Latest Posts Under: ldbmuuum
InterTradeIreland’s latest all-Island Business Monitor (Q2 2019) reveals the business environment remains resilient, with 40% of companies across the island reporting growth.Optimism for the year ahead is however in short supply, with the number of businesses expecting an increase in growth over the next 12 months down to 2009 levels.Dealing with Brexit is by far the biggest cause of this uncertain outlook. 45% of businesses overall, and almost 60% of manufacturing firms, record Brexit as the key issue they face.Worryingly, however, despite a range of support services, only 11% of respondents say they have made any preparations in the event of a ‘no-deal ’ Brexit.In terms of getting ready for a no-deal outcome, bigger firms with more capacity are better prepared with 35% saying they have made preparations. At the other extreme, only 1 in 10 micro businesses has made any preparations.Tellingly, 82% of cross-border traders, who are most exposed in the event of a no-deal, have not prepared for that outcome. Indeed, only 14% of businesses trading cross-border have examined the impact of customs, while just 12% have looked at the effect of tariffs.Aidan Gough, InterTradeIreland’s Designated Officer and Director of Strategy and Policy, said: “The disparity between businesses recognising Brexit as the key issue facing them and the number actually preparing for it remains a worry. While we appreciate the uncertainty facing businesses and the constant challenge to win new and service existing orders, we nevertheless implore firms, particularly those that trade across the border, to make themselves aware of the issues that Brexit could pose for their operations and to explore mitigating options.“There is a range of supports out there for businesses, including InterTradeIreland’s Brexit on-line learning resources and funding of up to £4,500/ €5,000 to help with expert advice. “Don’t leave it until the last minute. There are lots of small steps that businesses can begin to take now to prepare, whatever the outcome. It doesn’t have to be onerous. Planning is never wasted and is much preferable to panic if left undone.“While Brexit remains the overwhelming issue facing businesses, particularly small businesses, there is a concern that failure to remove the uncertainty is exposing businesses to more problems in the longer term. As the pace of technological change advances at a rate that leads many commentators to refer to a new industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), the latest Business Monitor finds only around a fifth of businesses on the island have heard of the fourth industrial revolution, with even less being aware of its possible implications which for many industries and businesses could be profound.”
Users have said they are receiving emails from Amazon containing invoices and order updates on other customers, TechCrunch has learned.Jake Williams, founder of cybersecurity firm Rendition Infosec, raised the alarm after he received an email from Amazon addressed to another customer with their name, postal address and their order details.Williams said he ordered something months ago which recently became available for shipping. He checked the email headers to make sure it was a genuine message.“I think they legitimately intended to email me a notification that my item was shipping early,” he said. “I just think they screwed something up in the system and sent the updates to the wrong people.”He said the apparent security lapse was worrying because emails about orders sent to the wrong place is a “serious breach of trust” that can reveal private information about a customer’s life, such as sexual orientation, proclivities or other personal informationSeveral other Amazon customers also said they received emails seemingly meant for other people.“I made an order yesterday afternoon and received her email last night,” another customer who tweeted about the mishap told TechCrunch. “Luckily I’m not a malicious person but that’s a huge security issue,” she said.Another customer tweeted out about receiving an email meant for someone else. He said he spoke to Amazon customer service, which said they will investigate additional security issues.“Hope you didn’t send my sensitive account info to someone else,” he added.And, one other customer posted a tweet thread about the issue, saying they spoke to a supervisor about the issue who gave a “nonchalant” response, she wrote. She said the supervisor said the issue happens frequently.Cecilia Fan, a spokesperson for Amazon, said: “Due to a technical issue, some customers were inadvertently sent a Delivery Estimate Update email not intended for them. We have fixed the technical issue and are informing impacted customers.”It’s the second security lapse in a year. In November the company emailed customers saying a “technical error” had exposed an unknown number of their email addresses. When asked about specifics, the notoriously secretive company declined to comment further.Updated with Amazon comment.
Discover the new UNESCO World Heritage Sites with Booking.comDiscover the new UNESCO World Heritage Sites with Booking.comThere are over a thousand World Heritage Sites, and every year UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) gets dozens of applications for new sites. To be selected the site must be of exceptional value and meet at least one of ten very strict criteria. This year UNESCO announced 21 new World Heritage Sites: 3 natural and 18 cultural. The new sites can be found in every corner of the world, from icy Greenland to the Kalahari Desert, and from the mountains of the Andes to the temples of Cambodia.To celebrate the induction of these new cultural and natural wonders, Booking.com, the global leader in connecting travellers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, has selected a few of the most exciting new sites and even though some of them are in remote locations we still found some great places to stay nearby.Los Alerces National Park (Argentina)The Los Alerces National park is located in the Andes in the Argentinian Chubut Province. It is one of the new natural World Heritage Sites on UNESCO’s list. The park owes its name to the many ‘alerce trees’ that can be found there. Besides vast forests the landscape consists of alpine meadows and beautiful lakes and rivers. The park is also home to several endangered animals like the huillín otter and the Patagonian huemul and pudú deer.Where to stay: Laguna Larga Lodge Lago Futalaufquen Laguna Larga Lodge is located on a 120-hectare estate in the national park. It is three miles from the magnificent Futalaufquen Lake, but just a couple of steps from the lake Laguna Larga. It boasts its own beach and pier and cosy Alpine-style accommodation with lake views. Every day you can enjoy a full American breakfast and the restaurant offers international dishes. Horse riding trips through the beautiful landscape can be arranged as well as fishing trips. Booking.com travellers rate the location of Laguna Larga Lodge as one of the best in the area.Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura (Cambodia)Isanapura was the capital of the Chenla Empire that flourished in the late 6th and early 7th centuries. To this day, the ruins of dozens of temples and buildings can still be admired at the archaeological site Sambor Prei Kuk in the Kompong Thom province. The architecture and art developed here laid the foundations for the unique Khmer style of the Angkor period. Highlights are the unique octagonal temples and the beautifully decorated colonnades, lintels and pediments.Where to stay: Sambor Village Hotel Kompong ThomOverlooking the scenic Stung Sen River, Sambor Village Hotel is located 650 yards from central Kompong Thom, a 40 minute drive from Sambor Prei Kuk. Rooms at Sambor Village Hotel come with a cable TV, personal safe, minibar, spacious veranda and outdoor seating area. You can use the free bicycles to explore the area at leisure and cool down in the pool. Refreshing cocktails can be enjoyed by the poolside bar and only the freshest ingredients are used to prepare the local dishes served at Sambor Village. Travellers from Booking.com have rated the hotel for the best value in Kompong ThomKulangsu, a Historic International Settlement (China)Gulangyu is a small island located on the estuary of the Chiu-lung River, off the coast of the Xiamen. When the port of Xiamen opened for international trade in 1842, foreigners started to come to Gulangyu. In 1903 it even became an international settlement. This cultural exchange is visible in the exceptional architectural styles on the island, like the Amoy Deco Style. Gulangyu is a popular tourist attraction, with more than 10 million visitors a year, but does not allow cars or bicycles. The island can be reached by ferry from downtown Xiamen, which only takes five minutes.Where to stay: Flower Yard Inn Xiamen Gulangyu Anhai Garden Branch, which is located on Guilangyu, less than one mile from Huangu Ferry Marina. All rooms have a TV, a private bathroom and complementary Wi-Fi. The inn is just a couple of miles from Nanputuo Temple and there is a tour desk that can help guests arrange excursions. The property has one of the best-rated locations the area, according to Booking.com guests.Taputapuātea (French Polynesia)Taputapuātea is a commune of French Polynesia on the island Ra’iatea. It is considered the centre of the Polynesian Triangle and consists of Avera, Puohine and Opoa. In Opoa, you’ll find the ‘marae’, a communal and sacred place that served as a ceremonial, political and funerary centre for the Ma’ohi people. It was established 1,000 years CE and restored in 1994. It consists of a large paved courtyard overlooking the sea, a large upright stone and several tiki’s. It is one of the largest and most important marae of the world.Where to stay: Fare Oviri Lodge OpoaFare Oviri Lodge overlooks a private white sandy beach and offers Polynesian-style bungalows with a private patio and lovely views of the mountains and sea. It features free snorkelling, canoeing equipment and free Wi-Fi in public areas. The tour desk can arrange diving trips and boat tours around the island, so it’s no wonder Booking.com guests highly rate it for friendly staff! Oviri lodge Raiatea is only three miles from the Taputapuātea marae.Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk (Russia)Sviyazhsk is an island and town in the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russia. It was founded in 1551 by Ivan the Terrible who used it as an outpost for his conquest of the Kazan Khanate. Originally it wasn’t an island, but when the Kuybyshev Reservoir was created, the lands around it flooded. However, a road still connects Sviyazhsk to the mainland. On the island you will find the Assumption Monastery and Assumption Cathedral, both dating back to the 16th century. The original frescoes of the cathedral have been preserved and are some of the rarest examples of Eastern Orthodox mural paintings.Where to stay: Hotel Complex Dejavu InnopolisInnopolis Hotel Complex Dejavu is situated in Innopolis, a technology park that got its town status in 2014. The hotel is a 30-minute drive from Sviyazhsk and Kazan. It has an outdoor pool and spa centre, as well as Finnish and Turkish sauna and guests can enjoy a drink at the bar or a meal at the restaurant. In the winter, you can enjoy the nearby ski slopes and in the summer, you can play golf 550 yards from the property. Booking.com travellers love the location.ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape (South Africa)The ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape is located in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa on the border with Namibia and Botswana. The nomadic ǂKhomani San people were considered to be the first inhabitants of South Africa. They learned how to adopt to harsh desert conditions and other geographical features of their environment. You can visit the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park if you want to get an idea of the ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape.Where to stay: Xaus Lodge Kgalagadi Transfrontier ParkXaus Lodge is located in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park which is part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The lodge is owned by traditional South African communities and the chalets are designed like their own traditional dwellings but with a private bathroom. The lodge features a swimming pool and a restaurant and you can enjoy the view of many animal species at the water pan. You can go on guided bush walks or visit to the San people in their village. Guests from Booking.com love the friendly staff.Source = Booking.com
The grey skies above Auckland were a stark contrast to the deep blue colours of Air Tahiti Nui’s new Dreamliner as it landed in Auckland for the first time on Thursday.Described as the new pearl in the airline’s fleet, a brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner – named Fakarava – is the first to sport the airline’s new livery.The paint job still features the airline’s iconic blue tones that Tahiti is synonymous with, as well as the airline’s trademark tiare flower. But now they’re accompanied by a new tattoo pattern that represents the story of Tahiti and its people.Air Tahiti Nui has also paid tribute to its Polynesian heritage in a less obvious way. When all four of the Dreamliner fleet arrive, their registration letters will tell a story: ‘The warrior (TOA) going forward (MUA) in the great (NUI) canoe (VAA)’.The new interior also features a distinctly Tahitian colour palette, in keeping with the new look being inspired by “nui” (meaning “grand” or “great”).Air Tahiti Nui recently named Daniel Eggenberger as its new general manager for the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand region.The Swiss national, who previously worked for KLM and Air France, says couldn’t turn down the chance to live and work in the Pacific.“This posting is a dream come true for so many reasons,” says Mr Eggenberger.“Air Tahiti Nui is a modern airline that offers a niche product with a wonderful sense of family, as well as an international network that will soon be connected by a fleet of cutting-edge Dreamliners.”The story behind the Air Tahiti Nui liveryTiare flower: Since the airline’s launch, a white tiare flower has adorned the tail of every Air Tahiti Nui plane. While the fleet and livery design has changed, the tiare has stayed, a proud reminder of the airline’s last 20 years. Each guest receives a real tiare flower upon arrival, a living, fragrant symbol of Polynesian hospitality.Shades of Blue: The three main shades of blue on the aircraft represent Tahiti’s oceans, lagoons and the sky above.Tattoo: ‘Tatau’ originated in French Polynesia and the tattoo designs on the rear of the Tahitian Dreamliner represent the story of Tahiti.Red Lines: The Tahitian Dreamliner carries two red lines on its sides representing French Polynesia’s flag.Newshub.The post Air Tahiti-Nui’s new Dreamliner touches down in Auckland for the first time appeared first on Discover the South Pacific.Source: Blog