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Last Updated : 05 March 2013 at 22:00 IST
'Brazil may overtake US as top Soybeans supplier by 2018'
Source :prnews wire
“A surge in South American inventory is responsible for the United States experiencing a steadily declining share of global exports. The 2012 drought has also reduced the supply of soybeans, with US exports falling 7.1% for the year. This situation presents a threat to the soybean farming industry as Argentina and Brazil boost their global presence in the soybean export market.”
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NEW YORK (Commodity Online): Although US soybean farmers have grown in the past five years, the industry will continue to face revenue and profit pressures from international operators, with Brazil expected to overtake the United States as the top provider of soybeans in the next five years.
For these reasons, industry research firm IBISWorld has added a report on the soybean farming industry.
“A surge in South American inventory is responsible for the United States experiencing a steadily declining share of global exports. The 2012 drought has also reduced the supply of soybeans, with US exports falling 7.1% for the year. This situation presents a threat to the soybean farming industry as Argentina and Brazil boost their global presence in the soybean export market.” the report noted.
US soybean farmers have generally been immune to the negative effects of the recession. Unlike most other industries that experienced steep declines in revenue, domestic and international demand for the Soybean Farming industry stayed strong in the five years to 2013.
“The depreciating dollar, coupled with food demand from developing nations, has boosted exports,” says IBISWorld industry analyst Agiimaa Kruchkin, “while the rapid expansion of biofuel production in the United States has spurred soybean farming revenue growth in four of the past five years.”
As a result, IBISWorld expects revenue to grow at an annualized rate of 5.7% in the five years to 2013.
In 2012, the US Department of Agriculture lowered its forecast of soybean harvest yield per acre 18.0% due to an extensive drought. Nevertheless, the reduced supply boosted prices 7.9% that year. On the backs of biofuel demand and rising soybean prices, revenue is projected to increase over 2013.
Despite strong growth, an adoption of genetically modified seeds is reaching a saturation point and is no longer a major source of yield improvement, says Kruchkin. “Additionally, the biofuels segment, which has rejuvenated the industry and continues to strengthen domestic demand, is stabilizing.”
Consequently, growth rates are forecast to weaken slightly in the next five years.
During the next five years, soybeans are anticipated to maintain their position as the second-largest crop in the United States behind corn. The crop's primary uses (in livestock feeds, vegetable oils and biofuels) are unlikely to change, even in the medium to long term.
Still, the soybean farming industry is heavily exposed to volatility from external factors, such as weather conditions, market prices and government subsidies.
Consequently, profit margins may vary greatly from year to year. Despite this uncertainty, continued biofuel demand will support a steady rise in soybean prices from 2013 to 2018.
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text: Doom sayer predictions for this year's Black Friday had Joe Consumer in-debt, over-spent and un-willing to pull out his wallet for the annual after Thanksgiving shopping work out. Preliminary numbers are proving our skeptic financial friends to be wrong. Depending on what you're reading, retail sales look to be down 1 percent from last year. The bigger picture is unfolding in the world of online consumerism, with initial reports showing a 28 percent increase in online buying over the same time period last year. Solid sales figures for the weekend after Thanksgiving have traditionally predicted strong holiday sales through the New Year, but much is yet to unfold, and retailers are pursuing agressive price cutting strategies to get our attention.

domain: news


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maxf wrote:Lots of controversy surrounding some of the items in the auction. It seems the brother has been busy buying up SW at auctions after Carrie's death, some of which has found its way into the auction as part of the Carrie Fisher collection.
Lom wrote:Awl Skulkerkey wrote:Respect.. the Graph has spoken! I will sleep better now. Who'd have known, plastic tops the chart!?
But what about the glue?


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As long as you respect its limitations and keep the camera steady, the Polaroid XS100i is a good easy-to-use budget-friendly option for dabbling in hands-free video.
Samsung's 3G-free version of its 7-inch tablet, the Galaxy Tab, offers an appealing mix of price and horsepower, but it's overshadowed by the wave of inexpensive Android 3.0 devices.
The wireless carrier is expanding its existing Wi-Fi calling and texting service with promises of more coverage in the home and in the air.
Linksys announces its next router in the Smart Wi-Fi EA series, the true dual-band EA6900, which offers a top combined speed of up to 1,900Mbps.
A software update for Amazon's $40 or £35 streaming dongle also brings "captive portal" Wi-Fi access, while the Fire TV box gets expandable USB storage and Bluetooth headphone support.
MasterCard customers can enjoy free Internet on trips to the UK without paying out a single pound, shilling or ha'penny.
An Internet security experiment reveals just how careless people can be about their use of public Wi-Fi hotspots.
TeamRock Radio will broadcast from 10 train stations during rush hour -- on Friday the 13th. What could possibly go wrong?
Wireless plans don't come cheap. That's why Cablevision's sounds so enticing. But is it really the solution families have been dreaming of? CNET's Marguerite Reardon has the answers in Ask Maggie.
Following consumer complaints and an FCC fine, the hotel chain withdraws an appeal that had asked the federal agency for some leniency in name of customer security.


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US mobile network operator Sprint‘s Open Solutions Conference in Santa Clara, California from 2-4 November is to focus on the potential of NFC.
The Google Wallet partner will be giving the first 1,500 registered attendees a free Samsung Nexus S 4G NFC phone and will be providing delegates at the event with both opportunities to use NFC and a number of educational sessions, held in partnership with Google:
- Attendees will be able to use their Nexus S 4G to obtain information from sponsors, exhibits and at breakout sessions. Each booth in the convention center will have an NFC tag or smart poster that will allow participants to tap and receive product or service information.
- Throughout the conference venue users will find smart posters and NFC-enabled vending machines to take advantage of the technology and learn more about its uses.
- The Sprint Mobile Commerce session will demonstrate how to leverage mobile commerce within an application or solution.
- The NFC and Mobility session will focus on business opportunities around Google Wallet and utilising NFC technology.
- Leveraging NFC Technology will be a hands-on coding session on how to incorporate NFC technology into applications and wireless solutions to make them richer and more useful for consumers.
Sprint is pushing NFC’s green credentials at the event, explaining that tag reading can be used to reduce the need for printed brochures and materials. “As an environmental leader in the industry, we are pleased to use NFC technology and the Nexus S 4G devices to make this our first green conference,” said Kevin McGinnis, vice president of product at Sprint. “We are excited to see the innovative and useful applications and solutions that developers, business leaders and entrepreneurs create after experiencing the power of NFC technology throughout the Open Solutions Conference.”
Readers interested in going to the event can register online. Attendance costs US$350.
Next: Visit the NFCW Expo to find new suppliers and solutions


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Tag: infinity blade fx
Angry Birds isn't the only iOS brand that did well over the holiday season: Chair Entertainment reports that Infinity Blade also raked in the money this past holiday season (and the year previous). The franchise as a whole has picked up a whopping $30 million so far. That includes both the...
If you like Infinity Blade on your iPhone or iPad, then you'll probably love Infinity Blade FX. That's the arcade version, which is apparently being introduced to arcades across the country very soon. You can see video of the game in action, and it looks -- well, like Infinity Blade. Though...
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Welcome to the third and final installment in our three-part series covering major shifts in consumer behavior since the start of the pandemic. This week, we’re focusing on online shopping.
In an effort both to avoid contracting COVID-19 and to avoid the long lines at brick and mortar stores due to capacity limitations, consumers are relying on online shopping now more than ever. In fact, “Consumers spent $861.12 billion online with U.S. merchants in 2020, up an incredible 44.0% year over year, according to Digital Commerce 360 estimates.” Amazon alone accounted for nearly a third of all ecommerce in the United States. And this massive shift towards online shopping is not just expected to go away after we reach herd immunity. Online shopping is convenient, you can do it in your pajamas, and companies not equipped with efficient, user-friendly e-commerce experiences need to catch up with the times before online mega-stores put them out of business.
According to Bazaarvoice, “49% of global consumers shop online more now than they did pre-COVID-19 and 62% of U.S. shoppers say they shop more online now than they did before the pandemic.” The rise of online shopping has been an ongoing trend and has continued to accelerate over the course of the pandemic.
Some of the reasons that people gravitate towards online shopping include price, convenience and informative shopping. Online prices tend to be lower than in-store prices, and finding coupons and deals on the internet is fast and easy. Additionally, advancements in technology have allowed for customer experiences in online stores to be very enjoyable. Modern navigation tools allow customers to quickly search for items they are looking for while generous return policies and free shipping eliminate the hassle of transporting goods to and from stores. Lastly, onsite reviews and testimonials of products, sizing and shipping give online shoppers information regarding what to order from whom, and what to avoid.
One of the major downsides of the ease of online shopping is that brand loyalty has decreased over the course of the pandemic: “73% of U.S. consumers have changed stores, brands or the way they shop.” (McKinsey). Increased frugality, efforts to buy locally, and attempts to support sustainable brands (as mentioned in our last blog) have also influenced the decrease in brand loyalty. According to McKinsey, “31% of U.S. consumers are changing to less expensive products to save money and 14% of consumers are turning to websites they’ve never previously visited to buy the basics.” Consumers are exploring their brand options both to ensure that they get the best prices and to ensure that they are buying from companies they feel comfortable supporting.
Smartphones and social media are another big driver of online shopping. During the pandemic, “US adult social media users spent 7 more minutes per day on social media in 2020 than 2019 – total of 82 minutes.” This increase in screen time means more exposure to social media ads or links to buy products. M-commerce (E-commerce is the term for online shopping from a computer; M-commerce refers specifically to online shopping from a smartphone) is expected to reach $284 billion, or 45% of the total U.S. e-commerce market, by the end of 2020. This makes sense when “45% of global consumers say they’re shopping more on their smartphone since COVID-19 began” (PwC). Many social media platforms have also recently adopted the use of “buy buttons,” which allow consumers to purchase products directly from their social platform. This new technology is highly effective: 76% of surveyed Instagram users reported having made an impulse buy on social media simply due to ease of purchase.
What does this mean?
Convenience is key when the world fits in the palm of your hand and your smartphone functions as your wallet. Consumers have recognized that e-commerce is the fastest and most convenient way to shop. In other words, online shopping isn’t going away anytime soon. So, it’s time for your business to adapt.
Our advice? First, make sure your website is built with e-commerce capability. Take a good, long look at your online customer journey and identify ways to simplify it. Make your checkout process as appealing and convenient as possible. Then, increase your social media presence. (This doesn’t just mean social ads; organic traffic also drives sales!)
That’s it for our series on shifts in buying behavior over the course of the pandemic. How has your company seen a shift in buyer behavior? Comment below, or on our Facebook or Instagram page, to let us know to let us know your thoughts.


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SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE) – Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. (NASDAQ: TNDM), a leader in insulin delivery and diabetes technology, announced today that management will present a company update at the following virtual investor conferences:
BofA Securities 2021 Virtual Health Care Conference on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time),
Berenberg Conference USA 2021 on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time and
UBS Global Healthcare Virtual Conference on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (9:00 AM Pacific Time).
Company update presentations will be streamed live on the web and an archive recording will be available for 30 days. The link to the live webcast and archive is available on the Tandem Diabetes Care Investor Center website at http://investor.tandemdiabetes.com under the Events and Presentations section.
About Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. (www.tandemdiabetes.com) is a medical device company dedicated to improving the lives of people with diabetes through relentless innovation and revolutionary customer experiences. The company takes an innovative, user-centric approach to developing, marketing and marketing products for people with diabetes who use insulin. Tandem’s flagship, the t: slim X2 ™ insulin pump, can perform software updates remotely using a PC and has built-in continuous glucose monitoring. Tandem is based in San Diego, California.
Tandem Diabetes Care is a registered trademark and t: slim X2 is a trademark of Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.
Follow Tandem Diabetes Care on Twitter @tandemdiabetes; Use # tslimX2 and $ TNDM.
Follow Tandem Diabetes Care on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TandemDiabetes.
Follow Tandem Diabetes Care on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/tandemdiabetes.


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21 Best Places to Travel in 2021, According to Ovation Travel Group
Ovation Travel Group, Lawyers Travel's parent company, travel consultants have compiled an exclusive list of the top leisure destinations for 2021 based on advance sales and client aspirations. The pandemic has made Ovation and Lawyers Travel’s customers more ambitious than ever, with destinations such as Maldives, Tanzania and Antarctica included on the list. Of the top 21 destinations for 2021, only seven are in the US. “During the past eight months, the travel habits of our clients have certainly changed,” says Tina Rose, managing director of Ovation. “Intrepid travelers have been grounded. But the love of travel is still deeply rooted in their DNA.” Ovation presents these recommendations for travel in 2021 in the hopes that these destinations will be accessible once the global pandemic starts to subside. Click here to view the full list.


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Update 11/15/2022: The voting in the 2022 midterm elections is over, with the exception of the upcoming runoff U.S. Senate election in Georgia. The Democrats successfully held onto control of the U.S. Senate, while control of the House of Representatives remains undecided, though the Republican Party is nearing the 218 seats needed for a majority.
As a small business owner, you may wonder what the results of this year’s midterm elections mean for you and your business. What issues were small business owners invested in during this election cycle? What should you be informed about as the new Congressional class takes shape?
While midterm elections may not be as flashy as presidential elections, they have a great deal of influence on the direction of federal policy, with the composition of Congress up for grabs.
In addition, there was no shortage of non-federal candidates running on the ballot across the nation. Midterm elections also determine which party controls state legislatures and governor’s mansions across the country. That means control of local, county and state governments were similarly up for grabs, with potentially significant implications for healthcare policy, business regulations and taxes where you live.
The midterm elections took place on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate, were up for election. Headed into the election, the Democratic Party (aligned with incumbent President Joe Biden) controlled both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate by a razor-thin margin.
Technically speaking, the Democratic caucus currently only holds half of the chamber’s 100 seats. However, in an evenly split Senate, the incumbent Vice President is responsible for breaking ties per the U.S. Constitution.
These are some of the key issues small business owners were focused on heading into the midterm elections. No matter what the composition of the government is once all the votes are counted, these issues will be an important part of policymakers’ agendas in the coming years.
Small business owners consistently cited high topline (or overall) inflation as an important issue in this year’s midterms. (What is inflation? Broadly speaking, it’s defined as a trend of rising prices for goods and services in an economy.)
In September, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a lobbying group, found that 30% of SMB owners surveyed listed inflation as the most critical issue currently facing their business.
Why the focus on inflation? While substantial evidence suggests that large companies can have their profits buoyed by inflation, the opposite often is true for small businesses.
In a September survey of small business owners by Goldman Sachs, an overwhelming 83% stated they were “concerned their customers may turn to bigger companies given their ability to better withstand inflationary pressures and potentially offer more competitive pricing.” There’s evidence for this belief: A recent report from small business lender Kabbage found that, while revenue for small businesses nearly doubled over the last year, small business profits simultaneously shrunk by 4%, as inflation ballooned operating costs and cut into profit margins.
In some ways, inflation was more of an umbrella category than a single issue in this election, as it relates to multiple other concerns for small business owners. For instance, supply chain difficulties can be an issue since they can cause increased inflation, whereas economists often see a tightening labor market as an effect of increased inflation.
The way broad concerns about inflation translate into a specific and coherent policy agenda to combat rising prices can be murky. When Congress passed President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act earlier this year, a Small Business for America’s Future snap survey of small business owners nationwide found that a substantial majority supported the legislation.
A supply chain is the (often huge) chain of producers, suppliers, distributors, shippers and sellers that make a final product’s appearance on the market possible. Much like a physical chain, the entire system is at risk if there is a single weak link.
For example, if you run a small handicraft business, and your supplier of red fabrics is late with orders due to historic slowdowns in shipping, that can throw your production of holiday scarves into disarray, making your own orders late with adverse consequences in return. These issues have led to renewed interest in supply chain management and what that means for small businesses.
When people talk about “the supply chain,” what they mean is “every supply chain combined.” This is because, particularly in an increasingly monopolized economy, a single supplier (or shipper, or factory) might be the only game in town, with economy-wide implications if they go under or slow down. These chains, and the overall supply chain, can be staggeringly complicated even for a single item. In return, small business owners have had to confront how to establish supplier diversity for their own businesses.
The implications of supply chain challenges for small businesses can be devastating, and they are already widespread. In an NFIB survey of small business owners, only 10% reported “no impact from supply chain disruptions.”
Many economists see supply chain disruptions as strongly tied to current overall inflation, itself of serious concern to small business owners, and part of why it is so tricky to address. In short, the recent rise in inflation is considered a supply-side problem: Since the COVID-19 pandemic makes production and distribution more difficult for both intermediate goods and final products, prices tend to rise accordingly.
Economists still debate the extent to which wage increases for workers play a significant role in pushing overall inflation upward. However, once inflation is high (as it is now), that increase in prices also tends to drive up workers’ wages and the price of labor. Therefore, labor costs for small business owners tend to increase along with the prices of everything else.
When wages are high and workers’ bargaining power is increased, that translates into a tight labor market. In other words, employers in the market for labor are in a relatively tight spot, having to pay more for less.
Small business owners report difficulty making (and affording) new hires in the current market. In fact, the Goldman Sachs survey found that “difficulty finding and retaining qualified employees” was considered an even more significant issue than inflation, with “[73%] of small businesses experiencing hiring challenges [citing] competition with larger employers on pay and benefits as their biggest impediment.”
While the reasons small business owners are concerned about inflation, the supply chain and the labor market are relatively straightforward, they aren’t the only issues concerning voters who also own small businesses. Small business owners have diverse concerns:
These broader concerns speak not just to the immediate economic interests of small business owners, but also to their perspectives as American citizens and residents. As a particularly large voting bloc, many entrepreneurs hoped to make their voices heard on Election Day.
The paradox of small business owners’ viewpoint entering the midterm elections was that they were seriously concerned about all of the above issues – but personally optimistic about their own businesses.
A recent national economic outlook survey of small business owners by Bank of America found that while small business owners were relatively bearish on the overall economy (with 67% of respondents naming a recession as a top concern for the year to come), they were also highly positive about the outlook for their business, with virtually the same number of respondents expecting an increase in revenue, and over half actively planning to expand their business.
One significant issue flagged in the Bank of America survey that has not come up as broadly this election season is access to capital, a particular challenge among minority small business owners:
“More than a quarter (29%) of women business owners surveyed said they do not think they will ever have equal access to capital, while 40% of Black business owners, 27% of Hispanic-Latino business owners and 22% of AAPI business owners said the same.
Minority business owners reported more challenges accessing capital for their businesses than the national average, with 46% of Black and Hispanic-Latino business owners and 55% of AAPI business owners reporting they’ve personally faced challenges. Black business owners were most likely to say they are concerned about credit availability – 57% of Black business owners surveyed expressed concern vs. 45% overall.”
Both of these trends (personal optimism about their business prospects in the next year and concerns about access to capital) are strongly echoed in Small Business Majority’s national polling of small business owners, also released in the last month.
It’s quite likely, for a wide variety of reasons, that we might not know the final election results for weeks to come. In the U.S. Senate race in Georgia, which could well determine the overall partisan control of Congress, we now know a runoff election will take place on December 6.
We will continue to update this article as more election results are announced.


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The Alaska cruise ship industry is just one of many that was affected in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, according to an industry spokesperson.
Al Parrish, vice president for government and community relations for Holland America Line Westours Inc., brought that message before Kenai Chamber of Commerce members Wednesday.
"The aftershock of the unthinkable carnage in New York City, Pennsylvania and Washington now threatens to throw this nation into recession and destroy major parts of our economy," he said. "The travel and hospitality industries have suffered the most, with airlines shedding tens of thousands of jobs and shrinking their networks. Travel agencies are closing up shop, unable to absorb an estimated $1.36 billion in lost bookings in the weeks since the attack."
He said many amusement parks, hotels, rental car companies and restaurants are reporting plunges in business.
"About the only growth industry anyone can identify is pizza parlors -- which deliver to your front door," he said.
He said the cruise ship industry also is experiencing declines, with one company, Renaissance Cruises of Florida, declaring bankruptcy.
He said Holland America has shuffled its sailing schedule to stay closer to America and has added Port Canaveral, Fla., and Seattle as new home ports.
Alaska will see two additional Holland ships next season. Parrish said that could mean $66 million to the state's economy.
"Alaska will need this additional boost to help make up for the losses it's suffered to date," he said.
He said in the two weeks after the attacks, four ships plying the Panhandle changed itineraries and passengers on the ships that did make scheduled calls were not in a spending mood. He said Juneau lost $2.5 million, Ketchikan $1.5 million and Sitka about a half-million dollars in expected revenue.
"The (Kenai) Peninsula has not been spared. Day charters are down, way down. As are restaurant sales and airline bookings. Lodging vacancies are up. You -- we -- are some of the innocent victims of this attack on America," Parrish said.
He then spoke about a proposed $50 a person statewide head tax on cruise ship passengers.
"This ill-conceived business tax is absolutely the worst thing Alaska could do right now given today's uncertainty," he said. "It seems absolutely counter-productive to increase the cost of doing business in this state at a time when this industry has suffered such harm -- and faces such an uncertain future."
He said the tax could drive away visitors "at the precise time Alaska needs them most." He showed a slide of a survey the North West Cruise Ship Association commissioned on the effects a $50 tax could have.
He said 10 percent would not come to Alaska if the tax becomes law. Thirty-eight percent said they either possibly or probably would not cruise to Alaska. Forty-eight percent said it would have no influence on their travel plans.
Parrish's figures indicated about three-fourths of cruise ship passengers would reduce or eliminate the amount of on-shore excursions they would take if they did visit.
All this, he said, would severely cut into the money the industry and its visitors pour into the economies of their ports of call, mostly small Alaska communities.
"We do know that the upcoming season will be tenuous, at best," he said. "And a disaster if we impose a badly timed, ill-conceived business tax."
Terry Coval asked Parrish why travel to the Lower 48 is not affected by similar tourist taxes.
Parrish said that a $50 tax on cruise prices of $550 is much more significant than the same tax would be on someone paying $2,000.
"We are not opposed to broad-based taxes, but this would single out cruise passengers over airline passengers," Parrish said.
Betsy Arbelovsky said a New York Times article indicated tourism inside America could boom because of the current global unrest. Parrish said he has seen no information that would lead him to that conclusion. He did say that Holland has not seen any increase in bookings for summer 2002.
Mary Jackson asked if the cruise ship industry would seek a bail-out package from the federal government, as airlines have. Parrish said he doubted it, since many companies sail foreign-flagged ships. He pointed out that Holland is a subsidiary of Carnival Cruises, an American company.
The speaker at Wednesday's Kenai Chamber of Commerce luncheon will be Donna Peterson, superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. Lunch is at noon at the Old Town Village Restaurant and is open to the public.
© 2018. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


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LG used to be a pretty popular brand when it came to phones even back in the day like with the LG Chocolate series. The company continued their popularity when the smartphone era came about, but unfortunately, over the years they started to lose market share to the competition like Samsung.
Then in 2021, the company announced that they would be exiting the smartphone market, but now it looks like we have truly reached the end because it looks like AT&T has removed the last remaining LG smartphone from its website. This means that as far as getting an LG phone through one of the major US carriers, you’re out of luck as other carriers do not appear to be selling them anymore (Verizon’s website still lists LG phones but we get an error message when trying to click on any of the models).
If you’re an LG fan, you could probably still get your hands on one from online retailers such as Amazon, but seeing as the company is no longer planning on making new phones, it might not be a good idea, especially if you plan on keeping your phone for an extended period of time.
It is a pity to see LG no longer making phones. The company was set to introduce a phone with a rollable display back in 2021, but that did not come to pass.
Note: this article may contain affiliate links that help support our authors and keep the Phandroid servers running.


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Montenegro, Recent Economic Developments, Inflation, Business Environment
The inflationary developments in 2021 are under impact of an increase in aggregate demand, bottlenecks in global supply chains, and basic commodities prices trends in the global market, primarily of the crude oil. Official MONSTAT data show an increase of year-on-year inflation for 11 months of 2021 of 2.2 percent, whereby the strongest positive contribution to developments of domestic consumer prices comes from prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.1 percentage points) and transportation prices (0.7 percentage points). The annual inflation growth in November 2021 was 4.4 percent, propelled by increase of prices in the following categories: Fuel and lubricants for motor vehicles (growth of 30.8 percent), Oils and fats (growth of 36.6 percent), and Vegetables (12.5 percent). Export prices for the first nine months of 2021 were higher by 13.0 percent on average year-on-year, due to the increase in prices of base metals, while import prices grew by 7.1 percent.
- February 16, 2023 Serbian Belkalhan calcite & graphite mining developer invites JV partners for joint critical raw materials exploitation
- March 28, 2023 Montenegro, A lot is expected from the upcoming summer season
- March 28, 2023 Many joint projects are in front of Montenegro and Serbia
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Gary Mock, who works with Atwoods’ Store Operations division in Enid, Okla., confirmed construction crews have been working at the old Kroger building on South Arkansas Avenue, where the new Atwoods store plans to locate.
Mock said no other details were available.
Mel Hoffman, the store manager of Atwoods in Clarksville, said the store won’t open until after the first of the year.
According to Atwoods’ website, the company has over 50 locations throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas and Kansas. The store sells clothing, tools and hardware, lawn and garden supplies, sporting goods, pet supplies and seasonal items.
For more information about Atwoods, go to www.atwoods.com.


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General Motors Introduces Its New FleetDefense System
General Motors is one of the largest and most influential automakers in the world. And their latest innovation? FleetDefense, a new security system that monitors and manages fleets of vehicles. FleetDefense is designed to detect and prevent incidents such as car accidents, thefts, and vandalism. It does this by monitoring digital data such as location, speed, and engine performance. If anything goes wrong, FleetDefense sends alerts to designated drivers or authorities. This is a major step forward for safety and security—not to mention it could save automakers millions of dollars each year in damages. Check out GM’s video demonstration of FleetDefense below to see how it works.
What is FleetDefense?
FleetDefense is General Motors’ new proactive safety technology that uses sensors and data analysis to identify and warn drivers of impending collisions. The system can detect vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists ahead of time and send alerts to drivers. If a collision does occur
, FleetDefense can provide critical information such as how fast the other vehicle was traveling, whether the driver had time to brake, and what actions were taken. FleetDefense is now available on select GM models across the U.S., including the Chevrolet Silverado HD, Cadillac ATS-V, and Buick Enclave LS.
Benefits of the FleetDefense System for GM
The General Motors FleetDefense System is designed to help make the driving experience safer and more efficient for customers, drivers and employees. The system uses a variety of sensors to identify potential hazards and provide real-time alerts and recommendations.
The FleetDefense System can detect objects in the roadway, including other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and animals. If it detects a potential hazard, the system will provide an alert to the driver. The system can also notify emergency responders if there is an incident or crash.
The FleetDefense System has several benefits for GM customers. First, it can help keep drivers safe by warning them about potential hazards on the road. Second, it can save time by providing alerts about potential problems with the vehicle or traffic in front of it. Finally, the system can improve efficiency by helping drivers avoid collisions before they happen.
The System is available on select new GM models, including the Bolt EV, C-MAX Energi and Tahoe Hybrid Platinum.
How Does FleetDefense Work?
is a new system from General Motors that helps manage fleets of vehicles. The system uses AI and sensors to keep track of the location and status of vehicles in a fleet, and can send alerts if something goes wrong. can also help schedule maintenance, change drivers, and adjust routing based on traffic conditions.
is General Motors’ new fleet management system that helps keep vehicles and drivers safe. It uses sensors to detect abnormalities and alerts drivers when something is wrong. If a problem is detected, the system can take various actions, such as warning the driver or sending out a notification to the fleet manager. also helps reduce fuel use by keeping track of where vehicles are and how long they are idle.
What Are the Benefits of GM FleetDefense?
General Motors has announced a new system that it claims will detect and prevent unauthorized access to vehicles. GM FleetDefense is said to use multiple sensors, including GPS, lidar, and ultrasonic technologies, to monitor the area around a vehicle at all times. If any unauthorized individuals are detected within range of the vehicle, GM will activate an alarm and send alerts to the driver or owner of the vehicle. GM says that its system has been designed to be proactive in protecting vehicles from theft, vandalism, and other forms of unauthorized access.
GM is said to be especially effective in low-light conditions or when there is heavy traffic congestion. The system is also claimed to be able to respond quickly and effectively to changes in the environment around a car. GM estimates that its fleetdefense system will cost between $200 and $600 per vehicle, depending on the type of sensor used.
How Does GM FleetDefense Compare to Other Systems?
General Motors today introduced its new system, a proactive safety technology that helps drivers stay safe while on the road. FleetDefense uses sensors and cameras to detect potential danger ahead and sends alerts to drivers’ smartphones, so they can take appropriate action
is part of GM’s ongoing effort to create a safer driving environment for its customers. The technology has been in development for several years and has been deployed on other GM vehicles, including the Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Impala.
Some key features of FleetDefense include:
-An automatic braking function that detects sudden changes in speed or direction and applies the brakes automatically
-A forward collision warning system that alerts drivers when their vehicle is approaching another car in front of them too closely
-A lane departure warning system that alerts drivers when they start moving out of their designated lane
GM has announced the launch of its new system, which will be deployed on commercial vehicles in the near future. The fleetdefense system is designed to help businesses combat the threat of cyber-attacks and protect their data from being stolen or compromised. GM says that its new system is more effective than traditional security measures and that it can be deployed quickly and at a low cost.


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On 3 September 2018, a forum titled “The Prospects of Ukraine NOW Branding in Creative Industry Projects”, organised by the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Fashion Week team, took place at Mystetskyi Arsenal in Kyiv. The forum was held within the framework of UFWSS2019 as one of the leading platforms for developing creative industries in Ukraine.
At the starting discussion panel, the First Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine, Emine Dzhaparova, spoke about the plans for promoting the Ukraine NOW brand. In particular, according to her, a module brandbook, which will show the opportunities of using Ukraine’s single brand, is planned to be presented in September.
“Today’s world lives by the shapshot rule, or with ‘little’ interest in everything, because there is so much ‘everything’ around that knowing and paying attention to all is impossible. How can one communicate in this information-satiated, dynamic world so that Ukraine is known about? What should the world know about Ukraine? Nowadays, dozens of industries, from fashion to high tech, are being developed in our country; globally recognised prominent modern artists are rising; hundreds of startups, from snail farms to virtual reality technologies, are being launched. And, as is known, without awareness it is impossible to develop a business in the modern world. Thus, the more Ukrainians make use of the single brand, the greater is our common victory. In the end, it is for the sake of complete openness that the Government have adopted official branding,” the First Deputy Minister was quoted as saying.
Roksolana Stadnyk, Acting Director of the Department for Information and Public Relations of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, spoke about the history of the creation, and the first achievements, of Ukraine’s single brand.
“In my book, collaboration of creativity and the state, which was effectively reflected within the framework of the design of Ukraine NOW branding, can and must be expanded to other creative sectors. It is my hope that fashion industry will catch on Ukraine NOW, as many Ukrainian businesses have already done, and will continue its rapid and impressive development. The brand identity which we designed may well be a tell-tale sign of belonging to the best Ukrainian products,” she noted.
The second discussion panel, held under the banner of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, was aimed at discussing the possibilities of using the Ukraine NOW brand in creative industries and successful cases of cooperation between the public and private sectors.
The third discussion panel, moderated by the National Bureau of the EU Project “Creative Europe”, dealt with integrating the brand into social life and its perception, as well as discussing other successful examples of branding and their authors’ experience.
The forum was attended by representatives of governmental and international bodies, NGOs and private sector creative industries. It was designed to show the variety of use of the Ukraine NOW brand and become a platform for discussing the prospect of branding in projects meant both for Ukraine and abroad with creative industry leaders.
On 10 May 2018, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved Ukraine NOW, a brand designed by Banda Agency within the framework of the Commission for Promotion of Ukraine in the World under the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine.
In August, Ukraine NOW, Ukraine’s single brand designed by Banda Agency, was given the RedDot Design Award, one of the most respected awards in the design world, in the Corporate Identity nomination.


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AOM-Air Liberté: sky is getting dark
How will the new company AOM-Air Liberté resist, as it is still staggering after the bankruptcy last June and the takeover by the Holco group ? The crisis which has just suddenly got worse for the air transport risks to hit the company brutally. All the more as the company will to have to deal with supplementary expenses to repair the fleet. A new American security norm will compel the company to repair the insulation of electric circuits in its MD 83, an operation which could cost several hundreds of to one billion dollars over the two or three coming years.As well, trade unions are worrying. Not only about the new deal which is setting up in the air transport at the moment. But also about the evolutions of the dollar and the kerosene as well as about the functioning of the new scheduled lines, the Paris-Alger which should open in November and the Nice-Alger and Marseille-Alger scheduled for the end of next March. But the company keeps on rising again. The CEO, Jean-Charles Corbet will thus reveal the new name of the company, the logo and the new graphic chart on Tursday September 20th at Top Resa Deauville.


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Some angry words are being exchanged over three simple letters.
A Texas-based sports marketing firm named Advantage Marketing Group is in a legal tangle with Michael Ovitz's Artists Management Group over who owns the rights to the initials "AMG."
"They fired the first shot, but this is more than a trademark issue," Ladd Biro, executive vice president of Advantage Marketing of Irving, Texas, said Tuesday. "We have a lot of goodwill in our name, and we're going to defend it."
The legal battle began May 31 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, when Artists Management Group of Los Angeles sued Advantage Marketing over the right to the AMG initials.
Artists Management, which has been using the initials since 1999, represents entertainers and athletes and provides business and management consulting services.
Before the Los Angeles agency started, its attorneys conducted a trademark search, court records show.
"The search basically showed that AMG had been abandoned, so we applied to use it and we've been using it ever since," said Debbie Smith, an Artists Management spokeswoman. Ovitz was traveling Tuesday and was unavailable for comment.
The Texas group counters that it has been using the initials AMG since 1985 and has built a successful franchise in the sports entertainment world. The firm represents Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith and New York Jets running back Curtis Martin, Biro said, and has had marketing deals with Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
Advantage Marketing filed a counterclaim against Artists Management last week. The Artists Management trademark applications are on hold until the squabble is resolved.
Advantage Marketing says it approached Ovitz's firm in February 2000 after it discovered that Artists Management was making a foray into sports entertainment, court records show. The two sides were in negotiations until Artists Management filed suit, Biro said.
"They pulled the rug out from under us," Biro said. "We feel that they are trying to steamroll us because we're a small agency. But we've been in business 16 years and we're very successful and profitable."


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Global stocks fall with FTSE having worst day in three years
Markets close: Iseq slides 1.9% but Paddy Power bucks trend on Stars Group merger
Ryanair declined 3.75% to €10.40, eradicating the previous session’s gain.
The FTSE 100 had its worst day in three years as stocks sold off on Wednesday amid fears that the fallout from the US-China trade war is spreading to the US economy, with the capacity to knock global growth.
Data released on Tuesday showed that a measure of US manufacturing activity fell to its lowest in more than 10 years. Investors’ reaction to the surprisingly weak figures combined with Brexit-related economic fears across Europe to take its toll on equities.
The Iseq index fell almost 1.9 per cent as most stocks ended in the red.
The standout performer, however, was Paddy Power owner Flutter Entertainment, which soared 7.2 per cent to €91.80, having earlier touched €103.80, after it said it planned a mega-merger with Canada’s the Stars Group, the owner of digital brands Poker Stars, Full Tilt and Sky Bet.
Investors loved the announcement of the proposed $6 billion all-share deal, which will give Flutter shareholders almost 55 per cent of the combined business.
Elsewhere, it was a bad day. Ryanair declined 3.75 per cent to €10.40, eradicating the previous session’s gain. Building materials group CRH, which has significant exposure to the US economy, was down by a similar percentage to €29.84, as global markets took fright.
The banks also went into reverse, with Bank of Ireland down 2.4 per cent to €3.60 and AIB losing 2.2 per cent to €2.66. Food stocks also joined in the decline, with Kerry slipping 1.8 per cent to €104.20, and Glanbia ending 1.25 per cent lower at €11.19.
Swiss-Irish bakery group Aryzta was down 8.5 per cent to 63 cent on low volume, while paper and packaging company Smurfit Kappa dropped 2.55 per cent to €26.70.
The FTSE 100 index endured its worst day since January 2016 as an overhang from weak US manufacturing data rekindled global growth worries and cast a shadow over markets, while investors scrambled for more clarity as Brexit looms.
The FTSE 100 plunged 3.2 per cent to its lowest level in more than a month and the domestically-focused FTSE 250 dropped just shy of 2 per cent, close to a one-month low.
Shares of Paddy Power’s mid-cap rival William Hill added 3.6 per cent on the news that Paddy Power’s owner Flutter entertainment planned a merger with the Stars Group.
Tesco ended marginally higher after rising as much as 2.3 per cent on better-than-expected earnings. Shares had opened lower after the surprise resignation of its chief executive Dave Lewis, who will be replaced by Irish man Ken Murphy.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index sank 2.6 per cent, its worst slide in 10 months, as stocks sold off across the board after the WTO approved US moves to slap import tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of European goods.
In Germany, the Dax fell 2.8 per cent, while the Cac 40 in France slid 3.1 per cent. Spanish and Italian stocks also lost ground.
French aircraft manufacturer Airbus dropped 2 per cent, while French waste and water group Suez which dropped 7 per cent after its new chief executive unveiled a four-year plan to boost earnings but failed to provide clarity on dividends and planned asset sales.
Among sectors, oil stocks were the biggest drag on the pan-regional index as prices of Brent crude sank 2.5 per cent.
Wall Street tumbled after another disappointing report sparked fears that the US economy is slowing.
The S&P 500 fell more than 2 per cent, heading for the biggest two-day slump in two months, as private payrolls fell short of estimates a day after a manufacturing gauge slumped to the lowest in a decade.
Carmakers sank after quarterly sales reports from Ford and General Motors added to concern over thinning profit margins in the industry. – Additional reporting: Reuters/Bloomberg


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By now, you have probably heard about the Worldcoin craze that has been spreading across the country. Most of us have seen those long lines of Kenyans interested in this new crypto project.
Just to bring you up to speed, Worldcoin is a cryptocurrency project that uses a device, essentially a giant ball, called an “Orb” to scan a human’s iris to create what it calls a World ID. The human iris has a unique pattern and this is why the project founder’s decided to settle for it. When a person’s Iris is scanned, a World ID is created and this will be used to verify the individual’s identity on different online services. Besides getting the World ID, individuals are also rewarded with the Worldcoin Tokens (WLD).
Even though it seems like Worldcoin has come out of nowhere the last few days, the project has had a presence in Kenya the last few years. I first encountered it back in 2021 in a number of malls in Nairobi. They have been registering users for all this time without any comment from the government or the relevant authorities. The latest uproar around Worldcoin is what has gotten the Government’s attention. A number of government officials from the CS of ICT to Interior CS Kindiki have commented on it. All the officials who have commented on Worldcoin have done so in the last couple of days. This is very interesting for a crypto project that has been around for close to 2 years.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC)
In a move made by someone not wanting to be left behind, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has also commented on the Worldcoin craze. The ODPC has issued a joint statement with the Communications Authority of Kenya addressing this new project. In part, the issued statement reads, “Since the launch of WorldCoin operations in Kenya, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) have undertaken a preliminary review and noted a number of legitimate regulatory concerns that require urgent attention.”
The statement points out that there are major issues such as data security, obtaining consent, consumer protection, cybersecurity safeguards, and concerns about private entities holding massive citizen data without a proper framework. One is left wondering how this was never urgent all those years Worldcoin has been operating in Kenya. The issues the statement has raised are valid and should not be brushed under the carpet.
It is also interesting to know that Worldcoin’s parent company, Tools For Humanity, is registered as a data processor by the same Office of the Data Protection Commissioner according to Tech Cabal. Why did it take the ODPC this long to know what an organization registered under them is doing.
Similar Concerns in Other Countries
Kenya isn’t the only country where the government has raised concerns about Worldcoin. According to Reuters, German data watchdog launched an investigation into Worldcoin last year due to concerns over its large-scale processing of sensitive biometric data. Britain and France data regulators have expressed worries and are also looking into Worldcoin and the legality of its biometric data collection and use.
Data Security and Privacy Concerns
For Kenya, even though ODPC is late with its comments, it has raised important points regarding data security and privacy. The ODPC raised 5 main points that are:
- Lack of clarity on the security and storage of the collected sensitive data. Worldcoin says that once collected, the biometric data is processed locally on the Orb and is converted into unique codes and stored in its decentralized blockchain. The unique codes generated are not linked to any of your personal information. This means they cannot be duplicated or spoofed to create false identities. Worldcoin’s claims seem to be valid but then, can you really trust them?
- Obtaining consumer (data subject) consent in exchange for monetary reward which borders on inducement. This is true as the incentive for most people at this point is the over Ksh 7,000 they get in exchange for their iris being scanned. You can argue that the tough economic times have pushed people to this and convincing people not to do it will be difficult.
- Uncertainty regarding consumer protection on cryptocurrency and related ICT services. This I feel is one of the biggest issues. Even though Worldcoin says the biometric data is deleted when the unique codes are generated, we just cannot be 100% sure.
- Inadequate information on cybersecurity safeguards and standards. This is valid but I feel like the ODPC should have requested this information when approving Tools For Humanity as a data processor.
- Massive citizen data in the hands of private actors without an appropriate framework. This is a big issue but then again, it is information they should have demanded from the start.
All in all, Worldcoin says there is no private information that can be used to identify an individual. The project does not collect this and the biometric data is deleted unless an individual opts in to what they call Data Custody to help them reduce the times they need to get back to an Orb. This is all clear but I think the fact that an organization that is relatively young and is collecting such data is what rubs some people the wrong way.
In as much as individuals consent to have their iris scanned, the existence of monetary rewards borders inducement. This raises ethical questions about the consent in data collection. Those ‘Willingly’ having their iris scanned may not have an option with the current economic times and the idea of getting ‘free money’ may cloud their judgment.
Cryptocurrencies are the wild west and there are so many uncertainties surrounding customer protection in this context. The lack of proper regulation and oversight can leave many users vulnerable to scams and fraud. I do not believe that most individuals embracing crypto projects really understand the risks associated with them. Most tend to look at the quick monetary gains they can get and overlook the serious concerns. Most people tend to reference the success of Bitcoin and hope if they are among the first to embrace certain projects, they will make a lot of money at some point.
Even though Worldcoin has said measures are in place to guarantee security, more information should be shared. Having robust security measures while handling sensitive data should not be debatable.
The Role of Regulators
The ODPC has raised its concerns but there is need for comprehensive inquiries by regulators to address the identified concerns and protect the public interest. This is already underway in Kenya as a multi-agency investigation was initiated. I will repeat again, this is something that should have happened over a year ago. The recent publicity of Worldcoin is what has pushed the government to take action and this is just ridiculous. When it comes to personal data, the ODPC should be at the forefront in knowing what is happening and coming up with directives in record time.
For anyone who is interested in Worldcoin, it does seem like an interesting project. All you have to do is be careful when providing personal data to private actors. Also, report any relevant information or complaints to the designated communication channels provided by the ODPC (email@example.com).
Image source: Reuters


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The future of tech heading into 2022 is bright, in part because a lot more people are staring directly at it. This year, everyone and their parents asked what NFTs are, what products semiconductor chips are used in, how to trade cryptocurrency, and most recently, what a metaverse is. Interest in difficult tech concepts became coffee shop chatter, and the average consumer became a more well-informed user of technological products and services.
That know-how sets companies up to make big and bold technology innovations in 2022 — because their core customer expects more from them than just an improved phone camera.
Here are the six areas that 2022 technology updates could make a big impact on.
Companies will continue to make announcements with “metaverse” in the headline. While these could pave the way to build a true Wreck It Ralph 2-style metaverse in the future, more likely they’ll mean more products that integrate avatars and interactive, multi-dimensional elements. For instance, this year, Facebook announced Horizon Workrooms to let users hang out with other coworkers in virtual offices, and Microsoft said it’s planning something similar on Teams. The latest to hop on the bandwagon was Tinder’s parent company, Match, which said it’s creating a dating “metaverse” where people can go on virtual dates as avatars.
Basically, companies with digital components could become more Fortnite-like in the next year. That also means they’ll incorporate a lot more...
Many metaverse experiences have virtual and/or augmented reality as an option for how users can participate, and it’s a much more realistic way to fully inhabit a virtual world than watching through a 2D screen. These new offerings are creating an onramp to virtual reality adoption among the general public that hasn’t existed before: Users can first try products using 2D, then dip their toes into augmented reality, and finally get a headset and fully dive in.
VR’s biggest challenge for scale is people buying the tech, and it has traditionally depended on gamers to do so. New metaverse experiences will widen the audience that’ll be tempted to purchase a headset (or AR glasses), especially experiences that are geared toward a pandemic-inflated audience of WFH’ers.
As major cybersecurity breaches leak the data of millions (T-Mobile, Twitch, and more suffered big data breaches this year), consumers are understandably tired of how much personal information companies keep on them. To give users back some control, major tech companies came out with new security-focused features this year. To name a few, 1) Google rolled out a password-protected photo album, 2) Facebook did away with its facial recognition tagging, and 3) Apple asked users’ permission to track their activity across the internet in order to personalize their ads. Heading into 2022, expect more companies to re-evaluate how much data on their customers they need to store, and to tighten up the lock on pre-existing data by a few turns.
Everything seems to be going on the blockchain, including financial transactions. As a quick refresher, DeFi cuts out the middleman that traditionally facilitates consumers making digital purchases, trading stocks, taking out loans, and more by running the transactions on a blockchain that automatically executes them. The market for DeFi exploded this year, from about $15 billion in January to $65 billion in May, according to JPMorgan Analysts.
The space will become increasingly valuable as more people use crypto for financial transactions, too. While DeFi platforms can and often do operate with standard money, it’s a go-to for cryptocurrency—which makes sense, since they’re both blockchain-based.
Self-driving cars are the obvious autonomous tech we’ll see more of in the coming year. Hertz acquired a fleet of Teslas that could bulk up its rental car repertoire, and most recently, Waymo announced it would start testing its vehicles in New York City. But cars aren’t the only tech in this space. Hyundai acquired Boston Dynamics late last year, which will, yes, help them build self-driving cars. But the company known for its Black Mirror: Metalhead dogs is working on a lot more than just automobiles. Its technology (and other robot-focused companies) could help improve smart factories, in which robots perform assembly tasks, as well as healthcare capabilities such as transporting fragile medical instruments.
The last 2022 tech innovation in this list is the cloud, because it’s what supports all the other digital applications mentioned so far. At a certain point, the quality of the technology consumers and businesses are trying to use outstrips the capabilities of local hardware, like when more than one person in a household tries to download a top-tier video game at the same time and the whole Wi-Fi network grinds to a halt.
The cloud circumvents that limit by tapping servers outside the home to do all the bandwidth-intensive processing work. So as technology becomes more advanced, the need for cloud-based applications rises in turn. Because of that, Gartner estimates spending on cloud services will hit $482 billion next year, over 50% more than its 2020 total.
In customers’ everyday lives, cloud computing could translate to cheaper virtual reality headsets and game consoles (because they don’t need the hardware for heavy lifting anymore), as well as the ability to engage with high-bandwidth experiences on any device, anywhere, anytime. Want to virtually join a meeting as a 3D avatar from your mobile phone while on a roller coaster? Probably not recommended, but it could soon be possible.


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|August 06, 2009|
HRG Unveils 2009 Six Month Hotel Survey
|Part 1: Overview |
The international hotel market is still feeling the effects of the tough economic climate according to the bi-annual hotel survey conducted by Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), the international corporate travel services company. Most regions are experiencing a decline in hotel room rates in local currency terms, recording average room rate growth of 5% in local currency, with Abu Dhabi as the only exception. With occupancy levels continuing to fall and rates reduced, corporates continue to consolidate their travel policies and negotiate more favourable corporate deals.
Trends Noted By HRG Include:
• Moscow once again tops the chart as the most expensive destination for corporate travellers. However, for the first time since the city entered the HRG hotel survey in 2005, the rate saw a year on year decline (-14%)
• Abu Dhabi is now in second place and is the only city in the survey to have achieved average rate growth of 5% in real terms when measured in local currency
• London has seen a 4% decline in average rate in the first six months of 2009, down from the 3% growth over the same period last year. As a result the city has once again failed to make the top 10, dropping from 16th to 23rd place
• Average rates increased in the Americas by 15% and rose marginally in Western Europe thanks to the strength of the US Dollar and Euro against the pound. However, when exchange rates are factored in, both regions recorded substantial average rate falls
• The top end of the market is holding up well, with the highest average rate increase seen in 5 star hotels (7.7%)
Margaret Bowler, Director of Global Hotel Relations at HRG, says: "The shift in business practices has been substantial and those that adapt well can reap benefits from the unusual trading environment. Hotels are adopting sensible pricing in order to maintain current occupancy levels. Our clients still want to travel and we are helping them find the best and most effective ways to cut costs, identifying alternative travel options to help manage and reduce corporate travel budgets".
The results show that corporates are travelling smarter as they look to control travel costs and maximise their return on travel expenditure. HRG has witnessed corporates continually reviewing and consolidating their programmes to secure lower hotel rates by delivering increased revenues to their preferred suppliers.
In addition to lower pricing, corporates have been able to negotiate added-value items within their rates such as food and beverage discounts, free Wi-Fi access and reduced parking charges. Significantly, last room availability (LRA) is now considered by many as standard, having only been available at a premium prior to the slowdown in the market. However, as hotels are still managing to achieve high occupancy levels in certain cities and at peak times of the year, HRG continues to advise clients to renegotiate favourable deals on a regular basis, ensuring adequate allocation in high volume locations.
In some countries in the Middle East, demand continues to outstrip supply in many cities and the majority of investment at the top end of the market is supporting continued rate increases.
HRG's interim survey is based on a combination of industry intelligence, actual room nights booked and rates paid by its UK clients during January to June 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.
The GBP exchange rate is based on the average for the period 1 January to 30 June 2009 versus the average during the same period in 2008 (data source www.oanda.com)
Part 2: In Depth Analysis
Key European cities have continued to dominate the top 10, but once again Moscow has witnessed the highest average room rate despite an average rate fall when measured in both local currency and GBP. This can largely be attributed to a fall in demand from within the banking and finance sectors, combined with an increase in supply from new openings in recent years.
Moscow may soon lose its title to Abu Dhabi, which entered the top 10 most expensive cities for the first time in the 2008 six month survey. Neighbouring Dubai has continued to suffer from a fall in demand from the banking and finance sector, coupled with an exodus of expatriate and migrant workers due to the slowdown in the country's expansion programme. As a result, it has seen one of the largest rate decreases (24%) over the period.
Mumbai, India's financial hub, was the star performer from the region in 2008, but has since dropped out of the top 10, falling to 16th position, partly as a result of the terrorist attacks that took place last November.
Following substantial growth in 2008, Abu Dhabi has again seen average room rate increases of 38% in GBP, demonstrating demand for hotel accommodation in the city particularly from the banking and finance sectors, as well as ongoing development and refurbishment programmes.
Despite Poland being the only EU country to record GDP growth this year 0.4 percent growth in Q1 2009 in a quarter-on-quarter comparison (Central Statistics Bureau), Warsaw's hotel market has still seen a decline in rates, demonstrating that it is not immune from the decrease in room rates seen across Eastern Europe.
The 14% fall in average rate in Liverpool is due to the fact that hoteliers inflated rates in 2008 as the city enjoyed its status as European Capital of Culture. The number of new openings that catered for this event has meant that demand is now out of kilter with supply.
Without exception, all cities saw average rates decline in both quarters, with half of those surveyed experiencing consecutive double digit falls. Second quarter rates were noticeably lower with an average rate decrease of 16% compared to 10.5% in the first quarter, demonstrating the continued slowing in the global hotel market.
London has seen a slight increase in demand in response to the weakness in sterling, making it a popular destination for companies travelling to Europe for business. London is the only key global city from the above list to see a slower decline in the second quarter compared to quarter one. Major events in London such as Wimbledon and Ascot provided the demand to allow dynamic pricing to push up rates.
Average Room Rate Increases By Region: 2008 v 2009
When measured in GBP, HRG's data showed that - with the exception of the UK and Eastern Europe - the global hotel market has shown modest growth over the last six months, with exchange rates playing a major part. Indeed for the Eurozone, which had an average exchange rate of 1.12 euros to the Pound during the period, UK corporates 'paying' in sterling are still seeing a rise in average rates at hotels in a number of EU countries, despite weak local market conditions.
Eastern Europe has declined substantially over the period reversing a trend that has been in place for a number of years. This is not just as a result of the declines in Moscow but also across a number of cities in the region including Warsaw, Prague and Bucharest.
The newest banking and finance sector hubs in Middle East & West Asia (MEWA) have delivered strong performances, leading to 15.6% regional growth. Cities that have seen average rate increases include Doha (37%), Manama (35%), Riyadh (26%) and Muscat (17%). The limited supply of hotels, primarily dominating the top end of the market, combined with high demand and upgrades of existing hotels in the region, have forced prices upwards. The region is also reflecting the continued strength of the luxury sector.
The Americas continued to report rate growth albeit helped by a relatively strong Dollar exchange rate versus the Pound.
Africa has reported a good performance, signalling its position as a rapidly emerging market enjoying significant investment from multinational organisations engaged in the oil & gas, banking & finance and telecoms industries in particular.
Global Hotel Star Ratings -- 2008 v 2009
Hotels are battling to maintain their share of the corporate market as clients downgrade star ratings. Average rates have decreased in the 3 and 4 star markets as a result.
Surprisingly, the highest average rate increase of 7.7% has been seen in 5 star hotels, suggesting hoteliers are holding out for rates at the expense of lower occupancy levels. This sector has performed particularly well in the MEWA and AsPac regions, where these properties are prevalent and increasing.
HRG's data continues to suggest that overall the budget sector is feeling the competition from the 3 and 4 star hotels. It has been squeezed due to its inability to respond more rapidly and at short notice in terms of flexible pricing to offer more competitive rates to suit market needs. The introduction of new mid-market brands into key European cities continues, benefiting the 4 star sector and providing greater diversity and choice for the business traveller.
All key UK cities recorded decreasing average room rates during the first six months of the year. London fared marginally better than the provincial markets, as visitors enjoyed the weakness of the Pound against the US Dollar and Euro.
Edinburgh, the largest financial centre in the UK outside London, continued to see falling rates potentially as a result of events in the banking and finance sector and also due to new hotel openings both in and on the outskirts of the city. Similarly, Leeds has seen rates fall by 6% on average due to oversupply.
However, aggressive pricing strategies and continued expansion and competition from the 3 star market is likely to result in a decrease in average rates over the next period.
Part 3: Summary
"As forecast at the start of the year in our 2008 annual hotel survey, mid-year results have shown that the international hotel market is continuing to see average hotel rates fall in many regions. The latest figures suggest that the industry has some way to go before rates stabilise. With all key global cities recording rate declines in both quarters, London was the only city where decline slowed marginally", says Margaret Bowler.
"Despite the overall downturn in rates across the board, the industry is doing a great job of restructuring and adapting to the market conditions. The hotel industry appears to have learnt its lesson from the last downturn. They are adjusting pricing structures to meet market expectations and to make rates appear more attractive. In turn, corporates are reviewing and consolidating their programmes to secure lower rates because there is more availability. However, as shown in the global hotel star rating analysis, many hoteliers do not want to throw away their share of the market with significant price cuts so they are taking a sensible long-term strategy to hold out for rates at the expense of lower occupancy levels."
Margaret Bowler concludes: "The market is incredibly difficult to predict, but in light of the economic climate, and consistently unfavourable exchange rates, we know that more businesses are looking at ways to control travel expenditure. At HRG, we advise clients to take advantage of the current conditions and use these to consolidate travel policies and negotiate better rates".


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Put down the T-bone and slowly back away from that side order of ribs.
Nutritionists across the country are hitting back hard after a new collection of studies alleged that red meat and processed meats — including steak, ribs, bacon and salami — are fine for your health after all.
‘They ignored major parts of the available evidence.’
“Totally bizarre,” Harvard University professor Walter Willett told MarketWatch. “It really displays ignorance. They ignored major parts of the available evidence.”
He was speaking after the Annals of Internal Medicine, a publication of the American College of Physicians, this week published a collection of five studies that contradicted decades of growing consensus about the health risks of red meat, including pork, and processed meats.
The studies didn’t actually say that red meat was good for you — they just argued that the evidence they were bad for you was weak.
It concluded: “Low- to very-low-certainty evidence suggests that diets restricted in red meat may have little or no effect on major cardiometabolic outcomes and cancer mortality and incidence.”
But Willett said it made no sense to include red meat in good health recommendations. “People [also] like to smoke,” he said. “They like to drink sugared soft drinks, they like to have unsafe sex.”
Willett is professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He’s chaired Harvard’s department of nutrition for more than two decades and has published 1,700 academic articles in the field.
He said avoiding red meat can slash the risks of diabetes and the risk of dying young. A drug that did as much for your health, he said, “would be a blockbuster. It would make tens of billions of dollars.”
McDonald’s MCD, -1.32% and Burger King QSR, -0.24% have recently introduced alternative options to beef. McDonald’s has a burger using Beyond Meat BYND, -2.13%, while Burger King has the Impossible Burger.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit medical advocacy group, on Tuesday filed a petition with the Federal Trade Commission to rebut many of the claims made in the study. Neal Barnard, the PRCM president, slammed the study’s authors for “misrepresentations,” “an inaccurate statement of the findings,” and “a major disservice to public health.”
Gordon Guyatt, professor of medicine at McMaster University in Canada and one of the study’s authors, said the reaction “has reached levels I would call hysteria.” He compared the nutrition establishment to the Hans Christian Anderson tale, the Emperor’s New Clothes. “If you’re the emperor, and somebody points out that you haven’t any clothes, this is not going to be a very appealing situation,” he added. “It’s very threatening, and people are defending their territory.”
‘It’s a form of patriarchy if we just tell people they should eliminate or reduce their meat consumption.’
Bradley Johnston, one of the study’s authors, an associate professor of community health and epidemiology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, told USA Today: “It’s a form of patriarchy if we just tell people they should eliminate or reduce their meat consumption. We don’t believe that there should be broad public health recommendations, almost like scare tactics, for the population as a whole.”
“Based on these reviews, we cannot say with any certainty that reducing red meat or processed meat will prevent cancer, diabetes or heart disease,” he added.
The American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and others also joined the backlash. The American College of Cardiology said it was “alarmed by the reckless dietary recommendations” In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s Monograph panel, which is part of the World Health Organization, voted on the issue and concluded that red meat was “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
In response to that landmark decision, the North American Meat Institute, a trade group for the industry, said that vote classifying red and processed meat as cancer hazards “defies both common sense and numerous studies showing no correlation between meat and cancer and many more studies showing the many health benefits of balanced diets that include meat.”
The battle between the two sides of this debate, as this explainer at news site Vox shows, involves technical disputes about how to construct scientific studies in the real world, and which ones are more reliable, and why. The limitation of all these studies is that they’re all flawed.
It’s not possible to control for all variables, unless the participants were confined to a laboratory for years, if not decades. That’s why researchers frequently caution readers that their conclusions suggest correlation rather than causation.
All such studies naturally have theoretical flaws, says Jane Uzcategui, professor of nutrition and food studies at Syracuse Universities. But the observational studies about the risks of red meat are so many, and so big, that we should give them a lot of weight, she adds.
*****“The fact that we’ll never have any better evidence does not make it good evidence,” retorts Professor Guyatt.*****
All findings that challenge a consensus generate a backlash. The latest study is the work of 14 researchers from seven countries.
The researchers aren’t without allies. Stanford University medical professor John Iannodis told Vox’s Julia Belluz that the latest study was “very rigorous and unbiased.”
He added, “These papers provide a nice counterbalance to the current norm in nutritional epidemiology where scientists with strong advocacy tend to overstate their findings and ask for major public health overhauls even though the evidence is weak.”


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Top fashion designer featured on Sex and the City is charged with smuggling endangered crocodile skin purses worth up to $10,000 to the US by using a network of couriers who pretended they were gifts
- Nancy Gonzalez was arrested Friday for smuggling purses made of endangered caiman and python skin into the U.S. from Colombia
- She paid a network of couriers to carrier the illicit products between the two countries over four years
- Gonzalez told the couriers to tell customs agents that the purses were gifts
- She and two men face 20 years in prison and up to $500,000 in fines
- Her handbags have been used by Britney Spears, Salma Hayek and Victoria Beckham
A Colombian-born fashion designer, whose animal skin purses have been used by celebrities and characters in 'Sex and the City,' was busted Friday on charges that she smuggled handbags made of endangered species into the country.
Nancy Gonzalez, owner of Gzuniga Ltd, and two other men were arrested by authorities in Columbia in coordination with an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for paying a network of couriers to fly hundreds of endangered python and caiman skin purses between the two countries.
Gonzalez will be extradited to the US to face charges.
Gonzalez's satchels can go for up to $10,000 each and have been sold in high-end department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman.
Nancy Gonzalez seen here in handcuffs after being arrested by authorities in Cali, Colombia for smuggling endangered crocodile and snake skin bags into the US
Gonzalez paid dozens of couriers to take hundreds of animal skin handbags between the Colombia and the U.S. where they sold for up to $10,000 each
Gonzalez's animal skin bags have been featured by in the hit TV show 'Sex and the City'
She and her alleged co-conspirators, Diego Rodriguez and John Aguilar, face up to 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Most caiman species are endangered, but some skins can be sold as long as the seller has obtained a certificate under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species or CITES.
Gonzalez, however, never obtained such permission and beginning in February 2016, she and her colleagues are alleged to have paid runners to carry multiple crocodile and snake skin bags in flights into Miami and JFK airports over the next four years.
Nancy Gonzalez, with her son Santiago, at a celebration for Bergdorff Goodman which sells her animal skin handbags for thousands of dollars each
The couriers would bring the clutches to the Gzuniga showroom in Midtown Manhattan where they would be sold or displayed during Fashion Week in September or Resort Week in June, according to a federal indictment filed in Miami federal court.
The fashion mules were told to say that the bags were gifts for friends and family if they were questioned by authorities.
In 2019, as many as 12 people carrying four handbags each boarded a flight to the U.S. with round-trip tickets paid for by Gonzalez, investigators from the Fish and Wildlife Service told the Associated Press.
Gonzalez is expected to be extradited to the U.S. to face charges of violating an international agreement on the importation of endangered animal products
The investigators asked for their identities to remain anonymous in order to not jeopardize their probe.
Gonzalez started out by making belts and transitioned to handbags in the late 1990s following a trip to New York, when she was encouraged by a designer store executive to build up a collection.
Salma Hayek, Britney Spears and Victoria Beckham reportedly bought her carefully crafted handbags, though it's not clear if any of those were among the bags allegedly brought in illegally.
Her work also was included in a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
In a 2019 interview Gonzalez told the Miami Herald that she felt 'an enormous responsibility and commitment' to improve her products, every time she saw a picture or a video of a celebrity using one of her handbags.
An email sent to Gonzalez's website by the MailOnline seeking comment was not immediately returned.
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Also a first look at the game’s horde mode.
Capcom has released a new trailer for Resident Evil Umbrella Corps, showing another of the classic locales being revisited in the online team-based shooter, the Village from Resident Evil 4. Yes, you will be able to engage in a heated firefight with another mercenary team while being gaped at by poor, rural villagers in the thrall of a cult.
The second half is dedicated to a single-player mode, “The Experiment”, where players can develop skills for the multiplayer game by playing through 20 missions in an Umbrella facility.
In the video’s closing moments, it teases the forthcoming reveal of a third combat zone from Resident Evil past. The brief glimps suggests that it’s likely Kijuju, the fictional West African city which kicks off the events of Resident Evil 5.
Umbrella Corps is an online multiplayer shooter where players compete as teams of three mercenaries, fighting against each other while also dealing with zombies and other Resident Evil creatures. The game is expected to arrive in May for PC and PlayStation 4.


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I have enclosed a follow up interview with Transcanna TCAN CSE. They recently announced an expansion of their financing from 10 to 16 million and the closing of their takeover of a plant in California. The stock has nearly tripled from when we first talked about. It is in a very interesting part of the Cannabis industry this being product marketing and branding which is being over looked.
Disclosure David Skarica’s family owns stock in the company and they are a corporate subscriber too Addicted to Profits.


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Univision joins Project OAR to help evolve Spanish-language addressable TV strategies
Hispanic media giant Univision has joined Project OAR—an abbreviation of “Open Addressable Ready”—to find strategic solutions for addressable TV advertising management, signing onto an established roster of industry players who are all working toward that common goal.
Univision will join Project OAR’s so-called “Steering Committee,” which was formed in 2018 to examine the state of addressable advertising and collaborate in a mission to further it.
The group is already a who’s-who of more than a dozen major names that form the core of the U.S. entertainment media business, including NBCUniversal, Disney, Fox, ViacomCBS and smart TV manufacturer Vizio.
“Together as an industry, we are helping to advance addressable TV advertising, deliver relevant experiences for all consumer audiences and present new advertising opportunities for marketers,” says Donna Speciale, the newly appointed president of advertising sales and marketing for Univision. Central to the Project’s mission is meeting the needs of advertising partners “in a changing media landscape,” she adds.
The “Open Addressable Ready” standards which the consortium of media players have been working on are designed to optimize a network’s advertising strategies and address underperforming—or unsold—inventory, while simultaneously examining different demographics and regions for localized, targeted ad content.
Given Univision’s new collaboration with Project OAR, it can now offer the company the ability to deliver new, unique marketing solutions across its massive Spanish-language TV portfolio that includes Univision and UniMás, as well as cable networks such as Galavisión.
“Univision will help advance opportunities for Spanish-language media, ultimately unlocking addressable at scale” with its long-standing Hispanic audiences, says Adam Gaynor, Vizio’s VP of network partnerships and head of addressable.
The Spanish-language reach that Univision brings to the table will likely further the progress the group has made in recent years, including the testing measurement techniques for the delivery of addressable ads, which entered into the market trial phase in late 2020 via linear and on-demand formats on smart TVs.


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Cinematography World is proud to announce the launch of a brand new dedicated pavilion at this year’s IBC event in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from 15-18 September.
Located in Hall 12, the Cinematography World pavilion, which will also feature a hospitality area, offers an ideal exhibition opportunity for film and TV companies to have a presence at IBC through a community space, whether they are previous exhibitors or looking to exhibit for the first time.
The diverse range of supporters already included are Kemama, Desisti Lighting, Filmsticks, 4130/Forty One Thirty, The Light Bridge, ROSCO, and K5600, and Cinematography World will be welcoming more names to the pavilion.
As an IBC2023 media partner, Cinematography World looks forward to showcasing its exciting publication, focusing on the global community of cinematographers and their collaborators involved and in the art and craft of visual storytelling.
Cinematography World sales director, Claire Saunders commented:
“This is a great opportunity to present Cinematography World magazine as well as our pavilion exhibitors to IBC2023’s audience. We look forward to welcoming guests on to the pavilion where they will be able to meet with our supporting sponsors and learn more about their products and services including some new products that have been introduced this year. Please come and join us for a chat and a drink to network with new and existing colleagues and sign up for your free digital subscription to Cinematography World.”


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Demand for mid-sized SUVs has collapsed like a pricked balloon.
For a variety of reasons -- chiefly the SUVs' high prices, poor fuel economy and relatively harsh ride and handling -- consumers are switching to crossovers.
In the first six months of the year, U.S. sales of four of the best-selling nameplates in the mid-sized SUV segment -- the Ford Explorer, Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango -- are down 20 to 30 percent.
To be sure, sales of the Nissan Pathfinder have held steady, and sales of the Toyota 4Runner are up a bit. But for the first six months of the year, sales for the entire segment are down 14.1 percent, according to the Automotive News Data Center.
It's rare to see a product segment collapse so quickly, especially one that was solidly profitable just a few years ago.
General Motors has responded by canceling plans to redesign the TrailBlazer in 2009. Instead, GM will roll out more crossover vehicles. The automaker has recognized that the mid-sized SUV segment is showing no signs of recovery.
But not all players are bailing out. Cisco Codina, Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. sales chief, says the company is "pretty bullish about continuing to have an Explorer as it exists today." If GM kills the TrailBlazer, he says, "We'll be happy to sell to Chevy owners."
Despite the Explorer's declining sales, Codina says, Ford has a large group of Explorer owners who appreciate the vehicle's utility. The Explorer is the best-selling vehicle in the mid-sized SUV segment, he says.
Ford will entice crossover buyers with vehicles such as the Edge, which debuts late this year. But Ford will hang on to its truck-based SUVs.
"Ford has really defined that segment for a long time," Codina says. "I would say it's hard to envision 2012, so for the time being, we need to have the Explorer."
Likewise, Toyota is sticking with the 4Runner, which is built on a pickup platform. Through June, U.S. sales of the 4Runner are up 5.4 percent. And because Toyota sells that vehicle worldwide, it does not rely on any one region to prop up 4Runner sales.
"Toyota doesn't do many dedicated vehicles for many markets," says Jim Hall, vice president of industry analysis at AutoPacific Inc. in Southfield, Mich. "They try to be as flexible as possible. That's Toyota's strength."
Cars vs. trucks
Analysts say the mid-sized SUV segment is evolving away from body-on-frame platforms -- ideal for sturdy trucks -- to unibody platforms borrowed from cars.
Off-road enthusiasts still prefer traditional, truck-based SUVs. And motorists who want to haul a trailer will opt for full-sized SUVs -- such as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition or Toyota Land Cruiser -- that have the best towing capacity.
Among consumers who are not concerned about towing capacity, mid-sized SUVs are losing out to crossovers that offer a smoother, carlike ride.
Likewise, luxury brands are beefing up their crossover lineups as upscale buyers switch to carlike vehicles. Acura's new RDX crossover is an example.
Dan Bonawitz, vice president of corporate planning and logistics for American Honda Motor Co., predicts the crossover segment will grow 500 percent over the next five years.
Indeed, crossovers are replacing mid-sized SUVs as the family wagon for most families.
"The crossovers do a great job of servicing so many people's needs," says Erich Merkle, director of forecasting for the automotive consulting company IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids, Mich. "They aren't going to jump over rocks off-road, but most people aren't using crossovers for that purpose. They're using them to haul people around."