director of Communications Insights, Asia-Pacific, at Omnicom Media Group. “In addition to the Islamic faith, race, nationality and education play a big part in defining what ‘intensity’ of Muslim the consumer belongs to. Muslims in different countries are exposed to and thus influenced by other cultures. Muslims in Malaysia particularly are exposed to other religions and are respectful of other faiths.”
In a country such as Indonesia, for example, where up to 75 per cent of the Muslim population are either secular or non-practicing, Robbie Susatyo, managing director of Synovate Indonesia suggests brands steer away from overt Islamic themes. “Indonesia is very different from other countries such as Malaysia or Pakistan,” he says. “It has a different adherence to religion. If someone says marketing to Muslims, there is a risk you are labelling them as extremist or militant. Many Indonesians don’t want to be a part of this. They want to be in the mainstream. As soon as you label someone Muslim, they no longer feel part of the mainstream.”
Muslim ‘Futurists’…responsible, curious, culturally-exposed and interested in others
Liana Rosnita Redwan-Beer, the publisher of Aquila, a fashion and lifestyle magazine and website Asia for cosmopolitan Muslim women, agrees, pointing to a generation of new Muslim consumers that are more connected and digitised than their ‘traditional’ counterparts. “These are women who are responsible, curious, culturally-exposed, and very interested in others. They love to share knowledge, info, tips, experience and problems,” Redwan-Beer says. “Within this community, word about an outstanding product, service, or place that meets their spiritual needs travels super fast.”
So if Asia is seeing the emergence of a new, modern Muslim consumer, how best to reach them? On the most basic level, more and more brands are ensuring their products meet Halal certification in various markets. This is understandable. The global Halal industry was estimated by the World Halal Council to have been worth US$632 billion in 2009.
In Muslim countries, though, Halal certification is a given rather than a differentiator. Even in Singapore, for instance, where the Musilm population is in the minority, McDonald’s and other food manufacturers use Halal ingredients not as a marketing tool but because to not do so would mean isolating a significant part of its consumer base. “At a certain stage Halal branding is important to establish credentials,” says Ayman Hamed, director of marketing at Dubai-based Al Islami Foods. “But a brand has to offer solutions to the Muslim consumers beyond the Halal aspect without losing [sight of] it.”
A more direct approach has been for brands to focus on a specific religious or cultural need and to build marketing around that. Unilever did this several years back with the ‘Clean and Fresh’ campaign for its Sunsilk shampoo that targeted hijab (headscarf)-wearing females. Similarly, Malaysian auto manufacturer Proton is partnering with companies in Iran and Turkey to develop an ‘Islamic car’ with a compass pointing to Mecca and built-in compartments for the hijab and copies of the Koran.
But these tend to be one-off product promotions and, it could be argued, do little to create a lasting brand equity in the market. John Goodman, president of Ogilvy Action Asia-Pacific and regional director for Ogilvy & Mather ASEAN, argues instead that brands should take a broader approach to the Muslim market, adopting a marketing plan that sits comfortably with Shariah values, which Ogilvy Noor describes as “a holistic set of practices that guide every aspect of one’s life.”
In its simplest form, this can be interpreted as taking a more ethical approach to the marketing of goods, being aware of the wider values and sensitivities of the Muslim community. In Pakistan, for instance, the Olpers milk brand places family values at the centre of its branding, without an overt ‘Islamic’ branding. This positioning is run out during the year, but is intensified during the peak season of Ramadam, when the brand communicates the more direct connection between the brand and Islam. “Muslims get together, they pray together, eat together, make a lot of donations and help the community. These values sit well with our mother position,” says Ali Akbar, vice-president of the Global Business Unit at Engro Foods.
Importantly, the Shariah commitment needs to go deeper than just sales and marketing, touching all aspects of the company, from manufacturing and packaging to brand story and overall business practices. Research carried out by Ogilvy Noor found, for example, that a commitment to charity and corporate social responsibility chimed well with Muslim consumers. Charity and CSR may be universal values, but they also align especially well with Islamic beliefs — zakaat (charity) for instance, is one of the four pillars of Islam.
“When we say ‘Islamic’ or ‘Muslim’ brand, we mean that it’s a brand based on the ethics and values of Islam, in order to communicate to the Muslim community that this brand adheres to the code you live your life by, therefore associating with this brand would benefit you,” says Joy Abdullah, a director at business and brand marketing consultancy Daily Baraka.
This strategy has the advantage for brands in that they do not have to fundamentally change their DNA but instead need to make sure their business ethics and community outreach are consistent and well-communicated. Most of all, though, they need to be genuine and transparent. “People don’t like superficial reflections on their culture and religion,” says Goodman. “People react badly if they see companies paying lip service or being patronising.”
While good news travels fast among the new Muslim consumer, so does negative sentiment As well as being more accepting of brands, Ogilvy found its Futurists to also be more challenging. “What this combined sceptisism, mistrust and doubt has done is create a class of consumers who ask more questions than ever before,” says Hussain.
This reaction to inconsistent branding can be seen in the Islamic finance sector. Although banking services that are consistent with Shariah law have grown in popularity, financial brands score low on the Ogilvy Noor Index, which measures perceptions of brands in the Muslim world. In particular, HSBC is poorly ranked as it is seen by many Muslims as what Goodman calls “a house with two doors” — one secular and one religious. While HSBC may be offering Islamic finance, the perception is that once the transaction goes in to the back office, the practice is diluted, resulting in a fear of “contamination”.
Abdullah believes such considerations are especially pertinent for Western brands, which arrive in a Muslim country with a well-known back story. “A Western MNC is already an existing ‘corporate brand’ having an image, personality and history associated with it — perceived or otherwise — by its stakeholders across the globe,” says Abdullah. “Therefore, a ‘corporate rebrand’ based on Islamic ethics would not jive with the targeted Muslim consumer.”
But how much of Muslim consumers’ brand perception is based on respect for religious values and how much is because they are successful brands that get their marketing right and produce good products that consumers want to buy? Abdullah says that, at present, religion plays a secondary role.
“Currently there are MNCs which are strong brands on their own that have been made available to the global Muslim community through the usual distribution channels,” he says. “But none of these brands were developed based on Islamic ethics. They are brands developed in the classical brand marketing framework wherein a product benefit has been highlighted and, process wise, they are currently ‘compliant” — that is, adhering to specific Halal standards.”
Goodman feels it is a mixture of both: “These brands tend to reflect the core Muslim values very well, and therefore although they don’t ‘align themselves with Islam’ consciously, they do in their value systems and the way they interact with consumers and society, becoming good local citizens in Muslim countries. A lot of the things you need to do to market to Muslims are things you would do to appeal to other consumers. The same values are relevant to non-Muslims as well.”
While this may be a grey area, when it comes to the overall importance of being able to connect with the new Muslim the situation is much less opaque. And while religion will still be a benchmark, the individual’s sense of identity and what they want to do with their life will become even more important. Explains Abdullah: “There are successful multinational companies and regional brands across categories that are fulfilling the needs of the Muslim consumer. But, with the rise in awareness and understanding of Halal, and a growing consciousness of the ‘Muslim identity’, especially amongst youth, it is inevitable that the need for brands to address this identity will be on the rise.”
ISLAMIC MEDIA How media owners are appealing to the modern Muslim consumer
In August this year, Malaysian TV threw up an unlikely new hero. In the grand final of Imam Muda on the Muslim lifestyle satellite channel Astro Oasis, Muhammad Asyraf Mohammad Ridzuan saw off rivals to grab the crown in the American Idol-style programme. Asyraf’s prize for coming up trumps in the 10-week show included a scholarship at a university in Saudi Arabia and a trip to Mecca.
While the show created headlines across the region and beyond, it also brought attention to the changing nature of Islamic media, from its perception as a dull and conservative programming block to one that is embracing the needs of modern Muslims. In this, Oasis is taking its lead from the West, in particular the growth of ‘lifestyle’ Islamic TV in both the Middle East and countries in Europe with significant Muslim populations. UK-based Islam Channel, for instance,
broadcasts across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and is streamed live on the internet, showing news, Islamic themed quiz shows and even a Saturday evening light entertainment show.
But while the Islam Channel claims it is watched by 50 per cent of the UK’s 1.6 million Muslims, similar channels have yet to take off in popularity in Asia. “Almost all stations In Indonesia have certain hours, certain blocks for Islamic content,” says Robbie Susatyo, managing director of Synovate Indonesia. “But viewership is very small. People prefer watching soap operas to talk shows discussing religious themes.”
Still, Andreas Vogiatzakis, managing director at OMG Malaysia, identifies the potential for Islamic media, especially in Malaysia. “The market may be niche, but you will definitely reach your targets well. Muslims in
Malaysia are working towards being progressive Muslims — to achieve modernity without letting go the spiritual aspect. For advertisers, this translates definitely to opportunity.”
A good example of this marrying of Islam and modernity in the print sector is the Indonesia-based fashion and lifestyle magazine Aquila. “We set ourselves Asia. apart from the mainstream by regularly touching on topics and subjects that pertain to Islam and modern-living, and delivering them alongside religious references so everybody gets the whole picture,” says publisher Liana Rosnita Redwan-Beer. The magazine and online portal is proving popular with advertisers. “Right now, the SMEs and regional players have been quick to join force with us. The Muslim market is by and large untapped, and more and more brands are aware of this fact.”


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By Tracey Shelton, Pulse Canada
October 1, 2019
Ensuring open market access for Canadian pulses to countries around the world is a key priority for Pulse Canada.
“With major market access issues in countries like India and China, keeping the markets open in other countries is becoming even more important,” says Mac Ross, Director, Market Access & Trade Policy at Pulse Canada.
Peru is one such market. On average, Canada exports between 30,000 and 35,000 tonnes of lentils and about 10,000 tonnes of peas to Peru each year, along with some canary seed and other special crops. Pulses are the second largest crop exported from Canada to Peru following wheat. While Peru is not a major market for pulses in terms of export volume, it is a longstanding market that has provided unimpeded access for Canadian pulse crops.
However, that access is currently under pressure due to changes to Peru’s phytosanitary requirements for Canadian imports. Following a World Trade Organization (WTO) notification of changes to Peru’s phytosanitary requirements for Canadian wheat shipments in mid- 2018, Peru advised the Government of Canada that shipments of lentils and canary seed would also be closely monitored for pests that appear on Peru’s regulated pest list.
In July 2019, Peru notified the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of the detection of several regulated weed seeds in several Canadian shipments of grain, including three shipments of lentils. The weeds identified included Bassia scoparia (kochia), Polygonum lapathifolium (pale smartweed), Salsola kali (tumble weed), and Elymus repens (quackgrass), all of which appear on Peru’s regulated pest list.
Ross says the CFIA has been working with the Peruvian government to allow trade to continue unimpeded and invited plant protection officials to visit Canada to learn more about the Canadian grain handling system.
“In early September, a delegation of officials from Peru travelled to Canada to meet with CFIA and gain an understanding of how CFIA certifies shipments for export in Canada,” he says. “We participated in those meetings with the Peruvian delegation along with representatives from other national commodity associations and the Government of Canada.”
The meetings involved a review of Canada’s systems-based approach to ensuring the export of grain shipments that comply with the requirements set by the importing country’s requirements as well as a review of the grain handling system in Canada.
Following the initial meetings, officials from Peru visited several points of the Canadian value-chain including a farm, inland terminal and a port terminal in Vancouver to view the sophisticated and rigorous quality control measures implemented by the Canadian grain industry and the stringent regulatory oversight provided by government agencies. The delegation returned to Peru after spending a week in Canada and will produce a full report with recommendations to the Peruvian government.
Ross says Pulse Canada will continue to monitor developments in Peru, working with industry and the Government of Canada to ensure continued access for Canadian pulses into this longstanding market.


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All-flash arrays (AFA) are a few of the bright spots in the declining market for enterprise data storage hardware.
An AFA can offer comparatively blistering storage performance versus traditional storage arrays stuffed with spinning hard drives. This often translates into more responsive business applications, faster transactions and less of a wait for data analytics and a variety of other workloads to complete.
In light of these benefits, it’s no surprise that enterprises are increasingly investing in AFA, despite the price premium.
During the first quarter of 2017, sales of AFA jumped 48 percent on a year-on-year basis, according to the latest figures from market research firm Dell’Oro Group. In total, the category generated a little over $1.3 billion for data storage vendors.
“All-flash array is the only segment growing in the external storage market space,” said Jimmy Yu, Dell’Oro Group vice president, in a statement. “While the total market for external storage has contracted for the past two years, and will likely decline again this year, all flash storage system sales are reaching all new highs. We predict all-flash array revenue to grow approximately 40 percent in 2017 to reach nearly $7 billion while disk and hybrid storage system revenues decline about 14 percent.”
Although slow to offer all-flash storage systems at first, a number of acquisitions and a concerted effort by Dell EMC to introduce new solid-state arrays has catapulted the IT giant to the top of the segment with a 29 percent share of revenues last quarter. Second-place NetApp took home 21 percent of AFA sales, a six percent year-over-year improvement.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), which completed the acquisition of flash storage provider Nimble Storage in April, takes third place with 17 percent, followed by Pure Storage at 12 percent. IBM rounds out the top five with seven percent.
While the improving economics of all-flash arrays seem to favor these vendors, the segment is poised to really take off when producers of 3D NAND chips master the technology. Jim Handy, general manager of semiconductor research group Objective Analysis, recently told Enterprise Storage Forum’s Drew Robb that he expects a manufacturing breakthrough in the next year that will enable flash providers to crank out high-capacity 3D NAND chips, further lowering AFA prices.
Gartner predicts that half of all data centers will only use AFA for primary storage by 2020. The IT analyst firm also expects AFA revenue to reach $9.67 by the same year.
Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at Enterprise Storage Forum. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.