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If cryptocurrency has been steadily creeping into your consciousness, it’s because its popularity among Filipinos has skyrocketed in recent years. Year 2021 data from cryptocurrency payments provider TripleA show that over 4.3 million people or 4% of the Philippine population now own cryptocurrency.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Benjamin Diokno himself noted this remarkable phenomenon December of last year when he said that cryptocurrency transactions in the Philippines rose by 362% during the first half of 2021. “These transactions were worth P105.93 billion in June, up 71% over the same period [in 2020],” he said.
Mike Calma, country manager of Advance.AI, an artificial intelligence company based in Singapore, attributes crypto’s growth in the Philippines to the rising acceptance of the play-to-earn community. Not everyone has the capacity to become traders and investors but to be a play-to-earn player, all one needs is time and willingness to play the blockchain games (video games that utilize blockchain technology).
“I think it’s a nice proof of concept where you could gain exposure to the crypto market without having capital,” says Calma. Gaming guilds like YGG could finance one’s initial investment into that blockchain game. Then they just arrange for a revenue share. Players usually get 70%, managers get 20%, and the guild gets 10%. Eventually when the investors have saved up enough capital, they could utilize this to invest in a game or a currency itself, or in non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Calma thinks a big come-on to cryptocurrency is that it advocates anonymity thereby partially addressing financial inclusion. Whereas in banks one will need government IDs or collaterals to transact, in cryptocurrency all one needs is a device, an internet connection, and cash to spare to be converted into crypto.
The Filipino tech expert says the concept of cryptocurrency may still seem esoteric to some because of all the technical jargon. But he says all one needs is the curiosity to learn it. Calma first got exposed to cryptocurrency four years ago. He has over 20 years of experience in software development, social enterprises and IT education, information technology, among others, before he caught the crypto bug.
Calma says the digital currency appealed to him as an alternative investment outside the typical stocks and bonds. “Wearing my tech hat, it’s a nice implementation of cryptography and math towards a currency. Fiat currency (government-issued currency) is based on your trust in the government and the central bank, as opposed to cryptocurrency, which depends on your trust in math and cryptography,” he says.
Amid the rising popularity of crypto trading in the Philippines, security becomes a critical issue of concern. Hence, the public is advised to exercise vigilance, says Calma. The transaction chain is composed of different elements or levels which could possibly be compromised if caution is not observed: the person initiating the transaction; the app or browser used; the device; the network (WiFi connection); and the crypto platform used.
Across these areas, one that’s most exposed to fraudulent practices would be the person engaged in crypto. The budol may take the form of a giveaway. “For example, someone will impersonate Elon Musk and say if you give me one Ethereum, deposit it to my address, I will give you 2 Ethereum back. The method and the channels are new. But these scams have been prevalent since we were kids,” Calma says.
Another common fraudulent practice is phishing. If you receive an email from reputable companies asking to reveal any personal information such as username, passwords or credit card numbers—beware. The bad actor (someone who tries to access private data, networks and apps thru shady means) usually imposes a false sense of urgency, such that if you don’t provide what’s being asked, you won’t be able to access your account. But once you input the needed information, the bad actor would have gotten your credentials and be able to access your account.
A person may also be directed to a fake but authentic looking website, which would require personal information. “No bank, financial institution, or crypto exchange will solicit your username, password or even OTP. No one will do that. If you want to reset your account, you’ll have to be the one to initiate that request,” says Calma.
The security of cryptocurrency trading platforms (e.g., Coins.ph, PDAX, Binance) may also be compromised and that’s where companies like Advance.AI comes in. “We’re an AI company that focuses on financial institutions to make sure that the customer journey with financial institutions is secure (meaning, scams, fraudulent or bad actors are prevented from coming into that ecosystem) and frictionless (verification can easily be done via a web browser),” the Pinoy crypto expert asserts.
How to detect fraud
Advance.AI’s system, according to Calma, has a transaction and fraud-detecting capability that can infer anomalous patterns—frequently siphoning small amounts of cash to different accounts, for instance. The company also has a technology called self-sovereign identity (SSI), where a person would be able to prove his identity through cryptography.
To protect one’s self from possible fraud, Calma provides these tips:
• If you observe any red flags (e.g., false sense of urgency, possible phishing) or any suspicious activities, do not engage with the said party. “If they are rushing you, tinataranta ka nila, most likely it’s a scam,” says Calma.
• Make sure your passwords are stored in the right place.
• Engage only with reputable institutions. “Pick those that care enough to use their biometrics. It’s the most secure form of security,” he says. “Not a lot of people could spoof facial recognition especially if it’s coupled with password protection.”
• When doing a large transaction, it would be best to employ a multi-factor authentication that requires two or more verification factors to gain access to an account.
Calma believes cryptocurrency is just going to be more pervasive and is here to stay. “It’s trusting math and cryptography vs. trusting the government alone,” says Calma. “And those two are not mutually exclusive—they could combine forces.”
Crypto, like many asset classes, are on the downturn due to different factors. But looking at the five to ten year horizon, the tendency is for it to grow, says Calma. “There is a general long-term trend towards it increasing in terms of value, and that is driven by greater adoption,” he adds. “The more people that believe in cryptocurrency, the more its value increases.”


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Ubisoft today released a brand new trailer highlighting the upcoming update for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege as players eagerly await the release of a brand new map with the Skull Rain update. The community surrounding Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege will welcome the official release of the Skull Rain update tomorrow, August 2nd. The update introduces a brand new map and two new Operators for players to buy and master.
The new map, the Favela, is said to be the most destructible environment available in the game to-date. The two new Operators come in the form of Caveira and Capitão. Caveira is a stealth specialist that uses Silent Step to approach enemies unheard and initiate sneak attacks on unsuspecting foes. Capitão enters the fray with a state of the art tactical crossbow that cam fire micro grenades and lethal asphyxiating bolts
When the update releases tomorrow all players will be able to download the Favela map. Season Pass holders will have instant access to both new Operators while those without a Season Pass can purchase both with Renown or R6 Credits beginning August 9th.
Source: Press Release

domain: news


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Warren Buffett is one of the greatest financial masterminds of our time. But he’s not infallible. Sometimes even Warren makes mistakes — and one of those recent mistakes was called Apple.
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway firm has long invested in Apple, with Buffett once saying that, “I don’t think of Apple as a stock. I think of it as our third business. It’s probably the best business I know in the world. And that is a bigger commitment than we have in any business except insurance and the railroad.”
Apple has done extremely well for Buffett. The company’s stake in Apple has tripled in value in the past three years. On Wednesday, as Apple closed at a new all-time high, it was worth $128 billion. It accounts for more than 40% of Berkshire’s US portfolio, while Berkshire is Apple’s second larger shareholder (after index fund giant Vanguard.) However, Buffett has also been pruning his Apple stake. And it’s cost him.
In recent years Buffett has handed back 12% of it. Business Insider notes that:
“The investor has more than tripled his money on Apple in the past three years. But he would have quadrupled it if he didn’t sell a chunk of the holding.”
In other words, getting trepidatious about Apple holding cost Buffett $20 billion — or approximately 14 times the net worth of Tim Cook. It would otherwise have been worth $148 billion.
It’s hard to totally blame Buffett, of course. By his own admission in 2011 he didn’t totally get Apple’s business, and has had to slowly come around to it. He has even gotten a personal iPhone lesson from Apple CEO Tim Cook — without being able to get to grips with Apple’s most popular device. Every investment guide ever talks about diversification, and it’s easy to see how having Apple make up almost half your stock portfolio is nerve-racking.
But Buffett knows he made an error trimming Berkshire’s Apple position. At the May annual meeting he said it was “probably a mistake” to have done so. He also said that Berkshire’s vice-chair Charlie Munger advised him about selling Apple holdings.
The Business Insider article notes that, amazingly, the dividend on Berkshire’s Apple holdings alone has earned it an average of $775 million per year over the past three years. That’s certainly nothing to sniff at.
Apple’s current market cap stands at $2.3 trillion.
Source: Business Insider


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India buys palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, with soyoil mainly imported from Argentina and Brazil. It purchases sunflower oil from Russia and Ukraine. In December, palm oil imports would remain below 600,000 tonnes and soyoil imports could rise above 400,000 tonnes, Patel said.
Where does India import palm oil from?
India imports palm oil mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, and a small quantity of crude soft oil, including soyabean oil from Argentina. Sunflower oil is imported from Ukraine and Russia.
Who is the largest importer of palm oil?
In that year, India was the leading importer of palm oil worldwide, with an import value of about 5.12 billion U.S. dollars.
Leading importers of palm oil worldwide in 2020 (in million U.S. dollars)
|Characteristic||Import value in million U.S. dollars|
Which companies use palm oil in India?
“The top companies having oil palm plantations include 3F Oil Palm Agrotech, Godrej Agrovet, Ruchi Soya and Navbharat, which together account for more than 80% of the oil palm cultivation in the country.” Goenka is also chief executive of 3F Oil Palm, which now plans to expand the company’s oil palm plantation.
Which country exports palm oil to India?
Malaysia has surpassed Indonesia to become the biggest crude palm oil (CPO) exporter to top consumer India in 2020/21, after Indonesia imposed heavy taxes on exports of the edible oil last year, industry officials told Reuters.
Is India still importing palm oil?
India’s CPO imports rose to 6.46 mt, 6.53 mt, and 6.67 mt during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. Import of RBD palmolein remained below one mt mark for 2020-21 and 2019-20. … The reason for this was the lifting of the restriction for import of refined palm oil and palmolein from June 30 up to December 31.
Is India largest importer of palm oil?
India is the largest importer of Palm oil in the world, it has a duty to now push for ethical production practices.
What is imported to India?
India main imports are: mineral fuels, oils and waxes and bituminous substances (27 percent of total imports); pearls, precious and semi-precious stones and jewelry (14 percent); electrical machinery and equipment (10 percent); nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances (8 percent); and organic …
Does India make palm oil?
India currently produces palm oil on more than 3,00,000 hectares of land and plans to cover an additional area of 6,50,000 hectares by 2025-26.
Which brand palm oil is best?
Best Palm Oil Companies in India
- Cargill India Pvt Ltd. Cargill India Pvt Ltd is one of the leading Palm Oil Manufacturers in India. …
- Adani Wilmar. The next on the list is Adani Wilmar. …
- Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd. …
- 3F Industries Ltd. …
- Godrej Agrovet. …
- Sri Sarwo Natraj Agro India Private Limited. …
- Edible Group. …
- ALR Trading Pvt Ltd.
Does Nestle still use palm oil?
Nestle can no longer claim to use certified sustainable palm oil in its chocolates and other products, after being suspended by the group responsible for certification. Greenpeace has recently called out Nestle, and others for failing to disclose if their palm oil is destroying rainforests.
Which company uses the most palm oil?
Overall, Nestlé received the highest score in the report for the responsible use of palm oil. The companies Colgate-Palmolive, Henkel, Dunkin’ Brands and Safeway have all demonstrated industry leadership as well, according to UCS.
Which country exports the most palm oil?
Palm Oil Exports by Country in 1000 MT
|Rank||Country||Exports (1000 MT)|
Is India importing palm oil from Malaysia?
India imported palm oils—both crude and refined—worth $5.8 billion in FY21, mostly from Indonesia and Malaysia.
Who is the largest importer of edible oil?
India is the largest importer of vegetable oils and above 65% of the domestic demand is met through imports. New Delhi buys palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia while soya oil and sunflower oil are imported from Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine and Russia.


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But are they ready to help combine marijuana and mobile technology? The folks behind AbacaRX and Dispensed2U hope so.
Although many people think of crowd-funding sites mainly as platforms for actors and actresses to beg their fans to finance a shitty movie, they've also proved effective in launching businesses that might still be languishing otherwise. And given the recent explosion of marijuana business, it's not surprising San Francisco-based AbacaRX would want to use this method to tell the world, "There's an app for that,.
The one created by AbacaRX is hyped as the first medical marijuana evaluation app for laptops, phones and tablets. The concept involves encrypted software and a small team of physicians ready to give evaluations in the 22 states, plus the District of Columbia, where medical marijuana is legal.
"Some people seeking advice or consultation on medical marijuana might feel uneasy talking to their family doctor," notes AbacaRX CEO Roger Proctor, corresponding via e-mail. "And some people live in such a remote rural area that going online is much easier."
According to Proctor, the company's founders have been working on the app for two years and believed they had everything covered aside from the funding to launch. But then, something went wrong.
The company's Indiegogo campaign debuted on June 9 and had reached almost half of its six-figure goal in about two days. Individuals contributed thousands of dollars and it looked like a launch party was in order.
Then Indiegogo shut it down.
"On Friday, June 13 we received a notice from Indiegogo that they had suspended our account without reason," Procter writes. "It was not until Tuesday, June 17 that we received their response requesting a copy of my photo ID, address and other information, which they had never requested in the past and was not demanded to set up the campaign."
Indiegogo wouldn't comment after numerous requests from Westword, but Procter maintains that he eventually got something of an explanation. "It appears that there was a problem with Paypal," he reveals.
Proctor admits the shutdown hurt AbacaRX's momentum, and after being assured by Indiegogo that all contributors would be refunded, he and his partners decided to pursue crowd funding through a different platform.
At least one other potential medical marijuana business, Dispensed2U, is having better luck.
Dispensed2U has developed what it describes as the first retail marijuana delivery app in legal states. The company and idea are so new that the founders haven't had any type of software developed yet, but in the opinion of CEO Tim Martin, that's what crowd-funding websites are for.
"We thought if we waited around for the funds, someone else would beat us to it," Martin says. "This is such a new industry that we wanted to be the first, but we still have to do it the right way."
Martin says for now Dispensed2U would stick to Colorado and Washington, the only states to legalize pot recreationally, because delivery laws are a "state-by-state case."
When asked about AbacaRX's unlucky shutdown, Martin seems unconcerned.
"I don't know anything about that situation," Martin allows. "But we made sure with Indiegogo that the perks you receive for contributing don't violate any laws, rules or regulations."
"Perks" are what contributors to the startup campaign receive for their assistance. For example, contributing $25 to the Dispensed2U campaign will get you a shirt that says, "I got 5 on it" and a 1-gram container for concentrates. Contribute $5,000, and you'll receive seven months of free weed at a dispensary of your choice, but only if you live in Colorado or Washington.
Dispensed2U started its sixty-day Indiegogo campaign June 18 and has raised $240 of its $125,000 goal at this writing; click for more details. In the meantime, here's the company's YouTube pitch.
More from our Marijuana archive circa June 18: "Photos: See pot edibles designs company sued by Hershey says don't violate copyright."
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Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has issued a broadside at Sony saying that the company is a "distant third" in the console price and that price is killing the PlayStation 3.
"Sony has historically priced at its production cost (or above), but it has historically been in first place," he told CVG.
"This generation, the company is a distant third, and is falling behind at a rapid pace."
"Keeping the PS3 price high kills Sony, and gives Microsoft a huge competitive advantage," he went on. "In my view, every Xbox 360 sold is a lost opportunity for Sony to sell a PS3, and Microsoft has no intention of taking a sabbatical.
"Lowering the price will cost Sony a lot, but it should generate sufficient future profits from game and Blu-ray movie sales and royalties to offset those losses," concluded Pachter.
Sony announced yesterday cuts were to be made to its "Gaming Segment" as the firm looks to save ¥250 billion this year.
By Mike Bowden


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MILAN — Most of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia became the first Italian region to switch to digital terrestrial TV on Wednesday.
The change from analog broadcasting to DTT will be complete by the end of the month.
Egidio Viggiani, head of the consortium representing all Italo digital broadcasters, said the prompt switchover in Sardinia was “a little miracle of good will” following earlier disputes and hold-ups.
Digital terrestrial has seen 30% growth in Italy during the first half of 2008, according to Milan media analyst Studio Frasi. There are digital decoders in 6.5 million out of Italy’s 22 million TV homes.
This has encouraged pols. Back in June economic development minister Paolo Romani signaled that the nationwide conversion to digital might be achieved ahead of the 2012 deadline.
Meanwhile, it emerged last week that Italo pubcaster RAI and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s commercial broadcast group Mediaset are launching a free-to-air digital terrestrial platform to drive the switch from analog to digital TV and counter competition from Rupert Murdoch’s Sky Italia paybox.
Tivu will be modeled on Freeview, the U.K.’s free-to-air DTT platform.


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The broadcast will use a record number of cameras to capture angles that put viewers in the middle of the action.
When a pattern of bizarre messages began piling up in my inbox, I turned to the source for answers: Google.
From working to develop a solid national policy to allowing firms to file for rule exemptions, the government is ready to get behind the future of transportation.
On Facebook #FriendsDay, the social network says we're all connected by 3.5 people -- not six. Meanwhile, Amazon Echo plays Spotify songs and Google takes self-driving cars to new destinations.
The younger generation no longer feels as strong a need to be behind the wheel -- and phones have stolen some of cars' cachet.
Commentary: From self-driving cars to virtual reality gaming, the innovations here will need a faster network. That's where 5G wireless technology comes in, even if it's still a few years away.
Following news and concerns that Google+ Photos is shutting down, the company tries to clarify exactly what will become of the service.
Apple's new 3D Touch is wowing iPhone 6S owners. Is an Apple Car coming in 2019? And Aaron Sorkin puts the hammer down on CEO Tim Cook.
From a Wi-Fi-controlled garage opener to an automated door lock, the latest and greatest are here and up for grabs.
The Mercedes-Benz F 015 concept looks beyond the mechanics of self-driving cars to explore how we'll interact with them once they're here.


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With the accelerated digitalisation in India thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, the future of data centres in India, which houses 10 per cent of the world’s internet users but only 1.8 per cent of global data infrastructure, seems bright.
Collaboration will be more important than ever, says a motor industry expert as he stresses on the importance of India as a partner for the UK automotive industry. Highlights: Presently, UK-India automotive trade is worth approx. £270 million. Over the past decade, the total number of UK-built cars exported to India has increased twelvefold, despite high import duties. Collaboration with partners abroad to exchange skills and expertise to accelerate digitalisation offers greater opportunities both for India and the UK. India [...]
Giant strides have been made in digitising the Indian economy and improving internet penetration, but more conviction is required to get Smart Cities off the block. The year 2017 was a landmark year for digitisation of the economy in India. Following the demonetisation exercise of November 8, 2016, when 86 percent of liquidity in the system present in the form of Rs 500 and Rs 2000 currency notes, was sucked out in one stroke, the usage of digital modes of [...]


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- Cardi B recently rocked a corset and skirt combination by South African fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee
- The world-famous rapper wore the creation to the celebration of her hubby Offset's birthday party
- The local designer posted pictures of the look to his Instagram feed as he announced Cardi had worn one of his designs
American rapper, Cardi B, recently wore an outfit designed by local fashion guru and designer Gert-Johan Coetzee to celebrate her hubby Offset's birthday.
The South African designer posted the news on his Instagram page and added photos of the world-famous rapper wearing his designs.
The beaded outfit consisted of a long skirt and corset in shades of brown that Cardi paired with brown heels and hair which went all the way past her waist.
The mum of one looked like she was partying up a storm and was photographed in the design as she was enjoying the celebrations.
Gert-Johan Coetzee wrote on his Instagram posts:
"The amazing Cardi B @iamcardib in a beaded Gert-Johan Coetzee skirt and corset at @offsetyrn 's birthday. Styled by @kollincarter Photo by @princedaphotographer."
The local designer also tagged the celebrity stylist in his caption and the photographer who captured the major moments.
Check out the outfit and posts below:
PAY ATTENTION: Do you have news to share? Contact Legit.ng instantly
In other news about the rapper, Legit.ng reported that Cardi B gifted her husband, Offset, a N228m Lambo Aventador SVJ for his birthday.
US rapper Cardi B's relationship with her husband Offsetyrn is one that many people envy a lot. The couple does not fail to celebrate each other both publicly and privately.
In the video on Offsetyrn's page, the WAP singer blindfolded her husband as she walked him to his huge birthday gift.
Surrounded by friends and family, the singer took his wife's lead, and as soon as they got to the car, Cardi B uncovered his face.
I am the best rapper in Africa - Blaqbonez | Legit TV


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Fruitas Holdings, Inc. is confident that its business will keep up its 2021 recovery momentum even as new protocols may emerge because of the potential spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 virus.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the firm said this confidence is rooted in the initiatives implemented since the pandemic and subsequent community quarantines hit the country last year.
“Standing with all Filipinos, we hope and pray that our country is able to avoid the resurgence of the COVID-19 outbreak that is now gravely affecting some of our regional neighbors,” said Fruitas President and Chief Executive Officer Lester Yu.
He added that, “We have an obligation to keep our employees safely working so they can provide for their families. We are committed to continue to bring our products to our customers in the safest and most convenient way possible.”
Yu noted that, “The pandemic forced us out of our comfort zone. But we have quickly regrouped. We are continuing to transform Fruitas by relying on our strengths of being nimble, of building brands, and by maximizing the efficiency of our resources and facilities.”
Foremost of these initiatives is the rollout of its community store network to get closer to high-density residential communities and widen its distribution channels.
The number of operating Fruitas community stores currently stands at 74 and is on track to reach 100 by end of the year.
Fruitas said it recognizes that many of its mall-based locations will take time to fully recover but the company will not sit idly by and wait for that to happen.
These community stores are also instrumental in serving as delivery hubs as Fruitas intensifies its efforts to build its online presence, not only through its CocoDelivery service and own website, but also through its major delivery and online partners.
The latest recently opened community stores includes the first Soy & Bean store in the Visayas region, located in One Stop Lagtang, Talisay City, Cebu in addition to the community stores in Cebu City and Lapu Lapu City.
This comes as Fruitas is establishing a processing line to manufacture products in Cebu. The commissary set-up is a precursor for an aggressive expansion of community stores and e-commerce hubs in the Visayas. This will complement the existing production facilities in the Metro Manila.
Fruitas is taking advantage of its own in-house manufacturing capabilities to offer different packaging to allow customers to consume more Fruitas products at home. These include offering frozen Jamaican Patties and SHOU dimsum products, and Sabroso Lechon ready-to-heat viands.
The firm said it continues to assess further enhancements of its product line, including making products more shelf-stable to allow Fruitas to utilize more distribution points.
“We strongly believe our business is now stronger and more capable to withstand the challenges brought about potential new lockdowns and other health safety practices,” said Yu.


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After more than 25 years of business at its current location, the Olde Keg Spirit Shoppe closed its doors at the end of business Friday.
Owner Ray Cicconetti was evicted from the building March 2 after a hearing in Wayne County Municipal Court. The Board of Trustees of the Wayne County Public Library owns the building, which is located at the site of the library's new main branch.
Cicconetti must have everything removed from the building by Tuesday.
Because of the Tuesday deadline, Cicconetti decided to close Friday and not Saturday, as reported in a press release from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control.
That release said Cicconetti hoped to have the store open again within 30 days at a new location in Wooster Township, something he said would be impossible.
"We are looking at a potential spot out there," he said, "but we have no lease with them, we have no agreement with them. We are nowhere near being ready to do anything. Even if we sign a lease today, it would still be five or six weeks before we could operate."
Cicconetti said the primary delay would be the state transferring his permits, something it has yet to do with his beer and wine business, which he plans to move to 2017 Portage Road in the Portage Square shopping plaza.
The victim of plans to raze the building the store has been in since 1973, Cicconetti had hoped to move his entire store to the Portage Square shopping plaza. However, the state's Division of Liquor Control would not transfer his license because that precinct is not properly designated to have a state liquor store.
As a result, Cicconetti will move just the beer and wine portion of his business to that store. He said he is still waiting on the Division of Liquor Control to transfer those licenses.
Business was brisk Friday as customers read a note posted on the Olde Keg Spirit Shoppe front door, letting them know the business would be closing that night.
"A lot of people are coming in and reading the sign on the door," Cicconetti said. "Rather than getting one little bottle, they are stocking up."
Cicconetti said he took care of his 24 wholesale accounts, mostly made up of restaurants and bars, Thursday.
"Wholesale the last two days has been outrageous," he said. "They all ordered yesterday and today, and they ordered very heavy to tide them over until they can get something established, probably with Gary's Drive Thru in Orrville."
Once the store closes, employees will be busy packing up the beer and wine inventory, disconnecting coolers, draining freon, and clearing out storage. The state is responsible pick up and store its hard liquor, according to Cicconetti, in Cleveland.
"We have a very short time to do it," Cicconetti said. "(The state) wanted us to stay open so they would have less stuff to pack up. We came to the conclusion that we needed to get our stuff out of here and out of the way. We don't have time to work around them."


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Retail behemoth Walmart has revealed that it blocked over 20 million bots trying to purchase Sony‘s PS5 from the company during its November 25 event.
Speaking in an official blog post, Jerry Geisler, chief information security officer for Walmart, revealed that the company saw increased traffic from “grinch bots trying to steal would-be-presents” from regular consumers.
As such, Walmart has “built, deployed, and are continuously updating our own bot detection tools allowing us to successfully block the vast majority of bots we see.”
One bot preventative action we implemented just hours before the PlayStation 5 event on Nov. 25 blocked more than 20 million bot attempts within the first 30 minutes alone.
The PS5 was released in the US and UK on November 12 and November 19, respectively. The console has been hit by scalper groups that have generated millions in profits by reselling them on eBay, something which the UK government wants to take action against.
[Source – StealthOptional]


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The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day (3/8/11) was “equal access to education, training, and science and technology.” This resonates with us at Webs, because we believe technology can be a great equalizer. We designed our Site Builder, for example, to level the playing field so that anyone can build a great site and thereby take their business to the next level.
Here are some examples of female entrepreneurs launching amazing businesses across mobile, social, and web platforms:
iPhone App Champs
In July 2010, the Huffington Post reported that an increasing number of women are entering the mobile development field, which previously had been dominated by men.
Examples of iPhone apps developed by women:
- BabyMedBasics by Tara Summers, lifesaving instructions for parents and caregivers
- Home Routines by Rosie Wayper, a way to organize housework into an intuitive list
- Roadtrip Bingo by Gwen von Harten, a game appealing to girls on long car trips
Social Media Moguls
Entrepreneur magazine notes that a growing number of mompreneurs are parlaying their skill at connecting with other moms into businesses that garner enough online traffic to charge advertisers.
Here are some social media sites created by mompreneurs:
- Leah Segedie, creator of bookieboo.com, a fitness site
- Kristen Munson, creator of socialmediamom.com, with tips and links
- Heather Reinhard, creator of thetamom.com, a marketplace and online community
Rtist.com is an online marketplace for artists and art connoisseurs that was launched by CEO Jenn Allen to use “the new opportunities available from scientific and technological discoveries and the rapidly evolving internet culture” to give artists more control over the sale of their work.
Michael Arrington in a recent TechCrunch article (“Too Few Women in Tech? Stop Blaming the Men”) singled out Allen as example of an initiative-taking entrepreneurial woman in technology. For those curious, the TechCrunch article was part of a debate on the dearth of female technology entrepreneurs: see Slate’s take and the Wall Street Journal’s list of solutions as well.
What is your opinion on the state of entrepreneurial women and technology? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.


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Big Brother is Watchin…, er, Listening
From the London Times:
Customers in shopping centres are having their every move tracked by a new type of surveillance that listens in on the whisperings of their mobile phones.
The technology can tell when people enter a shopping centre, what stores they visit, how long they remain there, and what route they take as they walked around.
Oh, mah freakin’ gawd!
The surveillance mechanism works by monitoring the signals produced by mobile handsets and then locating the phone by triangulation – measuring the phone’s distance from three receivers.
It’s like those screens in "1984". Big Brother can be everywhere. Well, everywhere they’ve got these nifty receivers. Evidently the receivers can track the cellphone by IMEI code, a unique ID number given to each cellphone at the time of manufacture.
Phone networks have long been capable of gauging the rough location of a handset using three phone masts, but the margin error can be as great as 2km. The process is also less efficient when the phone is indoors. Path Intelligence’s technology can tell where a phone is to "within a couple of metres."
Even when it’s turned off, a cellphone makes contact with the towers every couple minutes. So, using this technology, Big Bro could know within a within a few feet and within a few minutes, where you were.
Just thought you would want to know that.
graphic by designedlearning


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Contrary to online reports, the prices of Apple's flat-panel iMacs were not cut at the end of last week.
The Register, CNet, and MacUser announced Friday that the cuts had now been extended to the low-end version of Apple's LCD iMac and the mid-range combo drive model, claiming reductions of £100 and £50 respectively, to £1,149 and £1,349.
However, this was not the case.
Macworld can clear up any confusion caused by these erroneous "news" reports. These prices changed in the immediate aftermath of Macworld Expo New York, and have been current for at least two weeks - possibly as far back as July 17.
Fred Anderson, Apple's chief financial officer, announced last month that there was a possibility of price cuts in Europe.


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On the Beach recorded a first-half loss of £34 million in the six months to the end of March, compared to a profit of £12 million for the same period last year.
The reversal in fortunes was pinned on the sharp slowdown in travel following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Revenue slumped by two thirds over the period, to £21 million.
The company did not declare an interim dividend.
The bleak result included exceptional costs of £35 million, which the company said represented the estimated cost of Covid-19 to trading in the first half.
The online travel agent said booking volumes for summer 2021 remained low, but were significantly ahead of the prior year.
This was due in part to the early release of flights for next year by most major airlines, a statement added.
“In the aftermath of the Thomas Cook collapse, the group made excellent progress in the first four months of the financial year, driving record levels of brand awareness and achieving sales growth of almost 30 per cent for holidays departing in summer 2020,” Simon Cooper, chief executive of On the Beach Group explained.
“We also made significant progress against our strategic objectives in the year with classic package holidays going live in over 2,600 agencies alongside the continued expansion of our long-haul offering.”
He added: “The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led to a rapid slowdown in demand for foreign travel followed by the total closure of airspace across Europe by mid-March.
“The flexibility and asset light nature of our business model together with our recently strengthened balance sheet and the actions we have taken since the middle of March means we are well placed to capitalise on the inevitable structural changes in the market post COVID-19.
“As a result, the board continues to look to the future with confidence.”
Into the Sunset
Also today, the company announced chief financial officer, Paul Meehan, has tendered his resignation to the board in order to pursue other business interests.
Joining the group in 2017, he will step down from the role and board on July 17th and will be available when and if appropriate during the upcoming months.
Subsequently, On the Beach announces that Shaun Morton, the currently director of finance, will be promoted to chief financial officer and will join the board.
Cooper added: “I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Board, to thank Paul for his three and a half years with On the Beach, during which time we have successfully completed two acquisitions and, most recently, a £67 million placing of new shares.”


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99acres unveils #KabTakPuchoge Campaign, redefining the home search process
99acres has launched its all new #KabTakPuchoge campaign, led by jingle-based films that seek to challenge the traditional way of house hunting. Highlighting the myriad questions that arise during the home search journey with buyers struggling to get the right information, 99acres promises to put an end to the relentless search with a one-stop solution. The ad film further goes on to showcase how this is made possible, flaunting a user-friendly platform that combines maximum options, the latest amenities, and precise price insights.
The campaign has been conceptualized by Rediffusion Brand Solutions. As a part of 360 campaign, the ad films have been rolled out on TV, CTV, OTT and YouTube. The films have also been launched in vernacular with a strong push on regional media and a social leg across the brand’s handles.
Speaking about the campaign, Sumeet Singh, Chief Marketing Officer - Info Edge said, “At 99acres, we are redefining the entire home search experience by empowering users with information. A lot of hyperlocal insights on the product enable us to offer a rich perspective to users for finding the right property. The campaign #KabTakPuchoge contrasts the daunting traditional search process with the effortless and informed choice one can make on 99acres”
Pramod Sharma, National Creative Director, Rediffusion Brand Solutions said, “Through these new films, we wanted to reinforce the fact that when it comes buying a home, look no further than 99acres. The journey of buying a home always starts from asking people around you. This is the insight we latched on to for these films. We also created a jingle to give the campaign a musical identity that is memorable.”


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The Hinduja Group has roped in a celebrity for the first time in six decades to endorse Ashok Leyland Commercial Vehicles.
Ashok Leyland said this is part of its initiatives to gain market share in the commercial vehicle business.
Mr Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, said, “Mahi’s choice was almost automatic for I cannot think of another person befitting the values of Brand Ashok Leyland so well. A true son-of-the-soil, a leader who is focused, straight-thinking, passionate and, most of all, humble, he will lead the numerous initiatives that are on the anvil.”
The decision to endorse Dhoni is part of its strategy to aggressively gain market share with a slew of new product innovations and become one of the strongest players in the commercial vehicle business in India.
This will be backed by an aggressive, multi-media campaign across all markets. Dhoni will endorse the company’s role in creating success stories for its various stakeholders in its new TV commercial that is already on air.


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The new year hasn't stopped ongoing food shortages.
Shortages at grocery stores across the country have grown more acute in recent weeks as omicron continues to spread and winter storms have piled on to the supply chain struggles and labor shortages.
The shortages being reported nationwide are widespread, impacting produce and meat as well as packaged goods such as cereal.
While items are harder to find, many also cost more with rising inflation.
The consumer price index jumped 7% last year, the fastest pace since 1982, the Labor Department said Wednesday. That's up from 6.8% annually in November, which was also a nearly four-decade high.
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►Grocery stores are facing a food shortage: Here are 11 online grocery delivery services to shop instead
Albertsons' CEO Vivek Sankaran spoke about supply chain challenges during the company's earnings call with analysts Tuesday.
"I think as a business, we've all learned to manage it,” Sankaran said. “We've all learned to make sure that the stores are still very presentable, give the consumers as much choice as we can get.”
Curt Covington, senior director of institutional credit at AgAmerica, told USA TODAY that the trends for specific food shortages are intermittent and varied.
“Shortages depend on the item, store, and region of the country,” Covington said. “Shortages can be driven by supply chain issues, consumer behavior, or environmental factors, so it’s hard to pinpoint what will be affected next.”
COVID-19, bad weather impact shortages
As the world reaches the two-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, more items are becoming scarce because of global supply chain disruptions such as congestion at ports and shortages of truck drivers and service workers.
Part of the scarcity consumers are seeing on store shelves is due to pandemic trends that never abated – and are exacerbated by omicron. Americans are eating at home more than they used to, especially since offices and some schools remain closed.
Weather-related events, from snowstorms in the Northeast to wildfires in Colorado, also have impacted product availability and caused some shoppers to stock up more than usual, exacerbating supply problems caused by the pandemic.
U.S. groceries typically have 5% to 10% of their items out of stock at any given time; right now, that unavailability rate is hovering around 15%, according to Consumer Brands Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman.
►Lettuce recall 2022: Dole recalls salad sold at Walmart, Kroger, Aldi, H-E-B for listeria risk
Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management, recently told USA TODAY that cream cheese and international foods were among the food products in short supply.
“As you walk through a lot of stores you won’t see the quantity and quality of items you are accustomed to seeing,” Penfield said, adding some shortages are regional due to labor and truck shortages.
In a recent study by business consultancy KPMG, 71% of grocery consumers said they were somewhat or very concerned about shortages or stockouts with 35% switching brands when their favorite items are out of stock.
Costco limits purchases of some items
Some retailers have been limiting purchases of select items, similar to policies implemented at the start of the pandemic. But panic buying, especially of toilet paper, returned this summer as the delta variant spread.
According to Costco's website, some warehouses may have temporary item limits on select items.
►Arby's spicy sandwich: Arby's new Diablo Dare sandwich is so spicy it comes with a free vanilla shake
►Ground beef recall 2022: Ground beef sold at Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons recalled for possible E. coli contamination
Food shortages 2022
Here are some of the food and supply shortages USA TODAY reporters spotted or that readers from across the country told us about. Know of more? There's a form below where you can share your experiences.
Baby formula shortage
In-stock levels for baby formula and baby food nationwide are slightly higher than for food products overall, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Krishnakumar Davey, president of strategic analytics at IRI, told the Journal the shortages are intermittent and vary based on retailer and location. Davey said some of the nation’s 10 largest retailers had more than 20% of baby formula out of stock the week ended Jan. 2.
Some parents have been taking to social media to ask formula makers where they can buy products.
“We are experiencing obstacles in the production and shipping of some of our products as the pandemic continues to cause issues with the supply chain. We appreciate your patience as we navigate this dynamic situation,” Enfamil said on Twitter Dec. 29 in responding to one parent’s plea for help.
Enfamil also said parents can see real-time product availability at stores on its website.
Cream cheese shortage
Bagel shops have been struggling with the cream cheese shortage and Junior's Cheesecake had to stop production twice at its New Jersey-based facility because it didn't have enough cream cheese.
But cream cheese has also been missing at stores, particularly Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
In December, the Kraft brand offered consumers help paying for a replacement dessert, acknowledging the ongoing supply chain disruption of the key cheesecake ingredient.
Andrew Tobisch, a spokesperson for Schreiber Foods, said every cream cheese provider has struggled to keep up with demand.
"While that demand has been steady, it’s really world events that are the biggest driver. Things like the pandemic, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions are all hurdles that everyone is having to overcome," Tobisch said in an email to USA TODAY.
►Blame inflation: Domino's Pizza reducing number of wings in $7.99 deal orders
More consumers have opted to enjoy their favorite beverages in the comfort of their homes causing a higher demand for canned drinks. But the pandemic is only part of the problem.
The demand for can products accumulated for years according to a Quartz article. Canned drinks are cheaper to make and transport, and easier to market and design, initiating the highest prices for aluminum the market has seen in the past 10 years, senior analyst Salvator Tiano told Quartz.
Cat food, dog food shortages
Shipping woes and aluminum shortages have led to a scarcity problem for the pet food industry as stores throughout the country are unable to stock all their traditional brands and products.
Consumers are also feeling the impact. Many USA TODAY readers said canned or wet cat food was one of the top items they have been struggling to find.
These shortages are impacting the movement of ingredients and finished products, the Pet Food Institute told USA TODAY. Along with labor and transportation shortages, pet owners are spending more time with their pets which can lead to increased feeding and more treating. The high demand has resulted in larger purchases.
Marcie Rivera, a spokesperson for Wegmans told the MetroWest Daily News in Framingham, Massachusetts, part of the USA TODAY Network, that suppliers around the world "are being faced with an array of challenges affecting their businesses, causing a domino effect on retailers and customers."
Chicken tender shortage
Chicken tenders may be the next casualty of supply-chain-generated shortages, according to a recent NBC News story. Chicken tenders require more processing and packaging, which makes them harder to find and more costly, the story said.
Meat manufacturers have cited extreme weather, labor shortages and high demand among the reasons consumers are having trouble finding tenders.
A spokesman for the National Chicken Council said products were taking longer than normal to get to their destinations but that does not constitute a "shortage."
"There is no chicken tender shortage," said Tom Super, senior vice president of communications with the trade group. "Like almost all goods right now, supplies are somewhat tight, but I would say it falls short of any 'shortage.'"
►Finger lickin' gone: Is a chicken tender shortage underway?
For months, parents have reported trouble finding Kraft Heinz' Lunchables. The company told USA TODAY that it has been seeing double-digit growth for the first time in five years.
High demand is one reason why it's harder to find these items.
“Our entire supply chain continues to step up – taking actions that protect our business today, while working hard to not delay critical investments that set us up for the future,” Kraft Heinz said in the statement.
Toilet paper shortage
In spring 2020, demand for toilet paper skyrocketed as Americans were faced with a possibly lengthy stay-at-home future. Panic buying of bath tissue has returned at various times throughout the pandemic. This shortage stems from lumber's raw material, wood pulp, which is used to make toilet paper.
Champagne shortage could impact celebrations for years
Drizly, North America's largest alcohol e-commerce and on-demand delivery platform, surveyed 500 alcohol retailers and found 80% said they were at least slightly concerned about the champagne supply running short.
Even with the shortages, Liz Paquette, Drizly head of consumer insights, said champagne and prosecco continue to be the top-selling sparkling wines with 63% and 18% of market share.
Having a hard time finding your favorite craft beer? It could be part of the aluminum shortage, but the price of ingredients for beer are also skyrocketing because of supply chain issues throughout the world.
Sam Hendler, co-owner of Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham, Massachusetts, and president of the Massachusetts Brewers Guild, told MetroWest Daily News that the cost increases being felt by breweries are universal and a big topic among colleagues.
In the past, manufacturers couldn’t keep up with the demand to make cans, but now even when cans are available, getting them to breweries can be difficult.
Contributing: Associated Press; Paul Davidson, Naomi Ludlow, Michelle Shen and Taylor Avery, USA TODAY; Norman Miller, MetroWest Daily News
Share what items you are having a hard time finding and how inflation is hitting your wallet on the form below. If you don't see a form, click here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grocery stores empty shelves 2022: Shortages continue as prices rise


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Apple expected to launch 'cheap' iPhone this year
Apple is reportedly developing a lower-end iPhone to strengthen its loosening stranglehold on the smartphone market, as a result of the rise of rival Samsung.
Apple: reportedly developing a cheaper version of the iPhone
The Wall Street Journal reports that a less expensive version of Apple's flagship device could reach market later this year, with the brand having considered launching a cheaper phone since 2009.
The news comes as Samsung rapidly erodes Apple’s lead in the UK smartphone market after a period of "tremendous growth", according to data from comScore.
Samsung doubled its market share from 11.2% to 24% during the three months ending October 2012 and is closing the gap on Apple, which has a 28% market share.
The "cheaper" handset will reportedly resemble a standard iPhone with a different, less-expensive body, with plastic being considered for the outer shell, rather than aluminium.
Under Steve Jobs, Apple persevered with a single flagship device for its phone and tablet offering, but the company is now beginning to shift its strategy under the stewardship of new chief executive Tim Cook.
The California-based tech firm now offers a miniature version of its tablet device, after launching the iPad mini in November 2012.
However, some analysts speculate that Apple risks cannibalising its own sales because it no longer staggers its product launches sufficiently.
Last year, Apple rolled out a fourth large iPad, the iPad mini, a new iPhone, a new iPod touch range and an updated version of the Macintosh and iMac.Follow @mattchapmanuk
This article was first published on marketingmagazine.co.uk
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High-street figures are at their worst in five years, and it’s clear consumers are wary of spending their money as inflation exceeds UK average wage growth, causing prices to increase and purse strings to tighten.
It’s also increasingly clear that retailers cannot simply rely on what has worked before or depend on their heritage to get shoppers through the door.
With that in mind, here’s what they need to do to win in 2018:
We saw a lot of collaboration in 2017, and we expect to see even more this year. Most recently, Tesco announced its partnership with NEXT, and over the coming year more supermarkets will likely follow suit looking to recreate the store-within-a-store model. Along this thread, we’ll also see more consolidation of companies in the form of mergers and acquisitions.
Mobile will continue to be a key driver of traffic, sales and engagement for retailers this year. We saw that last year the majority of hits on Black Friday were coming from mobile, and this is only going to become more widespread. With the latest phones getting bigger and better screens, mobile will become the one route to market.
3. Supply chains
The supply chain will be affected by many factors in 2018. To begin with, driverless and robotics will dramatically change the retail supply chain. We’ll see more pilot schemes where retailers and manufacturers experiment with driverless and robotic technologies to alter the delivery process for components and products, resulting in faster routes to market.
Artificial Intelligence was the ultimate buzzword in 2017, and is clearly here to stay. Outside of retail, we’re already seeing that half of people are comfortable being diagnosed by an AI doctor for instance, and in retail it’s already happening without consumers even realising. Webchats, for instance, with a brand or retailer use AI to respond to questions. As AI becomes more advanced, these webchats will become more sophisticated, providing customers with their own 24-hour personal support.
Security has never been more important than it is today. Attacks can, at their worst, completely destroy a brand and we’ve seen the significant financial and reputational impact they have. Attacks can also stop or enforce a pause on trading, which for a retailer can be disastrous. In the coming year retailers will need to ensure that their cyber security defences are a top priority in order to prevent an attack, or mitigate and reduce the damage should one befoul them.
Payments will be a hot topic for retailers this year, particularly in the wake of a surge in popularity for contactless payments. It’ll be interesting to see what payment innovations retailers adopt over the coming months as they look to make the retail experience a more seamless journey.
Personalisation and customer centricity is going to be increasingly important this year. As the retail landscape becomes ever more competitive. Thanks to the advancement of AI and customer relationship management systems, it’s now the easiest it has ever been for retailers to know their customers from the moment they walk through the door, click online or swipe with their mobile. Over the next year we expect to see retailers finally using these tools to better their customers’ experience as they’ll now have the insight into their shoppers that they were previously missing.
8. Voice ordering
Voice control made plenty of chatter amongst UK retailers in 2017, and there are signs that this is only the beginning. Culturally, Amazon and Apple have changed the way we interact with our devices through Alexa and Siri, and as we move into self-learning voice assistants we anticipate that this medium will truly take off and become a part of our everyday lives.
This year is likely to be a tough one for retailers, but the right innovations can help foster success and growth.
The battle is on to win over consumers’ hearts and loyalty, and retailers need to ensure that they are customer-centric, providing them with the services and channels they want, if they’re to cut through what is a very noisy market.
Latest posts by Rupal Karia (see all)
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Problems in Europe, China, D.C.
Special Report: Banking & Finance
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Hot-and-cold economic data and stop-gap solutions out of Washington, along with worrisome developments out of Europe and China, have caused market volatility, but a fully diversified portfolio — not just stocks and bonds, but also real estate, high-quality hedge funds and private equity holdings — is “one of the best ways to fight the volatility we’re experiencing,” said Wells Fargo’s Hinds.
He recommends underweighting U.S. securities due to low returns, and encouraged holding domestic stocks for the long run. He expects interest rates to climb, but “getting the timing right is a challenge.”
Businesses should continue to run conservative, lean operations, CliftonLarsonAllen’s Hallada said. “Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Operate your business very tight, do not loosen the reins much. Take what the market gives you.”
Overseas manufacturing is coming back home as it becomes more capital intensive and less reliant on labor, Deloitte’s Steidtmann said. Manufacturers want to be closer to consumers, avoid global instability and the complexity of doing business in developing markets like China. “The advantage of cheap labor is not the huge benefit that it once was,” he said.
In response to lackluster investment opportunities and the uneven economy, Minnesota corporations have been hoarding cash since the recession. Minnesota’s 100 largest public companies together had a $33.1 billion stockpile of cash and equivalents at the end of their 2011 fiscal years, according to Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal research. While some companies have upped stockholder dividends or reinvested in their operations, others said the economic recovery has been too fitful to start spending now.
Jim Hammerand reports on Twin Cities breaking business news for MSPBJ.com and manages online features and social media.
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CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR – News), franchisor and operator of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants, and Americana Group S.A.K. will build 12 Carl’s Jr. restaurants in Kazakhstan over the next five years. The Americana Group, the second largest franchisee in the CKE system, operates 194 Hardee’s restaurants in the Middle East and will open its 200th location in the first quarter of 2009.
CKE Restaurants and the Americana Group have a successful 30-year relationship with plans for continued growth in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. As the most active developer in the CKE system, the Americana Group has averaged 24 new restaurant openings per year in the past three years with plans to open 27 Hardee’s restaurants in 2009.
“We have a successful history with the Americana Group and are confident that they will continue to demonstrate their knowledge, expertise and passion for the CKE brands as they expand in new and existing markets,” says Andrew F. Puzder, president and CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc. “International expansion remains a key strategic focus at CKE.”
The Americana Group opened Hardee’s in Kuwait in 1980 and operates Hardee’s in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman. In 2008, Hardee’s will serve 48,000,000 meals to hungry guests across the Middle East and North Africa.
International units comprise approximately 10 percent of the CKE system with plans to grow to 20 percent by 2014.


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Ten companies from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania exhibited their products, securing orders worth $200,000 and gaining many new accounts: Eileen Fisher, Anthropologie, Edun and Red Cats are a few of the companies that have recently established business relationships with Trade Hub beneficiaries.
In Frankfurt, the Trade Hub participated in a Premium Quality – Sourcing Made in Africa symposium in collaboration with Messe Frankfurt and Africa Chic. The Trade Hub gave a presentation on home fashion trends, and Trade Hub Director, Finn Holm-Olsen, spoke about Origin Africa and its initiatives to help beneficiary African companies capture niche markets.
The Trade Hub’s participation in Interstoff Asia Essential exposed companies from East Africa to prominent Hong-Kong based buyers, including the sourcing offices of many premier U.S. apparel companies. This activity built upon a first intervention at Interstoff in March 2012.
The Trade Hub also delivered a Symposium: “Evolving Africa - Duty Free Access to the US Market for Fabrics and Garments”, which reinforced opportunities under AGOA’s third-country fabric provision that was recently extended until September 30, 2015.
Outreach and market linkages in Hong Kong fills an important but largely untapped activity for African apparel exporters - both in terms of accessing the U.S. market under AGOA and diversifying its own sourcing options for textiles and other inputs, which the recent extension of the third country fabric provision affords.
Since 2009, the Trade Hub has facilitated nearly $100 million in exports to the U.S. under AGOA. Through its Origin Africa campaign, the Trade Hub is changing perceptions about Africa and demonstrating that innovation and creativity are an integral part of Africa’s future.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) East Africa COMPETE program is intended to increase food security and economic growth in East and Central Africa. The project has three integrated components designed to: Reduce barriers to regional and international trade; Facilitate the efficiency and competitiveness of key value chains; Ramp-up trade and investment between the United States and East Africa.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
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Alltel Wireless and LG Mobile Phones has recently teamed up announced a new Android smartphone which is known as LG Axis. The entry level Android smartphone is being designed to allow users to navigate though multiple screens with a simple touch. The speed of the text messaging has been improved with slide out keyboard. The smartphone is runs on Google Android 2.1 operating systems and ability to access Android Market for music, games and other entertainment applications.
Featured with a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display, the LG Axis is also equipped with a 3.2-megapixel camera with 4x zoom for capturing still images. It boasts with Google Maps and voice-assisted navigation for turn-by-turn directions, supports 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, and enable users to customize up to five different home screens by adding or removing shortcuts of applications as well as widgets. Additionally, it is Bluetooth enabled.
The LG Axis is available at Alltel Wireless for the price of $89.99 after a $50 mail in rebate with a two year service contract.


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Tata launches 'Winter Wonder scheme'
KATHMANDU: Sipradi Trading, the sole distributor of Tata passenger vehicles in Nepal, along with Tata Motors Ltd, has recently launched their winter scheme, 'Winter Wonder'. Under this scheme, on every purchase of Zest, Bolt and Storme, customers can get Yamaha FZ_SFI V2.0 plus Samsung Note 5, as per a statement issued on Tuesday. The company will also be providing free accessories worth Rs 25,000 to every customer purchasing TATA passenger vehicles under this scheme. Another major announcement from the company is that selected vehicles can be delivered to customers within two days. The scheme is valid for a limited period.


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UK says post-Khashoggi measure hits company’s ability to honour Typhoon contract
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Lyrics, Licensing, Storytelling & More with LyricFind
In conversation with LyricFind CEO Darryl Ballantyne
Darryl Ballantyne, CEO of Toronto-based lyric licensing company LyricFind, joins us to discuss the quickly-growing business of displaying lyrics, from Google searches to merchandise and a lot more. We get into how the licensing deals for lyrics work and, yes, the legal dispute between Genius Media and Google that had LyricFind caught right in the middle.
We also touch on a number of new initiatives that LyricFind has announced over the past year, including partnerships with fizy in Turkey, MPA/PMLL in the U.K.. and some Canada-specific content, like the funding from the Canadian Government to promote and export Canadian content through lyrics and lyric translations and to bring the stories found in Indigenous songs to all Canadians. That includes some interesting insight into the process of translating various Indigenous languages.


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Credit information agency Experian has acquired LowerMyBills.com, an online service that enables US consumers to compare deals on loans, mortgages, insurance and other products, for $330m, plus a maximum performance-related earn-out of $50m over the next two years.
Formed in 1999 in California, LowerMyBills.com enables users to compare offerings from 400 service providers across 17 categories including home loans, credit cards, wireless services and car and health insurance.
Experian's parent company GUS says the acquisition is being funded from its existing banking facilities and is expected to generate a double-digit post-tax return on investment over time and is immediately accretive to earnings.
In a statement, Don Robert, CEO, Experian, says: "This acquisition represents a step-change in building Experian's direct-to-consumer activities...The strategic fit could not be better."
GUS is rumoured to be considering spinning off its credit checking unit and concentrating on its retail activities instead. The latest acquisition, which expands Experian's services, would increase the value of any demerger.
The vendor says all employees and management for LowerMyBills.com will be retained. The business will become part of the Experian Interactive unit, which also includes the vendor's Consumer Direct, MetaReward and Affiliate Fuel services.


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FROM the Tokyo Modest Fashion Show for Islamic couture, to workshops on Singapore's network of free trade agreements, trade bodies here have been ramping up their participation in international events of late.
They say that this is to support the growing global ambitions of local companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Dainial Sani Lim, internationalisation committee chairman of the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI), told The Business Times that he hopes to bring members to as many as 16 places this year - up from three or four destinations a year previously, and twice as many as the target of eight announced earlier this month.
Leaders of some major trade associations and chambers (TACs) here told BT that there was greater awareness and interest among members to do business abroad these days.
More than 600 companies took part in the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF)'s internationalisation programme last year, a spokesman said, and the number "increases by 20 per cent to 30 per cent every year".
Mr Dainial said of the SMCCI's members, which are predominantly SMEs in the retail and food and beverage sectors: "They are really eager to venture, and they see the point because they have seen now more and more success stories of people actually venturing overseas and generating more revenue for their company."
With Singapore chairing the Asean grouping this year, savvy industry bodies also have an eye fixed on this stomping ground.
The spokeswoman for the SMF said that most of its more than 50 overseas events this year are in Asean markets, reflecting small businesses' interest, while Singapore Business Federation (SBF) chief executive Ho Meng Kit said that his group is planning activities "that will dovetail and complement the official programme" of Singapore's Asean chairmanship. These include trade shows and seminars on digitalisation, followed by the Asean Business and Investment Summit in November.
The SBF will also grow its footprint in newer markets such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and parts of Central Asia, Mr Ho said. It even banks on headline news elsewhere: "In 2016, SBF led a 57-strong delegation comprising 48 companies to Iran following its reintegration into the global economy.
"When the United States and Cuba renewed diplomatic ties, it also generated much interest and optimism among the Singapore business community, so we led a mission to Cuba to explore opportunities in infrastructure, logistics and hospitality."
Besides carefully selecting destinations - SMCCI, for example, targets both emerging markets and those open to halal goods and services - another strategy that TACs are adopting is an emphasis on collaboration.
The SMF spokeswoman said that the group previously took a more segmented approach by industry sectors, and focused heavily on government projects and industrial parks.
"But now, our focus has changed to include business matching and we encourage our members and exhibitors to work together, sharing resources to compete with overseas competitors," she said. "It is still multi-sectoral, but we encourage members from different industries to work together as partners. This way, they have a better chance in bidding a project or share their expertise to contribute to the entire value-chain of the project."
Mr Dainial noted that SMCCI business missions are also open to members of partner chambers, and vice versa. "From what I see, I think that the chambers are definitely more in sync in working with one another. We recently met SBF, and they came down and shared where are the missions that they want to go, which is a start."
Another tool is IE Singapore's International Marketing Activities Programme, which funds up to 70 per cent of companies' activities such as exhibition space rental at overseas events.
The statutory board has organised about 1,600 business missions and trade fair pavilions so far this decade, a spokesman told BT. This was in partnership with more than 60 TACs.
Still, geopolitical volatility is a challenge for business worldwide. The SBF went to 17 countries on 22 missions last year - even as it hosted 53 visiting delegations - amid uncertainty from events such as US President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the original Trans-Pacific Partnership, the United Kingdom's "Brexit" from the European Union, and sabre-rattling on the Korean Peninsula. This was a drop from the 46 destinations and 29 trips in 2016.
Mr Dainialalso raised a point that there may be a surfeit of TACs, of which there are 360 in all. He "definitely can see more synergy" among the ethnic chambers, SBF and Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, but "the rest of them, I haven't seen that much involvement".
Mr Ho said: "More companies from different countries are venturing into new markets for the same reason as us, so Singapore businesses will have to constantly review their value proposition in order to remain competitive . . . Our SMEs must adopt a mindset shift to look beyond the horizon and compete in overseas markets, so that they can grow and thrive globally."


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Just two years ago, the merger of Ivac and Imed that created Alaris Medical seemed a last-ditch effort against entrenched industry giants Baxter and Abbott, which were offering customers an IV solutions-pump bundle that threatened Ivac's and Imed's stand-alone technology. Alaris Medical has successfully fought off its much larger competitors, winning important contract positions at many of the leading hospital purchasing groups . But the recent trend toward toward consolidation in medical supplies has company officials worried because Alaris's prospects for growth in its core business are limited.
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To build a “reliable long-term domestic production” of medicines and related supplies and to “minimize potential shortages,” US President Donald Trump has signed a ‘Buy American’ executive order. However, the move has left industry wondering if it is a sustainable solution.
The head of the German group's pharma BD team tells Scrip that Bayer has created a system which allows it to move quickly when sealing partnerships, as seen with the KaNDy buy on 11 August.
Big pharma has faced many evolutions to the pharma playbook of old. New technologies such as wearables introduce behavioral change to patients, while e-commerce giants such as Amazon seek a piece of the Rx action. The health care industry has done a reasonable job of weathering the storm inflicted on its core business model over the years, but it has yet to be a true disruptor. As the world marches on is pharma’s choice to disrupt, or inevitably be disrupted for good?


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Perhaps you’ve heard: These are difficult times. Unprecedented. A crisis. A pandemic.
Hard to argue. But there is more to life. Another side. As is always the case in the all-enveloping darkness, there is light. There are those who aren’t satisfied to worry or wallow or woe-is-me. It is an inspiring human instinct to help when help is needed most.
And so it is with retail.
The Signifyd blog has brought you stories of the challenges and the changes merchants are facing as we move squarely into month three of the international public health emergency. Today we bring hope and goodness and stories that fuel the feeling that we will get through this. We’ll get through it, not on our own, not in isolation (except perhaps physically) not by accident or inaction, but by drafting on the inspiration of those businesses that have taken it upon themselves to make things better.
“Retail brands are always on the frontline with citizens in communities large and small, and they are partnering with the healthcare industry and government officials to ensure COVID-19 is contained and mitigated as quickly as possible,” is the way National Retail Foundation CEO Matthew Shay put it in a written statement
- Though brick-and-mortar stores are temporarily closing and retailers are assembling viable business continuity strategies, many retailers continue to support idled workers.
- Large apparel manufacturers have pivoted to making face masks for medical workers in dire need of personal protection equipment.
- Retailers large and small are coming up with ways to shine light into the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many have started by ensuring their workers will be paid, even if they need to stay home. Starbucks is paying employees unable to report to closed shops and it’s keeping stores near hospitals open to serve medical workers. Lacoste is paying all its employees worldwide 100% of their salaries through at least April. The sportswear icon also reopened factories in France to manufacture protective face masks.
Hanes and a group of yarn and clothing companies have gotten into the face mask business, too. IKEA is right with them. Apparel companies like Gap, Eddie Bauer and Nike have jumped in to make personal protective equipment for medical workers. Luxury brand LVMH has converted factories to hand-sanitizer plants for hospitals, as have distilleries across the United States.
Keen is caring for frontline workers by donating 100,000 pairs of shoes
Keen donated 100,000 pairs of shoes to front-line workers and those who have been affected by the coronavirus. They added a warm touch by projecting the image of a heart into downtown Portland, its corporate home. Sometimes, in troubled times, it is the little, heartwarming gestures that mean the most.
There are those who aren’t satisfied to worry or wallow or woe-is-me. It is an inspiring human instinct to help when help is needed most. And so it is with retail.
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Online florist Bouqs looked for its own way to warm the hearts of those who might be feeling overwhelmed in the face of the coronavirus. The retailer asked its fan base on Twitter to nominate frontline workers for a bouquet of flowers that the company would then deliver.
MAC Cosmetics donated $10 million to Project Angel Food and Partners in Health to help feed the sickest among us and to build global supply chains to delivery masks, gloves and hand-washing stations. It is also donating the sales of its Glam Lipstick to relief efforts.
Some are doing what they can. Macy’s and Gap both had to furlough tens of thousands of employees, but both retailers are maintaining health benefits for them, with Macy’s paying 100% of employees’ premiums.
“We expect to bring colleagues back on a staggered basis as business resumes,” Macy’s said this week in a written statement.
Amazon and Whole Foods are giving pay raises to employees working through the coronavirus, according to the National Retail Federation. Walmart is giving more than $500 million in bonuses to hourly workers, moving up bonuses scheduled for later in the year. Walmart has gone to a contactless checkout system for all shoppers, who now settle up on an app. And it is speeding up payments to its suppliers and waiving April rent for the thousands of businesses that operate out of Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.
“It’s our hope that this rent relief will help these businesses financially weather the current situation and take care of their employees,” Walmart said in a statement. “We’re also working with many of our partners to encourage their impacted employees to apply for the 150,000 temporary jobs we plan to fill in the coming months.”
It is a sign that the retail giant understands its unique position in the industry.
“I give Walmart a ton of credit for that,” retail veteran Chris Walton said on his Omni Talk podcast. “It’s nice to see the biggest company in the United States showing the rest of the world how to behave and act in this time of crisis.’
Direct-to-consumer superstar Allbirds donated $500,000 worth of shoes to health care workers who asked for them and then turned to its devoted customers to keep the giving going. Now customers can buy a pair and give a pair by purchasing a bundle from the company.
The New England Patriots’ aerial attack contributed to the cause
Even one of the U.S.’s most recognized brands got into the act. The New England Patriots, working with medical and government officials, dispatched its team jet to China to pick up 1.2 million N95 protective masks that had been obtained by the state of Massachusetts with the help of Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The state had the masks, but no way to get them to the United States. Another 300,000 of the masks, which have been in very short supply, were headed to New York state.
It’s no surprise that retailers are finding creative and nimble ways to help. The industry has been in constant transformation for decades now. It’s in a merchant’s DNA to adjust — quickly.
Crown & Caliber, the seller of pre-owned luxury watches, has launched Giving Time Auctions with a promise to donate 100% of the sales proceeds to organizations helping in the COVID-19 crisis.
Kinsa Health, which manufactures and sells innovative internet-connected thermometers, created a fever map at the end of March. By tracking where the number of fevers were rising and falling, the company was able to almost immediately provide evidence that social distancing works, outpacing public health officials’ ability to do so.
The New York Times reported that Kinsa has more than a million thermometers in the field and that it’s receiving as many as 162,000 readings a day — 162,000 readings that are charting the course of a disease and our future without it.
And there are literally thousands of other such stories. Other large retailers doing big things, sure, but also stories of small business, down to mom-and-pops, finding a way to help. Restaurants serving hospital workers while keeping their workers on the job. The aesthetician who can’t literally touch people and so she’s touching hearts by making safety masks in her home.
The stories just keep coming. And we need them to keep coming — for the good they do for our fellow humans and for the good they do for us. They lift us up. They keep us going.
And they are the incontrovertible proof that we will get through the aloneness, together.
Photo courtesy of Kinsa Health
The COVID-19 crisis is changing the face of business day-by-day, hour-by-hour. Read our weekly report, including data on changing industry trends in the time of Coronavirus.


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Japanese mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo will develop technology and services to link its mobile phones to Sony's Playstation games console.
DoCoMo and six overseas partners have agreed to develop services including accessing the mobile internet via the Playstation console and extending Playstation games to mobile phones.
AT&T Wireless, KPN Mobile, Telecom Italia, Hutchison 3G UK Holdings, Hutchison Telephone in Hong Kong and KG Telecom in Taiwan will jointly develop the new services with Sony.
BT may scrap Yell flotation
BT is considering abandoning plans to float Yell, its yellow pages business, opting for a full demerger of the business instead.
The telco had planned a partial flotation of Yell at the end of March in a bid to reduce its mounting debt.
Reports suggest BT could demerge Yell after shifting some of its debt to the business from the parent company.
Pace puts Dreamcast in set-top box
Pace Micro Technology will include Sega Dreamcast technology in its digital TV set-top boxes, allowing Dreamcast console games to run inside Pace boxes.
Pace said the collaboration is designed to provide digital TV customers with on-demand access to hundreds of console-quality games with 3D graphics, digital sound and full motion video.
Microsoft steels itself against hackers
Microsoft has arranged backup for its websites to prevent a repeat of the outages that plagued its main websites last week.
The software giant has hired Akamai Technologies to operate four backup domain-name servers for its major websites.
Microsoft came under fire last week after its main websites, including MSN and Hotmail, were knocked out of action. Akamai operates over 8000 servers in 55 countries.
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Home » Ag associations launch non-profit trade education council
Ag associations launch non-profit trade education council
WASHINGTON – Leaders from various food and agriculture associations announced the formation of the Agriculture Trade Education Council (ATEC). The council is a non-profit group that will be a resource for education on agricultural trade policies and practices.
“As US agricultural stakeholders continue to rely increasingly on trade, it is important to understand how trade works, how the policies established impact US agriculture, and how to engage in trade,” said Becky Rasdall, an ATEC board member and a vice president of the International Dairy Foods Association. “ATEC is here to meet that need and support our agricultural community in better engaging the global market.”
Ag leaders who will serve on the ATEC board of directors in addition to Rasdall, include Michael Anderson, vice president of trade and industry affairs for the Corn Refiners Association; Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas; Melissa Kessler, director of strategic initiatives and engagement for the US Grains Council; Derek Sandison, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture; and Michael Schumpp, international trade policy specialist for the North American Meat Institute (NAMI). Brian Kuehl will serve as executive director of the Agriculture Trade Education Council.
“This effort is long overdue,” Kuehl said. “Twenty percent of farm revenues in the United States derive from exports and farmers also rely on imports of ag inputs, tractor parts and other essential equipment. All of us in US food and agriculture need to understand and be prepared to navigate complex trade rules and dispute resolution structures and participate in trade negotiations. It’s time to get back to the basics of understanding trade and how trade agreements operate. These tools can allow us to expand farm revenues and support the whole food and ag supply chain.”


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Schultz is the Chicago Bureau Chief at Ad Age and covers beverage, automotive and sports marketing. He is a former reporter for McClatchy newspapers, including the Fresno Bee, where he covered business and state government and politics, and the Island Packet in South Carolina. Neal Awards, the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, the South Carolina Press Association and Investigative Reporters and Editors.
On one occasion in October 1867, Cullen encountered government troops hauling supplies to the federal garrison at Boston in a wagon. The wagon was under heavy guard. Cullen stopped to chat with the officer in charge and during the conversation the officer remarked “We are on the look out for Cullen M.
One time in highschool, a pitcher balked with a runner at second and third. The ump jumped out and called the balk, but apparently the pitcher didn hear him and since he was looking the runner back to second, didn see him either. The pitcher threw the pitch, and the hitter ended up hitting it over the fence.
Skates can be sharpened many different ways. If you are not sure what size your’s are sharpened at, they are probably done at 3/8”, as this is what most sports stores use. Ask your sharpener to try it at a few different sizes to determine which one you like best.
Versace is just one designer brand in a long line of fashion houses that sees its Mediterranean identity inextricably linked to Roman Catholicism. The designs of Dolce Gabbana echo the faith visual splendour. Every inspiration from Italian Catholic life is contemplated the black, elegant lace of Sicilian widows and the big, crucifix bling that decks women like altar pieces.
According to Future Today Institute’s “Tech Trends for 2017” report, drone delivery will begin to make its entrance into the commercial world. In November, the world’s first pizza drone delivery happened in New Zealand. Fast food giant Domino’s said it used an unmanned aerial vehicle to deliver two pizzas to a customer’s doorstep.
IN attributed the shortfall to a change in strategy from retailing its play along control units to leasing them. The company said it has funding to continue current operations until midyear and is seeking additional investment. IN backers include Tele Communications Inc., NBC, Motorola and Sprint..
“And then a bell would go off,” Anastasio explains. “Each person would read to the other three what they had written. If there were certain lines that really resonated with the other three, we would put them on a fifth pad until they were all intermingled and we couldn’t remember who had written what.”.


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Ibiza BPM is present as usual at major global events.
On our first day, we were able to attend the long-awaited arrival of the King and Queen of Spain.
As is traditional every year, King Felipe and Queen Letizia took part in the opening session of the macro fair together with a large retinue of authorities who accompanied them on their tour of the different pavilions, amid great expectation.
The tour of the King and Queen and the authorities, including the President of the Congress, Francina Armengol , and the President of the Senate, Pedro Rollán, lasted more than an hour and a half, including stops at company and country exhibitors, such as Ecuador and Puerto Rico.
Also those of four autonomous communities, Madrid, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, and those of Ceuta and Melilla.
This 44th edition of FITUR 2024 is surprising both for the number of visitors and exhibitors.
More than 250,000 people will attend this year's edition, 152 countries and almost 900 exhibitors will showcase the latest developments in their destinations.
A multitude of new companies, not to mention new concepts have been included in this edition such as technology, cinema, sustainability, etc...
Ibiza BPM Radio inaugurates in this edition its TV set, where you will be able to enjoy interviews with Tourism Secretaries, CEOs and Directors from Asian, South American and Spanish countries.
Destinations with unimaginable routes designed in detail for the delight and enjoyment of tourists from all corners of the planet have caught our attention in this edition for their staging and presentations.
In our interview to India, with the Secretary General of Tourism of Madhya Pradesh, we enjoyed enormously with his exposition and enthusiasm about the cultural richness of a destination that is not so well known and that contains landscapes with wildlife, safaris, waterfalls, temples, rich gastronomy, lakes, rivers.
On the other hand, on the other side of the planet, we chatted with Miguel Huerta, an entrepreneur from Mexico, who explained to us the new glamping service (glamorous camping), which has more and more followers and followers of this new sustainable concept.
On the second day, we interviewed the charismatic Rafael Brull, Marketing, Customer and Product Manager at Air Europa.
Rafael Brull made special emphasis on the company's commitment to sustainability and the communities where it operates, he told us about its expansion for 2024 / 2025, with new destinations such as Venice, new menus for tourist class endorsed by the renowned and famous Chef Martin Berasategui, as well as improvements in services for SUMA customers, with greater adhesions of companies for the enjoyment of members.
Today we have certainly experienced the announcement of the collaboration agreement between IFEMA MADRID, the Association of Secretaries of Tourism of Mexico with the presence of the Ambassador of Mexico in Spain.
The collaboration agreement by which Mexico will hold the category of FITUR 2025 Partner Country during the 45th edition of the Madrid International Tourism Trade Fair will enable the country to strengthen its international positioning, boost the promotional potential of its wide range of tourism products and project itself to the world.
This alliance, which has been announced in the framework of FITUR 2024, represents a milestone in the extraordinary career that Mexico has undertaken in recent years in the field of tourism, achieving a significant international positioning.
This evolution of the Aztec nation has been particularly noticeable after the pandemic due to the significant effort made at institutional and business level with the implementation of measures that have facilitated a rapid recovery of tourism activity compared to other countries.
Likewise, the growth experienced by Mexico now allows the country to make the most of its presence on major stages such as FITUR, to highlight the tourist, cultural, heritage and gastronomic wealth of its 32 states and its 177 Magic Towns and showcase it to the world at the world's leading trade fair, and a major hub for the Ibero-American tourism industry.
Undoubtedly, a surprising edition that is leaving us all with a very good taste in our mouths.