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Pharmaceutical giant Bayer awarded MediaCom its $ 800 million global media account following a competitive review.
The WPP agency previously handled the majority of Bayer’s media planning and purchasing in 65 markets, but has now added other parts of the world to its tenure, including Germany, China and Russia.
PHD previously held Germany and Russia, and Dentsu held China.
Countryside understands that MediaCom, Dentsu and IPG’s Initiative participated in the review while PHD did not.
This nomination provides an “integrated, data-driven solution for Bayer’s global consumer health and pharmaceutical brands in the United States.”
The global account will be led by WPP Bayer Team Leader and President of MediaCom Global Client Costin Mihaila.
MediaCom will be responsible for driving Bayer’s “modernized marketing strategy”, which is to use data and content integration to drive business growth.
The agency will support Bayer’s commitment to its “Media for good” initiative, which is focused on learning and developing, sustainability and the adequacy of brand communications.
MediaCom said the consolidation of the business would provide “improved sharing of best practices, simpler ways of working, as well as improved consistency of approach, data and reporting.”
MediaCom had held the global business in markets outside of the United States since 2010. In 2011 it took over the media functions of Bayer in the United States, while a few years later PHD had won media in five markets, including Bayer’s home country, Germany.
In 2018, the company partnered with S4 Capital’s MightyHive to do its programmatic media purchases in-house, aiming to support most of its digital media purchases in the region by 2020.
The award of new contracts to MediaCom will take place in January 2022.
Patricia Corsi, chief marketing and digital officer at Bayer, said the pharmaceutical company was “delighted” to expand its remit with MediaCom.
She added, “The agency has proven that it shares our vision and commitment to create a personalized, data-driven solution that will help us achieve our ‘Media for Growth’ ambition while also exceeding its development commitment. sustainability and its “Media for good” vision. I am convinced that together, we will achieve our ambition to be the best in our industry.
“While congratulating MediaCom, I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize and appreciate the partners involved in the review process for their professionalism, commitment and shared values with Bayer.”
MediaCom Global Managing Director Nick Lawson added, “We are now in a strong position to bring about a radical shift in media thinking and activation that drives growth and celebrates the good that the company’s brands have. offer.
“Our new working relationship will allow us to see the big picture for Bayer and deliver smarter, more personalized and relevant messages across the company. “
MediaSense supported Bayer during the review, which launched in June 2021.
Bayer is one of many global brands, including Chanel, Ferrero, Stellantis and Unilever, to review their agency arrangements this year after a lull during the worst lockdowns of last year.


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Kate's hot dress quickly becomes an extinct species
If the newest royal decided to wear a dress made of paper, one wonders if entire forests would disappear.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has once again proven she is the Pied Piper of style, turning a 20-minute photo-op with the visiting Obamas on Tuesday into a web-crashing sales boon for the clothing retailer Reiss.
By Wednesday afternoon, the company's available stock in Kate's beige Shola dress in both their U.S. and the UK stores had dwindled to a precious few. A company spokesperson told the Daily Mirror that "at this time there are no plans to reissue the Reiss Shola dress."
During the brief meet-and-greet Tuesday with the U.S. president and first lady, Kate chose to wear the $275 dress from Reiss, a UK-based fashion retailer that has 65 stores worldwide (none in Canada).
Within two minutes of Kate's picture being flashed across news websites, 20 Shola dresses were sold online, a company representative told the Daily Mail. Not long after, traffic to the Reiss online site had increased more than 300 per cent, causing it to crash. It came back a few hours later, only to crash again. (It was back up Wednesday, but still experiencing some slowness).
On the company Twitter page was the message: "Oooops! Website has crashed again, you guys are obviously very determined to get your hands on this dress! Bear with us..."
“The dress is flying off the shelves in stores in both the UK and the U.S.,” a spokesperson for Reiss told RadarOnline.com. At the Reiss store in Beverly Hills, sales of the dress “exploded,” according to Anthony Conley, a sales associate. “I came into the store this morning and they all sold out. It was the same when she wore the white dress for the engagement. Definitely a lot of people want to see what she wears and dress like Kate."
To complete her outfit, the new Duchess carried a black Maud clutch bag from Anya Hindmarch Bespoke and shoes from LK Bennett, another London store.
Meanwhile, Michelle Obama wore a Barbara Tfank-designed silk dress, which goes for about $2,200.

domain: news


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GOAL 2007 Conference Further Links Aquaculture, Seafood Sectors
GOAL 2007 brought 250 seafood professionals from 32 countries to Madrid for sessions on production, markets and issues. Photo by Greg Krueger.
Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership (GOAL) 2007 repeated the proven chemistry of previous Global Aquaculture Alliance Outlook conferences by connecting aquaculture and seafood industry leaders with key information sources in an inspiring location to generate camaraderie and unity for the further advancement of aquaculture.
The October 30-November 2 GOAL conference brought 250 seafood professionals from 32 countries to Madrid, Spain, for three mornings of focused sessions on global production and markets for fish and shrimp, and productive reviews of current seafood issues.
GAA Assistant Director Sally Krueger said the GOAL participants appreciated the event’s production data summaries and market sessions with a focus on Europe. Expert speakers and issues-oriented panels provided a framework for meaningful discussions that included members of conservation and social justice groups.
“This meeting was unique in the linkages it helped build between shrimp and fish sectors, American and European markets, and industry and nongovernmental organizations,” GAA President George Chamberlain said. “It was a unifying event that positions the industry for continued sustainable growth.”
Respected economist Dr. James Anderson of the University of Rhode Island projected continued growth for the farmed shrimp sector through 2008. Anderson said the biggest challenges facing shrimp farmers include increasing energy and feed costs, low market prices, trade barriers and disease risks.
In a production report on a spectrum of internationally traded finfish, Dr. Ragnar Tveteras of the University of Stavanger said most species have seen dramatic production increases over the past five years, but not the typical associated price declines. Tilapia and Pangasius had the highest growth in volume, with salmon and sea bass following.
Beginning the sessions on the European Union’s seafood markets, Mary Larkin of Diversified Business Communications noted that increasing seafood consumption in the E.U. is a result of concerns over food safety in meat and poultry and the importance of sustainability to E.U. consumers. In a follow-up panel discussion, the primary message was that countries in the E.U. operate differently when it comes to culinary matters. For example, wild seafood commands a premium over farmed product in Italy, while no such distinction is made in Germany.
After Kunio Shirasu of Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd. reported a declining demand for farmed seafood in Japan, AIS Aqua Foods’ Andrew Kaelin gave an overview of China’s markets. He indicated seafood exports are declining as more seafood is consumed in that country. To deal with food safety, China has adopted a “one strike” policy that effectively suspend a plants’ HACCP certificates if they ship product that contains banned chemicals.
After Kunio Shirasu of Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd. reported a declining demand for farmed seafood in Japan, AIS Aqua Foods’ Andrew Kaelin gave an overview of China’s markets. He indicated seafood exports are declining as more seafood is consumed in that country. To deal with food safety, China has adopted a “one strike” policy that effectively suspends plants’ HACCP certificates if they ship product that contains banned chemicals.
In a look at the United States retail sector, Joe Bundrant of Trident Seafoods noted that the explosive growth in seafood consumption of the 1970s and 1980s has moderated. However, fresh and frozen seafood now outpace canned products, and surimi-based items reflect impressive growth.
Roger Bing of Darden Restaurants said U.S. restaurant customers are responding to restaurant operators’ rising costs and menu prices by dining out less frequently. Aquaculture remains an attractive source of seafood, thanks to quality, supply and traceability; but the proliferation of labels and certification programs challenge foodservice operators.
In his brilliant keynote address on the evolution of salmon farming, former Marine Harvest CEO Atle Eide pointed out the continuing consolidation in aquaculture. In 1990, there were 750 salmon farmers in Norway. Today, the industry is dominated by 20 companies, Eide said. He predicted that in the future, 90% of the world’s production of salmon will be controlled by 10 companies, as producers look at farming other species and new markets in Europe and South America.
The third day of GAA’s GOAL 2007 conference offered a comprehensive look at aquaculture industry issues. Drs. Edel Elvevoll, Jan Kwakman and Huub Lelieveld discussed health benefits, safety concerns and regulations that affect seafood. The crux of their message was clear: Don’t let regulations hinder the health benefits of seafood consumption.
Dr. Viggo Halseth of Skretting outlined growing aquafeed constraints and pointed to promising options for feed producers to continue reducing their use of fishmeal and fish oil. Bioenergy will be a new competitor for available raw materials.
In a closing panel discussion – which featured panel members from GlobalGAP, Naturland, Seafood Choices Alliance, World Conservation Union and GAA’s Best Aquaculture Practices program – participants supported a move toward fewer, more centralized standards for aquaculture facilities.
GOAL 2008 will be held in China. A GAA site selection team will visit the country in early 2008 to choose a host city. GOAL 2007 participants will receive 2008 conference mailings as they become available.
For additional information on Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership and other GAA programs, contact the Global Aquaculture Alliance:firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Demand for lending for small business is on the up - signalling an increasing confidence in the marketplace
Britain’s smaller businesses have been credited with keeping the country going during the recession, and it now seems as though they are leading the charge into a new era of prosperity. The Bank of England’s quarterly credit conditions survey revealed that in the second quarter of this year although demand for lending from medium sized businesses remained static, the demand for lending to small businesses increased significantly, whilst demand from larger businesses also increased.
Interestingly, whilst the overall availability of credit to corporates remained virtually unchanged, the availability of credit to small businesses increased; resulting in the highest net percentage balance seen since Q3 2010. Commenting on the results, BBA chief economist, Richard Woolhouse, said “It’s heartening to see that demand for lending from small businesses has increased significantly as this is a clear, positive sign that firms have the confidence to take on borrowing to invest and expand.” This resurgence in confidence is not confined to the UK alone. The bank of Ireland has recently announced that in the first half of this year lending to SMEs increased by 18% over the same period last year.
Admittedly part of the rise in demand for credit may be down to the fact that over the past two years business start-ups have been at record numbers, but the fact remains that increased demand demonstrates an increased level of confidence and this can only be good for business as a whole.


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PETALING JAYA: The seaport and logistics sector in Malaysia is seen entering a robust phase amid the expected rebound of global trade next year, and the continued growth of eCommerce in the country.
The positive outlook is further supported by the synchronised recovery of the global economy, which could happen in the second half of 2024 (2H24), as the central banks of advanced economies ease their monetary policies.
As such, Kenanga Research upgraded its call on the seaport and logistics sector to “overweight” from “neutral”.
On the seaport segment, the brokerage noted in a report yesterday that the World Trade Organisation had projected global trade volume to grow 3.3% in 2024, more than quadrupling the 0.8% growth estimated for 2023.
“Already, there have been green shoots of recovery in the intra-Asia trade.
“We believe that there is a good chance for a more synchronised recovery in the global economy towards 2H24, underpinned by policy easing by central banks in advanced economies,” Kenanga Research wrote. “This augurs well for port operators,” it added.
As for the logistics segment, it said, there was a bright spot in the domestically driven third-party logistics sector, which was less vulnerable to external headwinds.
It noted the logistics segment would be buoyed by a continuing boom in eCommerce.
Citing industry experts, Kenanga Research noted that local eCommerce gross merchandise volume was expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 7% from 2023 to 2027, reaching RM1.9 trillion by 2027 from RM1.4 trillion in 2023.
“The growth in eCommerce will spur demand for distribution hubs and warehouses to enable just-in-time delivery; re-shoring and near-shoring to bring manufacturers closer to end-customers; efficient automation systems including interconnectivity with customer systems, and warehouse decentralisation to reduce transportation costs and de-risk the supply chain,” the research house said.
“There is also strong demand for cold-storage warehouses on the back of the proliferation of online grocery start-ups,” it added.
It likes Westports for the company’s resilient earnings, underpinned by long-term contracts with key clients such as Ocean Alliance; long-term growth prospect driven by the Westports 2.0 expansion project; and price competitiveness, that is, lower transhipment tariffs versus peers such as Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Port of Singapore.
Kenanga Research liked Swift for the company’s leading position in the Malaysian haulage business, with close to 10% market share.
Swift also has value-added integrated offerings resulting in a strong pre-tax profit margin of 10% compared with the industry average of 4%; and the tremendous growth potential of its warehousing business, riding on growth of domestic eCommerce.
Source: The Star


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Epic Games Faces Another Lawsuit Over Fortnite Dance Emote
We’ve lost count.
Choreographer Kyle Hanagami is filing a lawsuit against Epic Games for copyright infringement over one of the dance emotes in Fortnite.
In 2017, Kyle uploaded a video on YouTube showcasing a dance move he choreographed. The choreographer, who said he copyrighted the dance move, claimed it was used for an emote in Fortnite called “It’s Complicated”, which was added to the game in August 2020. According to Kotaku, the lawsuit filed at the Central District of California stated that Epic Games “did not credit Hanagami nor seek his consent to use, display, reproduce, sell, or create a derivative work based on the Registered Choreography.”
The emote in question is up for sale on the in-game store from time to time. It costs 500 v-bucks (Fortnite’s in-game currency). In real life, that can translate to around US$5. Hanagami’s lawyer argue that Epic Games is profiting off their client’s copyrighted work without his consent.
Kyle Hanagami is a professional dance choreographer who has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, popular K-Pop group Blackpink and many others.
This is not the first time Epic Games has faced legal troubles as they have faced many other lawsuits in the past including one in 2018 involving Instagram influencer, Backpack Kid.


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NFTs based on Gondek’s iconic compositions with physics utilities
SAN FRANCISCO, August 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — MakersPlacethe premier marketplace for rare and authentic digital artwork, today announced that matt gondek, Los AngelesNew York-based pop artist known for his deconstructed paintings and sculptures will release his new NFT collection, Fight Club. The presale will continue August 18 and the official collection will live on September 8, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
As a deconstructive pop artist, Gondek uses his punk rock spirit and playful tone to showcase various iconic cartoon and comic book idols that often explode, melt, or crumble in celebration of rebellion and destruction. His creativity and brilliant artistry have contributed to his sold-out exhibitions around the world, including Los Angeles, New York, Parisand hong kong conveying his hyper luminous acrylic paintings.
Gondek’s NFT Fight Club brings his signature custom painted baseball bat compositions to life. The NFT collection consists of 280 tokens, which are physical images of 1 of 1 custom painted baseball bats.
There will be five NFTs sold as part of a special pre-sale promotion. These presale items are the only opportunity for collectors to retain the NFT and receive both physical redemption items – a hand-adorned signed print of their NFT and the physical bat depicted in their NFT. These items will be available in an auction format with a reserve price of $2,000.
Main Collection NFTs will appear as a mystery box purchase with a fixed price of $1,500 where collectors will have to choose between two mutually exclusive physical utility options:
- Send the NFT to a burning wallet and receive the corresponding handmade physical bat
- Hold the NFT and receive a hand embellished print that will be signed by matt gondek
To celebrate this launch and presale, MakersPlace, matt gondek and Taglialatella Gallery will co-host an opening event to showcase its iconic collection. The party will take place on August 18, 2022 at the Taglialatella gallery in New York City of 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. Guests can meet matt gondek and experience his deconstructed visuals in person. The gallery will host a week-long exhibition following the opening event. Interested collectors will be able to view the five pre-sale NFTs and their corresponding physical bats that will be auctioned at the event, 20 special collectible bats being sold privately by the gallery, and an infinite item wall showing a variety of NFTs from the collection. The exhibition will run from friday august 19 through friday august 26.
“I’m so excited to release Fight Club to a whole new audience and provide my fans with an experience unlike any of my other lineups. I’m honored to work with such a leading platform like MakersPlace that understands my vision and can help translate my meaning and the purpose of my creativity.” – said matt gondek.
“We are very proud to be associated with matt gondek bring his visual and creative spirit to life. His passion for breaking traditional artistic norms is inspiring and his ability to cultivate a celebration of rebellion and destruction captivates audiences around the world. said Craig Palmer, CEO of MakersPlace. “We are honored to be a part of his journey bringing his iconic compositions to the digital world and making NFT projects like these an experience for all.”
Link to presale: www.gondekfightclub.com
About matt gondek
matt gondek is a renowned deconstructed pop artist based in Los Angeles. Gondek’s paintings and sculptures have become highly sought after, with an increasing number of sold-out exhibitions around the world, including Los Angeles, New York, Paris and hong kong. Deconstructed Pop Art paintings, normally done in hyper gloss acrylic paint on canvas, feature various cartoon and comic book characters often exploding, melting or collapsing. Gondek has been covered many times by publications such as Hypebeast, Complex, to grace the cover of the 2019 “Urban Contemporary Art Guide” by Graffiti Art.
TIC Tac: https://www.tiktok.com/@gondekdraws
About Makers Place
MakersPlace is the premier NFT marketplace for digital art. Launched in 2018, MakersPlace uses blockchain technology to facilitate the sale of authentic and original digital artwork, ensuring rarity and ownership for creators and collectors. MakersPlace has emphasized accessibility since its inception and attracted a large following as the first NFT marketplace to accept both cryptocurrency (ETH) and non-cryptocurrency (USD) payments, which it facilitates through crypto wallets and credit card transactions respectively. MakersPlace helped propel digital art and NFTs onto the world stage, with the historic sale of Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days for $69.3 million in partnership with Christie’s auction house in March 2021 – the record price for any digital artwork. Our mission is simple: enable a vibrant future for digital creativity.
SOURCE Makers Place


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A new Italian restaurant is now open at the Delano hotel on South Beach.
The menu offers fresh organic ingredients for breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktail hour.
BIANCA is now open at 1685 Collins Avenue.
Copyright 2012 by Post Newsweek. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Shortly after Kerri Couillard gave birth to her second child, her husband wanted to park a second car in the family’s garage. She said his car could not fit because the garage was “totally filled with baby stuff.”
The situation prompted her to start a business that rents, delivers, sets up and picks up baby equipment. The company, Babierge, is more than five years old and has long and traveling families among its customers.
“I was looking out in the garage and as a mom there’s this emotional connection you have to your baby’s things… There was something about me that I wasn’t ready to get rid of,” Couillard said.
With 15 years of programming experience, Couillard said she created a one-page website to rent the equipment. Within three days, Couillard had her first $300 order, she said.
“This really showed me that the need was there,” Couillard said.
Initially, Couillard says she didn’t have a significant reason for running her business. She says it was just another source of income. But in 2012, after developing a serious infection, Couillard says the premise of Babierge changed.
“It became more than just renting baby equipment. It became creating a space where families felt comfortable and able to make memories that they can take with them for their whole life,” Couillard said.
Couillard said 52 percent of her business comes from grandparents living in Santa Fe.
“So grandparents that may not want to go out… and try to figure out what to buy,” Couillard said. “They call us… and we really help them through picking out [items].
Suzanne Beach is a regular customer and says she started using Babierge about a year and a half ago.
“Everything that’s she’s suggested is just right on and it’s very helpful,” Beach said.
Beach rents items from Babierge every few months. And with another grandchild on the way she said she plans to continue being a customer.
“There’ll be two of them so I’ll be doubling the products,” Beach said. “I look real forward to it.”
Customers can rent items from baby essentials, like car seats and full-size cribs to toys Couillard says.
“When somebody comes to us they really expect us to be experts in what we do. They want us to have a large inventory to provide for their needs,” Couillard said.
Couillard says rental costs vary by city. She started the company in Santa Fe but has expanded business to service areas in Albuquerque, Minneapolis-St.Paul, Chicago, Memphis, and San Antonio, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
“I’m holding onto one hundred percent of my equity which is very rare to be at the stage that I am with my company where I’m profitable and have been profitable,” Couillard said.
Each location is serviced by a “trusted partner” who are independent providers. Couillard said trusted partners are moms, dads, or retirees “who are looking to make significant money doing simple whole hearted work.”
“I really just wanted to grow. A lot of what I was doing, I was doing it on my own,” Couillard said. “I wanted a bigger vision.”
Couillard said she hopes to share the experience of helping customers with her trusted partners.
“I wanted to be able to have women feel the way that I felt, which is such gratitude that customers have,” Couillard said.
She said she gives credit to the local accelerator program Hautepreneurs for encouraging her to think about expanding her business on a national level. Couillard said she attributes her success to being a lifelong learner and does not feel limited as a business owner for being a woman.
“It comes down to the fact that I believe I can do anything,” Couillard said.
When it comes to expanding the business Couillard said she plans to “push the envelope” with new features, like a loyalty and referral program.
“I think I’m poised to kind of take over this industry and really kind of make it a household knowledge and name that you can really rent instead of buy,” Couillard said.
Listen to the audio story and follow Alicia Padilla on Twitter.


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According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), tea imports for July and August 2023 totaled Rs. 31.64 billion, an increase of Rs. 11 billion as compared to the same period the previous year.
In August 2023 alone, Pakistan imported tea worth Rs. 15.91 billion, compared to Rs. 10.29 billion in August 2022.
The data suggests that there is a big and growing demand for tea in Pakistan, which is likely due to a number of factors, including the country’s growing population, rising disposable incomes, and changing lifestyles.
Tea is a popular beverage in Pakistan and is consumed by people of all ages and social classes. It is often served as a sign of hospitality and friendship and is also a popular drink to consume with meals and snacks.
The increase in tea consumption is good news for the Pakistani economy, as it creates jobs and boosts tax revenue. It is also a sign of the country’s growing prosperity.


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KOCHI: Ashok Leyland on Friday launched Dost, a light commercial vehicle, which they jointly developed with Nissan Motors, in the Kerala market. Dost has a payload capacity of 1.25 tonnes and is priced at Rs 3.79 lakh to Rs 4.38 lakh (ex-showroom price).
"With the commercial launch of Dost, Ashok Leyland fills an important gap in its product line-up. We have attempted to pack a lot into Dost - increased payload, improved fuel efficiency as well as class-leading performance, comfort and safety," said Dr V Sumantran, executive vice-chairman of Hinduja Automotive and chairman of Nissan Ashok Leyland Powertrain. Dost is equipped with 55 hp, 3-cylinder 1.45-litre common rail TDCR engine.


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Two brands of Bennett Coleman and Company Limited (Times Group), Radio Mirchi (FM radio 98.3) and Timesjobs.com together have started a campaign to promote services offered on employment portal, Timesjobs.com. The campaign called ‘Ready Steady Jobs’ which started on November 25 with RJ Naved of Radio Mrichi as the face will end on December 15.
According to Sanjay Goyal, Business Head, TimesJobs and TechGig, about 83 recruiting companies and consultants have been roped into this campaign in a effort to make it deliverable. “Our effort is to make sure that all those who apply through timesjobs will at least get the response and first round of job interview from the recruiter company. There is a perception that in most cases those applying never get to hear from companies. We want to change that perception and actually support job seekers through this campaign and reach to them using Radio Mirchi ,” he added.
Goyal further said that thousands of jobs are available and it will take a little handholding to encourage both the job seekers and recruiters to look at each other engagingly. “For this campaign, we have carefully curated job positions that can get filled quickly. Our core idea is to empower people and helping them reach their dream careers is the best way to do it!”
RJ Naved of ‘Mirchi Murga’ fame, who is the face of the campaign, says the idea is to connect people needing jobs with Timesjob.com team so that they get jobs as quickly as possible. He and other RJs of Mirchi between 7am and noon every day will talk about this campaign have phone-ins and also speak on job issues. “We will reach out to listeners, so that they open up minds and look at jobs realistically,” he adds.
A special website, https://www.timesjobs.com/mirchi/ , has been put up for this campaign which hosts more than 7,080+ jobs that are readily available in the market right now. More than 83 companies and recruiting consultants will be hiring at the Ready Steady Jobs campaign. Most jobs are available in domains as Information Technology, Manufacturing/Engineering, Banking & Finance, SCM & Operations/BPO, Sales & Marketing Jobs among others.
Pritesh Chothani, VP & Cluster Head – Delhi & Rajasthan, Radio Mirchi, said “Mirchi has always been putting forward ideas and campaigns that directly address the social concerns. We align ourselves with basics of social needs, Jobs being the main concern among youth today. So through this campaign we will not only hand hold our listeners in not just getting ready for better prospects but also provide them access to some of the top recruiters of Delhi”
That’s called the power of Radio!


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According a survey from the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future and Bovitz Inc., Millennials (ages 18-34) are more willing to allow access to their personal data or web behavior and show a greater interest in cooperating with internet businesses. However, this assumes they receive tangible benefits in return.
"Online privacy is dead — Millennials understand that, while older users have not adapted," trumps Jeffrey I. Cole, director of the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future, in a statement. "Millennials recognize that giving up some of their privacy online can provide benefits to them. This demonstrates a major shift in online behavior — there's no going back."
According to the survey:
In what bloggers on the report saw as contradictory, the survey still found a large percentage of Millennials uncomfortable with others having access to their personal data online or information about their web behavior. When asked about the statement, "No one should ever be allowed to have access to my personal data or web behavior," 70 percent of Millennials agreed, compared with 77 percent of users 35 and older.
Still, Elaine Coleman managing director of media and emerging technologies for Bovitz, said the data shows that Millennials think differently when it comes to online privacy
"It's not that they don't care about it — rather they perceive social media as an exchange or an economy of ideas, where sharing involves participating in smart ways," said Ms. Coleman. "Millennials say, 'I'll give up some personal information if I get something in return,'" said Coleman. "For older users, sharing is a function of trust — 'the more I trust, the more I am willing to share.'"
The center surveyed 989 consumers in August.
Do you expect Millennials will become more or less guarded around online privacy issues as they age than those over 35 currently?


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Another White House Correspondent’s weekend in the books, and in true President Trump fashion he didn’t even let celebrated journalists get a breather Monday (see CBS interview). By not participating in the tradition of...
Tagged: Howard Fineman
White House Correspondents “Nerd Party” features bank-robber-dressed deejays and patriotic cupcakes.
Washington insiders who parlay knowledge, access, influence and wealth into real power.
Politics, the VMAs and fashion week top social media.


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As part of our commitment to getting the next generation of businesses online, TinklingD is pleased to announce its initiative geared towards facilitating this process. TinklingD in partnership with iBridge Hub, Ibadan announces an Open Day event for businesses in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Our Open Day is a FREE event designed to allow businesses consult with the TinklingD team on issues surrounding getting their businesses online. The team will be on hand to proffer solutions to any problems bordering on the use of web and technology tools to grow their businesses.
The event will also feature the launch of our new digital marketing forum, a live demo of various products including Google VR products, as well as a tour of the iBridge Hub facilities including but not limited to its co-working space and its recording studio.
Tickets for the event can be picked up on the Ibadan Insider platform here – https://www.ibadaninsider.com/product/tinklingd-open-day-ticket/
Below are the details of the event:
110 Alalubosa (Dugbe to Apata Road),
Ibadan, Oyo State,
Date: 11th June, 2016
- First Session: 10am
- Second Session: 12pm
- Third Session: 2pm
We look forward to receiving you.


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May Mobility had raised close to $22 million less than a year ago
The company will increase its number of fleets along with enhancing operations
May Mobility- a Michigan headquartered autonomous shuttle service startup operating in three major cities in the U.S., has reportedly raised USD 50 million in Series B funding round which was led by Toyota Motor Corp.
With the latest funding, the company will look to expand its every aspect including its fleet of AV shuttle and its operations and engineering staff.
Reportedly, May Mobility owns nearly 25 autonomous low-speed shuttles operating between Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan and Providence, Rhode Islands.
According to Alisyn Malek, Co-founder and COO, May Mobility, the company is targeting up to 25 vehicles per city. Increased fleet size will enhance the economic picture for the startup and will meaningfully influence the transportation in the city.
Additionally, the collaboration aims at working towards identifying market opportunities. May Mobility will be one of the key partners for Toyota in developing and bringing self-driving platforms out to the market.
In other recent developments, Toyota was to acquire a 4.9% share in Suzuki, valued at more than USD 908 million, while Suzuki had agreed to invest approximately $454 million in Toyota, under a new partnership deal.
For the record, May Mobility and Toyota have not disclosed information regarding the partnership. However, the two are likely to combine the startup’s autonomous vehicle technology with Toyota’s e-Palette, a platform introduced by the automobile giant in the year 2018 at the annual tech trade show- CES convention held in Las Vegas.
e-Palette was introduced as a concept vehicle and is primarily designed for flexibility. The platform will be equipped with autonomous vehicle technology and may be used as a shuttle, to deliver packages to customers or can be used as a moving mobile shop.
Source Credits: https://techcrunch.com/2019/12/04/toyota-leads-50-million-investment-in-autonomous-shuttle-startup-may-mobility/
Saipriya Iyer presently works as a content developer for decresearch.com and a couple of similar portals. Having dabbled with the domain of content creation for nearly half a decade, she now boasts of an enviable portfolio, holding substantial experience in penning down pieces related to technology, finance, and a wide spectrum of other industry verticals. A qualified computer engineering graduate from the University of Pune, Saipriya can often be found leveraging her knowledge of software technology and electronics in her write-ups. She can be contacted at- [email protected] | https://twitter.com/saipriya_i/


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While the general mass is reeling in the shock of COVID-19, business owners are forced to make critical decisions with limited insight into what is coming. And with regulatory bodies enacting stringent, preventive socio-economic restrictions, many businesses are taking an insurmountable hit.
As the pandemic progresses, businesses should also anticipate the possibility of stricter regulatory measures. Doing so, will aid organizations in being prepared regardless of what restrictions are placed.
This white paper will examine:
- How businesses can ensure continuity during shutdowns
- Tips for seamlessly transitioning to remote operations
- Ways to manage fear and uncertainty among employees


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MAZDA has announced a radical new plan for its road car powertrains, confirming a long-anticipated move to sparkplug-less engines and a commitment to launch its first electrically-powered models before the end of the decade.
Mazda’s commitment to ‘compression ignition’ is massive news for road cars. Although petrol engines without spark plugs have existed before, it has almost exclusively been the domain of high-performance, big-dollar racing engines.
The technology is known as homogenous charge compression ignition, or HCCI, and in layman’s terms combines the best parts of diesel and petrol engines to create a highly-efficient engine.
The engine runs using extremely high combustion, which is ignites the fuel-air mixture without the use of a spark plug.
Previously, this technology has required very specific air-fuel mixtures to operate, hence its prevalence in motorsport. However, Mazda has managed to adapt the technology for road cars, with substantial gains in fuel efficiency being the expected result.
It is expected the new tech will debut in next-gen Mazda2 and Mazda3 models first, branded as SkyActiv-X to distinguish it from Mazda’s existing SkyActiv-G petrol and SkyActiv-D diesel powerplants. The first SkyActiv-X models are due to go on sale by 2019.
It is uncertain if the HCCI engines will be available in Australia, with this country’s comparatively low fuel quality likely to be a significant hurdle to its introduction.
Along with the new combustion engine tech, the Japanese manufacturer has confirmed it will begin to produce electric vehicles, starting in two years’ time.
“We think it is an imperative and fundamental job for us to pursue the ideal internal combustion engine,” said Mazda’s head of research and development, Kiyoshi Fujiwara said.
“Electrification is necessary but ... the internal combustion engine should come first.”


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Prior to delivery in April, 2022 Nissan LEAF orders begin to be accepted on March 1.
In This Article...
Nissan LEAF launches with increased starting MSRP of $27,400 and more standard equipment.
- Modern technology are now included as standard equipment on SV PLUS vehicles, including ProPILOT Assist and Intelligent Around View(r) Monitor.
- LEAF and the extended-range variant are both available. LETTER PLUS
Tennessee’s NASHVILLE – With more than 500,000 LEAF vehicles sold globally1 and more than five billion EV miles driven internationally, Nissan has been a leader in mass-market electric vehicles for more than a decade. 2 By reducing the MSRP3 of the all-electric 2022 LEAF to make it more affordable and to give customers even more value than before, the business is now confirming its commitment to mass-market electric cars.
With a starting MSRP of $27,400 for the LEAF S, the 2022 Nissan LEAF is already available for purchase. Additionally, qualified buyers might be qualified for a potential $7,500 federal tax credit. 4
For model year 2022, LEAF receives more standard essential EV-focused features, including a CHAdeMO Quick Charge Port and a portable 240-volt charging cable for every model, enhancing value for customers. Eight additional capabilities, including ProPILOT Assist and Intelligent Around View(r) Monitor, that were previously included in the Technology Packages for the SV PLUS grade will now be included.
Aditya Jairaj, director, EV Sales and Marketing, Nissan U.S., said: “Nissan was the first carmaker with a globally-accessible mass-market electric vehicle, and we’re continuing in the tradition of making electric vehicles available to everyone.” “This is really an unbelievable value with the amount of technology that LEAF offers, along with new pricing.”
A 40 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 110 kW electric motor give the LEAF 147 horsepower, 236 lb-ft of torque, and a range of up to 149 miles. It comes in the S and SV trim levels.
Nissan LEAF PLUS has a 62-kWh lithium-ion battery with a higher capacity, extending the range to up to 226 miles6 (LEAF S PLUS only). A stronger 160 kW motor, which generates 214 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque, is also included in LEAF PLUS. S PLUS, SV PLUS, and SL PLUS are the three trim options available for LEAF PLUS.
Nissan LEAF and LEAF PLUS Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices for 2022 are:
A limited lithium-ion battery warranty7 is included with every 2022 Nissan LEAF, covering any manufacturing or material flaws for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. For the first eight years or 100,000 miles for all models, Nissan also offers a limited warranty against battery capacity loss below nine bars of capacity as reflected on the vehicle’s battery capacity level gauge.
According to Nissan, the 2023 Leaf electric vehicle will be available in the summer of 2022.
The 2023 Nissan Leaf electric hatchback has been officially unveiled. It will be sold with the new Ariya crossover, the company’s second EV. To give EV buyers greater value, the new Leaf has an updated exterior appearance and a redesigned model lineup.
According to Nissan, the updated 2023 Leaf will formally make its debut at the 2022 New York International Auto Show soon. The upcoming event is scheduled for April 15–24, 2022. This summer of 2022, according to the company, the Leaf will go on sale.
There will only be two trim levels available for the 2023 Leaf: S and SV Plus. To create grades that meet consumers’ expectations at the best price, the company studied the configurations and features that the majority of customers were opting for. The 2023 SV Plus, which costs extra, has new 17-inch, 5-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels. Nissan’s ProPilot Assist4, a hands-on driver-assist technology, will also be standard on the higher grade.
The front end, grille, bumper, and headlights of the 2023 Leaf have all been updated, as can be seen in the pictures in the gallery below. The brand’s badge has also been redesigned and lit. Nissan claims that enhancing the aerodynamics of the electric vehicle was another priority. Interior changes hardly ever occur. New start-up video and revised Nissan badge on the steering wheel.
Review of the Nissan Leaf: Price, Release Date, and Trim Levels
There are currently five different models of the 2022 Nissan Leaf. The 40 kWh battery in the entry-level Leaf S has a meager range of 149 miles. This model has a starting price of $27,400, and it is this particular unit that, after applying the entire $7,500 tax credit, can be purchased for under $20,000.
The Leaf SL Plus represents the pinnacle of the Leaf line. With 215 miles on the tank, it doesn’t have the longest range in the fleet, but its $37,400 price tag does feature Bose speakers and some leather seats.
The S Plus or the SV Plus, both of which cost $32,400 and come with the 62 kWh battery and 226 miles of range, are the most likely choices for prospective purchasers. Despite having a somewhat lesser range of 215 miles, the vehicle costs an additional $35,400 and comes with 17″ aluminum alloy wheels, an all-around camera system, LED headlights, ProPilot assist, and the optional Door to Door Navigation with Premium Traffic. Sadly, we were unable to test this final functionality.
It should be noted that the SV, SV Plus, and SL Plus models are the only ones with Nissan’s ProPilot Assist driver assistance technology.
The starting price of the 2022 Nissan Leaf is $27,400.
The 2022 NissanLeaf is offered in five model levels and has a starting MSRP of $27,400. It provides a variety of features.
Has the 2023 Nissan Leaf been released yet?
We are happy to inform you that there is no need to wait any longer. At the New York International Auto Show on April 15, 2022, the 2023 Nissan Leaf was unveiled. Two variants of the Nissan Leaf are offered for 2023: The S variant has an electric powertrain with 147 horsepower and costs $28,895.
Is a new Nissan LEAF on the way?
Guillaume Cartier, president of Nissan Europe, has stated that the new electric crossover model will replace the Nissan Leaf and will be produced at Nissan’s factory in Sunderland.
As part of a massive PS1 billion investment in the plant to ensure its future, plans to produce a new Nissan crossover in Sunderland were first revealed back in July. That model was anticipated to replace the Leaf, and Cartier confirmed that today.
As a result, the Leaf replacement will transition from a hatchback to a crossover bodystyle around 2025 and be based on the CMF-EV platform developed by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
Will Nissan stop making the Leaf?
The little electric car from Nissan will be discontinued “before mid-decade,” according to trade publication Automotive News on Thursday.
Why it matters: Early models like the Leaf failed to gain traction, despite the fact that electric vehicles are largely seen as the future of the auto industry (hello Tesla).
Rewind: The Leaf soon overtook all other EVs after making its debut in 2011.
- However, it quickly lost the top spot to Tesla and fell short of Carlos Ghosn’s goal of selling 500,000 vehicles annually by 2013.
- Of the 977,639 automobiles Nissan sold in the U.S. in 2021, just 14,239 copies of the Leaf were sold there.
Zoom out: The Leaf’s problems were caused by its short battery life and small size, with the 2011 model’s first iteration covering only 73 miles on a single charge.
- The range increased over time, but Nissan has subsequently focused mostly on upcoming EVs, such as the stylish Ariya crossover.
- The Leaf was victimized by shifting consumer demand for SUVs and pickups in the late 2010s as gas prices plummeted.
The Leaf is currently blowing in the wind, but EVs are far from being extinct.
The Nissan Leaf is dependable.
With a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5, the Nissan LEAF is ranked third among all alternative fuel vehicles. It has typical ownership costs with an average annual repair cost of $748.
The longest-range Nissan Leaf model: which one?
The Nissan Leaf with the greatest range is? The Nissan Leaf S Plus has the greatest range, providing approximately 226 miles on a single charge.
The Nissan Leaf is produced where?
On Thursday, President Biden promised stronger pollution regulations and an increase in electric vehicles in the near future. He couched both announcements in terms of additional manufacturing employment and the laser-like focus on made-in-America that has been a trademark of his.
The same day, Jen Psaki, the press secretary for the White House, provided an explanation: the United Auto Workers.
According to MarketWatch, Psaki told reporters, “Today, the United Auto Workers’ three largest employers and the UAW president will stand with President Biden.”
By 2030, Biden set a combined goal of 50% electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell types. The UAW, the executives of the American “Big Three” (GM, Ford, and Chrysler), and automaker executives surrounded him as they declared a “common aim” to achieve 40% EVs by that time.
The third largest manufacturer with its headquarters in the United States, however, was completely excluded from the event since Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram, has its headquarters in the Netherlands. Tesla wasn’t invited, as CEO Elon Musk emphasized and as we mentioned in our initial article that day.
In addition to producing more EVs in the United States than any other automaker, Tesla also exports the most EVs. None of them, however, have employed UAW employees.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV is the only completely electric vehicle model family that currently satisfies the requirements for American-made and UAW labor. That information is boldly displayed on a 2022 Chevy Bolt EV in the sticker above. GM produces those automobiles at its Orion Assembly facility in Lake Orion, Michigan.
I think that’s enough for now. Mexican workers in unions produce the Mustang Mach-E. Non-union workers in Tennessee produce the Nissan Leaf. The Volkswagen ID.4 is also built by unions in Germany, but starting in 2019, it will also likely be made by non-union workers in Tennessee.
Then there is Tesla, which has occasionally spoken out against unionization efforts at its Fremont plant, which was unionized while it was under the prior administration of GM and Toyota (NUMMI). Tesla was ordered to have Elon Musk remove a tweet that company labor organizers viewed as threatening after the National Labor Relations Board found Tesla in violation of federal labor regulations for an incident that occurred in 2018.
That most likely had something to do with the corporation being excluded from a ceremony that focused on the union.
Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan is pushing for an expansion of the electric vehicle tax credit, which is reportedly supported by President Biden. It would eliminate the current limit of 200,000 vehicles per manufacturer and add an additional $2,500 credit for vehicles made in the United States as well as $2,500 for models made by unions, for a total credit of up to $12,500 for both.
The UAW is developing American-made electric vehicles. Among them, the Cadillac Lyriq (and probably a future Acura model) are to be UAW-built in Tennessee, while the Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV, and Chevrolet Silverado are all planned to be UAW-built in Michigan. Although Jeep doesn’t yet produce a fully electric version, Ohio is where the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is made.
Hyundai, Kia, and Volvo are among the automakers that also want to develop electric vehicles in the United States, though probably not using UAW workers.
In how many US states has the Nissan Leaf been sold?
By February 2022, there had been 577,000 Leafs sold worldwide. More than 208,000 units had been sold in Europe as of September 2021, and by December 2021, more than 165,000 units had been sold in the United States and 157,000 units had been sold in Japan. Through December 2019, the Leaf is cited as the world’s best-selling plug-in electric vehicle.
What issues does the Nissan LEAF have?
The Nissan Leaf can only be used with specific charging stations because of its design.
Additionally, there have been numerous reports of charging incompatibility problems with Eaton chargers, particularly for the 2018 Leaf.


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Rungrez Introducing Luxury Lawn 2019 Another prime clothing brand Rungrez going to launched latest lawn collection 2019. Rungrez Luxury Lawn Collection 2019 announced to launched amazing luxury embroidered lawn collection….
Rungrez Introducing Summer Lawn Collection 2018 Rungrez Summer lawn collection 2018 launching soon or prebooking start on 27 Feb 2018 on official site of Rungrez. Rungrez is a luxury women clothing brand in….
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Rungrez Embroidered Eid Collection 2016


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A Utah woman is facing a massive fine for having the temerity to tell the Internet about a lousy shopping experience. Jen Palmer's husband bought some items for her from Kleargear.com back in 2008. The items never arrived, Paypal canceled the transaction, and Palmer wrote a scathing review on Ripoffreport.com. All seemed right with the world … until three years later, when Kleargear sent her an ultimatum demanding she remove the post, or pay a $3,500 fine, she tells KUTV. "This is fraud," she says. "They're blackmailing us for telling the truth."
Kleargear says a clause in its terms of sale forbids customers from "taking any action that negatively impacts kleargear.com" or its reputation, and allows Kleargear to, "at its sole discretion" fine violators $3,500. Palmer, terrified, tried to remove the review—but Ripoffreport refused to take it down unless she paid them $2,000. When she didn't pay, Kleargear reported her to credit bureaus, and they haven't been able to get that ding removed. It's unclear if the terms of sale were even in force back in 2008—archives don't show them then—and Techdirt observes that, in the wake of KUTV's report, they've completely disappeared from Kleargear's site. (More online review stories.)


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Industrial additive manufacturing solutions provider and 3D printer OEM Essentium Inc. launched its production-ready Essentium High Speed Extrusion (HSE) 3D Printing Platform two years ago, and has lately been focusing on growing its portfolio of 3D printing materials and partnering with other companies in an effort to increase adoption of the technology. The Pflugerville, Texas-based startup, which recently announced that it is ISO 9001:2015 and ITAR certified, is now dipping its toe into the AM accessories business with the news that it has launched a line of all-in-one 3D printing adhesives.
The company worked with Maltese startup Thought3D Ltd, which produces the Magigoo 3D printing adhesive product line, in order to make 3D printer bed adhesion better for a variety of engineering-grade polymers. Essentium’s new 3D printing adhesives were tailored especially for use with its materials portfolio and HSE platform, so the company says that users can work on industrial-scale 3D printing jobs and rest easy knowing that the prints will adhere to the bed.
“Continuous innovation across the entire 3D printing ecosystem is central to the revolutionary shift to large-scale additive manufacturing and Essentium is committed to providing a powerful platform to help manufacturers drive significant performance improvements,” Brandon Sweeney, PhD, the Head of R&D for Materials and Co-Founder of Essentium Inc., stated in a press release sent to 3DPrint.com. “For customers, these new adhesives enable high-quality prints every time while also being solvent-free and environmentally friendly.”
Thought3D is a top provider of 3D printing bed adhesive solutions, and its products are designed to have the maximum adhesive temperature for ABS and PLA filaments. In 2016, the startup completed a total rebrand of the Magigoo adhesion pen, complete with an enhanced formulation, which was later showcased at the 2017 TCT Show. According to the product website, Magigoo and Magigoo Pro adhesives are used to keep prints in place during the building process, but still allow for an easy removal once the print has been completed. BigRep can vouch for the 3D print adhesion solution, and last summer Thought3D partnered with Anisoprint to solve 3D printing adhesion issues.
The newly launched Essentium 3D Printing Bed Adhesives – Powered by Magigoo have been designed to work with heated 3D print beds, as the HSE Platform can reach temperatures of up to 200°C.
“Since bed adhesion is critical to the success of the high-speed extrusion process, we wanted to provide our customers a reliable adhesion solution that would give them confidence in their prints,” the product website states.
Users apply the adhesive to the plate to ensure that the print remains in place during the process, and once the bed has cooled, the print is easily released from the bed, no muss no fuss. These adhesives are said to ensure “consistent and reliable printing” without having to use tough chemicals, tapes, rafts, or anything else. In order to keep up with the increasing demand for high-quality industrial 3D printed parts, Essentium is releasing a large, 120 ml size of the bed adhesives.
According to Magigoo, with these new bed adhesives, Essentium has “been able to cater for a significant number” of its own extrusion-based filaments. It’s releasing a total of four formulations, which are available for purchase immediately. First, there’s an option for Standard filaments, which is designed to work with PLA, ABS, and PETG materials and costs $45, and the $55 option works exclusively with Nylon filaments like Essentium’s polyamide materials.
A third option, which also costs $55, was designed to be used with Flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) filaments. Finally, there’s a High-Temperature version that costs $99. All four are odorless and non-toxic, long-lasting, and easy to apply. You should only use the adhesives with the 3D printing material for which they’re designated, or risk damage to your build surface and over-adhesion. If you want all four Essentium 3D Printing Bed Adhesives – Powered by Magigoo, you can purchase the full kit for $250.
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- Dubai scorches crypto winter with plans to support 40,000 ‘virtual jobs’ — Dubai aims to be one of the top 10 cities globally in the metaverse economy, creating 40,000 virtual jobs and adding US$4 billion to the city’s economy in five years.
- US crypto bill may not pass the Senate this year, Lummis says — The U.S. Senate is unlikely to vote on the bipartisan cryptocurrency bill this year, Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis said Tuesday at the Bloomberg Crypto Summit.
- Another Twitter Hack Hits the NFT Community — Another phishing scam has hit the non-fungible token (NFT) community, with the latest target being the social media accounts of NFT influencer Zeneca.
- Morgan Stanley Says Buy Salvadoran Bonds Battered by Bitcoin Bet — Morgan Stanley is ready to scoop up battered bonds from El Salvador, which are some of the worst-performing notes this year as the president’s bet on Bitcoin backfires.
- ’Realized Losses’ Might Prove Bitcoin’s Gain if Signaling a Market Bottom, Glassnode Says — Signs of seller exhaustion are creating conditions that resemble a market bottom for bitcoin (BTC), according to a report from blockchain analysis firm Glassnode.
- Crypto Custodian BitGo Cleared to Operate in Italy — Digital assets custody provider BitGo has registered to operate in Italy, alongside several other crypto companies.
- Celsius reveals $1.2 billion hole and floats bitcoin mining fix during first day of bankruptcy trial — Embattled crypto lender Celsius Network played up the value of its bitcoin mining business in a first day hearing for its bankruptcy proceedings in a New York court on Monday.
- Tribe Capital Hires Republic Capital Co-Founder Revsin as Managing Partner — Tribe Capital, a venture capital firm with over $1.5 billion in assets under management, has hired Republic Capital co-founder Boris Revsin as a managing partner overseeing equity and crypto funds plus Tribe’s newly announced crypto incubation program, Revsin exclusively told CoinDesk.
- Fantom Joins the Rally With a 16% Rise As Market Cap Crosses $1.04T — The crypto market is currently on a roll, with altcoins leading the rally adding $110.83 billion in the span of 24 hours. As a result of the week-long rally, the total value of all cryptocurrencies has risen from $841 billion to $1.042 trillion at the time of writing.
- GameStop’s NFT Marketplace Opening Week Sales Eclipse Coinbase Volume — Video-game retailer GameStop’s non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace is proving to be an early hit among JPEG collectors, doing over 5,000 ETH (around $7.2 million) in trading volume since its launch on July 11, more than doubling competitor Coinbase’s all-time NFT volume, according to data compiled by CoinDesk.
Also read about New Coin : FMI COIN
FMI is a digital currency which is built on Binance Smart Chain. FMI is built to a company FMI network. More specifically it includes its own products such as investing in different types projects, Creating new projects etc. FMI COIN (FMI) is a cryptocurrency, deployed on Binance Smart Chain(BSC BEP-20)


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CRICKET: Bajan fan wins competition to name CPL mascot
A cricket fan from Barbados has won a competition to name the mascot for the Caribbean Premier league, CPL, which starts next month.
David Ross’s idea of naming the CPL mascot Bouncer has been accepted by the organisers following a social media competition.
Bouncer was selected from a shortlist of five after officials sifted through hundreds of submissions from facebook and twitter fans.
Ross will receive VIP tickets for the three matches being held in Barbados, and a brand new Samsung Galaxy S3 mini, courtesy of CPL sponsor, Digicel.
Bouncer will hand over the new smartphone to David at the opening ceremony which he will attend with his family.
The first ever Caribbean Premiere League begins on Tuesday July 30 with 24 matches played across 6 Caribbean countries.
FOR MORE STORIES WATCH:


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Polish inflation at 2.3% in May: flash estimate
PR dla Zagranicy
Inflation in Poland stood at 2.3 percent in year-on-year terms in May, the country’s Central Statistical Office (GUS) said on Tuesday in a flash estimate.
Image: geralt/pixabay.com/CC0 Creative Commons
The reading was in line with a consensus forecast of economists polled by Poland’s PAP news agency.
In April, the prices of consumer goods and services in Poland were 2.2 percent higher than in the same month a year earlier, according to the Central Statistical Office.
The statistics office earlier this year said it had revised its system of weights used for calculating the consumer price index in 2019.


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Last updated on November 2, 2019
Business Earth concentrates on the world’s largest bilateral trade deal between the EU and Japan and inquires how little European companies can increase business opportunities.
In force since February this year, the deal’s headline amounts are enormous – almost 30% of global GDP, 40% of international trade and the biggest open-trade zone from the Earth, covering 600 million individuals – but what exactly does it mean for European exporters, especially SMEs, and also how do little and midsize companies get the most from it?
Minding the light brilliant
From precision medication and computer mapping into DVD players and defense techniques, lasers are currently utilized in a vast array of applications. Altechna is an expert in the field. The Lithuanian SME produces laser coatings and dyes – tools which may transmit and control laser lighting. According to the capital Vilnius, the business has a global customer base. Including Japan, which is now a significant market for the company.
“Japan has been the marketplace for us.
He adds, “We believed it was the ideal spot to provide our laser-based solutions. But breaking into the Japanese market wasn’t simple and we had some help”
To be able to comprehend the nation’s business culture improved, workers from Altechna participate in many programs run from the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, for example, company missions to Japan. This not only enabled the participants to receive a glimpse into Western company life, but it allowed the company to forge new longterm industrial associations, and crucially, raise earnings.
“The undefined Centre gave apparent instruction about the best way best to approach local civilization, in addition to the way to operate on longterm jobs with Japanese clients. This enabled us to acquire immediate business associations with our target customers. That was great since we never believed we had been on our own,” states Šlekys.
Tapping to the brand new trade deal
It’s estimated that the new Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan will slash obligations for European exporters by roughly $1billion annually and may increase European exports from between 16 to 24 percent during the next 10 to 15 decades.
Regardless of those remarkable figures, the guy responsible for this EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation states SMEs still should be aware of what they’re doing concerning the Japanese marketplace if they are to have the whole advantage of the offer.
“There’s already a large quantity of commerce between Europe and Japan. The EPA will surely provide simpler access to the Western market, however, for those SMEs to make the most of the arrangement they have to be educated, they will need to be guided.
Along with this EPA helpdesk, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation states it’s offering companies assistance in Japan associated with technology transfer, intellectual property in addition to collaboration between clusters and regions.
Business Earth talked to him to learn what the center is doing to assist SMEs concerning the newly consented EU-Japan exchange agreement. What is your EU Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation?
What we do is market collaboration concerning business, commerce, investment, innovation, and research.
“It makes things simpler for EU exporters, such as European SMEs. They have simpler access to the Japanese marketplace. The challenge for the European company is, naturally, to be well conscious of the arrangement, to understand how to utilize it. And even if they don’t, they do not gain from the arrangement. So that is why the center has set in place an EPA helpdesk to direct and inform them.”
What are the principal challenges faced by small European companies and how do you help?
“Accessing the Western marketplace isn’t simple, and I’d say there are two major challenges – sometimes underestimated by European companies – and that is the reason why we’ve set in place numerous webinars, or assignments, in Europe to prepare the earth for EU exporters to Japan. The initial challenge is the fact that it is going to take some time. It is going to have a very long time to create an offer. So it is a matter for decades, not months or weeks. The next challenge is that before speaking about business, it is important to construct a connection, a personal connection with individuals in Japan, build confidence. And it is only after which you’re able to talk business critically.”
It’s the greatest trade deal that the EU has signed thus far representing 30 percent of global GDP and 40 percent of international trade. It’s the biggest open-trade zone on earth and covers 600 million individuals.
Regardless of the very excellent trade amounts, doing business or investing in Japan is frequently difficult because of the features of Western culture and its market.
To earn trade and industry connections between the EU and Japan simpler, bilateral dialogues and joint projects are established, for instance, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, which encourages all kinds of industrial, investment and trade cooperation between the two areas.
Now, you can find 64,000 direct EU exporters to Japan around Europe. More than 88 percent of them are small and midsize businesses. However, there are probably a lot more European SMEs that are potential beneficiaries of this EPA.


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The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has emphasized the need for global supply chains to move away from a predominantly cash-based system. It is clear that now is the time to scale up the use of digital financial services, not only because they are more efficient and effective than cash, but—perhaps even more importantly—because of the role that digitization plays in advancing greater financial inclusion and security, particularly for vulnerable populations.
As the transition from cash to digital financial services accelerates around the world, greater understanding is developing on how to manage this shift, what is needed to deliver impact, and the importance of increased collaboration across private and public sectors.
Since 2018, BSR’s HERproject has partnered with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth to leverage the HERfinance Digital Wages program to scale up wage digitization for ready-made garment factories and workers in Bangladesh, Egypt, and Cambodia, with a focus on gender equality. This report shares five lessons and insights from this partnership and from across the Digital Wages program that can be valuable to everyone working collectively to scale digital financial services across multiple use cases, including wages and government payments.


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The model villages are established under the Saemaul Undong initiative, a community development movement, which builds a village or community to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants based on the spirits of diligence, self-help and cooperation. It was first adopted in South Korea over 60 years ago.
The RDC intervened after aggrieved residents petitioned his office implicating the political leadership and a section of technical staff for fraudulently sharing the ox and ox ploughs among themselves.
The report warns that without urgent action to reduce emissions, the occurrence of climate shocks and stresses in the Africa region are expected to get much worse adding that there is mounting evidence that higher temperatures have worsened drought and humanitarian disaster in East Africa.
The initiation of the warehouse receipt system follows the commissioning of a 6,000 metric tons store for grains in Gulu last week. The system enables farmers with agricultural produce stored in the warehouse to acquire bank loans to meet their needs.
A warehouse with a capacity to store 6,000 metric tons has been commissioned in Gulu to store agricultural produce from farmers in Acholi sub region signaling a steady onset of agricultural production in an area that only few years ago was the destination of relief food items.


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SAFEcontractor Accreditation of P&Q International
SAFEcontractor Accreditation of P&Q
P&Q International plc is one of the latest group of successful companies to join a leading-edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record.
SAFEcontractor is operated by international safety, health and environmental risk management specialists, National Brittania (now part of the Connaught Group). The system is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors.
James Ostler, Managing Director of Information Service at National Britannia, said, “Major organisations can no longer run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies.”
“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that P&Q International has done. The firm's high standard has set an example, which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector.”
Under the SAFEcontractor system, businesses undergo a vetting process, which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice.
Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website, www.safecontractor.com.


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Apple Sends out a Press Release about their first Flagship Store opening in Bangkok Thailand Tomorrow
Yesterday Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple's Cathedral in the Sky Opens in Thailand this Saturday." Today Apple release a press release titled "Apple opens first store in Thailand Saturday"
Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail: "Bangkok is a cultural and economic destination for the entire region and home to millions of passionate Apple customers. We are thrilled to introduce our Thai customers to Today at Apple, our full line of products, our phenomenal employees, and the service and support that are loved by customers around the world."
Elevated above the “River of Kings” in the heart of Bangkok, Apple Iconsiam sits alongside storied sites and cultural landmarks. Seamlessly connecting the new mixed-use ICONSIAM Center to an outdoor roof terrace, the store’s clean, trapezoidal design lines and glass surfaces accentuate the natural beauty of its surroundings while creating an open, airy atmosphere effacing boundaries between interior and exterior.
Apple Iconsiam features two expansive glass facades that create transparency through the store to the river, city and beyond. As customers walk in through a sweeping curve stone entry, their journey continues to the lush roof garden, where they can admire local art, participate in a Today at Apple photo or sketch walk, or simply enjoy iconic views of Bangkok.
Apple Iconsiam will open Saturday in Bangkok on the shores of the Chao Phraya, welcoming both locals and visitors to experience the best of Apple in Thailand for the first time. The store will feature Apple’s full line of products including iPhone XS, iPhone XR and Apple Watch Series 4, and will invite visitors to pursue their creative passions with free Today at Apple sessions.


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Robberies involving medical marijuana dispensaries, recreational stores and cultivation sites may make headlines, but the biggest security threat for cannabis businesses isn’t tied to unknown masked men hoping to make a quick buck.
Roughly 90% of financial and product loss in the marijuana industry can be chalked up to employee theft, according …
More than 2,100 cannabusiness executives and major investors have descended on Chicago for the national Spring Marijuana Business Conference & Expo. After a rousing keynote by Steven Levitt, co-author of the bestselling book Freakonomics, session topics ranged from new markets to
Medical marijuana dispensary license applicants in Massachusetts will be judged on their own merits under new rules passed by regulators to make the licensing process in the state more efficient and transparent.
The new system will judge applicants based on their individual merits rather …
More than half of existing marijuana businesses are seeking additional financial backing or plan to do so later this year, while most cannabis firms preparing for launch need capital as well, according to data in the newly released 2015 Marijuana Business Factbook.
So how much do executives with these companies think …
Washington State sets up a process to work with Native American tribes interested in marijuana, large banks reveal why they won’t touch the cannabis industry, and an Ohio legalization campaign gets a big-name backer – as well as some more money for its enormous war chest.
Strict rules, huge financial requirements and stiff competition appear to be deterring smaller businesses from vying for medical marijuana licenses in New York – which is what some observers expected would happen all along.
Take the case of Adam Kurtz, who has grown flowers on a farm in New York for nearly three decades.


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More freelancers are turning into “solopreneurs”, seeing the need for a business plan and more business training as essential to their success as a freelancer. In a recent online survey of Filipino freelancers by PayPal, nearly 70 percent of respondents said they have a business plan in place to support their work. Despite that, 95 percent still indicated the need for additional training in business management.
“Freelancers represent a growing and increasingly influential segment of the workforce that is vital to the economic engine of the Philippines,” said Nagesh Devata, General Manager for PayPal Southeast Asia Cross-Border Trade. “The survey results are reflective of how the idea of freelancer turned ‘solopreneur’ has been gaining traction in the Philippines, given the flexibility and freedom that freelancing offers. But unlike full-time employees, freelancers often lack the back-channel support to manage their enterprises. While most full-time employees can often just focus on their job scope, freelancers will need to have a full range of skills, with business management and planning skills as key ones.”
According to the survey, which was conducted in April 2019, 65 percent of the respondents said that having a business plan is essential to success in freelancing—underscoring the importance of business management capacities in overseeing their enterprise.
“Increasingly, we’re seeing more freelancers treating themselves as business entities. Freelancing is more than the service they provide to clients. It also involves branding, marketing, and finance as part of the work,” added Devata.
Survey respondents cited ‘Financial Planning’ (39%) as the most important aspect of their business plan, followed by ‘having a client-acquisition strategy’ (38%), ‘project pipeline’ (12%), and ‘rate cards’ (8%).
“Even if a majority of freelancers already have a business plan, almost all of them see a clear need for additional training in this area. This shows a strong appetite for knowledge and constant improvement, which are crucial in this globally competitive playing field,” said Devata.
Anchored by a rising millennial population, the development of digital platforms, and the evolution of business models, the Philippines is home to a growing gig economy with approximately 1.5 million freelancers, according to a 2018 estimate from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
While the gig economy has opened doors and helped many Filipinos improve their livelihoods, it continues to present challenges, such as increased global competition, a lack of organizational support, and a lack of reliable means to get paid, especially when cross-border transactions are involved.
As a champion for freelancers, PayPal helps freelancers address these challenges through its Freelancer Community Program and PayPal Business App. Launched in 2017, the PayPal Freelancer Community Program provides mentorship support to equip freelancers-turned-solopreneurs with skills to brand and market themselves, manage their business, and file for taxes.
The PayPal Business App is a mobile application that enables solopreneurs to conduct business and manage finances on-the-go. With the app, they can review transactions, check balances in all currencies, send customized invoices to clients, track unpaid accounts, and streamline their communications with clients wherever they are.
In 2018, PayPal hosted its first-ever Southeast Asia Gig Economy Summit in Manila, which sought to empower freelancers and social sellers with insights on opportunities, challenges, and new-generation solutions that are key in unlocking the country’s potential and fast-growing freelancer economy.
“Risks are true for any business, but the impact is greatly felt among freelancers who often rely on their own facilities without aid from an organization. As their own business, they would have to be equipped with the requisite knowledge, skills, and support to stay competitive,” Devata added. “PayPal not only provides them a safer and more secure way to get paid, minimizing their financial risks, it also provides them access to an immense network of merchants and consumers, through our global reach and partnerships. We want to enable freelancers and solopreneurs to build a stable and fulfilling career as part of our mission to democratize finance”


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Charlie Sheen’s idea for Jeff Bezos
Charlie Sheen’s ramblings are still fascinating to some, weird to many, and boring to those who are trying to ignore him.
Sheen is reaching out to Amazon.com’s CEO Jeff Bezos about publishing his recently announced book, “Apocalypse Me: The Jaws of Life,” on the company’s e-reader Kindle.
“Get him to call me today because I’m going to sell this thing through Amazon and Kindle because we need to save trees,” he says. “I must marry a tree. My other marriages didn’t work, so I’m going to marry a tree.”
Sheen says didn’t say much about the content of the book, but says the cover will be “brilliant and colorful.”
Amazon hasn’t commented on Sheen’s latest, big idea.
(AP Photo/Phil McCarten)


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Thinking Outside the Box to Expand Beyond Traditional Tire Niches.
In a recent article from Dealer News, Dealers, Reps, Distributors and Kenda management comment on the continued growth of the Kenda brand in the marketplace.
Tires tend to get a bum rap in some unenlightened circles. They are all round and black, smell bad and take up space, according to the naysayers. However, the tire Illuminati know better! By pushing into specialty niches as well as accelerating R&D into the fastest growing segments in the market, including ADV applications and UTV-specific tires, Kenda continues to push the parameters of the powersports industry. The “Kenda” name comes from Chinese symbols “Kěn dá” which mean “never stop growing”, explains Jimmy Yang, Chairman of Kenda’s global operations. “Producing quality tires has always been Kenda’s first priority. In order to make tires that perform well and maintain the integrity of the brand and the quality level of the tires, a good product department is critical.”
To read the complete Dealer News article and find out what the dealers, reps and distributors think, click here to get the scoop!
What Reps say about Jason Baldwin, Kenda’s Director of Powersports.
As a former brand manager for a large distributor, Baldwin has an affinity for and a unique understanding of the importance of the road reps. “Kenda has been working very hard to support reps and dealers with new products and promo items and training to help with the sales at all levels,” says Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties rep Todd Sheedy.
“Jason gets it when it comes to helping reps and dealers promote and sell Kenda products,” says Sheedy. “This is what we need in today’s environment to be successful, so a big ‘thank you’ to Kenda and Jason for their support.”
ABOUT KENDA TIRES
Since it was founded in 1962, Kenda has operated under the core values of Honesty, Innovation, Quality, and Customer Service. Over the years, Kenda has continued to develop and expand its product offering to meet changing market demands. Today, Kenda is one of the world’s leading tire and tube manufacturers for automotive, motorcycle, ATV, bicycle, wheelchair, golf cart, lawn care equipment, trailer, skid loader, and agricultural vehicles. With factories all over the world, Kenda is able to provide quality products to suit a wide variety of applications. For more information, please visit www.kendatire.com


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During his speech the other day outlining revisions to the U.S. intelligence operations, President Obama said some changes were going to happen immediately and the government was looking for scale back the collecting of phone records on American citizens.
But, what the President didn’t say was that wholesale data collection of Americans was going to stop. The NSA is still going to collect a copy of everything that travels over the internet. Whether the government stores it it’s own facility or not is really not the issue. Someone will store your data, so if you’re smart you will learn how to encrypt your communications and keep other people from reading it.
Let’s face it, we live in a digital world and if not the government someone will be trying to hack you and track everything you do online. I will be publishing regular articles and how to videos on how to protect yourself online so be sure to follow me on the various social media platforms located at the top of the website.
Please also share what you think others should know about and subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates.


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Havas Media Group has become the latest company to be certified for both anti-fraud and brand safety by JICWEBS, an independent body defining best practice and standards for online advertising and trading in the UK.
Havas’ certification for brand safety and anti-fraud now takes the total tally of aligned groups to 72 since JICWEBS announced plans to tackle ad fraud within the online advertising industry January last year.
Demand for trust
Companies are awarded if an independent audit – from the likes of ABC, BPA or ePrivacy – verifies their processes meet JICWEBS’ Good Practice Principles to reduce the risk of ads being served against inappropriate content and/or reduce the risk of fraudulent ads being served.
Affectv, RadiumOne, Underton and Collective are just a number of ad companies already certified by JICWEBS.
“Advertisers want greater trust and transparency in the digital ad chain and it will become increasingly difficult for suppliers to strike trading agreements if they aren’t accredited through JICWEBS,” commented Richard Foan, chairman of JICWEBS.
“Certification shows advertisers who is making a genuine commitment to protect their investment against fraud and unsafe brand environments.”
Havas Media Group’s certification follows the agency’s claim of becoming “100% programmatic” last year, with over a quarter of its workforce now trained on the workings of automated ad buying in an effort to foster more trust among their clients.
At the time the announcement, Alfonso Rodes Vila, deputy CEO of Havas Group and CEO of Havas Media Group spoke on the need for understanding of programmatic technology across the supply chain in order to secure advertiser trust; “programmatic is the new reality – and whatever our role is, we must understand audiences, addressable content and personalised messages.”
Noticeable reduction in fraud
Despite issues with ad fraud and advertiser trust in programmatic technology coming to a head in 2017, Julia Smith, director of communications for Impact Radius, predicted a “noticeable reduction” in fraud for 2018, aided by the likes of JICWEBS’ accreditation.
“I expect the UK will see an increasing number of companies becoming accredited,” said Smith.
“Those who are not accredited by JICWEBS can expect to see a negative impact on trading so it will become a must have for fraud providers and trading platforms.”
Smith also regarded Ads.txt as a “crucial step forwards” to delivering increased transparency across the industry, closely follow closely followed by a significant uptake in the use of blockchain technology in programmatic trading.


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LOCKPORT, NY — NetPlus Alliance, a buying group with more than 385 industrial and contractor supplies distributor members, hosted its third annual meeting Oct. 2-4 in San Antonio, TX. The theme, “Plan & Grow,” set the tone for an event centered on proactive growth in today’s increasingly competitive markets.
“We’ve done so much this year, and I am excited about what NetPlus can accomplish in the coming year together,” NetPlus Alliance President Jennifer Murphy said. “We wanted our members and suppliers to use this meeting as an opportunity to say yes to new channel relationships, to reigniting old ones, or to a new technology or business process — all critical to moving forward and growing together as a group.”
In this spirit, the Growth Plus sales planning program was launched at the meeting. Growth Plus brings key channel partners to the table to talk about challenges and opportunities they are facing and build a joint plan for growth in 2017.
“You can’t always control what’s happening outside of your business — and you certainly can’t control the economy — but you can choose how you will respond. Choose to be proactive rather than reactive. Say yes to new opportunities that will strengthen your business and bolster your position, whatever comes your way,” Murphy told attendees at the event’s business luncheon.
Continuing this theme, the event’s keynote speaker Seth Mattison shared how the more traditional top-down leadership typically practiced by the Baby Boomer generation is giving way to a more collaborative and flexible approach to managing people and performance — more commonly embraced by Millennials. His advice: Take action now to recognize and bridge the differences between generations in your work force. Opening your mind to a new style of management and work may bring new ideas and leaders to the forefront. In turn, that could boost your bottom line, he told members.
In an educational session, Brian Gardner, founder of SalesProcess360, also encouraged NetPlus members to be proactive rather than reactive to improve their sales processes for a true competitive edge. He provided a framework for focusing on the front end of the sales process to uncover and convert more sales opportunities.
Over two days, more than 1,500 booth session meetings were held between distributors and manufacturers; members also attended educational sessions hosted by manufacturers, NetPlus Alliance and industry experts. Attendees connected with old friends and established new relationships at the opening party on day one, a Western-themed happy hour that closed out day two and other social events over the course of two days, continuing the conversations they started during their business meetings. The event concluded with an afternoon of distributor networking, where members shared with and learned from their peers.
The event also featured the first-ever NetPlus Women in the Industry Reception, bringing more than two dozen NetPlus members together to network. NetPlus members spoke about their experience in the Industrial Supply Association’s networking group Women Industrial Supply Executives (WISE) and made plans to connect after the annual meeting for ongoing support within the NetPlus organization. New ISA President and CEO Ed Gerber attended the reception and the rest of the annual meeting as a special guest.
The 2017 NetPlus Alliance Annual Meeting will be Oct. 8-10 in Orlando, FL.


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The Kumasi Wood Cluster (KWC) and the Ghana Timber Millers Organisation (GTMO) have introduced an innovative marketing communication strategy to help the private sector capitalise on opportunities in the European Union (EU).
The initiative, christened ‘Message House’, developed in collaboration with government and civil society, will communicate measures Ghana has put in place to meet the EU criteria for wood and wood products.
This falls under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), a bilateral timber-trade agreement between the European Union and the timber-exporting country outside the Union.
It is a key element of the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) signed over a decade ago, aimed at addressing illegal logging.
Mr Kofi Afreh Boakye, the Chief Executive of the Domestic Lumber Traders Association, at a workshop in Accra to discuss the communication strategy, said the ‘Message House’ would help the private sector to market itself.
The workshop also updated stakeholders on effective messages the private sector would advance to promote and communicate the essence of Ghana’s legal timber on the European Market when licensing is ready.
Mr Boakye assured the international community, especially the EU, that Ghana had met the sustainability and legality requirements for wood to be exported.
He disclosed that in the past, a miscommunication of those processes and the absence of information on sustainability resulted in doubts among majority of EU countries over the sustainability of Ghana’s timber products.
“The Europeans are more concerned about how sustainable Ghana’s legal wood system is and this is a platform where we can tell the whole world that we are not only interested in legality but also sustainability,” he said.
However, the KWC and the GTMO is implementing a six-month project titled, ‘Development of private sector-focused messages for Ghana’s FLEGT license communication strategy,’ funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation-EU FLEGT Programme. The project is to make available facts and figures to support messages to be carried by Ghana’s overall FLEGT licensing communication.
When ready, exporters of timber and timber products would have to meet certain criteria for FLEGT licenCes to be issued on the products they export to Europe. With this new communication strategy, licences issued under the FLEGT-VPA will be worthwhile.
As part of the project activities, a photo catalogue; Ghana Wood Digest, of exported timber products, company facilities and national infrastructure have been designed.
Mr Adjei Yeboah, former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said: “It is very important that our messages are strong enough. We are not just talking about an industry. It is not cosmetic.”
“It is good we are doing this and I pray we would be able to articulate it well to the international community.”
He debunked assertions that Ghana was not doing things right in the past, necessitating the creation of the ‘Message House’ and said initially emphasis was not placed on communication sustainability.
Credits: Ghanaian times


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StarTek reports drop in its operating costs
November 3, 2005
DENVER — StarTek Inc. has declared a quarterly dividend of 36 cents per share, payable later this month to its stockholders.
The company reported operating costs in the third quarter decreased by 2.3 percent and said increased income was aided by the sale of its Greeley facility, where the company was formed. The quarter ended Sept. 30.
StarTek packages computer parts for orders taken by telephone and employees provide information for customers who call a toll-free number with questions about or problems with a product.
In its report, StarTek said $600,000 of the decrease in its operating cost came from one-time expenses associated with cost realignment. It sold its Greeley facility for $1.1 million which, along with increased capacity utilization and new clients, helped accelerate improved earnings.
Steve Butler, StarTek president and chief executive officer, said the outlook for continued improvement of revenues and earnings is promising.
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“The progress our team has made in securing new clients and launching additional lines of business this quarter is very encouraging as we continue to look for growth and diversification opportunities,” he said.
The dividend to stockholders will be made Nov. 23.


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Google Fi has been offering customers a VPN service to protect their data while they’re browsing the internet for quite a while. Unfortunately, the said service was only available to those using Android devices.
Today, Google Fi announced that it’s expanding the VPN service to iPhone. Those using Apple’s smartphone will be happy to know that Fi’s VPN service is included in all the carrier’s plans. It will allow Fi’s customers to stream, browse and download on an encrypted, private connection.
More importantly, the service is meant to protect Fi customers against hackers on unsecured networks, as well as prevent websites from using their IP addresses to track their location. To enable Fi’s VPN service on an iPhone, you’ll have to go to Phone settings, tap Privacy & security, and enable Protect your online activity.
You’ll get a pop-up, so make sure to choose Got it, and then Allow. You will then be required to enter your device passcode or fingerprint. If everything went well, you should see a VPN icon in the status bar when you’re connected.


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Another troubled clothing retailer is closing stores across the U.S.
Abercrombie & Fitch said it will shut down approximately 60 stores in fiscal 2017 through "natural lease expirations." The decision to shutter more stores comes after the closure of 54 Abercrombie locations last year, according to CNBC.
"While the environment is likely to remain challenging in 2017, we have a strong balance sheet and continue to aggressively manage costs in order to continue our investments in strategies to provide our customers with compelling new experiences through a clearly defined brand voice, to position our business for sustainable growth," CEO Fran Horowitz said in a statement.
The company has not announced which Abercrombie stores will close. Only one Alabama location remains open at Riverchase Galleria in Hoover.
Abercrombie & Fitch, which saw net sales drop 13 percent in the most recent quarter, plans to open six full-price stores this fiscal year in its U.S. and international markets. Two new outlet stores will also open.
Read the full earnings report here.


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The past month was the best November in the company’s history, reports Liqui Moly, the German oil and additives specialist. The company closed the month with sales of almost 62 million Euros, with managing director Ernst Prost commenting: “The first fruits are appearing on the barren corona branch.”
The sales figure represents not only the best November sales volume in the company’s history, but also its second-highest monthly sales figure ever. Only January 2020 was stronger, while February and March were also stronger than ever before.
The Covid-19 pandemic did not leave Liqui Moly unaffected, but the company faced the crisis with resolve. No staff were dismissed, no short-time work was announced – on the contrary, 101 new employees were hired. Investments were not cancelled, but increased massively. For example, the marketing budget doubled.
“We are living off the good years before the crisis. Fortunately, we have built up reserves. This enables us to invest in the future now,” Prost continued.
The company fought its way out of the crisis step by step with this countercyclical strategy. Then November came, with a sales increase of 26% compared to the same month last year.
“For the first time in many months, we have once again recorded double-digit sales growth. Given the investments in our four core assets of people, brand, machines and markets, this is only the logical consequence of our work,” added Prost. “With an increase of 26% in November, we were able to leave the valley of tears. So far, we have achieved growth of 4.5% and have the order books for December brimming over. That’s why we will have to use every hour both in production and in shipping to supply our customers.”