The new 'hell hot' sauce
‘Bernie in Hell’. This is the name of a new habanero sauce, featuring the face of disgraced Wall Street investor Bernard Madoff on its label, which was launched yesterday by New York based artist Alex Gardega.
Bernard Madoff is accused of having defrauded his clients of $50 billion in the largest Wall Street scam ever.
Each bottle is a work of fine art, argues Gardega on his blog, and sells at $10 each.
Shekh Zayed Road, Dubai
What goes around comes around.
After years of crazy spending and sensational growth, Dubai has recorded a deficit of nearly €851 million for 2008, The Observer says today.
It also reports how real estate projects were put under review due to the current economic crisis.
I would love to know if the crisis hitting Dubai is going to affect plans for SmartCity@Malta in Malta.
Primark may be financially successful, but its ethical record is not so bright, especially after yesterday.
Primark, known for its cheap garments and a symbol of the fast fashion phenomenon, had to launch an investigation yesterday as an undercover investigation carried by The Observer and BBC showed that workers were being abused of their rights at Manchester based TNS Knitwear, one of its suppliers.
The textile firm which produces garments for Primark was found to be employing illegal immigrants, mostly Indians, Afghans and Pakistanis. These were allegedly being paid £3 an hour – just over half the minimum wage of £5.73 – for 12-hour days, seven days a week in a damp and cramped environment.
Primark argued in a statement that TNS Knitwear was a ‘relatively small supplier’. But this hasn’t stopped ethical trade watchdog ETI from revoking its label from Primark stores last Friday.
Primark is considered as the fastest growing retail chain in Britain. Thanks to its success, the chain’s holding company posted £8.2 billion in revenues last year.
The question is: If Primark took the case of a ‘small supplier’ so seriously, how would a Maltese businessman have acted were the press to uncover any ethical wrongdoing?
Also, isn’t it high time Government starts promoting the idea of ethical standards in employment and business?
Video: Customers flocking into Primark’s Oxford Street Store on its opening day. This store is Primark’s jewel in the crown.
Game publisher Eidos announced that 2008 sales for its game Tomb Raider: Underworld, featuring computer character Lara Croft, were below expectations, especially in the United States.
Eidos in fact expected its sales to be around STG 200 million for 2008 but is now revising the figure by STG 20 million downwards.
The game publisher now hopes Batman will manage to fight the recession away in 2009. Will he manage?
Video: Tomb Raider: Underworld trailer
British travel companies are going to axe holiday packages on offer by as much as 20%, The Guardian reports today.
This has prompted the King’s Cross based newspaper to say that:
Last-minute deals will disappear over the next two years
The newspaper also reports that British travellers are choosing long-haul destinations like Australia and New Zealand and medium-haul destinations as Egypt as countries in the Euro area, including Malta, become too expensive for them.
So, the article begs the question: Is it wise for Malta to continue investing in new routes and more marketing in the UK when our product is becoming more expensive among British tourists?
Video: A Thomas Cook advert released in February 2008. Everything was different just eleven months ago: Malta was registering double-digit growth in its tourism industry.
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