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The equity market's fall has been the forex market's gain, and Gain Capital, a market maker and provider of currency and metal trading services to retail investors, has seen 50 to 60 percent trade volume growth rates over the past few years. This has led the firm, which has customers in 140 countries and supports trade volume of more than $200 billion a month, to make major investments in its IT infrastructure, overhauling networks, hardware and software.
"When the equities market is moving sideways or down, going long on stocks is not a good strategy; in the currency market you're always buying one currency versus another, going long one and short the other," says Gain CIO Andrew Haines. "So with this price action, there's always an opportunity to make a profit," he adds in explaining stock market investors' flight to the new asset class.
Haines points out that retail foreign exchange is a speculative market and that Gain Capital's accounts are offered at 100-to-1 leverage (Gain Capital provides the margin). "It's a more exciting asset class than mutual funds," he says drily. "We don't market this as something you should put all of your IRA money into."
For this reason, Haines says, he tries to educate retail investors who are often more accustomed to equities and fixed income funds. "While stocks are more about individual companies, in currencies it's more about macroeconomics and the differences between interest rates, employment rates and GDP [gross domestic product] at the country level, which impacts the currency of that country," he notes. According to Haines, his staff wrote a book called "Currency Trading for Dummies" and provides marketing and research webinars.
On the trading platform itself, which is available in a browser-based form or a downloadable application, a Forex Insider function provides running commentary from the trading desk on what's happening in currency markets. Daily and weekly summaries and forecasts are issued. But, "We don't present recommendations, but insights and observations as to what's going on in the macroeconomic currency marketplace," Haines comments.
In addition to its retail business, Gain Capital also white labels its platform for partners that want to add currency and foreign exchange to their current offerings.
Time for an Infrastructure Redesign
While these are heady times, 10 years ago Gain Capital's technology was built "economically," Haines says. "We didn't make large investments in infrastructure and have hundreds of people build the platform out. We had a small team and were fairly scrappy about how we purchased and deployed infrastructure."
The recent growth rates in accounts and trade volume called for a change. "When I looked at the five-year planned growth rates, it was apparent to me that we needed to make an investment in infrastructure and in our platforms to ensure that we could not only support the growth but also improve our execution times and availability," Haines relates, adding that the new architecture also was created in part to eliminate some single points of failure in the trading platform.


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Game of Thrones Star Maisie Williams Wants to Know if She Should Buy Bitcoin
Game of Thrones and The New Mutants actress Maisie Williams has started a poll on Twitter seeking opinions on whether she should invest in bitcoin. Among those who replied was Spacex and Tesla CEO Elon Musk who wrote: “Toss a bitcoin to your Witcher.”
Should Maisie Williams Go Long on Bitcoin?
As the price of bitcoin continues to surge, the cryptocurrency has attracted the attention of not only institutional investors but also celebrities. One of the latest is Maisie Williams, a 23-year-old English actress with 29 acting credits, according to her IMDB profile page. She is famed for her role as Arya Stark in the popular TV series Game of Thrones and as Rahne Sinclair, aka Wolfsbane, in X-Men reboot The New Mutants. According to the website celebritynetworth.com, Maisie Williams’ net worth is $6 million and her salary is about $150,000 per episode.
Williams tweeted on Monday: “should I go long on bitcoin?” At the time of writing, there were almost 900,000 votes, and her tweet had received more than 3.3K comments, 3.1K retweets, and 13.9K likes. With about an hour left to go, 46.4% of the votes say “yes” to her longing bitcoin.
Comments on her bitcoin question vary; some advise her to become a bitcoin hodler while others warn her to stay away from the cryptocurrency. “Yes, bitcoin will go to the moon,” one commenter wrote. Another replied to Williams: “Yes — dollar cost average into it and make it an important, balanced hedge in your portfolio.” There were also bitcoin skeptics, telling Williams not to buy BTC at the current price “because soon will fall 25-30%” While some commenters recommended popular educational resources for Williams to learn how to start investing in bitcoin the right way, a few saw the Game of Thrones star’s tweet as an opportunity to pump the cryptocurrencies they support.
Toss a Bitcoin to Your Witcher
Spacex and Tesla CEO Elon Musk also replied to Maisie Williams’ tweet. He wrote, “Toss a bitcoin to ur Witcher,” wrapped between musical note symbols. Musk likely referred to “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher,” a song from the Netflix TV series The Witcher, starring Superman actor Henry Cavill and Freya Allan, but not starring Williams.
While a few commenters reminded Musk that The Witcher was the “wrong series,” suggesting that Musk could have gotten it and Game of Thrones confused, Williams replied to Musk: “how’s blue origin going?” Blue Origin, founded by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, is an aerospace manufacturer seen as a competitor to Musk’s Spacex.
Microstrategy CEO Michael Saylor also tweeted in response to Maisie Williams’ bitcoin call. The Nasdaq-listed billion-dollar company recently bought $500 million worth of bitcoin and made it the company’s primary Treasury reserve asset. Saylor wrote: “Three things I see: Maisie Williams is wiser than most professional investors, 45.6% of her fans know the answer, & only .1% of the money has figured this out and moved onto the bitcoin monetary network. Bitcoin is a risk worth taking.”
Update (Nov. 17, 2020, 20:44 EDT): Soon after publication, Maisie Williams tweeted: “thank you for the advice. I bought some anyway.”
What do you think about Maisie Williams buying bitcoin? Let us know in the comments section below.
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, Twitter
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

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PSVR 2 eye tracking could be sheer horror in horror games
The PSVR 2's eye tracking brings more emotion and body language to virtual reality - one example of this is the blink tracking.
A playful blink, a conspiratorial wink: such emotions could play an important role in VR games in the future. In a presentation at the Game Developer Conference 2022 (GDC), engine developer Unity revealed a number of technical details about Sony's upcoming VR headset Playstation VR 2.
The PSVR 2 will support eye-tracking, that is common knowledge. One of the lesser-known capabilities of this technology is that it also tracks the eyelid. There are many applications here: for example, during a romance in an adventure game, it could record whether players wink at their counterpart.
According to Dave Rudell, Manager of XR Input & Interactions at Unity, the associated program code is not yet complete. However, creative experiments in virtual reality are already possible with the current version.
Blink tracking with the Playstation VR 2
In addition to eye direction and eyeball rotation, the Playstation VR 2's eye-tracking also captures "blink state," Rudell explains. Blinking could make interpersonal interactions in virtual reality more natural and provide feedback on mood. In addition to the frequency of eyelid closure, pupil diameter is also monitored. Both are indicators of the player's tension.
VR horror games could take advantage of this feature, for example. If the software detects an increase in nervousness, it could have a particularly ghastly monster leap out of the darkness at the moment of the greatest tension.
Or the monster waits with the attack until the victim opens his eyes again. There are hardly any limits to the wealth of ideas here, as long as the developers don't hold back themselves - for health reasons, for example.
Rudell enthuses that eye-tracking could set new standards for the entire VR industry with PSVR 2: Developers would no longer have to wrap their heads around whether it's even worth investing time and energy in gameplay features for optional eye-tracking, since the feature is built-in by default.
Players, in turn, can look forward to new gameplay features that enhance their sense of presence and power in the virtual world.
Eye-tracking makes for lasting impressions in VR games
Rudell urged PSVR 2 developers to take advantage of eye-tracking. The greatest potential is for users to take away lasting memories through a stronger physical presence, according to Unity's VR interface expert.
Other opportunities for eye-tracking technology include operating novel in-game tools controlled by gaze direction. Tricky puzzles can be better analyzed by evaluating the objects viewed by test players, Rudell said. Sony was already on the lookout for new eye-tracking ideas that could benefit PSVR 2 as part of Global Game Jam 2022.
Eye-tracking can also have positive effects on performance: The so-called Dynamic Foveated Rendering renders only the image section in focus with all graphic details for each eye. This reduces the required graphics performance and frees up resources for the image in the focus area. Developers can thus render more beautiful graphics or significantly increase the frames per second.
However, the cooperation with the eye-tracking company Tobii only since February gave cause for concern that Sony might not have been satisfied with the results so far. This could be a reason for a possible delay in the market launch of the VR headset. The release date of the Playstation VR 2 is still open.


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Half of British households recycle less than 50% of their waste
22nd September 2017 | Recycling
Nearly one in two households in Britain recycle less than 50 per cent of the waste they produce, according to new figures. And many blame supermarkets for using too much packaging on products.
The research also found that one in three people believe the amount of waste their household produces has increased over the past three years. Of those people who have seen a rise in the level of waste they produce, four in ten said it was because their households had become bigger with more under one roof.
But a third blamed retailers for making special offers tempt them into buying too much. A poll of more than 1,000 adults by Renewable Energy Waste Solutions (REWS) reveals that 32 per cent of people believe the amount of waste their households have produced over the past three years has generally increased, compared to one in four who think it has declined. This makes it harder to recycle waste.
One in 12 households says that the amount of waste they produce has increased dramatically since 2014. Experts at REWS said as people produce more waste, landfill sites will struggle to cope and fly-tipping will become more widespread. And fewer people recycle.
Of those households who have seen a rise in the level of waste they produce, 39 per cent said it was because their households had become bigger through, for example, growing families.
However, 33 per cent said it was due to retailers making special offers to encourage people to buy more. Some 23 per cent said it was because their disposable income had increased so they are buying more and 14 per cent said it was due to falling prices.
When it comes to recycling, seven per cent say their households recycle less than 10 per cent of the waste they produce. Some 45 per cent say they recycle less than half of their waste and just one in five think they recycle more than 75 per cent.
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Lawyers for the Tribune, publication of which is suspended while a receiver tries to find a buyer for the title, are also seeking compensation from the Mail for damages to the Tribune brand and the paper’s goodwill.
They are also seeking assurances that the Mail will not repeat the stunt and are threatening to apply for a High Court injunction against the Mail if it declines to give such an undertaking by this afternoon.
Solicitor Kieran Kelly of the Fanning Kelly law firm was instructed to take the action under trademark infringement and breach of copyright legislation by receiver Jim Luby. Mr Luby was given four weeks to find a buyer for the Tribune after its main funder withdrew backing a week ago.
Tribune editor Noirín Hegarty said the paper would also be seeking an apology from the Mail and an acknowledgement that its actions breached professional standards.
“They have to be given a chance to remedy the situation but if they aren’t forthcoming, we will bring the matter to the Press Ombudsman. We also believe there’s also a question for the National Newspapers of Ireland to consider the Mail’s membership of the organisation.”
The National Consumer Agency is also investigating the stunt which saw the Mail print 25,000 extra copies of its paper wrapped in a cover designed to look like the Sunday Tribune. In a statement it said: “The National Consumer Agency is now considering a prosecution for a breach of the Consumer Protection Act.”
The Consumer Protection Act provides for prosecutions for use of “unfair or misleading commercial practices”. Maximum penalties on conviction are a fine of €3,000 and/or a six- month prison sentence.
Irish Mail on Sunday editor Sebastian Hamilton would not discuss the threats of legal proceedings yesterday but stood by his previous statement in which he described the paper’s actions as a “marketing exercise”.
Ms Hegarty said she was concerned the Mail’s tactics would endanger attempts to save the Tribune and the 43 jobs at the title but she was heartened by the response of readers. “The support has been fabulous. We’ve had a huge number of emails over the weekend and offers from readers to go to court with us if we need their backing.”


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Skillz Surpasses 1M Downloads and Adds New Developer Partners, Enabling Betting in More U.S. Mobile Games
Several Studios and Independent Developers Sign with Skillz to Offer Cash Competitions
Skillz, the the first company to legally enable betting in mobile games in the U.S., has surpassed 1 million downloads since launching less than one month ago. The company has also announced partnerships with five additional independent developers and studios that will implement the Skillz monetization platform in their games. Skillz will enable cash competitions inside Android titles from Fluik, G-Gee by GMO, Adam Schmelzle, Flying Wisdom Studios and Measured Software.
“Skillz has created a completely new monetization method for mobile developers,” said Victor Rubba, CEO and Founder of Fluik Entertainment Inc. “Not only will we collect revenue directly from tournament entry fees, but we believe Skillz will drive downloads and increase retention rates for Snow Racer.”
“Online gambling and mobile betting are big businesses, but until now, most Americans have been left out of the game. With Skillz, developers can offer cash competitions in skill-based games across the majority of U.S. states,” said Andrew Paradise, CEO and Founder of Skillz. “There is a huge audience in the U.S. who want to play games for real money and we’re working with studios like Fluik to make that possible right now.”
As new developer partners implement the Skillz SDK, and existing partners roll cash competitions out across their portfolio, players can enjoy tournaments in many additional popular racing, endless runner, puzzle and arcade games.
Players interested in competing can find a full list of Skillz-powered games at: www.skillz.com
Developers interested in Skillz tournaments can visit: www.skillz.com/developers
Skillz is the world’s first and only cash and virtual currency tournament platform for skill-based mobile games. Skillz believes in making mobile games more fun for players while making game creation more lucrative for developers. Founded in March 2012, the company has offices in San Francisco and Boston. Skillz announced $1.3M in seed capital from Atlas Venture, Nextview Ventures and angel investors in November 2012. To learn more, visit www.skillz.com/corporate.


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MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International Dairy Queen Corporation (IDQ), a leader in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry, today announced it is on track to meet its cage-free egg commitment in the U.S. and Canada for shell eggs, liquid eggs and DQ® proprietary products by 2025.
“In 2016, we made a commitment to animal welfare when we announced our transition to cage-free eggs in the U.S. and Canada by 2025,” said Steve Min, executive vice president of research and development at International Dairy Queen. “As we continue to make progress toward our goal, we reduced the number of proprietary ingredients not yet using cage-free eggs by more than 35 percent. I am pleased to share that now 100 percent of proprietary ingredients in Blizzard® Treats contain cage-free eggs, and we are on track to meet our cage-free egg commitment in 2025 or sooner.”
The IDQ cage-free egg commitment includes shell and liquid eggs at restaurants that serve breakfast and eggs that are used as an ingredient in a variety of DQ proprietary food and treat products. IDQ also committed that any new egg or ingredient supplier in its system is required to provide cage-free eggs.
The process of producing eggs in cage-free environments—where hens are not confined to cages and have more freedom of movement—is considered by some a better method of producing eggs than the conventional process that represents the majority of egg production in the U.S. and Canada today.
To learn more about the company’s commitment to chicken welfare, visit DairyQueen.com/chicken-welfare/
About International Dairy Queen, Inc.
International Dairy Queen, Inc., based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation and Dairy Queen Canada, Inc. Through its subsidiaries, IDQ develops, licenses and services a system of more than 7,000 restaurants in the United States, Canada and more than 20 other countries. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (Berkshire), which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire. For more information, visit DairyQueen.com.


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EghtesadOnline: With completion of a project to boost output from the Poly-H unit at Shahid Tondgooyan Petrochemical Company, daily production capacity of the unit has increased to 480 tons, the managing director of the company said.
“The unit, initially launched in 2003, had a daily capacity of 400 tons. This has now been raised by 80 tons after 16 years,” IRNA quoted Seyed Reza Qasemi Shahri as saying. Built by domestic engineers, it will help compensate a 7% drop in sales of the petrochemicals the company experienced in the first 7 months of the current year (started in March) compared to last year, he said. Established in 1998, Tondgooyan produces raw materials for downstream industries such as textile and packaging. Located in Mahshahr City, Khuzestan Province, the plant is the largest supplier of polyethylene terephthalate, better known PET. It also produces Purified Therephtalic Acid (PTA) as one of the main raw materials for PET. PET is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic that is widely used for packaging foods and beverages, especially convenience-sized soft drinks, juices and water, according to Financial Tribune.


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REVENUE have seized over 6.7kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated worth of €133,600 last Friday.
The seizure was made as a result of a joint operation conducted by Revenue’s Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau and the ‘K’ District Drugs Unit at Blanchardstown Garda Station.
Two people, a man aged 22 and a woman aged 41, were arrested by gardai and are both currently detained at Blanchardstown Garda Station.
Cops say that investigations are currently ongoing.
Revenue bosses said: "This operation was part of Revenue’s ongoing joint investigations targeting organised crime groups and the importation, sale and supply of illegal drugs.
"If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding drug smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295."
Meanwhile, the Criminal Assets Bureau seized thousands of euro in cash and designer handbags and clothes in swoops across two Dublin properties.
The searches found €16,245 in cash, £3,280 in Sterling cash, electronic devices, documentation in relation to financial and property transactions and designer handbags and clothing.
The designer items found included Moncler, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Hermes.
Most read in Irish News
A garda spokeswoman said: "The Criminal Assets Bureau, with the assistance of the Garda National Immigration Bureau and local Gardaí attached to Store Street and Blanchardstown Garda Stations, conducted a search operation on Wednesday, 14th July 2021.
"This investigation is focussed on the assets of an individual suspected to be involved in the cultivation, sale and supply of controlled drugs through a network of cannabis grow houses.
"Investigations are ongoing."


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EMC, how compatible are we? European Commission consults on rules applying to electrical and electronic devices
A public consultation on the EU Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive has been launched as part of the European Commission’s ongoing evaluation to assess if the rules are still fit for purpose, especially in light of new technologies and the increased prevalence of consumer tech products – this area of law has not undergone major modification in almost 30 years.
UK’s medicines and medical devices regulator to tackle Brexit, technological advancements and regulatory challenges (including from COVID-19) in 2020 and 2021
The MHRA has established five strategic goals for 2020-21 that will impact all those operating in the UK medicines and medical devices industries
The EU has published further details on its Sustainable Products Initiative, one of the measures announced in the new Circular Economy Action Plan.


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Verlo Mattress Expands To San Antonio, Texas
Residents of Nation’s Seventh-Largest City to Get That Great Night’s Sleep They Deserve
July 28, 2022 // Franchising.com // San Antonio, TX - Verlo Mattress is proud to announce that Korina and Michael Domgard have been awarded seven Verlo Mattress stores in San Antonio, Texas.
“We are excited by the opportunity that Verlo Mattress gave us to own our market. Verlo really is a difference-maker in the mattress industry,” Michael said. “We are able to build a mattress to order for the specific needs of our customer at factory direct pricing, and Verlo Mattress customers will be happy with their new, individually built mattress.”
Korina said the new stores will not only give San Antonio area residents the great night’s sleep they deserve; the new stores will generate jobs.
“It’s also about being local,” she said. ”We are excited to bring a better night’s sleep to San Antonio, and we’re also providing jobs within our community.”
Dirk Stallmann, President of Verlo Mattress, said the San Antonio stores represent a chance for Verlo Mattress to expand into a new market.
“San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States, and this is a great opportunity to bring Verlo Mattress’s high-quality factory direct mattresses into the market,” Stallmann said. “This is an expansion for Verlo Mattress, and we want to provide every one of San Antonio’s residents with that great night’s sleep they deserve on a Verlo Mattress,” Stallmann said.
Michael said Verlo Mattress is a needed addition to the San Antonio area because of the company’s reputation for manufacturing high-quality mattresses and sleep products that will give customers the great night’s sleep they’ve been looking for.
Korina and Michael will open a Verlo Mattress factory with a showroom in front and a mattress assembly area in the back area of the store that will allow customers to see their mattress being made.
Stallmann said he was excited to bring the Domgard’s to the Verlo Mattress family.
“The Domgard’s have a strong business ethic that is compatible with Verlo Mattress’s reputation for great customer service and for manufacturing high-quality products at the best prices. We are happy to welcome them to the Verlo Mattress family of franchisees,” Stallman said.
SOURCE Verlo Mattress
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Taiwan-based LED packaging service provider Bright Led Electronics reports that it has received orders from a U.S. aircraft maker for SMD (surface mount device) LED lighting modules used in airplane cabins, according to a Digitimes article.
Bright LED began small-volume shipments of the SMD LEDs to the aircraft maker at the end of 2016, and the supply contract is expected to last 4-5 years, according to the company. The company says it began building the relationship with the client more than a year previously. The orders reportedly cover 20-30 models of SMD LED lighting modules.
The firm expects that with increasing shipments, SMD LED lighting modules will make up 5% of its 2017 consolidated revenues. The company also notes that it is experiencing growing demand for infrared (IR) LED sensor modules used in printers, industrial control, and home-use sweeping robots in 2017. The company says it has also obtained orders for IR LED sensor modules with shipments over the next year.


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FAO launches drive to support small scale fisheries in Kenya
By Judy Nguta | January 27th 2014
|Christine Auma (right) and business partner Emily Okumu display dried and salted fish at the Smartfish Trade event in Entebbe, Uganda. (Photo: Judy Nguta/Standard)|
By Judy Nguta (@JudyNguta)
Entebbe, Uganda: The contribution of fish in achieving food security in Africa is far from being achieved, although the region has a great potential.
Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has identified post-harvest losses, which occur at different stages of the value chain, as a major threat to food security in Africa. These losses occur both during transportation and processing, affecting the quantity and nutritional value respectively.
Under the framework of the European Union (EU) funded SmartFish programme, FAO is now aiming to carry out direct actions to address the root causes of the losses through provision of trainings and awareness activities. The trainings are taken to specific fishing communities in the Smartfish region. Individuals are identified from records in ministries and co-operative societies.
“The FAO component on Food Security through SmartFish has launched a new video-training packages to teach small scale fisheries operators in Kenya on the importance of hygiene and quality in the small scale fisheries for better quality and business,” says Davide Signa, the FAO Expert on Food Security.
Study shows that over five million people are employed in fishing and aquaculture activities in the Southern and Eastern Africa. This number will not be enough to supply fish to the increasing demand in Africa.
According to FAO research, demand for fisheries products is expected to rise in the future. Based on current demand, another 27 million tonnes of fish would be needed to maintain the present level of per capita consumption in 2030.
Fish traders from the Eastern, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean (ESA-IO) region meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, and who have gone through the programme demonstrated how possible it is to achieve self sustainability in both providing for their livelihood and feeding the region.
|Smoked catfish from Malawi on display at the the Smartfish Trade event. ( Photo:Judy Nguta/Standard)|
Smartfish has endeavoured to bring together fish dealers and encourage the trade, which is shunned by many especially because of the numerous activities involved from fishing to getting the product to the market. “The SmartFish Trade Event is providing a productive forum for regional producers and traders to see what others are doing in terms of value-addition, packaging and labelling, product development and also the various challenges for specific markets and products” said Chris Short, Fish Trade Specialist for the SmartFish Programme.
Fish traders confessed that the business is yielding fruit and expressed the interest to have wider avenues to expand their business and supply fish even across borders.
Through the events, fish producers are able to identify prospective retailers and vice versa.
“I officially appeal for more fish suppliers, I occasionally run out of stock,” says Susan Oduor, who sells her fish from Nairobi. “This event is helping us to get new markets in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) but also to network with other traders and learn from their experiences to better cope with the challenges we face,” said Christine Auma.
Auma buys her fish from Lake Turkana and sells it to Democratic Republic of Congo.
Logose Perus is the Chairperson, Kiyindi Women Fish Processors Association in Uganda’s Buikwe District, and has no regrets from her association with Smartfish.
She ventured into the activity after a training, which had been brought to them through the programme and saw a great opportunity in dagaa – referred to as mukene in Uganda.
“Fish business has improved our livelihoods and enabled me pay school fees for my children. It has also given me a job in training people on value addition,” says Logose.
The event was the second by Smartfish and it brought together 100 participants from 13 countries: Kenya, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The first one was held in 2012, in Lusaka, Zambia.
This event brought together producers, traders, retailers and distributors and aimed at promoting trade while encouraging value-addition and the emergence of new products.
Traders displayed various fish products; dried, salted, smoked, powdered, fried, fresh and frozen all carefully processed and packaged to present their merchandise in the best possible form.
The Smartfish programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) in collaboration with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
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The Ministry of Tourism is encouraging tourism departments in Phnom Penh and all provinces to celebrate World Tourism Day under the “tourism and development” banner.
Departments are expected to prepare announcements and logos to display at State institutions, tourism businesses, resorts, schools, public spaces and on main roads.
Monday’s letter from the ministry said there must be participation from provincial leaders, teachers, students and people who work in the tourism sector.
The celebration is meant to raise awareness of the role the tourism sector plays in developing the economy.
On September 24, the International Labour Organisation ILO) estimated that 495 million people have lost jobs in the tourism sector and 300 million are at risk of being unemployed due to the ongoing effects of Covid-19.
The tourism sector in Cambodia employed 630,000 people and hundreds of thousands of indirect workers in 2019.
The ministry reported that about 3,000 hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, massage and karaoke parlours, spas, entertainment clubs, and travel companies were closed, affecting about 45,405 people.
The ministry calculates Cambodia may lose about $3 billion in revenue this year due to a dramatic drop in international tourists.
The government has encouraged local tourism since August by allowing holidays like Khmer New Year and the Pchum Ben festival.
During the New Year celebrations, 1.5 million people travelled and brought about $100 million to local economies.
In a letter on Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen wrote that the Covid-19 crisis had changed holiday patterns and encouraged people to travel to rural areas and enjoy more of eco-tourism and natural places.
He encouraged tourism authorities to pay more attention to rural areas that demonstrate the values of culture and tradition and make products for local and international tourists.
Kampot provincial Department of Tourism director Soy Sinol told The Post on Tuesday that he will celebrate World Tourism Day in the first week of October at the Phnom Kampong Trach resort in Kampong Trach district.
He said it has breathtaking caves and used to be the setting for movies.
“Our title is Tourism and Rural Development. We want to support tourism in these areas. People who participate will take pictures of the view and post to Facebook,” he said.
Preah Vihear provincial Department of Tourism director Kong Vibol said his department will celebrate World Tourism Day on October 2 at the Tumnub 95 resort in Preah Vihear.


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Travel Agent recently invited Caribbean tourism delegates to a roundtable discussion in New York to get firsthand status updates from both the islands that were devastated by last year’s hurricane season and the ones that escaped major damage.
Included in the discussion were Kim Jack Riley, Antigua and Barbuda’s director of tourism for the USA; Cardigan Connor, parliamentary secretary for Anguilla's tourism sector; Petra Roach, U.S. director of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.; Celia Ross-Latham, director of sales for the St. Vincent and The Grenadines Tourism Office; Victoria Isley, chief sales and marketing officer at the Bermuda Tourism Authority; Perla George, business development director for North America at the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board; Mikala Moss, area manager for New York for the Bahamas Tourist Office; Christine Noel-Horsford, director of sales and marketing for the Grenada Tourism Authority; and Sylma Brown, director for the U.S. for the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
Ruthanne Terrero and Joe Pike of Travel Agent magazine and Travel Agent Central moderated the conversation.
In this piece, we focus on the latest luxury travel updates in the Bahamas provided to us by Mikala Moss, area manager for New York for the Bahamas Tourist Office. Be sure to keep following Travel Agent in the coming weeks as we will break down the status updates from some of the other destinations involved in the discussion.
Bahamas’ Luxury Boom
The Bahamas, which was one of the lucky Caribbean islands to avoid the impact of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria this past September, is currently in the middle of a luxury resort boom spearheaded my the much-anticipated opening of the Baha Mar resort.
The $4.2 billion beachfront development has a total of 2,300 rooms and suites, in addition to an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature designed golf course.
The resort also includes one of the largest casinos and the first flagship ESPA spa in the Caribbean. Baha Mar will encompass three brands: Grand Hyatt Hotels, which is open now; SLS Hotels, which opened in November; and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, which is expected to open in June.
“The old elephant in the room is now open. Grand Hyatt opened in spring of last year,” says Moss. “The next thing still under development, ready to open soon, hopefully before the end of this year, is The Pointe, which is in downtown Nassau beside [British Colonial Hilton Nassau] and that is 150 rooms. Also, Margaritaville Beach Resort (slated to officially open in 2019) is putting together a water park, a spa, entertainment center, bowling alley, movie complex. It’s almost a whole other Atlantis.”
Speaking of Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas, the resort is undergoing major renovations with more dining options and a complete overhaul of its family-friendly The Coral, which includes a new lobby, swim-up snack bar for kids, fresh pool and cabanas, as well as a complete rebranding of The Cove — the resort complex’s high-end, luxury hotel. Throughout the resort, new eateries are being added, many of which are owned and operated by local Bahamians.
In other hotel news, one of the Caribbean’s most popular beach resorts, One&Only Ocean Club, is now managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. The management shifted in late November. The newly named The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas’ traditional Caribbean-style buildings are surrounded by 35 acres of gardens, with dining, spa, sports and recreation facilities.
The Island’s Biggest Challenges
Moss told Travel Agent the destination’s biggest challenge has always been, and continues to be, informing the consumer that the Bahamas has way more to offer than just Nassau.
“For the Bahamas, I guess, again, perception is the most pressing issue, the reminder that we are so much more than just Nassau,” she says. “The fact is that they all think Nassau’s such a big island when it’s really very small, so that is the biggest item on our agenda, constant education, constant reminder because we know that in the market, what they see on TV tends to stick, and they do see a lot of Nassau on TV and not the others."
Moss also told Travel Agent that more flights to those other islands are needed.
“[We need] air lift into those other islands as well, making sure that it’s more accessible so that people don’t have to overnight,” says Moss. “While we do have a lot of air lift on the Eastern Seaboard - New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, throughout Florida, and all of that direct, we still need to have those seamless connections be a little bit more seamless because while some of the gateways like in Atlanta or Fort Lauderdale and Miami will go into some of the smaller islands, coming out of, say, New York, you can only get into Nassau.”


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Mexico’s president says he’s going to ship a diplomatic notice to the US protesting Texas truck inspections which have prompted main delays at border crossings
ByThe Related Press
October 9, 2023, 12:09 PM
MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s president stated Monday he’s going to ship a diplomatic notice to the US to protest Texas truck inspections which have prompted main delays at border crossings.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador claimed Monday that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s choice to implement further truck inspections was “very irresponsible” and politically motivated.
Mexico’s nationwide freight transport chamber stated Sunday that 19,000 vehicles had been delayed on the border. The freight affiliation claimed the delayed vehicles had been carrying about $1.9 billion in items.
It stated in an announcement that the delays had been “severely affecting” cross-border commerce.
“We’re going to ship a diplomatic notice at the moment to protest the Texas’ governor’s angle of placing up obstacles to free transit on our borders with none cause, however reasonably with political motivations,” López Obrador stated. “He’s utilizing the immigration problem to play politics.”
Bridge closures and prepare delays due to the inflow of migrants crossing the border have additionally affected freight site visitors in latest weeks.


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US Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Suzi LeVine took her oath not by placing her hand on the Constitution or the Bible, but on a Kindle.
US Ambassador Bleich has said that piracy is no more a compliment than someone "hitting on your partner", and asked that we, like Lannisters, "always pay our debts".
"Stealing is stealing," US Ambassador Bliech has said in an impassioned plea on his Facebook page.
Any 3DS that connects to the Nintendo eShop before August 12 will get 20 free NES and Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games.
England's Queen Elizabeth II really doesn't like the sea of cell phones with which she's confronted these days.
The WikiLeaks founder has vowed to exit "soon" from a small pocket of Ecuador in Britain's capital, but little has changed diplomatically and legally that would spur his eventual release.
Some critics have blamed Australian pay TV service Foxtel's "outdated" business model for record breaking downloads of HBO's wildly popular show, but is the criticism warranted?
Your days are numbered, criminals of Detroit. Your city is about to be patrolled by a 10-foot-tall statue of RoboCop because why not?
A British brain surgeon says cycle helmets are too flimsy and can actually create more danger by creating the illusion of greater safety.
Before you press the video record button on your digital SLR, read these tips for making movies your friends and family will want to watch.


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Hotel brands want online consumers to book on their own branded Web sites instead of with aggregators. A study commissioned by Carlson Hotels Worldwide and conducted by Compete, Inc. compares users of both sites to identify how to shift consumers to brand sites.
|Click to view full-size chart|
Infrequent travelers prefer to book hotel accommodations through aggregator sites such as Hotels.com, Hotwire, Orbitz, Priceline and Travelocity, over brand sites such as Radisson Hotels and Resorts, which is owned by Carlson. This is particularly true during summer months when occasional travelers vacation. During the mid-year travel season, aggregator sites, which charge hotels up to 30 percent per reservation, book as many as 500,000 rooms, result in a share of $250 million across the top hotel brands.
“Over the past couple of years, there has been a concerted effort by hotel suppliers to wrest back their business from aggregator sites,” said Gregory Saks, senior associate at Compete. “One of the most effective tools they have used is the Best Rate Guarantee, though it’s worded differently among sites.”
Saks says brand sites increase are increasing their market share year-over-year, but points out usage of aggregator sites creeps up during peak periods such as the summer season.
Frequent travelers utilize brand sites more when booking hotels, though less frequent travelers are slowly becoming aware of brand sites that offer incentives to book travel directly. Best rate guarantees are the biggest motivator to book directly through a brand site; 73 percent of consumers surveyed say a low rate guarantee would influence their decision to book travel through a hotel’s site instead of an aggregator’s.
|Best Rate Guarantee Influence on Brand Sites (%)|
|Source: Compete Inc., 2005|
Additional perks offered consumers who reserve accommodations through brand sites are found to have a significant impact on where to book travel. Fifty percent of consumers say complimentary room service and breakfast would be an influencer, and one-third say online check-in is significant. As many as 75 percent of consumers who use aggregator sites would purchase directly from a hotel brand site if they could receive the same price offered by the aggregator.
The biggest roadblock for brand sites is fewer than five percent of consumers who visit a hotel brand side interact with the content, and do not know about the best rate guarantee offered by many hotel operators. Only 28 percent of consumers who actually made a reservation on a brand site recalled seeing any promise of a guaranteed low price. Messaging is the top-line of defense, and can stretch beyond the Web. Saks stressed messaging across all channels, including placement in the physical hotel, works to reinforce a best rate guarantee, and other incentives for booking travel through the hotel’s Web site.
What are some of the major developments that are likely to shape multi-channel marketing in 2017?
Time is running out to feature your company in our inaugural Mobile Vendor Reader Survey.
Marketers create personas to better understand their target audience and what it looks like. If marketers can understand potential buyer behaviors, and where they spend their time online, then content can be targeted more effectively.
It probably won't come as a surprise that 2016's Cyber Monday has earned the distinction of being the biggest online sales day in US history.


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Autonomous cars, and the technologies that drive them, are the rage at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Aside from the gnawing fear and insecurity such cars instill in the pit of your stomach, they're pretty cool--as this Audi Piloted Driving demo proves.
Here, you'll see a car drive itself into a parking garage, find a spot, and park itself--perfectly. Then, to put the icing on the robotic overlord cake, a simple nudge from a smartphone app calls the car back to pickup its owner.
Sure beats wearing a seat-shaped costume and harassing drive-thru workers, doesn't it?
Follow the link for more on Audi's autonomous driving technologies at CES.


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Editor’s note • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.
Devin Dunn was on paternity leave when a package was swiped from his porch in Salt Lake City’s Liberty Wells neighborhood earlier this month. In fact, he was sitting in the front room, tending to his new baby.
The carrier had set it down without knocking on Dunn’s front door. After about 15 minutes, Dunn got an alert on his phone notifying him that his doorbell camera had detected a person outside. But he was preoccupied and didn’t notice, he said.
By the time he checked, the package containing $80 worth of baby clothes that his wife had ordered was gone. Video footage shot by their doorbell camera showed a person pulling up to the couple’s house on a bike, walking up and grabbing the parcel, then hopping back on the bike and riding away.
Dunn said he feels hesitant to shop online now. A representative with the retailer told him they may be able to help, but only if Dunn submitted video proof of the theft.
He said he’s frustrated that responsibility often lies with the consumer to replace stolen goods. And he’s not alone.
Sheri Bloomfield, who lives in West Valley City, had two children’s winter coats and a pair of snow boots stolen from her porch. The package was delivered later than she expected, and stolen before she noticed, she said.
Chad Jepperson, a Salt Lake City firefighter, told The Salt Lake Tribune he recently had to buy two expensive avalanche beacons: the one someone stole off his Poplar Grove porch about 30 minutes after it was delivered, and the one he ordered to replace it.
Jepperson was told the potentially life-saving device was “delivered appropriately,” so there wasn’t much the company could do. He said he plans to use a secure drop-off location, like an Amazon Hub, when he makes future purchases online.
Tips from a local mail carrier
In Salt Lake City, reports of larceny are down slightly compared to last year. The broad term refers to theft of personal property, including package theft. There were 10,023 reports of larceny from January to November 2020 compared to 9,267 reports from January to November this year, Salt Lake City police data shows.
Package theft specifically tends to increase after Black Friday and decrease after Christmas, SLCPD spokesperson Brent Weisberg said. Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 6, 30 such thefts were reported to the department, though not all victims report package theft to the police.
The U.S. Postal Service anticipates delivering between 850 million and 950 million packages during this year’s peak holiday season, making it prime time for “porch pirates” to make off with gifts.
That’s where Aaron Saxon comes in. The 26-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service spends most days delivering mail in South Salt Lake and expects to work straight through Christmas, so his co-workers with kids can be with their families, he said.
He shared the following tips he’s picked up from his time on the job:
Secure the drop-off location: Have packages delivered to your work, an Amazon Hub locker or counter, a UPS Store locker or another safe spot. You can also have the U.S. Postal Service hold packages for up to 15 days at a post office of your choice. Parcel drop boxes for home deliveries are also available to purchase at big-box retailers.
Conceal the drop-off location: If you have packages delivered to your home, create an area where the view is blocked by hedges or large flower pots, then ask your mail carrier to set packages in that spot. If you have a storm door, make sure visibility is blocked on the bottom half, then ask that thin packages be placed between the storm door and your front door. Saxon says an empty garden hose box on your front porch also makes an unassuming drop-off spot — just communicate the secret to your mail carrier.
Use the “buddy system”: If you won’t be home when a package is scheduled to be delivered, enlist a family member or trusted neighbor to watch for it and hold it for you. And consider being a good neighbor to others, watching for suspicious activity after area deliveries arrive. If you see a package get swiped, make sure to get an accurate description of the person and call the police. “We’re all in this together,” Saxon said.
A U.S. Postal Service spokesperson also recommended that residents check their mailbox every day and not let mail build up. Informed Delivery is a free service that notifies you via email or text when a package or other mail is arriving soon, so you’ll know when to collect it.
Customers should also check final pickup times on blue USPS collection boxes, so outgoing mail doesn’t sit in the box overnight or over the weekend.
What to do if a package is stolen
Some people take creative measures to catch “porch pirates,” like the Bankhead family in Orem. When Justin Bankhead found that his family had several packages worth hundreds of dollars stolen, he offered a $500 reward to anyone who could help him catch the suspected thief, he told The Tribune.
The money ended up going to his 14-year-old son, who put a dummy package containing a GPS tracking device out on the family’s front step, Bankhead wrote on Facebook. The thief took the bait.
Surveillance camera footage posted on social media shows a man wearing a black-and-gray hooded coat run up to the front door, grab the goods and run away. The family then pulled up the GPS device’s tracking information and contacted police, who arrested the man, a spokesperson confirmed.
But Sgt. Mark Wian with the Salt Lake City Police Department said it can be dangerous to confront package thieves.
“If you see something, say something — from a safe place,” he said. “Do what you can to capture a good suspect description of the person or the vehicle. But we would never encourage anyone to confront someone, because you put yourself at a great safety risk. Leave that up to us.”
Some package-theft victims may not think it’s worth it to file a police report, Wian said. But such reports can help police link thefts to specific areas or organized operations. You’ll also receive a case number that you can submit to shipping companies.
Anyone who sees something suspicious may call the Salt Lake police department’s non-emergency dispatch number at 801-799-3000. Residents can also file reports online at SLCPD.com.
Reports of mail theft, identity theft or fraud can be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at USPIS.gov/report or by calling 877-876-2455.


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- Redmi will be holding a launch event on August 3rd in India
- First RedmiBook branded laptops will be announced at the event
- RedmiBook is expected to rival upcoming Realme Book laptops
The RedmiBook launch date for India has been confirmed. Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi will be announcing the first RedmiBook for India on August 3rd. It is expected to go up against the Realme Book laptop, which is expected to launch soon in India.
Since last year, Redmi has been expanding its product portfolio in India. It announced its first TWS earbuds and power bank last year. Later, it unveiled its first fitness band and a smartwatch in the country. Redmi has been selling laptops in China since 2019, but it is only now that the company will be releasing its notebooks in India.
RedmiBook design revealed
Xiaomi India’s website has a microsite for the upcoming RedmiBook. A teaser image that gives a first look at the laptop can be seen on the landing page. The laptop seems to be equipped with slim bezels on either side, whereas the top bezel features a webcam and the bottom bezel carries the Redmi branding. The company is yet to reveal the specifications of the device. People who are interested in staying updated on RedmiBook’s launch can hit the Notify Me button on the microsite.
It appears that the company will be releasing new teasers daily to reveal the features of the RedmiBook. Today, it has asked users to guess the colour of the RedmiBook from options like Dark Metal, Coal Black, Charcoal Grey, and Moon Grey. Users who share their answers on Twitter with tags such as #RedmiBook #SuperStartLIte @RedmiIndia @Flipkart will stand a chance to win some Redmi goodies.
RedmiBook Pro 14 and RedmiBook Pro 15 specifications
Earlier this year, Redmi announced the RedmiBook Pro 14 and RedmiBook Pro 15 laptops in China. The 14-inch model came with features like a 2.5K display, a 60Hz refresh rate, a 56Wh battery with 65W charging. On the other side, the 15-inch variant came with a 3.2K display, a 90Hz refresh rate, a 70Wh battery with 100W charging.
The RedmiBook Pro 14 and Pro 15 are available with Intel’s 11th generation Core i7 and Core i5 processors. There is also optional Nvidia MX450 GPU. The laptops also feature 16GB of DDR4 RAM, 512GB of PCIe SSD storage, Windows 10 Home, backlit keyboard, and HD webcam. It remains to be seen whether Redmi will bring these laptops or some other devices in India.


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Major container lines have announced planned rate increases for a variety of trades, as detailed below, slated to take effect in November, December and January.
19 Jul 2013
Major container lines have announced rate increases for several trade lanes, as detailed below, slated to take effect in August...
18 Jul 2013
Maersk Line has become the latest carrier to unveil freight rate hikes on the westbound Far East-Europe trades in August.
12 Jul 2013
Major container lines have announced rate increases for a variety of trades, as detailed below, with most slated to take effect in August.
05 Jul 2013
Spot container rates from Asia to North Europe eased slightly after a forceful rally that took rates up 174 percent as part of a July 1 general rate increase that carriers saw as perhaps their last big opportunity to achieve profitability in 2013.
03 Jul 2013
Hamburg Süd has added a direct call at Salerno, Italy, to its route from the U.S. Gulf Coast and South Florida to the western Mediterranean.
01 Jul 2013
Cargo from Asia to the Mediterranean rose 10 percent in April, jumping from a monthly average of 366,000 20-foot-equivalent units in the first quarter of 2013 to 401,000 TEUs...
24 Jun 2013
State-owned Shipping Corp. of India plans to increase rates in its westbound trade from India to Europe and the Mediterranean, starting July 1.
17 Jun 2013
An outbreak of discipline among ocean carriers was the trigger for a 61 percent surge in spot freight rates on the Far East-Mediterranean route, according to industry consultant Drewry.
13 Jun 2013
United Arab Shipping Co. will implement a rate increase for dry and refrigerated cargo from Asia to the Mediterranean and Adriatic on July 1.
12 Jun 2013
Maersk Line will boost rates in its trade from the Far East, excluding Japan, to the Mediterranean, starting July 1.


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Apple pledges to create all future products from recycled materials
Apple has said it wants to build all of its future products from recycled materials as it moves towards a ‘closed-loop’ manufacturing process.
In its Environmental responsibility report, the iPhone creator said it would partly achieve this through the use of specially designed disassembly robots and hoped to create all of its products without producing any additional CO2.
“We’re going deeper to pioneer a closed-loop supply chain, where products are made using only renewable resources or recycled material to reduce the need to mine materials from the earth,” Apple states in the report.
“That means continuing to invest in ways to recover materials from our products - like Liam, our line of disassembly robots - and encouraging our customers to return products through Apple Renew, our recycling program.
“And we’re launching projects and experiments that help us learn how to close loops. For example, we’ve melted down iPhone 6 aluminium enclosures recovered from Liam to make Mac mini computers for use in our factories and we’re transitioning to 100 per cent recycled tin solder on the main logic board of iPhone 6s.”
Currently, most major manufacturers of smartphones - including Apple, Samsung and others - use millions of tonnes of CO2 each year. The devices also contain components built from minerals such as tungsten, tantalum, cobalt and gold which have helped to fund conflicts and been linked to environmental degradation.
In the report, Apple also boasted that in 2016, 96 per cent of the electricity used at its global facilities came from renewable energy.
This reduced the company’s carbon emissions by nearly 585,000 metric tons and it is 100 per cent renewable in 24 countries. In addition, all of Apple’s data centres run on renewable sources.
“We’re pushing our manufacturing partners to join us in the fight against climate change,” Apple said.
“Seven major suppliers have now pledged to power their Apple production entirely with renewable energy by the end of next year. And we’re making strides toward our commitment to bring four gigawatts of renewable power online by 2020, a key step in reducing our manufacturing footprint.
“We launched our supplier clean energy program in October 2015. But between our own clean energy projects to target emissions from upstream suppliers and those our direct suppliers have embarked on, we already have commitments for two gigawatts of clean energy in our supply chain.”
The company also says it uses ‘responsibly-sourced’ or recycled paper for over 99 per cent of its product packaging.
In March, Apple introduced a limited-edition red iPhone, in support of the Product Red global fight against AIDS, alongside an updated version of the 9.7-inch iPad, new Watch straps and a video-creation app for iOS devices called Clips.
Sign up to the E&T News e-mail to get great stories like this delivered to your inbox every day.


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Hyundai has published images of a new hydrogen crossover
Although the name of a new Hyundai crossover with hydrogen fuel cells is still unknown, the automaker has published a series of rendered images of the novelty.
The hydrogen SUV will be completely unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which is traditionally held in February. Along with the images, the Korean automaker also announced the debut of a new stand-alone technology that will be used on the crossover.
The Hyundai FCEV, as it is conventionally called by journalists, has been tested in Germany. The test prototype is hidden under the camouflage. Now we can say that the hydrogen crossover looks like a big Hyundai Kona.
It is expected that it will be much cheaper than the Hyundai ix35 FCEV, which costs about 56,000 euros and for the entire 2017 found in Europe only fifty customers.
The new crossover debuts on the market with a fourth-generation fuel cell that Hyundai engineers recently developed.
It is 20% lighter than the ix35 FCEV. The engine develops more than 160 horsepowers, and the autonomy reserve is said to exceed 600 kilometers per charge of fuel cells.
For reference: the so-called “hydrogen vehicles”, in their essence, are electric cars, that is, the traction node in them is an electric motor. Its battery is recharged by energy derived from hydrogen fuel cells. The exhaust of such a powertrain is ordinary water.
At the moment, only four models on hydrogen fuel cells are mass-produced: the already mentioned Hyundai ix35 FCEV, Toyota Mirai, Honda Clarity, as well as the Renault Kangoo FCEV van.


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New Study Says Wholefat Dairy Can Actually Be Good For You | Latest News RSS feed
New Study Says Wholefat Dairy Can Actually Be Good For You - Latest News
Is Dairy Actually Healthy?
The authors of an editorial published alongside the Lancet study also say that guidelines don’t need to change just yet. Even though the new study suggests that whole-fat dairy ... What if you can't, ... read more
Dairy Lovers Rejoice: Milk and Yogurt Can Help Your Heart Health
In fact, new research suggests that in moderation, dairy products might actually lower your risk for ... and prostate cancer. “When you look at other research alongside this study, what can you conclu... read more
Study Says Low-Fat Milk Isn’t The Healthy Choice It’s Cracked Up To Be For Kids
But is that really the healthier choice? A new study questions ... whole milk makes us feel fuller and thus, content. No room for dessert! “This is speculative,” says one author, but if you feel fulle... read more
Looking for another news?
Dairy fat may prevent heart disease, stroke: study
But, a new study boldly challenges these claims. Whole-fat dairy does not raise ... body of evidence” suggests that dairy fat is actually good for you. “It’s important to have robust studies, so peopl... read more
Those doctors telling you to drink skim milk were probably wrong
And some research suggests people who consume full-fat dairy weigh less and are less likely to develop diabetes, too. n a new study ... the whites are good, but the yolks are bad. Can you make up your ... read more
In defense of whole milk
Yet new studies show that drinking low-fat milk is like throwing out the baby with the bathwater – and can even lead to obesity. A 2013 long-term University of Virginia study ... you feel full), thus ... read more
Milking it: Is A2 milk worth the extra cost?
"If you really want ... to be completely dairy free. They can still take those products, it's only like something like a milkshake that would rock their socks," Stening says. Once apon a much simpler ... read more
Dairy food in moderation 'may protect the heart'
The study was carried out mostly in low and middle-income countries, where less dairy is consumed, but the lead researcher says she believes the findings hold good ... can have a key influence. The re... read more
Is Whole-Milk Yogurt a Whole Lot Better?
Several studies in children have found that eating whole-fat dairy is associated with less weight gain over time than low-fat dairy. One 2013 study ... can’t generalize this to all grass-fed yogurts, ... read more
Study finds whole-fat dairy may be good for heart health
(CBS) --David Kaiser enjoys a glass of milk every day. "It's better for you than soda and tastes better than water," he says. Now, a new study published ... some extra whole fat dairy can be part of a ... read more
Study: High-Fat Dairy Could Be Good For You
Now, a new study published in the Lancet says ... had less whole fat dairy. Those benefits came with three portions of full-fat milk, butter, cheese or yogurt a day. “If you have a good balance ... read more


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The Delhi Milk Scheme (DMS) has asked for assistance from the Delhi government stating that it can increase its milk production capacity by an additional 200,000 liters a day provided the government helped it to extend the reach of its product in the capital city.
The decision was made in a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit where Minister for Food and Supplies Haroon Yusuf was also present.
"It was stated by the DMS that it has the capacity to produce 500,000 litres of milk per day, whereas it is presently producing only 300,000 litres a day," said a statement.
"Further, the reach of DMS milk supply is only limited to old areas of the city. The supply is not available in Rohini, Dwarka, cooperative group housing societies, slums and JJ and unauthorized colonies," it added.
According to DMS, a major portion of the population belonging to weaker sections and middle income group is presently deprived of quality milk being supplied by it at reasonable rates.
The DMS further stated that it was capable of producing another 200,000 litres of milk per day, provided the government helped it in extending its reach in other areas of the city.
Dikshit assured DMS of her government's assistance and instructed food and supplies department commissioner to come out with an advertisement inviting individuals for distribution of DMS milk in the city.
DMS was set up in 1959 with the primary objective of supplying quality milk to citizens of Delhi at reasonable prices, as well as for providing remunerative prices to milk producers.
The milk company gives a commission of 90 paise on sale of a litre of milk through its existing 600 booths. DMS has also been selling other milk products like curd, ghee, flavoured milk, cheese and butter in the capital.


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Business and Product Development Manager
Exhibition and Events Project Manager
Digital Marketing Assistant
London's love byte
The launch of London Technology Week drew together a cast of...
Let the right one in
Should you open your doors to all and sundry or handpick the brands...
When it comes to insurance, it’s easy to be wise after the event....
AEO ANNOUNCES DB SCHENKER PARTNERSHIP
posted on: 2014-07-31 12:48:50
The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) has signed an exclusive 12-month agreement with leading events logistics company DB Schenker to become its official logistics partner.
DEBORAH KELLY JOINS LONDON & PARTNERS
posted on: 2014-07-18 09:27:50
Deborah Kelly has joined London & Partners as business development manager - UK.
GES APPOINTS BECKETT TO DESIGN AND BUILD TEAM
posted on: 2014-07-03 10:29:35
Global Experience Specialists (GES) has hired Wayne Beckett, former sales director of printing, media and publishing event Ipex, to the position of business development manager.
NEW FREEMAN UK MD FLOREANO SPEAKS TO EN
posted on: 2014-06-25 10:52:35
Following the appointment of Anthony Floreano as MD for Freeman UK, as exclusively revealed by Exhibition News, the leading global supplier has announced the arrival of former GES man Ted Bloom.
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? LIVE MOVES TO THE NEC
posted on: 2014-06-23 12:40:05
Immediate Media has announced that next year’s Who Do You Think You Are? Live will be relocating to The NEC on 16-18 April 2015.
ROYAL HIGHLAND CENTRE ADDS MAULE TO TEAM
posted on: 2014-06-05 10:03:36
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has announced the appointment of Lisa Maule as commercial director for The Royal Highland Centre (RHC).
Showing 1 to 6 of 86 News for "business development"
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text: HomeFarm NewsReps. Mann, Costa and Sens. Moran, Marshall Urge Biden Administration to Reduce Tariffs on Phosphate Fertilizers and Support FarmersReps. Mann, Costa and Sens. Moran, Marshall Urge Biden Administration to Reduce Tariffs on Phosphate Fertilizers and Support FarmersFri, October 27, 2023 by News Room SHARE NOW By the Office of US Congressman Tracey Mann WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Jim Costa (CA-21) alongside U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) led 35 of their colleagues in urging U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to revise how the Department of Commerce calculates countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco. The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) recently remanded to the Department a calculation of its subsidies, which impacts duties imposed on phosphate fertilizers. The bicameral, bipartisan group addressed the financial burden that the duties place on farmers. “American farmers have labored under skyrocketing fertilizer prices for more than three years,” said Rep. Mann. “Tariffs on phosphate imports led to a price increase of more than 220% from 2020 to 2022. Under current tariffs, the average price of phosphate fertilizer in America is the highest in the world. As farmers purchase this key input at elevated prices, they end up competing in the global marketplace at a competitive disadvantage to foreign producers. American farmers work tirelessly every day to keep us all fed, and as they seek to meet their need for a reliable, diverse supply of fertilizer, the Department of Commerce should lower tariffs on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer.” “We ask that Commerce carefully consider and follow the CIT’s decision in Commerce’s recalculation of the subsidy amount, both in its final determination in the investigation and its administrative review,” the members wrote. “Reducing the subsidy rate would provide welcomed relief for U.S. farm suppliers and their customers, American family farms.” The full text of the letter can be found here. On March 2, 2021, Rep. Mann joined a letter to U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Chair Jason Kearns opposing the countervailing duty (CVD) petition filed on June 26, 2020 against the import of certain phosphate fertilizers. On March 17, 2022, Rep. Mann led a letter to ITC Chair Kearns requesting that the ITC eliminate tariffs on phosphate fertilizer products imported from Morocco and suspend the process of imposing new tariffs on urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer from Trinidad and Tobago. On July 14, 2022, Rep. Mann led a letter to President Biden demanding that the Administration waive import duties on UAN fertilizer from long-time supplier Trinidad and Tobago. On June 15, 2022, Rep. Mann led a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo urging Commerce to consider several issues regarding the antidumping duty investigation of UAN solutions from Trinidad and Tobago. On June 16, 2022, Rep. Mann testified before the ITC on behalf of farmers and agricultural producers in Kansas and across the country. On July 18, 2022, Rep. Mann released a statement responding to the ITC’s determination that anti-dumping activity surrounding UAN fertilizers in Trinidad and Tobago did not harm the U.S. fertilizer industry. On October 5, 2023, Rep. Mann led a letter to Secretary Raimondo urging the department to ensure that their methodology for assessing tariffs on imported fertilizers is fair and representative of the global marketplace. Click here to view Rep. Mann’s Commitment to the Big First.


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Hundreds have people have flocked to Southend beach despite Covid-19 fears.
On the hottest day of the year so far, people have been pictured sitting within close proximity of each other at the seafront enjoying the warm weather.
It comes after the government relaxed the lockdown restrictions, allowing people to go outside as often as they want as long as they stick to the social distancing rules.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told people to "stay alert" during his latest coronavirus address to the nation, but it would appear not everybody has been paying attention.
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Southend Borough Council has recently launched its #StaySafeStayApart scheme, encouraging people in the town to stay at least two metres apart when out and about.
But families have been packing out the beach along Marine Parade and the Eastern Esplanade in Southend, Essex, throughout this afternoon (Wednesday, May 20).
And it's not the first time either.
On Saturday, May 9, dozens of people were seen walking along the seafront in close proximity despite lockdown guidelines at the time ordering people to stay at home other than for essential reasons.


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The high cost of complying with California’s new marijuana regulations is pushing the bulk of the state’s growers off the grid and could entrench an illegal underground supply chain.
One such small farmer, Lisa Austin of Willits, told The Californian that corporate takeovers and mono-cropping is breaking her heart and costing rural towns loss of income.
“Small farmers built the industry, the strains, and the business,” she points out and advocates the cooping of farms and lowering entry-level costs into the mainstream industry as key elements for small cottage growers. Austin also calls for more incentives and an open-mind approach to their dilemma.
Licensing Compliance Regulations are too costly
A Salinas Valley consultant says it costs in the region of $750,000 annually to rent a greenhouse, cover taxes and implement steps necessary to comply with the new regulations.
These exorbitant overheads have translated into less than one percent of California’s 68,120 marijuana growers obtaining licenses to operate legally and poses a serious threat to the state’s expected tax windfall of more than one billion dollars.
A report published by the California Growers Association (CGA) warns that growers cannot meet the costs involved with compliance to the regulations, or are not allowed to continue their operations because of land-use policies imposed in the various counties.
Broad-based participation must be encouraged
Comparing these drawbacks to prohibition, the CGA says that illicit growing will be the outcome if broad-based participation in the marijuana farming industry isn’t encouraged. Goals in the current system will not be reached unless structural and fundamental changes are made to allow independent and small business owners to become compliant with the new licensing regulations, says the CGA.
Marijuana is generally grown on small plots of land measuring about one-twentieth of an acre, but in Monterey County licenses are not being issued to these traditional small farming operations that are mostly situated in the remote areas of Big Sur and Carmel Valley.
High-tech companies are taking over
Instead, it’s the high-tech outsider companies, operating from greenhouses on the urban edge of Salinas, who are being awarded licenses to grow marijuana.
A Santa Cruz County manufacturing and cultivation business owner says it’s all about money. Kaiya Bercow says it has cost his business hundreds of thousands of dollars to meet compliance regulations.
Marijuana outlaws are a dying breed
Tim Blake, the founder of The Emerald Cup California cannabis competition, says losing some “old school” farmers is part and parcel of the regulatory process. Accusing some small farming operators of being long-term marijuana outlaws, Blake says they are a dying breed and that it is time to eradicate the illegal cannabis market.
He goes on to assert that some small-time growers have been operating for 30 years and that now is the time for these “outlaws” to move into the regulated market.
The financial problems being faced by small growers is that they have limited access to bank funding and are finding it difficult to obtain investors because of financial and legal risks.
This is compounded by a statement made by a farmer who says that he is looking to reinvent himself after a 20-year career growing cannabis. He is calling for a more lenient approach to small-time farmers by allowing them to undertake outdoor farms on their own properties and for the state to impose taxes that are more equitable to the small operators.
Facts and figures
—-> Only 534 California marijuana growers, representing 0.78 percent of the state’s farming industry, were licensed to operate by February 7, 2018.
—-> Only 13 of the state’s 58 counties have approved an ordinance to regulate the cannabis industry. In addition, six counties are expected to approve an ordinance soon, while 14 counties are still investigating the matter and expect to make a final decision sometime this year.
—-> Commercial cannabis activity has been banned in 25 counties, with no indication that this decision will be re-evaluated in the future.
—-> A ban by Sonoma County on rural residential zones excludes 3,000 farmers from participating in the newly-legalized market.
A report by the University of California Agricultural Issues Centre says that by bringing the underground farming community into the regulated market there will be more “product” available, with more customers, and more money generated.
This sentiment is endorsed by the Monterey County Cannabis Industry’s Dave Potter who says that Monterey is focussing on bringing businesses into the legalized system.
The county has put together a team which focuses on agriculture, health, planning and public safety issues surrounding compliance regulations with the sole purpose of bringing small industry players into the legalized cannabis mainstream.
Potter points out that owners of small enterprises need help to join the mainstream of the legal cannabis industry.


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Tapping from 6 Feet Apart: The Evolution and Rise of the Mobile Wallet Following the COVID-19 Pandemic
Pay It Backward: The History of the Mobile Wallet
Only three decades ago, the concept of making monetary transactions using a mobile device was completely non-existent. However, all of this changed in 2011 when Google introduced Google Wallet, making it the first major company to provide a mobile wallet. Users could make payments, earn loyalty points and redeem coupons, using a technology known as near field communications. In the following year, Apple Passbook, an app that allowed users to store boarding passes, tickets, and coupons, was launched. In 2014, Apple Pay was announced with Apple’s new app, Apple Wallet, which offered users the extended platform to now store credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards. Now, in 2020, the use of digital wallets has become more popular than ever and continues to grow exponentially.
Why has the use of digital wallets exploded?
The digital wallet offers users the ability to carry all of their debit, credit, and loyalty cards in their phone. For example, with Apple Pay, the app links to the user’s accounts, removing the need to physically carry the payment cards. Plus, people are constantly forgetting their wallets at home or in their car, but they rarely leave anywhere without their phone.
Through digital payments, you can complete a transaction in a matter of seconds using a digital wallet by tapping the smartphone at the checkout terminal.
Digital payment offers more enhanced security than any other means of payment. Unlike the physical wallet, digital wallets are usually password protected. Additionally, when the payment is made in-person or online, rather than providing the company with your card number, the transaction exchanges a unique transaction identifier which can help enhance the security of your data.
From Cash to Digital: the Pandemic Catalyst
The turn of the decade was followed by an unprecedented global shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the lives of billions. As the virus spread, economies began to collapse and governments sanctioned shelter-in-place orders, forcing many businesses to re-evaluate their transaction models to accept payments from smartphones. Additionally, the virus has led to the rise of digitality and this progression has been prominently seen in the financial industry.
As contactless payment has become the norm, cash no longer has the upper-hand. In September 2020, Terry Angelos, SVP Global Head of Fintech at Visa shared how Visa uses innovation to incorporate technologies such as crypto and blockchain, into its operations. According to PSCU, with COVID-19, Card-not-present (CNP) transactions have experienced an uptick, with debit CNP volumes up an average of more than 40% year over year and credit volumes up 15%. Even before the pandemic, shifting consumer preferences were becoming apparent in the digital space, with more consumers adopting online banking, downloading payments apps, and changing how they interact with their financial institutions. Hence, digital payment may remain permanent as the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated its integration into people’s lifestyles.
Cold Hard Reality: Who Gets Hurt When the World Stops Using Cash
Here’s the COVID-19 reality: You place your usual coffee order through the Starbucks app, pick out a new pair of jeans with just a tap of your phone, and use Amazon Go to get groceries delivered to your doorstep. All this completed in a matter of seconds and without the extra weight of cash and coins in your pockets. However, as convenient as it sounds, the drawbacks of a cashless society outweigh the benefits.
As businesses across the United States are going cashless with their transactions, smaller companies are especially at a competitive disadvantage. Why? To put it simply, smaller business often have less established foundations and consumer markets, as well as the lack of an economic moat. This means when change — big or small — occurs in the market, the business lacks the advantage over its competitors to help protect its market share and profitability. Putting COVID-19 back into the picture, these smaller business lack the digitality and adaptability to the new technology being used, and thus, they must exit the market. However, not are the businesses being affected, but also consumers who do not have bank accounts or credit cards.
Consumer advocates argue that companies who reject cash disadvantage two main demographics, namely:
- People who lack bank accounts;
- People who are wary of a loss of privacy and vulnerability to hacking with electronic payments, or simply prefer cash.
In 2019, about a quarter of American adults were unbanked or underbanked, meaning they lacked a bank account or had one, although the Federal Reserve found that substitutes such as check-cashing services were also used. These people are likely to be in a minority racial or ethnic group, have lower incomes and be less educated.
Tackling the former problem, some states, including New Jersey, California, and New York implemented the law that mandates acceptance of cash. However, as the pandemic grew worse, it has become more difficult to comply with this law. This is because an increasing number of restaurants and stores began offering the option of online ordering and digital payment to reduce physical interaction and the risk of infection, which has led them to have less physical cash. Moreover, due to the city lockdowns, coin shortages have occurred city-wide, which makes it difficult for stores everywhere to give change. As a result, the overall physical cash flow in the economy has diminished, which further increases the incentive for businesses and consumers to go cashless.
Money on My Mind: Adapting to the Rise of Mobile Wallets
The COVID-19 crisis offers a sudden insight into a future world, one in which digital has become crucial to any interaction, forcing organizations and consumers to adapt and change their models overnight. A world in which agile approaches to working are a prerequisite to meeting daily changes to customer behavior. Nonetheless, if a silver lining can be found, it would be the falling barriers to spontaneity and experimentation that have arisen among customers, markets, regulators, and organizations. So how can we make the most of this situation? The solution to adapting to the increased use of digital wallets is knowing your resources. Social media has never been more convenient than now. From Facebook Marketplace to Shops on Instagram, the solution to all your retail needs are held in the palm of your hands. Furthermore, as these marketplaces are built on social platforms, buyers and sellers can communicate efficiently to complete their transactions. Moreover, an increasing number of consumer retail companies, such as Starbucks, UberEats, and Zara have promoted and updated their applications to better cater to the needs of their demographics during the pandemic. Ultimately, the key to surviving this transition to digitality as a consumer is to know and love your phone.
The Two Cents
Living in a worldwide pandemic means a lot of change, especially for the economy, which ultimately affects everything and everyone. But with advanced technology, our lifestyles haven’t been limited by much. While some have been living this lifestyle prior to the pandemic, others have been struggling to adapt to the increased digitality of our world. As such, a cashless society might not be as good of an investment as it sounds. Overall, although the rise of the digital wallet has drastically increased in the past nine months and increased the convenience of transactions, it may create more drawbacks in the economy than benefits.
Author: Carrie Lu


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by Ruth Leubecker
While years of a thriving China lobster market have now ended for some Maine live lobster dealers, China’s import tax in retaliation to US tariffs remains narrow in scope.
“I think it’s all about perspective,” says Matt Jacobson, executive director, Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. “Five years ago we didn’t do anything in China. Today, out of 315 licensed dealers, we only have about six doing business with China.”


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How middle class Christmas has changed
NEW YORK — Thirty years ago, Sam Oliverio’s Christmas list included Teddy Ruxpin, Cabbage Patch dolls and Speak & Spell for his nieces and nephews. Playing Santa set him back about $350.
Nowadays, the Putnam Valley, N.Y., resident finds those small gifts won’t cut it.
Though he now only buys gifts for one niece and one nephew, both his godchildren, it’s all about tech. That means he’s spending $1,300, or nearly 60% more in inflation-adjusted dollars. That’s not easy for the assistant high school principal to afford.
Even the cost of his dogs’ Christmas gifts are rising faster than inflation. In 2003, he bought his late Golden Retriever, Carmine, a Jolly ball for $7. To buy the same gift this year for his German Shepherd, Memphis, cost him $22.
“Middle class wages are not keeping up with the cost of gifts,” said Oliverio, 61, who is divorced and doesn’t have children. “It’s much tougher to buy gifts that really awe the recipient.”
Overall, Americans plan to spend $861 on Christmas gifts this year, according to American Research Group, a polling firm. That’s up 35% from 1985. Median income, meanwhile, is only up 6.5% over that time.
(Christmas spending was higher than now for the decade preceding the economic downturn in 2007, but it was likely fueled by the tech and housing booms.)
CNNMoney readers wrote about how their Christmas giving — and receiving — has changed over the past 30 years. The responses varied, but many said they are spending more … and not all could afford it.
Technology plays a big role in boosting both cost and expectations, said Jeanne Etling, 63, a librarian in Schaumburg, Illinois, with two grown children. Three decades ago, when her kids were young, she bought them Transformers and Legos. Now, FitBits and printers will be under the tree.
Lisa Schultheis is spending a bit more on Christmas these days on her six children, who range in age from 20 to 28. But she and her husband, who consider themselves middle class, try to focus on fulfilling “needs instead of wants.” For instance, she’s buying her daughters comforters for their beds.
While many blame the run-up on Millennials for feeling entitled, Schultheis takes their parents to task.
“Part of the problem with Christmas is the parents today. They seem to be the ones who need to give the expensive gifts,” said Schultheis, 52, who lives in Tinton Falls, N.J. “It’s the parents who are playing the “Let’s keep up with the Jones'” game.”


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* Deal boosts smaller coatings division
* Biggest transaction since 2015 Bayer spin-off
* Covestro encouraged by faster business recovery
* DSM to increase focus on nutrition and health products
FRANKFURT, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Germany's Covestro
will buy Dutch peer DSM's Resins and Functional
Materials business for about 1.6 billion euros ($1.88 billion),
banking on a rebound of a global economy depressed by the
The deal, which will likely be wrapped up by March 2021,
adds products such as coatings for optical fibres, buildings and
cars, recyclable carpets and printable plastics.
The new business will add about 1 billion euros in revenues
to Covestro's Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties (CAS) division,
it said in a statement on Wednesday.
The company has swiftly rebounded from a slump due to the
coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, and finance chief Thomas
Toepfer expected that trend would continue into the fourth
Covestro has shunned larger takeovers since it was spun off
from Bayer in 2015, mainly because expanding its two
main units - makers of transparent polycarbonate plastics as
well as chemicals for insulation slabs and upholstery foams -
would trigger antitrust pushback.
The smaller but more profitable CAS unit makes additives for
coatings and adhesives, competing with DSM, Evonik,
Vencorex of France and Wanhua Chemical.
For its part, DSM said it would hone in on its nutrition and
health business, with products such as vitamins, baby formula
and animal feed accounting for two thirds of its 2019 group
sales of 9 billion euros.
Covestro shares fell 6.8% at 0915 GMT as analysts said the
deal's merit depends on ambitious annual synergies of 120
million euros targeted by Covestro by 2025, 80 million from
lower costs and the remainder from new revenue opportunities.
DSM stock gained 4.3%.
CFO Toepfer said exclusive talks with DSM had allowed
Covestro to have 150 experts scan the target for synergies.
"We are convinced these are ambitious but absolutely
realistic numbers," he said.
The buyer plans to sell new shares worth 450 million euros
to help fund the deal.
Covestro this month said it was not in talks to be taken
over by Apollo Global Management, reacting to a report
that the private equity firm was exploring a takeover.
Barclays acted as financial advisor to Covestro.
(Additional reporting by Bart Meijer, Patricia Weiss, Arno
Editing by Riham Alkousaa and Elaine Hardcastle)


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It's now running a special giveaway.
(Press Release) BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI – Fluff & Tuff, known for its high-quality plush dog toys, has hit a milestone by selling its 1 millionth toy.
Fluff & Tuff’s first retail partner, The Grateful Hound in Northampton, MA, sold the millionth toy on Sunday, Oct. 8. To celebrate the milestone, the lucky customer received five free Fluff & Tuff toys and the ability to donate 10 toys to any animal shelter.
To further engage retail partners and the consumers who helped them achieve this landmark, Fluff & Tuff is running a special “Golden-Georgia-Gator” giveaway (Georgia Gator is the company's first toy). Through random selection, 25 retail partners in the U.S. were chosen to sell a “golden-ticket” inspired Georgia Gator custom embroidered with a gold star. One lucky winner in each retail location will also win five free toys along with the opportunity to donate ten toys to an animal shelter of their choosing.
Charitable giving is a pillar of the Fluff & Tuff brand, with the recent announcement that 100 percent of profits from its annual holiday charity toy will go toward animal relief efforts surrounding 2017 hurricanes.
Founders Ellen and Chris Lawson said: “Thank all their retailer partners for the tremendous support over the years which played a crucial role in helping the brand reach such a milestone.”
PETS+ ON INSTAGRAM
The Latest PETS+ Headlines
- City Council Votes Against Requiring 4-Year Warranty for Pet-Store Dogs and Cats
- City Considers Requiring 4-Year Warranty for Pet-Store Dogs, Cats
- Pet Shop Reopens After Fire That Caused $425K in Damage
- Dogtopia Signs Deals for 14 Units, Plans to Have 400 by 2021
- Fruitables Dog Treat and Supplement Brand Acquired


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PMT Services Inc., an independent service organization in the merchant processing business, has bought Money Transfer Systems Inc., another such group.
The acquisition of Money Transfer of Clearwater, Fla., adds 5,000 merchant accounts to PMT's rapidly growing portfolio. Nashville-based PMT has bought four independent service organizations since last July, increasing both its merchant account base and its sales staff.
Observers said the deal points to continued consolidation in the merchant acquiring field, where smaller independent service organizations continue to find themselves squeezed.
"This transaction highlights PMT's dual strategies for growth through internal development and acquisition," said Richardson M. Roberts, chairman and chief executive officer.
Last fall, PMT bought American Heritage Bankcard of Chatsworth, Calif., Bancard Inc. of Boulder, Colo., and Retail Systems Consulting Inc. of Youngstown, Ohio.
Including the purchase of Money Transfer Systems, which was announced last week, PMT has gained a total of 23,000 new accounts, representing $3.5 billion in annual charge volume, Mr. Roberts said.
PMT has bought nine companies in 20 months.
Mr. Roberts said the acquisitions have helped PMT generate about 3,500 new accounts a month, up from 600 a month two years ago. The most recent deal will help PMT fetch up to 500 new accounts a month, he said.
PMT acquires merchant relationships and handles credit card transaction processing for them. Mr. Roberts said his goal is to become the second- largest merchant processor in terms of the number of accounts within the next several years.
PMT is one of the largest independent service organizations nationwide, linking up more than 150,000 small businesses with MasterCard and Visa networks. It ranked 12th nationwide in merchant processing volume, according to 1996 numbers from the Nilson Report.
"They are a well-run company," said Paul Martaus, president of Martaus & Associates, Clearwater, Fla. "They have a plan, and they are following that plan."
Mr. Roberts said PMT's strategy is to acquire "entrepreneurial, seasoned management teams."