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VAT-free shopping in the UK is gone for good, it has been announced. It was scrapped after Brexit at the start of 2021 and then brought back. But the UK’s Chancellor has now confirmed it will not return.
The perk made shopping in the country 20 per cent cheaper for international visitors. It allowed them to get a refund on value-added tax (VAT) on items bought in high street shops, at airports or at other departure points from the UK and exported in their own personal luggage.
When the UK left the EU in 2021, then Chancellor Rishi Sunak ended tax-free shopping. The perk was reintroduced as part of Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget in September – a move that was welcomed by tourism bosses in the country.
Last week, Kwarteng was fired by Prime Minister Liz Truss and Jeremy Hunt appointed as Chancellor. On Monday, Hunt reversed many of the economic measures introduced as part of the mini-budget – including the VAT-free shopping scheme for non-UK visitors.
The government says that scrapping the scheme will save the UK around £2 billion (€2.3 billion) a year.
But travel and retail chiefs say that it is a “hammer blow” for tourism in the UK.
UK now only European country not to offer tourists tax-free shopping
According to the UK’s Association of International Retail (AIR), Britain is now the only European country that doesn’t offer tax-free shopping to international visitors.
“It’s no surprise that high-spending international visitors are deserting Britain and spending their money elsewhere in Europe,” AIR says.
It adds that, far from costing the UK government money, reintroducing the scheme would be more likely to result in a net positive for the treasury and a boost to British businesses.
“The decision to reverse plans to reintroduce VAT-free shopping for international visitors will come as a hammer blow to UK tourism and the British High Street,” says Joss Croft, CEO of UKInbound, a trade association that represents the interests of the UK’s inbound tourism sector.
“This short-sighted move is based on incomplete, one sided and unrealistic projections and risks putting a brake on the return of international visitors who are vital drivers of economic growth throughout the UK.”
Croft adds that the Chancellor should commit to a full analysis of the costs and benefits before deciding on the future of tax-free shopping. He says that it is a key motivator for tourists when choosing where to visit.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has also slammed the treasury’s decision, saying it is “wrong” to scrap the reintroduction of tax-free shopping for tourists.
“This is something I have repeatedly called for to help boost sales and growth and to make London and the UK a more attractive place for international tourists to visit, bringing in far more money to the Treasury than it costs.”
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A brand new era of traders is getting the impression that proudly owning particular person shares might be “fun and it can be rewarding,” CNBC’s Jim Cramer stated Monday.
The prior demographic, significantly the millennial cohort, discovered that purchasing particular person shares is “too risky,” he stated, because of the skyrocketing valuations of web corporations earlier than the flip of the century. That is when folks gravitated towards buy-and-hold index funds, he added.
The secret is understanding what you personal, Cramer stated.
“This idea that investing can be fun is a throwback, not to the dotcom bubble in 1999, but to the ’80s and ’90s, where you had some incredible bull runs and no one thought it was just horrible and stupid to like stocks,” the “Mad Money” host stated. “And if that’s the case, well guess what: the rally could last a lot longer than most people expect.”
Citing the motion that gave each the Dow Jones Industrial Common and S&P 500 0.9% features, and the Nasdaq Composite a 0.62% transfer, Cramer stated the winners had one factor in widespread.
“They’re fun. They’re companies you know or can learn about,” he stated, “and you can happily buy them into weakness if you’ve done the homework and you believe in their prospects.”
Millennials are actually investing in lots of corporations that they acknowledge — assume Past Meat, Revolve, Chewy, and Pinterest — which have not too long ago gone public. They’re being drawn to no-commission buying and selling, Cramer stated.
Past Meat may “meet its match” in Tyson Meals this week when the meat big jumps into the faux-meat area, “but so much of the stock has been sold short that I don’t even know if it will matter,” Cramer stated.
Chewy is a subscription economic system play on the humanization of pets, an area that Cramer known as “one of the great trends of our era.”
“Ask the people who got in on that IPO, fabulous IPO. They’re having fun,” he stated.
Iconic family manufacturers are additionally again in type on the Wall Avenue trend present, Cramer stated, pointing to Procter & Gamble, Estee Lauder, PepsiCo, McDonald’s, Disney, and Starbucks.
“I know most of these are classic slowdown stocks — when they all move up together, [some] are going to say a recession must be around the corner,” Cramer stated. “However, at the moment I think their strength has much more to do with the fact that they’re well-run companies with huge buybacks, great balance sheets, good dividends and are working.”
The FAANG group — Fb, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google-parent Alphabet — “feels like it’s making a comeback,” Cramer stated.
A brand new class of cloud computing shares are sizzling, Cramer stated. The host has been finding out up the so-called cloud kings of Workday, Adobe, Salesforce, Splunk, ServiceNow, and VMWare. He stated different smaller names resembling Okta, Zscaler, Zendesk, Coupa, and others serving to companies increase productiveness additionally want some consideration.
After the Salesforce and Tableau Software program merger final week, some traders are betting that Alphabet might must make a transfer, Cramer stated.
“Write down those stocks I just mentioned. They are all possible targets,” he stated.
“We’re told that fun is a classic sign of a top,” he stated. “That’s absolutely true in the long run, but I don’t think we’re there yet. Not everything is moving. You still need to be selective with your stock picking. It’s not like this is a euphoric moment — three weeks ago the averages were getting crushed.”

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Following the success American designed, Swiss made Luminox has enjoyed with its Blackout models over the past two years - introducing one blackout model within several different series - it has now gone back to its roots and released a Blackout version of its Original Navy SEAL watch.
In addition to this entry level Blackout, Luminox has also launched a Blackout offering in its top end Field Valjoux Automatic Chronograph series.
Luminox has recently moved up market with several new series that retail from $1,000 to $2,500, expressly created to deliver watches more suited to its fastest growing market segment – jewellery stores.
Luminox claims to be the maker of the world’s most luminous timepieces thanks to the proprietary Luminox Light Technology (LLT) behind each watch. Luminox watches are known to be 'Always Visible' and always glow, and can continue to do so for up to 25 years.
With the all-black BlackOut series a new blue colour on the hands and hour markers has been introduced for night viewing. The LLT-micro gas lights are glowing in blue – Blue by Night.
The watches have a completely blacked out appearance, but telling the time is still a cinch thanks to a tone-on-tone look achieved with a jet black dial and dark charcoal numbers and markings.
The Original SEAL model is water resistant to 200 metres while the Field Valjoux Automatic Chronograph is capable of 100 metres and, like all Luminox watches, is Swiss made.
Black is a key colour for Luminox because of the covert nature of the wearers of the brand – SWAT teams, Navy SEALS, Stealth fighter pilots, and other professionals.


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We hate to say it, but maybe LeBron had a point.
At the very least, Orlando Magic star Terrence Ross has to be giving the City Beautiful a bit of side-eye after joyriders stole his Lamborghini Urus SUV from a local dealership.
Ross posted a video to his Instagram in which he was shopping at a luxury car dealership with his son. After walking around and showing a few cars, Ross recounted how he learned his SUV had been stolen.
He said that police called him early in the morning to tell him they found his car in Maitland. Ross said he was confused because he hadn't been anywhere. What became clear after talking to police was that his Lamborghini, which he'd taken in to be serviced, was stolen from the dealership and wrecked. The Orlando Police Department is investigating the case.
"[The police] basically told me that two guys broke into the dealership, smashed through a glass, went through a desk, grabbed keys and go out to the lot and start seeing which key works,” Ross said. “And the key that they stumbled upon was my key. My key to my flat Lambo gets stolen off the lot.”
Ross bought himself the SUV for his 30th birthday and was clearly distraught over the loss. He doubts he can find another of the highly sought-after SUVs that retail for over $200K.
“I’m so sick right now,” said Ross. “That was the greatest car I’ve ever had. Now it’s gone.”
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RED BULL Creative Concepts Vending Scam Ends in Prison Time
Creative Concepts of America (CCA) used the powerful Red Bull brand to successfully pull off a massive vending opportunity scam.
Correction: almost successfully.
Creative Concepts of America founder Andrew Levinson, as well as his phony shill references, Edward and Alan Perl, have scammed themselves into Federal prison.
UnhappyFranchisee.com exposed this vending scam 3 years ago.
In 2008, UnhappyFranchisee.com ran a series of 9 separate posts chronicling how Andrew Levinson’s Creative Concepts of America (CCA) duped trusting individuals out of their savings, often tens of thousands of dollars. Levinson’s firm convinced them they were getting in on a cutting edge vending opportunity backed by the powerhouse beverage brand Red Bull.
Read the victims stories, in their own words, here: Red Bull Vending Scam.
The story of the sentencing of the vending scammers was reported in Vending Times:
“FT. LAUDERDALE, FL — Combining the popularity of energy drinks with the chance of entering the vending industry could be a lucrative business opportunity scam. The owner of one such business from south Florida got 17-1/2 years behind bars for hoodwinking investors into buying Red Bull vending machines with the promise of making huge sales and profits.
“Andrew Levinson, founder of Lauderhill, FL-based Creative Concepts of America, received the hefty sentence in Fort Lauderdale on April 19. Edward and Alan Perl, two brothers who acted as references for Creative Concepts, were sentenced on the same day to 57 months and 41 months.
“South Florida’s Sun-Sentinel reported that Levinson, 41, was convicted in February on 16 counts of mail and wire fraud. The business-opportunity company, or biz-op in industry parlance, supposedly pulled in more than $22 million by promising aspiring vending operators who bought the machines that they could make huge profits by selling at least 20 cans a day. According to the paper, prosecutors said actual sales were closer to two cans a day. Levinson and his company got rich while investors lost their homes, life savings and more, prosecutors added.
“Approximately, 920 people nationwide bought the Creative Concepts vending machines. In a typical deal, about $21,000 bought five machines.
“As with many biz-op swindles, Levinson used phony references, who were paid to lie, to persuade investors…”
HAVE YOU BEEN A VICTIM OF THIS OR OTHER VENDING SCAMS OR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FRAUD? SHARE YOUR STORY BELOW.
To contact the author or site admin, email: UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com
2 thoughts on “RED BULL Creative Concepts Vending Scam Ends in Prison Time”
I was 1 of the 920 people. Sent in all the paperwork to the court about everything and was given court docket number of 10-CR-60183 out of Florida court. They kept me in touch during the trial, but as soon as they were convicted they left me out in the cold. Can’t find out if we are ever going to get our money back or what. Hoping to find someone on here that can help me. Like most, it ruined me financially and still hurting for money. I’m sure the government made money off it by the fines. We, the people, should be the first to receive money due! John Waggoner, Jacksonville, NC 28540.
John im in the same boat, did you ever hear anything?


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Spartan Fleet Vehicles and Services, a business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc., today (April 26) announced a partnership with Ranger Design, a commercial van outfit manufacturer for mobile professionals, at the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) Institute and Expo at the Tampa Bay Convention Center in Florida April 25-28.
According to a press release, the complementary partnership combines the custom engineering and deep industry expertise of Spartan Upfit Solutions with Ranger’s real-world-tested standardized products, including van racks, shelves and storage equipment. Ranger and Spartan Motors will together offer an unsurpassed portfolio of work-truck solutions with original equipment manufacturer Ship-Thru availability. The partnership will also expand customer warranty support to over 300 locations in North America for Ranger components installed on Spartan Upfit Service trucks and vans.
“We are thrilled to add Ranger products and dealerships to our extensive network of Spartan Upfit Services partners. We are confident it will exceed our fleet customers’ expectations through more options and an expanded portfolio of work-truck solutions,” said John Forbes, president of Spartan Fleet Vehicles and Services. “The NAFA Institute and Expo is the largest fleet management event of the year, which is the ideal place to announce the partnership, as well as explore the latest happenings and innovations in the industry and build relationships with future partners.”
The NAFA Institute and Expo is the premiere event for networking with fleet professionals from all over the world, experiencing the latest services and products and receiving the most up-to-date training and education in the industry. For more information, visit www.nafainstitute.org/about.


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Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) on Tuesday unveiled new products and services at an event, which analysts noted as important in the company’s financial sector.
Apple analyst: Wesbush analyst David Ives did a better performance and repeated his 12-month $ 150 goal with a $ 175 bull case.
New product line key for FY21 earnings: Wesbusch said the latest product line of the Apple Watch, iPad Air and factory bundle will be a “key ingredient” in the success of the Cupertino-based company in the coming financial year and beyond.
Ives estimates that 10% of iPhone customers already own the Apple Watch and that Cupertino could enter customers on the existing upgrade trajectory over the next three years.
The analyst called the new services a “smart strategic move” bundle, which arrives at the “right time” and will help the Tim Cook-led company expand its golden established base to expand the core services segment by an incremental . 5-7% yearly.
iPad pricing emphasis demand: Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster described Apple as a “master of turmoil” after the incident and raised the price of the iPad Air from $ 499 to $ 599 as evidenced by strong demand.
“We estimate that the total iPad lineup accounts for 11% of total revenue, with the iPad Air accounting for about 4%,” Munster wrote.
Munster estimates that Cupertino’s revenue on the services bundle plan will increase by 25% -50% per customer. Current revenue is around $ 500 million.
The new $ 9.99 a month fitness + app will also pitted the company directly against a home-fitness firm Peloton Interactive Inc (NASDAQ: PTON), according to Munster. The peloton has a 1.07 million-strong customer base.
Apple’s next generation iPhone 12 is likely to be available in four models and according to Ives the “Super Cycle” is likely to debut in early October. Analysts see the next release as the “once in a decade” iPhone cycle.
Price Action: Apple shares closed down 0.16% at $ 115.54 on Tuesday and gained nearly 0.7% in the subsequent session.
Latest rating for AAPL
|Soldier 2020||B of securities||Maintains||Neutral|
|Soldier 2020||J. P. Mourgan||Maintains||Overweight|
|Soldier 2020||Bank of america||Repeats||Neutral|
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From Dell's airplane tray-sized XPS 13 to HP's laptops with WiFi 6 capabilities, here's a quick guide to what's on offer from some of the big brands in 2020.
If you shop for a new laptop this year, you might consider each device’s screen size, battery life, design, performance, storage capacity and whether it has a touchscreen.
But those aren’t the only business laptop features on show in 2020. You may come across laptops equipped with everything from 5G connectivity to advanced security or Artificial Intelligence (AI).
To give you a snapshot of the market, we asked laptop companies which features small business users should look for in 2020.
A common theme was ‘productivity’. Laptop makers aren’t just making lighter, faster devices – they’re also touting other ways their devices are more useful for work. Some are spruiking AI optimisation and unified management tools, while others focus on display quality and e-ink screens.
Another popular focus is security and privacy. Laptop companies offer multiple layers of hardware and software-based security. And they’re offering screen-blocking features designed to stop someone else spying on your screen in public.
New connectivity options are also on the agenda, with some laptops getting 5G and WiFi 6 capabilities.
Below is a summary of these and other features the companies pointed to.
Smaller, lighter laptops
Business laptops continue to get lighter. For example, HP’s sub-1Kg Elite Dragonfly laptop has a 13.3inch screen and was billed as the world’s lightest “business convertible” laptop when it was announced last year. That’s lighter than Apple’s current MacBook Air with Retina display, which weighs 1.25kg.
Dell recommended its 1.4Kg Latitude 9510, which it previously claimed was the world’s lightest commercial laptop that has a 15inch screen.
Then there’s ASUS, which has upped the ante with its 870gram ExpertBook B9450, which will go on sale in Australia later this year.
If you fly a lot, you might benefit by choosing a laptop with a small physical footprint. Dell pointed to its XPS 13, which has 13.4inch screen that can “fit neatly on an airplane tray table”, according to Ben Jackson, Dell ANZ General Manager, Consumer and Small Business.
But don’t select an ultra-lightweight device that compromises on performance, ASUS’s commercial team reminded us. To avoid making that mistake, you’ll also need to consider CPU, memory and whether the laptop has a solid state drive, which can speed up performance.
Better battery life
We haven’t had the fortune to use a business laptop that runs on batteries for 24 hours without recharging, but you’ll find several companies promising that.
“Whereas in years gone by, 5-6 hours of battery life would have been acceptable, models now exist which allow for 24 hours of operating from one charge,” stated the ASUS team. The ASUS team admitted it might cost more for better battery life, but argued that the extra expense would be worthwhile.
HP also referred to its business laptops’ “long-life” batteries. And Dell boasted that its Latitude 9510 could provide up to 30 hours battery life. It also flagged its Dell Optimizer software, which uses AI to “help improve” battery life, system responsiveness, and application and audio performance.
Meanwhile, Lenovo recommended its ThinkPad’s standby feature, which allows it to keep receiving emails and messages while in low power mode.
Of course, the caveat with all these features and claims is that laptop battery life will depend on how you use the device.
Laptop companies also encouraged small business users to buy a device that works with the latest wireless technology.
For example, HP is offering optional Gigabit-class 4G LTE wireless broadband technology with 4x4 antennas, and Bluetooth 5.0 for “cleaner connections”.
You should also consider 5G compatibility, argued Stephen Lau, SMB Lead at Lenovo ANZ. “Telecommunication networks are improving rapidly, and 5G in 2020 will be one of the most significant telecommunications advancements yet. It will become easier for organisations to stay connected and access critical information from anywhere, at any point in time,” he said. Lenovo plans to begin offering ThinkPad laptops with 5G in Australia later this year.
Lenovo and HP also recommended WiFi 6. It has a theoretical maximum data transfer rate of 9.6Gbps, which is almost three times the maximum speed of WiFi 5. HP offers WiFi 6-equipped laptops in Australia today, while Lenovo plans to offer the technology in its ThinkPad laptops later this year.
Before reaching for your wallet, consider whether you’d benefit from the improvement in speed and latency these technologies provide. And check if you’ll have access to 5G network services and WiFi 6 base stations – without those, you won’t see faster data transfer rates.
“Ruggedised” laptops designed to withstand water, hard impacts and other rough treatment are marketed by various companies, including Panasonic and Getac. These devices are sometimes aimed at people who work outdoors in tough, wet, dirty or otherwise rough environments.
We didn’t ask these companies to comment for this article, because we intend to cover “ruggedised” laptops in a separate article. But we’re mentioning the topic, because one business laptop provider – ASUS – pointed to durability as a key feature. It argued that an ultra-thin laptop might be susceptible to damage when travel. So this year it’s going to sell the ExpertBook B9450, a laptop with “military-grade durability”.
Security and privacy features
All the companies that responded to us highlighted the importance of their security features. “Security, and by extension, privacy has shot to the top of our partners’ and customers’ minds over the past few years,” stated Ken Maher, HP ANZ’s Director of Personal Systems. “We’ve seen legislative changes both in Australia and around the world make a significant impact on what it means to be secure.”
They’re offering a number of ways to protect laptops. These include features to protect a laptop BIOS, which is the system that starts first when you turn on a laptop. HP calls its BIOS protection Sure Start, while Dell has SafeBIOS.
They also recommended features that protect system processes and your data. For example, HP’s Sure Run helps “keep critical processes running, even if malware tries to shut them down.” Dell's Trusted Data feature tries to protect your information and keep malware out of your networks. While Dell Unified Workspace aims to help IT managers secure laptops.
Some companies recommended chips designed for dedicated security purposes. For example, Dell SafeID “ensures devices are protected from malware attacks with Dell’s exclusive security chip that stores end-user’s authentication credentials.” And ASUS recommended laptops with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip, which securely creates and stores cryptographic keys.
Screen-blocking features are another way some laptop makers are attempting to protect your privacy. Maher said this is one of HP’s most-requested business laptop features. “Close to 70 percent of offices are open plan, so we’ve seen feedback from customers that they don’t feel as private,” he said.
HP’s Sure View Gen3 screen-blocking feature aims to make screens appear dark and unreadable when viewed from the side. And Lenovo’s ThinkPad Privacy Guard will even warn you if it detects someone looking at your screen. It will offer the feature with its ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga laptops later this year.
Several companies were also keen to promote biometric security. For example, ASUS recommended laptops that have fingerprint readers and a Windows Hello-compatible webcam with IR sensors and a shutter (Windows Hello is the Windows 10 feature that allows you to sign in to Windows using your fingerprint, face or a PIN).
Other features to consider
You won’t need to look far to find premium business laptop designs in 2020. Case in point: HP’s Elite Dragonfly, which has a deep blue finish, “diamond cut accents” and "next-generation magnesium chassis”. Maher says that HP has given a “premium look and feel” to all its devices. He argues that design aesthetic is particularly important to millennials.
Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus laptop has an e-ink screen you can see when the laptop lid is closed. You can use a compatible pen to draw diagrams or illustrations on the e-ink display, or use the e-ink display to read important notifications, while the lid is closed. The thinking is you might be less distracted if you don't have access to other software.
Whether or not you think that's useful, it’s an interesting example of how companies are trying to differentiate business laptops. In Australia, the ThinkBook Plus goes on sale in the US in March 2020, but Australian availability hadn’t been announced at the time of writing.
Do you have questions about small business laptops? Let us know what you'd like us to cover.


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and JOHN SHEPHERD
Greenalls Group is poised to buy rival pub business Boddington for around pounds 500m as consolidation in the overcrowded pubs market gathers pace.
Earlier in the day Boddington admitted it had received an approach which might lead to a recommended offer. Industry sources said that Greenalls, the acquisitive group headed by Peter Greenall, will offer Boddington's shareholders one share worth 450p for every two they own, or a mixture of shares and cash. Yesterday morning the market sensed a bid was in the air, with many speculating it would be the brewer Whitbread, whose shares ended 7p down at 629p.
Boddington's shares soared 86p to 358p, well above the year's high of 295p. Some analysts said Greenalls would have to offer the equivalent of at least 400p a share to secure agreement from Boddington.
The Manchester company owns 450 pubs and sold the Boddington's beer brand - "the cream of Manchester" - to Whitbread seven years ago. The company has also developed a series of leisure villages, owns the drinks wholesalers chain Liquid Assets, and runs several nursing homes.
Boddington was forced into making a formal announcement as its share price soared amid heavy dealings for what is a tightly-held stock. It said any bid would be substantially above the markert price.
Dealers reported heavy interest in the stock from investors in Boddington's home area in the North West, where the highly acquisitive Greenalls Group is also based.
"There has been some pretty inspirational buying of Boddington's shares the past few days," one senior dealer said yesterday. "The thinking is that the buying may be more than just inspirational," he added. More than 3 million Boddington shares were traded on Tuesday, compared with just 34,953 on Monday and a 200-day average volume of 300,901. Another 2.7 million were traded yesterday.
The Greenall family sold out of Greenalls several years ago, but Peter Greenall stays at the helm. Like Boddington it has spearheaded the development of family pubs, with the "Jungle Bungles" chain. It also owns Cellar 5 off-licences, drinks wholesalers and De Vere hotels
The City still expects thousands of pubs to close, and further mergers are expected. Regent Inns recently bid for Newt & Cucumber pubs but was trumped by Morland, the Abingdon brewer. There was speculation yesterday about a number of possible deals: Vaux, the brewer and Swallow Hotels owner based in Sunderland, may be targeted by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries. Analysts also expect that if Whitbread cannot buy Allied Domecq out of Carlsberg-Tetley then it might go for Greene King's brewing arm instead.
Carlsberg-Tetley is to close its Warrington brewery by October 1996 with the loss of 240 jobs; 150 will go at Burton on Trent and another 110 will go in sales and administration.Reuse content


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Small businesses are an integral part of societies—not just as a source of employment but as a source of community leadership in times of crisis. This is especially true in developing nations, such as Afghanistan.
Data from CIPE partners in four Afghan provinces show how the private sector is stepping up during the COVID-19 crisis. In these four provinces the private sector has donated funds and goods, coordinated relief efforts, worked with government, and advocated for essential supply lines to stay open to enable food and necessary goods to reach communities.
Keeping Supply Lines Open
Members of the business community are ideally positioned to ensure that critical supply lines stay open, because they are the first to notice issues in these supply lines. In March, the CIPE-supported provincial Advocacy Task Force (ATF) in Nangarhar began experiencing problems as perishable goods were stopped at the border going from Pakistan into Afghanistan, because the border had been closed due to COVID.
They brought this time-sensitive issue to the Director of Customs Department in the province and were able to make sure that these trucks made it into Afghanistan with their supplies. In April, private sector advocacy played a role in reopening two border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan—Torkham and Chaman crossing points—three times a week for cargo trucks to pass through. This not only allows critical supplies to make it into the country but helps to stabilize the price of food items and discourage the hoarding that hits vulnerable families particularly hard.
In Herat, ATF advocacy to the governor was directly responsible for ensuring that traders would be able to import basic supplies from Iran—alleviating domestic shortages. The governor responded to the ATF’s urging by raising the issue with the Iranian consulate; consequently, Iranian authorities issued multiple entry visas to a list of key traders identified by the ATF and the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Industry—making sure that they can keep importing critical supplies.
Direct Humanitarian Relief through Chambers
In many situations, families who are struggling need immediate support. The business community has stepped up by donating funds and coordinating the distribution of food to those who have been hit hardest by the virus and economic devastation. The ATF in Balkh province established a charity box on a large scale; as of the time of this writing, ATF members were able to use these donations to help more than 85,000 families. The Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment has worked with the government and contributed funds to set up a Food Bank, which has transparently distributed thousands of food packages. In Nangahar, the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines contributed $30,000 to the Nangarhar COVID-19 Trust Fund to respond to the crisis. Long time CIPE partner the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment has collected and distributed $2 million of assistance in cash and essential goods.
Business owners throughout the country have repurposed their skills to halt the spread of the virus. Mohammad Younas, a tailor in Kandahar Province, turned his shop into a small factory to produce masks to distribute to the poor. He and his workers made more than 8,000 masks. “They are good quality and washable,” said Younas proudly. “I’m not wealthy, but I feel obliged to do something for my people.” Younas’s contribution is just a snapshot of how the business community is rising to the occasion to produce essential goods and ensure that they reach those who need it most.
Isabelle Mahnke is a Program Associate for the Middle East and North Africa at CIPE.


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Buying an Apple may be better than ever for your health, thanks to new innovations revealed at the tech giant’s annual product unveiling Wednesday.
The Apple Watch is getting a speedy new software update — watchOS2 — which allows doctors to use an app called AirStrip to track patients’ vital signs, view records and send secure messages to other staffers as they make their rounds.
“[It’s a] game-changer for health care,” declared Dr. Cameron Powell, president of app-maker Air Strip Technologies, during the two-hour event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.
The watch has lifesaving potential for expectant moms — allowing doctors to remotely monitor contractions and fetal heart rates from miles away when used with a special system, called Sense4Baby.
It conforms to federal privacy laws by confirming a doctor’s identity, so records can only be viewed by a patient’s health care providers.
Fashion-forward consumers can feel good — and look good, too — in leather Hermès bands for the watches, which will be available next month, starting at $1,100.
The timepiece updates were among a slew of eagerly anticipated announcements made by Apple CEO Tim Cook — including a voice-controlled Apple TV and the new, selfie-ready iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
he phones’ enhanced selfie features come courtesy of new 3D Touch technology, which can sense how hard users are pressing the gadget’s glossy screen, triggering shortcuts and mini menus so users can “pop in and out” of apps.
The tech lets users skip a step and click “take selfie” from a drop-down menu that appears — without opening the camera app.
“Sometimes you need to take that emergency selfie, and you want to get directly to the selfie camera. Well, now you can!” gushed Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi.
The phones give new life to pictures with “Live Photos” — a new camera option that records a second and a half of video before and after a photo is snapped, to enable “moving pictures.”
The sleek phones, which come with Apple’s new iOS9 operating system, can be bought with a rose gold finish and feature touch ID sensors that are twice as fast.
They’re also sturdier than ever, built with 7000-series aluminum, an aircraft-grade material.
An iPhone 6s will cost $199 and the larger iPhone 6s Plus clocks in at $299 with a phone contract.
Both will be available in stores Sept. 25.
The company also revealed it’s going bigger than ever with the iPad.
The new, 1.57-pound iPad Pro, which starts at $799, measures 12.9 inches diagonally and sports four speakers, a 10-hour battery life and 5.6 million pixels.
Its A9X chip is 1.8 times faster that the previous version, and users can multi-task by keeping two apps open on the same screen.
“It’s the most capable and powerful iPad we’ve ever created,” boasted Cook.
Apple teamed up with rivals Adobe and Microsoft to bring products such as Word and Excel to the new tablet.
If size doesn’t matter, a new iPad mini is also being offered for $399.
The company has also revamped its Apple TV — opening it up to app-creating developers and outfitting it with a voice-controlled “Siri remote” so users can shout at their TV and finally have it listen.
Miss a line while you’re watching? Simply say, “What did she say?” and the program will skip back 15 seconds.
But consumers will have to shell out more for the beefed-up entertainment system — the price starts at $149, up from $69.


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Bengaluru: Restaurant management platform UrbanPiper
has raised $24 million in a funding round led by existing investors Sequoia Capital India and Tiger Global, and new investors Swiggy
. A slew of angel investors also participated, including Pankaj Chaddah (Shyft), Ankit Nagori (Curefoods), Saahil Goel and Vishesh Khurana (Shiprocket), Khadim Bhatti and Vara Kumar (Whatfix), among others.
The B2B software platform aims to become a single window to help restaurants run their entire operations in one place. It brings a suite of digital offerings together to ensure all the commerce workflows for a restaurant can happen seamlessly in a simple and intuitive way.
The Bengaluru-based startup was founded by Saurabh Gupta
, Anirban Majumdar, and Manav Gupta. Currently, a restaurant signs up with an average of 6-10 different online channels/aggregators – making it challenging to manage multiple tablets/dashboards. Through UrbanPiper, restaurants can integrate all these aggregators onto a single dashboard and connect it with their points of sale resulting in a 70% drop in order failure.
“The restaurant industry is growing at an exponential rate, offering us a huge opportunity to create value and shape the next generation of restaurant businesses,” said Gupta, who is the CEO.tnn


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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- A turnaround in the bigger-cap Net names led a late-afternoon rally in the sector after several days of persistent thrashing drove stocks to levels that at least some buyers found irresistible.
EBay EBAY, +0.30% jumped 9 5/8, or 12 percent, to 89 1/4, enough to recoup all of Monday's 4.4 percent loss and then some.
On Tuesday, analysts came out with positive comments regarding EBay's ability to be the dominant online auction site, with huge upside potential when the holiday shopping season begins this fall.EBay shares are still some 60 percent below the all-time high hit in April.
The Goldman Sachs Internet Index climbed out of 6 percent deficit to finish the session with a 0.6 percent gain. The 15-stock index lost 4.2 percent Monday and slid 11 percent last week.
The Amex Internet Index ended the day with a 0.2 percent gain after being down some 2 percent earlier.
The midtier names came back as well. Inktomi inkt shot up 8 1/8, or 8.8 percent, to 100 7/8; CMGI cmgi jumped 2 15/16, or 4 percent, to 76 3/16; and CNet CNET, +1.80% gained 3 7/16, or 11 percent, to 34 1/2.
Still, if investors decide to sell into this rally, as has seemed to occur recently, this upturn, too, could be short-lived.
"I onced worked for a man who said that trying to pick (market) bottoms was like trying to catch falling knives," said Roy Howard of Manhattan-based hedge fund Circle T Partners. "So I'm going to protect my fingers and sit on my hands."
Shares of smaller Net players, particularly those that recently went public, such as Musicmaker.com HITS, +3.13% a supplier of CD compilations on the Web; Ask Jeeves askj which offers an enhanced Web-search technology; Drugstore.com dscm ;and E-Loan eeln remained under pressure even in late-day trading.
Musicmaker.com lost 11/16, or 8.6 percent, to 8 5/8.Drugstore.com lost 2 1/16 to 36 15/16. The online pharmacy recently went public at 18 a share. Ask Jeeves fell back 1 3/16, or 4.5 percent, to 25 7/16.
There is a "perception that valuations are still ahead of themselves," said Rob Martin, an Internet analyst at Friedman Billings Ramsey. "Investors are questioning the business models and whether these companies should be public at all."
Shares of newly minted IPO HotJobs.com hotj fell below the stock's initial price of $8, closing their debut day at 7 5/8. Current market conditions have investment bankers rethinking and lowering their expectations for their new pups, as Blockbuster BBI, -3.85% was to learn later Tuesday when its 31 million-share offering was priced at $15, below the anticipated range of $16 to $18.
HotJobs.com hotj the New York-based online recruiter, was priced below its filing range by 20 percent.
Its market opportunity, though, is substantial. According to the company's prospectus, U.S. businesses spent $13 billion in 1997 to hire new employees through headhunters and advertising. It's also a largely untapped space, with only an estimated 15,000 out of the 6 million U.S. businesses having recruited online, according to Forrester Research.
With such a large opportunity comes competition. HotJobs does compete in a crowded space with the likes of Monster.com, CareerPath.com and even portals such as ExciteAtHome.See IPO Report.
Shares of ExciteAtHome ATHM, +1.96% lost 3 3/8, or 8.9 percent, to 34 5/8 after giving up 12 percent Monday on word that AT&T T, +0.26% is open to talks with other Internet service providers when its multiyear contract with ExciteAtHome ends. See full story.
America Online forfeited nearly all of Monday's 1.3 percent gain, losing 1 1/16, or 1.2 percent, to 84 9/16.
Xoom.com xmcm tumbled 2 13/16, or 8.5 percent, to 30 3/16. Chairman Chris Kitze told CBS.MarketWatch.com that the company's plan to complete a three-way merger with General Electric's GE, +1.78% NBC unit and NBC- and CNet-operated " Snap.com is on track to close by October.
In fact, there could be significant announcements in the next couple of weeks on the business-development side related to the deal, said Kitze.
Kitze, who owns about 20 percent of Xoom, said he's spoken to Xoom's major shareholders personally and nearly 50 percent support the deal.
Kitze was responding to a negative report on a Web site called Iconocast, which boasts that it's a "fantastic gossip source." That report said that the "brass at GE/NBC are ... unimpressed with the Xoom.com folks. After a meeting in New York, at which Xoom.com Chairman Chris Kitze spoke, their deal appears to be headed south, say insiders."
While Kitze said he remains impressed with the folks at the peacock network and that the deal is intact, Xoom's stock is hemorrhaging.
Even with the stock down some 60 percent since the three-way transaction was announced in mid-May, though, Kitze said he remains on the prowl.
While not outright admitting that the sluggish stock price had slowed down Xoom's acquisition strategy, Kitze noted that companies in the private sector were richly priced compared with public companies. That's because there's a lag of one to two months between what happens in the public and private markets, he said. So when will the time be right for Xoom to make purchases? "We're close," he said.
But don't look for Xoom to use its $260 million in cash for purchases; Kitze plans to use the company's stock.
After the close
Shares of 24/7 Media tfsm fell 2 1/4, or 9 percent, to 22 7/8. After the close Tuesday, the online advertising agency reported second-quarter results that beat analysts' expectations by 10 cents, according to First Call. The company said quarterly sales grew 50 percent sequentially to $17.2 million. The company lost $7.2 million in the quarter.
Excluding amortization of goodwill, the 24/7 Media lost $5 million, or 26 cents a share.
Tie-up Tuesday Digital communications firm Razorfish, which just went public in April, said Tuesday it's buying Cambridge, Mass.-based e-business service specialist I-Cube in a deal valued at $677 million.


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The post Kanye West Lost $1.5 Billion in a Matter of Weeks and Is No Longer a Billionaire: Report appeared first on Consequence.
Kanye West has talked himself out of more than $1.5 billion, according to Forbesafter weeks of bigoted comments caused adidas to terminate their partnership.
Ye, as he is now legally known, began the year with an estimated net worth of $2 billion, and after the release of 2 and a summer of high-profile fashion rollouts, that number had likely grown. But a lot of that value came from branded partnerships that he has since shed.
In September, he and Gap agreed to end the Yeezy Gap line, and that came before antisemitic posts led to restrictions on West’s social media accounts. Afterwards, as more reports began to surface that Ye had praised Hitler, JP Morgan Chase unbanked him. In October, he also wore White Lives Matter apparel and spread the conservative misinformation that George Floyd, who was murdered by a police officer, had actually died of a fentanyl overdose. Floyd’s family is now suing for $250 million.
adidas is just the latest domino to fall, and it had been a long time coming. He had accused the company of ripping off his designs and selling non-partnered merchandise in markets like China, and in an attempt to free himself from the contract, he tried to intimidate executives by showing them pornography.
Forbes estimated that the adidas partnership was worth about $1.5 billion to Ye. His current net worth is now thought to be around $400 million.
On October 25th, Gap released a statement suggesting they were trying to speed up their divorce from Ye. “We are taking immediate steps to remove Yeezy Gap product from our stores and we have shut down YeezyGap.com,” the company wrote. “Anti-Semitism, racism, and hate in any form are inexcusable and not tolerated in accordance with our values. On behalf of our customers, employees, and shareholders, we are partnering with organizations that combat hate and discrimination.”
Even those who are used to problematic clients are dropping West. He had engaged Camille Vasquez, the lawyer who helped Johnny Depp win his defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard, to help him get his businesses back on track. But she let him go after less than a week because he refused to retract his anti-Semitic comments. The only partner that seems interested is the failing right-wing platform, Parler. If you’d like, you can revisit our timeline of his antisemitic comments now.
Kanye West Lost $1.5 Billion in a Matter of Weeks and Is No Longer a Billionaire: Report
Subscribe to Consequence’s email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.


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“Stand up. Live better” was the mantra heard throughout the nation this holiday weekend as thousands of Wal-Mart workers staged a strike. The walkout hit hundreds of cities on Black Friday, traditionally regarded as the busiest shopping day of the year. OUR Walmart the worker organization that is coordinating the protests is being backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
At issue for the workers is what they call Wal-Mart’s retaliation against speaking out for better pay, fair schedules and affordable health care. Such retaliation can include shuffling around their shifts, cutting hours and moving them around departments. Currently, Wal-Mart employees start at $7.53 minimum wage. It is well-documented that many Wal-Mart employees need to file for public assistance, such as food stamps, in order to supplement their low income. The low wages of their workers has been compared to the salary of the company’s CEO. A report on ABC News placed CEO Michael Duke’s at $35 million per year.
Wage plans for 2013 don’t appear to get any better for the employees. The Huffington Post recently obtained a document titled “Field Non-Exempt Associate Pay Plan Fiscal Year 2013”. The 33 page plan outlines a pay structure that makes it almost impossible for an employee to earn more than poverty-level wages. Most workers at Wal-Mart began at minimum wage. The company allows their pay to rise through incremental promotions – at 20 to 40 cents per hour. A flawless work performance will earn the employee 60 cents per year. A person who is hired as a cashier, starting at $8 per hour, and receives the average one promotion that most employees earn, will be earning $10.60 per hour after six years of employment.
If you feel your employer is practicing unfair employment tactics then you need to contact an experienced Illinois employment attorney to help protect your rights.


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Ok so I was flicking through the Sky News website early last week and came across an interesting piece entitled “Google Spending Spree Hits Quarterly Profits” on Friday 17 October 2014 (ill put a link at the bottom of the post to the full news article.) this had me intrigued so I read some more. The crux of the story was basically due to an increase in Google’s operating costs have risen by 30% which has had a knock on effect meaning they were down by 5% from last year that means they have gone from $2.97 billion down to a measly $2.81 billion. Devastating I know to only have $2.81bn in the bank for 3 months work.
This slip was apparently due to the fact Google increased their workforce by 3000 employees along with a wider investment strategy. Apparently “Analysts argue that Google could be making more money if not for CEO Larry Page’s belief that some short-term gains should be sacrificed so that the company can invest in projects and other research that could take years to pay off”. However Mr Larry Page retorted, saying “Google might not have ever developed its market-leading Android mobile software and Chrome Web browser if the company had not taken such risks”.
A very good point well made I thought all successful businesses take some risks don’t they?
However I digress slightly the main point that interested me within the article was at the bottom of the page. The article states that it’s not all doom and gloom for poor old Google though as “Google’s average ad prices in the third quarter dipped by just 2% from last year” it goes on to say that this is “the smallest decrease during what is now a three-year slump in the prices paid to Google for ads appearing alongside search results and other Web content”.
This tends to contradict the reality of what we see on a daily basis and the feedback we get from our new potential clients. They say that “The measure, known as “cost-per-click”, has sagged because of the growing popularity of Smartphone’s over laptops and desktop PCs which have better screens to see marketing” however we have seen a general increase of approximately 10-15% increase in CPC with a drop of about 5% in the number of clicks year on year? There is a slight argument to say that the major focus on Product Listing/Shopping has skewed the figures to a degree as they are generally cheaper CPC. The question is why has there been a consistent “slump” over the last 3 years an analysis of the actual number of advertisers year on year should be done as from our experience many of the smaller businesses and some of the medium sized businesses who are fighting for their life online cannot afford to do business on Google and therefore are choosing to stop advertising on Google, the real question is, can they not afford to do it or do they not know how to make it affordable? I fear that the uncomfortable answer is the latter.
There is a reason that Google encourages and endorses businesses such as Click Convert, it’s because they know that with the help of businesses like us many of these small businesses will be able to continue and even thrive on Google Advertising.
If you find that you are struggling with these increasing Google marketing costs then give us a call and see what Click Convert can do for you.


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The demo for Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live at Gamescom in Germany was already a hint that the game would be announced for the West soon, and with Gamescom now underway SEGA of America have confirmed that the game will be indeed be released in the Americas and Europe on October 14th, exclusively for PlayStation VR. The pricing for the game isn’t known yet, but it will be available only via the PlayStation Network.
As we mentioned earlier, a demo for the game will be available to play at Gamescom in the PlayStation booth, in hall 7.1. I’ll be heading to Gamescom tomorrow, so hopefully I’ll get a chance to play the game! You can find the official press release below.
Hatsune Miku Goes Virtual with Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live for PlayStation VR
IRVINE, Calif. — Aug. 17, 2016 — How do you get the best seats in the house to a concert starring a digital performer? In virtual reality, of course! Beginning October 14, PlayStation®VR owners can experience the palpable electricity of Hatsune Miku in concert like never before with the launch of Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live in the Americas and Europe. Pricing details will be announced at a later date.
Exclusive to PlayStation VR, the Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live bridges the gap between the physical world we live in and the digital world of Hatsune Miku in a completely immersive way. Leave the living room behind (figuratively speaking), as it transports players to a virtual stadium, fully immersing them in the crowd of Miku fans and going wild for the digital singer. As the lights dim and Miku gets ready to take the stage, the player’s controller transforms into a glow stick. When the show begins, players can keep time with the song by taking cues from the rest of the crowd waving their glow sticks, with the goal of cheering on Miku during the concert. As players encourage her, it builds up the voltage. Once the voltage reaches its climax, players will find themselves transported on stage for a special one-on-one encore performance with Miku!
Join Miku in her first Virtual Stage Performance, releasing October 14in the Americas and Europe, only on PlayStation Network. The title is rated T for Teen by the ESRB. Pricing details will be revealed later. Keep up with all the official information on miku.sega.com
For those attending Gamescom, SEGA will have a demo of the game located in the Sony PlayStation Booth, located in Hall 7.1 and will be available to the public throughout the show. For questions regarding the Gamescom demo, please contact firstname.lastname@example.org


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AM is the news media for the automobile retail sector. It has been reporting on the UK car and light van retail markets for more than 20 years, providing business critical news, insight and analysis to boardroom level decision makers at franchised dealer groups, vehicle manufacturers and key suppliers. AM is second to none for providing automotive industry news, backed up by daily online updates.
Through a magazine, ezine and website as well as year-round events, AM analyses the critical issues facing the industry, from Government legislation, market confidence and performance to consumer trends. Plus AMi, our web-based subscription service, uses information exclusive to AM, as well as publicly available finance data, to provide the most comprehensive and accurate information on the profile and performance of more than 200 dealer groups and manufacturers at www.am-online.com/ami.


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Starbucks says they are celebrating the spirit of yesteryear with a modern twist.
Brewer said Starbucks realized that last year's cup design "didn't resonate with some, but it did resonate with others".
You can also get 50 cents off your drink from November 3 to January 7 when you purchase a grande holiday drink with you new cup! Some of the designs have been polarizing, sparking debate about whether the cups are Christmasy enough.
Woman survives six days in Arizona desert after vehicle crash
She lost control of her vehicle and tore through a fence before she found her auto falling 50 feet to land in a mesquite tree. In the statement, AZDPS Director Frank Milstead praised everyone involved for working together to help the woman.
The four designs are of varying shades of red, green, and white, a clear attempt to head off any controversy similar to the red cup debacle of 2015, when the release of a simple, solid-red holiday cup led some to believe Starbucks was raging war on Christianity. The result is "not only retro, but true to who we are", Brewer said. Unlike last year's doodle cups, they really stick to the theme. The second cup's red-and-white flame pattern is meant to represent the intense flavor of espresso, according to a Starbucks press release.
And you could get one for a buddy as an early Christmas gift.
In response, Starbucks said it works "to create a culture of belonging, inclusion and diversity".
There are four this year, each with a cute little story to tell.
10 people killed in Italy storms
Three quarters of Venice has been inundated with water as the city experiences its worst flooding since 2012. . The high tides continue today, but were expected to be less severe.
The coffee company is also bringing back classic specialty drinks like peppermint mochas and gingerbread lattes, and introducing new holiday-themed treats like sugarplum cheese danishes and pistachio honey croissants.
Those first in line on Friday will be gifted free limited-edition reusable red holiday cups in honor of the first day of the season, keeping with the coffee company's goal to be more environmentally friendly.
The final cup, the "Stargyle", features twinkling stars and interlinking diamonds, born from the illustration from Christmas Blend 1999 that showed a couple reaching up to place a star atop a holiday tree.
IS attack on Christian pilgrims in Egypt kills 7, wounds 19
Security forces are now searching for the unknown gunmen who carried out the terror attack on the bus, the sources said. Friday's assault marked the second attack on christians heading to the Saint Samuel monastery in as many years.


text: DEBUT. The name: Discover Card. The claim: ''More than just a credit card,'' said Edward A. Brennan, president and chief operating officer of Sears, Roebuck and Co. The card: Unveiled Wednesday in Chicago. What it is: A general-purpose credit card that also offers a family savings account with rates that increase with account balances. More: It gives access to automated teller machines and to Sears' financial network, Brennan said. Ahead: Discover Card will be available to consumers in an Atlanta-based pilot project later this year.


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Everything Everywhere (EE) has revealed how much customers will be paying for 4G mobile broadband when its new service launches later this month.
Orange and T-Mobile customers wishing to use the ultra-fast service will pay between £15.99 and £35.99 a month for mobile broadband, depending on contract plan and data allowance.
EE said its pricing and plans were "designed for 21st century consumers and businesses alike".
EE will offer 18-month and two-year mobile broadband plans. Under the 18-month plan, users will pay £15.99 for a 2GB connection, £20.99 for 3GB and £25.99 for 5GB.
Those taking out a two-year contract will pay £25.99 a month for 2GB, £30.99 a month for 3GB and 35.99 a month for 5GB. On top of this, users under both plans can also pay £6 to enjoy an extra 500MB and £15 for an extra 3GB.
4G will be launched in the UK in ten cities on October 30th by EE, Orange and T-Mobile's parent company, delivering speeds up to five times faster than 3G.
Users will be able to download and stream music and videos easily while on the go, with a standard definition movie taking just 10-15 minutes to download.
EE is also launching a new fixed-line fibre service for homes and offices, with speeds typically ten times faster than current standard broadband plans.
EE said its plans "put the customer in control" by combining a range of data options with unlimited UK calls and texts.
Whichever plan a customer chooses, a warning text will alert them once 80 per cent of their monthly data allowance has been used up, with another once it has all been used.
They can then choose to buy a data add-on, or wait until the next bill period starts.
4G customers will be able to download or stream one film each week without eating into their data allowance as part of EE's Film service.
Further films can be downloaded or streamed with prices starting at 79p. Costs will be charged to customers’ mobile bill, or credit and debit cards.
The service, which offers 2-for-1 cinema ticketing, listings, trailers and film downloads or streaming, will have more than 700 films available in total at launch.
Customers will be able to watch a film on their mobile, PC or on their TV, via a laptop. A Pause & Play feature will allow users to view a film on once device, pause it, then resume watching it on another.
The 4G service will initially be available in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester. By Christmas, the rollout will have extended to Belfast, Derby, Hull, Nottingham and Newcastle.
Olaf Swantee, EE chief executive, said: "We’re proud to be leading the way and pioneering the rollout of 4G in the UK.
"With our new new brand and unique 4G and Fibre services, we will deliver consumers and businesses across the country next-generation services and a superior level of support."


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Bahrain loan, credit volumes up 13.5pc
Manama, February 20, 2012
The volume of loans and credit facilities granted by retail banks to different economic sectors grew by 13.5 per cent to top BD6.4 billion ($16.9 billion) last year, up from BD5.7 billion in 2010.
Loans and credit facilities awarded to the business sector also grew by 10.7 per cent compared with 2010 - making up 63 per cent of the overall loans.
The industrial sector attracted 36.7 per cent of the loans and credit facilities, compared with the financial non-banking sector (10.2 per cent) and the trade sector (6.1 per cent).
According to a report released recently by the Central Bank of Bahrain, personal loans and credit facilities also increased by 23.4 per cent.
The average interest rates on business loans decreased by 32.2 per cent, dropping to 7.17 per cent in 2010 to 4.86 per cent last year.
The average rates on personal loans also decreased by 11.5 per cent , dropping from 7.10 per cent in 2010 down from 6.28 per cent last year.-TradeArabia News Service


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Founded three years ago by the lovely John and Shelley, a couple with two small (and very keen!) cyclists for inspiration, Frog Bikes is dedicated to make cycling safe, easy and fun for Tadpoles around the UK.
After discovering many of the bicycles they looked at for their children weighed almost as much as the child themselves, the Frog Bikes founders made it their mission to create a range of cycles that are light, appealing and easy to ride – and they’ve done an amazing job so far!
Proud of their British heritage, the team have grown fast, and already sell bikes through independent bike stores throughout UK and mainland Europe, in Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Japan, and directly to customers worldwide through this site. later this year, they plan to move their manufacturing facility back from the far East to the wilds of Wales, creating lots of great employment opportunities in the local area. What’s more, their success has been recognised with a number fab awards and accolades, and in November 2015, they won the Export Business of the Year award at the Start-ups Awards!
Company culture is of paramount importance to the Froglets, with each and every employee actively encouraged to take real ownership, not just within their roles, but of driving the company forward. Tip top communication is crucial to the organisation’s success, so weekly newsletters, central whiteboards for communicating daily updates and strong core values all help to ensure the team keeps talking as they continue their journey.
The company’s Skill Swap Scheme aims to share out the pool of skills and knowledge amassed by the company’s super smart employees, making the whole organisation faster, better and even savvier.
Once again, congratulations to the shortlisted finalists and good luck!
The winner of the Best British Workplace award will be announced on June 6.


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Bank Alfalah, one of the leading banks in Pakistan, has partnered with Access Group, a leading digital payment solutions provider, to enhance the digital payments ecosystem in the country.
Through the DigitalPass acceptance network of Access Group, the partnership will embed merchants nationwide with Bank Alfalah’s point-of-sale (POS) and e-Commerce ecosystem simplifying the lives of customers who want to make digital payments.
The collaboration is part of the commitment to drive digital transformation and bring financial inclusion to all segments of society. With Access Group as a partner, the Bank will be able to offer more options to customers and merchants, making it easier for them to make and accept digital payments.
Access Group is amongst Pakistan’s leading technology solution providers, offering enterprise-grade platforms, branchless banking solutions, enterprise loyalty solutions, fuel management solutions, and payment acceptance at various forefronts.
Over the years, DigitalPass – a part of Access Group, has built up one of the prominent nationwide acceptance networks for servicing its customers across Pakistan.
Bank Alfalah Limited started its merchant acquiring business in 2005 to serve merchant payment acceptance services. Currently, Bank Alfalah is one of the leading financial institutes, with over 20,000 POS machines installed in more than 200 cities throughout Pakistan.
Mehreen Ahmed, Group Head of Retail Banking, said, “Our partnership with Access Group is a significant step towards enhancing the digital payments ecosystem in Pakistan.”
“Through our joint effort, we aim to simplify the lives of customers and merchants by offering them more options to make and accept digital payments and further expanding our nationwide acceptance network. With this collaboration, Bank Alfalah and Access Group are well-positioned to lead Pakistan’s digital future,” she added.
‘We are excited to collaborate with Bank Alfalah to expand their acceptance network with state-of-the-art technology and solutions. We believe that this partnership will further strengthen our ties and assist Bank Alfalah in fostering their digital payment ecosystem,’ said Imran Qureshi, President of Access Group.
This partnership comes when Pakistan’s digital payments industry is growing rapidly, driven by increasing smartphone penetration, government initiatives, and changing consumer behavior.
With Bank Alfalah’s quality payment acceptance and E-Access’ expertise in digital payments, the two companies are well-positioned to leapfrog the ecosystem into a digital future.


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Dell Inc. (Nasdaq: DELL) agreed sell its software unit to buyout firm Francisco Partners Management LLC and the private equity arm of activist investor Elliott Management Corp.
The sale of the unit, which is focused on advanced analytics, database management and data protection, will help Dell reduce its debt burden after a series of deals since its own buyout in 2013. Terms weren’t provided in the statement released Monday.
Chief executive officer and founder Michael Dell agreed in October to buy EMC Corp. for $67 billion to broaden the company’s product lineup from servers to storage devices amid intensifying competition. Dell, which has said it will add about $50 billion in debt to get the EMC deal done, expects the purchase to close between June and October, people familiar with the matter have said.
The sale of the software group is Dell’s latest ahead of its combination with EMC. NTT Data Corp., a unit of Japan’s former telephone monopoly, agreed to buy Dell’s information-technology services businesses for $3.06 billion in March. A month later, Dell took its cybersecurity company SecureWorks Corp. public, raising $112 million.
Debt financing for the latest transaction was provided by Credit Suisse Group AG and RBC Capital Markets, according to the statement.
Round Rock, Texas-based Dell is also proceeding with selling software assets Sonicwall and Quest, people with knowledge of the matter have said. EMC is seeking to sell its Documentum business as part of its plan with Dell to divest more than $6 billion in assets.
Elliott Management, led by billionaire Paul Elliott Singer, has pushed EMC to sell itself and spin off VMware, of which the storage company is the majority owner.


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Say Goodbye to Facebook Messenger with Apple Watch
Say goodbye to Facebook Messenger on the Apple Watch. The popular app has been removed from the watch’s interface, joining a growing list of apps that have been cut off from this platform.
The decision was made by both companies to optimize their products for users and create a better experience overall. While there is no official statement as to why exactly this happened, it appears that Facebook felt its messaging service wasn’t being used enough on the Apple Watch compared with other platforms, such as iOS and Android devices.
This news may come as a disappointment for some users who enjoyed having access to their messages right on their wrists but fear not! There are still plenty of other ways you can stay connected while wearing your Apple Watch – including email, text messaging, and even voice calls via Siri or FaceTime Audio/Video Calling features built into the device itself. Plus, if you’re looking for more options then there are also third-party apps available that offer additional services like WhatsApp or Skype chat integration too!
Overall, it seems like removing Facebook Messenger from the watch’s interface was simply done to make sure all aspects of using an Apple product remain enjoyable – so don’t be too sad about saying goodbye just yet!Read more at Gizmodo


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If you’re a founder, you know. For all of the veneer and hype, it’s incredibly draining to be the founder of a startup — or any company for that matter. It’s lonely. It’s grueling. It’s emotionally and mentally challenging. And it’s nearly impossible to manage everything you have to do.Read More
Thinking about becoming a startup founder? Might want to read this first
I’ve heard it said that wanting to be a startup founder in this day and age is akin to wanting to be a rock star. It’s the kind thing that folks seem to perceive as exciting and fun. And so any number of folks wind up starting something only to find that it’s anything but fun. Exciting, yes. If you find anxiety exciting. But fun? No.Read More
Take Nothing When I Die podcast: Stephanie Ghoston Paul talks with Portland startup founder and mentor Paige Hendrix Buckner
If you don’t recognize the names in that headline, you should. Stephanie Ghoston Paul is a former Portland resident now living in Atlanta who worked closely with the Portland startup community. And Paige Hendrix Buckner is a current Portland resident who has been a serial founder and mentor here in town. And so when these two amazing women for whom I have the utmost respect got the chance to chat on Stephanie’s podcast, Take Nothing When I Die, it was a must listen for me. And I thought you might want to listen, as well.Read More
Black Tech for Black Lives: Portland founders among those imploring tech to take a stand
Among the names of 150 Black tech leaders imploring technology companies and startups to take a stand against systemic racism — through a newly launched effort called Black Tech for Black Lives — a couple of names immediately stood out. That’s because they were Portland founders Stephen Green, founder of PitchBlack, and Lindsey Murphy, founder of The Fab Lab.Read More
Tracking the impact of COVID-19 on entrepreneurs and small business: Portland Dreams Disrupted
Early in the onset of the our region’s reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Portland Business Journal began capturing the stories of a number of local small businesses — tracking their journey through this life altering experience. Now, those stories have been amalgamated with stories from around the US in American Dreams Disrupted.Read More
Making it better together: Behind the scenes with Jaime Schmidt and Chris Cantino of Supermaker
Early stage startups can always use more support. And founders can always use more resources for mentorship and capital. That’s why I was so excited to hear about the launch Supermaker and Color, two efforts from Jaime Schmidt and Chris Cantino. Here’s a recent video sharing more on what they’re building and how they’re looking to support early stage founders — including details on the Entrepreneurial Dream Project.Read More
Insights from a founder who weathered the dotcom boom and bust and the mortgage crisis
Sometimes, the best way to navigate the future is to learn from the past. Because we’ve been through downturns before. Maybe not to this extent. But at least in some semblance. So learnings from a startup in the dotcom days — both boom and bust — and the mortgage crisis could provide some interesting insights for startups to survive the current pandemic — and what to expect when the market starts to correct.Read More
Missing the daily Black History Month tweets about Portland founders? Me too. Relive them.
I’ve really grown quite fond of this tradition that Stephen Green started. Where once a day, throughout the month of February, Stephen has taken the opportunity to highlight one black Portland business for Black History Month. And this year, it got even better. Because Built Oregon joined in. And because we got an extra day.Read More
Join an intimate gathering with the CEO Whisperer, Jerry Colonna
Despite the prevailing startup mythology, the actual truth is that being a founder can be draining, depressing, debilitating, and lonely. Not exactly the “be your own boss” halcyon existence perpetuated in the media. To exacerbate things, many early stage founders choose to go it alone. Rather than seeking out the help they need. But when they do realize they need help? One of the folks many people seek out is Jerry Colonna. And as luck would have it, he’ll be in Portland on May 13, 2019.
Globesherpa cofounder and current Moovel CEO Nat Parker recognized by TiE Oregon
It’s always nice to see local entrepreneurs building a successful company — especially when they continue to remain contributors and stewards of community in Portland. Such is the case with Nat Parker, cofounder of Portland startup Globesherpa, which was acquired by Daimler in 2015.


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Brits have an association with sweet treats that goes back centuries, with classics like Bakewell tarts and roly-polys still available in supermarkets and bakeries not just here, but all over the world. But like all things, there comes a time that in order to survive, change is needed.
A new nationwide poll by the Oral Health Foundation has found the majority of Brits (54%) now support a ’pudding tax’. The tax was particularly popular among younger people, with more than four-in-five (84%) under-35s expressing their support.
A proposed levy could include puddings and desserts, biscuits, chocolate and sweet confectionary.
The Oral Health Foundation is calling for government officials to act quickly by implementing a ‘pudding tax’ and stop Britain’s unhealthy association with sugar.
Here is why the charity believes a ‘pudding tax’ is needed:
In April 2018, the government brought in the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, otherwise known as the sugar tax. It applies to drinks with more than 8g of added sugar per 100ml.
The tax forced manufacturers to lower their sugar content or face a tax rate equivalent to 24p per litre. As a result, many of them did. So much so that the new levy brought £800m less than it was forecast to.
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation says: “The sugar tax, has been a significant success, not only for oral health, but wider health and wellbeing too. In the long-term, products with less added sugar will mean a healthier population. It will also save the NHS billions every year.
“When it comes to sugar, 10% of a child's intake comes from soft drinks, but more than twice that comes from puddings, ice cream and sweets. It means that replicating the model into a pudding tax is absolutely necessary.”
Voluntary regulation doesn’t work
As a population we are indulging in far more sugar than we need to. This is true of both adults and children, with the latter consuming three times more than they should. Latest government figures also show that by the age of ten, the average child has already exceeded the sugar intake of an 18-year-old.
Asking consumers to reduce their sugar consumption has proven extremely difficult and food manufacturers are highly unlikely to reformulate their products unprompted.
“Public Health England’s campaign to reduce the sugar content by a fifth by 2020 needs widespread support,” adds Dr Carter.
“The most effective way we can achieve this is with a pudding tax that increases pressure on manufacturers to reduce added sugar in some of the UK’s most popular snacks.”
A mistreatment of teeth
Latest statistics from the Oral Health Foundation show that three-in-four (74%) adults eat a sugar-based snack every day. Nearly half (46%) eat two sugary snacks a day while more than one-in-four (28%) have three or more.
The impact that sugar has on the nation’s teeth is horrific.
Tooth decay remains common in adults while NHS England spent £36m last year removing rotten teeth from children.
The charity believe a tax on puddings and confectionary would pave the way for healthier, more nutritious alternatives.
Dr Carter says: “Eating healthier foods with less sugar is more expensive. This can present problems for many individuals and families across the UK. We want to see more people eat less sugar, but the alternatives must become more affordable. That’s why a portion of the income of any new pudding tax must be put towards making healthier foods cheaper.”
General health warnings
Sugar is not only a problem for our teeth. It also plays a leading role in wider health conditions.
In the UK, nearly one-in-three (29%) adults are now classified as obese while there are nearly five million people with type-2 diabetes.
“A pudding tax will not only be good for our oral health, but it also has the potential to make significant impact on our wider health too,” Dr Carter says.
“While ice creams, sweets, crisps, biscuits and cakes might satisfy our taste-buds and provide us with an energy burst, they contain no nutritional value. To properly fight tooth decay, obesity and diabetes and promote healthier and more forward-thinking living, sugar must be taken off the high street.”


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Walt Disney Co. told investors it has seen the future of its business — and it is squarely on digital devices.
The media giant DIS, +0.17% on Thursday said a slate of big-budget movies — including “Raya and the Last Dragon” in March 5 — will open on its burgeoning streaming service and in theaters as part of a direct-to-consumer push. In coming years, Disney+ will be home to a firehose of 10 new Marvel series, 10 new “Star Wars” series, 15 animated and live-action Pixar and Disney series, and 15 Disney-Pixar films that will be newly branded as Disney+ Original.
During a four-hour virtual extravaganza, the spotlight was on Disney+ as the 97-year-old company navigates a national pandemic that has seriously undercut its traditional businesses. Disney also provided growth updates on its other streaming platforms, including ESPN+ and Hulu, and a new general entertainment offering, Star, set to debut overseas in the coming months.
“All or our content will eventually end up in Disney+,” Disney Chief Executive Bob Chapek said in opening remarks, noting that Disney+ had 86.8 million paid subscribers as of Dec. 2. The company expects that figure to balloon to 230 million to 260 million by the end of 2024. Including Hulu and ESPN+, total worldwide direct-to-consumer subscribers should reach 300 million to 350 million by the end of 2024.
“In just a year, we’ve established ourselves as a true leader in the direct-to-consumer business,” Chapek’s predecessor, Bog Iger, said later. Iger pointedly lauded quality — and not quantity — as a key reason for Disney+’s success.
Subscriber growth has blown past original fiscal 2024 projections: In addition to Disney+’s current 86.8 million paid members, Hulu has drawn 38.8 million subscribers, and 11.5 million to ESPN+, according to Rebecca Campbell, who chairs direct-to-consumer and international operations at the company. (Disney had previously estimated 60 million to 90 million Disney+ subscriptions by the end of 2024.)
Still, the cost of producing content will escalate to $8 billion to $9 billion by fiscal 2024, resulting in operating losses the next few years. This, in turn, prompted Disney to announce late Thursday it will raise its monthly subscription fee by $1 each for Disney+ to $7.99 and Disney Bundle with Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ to $13.99, starting March 26.
Disney also provided updates on the availability of streaming services internationally.
Star, a free-tier service Disney+ for subscribers in Europe, Canada and New Zealand, is slated to roll out Feb. 23. Star Plus, a new streaming service of Disney-owned entertainment that will also carry ESPN content, is coming to Latin America in June 2021.
Separately, Comcast Corp. CMCSA, -1.52% and Disney announced Thursday that they had reached an agreement allowing Comcast to distribute Disney+ and ESPN+ on its Xfinity X1 and Flex platforms, starting in the first quarter of 2021.
During a brief live Q&A session with financial analysts following the video presentation, Chapek underscored the importance of “flexibility” in distributing content during a pandemic. Disney+ plans to release more than 100 titles per year.
Investors have keenly focused on what Disney had to say as studios evolve their approach to movie distribution. COVID-19 has forced them to delay major films and premiere others via streaming services. In September, Disney unveiled “Mulan” on Disney+ as part of a “premium access” experiment, charging subscribers $30 for indefinite access. The latest from Pixar, “Soul,” is scheduled to land on Disney+ on Christmas Day for no additional cost.
Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall, who has raised his rating on Disney’s stock to overweight from equal weight, expects subscriber growth to replace earnings per share as the key metric Disney investors care most about.
Like several other media analysts, MoffettNathanson’s Michael Nathanson had anticipated aggressive direct-to-consumer spending to expand streaming subscriptions. What was unclear, he said in a Dec. 7 note, was whether Disney would pursue a more scrappy ESPN+ strategy and the full financial impact of the company’s new Star service.
The media titan has careened from one crisis to another over the past year because of the COVID-19 pandemic: Disney has shuttered theme-parks and cruise line, put a pause on production efforts for films and television shows, and announced more than 30,000 layoffs. The company limped to the end of the fiscal year with its first annual loss in more than 40 years — a GAAP net loss of $2.83 billion.
The hemorrhaging didn’t end there. Iger left as CEO and Chapek has overseen deep staffing cuts at Disney’s theme parks and cable sports network ESPN while revamping the executive ranks to accelerate a shift to streaming.
And streaming has been a bright spot for Disney. In its first year, Disney+ zoomed to 73.7 million customers despite bare-fisted competition from the likes of Netflix Inc. NFLX, +1.52%, Apple Inc.’s AAPL, +1.20% AppleTV+, Amazon.com Inc.’s AMZN, -0.09% Prime Video, AT&T Inc.’s T, -2.45% HBO Max and Comcast’s Peacock. Upping the ante, Warner Bros. last week said its full slate of 17 movies in 2021 will debut simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max for 31 days.
Disney, for example, premiered its long-delayed “Mulan” live-action feature on Disney+ as a pay-per-view option for $30 on Sept. 4.
“Every studio, every entertainment provider who relies on theater-based revenue has to rethink the model,” Ari Lightman, professor digital media and marketing at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, told MarketWatch. “Relying on the traditional Hollywood way, in hopes of bringing a two-year production like ‘The Avengers’ to theaters and enjoying a billion-dollar blockbuster, that model is over.”
How Disney intertwines its streaming push with the expected return of millions of Americans to theme parks with the availability of a vaccine is likely to be a focus, according to Lightman. “Disney in uniquely positioned to capitalize on bringing its experiential experience” for consumers throughout its businesses, he added.
If nothing else, the pandemic should also underscore the vigilance with which media companies closely guard their content exclusively via their digital platforms. Disney took all its Marvel content off of Netflix, and said it was only for Disney+, according to Lightman.


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Last May, Rothy’s — the direct-to-consumer company that sells women’s shoes made from recycled water bottles — opened its first retail store on Fillmore Street in San Francisco. The store functions as a place for people to try on shoes before buying, but also serves as a focus group where Rothy’s can test shoes and marketing tactics.
Store-exclusive shoe drops occur about every three weeks, only promoted by an email sent to local customers and a notice that appears in the window of the shop. Elie Donahue, Rothy’s vp of marketing, said the drops have generated so much buzz that people will take pictures of the shoe drop ad in the store’s window, share it online and there will be lines of people waiting for the store to open on launch day. Now, the company is looking at other ways it can bring the surprise-and-delight tactic to other channels, particularly Instagram.
Product drops are a growing trend among DTC brands, which use them to show how fast they can turn around new items, since many, like Rothy’s, control their own supply chain. Everlane and M.Gemi do online drops on a weekly basis.
While the shoe drops have been successful, Donahue said Rothy’s has to tread lightly when it comes to applying the tactic to social media and online. Rothy’s shoe drops are so short-lived, it doesn’t want to frustrate fans that miss the drop. It’s already seen some backlash from discontinuing some lines and has received “tons of comments” from people begging the company to bring back old styles, she said. (The company plans to hold a vote later this month to bring back one out of five styles that have been discontinued).
“We’ve been playing with the idea of secret drops, but we’re a little nervous of what will happen because we have such passionate fans and we try to strike a balance of teasing things on Instagram and not getting our customers angry,” said Donahue.
It’s also applying other lessons from in-store customers to its online business. For instance, people who visit the location lean towards more daring, bolder colors and patterns than they do online, said Donahue. (Rothy’s also uses the store’s shoe drops to test new styles and accents like embroidery). The shop also allows the company to collect emails from shoppers that make purchases in-store, which they can then use to retarget them online.
The shoe drops and physical location work as their own marketing channels, but Instagram is still the mainstay of Rothy’s social strategy. The page is tended by three of Rothy’s 10-person marketing team members who are dedicated to the company’s social media efforts. They’ve added video and user-generated content to images of shoes and monitor and respond to comments. The Instagram page has grown by more than 75 percent over the past year or so to 116,000 followers and had huge increases in likes and comments. While Rothy’s has not experimented with IGTV yet, it creates Instagram Stories and has seen average impressions increase by over 218 percent and exit rate decrease by 2 percent in the last 10 months.
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Rate increases took effect Monday for residential customers of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. that the company said were mostly a response to heightened wildfire risks but which consumer advocates called part of a troubling pattern of rising costs.
The investor-owned utility said Friday higher prices approved in December by the California Public Utilities Commission will raise the bill of PG&E’s average electric and gas customer by 4.6 percent, or $8.73 per month. A jump in electricity rates accounted for most of the increase.
PG&E’s vice president of regulatory and external affairs posted a message online saying the San Francisco-based utility recognizes the increases “may be a hardship for many” and highlighting tools and other assistance the company offers to help people keep their bills low.
Consumer advocates who had argued for a sharper limit on PG&E’s spending said Monday they were concerned about the utility’s continuing rate increases.
Mindy Spatt, spokeswoman for San Francisco-based consumer advocacy group The Utility Reform Network, said by email PG&E’s customers are paying more but still can’t rely on the company’s service or trust its safety record.
“So naturally customers are angry about these latest and obviously ill-timed rate hikes,” Spatt wrote.


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Swiss-Ski has claimed a first for snow sports by teaming up with virtual advertising technology company uniqFEED to trial its products, while the national governing body has also extended its sponsorship…
Virtual advertising technology company UniqFEED has recruited Tom Huston, the experienced sports industry consultant, as chief commercial officer
ATP Media has approved software-based virtual advertising company UniqFEED to provide its virtual advertising services at the Rolex Paris Masters tennis tournament
Virtual advertising technology company UniqFEED has announced the closing of a Series C funding round led by a single backer, private investment company Patinex
German Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg has entered into a “long-term strategic partnership” with virtual advertising technology provider Supponor.
ATP Media, the broadcast arm of ATP Tour in men’s tennis, has appointed UniqFEED to provide a virtual advertising solution for this week’s Madrid Masters tournament, enabling gambling brand and tournament spo…
Roger Hall, the former chief executive of Supponor, the virtual advertising technology company, has joined rival UniqFEED in the same role


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Analysts say India’s latest ban is very similar to those imposed in 2007 and 2008, which led to a domino effect when several other countries were forced to restrict exports to protect domestic consumers. However, this time, the impact on supply and prices in the global market could be more profound as India now accounts for over 40% of the global rice trade, up from 22% 15 years ago, putting pressure on the world market. Other rice exporting countries like Thailand and Vietnam.
Importers are still grappling with tight supplies due to erratic weather and disruption to shipping via the Black Sea caused by the conflict in Ukraine, according to news agency Reuters. Mr. Nitin Gupta, Senior Vice President, Agricultural products company Olam Agri (India) – one of the world’s leading rice exporters, said: “Thailand, Vietnam and other exporting countries are ready. Ready to take action to meet the shortfall. ” In supply from India.”
Farmers drying rice on a road in the state of Assam – India Photo: Reuters
Global rice prices have increased by about 20% since India imposed the ban. According to traders from international trading companies, Thailand and Vietnam may limit exports if rice prices continue to rise by 15%. BV Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association of India, said New Delhi may reverse the ban on rice exports if monsoon rains stabilize and help normalize production. According to Mr. Rao, only supplies from India can restore balance in the global rice market. Mr Peter Club, analyst at the International Grains Council (IGC) in the UK, analysed: “We will have to see how long India’s export ban order remains in effect. The longer the ban lasts, the more difficult it will be for other exporters to make up for the shortfall. to be completed (estimated at 10 million tonnes of rice)”.
Meanwhile, floods in China have damaged crops of corn and rice in the vital northern grain production belt. Ma Wenfeng, a senior analyst at Beijing Orient Agribusiness (China) agricultural consulting company, said: “The floods are really affecting rice production in the northeast and production in the damaged areas could be down by three% – 5%”.
According to Bloomberg, in an effort to secure domestic supplies, Philippines Deputy Agriculture Minister Domingo Panganiban said the country is in talks to import rice from Vietnam and India to bolster national reserves and reduce domestic rice prices. Used to be. The Philippines is one of the world’s largest rice producers, but often buys rice from major suppliers such as Thailand and Vietnam to compensate for production losses caused by typhoons.


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Dutch food group Numico NV is the latest company this week to post a slide in first-half profits well below expectations on Thursday. Hit again by weak US vitamin sales, analysts were also disappointed over the lack of a new strategy.
The company's shares, which have already shed around 18 per cent this year, were expected to dive when the market opened as the results also showed erosion in previously robust baby food and hospital feeding units, partly due to problems in Latin America.
Many investors had hoped that the new chief executive at Numico, the world's biggest vitamin and food supplements manufacturer, would provide give details of how he planned to revive the company, but Jan Bennink said a full strategic review would come in November with third quarter results.
Bennink said the company was considering divestments, an organisational restructuring and an evaluation of its asset base.
"There are two things - the figures are disappointing and there is no clear strategic outlook yet," said SNS Securities analyst Ton van Ooijen.
First-half cash earnings - net profit before goodwill amortisation and extraordinary items - dropped 38.2 per cent to 127 million euros, below the most gloomy forecasts.
Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted first half cash earnings of 163.8 million euros, with forecasts ranging from 151.3 million to 190.1 million euros.
Cash earnings per share tumbled 39.2 per cent to 0.77 euros, versus an average forecast of 1.00 euro.
"It's about 15 per cent below my EBITA (earnings before interest, tax and amortisation) estimate and that's pretty disappointing since I had one of the lowest estimates. You'll see a lot of downward pressure on the shares today," said analyst Mariska Zonneveld at Fortis Bank.
Numico shares, which closed up 2.86 per cent at 21.60 euros on Wednesday, have underperformed the Dow Jones Stoxx food and beverage index (SX3P) by around 13 per cent so far this year. They were indicated at 0615 GMT to open down 7.4 per cent.
The firm, which is also Europe's biggest baby food maker, has been losing market share in the fiercely competitive US food supplement market largely because of internal management problems.
Last year it was hit by a downturn in the sector, but industry data show sales have been recovering recently.
Overall turnover fell 3.2 per cent to 2.13 billion euros, but US sales, comprising most of the food supplement operations, lost 8.0 per cent versus European growth of 4.7 per cent.
One of the worst performing units, mass market vitamin maker Rexall Sundown, saw sales slide by 22 per cent to 261 million euros and EBITA plummet by 71.2 per cent to 19 million euros.
In contrast, US competitor NBTY said last month its wholesale operation Nature's Bounty reported that sales had surged 52 per cent to $80 million in the three months to end-June.
Food supplements account for more than half of Numico's turnover following the takeover of US food supplement retailer General Nutrition Companies in 1999 and Rexall Sundown the following year.
Another contributory factor for the drop in results is linked to baby food and hospital feeding activities, previously the bedrock of the firm, that also faltered in the second quarter.
Second quarter EBITA in infant nutrition fell four per cent to 45 million euros and was flat in clinical nutrition at 29 million euros.
"Argentina and Brazil were held back by the economic crisis in South America," a Numico statement said, referring to infant nutrition activities.
The company said second-half operating results were expected to be in line with those of the first-half before one-off items.The results are the first under Bennink, who formerly headed the dairy division at French food group Danone and took over in May.