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Business Space travel insurance? Even Bezos can't get any
When Amazon boss Jeff Bezos blasts off into space next month he probably won't have any insurance. Financial industry experts say there's just no way to get cover for space tourism just yet. Julian Satterthwaite reports.
Business Space travel insurance? Even Bezos can't get any Wall Street rises on debt ceiling deal cheer Avoid large technology stocks -market strategist Friday jobs report could determine next Fed move -market strategist BVTV: Paramount’s plutocrats Macy's outlook darkens after results SAS shares fall sharply after losses Macau casinos boom as visitors flock back Russian fashion brands plug gaps left by Western rivals European stocks rebound after U.S. debt deal Musk wraps up very quick, oddly quiet China visit Amazon employees protest office, climate policies U.S. debt ceiling bill passes House with broad support McCarthy joyful after House passes debt limit deal Amazon workers walk out over climate, office policies Long lines for fuel amid uncertainty in Nigeria Wall St falls as labor data spurs rate hike jitters U.S. House members debate bill to raise debt ceiling US debt ceiling bill faces tight vote in House Small caps, financials key to US stock market now -market strategist US economy may be 'accelerating' -market strategist for-phone-only for-tablet-portrait-up for-tablet-landscape-up for-desktop-up for-wide-desktop-up


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Google purges tainted apps from Android phones
Google has remotely purged Android smartphones of applications tainted with a malicious code that could take control of the handsets and steal information.
Mobile phone security firm LookOut said the purpose of the "DroidDream" code was to "download additional applications and install them silently as system applications on the device.
"DroidDream could be considered a powerful zombie agent that can install any applications silently and execute code with root privileges at will," it said.
Google was patching the vulnerability that cyber crooks could exploit and adding measures to prevent applications containing the "malware" from getting into the Android Market of programs for mobile devices.
Google yanked the contaminated applications from the Android Market and then took the unusual step of hitting a "kill switch" that remotely removed from smartphones any of the more than 50 applications containing the dangerous code.
"We removed the malicious applications from Android Market, suspended the associated developer accounts, and contacted law enforcement about the attack," Rich Cannings of Android Security said in a message posted at the Google blog during the weekend.
"We are remotely removing the malicious applications from affected devices."
Google believed that hackers were only able to get codes identifying smartphones and which version of Android ran particular devices. The attack didn't work on handsets operating on Android 2.2.2 or newer.
(c) 2011 AFP

domain: news


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Linde-Praxair deal clears final hurdle with U.S. antitrust nod
The all-share merger of equals will create an industry leader with revenues of about $27 billion and 80,000 employees across more than 100 countries, which will be called Linde plc.
That will make it bigger than France's Air Liquide, which had also bulked up with the takeover of rival Airgas.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Monday that the companies would have to divest assets in nine industrial gases product markets in United States as part of a settlement that resolves antitrust charges. ■


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Today, April 27, the fifty-first weekly meetup of Free TON representatives took place. Roman D., Ben Sunderland, Alexander Zvezdin, Ron Millow, Mitya Goroshevsky, Alexander Filatov, Joanna Eberhart took part in it.
This week, tokens were sent to the xAngle and 0xGames partner teams, the winners and jury members of the Dune token swap architecture competition, and the new Influencers SG.
- Еhe following proposals were accepted:
- Art Erotic Challenge,
- Token Design Contest from CryptoNumiz,
- Extension of the Dubai AIBC show competition,
- Transfer of tokens in favor of Free TON Shop and Wallet Solutions,
- News and educational sites contest.
The meetup participants also discussed the costs of participating in the Dubai AIBC and their correspondence to the prospects that this event opens up for the entire project. Everyone came to the conclusion that the participation fee (approximately $ 13,000) is a very profitable investment.
The first anniversary of Free TON will be celebrated very soon. The tickets for the holiday will be on sale in the form of NFT tokens! This is great news because if you pay for your holiday ticket now, you can one day sell it!
Then there was a presentation of the newly created Indian SG. Over a billion people speak Hindi and its dialects. More than 80% of them live in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. This is a huge audience among which Free TON will find new partners and community members.


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Amazon's reported $1 billion acquisition of video-doorbell maker Ring has closed, giving the company a significant lead over rival Google in the potentially lucrative home security market.
Over two days of Congress questioning, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that he didn't know key details of a 2011 consent decree with the FTC that requires Facebook to protect user privacy.
Getting better: The IRS has dramatically improved its customer service, but advocates of the agency say it still needs more money if it's to set itself on firmer footing for the long haul.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg faces a second day of grilling before Congress. Zuckerberg has already spent five hours fielding questions about how his company handles users' personal data.
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Spotify has previously attempted to curb abuse of its family plan but didn’t get any effective results for that. But now, the company is again trying to prevent abuse of its family plan by requesting users to share their location data occasionally.
Spotify’s Premium Family plan costs $15 per month that allows sharing the Spotify premium access with up to six users. However, just like many other streaming services, Spotify users also share the premium plan with their friends for just for as little as $2.5 per month. That’s the type of abuse Spotify is now looking to prevent.
Now to prevent this abuse, Spotify has made some changes in the terms and conditions of the Family Plan. As spotted by CNET, the new terms of conditions of the Spotify Family Plan say that users will be required to provide location “from time to time.”
For the Spotify Family Plan, users are allowed to share the premium subscription with other users at the same location. And so, by accessing location data of the users, Spotify seemingly hopes that it can stop non-families from using the family plan. The new policy went into effect in the United States on September 5th.
In a statement, Spotify defended this new family plan requirement and said that all location data is only used for verifying home addresses and is deleted afterwards.
“This data is encrypted and can be edited by the plan owner as needed,” the company said in a statement. “The location data that is collected during Premium Family account creation is only used by Spotify for that purpose. Once verification of a family member’s home address is completed, we do not store their location data or track their location at any time.”
As for the users, this sort of location sharing requirement is sure going to be a frustrating deal, especially when companies like Apple have put an increasing emphasis on privacy. Location information has become particularly sensitive. However, as Spotify mentioned that it will delete the location data after verification, it might not be a big deal for the Spotify users.
For the latest tech news and updates, Install TechnoCodex App and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Also, if you like our efforts, consider sharing this story with your friends, this will encourage us to bring more exciting updates for you.


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While the Halloween decorations may still be up, it’s hard to believe that it is only three weeks until Thanksgiving! Time to shift gears from Halloween candy to Thanksgiving goodies!
The cost of a 2011 Thanksgiving dinner increased $5.73 from 2010, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual study. The AFBF has been conducting the informal price survey for 26 years, and estimates that it cost $49.20 for households to put a 2011 turkey dinner and all the fixings on the table for ten guests.
Sample 2011 prices for ten people around the Thanksgiving table:
- Turkey – $21.57 (16 pounds)
- Stuffing – $2.88
- Sweet potatoes – $3.26
- Pumpkin pie – $3.03
Due to widespread drought this past summer across the United States, experts estimate that turkey could increase 20-30 cents per pound this holiday season.
To help you stay within your budget, consider buying a frozen turkey on sale, well ahead of the holiday. (The USDA says frozen turkey can stay good for a year in your freezer.) Also, you might consider chicken or other inexpensive meats as an alternative to the traditional turkey.
“Thanksgiving can be stressful as well as a financial drain on the pocketbook,” said Dorothy Barrick, GreenPath manager and counselor. “Reach out to your extended family for assistance. Many people are happy when asked to share a dish to pass because they get a chance to show off one of their favorite recipes.”
For other money saving holiday tips, log on to GreenPath University at www.greenpath.org/university.


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BBB names Dirty Half Dozen
CHARLOTTE — A company that sells wigs online heads the Better Business Bureau’s mid-year 2011 Dirty Half Dozen list of worst-rated area businesses.
Others include a talent agency that recruits models, a discount furniture store, a job training company, a law office that specializes in mortgage modifications and a security company with offices in Concord and Charlotte.
In the first half of 2011, consumers filed 6,292 complaints with the BBB against businesses in the Southern Piedmont of the Carolinas. The top six businesses with the most unanswered or unresolved complaints are included on the BBB’s Dirty Half Dozen list.
“The business practices of these six companies range from deception to disregard, and this type of customer service is unacceptable to customers and to the BBB,” said BBB President Tom Bartholomy.
“Customers expect and should receive, at the very minimum, a response from the company when they are unhappy with the products or services received.”
Here’s the Mid-Year 2011 Dirty Half Dozen:
• Katour Line Enterprises (BBB grade F), Charlotte — Katour Line Enterprises sells wigs and hairpieces via an online website. Customers from 17 states filed complaints with the BBB after ordering but not receiving wigs that cost an average of $150. After the BBB contacted Katour Line about the complaints, the company responded with a letter stating that the company was changing ownership, and consumers would need to challenge the charges with their credit card companies in order to obtain refunds. Katour Line has seven unanswered or unresolved complaints in 2011 and 26 total complaints in the previous 36 months.
• Talent Solutions Group, LLC (BBB grade F), Fort Mill — Talent Solutions Group holds model recruiting events throughout the country where they sign up prospective “models” who pay an average of $250 to $350. Consumers from 14 states filed complaints with the BBB when they were unable to obtain a refund after canceling within the “three day right to cancel” timeframe stated on their contract. Talent Solutions Group has seven unanswered or unresolved complaints in 2011 and 33 total complaints in the previous 36 months.
• Discount Furniture & Mattress Warehouse (BBB grade F), Charlotte — Consumers from Charlotte, Pineville, Mint Hill and Gastonia filed complaints against Discount Furniture with the BBB after they had problems obtaining refunds after receiving damaged products or incorrect product orders. Discount Furniture has five unanswered or unresolved complaints in 2011 and 10 total complaints in the previous 36 months.
• World Wide Consulting Services (BBB grade F), Charlotte — World Wide Consulting Services sells job training and placement services to individuals for an average fee of $700. Consumers from 14 states filed complaints with the BBB alleging that job interviews and job placements did not occur as promised in the company’s sales pitch, and they have not been able to obtain refunds from the company. World Wide Consulting has three unanswered or unresolved complaints in 2011 and 18 total complaints in the previous 36 months.
• Law Office of Charles Oldham, PLLC (BBB grade F), Charlotte — The Law Offices of Charles Oldham provides mortgage modification services to homeowners in danger of foreclosure. Complainants state that the company included a money back guarantee that they could get their mortgage modified for an upfront fee averaging $2,500. Customers from 14 states filed complaints with the BBB on the basis that the company did not perform the services as promised and they have been unable to obtain refunds from the money back guarantee. Two of their 15 complaints were filed by N.C. residents, which may violate the state’s Debt Adjusting Act of 2005, which prohibits companies from charging N.C. residents an advance fee for this type of service. The Law Office of Charles Oldham has three unanswered or unresolved complaints in 2011 and 15 total complaints in the previous 36 months.
• Guardian Security, Inc. (BBB grade F), Charlotte and Concord — Guardian Security sells alarm system monitoring services. Complainants from the North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia allege that Guardian Security’s sales representatives gave them the impression that they were with ADT Security and went door to door to houses with ADT Security yard signs. Complainants state that Guardian Security said they needed to discuss changes to their ADT Security monitoring service and signed the homeowners up for a new monitoring service. Homeowners filed complaints after they were double-billed by both ADT and Guardian Security and then learned that Guardian was not affiliated with ADT. Guardian Security has three unanswered or unresolved complaints in 2011 and 17 total complaints in the previous 36 months.
Consumers can check out a business and get a free BBB Business Review online at www.bbb.org or by calling the BBB (toll-free in the Carolinas) at 1-877-317-7236.


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Topline: Pop star Ariana Grande is suing Forever 21 for allegedly stealing her image after she turned down an endorsement deal with the company, which in one case hired a model that looks like her to promote the retailer’s clothing and accessories on social media, the lawsuit says.
- Grande is asking for $10 million in damages.
- The lawsuit alleges that Forever 21 hired a “look-alike model” and styled her to resemble Grande in her 7 Rings music video for a social media ad-campaign in early 2019.
- The suit also says Forever 21 used at least 30 images and videos of Grande on Instagram even though the company did not own the rights to them.
- The captions in such social media posts also featured lyrics to Grande’s songs.
- Both instances amount to Forever 21 misappropriating Grande’s name, image, likeness and music in order to create the false perception of her endorsement, the lawsuit says.
Forever 21 declined to comment.
The Details: In early 2019, the complaint says, Grande declined an endorsement deal with Forever 21 because the company wouldn’t pay “fair market value.” Instead of paying Grande, the lawsuit says, Forever 21 launched a “misleading campaign” to suggest that Grande had endorsed the company when she had not.
Grande is also suing Riley Rose, the beauty company started by the daughters of Forever 21’s founders.
Key Background: It’s been a rocky year for Forever 21, which is privately owned and may file for bankruptcy amid plummeting sales. According to Forbes, married founders Do Won and Jin Sook Chang are worth $1.5 billion.
Further Reading: Here’s the full complaint.


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New York: The year 2015 witnessed consumers increasing adopting various digital payments options. Cardholders across the globe are asking issuers and retailers to provide real-life, ready –to-use mobile payments
choices backed by social media comments that doubled in just a year, according to a new study.
Supporting this increased interest was a continued positive sentiment about mobile payments technology, continuing a two-year trend. These are the finding from annual MasterCard Mobile Payments study
in partnership with PRIME Research.
The study tracked 2 million global social media posts about mobile payments across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Forums, Google+ and YouTube, up from 85,000 posts in 2012
“As more choices are made available to them, the conversation has evolved and consumers seem to be fully embracing the next generation of payments,” said Marcy Cohen, Vice President - Digital Communications, MasterCard.Expanding Payment Options Digital wallets
including Apple Pay
, Samsung Pay
, Android Pay
dominated – 97 percent – of total mobile payments conversations in 2015, centered on product launches, service improvements and how users are evaluating them.
Outside of digital wallet discussions, contactless cards (47 percent) drove conversations, followed by biometrics (33 percent), personal payments (14 percent) and wearables (6 percent).
Conversations about contactless cards focused around opening up global acceptance at public transit systems including those in London and St. Petersburg as well as availability at major sporting events around the world.
Mentions of wearables in the last quarter of 2015 were more than 30 times higher than in the first quarter of the year.Conversations Increased Globally
Digital wallets are gaining traction in social conversations
worldwide. Within the last year there was an increase in every region including: Asia Pacific (+159%), Europe (+144%), Latin America and the Caribbean (+20%), Middle East and Africa (+111%) and North America (+519%).Security Remains Key
The safety and security of mobile payments continues to drive conversations, as more consumers continue to take a positive or neutral view of the services being offered to them (94 percent). This reflects a three percentage point increase over last year and 24 points above the initial 2012 study.
In 2015, the end of passwords and biometrics were among the most engaging topics in 2015, reflected in social conversations in 163 countries around the world. Fingerprint and electrocardiogram (ECG) payments-related technology became an engaging topic for users throughout the year, while facial recognition (Selfie Pay) remained a top driver (55 percent) of biometrics-focused conversation.


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Primephonic, who joined Music Biz in 2017, has just launched their new streaming platform dedicated to delivering a specifically curated experience for Classical music fans. The service is currently available in the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The company has plans for a global roll-out beginning in 2019.
At launch, Primephonic featured over one million tracks for fans to peruse and enjoy. Catalogues include those from Warner Classics, Sony Classical, Universal Music Classics, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon and EMI, in addition to more than 400 other labels worldwide.
Creating an entire platform focused on solely Classical compositions allowed Primephonic to enhance the experience for fans of the art form. Metadata algorithms were prepared with Classical compositions in mind, so users can easily search by composer, title, artist, musical period and genre. The Primephonic team also compiled background information, including colorful anecdotes about each artist and recording.
Users have the option to compare different recordings of the same work side-by-side to and observe the evolution of music through the years. In addition, the team of classical music fans behind the service has created a variety of specially curated playlists that allow listeners to take deep-dives into obscure corners of the classical canon, including medieval compositions and minimalism.
Read the LA Times article covering Primephonic’s launch for more information.


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Shopping & Style
Nordstrom Racks up in Brooklyn
Happy shoppers just got a little happier.
According to WWD, Brooklyn’s getting its own Nordstrom Rack.
The fashion news site reports that the designer super-store will open its first location in the borough, settling into a cozy 42,000-square-foot outpost sometime in 2018. Did we say cozy...try huge.
The exact location is yet to be determined, but is part of the retailer’s latest venture – a goal of having over 230 Racks in operation in the next few years. That’s over 100 new outlets for the big-name, sitting pretty with 127 units nationwide today.
“We look for terrific shopping centers with a lot of traffic,” said a Nordstrom spokesperson. “It helps us raise our game."
With the nearest Rack in NYC’s Union Square, Brooklyn seems like a perfect fit for heavy traffic and savvy shoppers.


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Target To Open 20k SF Urban Concept Store In Bensonhurst
Target has signed a 20k SF lease for an urban concept store at 6401 18th Ave in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
Welco Realty’s Jerry Welkins repped the landlord, Alva Partnership, while Ripco Real Estate’s Jeffrey Howard repped Target. Asking rent was not disclosed.
Right now there are 32 of the urban concept stores in operation, with another 31 planned to open before 2020. The Bensonhurst store is set to open in October. [CO]


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In recent years across many sectors, consumers have been the force behind disruptive change. They don’t want poor selection or friction when trying to purchase a product or service. They want fair prices and more convenient experiences. They like using social media to make purchasing decisions. They don’t put up with organizations that treat them like a number instead of a human being with valid concerns. In the healthcare industry, technology and a consumer orientation can enable this personalized, retail-like experience.
More than 150 thought leaders across payer, provider, life sciences, healthcare technology and consumer industries recently gathered in Nashville, Tennessee, on Nov. 8 to explore opportunities and challenges in healthcare. Attendees at the fourth annual emids Healthcare Summit discussed the pressing need to improve how they attract, retain, influence and support healthcare consumers. Some discussed the tension from entities that have been at odds with each other for decades—payers and providers—and the need for everyone to get on the same page.


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After some performance throttling issues on the Apple MacBook Pro 2018 was solved, some users have reported that they are facing speaker crackling issues with the latest MacBook device. Notably, some users are experiencing crackling and distortion even in low volume. While some users have reported that these issues crop up only on using certain services like Apple Music and iTunes, others have reported that it crops up even while using YouTube or GarageBand.
As per some users, this issue may not be a software glitch and a hardware one instead so they have taken to various forums to make Apple aware of the problem. However, there has been no acknowledgment from the Cupertino based conglomerate so far.
Users have taken to forums and even Reddit to notify of this problem. Apparently, this crackling or distortion issue persists even after the latest macOS software update is uninstalled on the MacBook Pro 2018. Also, these crackling noises can also be heard on the 3.5mm headphones along with the default speakers. As per sources of Next Web, Apple is aware of this issue and is currently working to roll out a fix.
As of now, the only workable solution could be to replace the MacBook Pro 2018 with a new one. However, there is no guarantee that the new model will not have this issue. This is because one Reddit user has claimed that the problem persisted even after replacing the old model with a new one. Since Apple is known for its quality, it is quite surprising to see such a hardware issue cropping up on so many devices at the same time.
It may be recalled that Apple launched the MacBook Pro 2018 back in July. These devices now feature faster processors, 32GB of RAM and up to 4TB of inbuilt storage space. The new Apple MacBook Pro 2018 also features a new third-generation keyboard for quieter typing.


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The liquor company said in a statement, produced in Mexico and sold around the world, Corona has created a new variant that is exclusive to the Australian market, driven by the rising trend for consumers actively looking to moderate their alcohol consumption, whilst maintaining their preference for an easy drinking, premium liquid.
“Consumers are actively looking to moderate their consumption and drink better quality beer. Corona Ligera now offers consumers the chance to do this with the trusted taste and flavour profile of Australia’s most loved beer brand,” said Emily Griffiths, director of Premium Brands at Carlton & United Breweries.
“Corona Ligera will suit Australians who want to have a couple of beers at a BBQ, but still have responsibilities the next day. Equally, it would appeal to the career-minded young professionals who love a Sunday session, but are looking for a premium beer which offers moderation ahead of the start of a busy week.”
With the light, refreshing Corona style and at just 3.2 per cent ALC/VOL, Corona Ligera is lighter on the palate with subtle malt and a dry finish. The flavour is enhanced with a wedge of lime to offer a refreshing taste.
Corona said the mid-strength beer category continues to grow at a pace with market data revealing that it now accounts for more than 23 per cent of the Australian beer market. Whilst Queensland has traditionally been the mid-strength heartland of our country, NSW alone has seen 14 per cent growth in the mid-strength beer category (2016-2017). Fuelled by the growth of Carlton & United Breweries’ mid-strength portfolio, mid-strength beer has also attributed to 49 per cent more dollars nationally in category growth than full strength.
Carlton & United Breweries is actively targeting day-time consumption occasions with the new variant, as opposed to the sunset moment that Corona Extra has been synonymous with for a long period of time.
To support retail through the launch, Carlton & United Breweries is investing over $4 million in media across OOH, digital and radio to ensure Corona Ligera’s arrival to market has a substantive impact on the Australian beverage landscape.
Corona Ligera is available at all leading bottle stores and on premise venues in VIC, NSW & QLD and on April 9 in SA, NT & WA.


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Volvo V40 tops list of Britain's safest family cars
The Volvo V40 is the safest used family car for less than £15,000, according to a new study...
6. Mazda 3 (2013)
7. Mercedes-Benz A Class (2012)
8. Honda Civic (2012)
9. Mazda CX-5 (2012)
10. Fiat 500L (2014)
Matthew Avery, Director of Research at Thatcham Research said: “The key safety questions to consider when purchasing a used car are: first, what Euro NCAP rating does it have - five stars are what you should be looking for. Does it have autonomous emergency braking (AEB) fitted? And third, what other safety technology options, often found in safety packs, are available.”
The survey also led to renewed calls for used car buyers to prioritise safety when choosing their car, after it was revealed only 4% place car safety at the top of their buying criteria.
Despite this, 77% of car buyers want the car industry to be more proactive when it comes to highlighting new and used vehicle safety features and 79% describe car safety as very important when buying a car.
The survey also revealed the top 10 car buying considerations for used car buyers are:
- Value for money
- Fuel economy
The survey further revealed that 68% of potential buyers have no idea what the safety rating of their own car is, and 54% did not ask any questions about safety features such as AEB, Lane Keep Assist and Blind Spot Detection.
According to Thatcham Research - partner’s in What Car?’s new car Safety Award - the confusion stems from a rise in safety jargon.
As a result it is leading calls for a motoring equivalent of the ‘homebuyers report’ for car safety. In the survey 63% of potential buyers said they want clear safety information included in all car documentation at the point of purchase.
The survey revealed that the following terms cause the most confusion.
- AEB systems (Automatic Emergency Braking) 77% confused by phrase
- ESC (electronic stability control) 73%
- Collision Mitigation System (collision warning alarm) 71%
- ISOFIX (attachment clips for child safety seats) 60%
- Fatigue Detection (drowsiness alarms) 59%


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Electronic Arts has announced a partnership with shoemaker Adidas to promote Need for Speed: The Run. Adidas has provided the shoes protagonist Jack wears when he gets out of his car to dash through quick-time event sequences, the new “Need for Speed: The Run Top X,” and you can wear them too. Adidas will be selling the exclusive and limited edition Need for Speed branded merchandise in their retail locations soon.
The first fifty pairs of the shoes went on sale today at the Adidas flagship store in Chicago with an event to celebrate the launch at the store this coming Wednesday. Future events are planned for San Francisco (October 27th) and New York (November 15th) leading to the release of the game.
Need for Speed: The Run. Get it? Marketers are sooooo clever.


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Want to join the conversation?
$ADP's Opex increased 9% for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015. Opex include PEO Services pass-through costs. These pass-through costs were $671.8MM for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Selling, general and administrative expenses grew 4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016.
I haven’t seen a drop in banks like this in a long time. Looks like $WFC is still facing pressures from its sales practices scandal..!!
Helping President-elect's America first focus, $WMT set to create 10,000 retail jobs in the US in 2017.
Looks like Trump has his eyes on the $MON and Bayer merger next. He had a meeting with the CEOs and apparently got job promises from them.


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ATLANTA Royal Caribbean has launched a review for its interactive account, which sources have placed around $5 million. The client said the process is closed and limited to a select number of agencies, which it declined to identify.
Sources said about five i-shops are in pursuit, including the incumbent, Havas' Arnold in Boston. A decision is expected in the second quarter.
Barbara Shrut, vice president of e-marketing at the client in Miami, said she is "engaged in looking at new options for plans within our existing agency and a handful of other interactive shops we have selected." She did not elaborate.
She stressed that Royal Caribbean's ad account, also held by Arnold, is not in play. The client spent more than $60 million on ads through the first 10 months of 2003, per TNS Media Intelligence/CMR.


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COMPTON, Calif. -- Kroger-owned Ralphs Grocery Co., based here, is drawing fire in the press and the courts, as its plans to close 16 Northern California stores because of declining sales attracted vitriol from local labor groups, and it pleaded not guilty to charges of labor fraud.
The stores are scheduled to close in 60 days, according to Ralphs. The locations include Auburn, Capitola, Del Rey Oaks, Elk Grove, Freedom, Napa, Sacramento, Roseville, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma. Ralphs said it is in the process of looking for "suitable tenants" for the stores.
"These stores have been unprofitable for a lengthy period of time," Ralphs spokesman Terry O'Neil told the Santa Cruz, Calif. Sentinel. "We recently went through a review of the operations of all our supermarkets in the state of California, and in the review the decision was made to close these 10 stores based on their lengthy record of unprofitability."
Most of grocer's more than 300 stores are in Southern California, along with its headquarters. The company entered Northern California in the late 1990s, after acquiring stores there following the Albertsons Inc./American Stores Co. merger.
Ralphs has not yet disclosed whether employees would receive severance pay or which companies are currently interested in buying the stores.
Meanwhile, local labor officials responded defensively. "We are disappointed by Kroger's decision to minimize their presence in this market," said Jacques Loveall, president of UFCW 588-Northern California, which represents 30,000 members, in a statement. Noting that Ralphs' collective bargaining agreement requires the retailer to meet with the union and negotiate the impact of the closures, Loveall added, "We will ensure that our members will get all that they're entitled to."
Ralphs' plea of not guilty, meanwhile, was filed in federal court in Los Angeles, where the chain was arraigned on charges that it hired locked-out workers during the nearly five-month Southern California grocery strike, which began in 2003. The 53-count federal indictment returned in December against Ralphs includes identity fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. If found guilty on all counts, the company could end up paying $200 million in fines and back wages. The next court date was set for March 6.
According to a report from Reuters, prosecutors said yesterday that their investigation into Ralphs was continuing, and that additional indictments might be forthcoming. The indictment accused Ralphs of falsifying thousands of employment records, including employee income tax statements. Kroger has disputed the charge that it had sanctioned the illegal hiring of workers.


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China and Taiwan TV panel competition increasing as new panel sizes are produced
Rebecca Kuo, Tainan; Alex Wolfgram, DIGITIMES
LCD TV competition will be heating up this summer as China-based panel manufacturers such as China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT) will be producing new TV panel sizes in order to compete more with Taiwan-based manufacturers such as AU Optronics...
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Country’s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd reported a quarterly loss for the first time since its listing in 2003. As the coronavirus lockdown and supply chain disruptions bruised sales for the automaker, sending its shares down as much as 2.5%.
Maruti, India’s largest automaker by market capitalization, logged a net loss of 2.49 billion rupees ($33.30 million) for the three months ended June 30, compared with a profit of 14.36 billion rupees a year ago.
The loss at Maruti, controlled by Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp, comes days after its peers Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan Motor forecast record losses.
India went under a lockdown for over two months beginning late March, as the government scrambled to curb the spread of the coronavirus, forcing several automakers to suspend manufacturing.
While most companies have restarted production, showrooms continue to see lower footfalls and automakers are still waiting for signs of a return in demand.
Also Read: Maruti Suzuki to recall Baleno and WagonR models over faulty parts
Maruti said it saw no production and sales for most of the quarter, in compliance with the government-stipulated lockdown.
Maruti’s unit sales dropped 81% year-on-year to 76,599 vehicles, but it said the numbers were not comparable, as it had to suspend operations from March 22 due to the lockdown.


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Partners' News: NHS creating renewable energy
Monday 24th February 2020
A NHS Trust that provides a range of inpatient and community services is doing its bit for the environment and creating renewable energy to charge electric cars.
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) has fitted solar panels in various locations throughout its sites, along with other energy saving measures in a bid to be more environmentally friendly.
Solar panels have recently been installed alongside electric vehicle charging points using electricity generated to charge vehicles. The first of these car charging facilities is located at the Trust’s Tickhill Road Site in Doncaster.
Electric cars can be easily and conveniently charged using a mobile phone to access a pay-to-charge facility costing 16p per kilowatt/hour. This is the cost that the Trust pays on average for electricity and covers the cost for days when the solar power generated is low.
Paul Barratt, Head of Estates and Facilities said: “The Trust is proactive in looking at ways to reduce its carbon footprint. We have previously fitted charging facilities for electric vehicles within the Trusts fleet. However, with the increase in the use of electric vehicles we have now fitted chargers on the Tickhill Road Site.
One huge benefit of having the solar panels and the charging facilities is the positive impact it will have on the environment as more people want to charge their electric cars.”
The Trust is also looking to introduce more electric vehicle charging points to its sites across Doncaster and also in Rotherham and Scunthorpe.


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Georgia jury orders Chrysler to pay US$150M in 2012 jeep crash death
Case involves a Jeep Grand Cherokee built in 1999 with its gas tank mounted behind the rear axle
NEW YORK—A jury in Georgia has awarded $150 million to the family of a 4-year-old boy killed when a Jeep Grand Cherokee caught fire after a crash.
Jurors in Decatur County ruled that Chrysler acted with reckless disregard for human life in selling the boy’s family a 1999 Jeep with a gas tank mounted behind the rear axle.
Remington Walden, of Bainbridge, G.a., was killed when the Jeep driven by his aunt was hit from behind by a pickup truck in March 2012. The fuel tank leaked, engulfing the Jeep in flames and killing the boy.
Jurors ruled after a seven-day trial that Chrysler was 99 per cent at fault for the crash and the pickup driver was 1 per cent at fault.
Mike Palese, spokesman for Chrysler parent company FCA US, said the company is disappointed with the verdict and would appeal it. Chrysler, he said, was prevented from presenting data submitted to federal safety regulators showing that the vehicles did not pose an unreasonable safety risk.
“The vehicles are not defective,” Palese said.


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Hoteliers Confront Greater Supply, Less Demand
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Mike Moliterno, general manager of the Holiday Inn-Boardman, is frank about the local hotel industry.
“We’re holding our own,” he says, as he notes that anyone in the business who says it isn’t “a little bit challenging” is holding back.
“We try to be very active sales-wise and we’ve done a good job of doing that and brought in a lot of group business,” he says. “Things aren’t ideal but I think we’ve done pretty well.
“We’re still pretty good for the summer,” Moliterno continues. “We always need to be on our game every day but probably it’s more important now than ever, and the consumer benefits from some tighter pricing than a couple of years ago.”
There is less demand for rooms and a greater supply resulting from many openings of new properties in recent years, he notes. “Obviously we had some great years with the oil and gas business and that’s not around now.”
Total inventory in Mahoning County is 2,304 rooms, which includes bed-and-breakfast inns and smaller hotels. Major or flagship hotels represent 1,888 rooms, says Linda Macala, executive director of the Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Hotel openings in recent years added more than 400 rooms to the number available in the county. Among them are Candlewood Suites in Austintown, which opened in September 2014, adding 77 rooms, and Best Western Plus in Boardman, which added 67 rooms in February 2015. Two more properties opened last June – Courtyard by Marriott in Canfield adding 110 rooms and Holiday Inn Express-Salem (on land in Mahoning County), which added 71. California Palms, which reopened in April 2015 in Austintown, added 100 rooms, Macala says.
Receipts from the county bed tax totaled $1.66 million in 2015, compared with $1.64 million in 2014, Macala says. “Based on bed tax collections over the last three years, I can say that demand in our area has remained very steady,” she says.
“We remain optimistic for modest growth in 2016. Of course, any time a new property is built, that means more competition for existing hotels.”
Home2 Suites by Hilton, an extended-stay property, is under construction in Austintown and will bring another 87 rooms with its anticipated opening at the end of the year. Work is expected to begin soon on the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in the Stambaugh Building in downtown Youngstown.
At the Courtyard by Marriot in Canfield, booking activity is “very good” overall, reports Katie Betts, director of sales. “We have a lot of wedding groups in house this summer and all the way into the beginning of November,” she says. So far, 10 weekends are sold out. While weddings drive the weekend traffic, business-related activity drives bookings during the week.
“You never know [what response will be] with a new property and we’re not the only hotel here,” Betts notes.
- Lynne Biery, owner of the Sebring Mansion Inn & Spa in Sebring, reports business so far this year is better than last, but “not markedly. We’ve noticed an uptick every year,” she observe. “Of course, the more media coverage we get, we pick up more bookings.”
Because the property is “off the beaten path,” market saturation isn’t an issue. “We sit close to the borders of Columbiana County, Portage County and Stark County, so we’re pulling from all of those counties,” Biery says.
Biery expects the proposed downtown Youngstown hotel to fill unmet demand in that market. She attended the recent Elton John concert at the Covelli Centre downtown and ended up staying at a Holiday Inn on the outskirts of the city. “It would have been nice to park and just go the hotel there,” she remarks.
At the Comfort Suites Youngstown North in Girard, bookings have improved since its opening in February, says general manager Renee Ryan. “The needle is moving steadily but slowly. Things are going in the right direction.”
At the Fairfield Inn Warren-Niles, general manager Phil Mays reports sales this spring are down year-over-year. “Other hotels are showing the same trend,” he says, as reflected in the Smith Travel Accommodations Report, known in the industry as Star. He attributes the drop in part to the economy.
“Additionally, the Northeast in general had a boost last year with the weather, and this year we’re not seeing weather-related stays that we saw last year,” he says.
Mays acknowledges the possibility of seeing bookings related to this summer’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland. “As far as being an outlying tertiary market, we are not seeing that activity yet, but I anticipate last-minute bookings,” he says.
So far, Stephanie Sferra, executive director of the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau, says she hasn’t heard a sound from local hotel operators regarding business resulting from the GOP convention. “The hoteliers I’ve spoken to have not said a word,” she says.
Unlike in Mahoning County, where concern has been expressed about market saturation, the Trumbull County hospitality market is “regaining what we lost,” Sferra reports.
“When you’re looking at the hotel rooms that went away with the MetroPlex or with the Ramada Inn, you’re talking close to 300 rooms,” she continues. “With the new Residence Inn and the new Comfort Suites that just came online, and with the Hampton Inn that’s due to open at the end of the year, we won’t even reach what we lost, but we’re getting there.”
Trumbull County collections from the bed tax totaled $852,569 in 2015, up more than $50,000 from $801,867 in 2014.
The properties that opened or about to open in Trumbull County provide brand-loyal visitors with “a cross selection of brands” that the county hasn’t had for a while, Sferra says.
Some hotels, such as the Residence Inn in Niles, report occupancy around 90%, while the Hampton Inn on Belmont Avenue reports around 75%, she says.
“It varies. It varies by who they’re attracting. It varies by who they have contracts with,” she points out. “The Residence Inn had a contract with General Motors for the engineers that came to retool the Cruze. That resulted in 6,000 room nights over the past year. That was a lot of rooms.”
The Avalon Inn in Howland is in the midst of a three-phase renovation and expansion project. Phase 1, which involved remodeling guest rooms and the addition of a new swimming pool, is nearly complete. Phase 2, an addition to the east side of the hotel, should be finished in a month, Jeff Shaffer says. Shaffer is membership director at Avalon Golf and Country Club, an affiliated property.
Phase 3 consists of another addition to the building that will offer a Roman bath and an outdoor pool. It could get underway this fall. “When these three phases are done,” Shaffer promises, “this resort will rival any of the fine resorts that you’ve been to.”
The Trumbull visitors’ bureau never removed the Avalon Inn’s room numbers from the county’s total of available rooms because the hotel remained open during the renovation, Sferra says. In late April, the property offered 111 of the 132 rooms it will have available once the guest rooms are renovated.
The Avalon Inn offers a conference center, which fills another need for the county, at least partially. “We haven’t been able to sell to small meetings and business conferences because we haven’t had the infrastructure,” Sferra says. “With the new conference center coming on at Eastwood Mall, we’ll answer some of those requests, plus the Comfort Suites on Belmont eventually will have a conference center.”
Requests for proposals for the Eastwood Event Centre at the Eastwood Mall Complex have been sent to parties that expressed interest in operating the 30,000-square-foot property, reports Joe Bell, spokesman for the Cafaro Co., which owns and operates the mall complex.
“We expect to award a contract to a qualified operator and build out the facility this year,” he says. “Conservatively speaking, it should be available for public booking by early 2017.”
Pictured: Home2 Suites by Hilton, an extended-stay property, is under construction on Interstate Drive in Austintown.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.


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Support for expansion into Asia is new Sydney Chinatown co-working space, Haymarket HQ's point of difference.
The 650sq m space in the heart of Chinatown at 63 Dixon Street, launched on Tuesday and supported by City of Sydney council and Greater Sydney Commission chief commissioner Lucy Turnbull, will provide co-working space for startups to rival those of newly launched WeWork in Martin Place and Fishburners in Ultimo.
Except that it does it differently.
Haymarket HQ mainly accepts startups with an "Asian growth ambition", founder and developer Banna Property Group's Brad Chan said.
"We will provide local companies with information about Asia so that instead of having to fly to China, you come here as a first step," he said.
The co-work space will not only provide startups with a desk and amenities, it will also provide a panel of Chinese-Australian mentors who have first hand experience in working in China, including Aus-China conference organiser Basis Point's David Chin, Airtasker's Tim Fung and Chinese language communication consultancy China Ambition's Melissa Ran.
Mr Chan said the space should attract innovative businesses in tourism, "edutech" and even the e-commerce "daigou" or personal shopping industry.
Mr Chan's family, through Banna Property, owns the building at 63 Dixon Street and until recently the building's second floor, where the co-working space is located, was provided to a Chinese community group gratis.
The space, which will now charges competitive rates of $300 a month for a part-time 12-day desk or $450 a month for a full-desk, will remain not-for-profit, Mr Chan said.
In comparison, Fishburners, around the corner from Haymarket HQ charges $375 a desk for two desks.
"The co-working space is what makes the Sydney economy interesting... we encourage the ecosystem," Ms Turnbull, who attended the launch, said.
The City of Sydney has the same opinion.
"It is very appropriate to put a co-working space here especially because [Australia's] largest trading partner is China, a huge market to tap into," Councillor Robert Kok who also attended the launch said.
Haymarket HQ's proximity to a major university, University of Technology Sydney, is good reason for its launch, Mr Kok said. Additionally, the space will be a breeding ground for ideas from many young Asian students studying in the area.
The biggest endorsement comes from startup Snappr's Joe Soerjoko, who said there was insufficient support in Australia for companies who would like to move into Asia.
"You see America and UK doing it, why isn't Australia doing more business in Asia? Australia needs to pick up its game," Mr Soerjoko said.
"Not a lot of Australian corporates do business in Asia, I think it is about 10 per cent. One element of it is that Australians are very risk averse in Asia. We want to invest in Asia but the banks here say, "no,no, no", you want to stay here."
In order to tap into the network-rich Asian business community, mentoring from Haymarket HQ would be crucial, Mr Soerjoko added.
Snappr, where Mr Soerjoko works, is the "UBER" of freelance photography and matches clients with freelance photographers at cheaper rate. Clients can book time-slots on the Snappr online platform.
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A new study shows that of the total investments made by African-Americans in cryptocurrency, a majority were invested of between $500 and $10,000. The report also found that nearly half of all investors had never used Bitcoin before. Experts believe this means there is still potential for massive growth in the market with more awareness among black people.
The “top african cryptocurrencies” is a study that was released by the University of Pennsylvania. The study shows that African-Americans are leading cryptocurrency investments.
The University of Chicago performed a study of 1004 young individuals (aged 18-29) and discovered that around 34% of traders were persons of color who had actively acquired cryptocurrency in the previous 12 months.
African-Americans and their interest in cryptocurrency
Many African-Americans have delved into the realm of cryptocurrencies in pursuit of wealth-generating opportunities and a break from conventional banking methods.
According to a McKinsey & Co report, many African-American families were neglected by US banks and had extra challenges in obtaining basic services such as banking. The research also emphasizes the widening wealth disparity, which shows that the wealth of an average white family is 10 times that of an African-American family (net worth around $171,000). (about $17,600)
African-Americans are reportedly utilizing Bitcoin after being excluded from standard banking techniques, according to Ramona Ortega, CEO of My Money, My Future. Even unbanked individuals of color can register a crypto wallet and send payments online using Bitcoin low-fee debit cards like Bitpay or Paxful, thanks to the burgeoning cryptocurrency ecosystem.
“When we look back at how wealth is created in this country, so many of those chances were either not accessible to us at the time or were taken away by regulation and redlining,” Ortega said.
Unlike other currencies, Bitcoin is a one-of-a-kind decentralized digital asset that processes transactions without the need of a middleman. The currency is based on a customized blockchain network, which functions as a digital ledger that accurately records the facts of each transaction.
The cryptocurrency maintains a high price valuation and is especially appealing to investors because of its limited supply. The digital asset’s current market worth is $60,689 due to its scarcity (there are 21 million Bitcoins in total, of which 18.77 million have been produced) (as of October 2021).
Despite its high volatility, Bitcoin has broken several price records and continues to be the finest investment option for many new and experienced investors.
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African-Americans are leading cryptocurrency investments, study shows. The “cardano africa” is a cryptocurrency that has been growing in popularity in Africa.
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Ed note: James to insert photos when ready; use hed below for ewsletter.
Slug: Eye Candy
Hed: Arty Party
The veteran makeup artist and entrepreneur, as well as Westman Atelier cofounder and husband David Neville, hosted an intimate but lively bash to celebrate the launch of Westman Atelier’s latest mascara, Eye Want You, $45, which launched in September. Attendees didn’t include influencers or press – solely makeup artists —coming off of New York Fashion Week.
“I really respect the work that goes into this industry,” Westman said of her makeup artist peers. “You often have to miss important engagements, and as you’re working, you’re afraid to miss an important job. It’s really nice to be able to celebrate them tonight.”
Attendees including Romy Soleimani, Hung Vanngo and Lisa Aharon, among others. Aharon said the new launch jibed well with the trends she’s seeing crop up on the market. “There’s a shift back into more natural-looking makeup,” the Wall Group-repped makeup artist said. “Whether that be the shades that are chosen or the amount that you’re wearing, it just seems like things are going back to a fresher face.”
The launch comes at a time of growth for Westman Atelier, which debuted skin care earlier this year. At that time, the brand was predicted to reach $100 million in retail sales in 2023, per industry sources. “It’s interesting to be an independent company amongst a sea of big, large, global brands,” Neville said. “We’re doing an incredible job competing and winning.”
That winning strategy, Westman said while holding a toast, starts with product quality and performance. “Performance has to be paramount. It’s much harder to do it the way we do it – being not only clean, but having active ingredients that are always at efficacy levels,” she said. “After almost three decades of being a makeup artist and being exposed to so many products, I wouldn’t compromise, and having you all here to give your stamp of approval is very special.”


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ARLINGTON, VA. — The Consumer Brands Association has hired Ellen Davis as its new executive vice-president of industry engagement. Ms. Davis has worked in consumer-driven industries for decades, having previously served as senior vice-president at the National Retail Federation and as president of the NRF Foundation.
Ms. Davis, who is widely viewed as the inventor of the term “Cyber Monday,” has engineered transformative programs while president of the NRF Foundation. She spearheaded the RISE Up program, a career training initiative for those in retail, which has trained 75,000 people since launching in 2017. She also launched the NRF Foundation Honors, which has raised $15 million since 2015 to support the foundation’s agenda.
In her new role, Ms. Davis will manage the C.B.A.’s membership, events and education.
“The opportunities for the Consumer Brands Association to provide real value for its membership are endless, and I’m thrilled to be a part of making c.p.g.’s presence here in Washington and around the country equal to the industry’s profound impact,” Ms. Davis said.
Ms. Davis will officially be installed at the association on March 2.


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Verizon already owns a controlling share of Verizon Wireless, so gaining 100 percent ownership of the venture won't fundamentally alter the competitive landscape of the wireless industry, experts say.
Harold Feld, senior vice president for Public Knowledge and a vocal critic of telecommunications industry consolidation, agreed that the deal is likely to receive swift regulatory approval.
In a blog post, he explained that the companies will need to receive approval from the Federal Communications Commission, but he said to think of the process "more like a change of address notification than as a full on application."
Silva noted that unlike the purchase of Sprint by Japanese firm Softbank, the Verizon-Vodafone deal will result in less foreign ownership of the telecommunications industry. Several lawmakers expressed concern about a foreign firm buying Sprint, but an interagency committee ultimately cleared the deal of national security concerns.
Silva predicted that some groups could try to use the regulatory review of the Verizon deal to push their own policy goals.
"Any time there's a big transaction, there's enough attention to it that you could see entities come out of the woodwork to try to leverage their agendas," he said. "Typically, it's more for the exposure or the [public relations] effect."


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October 7, 2020
During a Farm Progress Virtual Experience breakout, Nathan Faleide with AgIntegrated shared that on any given day, a farmer could probably get 12 different images of his fields from a range of satellite or aerial services.
That’s a lot of imagery, but the challenge is then to pull that into something you can use on the farm. Syngenta is working to make satellite imagery a useful tool for your operation.
In 2018, Syngenta acquired the cloud-based satellite imagery service FarmShots. The service was added into the company’s growing digital portfolio. Many farmers may not know that Syngenta has built an extended digital management platform and is working to enhance that.
AgriEdge is the platform, and participants in this farm management service can get access to satellite imagery for their fields from FarmShots as an added service, says Peyton Merriam, marketing lead, Syngenta. But Merriam explains there are other ways farmers will now be able to access this imagery service.
“They can get it through their AgriEdge account, but dealers will also be able to offer the service,” he says. “We are offering this platform as a white-label service to our retail partners.”
What that means is that you could be seeing an offer from your dealer for satellite imagery and crop managing tools, but it won’t say FarmShots or Syngenta — instead it might say “Jones Farm Supply” at the top.
“We allow the dealer to maintain that identity through the site,” Merriam explains. “It will be a broad-based offering for dealers in 2021.”
Adds Shane Taylor, marketing manager: “I’m not aware of any other service that’s offering this white-label service to their retail partners. For the retailer, we’re providing the opportunity to add value to their customers.”
Images and interaction
The FarmShots system provides regular 10-meter imagery. Merriam says that higher-resolution imagery is available for an added fee if a farmer wants to get closer to the action.
However, with 10-meter imagery and Normalized Vegetative Difference Index imagery, the service can be used to observe crop changes during the year. It can also be used to help focus scouting activity.
Since the service is cloud-based, it can be used on a smartphone, too. Merriam explains that a farmer, or agronomist, can spot a field challenge and put a pin in that location. This can help drive the scout to the right location.
While FarmShots has been available for some time, Syngenta is working to add enhancements, including automated alerts based on those NDVI images. “Getting an alert on which specific fields have changed, so that you’re not having to spend all that time digging through all those images. We’re working on ways to help make this less of a time-consuming process,” he says.
Dealers can elect to offer the service, but Merriam notes that some may opt to use the FarmShots platform themselves to enhance work they do for customers. The system can enhance scouting precision — which may be what customers want, more than access to imagery themselves. For many farmers, the satellite image is a trigger to reach out to that trusted adviser for action. In this case, the trusted adviser has the image and can suggest actions.
Under the radar
As noted, Syngenta’s work in aerial imagery and farm management software may be a surprise to many.
Another area of aerial imagery where the company is pioneering new approaches is with Sony and high-end drone imagery. The Sony imaging system is precise and includes tools to counter for changing light conditions during photography.
These images, if a dealer is taking part, can be added to FarmShots as an extra service. “It’s interesting when we do start providing this to customers, or when we get new employees coming in, that where I hear ‘I’ve been in the industry 15 years, and I didn’t have a clue you guys have this stuff,’” Merriam says. “We’re in the infancy of our digital ag solutions team.”
Taylor adds that Syngenta remains conservative in its digital approach, working to grow the business. But going into 2021, farmers are likely to hear more. Learn more about FarmShots at farmshots.com.
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Will the future’s super batteries be made of seawater?
We all know the rechargeable and efficient lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries sitting in our smartphones, laptops and also in electric cars. Unfortunately, lithium is a limited resource, so it will be a challenge to satisfy the worlds’ growing demand for relatively cheap batteries. Therefore, researchers are now looking for alternatives to the Li-ion battery. A […]


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LOS ANGELES (AP) Los Angeles has moved to decriminalize street vending but stopped short of granting amnesty to those convicted under current law.
The City Council unanimously voted Wednesday to remove criminal penalties for those who push hot dogs, fruit and other items from carts. Vendors now face only tickets and civil fines while the city works out a system for legalizing them.
Meanwhile, it remains a misdemeanor to sell food and goods at any time on all 10,750 miles of public sidewalks. LA is the only major U.S. city to completely ban such vending.
Critics say many of the estimated 20,000 sidewalk vendors are believed to be in the U.S. illegally and convicting them of a crime raises their chances of deportation. They fear an immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump.


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The European Commission is launching a public consultation on a possible programme to allow the tax administrations of EU Member States to resolve together, in a preventive manner, cross-border tax issues faced by small and medium enterprises operating within the EU.
On 28 May, the EU’s new Fiscalis programme for 2021-2027 entered into force, following publication of the legal text in the Official Journal of the European Union.
On 1 May 2021, the European Commission Directorate General for Taxation and Customs (TAXUD) launched a new CusTax EU Learning Portal for tax and customs professionals. Capitalising on the opportunities of online learning, the Portal aims to build common expertise and improve professional skills among EU Economic Operators and their Customs representatives.
Mehrwertsteuerausschuss der Europäischen Kommission
On 19 April 2021, the Commission decided to extend the temporary waiver of customs duties and Value-Added Tax (VAT) on imports from non-EU countries of medical devices and protective equipment used in the fight against COVID-19.
On 12 April 2021, the Commission proposed to exempt from Value-Added Tax (VAT) goods and services made available by EU bodies and agencies to Member States and citizens during times of crisis. The initiative will maximise the efficiency of EU funds used in the public interest to respond to crises, such as natural disasters and public health emergencies. It will also strengthen EU-level disaster and crisis management bodies, such as those falling under the EU’s Health Union and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Mehrwertsteuerausschuss der europäischen Kommission veröffentlicht neue Leitlinien
From 1 July 2021, the EU will introduce new VAT e-commerce rules to ensure fair competition for EU businesses and reduce VAT losses resulting from the importation of low value consignments (i.e. goods with a value not exceeding EUR 22) from third countries.
On 18 December, the Commission adopted a proposal to put in place a new decision-making process to create more certainty around certain VAT rules, leading to less red-tape and reducing costs of cross-border business for EU companies.


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Farming internships are all the rage these days among ag-department graduates, career-changers, and even cooks looking to deepen their knowledge of ingredients.
McDonald’s bombed big time in a recent Consumer Reports survey of burger chains. Five Guys and In-N-Out Burger topped the list.
Frito-Lay is now using all-electric trucks in its delivery fleet. It has started with five and plans to add 176 more by 2011.
Heart is the latest “it” ingredient, cropping up on menus around the country. Mario Batali features it on the menu at Manzo Ristorante in Eataly.
[Nation’s Restaurant News]
TMI Food Group, an Asian noodles and dumplings manufacturer in Bushwick, plans to add some 30 jobs and expand production to meet growing demand.


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The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City released the March Manufacturing Survey this week for its Tenth district that includes Oklahoma and showed manufacturing activity grew solidly compared to a month ago and a year ago.
Chad Wilkerson, vice president and economist at the bank said the survey results indicate positive expectations for future activity.
“Regional factories continued to report solid growth in March,” said Wilkerson. “Materials prices remain extremely high for most firms. However, many manufacturers have been able to pass through at least a portion of the price increases on to customers.”
The survey found that the growth was driven more by durable goods plants for primary metals, machinery, transportation equipment, furniture, and miscellaneous manufacturing.
Month-over-month indexes for shipments, new orders, and order backlog expanded at a faster pace in March and supplier delivery time was very high as well. Growth in production and employment remained positive, but slightly slower than in recent months.
Materials inventories were positive while finished goods inventories dipped further from a month ago. Year-over-year factory indexes rose in March, and business conditions are now comparable to levels at the start of the pandemic last year.
The survey also show that while the year-over-year index increased, new orders for exports and finished goods inventories continued to lag year-ago levels.


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September 23, 2013
Report from the 'War on Coal'
A major project has been quietly underway, within the executive branch of the U.S. government, trying to calculate a "social cost of carbon" (SCC) -- a so-called "non-market externality" (i. e., not captured by the normal price system of a free market). This calculated cost would then be imposed on all government programs in order to "fix" the price system -- so they say. The SCC report was published in May 2013, with little fanfare; public comments had to be submitted by Sept. 16. But this whole misconceived exercise has no valid scientific basis and can destroy the supply of low-cost, reliable electric power. It is certain to face legal challenges from industry and informed consumer groups; it should be abandoned. Even the terminology is confusing. The interagency SCC group, made up of the top brains from about a dozen departments, cannot even define their terms properly. What they label "cost" is the damage (disbenefit) of a hypothesized...(Read Full Article)


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Latest news about Bitcoin and all cryptocurrencies. Your daily crypto news habit.
On 25 September, crypto platform Mixin Network announced that hackers attacked its cloud service provider, leading to an approximately $200 million loss. The company revealed that the 23 September incident has forced it to (temporarily) suspend deposits and withdrawals.
The platform explained that it would reopen the suspended services after confirming & fixing the vulnerabilities. It added that transfers will remain unaltered during the assessment period.
Mixin chief Feng Xiaodong will highlight the event on 25 September at 13:00 Hong Kong time in public Mandarin. Further, the team will explain how users can deal with their lost assets afterward. Meanwhile, blockchain security firm SlowMist will help in the investigation.
Mixin Network is a decentralized P2P transactional platform for crypto undertakings, supporting 48 public chains. It has assets surpassing $1B in value.
Mixin token XIN reacted to the hacking news with a sharp decline early on Monday. The alt lost around 10% to trade at $195.
Source – Coinmarketcap
XIN’s bearishness matches the broad market outlook. Bitcoin has painted its price charts red. The bellwether crypto lost 2.36% and 1.93% over the past week and 24 hours, respectively. Also, it dropped 0.32% on its 1-hour chart.
Other related news
Fraudsters continue to create havoc in the crypto sector. NFT platform OpenSea has cautioned its users about a security breach on one of its vendors. The marketplace explained that the incident may not have immediate effects on users. Nonetheless, it potentially exposes customers’ API keys.
Application programming interface keys are codes for identifying a user or application in computer app authentication. OpenSea’s API allows developers to capitalize on the network’s data and create experiences using non-fungible tokens.
OpenSea advised users to denounce and immediately replace their current keys with newly made options with similar rate limits and permissions. The NFT company confirmed that the existing API keys will expire on 2 October.
The post Mixin Network halts deposits and withdrawals following $200M hack appeared first on Invezz.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the views of Bitcoin Insider. Every investment and trading move involves risk - this is especially true for cryptocurrencies given their volatility. We strongly advise our readers to conduct their own research when making a decision.


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>> Socialista may have been a fashion week hot spot earlier this month, but something not so hot went down. Turns out one of the bartenders was infected with Hepatitis A, and health officials are warning anyone who visited the establishment Feb. 7, 8, or 11 — i.e. right at the tail end of fashion week — to get vaccinated.
Those who attended fashion week events at Socialista early on in the week — Nicole Miller (Feb. 1), Miss Sixty dinner party (Feb. 3), Betsey Johnson (Feb. 4), Matthew Williamson (Feb. 5), or the Phillip Lim party (Feb. 6) lucked out — but those who attended the Tony Melillo showing on Feb. 8 are not so lucky. Roberto Cavalli and Francois-Henri Pinault, head of the Gucci Group, who both attended Ashton Kutcher's birthday celebration at Socialista on Feb. 7, also not so lucky.
This is one fashion trend that I hope doesn't catch on . . .


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BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have been tasked with new challenges like finding employees, supply shortages and rising prices.
Now, they are facing another struggle: supply trucks not making deliveries.
The owner of Rockstar Pizza in Brownsburg noticed the problem last year. Since then, Ron Matthews said he's been forced to make last minutes trips just to get his supplies and ingredients in order to remain open.
“It’s always something. We can’t catch a break. We just can’t,” Matthews said, who’s owned the restaurant for about 10 years with his wife.
Last Thursday night, Matthews found out two of his supply trucks were not going to make it Friday. He was told that warehouses are short on workers to pull items and as a result, the delivery drivers are losing allotted driving time while waiting on trucks to get filled.
Knowing the weekends are his busiest days, he had no choice but to get the supplies himself by chasing down deliveries in his own vehicle.
“I could not be without the supplies, so we had to hustle up and we emptied all the cars and went out there and picked it up in increments because we couldn’t get it all in one trip,” Matthews said. “When we got there, I was kind of surprised because there were 15 people waiting. It wasn’t just me. I talked to some of the other people and they’re like, 'This is our third week having to do this.'”
Since last year, Matthews has been scrambling to get supplies and taking a hit because of the high prices.
“We’ve been able to dodge this bullet for a while now, but there is probably going to be a time when it is going to hit us,” he said.
Matthews’ wife posted on Facebook about the struggles small businesses are facing. Since then, they’ve received a lot of comments from people wanting to help and support them.
“I think the post opened a lot of our customers' eyes and their hearts,” Matthews said.
The post also shared a request for customers to be more patient when a restaurant is out of something or its prices have increased. Matthews said many times, it’s out of their control and they are dealing with a lot of hurdles just to stay open.
“I don’t know one owner or one manager that really wants to fail. They want to do the best they can for you. They are handcuffed and limited to what they can do and bring to the table,” Matthews said.
To help, Matthews moved his delivery days to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. That way, if one is late, it won’t affect his weekend business.
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What impact will Amazon have on Fairfax County?
Our latest “Connect with County Leaders” podcast is now available with Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. In the podcast, Hoskins discusses many topics, including:
- Regional economic development
- Private/public investment
- Amazon’s impact on Fairfax County


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Novato, CA–Home and garden products cataloger Smith & Hawken on June 18 named former Sharper Image chief operating officer Barry Gilbert as its CEO. He replaces Karen Barsa, who was forced out in April.
Gilbert was most recently acting CEO of Relax the Back, a retailer of back products. Before that, he was chairman/CEO of Miadora.com, a defunct jewelry online retailer. “Barry has just the background we were looking for,” said board member and search committee chair David Eisenberg in a statement. “He has the vision and breadth to continue growing our business through all four channels: stores, catalog, Internet, and furniture-to-the-trade.”


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The Entertainment Software Association has announced (via GamesIndustry.biz) that E3 2021 will be taking place and that it will occupy its traditional June slot, specifically running from June 15 to June 17, 2021.
The organizer has said it’s planning a ‘reimagined’ event for next year, though what this will involve isn’t entirely clear just yet. The ESA’s wish to do something different is not entirely surprising though, given it’s been robbed of its opportunity to ‘shake things up’ in 2020 as it had wanted and E3 itself has, in recent years, had its relevancy called into question.
Before its cancellation, this year’s show was proving particularly troublesome with Sony announcing that it wouldn’t be attending for the second time, retail and production partner iam8bit resigning and industry veteran Geoff Keighley saying that he would not be producing his E3 Coliseum event.
At the time of E3 2020’s cancellation, the ESA said it was “exploring options” to attempt to “coordinate an online experience to showcase industry announcements and news in June 2020.” At the moment, there’s no update on this digital event taking place.
Phil Spencer has, however, said on Twitter that Microsoft will be hosting some form of Xbox digital event instead and Ubisoft has also said it’s looking into some kind of digital event. Nintendo, which traditionally broadcasts a livestream for E3 announcements anyway, has said it’s “considering various ways to engage with our fans and will have more to share as the year continues.”
Meanwhile, IGN has announced it plans to host a “Summer of Gaming” event in early June 2020 with publisher partnerships that include Square Enix, Sega, 2K, Amazon, Google, Devolver Digital and THQ Nordic. The event, which should fill the gaming news hole, will include “publisher presentations with IGN pre- and post-discussions, remote developer interviews, hands-on demos and preview impressions, gameplay, and news segments recapping the biggest announcements.”
Those in mourning for E3 2020 now, at least, have something to put in the calendar for next summer.


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- November 3, 2022
- Posted by: Amos Ekow Coffie
- Categories: Banking and Finance, Economics
A Professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University, Professor Steve H. Hanke, has pegged Ghana’s inflation rate at 148%.
This is against the current inflation rate (September 2022) of 37.2%.
Reacting to President Akufo-Addo’s speech about reviving the ailing economy, the American Economist who is a hard critic of the country described the President address as “dreaming”.
In a tweet, Professor Hanke said “President Akufo-Addo says he has total confidence in his ability to save Ghana’s economy. SPOILER ALERT: he is dreaming. Today I measure Ghana’s inflation at 148 % year-on-year”.
He added that without a currency board like the Gold Coast (1913-1958), Ghana’s economy will stay in the tank.
Meanwhile, prices of some commodities, particularly, rice and cooking oil have shot up by more than 10 percent since January 1, 2022.
Prices of petroleum products have also surged by over 150% since January 1, 2022.


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Chef Ed Harris joins us with a Taco Tuesday recipe: He's on the hit cooking show "Chopped" and now Chef Ed Harris is bringing you a healthy vegan taco recipe with a side of Mexican street corn just in time for Taco Tuesday.
Rolling Out Magazine's Christal Jordan talks about Rickey Smiley's daughter being shot over the weekend.
Growing up in the Netherlands, Guido Vliegen made some sweet memories while eating stroopwafels.
Chef Ed from the hit cooking show Chopped creates healthy vegan tacos.
Real estate expert John Adams shares more on the future of Atlanta's malls and what will happen to the properties.
A Fayette County family wanted to create a business so they could all work together on something.
The legendary Morris Day talks about a special event to raise money for front line workers.
Just as Netflix replaced Blockbuster and Amazon has replaced Circuit City, the COVID-19 pandemic is hastening the death of the shopping mall by scaring shoppers away from public spaces and stores that have to be visited.
During a global pandemic, you can still save money.
ir. Whether you are underemployed or wondering if you will keep your job, it’s time to squirrel away money.
Star 94.1's Jenn Hobby talks about Kanye West announcing he's running for president.
Actor Lenny Thomas talks about the latest Tyler Perry show, Ruthless.
Dr. Neil Winawer shares the latest details about the coronavirus pandemic.
The longest-running court show on television now has a new judge front and center.
Missed Sunday brunch? No problem -- a popular Southwest Atlanta restaurant specializes in Southern-inspired brunch fare seven days a week.
Gocha Hawkins spent years as a stylist to the stars, now she's turned her attention to making delicious food in southwest Atlanta.
Beside every problem is a possibility. If the problem is there, so is the possibility. You just have to rewire your brain to see it.
Pike Nurseries shows off plants with a patriotic flair for the holiday.
If you are looking for a new recipe to try this holiday weekend the lamb burger from Ecco Buckhead may be just the thing.
The comedian and Real talk show host gets really real in her new book.


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Ant Financial’s takeover bid for MoneyGram is running into further trouble with US President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy. Ant Financial is resubmitting its application for US review of its deal to buy the money transfer service, reports Reuters. Both the companies have refiled for clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), an inter-department body which looks at acquisitions by foreign companies.
This attempt will be its third time as the maximum time of 75 days for assessing such applications nears completion.
In April, Ant Financial increased its bid to acquire MoneyGram by 36% and is now offering $18 per share in cash as opposed to its earlier bid of $13.25 per share. This pegged the deal at $1.2 billion. The companies had signed a definitive agreement in January for $880 million. In March, Kansas-based electronic payments company Euronet came forward with an unsolicited proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of MoneyGram Common Stock and Preferred Stock for $15.20.
The Euronet proposal is seen as more favorable to US lawmakers. Two members of US Congress – Kevin Yoder and Eddie Bernice Johnson – called on CFIUS for an investigation into Ant Financial’s proposal as it would allow Chinese access to the US financial infrastructure. They added that the proposed deal could also pose a significant threat to the US’ national security.
Equifax breach adds more scrutiny
The Equifax data breach earlier this month added further scrutiny on the Ant Financial-MoneyGram deal as a presidential advisory panel is considering a data theft by foreign countries as part of the review process, according to this New York Post report. The publication added that the panel used to focus on more traditional security issues.
In India, MoneyGram is an entity authorized by the Reserve Bank of India for accepting cross-border inward remittances. India is one of the large markets in the world for inward remittances.
Ant Financial’s merger with MoneyGram is also about being able to tap the 450 million registered users on Alipay (in China), and the 200 million users registered with Paytm (in India). Ant Financial initially purchased a 25% stake in One97 Communications, which operates Paytm, in February 2015. Paytm also raised an undisclosed amount in a round of funding from both Alibaba and Ant Financial in September 2015. At that time, Alibaba Group picked up a 20% stake in Paytm for about $680 million and lowered Ant Financial’s stake to 20%.


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Italian car maker Fiat revealed a new commercial for the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth, a hopped-up version of the company’s subcompact car. The spot, called “House Arrest,” stars the actor Charlie Sheen, who appears to drive a black Fiat at high speed inside his house.
If J.Lo couldn't sell Fiats, does Charlie Sheen have a chance? Chrysler Group is launching a new ad for the Fiat 500 Abarth model staring the troubled bad-boy actor and his electronic monitoring ankle bracelet. Luckily, Catrinel Men... Read Post
While we're still not allowed to talk about the Fiat 500 Abarth's performance or other qualities--don't worry, we will be soon--we can show you this new ad--pitched at the recent media launch as an alternate Super Bowl commercial th... Read Post


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- If you’re trying to live greener, a clothes dryer can be a real drag—on your electric bill! That’s why Green Living Tips offers these suggestions for amping up your dryer’s efficiency. Take a look:
Ensure your drier isn't overloaded. Air needs to circulate easily between the clothes in order for drying to be most effective.
Open a window when using the dryer. A closed up laundry gets very humid and that humid air just gets sucked into the drier; decreasing its effectiveness. If your drier has an exhaust leading to the outside; ensure that it's cleaned regularly.
Heavier items should be dried separately to light weight clothes.
Many modern clothes driers have a cool-down cycle which allows the clothes to complete drying with the remaining heat in the dryer. If you live in a dry climate, a cool cycle can be extended.
- Activists are cracking down on users of palm oil—like General Mills, Nabisco and Kellogg’s—because producing palm oil destroys tropical rainforests. Marc Gunther of Fortune reports:
The Rainforest Action Network, Greenpeace International, Friends of the Earth and the Center for Science in the Public Interest are all campaigning against palm oil. (You can find their arguments here and here and here and here.) Last week, RAN asked about 2,000 volunteers to sneak into food stores across the United States and attach stickers to products made with palm oil.
"Warning!," the stickers said. "May Contain Rainforest Destruction."
The targets of the RAN campaign are three global agricultural firms that grow or import palm oil: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM, Fortune 500), Cargill and Bunge (BG). The goal of last week's stunt was to get the attention of consumer-goods companies, who are being asked to look into their sourcing of palm oil.
"We're working our way down the food chain," explained Mike Brune, the executive director of RAN. "Most customers won't want rainforest destruction and climate change in every mouthful of cookies or crackers, so our plan is to start with the most prominent brands. Once we get some of the top brands on our side, we'll use the power of the pocketbook to convince the 'A,B,C's' (ADM, Bunge and Cargill) that destroying rainforests and increasing climate change isn't smart - for business or the planet."
- The fish you bought might be labeled as one thing, but it could be something very different. Two TEENAGERS figured this out with a little DNA testing. Alister Doyle of Reuters explains:
In the worst cases, two samples of filleted fish sold as red snapper, caught mostly off the southeast United States and in the Caribbean, were instead the endangered Acadian redfish from the North Atlantic, according to the tests, revealed on Friday.
"We never expected these results. People should get what they pay for," Kate Stoeckle, 18, told Reuters of the project with Louisa Strauss, 17.
The two classmates from New York's Trinity school collected and sent off 60 fish samples to the University of Guelph in Canada. Of 56 samples that could be identified by a four-year-old DNA identification technique, 14 were mislabeled.
In all cases, the fish was labeled as a more costly type, apparently ruling out simple chance. It was the first known student use of DNA barcoding technology in a public market.
"We really like sushi and we'd take home fish samples and put them in alcohol," Stoeckle said of fish bought in shops and restaurants in Upper Manhattan.


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Bowling Green International Festival will be in person again this year
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Representatives with the Bowling Green International Festival have announced the event will be in person again this year.
Last year, the festival was held online due to the pandemic.
Some of the online portions are still going to continue because of their success such as the online art show and some activities for kids.
But the event itself will be held downtown in Circus Square Park and will include dancers, food, venders and much more with vendors representing over 30 different countries.
The goal of the event is to bring people together and celebrate different cultures within our community.
“Just seeing all of the diversity that’s in Bowling Green come together, it’s a very unique event. It kind of feels like you’re on the streets of New York or something. There’s such a, I don’t think people are aware how much diversity we have in Bowling Green until they’re in the park and seeing it,” said Kim Mason, the executive director of the Bowling Green International Festival.
The Bowling Green International Festival will take place Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.


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Fujitsu General Back Pedals After Harvey Norman Flex Their Muscle
Fujitsu General appear to be ducking for cover after ChannelNews exposed that the Company had cut a deal to sell their products at Bunnings, a move that upset Harvey Norman management.
Bunnings sources told ChannelNews that the Company was under the impression that Fujitsu wanted to sell their air conditioners across their network in selected stores.
In a statement issued last week but not attributed to any management at the Company, Fujitsu General claimed that the Japanese air conditioning Company had entered a trading relationship with Bunnings Alexandria, NSW, effective 1 October 2017 to sell Fujitsu General wall-mounted air conditioners.
One insider said “You don’t go to the expense of setting up to sell at one Bunning store close to your biggest retailer unless you planned to roll out across several Bunning stores. The fact that they chose a store right next to a major Harvey Norman store speaks volumes about their intent”.
After the ChannelNews story appeared Fujitsu General said that the Bunning relationship will be reviewed on 31 March 2018. They also claimed that there are no current plans to expand the Fujitsu General relationship and distribution to Bunnings nationally, or any other individual stores.
In what appears to be a direct statement to appease an upset Harvey Norman the Company went on to say “Fujitsu General Australia is often presented with new opportunities to make Australia’s Favourite Air more accessible to consumers, but its first and foremost consideration in these tactical strategies is to not compromise existing relationships”.
It appears that in this case the Company was quietly trying to expand their retail sales operation via Bunnings but after our story appeared chose to quickly back pedal.
Ironically their Company statement was not issued to ChannelNews.


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The digital platform, which launches today, is a website that "celebrates" and "connects" cutting-edge ideas that are shaping the future sustainably. It aims to "inspire" and accelerate sustainable living by showcasing the work individuals and organisations are doing to operate in a more sustainable way. It will also promote initiatives of the brands involved.
On its home page, Collectively says it has launched because: "Today's media is obsessed with fear-mongering tactics, and a pervasive pessimism that would have us all believing that 'everything is f*cked, and it's all our fault,' which has had the undesirable effect of making people feel alienated and ineffectual, unable to figure out what they can do to alter the current path we're on."
There are 29 companies signed up to the project including BT, Carlsberg, Diageo, McDonalds, Microsoft, Nestlé, Nike, PepsiCo, The Dow Chemical Company and Twitter.
The concept was born out of discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos this year and presents a "unique" approach to the way businesses engage consumers on sustainability, according to a statement by Collectively.
"What makes Collectively unique is the first-of-its-kind coalition that sits behind it," said Unilever CMO Keith Weed. "Some of the world’s leading brands and multinational companies – many of who are usually keen competitors – have put aside their differences in recognition of the fact this is an issue that demands collective action."
Collectively will be updated daily by an "independent editorial team" with stories, information and "solutions" from the worlds of fashion, food, design, architecture and technology. The organisers claim it will only feature "highly engaging stories" with the "potential to create positive change".
Will Gardner VP of global marketing projects at Unilever, who has been appointed chief executive of Collectively, told Marketing: "The challenge is both an environmental and a social one – the world’s systems are approaching capacity and there are a number of very urgent global and local issues that need to be addressed.
"There’s been a lot of progress but little progress when it comes to engaging the majority and making them feel social living is important."
He added that while Collectively had not been designed to be "judgmental" on the sustainability records of the companies involved, the group had appointed an independent editorial committee of young people, journalists and sustainability experts that would ensure the "highest level of integrity" and quality of content.
It would also not be "dull" or "politicised", he said. "It’s not a classic green media channel", he continued, stressing that most of the content would be "nothing to do with brands".
The platform would be promoted on social media and through brand channels.


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Another week of tumbling spot rates – here come the 'carrot danglers'
Container spot rate indices have recorded another week of double-digit declines for Asia-Europe and transpacific ...
A very strong fourth-quarter 2020 operational update from OOCL is an indicator of the rich vein of profitability enjoyed by the liner industry since the middle of last year, despite the pandemic.
The liner barometer data released by the Hong Kong-based carrier’s parent, OOIL, reported Q4 revenue up a substantial 51.2% on the same quarter of the previous year, to $2.42bn.
Total liftings across OOCL’s four regions increased 23.7%, to 2,225,642 teu, with the transpacific up by 28.9%, to 639,034 teu, and Asia-Europe up 17.6%, to 429,144 teu.
The carrier’s smallest trade, the transatlantic, liftings improve 22.8%, to 149,687 teu, while its largest region, intra-Asia/Australasia, was ahead by 23.5%, to 1,007,777 teu.
Average revenue per teu was up an impressive 22.2% overall, to $1,089 per teu, reflecting the substantial rate increases on all but the transatlantic tradelane, where the average rate per teu was up a more modest 4%.
Over the year, OOCL’s liftings improved by an above-market 7.3% on 2019, to 7,461,941 teu, with revenue gaining 18.9% on the year, to $7.46bn.
Volumes were driven by a demand spike in the second half of the year after a sharp contraction in the first two quarters due to Covid lockdowns. But notwithstanding the enormous demand swings and subsequent e-commerce working-from-home and working-out-at-home consumer boom, OOCL’s volume growth appears to be above the industry par.
“As the market has essentially not grown, this means a substantial increase in market share,” said Lars Jensen of SeaIntelligence.
OOIL, itself a subsidiary of Cosco, reported a net profit of $102m for the first six month of 2020, including a contribution from its logistics arm. But based on its Q4 operational numbers, it is likely to see a vast increase in profits for the full year.
This will almost certainly be reflected in greatly improved results across the industry, which was estimated to have achieved a cumulative net profit of $5bn after nine months.
Meanwhile, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) has seen its comprehensive reading virtually double since last summer, recording substantial gains across most tradelanes, and no end in sight to the bull run of container lines.
Indeed, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and ONE all upgraded their profit forecasts for 2020 in the fourth quarter, after the former, for example, had issued a profit warning at the start of the pandemic.
China state-owned Cosco has big ambitions for its OOCL brand, adding to the order of five 23,000 teu ULCVs last March with a November order for an additional seven, for delivery in 2023 and 2024.
Cosco is looking over its shoulder at fourth-ranked CMA CGM’s fleet capacity of 3,022,391 teu and orderbook of 304,000 teu, compared with its own combined fleet capacity, including OOCL, of 3,039,533 teu and 276,000 teu on order.