text:
The American economy, badly in need of bright spots, is gaining strength from an unlikely source: the third world, where purchases of American goods rose 15 percent last year.
Nonindustrialized nations have increased their purchases from American businesses and farmers to $146.79 billion last year. And this year they are expected to buy even more. The United States still runs a large, but shrinking, trade deficit with these nations through purchases of fruit and vegetables, steel and oil.
The United States is also increasing its share of these countries' expanding imports at the expense of other industrialized nations. In effect the United States is claiming a growing slice of a growing pie.
American exports to wealthy countries remain enormous -- $70 billion last year just to Japan and Britain -- but as those economies have slowed, the growth rate of American exports has dribbled down to a very small percentage. Important U.S. Customers
During the first two months of this year, nonindustrialized countries bought 35.6 percent of American exports, the highest rate since 1982. The nonindustrial countries are mainly those in Latin America, Africa (except for South Africa), the Middle East and Asia (except for China, Japan and some former Soviet republics). Most of the exports go to middle-income countries like Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Malaysia and South Korea.Continue reading the main story
As dozens of top corporate executives met here on Friday and Saturday, one of the strongest themes was the rise in business prospects overseas from Santiago, Chile, to Alma Ata, Kazakhstan. "It differs from industry to industry but I sense among my colleagues here a growing confidence about the calcuated risks and opportunities in nontraditional export markets," said Robert E. Allen, the chairman and chief executive of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Economists Explain Trend
Economists offer a variety of traditional explanations for the gains: American manufacturing productivity is on the rise while wage increases have been modest, the dollar has fallen precipitously since 1985 and developing economies in Latin America and Southeast Asia are prospering as they sell state-owned businesses to private investors.
But three other reasons help explain the American success. One is that the United States, while a weak competitor in consumer goods, remains the leading producer of goods used to build nations, like telephone company switches, trucks, commercial aircraft and personal computers. Another is that while large American companies increasingly use factories in Europe and Japan to serve markets there, they have fewer factories in nonindustrialized countries and export to them from the United States. A third is that large markets, including Brazil and India, have been removing trade barriers, like Brazil's outright ban on many car and computer imports.
According to figures compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based group of 24 industrialized nations, the American share of sales to poor countries by industrial nations climbed to 29.6 percent in the first nine months of last year from 27.3 percent in all of 1990.
The role of exports to developing countries in American trade last peaked in the late 1970's, when high oil prices and huge commercial bank loans to third world governments created an investment boom. But in the early 1980's falling oil prices and high interest rates crippled many debt-ridden developing countries, and their ability to buy American goods crumbled. But now new economic policies and lower interest rates have once again revived many of these countries, and their imports are increasing, too.
American companies large and small have benefited.
A.T.& T.'s sales of central office switches and other telephone gear tripled in Latin America last year, to $80 million, and are projected to double this year, the company says. And in Clive, Iowa, the tiny Hettinga Equipment Inc. expects its sales of plastic molding equipment in Malaysia, Thailand and elsewhere in Asia to triple this year. Sales in India and Russia
Jeanine S. Hettinga, the president and chief executive of the 51-employee company, said she was also beginning to sell to Russia and India. Demand is especially strong in these newly opening economies for molding equipment, which is used to make automobile dashboards, vinyl car door panels, toilet seats and plastic cupboard doors.
The European Community's move this year to drop internal trade barriers "is a very protectionist move, and Japan has never been easy," said Mrs. Hettinga. "We have to look for more open markets."
The gain in trade with developing nations is also helping the recent economic recovery in the United States, and, therefore, is important to President Bush's re-election chances.
The Commerce Department estimates that the increase in third-world exports was directly or indirectly responsible for up to 400,000 jobs, and that without the extra demand from developing countries, the nation's economy would have shrunk 1.1 percent last year instead of just seven-tenths of 1 percent. Effect on Trade Policy
The rising exports are also strongly affecting American trade policy. One reason the United States is negotiating a free-trade agreement with Mexico and considering similar negotiations with Chile is that American exports to Mexico have almost tripled since 1986 while sales to Chile have nearly doubled since 1988. The trade agreements, the Administration says, will broaden the current free-market policies in in these countries and make it harder for future governments there to change them.
To be sure, American trade relations with the developing countries still have problems. The United States ran a $28.23 billion trade deficit with them last year, although this was half the 1990 deficit. With the slowdown of the British and Japanese economies -- which together cut their imports from the United States by 2.6 percent last year, while increasing them slightly early this year -- even the Commerce Department predicts that the nation's overall trade deficit may widen slightly this year. Bankers Are Wary
Burned during the 1980's by Latin American debts, most commercial banks remain reluctant to lend to exporters on the basis of payments expected from foreign companies. This has made it difficult for companies to finance their trade, and while the problem may now be easing, it remains a subject of concern at the White House.
The growing exports have come although many American companies made only weak efforts to sell goods abroad.
Fred Zeder, the head of the Federal agency that insures American investments overseas, complained at a Cabinet-level meeting in the White House on April 22 that earlier on the same morning he had canceled a trade and investment mission to Indonesia and Singapore for lack of interest among corporate executives. "I had, after six months of work, only three people willing to go there," he said.
Yet American companies that looked east and west for new markets two or three years ago are now looking south in particular, said David Rockefeller, a former chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Bank. "People are seeing that Latin America is probably the part of the world with the greatest potential for exports right now," he said. Gains in South America
American exports climbed 17.7 percent to Mexico last year and 19.6 percent to South America, but sales to other regions also surged. Exports to southeast Asia climbed 12.1 percent and shipments to the Soviet Union rose 15.9 percent.
The trend has surprised even some top policy makers. Brazil's Economics Minister, Marcilio Marques Moreira pointed out in a lunch discussion on April 28 that the United States's share of Brazil's imports had jumped to 24 percent last year from 20 percent in 1990, even though overall demand for imports there was stagnant.
"I really do not know exactly the reasons why," Mr. Moreira admitted.
A new study by Andrew M. Warner, an economist at the Federal Reserve, found that the level of investment spending worldwide determines the level of American exports more than the value of the dollar. The enormous widening of the United States trade deficit in the mid-1980's reflected not only the rise of the dollar but also weakness in investment abroad, especially in developing countries with large foreign debts. Products People Don't See
This trade deficit is most visible in any consumer electronics store or toy store. Most of the televisions or stuffed animals seem to be made in Korea or Taiwan or Hong Kong. Yet the United States remains very competitive internationally in products that many Americans seldom see.
"Developing countries traditionally have a greater need for capital goods and the United States is good at" making them, said Carla A. Hills, the United States trade representative.
At the same time, American companies still tend to supply third world markets from the United States. When Corning Inc. finds increasing demand for its tableware or fiber optic cables in Europe or Japan, it steps up production at its factories in those places, said Richard Dulude, a vice chairman of the company. But Corning has very few factories in the nonindustrialized world, so that extra shipments to them are coming from places like Corning, N.Y., or Wilmington, N.C.
"We don't have the manufacturing bases in the developing countries that we do have in developed countries," Mr. Dulude said.
The combination of all these factors has produced a small glow of outright prosperity in an otherwise slowmoving economy. "Exports are the silver lining of this recession, and within exports, it's capital goods to less developed countries," Mr. Warner said.Continue reading the main story


text:
High unemployment, falling prices and hefty debt levels haven't dissuaded U.S. investors from taking a bite out of equities in Europe.
RBS reported an annual net loss of £3.47 billion ($5.39 billion) in 2014 after booking a £4 billion writedown in the value of U.S. offshoot Citizens.
European and US companies have asked their governments for urgent help in stopping the implementation of new Chinese cyber security regulations. The FT reports.
A "solar tree" has been designed to provide shade, charge phones and offer free Wi-Fi.
Russia is getting close to Cyprus once again, despite their relationship being sorely tested when the island's banking system collapsed in 2013.
Economic costs links to depression rose to $210.5 billion annually in 2010, a 21 percent increase from 2005, spurred partly by the 2008 recession.
Morgan Stanley announced that it reached an agreement in principle to settle mortgage-backed-security-related claims with the Department of Justice.
As Chinese markets began trading in the year of the ram, analysts looked for ETFs that track the region's indices to profit from an expected rally.
Airbnb is one of three firms being considered to provide additional rooms for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Widespread corruption, a plunging currency and the ongoing conflict with Russia could harm Ukraine's reforms, which are a condition of financial aid.
CNBC's "Fast Money" traders saw upside in embattled BlackBerry after a day in which the stock popped.
Jim Cramer has cracked the case on why there is a boom on housing materials being sold, and not on new homes being built.
The cup is made from a wafer-like biscuit, then wrapped in sugar paper and lined with a layer of heat-resistant white chocolate, USAT reports.
If regulators toss a distance restriction on flights from LaGuardia Airport, it could open up transcontinental flights.
A lot of people are questioning why, exactly, the proposed "Nicaragua Grand Canal" would need to exist in the first place.
During war games, Iran state TV shows missiles hitting a full-scale model of U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. USA Today reports.
A building collapsed on West 57th Street in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon.
The new futures and options market for bitcoin just changed the game, says "Fast Money" trader Brian Kelly. Here's why.
Check out which companies are making headlines after the bell Wednesday: Salesforce, Avago, Workday & more.
A Chinese government push to promote e-commerce has created online retail rivals for the bigger names, catering to shoppers' fears about product safety.

domain: news


text:
Clifford Chance advised The Coca-Cola Company with regards to German law aspects on the combination of its three operations Coca-Cola Enterprises, Coca-Cola Iberian Partners and the German Coca-Cola Erfrischungsgetränke AG into the world’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler based on net revenues.
The company’s name will be Coca-Cola European Partners. As a combined company it is expected to realize on a pro forma basis annual net revenues of approximately $ 12.6 billion. The proposed merger is subject to approval by CCE’s shareowners, receipt of regulatory clearances and other customary conditions.
With more than 50 bottling plants and approximately 27,000 associates, Coca-Cola European Partners will serve an consumer population of over 300 million in 13 countries across Western Europe. With 48% the Coca-Cola Enterprises’ shareowners will hold the biggest amount of shares in the company. The shares will be publicly traded on the Euronext Amsterdam, the New York Stock Exchange and the Madrid Stock Exchange.
The Clifford Chance team was led by partner Dr. Andreas Dietzel and comprised partner Dr. Jörg Rhiel, of counsel Prof. Dr. Thomas Gasteyer, counsel Nele Gorny, senior associate Afroditi Tsobanelis-Görgen, senior associate Dr. Lars Laeger and transaction lawyer Moritz Erdmann (all Corporate, Frankfurt).


text:
About the business:
The Ortega Group is a building design firm founded by former minor league baseball player Kirk Ortega and his brother. The brothers started the company at the height of the market, only to watch the housing industry come crashing down. Armed with an in-depth knowledge of the industry, Ortega was able to nurture business relationships and weather the economic storms.
This year's Inner City 100 companies have fought off a sluggish economy through a combination of smart investment and savvy strategy. Here's how they are doing it.
|NJ agrees to ban Tesla direct sales|
|Five predictions for the World Wide Web that were way, way, way off|
|76% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck|
|The Deep Web you don't know about|
|West prepares sanctions against Russia over Ukraine|


text:
In fact, rumor has it the firm is no stranger to the Orlando market.
Sources said an entity related to Franklin, Tenn.-based UP Development — the same firm that bought the shuttered Toys “R” Us store and outparcels near the mall — has put a non-refundable deposit down on Orlando Fashion Square.
Scott Fish, principal of UP Development, couldn’t be reached for comment.
However, sources said plans for the mall could include a complete redevelopment.
Stay tuned to Orlando Business Journal for more on this story and other news on malls in Central Florida.


text:
- 65% of entrepreneurs have affairs, making them officially the biggest cheats in the UK
- Tech business owners are the most prone to cheating
- 70% of business owners revealed that their line of work influenced their decision to have an affair
- 23% of adulterers are business owners, tripling since 2004
Looking for real, lasting love? You better stay away from entrepreneurs, officially the biggest cheats in the UK.
A shocking 65% of business owners have affairs, making their line of work the most prone to cheating in the country. Of these, 82% are men and 18% women.
Results are from a recent survey of 2,500 members of IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s leading dating site for married people.
When asked if owning a business influenced their choice of having an affair, a staggering 70% voted yes, saying that their job made them more confident to “get back out there”.
Other reasons included a “go-getter mindset” and “seeking a relaxing environment outside of work.”
Bad news keeps coming for the entrepreneurial world, as the study also revealed that almost one quarter (23%) of people who cheat on their partner are business owners.
And what used to be considered a field for nerds and introverts is now a hotbed for infidelity, as entrepreneurs in the technology industry are the biggest adulterers.
The top industries in which business owners cheat:
- Tech (30%)
- Retail (21%)
- Media (19%)
- Sales (16%)
- Other (14%)
Charles, 42, tech start-up founder from London, says: “I started cheating on my wife 4 years after founding my own company.
“I was networking a lot and I could schedule my working hours: it was the ideal situation.
“I also have a different perspective on relationships now. Owning a business has made a more confident man, and more of a go-getter”
Spokesperson for IllicitEncounters.com Jessica Leoni explains: “We wanted to know if in 2019 any career was more prone to cheating than others, and we definitely got more than we bargained for.
The number of business owners cheating has tripled in the last 15 year as they now make up 23% of the total number of cheats (up from 8% in 2004).
Jessica Leoni comments: “It seems entrepreneurs are getting more confident, maybe even a bit cocky.
“Spouses, beware: we are expecting an even bigger increase of adultery from business owners in the years to come. Want a loyal partner? Definitely look elsewhere.”
NOTES TO EDITOR
IllicitEncounters.com is the UK’s leading dating website for married people and the leading authority on infidelity. With over 1.2 million genuine UK users since 2004, you’re sure to find your perfect match.
Established in 2004, we have been providing a meeting place for like-minded married and attached people for nearly 15 years. Our members have one thing in common – they are all looking for a little romance outside their current relationship. Whether that’s the occasional bit of flirtatious chat, a regular coffee date, or a full-blown affair, that’s up to them.
We’re always more than happy to talk about IllicitEncounters.com – please contact Jessica Leoni through the details below – but we’re not willing to speak publicly about SaraHartley.net at this moment in time.


text:
Up to $1,050 in direct payments will be rolling out this Valentine’s day, February 14. These payments are under the Middle Class Tax Refund program of California.
Residents of California are eligible to receive direct payments worth $200 to $1,050. These direct payments are part of the state’s Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) program. The payments have begun rolling out last October 2022. Fortunately, there will be another and final round of payments expected to roll out until February 14. The recipients of these payments are those who will receive debit cards or direct deposit payments. They are also those who have changed addresses since filing the 2020 tax return.
According to Salas-Rodriguez, the direct deposit payments are for those taxpayers who electronically filed their 2020 tax return. From the issued date, recipients must allow a two weeks interval before receiving the debit cards by mail. Some direct deposit payments are conducted within three to five business days from the issue date. However, these transactions depend on the financial institution. As one will also notice, the return address on the envelopes is from Omaha, Nebraska. This is because the Franchise Tax Board has collaborated with Money Network to issue the debit cards.
READ ALSO: 2023 Small Business Loans: How To Qualify For Them
Who is eligible for these direct payments?
According to an article from Modesto Bee, to be eligible for these direct payments, a resident must have filed their 2020 tax return by October 15, 2021 and met the state’s adjusted gross income limits. They must not be an eligible dependent in the 2020 tax year but have been a resident of California when the payments were issued.
Furthermore, a recipient will receive the direct payments through a debit card if they have filed a paper return, have a balance due, or received their Golden State Stimulus (GSS) and tax refunds by check. They may also receive debit cards if they have received their 2020 tax returns through direct deposit payments, received an advance payment from their tax service provider, or paid tax preparer fees using tax refunds.
READ ALSO: Free School Meals Under CEP Despite Changes This 2023


text:
There is some really exciting news this month – a new Fair Trade shop is opening in Winchester! ‘Fuzzi’ will be launched on Saturday 10 September at 8 Parchment Street. It is the brainchild of a young local couple, Andy and Hannah Mintram, and they have been working on it ever since their honeymoon in 2009. The shop will sell local, organic and fair trade food, clothes and crafts. All Fuzzi products will either support local producers, have a reduced impact on the planet and its resources, or promote fair trade. They will consist of a mixture of tastes, colours and designs that make the products desirable in their own right. ‘From jewellery by Tinklertastic in Kings Worthy to hand-crafted rugs made by a fair trade women’s co-operative in India, Fuzzi will bring the world to Winchester.’
Andy and Hannah hope that their shop will do more than sell their products. They would like to promote discussion, increase education, challenge habits and preconceptions, encourage new behaviour, and help people make informed decisions. It sounds like a pretty full agenda! It is great to come across young people with such vision and drive. They also plan to be a social enterprise, to donate money to local projects that increase sustainability and to local organisations which help raise awareness of sustainability.


text:
The Petroleum Products Retail Association of Nigeria (PETRON), says it will continue to ensure that the distribution process of petroleum products to retail outlets is not compromised.
Mr Francis Dimkpa, the Chairman, Rivers Chapter of the body said this in Port Harcourt while reacting to a viral video of pump attendants caught in the act of cheating.
He said that as part of efforts to unravel the perpatrators in the viral video, the union had set up a surveillance team in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
“Upon conclusion on investigation, it was gathered that the entire scenario was actually a deliberate action by two pump attendants in one of the Oando outlets newly acquired by NNPC (not an NNPC Mega Station) in Port Harcourt.
“The alleged pump attendants had resorted to cheating both management and customers of the station by shortchanging them,” he said.
Dimkpa also said that management of the alleged station had relieved the culprits of their jobs.
“Henceforth, we have mandated our team to increase survivance, focusing more on the activities of pump attendants because we cannot afford to allow some greedy staff continue to cheat our customers and even our stations.
“We are so far satisfied with efforts of the state government through the commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources and the Nigerian Police for their prompt interventions.
“We also want to assure the public that the dealer of the alleged fuel station had no hand in all of the anomalies especially seeing that the culprits have since been dismissed by the station’s management,” he said.
Meanwhile, a staff in the alleged NNPC outlet who pleaded anonymity had denied the allegation attributing the anomaly to faulty pump norsle on the dispense metres, but however, confirmed dismissal of indicated staff.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some customers have called for more stringent penalties for retail stations contravening stipulated operational guidelines.


text:
Heartland Bank Ltd said on Friday it would issue $125 million of notes on Friday 12 April, including $50 million of oversubscriptions, in an institutional & retail note offer announced a fortnight ago.
The 5-year notes will be unsecured, unsubordinated, medium term & fixed rate. The interest rate has been set at 3.55%/year.
The notes will be quoted on the NZX Debt Market from Monday 15 April.
Attribution: Company release.


text:
The Embassy of Italy in collaboration with the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC), the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the Italian Board of Tourism (ENIT) is pleased to announce the 4th Edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, Thailand edition 2019, based on this year’s theme: “Food Education: A Taste of Culture”.
From 19 to 29 November several activities will take place throughout Thailand, offering a unique opportunity to share with food lovers and friends of Italy some great culinary experiences and delight, based on the notion of healthy food an correct information to the consumer.
The official opening of the Italian Cuisine week will be the “Ospitalità Italiana Awarding Ceremony” on November 19th at Gaysorn Urban Resort.
At its 9th edition, this gastronomic event will recognize and certify Authentic Italian Restaurants in Thailand and showcase new food products from Italy. The President of ALMA, the prestigious Italian International School of Cuisine of Colorno, in the Parma province, will be a special guest for the evening.
In the course of the Week, dedicated menus will be presented by 20 top-notch Italian restaurants in Thailand: Gianni Ristorante, Galleria Milano, Mio Food&Art, Peppina, Enoteca, Italian Osteria, Brunello, La Scarpetta, Il Bolognese, Appia, Rossano’s and La Scala in Bangkok; Portofino, Acqua, Rossovivo, La Carbonara and Bocconcino in Phuket; Da Antonio in Chiang Mai; Acquapazza in Pattaya; and Pepenero in Koh Samui.
If you wish to taste Italy’s best wine with internationally acclaimed wine critic James Suckling do not miss the eighth edition of The Grand Tasting event that will take place on November 27 at Grand Hyatt Erawan, Grand Ballroom. This is Bangkok’s largest premium Italian wine event, showcasing more than 100 top-tier Italian producers handpicked by James Suckling himself at the walk-around tasting.
A Sicilian Journey with Chef Martina Caruso’s menu at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok on 22-23 November and 29-30 November at Banyan Tree Phuket. Chef Martina Caruso recently won the Michelin Female Chef Award 2019.
On 29 November the Week will be concluded by the 3rd edition of the acclaimed Charity Gala Dinner followed by a Live Opera concert “The Taste of Music 2019” at the Mandarin Oriental. For the first time in Thailand, a rare museum copy will be displayed of the Codex of the Flight of Birds by Leonardo da Vinci on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the passing of the Italian genius. For tickets: firstname.lastname@example.org
For further information, please contact: email@example.com


text:
A new campaign against GMOs
MEXICO CITY, (Tierramérica).- Environmentalists and other activists celebrated April 1 in eight Mexican cities the first World Day Against Transgenics, another name for genetically modified organisms (GMOs)*Source: Inter Press Service.
"It will be an important date for talking about transgenics, but especially for showing that there are other alternatives of production and consumption of organic food without risks," Areli Carreón, an activist with the watchdog group Greenpeace in Mexico, told Tierramérica ahead of the event.
The initiative, which involves 300 cities in 40 countries and in many cases entailed fairs offering organically grown food, was originally promoted by activists in France.
In Mexico, peasants, artists, intellectuals and organic farmers planned to participate in the activities, said Carreón


text:
US Cable Companies to Threaten Next-Gen Consoles
While many have suggested this next-generation of consoles is likely to be the last one, it’s also shaping up to be the most competitive one since the early 80s. You of course have the big three from Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony, but there’s also Valve’s Big Picture mode on Steam, the upcoming Ouya and streaming gaming from the likes of OnLive. However now, US cable companies could be joining the streaming revolution.
With an infrastructure already well in place in the form of cable boxes, networks like AT&T, Verizon and Time Warner are in a great position to offer streaming video games. We’re not just talking casual either, if the report by Bloomberg is to be believed, but AAA titles too.
For those interested in giving it a shot, trials are said likely to begin by the end of the year, with a full rollout if successful, to occur in 2013.
With most people in the large population centres in America using cable TV, the audience for such a service is massive compared to the likes of the UK where Sky is the only dominant platform and even then, it’s not even close to being as widespread as our friends across the pond.
These types of cable boxes are all the hardware a user will need too – save for a control of some kind if they don’t want to use their smartphone. Still, a smart company would allow for the use of third party Xbox controllers perhaps, immediately allowing for a big user base right off the bat. Technically they could even include it as part of a premium cable package; like a gaming channel of sorts.


text:
Most U.S. Consumers Don’t Know What ‘Carbon Neutral’ Means
As the world runs out of time to prevent the worst effects of climate change, brands have come under pressure to reduce the pollution generated by their operations. Some, including major names like Mondelēz International Inc. and Mars Inc., have designated their products as “carbon neutral” to signal a sense of environmental responsibility. The label indicates that, whatever emissions were released in the creation of the product, the brand compensated for their harmful effects by purchasing “offsets,” or donations to projects that reduce emissions such as by planting trees or sequestering carbon.
While carbon-neutral labels may come from a genuine desire to be sustainable, they can obscure a product’s true effect on the environment, according to Doug Stephens, founder of Retail Prophet.
“Offsets are rather murky,” said Stephens, who has worked with brands like Walmart Inc., Google and LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE as a retail futurist. “If you say your product is carbon-neutral, does that include your vendors and your vendors’ vendors? Or are you restricting it to your own activities? It needs to be analyzed in an end-to-end way.”
What’s more, “carbon neutral” does not appear to mean much to most Americans. New Morning Consult data shows that, while consumers are concerned about climate change, familiarity with the concept of carbon neutrality is not nearly as prevalent.
Most Americans Don’t Know What 'Carbon-Neutral' Means
- While a plurality of U.S. adults (41%) correctly identified the definition of carbon neutrality (“a company that produces carbon emissions but uses carbon-offset programs to remove as much carbon as they produce from the atmosphere”), a clear majority (59%) either incorrectly identified the term (by choosing either “a company that does not generate any carbon emissions during their manufacturing, provision or operational processes” or “a company that produces carbon emissions without using any programs to offset the carbon emissions they produce”) or said they did not know what it meant.
- Even among self-identified environmentalists (those who said they have changed their behavior “some” or “a lot” due to concern about climate change), less than half (45%) correctly identified the meaning of carbon neutrality.
Most Shoppers Don't Value Carbon Neutrality
- A majority (52%) of Americans said they have not seen a carbon-neutral label, and an additional 14% indicated they never try to buy those products.
- Among environmentalists, awareness was only slightly higher, with about half (49%) saying they’ve never seen the designation.
- About 1 in 4 U.S. adults (23%) said a product having a label that shows it’s environmentally sustainable is a major factor in deciding what food or beverage brand to buy over another. More than 3 in 4 Americans (77%) said reasonable prices are a major factor.
A question of values
Stephens said brands should think of carbon neutrality — and sustainability more broadly— as a part of brand identity, not just a selling point for marketing purposes.
“The brands that are indeed purpose-driven, that put social and environmental causes at the heart of their brand, have a greater chance of securing customer loyalty,” he said.
The July 26, 2022, survey was conducted among a representative sample of 2,210 U.S. adults, including 1,358 self-identified environmentalists, with unweighted margins of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points and plus or minus 3 percentage points, respectively.


text:
While more and more of our favorite headphones have become wireless over the past several years, there’s still room in the gaming headset space for high-quality wired options that work seamles
The pandemic has led to an increase in our consumption of online content, but not everyone wants to stream videos on their mobile. There are many who would like to stream videos on a big TV scre
TM has announced that it will replace any Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) for unifi services that have been damaged by floods without any charges. According to unifi’s FAQ dated June 2021 [p
The report discusses the drivers and prospects, primary segments, Porter’s Five Forces, value chain, key investment pockets, and competitive landscape in great detail. Touch Screen POS Systems
The Sony A7 IV makes a solid upgrade on the A7 III. In fact, it’s one of those rare cameras that makes a significant enough jump to warrant upgrading from one generation to the next. All of ou
RUEIL-MALMAISON, France--(BUSINESS WIRE )--Sagemcom announces the launch of its new IP/DVB-T2 Ultra HD Set-top Box, based on the BCM72180, a 24k DMIPS quad core SoC from Broadcom, with embedded
There were 175 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 184,433 in the last 365 days.
Set Top Box Is An Integral Part Of The Television Industry | Broadcom, Socionext
Copyright © HT Media Limited All rights reserved.
The year comes to an end but not the umpteen deals on smart TVs, especially on premium smart TVs that rely on QLED an


text:
By Ben Bland
Financial Times, London
Monday, February 28, 2011
The desire among many Vietnamese to keep gold as a store of value is both a cause and a symptom of the fast-growing nation's economic trouble.
Now the government has said it will ban the trading of gold bars in the "free market" as part of a package of measures designed to rein in soaring prices and tackle deep-seated economic imbalances. But it has befuddled investors and ordinary people alike.
Buffeted by persistent inflation and weakness in their currency, many Vietnamese prefer to save in gold and dollars. Their fondness for gold, which is often used to settle property deals and other large transactions, and for dollars puts further downward pressure on their currency, the dong, in a negative feedback loop from which it is hard to escape.
Vietnam's central bank said on Friday that to prevent speculation and market manipulation, the government would issue a decree in the second quarter of this year banning the free-market gold trade and thereby preventing cross-border smuggling. But, given the government's tendency to issue decrees and circulars by the truckload, gold traders and economists say the real impact of this latest pronouncement will be determined by officials' actions rather than words.
"Vietnam Central Bank Proposes Banning Gold Bullion Trading", The Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2011
"Vietnam eyes ban on unofficial gold bullion trade", AsiaOne, February 28, 2011


text:
With a theme of Circus – the exec team behind the charity fashion event are putting on quite a show – embracing diversity, colour and individuality. There are around 30 models – all students from within St Mary’s college – chosen in an anonymous ballot for their charisma and personalities. “it’s not about stereotypical ‘fit’ models walking down the catwalk – it’s about acceptance, embracing your individuality and not basing it on looks” explained Co-President Rudra Rhodes.
“It all ties together with the theme of Circus and their chosen charity – Mind – which is the real star of the show. Co-President Jemina Coleman exclaimed in a recent interview with the Palatinate, “the show is embracing every body shape and every kind of person”.
The enterprising Exec have been working hard to raise as much as possible for their charity Mind – all clothes for the catwalk have been donated from an eclectic range of fashion retailers from ASOS and Topshop to Hannah Beth Fincham, and Rokit and will go on to be raffled at the end of the evening with other raffle prizes donated by LK Bennett amongst others and table decorations from local businesses. And if that wasn’t enough the Exec have found time to stage a few more fun events in the lead up to the fashion show braving the recent cold weather to sell Doughnuts and a Rugby vs Netball match all to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and raise even more for their charity Mind.
The St Mary’s College Charity Fashion Show takes places at 7pm on 6th March – if you would like to support SMCCFS ’17 in aid of MIND visit their just-giving fundraising page
K3 are delighted to be one of the sponsors for the Charity Fashion Show and can’t wait to see those catwalk pictures!


text:
By many accounts, the Ferrari 458 Italia is already one of the best sports cars currently in production. The Pininfarina-designed racer replaced the Ferrari F430 when it debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and now it looks like the company is looking to one-up itself at the same venue this year with a Scuderia 458.
Ferrari's Scuderia automobiles are basically upgraded versions of some the carmaker's most successful models, with the last major release being the F430 Scuderia in 2008.
According to Car and Driver, the Ferrari Scuderia 458 will be capable of producing 600 horsepower, up from 562, due to new connecting rods built into the car that are capable of withstanding a 9,300-rpm redline. In addition, the Scuderia 458 will employ a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox from Getrag and a 4.5-liter V-8 engine. It's unclear what the car will retail for, but Complex estimates the sticker price will fall somewhere in the $400,000 range.
On top of the added horsepower, the Scuderia 458 will have an augmented exhaust system that further increases the sound generated by the car's engine. Car and Driver reports that the sound has been called "arrabbiato," which means "angry" in Italian.
One of the most noteworthy upgrades to the 458 Scuderia is to the bodywork. Carbon-fiber winglets will be used to create the composite plastic rear diffuser, which is reportedly active. This means that as the vehicle travels, the diffuser will change position based on speed, throttle and g-forces. Ferrari is also rumored to be looking to drop the car's weight to less than 2900 lbs. by using exotic compound materials.
Ferrari has already put out two other variants of the 458, not counting the versions designed solely for racing. In addition to the 458 Challenge, the company released the 458 Spider at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Spider features a retractable hardtop that the company claims weighs 55 lbs. less than a soft-shell roof. The Scuderia 458 will, if nothing else, be more exclusive than both of these as the company typically manufactures less than 500 units of the special edition automobile.


text:
Nicki Minaj is rolling with H&M. The Hip-Hop star will be face of H&M’s forthcoming holiday campaign.
But first, she will be rocking H&M to tonight’s (May 1) Met Gala is NYC.
Reports Page Six:
Page Six can exclusively reveal the rapper will wear H&M to the glitzy event, which has a theme of Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons.
Minaj will also be the face of the retailer’s upcoming holiday campaign, we’re told.
Last year, Minaj, 34, was escorted by Jeremy Scott, who designs for the fashion house Moschino.
See photos of Nicki Minaj at the 2016 Met Gala below.


text:
If you love shopping on High Street, now might be the time to get some bargains. Yesterday, a collection of retailers announced that they will be closing their stores and cutting jobs. Here are a few of those heading for the cutting block:
* Thornton’s said that it’s closing 120 of its poorly performing chocolate stores.
* Carpetright will shut 75 floor covering store outlets.
* TJ Hughes plans to place 4000 jobs in limbo as it evaluates what to do with its 57 stores.
* Jane Norman announced that 33 stores will be shutting soon, making 400 people jobless.
* Homeform said it will appoint an administrator, putting 1300 jobs in question.
* Kesa is considering selling its electrical retailer after having losses of £8.9million.
All of these examples show a loss of consumer confidence that retailers are facing across the country.
Certainly, all of this is sending out a red light across England, and giving people who are watching their purse strings even more reason to worry.


text:
National retail outlet Urban Outfitters announced plans on Friday to open a retail store at the corner of Haywood and College streets.
Ken Masri, Urban Outfitters’ director of store development, told a downtown development advisory board that it hoped to open in the former CVS drug store location by fall. Urban Outfitters plans to remove the plaster covering the exterior of the building to expose original brick, Masri said, and improve the “eyesore” of a building. The two-story, 8,000-square-foot store will feature a central staircase, large windows and merchandise tailored to the Asheville market, he said. It would bring life back to a large, two-story building that’s been vacant since the closing of the drug store earlier this year.
“We’ve been looking at Asheville for five years but never felt the timing or location was right,” Masri said. “Now we feel it’s time.”
The store’s plans got a mostly positive reaction from members of the Asheville Downtown Commission.
Small downtown retailers will be concerned about Urban Outfitter’s impact on them, commission Chairman Jesse Plaster said. “However, I feel like you’re really animating what’s been a dead corner for some time. I think there’s real potential to help downtown.”
Commission member Harry Weiss told the store representatives that their proposal will spark debate about the impact of chain stores on Asheville’s downtown business district, which is mostly populated by independent boutiques and locally owned small businesses.
“The whole issue of chain stores in downtown has been a rather abstract discussion,” Weiss said, despite the fact that there are chains in downtown, including Subway, Marble Slab, Mast General Store, and formerly the CVS drug store. “Your introduction into the community is going to be a great magnifying lens on that conversation,” Weiss said.
John Rogers, another commission member, said, “It’s wonderful, I think, to have you here. The building is such a dog the way it is now.”
Downtown retailers offered mixed reactions. Betsy Bradfield, owner of the clothing store Frock on Haywood Street, said she didn’t automatically object to Urban Outfitters, but added that “I think if we had more than one national chain, it would be detrimental to downtown. I definitely don’t want this to be a trend.”
Tamara Serapio, owner of the Talu clothing shop on Haywood Street, said she was opposed to Urban Outfitters coming to downtown.
“It’s against everything Asheville stands for,” Serapio said. “I’m anti-corporation. Corporations drive out people like me. I make clothing, I work directly with the people who make clothing for me. I do fair trade, and these people are going to put people like me out of business. But unfortunately, we have people who shop there.”
The owners of the Union clothing store on Haywood Street directly across from the proposed Urban Outfitters location declined to comment.
Masri told commission members that he understood the apprehension about a national chain moving into a small town.
“We thrive on having a closeness with other retailers,” Masri said, adding that Urban Outfitters won’t be in direct competition with other retailers. “I’m not going to compete with your business. I’m going to increase the draw to downtown,” and that will help all businesses, he said.
Urban Outfitters is still ironing out design details and a construction schedule, Masri said. But the store hopes that it can be up and running by Thanksgiving.
Urban Outfitters sells everything from men’s and women’s clothing to accessories, novelties, books and rugs. Urban Outfitters is a publicly traded company that also owns the apparel stores Anthropologie and Free People, and retail stores Terrain, which sell home and garden products. Aside from its retail business, Urban Outfitters specializes in adaptive rehabilitation of older buildings. It’s headquartered in restored buildings in an old U.S. Navy yard in Philadelphia.
— Jason Sandford, multimedia editor


text:
Seat remains committed to combustion engines
03 October 2018
Author: Simon Harris
Seat sees a future for petrol and diesel following the introduction of its first electric cars a year from now. Simon Harris reports.
Speaking at the launch of its new large SUV, the Tarraco, Seat's executive vice-president for research and development, Dr Matthias Rabe, said although the company will begin its adoption of electrified powertrains in 2019, it will continue to produce petrol and diesel cars.
The Spanish brand, which has posted record growth in 'true fleet' in the UK in 2018, will launch an electric version of the Mii city car in 2019, with a new medium-sized electric car in 2020 on a bespoke electric vehicle platform.
As well as fully electric models, Seat will also introduce plug-in hybrid models in the new Leon range, due for launch in 2019, as well as the Tarraco.
But Rabe said, "We will still see diesel engines in bigger cars, as we see emissions move closer to those of petrol engines.
"But in future, because of the cost of the exhaust after-treatment, it will be most suited to heavier, larger and more expensive cars, where that cost can be more easily accommodated.
"Diesel is already decreasing in smaller cars, and here we will see more turbocharged direct-injection petrol engines."
Rabe confirmed Seat will also adopt 'mild hybrid' technology, where a self-charging 48V battery powers a small motor that assists the engine with acceleration, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
But unlike conventional hybrids or plug-in hybrids, the vehicle cannot be driven by the electric motor alone.
The first plug-in hybrid Seats will arrive in 2019, promising CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km with a maximum charged range of more than 30 miles.
The Tarraco (pictured), which along with the Ateca and Arona brings Seat's SUV family up to three, will initially be available with a choice of 150 and 190hp petrol and diesel engines, with four-wheel drive available in conjunction with a DSG automatic transmission.
The plug-in hybrid variant will use a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, offering a maximum combined powertrain output of 210hp.
The Tarraco range will be launched with three equipment grades: Style, Xcellence and FR, with five-seat and seven-seat versions available.
It is similar in size to the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, sharing many components, and will be built at Volkswagen's plant in Wolfsburg.
The Tarraco will take the Seat brand into uncharted territory for pricing, with many versions priced at more than £30,000, especially for a brand previously associated with value for money and reaching a youthful audience.
Seat president Luca De Meo said, "The success we've had with the Ateca suggested the Tarraco would be possible."
He added that most Ateca models sold are at the higher end of the range, and in order to continue growing the company needs to have a presence in popular sectors.
De Meo says that currently Seat has a 70% conquest rate, and is predicting another record profit year in 2018, in spite of some delays in production related to
He said the medium SUV sector has grown by 100% in five years, and is predicted to increase by a further 40% by 2025, demonstrating room for the Tarraco.
But Seat is committed to continuing its other seven-seat model, the Alhambra MPV, as bosses say it still sells well and appeals to a different audience from the Tarraco.
Rabe said the Alhambra would undergo a major update in the near future, taking on some of the safety technology featured in the latest Seat models, which should see the car continue on price lists well into the next decade.


text:
Amazon.com’s (AMZN) announcement last week that it is testing a new delivery service has spurred the latest round of chatter that FedEx (FDX) the parcel shipping giant will become yet another victim to the e-commerce giant’s ever expanding reach.
Cowen analyst Helane Becker insists that those worries are overblown. In a note published today, Becker reiterated her Outperform rating and $ 240 price target on Fed Ex shares, arguing that the company is well positioned to overcome new threats while at the same time improving long-term value for shareholders.
How? Becker says FedEx has a well-proven history of adapting over the decade to various economic environments and along the way, managed to build a powerful brand and enormous scale. Add to that, it has a geographically diverse aircraft fleet, a network of global distribution centers and a commitment to investing in information technology.
Plus, Becker notes there is FedEx’s management team led by CEO Fred Smith since the company’s inception in 1973.
[Smith] has been instrumental in the company’s long term success. Furthermore, Mr. Smith is the largest single shareholder of FDX with ~19.5 MM shares, which equates to more than 7% of shares outstanding. Mr. Smith currently owns more shares than any of the major investment companies, suggesting there is room for increased institutional investment. Looking at the current senior management team each member has been with the company for more than 25 years, and most have a significant investment in FDX.
Now at $ 221.37, FedEx shares are up 0.26% action. The stock fell 2.3% last week to close Friday at $ 220.80 a share.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Let’s block ads! (Why?)


text:
The latest Humble Bundle is dubbed “Friends of Nintendo” and includes several renouned titles redeemable on a Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.
As usual, players can compensate as small as a dollar to clear a initial contingent of titles, that this time includes Retro City Rampage: DX, Affordable Space Adventures, and Shantae and a Pirate’s Curse. Paying some-more than a stream average—$9.58 during time of writing—unlocks Freedom Planet, Rhythm Thief a Emperor’s Treasure, and Citizens of Earth, with some-more games entrance soon.
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, and Darksiders II are accessible for those that for those that compensate some-more than $13 for a bundle.
Like all prior offerings, business can additionally select how their income is divided adult between Nintendo, dual charities, and a Humble Bundle organization.
Source: Humble Bundle


text:
It looks like not everyone is happy over Android devices. Oracle Corporation is suing Google over their Android software. Oracle, who acquired Sun Microsystems and Java earlier this year for 5.6 million dollars earlier this year, is claiming Google "knowingly, directly and repeatedly infringed Oracle's Java-related intellectual property" in developing Android according to Oracle spokeswoman Karen Tillman.
This lawsuit is reportedly one in a series of Oracle's movements to more actively enforce Java patents, which they are claiming Google has infringed on by using portions of Java technology in the Android operating system. "Sun's corporate philosophy was obviously very different from Oracle's in terms of enforcing the Java patents," said Edward Reines, an IP litigator at Weil Gotshall.
There has not been any official response from Google, who are still reviewing the lawsuit.
- > NEXT STORY: Sony Bundles Free Game with 120GB PS3 for limited time
- < PREVIOUS STORY: COD: Black Ops Prestige Edition is epic


text:
Saturday July 26,2014 : WILLIAMS INTERACTIVE SUPPLIES PLAY4FUN GAMES TO PARX CASINO
Social casino platform carries popular WMS-Scientific Games content.
The Parx land casino in Pennsylvania is spreading its free-to-play social casino games business around, adding the Play4Fun site with software from Williams Interactive to its selection from GameAccount Network .
The Williams Interactive product carries popular WMS games and is designed for desktop and mobile users with iOS and Android devices.
"Our aim is to continue building an engaged online player community in the near term, while positioning our operation for any potential future legalization of i-gaming,” Parx technical executive John Dixon explained.
In related news, the Casual Connect conference in San Francisco this week saw the launch of GamePoint Poker by the Dutch developer GamePoint, a prominent multi-player social games supplier on Facebook and through apps.
“We’re proud of this latest addition to our suite of social casino games," said business director Rik Haandrikman.
"After extensive testing by GamePoint players on our own portals, we feel we’re ready to present GamePoint Poker to the world by launching it on Facebook. With GamePoint Poker, I feel we’ve created something that our players will love.”
Also launching new social games this week was the Korean developer GameSpring, which introduced its Baccarat Online 3D on Facebook, along with apps for iOS and Android mobile devices.


text:
- 2014 Retail Store of the Year: And the winners are …
- Saks’ Chicago flagship to devote two floors to new in-store men’s format, The Fifth Man
- Saks Off 5th plans seven new stores
- Bloomberg: Home Depot cutting health benefits for 20,000 part-timers
- Toys ‘R’ Us moves interim CEO into role permanently; names new U.S. president
New York City -- Saks reported Tuesday that its net income rose to $36.3 million for the quarter ended Oct. 30, up from $6.3 million in the year-ago period. Third-quarter 2010 results were helped by a surge in luxury spending and a $26.7 million gain related to income tax reversals.
Revenues rose to $658.8 million for the quarter, compared with $631.4 million the prior year. Same-store sales increased 5.7%.
“We feel much better about the overall tone of business and the way our customers are responding to our initiatives," said Steve Sadove, CEO, in a statement, while acknowledging the economic recovery remains tentative.
Saks’ flagship store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, which accounts for about 10% of chainwide sales, produced strong results in the third quarter, boosted by spending by tourists and Wall Streeters.
The company currently operates 47 Saks Fifth Avenue stores, 58 Off 5th stores, and saks.com.


text:
A 7-Eleven store has opened in PACIFICO Yokohama!
Improving safety and security in our convention complex: the counter terrorism joint training designed for large scale commercial facilities
Free high-speed wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) service is now available in the Exhibition Hall and the Annex Hall.
Bay Bridge Cafeteria now offers dishes without pork and non-alcoholic drinks.
“Prayer mat and Qibla compass free rental service” to our Muslim guests will start!
Aiming to cater to the needs of Muslim visitors, we will offer them a new service in cooperation with Yokohama Culture and Tourism Bureau.
The new service will be launched on July 13 at PACIFICO Yokohama, strengthening our capability to host all the clients at our convention facilities.


text:
The US dollar has kept a strong grip over its major currency counterparts so far, successfully keeping cable interbank rates marooned under the 1.21 mark on the back of yet more positive consumer spending readings at the start of the week. Major investment banks expect this trend to continue with the pound likely to struggle as we draw closer to the Brexit deadline in October.
So much so that further dollar gains are expected despite many already forecasting back to back Interest rate cuts from the federal reserve in September and October, the likes of which would typically weaken the value of the currency in question.
Morgan Stanley for example cited the escalating trade war and weaker than expected domestic business confidence as clear drivers for curbing inflation levels, which has already started to force the Fed’s hand. The fact the dollar’s value has continued to drive upwards goes some way to highlighting the lack of faith in the pound at present.
Focussing on the trade war with China, the global markets will have been relaxed Trump’s decision to delay the tariff rise on Chinese goods, in a bid to protect consumers during the festive period and indeed fend off the growing fears of a global recession.
Before this statement, Morgan Stanley were predicting a global recession will come if the trade war escalates through the U.S. raising tariffs to 25% “on all imports from China for 4-6 months.”
“As we view the risk of further escalation as high, the risks to the global outlook are decidedly skewed to the downside,” chief economist Chetan Ahya said.
China had promised to retaliate to new tariffs that President Donald Trump said were due to begin on Sept. 1. China’s response to the US president’s withdrawal is yet to hit the headlines. Volatility could be expected given the global implications it may hold.
All the staff I spoke with were helpful ,courteous and knowledgeable. The service is efficient and FCD make the exchange process hassle free.
Personal, attentive. What more can I say? First Rate.
Efficient, friendly, personable – I have used this service several times and will not hesitate to call on them the next time a foreign currency transfer is required.
Quick, competent and friendly: a reassuring excellence of service, which I heartily recommend to every potential client.


text:
Ubisoft has released a new trailer for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, one which puts Evior’s fate in the focus.
Check out the new trailer down below:
As mentioned above, the newly released trailer focuses on the protagonists, Eivor’s fate, which plays a big factor in the game. Titled Eivor’s Fate Character Trailer, the new video drives home the point that our leads fate will stray him far from his home in order to fulfill his destiny. Although no new gameplay is showcased, the cinematics is looking phenomenal and very reminiscent of a film. Nonetheless, the game seems like loads of fun and this holiday season can’t come quick enough.
In related news, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla had a heavy presence at Ubisoft Forward, the company answer to showcase video with the absence of E3. We saw a gameplay overview trailer that showcased the game’s raider assaults and weapon customization. In addition, fans were met with a whopping 30-minute gameplay walkthrough with the game’s lead director.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla releases on November 17, 2020, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game will also release on next-generation consoles as well with an upgrade free of charge.
What are your thoughts on this new trailer? Did it excite you to play this title? Let us know in the comment down below and be sure to stay right here at Gameranx for the latest gaming news releasing.


text:
- Global brand experience agency, Spiro™, reflects on results, successes and accolades on 1st anniversary
LAS VEGAS, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spiro™, the global experience agency for NEW NOW™ had a historic inaugural year in business, securing numerous high-profile awards while establishing itself as an industry leader and one of the top contenders in several other major award categories.
Launched in March 2022, as part of the GES Collective, Spiro sought to help brands adapt to NEW NOW™, or the evolution of the events industry brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Spiro helps clients create impactful experiences that transcend traditional media to meet audiences where they are.
Spiro's efforts, both on behalf of its own clients and the events industry at large, have racked up an impressive list of awards and recognition in its first year. Most recently, Spiro was shortlisted for Campaign's Global Agency of the Year award and his work was recognized for Caterpillar's EXHIBITOR Best in Show award at the International Consumer Electronics Show. Along with inclusions also in Chief Marketer's Top 200 Marketing Agencies 2023, Event Marketer's Fab 50 and Top 100 IT 2022 list in Dubai last December.
"These awards are a true testament to the team we've assembled and our continued efforts to lead the industry," said Jeff Stelmach, Spiro's global president. "We're proud of what we've been able to accomplish in our first year, positioning our clients as authorities within their respective fields and helping other marketing, branding and events professionals address the ongoing changes in the industry."
Spiro has created several initiatives to grow its community and establish itself as the global brand experience agency for NEW NOW. This includes the launch of n•Spiro™, his thought leadership program, his work with CBSNews.com as a leader in innovation and disruption, along with various roles in industry publications.
To learn more about Spiro, the successes of its first year, and the n•Spiro Thought Leadership Program, visit ThisIsSpiro.com.
Spiro, part of the GES collective, is the global brand experience agency for NEW NOW™. We create global events and experiences that redefine the way humans connect and bring them to life through integrated physical, digital, mobile and hybrid media. Working with some of the world's most recognized brands, Spiro's strategists, creators, innovators, builders, marketers and specialists are experts in analytical and strategic event management, creative design and production. Working together, we deliver experiential exhibits, high-impact conferences and events, product launches, sponsorship activations, and consumer pop-ups that unite audiences, wherever they are.
Media Contact: Ashley email@example.com
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2051731...Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1774232...
View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spiro-reflexiona-sobre-los-resultados-los-exitos-y-los-elogios-en-el-primer-aniversario-301795560.html


text:
Amazon has launched a QVC-style livestream store in India, expanding its offerings in its key overseas market, where it has staked more than $6.5 billion to win customers.
The retail group on Friday rolled out the new service called Amazon Live, which allows an army of more than 150 creators to host live streams and plug products into the videos. The idea is that influencers, with a large following already, will drive their fans to the shopping app and influence them to buy products. Every time they can sell something, they get a discount.
Amazon Live currently hosts live streams in a variety of categories, including electronics, fashion and beauty, and home decor in the app. The videos had averaged 30 to 600 simultaneous views at the time of publication. The company says it will run 15 live streams per day between 10 a.m. and 1 a.m.
The launch follows Flipkart, owned by Walmart, Amazon’s main rival in India, which is also testing a similar offering on its app early this year. Amazon itself quietly launched Live in the US in 2019, trying to get a share of an emerging shopping trend popularized by YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Live shopping originally gained traction in China, where many influencers consistently sell items worth millions of dollars in a single broadcast. Austin Li, a popular influencer, sells over $1 billion worth of goods in one session.
But whether the model will work in India remains a big question.
In the meantime, New Delhi is preparing to tighten rules to stamp out false and paid reviews of products on e-commerce websites and social media platforms. A framework of regulations aimed at people who endorse merchandise will: released soonthe government said.
On a FAQ page, Amazon identified the influencer program as an extension of its Amazon Associates (affiliate) program. The company requires these influencers to have an account with YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or Facebook to be eligible.
According to a recent report from investment firm Sanford C. Bernstein, Amazon is lagging behind Flipkart in India on several key metrics and struggling to penetrate smaller Indian cities and towns. Amazon has so far offered “a weaker proposition in ‘new’ commerce” in the country, the report added, pointing to innovations by Flipkart and unicorn social commerce platforms Meesho and DealShare.
At stake is one of the world’s last major growth markets. E-commerce spending in India, the world’s second largest internet market, is expected to double in size to more than $130 billion by 2025.


text:
PlayStation Vita's initial sales weren't quite as high as Nintendo's 3DS enjoyed, but it's been a good launch, right? Actually, not really. After launch weekend sales of around 321,000 units, it only managed 72,479 in the following (full) week according to TechDigest. That's 137,500 less than 3DS managed in its first full week after launch. Worse still, it seems punters have also been leaving many of the more expensive 3G version on the shelves. Subsequently, some retailers appear to have already taken it upon themselves to cut the 3G version's price by as much as 20% in order to shift units. Crikey.
Above: That's 24,999 Yen, not 24.999 Yen, just to be clear. That would be about 21p
In case you're wondering what all this Wi-Fi/3G nonsense is about, there are two versions of the Vita hardware. They're essentially the same, both allowing access to the internet through Wi-Fi like most laptops and PCs these days. However, the 3G version can also download data from the internet using mobile phone networks, a SIM card and a monthly data plan, much like a 3G-enabled iPad. It's this version of the Vita that's reportedly seeing the price cuts, bringing it down to the equivalent of $325 or £208.
That's exciting for us in the West, especially as the Vita's suggested RRP was seemingly aimed at competing with 3DS' price point when it was announced at E3 last year. Since then, Nintendo's machine has seen a massive official price reduction (to around £140 now in the UK), meaning if Sony wishes to remain competitive, it may have to come down some more before its launch over here. Even if the official RRP isn't dropped, if retailers are already doing it unofficially in Japan, it'll be interesting to see what stores like GAME and GameStop do under their own initiative here.
Above: These were the prices announced back in June last year. Good then... but now?
Of course, any price for the 3G model has to be taken in context along with how much a data plan will cost. Reports today suggest that US mobile network AT&T will be charging the same price per month for Vita data plans as they already do for 3G-enabled iPads, at $14.99/month for 250MB or $25/month for 2GB.
In the UK, similar data costs are reasonable. Existing Orange customers, for example, can get 500MB a month for £5 using a 3G personal wi-fi hotspot (which costs extra) or as a tethering bundle for their phone, or new customers can do the same for £10 a month after buying the 'My-Fi' hardware. Connect your Wi-Fi Vita to that and you don't need the 3G version of the machine.
Too many choices? Too many extra charges? Just too expensive in general? It's a situation that Sony needs to handle delicately, or else it could have another PSP Go situation on its hands. New hardware, high price, unshifted stock and premature demise. Nobody wants to see that.


text:
SD Association launched January 2000 to lead the industry
SAN RAMON, Calif. — The SD Association (SDA) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary after launching 20 years ago with a mission to reinvent the memory card and make life easier for consumers and businesses everywhere. Throughout the years, SD memory cards evolved, expanded capabilities and became the number one card of choice. Today, these cards play a critical role in a variety of devices and uses unimagined 20 years ago.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The trusted family of SD memory cards give consumers and business users a choice, increase the usefulness, value and longevity of numerous consumer electronics by offering unprecedented portability, upgradeability and interoperability. SD memory cards have become the de facto storage device for billions of products in this mobility era when more storage is required. By 2023 and beyond, enterprises, machines, industries, consumers, science, and more will be generating 103 zettabytes per year, according to IDC. Data generated by consumers and businesses, whether it is from smartphones, tablets, laptops, drones, surveillance cameras, or automobiles, rely on SD memory cards to keep their music, movies, TV shows, games and photos safe and always accessible.


text:
Mac computer sales rose by 51%
Profits at US technology giant Apple have jumped 36% as consumers snap up its MacBook computers and iPods.
The firm made a net profit of $1.05bn (£0.53bn) in the quarter ended 29 March, compared with $770m in the same period a year earlier.
Apple shipped 2,289,000 Mac computers during the quarter, a rise of 51% from the year before.
International sales made up 44% of Apple's revenue, which totalled $7.51bn in the quarter.
"We're delighted to report 43% revenue growth and the strongest March quarter revenue and earnings in Apple's history," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO.
"With over $17bn in revenue for the first half of our fiscal year, we have strong momentum to launch some terrific new products in the coming quarters."
The company sold 10,644,000 iPods during the quarter, a 1% rise, which dispelled some fears that the market for the media players was saturated.
Apple said it shipped 1.7 million iPhones.
Some analysts had raised questions about the iPhone's success after O2 and Carphone Warehouse reduced the UK retail price of the standard handset by £100 to £169 in an effort to attract new customers.
The figures surpassed analysts expectations but the company was less optimistic on the outlook for the rest of 2008.
Apple said it expected revenue to total $7.2bn in the next quarter, less than some Wall Street analysts were expecting pushing its shares down 2.8% in after hours trading.


text:
The US government has been quite busy lately in drafting new legislations to face the risks posed by social media platforms owned by foreign adversaries like China. Still under review, the RESTRICT ACT is its best chance so far to finally be able to clamp down on its #1 enemy: TikTok.
Despite sharing some of the privacy and security concerns around the Chinese-owned data-hungry app, experts believe that the proposed laws and, ultimately, making TikTok illegal in the US have the potential to bring more harm than good for users.
"If we really were concerned about foreign governments getting US user data, we would regulate how companies can collect, retain and sell data in the first place. That would be comprehensive data privacy regulation," David Greene, Civil Liberties Director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), told TechRadar.
Unfortunately, it looks like the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA) would not protect citizen data anytime soon. Keep reading as we explain how using a VPN service and other hacks can help you improve your digital privacy and security in the face of increasing government control.
1. Choose the platform according your own risk
"I think there's a legitimate concern that TikTok data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government, but there's also a concern it could end up in the hands of the US or other governments. Everybody has their own individual threat model," said Greene.
He recommends, in fact, that people assess their own risk before choosing to use or avoid a certain app.
For instance, deleting TikTok can be a really valuable option for those whose privacy is paramount. That's because the app employs both an intrusive tracking system and data-driven algorithm to carry out its functionalities. The platform has also been found guilty of illegally spying on US journalists. Its Chinese ownership might be a reason for concern, too, especially for users working across certain sectors.
According to Caitlin Vogus, the Deputy Director of Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT)'s Free Expression Project: "Individual users should think carefully about the services they use and how their data may be collected or used by those services."
2. Make data collection as difficult as possible
It could be that, at times, you might not be able to avoid using a certain online service, app or device. That's why you need to keep the personal information you share at a minimum.
Vogus told us that one of the steps people should take to protect their security is "checking their general device privacy settings to restrict data sharing as much as possible."
You can even consider tweaking the privacy settings on your online accounts to make sure you're not revealing your precise location, home address, phone number and other sensitive details.
Not oversharing identifiable content on social media is also a good way to protect your data security online.
3. Encrypt everything you can
Using software employing end-to-end encryption is also vital to prevent authorities and other snoopers from spying on what you do online.
Opt for some of the best encrypted messaging apps, like WhatsApp and Signal, when you want to text or call your friends and family. There are also some secure email providers you can use to encrypt your email communications. Proton Mail and Tutanota are a couple of good examples.
A virtual private network is also your best ally for enjoying a safer and more private browsing experience by spoofing your IP address. Using the Tor browser will give you the security of your data being encrypted up to three times. As this level of safety is likely to slow down your connections, you might want to try Mullvad browser instead.
It is also worth noting that, despite encryption being under attack across democracies on public safety grounds, providers have been voicing their strong opposition to proposed laws as well as commitment to keep protecting users no matter what.
4. Pick a trustworthy VPN
We already mentioned the benefit of using a VPN to protect your online activities. However, you should choose your service carefully and make sure you can really trust your VPN provider.
For starters, you should be skeptical of many free VPN services out there as these might be the first apps to harvest your data for profit. In some cases, they might be even a vector to malware attack, not to mention poor performance as well. Our favorite freebies right now are PrivadoVPN and Proton VPN Free.
As a rule of thumb, a secure VPN should offer strong encryption protocols, powerful security features and a strict no-log policy. The latter means that the provider never retains sensitive information about you and what you do with the service. Even better, if your chosen service is independently audited.
The RESTRICT Act is more than a “TikTok ban.” Tell your representatives to oppose it. https://t.co/UKZs1DoXXeApril 9, 2023
Last but not least, if you are worried about the current situation, you should voice your concerns against the RESTRICT Act and any other bills seeking to give authorities more powers over what citizens can and cannot do online.
If you are concerned of the potential consequences of a TikTok ban or for your general privacy online, take the time to sign petitions, join active campaigns and/or contact your representatives.
Just remember to boost up your online privacy posture before taking action.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life—wherever cybersecurity, markets and politics tangle up. She mainly writes news, interviews and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, cybercrime, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for TechRadar Pro, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide. Got a story, tip-off or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to email@example.com


text:
While donning distinct dresses, the identical triplet sisters gracefully proceeded down the aisle simultaneously. Despite initial plans for varied hair and makeup styles, they ended up sporting identical looks, yet radiating beauty nonetheless.
The grand wedding boasted a guest list of 600 attendees, as per a blog post by wedding planner and guest Ariadne Durante. Additionally, the trio was accompanied by a total of 18 bridesmaids, each adorned in a unique dress to complement their bouquets.
Durante disclosed that the brides had agreed upon having a unified wedding over a year before the ceremony, a tradition not uncommon on the bride’s side of the family.
Reported by ABC News, grooms Rafael, Gabriel, and Eduardo Thome had mixed up their partners at times in their lives, but on the wedding day, distinct bouquets ensured clarity.
Alterations were made to the Cathedral Nossa Senhora Aparecida in Passo Fundo, Brazil, to accommodate the trio at the altar. Following the ceremony, the newlyweds shared the signature dip pose, marking one of the sweetest moments of their lives.
Now happily married, the couples have begun building families of their own, as evident from Rafaela, Rocheli, and Tagiane’s Facebook profiles.
Despite concerns online regarding potential sibling relationships among their children, such worries were dispelled, given the lack of familial ties among the grooms.
These sisters not only share the same birthdays but also now celebrate their wedding anniversaries in unison.


text:
OKO participates in Hostelco/Alimentaria 2018
OKO Smartframe has participated as an exhibitor during these days. At the stand (F628), the OKO team presented "OKO Business", a complete Cloud Digital Signage Solution, that includes in only one product the hardware and software needed to deploy a simple, efficient and practical digital marketing system. Thanks to its easy installation and with an intuitive content manager, one can supervise and control business operations in shops or hotels.
From left to right: Jordi Jiménez (OKO team), Ferran Falcó (Gral Secretary, Ministry of Territory and Sustainability, Generalitat de Catalunya), Josep Garcia (MaxChief Europe SL), Xavi Salla (OBICEX) and Eugenio Oñate (Director of CIMNE)
4,500 companies from 70 countries has exhibited their products in Alimentaria 2018 and nearly 150,000 visitors has registered, 30% from 156 countries. The fair has generated an estimated economic impact of 200 million euros, it reflects the strength of this joint edition that covered 100,000 m2 of net exhibition space, practically the entire Gran Vía area of Fira de Barcelona.
From left to right: Members of the OKO team: Pedro Arnau, Eugenio Oñate Hospital, Andreu Tarracó and Jordi Jiménez (team leader).
alliances aulas awards biomechanics biomechanics and health cerca cimne CIMNE cimne-tecnologia civil-engineering coffee talk companies congress course dissemination energy-and-environment ERC-awards gid iacm ict job offer media new building r+d+i research researchers research-overview science for society seminars structural engineering software technology-transfer transport upc velassco worldwide


text:
This week, Thailand became the 35th country to get Google Street View with three of the kingdom’s main cities — Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket — already viewable at ground level. I checked out Google Street View as soon as it was released and, boy, is it cool. In the neighborhood of Bangkok where I live, I could even see street vendors I know cooking their daily offerings (their faces are blurred for privacy), and could go up and down my soi, even checking on details on buildings I hadn’t noticed before.
Google Street View is going to be an excellent tool for Thais, who may not know how to get somewhere and can now easily look at street by street directions and find landmarks to help them. It will also be an amazing way for tourists and other visitors to Thailand to be able to check hotels they want to book, to see if there are restaurants, shops, businesses, coffee shops, bars and markets nearby. In fact, if you’re booking a hotel from a foreign country, Google Street View is now a great way to check out a neighborhood for desirability before you reserve a room.
Eventually, Google Street View in Thailand plans on having all 77 provinces mapped, but that could take a while as, with only 15 cars, and a few bikes for those not so easily accessible places, that’s a lot of driving time. Floods last year also delayed the Street View team from getting to certain areas, and plans had to be changed for which cities would be next on the list of fully mapped places in Thailand.
The Google Street View team are now photographing Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom and Nakhon Nayok, with the hope that they will be fully mapped and uploaded online soon.
At Tasty Thailand, we think this is one of the coolest things to happen to internet for Thailand in quite a while. Our only problem is now stopping ourselves from spending all day browsing Bangkok’s Google Street View. It’s addictive.
Also, don’t forget, you can choose the “Full Screen” mode once you get into Google Street View and then really see everything Bangkok has to offer. Well, now I’m off back to browsing my neighborhood.


text:
EVO Payments, Inc. (NASDAQ:EVOP), a leading global provider of payment technology integrations and acquiring solutions, will release its third quarter 2022 financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, November 2, 2022.
EVO Acquisition by Global Payments
- On August, 1, 2022, EVO and Global Payments, Inc. (“Global Payments”) announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Global Payments will acquire EVO for $34.00 per share in cash in a transaction that represents an enterprise value for EVO of $4.0 billion. The press release announcing the transaction is available on the Investor Relations section of EVO’s website.
- In light of the announced transaction, EVO will not host a conference call or webcast to review the third quarter 2022 financial results.
About EVO Payments, Inc.
EVO Payments, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOP) is a leading payment technology and services provider. EVO offers an array of innovative, reliable, and secure payment solutions to merchants ranging from small and mid-size enterprises to multinational companies and organizations across the globe. As a fully integrated merchant acquirer and payment processor in over 50 markets and 150 currencies worldwide, EVO provides competitive solutions that promote business growth, increase customer loyalty, and enhance data security in the international markets it serves.
Sarah Jane Schneider
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Manager


text:
Some weeks ago Bloomberg wrote the headline “Daimler Steals Tesla Thunder With Heavy-Duty Electric Truck”. Of course, we do enjoy reading a headline like that. But let me point out here that it’s by no means about stealing thunder. Instead, it’s about adding some. Because our common goal is to add as many sustainable mobility and logistics options to the mass market as possible. And that’s what we do.
Logistics are a key driver of traffic in and outside of big cities. Some 65-billion parcels are delivered the world over every year. And as we all know from our personal shopping habits this trend will likely accelerate in the future. Estimates see the amount of parcel deliveries doubling within the next ten years alone. That’s why emission- and nearly noise-free trucks, buses and vans are such a powerful lever to helping make our environment more livable. And that’s why we are dedicated to bringing more and more of them to the market.
Moving freight, moving people.
More than a year ago, we were the first company ever to present the concept of a fully electric truck for urban distribution of up to 25 tons. The “Mercedes-Benz Electric Truck” showed what’s technically feasible – and we just kept going from there …
This October, we unveiled our “E-FUSO Vision One”: a heavy-duty all-electric truck concept with a range of up to 350 kilometers (about 220 miles) on a single charge and a payload of up to 11 tons.
With the “FUSO eCanter” we already have a fully electric light-duty truck on the road that specializes in short-distance and inner-city delivery. Among our first customers in the U.S. is UPS.
And to get even closer to last-mile delivery and right up to people’s doorsteps, we are also working on fully electric vans. We have partnered, for example, with Hermes logistics, which is going to upgrade its delivery-fleet with 1,500 electric vans from Mercedes-Benz by 2020.
Daimler is making significant progress in the process of electrifying the entire supply chain. We are a leader in developing sustainable and locally emission-free logistics. Yet we won’t stop at delivering cargo. It’s just as important for us to move people in a sustainable way.
Last week we also introduced an iconic, all-electric yellow school bus from our partners at Thomas Built Buses. We call the bus “Jouley”. Jouley will be ready to silently and safely take kids to school starting in 2019. Even earlier, in late 2018, we are going to launch series-production of our all-electric city bus “Mercedes-Benz Citaro E-Cell”.
All of these examples go to show: We are dead serious about building momentum and adding some thunder to the silent revolution of future logistics. And we are already well down that road. I welcome and encourage all others to join our effort and add some thunder and impact of their own. Because we believe: sustainable logistics can really make a big difference for the environment as well as for the quality of life in our cities. And we thrive on competition!


text:
Is the Mini Cooper a Reliable Car?
We love the Mini Cooper because of its unmatched driving dynamics and dashing style. You don’t have to look further than the Mini for a fun-to-drive car that’s ideal for city living. But just how reliable is the Mini Cooper?
What Consumer Reports says about the Mini Cooper
We can’t deny how fun the original Mini Cooper is, but it has a spotty reliability history. According to Consumer Reports, the Mini’s checkered reliability history has a lot to do with the past recalls on the model and overall owner satisfaction ratings. CR determines a vehicle’s predicted reliability score based on its extensive testing and research across 17 potential trouble spots. These include a vehicle’s engine, driving system, and suspension.
Based on its research, CR gave the Mini Cooper its lowest possible predicted reliability score for model years 2006-2012. Potential trouble spots for the Mini during these model years include its engine major, engine cooling, and electric system. However, CR notes that the Mini Cooper has matured over the years, which has helped boost its dependability ratings.
The Mini Cooper was fully redesigned for 2014, and the current 2020 model is part of this same generation. Since its last major redesign, the Mini Cooper has significantly improved upon its problematic areas. From 2015 onward, CR has given the Mini above-average reliability scores. Based on CR’s recent studies, we recommend the Mini’s 2015-2019 model years as the best to buy used.
J.D. Power’s dependability scores
J.D. Power also agrees that the Mini Cooper has come a long way in regards to reliability. In 2019, J.D. Power deemed the Mini Cooper as its most dependable compact car and ranked the Mini brand fourth overall for dependability. Four years prior, J.D. Power ranked the Mini as 28th out of 32 for reliability. J.D. Power’s rankings indicate that the Mini Cooper’s quality has significantly improved. The 2020 Mini also earned a top spot on J.D. Power’s vehicle dependability list.
RepairPal’s rating breakdown
RepairPal determines a car’s reliability scores based on a consumer’s annual cost of ownership. That being said, RepairPal ranked the Mini Cooper last for reliability in the subcompact car class with a 3.0 out of 5.0 score. According to RepairPal, the average annual repair costs for the Mini are $846, while the average cost of ownership for other subcompact cars is $456.
The predicted ownership costs are worth considering before you buy a Mini Cooper. RepairPal also notes that Mini Cooper owners are more likely to have to bring their vehicles in for unscheduled repairs than other subcompact car owners.
Summing it all up
As we mentioned earlier, the Mini Cooper’s overall quality has dramatically improved over the years, contributing to its higher reliability ratings. Buying a used Mini is a good idea if you’re looking to get this classic ride at a discounted price. If you are serious about buying a used Mini, make sure that the model you want has undergone routine maintenance.


text:
March 20, 2017 5:05 a.m.
In the KQEN Business Spotlight:
The Roseburg J.C. Penney’s store is not on the list of Oregon stores that the retail giant plans to close this year. Late last week the company released information saying that five of the fourteen stores in Oregon would be shuttered. The company cited the “growing threat of online retailers” among the reasons for the move.
Oregon stores that will close include locations in Astoria, Grants Pass, LaGrande, Pendleton and The Dalles. Liquidation sales will begin in mid –April with stores closing by sometime in June. Nine stores in the state will remain in operation.
Nationally around 5,000 workers will be displaced as 138 stores close. That leaves the chain with around 900 locations open. The move follows similar announcements of store closures from Macys and Sears.


text:
Picture the golden arches and what do you think of? More than likely, it’s fast, cheap, greasy food filled with salt, saturated fat and other specious ingredients.
But McDonald’s is bent on changing that image. The company has taken up the banner of transparency with its nutrition and sourcing information, and has introduced environmental stewardship initiatives into its supply chain.
Product packaging now features QR codes for customers to scan to get nutrition information. All U.S. franchises now serve Marine Stewardship Council–certified fish. McDonald’s Australia rolled out a smartphone app called TrackMyMacca’s that traces ingredients from menu items back to their source. And McDonald’s Canada has been answering all its customers’ ingredient- and nutrition-related questions on its website.
And it’s still all in the name of giving consumers what they want.
According to the company’s website, McDonald’s mission is “to be our customers’ favorite place and way to eat.” They have more than 34,000 restaurants worldwide in 119 countries serving almost 69 million customers per day. It’s a tough job to please so many.
“The most important thing is that McDonald’s is making those changes because it lives by serving the needs of every man and every family—it cannot have any other purpose,” said Peter Wennström, president of Swedish consultancy The Healthy Marketing Team. “The minute they stop doing that, they’re dead.”
More than just lip service?
The company has rolled out several sustainability-focused initiatives in a few of its developed markets, namely Canada, Australia and the United States. But is it all just lip service? Whether the company walks the walk as much as it talks the talk is worthy of exploration.
Suffice it to say that, for now, they’re talking the right talk—sustainability and transparency are on trend, and McDonald’s has the opportunity to own that conversation in the fast food market. As health, wellness and sustainability become driving forces in consumer purchasing decisions, McDonald’s needs a selling point that allows consumers to permit themselves to eat their food.
“The concepts of motivation and permission are very important in the areas of food and health and lifestyle,” Wennström said. “They need to keep the motivation up by having great-tasting food, but then they also need to add permission for you to go into McDonalds.”
Permission is the tough one. Customers consider things like nutritional value, sustainability or whether food is sourced locally or not. Wennström calls these “permissibility factors.” McDonald’s needs to have these factors in order for customers to continue to eat there.
“They need to serve the mass market. And the mass market—their perception of what’s good is constantly changing,” Wennström said.
The power of transparency
One thing that consumers want is answers to basic questions about their food. “What’s in your Chicken McNuggets?” “Why should I eat anything that has ingredients like ‘dimethylpolysiloxane’ embedded into it?”
So, in August 2012, McDonald’s Canada gave customers the floor, and set up a public question-and-answer forum on its website. Canadian consumers simply go onto the website and post a question about food currently on the Canadian menu. Within a few days McDonald’s should respond. Sometimes the response is a brief statement while other times it may be a video. By having their questions answered, customers can feel more comfortable with McDonald’s as a food option.
In keeping with this idea of clarity, McDonald’s decided this month to redesign their packaging to incorporate QR codes that provide nutrition information. All bags and beverage cups host QR codes that can be scanned to find facts and stories about the food it contains through a mix of illustrations and text.
“Essentially the QR codes were really a way that we could give our customers a relevant way in order to get that information,” said Christina Tyler, public relations manager for McDonald’s USA. “This is just the next opportunity to really help give the information to the customers where they’re at and the way they want it.”
On the sustainability side, McDonald’s decided this month to serve only Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fish. MSC certification ensures that the fish consumers eat came from a sustainable wild-capture fishery.
“We’re very excited about our partnership with McDonald’s,” said Kerry Coughlin, MSC regional direct for the Americas. “The fact that McDonald’s is now stepping forward to communicate to its 25 million [U.S.] customers a day that they are sourcing sustainable fish for all of their fish menu items is just a huge boost for awareness around sustainable seafood issues and empowering consumers to make choices that supports sustainable fisheries.”
All of McDonald’s fish in the U.S. is MSC-certified Alaska Pollock, a very large and conservatively managed fish source.
According to Tyler, McDonald’s has actually been serving MSC certified fish since 2007; they just hadn’t gone through the assessment process to obtain certification until recently.
“It’s evident from our partnership with McDonald’s that they have a genuine interest in the sustainability of their supply chain and that they’re taking concrete steps, concrete actions to back that commitment up,” Coughlin said.
Consumers of MSC certified fish are able to trace the fish they eat back to the fishery it came from. The boxes that McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish and new Fish McBites are served in will have a code that you can then use to trace back the fish.
More to come
On top of these recent changes, it’s likely McDonald’s will continue to make more.
“Each year we accomplish a Nutrition Progress Report following on our 2011 commitment to offer to improve nutritious choices,” Tyler said. “We’re continuing to look at ways that we can balance great taste and great value.”
Currently, McDonald’s is working to figure out how to improve more upon their coffee. And Wennström said it’s possible that customers may see the company cooperating more with local stakeholders and incorporating more local sourcing in the future.
So while McDonald’s isn’t the super nutritious and sustainable corporation some would like it to be, at least it’s trying.
“Their whole purpose is to be good to the people they serve, and you cannot sustain being a globally leading fast food chain by serving bad food with bad ethics, bad nutrition and bad sustainability,” said Wennström. “You will be washed away.”


text:
Nokia World is still a couple of weeks away, but the leaks they just come on a-comin'. Now two ads have leaked to Pocketnow showing off the tile-based user interface that can only be the Windows Phone operating system. And the big news is the handset known as the will be known as the Nokia 800, if the ads are to be believed.
A second ad names the handset as the Nokia 800, so Sea Ray could have been the working title.
This second ad is keen to stress how easy the handset makes sharing pictures and updates, while the more colourful one pictured here seems to emphasise the limitless potential of the phone and operating system.
The Nokia 800 may not launch alone either. Last monththe company's first handsets for Microsoft's operating system would be known as the Nokia Sabre and Nokia Sea Ray. Other code names doing the rumour rounds include Lumia (though that may be for other countries), Sun and Ace. So we could be seeing more than two WP handsets unveiled, though bets are on for just two to start.
A few weeks ago, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop told a Chinese publication the company's first Windows Phone handset. Reuters reported last week that , and considering Nokia's original aim was to release this year, it seems it's still on target.
Nokia World starts in London on 26 October, and we'll be there bringing you all the news as it happens. What would you like to see from the Finnish phone company? And are you excited by its Windows Phone offerings? Let us know on our Facebook page.