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Experts have expressed concerns about what they described as Nigeria’s huge supply chain and logistics challenges, offering opportunities for massive impact.
To change the paradigm, Africa Resource Centre for Supply Chain, ARC Nigeria, a collaboration of Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, advocates private sector collaboration in the country in order to strengthen public health supply chain.
He experts noted that particular emphasis was on the availability of vaccines, essential medicines, and medical products.
Speaking during a maiden ARC Partnership Forum recently in Lagos, CEO, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, said the private sector had the expertise, resources, and capabilities that the public health sector could benefit from to improve the availability of medicines, health commodities, and provide effective and resilient supply chain systems.
Referencing a Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2014 survey of transport and logistics, Umar-Sadiq noted that a recent World Bank ranking showed that Nigeria underperformed when weighed against global and regional peers on key levers of logistics and supply chain efficiency.
The 2014 Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry transport and logistics survey showed that 25 percent of annual profit of industrial operators in Lagos State was lost to “clumsy transportation system.”
“More worrisome is the fact that studies confirm shortage of logistics staff and managers, while universities in Nigeria are not aligned with industry or government needs in supply chain capacity,” he lamented.
Umar-Sadiq said ARC Nigeria aimed to achieve an improved performance of the supply chains to increase the availability of medical health commodities; arguing that, “collectively, the private sector possesses both tangible and intangible assets that give it a distinct advantage in tackling specific health issues, including building resilient supply chain systems.”
In her submission, the Regional Director, ARC Nigeria, Azuka Okeke, said, “ARC Nigeria is currently working to build a centralised and regional supply chain resource centre that can provide independent advice, develop partnerships and share experiences and learning across countries to help ministries of health meet their public health goals.”
“ARC is focusing on areas that collectively leverage supply chain expertise, tools and capabilities to support performance improvements in the public health system.
“These areas include supporting supply chain strategy, advocate for supply chain investments and providing independent advice and expertise; supporting health ministries to shape investments and align donors and implementing partners,” Okeke noted.
In his view, Global Solutions Director, UPS Foundation, Jim Coughlan pointed out that the biggest opportunity was finding ways to engage the private sector, given their knowledge level and intellectual capital in supply chain management.


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The UK’s Police Intellectual Property Unit has raided a UK-based pirate TV streaming operation said to be responsible for the distribution of thousands of illegal devices worldwide. In addition to the seizure of dozens of servers, three men have been arrested.
Following a series of dawn raids carried out yesterday morning in Lancashire, PIPCU arrested three men aged 36, 40 and 58, on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering offences.
PIPCU say that the operation received assistance from local police and a forensic investigator from the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT).
While previous operations against streaming pirates have usually resulted in the seizure of Kodi-enabled Android set-top boxes, this operation appears to have gone a step up the chain.
Photographs provided by PIPCU show what appears to be a somewhat sophisticated operation, beginning with satellite TV reception.
The PIPCU operation spanned three residential addresses and an as-yet-unnamed business premises. It seems likely that the photograph of the server room shown below was taken in the latter location. Thus far, PIPCU say they have seized approximately 30 servers.
Firstly, PIPCU claims that the devices were being sold as legitimate products that could provide content to users anywhere in the world for an annual fee of around £400. Second, the unit also identified a small town with a population of just 41,000.
So, given the location of the raids and the specific nature and size of the business, one company in particular stands out as the most likely candidate.
The outfit has not yet responded to our requests for comment so naturally we won’t name them, but we do know that they offer IPTV packages to the expat market and those abroad for just a few pounds less than the £400 mentioned by PIPCU.
The packages (and indeed the hardware) are also marketed and sold as entirely legitimate. We’re also aware that a staff member at the company was previously involved in another business dealing in satellite communications.
Read more at TorrentFreak

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Ansoft Corporation (ANST)
News from The Business Journals
Feb 19, 2003, 4:47 pm EST
Ansoft Corp. slid to a quarterly loss as revenue fell, the company said Wednesday.
The maker of design automation software said revenue for its third…
Nov 21, 2002, 11:45 am EST
Ansoft Corp., which makes design software for engineers, said its second quarter earnings fell steeply and missed analysts' estimates.
Sep 16, 2002, 2:02 pm EDT
Ansoft Corp., whose software helps engineers design satellites, cellular phones and circuit boards, is laying off some staff and refocusing its business…
Aug 22, 2002, 4:23 pm EDT
Shares of Ansoft Corp. fell more than 13 percent Thursday, the day after the company released first quarter earnings that widely missed analysts' expectations.…
Aug 22, 2002, 8:03 am EDT
Ansoft Corp., maker of design software, released what it called disappointing first-quarter results Wednesday.
The South Side company said revenue fell…
Jun 28, 2002, 10:45 am EDT
To capture a share of the growing market for hybrid vehicles, Ansoft Corp. added two programs for the design of fuel cell and lead-acid batteries to its…
Oct 10, 2001, 12:17 pm EDT
South Side-based Ansoft Corp. expanded its operations by opening offices near Detroit and in Nagoya, Japan.
The offices will provide software design,…
Sep 11, 2001, 10:03 am EDT
Ansoft Corp. earned $916,000, or 7 cents a diluted share, on revenue of $11.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2002. This compares to $324,000,…
May 3, 2001, 5:30 pm EDT
Ansoft Corp., which creates software used to design high-technology products, has purchased a technology from Palo Alto, Calif.-based Agilent Technologies…
Feb 14, 2001, 12:45 pm EST
Altra Broadband Inc., a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Ansoft Corp., has opened a research and development facility in Burlington, Mass. This Boston Technology…
Jan 31, 2001, 10:51 am EST
Ansoft Corp. has signed a software licensing agreement with Sweden-based Allgon AB, which creates communication electronics.
Ansoft will supply high-frequency/RF…
Jan 18, 2001, 12:30 pm EST
Pittsburgh-based Ansoft Corp. has purchased SIMEC GmbH & Co. KG, a Germany-based company with technology that allows automobile designers to model…
Jan 11, 2001, 3:55 pm EST
Ansoft Corp. released the newest version of its High Frequency Structure Simulator, which enables engineers to design 3-D high-frequency structures such…
Oct 17, 2000, 11:09 am EDT
Ansoft Corp., Pittsburgh, has formed a new business venture, Automotive Product & Technology Solutions.
The new arm of the company will address…
Sep 22, 2000, 3:45 pm EDT
Altra Broadband Inc., a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Ansoft Corp., opened a research and development facility in Irvine, Calif., today.


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Cadillac is refocused and doubling down on its product. But above all, the Cadillac team led by GM veteran Michael Albano is putting people first.
This year, more than two dozen cars entered the 90-mile tour from the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline to the Colony Hotel in Kennebunkport.
NEMPA welcomed president Martin Fritsches of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America to Boston, where one of his company’s 37 U.S. dealers serves customers across New England. On hand were two exquisite examples of the Phantom sedan and the first Roll-Royce SUV, the Cullinan, along with communications director Gerry Spahn.
For 2019, NEMPA once again invited a panel of leading experts to the MIT Media Lab, one of the nation’s preeminent research centers for software and technology, to discuss the social, ethical, and technical challenges in bringing self-driving, self-aware cars to reality.
— Association Also Honors Executives and Industry Standouts — Cambridge, Mass., May 29, 2019 — At its annual awards dinner, held at the MIT Media Lab, the New England Motor Press Association honored four individuals for their outstanding contributions to the automotive industry and awarded trophies for the organization’s annual NEMPA Winter Vehicle, Ragtop and […]
The 2020 Telluride is exactly what Kia needs as it injects high-end style and impressive comfort into its value-conscious image.


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Photoshop is one of the Internet’s eternal hate-issues.
It’s ubiquitous. It’s ridiculous. It causes problems.
It is no secret that advertisers and magazine producers use Photoshop extensively to make their models look thinner, sleeker and blemish free. But, because it helps people make money, it’s probably not going anywhere.
That hasn’t stopped sharp-eyed, anti-Photoshop activists from launching online petitions and boycotts, joining blogs that are devoted to ending the visual distortions the program helps promote.
A trio of representatives has been quietly working toward a more official type of action.
It’s called the “Truth in Advertising Act,” and it was introduced in late March by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Lois Capps (D-CA) and Ted Deutch (D-PA) with vocal support from organizations like the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) and the Brave Girls Alliance (BGA).
Legislation was recently introduced into Congress by Seth Matlin who published an op-ed on The Huffington Post titled “Why Beauty Ads Should Be Legislated.” He called for integration from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to regulate the use of altered images in commercial advertisements.
If passed, the Truth in Advertising Act of 2014, would require the FTC to develop what’s called a “regulatory framework” for advertisements that make significant changes to a model’s image through digital retouching such as Photoshop.
Per the bill’s introductory language, it’s intended “to direct the Federal Trade Commission to submit to Congress a report on the use, in advertising and other media for the promotion of commercial products, of images that have been altered to materially change the physical characteristics of the faces and bodies of the individuals depicted.”
“We can no longer sit by and allow this to happen,” said Matlins. “Ads that take Kim Kardashian’s body and make it Miley Cyrus’s” should prompt “regulatory action.”
The bill does not directly advocate an immediate ban on photoshopped advertisements, but rather calls attention to the negative effects on the well-being of consumers.
These effects include unrealistic images of women in advertising that often get blamed for an increase in eating disorders and body image problems among young girls exposed to this type of media.
According to The National Institute on the Media and Family, the medical statistics point to a problem: 53 percent of 13-year-old girls are dissatisfied with their appearance and body image. When they reach age 17, the number jumps to 78 percent.
Eating disorders have the highest mortality of all mental illnesses; 30 percent of high school girls and 16 percent of high school boys suffer from disordered eating.
“People shouldn’t have to change their lifestyles because of an advertisement they saw in a magazine. Photoshopped advertisements are obviously unrealistic, and for a girl to feel the need to change themselves for an image that isn’t even real is just absurd,” said sophomore Erika Marshall.
Supporters from the EDC argue that glossy magazines and print ads featuring unrealistically thin and beautiful women can cause problems for young girls’ self esteem and should be regulated to offer a more realistic image.
“Social media enforces the image that for a woman to be beautiful, you cannot have flaws. That is entirely not true and rather impossible. Everyone has flaws that shouldn’t be hidden or photoshopped to promote a ‘perfect’ image for advertisements,” said sophomore Sydney Cho.
When asked about the absence of involvement of the publishing industry, Matlins said, “It will not solve, nor address, every single problem that affects the way we feel about ourselves, that affects health and happiness. Our bill is not a First Amendment issue, because we’re not going against things that are universally protected.”
“The bill is a great idea. Businesses need restrictions on how much refurbishing and photoshopping can be done on an image. It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” said sophomore Alex Singer.


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Samsung is gearing to launch its India-first Galaxy M-series on January 28. The series will have three devices to boot – Galaxy M10, Galaxy M20 and Galaxy M30. Only the Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 will be announced on January 28. The Galaxy M30 will come later. The Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 have leaked comprehensively ahead of their January 28 launch, and now a new piece has been added to the puzzle by Samsung itself. The Samsung Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 will launch with Android Oreo software and will get the Android Pie update sometime in August.
The information comes from Samsung’s in-house Members app that comes pre-installed in many Samsung Galaxy phones. It is the same app where users need to go and register in case, they’re looking to test Android Pie-based One UI Beta for their premiere Galaxy phones like the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S8. The Samsung Members app has listed Samsung’s roadmap for Android Pie update for its devices and in it also lies information about the yet-to-be-announced Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20.
While it’s disappointing that the Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 will ship with Android Oreo software out-of-the-box, it surely comes as a relief that potential buyers now have a set time-frame when their devices would get the Android Pie update. There are many buyers who like to make their purchase basis of assurance of guaranteed and timely software updates and a set time-frame ensures Samsung will have their back should they buy the Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20. Even more so, since the Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 are set to be entry-level and mid-level devices starting as low as under Rs 10,000.
Samsung has been transparent and quick with its Android Pie update roll-out as opposed to say last year with Android Oreo. The company had initially kicked off Android Pie beta rollout for its flagship Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ and Galaxy Note 9 in October-November 2018 and already these devices are on stable update. The company is currently rolling out Android 9 Pie beta for the Galaxy S8-series. Now that even its mass-market products are in line to get Android Pie, Samsung is seemingly making sure its entire portfolio is updated to the latest software faster than in the past.
It will be interesting to see if the Samsung Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 will get One UI with the Android Pie update. Currently, One UI is limited to Samsung’s top-tier phones. Whether or not its budget offerings will also get it – or if Samsung will roll out a toned-down version – is something only time will tell.


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Mr. Illingworth, senior VP-general manager of the Toyota division, says he and other executives at Toyota Motor Sales USA immediately knew the Japanese-designed little four-wheeler would be a hit in the U.S.
"It's a sense," says Mr. Illingworth, 52, who hadn't heard about the vehicle till Japanese managers showed a photo at a board meeting. "You know when you see it that it will work."
When RAV4 created raves in the global automotive press during spring 1994 with its Japanese launch, Toyota already was readying the U.S. introduction for early this year. And it's a rave here: Toyota sold 19,000 in four months.
RAV4 marks the first time Toyota has invented a category-sport utilities based on cars-and a cool, innovative one at that. American Honda Motor Co. and Ford Motor Co. have plans for competitors.
Rather than assuming it knew the market, Toyota created dream-themed advertising via Saatchi & Saatchi/Pacific, Torrance, Calif., that left it up to consumers to decide if they fit into RAV4. That seems riskier than positioning a new product for a narrowly defined market, but it proved smart: RAV4 is snagging middle-aged buyers.
Mr. Illingworth says Toyota considered picking another name for the U.S. version. But the Japanese RAV4-short for Recreational Active Vehicle 4-Wheel Drive-drew so much U.S. attention Toyota kept the name. In the U.S., Toyota did add a two-wheel-drive version, but it's a RAV4, too.


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While fans are in a frenzy over McDonald’s Travis Scott meal, NLE Choppa encourages better nutrition.
The “Shotta Flow” rapper is on a journey to reach a spiritual, mental and physical peak. Choppa has been extremely vocal about his lifestyle changes and encourages many to follow in his footsteps. He recently vowed to no longer include violence in his musical content. In addition, he began a Youtube page to documenting his holistic lifestyle. He has gone cold turnkey on the weed and liquor consumption as well. As you can see, the 18 year-old rapper is committed.
In NLE Choppa’s attempt to persuade clean eating through plant based diet, he voices his opinion on the new Travis Scott meal at McDonald’s.
“Eat healthy man that food y’all eating can fucc with your mental too,” said the Warner Music rapper. “
“Put them Travis Scott burgers down go to the farmers market go eat some vegetables!! eat plant based foods!!”
Last week La Flame joined Michael Jackson as the second celebrity in McDonalds history to collaborate with the fast food chain. The collaboration include his own meal, which includes a bacon and lettuce quarter pounder, fries and barbecue sauce. Along with the meal, Cactus Jack released a huge load of merch that included a Mickey D nuggets pillow. The “Highest In The Room” artist was swarmed by fans when he pulled up to his hometown McDonalds in Houston, TX early last week.
Despite the popularity of Travis Scott’s Mickey D’s collab, NLE Choppa is more concerned about a healthy diet amongst Black people.


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Cabinet approves extension of norms for mandatory packaging in Jute Materials
The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved extension of norms for mandatory packaging in jute materials. As per the decision, 100 percent of food grains and 20 percent of sugar will be mandatorily packed in diversified jute bags.
The decision mandates that initially 10 percent of the indents of jute bags for packing foodgrains would be placed through reverse auction on the Gem portal. The Government has expanded the scope of mandatory packaging norms under the Jute Packaging Material (JPM) Act, 1987.
However, if there is any shortage or disruption in supply of jute packaging material, the Ministry of Textiles may relax these provisions up to a maximum of 30% of the production of foodgrains.
The effort is a part of several efforts being taken by the government for the development of jute sector, as livelihood of nearly 3.7 lakh workers and several lakh farm families are dependent on the jute sectors.
This would not only increase the quality and productivity of raw jute but also help in diversification of jute sector and boost demand for jute products.
•The move will largely benefit farmers and workers located in India's Eastern and North Eastern regions, especially in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura.
•Under the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987, the Government is required to consider compulsory use of jute packaging material in the supply and distribution of certain commodities.
•This would further the interest of domestic production of raw jute and jute packaging material in India, enabling India to become self-reliant in consonance with Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
India's jute industry is largely dependent on the government sector, as it purchases jute bags of value of around Rs 7,500 crore every year for packing of foodgrains. This will not only help sustain the core demand for the jute sector but also support the livelihood of workers and farmers dependent on the sector.


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Schnitzer Steel is riding the price surge on ferrous metals to record earnings. The company has surprised on estimates 2 out of the last 4 quarters. Schnitzer has a forward P/E of only 10.80 even as the stock has soared in 2008.
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCHN) manufactures and exports recycled ferrous metal products in the United States. Founded in 1906, the company has facilities in 11 states, including six export facilities on both the East and West Coasts and in Hawaii.
Schnitzer, a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy), also operates an auto parts segment and steel manufacturing businesses.
The auto parts segment sells used auto parts at 35 self-service facilities and 18 full-service facilities in 15 states and western Canada.
The steel segment produces 750,000 tons of finished steel products, including rebar, wire rod and other specialty products.
Schnitzer Beats Wall Street Estimates for the Third Quarter By 8.08%
On July 1, Schnitzer Steel reported third quarter earnings and beat Wall Street estimates by 8.08%, or 16 cents per share. Net income rose 41% to a record $62 million, or $2.14 per share, from $44 million, or $1.47 per share in the third quarter 2007. Analysts expected $1.98 per share.
Revenues jumped 37% to a quarterly record of $972 million from $709 million in the year-ago period. Revenues for the first three quarters of 2008 increased 28% to $2.328 million from $1.824 million in the first three quarters of 2007. The growth was seen in all three of the company's segments, as each posted record revenues and operating income.
In the metals recycling segment, the company said that global demand for recycled metals remained robust and was being driven by economic growth in developing countries. Revenues were up 38% in the metals recycling segment due to record ferrous scrap prices and higher nonferrous sales volumes. Ferrous prices rose 57% year-over-year and nonferrous sales volumes increased 19%.
In the steel segment, SCHN reported tight domestic supply conditions due to low level of imports. Revenues rose 49% compared to a year ago due a 25% increase in net prices and a 20% increase in sales volumes.
The auto parts segment had its sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year operating income growth as the company saw higher prices for core and scrap.
Schnitzer is Bullish about the Fourth Quarter
The company is extremely bullish about the metals recycling segment, stating that the export markets for ferrous scrap continue to strengthen. Average selling prices on ferrous metals are expected to increase another $100 to $125/ton over the third quarter. SCHN sees nonferrous prices declining slightly. The company expects margins to continue to rise.
SCHN also expects higher prices for core and scrap to buoy the auto parts segment. The company forecast that its pricing power in the steel manufacturing segment will continue despite soft domestic demand and rising raw material costs.
Consensus Estimates Rise for the Fourth Quarter
In response to the bullish third quarter report from the company, brokerage analysts have been raising estimates for the fourth quarter and the full year. For the fourth quarter, estimates surged 30% in the prior month to $2.83 from $2.18 per share.
For the full year, estimates are up 11.5% to $7.03 from $6.28 per share in the last 30 days.
Schnitzer Steel has a forward P/E of 10.80. Its price-to-book (P/B) is 2.87. Schnitzer has an outstanding average five year return on equity [ROE] of 22.28%. The company also pays a small dividend, with a current yield of 0.10%.


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» TRENDING TRAVEL COVERAGE: Passengers behaving badly: 5 recent airplane debacles you won’t believe
The new frequency will depart on Wednesdays at 12:50 AM.
“The response from local travelers for WOW air’s low-cost international service has been extremely positive, and we appreciate WOW air adding a fifth frequency this summer to accommodate the strong demand,” said Candace McGraw, chief executive officer, CVG.
WOW air is offering $99 one-way flights from CVG to Iceland and $149 one-way flights from CVG to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Dublin, Berlin and Copenhagen.
WOW air begins service from CVG on May 9, 2018. All flights arrive to CVG at 11:50PM from Keflavik Airport and depart at 12:50AM. Flights will operate with new Airbus A321 aircraft with a 208 seat capacity.
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Did ARA and CRA actually split-up over a magazine?
The short answer is no.
However, after a 50-year partnership, North America's national rental associations are officially parting ways.
The Canadian Rental Association (CRA) also considered Region 10 of the American Rental Association (ARA) plans to become a fully independent organization during Q2 of 2020.
What caused friction in the relationship?
In the weeks since the official announcement, there has been plenty of speculation about what exactly caused this decision.
A popular theory emerged that pointed responsibility at the CRA's official bi-lingual magazine SOURCE, which the CRA launched in 2019.
On January 28, 2020, during a webinar to discuss membership changes, the CRA revealed there was tension between the organizations surrounding the SOURCE launch. But, they assure members that it was not the only factor that led to the separation.
An announcement from CRA President, Dan Spencer, explains that when the partnership began 50 years ago, "CRA was not in a position to properly serve its members, and the partnership granted access to ARA products and services to Canadian members."
But with that in mind, today, only about 10% of Canadian members take advantage of ARA products and services.
The underutilization of these offerings posed a concern for the CRA as, "the majority of member dues were transferred to the ARA so that we could pool our resources and they could provide better membership services."
What's going to be changing for Canadian members?
As mentioned earlier, nothing will be immediately changing. All renewals until late spring will continue to be processed by the ARA in US dollars.
After the yet to be announced cutoff date, the CRA begin invoicing membership renewals in Canadian dollars.
The Canadian Rental Association has decided to set a rate structure exclusively based on the number of branches to help keep your revenue private.
Renewal payments will be processed online at crarental.org or by mailing payment to the Stoney Creek, Ontario office (1100 S Service Rd #217, Stoney Creek, ON L8E 0C5).
The CRA also confirmed there would be no changes to the upcoming events surrounding the ARA Show in Orlando.
Although no official agreement has been made for CRA members to receive preferential access to the ARA Show in 2021 and beyond, those who chose not to renew with ARA can still attend the show at non-member rates.
The CRA will be holding their Hospitality Event on February 9, and also encourage members to visit their booth (#4666) during the show.
Ultimately, every business has the option to enroll in the CRA, ARA, or both.
What will the CRA offer your rental businesses?
The Canadian Rental Association will start its new chapter with a variety of offerings focused on the needs of the north.
In addition to the CRA Insurance Program, the continued distribution of SOURCE, and the popular Ready to Rent tags, your CRA membership will include access to:
- Industry experts and advice
- Regional trade shows
- Provincial member meetings
- Networking events
- Government affairs committee
- Party and event shared interest group
- Safety shared interest group
- Canadian Red Cross partnership
- Legal care program
- First data credit card program
- Deluxe print program
- Deluxe payroll program
A rapid rise – Rapid Equipment Rentals


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For Halloween, $330 M going to the dogs (and cats)
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend $330 million this year to put Halloween costumes on their pets.
That accounts for 13.8 percent of the 158 million people who will be celebrating Halloween, according to a news release issued by the federation.
Spending this year is actually expected to be down a bit from last year when 170 million people said they would be observing Halloween. The average celebrant this year is expected to spend $75.03 on decor, costumes, candy and the rest, down from $79.82 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $6.9 billion.
“Still one of the most beloved and anticipated consumer holidays, Halloween will be far from a bust this year,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay in a statement. “After a long summer, the arrival of fall will put millions of Americans in the spirit to partake in traditional and festive activities. Retailers recognize that when it comes to Halloween, consumers’ creativity abounds. We expect retailers to stock their shelves with unique costume ideas for adults, children and pets, a variety of candy options and never-seen-before home and yard decor.”
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The apparel and textile industry is definitely booming in Vietnam, but is the story same for denim in particular? The question is critical as despite being in Vietnam for some time, denim has not seen the growth that it deserved… Can the country handle ‘big volumes’, or will it overtake Bangladesh…? Team AO delves deep… Vietnam recorded a formidable yearly export turnover of US $ 31.2 billion (2017), but the projected export target for 2018 has undergone a revision from US $ 34 billion to US $ 35 billion.
Living up to its reputation by bringing together some of the best global denim players, the third edition of Denimsandjeans.com show turned out to be a bigger success than its previous two editions, witnessing ‘sustainability’, ‘innovation’ and ‘technology’ all around. About 40 exhibitors across several nations participated in the two-day event that was held at the beautiful Riverside Palace, Ho Chi Minh City.


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Microsoft is working hard to turn developer attention to Windows 8. Just a month away from the operating system's public release, CEO Steve Ballmer took the stage at a private event in RocketSpace's San Francisco space on Tuesday to speak to developers and VCs about Windows 8 software and hardware. Ballmer and Windows CFO Tami Reller showed off several Windows 8 devices, including the highly anticipated Surface RT tablet, in an attempt to get the developers in attendance fired up about its upcoming products.
"Really only now can you see [Windows 8] hardware," Ballmer said. "If I'm sitting in your shoes and I say, 'Hey, what does this Windows 8 thing mean to me? Is it just more notebooks or is it something bigger and broader?' It gets the bells ringing because you can see the phones, you can see the Surfaces, you can see the touch laptops, you can see the evolution."
Well. Kind of. For such a rah-rah event meant to get developers excited to start building for Windows 8, Ballmer and the rest of the Microsoft team spent very little time talking about or showing off the Surface tablet, arguably Microsoft's most exciting product. The tablet is due to launch at midnight on Oct. 26, at the same time as Windows 8. Yet the company has not let people have much hands-on time with the Surface and its innovative Touch Cover.
This was no exception. In the hands-on time after the event, the Surface was missing from the product table, where several other Windows 8 tablets and ultrabooks were available to test and examine. The most Surface interaction Microsoft allowed came when Ballmer threw a Touch Cover to a developer in the front row.
Ballmer and Reller kept light on Surface details, focusing on the same specs and features that the company has already made public. The two highlighted the Touch Cover and the kickstand, which elicited whistles and applause from the audience. When RocketSpace founder and CEO Duncan Logan asked about Surface pricing, Ballmer remained vague.
"I'm not going to ask you on the price, but how many can I get for $1,500?" Logan asked.
"Some," Ballmer responded. "We'll release pricing before we ship. We've been clear that's in the not too distant future, but not today." Previously, Ballmer had hinted at a Surface RT price range between $300 and $800.


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PEORIA — The next town in Illinois to offer the Uber ride-sharing service may be Peoria — if the matter gets approved by the City Council, which takes up the issue Tuesday.
“We’re excited about the possibility of providing service in Peoria,” said Chris Taylor, general manager for Uber in Illinois, noting that the service already was operating in Chicago, Rockford, Springfield, Bloomington-Normal and Champaign-Urbana.
The company is in 150 cities across the country and more than 300 globally, Taylor said of the fast-moving service that sprung out of Silicon Valley in 2009.
Uber provides several levels of service, from Uber-black (a limousine with professional driver) to Uber-X, where “a private citizen in a private vehicle” provides rides to the public, he said.
“The Uber service offers benefits on the rider side with an affordable, high-quality ride and on the driver side by creating earning opportunities for drivers.
“Uber-X is about half the cost of a taxi in Chicago, while drivers make double the minimum wage,” said Taylor, noting that Uber-X drivers get the larger share of an 80-20 split of revenue received.
Taylor also cited a safety factor with Uber. There’s no exchange of cash on Uber trips because all transactions are made through a credit card. “Drivers aren’t carrying hundreds of dollars in cash.”
John Franks, president of Peoria Yellow Checker Cab Corp., suggested that technology alone didn’t validate the service. “We see (Uber) as digital hitchhiking more than ride-sharing,” he said.
Pointing to the taxi industry’s own technology, Franks noted that taxi passengers using his company’s app can book a vehicle on their PC, smartphone or tablet, monitor the location of their vehicle, receive an estimated time of arrival and pay for their ride.
Fred Berry, the owner of Tri-County Cab Co. in Peoria, also was opposed to the Uber service. “What bothers me is the insurance issue. Once (Uber drivers) use their car as a commercial vehicle, their auto insurance may no longer be valid.”
At-large Peoria City Councilman Ryan Spain hopes that a compromise can be worked out by the council to allow Uber service while assisting area taxi companies.
“Ride-sharing is something we need in Peoria. It’s already available in many other communities and has proved very popular,” he said.
Spain said the issue already has been “drawn out” on the council floor. “The discussion began in March, so we’ve been at it for two months.”
Of the two options that could face the council Tuesday, the first is preferred by cab companies but is “a non-starter for Uber,” said Spain, adding that the second option is the Uber-preferred ordinance.
“Maybe we can go back to the drawing board for option C, a compromise that would support transportation network carriers like Uber while providing some help to our taxi cab companies such as doing some things to what might be a pretty outdated taxi ordinance,” he said.
Steve Tarter is Journal Star business editor. He can be reached at 686-3260 and firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow his blog, Minding Business, on pjstar.com and follow him on Twitter @SteveTarter.


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Dallas-based Velocis purchased an East Austin shopping center in 2012, made some improvements and now sold it to a Florida investor, while another property in an increasingly popular North Austin retail corridor changed hands.
An investor from the Midwest bought a Starbuck's-anchored strip center and Morgan Stanley renewed its big lease in Downtown Austin.
The Days Inn near the University of Texas was put under contract within a two weeks, and Zaxby's, a chicken focused restaurant, has picked up a site pad in San Marcos with more expansion on the way.
The real estate deals closed before Thanksgiving include an apartment investment sale, a ground lease and several retail deals.
Self storage continues to be a strong investment vehicle. Retail deals continue to be strong with medical practices heading to storefronts.
Two properties along the Burnet Road corridor that has seen an abundance of retail activity recently sold. Other major commercial sales closed in Georgetown, Bee Cave, South Austin and Northeast Austin.
This week's list of major deals include a wide range of tenants — tech and health care companies, law firms, cardboard box vendors and a pizza retailer tossed in for good measure.
Here is a roundup of deals and announcements in the Austin real estate market during the past week that weren't included in other Austin Business Journal real estate online coverage.
A 12,000-square-foot retail center is set for Wonder World Drive and an unidentified investor has purchased Sonesta West, a 46,178-square-foot shopping center on Research Boulevard.
Developers bought a small but prime site adjacent to a car dealership on the trendy commercial Burnet Road strip.
Among the bigger real estate deals this week, a developer purchased a large land parcel in Round Rock and an out-of-state investor bought an industrial property in Pflugerville
The Depot, home to the Austin Steam Train and the departure point for weekly Hill Country rail excursions, has been sold to California investors in a major retail transaction.
A national restaurant chain stays put on North Lamar Boulevard and a national management consulting firm expands its downtown lease to 19,236 square feet.
Lease deals this week include a range of office and retail deals — and Wendy Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor, secured some temporary space in Round Rock.
An Austin investor purchased a 28,000-square-foot commercial building to renovate as creative offices and Green & Grow signs a lease.


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Rebecca cosmetics, which specializes in beauty products, recently announced a $2.3 million expansion of its cosmetics and cosmetic surgery services in Canada.
The move, which will allow the company to expand its operations in Ontario and Quebec, is a major step for the cosmetics company, which has been criticized for not being competitive in the cosmetics industry in recent years.
The expansion is part of a larger strategy Rebecca is pursuing to diversify its business.
Rebecca said it has acquired a large portfolio of cosmetics and skin care products in Canada, including a number of brands such as Skin Care.com and Beauty & Cosmetics.
The expansion comes as Rebecca is working to expand into a more international market, with the company expanding its operations into the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany.
Rebecca currently has operations in the United States, France, New Zealand, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates.
The cosmetics and cosmetics services expansion is expected to begin in early 2017, and the company is currently in discussions with major Canadian and European companies about possible expansion.
Rebecca is already planning to open a new Toronto office in 2019.
The announcement came after the Canadian division of Rebecca Cosmetics posted a loss of $1.1 million in the first half of 2016, while revenue increased to $3.2 million.
In 2015, Rebecca posted a $1 million loss.
In addition to expanding the cosmetics and beauty services division, Rebecca said in a statement that it has secured the purchase of the assets of the cosmetics business.
This expansion will enable Rebecca to continue its expansion into Canada, as well as to acquire new businesses.
I was a pretty newbie to the beauty world.
I’d been in high school, but hadn’t had the chance to actually attend a conference until the past year.
This year, I was looking to get my first job in the beauty industry, but I knew I needed to find a place to stay for a while.
It wasn’t easy, because there were only a handful of beauty-related events at CES, but once I found an event I liked, I figured it would be easier to find an apartment.
I was surprised to see how much I really liked the people I was spending my time with.
I was lucky to work with a bunch of really good makeup artists, as well as some very talented bloggers.
I learned so much from their expertise and I wanted to share it with the community.
Themes and inspirationsThe theme for the Cosmetics Expo was “Love and Beauty.”
This year I chose to focus on makeup artistry, but that’s not a new theme for me.
I’ve always loved making beautiful, wearable art and I think the Cosmetology Expo had a huge influence on how I approached the craft.
As an artist, I really wanted to find new ways to express myself in my work.
This was the year that I realized I could do so with makeup.
I have to be honest, I love makeup.
I have so many friends who use it everyday, and I love having it on my body every day.
It’s not something I’m ashamed of.
I’m still learning how to use makeup, but my journey to getting there is pretty amazing.
I love working with a group of artists to create new and innovative makeup designs and I’m learning how the world is using the art form.
I think my personal favorite aspect of Cosmetics is that I was able to meet people and work with them to understand and be inspired by each other’s work.
I really hope this blog post helped you find your way through the Cosmetic Expo 2017, and if you’ve made it to any of the Cosmological events, I’d love to hear your stories and experiences.
You can also reach out to me on Instagram and Instagram, Cosmetics, or Cosmetics & Beauty.


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Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Revision Skincare and Goodier Cosmetics (collectively "Revision Goodier").
WHO: For more than two decades, Revision Skincare has provided dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and medical spas with clinically proven, high-performing skincare products. The portfolio includes well-known franchises such as Nectifirm, Intellishade, D·E·J, and Revox, sold in more than 10 countries.
Since 1922, Irving, TX-based Goodier Cosmetics has been a trusted developer and manufacturer in cosmetic and OTC topical skincare solutions. Differentiated by an industry-renowned Innovation Center of Excellence, Goodier, along with its team of R&D chemists, engineers, and regulatory experts, remains at the forefront of market trends, new technologies, ingredients, and advancements in formulation science.
Based in San Francisco, Gryphon Investors is a leading private equity firm focused on profitably growing and competitively enhancing middle-market companies in partnership with experienced management. The firm has managed over $7.5 billion of equity investments and capital since 1997. Gryphon targets making equity investments of $50 million to $300 million in portfolio companies with enterprise values ranging from approximately $100 million to $600 million.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Gryphon Operating Partner Mike Ferry said, "Revision has a unique position as a high-growth independent company in a compelling market. Skincare consumers are becoming more discerning about the products they use, and we are excited to invest in Revision's mission to help bring carefully formulated and highly efficacious skincare products to a global customer base."
Eddie Douglas, Principal in Gryphon's Consumer Group, noted, "We are thrilled to partner with Maria [Maria Carell, Revision Goodier CEO] and her outstanding team to support Revision's movement to bring scientific credibility, quality, innovation, and elegance to the professional skincare market. We are equally excited about the opportunity to build on Goodier's differentiated capabilities and deliver world-class service to some of the fastest growing brands across the prestige beauty and personal care space."
Ms. Carell commented, "We are delighted to partner with the team at Gryphon as we enter our next phase of growth. Gryphon is an ideal partner given their knowledge of skincare, consumer health, and professionally-endorsed brands, and their investment will allow us to accelerate the incredible momentum we have built over the last few years."
Matt Farron, Partner and Head of Gryphon's Consumer Group, added, "Revision Goodier represents a bullseye opportunity for Gryphon and leverages our proactive focus of investing behind leading efficacious skincare brands. We are proud to be partnering with the Revision Goodier management team, leaders in the clinical, efficacious skincare category, and to be supporting the team through their next phase of growth."
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Walmart Canada sets its new foundations in former Target distribution centre in Cornwall
Walmart senior director of operations Drew Robertson, left, and senior director of corporate affairs Alex Roberton stand in one of the cavernous storage rooms at the new Walmart perishable distribution centre on Industrial Drive on Monday November 9, 2015 in Cornwall, Ont.
Greg Peerenboom/Cornwall Standard-Freeholder/Postmedia Network
For those who have seen The Fellowship of the Ring, remember the Moria scene that displayed an eye-popping, cavernous hall?
Something similar exists at the new Walmart perishable goods distribution centre (PDC), where the first phase of a renovation to convert it from its former use is winding up. The renos cover just one-third of the eventual building, which is destined to become the largest structure in Cornwall.
"It will be bigger," said Drew Robertson, senior director of Walmart operations on Monday, before he and Walmart senior director of corporate affairs Alex Roberton provided an electric-buggy tour of the sprawling facility.
Walmart took over ownership of the Industrial Park Drive building a few months ago from the now-defunct Target Canada chain as part of a $350-million investment that included 13 former Target stores and the local distribution centre that employed over 300 people.
Walmart is spending tens of millions of dollars retrofitting and expanding the former Target DC, said Roberton, who declined to specify an exact figure. The first phase included dismantling the conveyor system, storage racking and other structural changes.
"We're getting the foundation ready," said Robertson, alluding to the expansion project that will extend the east end of the existing 127,277 square-metre (1.37 million square-foot) building.
That addition will make the new PDC larger than the original Walmart (former Supply Chain Management) DC, which is about 130,000 square metres (1.4 million square feet). The enlargement is needed to house the new refrigeration/freezer unit that will help eventually create about 300 new jobs.
Within a few years, Walmart will employ a total of 1,400 at what officials call the "Cornwall distribution hub."
Roberton explained the perishable section is needed to serve new Walmart Supercentres in the Maritimes as well as existing stores.
There did appear to be a misconception last spring the new PDC would add 1,000 jobs - unfortunately that figure only reflected the estimated number of total jobs needed to staff both the new PDC and the current DC on SCM Way. Still, Robertson said most of the 300 jobs will be filled by new employees who will be trained to operate the perishable goods department.
Two other sections of the PDC will handle imports and bulk merchandise.
"There's a lot of excitement with our team," Robertson said.
"They've been asking for years whether Walmart would invest further in Cornwall," he said, noting that some of the existing employees will be transferred to the new PDC.
Next up, said Robertson, is signing up a general contractor, who will likely hire local tradespeople as well as those from out-of-town to complete the expansion.
"The first phase has gone pretty well for us, so we don't expect the next one to be any different," he said.
It was estimated that renovations at the PDC and the 13 stores Walmart took over from Target across Canada would require about 1,800 workers.
- 741.88 - Length in metres (2,434 feet), making it the longest building in Cornwall
- 192.02 - Width in metres (630 feet) for most of its length
- 2.5 - The number of times the Rogers Centre could fit inside
- 23 - The number of NFL-sized football fields that could fit inside
- 5 - The number of times you could climb Mount Everest if you walked on every single painted line


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DOD 'serious' about ending card misuse
The head of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (Spawar) has revoked the government-issued purchase cards at Spawar sites worldwide after continuing reports of waste, fraud and abuse — particularly at the Spawar Systems Center.
Spawar will reactivate the cards for mission-critical uses as management and oversight of the program are improved.
Spawar, under intense scrutiny and pressure from the Pentagon, Congress and auditors, took the dramatic action after a review of just a small number of the cards showed personnel had purchased items including groceries, Lego robots and designer luggage. One Defense Department employee even used the card to pay for his girlfriend's breast enlargement operation.
"I am serious about remedying this clearly unacceptable situation. I intend to personally verify that the situation has improved and report findings to you by the end of May," said Deidre Lee, director of Defense procurement at a March 13 hearing held by the House Government Reform Committee's Government Efficiency, Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee.
The House hearing comes just eight months after Navy officials told lawmakers that reports of fraud were overblown and that they would take steps to ensure that money was being spent correctly.
Procurement officials have said that purchase cards — which are government-issued credit cards — have streamlined ordering processes by eliminating reams of paperwork for small-ticket items. Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) put forward a bill that would raise the definition of small-ticket items from $2,500 to $25,000.
"If the [purchase limit] goes up, new cars and homes are next," said Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, at the hearing.
"The benefits of the purchase card may be substantially reduced if controls are not in place to ensure its proper use," said Gregory Kutz, the General Accounting Office's director of financial management and assurance.
Lawmakers were incensed that they were having to review this issue again and that so little had been done since a July 2001 hearing on the same problem. Rep. Stephen Horn (R-Calif.), the subcommittee chairman, said the testimony "dismisses congressional oversight as merely a nuisance that must be endured but can then be ignored."
The Spawar Systems Center and the Navy Public Works Center, both based in San Diego and the subject of GAO audits, have new leadership. Capt. Patricia Miller, commanding officer of the Spawar Systems Center, and Capt. James Barrett, commanding officer of the Navy Public Works Center, both said they were instituting measures that would ensure proper procedures were followed.
"I'm personally committed to changing the culture at my command to permanently improve this important and vital program," Miller testified. "We agree there was a command climate that permitted these abuses."
Procurement experts said that the purchase cards are part of the foundation of procurement reform and have saved agencies millions of dollars, but they also said that the federal government had largely failed to use them in the most effective way.
"I'm a big proponent of the cards. I'm not a big proponent of how they are currently being used," said Chip Mather, senior vice president of Acquisition Solutions Inc. and a former Air Force senior procurement official. "They're trying to use it as a purchasing system rather than a payment system."
The purchase card program, in fact, raises the ire of some senior government officials because it often enables large numbers of people to buy hardware and software. Those buys are made without a view of the agency's enterprise architecture or whether those buys can be aggregated to save money.
But Mark Amtower, founding partner of Amtower and Co., a direct market specialist and manager of several federal credit card databases, noted that purchase cards have saved the government about $75 on each transaction compared with the previous paper-based purchasing system.
That amounts to a large sum of money, considering government employees made about 24 million purchases in fiscal 2001, he said.
NEXT STORY: Lawmakers challenge Army goals


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Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it “ordered more than 20 marketers nationwide to immediately stop making baseless claims that their products and supposed therapies can treat or prevent COVID-19.” Like prior rounds of cease-and-desist demands, the letters warned that the alleged violators could be subjected to monetary penalties under the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, which Congress passed in 2020. Specifically, the letters warned that businesses engaging in a deceptive act or practice associated with the treatment, cure, prevention, mitigation, or diagnosis of COVID-19 or a government benefit related to COVID-19 could be subjected to penalties of up to $43,792 per violation.
As the FTC points out, however, “there’s a key point that differentiates these Demands from the more than 400 letters that preceded them.” Namely, copies of the recent round of letters were also sent to the social media platforms used by the advertisers, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Etsy, LinkedIn, Shopify, and TikTok. The FTC found that nearly all of the marketers used social media to convey their claims, with many companies utilizing multiple platforms. A recent FTC analysis on the alleged role of social media platforms in the spread of disinformation related to COVID found that deceptive marketers are able to “extend the reach of their deceptive COVID claims by using major social media platforms.” The FTC observed that social media’s design helps scammers amplify their deceptive messages while also identifying users most likely to be receptive to those messages. It cautioned, “[b]ogus claims of miracle cures may be successful in attracting consumers’ eyeballs, but they can have devastating consequences for Americans who forgo needed treatment or part with hard-earned money in pursuit of false cures.”


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HMD Global introduced theNokia 5.1 Plus earlier this year as an Android One smartphone for Rs 10,999. Now the Nokia 5.1 Plus has started receiving Android 8.1 Oreo operating system. The smartphone is likely to receive Android 9 Pie update before the end of the year.
The company has now rolled out the Oreo update to Nokia 5.1 Plus in India. The update also brings user interface improvements, improved system stability along with the November Security Patch to the device.
The company has released an Over-The-Air (OTA) update and it is around 250.8 MB in size. One can go to Settings> About Phone, to check for the latest update. Users can go to Settings> By Phone, to check for the latest update.
Recollecting some key specs, Nokia 5.1 Plus has a 5.86-inch HD+ display and powered by 2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P60 processor. For camera, the phone has dual rear cameras of a 13-megapixel primary and a secondary 5-megapixel sensor and an 8-megapixel selfie camera. It has 3GB of RAM with 32GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded up to 256GB via micro SD card slot. It runs on Android 8.1 Oreo and has a 3000mAh battery.


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Publishers Services Exchange Beaten in Court
Byline: RAY SCHULTZ
Try to imagine this. A sub-agent you don’t do business with is selling renewals to your magazine with an offer you didn’t approve.
But you can’t do a thing about it. The agent doesn’t stop, and then sues you when you print a notice about it in your publication.
That was the situation Amos Press found itself in 2001.
The publisher of titles like Coin World and Cars & Parts was slapped with a $5.4 million defamation suit by I.C. Marketing, a firm that does business under the name Publishers Services Exchange.
But Amos fought, and it was rewarded when I.C.’s case was thrown out of court. U.S. Magistrate John P. Cooney wrote last fall that Amos is entitled to a summary judgment closing the case, and that finding was accepted on Dec. 2 by U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken.
Cooney ruled that Amos did not defame I.C. Marketing when it urged Coin World subscribers in a notice in that magazine not to renew through Publishers Services Exchange. In addition, he wrote that Amos “has the right to set prices and terms as to its own product,” and ordered I.C. Marketing to stop selling Coin World subs.
I.C. Marketing is appealing, and even if the decision holds, it only pertains to Coin World, and not to other Amos publications. But the ruling as written should embolden two other publishers fighting similar cases – the Taunton Press and Outdoor Empire Publishing. Those cases are before the same magistrate – Cooney.
What are the grounds for the appeal? Alan Herson, attorney for I.C. Marketing, plans to argue that Cooney’s opinion was wrong as a matter of law.
“I’m not sure I believe they suffered irreparable harm under law, or any harm entitling them to an injunction,” he said of Amos Press. “And it was wrong to say that there was no defamation.”
But Jill Meyer Vollman of the Cincinnati law firm of Frost Brown Todd LLC, countered: “I’m confident that our position will prevail.” Every suit is different and no publisher should get tough with a sub-agent before consulting a lawyer. But here are the facts of the case:
The dispute started in 2001 when Coin World received complaints from subscribers who had received direct mail renewal offers from Publishers Services Exchange. According to I.C.’s complaint, Coin World published a notice urging subscribers not to renew through the sub-agent.
“Coin World subscribers need to be aware that an unscrupulous firm is conducting a scam masked as a subscription renewal offer to Coin World,” the notice said.
As quoted in the complaint, the notice also took issue with the three-year renewal offered by I.C. Marketing – 36 issues for $89.95. The magazine noted that “Coin World does not currently offer a three-year subscription, but if it did it would be 156 issues (since Coin World is a weekly) for $94.95.”
The article continued that the mailing piece sent by I.C. “looks very professional and official – similar to renewal notifications that Coin World itself sends.” And it added that readers who had responded to the offer should contact their banks to stop payment.
Cooney’s opinion, based on hours of depositions, found that the statements published in Coin World had “qualified privilege,” because Amos was protecting its own interest when it made them. Moreover, the opinions were covered by the First Amendment, he wrote.
He continued that words like “scam” and “bogus” would not be understood by readers as stating a fact, and that they therefore were not defamatory.
Herson disagreed, saying that the article included “pretty nasty things.”
On a separate issue, Cooney ruled that Coin World had the right to stop the sale of its subs through I.C. Marketing, despite the fact that they had been sold by the firm for years and fulfilled. The magistrate did not take issue with these prior sales, but noted that Amos Press has the right to order I.C. Marketing to stop.
As a result of these notices, I.C. Marketing “no longer had authority to continue to solicit subscriptions or sell renewals or multi-year subscriptions,” Cooney added.
Cooney noted that I.C. Marketing was “improperly” hired to market the subs by an authorized agent of Amos Press. And that Amos was not informed of this. Amos authorizes agents to sell only new subscriptions to Coin World, and – except in rare cases – only by direct mail, according to court papers. It also sets terms and rates.
Herson commented that this part of the ruling won’t hurt I.C. Marketing’s business. On the contrary, it will hurt Coin World, he commented. But he added that it was “an odd conclusion of the court.”
Meanwhile, I.C. is involved with at least three other cases, including the two defamation suits it filed last July.
In the case against Outdoor Empire, I.C. alleges that the firm published a libelous notice on Fishing & Hunting magazine Web site, stating that I.C. was not authorized to sell that publication. The case against Taunton Press is also based on a Web site notice. I.C. had no comment on the cases.
And the firm is embroiled in a suit with Time Inc. Time filed suit in 2002, alleging that PSE sent mailing pieces containing counterfeit versions of Time trademarks. A Time spokesperson said at the time that “PSE has never been authorized by us to sell or advertise any of our magazines.” Herson says the case is still pending.
Founded by former Navy officer Dennis Simpson, I.C. Marketing is a subsidiary of Rabor Management Inc., Medford, OR. Rabor, which recently acquired Back 2 Backs Inc. and Freedom financial Inc., reported third-quarter revenue of $7.4 million, compared with $3.9 million in the third quarter of 2002.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Copyright by Media Central Inc., A PRIMEDIA Company. All rights reserved.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group


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Federal Trade Commission scores two victories in separate lawsuits against companies that failed to provide COVID personal protective equipment during early days of pandemic
The Federal Trade Commission has won victories in two lawsuits against companies that failed to deliver orders for personal protective equipment at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In separate actions against QYK Brands (doing business as Glowyy and through related companies) and American Screening, LLC, the Commission alleged that the two companies misled consumers about the availability of personal protective equipment at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Commission staff won both actions on summary judgment, holding those companies accountable for their misconduct at the start of the pandemic and putting more than $17.6 million back in the pockets of consumers.
California-based Glowyy and Louisiana-based American Screening marketed and sold personal protective equipment early in the COVID-19 pandemic, including masks, face shields, hand sanitizer and gowns. American Screening marketed its products in bulk and, in addition to advertising to individual consumers, targeted local governments, hospitals and nursing homes for sales, while the Glowyy defendants marketed their products to individual consumers. . Both companies made false promises about PPE availability, which left consumers waiting weeks or even months for their orders to be fulfilled, if at all. Additionally, the Glowyy defendants misled consumers by marketing a supposed protein powder that they claimed could prevent COVID-19.
In its order granting summary judgment in favor of the Commission in Glowyy, the court found that the Glowyy defendants began advertising hand sanitizers and other personal protective equipment products online. (EPI) in March 2020, saying they were in stock and would ship the same day. were ordered, but the defendants repeatedly failed to keep those promises. The court also found that the defendants not only failed to ship the product for weeks or months, but failed to offer refunds to consumers or allow them to consent to the delay as required by the mail order rule.
In the American Screening case, the court’s summary judgment order found that at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, American Screening’s website claimed items would be shipped “within 24 to 48 hours” and that the products were “in stock” and available for shipment. However, American Screening lacked a reasonable basis for its shipping claims, failed to ship many orders within the promised time frame, and failed to follow the mail-order rule requirements for delayed shipments.
Since the early days of the pandemic, the FTC has acted to protect consumers from unscrupulous actors who have sought to use the pandemic as a tool to rip off consumers, governments, and businesses. The FTC filed suit against defendants Glowyy and American Screening in federal court in August 2020 using its authority under the FTC Act and the Mail, Internet, and Telephone Orders Rule. In recent cases, the Commission has used its authority under the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, passed in 2021, to target scammers preying on fears of a pandemic.
In Glowyy, the court has already issued a permanent injunction following the Commission’s summary judgment victory. The injunction compels Glowyy to:
- Stop selling products that claim to treat COVID-19. The order prohibits the Glowyy defendants from selling or marketing any goods or services that claim to prevent, treat, or protect against COVID-19 or any other infection or disease.
- Stop misleading consumers about the timing of product deliveries. The order requires the company to ship the products in a timely manner, offer a refund if they are unable to do so, among other things. The company must create and maintain records demonstrating its compliance with these requirements
- Stop making unsubstantiated health claims. The order prohibits Glowyy from making unsubstantiated health claims about any dietary supplement, food or drug.
- Offer refunds to consumers. Glowyy is to hand over $3.08 million to the FTC to use to provide refunds to consumers.
In American Screening, the court agreed with the Commission that a monetary award of more than $14 million and an injunction were appropriate in this case. Commission staff will submit a proposed order finalizing this relief in the coming weeks.
The FTC case against QYK Brands, doing business as Glowyy; Dr. J’s Natural, LLC; EASII, Inc., Theo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Rakesh Tammabattula; and Jacqueline Thao Nguyen was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and her case against American Screening, LLC, Ron Kilgarlin Jr. and Shawn Kilgarlin was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.


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Aquino signs amended Price Act
MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino has signed Republic Act 10623, amending the Price Act.
"List of basic commodities has been expanded to include items such as LPG and bottled water, thereby covering these in cases a prize freeze is mandated in times of calamity," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a text message.
Earlier, Trade Undersecretary Zeny Maglaya said the amendments to the Price Act would mean five new products are added to the list of basic goods.
Aside from instant noodles and bottled water, the list will also include fruits, kerosene and LPG.
Maglaya said the idea is these products can be now included in the price control mechanism during calamities. A price freeze can now be imposed on these products for 60 days after a calamity, except for prices of deregulated products such as kerosene and LPG which can only be frozen by 15 days.


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Among Philip Reiler’s duties as Head of Public Relations for the Norwegian arm of optical retail chain Specsavers, he leads the company’s annual Give Sight to Tanzania project.
Each year, Philip and a team of optometrists and support staff travel to the East African nation, where eye health in rural areas is a critical and ongoing issue.
Beneath the spectacular backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, the team creates its own spectacle by conducting eye tests and matching prescription glasses–all donated by Specsavers customers–to needy recipients.
“We bring about 5,000 pairs of glasses with us, although not all are handed out,” says Philip, who graduated with a Bachelor of Business from Griffith University in 2004, preceding completion of a Master of Arts (Journalism and Mass Communication) in 2006.
“In terms of optical health, the damaging intensity of the Tanzanian sun is exacerbated by limited resources for eye health, optometry and even something as simple as sunglasses.
“This means the early stages of eye disease tend to go untreated, and so optical problems escalate over time.
“Through this project, however, we are bringing something practical, purposeful and positive to the people of Tanzania.
“It’s wonderful to be a part of it.”
After several years in journalism, Philip landed the Specsavers role in his homeland of Norway in 2015. The company complements its business performance with international philanthropic projects, including Give Sight to Tanzania.
“All over the world there are millions of pairs of glasses just lying around gathering dust. Recycling is a great outcome because these glasses have the ability to change people’s lives,’ says Philip.
“The positive impacts are many: helping schoolchildren who haven’t been able to follow classroom lessons because of poor eyesight; making it possible for adults to learn a craft or new skills because suddenly they can see clearly; protecting eyes to prevent future problems.
“To see the smiles on the people’s faces is such a rewarding experience. It creates a strong sense of pride in being part of a company that takes its social responsibility very seriously.”


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When Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen traveled to Beijing last summer, her mission was to re-establish a dialogue between the world’s largest economies and stabilize a relationship that appeared to have reached rock bottom.
The United States and China created formal economic working groups to keep the conversation going. Months later, Ms. Yellen met with her Chinese counterparts in San Francisco and Morocco. And the Treasury secretary’s consumption of a dish made with psychedelic “magic” mushrooms at a Yunnan-style restaurant in Beijing sparked something of a culinary craze in China, where Ms. Yellen is popular for being an acclaimed economist.
But despite those signs of progress, thorny economic issues continue to divide China and the United States. When Ms. Yellen arrives on Thursday for four days of meetings in Guangzhou and Beijing, the two sides are expected to exchange views on the state of the global economy, the Biden administration’s concerns about China’s wave of green energy technology exports and Beijing’s frustration’s about mounting barriers to Chinese investment in the United States.
“We don’t want to decouple our economies,” Ms. Yellen said on Wednesday during a stop in Alaska on her way to China. “We want to continue, and we think we both benefit from trade and investment, but it needs to be on a level playing field.”
But she suggested that the administration was prepared to take new trade actions against China to ensure the survival of the clean energy sector that the United States has been trying to grow through tax subsidies and other investments.
Here are some of the most contentious issues that have sown divisions between the United States and China.
A flood of clean energy exports
A top priority for Ms. Yellen will be to convey the Biden administration’s deep concerns that a glut of heavily subsidized green technology exports from China is distorting global markets.
Ms. Yellen, during a visit to a solar cell plant in Georgia last week, made the case that a surge in Chinese exports of electric vehicles, batteries and solar technology was problematic at a time when the United States is spending huge sums to try to develop those industries. She maintained that China was following the same playbook it used when it flooded global markets with cheap, state-subsidized steel and aluminum, hurting American producers that were unable to compete.
On Wednesday, Ms. Yellen suggested that the United States could take action to ensure that money being spent as part of the Inflation Reduction Act is not undercut by China’s practices.
“We’re providing tax subsidies to some of these sectors, and I wouldn’t want to rule out other possible ways in which we would protect them,” she said when asked about the potential for new tariffs on Chinese imports.
China has focused on factory production to bolster its sputtering economy. Its exports, measured in dollars, rose 7 percent in January and February over last year. The surge of exports has also angered officials in the European Union, and the bloc announced last month that it was preparing to charge tariffs, which are import taxes, on all electric cars arriving from China.
China has pushed back on claims that its economy is struggling and overly reliant on exports. But it has set an ambitious economic growth target of “around 5 percent” for this year, and reaching it will depend in large part on strong demand for goods produced by Chinese factories — electric vehicles, solar panels and consumer electronics.
The Biden administration has kept tariffs on more than $300 billion of Chinese products. Those levies, first imposed by the Trump administration, remain a significant source of tension between the two countries.
Ms. Yellen came into office saying that the tariffs are taxes on consumers and argued that the Trump levies were not well designed. However, rolling back tariffs is particularly difficult in an election year, and Ms. Yellen is unlikely to be able to offer China much relief on that front.
The White House has been weighing the possibility of relaxing some of the tariffs that hit U.S. consumers and imposing new ones that would be focused on China’s green energy exports.
And another round of U.S. solar tariffs could be coming this summer when a two-year pause that President Biden issued in 2022 expires.
China has its own gripes about America’s trade policies and filed a complaint last week with the World Trade Organization contending that the Biden administration’s electric vehicle subsidy policies are discriminatory.
The United States and China both say they welcome foreign investment, but their policies remain hostile.
American companies operating in China have complained over the last year about having their offices searched and facing harassment from Chinese authorities. Ms. Yellen, who will meet with American business executives in Guangzhou, has been seeking clarity on the scope of a Chinese anti-espionage law that foreign firms believe will lead to additional government scrutiny.
China’s leaders are pushing to change the perception that the country is no longer a sound place for foreign investors to put their money. Beijing has reason to be concerned: Foreign direct investment in China fell to its lowest levels in three decades last year, and the government took a series of measures that left foreign businesses feeling that the country is an increasingly hostile place to operate. On top of that, concerns about China’s economy have left many companies less willing to tolerate the trade-offs of running a business in the country.
Last month, Premier Li Qiang, China’s second-in-command, said the government was removing restrictions on foreign investment to make the country a “favored destination” for overseas funds.
And Xi Jinping, China’s leader, met with a delegation of visiting U.S. business leaders last week and declared that China remained committed to economic reform.
However, in a sign of the mixed messages from Beijing, on the same day as Mr. Xi’s meeting, China’s state security ministry warned the public about the intelligence risk posed by foreign consultancies — the type of advisory firms relied upon by overseas firms to perform due diligence for investments.
The United States is also taking a toughened approach. During a call this week, Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi discussed the fate of TikTok, the social media platform owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. The House of Representatives passed legislation last month that would force the sale of the company because of national security concerns, and Mr. Biden has said that he supports the bill, which still must pass the Senate to become law. China is expected to block a forced sale of TikTok, and Chinese officials are expected to raise the issue with Ms. Yellen.
The Biden administration is also trying to clamp down on the flow of money to China, including banning new American investment in key technology industries that could be used to enhance Beijing’s military capabilities. It has also limited China’s ability to benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. climate and energy law.
As Treasury secretary, Ms. Yellen oversees The United States’ sanctions program, which in recent months has been increasingly directed at China.
In late March, the United States and Britain imposed sanctions on China’s elite hacking units, accusing Beijing’s top spy agency of a yearslong effort to place malware in America’s electrical grids, defense systems and other critical infrastructure, and of stealing the voting rolls for 40 million British citizens.
Ms. Yellen has been vocal in pressuring China not to help Russia evade U.S. sanctions. During a speech last year, she expressed dismay at China’s “no limits” partnership with Russia and called it “essential” that China not provide Russia with material support or assistance with sanctions evasion.
The Treasury Department has also been increasingly focused on firms that are based in Hong Kong that have been accused of helping Russia and Iran skirt American sanctions.
The United States has imposed extensive restrictions on the sale of advanced computing chips, chip-making equipment and related products to China, saying that Beijing has used these goods to develop advanced weapons and surveillance systems that ran counter to U.S. national security interests.
China continues to bristle at those restrictions. After the White House revised rules for exporting American artificial intelligence chips and chip-making equipment last week, China criticized the United States, saying that it was arbitrarily changing the rules and creating more obstacles to trade.
China sees the tightening controls as part of a U.S. strategy to thwart the country’s rise by limiting access to products critical to advancing A.I. and other next-generation technologies.
Daisuke Wakabayashicontributed reporting from Seoul.


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Better Business Bureau Serving Central Oklahoma
Torch Award for Ethics
(Re) Discover “BBB Business Profiles” – More Than Just a Name Change
November 10, 2016
December 14, 2016
Whether you’re looking for a new car or your next contractor, nearly everyone does some sort of research online before purchasing products and services. Finding a trusted business online just got even easier with...


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Latest Social articles
Photojournalist John D McHugh has released a watermarking app on the iPhone in a bid to root out copyright theft on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Social Media 03 Jan 2013
Instagram has reverted to its old terms of service after it faced a wave of protests from users. However, the social publishing platform hasn't abandoned its plans to monetise its service
Social Media 21 Dec 2012
Thousands of photographers and organisations are protesting Instagram's new terms of service, forcing the Facebook-owned social publishing platform to clarify its intentions
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Wednesday, May 30, 2018
What to watch today
On Wednesday, investors will get three key pieces of U.S. economic data as private payrolls from ADP and a second read on U.S. GDP growth in the first quarter will be released in the morning. Expectations are the GDP number will show the economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.3% in the first three months of the year.
And then in the afternoon the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book report will be released. The Beige Book is a collection of economic anecdotes collected by Fed officials across the country and helps form the basis of the economic discussion that will be had at the Fed meeting in two weeks’ time.
Amazon offers discounts to Prime members at more Whole Foods: Amazon (AMZN) is expanding discounts to Prime members at its Whole Foods Markets, which was acquired last year. The e-commerce giant said starting May 30, 121 Whole Foods Market stores across 12 states —including northern California, Nevada, Colorado and Texas — plus all Whole Foods Market 365 stores nationwide will offer savings to Amazon Prime Members. [Yahoo Finance]
China slams surprise U.S. trade announcement, says ready to fight: China on Wednesday lashed out at Washington’s unexpected statement that it will press ahead with tariffs and restrictions on investments by Chinese companies, saying Beijing was ready to fight back if Washington was looking to ignite a trade war. [Reuters]
Volcker Rule to lose some of its bite as Fed proposes overhaul: Wall Street’s long campaign to chip away at the toughest trading restriction imposed on banks after financial crisis is finally paying off under President Donald Trump. The Federal Reserve Board, now led by Trump appointees, will meet Wednesday to start rolling back the Volcker Rule, a regulation that was key to Washington’s efforts to make the industry safer following the 2008 meltdown. [Bloomberg]
Sorrell plots comeback: Martin Sorrell is staging a comeback just six weeks after he was ousted from WPP (WPP), using the same formula as in the 1980s when he transformed a little-known shell company into the world’s biggest advertising group. One of Britain’s best known businessmen, Sorrell said he would invest 40 million pounds ($53 million) of his own money into Derriston Capital while institutional investors have pledged 150 million pounds to buy marketing companies. [Reuters]
Here’s what happened when Starbucks closed all of its US stores for racial bias training: Coffee behemoth Starbucks (SBUX) closed all of its 8,000-plus U.S. stores for four hours on Tuesday afternoon so its 175,000 employees could participate in company-wide racial-bias training. [Yahoo Finance]
For more of the latest news, go to Yahoo Finance
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Editor’s Note: The Morning Brief newsletter is taking a temporary break. While you won’t be receiving the newsletter in your inbox every morning you can go to Yahoo Finance at 6:30 a.m. ET to get the morning’s top news stories, a synopsis of what to watch in markets and the best of Yahoo Finance Originals. We’ll be back very soon!


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LG Electronics filed the largest number of patents in Korea among local companies in 2017, data showed on June 20, maintaining its top standing for the second year in a row.
According to the data compiled by industry tracker CEO Score, LG Electronics filed 2,892 patents to the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the highest figure among 500 companies surveyed.
Samsung Electronics followed with 2,742, with Hyundai Motor also posting 2,643, the industry tracker said, citing the KIPO data.
LG, which first outpaced Samsung in terms of new patents filed in 2016, and won a total of 9,103 patents over the previous three years, narrowing its gap with Samsung’s 9,201.
The smaller rival of Samsung focused on winning patents for handset, TV, and communication technologies, the data showed.
Other companies included in the top 10 list were LG Chem, POSCO, LG Display, Samsung Heavy Industries, LG Innotek, Samsung Display, and Kia Motors.
By conglomerate, LG Group filed a total of 7,693 patents last year, outpacing Samsung Group’s 5,212. Hyundai Motor Group, POSCO Group, and SK Group trailed with 4,063, 1,448, and 727 cases, respectively.
By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (email@example.com


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G.E. Plans to Build Largest Solar Panel Plant in U.S.
In a move that could shake up the American solar industry, General Electric plans to announce on Thursday that it will build the nation's largest photovoltaic panel factory, with the goal of becoming a major player in the market. "For the past five years, we've been investing extremely heavily in solar," said Victor Abate, vice president for G.E.'s renewable energy business. "Going to scale is the next move." The plant, whose location has not been determined, will employ 400 workers and create 600 related jobs, according to G.E. The factory would annually produce solar panels that would generate 400 megawatts of energy, the company said, and would begin manufacturing thin-film photovoltaic panels made of a material called cadmium telluride in 2013. While less efficient than conventional solar panels, thin-film photovoltaics can be produced at a lower cost and have proven attractive to developers and utilities building large-scale power plants. G.E. has signed agreements to supply solar panels to generate 100 megawatts of electric power to customers, including a deal for panels generating 60 megawatts with NextEra Energy Resources.
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Judgement, the game of the Yakuza series featured with Kimura Takuya was released on 13 December 2018 by SEGA.
The sale discontinued in Japan market due to an incident that happened in March 2019.
The resale of the new version of the game now on sale!
The content is the same as the previous version.
The model and the voice of a character, Hanemura Kyohei, have been changed.
The package is somehow different from the old version.
The most updated version
The new price of the game would be 4,540 yen (tax excluded).
Update patches and free DLC released until March 2019 have already installed in the new version.
Players do not need to update the game.
Date of sale and caution
Judgement is scheduled to be on sale on18 July 2019.
The save data of the previous version are not supported in the new version.
Official Trailer one Air
VisitJudgement official site for more details!
Resale of Judgment, the yakuza game with a new price


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Bhubaneswar: While the Odisha Government is leaving no stone unturned to create buzz for the Hockey Men’s World Cup-2018 scheduled to commence from November 28 at the Kalinga Stadium here and provide sports enthusiasts best possible experience during the mega sporting event, display of apathetic attitude by staff of a ticket outlet in the city has left many fans disappointed as they were reportedly denied tickets.
Several fans trying to fetch tickets at the Reliance Digital store located in Esplanade One shopping mall here, which is among the 20 ticket outlets, were denied the same by the staff of the store saying that they are unable to provide tickets due to “system problem”.
However, sale of tickets at other outlets in the city without any use of system (computer) was clearly evident.
“I failed to get any ticket from the store despite repeated attempts as they (store staff) refused to give me ticket citing ‘system problems’. They also told me to visit the store tomorrow for the purpose. When I asked for an official statement regarding the ‘system problem’, they ignored me completely,” a fan said.
Notably, physical sale of tickets for the Hockey World Cup started at the Box Office of Kalinga Stadium and various outlets in the city today.


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How many pets are online? How many pet owners are tweeting and Facebooking for their cats and dogs? How many pets have a YouTube page? A new infographic from eBay Classifieds reveals that Fido and Fluffy are hitting the social web a lot more often than you may think!
The ‘Social Savvy Critters’ infographic reveals that 14 percent of dog owners maintain a Facebook page for their pet, 6 percent tweet for their dogs on Twitter, and a whopping 27 percent have their own YouTube page!
In addition to providing stats about how many pets are online, the infographic also offers up some advice for pet owners looking to get their furry friends online. They provide 8 Twitter tips for dogs, tips on creating a blog from your pet’s perspective, and a list of pet-related social networks:


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With today's highlighted deal, save $1,250 off a MCSE Data Platform Certification Exam Prep. Build Enterprise-scale data solutions like an expert. Certification of completion is included in this deal.
Microsoft's free Windows 10 upgrade offer ends today
windows 10 upgrade
JESBOD QY13 sports Bluetooth earphones
Expanding mobile photography with Aukey's wide-angle lenses
The Vimtag P1: A great home monitoring cam with a few kinks
Build 14393.5 for PC and Mobile released to all Insiders
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Lens Cover
Over the last few years, Microsoft has started to embrace Linux, and has now announced that it's providing a certification for those that master Linux on its Azure service.
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Microsoft has announced it has made efforts to cut down the amount of time to certify new Windows Phone apps for publication, even making approvals as quick as one hour after submission.
Microsoft has begun providing Windows 8 app developers with crash reports in addition to certification reports in the event an app fails to be approved for the Windows Store.
When Tweetro hit the 100,000 user limit imposed by Twitter, there was a possibility that Lazywormapps would have to release a paid-for app as a replacement. Well, that looks like happening this week.
The Wi-Fi Alliance's recent announcement that it will begin certifying products using the 802.11n Draft 2.0 specification starting in June is expected to help enhance customer confidence over pre-N products and therefore boost sales of...
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Underlining the company's leadership in developing hardware and drivers to support Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Vista operating system, ATI Technologies Inc. today announced that its driver has been granted the graphics industry's first Windows Hardware Quality...
THE WI-FI Alliance is so concerned about the growing number of router and network card incompatibilities it is going to start certifying products without waiting for the completion of technical standards. Frank Hanzlik, managing director...
Today Nvidia is announcing a new program in which it will certify products for use with its new Scalable Link Interface, or SLI, GPU teaming technology. The program will cover four different types of products...
At least some NVIDIA's ForceWare drivers cannot pass certain WHQL tests as Microsoft's Display Compatibility Test does not pass pixel shaders 3.0 along with some other pixel shaders tests on the drivers version 66.81. Earlier...
Its official! When you are 13 and not certified, you are past it! - I feel all old now! :dead: Cheers Digital Oracle for this one.. The seven-year-old son of an Indian diplomat...
Bookstores should make room on their shelves for Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) texts. They'll need it. The MCSA accreditation's popularity will surpass the MCSE's. If operating systems are to be rolled out...


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Your connectivity to the world has been completely redefined. DP&L has always put safety first -- for our people, our customers and our communities. DP&L recognizes the impact and stress COVID-19 is causing in people’s daily lives. We are determined to continue delivering the reliable power you rely on, while helping to protect the health and safety of our people, neighbors and community.
We will continue to publish information as the situation evolves. You can also follow DP&L on Twitter and Facebook.
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DP&L is taking measures to reduce the financial burden on customers, including offering new extended Pay Agreements.
Learn how we're continuing to power our communities while keeping our employees and customers safe.
Quick links so you can stay informed on community and business affairs.
Stay informed during the COVID-19 situation.
During stressful situations such as the coronavirus pandemic, scammers and cyber criminals come out of hiding. Know the signs of a scam to avoid falling victim.
We understand that our customers are spending more time in their homes. We’re offering tips to help you manage your energy use as you make adjustments to your daily life.
MyDP&L offers convenient, secure online access to manage your account. Customers can perform nearly all customer service functions online.


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John Matthew Cruz
The Department of Finance (DoF) said headline inflation likely accelerated to 3.6 percent in March on the back of a weaker peso that pushed up food, power and fuel prices.
According to the DoF’s latest Economic Bulletin released Tuesday, inflation rate was likely faster than the 3.3 percent in the previous month and 1.1 percent in the same period last year.
The DoF estimate is within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 3 percent to 3.8 percent inflation forecast, and hits the upper end of the 3.1 percent to 3.6 percent estimates by seven analysts polled by The Manila Times.
The Philippine Statistics Authority is set to release the official March inflation report today, April 5.
In a statement, Finance Undersecretary and Chief Economist Gil Beltran cited the impact of “base effects,” saying global petroleum prices have started normalizing from low levels set last year.
“The BSP has lowered its inflation forecast for the whole year 2017 (to 3.4 percent from 3.5 percent) due to lower actual inflation than earlier forecast,” Beltran said.
Last month, prices of food and non-alcoholic drinks likely rose to 4.5 percent from 4.1 percent, while alcoholic drinks and tobacco jumped 6.5 percent from 6 percent, the bulletin showed.
Prices of housing, utilities and fuels are also expected to increase by 4.1 percent from 2.9 percent.
Clothing and footwear inflation is seen to reach 2.9 percent, up from 2.8 percent in February, while health may have settled at 2.8 percent from 2.6 percent.
Transport prices likely dropped to 1.9 percent from 2.8 percent, and restaurants and miscellaneous services to 1.8 percent from 2.1 percent.
Furnishings, households equipment (2.3 percent), recreation and culture (1.8 percent), education (1.8 percent) and communication (0.2 percent) are expected to remain steady.
Last month, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) raised its rates to P10 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for households consuming an average of 300 kWh per month from P9.3 in February and P8.9 percent a year earlier.
Meralco’s generation charge rose to P4.9 per kWh from P4.3 in the previous month and P4 last year.
The average price of diesel in Metro Manila slightly dropped to P31.1 per liter from P31.3 in the previous month, but higher than P22.5 in the same month in 2016, the DoF said, citing data from the “big three” oil companies.
The average price of gasoline also decreased to P46 per liter from P47.7 in February, but well above P37.6 in the same month last year.
BSP data showed the average peso-dollar exchange rate was P50.27:$1 in March, weaker than P49.96:$1 in February and P46.72:$1 a year earlier.