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Biden aims to do what presidents often can’t: beat inflation
Washington – LBJ tried to unwind. Richard Nixon issued a presidential decree. The Ford administration has printed buttons urging Americans to “hit inflation now”.
Over the years, American presidents have tried, and often faltered, in their efforts to suppress the economic and political threat of consumer inflation.
Now, President Joe Biden is giving it a chance.
In the face of soaring gasoline and other consumer prices that are baffling American households, Biden on Tuesday ordered the release of 50 million barrels of oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The move, carried out in coordination with several other major countries, aims to contain energy costs. After anticipating this move, the oil markets were not affected by the details: Oil prices actually rose on the news.
It was only the latest step Biden took to show that he was doing everything he could to combat inflation, as gasoline and food prices, in particular, placed an increasing burden on American households. On Monday, he announced that he would reappoint Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chairman, a move partly aimed at reassuring financial markets that Washington is serious about containing consumer prices. Last month, he announced a deal to ease the supply backlog at the Port of Los Angeles by extending operations there to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
None of the president’s actions, however, are likely to have a tangible impact on the price hike any time soon.
“I don’t think the president has much of a tool to pull out to bring down the inflation rate anytime soon,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “The things he does are positive, have no downside… but they are on the sidelines. They won’t move the dial much.”
Inflation is always a strong opponent, and is further complicated by the unusual recovery from a pandemic recession, with shortages of supplies, workers and shipping bottlenecks driving up prices.
What happens to consumer prices?
The government’s consumer price index jumped 6.2% in the 12 months ending in October — the biggest jump since 1990.
After nearly four decades of more or less stable prices, CPI news represents “a once-in-a-generation spike in inflation,” said Sarah Bender, a George Washington University political science professor who studies the Federal Reserve. The problem is stark because it is something that voters notice. It’s hard to escape the impact of high inflation on your daily life, whether it’s buying milk or buying gas.”
The average price of regular gasoline has risen to $3.40 a gallon from $2.11 a year ago, according to the AAA.
Compounding the pain and increasing pressure on Biden, inflation is outstripping Americans’ income. Adjusted for price increases, average hourly wages actually fell 1.2% last month compared to a year earlier.
“Inflation hurts, and it’s always political,” said Diane Sonk, chief economist at accounting and consulting firm Grant Thornton.
What is behind the high price?
It’s partly the result of the very good news. The global economy – and particularly the US economy – has rebounded with unexpected speed and strength from last year’s short but severe recession. It was the result of extremely low interest rates, massive government spending and, ultimately, the widespread availability of vaccines that allowed more of the economy to reopen.
The speed of the recovery surprised companies. A year and a half ago, they were preparing for the worst – laying off workers, leaving shelves and warehouses bare, reducing investment and factory production.
Energy companies have done the same: They cut oil and gas production as demand for transportation fuels plummeted. Once the order came back roaring, they weren’t ready. They found themselves scrambling to call in workers and buy enough to meet customers’ orders. Ports and freight yards cannot handle the traffic. Countries competed for boatloads of expensive liquid natural gas. The cyclical COVID-19 outbreak has shut down Asian ports and factories. Global supply chains have collapsed.
As costs rise, many companies have found that they can pass the burden on to consumers in the form of higher prices. Meanwhile, many families cashed their government relief checks and pooled their savings. Some critics also blamed Biden’s $1.9 trillion emergency aid package for boosting economic activity and contributing to inflation pressures.
Economists are divided over how long inflation will last. Jos Foucher, chief economist at PNC Financial, predicts that inflationary pressures will ease as supply chains sort themselves out.
“I expect to see inflation slow down in 2022,” he said.
What can chiefs do?
The White House has limited tools to reverse price hikes. That job is more up to the Federal Reserve, which can raise borrowing costs to calm the faltering economy. During the 1960s and 1970s, presidents increasingly felt pressure to do something about inflation as it became a serious political threat.
President Lyndon Johnson has tried to persuade companies to abandon price increases and labor unions to reduce wage demands – a practice known as “jawboning”. When Bethlehem Steel raised steel prices in 1965, Johnson criticized its executives as unpatriotic and backed down, according to Robert Samuelson’s book, The Great Inflation and Its Consequences. When egg prices soared in 1966, Johnson ordered the US Surgeon General to highlight the health risks of cholesterol in eggs, with the intent of reducing egg sales and thus lowering prices.
Nixon imposed wage and price controls in 1971 and 1973, stifling inflation for a brief period, only to see prices rise once the controls were lifted.
Gerald Ford’s “Whip Inflation Now” program encouraged Americans to grow their own vegetables, waste less food and consume less. Americans mostly responded by mocking the program. Some wore the president’s WIN buttons upside down, stating that the resulting NIM represented “no instant miracles”.
What did Biden do?
Biden last week signed into law a trillion-dollar public works program that pours money into repairing roads, bridges and ports, potentially easing a supply chain backlog that has contributed to price hikes. Solving shipping bottlenecks would be doubly beneficial: it would ease inflationary pressures and boost the economy by increasing the flow of goods to customers.
Last week, Biden sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the FTC chair to consider investigating whether high gasoline prices were the result of “unlawful behaviour.” The White House is also ramping up antitrust enforcement in the meatpacking industry, seeking to increase competition and lower meat prices.
His decision to rename Powell to lead the Fed was partly intended to reassure financial markets of Washington’s determination to prevent consumer prices from spiraling out of control. Another potential contender for the position – Lyle Brainard, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors – was seen as less hawkish on inflation.
Why did Biden rely on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Tuesday?
The idea was that by putting more oil on the market, prices would fall. This did not happen. But depending on what happens in the rest of the world, there is still a chance that it will work.
US petroleum reserves hold about 605 million barrels of oil in underground caverns in Texas and Louisiana. It was designed in the 1970s in response to the Arab oil embargo to store oil in the event of a supply disruption or emergency. But the dynamics of the global oil industry has changed dramatically in recent years, and now the United States exports more oil than it imports.
The 50 million barrels that Biden promised to release are likely to be sold slowly, at a rate of about 1 million barrels per day, which means the new flow of oil could last about two months. Jim Burkhard of IHS Markit said adding even a small amount of oil to the market could lead to a surplus, possibly lowering the price.
“The immediate price reaction is not the final verdict on the effectiveness of this effort,” he added. “It really will be in the coming months.”
Bussewitz reported from New York.
Associated Press economics writer Martin Krusinger contributed to this report.
Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.


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Eurozone Growth Likely To Accelerate In Q2 On Wider Trade Surplus
(RTTNews) - The rise in the euro-zone's trade surplus in May indicates that GDP growth likely accelerated in the three months to June and trade is set to continue boosting growth in the coming quarters, Jennifer McKeown, an economist at Capital Economics, said.
Official data released on July 14 showed that the seasonally adjusted trade surplus grew to EUR 19.7 billion in May from EUR 18.6 billion in April.
The increase in May was mainly driven by a 2.1 percent monthly rise in exports, which outpaced the 1.6 percent increase in imports and left the annual growth of export values at a healthy 9.4 percent, the economist observed.
Among countries, the German trade surplus climbed to EUR 20.3 billion in May from EUR 19.8 billion in April, while the French deficit narrowed from EUR 5.6 billion to EUR 4.9 billion - its smallest this year.
McKeown noted that the Eurozone trade surplus in June was still smaller than it was this time last year, partly reflecting the rise in oil prices.
"Monthly trade volumes data, which are less timely than values data, have shown annual export growth outpacing that of imports this year, in stark contrast to the situation in 2016," the economist pointed out.
Though the monthly goods trade values data are not a great guide to the goods and services trade volumes data used to construct GDP, the latest monthly industrial production and retail sales data suggests that GDP growth may have exceeded Q1's 0.6 percent rise in the second quarter, the economist said.
McKeown expects export growth to rise further in the coming months, with global demand in good health and the euro exchange rate still at a fairly low level by past standards.
"Net trade should therefore boost euro-zone GDP growth over the next year or so, although that support is likely to fade by 2019 as the euro appreciates and growth slows elsewhere," McKeown predicted.
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009
WildCharge Licenses Technology To Superior Communications
Boulder-based WildCharge, which is developing wire-free charging technology for electronics, said this morning that it has signed a licensing and distribution agreement with manufacturer Superior Communications. According to WildCharge, Superior will both resell products from WildCharge, as well as develop new products based on its technology. Financial terms of the win were not disclosed. Superior Communications is a manufacturer and distributor of wireless accessories.


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04-15-2009, 12:07 AM
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Conman Hypnotises Jeweller and Steals £110,000 of Diamond Jewellery
Posing as the owner of an upmarket hotel, a conman has managed to steal £110,000 worth of diamond jewellery from a store in Mumbai by hypnotising a jewellery shop employee.
Police in Mumbai, India, are on the hunt for an as-yet-unidentified conman who managed to steal £110,000 worth of diamond jewellery after hypnotising a jewellery shop employee.
The alleged incident took place on Saturday morning in a newly opened jewellery shop in the upmarket suburb of Bandra West.
Reports suggest that at some point during that morning a gentleman approached one of the shop workers, a girl named Katrina Sunil Purswami, explained that he was looking for a gift for a friend and asked to view their collection of diamond jewellery.
Claiming that he was the owner of the Royal China hotel – situated just a couple of doors away – he asked Katrina to bring the diamond collection to the hotel for his perusal, promising full payment would then be made for the items he was interested in purchasing.
The jewellery shop owner, swayed by the promise of a big sale, allowed Katrina to take the shop’s collection of diamond necklaces and bracelets to the hotel.
Once she arrived with the goods the gentleman, who coincidentally was reported to have been behaving as if he did indeed own the hotel, asked her to note down details of the items of jewellery in the £110,000 collection. Whilst she was doing this he is alleged to have hypnotised her and made away with the diamond jewellery.
”Purswami was left confused and could not understand what was going on" commented Prakash George, senior police inspector of the Bandra police station to the Daily News and Analysis newspaper.
However, she is said to have reported the incident to local police as soon as she realised what happened.
As of yet the police have been unable to track the conman as, while some CCTV footage has been captured of the accused at the hotel, the security cameras in the jewellery shop were not working at the time of the incident. Consequently it is proving difficult for police to identify and track the suspect.
Only in India


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Global peri-peri chicken chain Nando’s has revealed the opening date for its new Altrincham restaurant.
As exclusively revealed on Altrincham Today last month, the restaurant chain is to open a new outlet in the former McDonald’s on the corner of Stamford New Road and Cross Street.
And it has now confirmed it will be opening the new restaurant on Wednesday August 2nd (UPDATE 27/6: the restaurant is now scheduled to open on Tuesday July 25th).
Nando’s Chickenland Ltd, the Nando’s owner, is currently fitting out the interior of the premises.
Lunar, the site’s owners, had previously undertaken a programme of improvements to the site – the home to McDonald’s for 23 years before its closure in 2007 – that lasted around five months.
Nando’s has already filled some positions for the new restaurant, including 1st Assistant Manager, and has begun a recruitment process for the remaining roles.
It already has 13 restaurants in the Greater Manchester area but, up until now, Nando’s Trafford Centre had been the closest to Altrincham.


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Eric Church is playing hardball with merchandisers selling unlicensed T-shirts outside of his concerts. The Tennessean reports the singer filed a lawsuit in federal court on Tuesday (March 10th) to put a stop to these bootleg merchandisers. Eric is seeking an injunction against “Jane and John Does” to prevent the continued illegal sales as well as unspecified monetary damages from their previous sales.
This is not Eric’s first go-around with bootleggers. He filed a similar lawsuit in 2012.
He also waged war against ticket scalpers last year, identifying nearly a thousand tickets purchased by scalpers, canceling their sales and putting them back on sale for his fans.
(Photo: By Townsquare Media (File:Eric Church 2012.jpg (cropped) Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)


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London College of Communication student Pansy Aung has won the inaugural London Graphic Student Award for her illustrative guide to the capital’s congestion charge.
Pantone has made a name for itself as a colour trend-setter, telling the world it knows what shade will dominate everything from fashion and packaging, to art and furniture the
HeX earbuds can be used as regular earphones by those without hearing problems, and as an aid by those with hearing loss, in a bid to create a product for
Massive is a website and poster campaign that looks to encourage those aged 16-24 to go see new, British films at discounted rates across the UK.
Creative jobs website and networking platform The Dots has launched the “bias blocker”, a new browsing mode that stops employers being able to see candidates’ photos, names, education and employment


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Archos GamePad Price and Availability announced
Archos has finally announced pricing and availability for its latest GamePad ANdroid gaming tablet which was unveiled at the CES 2013. Gamers will be able to grab their units sometimes starting in February for a price of just $ 169.
Spec-wise, the GamePad is powered by a a 1.6GHz dual-core processor packs a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1024 x 600 and support for 16 million colors, a quad-core Mali-400 MP4 graphics that supports 3D games and 8GB of internal storage. The device has a a built-in microSD card slot for expanding the storage.
Foe connectivity, there are a USB 2.0 port and a miniHDMI port as well as a front-facing camera, a built-in speaker, microphone and G-sensor. The device runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. There are game controllers on both sides of the tablet which makes playing games easier and comfortable.
The Archos GamePad measures 10mm thick and weighs 0.7 pounds. The tablet is targeted at those who are looking for a neat and affordable gaming device, as an Android device, you may not find it difficult to use.


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Target recently enjoyed an exclusive launch window for a new line of plant-based fabric care, dish wash and surface cleaner SKUs from Unilever.
Walmart and Google have unveiled the custom voice-shopping service promised in January when the retailer ended its partnership with Google Express and its associated Shopping Actions service.
Walmart is partnering with Mattel to host another “Hot Wheels Legends Tour,” a traveling car show in search of a custom car worthy of becoming immortalized as a Hot Wheels die-cast toy.
Continuing to expand its assortment of budget-friendly wines, Target has launched a new line of premium California wines priced at $9.99 a bottle.
Target is enjoying an exclusive launch window for a vibrant and colorful first-aid brand that aims to renew the category by blending function with fun.
Walmart supported last month’s launch of new and exclusive plant-based baby brand Hello Bello with prime merchandising space as well as digital and print activity.
Walmart has expanded its product partnership with celebrity Drew Barrymore to develop an eclectic home decor collection dubbed Flower Home.
An official sponsor of the Academy Awards for the third consecutive year, Walmart zeroed in on the glamour surrounding the Oscars for a marketing campaign that would help establish the retailer as a fashion destination both in stores and online.
While Scan & Go failed to make the cut in Walmart’s U.S. business, the concept took off quickly in China, where the retailer launched the mobile checkout service via a third-party application.


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LONDON — They were supposed to be sipping Moët & Chandon rose and cooing over the new designs, but instead, guests at the opening of the first De Beers LV store on Thursday just couldn’t keep their hands off the rocks....
LONDON — They were supposed to be sipping Moët & Chandon rose and cooing over the new designs, but instead, guests at the opening of the first De Beers LV store on Thursday just couldn’t keep their hands off the rocks.
Solitaire rings from the bridal collection — which start at $1,500 — were scooped up virtually as fast as the scallop hors d’oeuvres, and waiting lists were drawn up for items including a three-prong diamond pendant and a diamond-studded leather choker.
Other guests, like Nadja Swarovski, simply admired from afar. "I’m eyeing that 8.5 carat, square-cut diamond, but I was told I’d have to have a few children before I can get the upgrade," said newlywed Swarovski with a laugh.
Nicky Oppenheimer, chairman of De Beers, said he never thought he’d see the day that De Beers sold jewelry. "It was never in our mind-set. But for 60 years we’ve essentially been buying advertising for jewelry that we never even sold. We weren’t getting value from the brand," he said. "Will this venture be a success? Come and see me in a year’s time."
Oppenheimer might not have to wait that long. Alain Lorenzo, chief executive of De Beers LV, the joint venture between the diamond company and LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, declined to reveal any sales figures or projections. However, he said that two nights of parties — on Wednesday De Beers LV hosted a smaller, soft opening — rang up the same sales as the average Bond Street jeweler would do in a day. Industry sources said that figure can range anywhere from $80,000 to $160,000.
The 7,500-square-foot store, on the corner of Piccadilly and Bond Street, will open to the public on Dec. 3 — just before the first big Christmas shopping weekend. Designed by the Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio and Partners, it has clean, minimal lines and ebony and glass fixtures. The overall feel is cool, airy and bright.
"Usually, jewelry stores are very formal with tiny windows, one-sided counters and dark partitioning," Lorenzo said. "We wanted to develop the first friendly jewelry store and give our customers a pleasurable — rather than intimidating — experience."At De Beers LV, there are couches and chairs for guests to rest on in the center of the store, while most of the display counters have 360-degree access. That way, customers can examine the jewels from every angle and not be forced to face salespeople all the time. The jewels are displayed simply in brightly lit cases lined with cream-colored leather.
Reema Pachachi, design director of De Beers LV, had a lot of say in the store’s design and mood. "In the beginning, I went to the architects with a mood board, and told them I didn’t want anything sparkly or shiny because I didn’t want anything to compete with the diamonds. I didn’t want the store to be precious and formal. I wanted customers to be able to come close to the jewels and make their own choices."
She also chose colorful, exotic plants and flowers to offset the cream-and-ebony decor. "I told the florist that I wanted this store to look different from all the other jewelers on Bond Street — and that meant no white lillies."
With her new collection, Pachachi wanted to strip diamond jewelry of its stuffy, precious image and make it more youthful and easy to wear. The collection is divided into four sections: signature, bridal, classics and watches, with starting prices ranging from about $780 to $4,750.
The signature collection features the Bubble Collar — a flexible necklace made from 2,400 diamonds — and the Wild Flower necklace, which is made from 1,600 diamonds and features flowers that twist and shift. And in a sparkling example of cobranding, many of the signature pieces are draped over mannequins decked in dresses from Christian Dior, a star of the LVMH stable.
Meanwhile, the classic collection boasts a gold heart and diamond pendant that costs $780 and a leather wristlet with a diamond stud for about the same price. For big spenders, there are diamond rings that cost upward of $1.5 million, and unique, colored-diamond stones — in vivid blues, yellows and pinks — that cost several million dollars and will be set according to a customer’s preference.
To mark the store opening, De Beers LV also plans to unveil an exclusive De Beers-cut diamond called Ilanga, a South African name for the sun. It’s an octagonal, 57-facet rock that reflects as much light as a round brilliant stone.Lorenzo said he wasn’t bothered by the timing of Thursday’s store opening, and is not daunted by the slowdown in luxury goods sales, the threat of war in Iraq or layoffs in the financial sector. "When is a good time to open a store? We believe that in times of crisis, the top brands suffer very little. Just look at Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior."
He added that De Beers LV was in no hurry to grab market share from its competitors or become one of the world’s leading jewelers overnight. "No one has ever done a diamond-focused store before, which means that our biggest challenge is gauging how customers will react to our offer. In that sense, we are starting from scratch, and our shareholders realize that. We are all looking at this project as very long term."
Lorenzo added that, as a result, the store rollout would proceed slowly. The next De Beers LV store, he said, is set to open in Tokyo in the second half of 2003 while the third will open in New York, but not before 2004. "The U.S. represents 40 percent of the world’s diamond sales," he said, "so clearly, it’s a very important market for us."
“What he has done at Vuitton is really exceptional,” said @gameofthrones’ actress Gwendoline Christie on @mrkimjones’ final show for @louisvuitton. “He has rebooted luxury in terms of making it commercial, viable and contemporary. And most importantly artistic. He has never compromised his artistic vision for the sake of commodity.” (📷: @zefashioninsider)
After seeing a demand for men’s wear from its customers, British contemporary women’s wear label @ariesarise has added a men’s wear component and will launch a unisex collection with @mrporterlive. The 20-piece collection includes jackets, denim, logo T-shirts and more with deconstructed ‘90s vibes. Set to launch on January 18, you can shop the pieces on Aries’ website and on mrporter.com. #wwdfashion
“And so spending so much time with a character who thinks like that, inevitability you try and analyze yourself and go back and think about your own demons and dark chapters that you had in your life,” says @thedanielbruhl of his role in TNT’s “The Alienist.” The show, set in the Gilded Age of New York, also stars Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans. Head to WWD.com to read about how 39-year-old Brühl prepared for the role and why he thinks the show is so relevant to today #wwdeye ( 📷: @Eriktanner)
Now that Celine Dion’s collection has topped $10 million in sales, the pop superstar, fashion icon and newly-minted industry player is eyeing growth in Asia. Read the full report by @tiffanyap, link in bio. #wwdnews #celinedion
“My personal philosophy to beauty is paying attention to oneself. I love to be outdoors, lots of fresh air, trying to take care of yourself as best you can. I always notice that comes through,” says Felicity Jones, the global face of @shiseido-owned @cledepeaubeauteus, which launches today. Head to WWD.com to read more about the actress’ love for beauty and how she prepared for her new role in “The Basis of Sex,” playing the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #wwdbeauty (📷: @dandoperalski)
Among the familiar faces at @off____white’s show was a surprise figure: Japanese artist @takashipom, pictured here on Wednesday morning. Other show-goers included @jerrylorenzo, who spoke about his upcoming project: a @nike collaboration for back to school, with designs inspired by his childhood on the West Coast. Sitting in the front row were Future, Don Crawley, @miguel and more. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: Stephane Feugere)
According to @laurentsai, former “Terrace House: Aloha State” cast member, she didn’t know she was auditioning for the Japanese version of “Real World.” “I was telling a couple of my friends and someone’s like, ‘That sounds a lot like Terrace House.’ I was like, ’No it can’t be.’” Turns out, it was. But Tsai isn’t just a reality star — she’s an illustrator who has worked with Starbucks Japan and most recently, she’s dipping her toes into the fashion world. Head to WWD.com to read about her time on the show, modeling and her art. #wwdeye (📷: @danieldorsa)
More changes are coming to New York Fashion Week: Beginning with the spring 2019 collection, @alexanderwangny will move his New York show to June from September, adopting a biannual schedule with collections shown in June and December. Additionally, the @cfda is planning for an official summer/winter fashion season taking place as soon as June and December 2018. Read more about the upcoming changes on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @slovekinpics)


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For the latest in consumer and industry news, top trends and market perspectives, stay tuned to Mintel News featuring commentary from Mintel’s team of global category analysts.
Hotspots brings you the Mintel Trends team’s top observations on product and service launches from around the world. From apps that quickly coordinate medical appointments for those that might have COVID-19 symptoms to a live PSA spotlighting domestic abuse, check out the most innovative global initiatives happening this month.
COVID-19: One app for all – Brazil
The Brazilian Health Ministry launched an app that delivers information and treatment for COVID-19-related issues. The app offers guidance and redirects users to medical appointments if symptoms match those of COVID-19. The technology is being shared with Argentina, Ecuador and Panama. Other than offering information on prevention and what to do in suspected cases or infection, a geolocalized feature in the app redirects the user to the closest healthcare station, in order to get specialized treatment while limiting a patient’s time on the streets.
In times of uncertainty, all trustworthy guidance is helpful, but when it comes to health, further actions are needed in order to see results. As people will naturally search for specialized advice on their symptoms, geolocation and direct guidance on where to go is a necessary action to offer proper care while taking care to limit patients’ outdoor contamination time. The push to make this technology accessible across Latin America helps save money and time.
Vanessa Rondine – Trends Analyst, Latin America
Temporary help – China
Suning Logistics has introduced a talent-sharing plan to recruit people whose jobs are temporarily affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Successful applicants will fill roles in sorting and packing at the company’s warehouses, as well as driving and delivering parcels in the community, among other tasks. Based on their locations and interest, this additional manpower will be deployed to the company’s 46 logistical centers and 350 parcel delivery stations across the country. Applicants will go through an online interview, skills training and medical check-up before starting work. As this is only a temporary arrangement, the workers are free to return to their original jobs once the situation returns to normal.
The coronavirus emergency has caused a major slowdown in many industries. Ecommerce businesses and fresh food delivery retailers require additional manpower to fulfill the surge in orders as the majority of Chinese consumers stay at home. Other ecommerce players including Alibaba and JD.com have also offered temporary placements for idle staff from affected industries to ease the impact of the crisis on their livelihoods. This gesture of goodwill is yet another of many instances when companies have come forward to render assistance in different ways during the outbreak.
Joyce Lam – Trends Analyst, Asia Pacific
Amazon Shares – US
Amazon has plans to start selling its cashless tech to other retailers. Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology allows shoppers to enter with a credit card, grab what they need and walk out without needing an app or Amazon account. Amazon notes that even with this technology, store associates are still needed in order to answer questions, stock store shelves and check IDs for alcohol purchases.
Despite the seamless nature of this technology, adoption of this model won’t necessarily be as seamless. There are still select cities that ban cashless retail and the Amazon retail locations that leverage this technology are primarily secondary store options that serve the occasional or on-the-go purchase need. While it’s one thing for Amazon to offer this form of technology as a convenience for consumers, different obstacles emerge for major retailers that serve a wide range of people.
Diana Kelter – Senior Trends Analyst, US
Fight the good fight – Thailand
Dentsu Thailand has turned a recent boxing event in Thailand into a live PSA about domestic violence. Fans who had paid to watch a series of pro boxing matches were stunned when one bout turned out to be a husband savagely attacking his wife in the ring. In reality, the husband and wife were performers, and the fight was staged on behalf of the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation. The campaign, titled ‘The Daily Fight’, aimed to put out the message that domestic violence is just as unacceptable at home as it is in public.
As in many Asian countries, domestic violence in Thailand is viewed as a private issue or an internal family affair. Societal attitudes such as victim-blaming and refraining from speaking about private issues are still common, and as a result, the magnitude of the domestic violence problem in Thailand is often underestimated. ‘The Daily Fight’ campaign is significant because it addresses the importance of collectively overcoming the apathy shown towards domestic violence and its victims.
Melanie Nambiar – Trends Analyst, Southeast Asia
The future of generations – Norway
A new report from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and The Lancet, found Norway to be most prepared in ensuring a healthy planet for children, while acknowledging all countries globally are failing to properly ensure children’s health and future safety. The report finds children’s health and future to be under threat globally from ecological degradation, climate change and exploitative marketing practices. Data from 180 countries on survival, wellbeing, health education, nutrition and sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions and income gaps were also factored in. The report also highlights predatory commercial practices and links children’s exposure to fast food and sugary drinks marketing to rapid increases in childhood obesity.
Global school strikes and the ‘Fridays for Future’ movement show how children and young people are increasingly aware that their futures will be greatly impacted by climate change. Young people are experiencing strong environmental anxiety, and through these movements they are demanding that adults and companies take more responsibility in protecting them. Older consumers and brands alike are still coming to terms with what this means for them and considering how they can make a difference.
Liisa Kontas – Nordic Trends Analyst, EMEA
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QTech, Asia’s leading distributor of iGaming products, has entered into a new partnership to support S4Gaming. S4Gaming is described as an emerging player in the video-bingo segment but also boasts a diverse slot portfolio. It will now add new QTech bingo and slot solutions as it continues to expand in the region.
As QTech seeks to offer more partners advanced gaming solutions, both of these verticals will be integrated into QTech’s offering. S4Gaming has produced a variety of great titles over the years. Games like La Mina 20, Safari Race, Gran National 20 and many more will all be joining the QTech Games portfolio.
QTech Games’ strong relationship with online operators will ensure that the games are distributed to all players. S4Gaming is a team of experts with 15 years’ experience in the iGaming industry and has the ability to create successful projects.
The company’s strength is its intuitive UX, which resonates with players. In addition, S4Gaming is now integrated into QTechONE so it can reach a wider global audience.
Both QTech Gaming and S4Gaming are optimistic about the two segments they will launch into, with both slots and bingo brought to them by partner operators. In addition, S4Gaming continues to operate in many of its flagship regions, including Asia and Latin America.
QTech Games CCO Ulf Norder said that QTech, along with S4Gaming, could bring localized experiences to global players. Norder has high hopes for mobile and social bingo. Technological advancements should allow for further adoption of this game vertical, making it especially popular among Millennials.


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USPS Planned-Peak Season Pricing Goes Into Effect
Last updated 10/22/2021 at 10:48am
Time to plan out your holiday cards, packages or any other things you’d like mailed out, as the United States Postal Service has made some changes. Although temporary, it is effective during one of the most busy and crucial times of the year.
On Oct. 1, the U.S. Postal Service began implementing service changes that impact the delivery time of some first-class mail and periodicals, and package shipments will be more expensive.
This planned-peak season pricing was approved by the Governors of the Postal Service on Aug. 5. No structural changes are planned as part of this limited pricing initiative.
First-class and periodical mail traveling distances of more than 930 miles will be impacted the most. The USPS says 61% of first-class mail and 93% of periodicals will be unaffected. First-class mail consists of postcards, letters, envelopes and other lightweight packages. Periodical mail consists of magazines, newspapers and other publications.
Until Dec. 26, the Postal Service will temporarily increase the cost of all domestic package shipments, including those from retailers, for the 2021 peak holiday season.
These changes will affect prices on Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select, USPS Retail Ground and Parcel Return Service. The increases vary based on service and distance, with Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express flat rates going up $.75 and some parcel and package services rising by up to $5. Retail and commercial shipping for First-Class Package Service will increase $.30.
The move is part of the agency’s 10-year plan intended to improve service and achieve financial sustainability. The 10-year plan aims to reverse a projected $160 billion in losses over the next 10 years. The first-class mail three-day service targets have not been met in the last eight years.
An overreliance on air travel, which can be inconsistent and is more expensive than on-ground transportation, has impacted delivery time, the USPS said. The new delivery standards will rely more on ground transportation.
The USPS said these changes will meet or exceed delivery standards 95% of the time.
Currently, the delivery standard for first-class and periodical mail is within three days for any destination within the U.S. With the service changes, delivery time will be up to five days, depending on how far away the mail’s destination is.
For a destination less than 140 miles away from the mail’s origin, delivery will take two days. For mail traveling between 140 miles and 930 miles, delivery will take three days. Mail traveling from 931 miles up to 1,907 miles will be delivered in four days, and mail traveling more than 1,908 miles will be delivered in five days.
The planned price changes include:
Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Parcel Select Ground and USPS Retail Ground:
$0.75 increase for PM and PME Flat Rate Boxes and Envelopes.
$0.25 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-10 lbs.
$0.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-10 lbs.
$1.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-20 lbs.
$3.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-20lbs.
$2.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 21-70 lbs.
$5.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 21-70 lbs.
For those in Borrego Springs, the Post Office will take UPS ground only, as long as the packages are not too big, as space is limited. This is not for regular business use. They have also stopped taking FedEx packages.


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Duo Boards has announced the launch of a half-inflatable, half-rigid windsurfing board.
The inventor of the world's first hard tail, inflatable stand-up paddleboard has decided to step up his game and came up with a new concept for the windsurfing market.
The Duo Windsurf Freeride boards combine the rigidity and stiffness of a traditional sailboard with the advantages and benefits of a portable inflatable windsurfer.
"One morning, drinking my coffee and looking at my hardboards and SUPs, and trying to decide the one to take to the beach, the idea suddenly came to me: if I could combine a fiberglass hardtail and an inflatable nose, it would be incredible!" explains Mat Pendle, the man behind Duo Boards.
"Before building the first board, I refined the idea by writing a patent and the potential folded out from paddle boards to windsurf boards and surfboards."
Pendle teamed up with Cesare Cantagalli from NoveNove, and the idea became a product.
The new Duo Windsurf Freeride range includes a 129-liter and 140-liter board. They feature foot straps and a powerbox integrated into the fiberglass section.


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April 2, 2013
The Australian travel magazine, Australian Traveller, has announced the 100 Best Travel Secrets of Australia in a special collectors' edition of the magazine. The number one secret, Whites Beach in Byron Bay was one of the many stunning beaches to make the list.†Several surprises made the top 10 – including Australia's most expensive secret, Emirates [...]
Australia's top 10 secrets is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog
The post Australia's top 10 secrets appeared first on A Luxury Travel Blog.
Read entire article on Luxury Travel Blog


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- Sir Timothy Clark, President, of Emirates Airlines shared the latest updates on the carrier during ATM 2023
- The travel sector has been resilient in facing the challenges presented by the pandemic, says Clark
- Demand in leisure and hospitality will continue to be robust
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 3 May 2023: Sir Timothy Clark, President, Emirates Airline, has addressed travel and tourism delegates at Arabian Travel Market 2023. Speaking on the Global Stage with renowned aviation commentator John Strickland, Clark discussed the resurgence in passenger numbers that is being witnessed by the airline industry worldwide, as well as the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Addressing the performance of Emirates in the post-pandemic era, Clark said: “We used the period during the pandemic to carefully organize our resources and devise a solid plan which allowed us to kick-start as soon as skies opened again. After 30 years of operating the world’s largest airline and as one of the flagship carriers of the UAE, there simply was no option to sit back and stop.”
In the last quarter, Dubai has welcomed five million visitors, already exceeding pre-pandemic numbers. According to Clark, demand will continue to be as robust as it has been recently, and the leisure and hospitality sectors will see a big uptick in the next five to 10 years.
As ATM 2023 focuses on ‘Working Towards Net Zero’ Clark touched on the airline’s sustainability strategy: “The fuel from the aviation industry accounts for 2-2.5% of global emissions. As passenger numbers grow, so must our efforts to mitigate our carbon footprint. Emirates runs a number of sustainability initiatives across the business. Our first flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) took to the skies in 2017 and earlier this year we operated a demonstration flight using 100% SAF. We also recycled 500,000 kilograms of plastic and glass over the course of 2022. As far as we can, we try to offset.”
Elsewhere on the agenda:
On the Travel Tech Stage, day three of ATM 2023 opened with a look at the Investment Trends Leading Travel Tech, while Strategic Sustainability Planning was the focus of discussion this morning at The Sustainability Hub. As ATM celebrates 30 years, speakers gathered on the Global Stage today to reflect on the past three decades of tourism in the Emirates during The Success of Tourism for the UAE: 30 Years On.
The momentum continues for the final day of ATM 2023 tomorrow with a diverse schedule of insightful sessions. On the Global Stage, the day will begin with a panel discussion on the benefits of engaging young people in the tourism industry, with an emphasis on preparing for sustainable goals.
There are also a number of sessions taking place on the Travel Tech Stage tomorrow based around the theme, ‘Bridging the Gap in Technology’, covering areas such as NDC and ChatGPT among many others. A session on Rural Tourism is set to be a highlight of the final day at the Sustainability Hub.
ATM 2023 is held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre and its strategic partners include Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as the Destination Partner, Emirates as the Official Airline Partner, IHG Hotels & Resorts as the Official Hotel Partner and Al Rais Travel as the Official DMC Partner.
The latest ATM news stories are available at https://hub.wtm.com/category/press/atm-press-releases/.
To register for ATM 2023, please log on to: https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb/enquire.html.
For more information log on to wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html
About Arabian Travel Market (ATM), now on its 30th year, is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2022 attracted over 24,000 visitors and hosted over 31,000 participants including 1,600 exhibitors and attendees from 151 countries, across 10 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai
Next in-person event: Monday 1 to Thursday 4 May 2023, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html
About Arabian Travel Week is a festival of events taking place within and alongside Arabian Travel Market 2023. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, it includes ILTM Arabia, ARIVAL Dubai, Influencers’ events and activations, ITIC, GBTA Business Travel Forums, as well as ATM Travel Tech. It also features the ATM Buyer Forums, ATM Speed Networking Events as well as a series of country forums. https://www.wtm.com/arabian-travel-week/en-gb.html
About RX (Reed Exhibitions)
RX is in the business of building businesses for individuals, communities and organisations. We elevate the power of face-to-face events by combining data and digital products to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at over 400 events in 22 countries across 43 industry sectors. RX is passionate about making a positive impact on society and is fully committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.rxglobal.com
RELX About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The Group serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs over 33,000 people, of whom almost half are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. The market capitalisation is approximately £33bn, €39bn, $47bn.*
*Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
World Travel Market (WTM) Portfolio comprises leading travel events, online portals and virtual platforms across four continents. The events are:
WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. The show facilitates business connections for the global (leisure) travel community. Senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating travel industry contracts. Next live event: Monday 6 to 8 November 2023 at ExCel London http://london.wtm.com/
WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In this its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation and achieved the advance booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022. Next event: Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 April 2023 – Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil http://latinamerica.wtm.com/
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019.
Next event: Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 April 2023 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town http://africa.wtm.com/
About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week’s digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel, LGBTQ+ travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.
WTM Global Hub, is the new WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers, and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub. https://hub.wtm.com/


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VACATION and short-term rental accommodation aggregator Roomorama.com has appointed Nina Kubik-Cheng as managing director. She was most recently vice president – partnerships at the company.
In December 2014, Kubik-Cheng was appointed senior vice president – business development – of Beijing-based Dragon Trail Interactive. Prior to this, she was vice president, sales at Daodao.com and Qunar.com.
Her appointment comes just as Roomorama is strengthening its foothold in the B2B space through partnerships with Tujia and HomeAway in April and with the launch of its new B2B identity, Bridge Rentals, an aggregator and supplier of non-hotel inventory worldwide.


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What you need to know
- Apple COO Jeff Williams appeared on Fox Business.
- He was asked about the US economy and its ability to recover from coronavirus.
- But he stressed that he isn't an economist.
Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams has been speaking about his hopes for the US economy following the coronavirus outbreak during an interview on Fox Business. He seems surprisingly bullish for its prospects.
As noted by Apple Insider, Williams said that he was optimistic about where things would go in terms of the economy, noting that his company was still able to release products.
"You know," he continued, "during [the] last quarter, we —even though these are challenging times —we launched three new products. And I feel great about the economy in the long haul. And it's just a matter of getting from here to there."
He also said that Apple's supply chains are now able to run "largely" at capacity, saying that he "couldn't be prouder of the Apple team and how resourceful they've been."
But despite all this, he was keen to point out that he isn't an economist, but rather a COO. That didn't stop him from saying that he feels "great about the long haul."
Williams also took pains to remind everyone that Apple doesn't rely only on China to produce its products, saying that they're made around the world including in the United States. The Mac Pro is built in Texas, for example.


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Breaking news from the world of NBA coffee franchises:
Starbucks Corp. said Thursday that it has bought out Magic Johnson Enterprises’ half of their joint venture Urban Coffee Opportunities, which has opened more than 100 Starbucks stores in city neighborhoods nationwide since 1998.
Basketball Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson said in the statement that the effort validates inner city residents’ brand loyalties, and his company, Magic Johnson Enterprises, plans to continue working with Starbucks on community development.
Fans may remember Magic Johnson’s work on bar in a succession of NBA Championship runs for the Starbucks franchise. Johnson’s assists were key in leading the 1981-82 morning shift staff to an NBA title, in contests against saw fluid demitasse movement between Johnson (register), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (bar), as well as several spectacular behind-the-back passes to 6th man Bob McAdoo (chimp shift). Later in his career, Johnson worked as a shift leader with Horace Grant (Center, pour-overs) and James Worthy (3-point threat, employee cuppings), resulting in another series of Championship rings.
Johnson’s reign at Starbucks is perhaps best remembered for repeated show-downs with several Larry Bird-owned Tully’s locations.
Sprudge hot tipper Emily would like our readers to know that the Magic Johnson’s Starbucks down on Crenshaw is kind of terrifying, but the nearby Magic Johnson’s TGIFridays location is “the best pickup spot in south LA”.


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1997 Dodge Dakota
Worst 1997 Dakota engine Problems
Click on a problem below to read more.
- engine stalls out6
- oil sludge resulting in engine failure3
- oil pressure fluctuates2
- engine lopes while idling1
- NHTSA: Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Gasoline16
- NHTSA: Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine15
- NHTSA: Engine And Engine Cooling8
- NHTSA: Vehicle Speed Control7
- NHTSA: Vehicle Speed Control: Cruise Control4
- NHTSA: Engine2
- NHTSA: Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Gasoline: ...2
- NHTSA: Vehicle Speed Control: Accelerator Pedal1
Stay Up to Date
Compare Dodge Dakota Model Years
Curious how the 1997 Dakota compares to other years?
Check out our Dodge Dakota overview to see the most problematic years, worst problems and most recently reported complaints with the Dakota.


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With the rapid development of technology, the functions of mobile phones are also advancing by leaps and bounds, especially the latest 4G mobile phone signals, which provide a lot of help and convenience for our lives! At the same time, it will also bring trouble to our lives. The effects of noise and mobile phone privacy are not well protected, which confuses us. The best solution is a mobile phone jammer device. Now there is a handheld mobile cell phone jammer, which is especially suitable for protecting different signals of mobile phones in 5 frequency bands. It can block the use of WiFi 3G GSM and Bluetooth mobile phones at the same time, especially if there is no signal of WiFi and Bluetooth cables. 2018 and the next few years. very popular.
All parents want to keep in touch with their children at all times. So, why do so many students own mobile phones now? However, the school claims that mobile phones have a negative impact on the learning process of students. According to a recent study, schools banned the use of mobile phones in schools, and its score increased by 6.4%. Therefore, in order to improve children's educational prospects, it is necessary to restrict students' use of mobile phones during school, and schools use mobile phone jammers to control students' activity time. Of course, there is no doubt that the mobile phone is the most convenient communication device. It brings comfort and entertainment to our lives. Moreover, communication between people is easier. However, it can also harm students and cause a decline in academic performance.


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Arcadia posts a 25% profit rise as ecommerce props up sales
Topshop-owner Arcadia has reported a pre-tax profit rise of 25% for the year despite flat sales, as its ecommerce offering helps prop up the business.
Pre-tax profits before exception items at Arcadia increased by £33.8m to £133.1m for the year ending 25 August, despite sales dipping slightly from £2,683m to £2,679m.
The profits were largely driven by an increase in margin, while sales held flat, as a result of a 22% increase in ecommerce sales.
Sir Philip Green, the Arcadia boss, hit out at high-street rivals who "cry" about the tough economic conditions, during an interview with Reuters ahead of the results.
Green said: "We've got to trade. We're here in the streets, we've got 45,000 staff, we've got a £500m payroll, we've got to make it work."
"We've got to up our game. If we sit there and cry and put on my front window 'the Bank of England said x', it isn't going to help me take any money."
The overall growth in ecommerce was a result of a 20% growth in UK ecommerce and a 33% growth in international ecommerce.
This strong growth comes as Arcadia brand Topshop increasingly engages with its customers on social media, where it hit three million Facebook fans this month.
The brand added 750,000 Facebook fans in two months, as Topshop focuses on more geo-targeted postings.
Topshop now claims it has the fastest-growing social media page of any brand worldwide and the biggest high-street retailer following online, globally.
The spike in growth occurred during London Fashion Week, when the brand partnered with Facebook to broadcast its fashion show online.
Meanwhile, sister brand Dorothy Perkins is attempting to appeal to a young digital-savvy audience with the launch of the Kardashian Kollection, after a tie-up with the Kardashian sisters.
This article was first published on marketingmagazine.co.uk
- TopShop is fashion's most social brand
- Topshop ties with Google for London Fashion Week content innovation
- Kate Bosworth sings Christmas track for Topshop campaign
- Topshop recreates front row experience for online shoppers
- Dorothy Perkins signs up Kardashians for new product range
- Topshop signs deal with Nordstrom department store for US expansion
- Topshop hires Burberry's Justin Cooke as CMO
- Managing Director - Equity potential DU Group £120,000 - £150,000, South Oxfordshire
- Entrepreneurial Digital Director needed Gabriele Skelton £60000 per annum, London
- Marketing Executive Brand Recruitment negotiable, St. Albans
- Pipeline Developer - CG Studio - London Network Career Consultants £40000 - £50000 per annum, London
- Senior Project Manager Blue Skies Marketing Recruitment GBP50000 - GBP55000 per annum, London
- Blippar connects disjointed families, says MEC executive
- Fans take on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Twitter-powered tennis game
- Campaign Viral Chart: Samsung scores hat-trick in tech-heavy chart
- Jaguar readies global campaign for F-Type launch
- ITV and Channel 4 insist they will beat declining ad market
- EE adds Dare to agency roster to develop digital
A demographic portrait of Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook users
A useful study here from the ‘Pew Research Center’ taking a look at the demographic make-up of US social media users across Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook. No data on LinkedIn of Google+, but great stats all the same.


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As we wait for the final outcome of the Beats-Apple situation, we might as well prepare ourselves for the best, the worst, and everything in between. Here are 9 potential endgames for the supposedly looming Apple-Beats acquisition, ordered roughly from “likely” to “totally implausible.”
1. Apple buys Beats, releases brand new streaming music service
Midway through Apple’s WWDC keynote, Tim Cook announces what many quietly expected: an all-new Apple-branded music streaming service, courtesy of newly-acquired Beats by Dre. Named “Dring” (a hybrid of “Dre” and failed Apple music network, “Ping,”), the streaming service comes complete with 25 million songs, pleasantly-rounded corners, and brushed aluminum menus. In honor of the late Mr. Jobs, Cook plays Bob Dylan’s “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’” as the first tune to ever stream through the service. The next day, somebody on Twitter jokes that “beyond here lies nothin’” is also an apt description for Apple’s product roadmap.
2. Apple buys Beats, refreshes headphones line
The streaming music service rumors prove unfounded: it was about hardware all along. Apple signs the Beats deal, then rolls out a whole new line of headphone and speaker accessories, each more colorful and more expensive than the last. Beats’ celebrity army of NBA stars, R&B artists and pop sensations appear in a new series of Apple ads, with the tagline, “Hear what you’ve been missing.” Even Justin Bieber gets a spot. Meanwhile, Apple stores around the globe become three times as noisy, as Apple’s new Beats-made headphones leak noise faster than Edward Snowden can leak NSA secrets.
3. Apple doesn’t buy Beats, everyone feels stupid
As articles (like this one) continue to trickle out over the coming weeks, the tech world becomes desperate for action. Why haven’t we heard more? Why didn’t Apple say anything at WWDC? A dozen conspiracy theories emerge, from “Apple and Beats never met” to “Apple actually bought Beats in 2009.” The Internet loses its collective mind until summer 2015, when Dr. Dre’s former PR manager releases a book, Think Different: The Real Story Behind the Apple-Beats Negotiations.
4. Apple buys Beats, realizes headphones have become a commodity market
The deal is signed. Cook, Jony Ive, Peter Oppenheimer, Craig Federighi, and Dr. Dre pour champagne while listening to Dre’s “The Next Episode” at Apple headquarters. Mid-clink, a freckle-faced, 19-year-old intern bursts through the door. “Mr. Cook!” she gasps, “We just got that report on the headphone market—the one you said was critical to the deal.” Laughing nervously, Cook sets down his champagne glass and eyes the report’s title, gingerly: Study—headphones now a commodity. Brand power rapidly losing its effect on fickle consumer market, which will now buy anything, as long as it’s cheap. “Well, sh–,” he says.
5. Amazon swoops in, buys Beats
In a surprise Monday morning headline, the world learns that Amazon—not Apple—has officially purchased Beats. “This isn’t about our upcoming streaming music service,” says CEO Jeff Bezos, in a next-morning Washington Post interview, “This is about Amazon Prime.” Beats customers begin noticing subtle changes in their orders, as packing peanuts are replaced by Amazon Prime coupons, and “Try Prime!” stickers are placed on every pair of Beats Solo HDs. One customer swears she hears “free two-day shipping on any order” every time she plugs in her primeBeats earphones, but gets laughed out of court by Amazon’s lawyers.
6. Apple buys Beats, kills Beats
Weeks after Apple announces the formal deal, a funny thing happens: Beats products disappear. eBay stock sells out. Even Amazon can’t seem to find them. Furious, a drunken mob surrounds Jony Ive at a Cupertino bar, demanding answers. “Okay!” he says, “All our research says people only care about two things: bright colors and overpriced brands. That’s our thing, not Beats’. That’s why people buy Apple. Beats had to go. They just had to, okay?”
7. Apple walks away from Beats deal, buys Skullcandy instead
In a hastily assembled press conference, Cook agrees to take five minutes of questions on the just-announced Skullcandy acquisition. “What happened to Beats?” a reporter asks. “Forget about Dre,” Cook responds. “But why Skullcandy?” another asks. “I mean, seriously,” Cook says, “these are headphone manufacturers. They all do the same thing.”
8. Dr. Dre becomes new “Voice of Siri”
Apple finally addresses the artificially-intelligent elephant in the room: No one really likes Siri. In an open apology letter to all Apple customers, Cook explains that all those Siri statistics—“85% use Siri at least once per month”—are “inflated,” and “probably half of those” are people who “accidentally hold down the home button a little too long.” Cook goes on to describe the $3 billion acquisition as “mostly about voice talent. We thought, ‘Who does everyone love? What voice has achieved such an iconic level of success that customers wouldn’t mind even if it repeatedly misunderstood them, called the wrong contacts, or drove them to the wrong restaurant four times out of five?’ The answer? Dr. Dre.”
9. Apple buys Beats, Dr. Dre becomes Apple CEO
In a somber press event, Cook announces that the completed Beats deal will coincide with his resignation. “Honestly, I’m just sick of it,” Cook explains, saying he’s actually happy to see “someone, anyone” taking over “the most thankless job” in the tech industry. “You sell 43 million iPhones in one quarter, post $45.6 billion in revenue, and all anyone wants to talk about is how great Jeff Bezos is. I mean, seriously.”
This article was written for TIME by Ben Taylor of FindTheBest.
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Stricter regulations governing the use of cryptocurrencies Many other ASEAN member countries have recently implemented rules. Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia are among them. Although bitcoin is said to be very popular in Singapore and Vietnam, the central banks in both countries have banned payment through it.
Thailand will now be among the countries to impose stricter regulations on the use of cryptocurrencies. ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations The majority of ASEAN member countries have already made such a decision. The Thai Central Bank has now proposed new rules. Cryptocurrencies can only be traded or paid for on licenced platforms under these rules.
Bitcoin is declining in value.
According to reports, the cryptocurrency market in Thailand has grown significantly. The price of bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency, is currently declining. According to observers, the recent rapid volatility in the price of bitcoin has prompted Thai authorities to take the latest action. The Bank of Thailand (BOT) stated last month that price volatility in digital coins is a problem that can result in massive losses for both buyers and sellers.
According to reports, new cryptocurrency regulations will go into effect in the second two weeks of this month. Prior to that, on February 8, these rules will be issued, and the public will be invited to provide feedback on them.A provision is being made to impose heavy fines on those who violate the proposed rules, according to a news article published on the website NikEasia.com. Those who buy or sell cryptocurrencies in violation of the rules face fines of up to $9,000 USD.
Many other ASEAN member countries have recently implemented similar rules. Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia are among them. Despite the fact that bitcoin is said to be very popular in Singapore and Vietnam, the central banks in both countries have prohibited payments through it. Last December, the BOT warned commercial banks not to engage in direct trading of digital coins.
Despite this, the BOT and Thailand’s Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) continue to allow cryptocurrencies to be traded on licenced platforms. Such licences are issued by the SEC. In Thailand, there are currently eight such crypto exchange platforms. Kitkub is the largest of them all. Siam Commercial Bank, Thailand’s oldest bank, purchased 51% of the platform’s shares in November.
Companies can make public announcements.
According to Nares Laopannarai, general secretary of the Thai Digital Asset Association, a group of cryptocurrency traders, the website Nikkei Asia – “Bot’s most recent announcement has put large corporations under pressure.” They include all of the companies that have announced significant investments in the cryptocurrency industry.
According to analysts, the new BOT rules will disproportionately affect large corporations. These regulations will have a negative impact on cryptocurrency popularity. This may result in a decrease in their prices. As a result, companies that have invested heavily will have to bear the loss. Bitcoin is also in a downward trend. Last November, the price of one coin was $ 68 thousand, which was slightly higher on February 1st 38 and a half thousand.


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Adding its voice to the chorus of approval, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) announced its support of the National Tourism and Travel Strategy (NTTS) presented to President Barack Obama by the Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness. The goal is to increase travel and tourism to the United States to 100 million visitors annually by 2021.
GBTA said it strongly supports the Task Force’s strategy to emphasize travel and tourism as a government priority and the policies in the NTTS that recognize the importance of business travel as a major driver of the economy and job creation.
“The National Tourism and Travel Strategy incorporates many of the suggestions GBTA made in submitted comments earlier this year,” said Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO of GBTA.
“GBTA supports policies to increase international travel to the U.S. – and this strategy does just that. GBTA focus on the policies that impact the business traveler, such as visa process improvements and expanding visa waiver program, trusted traveler programs and the critical investments desperately needed to improve our aviation infrastructure,” McCormick said.
“Recent moves by the Obama Administration have demonstrated the President’s commitment to increasing travel. The expansion of the Transportation Security Administration’s Pre-Check Program, the decision to make Global Entry permanent and the calls to speed up the implementation of NextGen are all signs of how important travel is to the economy,” McCormick continued.
“We are particularly pleased to see the positive steps the NTTS outlines to expedite the visa process for travelers from Brazil. Adding staff, shortening wait times and improving the speed with which a visa can be obtained will facilitate far more business travelers from Brazil, an important trading partner, coming to the U.S."
"We hope to see the expansion of reciprocal trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry and Pre-Check which will improve the efficiency of traveling for low-risk, high-volume business travelers. Business travel is a key driver of the economy with more than one-in-five travelers to the U.S. traveling for business and this strategy appears to have recognized how vital it is to the economy,” McCormick concluded.
GBTA has 5,000-plus members who manage over $340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually.


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Deere & Co (DE.N)
NEW YORK U.S. stocks rose but closed below their session highs on renewed concerns about Donald Trump's presidency, after two new reports related to a federal investigation into possible coordination between Russia and Trump's election campaign. | Video
Deere & Co raised its full-year sales and profit forecast for the second time, as demand improves for its farm and construction equipment, particularly in South America, sending its shares to a record high of $122.22. | Video
* Sees FY 2017 equipment sales up 9 pct, from up 4 pct previously
* NY Times: Trump said firing Comey relieved "great pressure"
* Q2 earnings per share view $1.68 -- Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S
May 19 Deere & Co reported on Friday a 62 percent jump in quarterly profit, helped by improving demand for its products, and the U.S. farm equipment maker raised its fiscal 2017 financial forecast.
PARIS European sales of agricultural machinery look set to rebound in 2017 after a three-year slump as rising demand in Germany and sectors like olive growing offset weakness in France, an industry group said.
CHICAGO Monsanto Co has terminated an agreement to sell its Precision Planting LLC farm equipment business to machinery maker Deere & Co , the companies said on Monday, ending a legal fight with antitrust authorities over the deal.
CHICAGO, May 1 Monsanto Co has terminated an agreement to sell its Precision Planting LLC farm equipment business to machinery maker Deere & Co, the companies said on Monday, ending a legal fight with antitrust authorities over the deal.
* Deere emphasizes importance of precision agriculture despite termination of acquisition