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The positive impact good food has in helping to promote tourism has been recognised with an award being presented to the "Chefs of England".
Hrishikesh Desai, executive head chef at Gilpin House & Lake House, Windermere, Cumbria, collected the award last night at the VisitEngland Annual Awards for Excellence 2015, on behalf of all chefs working in England who "strive for excellence" to raise the quality of food throughout the country.
The award was one of 17 presented at the ceremony at the Sage Gateshead.
Desai, who recently beat of stiff competition on the BBC2 TV series Chefs on Trial, featuring Alex Polizzi, to win his role at Gilpin Lodge, was joined on stage by a number of apprentice chefs from the Sage Gateshead to accept the award.
He said: "I know from personal experience what is required and am constantly inspired by the passion and creativity of my peers. I know that they will be immensely proud of this award and their contribution to tourism."
James Berresford, chief executive, VisitEngland, added: "With such a huge choice of fantastic restaurants, pubs and hotels offering high calibre food, this award allows us to showcase the impact good food has on English tourism.
Other gold medal award winners announced at the ceremony included:
Small Hotel of the Year Brockencote Hall Hotel, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire
Business Tourism Award Woodland Grange Conference & Meeting Venue, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Taste of England Award Hotel Maiyango, Leicester, Leicestershire
Tourism Pub of the Year The Freemasons at Wiswell, Clitheroe, Lancashire
Bed & Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year Colton House, Colton, Staffordshire
Large Hotel of the Year Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa, Matfen, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sustainable Tourism Award Wheatland Farm Eco Lodges, Winkleigh, Devon
Business Tourism Award
Woodland Grange Conference & Meeting Venue, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire


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As the gold price is too fast to spike yet slow to fall in the domestic market, there are more sellers than buyers, said U Myo Myint, Chair of the Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association (YGEA). The daily transaction of 50 visses (a viss equals 1.6 kilogrammes) of gold are seen in the market. However, sellers outnumber buyers in recent days.
“Gold shops are buying approximately 50 visses of the gold transaction rather than selling these days, unlike the past trading,” U Myo Myint was quoted as saying. Additionally, Kyat devaluation against the US dollar is another reason for the price hike in the domestic gold market, he added. The global gold price stands at US$1,836 per ounce. The US dollar exchange rate is approximately K1,990 in the local forex market at present.
Meanwhile, the pure gold fetches up to K1,880,000 per tical (0.578 ounce, or 0.016 kilogramme). The gold price rally is likely to continue in the coming months. Only if the global gold price slides and Kyat appreciates on the US dollar can the domestic gold price fall, U Myo Myint shared his opinion. The domestic gold price is highly correlated with the international market. Last 28 September 2021, a dollar value hit an all-time high of over K3,000 in the black market and consequently, the pure gold reached a record high of K2.22 million per tical in history.
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

domain: news


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LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - Britain’s Sainsbury’s on Thursday reported a slight fall in underlying quarterly sales in its core supermarkets business and cautioned over uncertainty regarding cost pressures.
The firm, which last year purchased Argos-owner Home Retail, said sales at supermarket stores open over a year fell 0.5 percent, excluding fuel, in the nine weeks to March 11, its fiscal fourth quarter.
That compared to analysts’ forecasts ranging down 1 percent to up 0.3 percent, and a third quarter rise of 0.1 percent.
Argos’ like-for-like sales rose 4.3 percent, a slight acceleration from growth of 4.0 percent in the previous quarter.
“The market remains very competitive and the impact of cost price pressures remains uncertain. However, we are well placed to navigate the external environment and remain focused on delivering our strategy,” said Chief Executive Mike Coupe. (Reporting by James Davey; editing by Kate Holton)


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We all know that venture capitalists help entrepreneurs create and grow great companies. They know how businesses can grow, having seen the rise and fall of many. They connect them with big industry names and teach them how to build operations. Those great companies create jobs and help the economy to grow.
Yet what many don’t realize is that the traditional venture industry is evolving.
The spectacular fall of SVB Financial Group, whose Silicon Valley Bank did business with startups, raises an uncomfortable question: Does venture capital still offer value?
Startups have an alternative to traditional VC funds – corporate venture capital (CVC). They can be strategic investors.
Over the past few years, that’s been happening.
Most promising startups are getting funded because of the rise of corporate venturing. And their engagement in the ecosystem is growing.
Not only do these investment arms of large corporations fill a funding gap, but they also provide their companies with contacts, customers and product insights. In return, the corporate groups get an early look at the most promising products, services, and innovations being developed.
“Corporate venturing enables established companies to invest in, collaborate with, or acquire innovative startups, providing them with access to new technologies, business models, talent pools, and market opportunities,” says Mark Zaleski, Managing Director & Partner at BCG X, the tech build and design unit of Boston Consulting Group.
Additionally, corporate venturing promotes growth and diversification for the company, job creation, and innovation. “It enables businesses to maintain a competitive advantage in a fast-paced market by embracing and incorporating disruptive innovations,” he adds.
WHAT IS CORPORATE VENTURE CAPITAL?
CVC arms differ from traditional VC firms in several ways. CVC operations are a division of a large corporation. They invest on behalf of their parent companies to strategically increase innovation and up the game with a new level of competitiveness.
CVC achieves these aims by investing in promising startups that can either “build on their strengths,” such as expanding competitive holds on specific market segments, or “fix their weakness” by improving areas of the business with deteriorating performance.
In contrast to traditional VC, CVC is not driven purely by financial return. Many CVC investors say they consider strategic alignment when investing in a startup. Given that viewpoint, a valuable exit opportunity for CVC could take the form of an acquisition, a new OEM partner, or product integration.
BCG X, with their experienced startup practitioners and its corporate partners, have pioneered a model that solves this problem by melding the strategic competitive advantages that most big companies have spent years developing with the lean approach and processes that most startups follow.
This model can help overcome the “superincumbent’s dilemma” – high market share, low revenue growth, and investors that frown on corporate diversification. Big companies need to grow with disrupted business models.
That’s not all. Today, big businesses are facing big challenges, such as how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and how to meet ESG goals. To tackle these challenges, they must innovate new products, processes, and business models. If a startup doesn’t exist or isn’t available to a corporation to build on its strengths and fix its weaknesses – or fill an opportunity/gap in the market, they can engage specialists like BCG X to build a product or business.
For big companies, there is a lot of value that can be obtained through these venturing activities – gains on investments by maintaining one’s market share, gaining access to new markets, technologies, or business models, and allowing opportunities for workers to acquire new competencies and experiences.
“Enhanced capability to react quickly and effectively to shifts and fluctuations in the market is one of the benefits of accelerated innovation. Access to technology refers to the capacity to continually innovate and produce cutting-edge technology that can be leveraged by the corporation in a straightforward manner,” says Zaleski.
WHAT’S THE SUCCESS RATE?
According to Zaleski, the success of corporate venturing programs mainly depends on strategic alignment – ensuring that the venture’s overall strategy, objectives, and core competencies align with those of the corporation; providing adequate financial, human, organizational, and access to assets to support the venture; establishing transparent structures for governance, decision-making, and facilitating collaboration between the company and startups to maximize mutual benefits and synergies.
Although the success rate for corporate venturing is hard to quantify, since companies typically maintain a mix of ventures and incubations – on average, around 15% of a venture portfolio, 40% of early-stage investments and about 45% of later-stage investments, Zaleski says “BCG X has delivered a success rate of 66%, compared with success rates of 20% to 30% by traditional venture capital and corporate venture capital.”
In the Middle East, BCG X, a hybrid unit that brings together technologists, builders, and designers, collaborates with the public and private sectors, assisting them in realizing their innovation potential.
“Our work spans across multiple industries such as megacities, energy, banking, healthcare, and deep tech,” says Chantal Chalouhi, Venture Architect Principal at BCG X. “We have been actively involved in fostering green ventures, deep tech startups, and human-centric design products, allowing our corporate partners to leverage all their relevant assets to create new innovative products and ventures.”
BCG X provides businesses with a turn-key solution to help them create new businesses, and products or accelerate the growth of existing ones.
Chalouhi says with a team having a strong background in serial entrepreneurship and technology experience that prototypes ideas in a matter of weeks and launches a business in a matter of months, corporates who partner with BCG X have a very high success rate. “Our battle-tested, human-centric methodology enables us to rapidly de-risk investments, achieve product-market fit, and build great ventures.”
AN INCLUSIVE APPROACH
More importantly, corporate venturing may be able to lead the way to achieve gender equity in entrepreneurship by promoting diversity and inclusion within the startup ecosystem.
Increasing women’s involvement is critical for an equitable future, especially in Web3 companies developing innovative applications involving the metaverse, Gen AI, blockchain, and crypto.
According to a recent BCG report, all-male founding teams raise nearly four times as much, on average, as all-female teams (almost $30 million compared to about $8 million). And only 13% of Web3 startups include a female founder.
“Women are grossly underrepresented among entrepreneurs and financiers. Thus, we risk continuing to construct an online world that replicates the same prejudices that plague the physical world, rather than combating them,” says Chalouhi.
Gender equity is a massive untapped resource in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The good news is this problem can be fixed.
“Corporate venturing can contribute to gender equality in entrepreneurship,” says Chalouhi. “Actively supporting female-led startups, providing mentorship and networking opportunities, and investing in initiatives that promote gender equality in the entrepreneurship space are all ways for corporations to promote gender equality.”
In addition, companies that prioritize gender equality can cascade it to their new portfolio companies, resulting in a more inclusive and equitable startup landscape.
Recently, BCG X collaborated with People of Crypto Lab, a creative and innovation studio whose mission is to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Web3 ecosystem, to analyze the gender diversity of founders and investors using a database of nearly 2,800 participants from around the world.
Now, BCG X intends to continue expanding its presence in the region to assist organizations in gaining access to new emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and the IoT, while accelerating the adoption. And to encourage innovation, human-centered design, and the transfer of knowledge, connecting local players with its global network of companies, strengthening partnerships with local ecosystems, including governments, investors, and accelerators is paramount.
“We will maintain efforts in our corporate venturing to promote diversity, inclusion, and environmentally responsible business practices. This will help move the agenda of gender equality and social responsibility forward,” says Zaleski.
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Khadija Al Bastaki, Vice President of d3, on inclusivity in the creative sector


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The Kenyan government has hired a US lobbying and public relations firm as it pushes to conclude trade agreement with Washington. Rational 360’s partners and senior employees consist of veterans of Presidents Clinton and Obama administrations.
Helping left-behind regions should be a core goal of Biden’s administration. The damage has been done, and free trade isn’t going anywhere.
Professor at the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore, cautioned that geopolitics now have "too much influence" on world trade, which could pose "great challenges" to the further implementation of the trade deal.
The removal of investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) from the renegotiated NAFTA was a critical victory but Canada, the US and Mexico continue to be enmeshed in an extensive web of bilateral and regional accords containing ISDS.
A FTA with the USA will be lopsided and threaten cottage industries in the country as well as informal jobs, which will negatively impact the lives of millions of working class Kenyans. Our markets will be swamped into oblivion by highly subsidized American goods.
Recent calls for the US to launch a trade dispute over Mexico’s proposed decree to ban glyphosate and the planting and importation of GM corn mischaracterize the science on glyphosate, the decree and the role of US trade policy.
US Trade Representative has raised digital trade as an area of potential future cooperation in her coversations thus far with Asian partners.
The complaint represents many organizations’ intentions to test if the revised NAFTA’s labor terms could be an effective tool to improve workers’ conditions.
The Biden administration will review bilateral trade negotiations and targets that ex-President Donald Trump regime made with Kenya last year over a potential free trading deal. The start of the trade talks could be delayed.
Trade officials in the meeting of the US-Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) discussed the importance of digital trade for achieving broad-based inclusive economic growth and innovation.
US Trade Representative announced the suspension of US collaboration with Myanmar, through the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).
India Commerce Minister Goyal to engage with the new US Trade Representative to “try and put together a fresh package” after the old package under the Trump administration was off the table with the change of guard.
The UK and the US are unlikely to be ready to strike a trade deal before 2023, in a blow to British hopes of a quick win from Brexit, according to people familiar with the matter.
A group of Mexican migrant worker women have used the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to launch a complaint over discrimination in temporary labor programs.
Twenty-three members of the U.S. Congress penned a letter to President Joe Biden on Monday (March 22), urging him to pursue a formal free trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan.
Trade talks with the US will seek to build on “well-channeled lines” established during negotiations with the Trump administration while seeking to incorporate new priorities favored by President Joe Biden, the UK envoy to Washington said.
Biden is on the right track in calling for reform. But if the same deregulatory agenda remains in our internationally enforceable trade agreements, Biden’s reforms will come up short, ultimately subverting his agenda and vision.
Newly confirmed US Trade Representative Katherine Tai will speak with her British counterpart, Secretary Liz Truss, next week to further talks on a possible trade agreement.
Like its predecessor, the Biden administration has largely dispensed with the idea of free trade as a goal in and of itself.
Taiwan on January 1, lifted a ban on U.S. pork imports containing a leanness-enhancing additive despite strong public opposition to gain free trade with Washington, oppositions aid Friday.


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2023 has been keeping Beacon VC very busy with exciting and motivating challenges. In this mid-year update, Beacon VC wishes to bring you our observations on the VC landscape, an update to our fund thesis, as well as news about our latest transactions, research publications, and up-coming events.
H1 2023 in review
Valuation adjustments have been and will still be in motion
The global recession was triggered by slowdowns in large economies, increased geo-political risks, staggering inflation, and shrinking consumer spending, which has resulted in sluggish performance from startups. The overall market has witnessed a decline in startup valuations, driven by a rise in downrounds and flat rounds (by up to 18% and 9%, respectively, in recent fundraising). Conversely, the proportion of startups raising at increased valuations relative to their past rounds decreased to 71% in Q1 20231. Notably, late-stage startups have significantly contributed to this decline. Investors and analysts alike have noted that the high valuations that the market experienced in Y2021 are unlikely to be seen again soon.
Beacon VC believes that the correction will persist through the next few quarters, especially within emerging markets.
Beacon VC has also noticed increased usage of public multiples by other fund managers in their valuation approach, with the belief that most private companies will eventually be subjected to public multiples, and the growth of the startups under this difficult economic period may not justify private premiums.
Global CVC putting brakes on investment, except in Asian and some EU market
Global corporate venture capital (CVC) funding has slowed down and is facing challenges due to geopolitical tension, inflation, and economic instability2. In Q1 2023, funding declined 12% QoQ, reaching a five-year low. This drop is in line with the broader decline in global venture funding, which fell by 13% QoQ. Funding experienced a decline across various sectors, including fintech, retail tech, and digital health. The most significant drop was in fintech, decreasing by 48% QoQ to $7.8B (lowest level since 2017). CVC-backed retail tech funding also dropped below $1B for the first time since Q4 2017, falling from $1.3B in Q1 2023 to $0.9B in Q2 2023.
However, there have been some positive signals in Q2 2023 that the venture market has started to rebound. Venture funding increased by 4% QoQ for the first time since Q3 2021, reaching $14.6 billion. In Asia, where 40% of the transactions were carried out, deal count also increased for the first time since Q1’22. Germany followed a similar trend, seeing a remarkable quadruple increase in CVC-backed funding compared to Q1 2023, resulting in a record-breaking high of 36 deals. Positive signals can also be seen in the increase in CVC-backed mega-rounds (rounds larger than $100M).
Thai CVCs and ecosystem players have worked hard to keep Thai ecosystem ablaze
The VC landscape in Thailand has long been dominated by CVCs. Thai CVCs have closed more deals than other institutional VCs by twofold3. The investment focus of the CVCs tends to be later stage companies that are ready to collaborate with the business units, as most CVCs look for strategic investments. Given this focus, little capital from CVCs is flowing to pre-seed to seed stage startups. Coupled with a lack of early stage institutional investors in Thailand, this has resulted in a funding gap for early-stage startups in the Thai market.
In order to mitigate the funding gap, government agencies such as NIA and DEPA have launched several initiatives for Thai startups. These programs include demo days for startups to present themselves to potential investors (e.g. Growth 4 by NIA Demo Day), as well as grants or direct investments into startups (e.g. dVenture and Digital Startup Fund). Government agencies are partnering with a variety of private sector players to stimulate interest and activity in the Thai ecosystem.
Corporate interest in AI/ML technology and impact-driven companies is also becoming more prevalent4. AI/ML technology has the potential to disrupt several industries and is expected to have a profound impact on productivity and daily life.. Additionally, as the world becomes more and more concerned about sustainability, impact investment becomes integral to increasing funding to companies who can generate positive and measurable impact (both social and environmental) in addition to achieving financial return.
Funds getting more sophisticated in looking at ESG/ incorporating ESG metric
The idea of profitability as the only guiding principle of investment is giving way to an increased focus on integrating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance into every step of the investment-making processes, from selection, due diligence, and valuation, all the way to deal execution. According to EY, 26% of investors decided not to invest with a manager in 2022 because of inadequate ESG policies. More specifically, 53% of hedge funds/PEs have incorporated ESG philosophies into their investment process and 20% of VCs currently take ESG into account when making investment5.
Consequently, startups looking for venture capital funding will have to follow suit and integrate good ESG practices into their strategies and operations. While this may sound like an additional burden, there are long-run benefits, as ESG regulations are getting implemented more strictly and public markets are focusing more on sustainability.
ESG due diligence can extend beyond just the startup itself. Investors may also review ESG compliance of the companies’ suppliers and customers to determine the holistic ESG risk of the investment6. ESG risks are increasingly embedded into the financial valuation of the company because of potential harm from regulatory penalties or reputational damage affecting sales. Apart from valuation considerations, startups might also be asked to sign representations and warranties regarding ESG compliance.
Beacon VC’s Growing Investment Mandate
This January, Beacon VC expanded our investment mandate to include impact investment. Beacon VC currently has three mandates: the Synergistic Fund, the Opportunistic Fund, and the Beacon Impact Fund.
- Synergistic Fund: Invest in growth stage startup companies to promote synergistic relationship between the startup and KBank. These companies must demonstrate strong strategic fit with KBank, in addition to operational and technical excellence.
- Opportunistic Fund: Invest in emerging startup companies that are on path to become game changers for the financial services industry. These companies must be enabled by a scalable business model and robust technology, including but not limited to cloud computing, blockchain, or AI/ML.
- [New] Beacon Impact Fund: Invest in emerging startup companies that have strong intentions to solve the world’s most pressing ESG problems. These companies must demonstrate that the intended impact is core to its financially feasible business model.
To give more color to the impact fund, Beacon VC believes that if we give people the tools to make good decisions and reward businesses for making good decisions, thereby encouraging businesses to explicitly internalize the cost of externalities, we can create positive impact because everyone will make decisions that create a better world.
Through our investments within the Beacon Impact Fund, Beacon VC hopes to achieve tangible impact in the following areas:
- Environment: Slow the rate of climate change and move towards a more sustainable economy to reduce waste and unsustainable business practices (such as over-production and reliance on non-decomposable materials) by encouraging the mass adoption of green technology/sustainable practices by both consumers and businesses
- Social: Improve the quality of life for all people by breaking the poverty cycle, promoting equitable economic growth at all societal levels, and ensuring equal access to necessities under the human rights framework
- Governance: Promote fairness, ethical practices, protection of vulnerable stakeholders, and transparency for any business activities, and empower consumers and other stakeholders with sufficient information to make informed decisions.
Beacon VC transactions within H1 2023
The first half of 2023 has been a busy yet exciting time for Beacon VC. At the moment, Beacon VC has gotten approval for six new investments. Out of the six, four investments have already completed closing, while the other two investments are still in the closing process.
- [Direct] Algbra: A Shariah-compliant neobank. Algbra aims to improve financial inclusion to Islamic communities across the globe, starting in the UK, which is its home country. Algbra’s Shariah-compliant core-banking-as-a-service is poised to help Islamic Banks worldwide digitize.
- [Fund] Wavemaker Impact: Wavemaker Impact has the ambition to decarbonize the globe by incubating startups that can reduce 10% of global carbon emissions. Wavemaker has extensive experience in startup investments and hopes to bring their expertise to solve one of the world’s most imminent problems.
- [Fund] Quona Opportunity Fund: Quona is a global leader in the financial inclusion space. The fund covers all emerging markets from Asia, Africa, to Latin America.
- [Fund] Siam Capital: This female-founded fund, run by Sita Chantramonkrasri, is making investments to create new consumption infrastructure, thereby helping consumers make more responsible choices for the society and the planet, starting in North America, one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
Deals in Closing Process
- [Direct] Solar rooftop solution provider: This Thailand-grown company provides comprehensive solutions for businesses to plan, install, and monitor their solar power usage. The company has strong ties with dominant real estate and residential developers in Thailand.
- [Direct] Bond fractionalization investment platform: This Singaporean company wants to make bond investment more accessible to retail investors. It leverages the blockchain technology to fractionalize corporate bonds and make initial ticket size up to 90% smaller.
Approved exit within H1 2023
Photo credit: LINEMAN Wongnai
Beacon VC also made the fourth exit in our portfolio – a strategic acquisition of FoodStory by Lineman Wongnai. This exit is in line with the bigger exit trend within the Thai market, whereby the majority of exit opportunities for Thai startups would be strategic acquisition.
Published researches in H1 2023
This year we have been busy familiarizing ourselves with the inner workings of the ESG and Impact Investing landscape. As part of this journey, Beacon VC published three articles in this area that might interest or benefit our readers: Digital Inequality, Economy Post- Carbon Tax, and Intersection of ESG and Blockchain. More articles to be published this year will focus on themes of Sustainable Finance, and roles of startup in ESG transition.
Things to look forward to in H2 2023
The second half of 2023 is full of exciting community building events hosted or sponsored by Beacon VC. Below are some of the events that we want to highlight:
Coinfest Bali Side-Event Sponsorship with APAC DAO
Coinfest Asia is Asia’s immersive web3 festival. Coinfest Asia 2023 converges Web2 and Web3 industries to explore real-world insights and valuable connections through an immersive festival experience.
Held at a casual cliff top venue in Bali, the event will give all participants a platform to engage and network in a unique and casual setting. Coinfest Asia 2023 is hosted by Coinvestasi, Indonesia’s #1 crypto media (an Indonesia Crypto Network company).
KATALYST Startup Launchpad 2023
The KATALYST Startup Launchpad is an incubation program in partnership with Stanford University since 2019. It aims to empower Thai startups through a nine-week intensive program focused on tech industries such as FinTech, ESG, AI, HealthTech, and enterprise solutions. The primary goal of the program is to help startups improve their business operations and achieve sustainable growth.
The Launchpad program provides valuable knowledge on building a startup, covering various aspects such as forming effective work teams, establishing a solid business foundation, and implementing strategies for business expansion. Additionally, it offers the opportunity for collaborations with leading partners, including Microsoft Thailand, AWS, True Digital Park, and others.
By supporting and nurturing these startups, KATALYST reinforces KBank’s commitment to strengthening the Thai entrepreneurial ecosystem and fostering a sustainable economy. For more information, visit the official website at: https://launchpad.klandingservice.com/
Author: Woraphot Kingkawkantong (Ping)
Editor: Krongkamol Deleon (Joy)


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"Overall enforcement remains down, said Christine Hines, the legislative director at the National Association of Consumer Advocates. The CFPB is still not doing the job of protecting consumers Congress intended under Kraninger, with both the drop in enforcement and the rollback of key rules, she said."
Los Angeles Times, Column:Trump slashed consumer protections. So California is stepping up.
"'Requiring affordable loans that a borrower can pay back without taking out another loan would have protected millions of people who are typically caught by lenders in high-cost debt traps,' said Christine Hines, legislative director for the National Assn. of Consumer Advocates."
For Immediate Release:
Statement of Christine Hines, Legislative Director, National Association of Consumer Advocates
NACA and 35 other consumer, privacy, civil rights, and public interest organizations submitted a comment to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau outlining privacy concerns raised by the Bureau's proposed rule on debt collection practices. If the rule is finalized as written, the CFPB may be opening the door to increased privacy abuse and security problems. All comments submitted by or on behalf of NACA are available here.
NACA and 38 other community, civil rights, consumer, and student advocacy organizations joined a comment to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau urging the CFPB to strengthen its proposed rule on debt collection practices to better protect student loan borrowers. All comments submitted by or on behalf of NACA are available here.
NACA and 42 other consumer, civil and human rights, labor, community, housing, and legal services organizations call upon the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to provide greater protections for consumers with limited English proficiency (LEP) in its proposed rule on debt collection practices. There are many misconceptions about debt collection laws that are heightened by language barriers, leaving LEP consumers vulnerable to harassment and exploitation. All comments submitted by or on behalf of NACA are available
NACA and its organizational partners submitted a comment to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on its proposed rule on debt collection practices. While there are instances in which the regulations clarify and improve protections, the overall impact of these regulations, should they be promulgated, will be to hurt consumers, not help them. All comments submitted by or on behalf of NACA are available here.


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New Delhi: The subsidiary of the Indian Railways that handles the catering, tourism and online ticketing operations of the railways, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Limited has decided to launch a new ticketing App that will have many features for faster booking of tickets.
According to a senior Railway Ministry official said, existing IRCTC Connect will now become IRCTC Rail Connect to facilitate booking of train tickets in a faster and easier way; the app is equipped with latest technology.
IRCTC, which handles online train ticket bookings, will formally unveil the IRCTC Rail Connect App next week to cater to the growing demand of passengers to make the ticketing App more user-friendly and faster.
The new ticketing App will be based on next generation e-ticketing system. It will be synchronised with the ticketing website also, which is missing in the current system.
Travelers will continue to be able to search and book train tickets, check their existing reservations or cancel them, and get upcoming journey alerts in the new application.
The new app IRCTC Rail Connect will keep the passenger details for the recently-booked tickets, so that they don’t have to enter their details again and again.


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IN what could be a case of too little, too late, Apple Computer Inc. yesterday outlined plans to license its technology to other manufacturers.
Analysts say that the Cupertino, Calif., company should have moved years ago to get other computermakers to run their machines on its software. By licensing its easy-to-use software platform, it could have gone head-to-head with Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.
Now Microsoft, which has dominated the software industry even though analysts view its Windows product as inferior to Apple's Macintosh, is preparing a slam dunk - a new version of Windows that is expected to close the performance gap with Apple.
That leaves Apple and rival International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), of Armonk, N.Y., scrambling to remain strong players in the market for the most basic computer software - the operating environments in which other programs run.
With perhaps eight months left before Microsoft releases its new platform, Apple is finally pushing for broad distribution of Macintosh. Or is it?
Where Microsoft, with its software-only mission, sells to any and all hardware makers, Apple, as a maker of hardware, appears to be taking a much more selective approach.
In a press conference on Friday, Apple vice president Don Strickland said the company is looking for licensing partners who will use Apple's software, and its related hardware designs, in market niches that Apple does not currently serve. The company hopes that the strategy will add about 3 percentage points to its overall 11 percent market share in personal computers.
But Mr. Strickland said Apple is not aiming to puts its software on PCs that run on chips made by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. Intel chips and clones of them account for almost 90 percent of the PCs sold today.
Instead, Apple and IBM are peddling a new chip architecture called PowerPC that they say is more powerful than Intel's.
The problem, says Dwight Davis of Windows Watcher, a newsletter about Microsoft, is that people ``buy more on the basis of software now than hardware.'' A little more power with an Apple or IBM system won't be enough to draw customers, he says.
That's been IBM's challenge for years.
IBM has a very good operating system of its own called OS/2, but it has failed to garner more than about 8 percent of the market. Its downfall so far: Applications developers, who write software products that run on top of the operating systems, go where the volume is. That means first to Windows, then to Macintosh, then to OS/2, analysts say.
Apple is trying to avoid a similar fate by licensing ``Mac OS'' (Macintosh operating system).
According to some news reports, Apple's initial licensees are mostly located outside the United States. Strickland said: ``There will be recognized names [based] in the US,'' but, so far, no licensees have publicly announced intentions. They are not expected to ship products with the Mac OS until the second half of 1995.
IBM, meanwhile, plans to heavily market a new version of OS/2 that it will release next month. The pitch: Why wait for the new Windows when OS/2 already can do the same things?
Microsoft is counting on consumers to wait for Windows 95, code-named ``Chicago.'' It offers capabilities that make it easier to hook up add-on hardware without needing to enter a lot of arcane computer commands.
Company vice president Paul Maritz says Microsoft expects to sell 20 million to 30 million copies next year, including a large number of upgrades to some 60 million current Windows users.
Karl Wong, a software analyst with Dataquest market-research firm in San Jose, Calif., calls that prediction ``wildly optimistic,'' but he agrees that Microsoft holds the high ground.
But Bill Bluestein, an analyst with Forrester Research in Cambridge, Mass., says: ``Everyone will do it just to see what it is like,'' and because Microsoft will keep the cost low.


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Two new shows are coming to Disneyland and the company’s other Anaheim theme park in January as part of the company’s 100th anniversary celebration, Disney said Sunday.
The fireworks show “Wondrous Journeys” will debut at Disneyland, while “World of Color – One” will launch at Disney California Adventure.
The latter show will “celebrate the storytelling legacy started by Walt Disney a century ago. It’s going to be “World of Color” like you’ve never seen it before, with an all-new inspiring story told through some favorite characters,” Disney officials said.
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, announced the updates at this weekend’s D23 Expo 2022 in Anaheim.
“As the world’s greatest storytellers, I’m thrilled to share the new and innovative ways we are bringing next-generation Disney magic to life across Disney parks and experiences,” D’Amaro said.
The Burbank-based entertainment behemoth also announced that a new attraction is coming to the Avengers Campus at California Adventure that will “expand into the multiverse,” featuring a new story to will bring guests into the battle alongside their favorite superheroes.
Additional announcements for Disneyland and California Adventure included:
- The “Magic Happens” parade will return to Disneyland in the spring.
- Pacific Wharf at California Adventure will be re-imagined into “San Fransokyo” from “Big Hero 6” with places to shop, eat and meet Baymax.
- The Mandalorian and Grogu will make their first appearance at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland in mid-November.
- Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will become Pixar Place Hotel.
- runDisney races will return to the Disneyland Resort in 2024, with additional details announced at a later date.
– City News Service


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Alexa gets meta, finds you the latest AI research
The Echo bot can find the 50 latest papers and read you the summaries.
Protein fingerprinting could shed light on Alzheimer's
As well as on Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers warn peace sign photos could expose fingerprints
But the likelihood of anyone actually using images to recreate prints is pretty slim.
Apple publishes its first AI research paper
It's proof the company is willing to open up in the name of science.
Stanford students discover how to build wires like Lego
They’re using the world’s smallest diamonds to create tiny self-assembling wires.
Omnity's search engine uses rare word matching to find unexpected results
If you're in academia or need to do deep research, this tool is worth a shot -- and now it's free.
Flickering LED lights could treat Alzheimer's disease
We're still a ways off from finding out if it's a viable treatment, though.
Apple will publish its AI research
The frequently secretive company is opening up about its machine learning work.
Nanotubes can turn water solid when it should be boiling
Forget everything you thought you knew about hot water.


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If you’ve just joined us, Oddpodz is a new online community for creative doers and problem solvers. Founder and branding expert Karen Post, who writes a regular column for FastCompany.com, brings you the play by play of a startup brand. Check out more on FastCompany.com. advertisement advertisement I know in my last column I said I would cover strategic partnerships and I will soon, but I had the fortunate opportunity to attend an incredible conference not only relevant to my start up, but to all marketers who keep their eyes on dynamic markets. The event was promoted as “The Creative ClassSM, reaching those who are reshaping America.” Jim Clifton, Chairman and CEO of Gallup opened the event. He recapped the evolution of the world of commerce during the previous century. Clifton reminded the audience that in the 1900s, economies were driven by the discovering, mining and refining of natural resources. The access to resources gave rise to the industrial movement, the pinnacle of which was during the 1950s for the United States. The 1960s introduced the professional class and an explosion of self-expression and entrepreneurial emergence. The 1980s was spirited by knowledge and service-based enterprises dominating market growth, product innovation… Read full this story
- Three ways brands can win at next year’s Fortnite World Cup
- Muslim Fashion Is A $254 Billion Market—But Big Brands Can’t Crack It
- Harry and Meghan are the diplomatic dream team the world needs
- I name brands and companies for a living — here's what it takes to succeed as a 'professional namer'
- Indonesia owns World Conference on Creative Economy brand
- The Best Behind The Brand Insights Of The Past Year
- What Netflix’s Oscar winner ‘Roma’ can teach brands about social impact
- Fashion’s branding crisis
- Starbucks just publicly deconstructed its brand—here’s why
- The insurgency brands shaking the FTSE giants
The Creative ClassSM — Reshaping Brands and the World have 302 words, post on www.fastcompany.com at May 2, 2007. This is cached page on Vietnam Dance. If you want remove this page, please contact us.


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JPMorgan lowered its target for Apple Stock from $235 down to $233, and gave it an overweight rating, according to reports.
It also lowered shipping estimates for Apple iPhones for Q2 through Q4 by 4 percent, to $139.5 million in total. The forecast for calendar year 2020 and ‘21 were only “modestly” reduced, but according to that window there’s still shipment growth for the year.
In other Apple Stock value news, Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives said a deal to end the trade war between the United States and China could bolster Apple stock and bring it back to the $1 trillion market value area, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The resolution could potentially push the stock to a $25 increase per share, which would be 13 percent higher than the $194.15 a share that Apple closed with on June 13.
Apple hit the $1 trillion mark in August, although it dipped under that in November. A deal between the two countries would “would take away the primary China risk which is a dark cloud over the stock now,” Ives said. Ives added that he thinks the stock is still compelling and that Apple is the safest bet among the FAANG stocks from antitrust repercussions.
If things go the other way — as in more tariffs on Chinese goods — Ives said it would be “potential game changer” for the company in terms of the cost of making iPhones, since it would limit its ability to produce them.
Also, Apple’s former general counsel Bruce Sewell recently said the deal to make Google the default search engine for Safari on iPhones and Macs is worth billions and took about four months of daily negotiations to complete.
“The Google negotiation for example, between Apple and Google over search, probably took us four months,” Sewell said, adding that he was “meeting almost every single day” with Google CEO Sundar Pichai and also with Kent Walker, general counsel for Google.


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IPhone maker among 10 mobile phone companies that will support micro-USB chargers in an attempt to curb electronic waste
The European Commission (EC) announced today that 10 mobile phone manufacturers and chip producers, including Apple, have signed up to an initiative designed to cut down on electronic waste and improve...
How will the global pledge to 'protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems' shape the global economy?
A photographer by trade, IKEA's Hege Sæbjørnsen explains why a desire to make a positive social and environmental impact prompted a career change
Any watering down of the Carbon Price Support mechanism would deal a grave blow to UK decarbonisation efforts, warns Sandbag's Phil McDonald
VIDEO: Grow Bristol delivers fresh leafy greens grown in a shipping container to city shops and restaurants by bike


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The growth in radio listening across America is remarkable, considering the variety of media choices available to consumers today. And alongside the national growth, 71 million African American and Hispanic listeners tune in each week.
From TVs to tablets and digital to smartphones, technology is reshaping the way consumers engage with video and, in turn, how media and advertising companies do business. While the online and TV video ad markets will remain separate for the time being, the movement toward integration is real and accelerating.
Global FMCG retail is pegged at $4 trillion today, growing at a rate of just 4%, with signs of continuing sluggish performance in developed markets. On the other hand, total retail e-commerce is predicted to grow by 20% (combined annual growth rate) to become a $4 trillion market by 2020.


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In the minds of some movers and shakers in the automobile industry, self-driving cars are the wave of the future. For investors and big business, the safe bet is that laissez-faire policies will win the day. But for consumers and workers, that very well may lead to unsafe and unstable futures.
And now politicians on Capitol Hill — in a rare act of bipartisanship — have passed legislation that threatens the safety of millions of motorists on U.S. roads and highways by stripping away state consumer protection regulation.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed by unanimous voice vote the Self Drive Act. This bill would permit companies developing autonomous vehicles to apply for exemptions from state and federal regulations that govern the cars’ safety and design. The Senate must pass its own version of the bill for the legislation to proceed forward.
The House legislation’s goal is to speed up the development of autonomous vehicles. But it seeks to accomplish that goal by pre-empting state consumer safety laws and removing other legal barriers designed to protect motorists. Since federal safety rules in this area are all but nonexistent, there is reason to be worried.
Next week, the Transportation Department reportedly is set to announce new guidelines for self-driving cars. This comes in the context of the Trump administration’s well-documented hostility to regulation. In fact, the president has yet to nominate a new administrator to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation, created under President Barack Obama, has not met since President Donald Trump took office.
Issued one year ago, NHTSA’s current guidelines state that autonomous vehicles should record all collision-relevant information, maintain cybersecurity, protect vehicle occupants in the event of crashes and be free of all unreasonable safety risks. But these are suggestions, not rules or laws.
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, long seen as being friendly to business, may go even further in giving leeway to automakers. With Congress potentially putting private enterprise ahead of consumer safety, it’s unlikely Chao will step into the void. In fact, her stewardship of the Labor Department under President George W. Bush was criticized by those in labor union circles for what they saw as inadequate protection of workers.
Perhaps signaling that the federal government will lead from behind on this issue, earlier this year Chao called on Silicon Valley, Detroit and other automaker hubs to “help educate a skeptical public about the benefits of automated technologies.”
Meanwhile the threat of autonomous vehicles to U.S. workers has not gone unabated. The House bill left out provisions for commercial trucks, earning the praise of the Teamsters Union. But the Senate Commerce Committee had a hearing concerning self-driving commercial trucks. Some senators want to include commercial trucks in the Senate’s bill.
It’s not hard to see why autonomous vehicles are a threat to the U.S. labor force. Last year, the Obama administration said between 1.3 million and 1.7 million trucking jobs are at risk from driverless vehicles. The automobile industry has estimated that up to 3 million U.S. jobs could be at risk from this technology.
Whatever the estimates, the potential consequences are serious: the elimination of one of the few remaining middle-class jobs that doesn’t require a college degree. Although Chao said she is “very, very concerned” about the impact of autonomous vehicles on trucking jobs, it’s difficult to imagine her—or any other political leaders inside the Beltway—taking forceful action on this issue.
Without strong federal leadership to protect consumers and educate the public, some vital questions may go unanswered during this critical stage. Will an autonomous vehicle be programmed to break the law—such as driving into the opposing lane—in order to avoid an accident or a double-parked car? Can these machines’ computers and algorithms be designed in such a way to deal with ethical questions?
Regardless, technology businesses and automobile companies are charging ahead.
Waymo, the car unit of Google parent Alphabet, saw its autonomous cars drive more than 635,000 miles on public roads in California in the year that ended on Nov. 30, 2016, according to a report by that state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. On average, autonomous Waymo cars drove a staggering 5,127 miles before a human driver had to take over, far more than its competitors.
General Motors has backed ride-hailing firm Lyft, who is partnering with Waymo in order to advance self-driving technology. Analysts are bullish, with Morgan Stanley estimating that Waymo could be worth more than $70 billion by 2030.
Waymo’s competitors are getting into the act as well. Last year, Uber purchased Otto, a San Francisco-based startup that retrofits semitrucks to make them capable of driving themselves. It’s already having an impact. In October 2016, an autonomous 18-wheeler carried 50,000 cans of Budweiser to Colorado. Embark, a San Mateo, California-based startup, has self-driving big rigs that it’s testing in Nevada.
Other major automakers such as Toyota, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Tesla also have gotten into the autonomous vehicle act.
Although these companies say they worry about a patchwork of self-driving regulation emerging among the 50 states, the answer isn’t throwing out the rulebook. It’s creating strong, sane federal regulations that will keep consumers safe.
If Google, Uber, Ford and other companies want to use public roads to practice using their new self-driving cars, they shouldn’t put consumers’ lives—and livelihoods—at risk.


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Smart Forstars Concept prefigures a coupe of this kind and the future Fortwo and Forfour models. The recently launched Mini Coupe has now a rival in the coming years.
The main novelty at the Smart stand here at 2012 Paris Motor Show is the Smart Forstars Concept whose official photos were presented a few days ago in a the world premiere by the German manufacturer.
Paris 2012 Live – Smart Forstars Concept photo gallery
Smart Forstars Concept
Smart Forstars Concept represent the vision of the German mark regarding a coupe in the mini segment, a rival for Mini Coupe, but also brings a new style that will be the backbone of future models of the brand.
The new Smart Forstars Concept has under the hood a fully electric drive-train with an engine of 80 hp (60 kW/81 PS) and 135 Nm (100 lb/ft) that can lead the concept to a speed of 130 km/h (81 mph).
The Smart concept not only base its engine on future technologies, the Germans announced that all vital functions of the car – from multimedia system to the air conditioning – can be controlled by using an iPhone. Moreover, under the hood is hidden a projector that allows viewing images transmitted by the same iPhone on any vertical surface that fits a film screening.
With 23 centimeters (9.5 inches) shorter than the production model Mini Coupe, Smart Forstars Concept (the name derives from the fact that the concept’s ceiling is 100% transparent) comes with design elements that foreshadows the next generation of the classic Fortwo and Smart’s future four-seater that will be developed in collaboration with Renault. Both models will see the light of day in 2014.
Smart Forstars Concept Video Live from 2012 Paris Motor Show
Smart Forstars Concept via | Smart


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During today's Uh-Oh Protection Q&A event, HTC announced when carriers will start offering the One M9—April 10th.
The manufacturer didn't specify who will retail the phone on April 10th, just that the date marks when someone will start. All four of the major US carriers have confirmed that they will, indeed, sell the handset.
April 10th is the same day that the Galaxy S6 is scheduled to launch internationally (with US carriers following in the weeks after) so this date is hardly a coincidence. Read More
Bad news, Europe. Global economic forces, combined with the uncertainty over planned quantitative easing have reduced the value of the Euro, resulting in lower buying power for European consumers. Oh, and a smartphone maker is raising its prices. Outrageous! OnePlus has announced an impending price increase for the One in Europe to compensate for the lower value of the currency, but you've got until March 25th to get the current price. Read More
In 2014, HTC rolled out the HTC Advantage, which offered a free cracked screen replacement, two years of updates, and up to 50GB of Google Drive storage space. Today, the company is going a step further. It has announced Uh-Oh Protection, which will provide one free replacement phone in the event of a cracked screen, water damage, or a carrier switch within the first twelve months after purchase.
Alternatively, if you don't get a replacement during this time frame, HTC will offer you $100 towards the purchase of your next HTC One. Read More
HTC is expected to announce the release date for the One M9 any time now, but there are some treats for those of you sticking with the M8 as well. A new version of the Dot View case app is out, and it has a ton of improvements. Also, games. Yes, games. I don't know why either.
In what is becoming a tradition of sorts, Google is not letting an American holiday go by without a corresponding Hangouts Easter egg. When messages contain certain trigger words, users are greeted with corresponding animations to add a little spice to the conversation. Since their debut, we've seen the animated emoji people bring in the new year and celebrate Valentine's Day. Add St. Patrick's Day to the list! I've spotted three different versions so far. Read More
Motorola figures that if you're buying a brand new Moto X Pure Edition, you could probably find a use for a 3G Moto E as well. It's a great phone to give to a family member, especially as a starter phone. If nothing else, you could use it as a test device or keep it lying in a drawer somewhere as a backup.
So the company is currently offering a free 2nd generation Moto E to anyone who buys a 2014 Moto X Pure Edition. Read More
The Nexus 6 is a pretty fantastic piece of Android hardware. The Nexus 9 is... a tablet that runs Lollipop. And even some hardcore Android fans have yet to be sold on Android Wear. But if you're in the market for any of those devices right now, you want to get them from the new Google Store, at least if you live in the United States. Google is offering $50 of free Play Store credit with a new purchase of the N6, N9, or any Android Wear device. Read More
That mysterious LMY47E build of Android 5.1 for the Nexus 6 has arrived on Google's factory image download page. This build leaked online as an RSD image last week, but it wasn't clear what its purpose was. It's not really clear now either, but you can download and probably flash it.
Owners of the OnePlus One tend to be among the most dedicated (read: rabid) Android fans out there - they have to be, since it still takes no small amount of legwork to actually buy the phone. That being the case, those owners have waited a long time for the final, official update to Android 5.0. They won't have to wait much longer: an official OnePlus representative told members of the company forum that the updates will begin on March 27th, just a little over a week from now. Read More
Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, Z2, and Z2 Tablet owners around the world may soon have a reason to smile. According to XperiaBlog, Sony has started to roll out Android 5.0 to these three devices in various regions. Read More


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AKP Phnom Penh,The Ministry of Commerce will organise a trade expo to promote local products, as part of the Buying Khmer Products Campaign in 2018, from Oct. 18 to 21.
According to the ministry's recent announcement, this forthcoming event will be held at Koh Pich Convention and Exposition Centre in Phnom Penh.
The Ministry of Commerce has successfully organised such trade event in different provinces in Cambodia since last year to build local brands.
Buying Khmer Products Campaign is aimed to inspire Cambodian citizens to support and use the home-made products, instead of imported products/goods.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press


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» View Telecharger Avira 2014 Gratuit
View Telecharger Avira 2014 Gratuit
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Smartphone Sony Yuga is estimated by some analysts will be the mainstay.
A number of people have stated that Sony was preparing his most recent flagship smartphone, which is rumored to be a major competitor iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S III.
According to [...]
One of the best Android smartphone HTC output, One X, is now getting a refresher with some improvement in terms of hardware.
Products named HTC One X+ uses an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core 2nd generation 1.7GHz speeds.
“One X+ equipped with batteries [...]
There is a new leaked about brother Z10 is equipped with a physical QWERTY keypad, BlackBerry Q10.
Quoted from Techradar, Friday (22/3), BlackBerry Q10 reportedly will be launched on 26 April.
On price, smartphones with OS BlackBerry 10 is estimated [...]
Laptop and computer hardware manufacturers, Gigabyte, has just launched its newest product U2442 Extreme Ultrabook.
In an event held in Taiwan, Gigabyte explained that U2442 Extreme Ultrabook features graphics Nvidia GeForce GT 650M or GT 730M.
In addition, [...]
LG Optimus Vu also comes with a rubberdium pen.
LG Mobile Indonesia launched a smartphone LG Optimus Vu. Measuring at 5-inch screen, smartphone based on Android Ice Cream Sandwich is a sleek and stylish look.
“LG Optimus Vu, directed to the user [...]
Want to buy the BlackBerry 10 but doubt whether it can be better than Android or iPhone? There are ways to overcome these doubts.
Quoted from Cnet, Tuesday (2/4), you can try this new OS directly either on Android or iOS devices via the browser.
The latest report from future games console from Microsoft, Xbox 720, likely will have features similar to Siri.
Yes, this means that the Xbox 720 can be controlled via voice commands.
Excerpted from The Verge, Friday (2/8), this information comes from [...]
Increasingly sophisticated technology. Now charger technology created without cable. Wireless Charger technology names.
Another name Wireless Charger is Inductive Charging. This technology utilizes magnetic force to deliver power between the two objects.
The device is also reinforced with a battery that can last 9 hours.
Sandy Storm did make Android Google canceled the event due to be held in New York City, yesterday local time. However, that does not mean Google Nexus series canceled announced their [...]
Apple Inc. finally officially launched the smallest version of the iPad on Tuesday (10/23).
iPad Mini-sized 7.9-inch marks Apple’s first breakthrough in the segment of a smaller tablet. Apple hopes its products is given at crushing the tablet market [...]
Here are a few smartphones that fit when used by women. Here’s the short list.
1. Sony Xperia U (Pink / Yellow)
Xperia U is not reserved for women. But the bottom cap colors yellow and pink can make a choice. About the specs, the smartphone is [...]


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A banking company named National Commerce is depositing its trust in Wal-Mart to help enhance its bottom line. Memphis, Tennessee-based National Commerce is the parent company of Central Carolina Bank. For the past seven months, National Commerce has been engaged in a “trial” program with Wal-Mart to “co-brand” its services with Wal-Mart. The banking firm has been inside Wal-Mart stores for at least six years, according to the Associated Press, but this past October, the bank branches of National Commerce were renamed “Wal-Mart Money Centers.” Presumably these units can’t be called “Wal-Mart Banks”, because federal regulators want to keep a firewall between banks and retailers. But National Commerce’s President made it clear that he’s trying to make the public think these are Wal-Mart banks. “The Wal-Mart brand awareness brings more immediate trust,” he said. “Now when people see the Wal-Mart name, they are more likely to come in and talk to us.” National Commerce plans to open six more banks in the next few months, part of a corporate plan by the bank to make the company too ezpensive for a take-over by another bank. To the average consumer, the Wal-Mart Money Center is just a place you do your banking. National Commerce is hidden behind Mr. Smiley’s face.
Unfortunately, this is no April Fool’s joke. It’s only the public that will be fooled. More than 40 years ago, Sam Walton bought a bank in Bentonville, Arkansas, which is now a large banking conglomerate called Arvest, overseen by its President, Jim Walton, son of Sam. For more stories about Wal-Mart’s efforts to be the Walbank of America, search the Newsflash page by “bank.”


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It seems the verdict is well and truly in on Bordeaux’s latest vintage, which has been the subject of extensive tasting and assessment by the world’s media and wine trade over the past month or so. Vintage 2016 is being widely hailed as exceptional, which means many wine-pages’ visitors might be tempted into buying. So as the en primeur campaign reaches its height I asked wine-pages’ sponsor, FINE+RARE, who have a considerable track record of trading Bordeaux ‘en primeur’, to give an honest assessment based on their buying team’s findings and experience.
2016 Bordeaux En Primeur So Far
As Tom Cannavan highlighted in his May newsletter, the Bordeaux En Primeur Campaign has started with a bang and: “2016 is being hailed as possibly even better than the highly regarded 2014 and 2015.” Other experts have gone even further, drawing comparisons with the incredible back-to-back 2009 and 2010 vintages. All of the major wine critics have called it a great year, noting a multitude of “best ever” wines and awarding high scores at all price levels and in all appellations. At FINE+RARE we haven’t seen this level of excitement and interest surrounding a Bordeaux En Primeur campaign for many years. In short, if you like Claret, you are going to want to get involved with this year’s campaign.
With the high quality of this vintage generally agreed by the experts, the next question on people’s lips is the pricing. Many wine merchants have been vocal about price rises. In reality, with the exchange rates as they are and the outstanding nature of the 2016 wines, an increase in prices over those of the 2015 vintage is a given. There is no doubt that, in the past, prices have been inflated in exceptional vintages, and that is bound to knock consumer confidence when it comes to whether they are getting value for money. The fact that the Bordelais have wrestled back a little control on pricing is therefore not surprising; they are protecting their brand and recouping some of their investments.
Comparing prices between vintages isn’t always as straightforward as the wine trade makes out. The attention to detail and investment in all aspects of viticulture and vinification in Bordeaux is now so high, that to compare a wine from the 2016 vintage to one from a decade ago is often like comparing apples and oranges. These wines can be very different. At FINE+RARE we consider this year’s pricing in line with what we expected. Feedback from consumers has been overwhelmingly positive; it has been a long time since the appetite in the marketplace has been this voracious and the distribution of demand so global.
Although FINE+RARE can’t speak for all merchants, what we have seen during this year’s En Primeur campaign to date is that even though there have been fewer releases at this stage compared to the last year’s campaign, there has been an almost 45% rise in the number of people engaged and they are buying in significantly greater volumes (over 70% up on where the 2015 vintage was at this stage last year). Releases from the top châteaux are selling out almost immediately, but due to the quality of the vintage, there are fabulous value wines available from all corners of the region. This campaign will continue to attract interest for some time yet.
With the 2014 Bordeaux so well-received when tasted from bottle, the success of last year’s campaign and now this superb 2016 vintage; Bordeaux En Primeur has not attracted so much praise, attention and engagement since 2010. It looks very much like a Claret revival.
If you do decide to engage with this year’s En Primeur campaign, we think Tom Cannavan’s advice of choosing “a reputable merchant with a track record in this area” is spot on, as buying En Primeur does carry an inherent risk. It is therefore important to choose a merchant with at least a couple of decades of experience under its belt. Beyond that, our advice is to be aware that many merchants are tied to specific wineries or producers, as a result their guidance may not always be completely impartial and they may not show you all of the notable releases, rather just the selection to which they have access. As we all know, wine is very much a matter of personal taste, one person’s chalk can be another’s cheese. Comparing a wide range of trusted third party reviews gives a clearer perspective and allows an informed decision to be made.
FINE+RARE are offering 2016 Bordeaux en primeur.


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(This article might contain affiliate links)
Major car tyres manufacturing brand CEAT Tyres just launched S95 reusable and breathable face mask in India, to be made available on both online and offline channels.
CEAT is the latest automotive parts manufacturer to join the bandwagon of brands foraying into manufacturing products in tandem with the need of the time, as the novel coronavirus continues to disrupt the economy.
CEAT’s take on Personal Protective Equipment is a reusable breathable face mask of the S95 category. The mask features premium non-woven fabric arranged in six layers which CEAT claims to deliver particle nd bacterial filtration of up to 95%.
The innermost layer is made of soft anti-bacterial fabric for added comfort. Furthermore, the mask will come with an adjustable nose pin making it customizable and splash resistant. The mask will come with a fancy carrying pouch to store it hygienically and put to other uses.
CEAT states the mask is washable up to 30 times, and a pack of 3 face mask is being priced at ₹747 on Amazon.in. Officially each mask is prised at ₹249. The mask will also be available in CEAT’s proprietary CEAT Shoppes and other leading e-commerce.
Grab yours from Amazon. Click here.
“The launch of the GoSafe range is a part of the CEAT’s commitment towards its motto – Safety First,” Chief Marketing Officer of CEAT Tyres Amit Tolani was quoted as saying. “As a brand, our commitment is to keep India safe and mobile, so we will soon introduce more products under the CEAT GoSafe range and expand the existing mask range to play an active part in this battle against the Covid-19 pandemic in the times to come.”
What do you think about a CEAT face mask? Let us know your thoughts below.


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Multi Vastgoed currently has a total of eight new retail projects under construction a record number in over 25 years in the development business. "Two things, above all, have enabled us to achieve this: excellent choices of location and the fact that we always go for quality," says managing director Heino Vink.
The biggest project is the Stadskwartier in Nieuwegein. Cityplaza, the shopping heart of the town center, is being doubled in size to 56,000 m². Of the existing retail space, 7,000 m² are being redeveloped, which means that a total of 35,000 m² new retail area will be created making this one of the largest town center projects in the Netherlands. The other projects are in Dordrecht, Spijkenisse, Rotterdam, Zaanstad, Leeuwarden, Utrecht and Almere. Taken together, these retail projects will provide approximately 130,000 m² of retail space. All of them will be delivered between 2010 and 2011.
2010 will also see work starting on a number of other retail projects in the Netherlands. "As the European market leader, we can continue to count on a lot of confidence, in the Netherlands as elsewhere, in spite of difficult market conditions. We see this in the rental and financing of our projects, and in the undimmed enthusiasm of investors, which in turn allows us to develop new projects. That is not only good for Multi, it also provides a real stimulus for employment, both in construction and in the stores themselves," says Vink.


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As reported by Reuters, Korean manufacturing giant LG’s Seoul headquarters have been raided over allegations that LG employees sabotaged dishwashers made by rival Samsung. The Samsung machines were “on display at two stores in September ahead of the IFA electronics show in Berlin.” From the article: On Friday, investigators searched the Seoul offices of LG Elec’s home appliance head, Jo Seong-jin, and others and secured documents and computer hard disks related to the IFA fair, Yonhap News Agency said. They also combed through LG Electronics’ home appliance factory in the southeastern city of Changwon, the report said. … Samsung sued LG Electronics employees after the incident in Germany, and LG said the company has counter-sued Samsung employees on Dec. 12. Media reports have earlier said prosecutors banned LG’s Seong-jin from leaving the country ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to be held January 6-9. Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Read the original post:
Proscutors Raid LG Offices Over Alleged Vandalism of Samsung Dishwashers


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Geneva motor show is almost here, and automobile companies are trying to bring as much surprise with them as possible. This includes the Italian auto company who introduced themselves some seven years back with a surprise still fresh as new when they introduced their 427 roadsters.
The latest inclusion in the squad produced by the famous Italian custom designed and handcrafted, high tech car maker is Berlinetta.
This new supercar will have almost all of those super qualities which are the trademark of Puritalia, and they will be producing about 150 specimens.
It should be mentioned here that Geneva Auto Show is known for having limited edition supercars and this year will be no surprise as many automakers are fighting on edges in producing limited editions of their respective supercars.
This car will have a full carbon fiber body which will have the super powerful V8 gasoline engine. It will also have the power of 965 horsepower which will be able to produce a torque of 920-pound-feet.
All the electric energy will be handled by an auto-learning algorithm which uses cloud-based Artificial Intelligence (AI).
One of the main features of the car also included the fact that most of the car’s functions will be controlled by your smartphone. It has also been confirmed by the company as well.
The founder of the company who is also the CEO Paolo Parente has said that we wish to bring back that golden era which was once the trademark of Italian cars. We are going to make this supercar a custom made.
It means that it will only be available when a customer orders it and all the specifications will be according to the client.
It will not be produced as bulk but according to the requests. In total, we will be producing 150supercars of Berlinetta.
However, the price of this supercar will be released on the upcoming and high awaited auto show which will happen in Geneva in March on 5th.
Source: Puritalia Automobili


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When it comes to women’s wear, Under Armour is beating Lululemon. That declaration came from a surprising source this week: Chip Wilson, the founder of Lululemon Athletica Inc.
Wilson, who stepped down from the company’s board of directors earlier this year, spoke about the brand’s decline in the face of competitors including Under Armour and Gap Inc.’s Athletica division at an International Council of Shopping Centres conference in Canada, the Globe and Mail reported on Tuesday.
“Three years ago, Lululemon was worth twice as much as Under Armour,” said Wilson. “Today, Under Armour is worth three times as much as Lululemon.”
Under Armour has been focusing on women’s wear as part of its quest to be a $7.5 billion company by 2018. Women’s apparel makes up 30 percent of the brand’s business and Under Armour’s leaders want to see the women’s business match if not surpass the men’s. Last year, the brand launched its “I will what I want” campaign featuring supermodel Giselle Bundchen and ballerina Misty Copeland.
Sixty-three percent of the 150 million users on Under Armour’s Connected Fitness apps are women.


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BEIJING (Reuters) - A raft of Chinese data in coming weeks is expected to show steady growth in the world's second-biggest economy, but government measures to rein in the housing market and debt risks are likely to drag on activity over the next few quarters.
Many analysts say Beijing's deleverging campaign will pressure growth as the property sector cools in response to policy curbs, even as top leaders have pledged to maintain economic stability ahead of a key party meeting later this year.
"We expect June's data release to show overall steady growth with industrial production momentum maintained," economists at UBS said in a research note.
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"Slower credit growth and higher funding costs due to supervisory tightening are expected to have an effect on fixed-asset investment and activities later in the year."
China's industrial output is seen up 6.5 percent in June from a year earlier, matching the rise in May, according to a Reuters poll of 34 economists.
Retail sales were expected to grow 10.6 percent, easing slightly from a 10.7 percent rise in May, while fixed-asset investment was predicted to increase 8.5 percent in January-June from a year earlier, versus a rise of 8.6 percent in the first five months, the poll showed.
Authorities have tightened rules to force banks to deleverage - as part of steps to control debt risks, pushing up money market rates that have started to spill over into the real economy.
Moody's Investors Service downgraded its credit rating in May, saying it expects the country's financial strength will erode in coming years as growth slows and debt continues to rise.
Policy insiders say the central bank will hold off on further monetary policy tightening and could even slightly loosen its grip in the coming months to support economic growth and job creation.
China's exports are seen up 8.7 percent in June from a year earlier, while imports are set for a 13.1 percent rise, according to the Reuters poll, producing a trade surplus of $42.4 billion.
China's exports rose a stronger than expected 8.7 percent in May as global demand improved, while imports jumped 14.8 percent despite falling commodity prices.
China will release second-quarter gross domestic product(GDP) on July 17, along with June industrial output, retail sales and January-June fixed asset investment.
Analysts are awaiting a few other June data releases before fine-tuning their April-June GDP forecasts, though some expect it will be slightly weaker than the solid first quarter pace of 6.9 percent.
Both the official and private factory surveys painted a robust picture for June thanks to stronger demand, though even here signs of stress were evident in median and small firms.
China's producer price index (PPI)) is tipped to rise 5.5 percent in June from a year earlier, flat from May when factory gate inflation eased for the third straight month on tumbling raw materials prices.
The consumer price index (CPI) is seen up 1.5 percent year-on-year in June, also matching that in May, when consumer inflation quickened from April's 1.2 percent.
Beijing is targeting consumer inflation at 3 percent this year, unchanged from 2016.
Besides the campaign to reduce high levels of debt across the economy, authorities have also been busy trying to stabilize the yuan by curbing capital outflows.
That seems to have paid off with the currency pushing higher against the dollar in recent months. And China's foreign exchange reserves are expected to edge up in June to $3.06 trillion, rising for a fifth consecutive month as capital curbs and a weakening dollar helped staunch money outflows.
China is due to announce foreign exchange reserves data on Friday, followed by inflation and trade data on Monday and Thursday respectively, while loan and money data is expected anytime from July 10-15.
LOANS SEEN UP AMID SHADOW BANKING CRACKDOWN
Loan data will also be closely watched for signs of whether the economy continued to build up more debt, amid signs that banks have shifted more credit back onto their books in response to the shadow financing clampdown.
Chinese banks are seen extending 1.2 trillion yuan ($176.47 billion) in new loans in June, up from 1.11 trillion yuan in May.
Combined trust loans, entrusted loans and undiscounted bankers' acceptances, which are common forms of shadow banking activity, fell sharply to 28.9 billion yuan in May from 177 billion yuan in April, according to Reuters calculations based on central bank data.
(Reporting by Kevin Yao and Shaloo Shrivastava)


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Despite Rutherford County Schools being closed on Tuesday due to the icy conditions, games will be on.
The Daily News Jounral has confirmed that these basketball games will be played tonight as ...
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Sollers opens largest car plant in Russian far east
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attended the opening ceremony in Vladivostok, where he discussed plans for the new plant along with Sollers director, Vadim Shvetsov.
“As a site for this we have already chosen the Dalzavod facility and a nearby military complex. We can really engage here small businesses, plus, there are people here wishing to work,” said Shvetsov.
The plant will initially assemble models including Korean Ssang Yong crossover, the UAZ Patriot vehicles, Japanese Isuzu trucks and specialized models on the Fiat Ducato platform.
"Isuzu has the 6x6 truck, it had earlier been ordered by the (Japanese) army, but now they have refused it saying 'take our truck and produce it under your brand," Shvetsov said. "Now, maybe Vladivostok will be the centre for the development of the new 6x6 vehicle."
Vnesheconombank is providing five billion roubles in loans as investments for the plant, which is expected to assemble up to 40,000 vehicles a year by 2012.


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Sweet Leaf Tea Co. announces partnership with Nestle Waters
Published 12:00 am, Thursday, March 26, 2009
Austin-based Sweet Leaf Tea Co. announced on Thursday that the bottled water company Nestle Waters North America invested $15.6 million in the company, according to a news release.
Beaumont native Clayton Christopher founded the company, which makes organic, all-natural, home-style iced teas, lemonades and other beverages, in 1998.
According to a news release from Sweet Leaf Tea Co., the partnership will transform the company from a regional brand to one with full national distribution within 24 months.


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Xbox announced it's releasing a branded body wash, for the sophisticated gamer who wants to move beyond the Jersey shower.
The body wash was made in partnership with Axe (of course) and is only being released in Australia initially. The partnership between Microsoft and Axe will be released under the Lynx line, the name of Axe body spray in non-US markets.
“We see Xbox fans achieve incredible things every day, and we wanted to celebrate that elevated skill, passion and determination by creating something truly special,” said Tania Chee of Xbox. “Now, powering up can be as simple as a quick spray before you head out the door.”
Far from the overpowering Axe scents of middle school lore, the notes for the new gamer wash actually sound kind of pleasant. The product description from Microsoft describes a bright mix of citrus and wood.
"Lynx Xbox is a fresh scent of pulsing green citrus, featuring top notes of kaffir lime and winter lemon, aromatic herbal middle notes of mint and sage, and woody bottom notes of patchouli and clearwood,” the company says, noting that the Xbox-branded personal hygiene line will include body spray, deodorant and shower gel.
Twitter was giddy over the idea of gamer soap.


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Sacoa celebrates its anniversary, exhibiting at five international trade shows in March 2022
Sacoa Cashless System, the leading worldwide supplier of revenue management systems for the amusement, entertainment and leisure industries, will be presenting its latest innovations during the month of March at five trade shows worldwide.
Pol Mochkovsky, CEO of Sacoa International said: “We have planned our presence as exhibitors at a large number of trade shows this year. In the month of March Sacoa will be showcasing its latest releases such as online platforms, new kiosk K4 features and Spark – its latest RFID reader – at the following shows: EAG Expo 2022 (March 1-3, 2022 | London, England | Booth #280), Amusement Expo International 2022 (March 16-17, 2022 | Las Vegas, USA |Booth #611) Sindepat 2022 (March 23-24, Gramado RS, Brazil), DEAL Show 2022 (March 28-30, 2022 | Dubai, UAE | booth 6-C163), and Rimini Amusement Show 2022 (30th March – 1nd April 2022, Rimini Exhibition Centre, Rimini RN, Italy).
He added: “This is a very special year of great growth for us. We are celebrating 65 years since my grandfather, Mauricio Mochkovsky, together with my father, Jorge Mochkovsky, entered the entertainment business, which later led to the creation of the first FEC in Argentina – Sacoa Entertainment – when the concept of FEC was not yet popular. Another very important event also this year for the company, coincides with the 30th anniversary since the Sacoa Playcard System was developed internally to optimize the operation of its own stores, and a year later the first Sacoa Entertainment store went online, replacing the use of tokens with a computerized magnetic debit card system”.
“There is no better way to celebrate our anniversaries as operators and developers rather than working hard as always, and doing what we love and enjoy so much!”.


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UK retailer Game will disinfect and isolate all trade-in stock for three days when it reopens on June 15.
As detailed in an email picked up by Eurogamer, the new measures are being introduced to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 when certain lockdown rules -- such as the closing of high street stores -- are relaxed by the UK government in the coming weeks.
"We are asking the customers to place their products they are wanting to trade-in on the counter and advising customers to step back while the staff member picks the items up and checks the products," reads the email.
"All trade-in products will be wiped clean with alcohol wipes. All the traded in stock will be isolated for three days before going out on sale."
Customers will also be unable to browse the store, and will instead be asked to form a socially distanced queue to they can put their query to a member of staff.
Given the number of shoppers allowed in store at any time will be limited, Game is encouraging people to use its Click and Collect service and contactless payment options where possible.
The retail chain will also be supplying its workers with personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, and face guards, and has fitted perspex screens at tills to shield those in customer facing roles.


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It's not as glitzy as a consumer electronics show, not as mouthwatering as the annual gatherings of the supermarket or restaurant industries, and not as much fun as a toy fair or sporting goods convention. But the annual trade show of the hardware industry is hard to beat for sheer variety.
This year's show, which ended its four-day run at the cavernous McCormick Place convention center on Aug. 16, attracted more than 2,600 exhibitors with 250,000 products. They ranged from age-old basics like hammers to the latest in remote-controlled entertainment, lighting and security gizmos.
The official claim was that some 1,300 new products made their debuts at the show, but that total included minor design and packaging changes.
Some of the true novelties were prototypes kept in back rooms so that manufacturers could preview them for buyers without tipping their hands to the knock-off experts. Here's a highly arbitrary review of some of the products a visitor hiking the 12 1/2 miles of aisles could have encountered.
FULL-SPEED-AHEAD AWARD -- Black & Decker's small family of cordless tools using the interchangeable Versapak battery unit has experienced a population explosion. The new 3.6- and 7.2-volt cordless products are four drills (one of them variable speed), another flashlight, two new screwdrivers, an air broom, two trimmers, a detail sander, a small shop vacuum cleaner and a multipurpose saw capable of cutting PVC pipe, plasterboard and wood up to two inches thick.Continue reading the main story
Black & Decker also introduced two units that can charge four of the 3.6-volt Nicad batteries simultaneously, a step up from the two-port Versapak starter kits. The batteries and chargers are sold separately from the tools. Black & Decker says that plenty more Versapak products are in the pipeline.
CASEY'S-SECOND-CHANCE AWARD -- Rubbermaid, the heaviest hitter in plastic consumer products, struck out when it tried to get into children's toys during the 1980's. Its second shot at the market has begun with a racy sled it displayed here along with its mind-boggling variations on the theme of plastic container, from bird feeders to giant storage sheds. The purple sleds, with either neon green or pink accents, are expected to retail for under $30 and, the company warns, will go too fast for any child under 7 years old.
HARD-ACT-TO-FOLLOW AWARD -- After entertaining journalists at a press conference with a snazzy magic show, Yenkin-Majestic Paint introduced its Diamondhard paints, which it says are the first water-based enamel paints that will adhere to any surface without a primer while producing better gloss and color retention than oil-based paints. The company says that it stumbled on its formula -- a mixture of acrylic resins -- two years ago while searching for the paint industry's Holy Grail: a high-performance alternative to oil paints.
Yenkin's show proved the hand is quicker than the eye, but is this "the paint to replace all other paints," as Yenkin claims? If retailers follow Yenkin-Majestic's recommended prices, it will cost consumers about $10 a quart or $32 a gallon to decide. The paints are just becoming available in Midwest stores, but the company says they will be in selected hardware stores and building-supply chains nationwide by the end of the year.
THE-CHILDREN-SHALL-LEAD-THEM AWARD -- A tie. Rhodes American, a steel-wool manufacturer, has adapted baby wipes for the messy painter with its Oops! Swipes line of tear-off, premoistened towel ettes to clean up spills and spatters. The consumer-size wipes, which measure 8 by 5 inches and have been available since early this year for $3 to $4 for a package of 30, are now being supplemented by a larger Propack for painting contractors.
The Hunter Fan Company, having enjoyed some success this year with a children's ceiling fan featuring the comic-strip character Snoopy, its first product based on a license, is planning to woo adults with fans based on designs licensed from Pfaltzgraff, the venerable Pennsylvania tableware designer. The fans, with cases and decorative work based on the Folk Art, Yorktowne, Tea Rose and Hopscotch china patterns, are expected to retail for $129 to $149.
WHO'S-ON-FIRST AWARD -- Models of owls and other predators are just part of a huge array of products aimed at scaring away mice, squirrels, pigeons and other varmints. Rice Lake Products of Minot, N.D., had already designed a weather-vane perch for its plastic owl so that it would move enough in a slight breeze to frighten many pests. But it expects this year's addition, a lifelike screech, to keep familiarity from breeding contempt.
The battery-powered cry, which was actually taped from a hawk, is emitted every few minutes during the day. The photocell-activated screech stops at night. Owls by the half dozen are available directly from the company for under $100 apiece (800-BUY-OWLS), but customers can expect to pay up to $150 for one at retail outlets. In the pipeline: a peregrine falcon with the same screech, which the company hopes will send pigeons flying.
Bear in mind this is a market niche, one of many at the show, where anything that is even partly effective is hailed as a brilliant innovation.Continue reading the main story


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The UK’s “thriving” digital industry contributed £149bn to the UK economy in 2018 and has been outstripping the wider marketplace as a sector since it began to spike in 2015, according to government research.
A Yorkshire manufacturing firm, engaged in the development of innovative and advanced medical technologies, has been awarded a seven-figure sum from a healthcare investment vehicle to fast-track a state-of-the-art production facility which will enable the launch of a “ground-breaking” medical device.
When the Bloodhound land speed project collapsed back in 2018 due to lack of funding, there were many among the manufacturing community who bemoaned the seemingly inevitable fact that without emergency capital the fate of the iconic multimillion-pound supersonic car would be the scrapyard.
The world’s top 100 corporations making the most meaningful advances towards sustainability have been ranked, the majority of which are based in Europe; but how is the list collated and what can be learned from the winners and losers?
The government has introduced a new fast-track visa scheme with no upper limit, designed to attract the world’s top scientific minds to this country and to ensure the UK retains a leading edge in technological developments after Brexit.
Nissan and Uber have signed a joint deal for the commission of up to 2,000 electric cars to be made available to drivers using the ride-hailing app in London, as part of a wider campaign by Uber to have every one of its drivers using fully electric vehicles by 2025.
It is perhaps unsurprising that in the world of British manufacturing the defence sector continues to be one of its most closely guarded frontiers – where few have ever ventured and the hackneyed trope, ‘If I told you then I’d have to kill you’, never seemed more appropriate.


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Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Sotheby’s weaker results show effects of painting ‘anomaly’17 August 2015
Sotheby’s share price dropped by over 8% earlier this month after the company posted some weaker-than-expected second quarter results.
Provincial museums purchase prize paintings07 August 2015
A large marine painting by Charles Napier Hemy (1841-1917) showing oyster fishing off the Exmoor coast has been bought by The Museum of Somerset.
Lord Ashcroft buys secret agent Violette Szabό’s George Cross medal group at £260,00023 July 2015
The George Cross medal group awarded to Second World War heroine Violette Szabό has sold for £260,000 at London auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb.
Leighton’s study for Flaming June takes £135,000 at Sotheby’s17 July 2015
A study for one of Frederic, Lord Leighton’s (1830-1896) greatest paintings sold to an American private collector for £135,000 at Sotheby’s sale of Victorian, Pre-Raphaelite and British Impressionist Art.
Godward’s dancer heads to online auction house16 July 2015
The online auction house Fine Art Bourse (FAB) has announced a major consignment for its first sale in September. An Ionian Dancer by John William Godward (1861-1922) will be offered with $300,000-400,000 estimate.
Stanley Gibbons buy online wine auctioneer16 July 2015
The Stanley Gibbons Group has bought online wine trading platform Bid for Wine.
Coastal landscape by Richard Parkes Bonington tops Christie’s Old Master auction09 July 2015
A rare painting by Richard Parkes Bonington (1802-1828) that had hung in the Prime Minister’s residence at 10, Downing Street for nine years led Christie’s evening sale of Old Master & British paintings in London.
Cranach the Elder leads Sotheby’s Old Master sale at £8.2m08 July 2015
Sotheby’s evening sale of Old Master and British paintings was led by Lucas Cranach the Elder’s La Bocca della Verità (The Mouth of Truth) which made a major auction record when it was knocked down at £8.2m.
Contemporary art week: some bumps on the record road06 July 2015
The latest series of Contemporary art auctions in London posted a bumper total despite the failure of some big-ticket lots.
Rare Franz Sedlacek oil blooms at £85,00002 July 2015
An oil on panel by Franz Sedlacek (1891-1945), an Austrian artist prominent in the Vienna Secession group of painters, drew international bidding at Toovey’s of Washington, West Sussex.
Restituted works headline Impressionist and Modern art auction series29 June 2015
A group of restituted paintings were among the highlights of a robust series of Impressionist and Modern art auctions in London.
Klimt portrait tops Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern art sale at £22m24 June 2015
A couple of recently restituted works of art drew prolonged bidding at Sotheby’s evening sale of Impressionist and Modern art in London including Gustav Klimt's (1862-1918) portrait of Gertrud Loew which was the top lot of the night at £22m.
Constable family portrait rediscovered24 June 2015
In the 1984 book ‘The Late Paintings and Drawings of John Constable’ by Graham Reynolds, a pencil drawing of the back and shoulders of the artist’s wife Mrs Maria Constable (nee Bicknell) is described as ‘whereabouts unknown’.
Gainsborough sketch surfaces in Ruislip15 June 2015
Auctioneers Bainbridges of Ruislip are selling a chalk and gouache drawing attributed to Thomas Gainsborough.
Thin sales indicate slump in Russian market08 June 2015
The slump in the Russian art market was laid bare last week. The total for the latest auction series in London was a third of the equivalent sales in 2014.
Ashmolean launches campaign to secure Turner’s view of Oxford05 June 2015
The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford has launched a public campaign to raise the funds needed to secure JMW Turner's The High Street, Oxford.
Newly discovered Thomas Girtin watercolour of London knocked down at £125,00002 June 2015
Found in the attic of a large Welsh house, this watercolour by Thomas Girtin (1775-1802) of St Paul’s Cathedral drew dramatic competition at Chorley’s sale in Gloucestershire.
It’s not over yet: the continuing saga of the ‘six sixes’ cricket ball01 June 2015
A new twist has emerged in the long-running story of the ‘six sixes’ cricket ball.
New record for Danish art at auction22 May 2015
This interior scene by Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864-1916) set an artist’s record when it was knocked down at £1.7m at Sotheby’s in London.
Elephant hopes rest on Rego21 May 2015
This print ‘Unhappy Courtship’ by Dame Paula Rego (b.1935) is estimated at £2000-3000 at a charity sale being conducted by Roseberys.