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It’s a warm, sticky night under a drizzling rain in Bangkok’s Pak Kret district, but that hasn’t kept a couple hundred beer enthusiasts from coming out to a dead-end alley running through a few swampish grass lots. The setting sounds unlikely, but they’re here for the long-awaited grand opening of a brewing center known as MITR. Food trucks ring the crowd, selling oversized burgers as well as more traditional Thai fare like grilled pork and spicy papaya salad. A live band inside churns out an eclectic racket that penetrates the industrial center’s walls, mixing with the chatter of drinkers huddling under tents and the backing chorus of croaking frogs from the fields that surround it.
Located in the northern suburb of Thornburi, Pak Kret is known as the hub of the Thai craft beer scene. Most of the people responsible for the burgeoning industry are in attendance at MITR. The hybrid microbrewery/learning center, which also has an on-site bar, is the collective effort of six Thai brewers with support from 44 affiliate brewers ranging from hobbyists to aspiring commercial brewers. MITR is an archaic word in Thai that means friend or friendship, referring not only to the core group that started the center but also as a call out to anyone to come and brew there.
The center’s goal is to legitimize and legalize craft beer in Thailand. It is pushing for changes to government regulations that currently support a national brewing duopoly—literally just two breweries—which has effectively controlled the entire beer market in Thailand since its modern formation in the 1930s.
Due to Thailand’s stringent lockdown to control the COVID-19 outbreak, the center’s opening was delayed for months. By August, though, there had been no new cases reported in the country for two months, so businesses, including bars and restaurants, were given the OK to open fully. Though regulations have been lifted and no one is wearing a mask at the bar, everyone has one at hand for public transportation, stepping into a 7-Eleven, or general walking around in the city. Still, the maskless atmosphere—a rarity in Bangkok even before the pandemic—is one of normalcy and celebration.
Inside, the bar has 12 choices of beer on tap, each made on the premises: two by each of the six core brewers, with the selection changing from week to week. Over the course of the night I go from a clean, lean-tasting Pilsner to a mango-infused IPA to the rich indulgence of a 12% Vanilla Stout that lingers in the mouth like a dessert. Each is miles away from the duopoly’s two very similar Lagers that have dominated the Thai beer market for almost a century.
For most of the almost two decades that I’ve lived in Thailand, the beer selection has been essentially limited to two interchangeable—and in my opinion, equally undrinkable—beers. They are Chang and Singha, each as symbolic of the nation as its white-sand beaches, temples, and spicy cuisine. The brands’ namesakes, the Elephant and Lion, are printed on everything from T-shirts to bumper stickers. To millions of visiting foreigners, they are synonymous with Thai nightlife.
Boon Rawd Brewery, which makes Singha, and ThaiBev, which brews Chang, the country’s best-selling beer, are owned and run by two of the wealthiest families in Thailand. Through longevity and political influence, these two breweries have dominated Thai beer for nearly a century, forcing out or crushing any competition, foreign or domestic.
Until very recently there was no craft beer market in the country at all. That left a handful of imported beers, like Guinness or Paulaner, as the only alternatives to the mass-market, domestic Lagers (and even then, only in major tourist cities, and at terrific prices). Everywhere else it was—and still mostly is—Chang or Singha. Both are generally served over ice to combat the omnipresent heat of Thailand, and probably also because both get worse as they warm up, resulting in sweet-but-sour, watery, grimace-inducing solutions.
The high cost of doing business in Thailand has undoubtedly been the main barrier to importing beer brands willing to compete with the nation’s duopoly. Thailand has strong import tax and duty laws. These, according to the government, protect the country’s economy from being overrun by imported products. Unfortunately, they have also created an environment where poor-quality products are affordable, but the cost of anything a little different or a little better goes up in multiples. This is true whether it’s a bottle of good beer, a pair of decent shoes, or an English-language book.
This price gap has also created a fetish for imported goods, from tools to electronics. The laws in place to supposedly protect the Thai economy have had the effect, over the years, of making anything manufactured in Thailand synonymous with low quality—and of making the desire for imports so strong that the counterfeit market has been booming for decades.
Thaopipob Linjittkorn, or Thao as he is more popularly known, a lawyer and homebrewer, was very publicly arrested in 2017 for making beer. He used that publicity to win an election to Parliament in 2019, along with 80 other members of the Future Forward Party. This progressive, pro-democracy party included in its platform a detailed plan to deregulate the beer industry, as well as a proposal for the legalization of marijuana, citing both as ways of putting money into the pockets of small businesses and local farmers.
After gaining massive support, especially from younger voters, the party was ordered to dissolve by the Constitutional Court earlier this year, and its leaders banned from running for public office for 10 years. The reported reason for the ban was an illegal loan, though most people agree it was punishment laid out by the sitting government for daring to take up such causes as the deregulation of brewing.
The opposition that Future Forward was up against is a military-backed, hardline government that supports the duopoly with strict regulations that allow it to control over 99% of Thailand’s estimated 180 billion baht ($5.8 billion) beer industry. The duopoly was originally made untouchable with the first Thai Liquor Control Act in 1950, a law which has been amended several times since to push legality even further out of reach of any small brewer.
The Liquor Control Act was amended most recently in 2017, when the craft beer movement was gaining momentum and visibility through social and traditional media outlets following Thao’s arrest. This new iteration of the act created two tiers of licensing. For small breweries, it requires production of at least 100,000 liters (852 barrels) but no greater than 1,000,000 liters (8,520 BBLs), and stipulates that all beer must be sold on the premises. At the same time, the minimum amount for an industrial license was increased from one million liters to 10 million liters (85,200 BBLs) per year, as well as requiring that the brewer demonstrate available capital of at least 10 million baht ($320,000).
Just to make sure small brewers were thoroughly intimidated, the rewrite also increased inflated penalties. Fines were increased from their original, almost quaint 200 baht ($6) for possession of bootleg alcohol to 10,000 ($300). For actually brewing without a license, fines were increased from 5,000 baht ($150) to a range of 50,000–100,000 baht ($1,600–$3,200), plus jail time. Reporting in 2017, The Bangkok Post estimated that in order to meet the new regulations, a brewer would need to have a billion baht—around $30 million—in start-up capital.
The original Thai Liquor Control Act was first established by the architect of modern Thailand, Phibul Songgram. Known historically as Phibul, the dictator, prime minister, and field marshal led several coups, revered Mussolini, and embraced fascist ideology while leading Thailand through World War II as a supporter of the Axis powers. Phibul’s influence on Thai society is still evident today, in everything from mandatory student haircuts to the way people eat.
“The fact is only the ultra rich are allowed to brew and sell beer in Thailand, and they are protected by the government,” Thaopipob Linjittkorn told The Bangkok Post in 2017.
It was no surprise to those who follow Thai politics that the current government would take drastic actions to protect the beer duopoly. Prime Minister and junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha— who took control of the country in a 2014 military coup and was subsequently voted into office in 2016 in what international observers called dubious circumstances—is an avid admirer of Phibul Songgram. His administration has done much to reinforce the isolationist and nationalistic policies that Phibul established in the 1940s and ’50s, and has called again and again for citizens to display a certain level of “Thainess,” which the PM defines in part as unquestioning loyalty to the government.
Among those key to the opening of the MITR brewing center is grassroots activist Wichit Saiklo, known as P Chit to his many friends and the hundreds who have visited his home bar and brewing center on the nearby island of Koh Kret. P Chit might seem like an unlikely mover and shaker, being a full colonel in the Thai Army as well as the manager of two IT firms, but if the Thai beer movement has a standout celebrity, it’s him. For over a decade, P Chit has been making and selling his own Chit Beer from the small bar he runs out of his house on weekends, while also bringing many into the craft beer fold with his brewing classes.
“I never liked the taste of beer until I visited P Chit’s bar. Three weeks later I came to his brewing class. I’ve been making about five liters a week since,” says Kana, one of the 44 affiliated small brewers at MITR.
Still wearing the regulation army flattop and looking battle-fit in his mid-fifties, P Chit was quoted in a 2015 Bangkok Post article as saying “that it was fun being part of the resistance … but one day it will get uncomfortable.” He has talked about 2020 being the target year for legal change in several interviews since. The longtime brewer helped organize the collective to start MITR in order to come into compliance with the 100,000-liters-per-year regulation for microbreweries stipulated in the 2017 law.
“There’s no way any one or even two of us small brewers would make the legal limit, but working together and gathering our many affiliates to brew here as well, we can meet the minimum requirement. We still can’t sell our beers outside, but this is a step forward,” says the owner of Sand Port Brewing, one of the six brewers at the core of MITR, who preferred his name be left out of print.
“We have four mandates that work towards legitimizing, legalizing, and promoting craft beer in Thailand, and one of them is brew in an environment that meets international standards,” says P Chit. “PM Chan-o-cha commented that microbrews are unsafe and might be brewed in a toilet. I invite him to come and inspect our premises.”
The brewing room on the night of the grand opening was closed to the public, but inside, the space was immaculate: lined with gleaming stainless-steel tubs and tanks, it featured neatly organized tables laid out with brewers’ utensils and stacks of sanitized, food-safe buckets.
Another of MITR’s mandates is to show that the craft beer industry—which Thao estimates has the growth potential of 20 billion baht ($633 million) yearly—would directly benefit small companies, local farmers, millers, and importers. “We want all those brewing in Vietnam to be able to brew here and keep the money at home,” Thao says.
What Thao is referring to is the fact that, to get around Thailand’s strict regulations, most of the 200 “Thai” craft beer brands are actually brewed outside of the country. “Thai” beers are currently made in Cambodia, Laos, Taiwan, and even Australia, but Vietnam far and away brews the most. Vietnam has no such limiting regulations on brewing and is more open to foreigners creating businesses than Thailand. As a result, it has an extensive brewing and distribution network.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Heart of Darkness Brewery has contracts with a number of Thai craft beer brands. Englishman John Pemberton first started homebrewing as a hobby while living in New York City, and continued when he moved to China out of necessity since, he says, he couldn’t find any good beer at the time. He opened his brewery and taproom in Vietnam in 2013.
There was no plan to provide brewing services for other brands when he opened, but Pemberton was soon approached by Thai-based brewers who came looking for a way around the laws keeping them out of business. With the capacity to brew batches as small as 1,000 liters (8.52 BBLs), Heart of Darkness soon found itself overwhelmed with offers from Thailand.
Other breweries in Vietnam followed suit, collaborating with Thai brewers and then shipping the beer to Thailand in refrigerated trucks. The product can go from packaging to the final point of sale and into the glass of a thirsty patron in Bangkok or Phuket over just a couple of days. But in the end, it’s the consumer who pays for all this rigmarole.
And the cost ain’t cheap. By law, these “Thai” beers are imported, and are therefore still subject to the country’s draconian import duties. In any of Bangkok’s specialty craft beer bars, “Thai” brands cost almost as much as their cousins from outside the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) sphere.
Import tax is calculated through a complex comparison of market values and exchange rates, as well as the opinions and future speculation of individual excise agents. The process is so complicated that, of the three beer importers I questioned about the laws, none would even try to explain them, admitting that they themselves little understood the system. Even the government’s own guidelines sum them up with what seems like a wink and a nod, ending with the sentence “whichever of both gives the highest amount of duties, will be the rate applied.”
Add to this an excise tax that varies from 1% to 50%, a value-added tax (VAT) of 7%, and the fact that “imported alcohol is also subjected to local taxes, Thai health taxes and TV (advertising) taxes, respectively amounting to 10%, 2% and 1.5% on top of the excise tax. The import duties, excise taxes, and VAT cumulated, the tax burden on most imported spirits is approximately 400 percent,” as surmised by The Nation, one of the two English language newspapers in Thailand, covering the 2017 law changes.
“This is why we have to change the capacity laws. Our mission statement at MITR is to create a unique market for Thai craft beer that meets international standards,” says Leo Bernerand, a Belgian who brews at MITR as one of the collective’s 44 affiliates. “This is to satisfy concerns about health and safety, but also to support and grow local industry while educating the public and promoting a healthier and of course high-quality product.”
It shouldn’t be too difficult to imagine a near future when craft beer is both readily available and affordable throughout Thailand. It wasn’t that long ago that it was almost impossible in the U.S., now awash in craft, to find anything but Miller or Bud and the like. Jim Koch of Samuel Adams has said that, when he started selling beer out of his home, people didn’t know what to make of it: all they knew was fizzy, watered-down beer that came in aluminum cans, so that’s all they would buy.
It seems like an easy comparison, but the craft beer movement in Thailand is different. It’s not only about education and convincing the masses that there is more to beer than skunky Lager: it’s about a much more vital change. Change that the hardline government and the 1% “terrible rich” will do anything to keep from happening.
To protect the beer duopoly is to protect an economic model that has been in place for almost a century, serving the rich and empowered while keeping the majority poor, uneducated, and working in the fields. The system that requires craft bars to charge upwards of $20 for a decent pint of beer is the same system that keeps good-quality products out of the hands of everyday Thai citizens through tax and duty, even when the products are made in Thailand.
The Thai beer duopoly has undoubtedly heard this call for change, and both companies have made attempts to placate it by putting out their own “craft” options. Boon Rawd, the maker of Singha, has been slightly more successful than Chang, offering a wannabe White Beer and a so-called Hoppy Ale. Each is slightly better than the brewery’s flagship Lager, but they still taste like unsatisfying facsimiles—like McDonald’s cheeseburgers, or French rock ‘n’ roll—when compared to the real thing.
None of these beers have managed to catch on with any great deal of success, though they are priced only a bit higher than their sibling Lagers. Those who can afford craft beer will pay for the real thing, and those who can’t or simply don’t care about the beer they drink won’t bother to try them.
Craft beer is ultimately part of a greater, grassroots movement pushing to finally end the country’s string of interchangeable corrupt governments, which have replaced each other once every five or so years in a string of coups that goes back to the foundation of modern Thailand in the 1930s. While the avant garde of brewing may be in the hands of middle-aged men, the newcomers and consumers skew younger and more diverse.
In the craft beer bars of Bangkok, it’s the nuevo middle class, the thirtysomethings, who mostly fill the seats and are paying for those expensive imports from around the world. Local craft beers are found for sale wherever new trends have taken root: alternative music shows; skate and wakeboarding events; and among the new generation of runners, cyclists and rock climbers around the country. Wherever Thai people are exploring outside of the stifling cultural norms still heralded by the government and reinforced by the media is where you’re likely to find a few bottles of Lemongrass Honey Ale or a Spicy Mango IPA.
I have lived for almost 20 years in the small city of Kanchanaburi, where there are just a couple of craft beer options. The local liquor store keeps a rotating stock of a few brands and one or two bars offer several “Thai” import choices. But there is one microbrewery, just on the tourist side of the world-famous River Kwai, which keeps its doors open, even with very few customers. Called 90s Craft, it has five beers on tap—five beers that its owner P Pop illegally brews at a secret location in another province.
P Pop, who maintains a hipster’s handlebar mustache and wears a full-length, old-timey apron behind his bar, laughs when I suggest that he might get raided sometime, joking that even his customers can’t find the bar, so how will the police? He agrees that deregulation would be a great thing, but even if and when it happens he won’t have the money to meet whatever new regulations are passed. He’ll continue to brew on the down-low and keep his place under the radar.
“I’m not waiting for change,” P Pop says. “I want to make beer, and as long as I can sell a little of it, I will.”
Other homebrewers not willing to wait for change have organized pop-up beer festivals. Like flash mobs, the locations of these underground events are kept secret until the last moment and then digitally shared with group members only. Brewers show up with samples of their beer along with homemade swag. They taste and compare each other’s beers for an hour or so and then all disappear back to where they came from, long before the police can organize any kind of crackdown.
It’s this willingness to break the unjust laws as much as the movement to deregulate them that is going to continue to make craft beer more and more popular in Thailand, and along the way promote more economic opportunity and equality.
It’s around 11:30 p.m. when they announce last call at MITR. The bar is still three-quarters full and a long line forms to get that final beer in. There’s a general midnight cutoff for selling alcohol in Thailand, with a few licensing exceptions for clubs in designated “nightlife zones,” one of a series of bizarre laws controlling the sale of alcohol created by former prime minister (and current international fugitive) Thaksin Shinawatra while he was in office.
The rain has stopped, but if anything the croaking chorus of frogs out in the night has increased. There is a lot of back-slapping and taking of farewell photos going on in and around the freshly inaugurated microbrewery. Well-wishers surround P Chit to wish him good luck, so I decide to take the opportunity to ask him about his prediction for this being a year of deregulation.
“I am still confident that 2020 is the year of change for Thai beer brewing,” he says. He explains that he and the other brewers at MITR have paved a smoother path for the next generation. “It took me four years to get the brewery license, but if I want to do the next one it might take nine to 12 months at most.”
From four years to 12 months, perhaps to two months or fewer in the future: 2020 does look like a year of change in Thailand. The extended COVID lockdown and shuttering of the country to tourists is having a devastating effect on the small-business economy, spurring on student protests against the Chan-o-cha-led government. These now-weekly protests are always a sign of unrest to come in a country where the coup d’état practically defines its politics.
The right for people to brew and sell beer might seem far from the kind of issue that leads to regime change. But the deregulation of the Thai beer duopoly could be a meaningful step towards something bigger: progressive national leadership and a greater sense of equality, both in the government and the economy.


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The definitive Digiday guide to what’s in and out at Cannes this year
Digiday covers that latest from marketing and media at the annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. More from the series →
Cannes keeps changing. Here’s what’s in and what’s out for this year.
More in Media
Year two of Possible is once again being held in Miami Beach, and it will take place from April 15-17 with 3,000 attendees expected to listen to another 200 or so speakers, including Snap’s Colleen DeCourcy, Uber Ads’ Megan Ramm and UM Worldwide’s Matthew Smith.
Last week, tech companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon all announced updates more updates for their cloud and AI efforts
At least 21 different sessions across the three days that Possible takes place — all in the halls of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel— feature the capital letters AI In their headlines. And the topic will be pretty inescapable in most of the conversations that take place onstage or around the event.

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New York–He’s both a lauded fashion designer and filmmaker, and now Tom Ford will try his hand at watches.
Ford’s design company Tom Ford International is partnering with Bedrock Manufacturing Company, the parent company of Shinola and outerwear and accessories brand Filson, on Tom Ford Timepieces.
Tom Ford Timepieces will be entirely Swiss-made and retail at a luxury price point.
Ford said, “Watches have long been an obsession of mine, and I have been waiting for the perfect moment in our brand development to introduce this category and have also waited for the perfect partner. We have found that in Tom Kartsotis and Bedrock Manufacturing Company. His passion and expertise in the industry are unparalleled, and I could not be more excited to embark on this venture with Tom and the team at Bedrock.”
Tom Ford made a name for himself as the creative director of Gucci from 1994 to 2004, a period in which he reinvented the brand and massively increased sales.
In 2005 he launched his eponymous line, creating menswear, beauty, eyewear and accessories and eventually adding a womenswear line in 2010. Currently the brand boats 124 concept stores or shop-in-shops worldwide.
In 2009, Ford made his directorial debut with “A Single Man,” starring Colin Firth, which he adapted for the screen from a novel. Last year, Ford followed up with “Nocturnal Animals,” which he also adapted from a novel and directed. “Nocturnal Animals” features Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Tom Ford Timepieces has yet to reveal a product release date but did say the watches will be in “limited distribution.”
Bedrock Manufacturing Company’s Kartsotis commented, “We have a deep appreciation for the craft, detail, quality and of course taste, that Tom Ford stands for. These values are relevant now more than ever. We are excited about this collaboration and look forward to helping Tom express his vision.”


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On Wednesday, the Commerce Department said that U.S. trade deficit rose 0.3% in July, reaching $43.7 billion, and trade deficit in June was revised down from previous $43.6 billion to $43.5 billion. The number in July was less than previous expectation of $44.6 billion.
Both imports and exports dropped in July. Imports of goods and services dropped 0.2% to $238.1 billion, imports of motor vehicles and parts decreased by $0.8 billion, and crude oil shipments declined by $1.0 billion.
Exports of goods and services were down 0.3% to $194.4 billion in July, and exports of goods and services fell 0.3% to $194.4 billion. However, exports of capital goods increased by $0.9 billion. Exports to the European Union dropped 9.8%, and exports of civilian aircraft increased $1.1 billion to $5.4 billion.
Imports of goods from China rose 3.1%, and exports to China increased 3.5%. The trade deficit between the United States and China rose 3% to $33.6 billion in July, reaching the highest level since August 2016.
In addition, petroleum exports were $10.2 billion, which was the highest level since November 2014. Petroleum exports narrowed to $3.09 billion, which is the smallest since May 2016.


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- 10:31 am Monday, August 4th, 2014 by Kim Miller
The Greepnspoon Marder attorneys signed up to defend the consumer fraud case against North Palm Beach-based Hoffman Law Group withdrew last week in light of new information.
According to a request to withdraw filed Tuesday, business records, “namely emails”, of the defendants in the case show that they are in “adverse” positions of each other that preclude the continued joint representation.
Named in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lawsuit filed July 14 are Marc Hoffman, 64, Michael Harper, 34, Benn Willcox, 34, the Hoffman Law Group, Residential Litigation Group, Nationwide Management Solutions, Legal Intake Solutions and BM Marketing Group.
The federal lawsuit, which [More]
- 10:51 am Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014 by Kim Miller
The North Palm Beach-based law firm, the Hoffman Law Group, allegedly bilked homeowners nationwide out of more than $5 million in a years-long “illicit mortgage relief scheme.”
According to hundreds of pages of court documents unsealed today, the Hoffman Law Group, in conjunction with four other companies, ran a boiler room-style sales center that “preyed” on vulnerable homeowners throughout the country.
Sales representatives peddled so-called “mass joinder” lawsuits to homeowners, promising that a $6,000 retainer and $495 per month would include them in litigation against their banks. But “in reality, defendants did little or nothing to actually assist consumers.”
Named in the action [More]


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Liverpool is approaching the end of a landmark year after celebrating ten years since being crowned the European Capital of Culture and now there’s only one thing on everyone’s minds: Christmas.
The season will officially start in Liverpool next week when the city will be lit up with lights and decorations. A festive street party will take over Liverpool ONE from 4pm-8pm which will mark the unveiling of a brand new light installation on Chavasse Park; Polaris Dare to Dream.
Other key Christmas events include the return of Liverpool Christmas Ice Festival to the Pier Head and the Christmas Markets on St George’s Plateau meanwhile Santa Claus himself will take up home in part of Liverpool Town Hall for Storytime with Santa. The pantomime is also coming to town meaning you’ll be shouting “He’s Behind You!” long after you’ve returned home.
Marketing Liverpool have been working hard over the past few months (for us, Christmas starts VERY early!) to ensure the Christmas in Liverpool campaign is a success. With brand new Christmas additions to the VisitLiverpool website, Christmas press trips planned and stunning new artwork that’s set to adorn the city; we’re already counting down to the big day!
This Christmas, it has to be Liverpool.
For more information on the Christmas in Liverpool campaign, please visitliverpool.com/christmas.


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HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO AMPLIFY BRAND POWER TO ATTRACT RIDERS
With deeper consumer insights driving its refined plan and sharpened objectives, Harley-Davidson, Inc. (“Harley-Davidson”) (NYSE:HOG) is strengthening its efforts to build the next generation of riders.
The company plans to focus investment and build new capabilities to invigorate the Harley-Davidson brand and experience to spark passion that deepens rider commitment. Brand and consumer-facing teams are being structured and aligned with an even deeper consumer focus to reach people with consistent and engaging brand experiences. To reflect this, Amplify Brand has been added as a growth catalyst in the “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” plan and will bolster the existing growth catalysts of New Products, Broader Access and Stronger Dealers.
“We see a meaningful opportunity to leverage the power of the brand to demonstrate how riding a Harley-Davidson fills the mind, body and soul in ways that help riders live for real,” said Matt Levatich, president and chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson. “We’ll continue to fuel all aspects of the riding experience and add new solutions to fully develop, engage and retain riders through their journey, starting with the very first spark of interest.”
The company’s intensified rider-centric approach and extensive consumer research show that bringing new riders in and keeping all riders riding – no matter what their experience level, age or life stage, is critical to achieving its objectives.
As a result, Harley-Davidson has sharpened its objectives through 2027 to better align with its expanded efforts to build committed riders. In the U.S., the company plans to expand to 4 million total Harley-Davidson riders in the U.S. through 2027. There were about 3 million total Harley-Davidson riders in the U.S. in 2017. This objective reflects the company’s broader efforts to attract new riders and also retain riders each year. Measuring total riders considers and accounts for all riders - those who join Harley-Davidson each year and also those who exit. As previously stated, the company’s U.S. objective to build 2 million new riders in the U.S., was focused only on riders who joined the brand in a given year.
Outside the U.S., the company has sharpened its objective through 2027 and plans to grow international business to 50% of annual revenue. Previously the growth target was motorcycle unit volume, which was not inclusive of all of the company’s efforts to grow internationally, including IRONe™ electric-powered two-wheelers for kids, eBicycles and a refreshed apparel approach.
“We’re on a quest to build the next generation of Harley-Davidson riders. We are activating our refined plan with focus and an intensity to create new pathways to Harley-Davidson and expand access and appeal to more people around the world,” said Levatich.
For more information on the “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” plan and updated milestones, follow this link.


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In less than a week Microsoft is slated to hold an event in New York City. While we already know it is about Surface, and that Satya Nadella is likely to host, the exact announcements forthcoming have been kept secret. Rumors swirl around a Surface mini tablet and perhaps even the unveiling of the Surface Pro 3, a mere seven months after the second generation tablet hit the market.
Today the Redmond company let us know that it plans to live stream the big event. In a brief announcement, Microsoft’s Dan Laycock says “The webcast will begin at 8am Pacific Time (11am Eastern). For specific details on the webcast, visit the Microsoft News Center on Tuesday, May 20th”.
WinBeta will have full coverage on everything at the event, so if you can’t watch the live coverage, then fear not. In the meantime, let the wild speculation continue — what do think, or hope, the software giant will unveil next week? Tell us in the comments.


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Hot dogs, apple pie and lots of unsold Chevrolets are on the Memorial Day menu at Bill Stasek Chevrolet in Wheeling, Ill., while Raymond Chevrolet in Antioch, Ill., is planning barbecues.
We’re not sure if food soothes the savage beast, but it apparently helps sell cars over the holidays. As they’ve done for years, dealers are planning cookouts to get folks into their showrooms over the holiday weekend.
“Whether it’s furniture or cars, consumers are conditioned to sales and lots of hoopla over holiday weekends,” said Mark Scarpelli, owner of Raymond Chevy in Antioch.
Brad Tuftin, general sales manager at Stasek Chevrolet, agrees.
“The Memorial Day holiday brings in people who simply were driving by who decide to stop in and take a look,” he said.
So a hotdog on a bun and a slice of apple pie on a plate can actually attract customers?
“Sales on a Memorial Day or Labor Day weekend will be 12-15% higher than any other normal weekend,” Tuftin said.
It helps, of course, that in the time it takes to finish a hot dog or hamburger, a good salesman can detail the merits of any vehicle he has in stock with the customer.
“It helps, of course, too, that the factory always has incentives going on holiday weekends,” Scarpelli said of the rebates and discount-financing programs that are common industry-wide.
Dealers say the price of gas could also prove a blessing this weekend.
“It looks like $4 for a gallon of gas was the magic number to convince people that high prices aren’t going away,” said John Hennessy of River Oaks Ford in Calumet City, Ill.
Hennessy said that, in keeping with the holiday, a 29-foot Uncle Sam balloon will be their lure to draw folks onto the lot.
“On Saturday people are going to spend time with the family, but Monday is the day they’ll shop, and when they see something that says ‘fun,’ it attracts their attention, like the 29-foot balloon, and they tend to stop in,” he said. “With $4 gas and the shift out of big SUVs, we expect them to look at high-mileage cars because they’re tired of spending $100 to fill the tank.”


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CAT asks cement firms to pay Rs 630 cr fine
The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) on May 17 directed the 11 cement companies to pay 10 per cent of the penalty of Rs 6,307 crore imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for forming a cartel and colluding to charge higher prices from consumers.
The cement companies have to pay the 10 per cent amounting to Rs 630 crore within a month. The order was read out by the justice VS Sirpukar, Chairman of the tribunal, on an appeal filed by the cement companies against the penalty levied by the CCI on June 20, 2012. The order to levy a penalty had been passed following a probe by Director General (investigation) of the CCI on a complaint filed by the Builders Association of India (BAI) against the cement companies for indulging in unfair trade practice.
CCI found cement makers had violated the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002, which deals with anti-competitive contracts, including cartels. In its 2012 order, the CCI had imposed a fine on Aditya Birla Group's Ultratech Cements (Rs 1,175 crore), Ambuja Cements (Rs 1,164 crore) and ACC (Rs 1,148 crore). Other companies found guilty were Grasim Cements (now merged with Ultratech), Lafarge India, JK Cement, India Cements, Madras Cements, Century and Binani Cements. The fine was fixed at 50 per cent of their profit during 2009-10 and 2010-11.
The industry body Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) was also fined Rs 73 lakh.


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Security firm Trusteer has discovered a new piece of malware on Facebook. It asks the user for credit card information such as card number, expiration date, and address for monthly statement. A separate web form pops up and explains that Facebook wants to provide you with extra security and needs to verify your identity. Many users will believe that they need to input this information to be able to open their Facebook account. This new malware is a variant of the Ice IX malware.
There is also a marketing video that shows how to use the web injection to anyone hoping to steal credit card information from Facebook users. According to Trusteer CEO Amit Klein, it is also a sign of how good criminals are getting at marketing their products. It is also a sign that criminals are branching out from online banking schemes, to target social networks. This gives criminals access to a huge number of possible victims.
Keep in mind that Facebook never asks for your credit card number or your social security number on the site or through e-mail.


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Even in a post-pandemic world, celebrities with millions of fans, as well as those with just a few hundred fans, are turning to platforms where they can control their relationships, data, and the content they create. Patreon, which has amassed a $ 4 billion valuation in just eight years, is a platform to do just that “This is a great time to be a creative person,” said co-founder and CEO Jack Conte in an appearance on CNBC’s “Closing Bell” on Wednesday. “Creators have an incredible advantage DJ Email List now that they haven’t had for many years because these platforms were so focused on driving content production rather than getting paid.”
The company, ranked 48th on this year’s CNBC Disruptor 50 list, allows illustrators, authors, podcasters, musicians and other independent creators to receive crowdfunding directly from their audience. “I think now people are starting to realize ‘oh, these are real businesses and creators should be making money like everyone else,'” Conte said. “We are very focused on providing the business infrastructure that enables creators t While social media influencers like Instagram and YouTube stars can get a lot of money, for the vast majority of creators, a new model was needed to connect directly with a paying audience.
Platforms like Patreon free brainstormers from reliance on the internet’s trillion-dollar gatekeepers like YouTube parent Alphabet and Instagram parent Facebook, which keep most of the revenue generated by the Internet. advertising. “A lot of the distribution platforms are starting to realize this and see that creators have great cpa email list profit potential,” Conte said. “All distribution platforms, be it Spotify, YouTube, Twitter or Facebook, are creating ways for creators to earn subscription income from their fans.”You should read: CIO Interview: Sarah Wilkinson, NHS Digital


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Intel optimistic about the recovery
The world's largest microchip maker said it feels strongly about its business outlook as technology and innovation will lead the economic recovery.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Microchip maker Intel reported quarterly sales, profit and an outlook that easily beat Wall Street's estimates Tuesday, and said it is optimistic that demand for chips will continue to rise as the economy recovers.
The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company's net income was $1.9 billion, or 33 cents per share, in the third quarter. That's 8.3% lower than the $2.3 billion the company recorded during the same period last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters forecasted earnings of 28 cents per share.
The company said earnings fell from last year's levels due to lower chip prices.
Sales fell 8.8% to $9.4 billion, but topped analysts' forecasts of $9 billion.
The company attributed the better-than-expected sales to a recovery in PC sales, with the back-to-school cycle exceeding expectations.
For the current quarter, Intel said it expects revenue of between $9.7 billion and $10.5 billion. That trounced Wall Street's forecasts that ranged from $8.9 billion to $9.8 billion.
"Intel's strong third-quarter results underscore that computing is essential to people's lives, proving the importance of technology innovation in leading an economic recovery," said Paul Otellini, Intel's chief executive, in a statement. "This momentum in the current economic climate, plus our product leadership, gives us confidence about our business prospects going forward."


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2017 was a momentous year for the movement to end cannabis prohibition and the social harms it causes. In addition to significant progress in the United States, the velocity of regulatory change has accelerated around the world, from North and South America to Europe to Australia and New Zealand.
It was also an exciting year for Privateer Holdings. As the pace of change hastens worldwide, we are pioneering the transformation of a $200 billion industry, building a global portfolio of brands – including Leafly, Tilray, Marley Natural, and The Goodship – powered by the industry’s first multinational supply chain and distribution network.
This past year, each of our brands achieved significant milestones:
In 2017, Leafly welcomed new talent, launched new products, and grew to better serve patients, consumers, and businesses worldwide. Leafly launched Leafly.de, a medical cannabis knowledge platform for patients in Germany, and expanded the resources available on Canadian hubs Leafly.ca and Fr.Leafly.ca. In October, Leafly opened a Toronto office and launched its inaugural group of Cannabis Educational Kiosks at clinics across Canada. More than 200 of these interactive stations will be available to educate adults throughout Canada about legal cannabis by the end of 2018.
In the United States, Leafly embarked on the Leafly HighWay Tour, a three-month, five-state, 2000-mile road trip to celebrate cannabis culture and the road to legalization. Leafly gave back by donating the ticket proceeds from four celebratory “4/20” comedy shows to the Minority Cannabis Business Association to support minority entrepreneurship.
The team welcomed new Chief Executive Officer Chris Jeffery and introduced new products like LeaflyBiz and LeaflyTV. An original book, The Leafly Guide to Cannabis, hit stores in December, and was praised by the New York Times Book Review as a "weirdly fascinating volume...[on] a new kind of cultivated landscape that may soon stretch from sea to shining sea." The year ended on a high note, with Leafly taking home “Most Influential News Source” at the Cannabis Business Awards in Denver and “Best Tech Product” at the Dope Industry Awards in Seattle.
For Tilray, 2017 saw unprecedented global growth. In a major milestone, Tilray became the world’s first company to receive federal cultivation licenses from multiple countries. To better serve patients in new markets, Tilray announced a €20 million investment to establish a state-of-the-art European Union Campus in Cantanhede, Portugal. Tilray’s EU Campus is already cultivating cannabis, and in 2018, the facility will begin processing, packaging, and distributing medical cannabis products throughout the European common market.
Tilray products are now available in eight countries on four continents worldwide. In 2017, Tilray completed exports to six new countries: Australia, Chile, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, and New Zealand.
In Canada, to prepare for the adult-use market, Tilray announced an investment in a second Canadian facility located in Enniskillen, Ontario. Together, Tilray's Enniskillen and Nanaimo facilities are expected to generate a combined production capacity of as much as 51 metric tonnes by the end of 2018.
Tilray continued to tread new ground in clinical development and research. In June, Tilray announced a research partnership with McGill University Health Centre to study the effects of vaporized cannabis on symptoms associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). That same month, Tilray announced the formation of the Tilray Medical Advisory Board, an internationally recognized group of researchers and physicians who will meet regularly to evaluate opportunities for medical cannabis research and serve as a strategic resource for Tilray.
In 2017, Marley Natural expanded its product offering and grew its footprint worldwide. In the United States, the brand released a limited-edition anniversary collection, launched the indoor-grown STUDIO collection, introduced Smoked Glass accessories, and expanded cannabis sales to Washington state. Seattle lifestyle and cannabis influencers celebrated the launch at an exclusive gathering featuring music from Bob Marley's granddaughters Zuri and Shacia. Seattle was also the site of Marley Natural's second Rise Up Expungement Day, hosted in conjunction with the Minority Cannabis Business Association. At the event, men and women who had been convicted of a non-violent cannabis offense were able to file official motions to clear their criminal records of those convictions.
On July 4, Marley Natural made its European debut at the iconic French retailer colette during couture fashion week. Marley Natural and colette celebrated the occasion as part of a pop-up developed with System Magazine and fashion design duo Creatures of the Wind. The collaboration was featured in Vogue as a partnership “changing stoner stereotypes” in Paris.
At the end of the year, we were proud and delighted to welcome a new brand to the Privateer Holdings portfolio: The Goodship. Founded in 2014 by Jody Hall, the Seattle-based brand makes “damn fine edibles,” from delectable cookies and brownies to delicious confections and sweets. The Goodship is a local favorite for its best-in-class products, innovative programming, and whimsical, community-driven spirit. Together, The Goodship and Privateer Holdings will develop new products and expand the brand’s availability to consumers in new markets across North America.
In 2018, we will expand our adult-use brands additional markets in the U.S. and bring proven brands and tested products to Canada when the adult-use market launches mid-summer.


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Greedy energy firms have raked in an extra £90million by delaying pitiful price cuts.
The Mirror has discovered that most of the big suppliers have swollen their coffers by waiting until the worst of the winter is over before reducing prices.
British Gas and EDF Energy today became the last of the Big Six to announce miserly cuts – despite a huge slump in wholesale costs.
Yet neither will pass on the fall until next month.
Around 6.8million British Gas customers will have to wait until March 16 to see an average 5.1% knocked off its standard gas tariff, saving a typical customer just £31 a year.
But research for the Mirror estimates Britain’s biggest supplier will make an extra £39million by making the cut then rather than at the start of this month when E.ON was first to drop prices.
Rival SSE is forcing customers to wait even longer – 61 days – between announcing a 5.3% cut at the end of January and its start on March 29. The delay is expected to rake in an extra £21.6million.
Npower is reckoned to have generated £10.7million by cutting prices by 5.2% on March 28 instead of the start of February and Scottish Power could make an extra £7.2million by delaying its 5.4% cut to March 15.
Meanwhile, EDF – putting off its 5% cut for 900,000 customers until March 24 – is set to make an extra £6.3million.
Even E.ON, still reeling from the scandal of its costly Age UK pensioner account, is reckoned to have boosted revenue by £5million by waiting two weeks to make its February cut.
Energy firms' extra cash from price cut delays
Suppliers say they need to delay cuts to ensure staff are informed and to update IT systems.
But an industry source revealed this could be done very quickly, adding: “It is not rocket science.”
British Gas risked further anger by announcing its cut just a week before revealing a big jump in profits, predicted to be up 30% up at £580million.
None of the suppliers has cut electricity prices despite a 25% slump in wholesale costs in the past year.
Will Hodson, of consumer collective the Big Deal, said: “These cuts are pathetic.”
Age UK fatcat boss says he has nothing apologise for and customers haven't lost out over EON deal


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For immediate publication
Digi Launches Malaysia's First LTE-A-Capable Mobile Broadband Device Bundles
Customers can now enjoy Malaysia's widest 4G LTE-Advanced network anytime, anywhere
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 March 2016 - Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (Digi) today announces its new high speed mobile broadband plans that tap on its already widest 4G LTE and 4G LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network for customers to enjoy consistent and reliable high-speed Internet access. These new broadband plans give customers access to high speed internet while on the go through Digi's new LTE-A capable MobiFi device.
The two new plans under its mobile broadband offering, Broadband 145 and 185, offer 50GB and 100GB internet quota respectively and will be available to customers beginning 1 April.
With Digi's all new MobiFi, customers will be able to create their very own WiFi hotspot, and share the internet with up to 10 devices, including non-4G LTE-A enabled devices. MobiFi's longer lasting battery life also provides customers with longer internet surfing time. These devices will initially be available in the Klang Valley and rolled-out to other market centres in stages.
"What we want is to enrich the lives of our customers and enable them to utilise the internet consistently. With these new broadband plans coupled with our widest 4G LTE and 4G LTE-A coverage, we are set to take on the rising need for internet access, enabling our customers to constantly be 'online' while at work or play," said Praveen Rajan, Digi's Head of Postpaid & Digital Services.
Praveen continued, "LTE-A is set to become the next step in the evolution of LTE networks. The technology is expected to assist the massive increase in mobile data demand, enabling Malaysians to tap on much higher data speeds. The digital lifestyle of Malaysians is ever-growing and what better than to complement this lifestyle with a set of broadband plans that caters to various Digi customers."
The new broadband plans follows after the recent Digi Postpaid plan announcement as part of their initiative to provide the internet for all. As part of their aggressive rollout, Digi's future-ready plans include Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) and Voice-over-WiFi (VoWiFi) services that are expected to be available later this year. As of 31 March 2016, Digi's 4G LTE network continues to grow and now covers 72% of populated areas in Malaysia and is available in 150 cities and major towns. Digi's LTE-A coverage currently serves 31% of Malaysians and is focused on key market centres before stretching out to secondary towns.
"With the evolution of technology today, we now see a lot of demand for 4G LTE-A enabled devices. Today's announcement of our new broadband plans represents our testament to providing the best products and services as well as value at the right time for both our loyal and potential customers." said Praveen.
As part of the introduction of these new plans, existing Digi Postpaid subscribers who subscribe to the new Broadband 145 or Broadband 185, will enjoy an additional promotional discount of RM25 per month.


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Prestige Financial Services, a privately held subprime auto lender, is looking to spark growth by offering credit directly to consumers over the Internet.
The Salt Lake City-based firm specializes in lending to car buyers who are going through bankruptcy. It makes loans, mostly for the purchase of used cars, through roughly 2,600 auto dealers nationwide.
Prestige Financial does not have its own retail footprint. President Bryant Henrie said in an interview that the firm plans to use social media and loan referral sites such as Lending Tree to reach borrowers who want to refinance their existing auto loans.
"We'll position ourselves on the Internet in such a way that if they want a car loan, and they have less than less stellar credit, we could be an option for them," Henrie said.
Prestige Financial is looking to expand at a time when other subprime auto lenders, and the industry as a whole, have grown at a much faster clip.
Exeter Finance Corp., which is owned by the asset management giant Blackstone, grew its portfolio from $150 million to $2.8 billion between 2012 and early this year. Publicly traded Santander Consumer USA saw its total originations rise from $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2013 to $7.6 billion in the first quarter of this year.
Earlier in 2015, Prestige Financial securitized auto loans that were worth $360.6 million when they were originated, according to a report by the rating agency DBRS. That number was basically flat compared to the two previous years; Prestige securitized loans worth $342.2 million in 2014 and $363.7 million in 2013.
Henrie said that Prestige Financial isn't interested in growing its business quickly in order to sell and move on. The company is part of a family-owned conglomerate that also includes the Utah Jazz pro basketball franchise and one of the nation's largest networks of auto dealers.
"We're very methodical in the way that we grow our businesses," Henrie said. "We're operators and not sellers," Henrie said.
Prestige Financial has carved out a niche offering auto loans to consumers who have recently declared Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Roughly 49% of the balance on loans the company securitized earlier this year, according to DBRS, went to consumers who were currently in the bankruptcy process.
"What we find is that it's not that they're bad people at all. They're great people," Henrie said. "And a lot of them just have a life event — a medical experience or a job loss or something like that — that just causes them to spiral."
The loans securitized by Prestige Financial in 2015 had an average interest rate of 18.2%, according to DBRS, and an average loan term of 70 months.
Those loan characteristics might suggest the company's borrowers represent a high-risk bet, but Prestige Financial benefits from the fact that many of its customers will have their earlier debts extinguished as part of the bankruptcy process.
The company, whose bonds have gotten a triple-A rating from Standard & Poor's, gets additional protection from rules preventing consumers from filing for bankruptcy twice in rapid succession.
As of the end of 2013, 3.36% of the firm's receivables outstanding were at least 31 days delinquent, according to S&P. That was far below the 8.78% average at subprime auto finance companies.
Henrie doesn't expect the firm's new direct-to-consumer business to rival in size its existing business with auto dealers. The growth of the new offering will also be limited by state licensing issues. Prestige Financial is currently licensed to make direct auto loans in only 23 states.
Still, Henrie anticipates that the direct auto loans will appeal to car owners whose credit has improved since they took out a loan. In time, Henrie also anticipates financing person-to-person automobile purchases, though he said those transactions are more complex than refinancing existing loans.
"We're 21 years in business," he said. "We've developed an initiative where we can take the machine that's already built and use it in another area of financing automobiles."


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Thai fruits exported to China in bulk amid pandemic
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic that inflicts economy worldwide, 66.94% of the Thai durian exports went to China in the first quarter, according to data from the Thai Ministry of Commerce. Orders from China boosted confidence of Thais during days of economic gloom.
"Thanks to strong demand from China, Thail fruit exports are expected to grow by 10 percent this year,” said Paiboon Wongchotesathit, president of Thai Fresh Fruit Traders & Exporters Association.
Lying 200 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, Chanthaburi is a top producer of quality longan in Thailand. Now, the China Golden Fruit company has presence in Chanthaburi, purchasing fresh fruits from local farmers. And the longan packages are usually shipped on the same day.
Joining hands with locals, Golden Fruit has grown to be the largest Longan trader in east Thailand, selling around 100,000 tons of the fruit to China, Singapore and others annually.
The fruit company hired around 4,000 workers in the picking season, most of whom are migrants closely monitored by local authorities in the Covid-19 outbreak. “All wore the face masks, and we tested their temperatures and disinfected the working sites regularly,” said Rao Zhigang, production manager at the fruit business.
Workers have confidence in the company. “During the Covid-19 outbreak, none of us was infected and we got paid as usual,” said a Cambodian at the company. Given the pandemic has caused many to lose their jobs, the Cambodians said they are lucky, adding “the company cares about our health”.
A longan business owner in Chanthaburi said he worried about fruit sales, but things worked out well. Chinese companies signed contracts with him on fair prices.
While a durian famer suggested most of durian orders this year came from China. “Chinese purchasers and companies ordered our fruits in bulk, and we lived on that,” said the Thai farmer.
To import more fruits from Thailand, another two land ports of Pingxiang and Dongxing in Guangxi has been added to the list for international fruit trade.
A friend in need is a friend indeed. “The outbreak of Covid-19 hit the economy hard, but Chinese companies joined hands with the Thai fruit farmers in face of the pandemic,” said Thamanat Prompow, deputy minister of Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives.
Source: People’s Daily; trans-editing by Li Yushuangyue and Wang Shixue


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While consumers continue to perceive TV programming as superior in quality to that of online fare, their viewing habits are becoming harder to differentiate between channels.
That’s according to a new study from Starcom USA, which included 4,800 respondents.
Remarkably, Starcom found no statistical relationship between quality or likability scores and whether consumers believed content was from the Web or TV.
“While consumers may perceive streaming original and TV content differently, good content is good content no matter which source it originates from,” said Katie Koval, vice president of Integrated Insights at Starcom. Although survey respondents were less neutral about ads in original streaming content, ad performance was not strongly impacted by channel, Starcom determined.
In fact, consumers were actually less likely to recall ads that accompanied what they thought was TV content, according to Starcom. This might be because consumers expected -- and thus were quicker to tune out -- advertising in TV content, Starcom suggests.
Koval also noted a bias that could benefit online video publishers: “Consumers do not expect streaming original content to be good, so they really like it when they deem it is.”
As such, original content publishers have an opportunity to capitalize on what continue to be consumers' low expectations, Koval noted. How these consumer perceptions are impacting online ad sales in another question.
In the run-up to this year’s Digital NewFront events, it was predicted by some that advertisers would commit as much as $1 billion in ad buys. Yet, the general consensus at the OMMA Video conference on Tuesday seemed to be that these ad astrologers were overly optimistic.
“They were smoking something,” Mike Bloxham, executive director of the Media Behavior Institute, said.
“I think that’s hilarious,” Alexis Josephs, vice president of East Coast Sales at VEVO, said regarding the idea that advertisers would put up so much digital money so fast. “For us, it’s unfair to think that you’re going to convert immediately after the NewFront.”
As for those who thought the industry was going to book $1 billion from April to August, Josephs said: “I think [they might] be smoking many things.”


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Global vehicle manufacturers continue to extend the suspension of their manufacturing operations to contain the COVID-19 spread.
On Wednesday, Subaru announced the suspension of its Japanese operations in addition to extending the temporary closure of its US facilities. The announcement follows one made by Ford earlier this week about extending the suspension of its North American manufacturing facilities that were initially due to restart on April 6.
Subaru’s sole domestic, completed vehicle plant in Gunma Prefecture, Japan will close on April 11, 2020 with a restart date planned for May 10, the carmaker, whose Japanese production is expected to be reduced by 71,000 vehicles, announced.
Additionally, Subaru previously announced and stopped production of its US assembly plant in Lafayette, Indiana on March 23. The suspension was originally scheduled through April 6 but the company has extended it to April 20, 2020.
Subaru referenced supply chain disruptions and quickly declining global demand, due to COVID-19 impacts, for the new and extended production suspensions.
On March 31 Ford informed of a delay in restarting its North American plants. The company had initially projected it would restart on April 6 at its Hermosillo assembly plant in Sonora, Mexico and by April 14 at many of its other US facilities. However it postponed these startup dates and will provide a revised timeframe later, the company announced in a press release.
Other commercial Japanese automakers suspending production at their facilities include the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus plants located in Kawasaki and Toyama, according to media reports.


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As of August 2018, the number of installed point of sales (POS) nationwide has increased by over 23% compared to the end of 2016, stated Hung, while the inter-bank payment system (IBPS) has been improved and secured. The number and value of transactions in the first eight months of 2018 increased by 28% and 30% year-on-year, respectively.
According to Hung, Vietnam has witnessed a strong growth of transactions via new payment methods, in which e-payment in the January – August period grew by 48% in quantity and 27.7% in value against the same period in 2017. The same is applied to mobile payment, stated Hung.
Notebly, non-cash payment has now been used widely in the public sector, Hung stressed. As of the end of August, the IBPS has been connected with the tax payment system at state treasury of 63 provinces and cities.
Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung said at the ongoing NA sitting on October 31 that his ministry will join hands with the SBV to promote non-cash transactions, online tax declaration and payment to reduce invoicing frauds.
According to a plan on non-cash payment in Vietnam in the 2016 - 2020 period approved by the prime minister, by the end of 2020, the ratio of cash transactions will be reduced to below 10% and at least 300,000 point of sales (POS) are installed nationwide.
As of present, 40% of citizens in Vietnam have bank accounts. However, 90% of daily transactions are conducted in cash, while the rate goes up to 99% for transaction worth under VND100,000 (US$4.34), said Dao Minh Tuan, deputy general director of state-run Vietcombank.


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Ukrainian textile producer Tekstil-Kontakt is to start manufacturing protective medical clothing at its plant in Chernihiv with an investment of US$5m.
The new plant will have a monthly production capacity of 25,000 protective overalls.
For the full story, see the October 2020 edition of Textiles Eastern Europe. Not a subscriber? Sign up HERE


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The most definitive evolution of Huawei’s Mate phablets has come with the Mate 10 Pro — featuring the first 2:1 display in the series. With rumors of its impending spread to the United States, more people have been noticing the brand and anticipating what’s to come. For Europe, where the Chinese brand is already popular though weak in recent months, there’s already a well full of desire.
The company now states that pre-orders for the Huawei Mate 10 Pro in Western Europe beat its own records for “all previous” devices with more than double the numbers of reservations than it had internally forecast for. There were no numbers for this statement, but since Huawei is keen on promoting them, we may see them in due time.
Consider that the phone is €799 across the continent — that’s about $950 — and it seems even more improbable. Then again, the most expensive things are always the shiniest and as Apple has proven time and again, consumers aspire to great heights.


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Out of regulatory considerations, OnlyFans will ban pornography on its platform, avoiding creators who have helped the British company become one of the fastest-growing social platforms in the world.
The company said late Thursday that from October 1st, it will no longer allow content “contains pornographic behavior” in order to “comply with the requirements of our banking partners and payment providers.”
Nudity will still be allowed, and the company said it will release more detailed guidelines to its more than 2 million creators in the coming days.
“In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the platform and continue to have an inclusive community of creators and fans, we must develop our content guidelines,” it said in a statement.
This unexpected move will shock adult performers, many of whom have already Flock to the platform During the pandemic, the blockade hindered the production of more traditional pornography.
The company’s founder and CEO Tim Stokely told the Financial Times in April that he “has no plan to shut down adult creators.”
The platform is a platform for sex workers, celebrities and influencers to collect pictures, videos and customized content from fans. Last year’s transaction volume increased by 615% to 1.7 billion pounds. Before this decision is made, this year’s pre-tax profit is expected For 300 million pounds.
A person close to the company said that Leonid Radvinsky, the director and major shareholder of the company, recently made this decision because the stigma of pornography makes it attractive for new businesses. Partners are becoming more and more difficult.
OnlyFans is not sure that the decision will have a short-term impact on revenue, but the directors estimate that it may drop by 25% in the coming months.
“You can become the world’s largest pornography website, or you can have a social media platform with an amazing business model,” a person close to the company said, explaining that OnlyFans will now try to accept more mainstream Facebook’s Instagram and TikTok, etc. platform.
“To be fair, they lost potential partners because [their] The board will say [porn] The reputation risk is too great,” the person added.
OnlyFans also faces high processing costs from payment providers such as Visa and Mastercard, which charge higher rates for companies in the adult industry.
The company has been preparing in recent months Sale of shares In order to attract new investors, a person familiar with the company said that the matter has been suspended while considering major changes to its business model.


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PAIN AT THE PUMP: GOVERNMENT GAS SECRETS
By Michelle Meredith, Yahoo News
The government has been keeping a secret about automobiles under wraps for the past 30 years.
Reporter Michelle Meredith teamed up with Consumer Reports to explain why your car probably does not get the mileage advertised.
The Consumer Reports’ auto test track in Connecticut looks like it could be a new theme park in Orlando.
And when it comes to testing cars, Consumer Reports leaves no stone unturned, no lug nut loose. And here’s the question Consumer Reports set out to answer — does your car get the gas mileage promised on the showroom sticker.
It’s the mileage you probably used to decide if the car fit your monthly budget.
First, Meredith took a look at how carmakers come up with these numbers because you could be in for a big surprise. The guidelines for the tests were set by the federal government decades ago, in the late 1970s. Gerald Ford was president and disco was king.
And under these guidelines by the
Environmental Protection Agency, carmakers are allowed to test miles per gallon by running the vehicle not on the road, but on what’s essentially a treadmill for cars.
During an EPA spot check, the car ran with no air conditioning, no inclines or hills, no wind resistance and at speeds no greater than 60 mph.
There’s hardly anything real world about it, but it gives carmakers what they want — the highest possible miles per gallon to put on that sticker.
FOR THE REST OF THIS STORY VISIT:


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A new study from the British Association of Dermatologists, published Monday, highlights that 96 per cent of U.K. adults fail to check themselves regularly for skin cancer and that 77 per cent wouldn't be able to recognize signs of the disease.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.K. Rates have been rising steadily since 1960 and currently 250,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed annually. Yet, according to the study of 1018 adults, 72 per cent admitted to getting sunburned in the past 12 months and therefore increase their risk of developing a melanoma.
Johnathon Major of the British Association of Dermatologists said: "This is a reflection of poor sun protection habits -- people underestimate the damage that sunburns can do to their skin, and many think that skin reddening is just a harmless part of the tanning process, rather than a sure sign that you have damaged your skin irreparably."
ALSO ON HUFFPOST


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The British heatwave is showing no signs of stopping.
As the nation is enjoying basking in the in the sunshine, some aren’t too fussed about getting a holiday sorted.
But there is a very good reason why you should consider booking now – here’s everything you need to know.
As the UK is enjoying a bout of sunny weather, demand for holiday bookings are low.
For this reason, many travel companies have been slashing the cost of holidays.
From mini breaks to all inclusive trips, there are plenty of affordable deals on the market at the moment.
So where can you find the best deals?
TUI has reduced the price on 2,200 holidays with discounts of up to 70%.
Breaks to Turkey, Greece, Spain and Portugal are among those on offer.
Alternatively, the holiday company has plenty of coupons on its website.
Deals include £100 off long haul flights and £75 off last minute bookings.
Other package holiday giants are also promoting mega discounts.
Jet2 is providing £100 off all holidays on its website, while Thomas Cook is offering 10% off some last minute breaks.
Like with any travel sale, it’s advisable to get booking as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you miss out on these deals, there's no need to panic.
Here are six money saving tips to help you bag a bargain on holiday.


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SAP CEO: “We’re swinging. We’re a startup again.”
SAP was founded way back in 1972, but recently they’ve shown that they’re still agile and aggressive. Only this week, it made a move into the events and concerts vertical with the acquisition of Ticket-Web.
But it’s also innovating in house. In less than two years, it launched SAP HANA as a freestanding product, ramped sales up to more than € 300 million per year, and recently announced that it would use Hana as the platform powering their all important products in the Business Suite.
It launched an Innovation Center in 2011, and it’s reaching out to the startup community to convince it to start developing applications on top of SAP HANA. This week, it announced that it’s moving into a vertical: the event and sports ticketing service.
SAP clearly shifted gears in the last years. In a recent interview, CEO Jim Hagemann Snabe summarized it like this: “The three last years have been a giant leap for the company. We are swinging. We’re a startup again.”
Hagemann Snabe also laid out how he wants SAP to reach beyond megacorps that it currently counts as its customers. It wants to open up SAP as a platform for third party developers and startups, who can use the technology to develop applications that are too low volume for SAP to pursue, but which might still be extremely juicy as long as you’re not a firm with € 16 billion in annual revenue.
It’s not an App Store but a SAP Store, and Snabe admits freely that it’s an idea that he took from Apple.
In 2012, it generated 500 000 downloads for over 2000 products, but that’s only a start, thinks Snabe. He estimates that it should be perfectly possible to find a million third party developers for this kind of thing (Snabe likes to think in millions, he also thinks SAP is going to find another million customers in China – more than 5 times the number of customers it has now!).
SAP is already working with 150 startups who can use SAP HANA to develop calculation heavy applications.
Snabe further said that after a few huge acquisitions in cloud and mobile, mostly for the know how, the company wants to concentrate on in house innovation again, and on customer intimacy. Unlike Oracle, which does about ten acquisitions a year, Snabe thinks a company shouldn’t derive more than a third of its revenue from acquisitions. “That would be proof that you’re not innovating. Your core competency becomes finance, not software.”[Wirtschaftsblatt] [Photo: Flickr]
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2017. New year, new chance for automobile powerhouses to release their new models. Indeed, the car industry is evolving at an annual phase and the innovations are exponential. If you are looking for a new vehicle to invest on this year, you might want to check these upcoming models.
1. FORD GT
Image source: wikimedia.org
Ford, one of the biggest car makers in the industry, is set to release their newest and most advanced model to date – the Fort GT. It was first introduced on the second quarter of 2016 with staggering amounts of presales. This is probably because the Ford GT has the record breaking highest power-to-weight ratio of any vehicle in the world.
It has a whopping 630hp carrying out its weight of 2,890 pounds. It has a very sleek sports car design that any car enthusiast will love. Also, one of the catches why a lot of people were interested to buying this is because of its limited stock count.
Ford is set to create only 1,000 units of GT within the next four years.
(SEE ALSO: Complete List of All Ford Models)
2. CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Image source: chevrolet.com
Sports cars often vary with the design and specs. Old school 1950s sports cars were indeed a hit back then and also now. Chevrolet overhauled that design and popped in a very powerful engine inside it creating the Chevrolet Corvette. This model is indeed a hit through the years with its relatively low price compared to other sports cars.
Related Other Interesting Topic The Advantages of Driving a 4 Wheel Drive Vehicles
This monster could get speeds of up to 280 kph and can go from 0 to 60kph in 3 seconds. It’s already coming to other countries like the Philippines this year with the latest 2017 model. A lot of car enthusiasts are on the lookout for this bang for their buck.
(SEE ALSO: Complete List of All Chevrolet Models)
3. ALFA ROMEO GIULIA
Image source: edmunds.com
Alfa Romeo is one of the biggest automobile brands in Italy. With their popular lineup of BMW-inspired cars, they are indeed anticipated by car enthusiasts every year. They will be releasing the Alfa Romeo Giulia, a very sleek and sexy sedan running with three series as of the moment. The latest model has a 505hp 2.9-liter V-6 engine.
They have started exporting their cars to global markets back in 2005 and is now including the Giulia on their lineup.
(SEE ALSO: Complete List of All Alfa Romeo Models)
4. TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME
Image source: wikimedia.org
Toyota is considered as the biggest car manufacturing company in the world when it comes to unit releases. This year, they are once again stepping up their game with a new and improved model, the Prius Prime. The upgrade for this includes a higher battery capacity to store larger electricity in running its engine.
With a full charge, the Prius Prime can get you to up to 22 miles in an average speed of 84 mph. This is indeed a huge leap from its predecessor. Releasing the Prius Prime also opens the door for more electric-hybrid Toyota models in the coming years.
(SEE ALSO: Complete List of All Toyota Models)
5. KIA CADENZA
Image source: kia.com
Coming to its second generation, the Kia Cadenza is expected to rock the automobile industry with its more sporty look, LED lighting around the chassis, and a full nine yards of driving peripherals. The new model is expected to have a 3.3-liter V6 engine with a maximum horsepower of 290 and give off a whopping acceleration from an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Kia Cadenza is just one of the anticipated releases of Kia. The brand is known to develop newer models each year and new units every three years.
(SEE ALSO: Complete List of All Kia Models)
There we go! Those are just five of the most anticipated cars this year. The automobile industry is indeed growing exponentially each year and everyone is expecting better and more essential models in the coming years.
(SEE ALSO: Our very old 2014 list)


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Power is sent to the rear wheels from a mid-mounted electric motor – a first for Hyundai. Power output is unconfirmed but can be expected to match that of the 670bhp e-Racer unveiled by Cupra last year to compete in the same series.
Hyundai said design work began in November last year, with initial testing getting under way in August 2019. The model will soon begin a full-scale testing programme ahead of its competition debut, expected to be confirmed in the coming months.
Head of product division, executive vice president of Hyundai Motor Group Thomas Schemera said: “Today, we have experienced another special milestone in the history of Hyundai Motorsport.
“We are proud to reveal the Hyundai Veloster N ETCR, our first electric race car, designed specifically for ETCR regulations. We have been anticipating this moment for some time and we are thrilled to open this exciting new chapter for our company.”
He added that the Veloster N ETCR will make “an ideal addition” to the company’s current motorsport portfolio, which current includes the i20 R5 as well as the i30 N TCR and Veloster N TCR.


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Never lie about your age or what you do for a living.SOURCE: Consumer Reports "It's clear that online dating websites play a major role in the lives of many consumers — we invest a tremendous amount of time, money and emotional energy.The top performers in our review are Match, the Gold Award winner; Spark, the Silver Award winner; and Ok Cupid, the Bronze Award winner.Here's more on choosing a dating site to meet your needs, along with detail on how we arrived at our ranking of 10 dating services.It seems like every day there's a new form of online dating.No matter what type of relationship you're looking for — from the forever kind to the friends-with-benefits kind — there's an app for that!Our Bronze Award winner, Ok Cupid, allows for a combination of suggested matches and matches that you essentially make yourself by using an array of search filters.
New research from the Pew Research Center shows that in the past two years, the percentage of US adults who had used a dating app tripled.
It really is a consumer issue worthy of our attention." said Margot Gilman, money editor for Consumer Reports.
Overall, respondents preferred free sites like Ok Cupid, Tinder and Grindr over paid sites like Match and e Harmony, in part because of the value.
But that doesn't mean all dating apps are created equal.
App analytics company Applause recently completed a study of 97 dating apps to see which ones were meeting user expectations.


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Chad Moutray is chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), where he serves as the NAM’s economic forecaster and spokesperson on economic issues. He frequently comments on current economic conditions for manufacturers through professional presentations and media interviews. He has appeared on Bloomberg, CNBC, C-SPAN, Fox Business and Fox News, among other news outlets. Prior to joining NAM, Chad was the chief economist and director of economic research for the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and dean of the School of Business Administration at Robert Morris College in Chicago, Ill. (now Robert Morris University of Illinois).
Recent Posts by Chad Moutray
Congress delayed implementation of the Cadillac tax until 2020. There are two key practical issues with the tax that warrant continued caution: the indexing problem and the adaptation question.


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Thousands of rental kiosks will soon have $2 games.
Redbox doesn’t have a serious presence Canada, but the cheap video rental service probably contributed to the bankruptcy of Blockbuster in the U.S. with DVD vending machines in places like supermarkets and fast food chains. At $1 per day for a DVD rental (or $1.50 for a Blu-Ray), it’s tough to beat the price, and now the company is expanding their service to include video games.
Starting in June, 21,000 Redbox locations will start carrying Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3 games for $2 a day. Redbox has been carrying video games at around 5,000 locations since 2009, and President Mitch Lowe says that they’ve sold successfully.
“Redbox has rented more than 1 million video games in less than two years at these locations, underscoring the popularity of video game play in America,” said Lowe.
The problem, as I see it, is that while daily fees work well for movies, they may not be as convenient for video games. I tend to watch a movie the same night I rent it and $1 is a good price to pay when you can return it the next day. Video games, however, take a bit more time, depending on the game and how much else I have to do. At $2 a day, it might just be easier to buy it.


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The Daily Bird and Dubbel Dutch Tavern collaborate to co-inhabit downtown hotel space
You can now get an iced latte in the morning and a cocktail in the evening at the Dubbel Dutch Hotel, 817 N Marshall St.
The Daily Bird coffee shop and Dubbel Dutch Tavern started to share space at the historic Dubbel Dutch Hotel this month. Inside the hotel, the Daily Bird operates from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day, and then the Dubbel Dutch Tavern operates from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Both are open to the public in addition to hotel patrons.
“It’s been a spectacular collaboration. What is distinguishing in our partnership is that we are all good humans, trying to treat each other well and do the best we can (during) times that are incredibly hard,” Dubbel Dutch Co-Owner Juli Kaufmann said.
The Dubbel Dutch Hotel location is the Daily Bird’s second location. In April, the local coffee shop opened as a pop-up shop at Centro Cafe in Riverwest, at 808 E. Center St. The second shop features indoor seating, in addition to outdoor patio seating.
The local coffee shop uses beans from Anodyne Coffee Roasters and sweets from Honey Bear Baked Goods, both Milwaukee-based companies. Customers can expect to have numerous coffee blend options, along with classic espresso-based drinks, chai teas, and matchas.
The Daily Bird, co-owned by Dan Zwart and brothers Dylan and Cole Compton, aims to replace its Riverwest pop-up location with a new space inside 802 E. Center later this year, according to a news release from the owners.
The Dubbel Dutch Tavern reopened to the public on July 23 after temporarily closing in early June due to staff shortages. The tavern’s reopening celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Dubbel Dutch Hotel, which opened in July 2020.
Prior to the pandemic and before the hotel opened, a restaurant was planned at the hotel. However, those plans fell through because of the pandemic, and there are currently no plans to open a restaurant in the hotel.
The boutique Dubbel Dutch Hotel is a federally designated historic building with 17 unique guest rooms and a catering kitchen available for small events. The public has the option to buy out the entire hotel space for events such as weddings, staycations and family reunions.


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Norway's Tomra Systems has agreed to buy local fruit sorting company Compac Holdings for $70 million, subject to regulatory approval.
The deal would see Tomra take 100 per cent of the Compac company's shares, adding the Auckland-based packhouse automation systems maker to its global operations, it said this afternoon.
The deal is subject to Overseas Investment Office approval and is expected to close in the first quarter of next year.
"Market forces have driven double-digit growth at Compac over recent years, and we have rapidly become a global business from humble New Zealand roots," Compac chief executive Mike Riley said.
"Joining forces with Tomra will enable us to continue to meet the increasing demands for our products and services in a more scalable and operationally efficient manner."
Compac's biggest shareholder is founder Hamish Kennedy whose interests own about three-quarters of the company.
The New Zealand company's leadership will stay in place in the new structure, operating as a standalone entity.
In a nod to Compac's Callaghan Innovation growth grants, Tomra said it will continue to invest in the New Zealand company's research and development activities as the Norwegian group's "centre of excellence for lane sorting" worldwide.


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With the rising number of cases related to coronavirus, the government’s revenue is being drained away in healthcare and the states with higher patient count and returning migrant workers, are expected to face a sharp increase in their expenditure in the current fiscal. It is estimated that the gross State Development Loans (SDL) issuance to the states may expand by 19-23 per cent to nearly Rs 7.6-7.8 lakh crore in FY21, from Rs 6.3 lakh crore in the last fiscal, according to a report by ICRA. On the other side, cautious spending on non-essential goods and services is expected to keep the states deprived of the revenue, including SGST.
In addition to SGST, the lockdown is also expected to adversely impact the other components of states’ own taxes, including sales tax / VAT on petroleum products, excise duty collections, and motor vehicle tax. “State governments, which have derived a substantial proportion of their revenue receipts from GST compensation in the recent years, could face a larger revenue and liquidity risk, as the GST cess collections would be adversely impacted in FY2021,” said Jayanta Roy, Group Head – Corporate Sector Rating, ICRA.
Due to lower sales of many discretionary items, such as automobiles, on which the cess is levied and collected by the government, it is expected that the cess collections will remain muted in FY21. This is likely to make it harder for the centre to timely release the GST compensation to the state governments. Meanwhile, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Telangana, and Kerala have the highest number of Covid-19 patients.


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Twelve extra cruise calls for St George’s
Twelve extra cruise ships are to call on St George from 2017 to 2022 as part of a deal announced yesterday with Norwegian Cruise Line.
The agreement with the Bermuda Government includes bringing two catamaran ferries to the island for a run from Dockyard to the East End, along with a yearly investment of $150,000 by NCL to sponsor tourism enhancement in co-operation with the Bermuda Tourism Authority.
The deal was welcome news for the Olde Towne, which for years has been penalised by the trend for ever-larger cruise ships.
Announcing the deal, Michael Dunkley described NCL as “one of our most respected and longest-serving partners”, and noted that cruise passengers spent about $45 million in Bermuda last year.
“Both the Government and NCL believe that if we are to continue to prosper, then maintaining a strong, lasting and mutually beneficial partnership is a must,” the Premier said.
At a press conference at the Cabinet Building, Mr Dunkley was joined by Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Colin Murphy, senior vice-president of destination and strategic development.
“We recognise that the global cruise industry is an ever evolving one and for many visitor markets, like Bermuda, it is a key economic contributor,” Mr Dunkley said.
“We understand that in the face of increasing competition from other visitor markets, as a destination we too must adapt to the current industry trends, or risk getting left behind.”
The boosted service to the Olde Towne “will aid greatly in the revitalisation of St George’s”, he added.
The commissioning of two new ferries, both their construction and delivery to the island, is taking place in consultation with the Department of Marine and Ports Services. The Premier said other agreements were potentially in the works.
According to Bill Hanbury, the CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, there are 23 calls on Hamilton set for next year.
Mr Dunkley said that in discussion with NCL “we will continue to look at opportunities to bring more into Hamilton”.
Hailing the collective effort between the Government and the BTA, Mr Hanbury said it was “very important that we continue to focus on the cruise line industry, which provides a tremendous boost to the overall economy”.
St George has long been hampered as a port by the cruise industry’s trend towards increasingly bigger vessels, but Mr Del Rio said NCL would be directing Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Brand luxury vessels to the East End, with roughly 700 passenger capacities.
This will include a new Seven Seas Explorer, which he described as the “most luxurious cruise ship ever built”, and which could call on Bermuda by the winter of 2017/18.
Calling the deal a favourable one for NCL as well as Bermuda’s economy, Mr Del Rio added: “They will spend two to three days on the island — and they have got deep pockets.”


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Tyson officials noted further that some of the company's other pork slaughter facilities will operate at reduced levels this week. According to Reuters Smithfield officials declined comment on its daily plant operations.
During the summer months, hog supplies tighten as part of a long-standing seasonal pattern. Adding to the challenges this year is continued slow demand. Producer and packer margins alike are feeling the pinch.


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Nestlé Ireland has become the first advertiser in Ireland to use 100% recycled paper for an outdoor advertising campaign as part of a joint commitment with PML Group to improve sustainability.
The 6 sheets campaign for the Kit Kat Zebra bar, planned by PML Group's Source OOH and Mindshare, uses green printing techniques recycled paper, which had the ink removed and was pulped prior to the paper-making stage.
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'This campaign is an important step forward in OOH’s ability to deliver greener solutions for our advertisers and to reduce the industry’s environmental impact,' Source OOH director Louise Enright said.
The campaign is also displaying on Digishelters located in busy footfall areas across Dublin. Horizon Prints facilitated the eco-friendly printing process, which offers advertisers recycled printing techniques for the first time.
UM Ireland has announced a series of promotions, including the appointment of Maura Ashe as managing partner, taking a lead role in developing the IPG Mediabrand's agency and shaping the future for staff and clients.
Kate Murtagh has been promoted to the position of business director - head of client services while Aoife Conway and Mike Dolan have been promoted to the positions of digital account manager and international account manager.
UM Ireland managing director Alan Daly said: 'Maura, Kate, Aoife and Mike reflect the UM ethos of always being on the go, always moving forward, adapting and exploring new creative and commercial opportunities for clients.'
Jen Walsh has been appointed to Zenith's board as part of the Core agency's commitment to developing its digital capabilities and to analysing and predicting client's digital needs.
Walsh, who has been with the company for five years and serves as the company's head of digital, previously held digital leadership roles in IPG and has worked as a digital design consultant with SMEs and charities.
'With the changing landscape across tech and commerce, as well as the business implications from the pandemic, we are committed to providing our clients with this strategic value and insight to face future opportunities and challenges.,' Walsh said.
'I am very much looking forward to being part of the driving force in Zenith and to continue to make a positive impact on our clients business.'
Cannes Lions has announced its jury line-ups for this year's awards, taking place online from June 21-25, with three Irish industry leaders from Institute of Advertising Practitioners Ireland (IAPI) agencies included.
Rothco chief strategy officer Emma Sharkey will be on the radio and audio Lions awarding jury, while Boys + Girls founder Rory Hamilton joins the film craft jury, and Publicis Dublin board creative director Carol Lambert will take her place on the industry craft jury.
Sharkey said: 'It has been a challenging year for the world, but we’ve seen more than ever the power of creativity in action and the important role of communications. I’m looking forward to hearing the world’s best work.'
Domino's has added the Meatball Maloe with Ballymaloe Pepper Relish to its menu.
The pizza is made with pork meatballs, thinly sliced red onions, Domino's herbs and Ballymaloe Pepper Relish on a bed of hand-stretched dough in addition to vine-ripened tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.
We often like to think outside the pizza box when it comes to new products and our innovation chefs had a ball whipping up a taste sensation for our Irish fans, so forget firing up the barbecue this summer,' Domino's Josh Engelman said.
If you have any tips you’d like to share with Marketing Matters, send them to firstname.lastname@example.org.


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High wheat prices could force Russian gov to raise export tax: traders
Russian grain traders are expecting the government to raise export duties further in an attempt to slow the flow of wheat...
Russian grain traders are expecting the government to raise export duties further in an attempt to slow the flow of wheat from the country, with rising prices on the international market having so far negated the impact of existing measures and failed to reduce domestic food costs.
Offers for Russian 12.5% milling wheat had risen to as much as $278-$280/mt FOB NTT for January-first half of February loading on Monday, almost $25/mt higher than a month ago when the tax was first announced.
With the cost of that tax now included in the export value, and with Russian wheat still among the cheapest origins on the planet, several grain traders told Agricensus Monday that the government is struggling to meet its aim of lowering domestic wheat prices.
As a result, traders are now discussing whether the government may seek further increases to the export duty.
“The export duty was introduced in order to stabilize domestic grain prices... The planned €25/mt tax is already almost completely absorbed by the export market, so the government has no choice but to consider raising the duty to a level that can have a significant impact on the domestic market,” Eduard Zernin, Chairman of industry lobby group Rusgrain Union told Agricensus.
Trade sources speculated the tax could double to as much as €50/mt.
Agricensus contacted the agriculture ministry for comment but had received none at the time of press.
Russia announced last month a €25/mt export tax and a 17.5 million mt quota to run from February 15-June 30 in an attempt to limit inflation in domestic prices.
Exporters cut their bids in the inland market in an attempt to have farmers shoulder the burden of the duty, although farmers were reluctant to sell at discounted prices.
Traders have since started to lift bids again to cover short positions, with some companies bidding on Monday at levels similar to those seen prior to the export tax and quota were announced.


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The TIME Wii tell-all has confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will feature Wiimote-specific functionality. TIME, trippin' off a self-confessed Errol Flynn flashback -- now that's old school! -- got a chance to use the Wii controller to sword fight, aim a bow and arrow, and reel in a "stubborn virtual fish."
While the details of the play-test were limited, the revelation suggests that Twilight Princess will play a major role in the Wii launch lineup. Twilight Princess is no longer a Wii-functional GameCube title. Uh-uh, Zelda just upgraded to next-gen status.