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Council credit card fraud ‘could never happen here’
NORTHERN Rivers councils have responded to a state government crackdown on corporate credit card usage saying an instance where a central NSW council member clocked up $500,000 in bills, "could never happen here."
In fact one council said it does not even issue a corporate credit card to its general manager.
On Tuesday the NSW Minister for Local Government, Gabrielle Upton, announced sweeping new measures to ensure local councils are properly managing credit card expenditure.
This comes after the the alleged irregularity of former Hay Council general manager Allen Dwyer billed more than $500,000 to a council credit card in his name, including $73,600 in cash advances, often in $200 amounts.
Kyogle Council's general manager Graham Kennett said he was "bitterly disappointed," by the alleged actions of Mr Dwyer.
"I hope this man is punished to the full extent of the law, when people behave like this it reflects poorly on the rest of the industry," he said.
"This credit card fraud could never happen here, as Kyogle Council already has many of Ms Upton's provisions in place."
Lismore City Council general manager Shelley Oldham, said the organisation already have strong governance procedures in place.
"We will continue to ensure that robust measures and controls remain in place (and) the process of establishing an Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee is well under way," she said.
"We have completed the Expression of Interest and are now in the process of selecting the final membership."
A Ballina Shire Council representative said they have "very robust" credit card management practices in place.
"The general manager is not issued a council credit card," she said.
"Ballina Shire Council's internal auditor, Grant Thornton Pty. Ltd, as part of their on-going internal audit program for council, completed an audit...in August this year (and) it stated 'Council has implemented robust end to end systems and procedures'.
"However, the audit identified areas for improvement which we are currently implementing."
A spokeswoman for Byron Shire Council said they already have very strict rules surrounding the use of corporate credit cards.
"Our auditors last reviewed council's fraud and corruption controls in March 2018 and did not identify any issues of significance," she said.
"Council has since developed a new Fraud and Corruption Control policy and strategy to further strengthen its financial governance."


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US retailer Blockbuster has posted some disturbing numbers for its most recent financial quarter, with Q4 net losses at the company hitting $434.9m – up on the already savage $359.8m loss suffered in the same period a year before.
Revenues fell by 18 per cent to $1.08bn. Company debts are now said to have reached around $1bn.
The news comes as rival US rental firm and digital specialist enjoyed revenues of $444m in its Q4. This is more than Blockbuster’s $400 movie rental revenues and represents the first time Netflix has outperformed Blockbuster in the sector.
Blaming a weak Christmas on the High Street, the firm has pledged to shave $200m from its costs and shut down up to 545 stores in the coming months. It also intends to sell off any remaining international assets.
Substantial doubt exists with respect to the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” the company said in a statement. We intend to explore strategic alternatives, one or more of which could improve liquidity.”

domain: news


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Emily Stewart at Vox.com made a mistake about monopoly power in America. She wrote that
Amazon… could eventually become so big that it can control what shipping companies such as FedEx and UPS charge it, and, in areas where it becomes a dominant buyer of labor, could contribute to pushing employee wages down.
Emily should read more articles at Vox.com because then she could learn that Amazon is already big enough to control what shipping companies charge. This has been longstanding practice at all the big shippers: FedEx, USPS, and UPS as noted in this 2010 NYT article. And they don’t just give Amazon a big discount on shipping, but also Walmart an all the other big retailers. This increases their monopoly power because it puts potential startups at a big disadvantage and reduces competition from smaller retailers. Although some media reports have claimed that the USPS undercuts competitors by charging “about half what it would pay publicly traded United Parcel Service Inc. and FedEx Corp”, nobody really knows exactly how much of a sweetheart deal each retail behemoth pays for shipping anywhere, so this is pure speculation. However we do know that Amazon doesn’t just use USPS, so they must not get lower prices at USPS on every kind of delivery. Amazon pays all the big shipping companies, so Amazon must get lower prices from FedEx and UPS on some kinds of shipments. Here is an estimate of the Amazon market share for different shippers:
One reason Amazon (and most other big retailers) gets better prices than smaller retailers is that Amazon handles much of its own shipping in house. In particular, Amazon tries to handle most of the long-distance shipping by distributing goods to its regional warehouses located around the country that reduce the distance and time of delivery that Amazon has to pay the shipping companies to do. Here is a map showing some of Amazon’s physical locations in 2017:
Amazon has been trying to vertically integrate more and more of the delivery process to increase speed and reduce costs and gain more advantage over not only the delivery companies, but smaller retailers as well.
Other than that error, the rest of Emily’s essay gives useful information about monopolization (bullet points added for emphasis):
On Monday, the Open Markets Institute, an anti-monopoly think tank based in Washington, DC, released a new report on what it calls America’s “concentration crisis.” The report details how a variety of industries, ranging from cat food and jelly to domestic airlines and cellphone providers, have come to be dominated by just a handful of actors in recent years.
- Four companies, for example, control 97 percent of the dry cat food sector: Nestlé, J.M. Smucker, Supermarket Brand, and Mars.
- …Nestlé has a 57 percent hold on the industry, owning brands such as Purina, Fancy Feast, Felix, and Friskies.
- Altria, Reynolds American, and Imperial have a 92 percent market share of the cigarette and tobacco manufacturing industry.
- Anheuser-Busch InBev, MillerCoors, and Constellation have a 75 percent share of the beer industry.
- Hillenbrand and Matthews have a 76 percent share of the coffin and casket manufacturing industry.
She also pointed to a David Leonhardt summary of the report and this chart showing how much the market share of just the two biggest companies different industries has changed in the past 15 years or so.
Thank goodness for the Open Markets Institute’s work on this. The US government stopped caring about this when they all but stopped enforcing anti-trust policy in the 1980s. In fact, the government doesn’t even track monopoly power anymore. As Emily points out, “The Federal Trade Commission stopped collecting and publishing data on industry concentration in 1981.”


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In a new study, Loyola University professors John D. Levendis, Ph. D., and Mehmet F. Dicle, Ph. D. investigated whether changes in New Orleans’ rental rates are correlated to Airbnb activity, or whether they are part of overall price trends.
Rental prices have been increasing throughout the country for the last several years. While New Orleans is no exception to this trend, rental rates have decreased in most area zip codes in the last six months. In the meantime, vacancy rates have been fairly constant at their average rates.
For each zip code in New Orleans, the professors investigated whether changes in rental prices are correlated with changes in Airbnb activity, after controlling for regional rental rate changes (outside New Orleans). The report found that rental rates and Airbnb presence are not correlated, and concluded that Airbnb does not have a discernible impact on rents in any of New Orleans’ zip codes.


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A branch of SoftBank and its Vision Fund has filed for $525 million in a blank-check company offering. The special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, includes a commitment from SoftBank affiliates to put hundreds of millions of additional capital into an impending deal. It’s a little bewildering that it took Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank this long to step into the SPAC space during a breakout year for the structures.
SPACs raise money from investors in an initial public offering, aiming to identify and merge with a company, typically within two years. SoftBank’s vehicle, called SVF Investment, is preparing to target companies in a similar mold to its Vision Fund venture capital titan. Its IPO filing with the SEC on Monday lists “disruptor,” “visionary founders,” and “large market opportunity” as acquisition criteria.
The synopsis notes that SoftBank has investments with more than 100 growth-stage companies around the world, and that some of them may be potential targets for its SPAC. The SPAC’s CEO will be Rajeev Misra, the chief of Softbank’s investment unit and the Vision Fund. See Spot Run: Softbank Sells Boston Dynamics to Hyundai
“We intersected with many compelling companies that wanted our support at IPO and beyond, but we lacked the vehicle to partner with them,” reads SVF Investment’s IPO filing. “This trend has only increased over the past year as more companies have decided to list publicly. Our SPAC will bridge SoftBank’s private and public investing strategies by enabling us to partner with a fast-growing, IPO-ready technology company.”
Some startups that the Vision Fund had invested in—such as Opendoor [$OPEN]—have gone public via SPACs this year, while others—like DoorDash [$DASH]—have taken the traditional IPO route. Sponsoring a SPAC would allow SoftBank to diversify its sources of funding. The Japanese investment firm has been in divestment mode of late, managing its stakes in wireless company T-Mobile [$TMUS] and chip designer Arm, plus other assets. SoftBank has used those proceeds to buy back stock and pay down debt.
SVF Investment will premier on the Nasdaq exchange by selling $10 units under the symbol “SVFAU.” Those will consist of a common share and one quarter of a warrant—essentially a call option—which is exercisable at $11.50 after the SPAC’s potential merger closes. Within a few months of the IPO, SVF Investment’s units will split, and shares will be able to trade separately under the tickers “SVFA” and “SVFAW,” respectively.
The $525 million offering of 52.5 million units includes an underwriters’ overallocation option for another 7.9 million units, which could bring the SPAC’s IPO total to $604 million. The SoftBank affiliates have also pledged to buy as much as $300 million of units at the time of a potential merger closing. SVF Investment could potentially have a war chest of some $900 million to do a deal.
As is typical in SPAC transactions, SVF Investment sponsors get shares equal to about 20% of its total for a negligible amount. The SoftBank affiliates have also vowed to purchase an additional 8.3 million to 9.4 million warrants for $1.50 each in a private placement, depending on the size of the IPO. That means the sponsors will benefit more from the upside of a well-received deal, but it could create more dilution for other shareholders.
It has been a record year for SPACs. The previously obscure vehicles have raised $81 billion in 243 IPOs in 2020, according to SPAC Insider. That’s almost double the funds raised by SPACs in the previous decade combined, and there are almost 50 more currently on file to IPO. They’ve brought public dozens of notable companies, including many of the year’s hottest electric vehicle stocks: Nikola [$NKLA], Hyliion [$HYLN], and QuantumScape [$QS] all merged with SPACs this year. So did DraftKings [$DKNG], MultiPlan [$MPLN], and more.


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Seattle, WA — Beginning today, Zooppa launches two advertising competitions in partnership with Jones Soda, one to develop the innovative soft drink brand’s new advertising campaign, and another to roll-out Jones GABA, a unique new functional beverage. Jones Soda, whose combination of high quality ingredients and spirit of adventure has produced innovations in both soft drink flavors and marketing strategies, has found a natural partner in Zooppa, the social advertising venture. Each company strives to involve consumers in brand development and marketing.
“This is truly a meeting of like-minded organizations,” said Zooppa CEO Wil Merritt. “By working with Zooppa’s creative community, Jones is guaranteed to get a ton of ads just as edgy and innovative as they are.”
Since 1996, Jones has upended every convention in the world of soft drinks. From its innovative flavors, such as Orange Cola, Green Apple and Blue Bubble Gum and its exclusive use of pure cane sugar, to its award winning product design, including photographs of real consumers on its labels, Jones has sought a unique level of interaction with its consumers. Jones seeks to expand on this customer interaction and to update its image by partnering with Zooppa, whose user-generated advertising platform brings real consumers together with major brands in a dynamic creative community.
Zooppa community members, or Zooppers, will compete to create video, print, web ads and concepts that redefine Jones Soda for a new generation of independent thinkers. Jones is seeking ads that reflect the irreverence, rebellion and individualism on display in common spaces both real and virtual such as skate parks, snowboard hangouts and social networking sites.
Zooppers will also compete to create ads introducing Jones GABA to the world. Long popular in Asia, GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a naturally occurring amino acid noted for its beneficial effect on mood, focus and stress-levels. Jones is the only U.S. company marketing a GABA-based soft drink.
Among its fans GABA is thought to bring about calm, improve focus and reduce stress. While GABA is naturally manufactured in the brain, factors such as high stress and poor diet may cause GABA production to slow. Consumption of GABA can heighten mental activity and raise energy levels without the negative side effects associated with consumption of caffeine.
Competition winners will be chosen by Jones and the Zooppa community via online voting. Prizes for each contest total $7,000. Both the Jones Soda competition and the Jones GABA competition will be open to Zooppa community from Friday, February 6 until Friday, April 19.
Zooppa is the first company to create a space online for social advertising through user-generated content. Zooppa offers an innovative new advertising model that connects people from all over the world to a creative community-of-interest. This community is composed of people who want to make, see, or buy great creative work that will influence people and sell product. Members worldwide are invited to create their own ads such as videos, print, banners, radio and even conceptual treatments for sponsoring brands. Zooppa community members vote for the best ads whose creators received cash awards and industry recognition. For more information see http://www.zooppa.com.


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Harvest Moon: The Tale Of Two Towns Goes Gold
Harvest Moon: The Tale Of Two Towns has gone gold and will be available on Nintendo DS on September 20th, 2011.
"Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns is one of the most unique Harvest Moon titles we've ever released!" said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. "For the first time, players will get to choose what town they want to live in! There are also other great new features, such as the ability to raise adorable Alpacas!"


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Purchasing your TTC monthly pass on PRESTO is about to become easy.
Starting Saturday, December 15 through January 8, customers who previously used the monthly Metropass can purchase their TTC monthly passes and 12-month passes on PRESTO.
PRESTO monthly passes will still cost the same and provide TTC riders with the same unlimited travel as the previous Metropass and Metropass Discount Plan (MDP) did.
The new PRESTO monthly passes will be on sale at all Shoppers Drug Mart locations, Fare Vending Machines at TTC subway station entrances, the TTC’s Customer Service Centre, or online at prestocard.ca.
Twelve Month Passes on PRESTO are only available online at prestocard.ca.
Any customer who needs to get a senior, youth or post-secondary concession on their PRESTO card can do so with the appropriate government issued-ID at any Shoppers Drug Mart location or at the TTC’s Customer Service Centre above Davisville Station.
Post-secondary students will require a post-secondary student photo ID to set their fare type.
TTC customers are encouraged to register their PRESTO card by creating a My PRESTO Account online at prestocard.ca to take advantage of a number of benefits.
Registering a PRESTO card protects the balance or monthly pass on the card if it’s ever lost or stolen in addition to the autoload and auto-renew features, so you never have to worry about loading money or a monthly pass.
- PRESTO is finally getting a mobile app
- Toronto subway being uploaded to the province should include ‘public consultation’


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Smoke, colors and new shapes will highlight the latest glassware introductions at the Fall New York Tabletop Market. In addition, vendors will continue to focus on drink-specific barware and stemware, with collections also giving a nod to cocktail culture of yesteryear.
See the gallery below for some of the glassware introductions at the Fall New York Tabletop Market.
For more coverage of the New York Tabletop Market, see NOUVEAU in the October 28 issue of HOMEWORLD BUSINESS®.
Arc International’s Barcraft Broadway 8.25-ounce coupe cocktail is part of the new Broadway Vintage collection.


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SLOVAKIA: Tesco-Carrefour deal blocked by competition authority
The agreement originally allowed Carrefour to acquire six existing hypermarkets and two planned hypermarkets in Taiwan from Tesco and in return the UK grocer would have received 11 hypermarkets in the Czech Republic and four outlets in Slovakia.
The PMU said that it objected to the transaction because it would strengthen Tesco's dominant position in the market, and could potentially allow the supermarket group to act independently in its dealings with suppliers, consumers and rivals.
In order to appeal the decision, Tesco must raise objections within two weeks. The company declined to comment on whether it would do so.
Among the green issues which have come to the fore in recent years, none is more pressing than waste reduction, and in the UK the food industry is among the worst offenders. As public and political pr...
Poland's competition watchdog has given the green light to Carrefour's acquisition of Ahold's local operations....
UK retailer Tesco is to axe up to 400 jobs at a domestic distribution centre following a review of its network in the country....
French retail giant Carrefour has reportedly been handed its expected fine for false advertising and selling items below cost....
Bakkavör Group has, in cooperation with Glitnir Bank, acquired the remaining 60% stake it didnt't already own in Creative Foods, a Chinese salad manufacturer....
A senior executive at investment bank ABN AMRO has told a Reuters conference that he believes the US operations of Dutch supermarket group Ahold have solid growth potential....
Tesco, the UK's leading retailer, today unveiled further details of its US retail plans....
The French supermarket group Carrefour's Belgian subsidiary Carrefour Belgium is to restructure its operations, closing 16 stores and cutting 900 jobs....
- Danone's Q1: four things to learn
- Column: Why snacking is the new meal
- Who will buy Danone's Stonyfield business?
- Nestle Q1 update: four things to learn
- Interview: Sir Kensington's on sale to Unilever
- Tyson shops Sara Lee bakery, Kettle and Van's
- Nestle to cut UK confectionery jobs
- Tyson to buy burger-to-entree firm AdvancePierre
- PepsiCo affirms full-year target as Q1 hits mark
- Icelandic to sell Saucy Fish Co. owner Seachill


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Apple's iPhone 4 just can't catch a break. Despite record sales and worshipful initial reviews, recent media coverage has focused on the phone's so-called "death grip" — a reception problem triggered by touching its antenna. Consumer Reports fueled talk of a recall when it announced that it "can't recommend" the device due to the flaw. Now Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner is saying that the iPhone 4 "might be [Apple's] Vista," a self-deprecating reference to Microsoft's much-maligned Windows Vista operating system. Is the comparison justified? (Watch a "Top Gear" host's dig at the iPhone 4)
Zip it: This was a bad move on Turner's part, says Devin Coldewey in CrunchGear. Now someone will be obliged to point out that "Microsoft has never put out a single product that has so completely fascinated the consumer world as the iPhone." And likely "never will." Watch what you say, Microsoft. It may come back to haunt you.
"Microsoft exec: iPhone 4 may be Apple's Vista — perhaps, but show me Microsoft's iPhone"
Wait and see: Apple needs to "decisively" resolve this problem, says Adrian Kingsley-Hughes in ZDNet. Otherwise, "'Antennagate' could fester," and, yes, "turn the handset into Apple's own Vista nightmare." A lot depends on any concessions Apple might offer at its press conference this Friday.
"Apple about to hold press conference about iPhone 4"
This problem has been overblown: Turner evidently believes the issue may "damage Apple’s brand to the point where people start jumping ship," says MG Siegler in TechCrunch. Though some sort of exodus might seem inevitable, it "will not happen." Like many, Turner "has gotten too caught up in those headlines."
"Prediction: This statement is going to come back to bite Microsoft in the ass"
THE WEEK'S AUDIOPHILE PODCASTS: LISTEN SMARTER
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- After Ferguson: Stop deferring to the cops
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- How to be the most productive person in your office — and still get home by 5:30 p.m.
- Diagnosing the Home Alone burglars' injuries: A professional weighs in
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- How to adopt the perfect rescue dog
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According to insiders, DISH Network is in talks with Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) to sell wireless plans through the company’s e-commerce platform. This comes as DISH Network has spent billions of dollars to establish a 5G network.
These recent reports claim that the company could announce the collaboration with Amazon as early as June. If that happens, it could act as a major boon to DISH stock and help ease concerns that investors have about its 5G spending.
Neither DISH Network or Amazon have been willing to comment on the potential wireless plans. Even so, investors should keep in mind that the two already work together, as DISH is a customer of Amazon’s cloud-computing services.
DISH Stock Movement on Thursday
The idea of DISH Network teaming up with Amazon has investors excited on Thursday. As a result, there’s been heavy trading of DISH stock today. That has more than 11 million shares changing hands as of this writing. To put that in perspective, the company’s daily average trading volume is around 9.5 million shares.
DISH is up 10.2% as of Thursday morning but still down 51.4% since the start of the year.
Investors on the lookout for even more of the most recent stock market news will want to stick around!
InvestorPlace is offering up all of the biggest stock market stories worth reading about on Thursday! Among that is our coverage of Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) and Mobileye (NASDAQ:MBLY) stock today. You can catch up on all of this news at the links below!
More Stock Market News For Thursday
On the date of publication, William White did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.


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Final 12 months, Capcom suffered a leak revealing a recreation known as Resident Evil Outrage was scheduled for a This autumn 2021 launch.
As beforehand acknowledged by Capcom insider Dusk Golem, this title is seemingly Resident Evil Revelations 3 (or not less than was initially named that in some unspecified time in the future throughout improvement) and might be a “Swap-focused RE recreation” however not unique to the platform.
The identical insider has now backed up earlier claims – stating the sport will arrive “inside a 12 months of [Resident Evil] Village’s launch” which is due out in Could this 12 months, and might be a part of Capcom’s massive twenty fifth anniversary celebrations for its long-running survival horror sequence.
“This isn’t from me, however for the file, Revelations 3 is popping out inside a 12 months of Village’s launch date, both late 2021 or early 2022.
“Releases as a part of their twenty fifth anniversary celebrations, together with Village, virtually undoubtedly going to be a Swap timed unique. However that’ll be introduced later this 12 months, for now Village is deserving of the eye, and out in just some months now!”
Nightfall Golem goes on to state how the sport is “100%” working on the RE Engine that Capcom used for Monster Hunter Rise and whereas it is a “timed unique”, it will be releasing “on every part” as a cross-generation recreation. It was additionally talked about how Rebecca would nonetheless be the protagonist:
“I first heard about Rev 3 in 2017 that it’d star Rebecca, and I have been up to date a number of occasions over time its a Rebecca recreation nonetheless. I am semi conscious of who the 2nd & third protagonists are too, each returning characters, however these lips are zipped for now.”
Nightfall Golem beforehand make clear a brand new Monster Hunter recreation for Swap nicely earlier than the official announcement – explaining how it will be working on the RE Engine.
The final entry within the Revelations line was Resident Evil Revelations 2 – an episodic tackle the survival horror sequence, which initially launched in 2015 and surfaced on Swap in 2017.


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In less than a week, Project Her&Now will end after four and a half years of working to promote women entrepreneurship in India. When looking at national-level data on female labour force participation and women’s ownership of businesses, the picture today looks as grim as when we started out in 2018. Yet, looking at the impact of our project does leave me hopeful at the end of this project’s journey. The fact that so many of our entrepreneurs were successful in setting up their own business (53% of all incubation programme participants) or advance their businesses (95% of acceleration participants), that 90% of our entrepreneurs consider themselves as entrepreneurs at the end of the programmes, or that our entrepreneurs predominantly employ other women in their companies: those figures show the potential of women entrepreneurship in India and how it could be accelerated with the right kind of intervention.
Women entrepreneurship promotion has been on the Indian government’s agenda for the last decade or so. In recent years, the narrative around women entrepreneurship in India has been changing, in the media, in the ecosystem and in policymaking circles. Women entrepreneurship is increasingly associated with strong and growing businesses that promote local economies and communities. To tell the stories of our 900+ women entrepreneurs – whom we supported with incubation and acceleration programmes and many add-on initiatives to strengthen leadership skills, international market access and help them survive the COVID-19 pandemic induced economic downturn – and to portray their innovative and growth-oriented businesses, has been a goal of Project Her&Now since the very beginning. That is why our media campaign invested heavily in showcasing these entrepreneurs as role models to inspire other women to dare to step forward and start their entrepreneurial journey. Driving this change in mindset and narrative around women entrepreneurship has been an essential part of our work and we have been able to directly engage with 1,000,000+ people through our campaign activities.
In the process of supporting these 900+ entrepreneurs, we, along with our implementing partners Dhriiti – The Courage Within, Empower Foundation, Mann Deshi Foundation, Startup Oasis, and WE Hub, have developed a robust model and curriculum for women-centric entrepreneurship support programmes. I have been fortunate to witness first-hand through discussions with the entrepreneurs the effect these support programmes have had on their businesses and lives. For many of them, it was the first time that they were recognized and taken seriously as entrepreneurs. Such validation and the self-confidence it inspires, are just as important outcomes for women entrepreneurship promotion initiatives as business advancement and performance.
Our women entrepreneurs are all change-makers in their families and communities and their strong dedication to social and economic development in their communities, often for other women, through their businesses will drive India forward. This individual commitment of many of our entrepreneurs, which in Manipur, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, has expressed itself in the formation of new formal women entrepreneur networks, is commendable and exciting. This is how women entrepreneurs’ voices will be heard more strongly in their local ecosystem, in policymaking circles and that is what is ultimately needed to change women’s role in the economy and create more gender equality. What has inspired me most in this project and leaves me optimistic when I look into the future, is the momentum we have created in the ecosystem by bringing together a group of committed, like-minded individuals and organisations working to promote women entrepreneurship. I am deeply grateful to our five implementing partners, our cooperation partners in the media campaign, the four new women entrepreneur networks, our partners in policymaking and many others who will use this energy to continue to promote women entrepreneurship and to fight for women’s economic and social empowerment.
I wish we had a little more time to keep doing this work because it is far from over. So now it is time to pass the torch to our partners and the Her&Now women entrepreneurs. Let me end this by giving a big shoutout to everyone in the Her&Now community – it’s been an honour to have met and engaged with each one of you and I know that you will achieve great things for women entrepreneurs in this country!
Julia Karst is an adviser in international cooperation for sustainable development. She led Project “Her&Now” in India from 2018 until 2022. She has been working with GIZ since 2012 both in Germany and abroad in different projects, spanning areas such as private sector development, women's economic empowerment and green growth.


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Last week WHSmith announced a range review that would downgrade or drop completely over 70 percent of its specialist title range in a bid to boost the chain’s drooping profits.
The reductions emerged from a review instigated by the company’s new chief executive Kate Swann, who is looking down the barrel of a £940m takeover bid.
According to the media section of The Independent, many famous – but niche – magazines face the chop.
Sight and Sound magazine would be available in only 40 of the biggest WHSmith stores, down from 300 stores.
"The decision is completely crazy and what it will do is put a lot of small magazines out of business," John Innes, Sight and Sound’s publisher told The Independent. "
History Today would be all but history itself, available in just 175 stores instead of 522.
Peter Furtado, the magazine’s editor, said:
"WH Smith represents around 50 per cent of our sales; therefore a reduction of two-thirds will make the difference between publishing on news stands being economically viable or not.
WHSmith said the review was ongoing and was a "normal part of good retail practice."
If history and cinema mags can be impacted, how about bike mags? The bigger ones are safe, they come from publishing houses with lots of other titles and hence have bargaining power.
Niche titles from small, independent publishers have no such safety net.
Singletrack publisher Mark Alker told BikeBiz.com he’s aware of the review but that the rider-owned magazine is safe "for the foreseable future."
"Despite the cuts Singletrack will continue to be stocked in 175 branches of WHSmith," said Alker.
He said the magazine was listed as a ‘Must Stock’ title in all the largest, city centre branches of WHSmith and is listed as ‘Manager’s Discretion’ in a range of smaller WHSmith stores.
But, if WHSmith ever did pull the plug on Singletrack, the magazine has irons on other fires.
"Yesterday we were informed that Singletrack was to be upgraded in branches of Borders Bookshops. From issue 15 onwards Singletrack will be stocked in all 24 branches of the magazine and bookshop chain of stores," said Alker.
The magazine, with a print run of 18 000 an issue, is also available in 100 IBDs and on subscription by mailorder. Singletrack is available in newsagents in USA, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Holland, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan.


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The Manitoba government has issued a request for pre-qualifications (RFPQ) to expand opportunities for retail cannabis stores in the province, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen announced today.
“To help eliminate the black market, our goal within two years of legalization is for 90 per cent of Manitobans to be able to access legal cannabis within a 30-minute drive or less,” said Pedersen. “Ensuring public health and safety remains our top priority. We believe cannabis sourced from federally licensed producers and sold by provincially licensed and regulated retailers will better protect the health and safety of Manitobans.”
Following an initial public tender that concluded earlier this year, the province selected four proponents that will operate over 30 retail cannabis locations. The minister noted this next RFPQ will help expand the initial number of retail cannabis stores to more communities in Manitoba.
“In proceeding with phase two of our retail strategy, we are keeping our promise to establish a competitive retail environment that creates new economic opportunities for all Manitobans,” said Pedersen.
The RFPQ seeks to establish a pre-qualification list of respondents capable of operating a retail cannabis store in a community that may be under-serviced after the first phase of the retail market is established. Retailers who submitted proposals to the initial public tender will be eligible for consideration on this list.
Pedersen noted Indigenous business participation is encouraged in the RFPQ.
“Unlike other jurisdictions in Canada, Manitoba’s hybrid model promotes opportunities for Indigenous participation in the retail of recreational cannabis,” said Pedersen. “With Indigenous partnerships in all four of our initial retail groups, this next phase is another positive opportunity for Indigenous economic development and success in Manitoba.”
The RFPQ will be available on www.merx.com and submissions will be accepted until Aug. 31.


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26th August marked the integration of a new feature to YouTube especially designed for the gamers’ niche. Google officially announced this project earlier in June. It will be competing with Amazon’s offshoot Twitch.tv.
YouTube Gaming will be a hub of several gaming pages covered from top-notch games to trending newcomers. It will be launched with around 25,000 gaming pages, each offering the players a deep insight into the game by providing livestreams, promotional videos, footages, and even more.
YouTube Gaming will also be made available as a mobile app. Chat option is available to have gossip or strategy building discussion while watching livestreams. The service will stream videos at a precise 60 fps.
YouTube Gaming’s website can be accessed from YouTube’s sub-domain www.gaming.youtube.com, it will also be available wherever YouTube will be. Website, along with Android and iOS apps, was made live at 10 am (Pacific).


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Total Sales Boosted by 21% Month-Over-Month Increase in International Passenger Trips
ARLINGTON, Va. – November 18, 2021 – Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) today released data showing ARC-accredited travel agency air ticket sales increased 199% year over year in October 2021. The consolidated dollar value of tickets sold by agencies during October totaled $4.3 billion, the third month in 2021 for which sales have topped $4 billion.*
Month over month, October 2021 results showed:
“The announcement that the U.S. would open its borders to vaccinated international travelers on November 8 led to a significant increase in airline ticket purchases throughout October,” said Steve Solomon, vice president of global sales, marketing, operations and customer experience at ARC. “We saw double-digit percentage increases in new tickets from European countries to the U.S., a positive sign for the travel industry as we enter the holiday months.”
Total passenger trips settled by ARC in October 2021 increased 115% year over year from 8.1 million to 17.6 million. U.S. domestic passenger trips increased 112% to 12.1 million YOY. International passenger trips increased 123% to 5.4 million over the same period. The average U.S. round-trip ticket price in October 2021 was $425, a 13% increase from $377 in October 2020.
Year over year, October 2021 EMD sales increased 157% to $7,861,025. EMD transactions increased 146% to 163,212.**
Notes for Editors:
**Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMD)
As a leader in air travel intelligence and omnichannel retailing, ARC provides platforms, tools and insights that help the global travel community connect, grow and thrive. ARC enables the diverse retailing strategies of its customers by providing innovative technology, flexible settlement solutions and access to the world’s most comprehensive air transaction dataset. In 2019, ARC managed more than $97.4 billion in transactions between airlines and travel agencies, representing more than 302 million passenger trips. For more information, please visit arccorp.com.


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Following Fortnite’s OG season which broke the game’s player count record, Call of Duty fans have shared their desire to see the franchise’s first Battle Royale experience return to Warzone.
With the launch of Modern Warfare 3 on November 10, CoD’s free-to-play Warzone experience will receive its next chapter including a big new map called Urzikstan, new Perks, and weapons.
However, the success of Fortnite’s OG season, which brought back the game’s original map released in 2018 and resulted in a player-count record, led Warzone players to wish for the return of Call of Duty‘s first Battle Royale map, Blackout, introduced in Black Ops 4.
Although players were initially excited about the devs reintroducing the fan-favorite Verdansk map, several fans have mentioned that Blackout’s map would be a “superior” option to bring back in Warzone, hoping players will jump into the game again.
Black Ops 4’s Battle Royale experience Blackout launched in 2018.
Since Blackout was initially a paid mode tied to the purchase of Black Ops 4, many players believe the map should be made available for free in Warzone, therefore granting them the chance to enjoy the first Call of Duty Battle Royale experience without any additional cost.
A discussion arose in response to a post by CharlieIntel on X regarding which BR experience should be reintroduced in Warzone. While Verdansk is the top preference for most, it’s noteworthy that Blackout has garnered significant attention among the suggestions.
“Cod Blackout OG Map would be fire,” shared a user in the replies. Another player chimed in adding, “I’m not a fan of Battle Royales, like AT ALL, but Blackout’s design was an interesting one,” further clarifying the fans’ choice for Blackout’s return, which is considered the “OG” BR experience for CoD.
Although the expectations for the return of the original Battle Royale experience are tempered somewhat, it remains to be seen if this will ever come true. However, fans haven’t lost hope that this will happen one day.


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Fast forward one year: Facebook shares have surged 58 percent, while Twitter's are trading about 8 percent below the IPO price of $45.10, and big institutional investors have cut their holdings.
With user growth slowing (66 million monthly active users were added in the last year, a slight decline in growth), the company is struggling with questions about whether it can appeal to the mainstream. It has 284 million total users, compared with Facebook's 1.35 billion.
Perhaps because of this, the company's been trying to shift the focus away from the number of people who tweet, to the larger universe of people who see those tweets, on TV or elsewhere around the Web.
Five of Costolo's direct subordinates have left or been replaced, and Costolo named his fifth head of product in the past five years just last week. Now the pressure is on Costolo and new CFO Anthony Noto to lay out their vision at the company's first investor day next Wednesday.
The news isn't all bad, however. In the past year, the company has made crucial acquisitions and integrated the mobile video company MoPub it bought just before its IPO. MoPub delivers mobile ads across the Web—a growing business regardless of how many people tweet or see tweets. The company also bought Gnip—which analyses Twitter data—native mobile ad company Namo Media, Tap Commerce and Mitro.
In an effort to weave Twitter into all mobile apps, it unveiled a new developer kit called Fabric late last month, combining tools from some of its acquisitions.
Plus there's new potential in e-commerce. It's testing a "buy button," which holds the promise for generating a new revenue stream as well as bolstering ad purchases from retailers.
Over the past year, Twitter's stock looks like a sine wave—a roller coaster of beaten, met, and disappointed expectations. Now investors are wondering what bar to measure Twitter's performance against—if not Facebook then what? Can Twitter weave itself through the fabric of the Web?
More than three-quarters of Twitter's active users are outside the U.S., though the majority of its revenue is from the U.S.. There's opportunity in closing that gap, but that's just the first step in convincing investors of Twitter's long term potential.


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Apple is reportedly suspending the discharge of iPadOS 16 until October, primarily based on a model new report from Bloomberg, which suggests Apple requires further time to restore bugs with the Stage Supervisor multitasking attribute.
Regardless of Apple not formally sharing a deliberate launch date for iPadOS 16, the model new exchange for iPad was broadly anticipated to launch in September, alongside iOS 16 which reportedly is on schedule and unaffected by the delay.
iPadOS 16 accommodates numerous the core choices of this yr’s flagship iPhone launch, iOS 16, except for Lock Display screen updates. The exchange accommodates shared tabs and bookmarks in Safari, Stage Supervisor – a model new answer to multitask on iPad with resizable dwelling home windows and various overlapping dwelling home windows in a single view, a model new Climate app constructed notably for iPad, a redesigned Sport Middle dashboard, and additional.
Follow @TheApplePost on Twitter for the latest coverage and analysis on all things Apple. Learn the day’s latest tales and carry on excessive of the most recent Apple data, iPhone leaks and Mac rumors with the theapplepost.com app – out there from the App Retailer.


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Toshiba lowered the cost of its PDR-2 model by 38 percent, its second price cut in the past three months. The PDR-2 debuted at $499 before falling $100 in December and another $150 today.
The price actions demonstrate both the market impact of newer, more advanced "megapixel" cameras and also Toshiba's intent to reach the consumer segment.
Last week at a trade show, Hewlett-Packard, Kodak, Olympus, and Konica each introduced digital cameras priced under $1,000 that are capable of packing a million pixels into a single image. Analysts hailed the announcements as an important step toward the technology's becoming comparable to traditional photography, at an affordable price. (See related story)
Toshiba has not yet introduced a megapixel model but will soon do so, according to an industry source.
The megapixel camera's declining price means that lower-quality digital cameras are dipping into the realm of consumer affordability. Kodak already has several models under the $250 price point. Previously digital cameras have been targeted at commercial uses, such as posting real estate advertisements on Web pages.
"If you put [a digital camera] in the $200 range, people are willing to risk it, but not for $500 or $1,000," a Toshiba spokesman said. "We want to be in that range where people are trying it out."
Toshbia's fixed-focus PDR-2 includes a 2MB flash memory card capable of storing 24 images at a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels, a middle-of-the-road resolution that's fine for viewing the images on a computer but grainy when compared to traditional photographs. To make the camera easier to connect to Windows 95 PCs, the package also includes a PC Card adapter that lets users download JPEG images to the desktop.
The $249 price includes a $50 mail-in rebate. The PDR-2 is immediately available.


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Listen to this story
ELKHART — Thor Industries shed its corporate look this week in favor of a fresh, consumer-friendly approach. For the first time in the company’s 30-year history, Thor is rolling out a complete rebrand for 2019.
“We are at a pivotal moment in the RV industry and it felt like the perfect time for Thor to think forward,” said Bob Martin, president and CEO of THOR Industries.
“With our core values still in place, we are excited to explore new ways for consumers to experience the incredible outdoors with our best-in-class products,” he added.
The goals for the brand’s reimagining were simple — maintain Thor’s global leadership position in the RV industry and contemporize the overall RV space, Martin explained.
“As a champion for exploration and adventure, we wanted a modern approach to getting people on the open road in one of the most flexible, comfortable and fun ways possible — in an RV,” he added.
To accomplish these, Thor is executing a three-point strategy. First, the company is breaking down consideration barriers between consumers and RVs with educational resources, stunning content and practical tools that make researching an RV easier than ever, the release explained.
Next, Thor is working to remind consumers that it owns 24 of the biggest and best brands in RVing as part of its robust digital and communication plans, it added.
Finally, the company is inserting itself into the larger outdoor recreation industry by supporting worthy partners and having constant, meaningful engagement with the current and future generations of campers, the company noted.
“We wanted to reach consumers by rethinking the spirit of Thor and RVing as a whole,” said James Rigney, head of marketing at Thor Industries. “This is a complete brand overhaul — top to bottom — and we look forward to giving people a better look into who we are and what we do.”
The rebrand includes an all-new company tagline meant to illustrate that Thor is synonymous with outdoor recreation: “Go Everywhere, Stay Anywhere.”
“In just four words, it describes everything about the RV experience and what THOR contributes to it,” said Rigney. “The redesign also includes a new logo — a visual manifestation of the new tagline — as well as an overhauled color palette that evokes nature.”
Consumers will also notice changes in how Thor speaks to its audience. The company will rely more heavily on data, analytics and insights to ensure it is a true resource for avid outdoorsmen and “weekend warriors” alike, the release explained.
The evolution of the larger RV industry inspired Thor to refresh its customer approach and adapt to shifting consumer needs whilst leveraging new technologies and encouraging positive disruption in the space, Rigney explained.
“With these changes, Thor hopes to debunk preconceived notions of RVing and help grow the community of ‘four-season enthusiasts,’ he added.
“By fostering human connection and discovery through new innovations and data-driven solutions, the company will help to usher in a new era of RV industry growth and make way for future generations of campers,” he said.
Thor’s new branding image is on display at www.thorindustries.com.
SOURCE: Thor Industries press release


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The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is built using the latest 10nm FinFET nodes. Samsung apparently, started mass producing these somewhere around October this year. Initially, there were some rumours floating around that Qualcomm may opt for TSMC for mass manufacturing their upcoming flagship chip. Thus its quite overwhelming to see Qualcomm keep their decade long partnership with Samsung afloat.
“We are excited to continue working together with Samsung in developing products that lead the mobile industry,” said Keith Kressin, Senior Vice President, Product Management, Qualcomm. “Using the new 10nm process node is expected to allow our premium tier Snapdragon 835 processor to deliver greater power efficiency and increase performance while also allowing us to add a number of new capabilities that can improve the user experience of tomorrow’s mobile devices.”
Samsung had apparently bagged the mass production deal from Qualcomm last year. In fact, both the Snapdragon 820 and 821 chips were produced by Samsung. Talking about the deal, Samsung Executive Vice President and Head of Foundry, Jong Shik Yoon said, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to work closely with Qualcomm Technologies in producing the Snapdragon 835 using our 10nm FinFET technology,” He further added, “This collaboration is an important milestone for our foundry business as it signifies confidence in Samsung’s leading chip process technology.”
Just like every year, Qualcomm didn’t divulge much regarding what’s in store for their upcoming chips. That said, the use of a 10nm FinFET technology is said to make the chip nearly 30 percent better in terms of area efficiency, 27 percent more powerful and last but not the least, nearly 40 percent lighter on battery. Samsung believes that the use of their FinFet technology will empower OEMs to make their devices even slimmer due to the small footprint of the chip.
Qualcomm, however, revealed that the Snapdragon 835 will come with Quick Charge 4.0. This apparently, succeeds the last gen Quick Charge 3.0. The chipmaker claims that their latest charging technology will help you draw 5 hours or more of battery life from just five minutes of Quick Charge. Using Dual Charge, Qualcomm’s parallel charging technology users can enjoy upto 20 percent faster charging and upto 30 percent higher efficiency compared with Quick Charge 3.0. Apart from that Qualcomm claims that their Quick Charge 4.0 integrates USB Type C and USB PD support. While not much can be ascertained about Qualcomm’s claims so far, it can be assumed that with Quick Charge 4.0 the company may just be able to match up with class leading VOOC charging of Oppo.
Quick Charge 4.0 features third generation Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage technology or INOV in short that includes real time thermal management to optimally detect and select the power transfer level for a given thermal condition. With Quick Charge 4.0, Qualcomm is also introducing their latest power management ICs that are engineered to provide faster battery charging from a 5V USB Type C source.
”As mobile devices become more capable and feature rich, people tend to use them more. That’s why consumer demand and awareness for fast-charging solutions is now at an all-time high,” said Alex Katouzian, Senior Vice President, Product Management, Qualcomm. “Quick Charge 4.0 addresses that need by providing up to 50 percent battery charge in roughly 15 minutes or less, so you don’t have to spend all day chained to your charging cable.”
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 using the latest 10nm FinFET nodes and Quick Charge 4.0 is said to roll out commercially around the first quarter of 2017.


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Travel Industry Wakes Up To Needs of Female Business Travelers
By Lindsey Townsend
Next time you’re sitting on a plane waiting for takeoff, take a peek around you at the business travelers. Chances are you’ll see almost as many women as men engrossed in their work, poring over notes or polishing presentations.
Today’s female business traveler is racking up more frequent flyer miles than ever before-and the travel industry is finally beginning to pay attention to their needs. “Women now represent more than 40% of business travelers and are the fastest-growing segment of that population,” says Cathy Keefe, public relations manager for the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA). Women are more likely than men to travel for a meeting, convention, or trade show; and the number of women business travelers in the finance, banking and real estate sector is increasing steadily.
The Executive Women’s Travel Network estimates that women now spend $175 billion on 14 million business trips annually. To capture some of those valuable travel dollars, hotel chains such as Wyndham Hotels & Resorts have begun catering to working women.
In 1995, in response to market research which indicated that women would soon represent 50% of their business traveler customer base,Wyndham launched a program called Women On Their Way. Based on comments from an Advisory Board formed to track female business travel trends and independent research, Wyndham added innovations requested by women such as premium bed linens, ironing boards, Bath and Body Works bath products, skirt hangers, and light and healthy room service menu items. “Our mission is to really listen and respond to women business travelers by establishing an ongoing dialogue with them,” says Cary Jehl Broussard, vice president of marketing.
Wyndham is now expanding the program by offering access to manicurists and personal shoppers and trainers. “There’s a trend towards seeking out ways to comfort yourself while you’re traveling, whether it’s searching out the chain with the most comfortable bed or pampering yourself with a manicure or a massage while traveling,” says Broussard. “Women will take an extra hour while on the road--that they may not have on the Saturday they return home--to pamper or comfort themselves.”
Reducing Traveling Hassles
While most professionals say they enjoy the opportunity to get out of the home office, meet new people, and see another city during a business trip, traveling often makes for a long and tiring day.
Diane Weldin, senior director of CHR Marketing Solutions in Dallas, travels often to report to senior management on project results and visit clients. “Since airlines frequently overbook flights, I always get to the airport early and keep my cell phone handy and charged up, so I can rebook cancelled flights if necessary,” she says. Weldin suggests dressing in microfibers that don’t wrinkle and resisting the temptation to overpack. “Use a rolling bag and travel light! I typically wear a black knit dress and change jackets for a different look the second day. And I usually leave the laptop in the office unless I need it for a presentation or will be gone more than three days,” she says.
Whenever she travels, veteran traveler Camille Keith, vice president of marketing for Southwest Airlines, brings along a bag packed with an emergency change of clothes, makeup, and toothpaste, along with a one-page summary of her trip itinerary. “It contains all my travel information-flight times, confirmation numbers, phone numbers of people I will see when I get there. I leave a copy of it with my home office, too,” she says.
Female Business Travelers Now Commonplace
The good news is that--unlike 20 or 30 years ago--women business travelers are no longer as unusual as snow in Texas in July. When Joy Perkins, now a manager of learning with Acclivus Corporation in Dallas, began flying for business early in her career, “I was usually the only woman on the plane wearing a suit,” she remembers.
She cites two major trends that have made business travel easier for women: the birth of the lobby bar and the rise in mobile communications. “Years ago the only option for a woman who wanted a little downtime was to go into a dark, smoke-filled sports bar packed with men,” she explains. “Now you can sit comfortably in an upscale hotel lobby bar and have a drink if you want, without being hassled.” The increase in mobile technology also brings another advantage besides accessibility to the home office, Perkins points out. “It used to be just you, out there by yourself on the road and maybe feeling kind of vulnerable,” Perkins observes. “But now everyone has a mobile phone and a laptop--which creates this invisible shield around you that says ‘don’t bother me--I’m working.’”
Southwest’s Keith, who has observed business travel trends for 30 years, agrees the changes are for the better. “There’s been a profound shift in the industry. So many female travelers today are professionals--CPAs, consultants, attorneys--that now it’s very common to see a woman sitting in a hotel lobby, eating alone, working on their laptops, or reading a book.”
Despite that new acceptance level, there’s still no protection against tornadoes in Texas, ice in Chicago and hurricanes in Honolulu. So the next time you find yourself stranded at the airport, keep in mind that you can join most airline clubs for around $50. It won’t get you home any sooner, but a comfy chair, a good steak, and a glass of merlot may help ease your pain. If nothing else, it will help you cool your heels in style!
Traveling unfamiliar roads and getting lost in a bad part of town; waiting alone at midnight for a taxicab, walking in a dark, deserted parking lot…safety concerns are real for women on the road. As a result, many businesswomen place safety at the top of their priority list when they travel.
A 1999 study by the Businesswomen’s Research Institute found that women look for hotels with a good location, onsite security guards and airport shuttles. The top-rated hotels in the survey were the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Ritz Carlton. “Most hotels nowadays have very good security and coded keys, but there are still certain precautions I always recommend. Don’t get into an elevator with just one man in it; don’t park in a dark area; don’t give your room number to anyone; and avoid rooms at the end of a hall,” says Southwest’s Keith. If you’re heading out in an unfamiliar city, it’s also a good idea to ask the hotel concierge or hotel desk staff which areas to avoid.
One of the things that women dislike the most when it comes to travel is renting a car. A survey by Total Research Corp. found that more than 80% of women surveyed worried about personal safety when renting a car. Their top concerns? Poorly-lit parking lots and long waits for shuttle buses, especially at night. “If you’re flying in or out of your home airport late at night, leave the car at home and take a cab so you can avoid walking in parking lots or dark garages,” suggests WBENC’s Bari. “Also, pack light and have wheeled luggage that you can handle yourself when necessary.”
Congratulations: you’re taking your first international business trip. You’ve booked a hotel on the way, reserved a car, confirmed your flight…oops, now where is that passport, again? And what about a visa?
With 20 million Americans now traveling abroad every year, there has been a recent boom in the visa expediting service industry, which can help travelers obtain international travel documents in days instead of months.
That’s a plus for corporate travelers, who often travel on short notice and are the most frequent users of visa services, according to Julie Harris, owner of Houston-based Passports, Etc., a visa and passport expediting service. Her firm handles a number of travel services, including procurement of first-time passports, passport renewals, lost or stolen passports, name changes, tourist and business visa, translations, and birth certificates “Our busiest department is visas, because a passport is valid for 10 years, and you can use the same passport in every country you visit. But there is a different visa for every country,” she says.
Passports Etc. is now positioning itself as a leading Internet resource for international travel documentation. In just three clicks using an Internet browser, travelers can eliminate the wasted time and confusion often associated with the process of applying for international documents.For more information, visit their website at www.passportsetc.com.
Online travel planning, along with electronic ticketing, is also becoming more popular. A recent report released by the TIA found that 52 million people used the Internet for online travel planning in 1999, an increase of 54% from 1998. On-line bookings are also increasing. More than 16 million people made online travel reservations in 1999-an increase of 146% from 1998.


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When the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping through the U.S. in March, many small businesses had to close their storefronts, and look for new, digital solutions to survive.
IndyBaroque Music was one of those small businesses. The nonprofit organization relied heavily on collecting donations from live concert performances, all of which were canceled due to the pandemic. Seeking assistance to keep their business alive, IndyBaroque Music turned to the HOPE Digital Project, run by the Kelley School of Business.
“Having the MSIS students enhance our website functionality has given us a new capacity to monetize streaming performances in this time of limited face to face concert possibilities,” Leela Breithaupt, President and CEO at IndyBaroque Music said. “IndyBaroque is fortunate to be able to be an early adopter of this technology in Indianapolis with the help of the Kelley HOPE Digital Project.”
Nicole Kearney, founder of Sip & Share Wines, also experienced challenges when the pandemic forced her to move her business online. The HOPE Digital Project team helped Kearney build a more user-friendly website that better reflected her small business.
“Our new website is sleek and functional for novice and experienced wine lovers,” Kearney said. “The experience, service provided and final outcome are stellar. Cheers to IU for creating a fantastic program for local businesses to access.”
IndyBaroque Music and Sip & Share Wines are just two of the 179 small businesses assisted by the HOPE Digital Project since May. The Kelley School of Business partnered with the Indiana Small Business Development Center for the project, in order to help businesses facing an existential crisis precipitated by the pandemic.
The project aims to equip Hoosier small businesses with the digital tools they need to succeed and even thrive during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. Of the businesses assisted, 50% were women-owned and 22% were led by minorities.
“Through this project, we are able to ensure that these businesses are not only able to survive the disastrous effects of the pandemic but are also coming out stronger than ever before,” Mitali Mehra, a graduate student in Kelley’s MSIS program and one of the founding Program Managers on Project Hope said. “Small businesses are a critical part of the community and have been there for us when we have needed them, but now it is our turn to help them when they need us."
The HOPE Digital Project team is led by Bipin Prabhakar, chair of Information Systems Graduate Programs at the Kelley School of Business, along with professors Alan Dennis and Keith Dayton. The team assists small businesses with their digitization, which includes creating an effective online presence, connecting to digital markets, providing search engine optimization, cybersecurity assessments, improving a company’s social media presence and more.
Each small business worked with the HOPE Digital Project interns for two weeks. David Watkins, State Director of the Indiana Small Business Development Center, said the project gave businesses access to resourceful students who could share their digital expertise.
“We’re really glad the Kelley School of Business reached out,” Watkins said. “The feedback we get from these small businesses is really a good reflection of the quality of the students and the institution.”
96% of the HOPE Digital Project clients were satisfied with the work of the team, with 80% feeling confident that they could use the new technology implemented by the program.
Over 170 MSIS alumni, current and prospective students are involved in the project. For many, the HOPE Digital Project offered them a chance to gain experience working with real companies on time-sensitive, mission-critical projects, when many of their original internships or jobs were impacted by the pandemic.
“We want to use these exceptionally trained students to help the struggling small business community in our state and get a great internship experience,” Prabhakar said. “They help companies succeed in a challenging environment.”
The project, originally scheduled to run until August, has since been extended to December. Prabhakar said the pandemic’s lasting effects makes the HOPE Digital Project even more crucial.
Daniel Van Drunen, a Lead Solutions Architect on the project and an alumnus of the MSIS program, said the project builds a special connection between the small businesses and the students assisting them.
“All of us are in this together,” Van Drunen said. “It’s the responsibility of everyone during this time to do whatever we can to help other people, to push back a lot of the uncertainties and fears we all face and push forward.”
The HOPE Digital Project internship is open to students of all majors. For more information and to apply for the project, go to https://gokelley.iu.edu/ksbhope.


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Smartphone sales are taking off in Asia after a slow start, as analysts predict that the number of phones shipped in the region will double this year to 18.8 million.
Large numbers of new customers are being lured into buying or upgrading to smartphones by attractive new features, according to research firm In-Stat.
"Major smartphone makers are providing better designs, better functionality and better cost structures, thus offering better pricing and a long-term plan for product portfolios," said Victor Liu, a Singapore-based analyst with In-Stat.
While only 7.4 million smartphones were shipped in the region in the first half of 2006, sales have picked up strongly are expected to exceed 11 million in the second half.
The market is on the cusp of mass smartphone adoption, according to Liu, who believes that Asia-Pacific sales will approach 65 million units a year by 2010.
Research firm Gartner stated recently that global smartphone sales grew 75 per cent year-on-year to reach almost 35 million in the first half of 2006, around 29 per cent of which were in Asia.
NatWest outage comes a day after Barclays' IT systems shut out customers and staff
The ICO is concerned with AggregateIQ's retention and processing of data used in the Brexit referendum
Map selection, quick menus for grenades and healing items and automatic reload coming in PUBG update #22
Could be used for everything from search-and-rescue robots to wearable tech


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December corn futures finished today's session 6 1/2 cents higher at $5.85 and November soybeans were up 6 3/4 cents $13.22 3/4, and December wheat in Chicago was 2 1/2 cents lower at $8.21 1/2.
?Commodities tried to rally early in today’s session, but initial advances were met with renewed selling pressure. As it has been this is the result of economic worries and elevated indications of a recession in the US. The 2 year treasury yield has traded above the 10 year which is a negative sign for the economy. A new strain of Covid has been reported in China which only added to the liquidation of commodity positions. Futures are now oversold, but this has not provided support. Trade ignored the decline in the weekly crop condition report as rains moving through the Corn Belt are expected to be beneficial. Soybeans suffered additional pressure from the nine-month low in Palm Oil.
We are starting to see somewhat of a shift in attitude in the market on exports and future potential, mainly on soybeans. In last week’s export sales report net sales on soybeans were a negative 4.4 million bu (mbu) due to buyers washing out of previous bookings. Thoughts are another 5 cargoes of sales were cancelled during last week’s trade again. This is the exact opposite of what trade was expecting, as most thought we would see an increase in sales for late summer when Brazil exhausts their reserves. The main concern now is that if this trend continues, the USDA will start to raise its ending stocks estimates.
The Safrinha harvest is quickly advancing in Brazil. A reported 30% of the crop has been harvested, twice the volume that was out a year ago. This rapid harvest pace has created logistic issues in Brazil and pressured the country’s offers. Corn out of Brazil is now being offered at a sharp discount to the US, but this starting to narrow. It is questionable as to how much business the US will see though, as Brazil is likely still going to be making exports when the US harvest starts.
When it comes to US exports more interest is being placed on the soy complex. Combined US soybean sales currently total 804 mbu, a record for this time of year. The previous forward contracting record on US soybeans is 644 mbu, and last year the US had 332 mbu of sales on the books. Nearly all of these sales were made when concerns were building over the potential size of the South American crop. These fears have now subsided, and when combined with easing global demand, the complex has been pressured. Sales cancellations are also lessening the trade response to the high numbers.
Renewable fuel production in the United States continues to increase according to the latest industry report. Total US renewable fuel production in the month of March was up 14% from February and a 26% increase from last year. Total renewable fuel production for the month came in at 121 million gallons, the second highest on record. As production capacity increases, so will the monthly output.
Trade is closely monitoring the size and exports of the Russian wheat crop. Officials in Russia have increased the size of the crop to a record at 88.8 million metric tons. Russia had been increasing its export tax on wheat and hit a record just short of $150.00/metric ton. This has dropped considerably though and is now at $85.00 per ton. Russia is also basing its tax values off the Ruble rather than the US dollar, which is impacting all quotes. The question remains who will buy Russian wheat with much of the world placing sanctions on them until the Ukraine war ends, and possibly longer.
We continue to receive updates on the Ukraine export situation with differing opinions. Officials in Ukraine believe it will still take considerable time to get exports back to normal, as not only are logistics an issue internally but for the Black Sea as well. Other countries in the Black Sea believe Ukraine could be making exports in a matter of days, however. The United Nations is hoping Ukraine will resume exports sooner than later as the world needs food grains to prevent shortages.
The sentiment of the US farmer is rapidly declining and is now at its lowest point since October 2016. According to research from Purdue University and the CME group, the rising cost of production for most US farmers is outweighing the higher than average commodity values. Not only are higher input costs a worry, but the simple availability of product is as well according to 60% of respondents to a survey from the two groups.


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US burger chain Carls’ Jr is taking on the Indian market.
CKE Restaurants Holdings, parent company of Carl’s Jr, has signed a development agreement with India’s BrightStar Restaurants Private, owned by CybizCorp.
The initial agreement is for up to 100 new Carl’s Jr restaurants. The deal is the first in India for the premium burger chain that believes there is potential for more than 1000 Carl’s Jr restaurants in India over time.
Carl’s Jr is banking on strong demand for what it considers are premium products, centered on a wide variety of charbroiled burgers.
For India, Carl’s Jr will offer a full line of premium vegetarian options to suit Indian tastes and preferences.
“We see tremendous potential in the Indian market, and CybizCorp’s proven track record in the franchise sector in both real estate and food and beverage gives us great confidence in the partnership and our future success in the country,” said Ned Lyerly, president of international business at CKE Restaurants.
Sam Chopra, group chairman and founder of CybizCorp, said now is the time for a premium burger QSRs such as Carl’s Jr to enter India, which is witnessing a ‘burger revolution’, a parallel phenomena witnessed in the pizzas and pasta category a decade back.


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Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Thursday it has put plans to regulate cryptocurrencies on hold in light of the central bank's decision to ban them, according to a report by the Guardian Nigeria.
The regulatory body released a statement officially confirming any plans to regulate the cryptocurrencies are now on hold following a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive ordering banks to close any accounts transacting with cryptocurrencies.
“For the purpose of admittance into the SEC regulatory incubation framework, the assessment of all persons and products affected by the CBN circular of Feb. 5, 2021, is hereby put on hold until such persons are able to operate bank accounts within the Nigerian banking system,” the SEC said in a statement seen by the publication.
The CBN letterhttps://www.cbn.gov.ng/Out/2021/CCD/Letter%20to%20All%20Banks%20on%20Crypto%20Currency.pdf which was signed by Bello Hassan, Director of Banking Supervision, said it was reminding regulated banking institutions that "dealing in cryptocurrencies or facilitating payments for cryptocurrency exchanges is prohibited" and any breaches of the order would face "severe regulatory sanctions."
Despite the announcement made by CBN, the Nigerian cryptocurrency community has been largely undeterred, using peer-to-peer exchange platforms to continue trading.
The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, institutional digital assets exchange. Bullish group is majority owned by Block.one; both groups have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary, and an editorial committee, chaired by a former editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal, is being formed to support journalistic integrity.


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Gordon Brothers, a global advisory and investment firm, acquired the global consumer electronics brand Telefunken. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Telefunken has a portfolio of products ranging from video, e-mobility, domestic appliances and audio.
Gordon Brothers promoted Carolyn D’Angelo to senior managing director of brand operations. She is also the president of the Laura Ashley brand and oversees the Nicole Miller brand.
Gordon Brothers, a global advisory and investment firm, transformed and sold the global ORSAY brand, archives and related trademarks and other intellectual property to a private investor from the Czech Republic operating under Orsay International.
Gordon Brothers, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm, has provided Everlane a $25 million term loan that’s secured by the sustainable apparel, accessories and footwear retailer’s digitally native brand and working capital assets.
Gordon Brothers acquired the global ORSAY brand, archives and related trademarks and other intellectual property from Orsay GmbH. The firm has partnered with SCAYLE to continue its growth in addition to maintaining ORSAY’s existing franchisees.
First Eagle Alternative Credit, the alternative credit platform of First Eagle Investments, provided a $20 million term loan to Nicole Miller, a global fashion and lifestyle brand.
Gordon Brothers, the owner of the British heritage brand Laura Ashley, partnered with IMG to expand the Laura Ashley fashion, home and lifestyle brand.
Gordon Brothers arranged, structured and executed a £25 million ($33.3 million) asset-backed financing facility for MIP Holdings Limited in partnership with Aurelius Finance Company. The funding supported MIP’s public-to-private takeover of French Connection Group.
Kids2 renewed and expanded its partnership agreement with White Oak ABL and Gordon Brothers. The renewed agreement, which was made to a 2020 arranged senior secured credit facility, includes an increase to strategic capital available to the Kids2 business.
Gordon Brothers, a global advisory and investment firm, provided Malouf Companies with financing to fund its continued progress.


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At the IEEE Security Symposium there's been a taskforce of sorts formed, the Android Malware Genome Project – AMGP doesn't sound good does it? – to understand our enemy that seems to be gaining strength. Critics for some time now have been poking fun at the Android platform for its apparent malware problem however, it's more than logical for those looking to produce malware to latch on to the platform with more numbers and numbers that are only growing.
Malware for android has been on the rise little by little and, it doesn't seem like it's just going to go away. I, myself, am off the mind that it's nowhere near as big a problem as some would lead you to believe however, the idea of malware and viruses once relegated to your old Windows XP machine coming to your smartphone or tablet is a little scary. These are the devices that we pile huge amounts of personal information into and in some case hold more dear than our desktops.
The project is essentially an effort to create databases of all known forms of malware and to then share this information in order to better combat the common enemy. There's already 1200 specimens out there and, if you're curious you can have a look at them at the project's website, here.


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The McKinsey Centre for Future Mobility has said the industry must learn how to navigate an emerging and potentially very different "next normal” as it recovers from the impact of Covid-19.
The report, ‘Mobility’s rebound: An industry recovers, but where is it heading?’, suggests that while 2021 was still a challenging year, it also saw unforeseen momentum for the mobility industry.
Disrupters launched long-anticipated models (for example, Lucid delivered the first batch of its Dream Edition electric vehicles (EV) in the fourth quarter of 2021) and aimed for strong IPOs (rival EV manufacturer Rivian, for example, had a $90 billion (£66bn) valuation at the company’s opening day in November).
Chinese carmakers entered Europe confidently (for example, NIO launched in Norway at the end of September; similarly, Aiways, BYD, Dongfeng Motor, Great Wall Motor, and SAIC Motor also entered Europe).
Advanced air mobility also saw a massive surge in investments, amounting to almost $6bn (£4bn) by October 2021.
What’s more, there were several acquisitions in the shared-micromobility space this year, totalling nearly $700 million (£513m).
McKinsey said this momentum can best be observed in the solidifying shifts in consumer preferences, technologies in the market, and regulatory actions around the globe.
An overview of insights from the full report:
Mobility demand is picking up again, and many consumers around the world are beginning to travel more.
However, about half of the consumers in McKinsey’s recent Global COVID-19 Automotive & Mobility Consumer Survey stated a clear preference to travel less than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, consumers’ mobility preferences going forward, including which modes of transport they choose, will also look different.
New innovations in ACES (autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification, and shared/smart mobility) technology are back in play, with $70bn (£51bn) invested in the first half of 2021 alone.
Meanwhile, the industry is wrestling with several challenges, from missing semiconductor chips to realising net-zero vehicles.
Major world regions have set ambitious goals for decarbonization—for example, the European Union’s “Fit for 55” plan—that will require a holistic mobility shift from cars to other means of transport.
Moreover, on the local level many cities are pushing ahead with stricter regulations on car usage.


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Prototype Interactive, an agency specializing in full-cycle digital solutions development has just launched an innovative Facebook social banking app for Commercial Bank of Dubai.
The new app allows users to get instant access to check their bank accounts online, pay credit card bills, transfer money between accounts including your social connections on Facebook and track expense via integrated ‘Eye on the Expenses’ service – a neatly designed visual data of all the transactions conducted with your card.
“The app’s main aim is to provide users with a fast, secure and convenient way to perform day to day banking tasks such as paying a bill or checking their balance directly from the social network. It will save the users time on visiting the bank in person and reduce the hustle often associated with performing bank operations via complicated online banking interfaces.” – says Alexander Rauser, CEO of Prototype Interactive.
The new Facebook Branch app stands for better customer experience by focusing on a few main parameters:
- Usability: users can transfer funds to friends and family with two clicks via mobile devices. Make secure online purchases and pay various types of bills including mortgage and loans directly from the app.
- Personalized experience: address all your inquires directly to the banks page and get instant replies. Receive special promotions and unique product offers custom tailored according to your profile data.
- Security: All the transactions are strictly private and will not be displayed anywhere in public. Facebook has no access to authentications or transactions that take place via this app. Each activity goes through secured server at the Commercial Bank of Dubai. To gain access to finance data or send a transaction, users are required to validate their action with a one-time password sent on their mobile phone, registered with CBD.
“CBD recognizes that as more and more people utilize social media, customers increasingly expect banks to offer services via these platforms. Customers want convenience and be able to do banking as part of their everyday lives, when and where they want.” – says Peter Baltussen, Chief Executive of Commercial Bank of Dubai.
The UAE has over 3.6 million of Facebook users with Dubai having around 2,310,797 Facebook users (64% of total users in UAE). The vast majority of users are young adults between the ages of 22-30 who are estimated to access Facebook at least 5 times a day within 15 min after the time they wake up.
Commercial Bank of Dubai is the first one in the region to offer Facebook banking services and the 4th in the world after similar products developed by ICICI Bank of India, CaixaBank of Spain and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, making Commercial Bank of Dubai the first one to join the social banking bandwagon in the Middle East.
@DiLabrien. Dianna Labrien. March 13, 2015


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The next DLC pack for Mass Effect 3 will be released as a free download on Xbox Live next Tuesday, according to Xbox Live's Major Nelson.
Simply called "Earth", all we know for sure about the DLC at the moment is that it will be multiplayer-focused. That said, given the title It's fair to assume that the content will be centered around maps set on our little blue planet.
Last month rumors indicated that the "Earth" DLC pack will feature three maps, set in Rio, Vancouver and London, while adding six new Human classes and at least three weapons. It should be noted that the same rumor correctly described the content of Mass Effect 3's recently released "Extended Cut" DLC, albeit rather vaguely.
Considering that the material is coming next week, I don't think we'll have to wait long to get the final word on what's coming in Mass Effect 3's "Earth" DLC, but until we do, why don't you guys tell us what you want to get out of it? Hit us up in the comments or on Twitter.
[Via Major Nelson]


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Do you have the best deal possible on your home broadband and mobile phone contracts? According to Ofcom, plenty of us do not.
Research from the communications regulator reveals four million UK households could be saving money on broadband, while 1.5 million are overpaying for their mobile phone contract.
According to Ofcom’s pricing trends report, these Brits could be saving cash by switching their providers or haggling with their current provider after the minimum term expires.
Related: Best broadband deals
Among those who could be saving the most are BT’s ADSL customers, who could even save money by switching to the company’s BT superfast broadband.
Ofcom points out that the the ADSL services have risen to £42.99 over the last two years, while fibre broadband starts at just £24.99. It points out that other ISPs have not pushed such lofty price hikes on Brits.
Ofcom advises customers to seek alternative providers, or make sure they negotiate with their current provider in order to ensure they aren’t being overcharged, while new subscribers benefit from new sign-up offers.
A good deal overall
However, in its report, Ofcom has assured that most customers are getting a good deal for their communications subscriptions.
The average household spends £117 a month on their services, which is an 8% fall over the last decade.
Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom’s consumer group director, said: “Overall, most people are getting good value for their phone and broadband services. We’re all using these services more than we were a few years ago, and on average we’re paying less.
“But there are areas where people could get better value for money. For example, many people could upgrade to faster broadband without paying more on their monthly bill. So we’re working to make it easier for people to take advantage of the wide range of deals on offer.”
Do you feel like you’re getting the best deal on your phone and broadband contracts? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.


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Opinion: U.S. Tariffs Against China to Have Little Short-Term Impact
* Trade war will be difficult for U.S. to sustain as many tariff targets are produced by joint ventures in China
* U.S. actions have made China wake up to the reality of its current position within the world economy
(Beijing) — New U.S. tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports took effect Friday as part of the ongoing trade conflict between the two countries, and the U.S. could levy tariffs on an additional $16 billion worth of Chinese goods in the near future. But while the numbers appear staggering, U.S. action will in fact have little short-term effect on China’s economy.
According to estimates by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, U.S. tariffs so far are expected to reduce the growth rate of China’s exports by only 0.75 percentage points, and their negative impact on China’s gross domestic product growth is expected by analysts to be between 0.05 and 0.25 percentage points. The impact on prices in China will also be minimal.
This is because China’s economic growth is less dependent on international trade than it is on domestic demand. In the first quarter of this year, actual final consumption within China contributed 5.3 percentage points to the country’s gross domestic product growth — or 77.8% of growth — compared with exports, which actually dragged down growth by 0.6 percentage points.
At any rate, the trade war will be difficult for the U.S. to sustain. A trade war does not serve the interests of any country, including both China and the U.S. As the Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said on Thursday, over $20 billion worth of China-made products being targeted by the U.S. tariffs are actually produced by foreign companies’ joint ventures in China, and the U.S.’ actions will hurt some U.S.-funded enterprises. Simply put, by opening fire at the rest of the world, the U.S. is also shooting itself in the foot.
In fact, while China’s trade surplus with the U.S. is relatively large, it has allowed American consumers access to cheap and relatively high-quality goods. In essence, both Chinese and Americans have benefited from the two countries operating based on their comparative advantages. The U.S. has maintained a services trade surplus with China for a long time, which has not only increased the income of the United States, but has also promoted employment. If the scope of increased tariffs is further expanded, it will also adversely affect the United States. Imports currently account for more than 70% of consumer goods in the U.S., and a large portion of Chinese goods that could soon face increased tariffs are daily necessities consumed by U.S. households. This means that escalating trade friction could push up prices in the U.S.
The Chinese economy has significant resilience. As China has strengthened its financial supervision and clamped down on risk, its financial sector has strengthened its support of the real economy, reinforcing in turn the domestic growth drivers of the overall economy. The Chinese economy has become a market with complete industrial systems and huge consumption potential. In the first half of the year, there was a net 131.3 billion yuan ($19.78 billion) inflow of overseas funds into the Chinese stock market; overseas institutional investors bought 308.9 billion yuan in Chinese government bonds; and the yuan’s rate against the U.S. dollar has stabilized.
Amid international trade tension, China should aim to maintain its strategic strength and focus on domestic economic activity. Some people believe that the real intention of the U.S. is to curb China’s technological progress, and that the two countries are playing a long-term game. Some also believe that the U.S. is attempting to contain the European Union by placing pressure on China.
Whatever the case, the actions of the U.S. have made China wake up to the reality of its current position within the world economy, as well as heightened its awareness of its weaknesses and direction of growth. China must recognize the areas where it is lagging behind, persist in reform and opening-up, promote structural adjustment, and increase its innovation capabilities. It is important for China to react rationally to trade tension with the U.S., maintain a stable and neutral monetary policy, prevent and resolve risks, and establish a long-term mechanism for regulating its property market in order to create more systemic benefits for China’s economic development.
Sheng Songcheng is the former head of statistics at the People’s Bank of China.
Translated by Teng Jing Xuan (firstname.lastname@example.org)
Sheng Songcheng, the former head of the Financial Survey and Statistics Department at the People’s Bank of China, is executive deputy director of the CEIBS Lujiazui Institute of International Finance.
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One of the most highly-anticipated events of the year, The Fashion Awards 2021 will be presented by the inimitable Billy Porter
Lead image courtesy of Billy Porter
It’s the biggest event in the UK’s style calendar, and this year it is returning with the electric presence of Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor and activist, Billy Porter.
Founded in 1984 and synonymous with spotlighting the most trailblazing talent in the industry, this year’s awards – presented by TikTok – will continue to raise funds for the BFC Foundation, which supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on talent, education, grant-giving and business mentoring. The non-profit organisation aims to improve equality and opportunity so that the fashion industry remains diverse and open to all, helping talented designers at all stages of their career from school level through to becoming a global fashion brand.
In the business for more than three decades and known for his performances on Broadway and as Pray Tell in hit series Pose – and also a singer, director, composer and playwright – Porter is renowned for his unique style, statement red carpet looks and his use of fashion as a means of expression and communication.
Porter released his first literary project, Unprotected, in October 2021, an autobiography about race, sexuality, art, and healing. In 2017, he was the recipient of the GLAAD Vito Russo Award, an award presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality for the LGBT community.
This year’s nominees for ‘Designer of the Year’ include Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta, Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga, Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson and LOEWE, Kim Jones for Dior Men and Fendi and Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons for Prada. The nominees for the BFC Foundation Award for emerging designer talent are Bethany Williams, Bianca Saunders, Nensi Dojaka, Priya Ahluwalia and Richard Quinn.
Awards will also be presented on the night to ’15 Leaders of Change’, featuring designers, brands, creatives and individuals who have created positive change within the fashion industry this past year.
The Fashion Awards 2021 will take place on Monday 29th November at the Royal Albert Hall, London. General tickets for The Fashion Awards 2021 presented by TikTok are available here.


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Thunderbirds Take Flight: Thunderbird Reunion at Ford's Headquarters Tomorrow
To celebrate the Ford Thunderbird's 55th anniversary, the Water Wonderland Thunderbird Club invited Thunderbird owners around the country to the "Return to Dearborn Thunderbird" reunion event.
"The Ford Thunderbird is one of the most iconic products in the history of the automobile," said Jim Farley, vice president of Ford's global marketing. "Each generation of the Thunderbird had a unique personality that ushered in a new generation of breakthroughs in design or technology."
During the three-day event, participants will have the chance to see Ford's world headquarters and the surrounding area. It includes special events such as a photo shoot at Ford's Dearborn, Michigan, proving grounds; a drive into neighboring Greenfield Village; and a viewing of the Henry Ford Estate. The registered participants were also invited to a barbecue at the Henry Hotel and a breakfast at the Estate.
In addition to the events above, a special car show is planned for the last day of the event. If you're a Thunderbird aficionado or owner, and didn't register for the event, you can still see the T-Birds at a car show open to the public tomorrow (Saturday) at Ford's Dearborn headquarters from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Because each generation of Thunderbird was unique, at least one car from every year will be represented at the event. The Thunderbird first went on sale on October 22, 1954 as a 1955 model. Production continued uninterrupted until 1997, when production of the tenth-generation Thunderbird was halted. An eleventh generation, however, entered production in 2002 and was produced until 2005.
As of yesterday when the event kicked off, over 300 Thunderbirds were registered to attend. The vehicles are from more than 30 states, including the far reaches of California. If you're local to southeast Michigan, or want to take a drive to see some classic metal, head over to the car show tomorrow to see the vast exhibit of Thunderbirds.


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A few months ago, in an effort to not contribute to the puppy mills and kitty factories of the world, San Francisco began mulling over the possibility of forbidden canine and feline sales within city limits. But, as happens when the discussion turns to the critters of the world, that ban has now grown to include just about everything you would ever want to even consider having as a pet.
While some towns, like West Hollywood, Austin and El Paso, have recently passed similar restrictions on cat and dog sales, no municipality has come anywhere near the depth and breadth of San Francisco’s proposed ban.
In additon to cats and dogs, other animals under consideration for the ban include birds because of “their sensitivity and inappropriateness as pets,” hamsters, mice, rats, chinchillas and guinea pigs. The city already has a ban in place on the sale of rabbits.
While there is only one pet store in the city that sells cats and dogs, there are several more that sell birds, mice, hamsters and the like. Suffice it to say they are displeased with the proposal.
Explains one store owner:
If I don’t have a bird to sell, I don’t sell a cage. I don’t sell bird toys. I don’t sell seed. But it’s about freedom of choice. If someone wants a bird, they’ll go to Berkeley. This will solve none of the problems the commission sees.
Oddly enough, those opposing the ban have an unlikely ally in the president of the Humane Society, who says that such a broad-spectrum ban only hurts the original goal of the ban: “I think you attract a set of additional opponents that sink an otherwise achievable goal.”