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Gig economy cannot replace permanent jobs, says Sandeep Kohli, Talent Leader, EY
Sukriti YaduwanshiJul 20, 2018, 09.30 AM
What are the reasons driving the trends of gig economy in India?
The online economy is growing fast with many skilled people increasingly adopting ﬂexible work arrangements either due to increased incomes in the new arrangements or because it gives them time to pursue other equally important commitments. Another important trend is that people, especially women who often take time off for family reasons, are using the ﬂexible gig working models to keep them engaged during the phase before returning back fully or partially to the workforce once the commitments are over. Indians are embracing various kinds of employment in a gig economy:
• "Uber" models
• Entrepreneur/self-employment models within a job ecosystem of an ecommerce company
• Technology-enabled knowledge service provision in development sectors
Will the trends of gig economy stay or stumble in the coming time?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has disrupted not only business models that had proven successful for as long as a century, but also the workforce model upon which these business models relied. More than a passing fad, the increased use of the contingent workforce, represents an opportunity to disrupt traditional sourcing and management, and is here to stay. India is seeing the emergence of gig economy with Indian companies beginning to use online workforce.
What kind of challenges giggers will face?
For gig workers, the lack of benefits is the most significant perceived drawback from contingent working. Difficulties in building networks at work or limitations on training and development are some other challenges that are foreseen.
How Gig economy will change the dynamics of the job market?
Today, the gig economy is providing employment opportunities to Indian software developers, creative and multimedia professionals, online sales and marketing professionals, writers, translators and data entry operators. This employment model is expected to grow signiﬁcantly in the coming years.
Is gig economy going to replace permanent jobs completely?
Gig economy cannot replace permanent jobs. Gig economy further opens up new job opportunities in India with more flexibility to the workforce.
Organisations today are using contingent workers to flex and bolster their capabilities. Contingent workers help employers control labor costs, and respond to the peaks and troughs in demand that come with seasonal trends. Meanwhile, access to virtual portals and other technology advancements have made it possible for contingent workers to gain access to job opportunities in ways that weren’t previously possible.


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Five friends from a mix of professional backgrounds (real estate, graphic design, finance and marketing) are behind Cali Press cold-pressed juice, which has recently opened its doors in Bronte.
It was on a recent trip to California, and in particular while in Los Angeles, that co-founder Nick Bardetta found himself surrounded by what he describes as a juice-bar culture equivalent to Sydney’s cafe culture. Cold-press juices, he argues, are superior, and not just for their taste. “There is a different freshness,” he says.
Kelvin Ho (of Akin Creative fame) was behind the fit-out of Cali Press’ flagship in Bronte – a vision of sky blue, white tiles and sunlight that makes the small space feel double its size. Ho is no stranger to beachside settings – he recently refitted the Coogee Pavilion. “He’s certainly helped us execute a design that embodies a laid-back atmosphere,” says Bardetta.
But what exactly is a cold-press juice? Regular juicing pushes fruit and vegetables through a heated motor. Using this method up to 60 per cent of vitamins and nutritional value can be lost. Cold-pressing gently pulverises the fruit and vegetables first, and then presses the pulp while it’s cold to maximise the extraction of vitamins and other nutrients.
“Unlike traditional methods of blending and grinding, cold press doesn't degrade the fruit and vegetables,” says Bardetta. But with such freshness and high-nutrient content comes logistical challenges. “Because it is raw and completely unpasteurised, it only has a three-day shelf life, so it’s literally produced and served fresh daily.”
Cali Press’s current offering is an array of colours as much as it is flavours: kale, spinach, parsley and mint make up greener numbers such as the Popeye and the Evergreen. Maple, cayenne, pineapple and lemon constitute varieties such as the Golden State and The Enigma. It’s The Pacino, however, that catches the eye; filtered water, almonds, cold-brew coffee, dates, and sea salt lends it its creamy, hazelnut hue.

domain: news


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We all know the pandemic has been difficult for small businesses. It’s no surprise that is especially true for women-owned small businesses who have reported an increase in closure rates since last year, compared to little to no change from male counterparts, according to Meta’s recent State of Small Business Report.
While supporting female entrepreneurs with our wallets is vital – and I encourage everyone to do so – there is more that we can be doing at the macro level to help empower and uplift women-owned businesses.
Here are three ways to support women-owned businesses all year long.
Providing access to curated education and training is a key way to cultivate the growth of women-owned small businesses. Knowledge is power. From publishing guides, providing resource hubs, hosting financial literacy training, along with other educational opportunities, there are many ways to boost knowledge and help women with their careers and business.
At Meta, we’ve expanded the #SheMeansBusiness program to address the ongoing financial literacy gap we see between women and men. Currently we provide access to free trainings led by financial expert, Lauren Washington, with modules ranging from business financial basics to assessing financial health and more for anyone who is looking to sharpen their financial acumen.
Connecting Women to Women
Another opportunity comes by way of connecting women-owned small businesses with each other and with organizations that support their success. Explore partnerships with organizations and other businesses – whether it’s to host a community conversation or to broker a business deal, there is so much to gain by working together.
For example, Tay Watt, owner of Posh Candle Co. in California, shared that what started as a conversation via Messenger turned into a major partnership between herself and some small Canadian boutiques. Since the initial DM, Tay has now worked with over 100 other small businesses owned by women.
Share the Stories
Finally, it’s important we also recognize and celebrate women’s resilience by seeking out and sharing their stories. It’s great that we as individuals and brands spotlight women on International Women’s Day or during Women’s History Month – but we should be celebrating the amazing entrepreneurs in our communities all year long! I’d encourage everyone to find women leaders who inspire you – I promise, they aren’t in short supply!
One of my favorite women-owned businesses is Cookie’s Paper Petals ,the first Black woman-owned paper flower shop in the U.S. and located in Milford, Delaware.
Founded in 2017 by Anastasia Jackson, Cookie’s Paper Petals offers colorful paper flower arrangements for celebratory occasions and kits to make your own flower arrangements at home. After a hip injury that left her homebound, Anastasia learned how to make paper flowers through online tutorials to pass the time and began sharing her paper flower creations on her personal Facebook page, where she noticed an uptick in interest from friends and family, and eventually, strangers who inquired to buy them by the hundreds. Now, with over 15,000 followers on Facebook where she hosts daily live streams, Anastasia left her corporate job to focus on her crafting business full time. And from live streams to creating online communities like the East Coast Crafters, Anastasia is fostering community with people near and far, one petal at a time.
Remember that it’s vital to support female entrepreneurs all year long. In addition to shopping with or patronizing women-owned businesses, we should also be helping them in other ways – including education, facilitating connections and sharing their stories whenever we can.
Michelle Klein is the Global Customer and Business Marketing, Meta.


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The Black Dahlia Murder recently announced their all new album “Nightbringers” set to hit store shelves on October 6th. Pre-orders are currently available to those who CLICK HERE. In fact, they just released the title track as a single for the record yesterday.
Now, they’ve announced what will be their North American tour in support of the new LP! It will include support from no less than Suffocation, Exhumed (for a limited run), Decrepit Birth, Necrot, and Wormwitch! You can find all the dates provided on the flyer up above and look up recent music from all the bands down below. Enjoy!


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Home-grown cupcake concept, Sugargram launches its breast cancer awareness box priced at AED30 and will donate AED5 from each box sold to the Al Jalila Foundation. Every year, October marks the Breast Cancer Awareness month, in which individuals, organisations and brands set out to raise awareness and funds for charities fighting the disease.
“One in eight women are likely to develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and many of us have been directly or indirectly affected by the disease. At Sugargram we wanted to do our bit to help to raise awareness on the importance of regularly getting a mammogram and have launched the Breast Cancer Awareness box of five bite-size cupcake delights with AED5 from every box sold going to Al Jalila Foundation,” stated Sugargram.
The Al Jalila Foundation in partnership with Brest Friends works to raise awareness on the importance of early detection of breast cancer, furthering patient support with medical treatment and investing in local breast cancer research.
Available on Deliveroo and ChatFood throughout the whole of October, those who purchase the Breast Cancer Awareness box will receive an assortment of five delicious bite size cupcakes and will also be aiding in the effort to find a cure and fund patient support.
J Lindeberg was started by Johan Lindeberg in 1990s with the aimSeptember 2, 2022 | By RetailME Bureau
Majid Al Futtaim has made significant strides toward environmental, social, and corporateJuly 5, 2022 | By RetailME Bureau
Abu Dhabi based grocery retail chain Lulu Group has partnered with Amazon
UAE-government-led initiative Food Tech Valley – announced in 2021 by His Highness
Abu Dhabi-based supermarket chain Lulu Hypermarket is all set to open in
Plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat’s financial results for the third quarter of
UAE’s fresh produce brand Barakat has launched bio-degradable packaging across its entire
UAE-based agritech start-up Pure Harvest Smart Farms has signed a Memorandum of
Carrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim – Retail in the
Grandiose Supermarket, part of Ghassan Aboud Group, has announced expansion plan in
The Valrhona journey began 100 years ago with a cocoa bean. Since
Deliveroo UAE has announced the expansion of its rapid grocery delivery service
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) revealed that the UAE
Located in Atlantis, The Palm the house of En Fuego promises social
Hikina Restaurant has re-opened its doors at Lapita hotel located in Dubai
Okinawa in Japan happens to be a ‘blue zone’ – one of
Part of Sunset Hospitality Group Delizie Gourmet an artisanal café serving authentic
After opening two outlets in the UAE Dave’s Hot Chicken has entered
The Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) has unveiled an exciting line-up
The d.ream Group (Dogus Restaurant Entertainment and Management) – behind Coya, Nusret
Premium café dining concept founded by Natasha Sideris tashas café has partnered
UAE-based premium casual dining restaurant Peppermill is all set to open its
South African confectionery brand 1701 has launched in the UAE in partnership
Popular restaurants Mythos Urban Greek Eatery and Nola Bijou Bistro & Bar,
Dubai-based Sunset Hospitality Group known for developing and operating high-end hospitality concepts


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TRX president and CEO Shane Hammond on Nov. 15 resigned "for personal reasons," the company revealed Tuesday in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. "TRX's board of directors has appointed a committee to facilitate an effective transition and consider qualified candidates," according to the filing. Hammond was president and CEO since late 2008.
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Carlson Wagonlit Travel's first-half 2014 North America sales volume and transactions increased 10 percent and 5 percent, respectively, versus the prior-year period,... read more »


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(Reuters) - Consumers are being warned again about possible strangulation from using the ShoulderFlex Massager after the now defunct importer failed to follow through on its recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday.
Hair, jewelry or clothing can become tangled in the ShoulderFlex Massager, a personal massage device, and cause serious injury or death from strangulation, the FDA said.
One strangulation death and one near death associated with the device have been reported, it said.
The massager was imported by King International and sold online, in retail stores and in catalogs by a number of companies.
The product was intended to give users a deep tissue massage to the neck, shoulders and back while lying down, according to the FDA.
King International recalled the ShoulderFlex Massager at the end of August, but the company has since gone out of business and failed to follow through with the recall, the FDA said.
Many of the companies that sell the device may not be aware of the recall or may not have properly notified customers, it said.
Consumers should stop using the product, and safely dispose of the massager by removing the massage fingers and disposing of them separately from the device and power supply, the FDA said.
(Reporting by Lauren Keiper; Editing by Jerry Norton)


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Two-thirds of shoppers lack confidence in the industry’s ability to deliver food that’s safe to eat, finds a new survey for The Grocer
With the fallout from the horsemeat scandal still dominating headlines, new research for The Grocer shows the food and drink industry has an enormous job on its hands to restore consumer trust.
The Him! Shop Waves survey revealed just over a third (37%) trust the industry to sell food that is safe. The shocking finding comes despite there being no evidence as yet that the horsemeat concerned poses any risk to human health.
More than two-fifths (42%) of shoppers said they did not trust the industry on food safety.
The one ray of light for big food retailers is that, of all the outlets that sell food, supermarkets are still the most trusted: 59% said they trusted supermarkets to sell safe food, compared with 36% for restaurants and 24% for c-stores.
And while discounters may once again have made big gains in Kantar’s market share league table this week, the fact that only 17% of shoppers trust them to sell safe food will be a worry, says Blake Gladman, research and insights manager at Him!
“Trust is an emotive word at any time for supermarkets and clearly the key word at present,” he says. “These results will come as a sharp wake-up call to retailers that they need to work fast and extremely hard to regain the trust of their shoppers.”
Shop Waves is a consumer survey conducted for The Grocer by him!, featuring answers to 50 questions posed to 500 online
respondents every month. Digital subscribers to The Grocer can receive the full results at thegrocer.co.uk/shopwaves. In
addition, manufacturers and retailers can request additional questions in upcoming surveys. For further information, or help ininvestigating the big issues facing shoppers today, please call him! on 0845 072 7667 or go to www.him.uk.com


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Clorox Company (The) (CLX) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results
Clorox Company (The) (NYSE:CLX) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The company reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, topping the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.05, Bloomberg Earnings reports. Clorox Company (The) had a net margin of 11.74% and a return on equity of 190.67%. The business had revenue of $1.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.48 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.36 earnings per share. Clorox Company (The)’s quarterly revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year.
Shares of Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) traded up 1.72% during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $128.70. 1,068,234 shares of the company traded hands. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $130.69 and a 200-day moving average price of $133.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.12 and a beta of 0.39. Clorox Company has a 52 week low of $111.24 and a 52 week high of $141.76.
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 13th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 25th will be given a dividend of $0.84 per share. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 24th. Clorox Company (The)’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 63.04%.
In related news, SVP Jon M. Balousek sold 9,223 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.87, for a total transaction of $1,280,798.01. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 20,614 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,862,666.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, COO Dawn C. Willoughby sold 2,158 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.00, for a total transaction of $297,804.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 21,242 shares of company stock valued at $2,944,449 in the last three months. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Several analysts have commented on the stock. Jefferies Group LLC restated a “hold” rating and issued a $132.00 price objective on shares of Clorox Company (The) in a report on Wednesday. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Clorox Company (The) in a report on Sunday, October 8th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 target price on shares of Clorox Company (The) in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Clorox Company (The) from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, Barclays PLC reiterated an “equal weight” rating and set a $136.00 target price (down from $140.00) on shares of Clorox Company (The) in a report on Friday, August 4th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. The company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $127.39.
Clorox Company (The) Company Profile
The Clorox Company is a manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products. The Company sells its products primarily through mass retail outlets, e-commerce channels, wholesale distributors and medical supply distributors. The Company operates through four segments: Cleaning, Household, Lifestyle and International.
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Air activity over Europe, an Estonian officer in custody, the hunt for a submarine and claims of cyberattacks have ramped up tensions with the West.
According to Statistics Estonia, in September 2014, the production of industrial enterprises rose by 4% compared to September of the previous year. The production increased in manufacturing, but decreased in mining and energy.
According to Statistics Estonia, in September 2014 compared to September of the previous year, the retail sales of goods of retail trade enterprises increased 6% at constant prices.
Estonian state-owned port operator Tallinna Sadam concluded contracts with shipyards Remontowa Shipbuilding and Sefine Shipyard for building four new ferries for the routes between the Estonian mainland and biggest islands; each shipyard will build two ferries, LETA/Postimees Online reports.
Irish low-fare airline Ryanair hopes to serve 2.3 million passengers in the Baltics in 2014, the airline informed LETA.
Estonian state-owned energy company Eesti Energia announced that its sales revenues reached 197 million euros in the third quarter of 2014, decreasing by 9% compared to the same period in 2013 while the net profit amounted to 44 million euros, a growth of 5% year-on-year, writes LETA.


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Tamkeen to back 16 Bahraini SMEs at fair
Manama, October 20, 2009
Tamkeen, Bahrain’s Labour Fund, will support up to 16 Bahraini entrepreneurs at its pavilion at a major regional industry fair.
The third Gulf Industry Fair (GIF) will be held from January 12 to 14, 2010 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), said organisers Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE).
Tamkeen, an independent government authority set up to support local businesses and promote high calibre Bahraini talent, is selecting participating enterprises based on eligibility criteria, including a proven commitment to Bahrainisation.
The Bahrain Young Entrepreneurs Association (BYEA) is assisting in the promotion of this initiative and the registration process.
Support for enterprises at GIF is part of an enterprise development support agency (EDSA) agreement signed between Tamkeen and professional advisory services firm KPMG.
The enterprise development support programme, a BD12 million ($31.8 million) initiative, aims to improve private sector productivity by supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs through co-financing, consultancy services and technical support.
“The enterprise development support programme supports companies by providing professional tools for businessmen who intend to make a real change in their business and improve the efficiency of their workers,” said Abdulellah Al-Qassimi, CEO, Tamkeen.
“Gulf Industry Fair is a high profile event which will act as a springboard for local business talent,” he added.
Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director, HCE, said Tamkeen’s participation in GIF is of national strategic importance.
“Tamkeen plays an integral role in enhancing the productivity of the Bahraini workforce, which ultimately delivers long-term economic benefits to the Kingdom,” Abdulrahman said.
“We look forward to welcoming Tamkeen and the dynamic, ambitious enterprises it supports, to the exhibition”.
GIF is a highly targeted opportunity for companies marketing products or services aimed at the Northern Gulf’s industrial sector.
In addition to Tamkeen, many local and international companies have confirmed participation in the 2010 edition, which is set to surpass the 2009 event in terms of exhibitor numbers and space sold. – TradeArabia News Service


text: As governments around the world continue to push the concept of electric vehicles there are growing calls for all government buildings to offer free EV charging. This would certainly kickstart the concerns regarding EV charging networks which seems to be at the forefront of the minds of many sceptics. So, how would this concept work and is it really viable?Helping the electric vehicle industryWhile many governments around the world are doing a significant amount of work behind the scenes to help the electric vehicle market, could they do more? It would be wrong to suggest that all government buildings do not offer any form of electric vehicle charging but for many people these services are few and far between. When you consider that countries such as the UK employ more than 50% of the workforce in public services there must be an enormous scope to assist the industry?


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London Grammar have unveiled new cut 'Big Picture' – check it out now.
The trio returned on New Year's Day, placing a brand new – and really rather good – track online.
Work on the follow up to their debut continues, with London Grammar now dropping a brand new track.
Mercury nominee Jon Hopkins handles production, with 'Big Picture' offering a windswept, powerfully cinematic pop vision.
The accompanying visuals don't shrink from attention, either – lavish, and easy on the eye, you can check it out on their website.


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Tony Zito of Rakuten Marketing shares his insights on methods for streamlining online shopping experiences.
The rise of the co-ed show and the relocation to other cities is impacting the traditional men’s calendar.
As major U.S. labels continue to struggle, many international players are ready to pounce.
New arrivals to the area include nostalgic cult brands Champion and Fiorucci.
The popularity of streetwear, ath-leisure and custom clothing is helping the category withstand the rough retail climate.
Expect more non-apparel players to tap into the fandom and partnerships between brands and designers to become even more immersive.
Look for Agenda executives to continue to build on the company’s festival concept in 2018.
The Baltimore-based brand is restructuring, while Nike and Adidas are turning up the heat.
Optimizing Online Shopping Experiences Requires Context, Strategic Thinking
What to Watch: Shape Shifters
What to Watch: Are Separate Men’s Fashion Shows a Dying Breed?
Campbell raised the issue on her Instagram account.
The Village Voice will maintain a digital presence.
A capsule of items fusing the brands’ DNA will launch worldwide on Sept. 7.
More Memo Pad


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In 2018, blockchain transactions are on the rise for shipping, finance and other industries partly due to cryptographic structures which make financial transactions secure.
Unfortunately, some computer experts are warning that blockchain security is based on digital computing whose security capabilities may soon be breached by next-generation quantum computers.
In the November 22ndissue of the scientific magazine, Nature, a team of Russian quantum computer experts reported on blockchain’s vulnerability in an article entitled “Quantum computers put blockchain security at risk.”
The Russians argue that quantum computers “will soon be able to outperform” conventional digital computers “on certain tasks.” One such example, they say “is breaking security protocols that are based on cryptographic algorithms, as mathematician Peter Shor pointed out in 1994…A blockchain is particularly at risk from this because one-way functions are its sole line of defense…Cracking of digital signatures is therefore the most imminent threat. A wrongdoer equipped with a quantum computer could use Shor’s algorithm to forge any digital signature, impersonate that user and appropriate their digital assets.”
The functions used to secure the Internet and financial transactions will “instantly become obsolete” by quantum computers within the next ten years, they warn.
The authors, Aleksey Fedorov, Evgeniy Kiktenko and Alexander Lvovsky, are associated with the Russian Quantum Center in Moscow. They note that tightening security and the use of alternative encryption could help buy time for existing blockchain systems.
However, “the longer-term answer is to develop and scale up the quantum communication network and, subsequently, the quantum internet. This will take major investments from governments.”
The authors note that China, the United States and the European Union will be “among the early adopters” of quantum computer technology and they urge more investment in research: “Much greater urgency needs to be given to these risks—their impact could be grave.”


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Congress members recently signed a letter to the Secretary of Agriculture asking the federal government to help the struggling pork industry.
Claiming it was injured with a $2.2 billion projected loss by the ‘swine flu’ name, the industry is asking for a second round of government assistance, according to reports. Earlier the Department of Agriculture committed to spend $30 million on pork. The letter asked that the government spend an additional $100 million to help the injured industry.
As the H1N1 flu pandemic took hold last spring, pork hasn’t sold as well, despite health officials ensuring the public the virus is not passed by pork consumption. Exports were also affected to countries like China who ceased purchasing American pork.


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Sante Fitness Lab announced recently its partnership with Blackbeard’s Seafood Island, conceptualized to serve athletes and fitness enthusiasts of Vermosa Sports Hub with healthy and delicious food options.
The Vermosa Sports Hub is located in Imus, Cavite.
Founded in 2004, Blackbeard’s Seafood Island is the leading seafood destination of the Philippine islands and currently operates 40 stores nationwide. The company then went on to open an auxiliary store called the “Biker’s Café,” which caters to a community of bikers and fitness enthusiasts.
“We’re happy to partner with Santé Fitness Lab and put up something for the Vermosa community. For us, this is not just about doing business but most importantly, our multi-sports café is about building goodwill with our customers, especially when it comes to health and wellness,” said Raymund Magdaluyo, president of The Blackbeard’s Seafood Island Group.
Santé’s CEO Joey Marcelo said that he and Magdaluyo belong to the same community. He explained that they first met through triathlon and that they’ve always wanted a foot inside the food business.
“Our niche is health and wellness and, I wanted to focus on that once I venture into the food business. I was adamant about doing it with Raymund since it’s his area of expertise. So, we’re pleased that we now have the opportunity since Vermosa Sports Hub asked us for a possibility of setting up a restaurant that will not only serve the community in Vermosa but the sports hub, as well,” said Marcelo.
To know more about Santé Fitness Lab and other upcoming events, visit their official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/santefitnesslab/.
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US growth forecasts trimmed as Federal Reserve indicates there will be two more interest rate rises by the end of the year
Rate rises: The US Federal Reserve has trimmed its economic growth forecasts for this year and next
The Federal Reserve left interest rates in the US unchanged last night but indicated there would be two hikes before the end of the year.
The world’s most powerful central bank pegged its benchmark rate at between 0.25 per cent and 0.5 per cent as it trimmed its economic growth forecasts for this year and next.
But it suggested rates would rise twice before the year is out – but did not comment on when they were likely to take place.
The Fed raised rates in December for the first time in nearly a decade and signalled there would be four increases this year.
But it has now downgraded that projection to two increases amid concerns over the health of the global economy and volatility on financial markets.
The Fed said it ‘continues to closely monitor inflation indicators and global economic and financial developments’.
The Bank of England is widely expected to leave rates in the UK unchanged today having frozen them at an all-time low of 0.5 per cent since March 2009.
For a long time it was thought that the next move in rates would be up but analysts believe the Bank could cut rates in the coming months to breathe fresh life into the UK economy.
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Monday, May 20 2013 11:25 AM EDT2013-05-20 15:25:03 GMT
Two men, one black and one white, burst into the Petro Store at the intersection of Highway 200 and Highway 45 Sunday night, and attacked the clerk, stealing money. The victim told authorities that theMore >>
Two men, one black and one white, burst into the Petro Store at the intersection of Highway 200 and Highway 45 Sunday night, and attacked the clerk, stealing money.More >>
Monday, May 20 2013 10:54 AM EDT2013-05-20 14:54:19 GMT
Information from the Georgia Lottery- ATLANTA – A Valdosta man has won a huge jackpot prize playing Fantasy 5. William Gilbert, 71, matched all five numbers from the May 16 Fantasy 5 drawing, winningMore >>
William Gilbert, 71, matched all five numbers from the May 16 Fantasy 5 drawing, winning the 484,201 jackpot prize. Barretts, 6685 Bemiss Road in Valdosta, sold the Quik Pik ticket.More >>
Monday, May 20 2013 10:45 AM EDT2013-05-20 14:45:59 GMT
Thomasville Police Officers responded to Walmart in reference to a shoplifting Sunday night. Employees told police a man left the store with a shopping cart full of items without paying. The employeesMore >>
Thomasville Police Officers responded to Walmart in reference to a shoplifting Sunday night. Employees said the man pulled knife and began swing it at them. He then ran to a vehicle parked in the parking lot and attempted to leave however, but the car would not start, so he took off running.More >>
Monday, May 20 2013 9:30 AM EDT2013-05-20 13:30:40 GMT
By PAMELA SAMPSON AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) - The price of oil fell Monday ahead of the release later this week of economic data from the U.S. and China, the world's two largest economies, andMore >>
The price of oil fell Monday ahead of the release later this week of economic data from the U.S. and China. Benchmark crude for June delivery was down 55 cents to $95.47 a barrel, but gas in East Albany was $3.42 this morning....More >>
Monday, May 20 2013 9:03 AM EDT2013-05-20 13:03:02 GMT
A Lowndes County man is behind bars after deputies uncovered nearly half a million dollars of marijuana. Deputies responded to a complaint at Jose Sanchez's house on Highway 129 North Friday. AuthoritiesMore >>
A Lowndes County man is behind bars after deputies uncovered nearly half a million dollars of marijuana.
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IBM Business Partners recognized for technical excellence, industry expertise, and innovative solutions for IBM products and services.
ARMONK, N.Y., March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced the winners of its 13th annual IBM Beacon Awards, which honor Business Partners, globally, for their information technology excellence, commitment to industry skills and expertise, and innovative solutions based on IBM technology and services.
Winners of the Beacon Awards are selected by leading industry influencers and IBM executives in 30 award areas spanning Smarter Industries, Smarter Computing, Smarter Solutions, and Technical Excellence. The winning solutions showcase IBM Business Partner skills and expertise in developing innovative approaches to solving business challenges and helping clients grow.
"The IBM Beacon Award winners and finalists are IBM Business Partners who have delivered unique and innovative solutions resulting in client transformation and business growth," said Mark Hennessy, general manager, IBM Global Business Partners. "These innovation leaders have not only raised the standard for business excellence but have also demonstrated ingenuity while delivering an exceptional client experience."
Beacon Award winners receive industry recognition, increased marketplace visibility, and promotional support for their firm and solutions in recognition of their achievements. Beacon Award winners and finalists were announced at the PartnerWorld Leadership Conference 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 2,000 Business Partners and IBM executives from around the globe attended the conference.
IBM Choice Awards For a fourth year, IBM honored Business Partners from each geography who have demonstrated client value and business excellence in delivering IBM-based solutions. The IBM Choice Awards are given to Business Partners who exhibit IBM values in all client interactions and achieve common business goals, resulting in superior customer satisfaction and mutually significant business impact. The IBM Choice Awards were selected by an IBM panel and are not based on nominations by Business Partners.
Winners of the 2013 IBM Beacon Awards
Beacon Laureate Award for Technical Excellence: FRITZ & MACZIOIL Software und Computervertrieb GmbH (Germany)
Beacon Award for Smarter Cities
Outstanding Smarter Cities Solution: MSI Global Pte Ltd (Singapore)


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Apple TV+ App Coming Soon To Comcast’s Xfinity Devices In The U.S.
Comcast and Apple announced Monday that they are launching the premium streaming app Apple TV+ across Comcast’s U.S. cable entertainment device platforms.
The news means the popular streaming app will be accessible in coming days on Xfinity devices including Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex and XClass TV.
The Apple TV+ service was made available last December on Comcast’s Sky platform devices in the U.K. and Europe.
As a promotional incentive for Xfinity customers, Apple will offer a free preview period of some of its most popular series and movies between March 15 and March 21. No sign-up will be required.
This will include the first seasons of a number Apple TV+ shows, including the Apple Original movie Greyhound.
Afterward, Xfinity customers who are not currently Apple TV+ subscribers and sign up via their eligible Xfinity devices by April 15th will receive a three-month free trial period.
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“With the launch of Apple TV+, our customers now have access to all of today’s most popular streaming services through our aggregated user experience and award-winning voice technology,” said Sam Schwartz, Comcast chief business development officer. “By leveraging our global technology platform, our partners can distribute apps on one tech stack to reach tens of millions of viewers.”
“Apple TV+ offers the highest quality programming from the finest creators in the world, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is on the big TV in your living room,” stated Peter Stern, Apple Services VP. “Our work with Comcast lights up that experience for tens of millions of new devices, and we are thrilled that so many Comcast customers have a compelling way to enjoy their new favorite shows on Apple TV+.”
Comcast said Apple TV+ is the first app built using a common set of development tools and resources through Comcast’s global technology platform, that reaches more than 50 million devices in the U.S., U.K. and Europe.
Customers can access Apple TV+ by saying “Apple TV+” into their voice remote or by saying the name of a desired title from the streaming service (like, “Ted Lasso” or “The Morning Show”), the company said.
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The city Departments of Commerce and Parks and Recreation as well as the Fairmount Park Conservancy recently awarded a $100,000 small business development grant to the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia to help assist the Vendors Association of FDR Park.
The money will go toward the continued development of the vendors association and also help establish a permanent home for a Southeast Asian cultural marketplace in FDR Park. Additionally, thanks to the grant funds, three members of the vendors association are serving as official vendors at the food bazaar of this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show.
“Investing in the growth of Philadelphia’s small, immigrant businesses is what equitable development is all about,” Commerce Director Anne Nadol said in a press release. “The Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia and the Southeast Asian community have been driving economic growth and building Philly’s reputation as the big city with the richest and most diverse food scene in the country.”
The vendors that will be featured at the flower show are The Stir Fry Lady, run by chef Kem Lum, Bee’z Kitchen, run by chef Chanthea “Bee” Nhep, and Saijai Thai, run by chef Saijai Sabayjit. They will be serving a diverse array of Southeast Asian cuisine.
“The vendors at FDR Park are some of the most talented, creative chefs in our city,” said Sarun Chan, the executive director of the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia. “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to help these vendors grow their businesses, and further share the rich cultural experiences and flavors that Cambodian Americans bring to Philadelphia’s public spaces and food scene.”
Parks and Recreation and the commerce department first teamed up to support pathways for small, Black- and Brown-owned businesses to vend at large-scale events back in 2020. Since then, they have helped over 90 such vendors land spots at high-traffic events such as the Christmas Village in LOVE Park and this year’s flower show.


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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said that the ecommerce giant’s Indian arm Amazon India is the country’s most popular marketplace during a post-result interaction, indicating the company’s intention to keep fuelling Indian investment.
He said, “We’re grateful that customers are responding – Amazon.in is the most visited and the fastest growing marketplace in India. It’s still Day 1 for ecommerce in India and I assure you that we’ll keep investing in technology and infrastructure, while working hard to invent on behalf of our customers and small and medium businesses in India.”
The report further states that Amazon’s global net sales were $35.7 Bn, an increase of 23%. The company’s net profit increased 41% to $724 Mn.
Talking about the capital expenditure in India Brian T Olsavsky, Amazon CFO, said, “As far as the level of investment is concerned, it is certainly one of our important investment areas. We see a lot of potential for the country and our business there.”
In July 2016, the company launched Amazon Prime membership programme in India. With Prime, customers in over 100 cities can avail unlimited free one-day and two-day delivery on eligible products. In December 2016, Amazon announced the launch of its Prime Video service in India. Prime Video is an additional offering for Amazon’s Prime subscribers, including existing ones and allows users exclusive access to movies, Amazon’s original series as well as premium content from across the globe.
Talking about Amazon Prime Bezos said, “Our India team is moving fast and delivering for customers and sellers. The team has increased Prime selection by 75% since launching the programme nine months ago, increased fulfilment capacity for sellers by 26% already this year, announced 18 Indian Original TV series, and just last week introduced a Fire TV Stick optimised for Indian customers with integrated voice search in English and Hindi.”
From ecommerce to entertainment to food to wallets, Amazon is leaving no stone unturned to penetrate the Indian market. Earlier this month, it was reported that Amazon secured a licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate a prepaid payment instrument (PPI).
Prior to that, it was reported that it invested in nine dedicated Fulfilment Centres (FCs) and 33 Delivery Stations exclusively for furniture and large appliances.
In December 2016, it was reported that in a bid to gain an edge over competitors, ecommerce giant Amazon has invested a fresh capital of $295 Mn (INR 2,010 Cr) in its main Indian unit. The investment that was made in November and marked the total capital invested in Amazon Seller Services to over $1 Bn (INR 7,000 Cr) in the last 12 months, according to regulatory filings.
Earlier in September 2016, Amazon infused $17 Mn in its Indian wholesale arm to increase the transaction of smartphones via its B2B portal, in compliance with the revised FDI norms. In July, it launched its biggest Fulfilment Centre in Sonipat near New Delhi. In June 2016, it announced that it would infuse $3 Bn in India in the next few years to take on its rivals.
(The development was reported by ET)


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For those of you who have been patiently awaiting the new iPod Shuffle's October coming-out party, you'll have to be a little more patient. In the middle of October, with mild interest that the "world's smallest MP3 player" still hadn't appeared on store shelves. We had suggested that Apple was either waiting for October 31 to reignite its preholiday iPod fervor or that the device was delayed in some Chinese assembly line. Well, our daily call to the San Francisco Apple Store revealed this morning that the Shuffle will be missing its October boat. Said an Apple employee, "We don't expect it for a couple more weeks."
(Photo: Apple Computer)


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A coronavirus stimulus measure aimed at small and medium-sized businesses has now been extended to the top end of town, in what the Federal Government says is a move to help boost investment and create jobs.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Government would allow companies with more than $5 billion in turnover to instantly deduct the cost of new capital investments.
The measure — a centrepiece of the October Budget — was initially aimed at 3.5 million small and medium businesses, or 99 per cent of all businesses.
Previously to be eligible, a business had to have global turnover below $5 billion.
Now, companies that make less than $5 billion in Australia will be eligible to apply, no matter how much money they make globally.
That means that while companies like Coca-Cola Amatil will be eligible, mining giants such as BHP won’t be.
The hope is that businesses will revise their capital expenditure plans and fast-track projects, in turn boosting employment.
Mr Frydenberg said the Government would introduce legislation to expand access “to drive more investment, create more jobs and further support our economic recovery from COVID-19”.
“Full expensing temporarily allows businesses with aggregated turnover of less than $5 billion to deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets of any value in the year they are first used or installed,” he said.
Scheme expected to have high take-up, but rorters warned
Hundreds of thousands of businesses took up a similar program introduced under then-Labor prime minster Kevin Rudd during the global financial crisis.
The scheme is expected to be popular again this time around, but its success won’t be known until after businesses file their tax returns.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has already warned businesses to not pretend to be loss-making to claim this and other stimulus measures including the popular JobKeeper wage subsidy.
In the October Budget, Mr Frydenberg said about 3.5 million businesses would be able to benefit from the scheme.
Today’s announcement, which follows lobbying from the Business Council of Australia and Corporate Tax Association, now opens it up to about 50 more companies, employing more than 150,000 Australians.
To be eligible, companies must have less than $5 billion in total statutory and ordinary income (excluding non-assessable non-exempt income) in either the 2018-19 or 2019-20 income year.
And they must invest more than $100 million in tangible depreciating assets in the period 2016-17 to 2018-19.
The Government will also allow businesses to opt out of temporary full expensing and the backing business investment incentive on an asset by asset basis.
“This change will provide businesses with more flexibility in respect of these measures, removing a potential disincentive for them to take advantage of these incentives,” Mr Frydenberg said.


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Why putting down your phone could help you live longer
Having a smartphone can bring about a great dilemma – a lot has been said about the dangers of spending time on our devices, but putting them away is still easier said than done.
A look into hormones could explain why phones can be simultaneously stimulating for your mind and harmful for your health.
A growing body of evidence suggests that smartphones have detrimental effects on our sleep, memory, attention spans, mental health, problem-solving skills, and more. But if that’s not enough, the New York Times has reported that keeping our phones close may be increasing our stress levels and, consequently, shortening our lives.
Most studies on smartphone use have focused on the way phones and apps are designed to encourage the production of dopamine, a brain chemical that plays an important role in motivating behaviours, habits and addictions.
The release of dopamine from using phones and apps makes it more difficult for us to put our devices down. This has been acknowledged by Chamath Palihapitiya, a former executive at the world’s biggest social media site Facebook.
“I feel tremendous guilt,” said Palihapitiya in a 2017 talk. “The short-term, dopamine-driven feedback loops that we have created are destroying how society works.”
But apart from dopamine, phones can also stimulate cortisol spikes. Known as the stress hormone, cortisol triggers physiological responses such as increase in blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar.
While cortisol may help regulate the hormone balance in your body in response to perceived threats – for example, bear attacks – its continuous release from anticipating notifications on your device may not be as beneficial. Chronically elevated cortisol levels have been associated with various health problems, from weight gain, metabolic issues and fragile skin to depression, heart attack, dementia and stroke.
“Every chronic disease we know of is exacerbated by stress,” said Dr Robert Lustig, emeritus professor in paediatric endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco, and author of The Hacking of the American Mind.
“And our phones are absolutely contributing to this.”
This was also supported by David Greenfield, PhD, founder of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction. “Smartphones put us in an ever-increasing state of hyper-vigilance, where we’re always feeling compelled to check our calls, texts, social media alerts, email, and more,” he told Men’s Health. “This keeps the adrenals constantly activated and cortisol levels elevated.”
So how could we reduce our phone use and recover our health? Keeping your gadget out of sight might be one of the options – according to a study published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, leaving your device in another room instead of on the desk could improve your focus and reduce distraction through the absence of stressor.
Turning off notifications will also make your phone less stressful, as will hiding or deleting apps.
Paying attention to physical reactions is also important, said Dr Judson Brewer, director of research and innovation at the Mindfulness Centre at Brown University and author of The Craving Mind. He told the Times that stress and anxiety could manifest in the form of chest contraction. “If we’re not aware of our physical sensations, we’re not going to change our behaviours,” he said. Paying attention to the sensations you are feeling when using a particular app could help you identify ways to rebalance your body chemicals.


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The Off-Facebook Activity tool addresses privacy concerns.
Amid the battle between Apple and Facebook over privacy issues, Facebook introduced it’s privacy feature last year.
I strongly advice it’s time for users to begin applying this new feature.
It’s called Off-Facebook Activity and it lets you see and control data that apps and websites share with the platform and keep monitoring the kind of information third-party apps can access.
With the privacy feature, you can clear the history of apps and websites that have shared your data. You can also turn off future Off-Facebook activity, which tells Facebook to disconnect any information that the company has shared from your account. Or, you can selectively choose which companies you want to stop sharing your activity and it’ll stop showing you those targeted ads.


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Current News and Updates
ORV BEACH IS OPEN
Please consult your tide chart as high tides will pinch off the beach. Speed limit is 15 mph.
The Gatehouse will be opening April 1st. In addition, all 2014 permit holders will be receiving a renewal application in the mail.
We have new Sandy Neck merchandise available!


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by Melissa Wilson
2016 was the year of virtual cat and mouse amongst major social media players. Platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook appropriated, raced and downright copied features from each other in a further push towards instant, live and on-demand video content. The year provided the most competitive market yet for developers vying for the increasingly short attention span of users. In 2016 we shared more, became more connected and more entertained.
After their announcement in late 2015, Facebook rolled out their ‘reactions’ feature globally. Reactions allow users to express ‘love’, ‘haha’, ‘wow’, ‘sad’ and ‘angry’ reactions alongside the original ‘like’ feature. We won’t hold our breaths for a ‘dislike’ button.
Twitter releases ‘improved Timeline’
Twitter joined the likes of Facebook in early 2016 by releasing their ‘improved timeline’. The algorithm based feature aims to show users more of what they’re likely to care about.
Instagram enables multiple accounts
Social media managers the world over rejoiced in unison on February 8 when Instagram rolled out its multiple account feature. Gone were the days of logging in and out of accounts with the app instead allowing users to access and flick between an earth-shattering five accounts at a time.
Snapchat offers customisable geofilters
Users fell in love with geofilters in 2015 and in February Snapchat released customisable event based geofilters. For a small fee, any person with an account can create their own geofilter for a holiday or event and assign it to a specific location. Given that the platform is minimal on ads, this was seen as a creative and tactful way for the company to generate revenue from users.
In early 2016, Instagram announced they were replacing their reverse chronological style feed in favour of one dictated by an algorithm. Despite being designed to show users more content ‘they care about most’, outcry amongst dedicated users ensued, alongside a widespread request to ‘turn on notifications’.
Longer video for Instagram
At the end of March, Instagram announced it was beginning to roll out 60-second video capability. A huge jump from their previous 15-second limit, they also reintroduced the ability for iOS users to make videos out of multiple clips from their camera roll.
Facebook launches Instant Articles
In an effort to make the user experience faster and more seamless, Facebook released Instant Articles. Launching on mobile, the feature allows content to be published natively to Facebook resulting in faster load times, lessened abandonment rates, video auto-play and tap-to-zoom image galleries.
Facebook Live goes …live
Facebook Live was made available to all users in April. Designed to connect people, pages and public figures to their audience in real time, Facebook Live signalled a new era in connectedness through social media.
New Instagram look and feel
Instagram revealed their new logo and app appearance in May. While the new bright gradient style app logo left some scratching their heads, the improved app layout and design was well received by users.
Facebook 360 photo
Panorama photos were given a new life when Facebook released their 360 feature in June. Users can now simply upload a panorama photo taken on their smartphone, which is automatically transformed into a fully immersive photo on the app.
Instagram introduces ‘see translation’ tool
Presumably in a bid to further the connectedness of people using the app across the world, Instagram took after Facebook in releasing an in built language translation tool for captions, comments and profile bios.
Pokémon GO released
The virtual reality game instantly developed a cult following its release in July. The app was applauded for its unique reliance on varied geographical locations to catch Pokémon and battle at gyms, therefore requiring players to physically move around in order to play the game.
Instagram introduces ‘stories’ feature
The copycat moment of the year goes to Instagram and their ‘stories’ feature. ‘Stories’ were presumably an effort to offer something for everyone and maintain Instagram’s edge over its competition. The bold move and its subsequent backlash were a secondary concern for team Instagram, with the feature being embraced amongst users.
Facebook gets around ad blocking
Those using desktop ad-blocking plugins may have noticed a different newsfeed in August as Facebook navigated around ad-blocking technology. The platform instead promised to provide users with better, more relevant ads. The never-ending saga doesn’t stop there however, with ad-blockers hitting back with loopholes only a few days later.
Instagram introduces zoom
Gone are the days when you would show your mum a photo of your crush on Instagram and she double taps to zoom in on their pearly whites resulting in you ‘liking’ a photo of them on holidays in South America 134 weeks ago. Just us? Well, Instagram introduced a zoom function, what more is there to say?
Twitter introduces ‘quality’ filter
Twitter’s ‘quality’ filter gave users more control than ever over the content they see on their feed. Using artificial intelligence technology to detect things like automated content and duplicate tweets, turning on the filter allows users to see more of the content they care about.
Messenger Introduces ‘Messenger Day’ Feature
Just a month after Instagram released their Snapchat inspired ‘stories’, Facebook’s sister app Messenger came out with ‘Messenger Day’. It remains to be seen whether the feature has sparked much more than a few mildly amusing Reddit threads.
Twitter increases character limit
Well, sort of. After 10 long years, users felt liberated in September when Twitter removed usernames, photos, GIFs and videos from counting towards the precious 140-character limit.
Twitter opens up ‘moments’ to all users
Offering its own take on instant, event / occasion based content, Twitter introduced ‘moments’ in October, allowing users to subscribe to content around a certain topic, sporting or news event while it is current and automatically disengaging them once it’s over.
Censoring Instagram comments
Giving users power to hide what they don’t want to see, Instagram rolled out the feature that automatically hides inappropriate comments. Simply navigate to the settings section of the app and you can list the keywords that aren’t welcome on your page. Instagram will then automatically hide the comments that contain these words. Viola!
Facebook launched Marketplace
Billions of buy and sell arrangements occur across Facebook every year, prompting Facebook to launch its very own Marketplace feature in October. Its integration with Facebook messenger made it easier than ever to haggle and arrange drop off or pick up points for purchases in your local area.
Twitter kills off Vine
Arguably the biggest social media news of 2016, Vine announced in October that it will be closing down. Twitter purchased the micro video-sharing platform in 2012 for a cool 30 million and since then many other popular apps have incorporated similar features, rendering it nearly irrelevant in 2016.
Built in Boomerang and @ for Instagram stories
In an effort to further enrich their stories feature, Instagram incorporated its boomerang app feature natively within Stories. Instagram also extended its ‘@’ feature to stories, allowing users to tag other accounts directly into their instant videos and photos.
Instagram save posts feature
Many people use Instagram to gather ideas and inspiration, but with no proper way to save or file the things you see, it’s difficult to keep track of the things you love. Enter: the save feature. Users can now save posts straight from their feed, which are stored in a ‘saved’ section on their profile. And the best part? Your saved content is all kept totally private from your followers.
Instagram releases Live Stories
Users may start noticing a ‘live’ videos in Stories feed this December. Unlike Facebook Live, Instagram live videos disappear after the broadcast has ended, which means you have to tune in or miss out!


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The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Vodafone tops UK’s ‘most valuable’ league
World: Google heads global table
Vodafone has been named the UK’s most valuable brand while Google has regained its leading global position, according to an annual ranking.
HSBC and BT took second and third place respectively in the BrandZ UK ranking, while tea brand Lipton entered the top 10 for the first time and Dove made a return to take ninth position.
Vodafone held on to the top spot with a strong communications campaign, despite its brand value dropping 4% to $37 billion, while BT benefited from being a “disrupter” and reaping the benefits of entering the pay TV and mobile markets to increase its value by 3% to $18.5 billion, the annual report by WPP and Millward Brown said.
Personal care brand Dove entered the UK top 10 for the first time since 2013 with a value of $5 billion, boosted by its commitment to campaigns such as its ‘Choose Beautiful’ initiative which called on women to renounce narrow standards of beauty.
Tea brand Lipton is another newcomer to the top 10 with a value of $8.5 billion after it targeted healthconscious consumers and found success in India and the US.
Supermarket chain Tesco retained its sixth placing despite dropping 5% in value to $9 billion, although this compared favourably to last year’s 37% decline.
However, “another challenging year” for the UK saw the total value of its top 10 brands drop 8% from last year compared to an increase of 5% in Europe.
The drop indicated that the influence of the economic slowdown in China, global financial issues and uncertainty “cannot be under-estimated”, the report said.
The report added that continual innovation had pushed Google back to the top spot, from second place last year, with a brand value of 229 billion – up 32% on 2015.
Apple dropped back to second place with an 8% decrease in value to $228 billion.


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Vivotek Announces NVR Partnership With Immix
VIVOTEK has announced a partnership with global software automation provider, Immix, providing back-end solutions on the Immix Platform to give Immix customers access to VIVOTEK NVRs.
With the VIVOTEK integration, Immix customers can now expand surveillance needs affordably using VIVOTEK’s license-free 4, 8 and 16-input NVRs, which also feature embedded PoE, requiring less hardware and simpler installation.
“Immix is pleased to integrate with VIVOTEK and add their solid product line and market presence to our partner portfolio,” said Immix CEO, Chris Brown.
“We look forward to working with VIVOTEK and our jointly aligned customers, to offer new solutions for successful managed video services.”
#sen.news #SEN #SENnews


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A GLASGOW insurance brokerage founded 12 years ago is defying the trend towards consolidation and driving further into the English market.
D2 Corporate Solutions, based in Paisley, expects to expand its staff from 24 to 30 as it builds on a successful platform in the north-east of England and targets Manchester.
Last month US corporate broking giant Lockton stepped up the turf war in the Scottish market with a major expansion of its existing operation including a new office in Glasgow, saying there was "significant untapped demand" across a range of industries.
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David McGinnigle, who co-founded d2 with Derek Templeton in 2002, said the swallowing up of smaller firms by the likes of Glasgow-based Giles, now part of US giant Gallagher , had helped the start-up.
"A lot of the owner-managed businesses were owned by people in their fifties…and one or two of the well-known players were quite aggressive in taking out a lot of the competition. We are looking to expand and grow our business, but organically, we are not interested in acquisition."
D2 has found its original commercial insurance business supported by the recovering economy, while its six-year-old offshoot d2 Financial Solutions is making a well-timed run at the pensions auto-enrolment market.
"Our core business was originally manufacturing and engineering-type businesses," Mr McGinnigle said. "Despite all the doom and gloom, there are still some good quality businesses here that are doing well."
The firm now also has a strong position in construction and a healthy client base in the food and drink sector among others.
The co-founder, who like his business partner cut his teeth in roles with industry leaders including Aon, says a push across the Border has paid off, the region now delivering around a quarter of turnover.
"We have always found competition in Scotland is fierce, but slightly less so in the north-east of England," Mr McGinnigle said.
Now he is driving d2 into Manchester, and believes that will contribute to a 25 per cent uplift in headcount in the not too distant future. "There has been a lot of turmoil," Mr McGinnigle said, noting that leading player Towergate was routing some acquired brokerage business through call centres.
"There are also new products coming out such as cyber-insurance. I am not saying clients are beating a path to our door for it, but it is one for the future."
The financial solutions arm has found plenty of opportunity in pensions auto-enrolment. "A lot of businesses have completely underestimated the amount of work and responsibility that is needed, " Mr McGinnigle said, adding that one leading market player had found itself over-extended and had already shut its doors to new business.


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Today, in B2B payments, Coast talks about fleet card innovation and CAARY is integrating small business insurance from APOLLO. In addition, Züm Rails discusses the mix of payment rails for B2B payments, Investec is launching a professional account service and Klasha facilitates the acceptance of cross-border funds.
Fuel cards fill up for the future of fleet payments
Help CFOs adopt the rail payment mix
From EFT to Visa Direct, having a choice of how B2B payments are made is essential for a better business experience. Yet optimizing B2B transactions through a variety of payment rails and services isn’t just about how technology moves funds. Züm Rails co-founder Miles Schwartz explains how data and security must also be taken into account in the railway payment mix.
APOLLO, CAARY Partner in SME digital insurance
Investec Launches First Day-To-Day Business Account
Banking and wealth management group Investec launched its first daily business bank account in what a Reuters article on Wednesday, July 14 described as “a push to attract clients from over 100,000 mid-sized businesses in Africa. from South “. The company said it offers the account to companies that are at least three years old and have annual revenue of Rand 30 million, or $ 2.1 million. These companies could see themselves as “too small for a specialist lender like Investec” in a market dominated by South Africa’s four largest banks, according to the Reuters report.
Klasha’s new ties allow companies to accept cross-border funds
Fintech company Klasha has deployed a codeless method for B2B and B2C merchants, among others, to accept payments. The Klasha payment link allows African customers to pay from international businesses, which do not need to have an app, website or coding knowledge to accept these payments, according to an announcement on Wednesday, July 14. “We are excited to launch this feature for offline and online businesses and independent merchants to accept payments from Africa without having to worry about onboarding processes, writing code or even owning a website, ”Klasha CEO Jess Anuna said in the announcement.


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Miami named finalist for location of new Amazon headquarters
List narrowed from 238 cities down to 20
SEATTLE – Miami remains in the running to be the location for Amazon's second headquarters.
The online giant narrowed its list of possible cities to 20 on Thursday, and the Magic City made the list. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez is hopeful.
"Without a doubt, we have to create more of that talent base here," Gimenez said.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, currently the richest person in the world, grew up in South Florida and attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
Broward County Mayor Beam Furr believes Bezos needs to consider everything South Florida has to offer.
"We share workers. We share roads. We share all kinds of things, so it would help the entire region," Furr said.
Last year, Amazon received bids from 238 cities and regions from across 54 states, provinces, districts and territories across North America. The company said it would make a decision in 2018.
Bob Swindell, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, agrees with Furr and said that the South Florida area stands to benefit from a Miami-Dade move.
"The power we have working together that if this locates in Miami-Dade, it's going to be a win for Broward and Palm Beach," Swindell said.
Called HQ2, the new facility will cost at least $5 billion to construct and operate, and will create as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs.
"Getting from 238 to 20 was very tough - all the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity," Holly Sullivan of Amazon Public Policy said in a statement. "Through this process we learned about many new communities across North America that we will consider as locations for future infrastructure investment and job creation."
Amazon said it evaluated each of the bids based on the criteria it previously outlined, such as proximity to a major airport and ability to attract tech talent.
"They want to know about transportation. They want to know about quality of living," said Michael Finney, director of the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade's economic-development agency. "They want to know about education."
In the coming months, the company said it will work with each of the locations to "dive deeper" into their proposals, obtain more information and evaluate how the city could accommodate Amazon's hiring plans and benefit its workers and the local community.
Amazon has said the second headquarters would be a "full equal" to its Seattle campus. The tech giant estimates its investments in Seattle from 2010 through 2016 resulted in an extra $38 billion to the city's economy.
The remaining cites on the Amazon list are:
- Austin, Texas
- Columbus, Ohio
- Los Angeles
- Montgomery County, Md.
- Nashville, TN
- Newark, N.J.
- New York City
- Northern Virginia
- Raleigh, N.C.
- Washington, D.C.
Copyright 2018 by WPLG Local10.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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From a fashion point of view, which is the only one on Seventh Avenue, the autumn shows taking place this week and next on the tented lawn at Bryant Park are already two sandwiches shy of a picnic. It isn't that anyone expects to have fun: there are more than 75 men's and women's shows on the official roster, some 25 others in SoHo and Chelsea, and that means . . . what? . . . 8,000 outfits to be absorbed before all the hoopla ends a week from Friday. As Michael Kors said the other day in a tone heavy with fatigue: ''I feel like the Dunkin' Donut man. Time to make the fashions.''
In fact, what really keeps the spectacle from being a glamorous event -- full of models, clothes, celebrities, editors racing around like Shriners -- is the question of whether anyone will make money. That has always been the unabashed, undisguised goal of Seventh Avenue, making money. But these days, with Isaac Mizrahi out of business, fashion stocks in the dumps and pink slips at Ralph Lauren, it is almost a taboo subject.
As one department store executive said last week, speaking on condition of anonymity, ''There is very little money being made, and that's a problem for designers whose core business is fashion.'' The executive went on to say he thought the shows themselves were becoming increasingly irrelevant and existed mainly to affirm the status and opinions of a few. ''It's the fashion world talking to itself,'' he said.
Well, the shows might be poor indications of who's making money and who might be going to make money. Nonetheless, the sound of designers yammering, in the inimitable language of Seventh Avenue, can still produce a noise you can't ignore. In the hectic days before the shows begin, a journey through the workrooms of designers, famous and unknown, found a surprising chaos so close to fashion's show time.Continue reading the main story
Donna Karan, the head of a multimillion public company, still had designed only a handful of looks last week.
''This is the entire fall collection,'' she told a visitor, sweeping an arm toward uncut bolts of fabric leaning against a wall in her studio in 550 Seventh Avenue.
Ms. Karan designs by draping fabric on her fitting model. ''I would say this is probably the toughest season I've ever had,'' she said. ''Nothing is as it is. And it gets harder. What can I do to make a difference?''
Alex de Betak, a producer of fashion shows for John Bartlett, Donna Karan and Michael Kors, was also working down to the wire. ''To be honest, the only thing I've seen are sketches,'' said Mr. de Betak, who casts models and helps choose music for his clients. ''Nobody has a piece of clothing.''
Nonetheless, Mr. de Betak was utterly serene. Each morning when he arrived at his Greene Street office, there was usually a fax from Mr. Bartlett, who was working in Italy, imparting some new thought about his New York show, which will be seen on Saturday night. ''In Italy, especially, because I don't sleep,'' Mr. Bartlett said later, ''I just write everything in a fax to him, and that makes me go to sleep. I just write about all these things -- whether it's a song or about hair or a model.''
On his return to New York, Mr. Bartlett was in his studio, a big loft on West 15th Street, with his dog, Sweetie, and a couple of assistants. ''The inspiration this season is a very Midwestern, 'steel town' thing,'' he said. ''That, and Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O'Keeffe -- their relationship, New York and the Southwest.''
Up at KCD, the fashion production and publicity company, which is in Mr. Bartlett's building, Ed Filapowski, a partner, was auditioning models and going over seating for the Marc Jacobs show, which will be seen on Monday night. KCD receives 5,000 requests for seats to the shows it handles for Mr. Jacobs, Richard Tyler, Calvin Klein and others.
Mr. Filapowski and several colleagues were studying a large seating chart for Mr. Jacobs's show. When an invited guest R.S.V.P.'d, a colored dot with his or her name was stuck onto a seat on the chart -- orange for the designer's friends, another color for celebrities. But few of the celebrities had responded yet.
''He's not into celebrities or anything,'' Marybeth Schmitt of KCD said dryly, holding up sheets of dots with names of celebrities invited on behalf of Mr. Jacobs, including Marilyn Manson, Courtney Cox and Matt Dillon. ''Every celebrity there possibly is, we have a dot for.''
Even more than in past seasons, it seems, a flood of unknown young designers are vying for the attention. On Friday, Harper's Bazaar will be host for a store opening for Christine Ganeaux, 34, on Crosby Street. The magazine sent out 650 invitations, but when word got out that the magazine was touting a new designer, 150 extra requests for tickets came in. ''I mean, we're always sitting around at Bazaar saying, 'Are we going to wait for Bernard Arnault to discover the next new talent?' '' said Annemarie Iverson, fashion and beauty director of Bazaar.
Ms. Ganeaux, a former makeup artist, has captivated the magazine's editors by creating what they consider the perfect pair of shapely, hip-hugging pants.
''It's sort of similar to how Daryl K started,'' Ms. Iverson said. ''Christine changed the pattern like 40 times before she got it right. It's hard to find a trouser that makes your butt look good. And isn't that what defines a trouser right now?''
Sandy Dalal, who won an award for new talent in men's wear last year from the fashion industry's trade group, was shuttling between a midtown garment factory and his design headquarters, in the apartment he grew up in on West 58th Street. Unlike some of Seventh Avenue's biggest names, Mr. Dalal had nearly all of his samples done -- trousers and shirts in old-school fabrics like Harris tweed, loden and waxed cotton.
''I live to be in the factory,'' said Mr. Dalal, a young man of 22 with a ponytail. ''Men traditionally -- forever, I think -- are just not used to showing who they are. They just like stones. They're just there, until you get to know them. I like my clothes to express the same sentiment.''
Meanwhile, on West 39th Street, at the headquarters of Calvin Klein, the designer was looking at a fitting model in different women's trousers -- mostly narrow, low in the waist, with a felted feel, which is turning up so many places this year.
''We're all felted,'' Mr. Klein said. ''We've been felted for a while.''
He got to talking about Gwyneth Paltrow, whom he had dressed in a much-photographed silvery skirt with a strapless black top and cardigan for the Golden Globes.
''I was thinking the Golden Globes is probably, like, a suit,'' he said. ''I didn't think it was that dressy, because I never watch those things.''
But the actress had fallen for the skirt. ''I was showing her that possibility for later, but nobody wants to hear 'later,' '' he said. ''She said, 'No, I want to wear it now.' And now, all of a sudden, we're getting stores saying they want it. Gwyneth is as modern as they come.''
Back at 550 Seventh, the garment district's most prestigious address, Oscar de la Renta was in his studio, staring at a pair of tobacco-brown pants and a little cropped sweater on his fitting model. Mr. de la Renta believes in making the kind of clothes that women wear. Last month, after his couture collection for Balmain in Paris, the house sold 64 pieces the next day. ''Apparently, it was like a basement sale,'' said Mr. de la Renta, who returned to New York with a cold.
A few floors higher in the building, Bill Blass, who had a mild stroke in December, seemed to be back to his former grumpy self. ''You don't have a cigarette do you, kid?'' he asked a visitor, who didn't. Mr. Blass, who will skip this month's fashion week and show in April, has been told by his doctors to quit smoking, but he wasn't entirely reformed. ''It tastes so much better when you sneak them,'' he said.
On the 15th floor, Ms. Karan, draping fabric on a model last Friday night, still seemingly far from having a collection ready, nonetheless predicted that she will, once again, be ready when the lights go up on Feb. 19.
She looked at a piece of crinkled off-white cotton. ''Now, this is how the whole collection started, off this piece,'' she said. ''This is the original inspiration. So we are just playing.'' She smiled wryly. ''It's about a lot of cotton. The big 'C' -- cotton, cashmere and candles.''Continue reading the main story


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This week we bring you a new interactive map courtesy of Lufthansa, an update on US and India travel restrictions, BA A380's expansion and anyone can be scammed...
BA ramps up capacity
A380 flights will resume in November with extra capacity on key US transatlantic routes.
The A380 will operate on the Miami and Los Angeles routes.
There will be several short-haul flights to allow for crew service familiarisation before flying to the US.
A380s will also operate to Dubai in December.
News that the airline's A380 aircraft is rejoining the fleet follows the announcement that vaccinated travellers will be able to enter the US from November.
BA is set to fly to 23 US airports this winter with up to 246 flights a week.
British Airways will be increasing the number of flights it operates to North America with more services to New York, which will initially be increasing to five a day, followed by eight in December.
The airline will also be operating double-daily services to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, Dallas, Miami and Toronto, as well as daily services to Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, Atlanta, Denver, Houston and Vancouver
Neil Chernoff, British Airways' Director of Network and Alliances, said: "This is an exciting time for British Airways and our customers as we see borders re-opening. With welcome news from the US, we are dramatically increasing flights and bringing home some of our A380s to give our customers as many options as possible."
In addition to frequency increases, in October and November British Airways will restart services to Austin, Orlando, Tampa, San Diego, Las Vegas and Baltimore.
In December the airline will also start flying to Nashville and New Orleans again.
Lufthansa Interactive map
Discover at-a-glance which countries can already be visited without major restrictions - with or without COVID-19 vaccination
India lifts mandatory quarantine for British travellers
India has removes its mandatory quarantine order on British travellers entering India. It follows the recent relaxing of a similar restriction on Indians coming to the UK.
The UK had imposed a compulsory quarantine for Indians even if fully vaccinated due to issues it found with India's CoWin app certification. That caused a diplomatic spat, leading to India imposing tit-for-tat restrictions.
Now, India says the 'guidelines stand withdrawn' and fully-vaxxed Britons can enter India quarantine-free.
Change in policy prompts surge in travel bookings to the US
When the US government announced on 20 September its plans to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated UK and European citizens from November, a surge in subsequent bookings showed the extent of the pent-up demand for transatlantic travel.
Businesses and the travel industry remain on tenterhooks with regards the announcement of a specific reopening date, but bookings have nevertheless skyrocketed. The 8th November is due to be announced today as the start date however we are still waiting for White House confirmation.
Data provided from two sources clearly shows how the change in policy impacted transatlantic bookings from 2021 calendar week 38, with corporate bookings for travel between the UK and US up by 255 per cent compared to week one – and more in the weeks that followed.
At the same time, the US has become its most-booked destination – accounting for more than 24 per cent of business – dislodging domestic UK bookings from the top spot (21 per cent) and pushing the UAE into third (12 per cent).
Qantas completes longest ever flight
A Qantas repatriation flight touched down in Darwin, NT, marking a new: milestone for the Flying Kangaroo. The Buenos Aires to Darwin flight was Qantas 'longest ever at 17 hours and 25 minutes. The flight repatriated 107 Australians. It was also the longest distance flown by Qantas at 15,020 km.
Pre-pandemic, Qantas' longest direct passenger flight was London to Perth, with a distance of 14,498 km.
Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has been scammed out of about £250,000 by a travel agent. The agent was entrusted with Ronaldo's credit card details and skimmed off the money from his accounts over a three-year period.
According to reports, the agent recorded up to 200 trips that the Manchester United player never took. Other players Nani and Manuel Fernandes were also scammed.
The 53-year-old woman was convicted in 2017 and sentenced to four years of probation. She is currently paying back restitution on a monthly basis. Some reports suggest she was even entrusted with Ronaldo's PIN number.
Our advice...check those credit card statements!!!!


text: Well as we all know the recent price drop on the XBOX 360 basically makes it the cheapest next-gen console on the market, even cheaper than the Wii (the arcade version). This means that the PS3 is the most expensive console right now on the market and what does that mean for Sony? It means a disaster. People do not want to pay for expensive things, especial gaming systems. Yes, the PS3 may be more than a gaming system, but the consumers don't want to pay a premium for something that will be cheaper latter on in its life span. So what can Sony do to get them out of this hole that they are in for the holiday season?


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Why You Should Invest in Esports
No, that’s not a spelling mistake. ‘Esports’ are a real thing.
Just like email is the digital equivalent of postal mail, esports are the digital equivalents of physical sports — professional video gaming.
There are a lot of professional ‘athletes’ — and I use that term loosely — that compete to be the best at playing games. It may sound strange, but it’s just as competitive as traditional sports and just as demanding on the players.
Most of them train upwards of 10 hours per day, honing their abilities and perfecting their teamwork. The elite players aren’t couch potatoes either. Esports is serious business, with organisations, coaches and even health experts all trying to get the most out of their players.
In fact, a lot of these teams live and play together in huge mansions, all paid for by companies with multi-million-dollar investments and sponsorship deals. They aren’t living in their parent’s basement, they’re getting paid millions to compete.
It’s why esports is the fastest growing spectator sport in the world.
Let me put it in perspective. Tomorrow Melbourne will host one of Australia’s premier sporting events — the Melbourne Cup. Last year, the ‘race that stops a nation’, in fact only stopped just over 10% of Australians. 2.8 million Australians watched the race last year, and we’re likely to see similar figures tomorrow.
Similarly, in the US, the Major League Baseball World Series finished up last week with just over 15 million viewers tuning in for the final as the Boston Red Sox won their ninth World Series title.
Meanwhile on Saturday, 106.2 million people tuned into watch the League of Legends World Championship final.
Why it’s worth taking Esports seriously
That figure doesn’t even include the more than 40,000 fans that packed into the Beijing arena to see the game live.
For the record, team Samsung Galaxy won 3–0 over team SK Telecom T1 in a best of five. The winners, Samsung Galaxy, will share US$1.73 million between them. While runners up SK Telecom will also pocket a tidy US$341,000.
And that’s just the prize money. Players at the top level also receive a salary. Just like regular sport stars attract huge deals, so too do their esport peers.
It’s speculated that one of the top players in League of Legends makes an estimated US$98,000– US$147,000 a year. That figure doesn’t include any prize money from tournament winnings. Which, as you can see, can range from hundreds of thousands to millions.
This player isn’t even in the top 10 of esports earners. He ranks in at number 36 with just over US$1.1 million in prize money. The top dog is German player Kuro Takhasomi. He has raked in over US$3.4 million in prize money alone, playing a game called Defence of the Ancients 2 (Dota 2).
In fact, the top 35 esports earners by prize money alone all play Dota 2. Which is thanks to the games huge prize payouts, like the Dota 2 International, the biggest Dota 2 tournament held annually.
In 2017 the total prize pool for the Dota 2 International was just shy of US$24.8 million. With the winning team taking home a cool US$10.8 million alone. What might surprise you is that a lot of this money comes from the fans.
Valve, the company that owns Dota 2, only put up US$1.6 million of their own money. The remaining US$23.2 million came from fans through the sale of an in-game item — a unique method of monetisation that is found only in esports.
It’s why esports is attracting a lot of attention. There are millions of fans that are captivated by these games, and millions of dollars up for grabs. Then you throw in other forms of revenue, such as sponsorship deals and advertising on top.
The money is just flooding into the scene.
The companies profiting from it all
Naturally, a lot of this money is being fuelled by tech companies. Just look at the League of Legends team names I mention earlier: Samsung Galaxy and SK Telecom T1. Galaxy is backed by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd [KRX:005930] and SK Telecom T1 is similarly sponsored by SK Telecom Co Ltd [KRX:017670].
But it’s not just about the players. It’s about where they play, what sort of computer they use, what mouse, keyboard or headset they need. Every single aspect can be monetised.
Because when all these fans tune in to watch their favourite player or team compete in a video game that they likely play themselves, they want to emulate it. So when they see their favourite player using a specially designed, $70 gaming mouse, they’ll probably want one for themselves.
That’s a big source of revenue for companies like Logitech International [VTX:LOGN] and BenQ Materials Corp [TPE:8215], who provide these specialised products. And competition is ramping up.
Another supplier, Razer, plans to go public soon and, as Bloomberg reports, it’s looking to offer up a tenth of the company, in order to raise US$400 million on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
It’s also big business for the companies that own these games. Take US gaming developer Activision Blizzard Inc [NASDAQ:ATVI] for example. They’re a big-name developer of popular video games like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. But now they’re looking at capitalising on the growth of esports.
One of their games, Overwatch, is proving extremely popular and the company is pushing to make it an esport. It’s already made some landmark deals, at least that’s what Blizzard’s Senior Vice President, Mike Sepso is saying, with the launch of the inaugural season of the Overwatch League in January.
To make it happen the company has partnered with HP Inc [NYSE:HPQ] and Intel Corporation [NASDAQ:INTC], two big household names in computing. With Sepso commenting:
‘These two deals with HP and Intel represent the largest deals I’ve ever seen in the space,
‘[they are] true partners, not just advertisers. Both have put a tremendous amount of resources, both financial and personnel, into the relationship.’
It’s about ensuring that they can get a slice of the growing esports market. With Blizzard, HP and Intel all banking on the success of the Overwatch League. They’ve already received a lot of interest from various teams and it’s not cheap to get in.
The entry-fee into the league is US$20 million. And yet teams are desperate to get in, and some of the big names behind the sport are recognising the potential. Robert Kraft, owner of the American football team New England Patriots, has bought in. As has Stan Kroenke, who owns the Los Angeles Rams and has a majority holding in company that oversees the Arsenal Football Club.
Esports is incredibly popular, so popular that it might even become an Olympic sport in just over a decade. But that’s a story for another time…
I just want you to understand that esports is big. Too big for anyone to dismiss.
Editor, Tech Insider
PS: Tech can be a seriously lucrative market for savvy investors. If you’re interested in taking a risk on some other highly lucrative stocks, check out Sam Volkering’s free report to find out which three stocks he thinks have huge potential for 2018. You can find this report here.


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A potential new approach to treat systemic amyloidosis, invented at UCL and being developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), marks the start of a successful and innovative academic-industry collaboration. (more…)
Tag Archives: glaxosmithkline
Quadruples sales in Q4; surpasses 7 million users.
SAN FRANCISCO — Feb. 20, 2013 — Yammer, Inc., a best-in-class Enterprise Social Network and part of the Microsoft Office Division, today announced record growth in 2012 and accelerating momentum following the Microsoft acquisition.
• Full-year 2012 sales nearly tripled year-over-year (ended Jan. 31, 2013)
• Fourth-quarter sales quadrupled year-over-year (ended Jan. 31, 2013)
• Number of paying customers increased 165 percent in 2012
• Surpassed 7 million registered users (more…)