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Budweiser, the official sponsor of the World Cup in Qatar, will give stacks of unsold beer to the winner of the quadrennial soccer tournament.
Budweiser was originally slated to be sold inside the eight stadiums in Qatar at certain intervals before and after matches. But the conservative royal government of the Muslim country put the kibosh on beer sales in those venues Friday since Islam forbids alcohol.
“Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters,” FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, said in a statement Friday.
Budweiser has an alternative plan for its warehouses full of undrunk booze — giving it all to the Cup champion. In a tweet Saturday, the company showed a picture of beer cases with the caption “Winning Country gets the Buds. Who will get them?”
“We will host the ultimate championship celebration for the winning country. Because, for the winning fans, they’ve taken the world. More details will be shared when we get closer to the finals,” a spokesperson for Budweiser parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev told CNN Business Tuesday.
Budweiser, which has sponsored World Cups since 1986, paid around $75 million for the 2022 sponsorship, according to CNN Business.


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A recent Wells Fargo Webinar focused on supply chain disruptions in the ongoing COVID-pandemic environment, the challenges they pose to businesses, and the macroeconomic impacts and outlook. Hosted by Perry Moreth, Senior Vice President, Global Advisor Specialized Industries at Wells Fargo, guest speakers included Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, and Sarah House, Senior Economist, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.
Pandemic-induced disruption and demand surge
The COVID-19 pandemic initially shuttered economies, and cargo trade plummeted. A cargo surge followed as American consumers stayed home and shifted discretionary spending from services to goods. Amid ongoing local and global supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages, and altered consumer behaviors, this import surge continues today.
The Port of Los Angeles and neighboring Port of Long Beach make up the San Pedro Bay Port Complex — which handles roughly 40% of U.S. import volume. The Port of Los Angeles is the busiest container port in The Western Hemisphere, and its cargo reaches every Congressional district in the U.S. The San Pedro Bay ports support one in nine jobs in the five-county region of Southern California, and approximately one million people statewide have Port supply chain-related work. Volume and other performance indicators at the Port of L.A. reveal much about continued global supply chain challenges.
A traffic jam
The Port of L.A. moved nearly 11 million 20-foot container units during the 12-month period ending on June 30, 2021. In May 2021, it became the first port in the Western Hemisphere to cross one million container units in a single 30-day period. According to Seroka, the Port of L.A. has been handling peak container volume for more than one year – averaging 900,000+ container units a month. Today, the Port of L.A. is working 50% more vessels daily than before the pandemic. Despite Asia factories clocking all-time output highs, and 99 ½% of all ships deployed worldwide, there are still backlogs on order and more containers are being shipped than there is space available at inland warehouses and distribution centers.
With terminal tarmacs full, ships are waiting at anchorage about 12 days on average, an issue playing out at other major ports in the U.S. and overseas.
Dwell times, the waiting period for containers to clear out of port terminals by trucks, are at an all-time high. Warehouse space availability in Southern California is also near its all-time low. Because of over-stocked warehouses, over-capacity container terminals and spot shortages of truckers and warehouse workers, the container dwell time at port terminals is roughly six days compared to the typical two- to three-day average. Dwell time for on-dock rail was up to 13 days earlier in the year but has improved to average between four and five days.
Containers are arriving full but leaving empty. For every full export container, five empty containers return to Asia where they are rapidly filled with the next round of imports. The import to export ratio at the port is highest trade gap in memory.
Improving supply chain visibility at the Port
Despite physical bottlenecks, the Port of L.A. is expanding digitization of key supply chain data to improve cargo and operational visibility. “The specificity of looking upstream to predict volumes will be all important in how we can bring certainty back to our supply chains and our customers for product delivery,” says Seroka. For example, The Port Optimizer, co-created in 2016 by the Port of L.A. and Wabtec (formally General Electric Transportation), is a port community system for cargo owners to track their shipments weeks in advance of arrival in L.A. Ocean carrier schedules and data feeds from U.S. Customs and its automated manifest system underpin the Port Optimizer. Four new modules have been implemented during the pandemic:
1) The Signal, co-created with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, gives a three-week upstream outlook on incoming cargo.
2) The Return Signal, co-created with the trucking industry, helps truckers identify the terminals accepting empty containers, with aggregated information updated every five minutes.
3) The Control Tower gives an aerial view of Port of L.A. activities in real-time, helping shippers see bottlenecks before they become problematic and to enabling cargo owners to make the best decisions on where to route their products.
4) Similar to The Signal, the Horizon is a new, six-month forecasting tool to enable better understanding of future cargo flows and prepare cargo owners, Longshore labor and other supply chain service providers to best position their personnel and equipment in anticipation of inbound cargo volumes.
“We are relentless in our efforts to add transparency and value to the supply chain, knowing that all participants are operating at full speed” says Seroka. “We have an outsized obligation to help everywhere we can.”
More broadly effecting short- and long-term changes
President Biden’s executive order on supply chain, Seroka said, is shining a spotlight on supply chain issues. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg held a roundtable on July 15, 2021, with stakeholders from across the supply chain. The industry is in dialog with the most senior administration officials and working across the private sector at the C-Suite level to address short-term challenges and longer-term systemic issues. In October, these discussions led to the creation of an Accelerate Cargo L.A. program with a handful of major retailers, shipping logistics providers, railroads and trucking companies moving their cargo on a 24/7 basis.
Macroeconomic impacts and outlook
Like many of the current supply chain issues, the remarkably fast recovery has its roots in consumer demand. Despite a return to pre-COVID economic activity, sharp drawdowns in inventory are still taking place. In fact, supply chain uncertainty is causing many cargo owners to pull their import shipments ahead of schedule as much as possible to avoid low product inventories during the upcoming holiday season. Manufacturing, wholesale, and retail inventories are at their lowest level versus sales in about a decade. “Compared to the Great Recession, which took about three years to return to pre-recession levels of activity, the economy has already returned to its pre-pandemic size” said House.
The outlook for U.S. real GDP growth in 2021 is close to six percent, well above the traditional rate of around two percent. However, the pace of growth would be even stronger, about two percentage points higher, during the first half of the year had there been more available inventories.
Household income levels
While income typically plummets during a recession, and a drop in spending follows, a forceful U.S. policy response to the pandemic-induced recession has impacted household income. All of the stimulus packages to come out of Washington, D.C. over the past 18 months equate to approximately 24% of GDP, noted House. These initiatives have kept income above its pre-COVID levels. “Even as fiscal support wanes, consumers remain in a solid position to spend. This is not a balance sheet recession,” notes House. The strong financial position of U.S. households, with total extra savings equating to around $2.3 trillion, is one reason for an above-trend growth forecast.
The economic recovery has been uneven and, in some ways, atypical. Services spending remains below pre-COVID levels, noted House, while durable spending—usually deferred during a recession, had rebounded one month after the pandemic began.
COVID concerns represent a near-term risk to the growth outlook. But with each wave of COVID, risk tolerance has increased so that there has been less impact on demand. There has been less consumer reaction to the latest delta wave. House noted that the risk tolerance globally is different than in U.S., however, as evidenced, for example, by renewed restrictions across much of China in response to climbing COVID cases there mid-summer.
Persistent labor shortages
U.S. unemployment is at 4.8%, but this understates a tight labor market. There are about three million fewer people in the labor force. The availability of workers continues to hold back jobs recovery and constrain economic growth. As of August 2021, about 50% of businesses said they cannot find workers even though the economy has approximately five million fewer jobs. Wages are rising well above the typical run-rate for the past cycle, particularly in lower-wage sections such as leisure and hospitality, where businesses are having difficulty filling jobs, as well as the transportation sector.
The end of extended unemployment benefits could take pressure off of wage growth. As COVID concerns fade, more people could return to the job market, with potentially more material cooling in wage growth by the Spring of 2022. At that point, the supply of workers and demand for workers could come into better balance.
Core inflation (measured by CPI index) has risen more than 4 percent as of July 2021 the highest rise since the 1990s. Firms have had some pricing power to pass higher input costs on to customers amid continued demand. More firms are raising prices now than any time since 1980. Inflation is likely to push higher over next few quarters while beginning to slow in 2022, with adjustments to supply issues and cooling demand.
Continuing global supply chain dynamics in the short term
The need to rebuild inventories will keep production and trade strong even as spending cools over the next year. Record levels of cargo volume are moving through the system but still too slowly. Inventory levels remain near all-time lows. The price for getting supplies to their destinations continues to rise. The supply-demand curve could remain unchanged for some time. As a result, meaningful easing is not yet in sight for the global supply chain.
To listen to the full Webinar replay click here.
Source: Webinar replay featuring Port of L.A. Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, and Sarah House, Senior Economist, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

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On 12 October 2016, HeidelbergCement purchased the remaining Italcementi shares that had not been tendered in the mandatory tender offer.
Therefore, HeidelbergCement is now the sole shareholder of Italcementi and owns 100% of the share capital. Italcementi shares were delisted from the Italian Stock Exchange on the same day.
In a shareholder meeting on 19 October 2016 a new Board of Directors was established for Italcementi. The new members are Luca Sabelli (Chairman), Dominik von Achten (Executive Vice President), Lorenz Näger (Executive Vice President) and Roberto Callieri (CEO).
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/21102016/acquisition-of-italcementi-finalised/
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CEMEX have announced today the launch of Regenera, a business that provides circularity solutions, including reception, management, recycling, and co-processing of waste.


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The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2019 auction was held January 12-20 at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona, resulting in $131.6 million in total sales and a 99.74 percent sell-through rate. In total, over 1,800 vehicles sold for over $118 million, while over 1,500 pieces of automobilia brought in over $4.05 million, and $9.6 million was raised through the sale of charity vehicles, bringing the total auction sales to more than $131.6 million at Barrett-Jackson’s 48th annual Arizona Auction Week sale.
“Thanks to our bidders, consignors and guests, we started 2019 at full throttle with our most successful event yet,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “The atmosphere was electric as the demand for collector cars continues to grow and expand to a new, younger generation of enthusiasts. We sold over 1,800 No Reserve vehicles – including an unbelievable docket of supercars and Resto-Mods – making this the largest No Reserve collector car auction in history. The skyrocketing number of millennial and Gen-X buyers demonstrates how vibrant and exciting it is to be at Barrett-Jackson for all generations.”
The top results at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2019 auction included a 2019 McLaren Senna (Lot #1405) sold for $1,457,500, a 2014 Mercedes-Benz G63 6X6 (Lot #1410) at $1,210,000 and the 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition (Lot #1412) for $918,500.
During the Arizona Auction Week event, Barrett-Jackson raised $9.6 million, which includes donations made on the block beyond the hammer prices, and is the largest amount raised at one auction in the company’s 48-year history. To date, Barrett-Jackson has raised over $114 million for charity. In keeping with tradition, Barrett-Jackson gave bidders the chance to own three VIN 001 vehicles. On Friday, Carolyn and Craig Jackson were the winning bidders of the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 VIN 001 (Lot #3008), which sold for $1.1 million to benefit JDRF.
Barrett-Jackson also teamed up with Toyota North America for the sale of the 2020 Toyota Supra VIN 20201 (Lot #3010), which raised $2.1 million to benefit the American Heart Association and The Bob Woodruff Foundation. The winning bidders of the first global production Supra were Jeanette and John Staluppi. The spirit of giving continued when the 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition VIN 001 (Lot #3012) sold for $2.5 million, with 100 percent of the hammer price benefiting United Way for Southeastern Michigan, which was purchased by Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick.
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2019 – Top Ten Auction Results
Barrett-Jackson’s Automobilia Auction had its second most successful auction in its history, selling 1,521 items for more than $4 million. Among the most notable pieces sold was a full-size transportation-themed carousel manufactured by Wilhelm Hennecke of Germany in 1962 (Lot #9499) that sold for $506,000.
The next 2019 Barrett-Jackson sale will be held in Palm Beach, Florida, April 11-13.


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|Bid||205.00 x 900|
|Ask||213.00 x 1200|
|Day's Range||207.90 - 211.80|
|52 Week Range||54.06 - 229.20|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||63.58|
|Earnings Date||Nov 5, 2018 - Nov 9, 2018|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||1.92 (0.94%)|
|1y Target Est||229.00|
Momentum could be pointing to big gains going forward for these sectors — regardless of how long the S&P takes to break out.
Zacks.com highlights: Medifast, Continental Building Products, Huntsman, Logitech International and Allison Transmission Holdings
Richard Herman Driehaus who is a well-known American businessman and fund manager, developed an investment approach based on the buy high and sell higher rule.
Medifast shares have soared as the company's profit and sales have accelerated in recent quarters.
The bulls relished big gains by Apple, which rose 9% for the week on strong quarterly results. It helped guide the Nasdaq composite to a weekly gain of 0.9%
Medifast stock was the big winner on Wall Street Friday as major stock indexes were narrowly mixed. Nu Skin, tracked in the same industry group as Medifast, also soared.
Networking stocks, diet plan leader Medifast and video-game maker Take-Two Interactive staked early leads Friday, bolstering stocks after weak July payrolls data.
The market was subdued Friday after the Labor Department reported an increase of 157,000 jobs in the U.S. economy in June.
Medifast (MED) delivered earnings and revenue surprises of 16.00% and 15.48%, respectively, for the quarter ended June 2018. Do the numbers hold clues to what lies ahead for the stock?
BALTIMORE (AP) _ Medifast Inc. (MED) on Thursday reported second-quarter net income of $14.1 million. On a per-share basis, the Baltimore-based company said it had profit of $1.16. For the current quarter ending in October, Medifast said it expects revenue in the range of $120 million to $125 million.
Medifast has been one of the fastest-growing stocks in the entire U.S. this year, as shares are up more than 150 percent.
Second Quarter Revenue Increased 55% and EPS Increased 84% Record Financial Results Exceed Second Quarter Guidance Raises Fiscal Year 2018 Outlook BALTIMORE, Md. , Aug. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifast, ...
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 2, 2018 / Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED ) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q2 Earnings Call to be held on August 2, 2018 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. To listen ...
BALTIMORE, July 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifast, Inc. (MED), a leading manufacturer and provider of clinically proven, healthy living products and programs, today announced its lifestyle brand, OPTAVIA, hosted its largest event in company history in St. Louis from July 19 through July 22, 2018. "Convention is an opportunity for our OPTAVIA Community to learn from each other, and to celebrate the incredible health transformations they create every day," said Nick Johnson, Market President of OPTAVIA, USA. International Expansion: OPTAVIA Coaches and corporate staff conducted training to prepare Coaches for the Company's 2019 expansion into the Asia-Pacific markets of Hong Kong and Singapore.
Zacks.com highlights: lululemon athletica, Perry Ellis International, Boston Beer Company, Medifast and Navigators Group
Purposeful Hydration Unveiled at Annual OPTAVIA Convention BALTIMORE , July 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifast, Inc . (NYSE: MED), a leading manufacturer and provider of clinically proven, healthy living ...
BALTIMORE, Md. , July 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED), a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically proven, healthy living products and programs, will announce financial results ...
After a historic year last year where the stock market was positive every month, 2018 has marked a return to volatility.
Medifast (NYSE:MED) is one of the leading players in one of the hottest industries in the U.S. today — weight management products. Specifically, MED delivers meal plans to customers that either have a medical condition where dietary restrictions are necessary (heart disease, diabetes, etc) or simply to people who want to eat healthier but don’t have the time or the knowledge to do that on their own. Of course, there are plenty of heavy hitters (pardon the pun) in this space — Nutrisystem (NASDAQ:NTRI), Weight Watchers (NYSE:WTW) and Jenny Craig, to name a few. The stocks of these companies are hitting triple-digit returns year to date.


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Online fashion retailer Asos kicked off a three-week campaign for the U.K. and U.S. on TikTok Monday.
The campaign includes an #AySauce branded hashtag challenge, in-feed ads, a bespoke music track and an interactive augmented reality experience created via TikTok’s branded effects.
Asos worked on the campaign with TikTok and marketing technology agency Byte, and it will include over 25 leading content creators in both countries, with a combined following of over 219 million, such as Jordan Fisher, Loren Gray, Holly H, Michael Le, the Neffati Brothers and Luke Trotman.
Users will first encounter the campaign when they open the TikTok application, as they will see Asos content via the platform’s TopView advertising solution, an immersive, premium placement ensuring that the video from the brand is the first thing people see and occupying the entire screen while encouraging likes, comments, shares and follows.
The #AySauce branded hashtag challenge will begin Aug. 31, encouraging TikTok users to showcase three outfits of their choice during their 15-second videos. An Explore tab on the challenge page will give users access to more content from Asos, and the retailers will also run in-feed ads to reach people on TikTok in their For You feeds.
In-feed ads will run in the U.S. from Aug. 31 through Sept. 14, alongside creator content on the platform.
Asos also commissioned and produced its own track with Karm and co-created a unique branded effect AR experience with Byte, the latter of which brings the campaign graphics to life via hand gestures.
TikTok managing director of global business solutions for the U.K. Inam Mahmood said in a statement, “TikTok’s format and joyful tone encourages brands to be authentic and creative in a fully immersive, no judgement world. The team at Asos has really leaned into this and shown with its campaign that it understands what makes the platform unique—community, music and creativity. We’re excited to see the results we can help to deliver for Asos across the U.K. and U.S.”
Asos brand creative director John Mooney added, “We’re always evolving our content, social media strategy and channel focus in order to ensure that we’re staying relevant to our fashion-loving 20-something customers. TikTok is a growing part of that mix, and we’re excited to see how our social content team can engage our customers in new ways through the #AySauce hashtag challenge over the coming weeks.”
And Byte co-founder Alex Miller said, “Asos is yet again leading the way with the launch of this innovative campaign designed specifically for TikTok. Developing #AySauce has involved bringing together expertise in creative, media and tech, as well as close collaboration with TikTok to create some new engaging experiences that will stand out and be very effective.”


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PODCAST: How logistics is facing future disruptions
From technology to real estate footprints, companies are prioritizing resilience
From the blockage of the Suez Canal to the pandemic, there have been plenty of reminders about the fragility of global commerce in the last year.
The events have been a wake-up call for manufacturers and logistics firms, which are trying to figure out how to address unpredictable disruptions to intertwined global supply chains.
“Right now resilience is emerging as a lot more important than cost,” says John Gattorna, a leading supply chain thought leader and author. “Although if you get it right, increased resilience shouldn’t necessarily cost more.”
The issues have become increasingly important in commercial real estate, where the logistics-sector boom appears set to continue. According to JLL’s Future of Global Logistics report, 74 percent of surveyed professionals expect demand to grow at pace over the next five years.
What does it take to be ready for periods of disruption, and what happens if you aren’t?
Listen to John and Michael Ignatiadis, head of supply chain and logistics solutions at JLL, discuss what companies are doing to prepare for disruption, what’s holding them back, how global firms are thinking local, and the shape of a modern logistics footprint.
Contact Michael IgnatiadisHead of Supply Chain and Logistics Solutions
What’s your investment ambition?
Uncover opportunities and capital sources all over the world and discover how we can help you achieve your investment goals.


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Biggest location for DHL in Germany
Deutsche Post DHL is investing a low three-digit million euro sum into the expansion of its parcel centre in Aschheim (Germany).
The new warehouse is being built adjacent to the existing facility. By connecting the two locations via a tunnel for trucks, the company will create the largest parcel location in the country. From 2022, it will be able to sort up to 72,000 parcels per hour.
Built on a 67,000 smq site, the hub will be equipped with a photovoltaic system on the roof and will be supplied via climate-friendly district heating, largely from geothermal energy.
The largest DHL parcel centres in Obertshausen near Frankfurt and in Bochum can each sort a maximum of 50,000 items per hour. Deutsche Post DHL Group currently operates 36 parcel centres in Germany. (sh)


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On one hand, Facebook's comments to the NTIA on Apple's market power are supremely ironic. *Facebook*, complaining about excessive market power?
Even worse is what Facebook is complaining about: Apple's App Tracking Transparency update to Ios devices like the Iphone, which allowed users to comprehensively and easily block all the apps on their phones from spying on them. When Apple gave users this choice, nearly all of them chose privacy.
Facebook says this cost them $10b (no wonder they're mad). Nothing Facebook did - neither deceptive messages about why users should choose to be spied on, nor astroturf campaigns from small businesses extolling the value of submitting to surveillance - worked:
So on the one hand, Facebook's motivations here are straightforward. Facebook profited from depriving its users of the right to decide how they used its service. Apple gave users more control. Facebook lost money, and complained.
But on the other hand...they've got a point.
Not about why it's bad that Apple gave its customers the ability to choose privacy - but that those Apple users had to wait for Apple to decide that they deserved that protection.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about Apple deciding to protect its users - but I *am* complaining about Apple preventing its users from protecting themselves.
As far as Apple -and Facebook, and Google, and other large tech companies - are concerned, we’re entitled to just as much privacy as they want to give us, and no more.
For example, Google and Apple kicked the worst location data brokers out of their platform - but left dozens of nearly equally terrible ones to ply their trade:
Apple argues that preventing its users from choosing rival app stores is just a manifestation of the company's sense of duty and commitment to caring for its users. But Apple, like all other tech giants, has conflicting priorities here.
Apple''s decision to take a 15-30% cut of every penny you spent using apps means that its motives are, at best, mixed.
As Apple fights laws in the EU (Digital Markets Act) and USA (Open Apps Market Act) that will force it to allow its customers to choose other app stores, it continues maintain that it objects to these purely on security grounds. Apple makes that argument, but doesn't acknowledge the possibility that a third party app store might *increase* security:
The pretense that Apple objects to competition on purely altruistic grounds is absurd. Apple's decision to take a 30% commission on in-app sales means that its own products have a 30% advantage compared to its competitors. Think of audiobooks, which Apple sells through its media player, and also lets Amazon sell through its Audible app, on preferential terms.
The retail margin on audiobooks is 20%, which means that a competing audiobook store on Apple's platform loses money on every sale (that's why indie alternatives to Apple/Amazon all make you buy your books using a browser).
But even if you take Apple at its word and stipulate that Apple wants to protect its customers (which it often does!), the company has made it clear that it shouldn't have the last word on this.
Yes, it has stood up to governments that tried to force it to weaken the privacy protections in Ios:
But the company also caves in when some governments order it to weaken security:
And sometimes Apple weakens its security even when *no* government tells it to:
In Facebook's complaint, they accuse Apple of intentionally raising the "switching costs" of leaving Ios for Android, by refusing to improve Safari so it can run web apps that work equally well on any platform, and by blocking users from installing non-Safari-based browsers on Ios:
Facebook is a world authority on the abuse of high switching costs as a means of locking users to its platform, even when they'd prefer to leave.
After all, that's what Facebook does. Internal FB memos, published by the FTC, expose a parade of mustache-twirling Facebook execs discussing how to make leaving Facebook as painful as possible:
Many of the proposals to address Apple's inconsistently benevolent dictatorship of Ios customers' apps have toyed with the idea of forcing Apple to include apps it doesn't like in its App Store. This is...not great.
The reason we cheer when Apple lets Facebook users choose to use some parts of the service (talking to their friends) but not others (being spied on) is because people - not corporations - should have the final say over their technology.
That's true of Apple, too.
Again, it's great when Apple protects its customers' privacy. It's great when Facebook does it (as they did when they turned on end-to-end encryption for billions of Whatsapp users).
But the final word on whether a privacy measure is legitimate shouldn't rest with Facebook or Apple, or any other tech giant.
That word should to to the public, through a national privacy law with a private right of action, one that sets the floor on privacy protections on all platforms, app stores and services:
Electronic Frontier Foundation
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Visa and Mastercard respond to Treasury Committee on card fee increases
24 August 2022
In October 2021, Visa and Mastercard increased cross-border interchange fees on purchases made by UK consumers to European businesses, and by European consumers to UK businesses. Fees increased from 0.2 per cent to 1.15 per cent for debit cards and 0.3 per cent to 1.5 per cent for credit card transactions.
The European Union Interchange Fee Regulation, which caps interchange fees, no longer applies to cross-border fees following the UK’s exit from the EU.
In response to the Committee, both companies argue that higher fees are justified by the greater risk of fraud in cross-border transactions, and the costs incurred by banks to prevent and detect such crime.
Visa and Mastercard also point out that they do not benefit directly from fee increases, as it is a customer’s card issuer, rather than the card payment system, who receive the additional revenue from interchange fees.
The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) previously told the Committee it has not seen “evidence that shows that there have been significant changes in the costs” for card issuers, that could justify the increase in fees. The PSR also recently expressed concerns that these fee rises may demonstrate the market is “not working well” and “could result in higher prices paid by UK merchants and consumers”.
Commenting on the responses, Rt. Hon. Mel Stride MP, Chair of the Treasury Committee, said:
“All businesses, particularly small and medium sized firms, are facing rising costs on many fronts, and the increase in cross-border card fees will only add to these pressures. It is vital that these businesses have every opportunity to succeed and are not burdened with disproportionate additional costs at this time.”


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Lyft beats Uber in race to offer rides from LAX
Service goes live from 8am local time on December 23rd
What you missed at Engadget Live Los Angeles
Here's what you might've missed at Engadget Live Los Angeles!
Engadget Live takes over the Exchange in Los Angeles this Friday!
If you're going to be in Los Angeles, CA this Friday night, join us for the second #EngadgetLive event of the year!
Engadget Live hits Los Angeles next week!
Get ready for #EngadgetLive Los Angeles on August 21st!
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(FHWA) has recently released an update to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has recently released an update to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) on August 5, 2022. This document establishes national standards for all traffic control devices, including signs, signals, markings, and devices used to control traffic on all streets and highways in the United States.
The MUTCD is a crucial document for anyone involved in the design, construction, or operation of streets and highways in the United States. It provides a consistent set of standards that help ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods on our nation’s roads. The MUTCD is updated every few years to incorporate new research, technology, and best practices in traffic control.
One of the key changes in the 2021 edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
One of the key changes in the 2021 edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices is the inclusion of new guidelines for the use of roundabouts. Roundabouts have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to improve safety and traffic flow at intersections. The new guidelines provide detailed information on the design and operation of roundabouts, including recommended dimensions and signage. This will help ensure that roundabouts are designed and operated in a consistent and safe manner across the country.
Another significant change in the 2021 edition is the addition of new standards for the use of automated enforcement systems, such as red light cameras and speed cameras. The new standards provide guidance on the design, placement, and operation of these systems to ensure they are used in a way that is consistent with the principles of the MUTCD. This will help ensure that automated enforcement systems are used in a fair and effective manner to promote safety on our nation’s roads.
The MUTCD plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of people and goods on our nation’s roads. The new updates to the MUTCD will help ensure that the latest research, technology, and best practices are incorporated into the design and operation of traffic control devices. The new guidelines and standards for roundabouts and automated enforcement systems will help ensure that these devices are used in a consistent and safe manner across the country.


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As it sold new shares last week, Tesla Motors also put on sale its restyled Roadster 2.5. The sports car has a new front fascia and other additional features, including a touch screen with backup camera. It's part of an option package that adds $4,500 to the car's $109,000 sticker.
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While AMD/ATI entertains the world’s press in Tunisia, not everyone appears to be bound by the inevitable non disclosure agreements.
Website Daily Tech has got hold of a Radeon HD 2900 XT, expected to be the second best performing of the new family of graphics cards.
The site compares the HD 2900 XT with Nvidia’s GeForce 8800 GTS. Apparently the 2900 has 320 stream processors, compared to the 8800’s 96 and has taken a different approach to its unified shader design.
On the benchmarks themselves, the 2900 consistently provided more frames per second on a number of games and achieved a 3DMark06 score of 11447 compared to the 8800’s 9836.
The cards are due to launch in mid-may, with the HD 2900 XT expected to be priced at the same level as the GeForce 8800 GTS.


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Audi is set to bring the A3's front design in line with the rest of the carmaker's line-up as the A3 is due to get the same nose treatment as other Audi models.
And the good news is that Audi South Africa says owners of current cars will be able to upgrade to the new look "at a low cost".
The face-lifted Audi will now also feature the carmaker's trapezoidal single-frame grille design which is already available on the A3 Sportback, new A4 and A6.
Wheels24 can also reveal that the new-look Audi A3 will go on sale in South Africa in July.
At the same time Audi South Africa will expand the A3 range with the introduction of the 2.0 T FSI model.
This turbo A3, which will be available with manual and DSG transmissions, has a power output of 147 kW while torque is 280 Nm.
here for Audi photo galleries.


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Retail apparel sales have gone down last month. Further, large format retail chains have stopped placing new orders. Additionally, most of the retail chains are also seeking extension of credit period. Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle and Pantaloons are among the large retailers affected by the slow sales, according to industry experts.
“The credit period is getting extended to 60 days from 45 days. The financial crisis has made it difficult for large players to fulfill their payment obligations and new orders are blocked or postponed as consumer demand is also falling,” an industry source said.
“This year, between April and October, apparel business in the organised retail grew at 15 per cent per annum when compared with the corresponding period last year in value terms. However, November has seen a fall of 10 per cent when compared to November 2007,” said an industry source.
In India, apparel constitutes about 10 per cent of the USD 37 billion retail consumer market.


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The high use of chemicals and antibiotics in livestock production has led to an increase in consumers’ health concerns. Hence, the demand for organic and clean foods is on the rise. Organic food has gained much popularity over the last decade. For instance, in 2020, U.S. consumers spent USD 56,000 million on organic produce. Clean meat or lab-grown meat usually has a higher Omega 3 fat content than conventional meat.
Over the last 40 years, antibiotics have been widely used in livestock production to prevent, treat, and control diseases, enhance the growth of animals, and improve their productivity. At the farm level, the optimal level of antibiotic use is largely an economic decision for the farmer within the context of good animal health and welfare. The global demand for veterinary antibiotics has increased sharply as large intensive animal production operations have developed over the last 30 years, particularly in emerging economies.
High antibiotic use in food animal production has been linked to the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as bacteria mutate and become resistant to commonly used antibiotics. There are concerns regarding AMR and the transmission of resistant genes and bacteria between different species. Frequent and inappropriate use of antibiotics accelerates the emergence and spread of resistant pathogens. Many antibiotics used in animal husbandry are also used in human medicine, thus increasing the risk of pathogens crossing over and the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that this problem could cause up to ten million deaths by 2050 and reduce global GDP by 2–3.8%. The WHO has also projected that by 2050 the potential impact of AMR on animal production could reduce global animal production by 2.6–7.5%, with the most severe impact likely to occur in low-income countries (up to 11%). Hence, consumers are spending more on purchasing clean meat products due to increased health awareness. This increasing demand for clean meat is expected to support the adoption of lab-grown meat products.
In recent years, the development of alternative proteins has received much support globally. Governments can help reduce the negative impacts of traditional meat production by supporting the production of meat alternatives and, in the process, creating thousands of new green jobs. Some governments have already recognized the opportunities in the alternative proteins space. In 2020, Singapore became the first country to authorize cultivated meat. In 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced funding its flagship cultivated-protein research center. The U.K.’s recent National Food Strategy identified the adoption of alternative proteins as a key part of the transition the country needs to make. Thus, the clean eating trend is expected to support the growth of the lab-grown meat market.
According to Meticulous Research®, the lab-grown meat market is projected to reach USD 1.99 billion by 2035, at a CAGR of 21.4% from 2025–2035.
Access Full Report Here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/lab-grown-meat-market-5293


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Intel and the One Laptop per Child initiative are making peace and embracing the notion of synergy. The chip maker and the pioneer of the $100 laptop concept will stop competing for deals with governments in the developing world and team up, the AP reports. The partnership is a big step on the road to the elusive $100 goal.
One Laptop has pared the bulk-purchase price of its hand-cranked XO model, which uses a processor produced by an Intel rival, to $175. Intel's Classmate goes for $200 but needs an electric supply. The companies can now offer package deals to meet both urban and rural needs—and Intel has an inside track on becoming One Laptop's chip supplier.


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For businesses, the ability to produce and maintain profits is of the utmost importance – not only to sustain moneyflow but also to retain employment.
This year’s Food & Hospitality Ireland event will see the food, hospitality and retail sectors examined under the spotlight with a focus on helping businesses maximise their profits in the upcoming months and in 2015.
Taking place on the 17th and 18th of September in Citywest Events Centre, the event is hoping to have thousands of visitors make their way to the expo.
“We have worked with our show partners to create show features that we believe will add real value to visitors’ businesses” said Toby Wand, Managing Director of Fresh Montgomery – organisers of Food & Hospitality Ireland.
“We’ve been working with the CSNA, the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland and Maria O’Neill Designs to create our first-ever ‘Profit Shop’, and we’re confident that this feature will be one of the most popular at the event over the two days”.
Food & Hospitality’s Profit Shop will showcase how retailers can make the most of their floor space to add value to their businesses, with a fully interactive area using effective signage and new technologies.
One for budding chefs and food lovers, a new addition to the event is The Skillery which will see eight of Ireland’s top chefs demonstrating techniques that attendees can use in practice.
For those looking for a less practical approach, included in the line-up of speakers are Insomnia’s Bobby Kerr and Superquinn’s Eamonn Quinn who will be speaking about their successes in Ireland.
There will be over 100 exhibitors at the event who will be launching the latest products and services in Ireland and hoping to make new contacts – with 50% of 2013’s businesses returning, one of the exhibitors will claim the title of Product of the Show, highlighting the best of what’s being offered to visitors.
Exhibitors include Armagh Bramley Apples PGI, Montgomery Food Consulting, Pathos Continental Foods, Rosie & Jim Gourmet Chicken Products and Hugh Jordan.
Aside from exhibits, the annual Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland’s most prestigious awards are also set to take place at the event and the finals of the National Sausage & Puddings Competition.
Below, highlights from 2013 – to find out more about the event and to book tickets visit www.foodhospitality.ie


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On Jan. 14, 2021, the EU filed a so-called panel request at the WTO against allegedly “illegal” Indonesian export restrictions on stainless steel raw materials. We take a closer look.
“Today, the EU has requested the establishment of a panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to seek the elimination of unlawful export restrictions imposed by Indonesia on raw materials necessary for the production of stainless steel, notably nickel ore and iron ore. The measures the EU is challenging concern an export ban on nickel ore and domestic processing requirements on nickel ore and iron ore. These measures illegally restrict access for EU steel producers to raw materials needed for stainless steel production.”
- No agreement on nickel export ban: EU and Indonesia talks fail
- EU Safeguard Measures: Calls for immediate end grow louder
- Quo vadis Europe? USA already recording growth in 2020 again
- Eurometal calls on EU to “take care of steel consumers“
- U.S. steel importers call for end to Section 232 tariffs and quotas
Legitimate demand or double standard? A comment
What at first appears to be a legitimate demand, however, reveals a fundamental double standard in the policies of Western nations. If one contrasts the Safeguard (Source) and anti-dumping measures (Source) of, say, the EU or other nations, a discrepancy opens.
“We do not want your equivalent or better, but cheaper products (steel or stainless steel are only a part of it). But your raw materials for production you have to give away without restrictions.”
Has the EU really outgrown the colonial era?
This feels like the “good” old colonial times, when raw materials were snatched from countries such as Indonesia. To fuel Europe’s industrial rise and make it possible in the first place. Europe and its former colonial powers were built on foreign raw materials.
Indonesia: Second largest producer of stainless steel and largest nickel producer
In recent years, Indonesia has become the second largest producer of stainless steel after China. It is understandable that the government in Jakarta wants to protect its strategic raw materials, which make a not insignificant contribution to economic output. That Indonesia has only introduced this export ban on nickel in order to effectively counter the safeguard and anti-dumping measures of other nations is also more than clear.
High personnel costs a major cost driver in the EU
It is also clear for European steel producers that they cannot compete with an average annual income of about 16,000 to 19,000 euros compared to the average Indonesian annual income of 3,600 euros (Source). We have not even talked about the German steelworker yet. On average, he earns 10 to 12 times more than his Indonesian colleague. In addition, the Asians have the most modern plants and are in no way inferior in quality to European (stainless) steel.
EU steel mills have only limited access to nickel
According to statista.com (Source), Indonesia is also the world’s largest nickel producer. With an output of 800k mt per year, followed by the Philippines with 420k mt and Russia with 270k mt. Only in 4th place does a Western country, Canada, appear with 180k mt. It is no wonder that the Europeans sound the alarm when they are denied access to a strategic raw material. The Asians are far away, and the EU have not been good friends with Russia for several years.
EU: Cheap raw materials yes. Cheap products no.
But this is also the point where it becomes problematic. The European Union and its stainless steel manufacturers want the cheap raw materials from Asia. There they gladly accept the low wages and working conditions. Complaints are even filed with the WTO, as is happening now. Because: The nickel must flow. There is no trace of protection of the domestic mining industry. It has been bankrupted for decades.
But the Europeans, led by the steel manufacturers and their lobby organization Eurofer, have massively restricted imports of stainless steel. And they never tire of emphasizing how badly the European steel industry is supposedly doing.
Demanding free trade on the one hand and restricting it on the other is the double standard. Wanting all the advantages but ignoring the disadvantages.
The market always decides in the end
The globalized market ultimately decides where to buy. And one important factor is simply always the price. When it comes to quality, the Asians are now ahead of the Europeans. Which is why, for example, the EU has lost almost its entire electronics and textile industry to Asia.
If you can’t compete on the global market, you go under. The Europeans have failed to position themselves competitively here. Old steel mills, high costs and little to no raw materials of their own. In addition, they are certainly still angry that they sold their technological advantage in steel production plant by plant to Asia in the 1980s and 1990s.
Focus on the wrong lobby
Steel and stainless steel are strategic commodities. Industry worldwide is built on these goods. But the EU only protects its own steel producers. And has completely forgotten the downstream industry.
The industries that are not being saved with billions of euros. The metal processing industry has been dependent on cheap steel imports for years. Simply to be able to compete and survive on the global market and maintain millions of jobs. Because, as already written, in terms of quality, the Europeans are barely ahead of the Asian countries, if at all.
Moreover, it should not be forgotten that all the major steel producers in the EU have long ceased to be national companies. Without exception, they are multinational megacorporations with widely ramified subsidiaries and plants worldwide. And they have no interest in a free and competitive market.
Dramatic situation on the EU steel market
If you look at the European steel market now, it’s easy to see where import restrictions have led us. Prices for steel and stainless steel have been exploding since fall 2020, and delivery times for European mills are already heading for fall 2021. There is hardly any material left to be had.
The competitiveness of the processing industry is suffering. And it is also being held back by safeguards and anti-dumping measures. In spring 2020, Eurofer was still calling for a 75% reduction in import quotas (Source). Besides the Corona pandemic, this would have been the death blow for the European industry. Because then no more stainless steel would have been available.
We at the Gerber Group have been trading in stainless steel worldwide for over 20 years. We are your experts when it comes to purchasing, import, logistics and services. Information is a vital part of this. Because only then can you and we make the right decisions. Do you have any questions? Contact us now.
Disclaimer: Many things here represent our opinion. Others are information from the Internet. We can therefore never claim to be correct or complete. And never base a business decision solely on the news you receive from us.


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The Reducing Inflation Act only subsidizes electric vehicles assembled in North America, perhaps with more than a certain percentage of battery materials or components coming from countries that have signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United States. Although the U.S. government this timebeautifulFinal assembly conditions opted to subsidize electric vehicles, but it added that it would announce the new list in January next year. It will also require a certain percentage of components and raw materials for electric vehicle batteries to be manufactured in North America by 2023. The policy has put South Korea’s car and battery makers on red alert.
A total of 21 models are eligible for the subsidy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Among overseas automakers, some EV and PHEV models such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Jeep, and Volvo produced in North America will receive subsidies. Among Asian companies, there is only one Nissan EV model on the list. Tesla and GM, which already meet North American manufacturing standards, are capped at 200,000 vehicles per brand, so their cars will be subsidized starting in 2023.
All five models sold by Hyundai Motor Group in the United States are produced in South Korea and exported to the United States. Currently, the group does not have any electric vehicle assembly lines in the United States. The EV factory decided to build in Georgia is expected to be completed in 2025. While the group plans to transform existing U.S. production lines into EVs such as the GV70EV and EV9, it is highly likely that major models such as the IONIQ5 will be excluded from the U.S. government’s subsidy list for a long time to come.
In the first half of this year, Hyundai Motor Group ranked second in the U.S. electric vehicle sales chart with a market share of about 9%, behind Tesla with 70%. Despite Tesla’s unstoppable strength, modern staples like the IONIQ5 and EV6 are well-received, beating out rivals like Ford and Volkswagen. As of July, the group had exported about 40,000 electric vehicles to the United States.
In addition, the U.S. government has also removed the subsidy limit for each brand, with a threshold of 200,000 vehicles. With more than 200,000 Tesla and GM electric vehicles sold, buyers won’t be able to get subsidies for those models in the second half of the year. However, starting next year, Tesla and GM electric vehicles will be exempt from the 200,000-vehicle cap, and all vehicles sold will be subsidized. U.S. automakers such as Tesla and General Motors are highly likely to further strengthen their position in the U.S. electric vehicle market.
Korea’s top three battery manufacturers – LG Energy Solution, SKOn andSamsungSDI – also highly likely to suffer setbacks under the new subsidy rules. This is because regulations regarding battery production areas and raw material procurement will come into effect. Under the Reducing Inflation Act, in order to receive half of the $7,500 subsidy starting next year, automakers will have to use batteries made from core materials supplied by the United States or countries that have signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States. In addition, the other half of the subsidy can only be given if at least 50% of the main components of the battery are manufactured in North America. (Proofreading/Liu Yi)


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The names of a selection of South African products are now protected under a new agreement with the European Union (EU). It follows from a bilateral protocol on geographic indicators negotiated between the republic and the EU.
South Africa said 102 wine names would be protected under the agreement and three agricultural product names, namely rooibos, Karoo lamb, and honeybush tea.
In addition, an economic partnership agreement between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and EU has been negotiated.
#PostCab New agreement with EU will see 102 wine names, Karoo lamb, rooibos and honeybush (teas) names protected GD
- EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) May 26, 2016
South Africa.info reporter


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The first-ever lab-grown burger was created at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, and eaten at a news conference in London in 2013. While everyone who tried a bite had something different to say about the taste and texture of the meat, it was agreed that this could be the start of something big. The technology has advanced since, and now over 150 companies across the world are figuring out ways to culture meat.
The primary aim of the cultivated meat industry is quite simple. To significantly reduce the need to farm animals, feed a growing population and possibly tackle the climate crisis. So why hasn’t it taken the world by storm already?
Much of this is because novel products like cell-cultured meat are required to be approved by governing bodies that have regulations in place, to ensure that safety standards are met. According to Daan Luining, co-founder and CTO of Dutch cultivated meat company Meatable, if food laws are not adhered to, it can have disastrous consequences.
“We take food very seriously because everybody eats. I think that’s the bottom line. So you should be very careful what you’re feeding your population,” said Luining.
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When will cultured meat reach the European market?
But in Europe, this process can take a relatively long time. As the European Union (EU) consists of 27 countries at present, engaging with multiple governments to sanction products that impact a large population, when compared to other regions, could take a while. Moreover, Luining explained that in the EU, the path towards approval can be a long, drawn-out one that could take 24 months for evaluation of a product. However, this tends to go on for longer, as dossiers are often sent back to companies instructing further tests to be conducted, delaying the process for up to five years. And startups like Meatable, which was founded five years ago, do not have the luxury to wait that long. This is why Meatable decided to set foot into the more receptive Singaporean market. To become more familiar with the flavors that would win over the Singaporean population, the company has collaborated with the plant-based company Love Handle, which is located in Singapore.
Singapore: a hotspot for cultivated meat
Singapore was the first country to approve slaughter-free meat in 2020. The American company Eat Just paved its way, through the sale of cell-cultured chicken nuggets. Since then, the country has been hailed as a hub for the alternative protein industry. On account of rapid urbanization, the island nation has limited farmland, which has led to over 90% of its food being imported. Luining believes that this could be why the country is keen on adopting novel food technologies.
Having received the green light from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), Meatable held its first tasting in the country two months ago. It aims to launch its product in the market next year.
The product, which is based on cell culture technology, is derived from pluripotent cells, which are a kind of stem cells that have immense growth potential. These cells are able to develop into adult muscle and fat cells in eight days.
“This is unheard of in the field of stem cell biology; turning a pluripotent cell into an adult muscle or fat cell within eight days is unprecedented. It doesn’t exist anywhere in the world. And that was really, for me, the aha moment,” said Luining.
Luining expressed that the SFA’s clearance could be a way into other markets as well, as it enables the company to gather evidence on consumer acceptance. In fact, it was just two days ago that the company announced, along with Dutch food tech company Mosa Meat, that they are collaborating with the Dutch government to taste test cultivated meat and seafood under limited conditions in the country. The move makes the Netherlands the first nation in the EU to allow pre-approved tastings of lab-grown food.
U.S. regulation authorizes cell-cultured meat
Meanwhile, the U.S. has joined Singapore in authorizing the commercialization of cell-cultured meat. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – which along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are the regulatory agencies that carry out food product approvals – gave the nod to California-based Upside Foods and Good Meat (which is owned by Eat Just) to sell their alternative protein products.
In the U.S., meat and poultry must pass inspection and be appropriately labeled before being commercially sold, according to the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA). As per these guidelines, Good Meat’s facilities and equipment were vetted to ensure safety and sanitary conditions.
Food safety regulations should be critical to every nation around the world, according to Jennifer Stojkovic, founder of the Vegan Women Summit (VWS) and alternative protein investment firm Joyful Ventures.
Stojkovic said: “We want to make sure that people are healthy, that they’re not in danger.”
“Cultivated meat has been approved and deemed safe now by two different regulatory bodies. So we don’t expect there to be more challenges in terms of safety,” said Stojkovic, who added that this comes at a time when the USDA has raised concerns over the accuracy of claims of antibiotic-free meat.
Slaughter-free food: better for the environment?
While cultivated meat products have to be authorized, many plant-based meat producers do not have to seek approval. This is because unlike cultured meat – which is currently a debut product – plant-based foods like soybeans and pea protein have already been licensed for sale, according to Stojkovic. But exceptions like California-based Impossible Foods had to undergo FDA authorization as it sought to market a novel ingredient, plant-based heme. The company extracted DNA from soy, which was inserted into a genetically engineered yeast that underwent fermentation to produce heme.
As cultivated meat expands access to food, it could possibly reduce world hunger. Besides, the slaughter-free method that does not involve cramming animals into farms, could witness a decline in water usage by up to 96% and land use by 99%. As one of the most water intensive crops in the U.S. is alfalfa, which is used to feed cattle and dairy cows, Stojkovic believes that the necessity to lower the water footprint could drive attention towards cultivated meat products.
However, the industry is not without its critics. A yet-to-be-peer-reviewed report by University of California, Davis claimed that the culture media that aids in the growth of the animal cells, raises the global warming potential.
Also, cost is a worry for many. As it cost Maastricht University $330,000 to create the first-ever cell-cultured burger, it initially put off people from considering cultivated protein as a viable option. But prices have fallen since then, with a burger currently costing $9.80. Still, this is more expensive than the average supermarket burger. The pandemic has spiked world hunger to 828 million people experiencing food insecurity, according to the World Health Organization, and so there is all the more reason to guarantee affordability.
Global steps towards developing alternative protein
As more companies across the world develop cell-cultured meat and push to get their products approved, further slashing of production costs is foreseeable. Countries like Israel are making strides, having set up the world’s first cultured meat facility in 2021. Now, the country’s Steakholder Foods has become the first company to generate 3D-printed fish filets.
Moreover, China’s five-year agricultural plan entails investments in cultivated meat research, like with clean energy as it taps into its renewable resources. And countries like Qatar are also looking to invest in alternative protein technology, according to Stojkovic.
“In parts of the Middle East… there are severe challenges to having any sort of animal agriculture, and so many of these nations see cultivated meat, plant-based meat and food technology as a way to safeguard their future food systems. We’ve seen quite a bit of investment that’s gone into the sector from places like Qatar and Saudi Arabia,” said Stojkovic.
To add to that, in regions in the U.S. and Canada where skies were blanketed with smoke because of the ongoing wildfires, climate action is a pressing issue.
“You’re now seeing the repercussions of the changing climate all over North America,” said Stojkovic, who believes that as a climate investor, the “best climate impact you can make” is investing in alternative protein. “I think cultivated meat represents one of many technologies that can quite literally reinvent the way that we eat.”
As Meatable aims to make its way into Singapore soon, Luining expressed that dietary preferences are often associated with one’s identity.
“What you eat is part of your identity,” said Luining. “You have all these subcategories right now that people like to express their identity with.”
One factor that dissuades people from rooting for the sale of cell-cultured meat is that some perceive it as “unnatural.” But Luining thinks otherwise. He believes that alternative proteins could fulfill dietary needs as well as be uncompromising with regards to taste, while being environmentally conscious.
“We’d like to reframe the conversation; going from a system that doesn’t feel natural anymore to us. Industrial farming doesn’t feel natural to us at all, and then reframing that into: “Hey, but we’re innovating on that to create something that still gets the real stuff, but without harming animals.” That should be the new norm for society. I think that is what we’re trying to emphasize.”


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* Jack Ma, co-founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., is retiring from the company to pursue philanthropy in education, The New York Times reported. In an interview, Ma told the news outlet that he would step down Sept. 10 and would be spending more of his time and wealth on education. According to the South China Morning Post, Ma will unveil a succession strategy and will stay on in his current role as the gradual transition is carried out.
* Beijing-based ride-sharing platform Didi Chuxing Technology Co. Ltd. disclosed a net loss of US$585 million in the first six months of 2018 and has failed to generate a profit since its founding, South China Morning Post reports. Didi reportedly doled out 11.7 billion yuan in discounts and subsidies in the first half of the year to counterpoise rivals such as Meituan-Dianping. Didi is backed by Chinese giants such as Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Baidu Inc. and has recently come under regulatory scrutiny following the deaths of two passengers.
* The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, or TRAI, has imposed fines on major telecom operators for slipping on service quality benchmarks during the March 2018 quarter, The Economic Times (India) reports. A fine of 3.4 million Indian rupees was imposed on Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., a 1.1 million rupees penalty was imposed on Bharti Airtel Ltd. and a fine of 1.25 million rupees was levied on Idea Cellular Ltd.
* NTT Docomo Inc. sealed a license deal with Chinese telco Xiaomi Corp., MIUI reports. Under the terms of the agreement, Xiaomi will have a license to NTT Docomo's mobile wireless patents.
* Sony Corp. intends to have all the energy it uses come from renewable sources by 2040 through installation of solar panels at production facilities and purchases of green-certified power, Nikkei Asian Review reports. Green energy currently powers 7% of Sony's operations.
* Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. established its sixth global artificial intelligence research center in New York. Led by Dr. Daniel D. Lee, the new research and development center will focus on robotics. Samsung Electronics is a unit of the Samsung Group.
* In other Samsung news, the group's HR service and corporate training service unit Multicampus Corp. joined hands with telco KT Corp. to provide mobile educational services, Yonhap News Agency reports. Dubbed GiGa Genie SERICEO, the service will provide 7-minute video lectures from business leaders.
* SK Telecom Co. Ltd. will reshuffle the organisation in order to improve services and secure core technologies, ZDNet Korea reports. The telco will create a technology committee to secure technologies related to AI and 5G and a taskforce to strengthen its research and development capacity.
CHINA, HONG KONG AND TAIWAN
* Chinese entertainment service Bilibili Inc. acquired a team in Overwatch League, expanding presence in the esports space, and will represent the city of Hangzhou. Bilibili will join the league for the start of the 2019 season.
* Ant Financial Services Group, an affiliate of Alibaba, opened an unmanned apparel store in Hong Kong that uses its mobile payment platform Alipay, Nikkei Asian Review reported.
* In other Alibaba news, its trading platform Xianyu announced new strategies including developing a mini program in Alipay to enable easy access for users, NetEase reports.
* Taiwanese semiconductor maker MediaTek Inc. unveiled its first 5G phone prototype, UDN reports. The company is also reportedly expected to start mass production of 5G chips in 2020.
INDIA AND SOUTH ASIA
* An Indian judicial authority has asked Walmart Inc. and Flipkart Online Services Pvt. Ltd. units to provide details on their business in the country now that their deal has closed, Live Mint reported. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal set a deadline of Sept. 20 for Walmart's response.
* Indian IT service provider Infosys Ltd. said it formed a joint venture with Singapore-based Temasek Holdings (Pte.) Ltd. and will integrate teams from Infosys and the operations of Temasek unit Trusted Source Pte. Ltd. The JV will support Temasek's digital transformation and enable the company to host applications on a cloud platform. Infosys will acquire a 60% stake in the joint venture.
* HCL Technologies Ltd. appointed Prateek Aggarwal as CFO, effective Oct. 1. Aggarwal will succeed Anil Chanana, who will step down as CFO on Oct. 1 and is due to retire from the company Dec. 31.
* Indonesian ride-hailing service provider PT Go-Jek Indonesia ventured into online content through its investment in Kumparan, an Indonesian digital media startup, Reuters reports. Go-Jek also plans to roll out a subscription-based original content service.
* Eros International Plc's Eros Now platform is entering the Indonesian market through a distribution partnership with Xiaomi Corp. As part of the deal, Indonesian Mi TV users will be able to access over 11,000 Bollywood and regional language films, entertainment shows, music videos and originals in the Eros Now platform.
* Singapore-based entertainment application Hooq Digital PTE. Ltd. boarded its first Indonesian series, crime thriller Brata, in a partnership with Indonesian telco Telkomsel, Screen Daily reports.
* Thai mobile service provider True Corporation refused to pay 76 billion baht to state-owned TOT PCL for breach of contract and 3.38 billion to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, or NBTC, for using the 1800MHz as temporary consumer protection measures, Kaohoon reports. True Corp. will reportedly seek legal means to revert the decisions handed down by the arbitration committee and the NBTC respectively.
* Thai telco Total Access Communication Public Co. Ltd., or Dtac, said that almost 1 million customers will be affected by the end of its 850MHz band concession on Sept. 15, Prachachat reports.
* The Thai cabinet approved a budget of 113 million baht for the public relations department to keep the department's digital terrestrial TV channel running, Krungthep Turakij reports.
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
* Australian broadband provider Aussie Broadband Pty Ltd. was told to remove statements claiming its network was "congestion-free" after concerns were raised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, ZD Net reports. Aussie Broadband reportedly delivered 89.1 percent of its maximum plan speeds overall.
* Tech company RTI Connectivity and the Sunshine Coast Council will build a 550-kilometer undersea cable into the Sunshine Coast by 2020. This will provide Australia's fastest internet link to Asia, the second fastest link to the U.S., and open up opportunities for the state of Queensland, Brisbane Times reports.
Data Dispatch: SoftBank's US$100B Vision Fund ramps up investments in Asia: The US$100 billion private equity and venture capital arm of Japan's SoftBank is increasingly focusing on Asia as it seeks to expand its global portfolio despite the bulk of its investments being in U.S. and Canadian companies.
Economics of Internet: Hong Kong subscription online video uptake curbed by free content: Kagan's profile determines that piracy and free-to-air streaming content impede subscription over-the-top from reaching its full potential in Hong Kong.
Joji Sakurai, Wil Hathaway, Frances Wong, Kevin Osmond and Nicole Kim contributed to this report. The Daily Dose has an editorial deadline of 7 a.m. Hong Kong time. Some external links may require a subscription. Links are current as of publication time, and we are not responsible if those links are unavailable later.


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ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis company is alleged to have failed to pay for goods and services under a contract.
AIEC Inc. filed a complaint on Jan. 15 in the St. Louis Circuit Court against Thiel Tool and Engineering Co. alleging breach of contract.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Oct. 22, 2014, it entered into a contract with the defendant for goods and services. The plaintiff alleges it has performed its duties under the contract and the defendant has failed to make payments as required.
The plaintiff alleges it has been damaged in the amount of $24,681.82.
The plaintiff seeks judgment against defendant in the amount of $24,681.82, with interest, costs and attorney's fees. It is represented by Christopher K. Raghebi of Kramer & Frank PC in St. Louis.
St. Louis Circuit Court case number 1922cc00121


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Dentsu Aegis Network acquires majority stake in Milestone Brandcom
Nabendu Bhattacharyya will continue as CEO & MD of Milestone Brandcom, reporting to Ashish Bhasin, Chairman & CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia. It may be recalled that both the companies had denied talks of a takeover in February this year (Aegis Media, Milestone Brandcomm deny buyout talks)
Dentsu Aegis Network has announced the acquisition of OOH specialist agency Milestone Brandcom. It may be recalled that both the companies had denied talks of a takeover in February this year (Aegis Media, Milestone Brandcomm deny buyout talks).
Dentsu Aegis Network will take a majority share in Milestone Brandcom. The company will retain its identity, branding and culture and share its knowledge in creative and OOH planning with the group.
Nabendu Bhattacharyya will continue as CEO and Managing Director of Milestone Brandcom, reporting to Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia.
Commenting on the development, Nick Waters, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific said, “Milestone Brandcom is a highly awarded and well respected agency in India. This acquisition marks another significant step as we build a high quality and scaled group in India. We welcome Nabendu and the team to the company.”
Ashish Bhasin added here, “Milestone Brandcom is not only a market leader, but also a pioneer of several developments in the OOH industry in India. Posterscope was already amongst India’s fastest growing brands. This investment now establishes clear leadership for us in this very important medium, making us the leader in the OOH and OOH Retail space in India. We believe that OOH will play an increasingly important role for clients in years to come, so we are delighted to be able to offer clients a market leading service.”
Nabendu Bhattacharyya commented, “We are thrilled to join hands with the Dentsu Aegis Network and my entire team and I are looking forward to taking Milestone Brandcom to even greater heights. Being a part of a dynamic global group like Dentsu Aegis Network will help us be stronger together. OOH will become more and more important in India and we are confident that as market leaders we will be at the forefront of this progress.”
Founded in October 2009 and led by Founder and Managing Director Nabendu Bhattacharyya, Milestone Brandcom is one of the fastest growing integrated outdoor media agencies in the country. The agency has more than 100 active clients across a wide range of industries, and provides a full service comprehensive OOH offering, which includes an event promotion activation division, rural OOH activation, retail and digital OOH division. Milestone Brandcom recently launched the ‘Milestone Optimizer’, a tool which optimises OOH media plans by tracking 25,000 sites across India and providing Gross Impression Points of an OOH campaign, a first in India.For more updates, be socially connected with us on
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Sugar down, but will 2018 be the year dairy farmers bounce back?
The dairy cattle farming industry should bounce back tin 2018 says market research firm IBISWorld.
Following a year of low prices and depressed milk production, IBISWorld said conditions have begun to stabilise while demand for domestic dairy products rises.
“With the Australian dollar projected to depreciate this year, we anticipate local dairy products will become more competitive in export markets, boosting returns to domestic milk processors, which will then flow through to dairy cattle farmers,” said IBISWorld Senior Industry Analyst, William McGregor.
“We’re also expecting an increase in the size of the national dairy cattle herd, which will drive up milk volumes, and contribute to an expected 8.0 per cent increase in revenue in 2017-18.”
Things not so sweet for sugar manufacturers
Although it is expected to be a better year for dairy farmers, IBISWorld says a global oversupply in sugar is predicted for 2018, driving prices down.
“Domestic sugar output is projected to decline this year following the bumper crops of 2016-17, and with two-thirds of Australian sugar destined for export markets, global conditions – including consumption not matching production growth – will contribute to revenue declines for local sugar millers,” McGregor said.
Pressure on pulses
The value of vegetables grown in 2018 is predicted to slightly increase due to a strong potato and onion output. The industry’s overall performance is however expected to dip with revenue forecast to decline by 13.5 per cent because of a likely drop in pulse production.
Record pulse output in 2016-17 means that although 2018’s production is still projected to be high, revenue will decline with lower yields hurting pulse growers’ revenue.
- Murray Goulburn shares fly as global dairymarkets dive
- Dairy farmers angry at milk price cuts
- Bega triumphs despite global challenges ahead
‘Clean and clear’ labelling, plant-based products and less sugar are amongst the Innova Market Insig...
Growers in one of Australia’s largest winter crop regions have experienced more than $100 million wo...
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has instituted proceedings in the Federal ...
Australians are only eating half of the cereal fibre they need, research has found.
Four’N Twenty is selling a Cheese and Vegemite version of its beef pie to celebrate two major milest...
Chris’ Dips is now selling a new range of dips designed to be eaten after dinner.
Australian jerky producers, Local Legends, are selling two new jerky varieties.
US grocery giant Walmart is opening its own dairy processing plant supplying milk to 500 stores, and...


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Schipol, international airport located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, has installed a cryptocurrency ATM providing option for passengers convert their euros into bitcoin or ethereum.
The airport revealed biggest demand for the two most desirable cryptocurrencies among passengers over a six-month test trial, which is first of its kind.
The ATM is located near the airport’s departures terminal, making its’ location strategically smart, outbound travelers easier access ATM to convert their euros in two largest cryptocurrencies according to highest market cap.
The ATM accepts euro bills and has been installed through a partnership with ByeleX, a Dutch software services firm that offers crypto ATMs through its subsidiary ‘Byecoin’.
Schiphol’s airport director of consumer products and services, Tanja Dik stated exchanging ‘local’ currencies to ‘global’ ones:
“With the Bitcoin ATM, we hope to provide a useful service to passengers by allowing them to easily exchange ‘local’ euros for the ‘global’ cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ethereum. That can be beneficial if, for instance, it’s not possible to spend euros in their home country.”
The concept of allowing travelers to use cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum or Bitcoin at international airports is to easen the hassle of currency conversion fees. Other airports are following up the path of Schipol.


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The number of company insolvencies fell in the first half of the year. What looks superficially gratifying, it is for several reasons, not at all. To a has decoupled the bankruptcy happened with the suspension of the obligation of the economic reality. The fear is that, at present, many companies make use of the right to its inability to pay does not display, although they are, in fact, insolvent.
And this is not just a company, where corona due to the revenue has collapsed. There are also many old cases that were already on the verge of bankruptcy, but under the protection of the special measures to continue to procrastinate. The significantly longer payment terms for many companies to show how close many of the money is become.
Even more chilling is that, currently, there is growing evidence that the Corona-induced economic slump will not end as a V with fast rise again in the autumn, but rather as a U with a up to next year delayed recovery. This does not mean that public support measures do not suffice often, to the period up to the selfsupporting upswing bridge.Date Of Update: 16 June 2020, 02:20


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A ferry company is offering passengers free petrol as the battle to win customers on the Irish Sea intensifies.
Stena Line is giving away fuel vouchers worth up to #30 to motorists travelling to Ireland from Holyhead and Fishguard.
The offer, which will allow travellers to take advantage of cheaper fuel prices in Ireland, is the latest move in the increasingly competitive battle for passengers crossing the Irish Sea and follows its free flights offer last year.
Hard hit by the loss of duty free revenue, the increased cost of oil and the impact of foot-and-mouth, ferry companies are increasingly looking to new initiatives to maintain their competitive edge.
And with passenger growth across the Irish Sea slowing from the double figure levels seen in recent years, the battle is expected to heat up even further over coming seasons.
"There's a lot of competition among ferry companies across the Irish Sea. No one can afford to be complacent and sit back thinking passengers will come to you," a spokesman for Stena Line said.
"We are continually having to come up with new ideas, which will ensure and maintain our competitive edge.
"We want to give our customers what they want as well as great value for money."
The free fuel offer follows a special deal the Swedish-based company has negotiated with oil giant Texaco.
It is available to all motorists travelling with Stena from Holyhead and Fishguard this month.
Passengers travelling on a midweek or five-day return by car will receive #20 of free Texaco vouchers, while passengers travelling on a standard return by car will get #30 of vouchers.
With sterling already 20pc stronger than the Irish pound, British visitors will also find cheaper petrol in Ireland. The average price of unleaded petrol across the Irish Sea is around 64p a litre compared with about 78p in Britain.


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The details on Google's next Nexus smartphone may have been revealed, and tipsters are saying the phone is an "absolute beast."
Well-sourced mobile blog Boy Genius Report claims that the Nexus 4G, as it is currently being referred to, will house a faster dual-core CPU and run the next-generation Android operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich.
Tipsters also told BGR that the handset would include a 1.2-GHz or 1.5-GHz Snapdragon processor and sport a "monster-sized" 720p high-definition touchscreen display with no buttons. A button-free display would be a major change, because most current Android handsets, including the Nexus S, have four menu buttons (menu, home, back and search) located below the screen.
If BGR's sources are correct, the Nexus 4G would be a significant step up from Google's current flagship phone, the Samsung-built 3G Nexus S, which sports a 1-Ghz Hummingbird processor and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. A 4G Sprint version of the Nexus S with very similar hardware specs (1-GHz Hummingbird processor, 16 GB of internal storage and NFC capabilities) began shipping in April.
The Nexus 4G sounds right on trend: At CES this year, we saw a smorgasbord of dual-core smartphones hit the stage, and many of the devices, like Samsung's Galaxy S II have started dropping with 1.2-GHz processor speeds. Like most Android-powered phones, the Nexus 4G appears to make a big push on the newest, muscular hardware features to compete with Apple's iPhone, which gets upgraded only once a year.
Other purportedly leaked specs on the Nexus 4G include a 1-megapixel front camera and 5-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of 1080p HD video capture. The rear camera will utilize an advanced sensor for "class-leading image quality" and good performance in low-light scenarios, according to BGR.
The Nexus 4G looks like it could be the first smartphone to run Google's newest OS, dubbed Ice Cream Sandwich. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich meshes a number of features from Android 2.3 Gingerbread with ones that were previously exclusive to the tablet-only Honeycomb, such as a holographic user interface, multitasking, and the ability to connect with USB devices like an Xbox controller. It'll debut in the fourth quarter of 2011, so that's probably the earliest we would see the Nexus 4G potentially being released.
Perhaps, as with Android 2.3 Gingerbread's debut, both the OS and the smartphone will be officially unveiled at the same event. Reports peg the release around Thanksgiving.
No carrier information was leaked, leading to speculation that the Nexus 4G could be one of the first AT&T 4G LTE smartphones. Or maybe Google just hasn't hammered out an exact carrier deal yet.


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4 Consumer Stock Stories for Investors Who Like to Shop
General Motors Company (NYSE:GM): Closing price $30.33
The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray will be unveiled this week at the annual Detroit auto show. The vehicle will mark the first new Corvette in nine years, which has members of America’s Corvette Club in great eagerness. The seventh-generation Corvette, called C7 by fans of the iconic sports car, features a front-mounted engine and a shape similar to a race car. GM allowed the media to view it on Sunday and will make photos and video available to the public. On Saturday, the company will give the Club a chance to see and touch the car an hour before the auto show is opened to the general public.
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX): Closing price $54.67
The world’s biggest coffee company is set to enter Vietnam in early February when it launches its first shop in Ho Chi Minh City, which is the nation’s financial center, formerly known as Saigon. However, many Vietnamese prefer their brew darker and stronger than Starbucks’ usual fare; the challenge for the company is too make its coffee there the way the locals prefer, rather than how most Americans like it. Consumption of the firm’s product jumped by 65 percent in Vietnam between 2008 and 2011. The reward for Starbucks is obvious, if it can get its product right.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO): Closing price $36.99
At one time not so long ago, Coca-Cola rose to the top of the world’s most powerful brands by linking its soft drinks with happiness. Nowadays it is facing a looming cloud over the industry, which is obesity. On Monday the company commences the airing of a two-minute spot during CNN, Fox News and MSNBC’s highest-rated shows in hopes of influencing the debate over sodas and their effects on public health. The ad exhibits Coke’s record of providing drinks with fewer calories and points out that weight gain is the result of the consumption of too many calories of any kind, and not only soda.
eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY): Closing price $53.18
On Monday, PayPal said that seven new national retailers are using its in-store payments tech. Prior to this, PayPal had pledged to enroll a total of 20 large national retailers by the end of last year, and it currently has 23 retailers signed up to implement the eBay-owned company’s tech; the firm’s in-store payments offering is now being used in 18,000 brick-and-mortar stores across the United States.
Are these stocks a buy or sell? Let us help you decide. Check out our Wall St. Cheat Sheet Stock Picker Newsletter now >>


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A report published by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) into egg safety has shown a major reduction in the risk from salmonella in UK eggs. Responding to the report the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched an eight week consultation reviewing the advice given to consumers on eating lightly cooked or raw eggs. FSA will publish their findings after 16 September. Until then their current advice stands.
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Cyber security is no doubt on your priority list when it comes to protecting your business. And so it should be. A look at the latest statistics and let’s face it, alarming facts about cybercrime, really does bring home the seriousness of the issue at hand, and why you should be focusing a good deal of attention on measuring and mitigating risk. Because cybercrime has the potential to do a huge amount of damage, both in financial and reputational terms.
According to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021, four in ten businesses and a quarter of charities have reported cyber security breaches or attacks in the past 12 months. As in previous years, there is a trend for medium and large businesses, and high-income charities, to be the worst hit. However, this does not mean that smaller businesses are not targeted.
Evidence from the study reveals that cyber risks are higher than ever under COVID-19, and that businesses are finding it more challenging to manage cyber security measures during the pandemic.
The past year has been UK businesses lose over £6 million to cyber scams, with a 31 per cent increase during the height of the pandemic in 2020. Police data shows that nearly 3,500 UK businesses became victims of cyber scams between September 2019 and September 2020.
The pandemic as resulted in widespread changes to working methods, making cyber security a great deal harder for businesses.
With staff working remotely, direct security and user monitoring became more difficult. Fewer businesses deployed security monitoring tools and less undertook any form of user monitoring.
The upgrading of hardware, software and systems also became more difficult and with staff working from home, it was more of a challenge to ensure malware protection was up to date. Fewer businesses also said they’d set up firewalls, and many had staff working on laptops with unsupported versions of Windows, something that affects 32 per cent of large businesses.
It would appear that cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly frequent. Around a quarter of organisations that have identified breaches or attacks stated that they experienced them at least once a week.
The most commonly reported cybercrimes are phishing attacks, followed by impersonation.
The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021 found that a large number of organisations that identified breaches reported a specific negative outcome or impact, with substantial costs implications.
Amongst the 39 per cent of businesses and 26 per cent of charities that identified cyber breaches or attacks, around 20 per cent resulted in loss of money, data or other assets. 35 per cent of businesses and 40 per cent of charities said they had been negatively impacted in terms of having to implement new data protect measures, seeing staff time diverted, or other wider business disruption.
Where businesses have faced breaches with material outcomes, the average cost of all the cyber security breaches over the past 12 months is estimated at around £8,460. For medium and large businesses, the average cost rose to £13,400.
70 per cent of consumers say they would stop doing business with a company if it experienced a data breach, according to a global survey of 10,000 consumers by digital security specialists Gemalto.
The Deloitte Consumer Review states that one in three consumers would close an online account following a data breach, or stop dealing with the business they believed to be responsible.
Cyber security is hitting the headlines in growing measures. Despite this fact, it would appear that not all businesses are doing everything they should be to stave off the risks.
To help further emphasise the importance of cyber security, here are some quite stark cyber-crime facts…
According to the statistics and these interesting facts about cyber security, cyber-attacks are more of a when rather than if scenario. It is therefore crucial to ensure your business is protected.
Here at PC Docs, we offer a comprehensive range of fully tailored cybersecurity solutions. Why let your business become a statistic when you could have the protection and expert advice you need?
To discover how we can protect your business against the risks of cybercrime, please get in touch.


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Earlier this week there were reports that Asus is working on a new smartphone that would be called the ZenFone Selfie and be oriented just how its name suggests. Yes, it would be another smartphone that is looking to piggyback on the selfie trend, which to the rest of us means a solid mid-range handset with a good front facing camera. After those early reports, Asus has now all but confirmed that the ZenFone Selfie is real and that it is incoming.
We revealed last week that LG is back in the picture in terms of Nexus smartphones as the company is building the next device in the series, replacing Nexus 6 maker Motorola. It seems that LG is indeed involved in a new Nexus smartphone, with an Android Open Source Project code revealing an unknown LG made handset with the codename Bullhead.
Windows Phone isn't really the platform you go to for flagship kicks. Sure, the HTC One M8 for Windows is a fine high end device, as are the Lumia 930 and Lumia 1520 at a push, but for the most part the platform is littered with budget handsets. It is a trend that started when Nokia rejuvenated Windows Phone, and it has continued in earnest since Microsoft bought the Lumia division.
A new, unannounced, ASUS smartphone has been certified by TENAA, the Chinese regulatory body that passes products for sale in the country. The device comes with the model number Z00EDB and is likely a new addition to the company's ZenFone line of handsets.
OnePlus confirmed that it would be launching a sequel to the OnePlus One would be launched this year, and it seems that the OnePlus 2 (OnePlus Two) is going to land soon. The Chinese company posted one its website "time for change" alongside an image of the OnePlus One being erased and changed. A June 1st date has also been set for the company to launch the OnePlus Two.
If you have been readying yourself for the LG G4 to drop in the United States your wait is almost over. The new flagship smartphone will be making its debut on T-Mobile tomorrow (Wednesday, 27th May), making the Magenta Network the first U.S. carrier to offer the handset. Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T customers will have to wait a little longer, and even those wanting to buy in T-Mobile locations will have to wait until June 3rd.
Sony surprised us back last month the launch of the Xperia Z4, a new underwhelming flagship from the company that would be a Japanese exclusive. That left the struggling electronics juggernaut with a flagship sized hole in the market around the world, with only last year's Xperia Z3 flying the high end banner. Sony has now updated the Xperia Z3 by announcing the Xperia Z3+, a handset that pushes the older device closer to a running pace with today?s flagships.
A brand new unannounced ZTE smartphone has leaked online, appearing to be a mid-range device with razor thin bezels and a plastic body. ZTE has recently rolled out its Nubia Z9 smartphone flagship, but the handset you see above is unlikely to be from the same family and will be a standalone product.
HTC has been very busy so far this year and has released twelve smartphones in just five months. Yes, some of those were regional specific devices, or minor variants of existing models, but nevertheless 2015 has been all hands on deck for the company. Sales have been worryingly sluggish though as the One M9 flagship failed to impress a wide consumer base. A solid mid-range device available to all could be the answer to HTC's problems (at least short term), so the HTC A50C is something to look forward to.
Want a cheap handset that is a bona fide smartphone, and still a pretty good one at that? Look no further than the original Motorola Moto G. Of course, we have been saying that since the handset launched two years ago, but at the moment the Moto G is even more of a bargain grab as Best Buy is selling the Verizon variant for just $19.99, and that's not with a contract by the way.