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Issue no: 1212/211
• DECEMBER 17 - 19, 2019
• PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY
PRICE: GEL 2.50
In this week's issue... Weekly Entrepreneurial News @entrepreneur.ge NEWS PAGE 2
Bidzina Ivanishvili on Georgia's European Choice NEWS PAGE 2
FOCUS ON M|GROUP Discover the many projects of this renowned company
Why the Georgian Monetary Policy Was Tightened
PACE Monitors Disappointed by Lifetime Appointment of 14 Judges in Georgia NEWS PAGE 4
EU4Digital: eSkills Network Workshop in Tbilisi BUSINESS PAGE 7
20,000 People to Benefit from a New Community Center in Kachagani BUSINESS PAGE 8
EU & US Should Support GUAM. The Georgian Perspective
BY TEA MARIAMIDZE
he President of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG), Koba Gvenetadze, who arrived in Parliament on December 13 to attend the approval of the document on monetary and credit policy, explained why the monetary policy was being tightened. On December 11, the NBG tightened its monetary policy by 0.5%, from 8.5 to 9% which is the highest refinancing rate since 2008. Gvenetadze said that in response to rising inflation of up to 7%, the NBG decided the rate on refinancing loans had to be raised. He explained that refinancing loans is a key operating tool of the monetary policy, by which the National Bank delivers the amount of money the system needs at any given point in time. He noted the supply of liquidity means its total sup-
POLITICS PAGE 11
Georgia, Ukraine Discuss Deepening Economic Cooperation POLITICS PAGE 11 Image source: Imedinews.ge
ply, not just refinancing loans. In addition to refinancing loans, Gvenetadze said that liquidity in the system can be reduced or increased by other channels, such as government operations, foreign exchange operations, open market operations, and more. The NBG balances liquidity fluctuations caused from other sources through the refinancing rate. "The National Bank delivers liquidity and money on demand at a given interest rate. To sum up, the NBG, like other central banks, is supplying money on a cost-based rather than quantitative basis, i.e. by changing interest rates. The operational framework used by the National Bank in conducting monetary policy is in full compliance with the best practices of leading central banks of small open economies," he said. The head of the NBG also noted that since March this year, annual inflation has been above 3%, and in November it stood at 7.0%. Continued on page 5
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GEORGIA TODAY
The New York Times on the Rally Held in Support of Abducted Georgian Doctor @entrepreneur.ge Gamarjoba! I'm the Editor-in-Chief of the Georgian edition of Entrepreneur magazine and I'm here to share the top weekly Entrepreneurial news with you: Mariam Ninikashvili has been creating diverse enamel jewelry for nine years. Mariam works the full cycle with enamel – from processing the metal to fitting the enamel. She learned from her goldsmith father, getting involved in the process of metalwork when she was just 10, so she knows every small detail. Mariam had her first individual exhibition at Vache Gallery in 2016. Her next personal exhibition was held in Prague in 2017. Since last year, Mariam has shared her techniques with others, teaching them the secrets of enamel. You can find and get Mariam's beautiful work in numerous locations: Caucasus Decoroom, Form, Art Line Gallery, and EthnoDesign. In 2016, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the Georgian alphabet to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The painter-designers Nino Slepchenko and Levan Vateishvili now present the Georgian alphabet with a new look, using a geometric system. Porcelain dishes, jewelry, lights, different items of interior design, decorative mirrors, and many other beautiful objects, all made by Saini, are unique in their design, shape, and context. The creators of Saini have come up with ornaments for each Georgian letter, up to 2000 unique works. In 2018, the brand won the main prize at the Creative Business Cup Georgia. The winner in its motherland, Saini presented itself on the international platform, becoming one of the winning 53 international start-up companies. K PAX GROUP, founded two years ago by Teona Altunashvili and Irakli Tskitishvili, imports promo accessories from all around the world. The team stays up to date with the world news and trends, visits various countries and does their work accordingly to the international demands and standards. The company stands out for its innovations – K PAX GROUP was the first to offer the Georgian market PopSockets. Hundreds of Georgian and international firms are clients of the company, using its service and promo accessories. The K PAX GROUP vows to strengthen consumer trust and to continue the development and progress by staying innovative and energetic. Follow the Entrepreneur Georgia Instagram page to get the latest updates from Georgian Entrepreneurs. For doing business with Georgian Entrepreneurs, write us on business@entrepreneur.ge
BY ANA DUMBADZE
he New York Times has published an article on the rally in support of Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili held on December 15, a month after he was sent to two-month pretrial detention "for deliberately crossing the border" of the occupied Tskhinvali region. The demonstrators gathered near the Republic Square in central Tbilisi and went to the village of Odzisi close to the occupation line. As the participants of the rally explained, one of the main purposes of the demonstration was the Ossetian people to hear their voices and demands. "Hundreds of Georgians rallied on the boundary with breakaway South Ossetia on Sunday to demand the release of a prominent doctor who was detained after crossing into the region, controlled by Russia since a 2008 war," reads the
article written by Margarita Antidze, titled 'Hundreds of Georgians Demand Release of Doctor Detained in Separatist South Ossetia.' "Vazha Gaprindashvili, president of Georgia's Association of Orthopaedists and Traumatologists, was taken to South Ossetia's regional center Tskhinvali on Nov. 9 and given two months of pretrial custody by separatist authorities, who said the doctor had crossed illegally into the territory. "Hundreds of people including Gaprin-
dashvili's relatives, colleagues, politicians and civic activists gathered on Sunday at the administrative boundary line in the village of Odzisi demanding Gaprindashvili's release. "Some held posters saying 'Freedom for Doctor Vazha!' and 'Love for the Motherland is not a crime.'" The Georgian Foreign Ministry said last month the doctor's detention "highlights the alarming situation of human rights violations in the occupied territories."
Bidzina Ivanishvili on Georgia's European Choice
solemn event on the occasion of taking over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe by Georgia was held on Liberty Square in Tbilisi this weekend, organized by the youth wing of the Georgian Dream. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Chairman of the Georgian Dream party, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, party leaders, ministers and lawmakers attended the event. As majority MPs of the Ruling Party claimed, "this day emphasized our European choice." The leader of Georgian Dream deliv-
ered speech at the event, emphasizing its importance for the future of the country and the relations between Georgia and Europe. ''The young people, my brothers-inarms, and all of Georgia! Seven years have passed since the most unprecedentedly populous gathering in the history of Georgia, when half a million citizens gathered here, on this very square! On this square, which bears the name of freedom. Seven years ago on this square, we – practically the entire country – came together precisely to restore freedom and dignity! And today, we are once again united
at the same place by our unconditional commitment to the European choice!" Ivanishvili said. "What does Europe mean to us?" he asked. "Europe primarily is the democracy that was conceived in ancient Greece, 'righteous justice,' and a Christian soul; Europe is tolerance and diversity. "We, the nation that organically shares these values and possesses a continuous culture that spans numerous centuries, boldly and proudly declare that we are Europeans, and we will not return to the great family of Europe empty-handed," he said. Continued on page 10
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell Comments on Recent Political Developments BY BEKA ALEXISHVILI
arl Hartzell, the EU ambassador to Georgia, displayed concerns about Sunday's talks between the opposition and the authorities, which, he said, were "difficult." But the Ambassador expressed optimism and expectation that a fourth round of negotiations would take place. "Yesterday's talks were quite difficult. Most importantly, all parties are eager to continue seeking agreement to identify the areas that can be discussed. We, as mediators, are trying to find ways to continue it and then to advise the parties to hold another round of talks," Hartzell told journalists. The EU Ambassador also spoke about the approval of the Supreme Court judges. He said there were some questions and concerns about the process of appointment. "We welcome that the selection procedures have been set up, and open and transparent hearings held in parliament. This is a positive fact, as it is a precedent for the future. We have some questions and concerns about the process of naming the candidates. We, of course, mention the success that has been achieved, however, there are some things to be
done in the future. The recommendations of OSCE / ODIHR and other observers, including civil society, should be taken into consideration," he said. The third meeting between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition regarding the electoral changes ended without significant results. The opponents met in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on December 15 to discuss the possibility of moving to a multimandate system from 2020. Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani, who is also the Vice Prime Minister, said after the meeting that the system proposed by the opposition cannot be acceptable for Georgia. Opposition European Georgia MP Giga Bokeria said the ruling party asked for additional time to think over the so-called 'German model,' adding that the ruling party now allegedly needs time to consult with their chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili. The meetings, mediated by diplomatic corps, followed the rejection of the GDproposed election bill on November 14, which aimed to move to a fully proportional electoral system starting from 2020 instead of 2024. The opposition is now demanding a mixed electoral system for the 2020 elections based on the German model, which distributes seats in parliament based on votes received in proportional elections.
PACE Monitors Disappointed by Lifetime Appointment of 14 Judges in Georgia
he co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Georgia have expressed their "regret and disappointment" over the recent appointment of 14 Supreme Court judges.
"During our visit in September, we expressed our serious concerns about the opaque and deficient selection process of candidates for the Supreme Court by the High Council of Justice. At that time we expressed our expectation that the parliament would rectify the shortcomings in the selection process, including by appointing only the minimum number of judges needed to ensure the proper functioning of the Supreme Court, in line with the recommendations of the
Venice Commission," said the co-rapporteurs. "We now see that the parliament has appointed 14 out of 19 candidates, without proper reasoning and reportedly including persons who have not demonstrated during the selection process that they have the legal knowledge and independence required for such an important position. This can only be deplored." The co-rapporteurs emphasized that it was now important to take swift measures to ensure the required public trust in the justice system and the independence of the judiciary. "To avoid repetition of the current situation, it is important that the Venice Commission recommendations for the selection process, including the use of uniform criteria, well-reasoned decisions and the abolition of secret voting, are adopted promptly, not only for the selection of Supreme Court judges but for judicial appointments in general," they added. In light of this development, the corapporteurs said they intended to make a monitoring visit to the country early next year. The Assembly brings together 324 members from the national parliaments of the 47 member states. President: Liliane Maury Pasquier (Switzerland, SOC) - Secretary General of the Assembly: Wojciech Sawicki. Political groups: EPP/ CD (Group of the European People's Party); SOC (Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group); EC/DA (European Conservatives Group & Democratic Alliance); ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe); UEL (Group of the Unified European Left).
AGHMASHENELI AVENUE 178; 0112 TBILISI — GEORGIA; T +995 (32) 222 10 35; F +995 (32) 222 10 73; EMAIL: HA1L2@ACCOR.COM
GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 17 - 19, 2019
M|group – Prominent Representative of Georgian Hospitality Industry Managing Six Different Projects Khinkali in Tbilisi. This is a "Sakhinkle" restaurant with timely and abundant service. The exotic energy of Imereti can be felt in the eclectic interior of the restaurant. The tastiest family dishes and a long-preserved tradition of Georgian hospitability will inspire you to visit Maspindzelo! again and again. Maspindzelo!, just like Bread House, is located in Old Tbilisi, at 7 Vakhtang Gorgasali Street. There are 100 seats in the restaurant. Its door are open for guests 24/7, so they can visit the facility any time to enjoy the hospitable environment and extremely delicious dishes.
he tourism and hospitality industry plays a significant role in the economic development of the country, a process which is essential for Georgia, where tourism represents an increasingly important component of the country's economy. There are several companies operating in this field in Georgia, contributing to its economic growth and creating a decent image among international travelers, boasting many years' experience, and JSC Hotels and Restaurants Management Group – m|group is distinguished among them for its diverse and trustworthy service. Founded in 2005, JSC m|group is considered as one of the front-runners in the hospitality industry in Georgia. Over 14 years of experience and hard work, the company has gained the trust of its consumers. Currently, it manages 6 projects with various concepts and price policies in Tbilisi and Kakheti (Kvareli). As a leader in the Georgian HoReCa sector, m|group was the first among CIS countries to obtain the ISO9001:2008 certificate in quality management system under the HACCP concept in 2008, and then the ISO 22000:2005 certificate in 2017. GEORGIA TODAY spoke to the representatives of m|group, Ana Bokeria, Deputy General Director in PR, Marketing, Sales and Business Development, and Natia Metreveli, the Head of the Sales and Marketing Department, to find out more about the company's service and its contribution to encouraging the tourism sector in the country. Ana: JSC Hotels and Restaurants Management Group – m|group already boasts 15 years' experience in the hospitality industry. The company is distinguished with its commitment and loyalty to quality standards. Our team is always focused on maintaining and improving the standards we've achieved throughout years.
m|group IS DISTINGUISHED WITH ITS DIVERSE SERVICE. AT THIS STAGE, IT COUNTS SIX LOCATIONS AND FACILITIES. COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THEM?
the Georgian traditional restaurant Bread House is noteworthy, characterized by a distinctive and authentic interior and consisting of three halls called 'Satone', 'Salonuri' and 'Satavado.' The restaurant amazes its guests with delightful national cuisine- one can taste the unique local dishes and delicious bread bakes. Most importantly, Bread House cares for preserving the local traditions and introducing them to travelers from all over the world. Once you enter Bread House, you will find yourself in the 'Satone,' a hall with a Georgian bakery. Long Kakhetian Shoti (traditional Georgian bread with an unforgettable flavor and taste) is baked in front of the guests directly, in a traditional deep clay oven called 'Tone'. Most importantly, if you have never baked Georgian bread at least once in your life, any interested guest is welcome to take part in the process, which is especially attractive and exciting for foreign visitors of the restaurant. Live Georgian music can be heard in the halls every evening. In summer, you can chill outside on the terrace, enjoy Georgian wine and the beautiful view of Old Tbilisi. Guests have the rare opportunity to taste the 'Treasure of the Georgian Feast' dishes. This is m|group's project, launched in 2010, which involved searching for indigenous Georgian dishes, recipes and rules of preparation, in order to save them from oblivion and to preserve these traditions for future generations. As the result of those expeditions, up to 150 rules of preparation of traditional Georgian dishes, the recipes of which were preserved among the elderly of the regions, were restored. Guests can taste up to 30 of those dishes only in m|group's chain of restaurants. Georgia has the oldest and most unique winemaking traditions. At Bread House, guests have an opportunity to taste a small selection of local wines in the wine cellar that is located within the venue. Bread House is located in the beautiful district of Old Tbilisi, at 7 Gorgasali Street. There are 145 seats in the restaurant. It works every day, from 12:00 to 01:00.
MASPINDZELO!
Currently, the company manages 5 facilities in Tbilisi and one in Kvareli, a town in the Kakheti region of Georgia.
IN THE SHADOW OF METEKHI
BREAD HOUSE
Among the facilities located in Tbilisi,
Natia: One of the most distinguished facilities of m|group is Otium, a restaurant located near Turtle Lake, at the edge of a forest. The venue becomes even more attractive in summer and spring, when it is surrounded with abundant greenery. This is a place where you can breathe fresh air, enjoy the evening with live music or attend a concert of various Georgian and foreign musicians. The concerts and performances of resident DJs and bands are held every weekend and most weekends, so Otium is perfect destination for youth to have an unforgettable time with friends. The modern interior of the restaurant, equipped with all essential technical gear and a big, beautiful garden yard near the forest make Otium an ideal venue for carrying out a wide range of activities, from weddings, birthday celebrations, and business meetings to art exhibitions and individual or corporate events, since it can easily adapt to any taste or desire. It offers a wide variety of special Georgian and European dishes, prepared by highly qualified chefs. Otium has a terrace offering beautiful views over Tbilisi, where guests can enjoy famous Georgian barbeque, Mtsvadi, and special Shoti bread in summer. They can also watch the process of preparing these dishes in the open kitchen showroom. There are up to 300 seats in the restaurant. In addition, it has quite a big garden, so that the entire space of these two venues can be united and used for relatively large-scale events. For instance, we recently celebrated the 5th birthday of SPAR, the supermarket chain, at Otium, and hosted about 500 people. So, the space is big enough and it perfectly fits any customer demand. Every year, we have a special guest at Otium – the Embassy of Switzerland. They have been celebrating their National Day at Otium for three years now. The events of various embassies, corporate parties, and weddings are often held at the restaurant. It is the perfect place for a romantic and beautiful wedding. We also welcome any type of exhibition and conference at our venue. Otium is located on Turtle Lake Alley and receives guests daily from 12:00 until the last guest leaves.
Metekhi is also one of the special venues of our company, distinguished by its historic concept. Its interior is based on the play with the same name, 'In the Shadow of Metekhi'. Accordingly, here, the entire atmosphere and interior reflect the theater. It offers a cozy ambience along with wonders of local cuisine, which makes the venue the perfect place to take your foreign guests and allow them to discover the authentic Georgian soul. From the windows of the restaurant and vast veranda, one can enjoy the breathtaking view of Old Tbilisi and River Mtkvari. Due to its location, the restaurant is quite popular among foreigners, who want to explore the old part of the city and enjoy its wonderful sights. Here, visitors are welcome to enjoy Georgian national songs and dances on a daily basis. There are 5 individual thematic rooms of different concept in the restaurant, which represent the different parts of ancient Georgia: 'Papakhiani' (man with traditional hat) with the concept of 18th19th century Georgia; 'Monadire' (hunter), where a stone fireplace, historic wine vessels and other details create an ancient Georgian mood; 'Old Tbilisi' - interior of 19th-20th century Tbilisi; while the 'Kasabi' (butcher) and 'Asian' rooms are for guests with any taste and interest. In the Shadow of Metekhi is the only restaurant in Georgia with the HACCP Concept Certificate and ISO Certificate 22000:2005. This year, the restaurant received the online magazine Lux Life's Global Hospitality prestigious award in the category 'Most Authentic Georgian Restaurant.' The restaurant is located in the historic district of Tbilisi, Avlabari, at 29 Ketevan Tsamebuli Avenue. It can serve up to 200 guests. The working hours are 12:00 – 01:00. Natia: Restaurant Ubani is the newly established facility of m|group. It was opened in September 2019 to meet customer needs and demand. Open 24/7, guests can come late at night, after having fun at night clubs, to relax and taste delicious Georgian cuisine. Here, we offer our guests national dish Khinkali, various kinds of soups, shared plates, etc. The design of the restaurant was developed in accordance with its name, 'Ubani' ('Neighborhood'). The entire atmosphere and interior will definitely make you feel like you're in one of the old districts of the city and will bring you closer to the authentic spirit of a Tbilisian neighborhood. The design of the restaurant was created by the prominent Georgian designer Tina Dzirkvadze, while the entrance was painted and decorated by street artist Luka Manjgaladze. Thanks to their work, even minor details here will bring you back to a beloved and warm environment. The location itself is very convenient for both tourists and local visitors, as it is in the central part of the city, on the road to/from the airport, so that one can bring their foreign guests here directly from the airport at any time. The exact address of the venue is 29a Queen Ketevan Avenue. The restaurant has 80 seats. As already mentioned, it works 24/7, which is one of the main superiorities of Ubani.
Next to Bread House, yet another distinctive facility of m|group, restaurant Maspindzelo!, is located, where food enthusiasts can sample the tastiest
The restaurant In the Shadow of
Catering is yet another important direction of the company's activities. It is one of m|group's core services, while 10 years of operation counts over 1,000
events and projects. In 2017, as part of the rebranding, the m|catering menu and assortment was completely renewed with sophisticated flavors and improved visual features. Moreover, the company produced a special line for children - m|kids, which is created with kids' favorite products. Our slogan is 'No Event is too Small or too Large,' which means that our service can fit any customer demand and events of any scale, not only in Tbilisi but in the regions as well. For instance, we hosted Ennio Morricone's concert at the Black Sea Arena and other important events in urban areas. Another important division of m|catering is industrial catering, with a capacity of up to 1,000 persons served per day; one of the recent examples of which was catering for the "Fast and Furious 9" shooting crew. Our company has a lot of experience in this field. The office is located in Tbilisi, at 40 Chantladze Street.
Ana: Apart from restaurants, m|group also manages the Hotel 'Kvareli Lake Resort' in the heart of Kakheti, one of the most beautiful regions of Georgia. To the east of the small town of Kvareli, beneath the southern slope of the Great Caucasus Mountains, Kvareli Lake Resort spreads over 300 hectares of beautiful natural landscape. In addition to the original 20-room Building A, in September 2019, the resort opened Building B. It has 41 comfortable rooms offering amazing views of Kakheti. It is also noteworthy that the new hotel is adapted to persons with disabilities. Building B was designed by the Architectural company Dmark, while the interior of the lobby belongs to the wellknown Georgian artist Nino Chubinishvili, aka Chubika, so the beauty of both interior and exterior of the resort perfectly matches. The virgin forest surrounding the resort, the lake in front, the vast Alazani valley behind and large hotel rooms, each equipped with small terrace and beautiful panoramic views, make Kvareli Lake Resort a unique place to stay. In addition to high quality service, amazing views and a restaurant with a Georgian menu, the hotel offers a wellequipped conference room for 120 people, with the opportunity of simultaneous interpretation, which makes it a perfect place for business events. Kvareli Lake Resort contributes to promoting a healthy lifestyle. The resort offers holidaymakers various activities for relaxation and entertainment, including boat trips, fishing, and cycling. So it makes the perfect destination to have an unforgettable time in a calm environment with your loved ones. Of course, our activities are aimed at promoting the tourism sector and contributing to the economic development of Georgia; however, we are equally focused on foreign and local customers, not only on tourists. Each customer's opinion and needs, regardless of their nationality, is of utmost importance for our team. Creating a pleasant and warm environment and gifting them memorable, happy moments in life is our main goal. As for the future plans of the m|group, the company representatives prefer it to be a surprise for customers; however, they claim that there are many pleasant novelties and projects planned for 2020, and the entire team of the company will spare no effort to implement them successfully. +995 032 2 30 30 30 info@mgroup.ge www.mgroup.ge
Borjomi & Bakuriani May Host 2025 European Olympic Winter Festival
BY ELENE DZEBISASHVILI
orjomi and Bakuriani have been nominated as candidate host cities for the 2025 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival. The President of the European Olympic Committee (EOC), Janez Kocijancic, together with the secretary general Raffaele Pagnozzi, sent a letter to the President of the National Olympic Committee of Georgias (GNOC), Leri Khabelov, officially confirming the candidate status for Georgian resorts. The festival's evaluation commission will pay an official visit to Borjomi and Bakuriani in February 2020. GNOC must provide EOC with all essential information on festival hosting by July 31, 2020. The winning candidate is set to be revealed at a general assembly of the EOC in November 2020. The nomination is a further boost to Bakuriani,
15 M. Kostava str. (+995) 322 30 03 05
the winter resort in the high Caucasus that already dominates the scene for sports enthusiasts. Recent news from Bakuriani include the planning of a joint French-Georgian restoration of a track for biathlon, the Olympic sport combining skiing and rifle shooting, making this option available for the first time in 30 years in the country. This is a move to further improve winter sports facilities with a bold view towards future Olympics hosting. Borjomi, one of Georgia's most unique resort localities, has been the subject of a 2018-announced state project that envisages to transform it into a network of historical attractions. Under the initiative, the monuments and sites are being subject to the restoration and development project titled Borjomi - a Museum City. Beside the historical sites and buildings from the Tsarist era, including 19th century residential houses for Russian Imperial nobility, the town also features a vintage narrowgauge railway passing over its picturesque natural landscapes, connecting it to Bakuriani.
Georgia and the US State of Georgia Mark 25 Years of Military Partnership BY BEKA ALEXISHVILI
he Republic of Georgia and the US state of Georgia National Guard are celebrating the 25th anniversary of military cooperation. The partnership between the two states cultivates interoperability amongst the US and Georgia and further endorses peace and security, the US Embassy to Georgia reports. US Major General Thomas Carden was in Tbilisi to attend the 25th anniversary of the state partnership program "to commemorate the enduring relationship between the country of Georgia and the US state of Georgia," the US Embassy stated. Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Garibashvili celebrated the US-Georgia "strong and exemplary partnership" during the 25th-anniversary event last
week and stated that the partnership is "of the highest importance" for Georgia. "We are further developing our relations with the US, taking steps to further strengthen democratic institutions in the country and are striving toward NATO integration," Garibashvili said. Acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood, as well as officials from the US and Georgia, attended the event held at the Georgian Defense Ministry Army Hall.
Why the Georgian Monetary Policy Was Tightened Continued from page 1 Gvenetadze noted that inflation was affected by single factors at the beginning of the year: excise taxes on tobacco products increased significantly, as well as rising food prices, which are less dependent on the National Bank's monetary policy. "Central banks do not usually respond to such factors, as they are almost impossible to neutralize with monetary instruments. Inflation has accelerated since September, largely due to the depreciation of the GEL nominal effective exchange rate and the long-term maintenance of the impaired benchmark," he added. He then highlighted that Russia's July decision to halt flights with Georgia and the spread of other formal and informal trade sanctions raised expectations of an exchange rate devaluation. According to him, even before the actual decline in foreign exchange inflows, foreign exchange supply declined in the market, and demand increased, leading to a more rapid depreciation of the exchange rate than expected.
"We estimate that the country received $300 million less in tourism revenue due to airline transactions. This was followed by the political tensions, which contributed to the further devaluation of the national currency." The Head of the National Bank explained that as the depreciation rate shifted to inflationary expectations and inflation increased, the NBG began tightening the monetary policy and increasing the refinancing rate gradually, by 2.5 percentage points to 9.0%. "Such an increase will reduce overall spending in the country, which will eventually slow the pace of rising consumer prices. At the same time, the increase in interest rates makes national currency savings more attractive and encourages investors to use GEL securities, thereby helping to increase demand and strengthening the GEL. In addition, the National Bank also used other tools at its disposal, namely interventions and reducing foreign exchange reserve requirements. However, the most effective leverage is the monetary policy rate," he stated.
EU4Digital: eSkills Network Workshop in Tbilisi BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE
his Tuesday and Wednesday, December 17-18, the capital of Georgia will host an eSkills network workshop. The main goal of the seminar, which is being organized by EU4Digital, is to enable the Eastern Partner countries of the EU to exchange insights and latest developments in the field of digital skills and discuss the current baseline in the partner countries regarding the measurement of digital skills indicators. The mentioned Eastern Partner countries (EaP) in this EU Program are: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine. The organizers report that the "main outcome of the network workshop will be the validation of the results of the EU4Digital Questionnaire for gathering relevant information and data on the existing situation (baseline) for measuring and forecasting of digital skills in the EaP countries." Additionally, within the frames of the workshop, the development methodology of a competence framework for SMEs and microbusinesses and Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition status in individual EaP countries will be presented and discussed with the country representatives. Under the EU4Digital initiative, the eSkills network focuses on formulating and implementing national digital skills
strategies in the EaP partner countries, notably by establishing national coalitions for digital jobs, taking into account the EU's 'digital skills and jobs coalition'. The overall objective of the EU4Digital program is to eliminate existing obstacles and barriers for pan-European online services for citizens, public administrations and businesses, including
through the harmonization of the digital environments among the EaP partner countries and with the EU. To analyze the above in more detail, this program aims to extend the benefits of the European Union's Digital Single Market to the Eastern Partner states, supporting them in reducing roaming tariffs, developing high-speed broadband
to boost economies and expand e-services. The organization hopes that the program will amount to harmonizing digital frameworks across society in areas ranging from logistics to health, building cyber security, developing skills, and creating more jobs in the digital industry. The program was implemented in 2019
and is planned to achieve its objectives by the year 2022 with a budget of EUR 11 million. EU4Digital focuses its support across six key policy areas: Telecom rules: the program aims to achieve a common roaming space among EaP countries by 2020, to strengthen the independence of National Regulatory Authorities, while developing coordinated strategies for frequency distribution. Trust & Security: EU4Digital supports the development of trust services in the digital economy and cyber-security to strengthen cross-border eServices in the Eastern Partnership region. eTrade: the program supports trade facilitation and harmonization among Eastern Partner countries and with the EU by promoting common frameworks for eCommerce, eCustoms and eLogistics, and working towards Digital Transport Corridors. ICT Innovation: EU4Digital supports reforms and actions to favor the development of ICT research, start-ups and innovation ecosystems across the Eastern Partnership region, drawing from EU experience and best practices. eHealth: the program supports the development of harmonized national frameworks for eHealth, both among EaP partner countries and with the EU. eSkills: EU4Digital supports the implementation of digital skills strategies in the Eastern Partnership countries, acting to establish national coalitions for digital jobs and a competence framework for small businesses.
20,000 People to Benefit from a New Community Center in Kachagani BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE
he United Nation Development Program (UNDP) continues to support the expansion of access to different services for people in the rural areas. This time, Kachagani in the Marneuli Municipality of the Kvemo Kartli region, is in focus. On December 13, a new community center opened in the village of Kachagani, expanding access to over 200 public and private services for 20,000 residents. The community center houses the office of a local self-government representative, aiming to ease citizen engagement in decision-making, and provides access to a modern library. Additionally, the center includes well-equipped conference facilities. The Minister of Justice, the Ambassador of Austria, the Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani and the UNDP Deputy Head, among others, attended the opening ceremony of the new center in Kachagani on Friday. "We are proud to open the 74th community center in Georgia fully tailored to the needs of people in towns and villages," said Minister Tsulukiani. "Community centers give people easy access to public services, such as obtaining birth certificates, ID cards and property registration. Additionally, local residents can get services from the banks, access internet and library, meet representatives of local self-government and engage in projects for the benefit of their communities."
Image source: UNDP Georgia
"Access to services and engagement in decision-making are a foundation of local development," said Ambassador of Austria Arad Benkö. "We support community
centers in the remote rural regions to expand opportunities available for citizens and ensure that quality services are available in every village of Georgia."
"Better access to services means more opportunities, a better social environment and the greater engagement of people in the decisions that define their
future," noted UNDP Deputy Head Anna Chernyshova. "It is especially important in the rural areas where people need more information about the tools they can use to participate in local governance and become the owners of development," she underlined. The new community center was established by the Public Service Development Agency (PSDA) of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia with the support from the UNDP, the EU and the governments of Switzerland and Austria. Kachagani is the first of two villages where community centers were constructed with the support of the UNDP and Swiss and Austrian states. The second community center is to open in 2020, in Chrebalo, a remote village in mountainous Racha. Tailored for the needs of people living in the national minority regions and the remote mountain communities, the centers will provide crucially important services to thousands of local residents. Aiming to aid reforms in local selfgovernance and encourage regional development, assistance to community centers is a part of the wider effort of the UNDP's mission, implemented with funds from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). The UNDP is the leading development organization in Georgia. Since 1993, the program has been part of the country's success in many fields, including its democratic reforms, inclusive growth, conflict transformation, green solutions and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Berlin 2020 - RAW WINE T he world's largest community of low- intervention, organic, biodynamic and natural wines, their growers and makers and those who love drinking them united in Berlin at the Raw Wine Fair on December 1-2.
Georgian Qvevri wine and the winemaking tradition are gaining recognition worldwide, with the help of the LEPL National Wine Agency and with the support of the world's Master of Wine and founder of the Raw Wine Fair, Isabelle Legeron, MW.
159 artisans were participants of Raw Wine in Berlin, among them 13 Georgian wine cellars, some of them having also been present at the Raw Wine fairs in London, New York, Montreal and Los Angeles. The Georgian wineries that were presented at the Berlin Fair were: from Kakheti – Alexander's Wine Cellar; Akhmeta Wine House; Artana Wines; Chateau Khashmi; Chona's Marani; Papari Valley; Tanini; Our Wine; Vellino; from Imereti – Baia's Wine; Dimis Ferdobi: Kartli – Do Re Mi; and from Meskheti – Natenadze's Wine Cellar. By participating in such the exhibitions, Georgians
are able to introduce their country and winemaking history and tradition to the international market in order to attract foreigners' interest in the country and its customs. The fair has proved itself a window for new bio wine cellars to boost the popularity of Georgian wine abroad. Dozens of visitors were in attendance at the exhibition, including leading wine specialists, wine importers, distributors of wine and media representatives from around the world. Raw Wine is the celebration of some of the wine talent in the world. The
participants produce natural, organic and biodynamic wines. Raw Wine is leading the charge for transparency, as they believe that in an ideal wine world, any processing and additives will be clearly communicated to the drinker "so that you know exactly what is in your glass". Raw wine is a first step in this direction. It is about truth, authenticity and frank wine talking, but most of all it's about showcasing really good wine. The concept is wine's "poetry", its artistry or romanticism or its exceptionality as a product.
Continued from page 2 "Georgia is the civilization of The Knight in the Panther's Skin, where the acceptance of that which is foreign and the coexistence of different cultures is a part of our identity, rather than something that has been established through declarations. Christianity was brought to us by Nino of Cappadocia, who was joined by the Armenian Shushanik, the Arab Abo, and the Persian Eustathius. "Georgia is the homeland of wine and, most likely, of wheat as well, since it was precisely us that Greece, the first European civilization, named as 'Georgia,' or the country of agriculture; it is precisely a Kartvelian tribe, the Chalybes, that are linked with the first production of iron; it is precisely in our country and nowhere else that Jason arrived in order to obtain the Golden Fleece, or the sacred knowledge of the Georgians. Among us, 'the cub was equal to the lion' from the outset and this is what made us Europeans in the first place," Ivanishvili told the crowd. "As early as in the 12th century, we were first in Europe to make a woman king, we conceived the first signs of parliamentarianism, and it was precisely in Georgia that Shota Rustaveli rocked the cradle of European humanism for the first time. Powerful regional centers of European education such as the academies of Gelati and Ikalto emerged here, on our land, from the roots of the Kolkheti Academy. "Later, historical whirlwinds separated us from our common family; however, just as a well-raised person retains his or her dignity in any environment, so our nation has been able to retain its European culture and values. And even when there was no hope to be found, Sulkhan-Saba was still stubbornly yearning westward, while creating Europe in Georgia with his Sitkvis Kona. He was yearning not because he could not understand geopolitical realities but because he could not do otherwise, since his Georgian nature was European. "Precisely this Georgian nature gave birth to Vazha-Pshavela, a thinker and humanist of European scale, in a small village in eastern Mtianeti, and precisely this Georgian nature gave Aghaza the right to mourn Zviadauri. It is precisely this nature, these values that make each and every Georgian European, and Georgia a natural part of Europe! Therefore, let no one think that we are returning to Europe empty-handed. We have always made our own, important contributions to the European civilization. "Our homeland – it is a European culture," the party Chairman claimed. "However, the state, which differs from the homeland like the kvevri differs from wine, has not always been of a European type. Now, the time has come to pour the Georgian, European wine – European culture – into a similarly European type of state. Georgia should not simply return to Europe formally but rather it must attain its rightful, brilliant place in the constellation of Europe. I have faith in this and I believe in it strongly! I believe, because I can see that the Georgian people, the Georgian state and the church of Georgia – the entire nation is united and steadfast in this choice! I believe, because I know and I can see what the European civilization is founded on! "Democracy, the rule of law, equality, and tolerance – these are the values that serve as the foundation for Europe and the values that are so deeply rooted in the Georgian spirit. Precisely this nature, these values make Georgia a natural part of Europe! To be the son of multiethnic, multi-confessional Georgia, that is, to be a Georgian, means to sing
the Mravalzhamieri, to create polyphony, to dance the Khorumi, and to write The Knight in the Panther's Skin; To be a Georgian means to lead the Georgian feast and to carry Vazha-Pshavela in your head; Therefore, do not be afraid of anything, pain will not beat us and no enemy will ever defeat us! Because Georgia is immortal! Immortal is its culture, its restless soul, which has always yearned and still yearns toward its European family. "And today, at a time when we, who stand at the roots of great history, have obtained freedom; at a time when some recall my words concerning the creation of an amazing democracy with irony – in fact, in many ways we are already living in a European democracy, which we were able to achieve on the basis of our values, rather than through violence or by imposing something foreign on the people," he said. "It is with precisely such an approach that we achieved association with Europe and the signing of the Free Trade Agreement; it is with precisely such an approach that the Georgian citizen was granted the right of visa-free travel within the European Union; It was precisely our commitment to the European choice that brought us the unprecedented, bipartisan support of our strategic partner, the leader of the free world, the United States of America! "I'm sure that the day will come when we will celebrate Georgia's accession to the European Union at the same location, at this symbolic place on Freedom Square, and we will all say that historic justice has been restored and that we have achieved our goal! Let us not forget, however, that first of all, Europe is moderation – the ideal balance, the ideal intersection of freedom and responsibility. Unfortunately, we have to return to European space from a low benchmark because we failed to fully realize our responsibility while being dazed by the scent of freedom at the dawn of independence, and we practically destroyed our country. Our political team, the Georgian Dream, received a legacy that was doubly difficult. In addition to rampant poverty, our inheritance from the previous authorities included occupation, authoritarianism, and state institutions that were seized by one small group and used to repress free thought and free people. "And the cynicism of today lies in the fact that those who signed off on the occupation are precisely those who assumed the mantle of patriotism and blame us for the occupation; Those who trampled fundamental human rights, tortured and massacred their brethren in the streets, seized businesses and the media, practically abolished free speech, abolished the street – you may remember that coming out into the street was forbidden – it is precisely they that accuse us of lacking democracy, while addressing us from televisions haphazardly opened using money obtained from looting; "The person who has virtually become the paragon of bribery over the last 30 years is talking to us about corruption from the rostrum of Parliament and wants to be presented as the standard-bearer of a fair judiciary. The temptation to respond to them in the manner that they deserve is great. However, I and our political team, the Georgian Dream, remain committed to the ideals of 2012 and even now, we will treat them not in the manner that they deserve but rather in the manner that our people and our great culture deserves.We will overcome all difficulties; we will reunify our country and revive our economy! And, most importantly, we will continue to walk on this path in a way that will retainthe human being as the most important value, and very soon we will put even our aggressive opponents in service of the country – once they themselves have become convinced of the futility of a policy that is based on lies and violence. Because this is what they sign in the Georgian Mravalzhamieri: "Love has rebuilt what animosity has destroyed!" "And finally, as Ilia Chavchavadze used to say: 'Our country needs European experience, science, and education. This must be its weapon.' Precisely this is our way! This is Ilia's way, this is the European way! We follow this star because we know for certain that in the modern world, the way to salvation lies through education. For this reason, we allowed ourselves to make the largest and most ambitious investment in the future of the country – in its education! Not many countries, even those with economies superior to ours, would have dared to spend 25 percent of the budget on education. And meanwhile, we dared to do so, and we did it! The unprecedented education reform that was launched this year is simultaneously the crown of our country's sevenyear peaceful and democratic development, as well as an ambitious statement regarding our inevitable future success! May God aid us on this honorable path! Long live our beloved homeland, long live Georgia! Thank you very much," Ivanishvili concluded.
Georgia, Ukraine Discuss Deepening Economic Cooperation BY TEA MARIAMIDZE
eorgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has stated that Georgia and Ukraine can achieve more in trade, transport, development sectors and investments toward various directions. "We stand ready to work hard every single day to make the economic cooperation between Ukraine and Georgia more fruitful for our citizens," the PM said when meeting his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksiy Honcharuk, in Kiyv this weekend. Gakharia also said that the mutual cooperation, based on economy, strategic partnership and security, predominantly aims to ensure the well-being of the citizens of Georgia and Ukraine and to help both countries remain within the European space. He also expressed gratitude to his Ukrainian colleague for the support demonstrated towards the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, in turn noting that the Government of Georgia always supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, both in bilateral and multilateral formats. During the meeting, Gakharia also underlined the most significant result coming from his official visit to Ukraine: the signing of an agreement on 'The Establishment of a High-Level Strategic Council' after a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, on December 13. "It will become the most effective platform for our governments, ministries and institutions in various sectors of
economy, security, international relations and culture to cooperate and achieve results even more effectively and efficiently," he noted. Moreover, the PM focused on the significance of the Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia and Ukraine, noting that cooperation toward this end should become more effective. "The Government of Georgia is ready to work to make sure that the strategic partnership and friendship between our two countries brings more tangible results for our citizens," he added. On his part, PM Honcharuk noted that Georgia is a strategic partner for Ukraine and the visit of its Prime Minister will serve as a basis for deepening and developing the bilateral relations further. According to him, Ukraine will do its best to increase the trade and flow of visitors between the two countries and to deepen and develop economic relations. "We propose to kick off active work on the development of the freight transportation system using the direct international ferry connection between Ukraine and Georgia, as well as the liberalization of railway ferry services between the ports of Ukraine and Georgia. The project we are working on, which will be equally interesting to Georgia, is the transport corridor Baltic Sea - Black Sea - Caspian Sea. We count on Georgia's active participation in this project," he said. Before meeting the PM Prime Minister, Gakharia met President Zelensky, with whom he signed an Agreement on the Establishment of the High Level Strategic Council of Georgia and Ukraine. It is aimed at covering four key directions: political, trade-economic, defense-secu-
Image source: gov.ge
rity and cultural-humanitarian interaction. Work-groups created for each of them will be led by respective ministers, thus ensuring a comprehensive bilateral dialogue at a high level. The leaders of both countries noted that in signing such agreements at the highest level, the countries manifest their readiness towards advancing relations. When summing up his visit to Ukraine, Gakharia said that Ukraine is Georgia's strategic partner and also evidence that both countries can better fight challenges together. The PM underlined that both sides see the importance of effective cooperation and strategic partnership between
Ukraine and Georgia. "We can develop faster together towards European integration and more effectively protect our territorial integrity. This support is based on our cooperation, economy, transport corridors and trade of course," he added. Georgian – Ukrainian relations are based on traditional partnership and close cooperation. As Georgia's Foreign Ministry reports, the existing legal framework consists of 105 bilateral and multilateral agreements, which practically regulates all spheres of relations between the two countries. Ukraine is one of Georgia's biggest and most important trade partners, seeing a
free trade regime which is legally regulated in both the bilateral and multilateral formats. An important part of cooperation is experience-sharing successfully implemented reforms. Collaboration is also actively developed in the fields of agriculture, public health, sports and youth. Direct scientific–educational ties have already been established between major universities of the two countries. Cooperation in the field of tourism is one the main priorities of the mutual ties. Georgia is one of the most important destinations for Ukrainian tourists and that number is increasing by the year.
EU & US Should Support GUAM. The Georgian Perspective OP-ED BY EMIL AVDALIANI
n December 12, the Heads of Governments of GUAM (an organization for democracy and economic development) member states Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, met in Kiyv. During the talks, Georgia was represented by PM, Giorgi Gakharia. The Prime Ministers of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, Oleksiy Honcharuk, Giorgi Gakharia, Ion Chicu, as well as the Vice PM of Azerbaijan, Ali Akhmedov, discussed issues pertaining to the increase of regional cooperation. According to the joint statement, the countries agreed to expand cooperation with their partner countries and international organizations to carry out regional projects and multilateral programs of cooperation. More specifically, the states expressed the need for the use of blockchain technologies in verifying certificates of goods' origin transported across the GUAM Member States, and the mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators was signed between the customs administrations. Ukraine's PM Honcharuk said that "two docu-
ments have been signed; these are protocols of intentions in regards to the functioning of customs agencies in our countries. Enacting these two documents by our customs agencies will significantly simplify trade between us". This gathering might be a turning point for GUAM (initially called GUUAM). Established in 1997 following the collapse of the Soviet Union, small states near the Black Sea strove to develop cooperation to lessen dependence on Russia. It also served as one of the first regional models which linked the Black and Caspian seas, and it had a primarily economic role. At one point, even Uzbekistan was a member, which potentially allowed the GUUAM (abbreviation of the participant states: Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova) to extend to the heart of the Central Asian region. This was a time when Russia was relatively weak, the West seemed powerful and various visions were propounded, among them the reinvigoration of ancient silk roads. If working effectively, the grouping might be turned into a powerful geopolitical player. For example, Ukraine controls most of the Northern Black Sea and Azerbaijan plays a powerful role as a starting point of crucial trade and a
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resource corridor. In between them is the Georgian bridge. Further afield, through Azerbaijan, it would be possible to reach out to the Central Asia region, even though Uzbekistan pulled out. The GUAM grouping, though short of establishing a veritable alliance, nevertheless shares one common aim: limiting Moscow's geopolitical influence by being able to dispose of/export their own resources to world markets circumventing Russian territory. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the project failed to
Journalists: Tony Hanmer, Zaza Jgarkava, Maka Bibilashvili, Vazha Tavberidze, Nugzar B. Ruhadze, Beka Alexishvili, Tea Mariamidze, Ana Dumbadze, Nini Dakhundaridze Photographer: Irakli Dolidze
turn into a serious economic body. Russian influence gradually regained its lost positions and quite naturally the countries were unwilling to cause Moscow's anger. Moreover, GUUAM, later GUAM, members were also dependent on Russian economic, military and, generally, political benevolence. Back then, Russia played well to prevent major western-led projects that could circumvent its territory and pull gas and oil from the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Uzbekistan withdrew from
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the project in 2005 and Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, with all their economic and military weaknesses, were unable to keep up the prospects of GUAM. Distrust towards was Russia not enough to coordinate foreign policy moves. The Russians, quite rightly, fear that such initially loose economic projects, and among them GUAM itself, could eventually evolve into firmer entities. As the recent summit Kyiv showed, the GUAM initiative might still be weak, but it is far from dead. Perhaps foreign support could be a defining moment. For example, for the EU and the US, which both confront Russia's moves across the Eurasian landmass, GUAM might be a good basis for creating an interregional economic space. This year marks the 22nd year of the grouping's existence and it could be argued that many a geopolitical development in the Black Sea region points to a coalescing of interests among Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Primary among those interests is economic cooperation. A great number of infrastructural projects have been carried out which would enable these countries to establish firmer economic contacts. Another incentive is that all the member states, except for Azerbaijan, share difficult relations with Russia.
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Issue #1212 Business
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text:
LifeWord Broadcast Ministries, Inc.
Lifeword Broadcast Ministries, Inc. ("LBM") is the radio/television section of the Baptist Missionary Association of America ("BMA"). The BMA was formed in 1950 for the purpose of mobilizing like-minded churches in a cooperative effort to fulfill the great commission. Lifeword Broadcast Ministries' role within BMA's strategy is to sow the seed of the gospel in as much of the world as possible utilizing mass media presented in the native languages of the listeners. LBM seeks out people that have little or no exposure to Christian broadcast programming and delivers the gospel in their languages. LBM presently broadcasts in 40 languages reaching nearly half the world's population. LBM's domestic broadcast is aired on about 400 stations in the United States. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
(611 Locust Avenue 72034)
Conway, AR 72033-2033
Website: www.lifeword.org
Email: info@lifeword.org
CEO/President: Mr. Donny Parrish
Chairman: Mr. John Ben Williams
Founder: Mr. Harold Morris
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Lifeword Broadcast Ministries, Inc. ("LBM") is the radio/television section of the Baptist Missionary Association of America ("BMA"). The BMA was formed in 1950 for the purpose of mobilizing like-minded churches in a cooperative effort to fulfill the great commission. Lifeword Broadcast Ministries' role within the BMA mission strategy is to sow the seed of the gospel in as much of the world as possible utilizing mass media presented in the native language of the listeners.
LBM seeks out people that have little or no exposure to Christian broadcast programming and delivers the gospel in their languages. LBM presently broadcasts in 40 languages reaching nearly half the world's population. In addition, LBM has radio and television production facilities in the Philippines.
LBM's domestic broadcast is aired on about 400 stations in the United States. These spots target the top secular radio stations, and the listener is encouraged to phone Lifeword Broadcast Ministries to receive a LifeCheck booklet to guide them through the plan of salvation. Domestic broadcast time is wholly underwritten by partners who agree to sponsor the programs in their areas. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Lifeword Broadcast Ministries expresses its mission in the following way:
Lifeword is dedicated to communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ through mass media to every living soul upon the earth.
focusing on the unreached,
making the presentations culturally relevant,
speaking in the heart-language of the hearer,
using creative approaches to capture the listener's attention,
responding to felt needs of our neighbors, whether near or far,
ministering to local churches through media services,
striving always to present ourselves in a professional and Godly manner,
working in harmony with our fellow Christians and living exemplary lives which reflect the God-given joy of being ambassadors for Christ.
Sector: Radio/ TV Stations
Resource allocation rating 302 of 429 8 of 16
7% 10% 3% 3% 3% 5%
95% 91% 97% 99% 113% 95%
5% 9% 3% 1% -13% 5%
98% 88% 97% 93% 114% 102%
2% 12% 3% 7% -14% -2%
3% 5% 3% 8% -14% -2%
11% 12% 3% 4% 4% 7%
1.53 4.29 1.27 1.30 1.29 44.91
9.02 12.44 59.41 146.74 30.03 0.84
4.09 7.47 7.94 9.28 9.36 -0.06
9% 2% 1% 1% 15% 15%
64% 285% 84% 101% 88% 97%
Cash $462,484 $765,061 $298,524 $115,022 $52,623
Receivables, inventories, prepaids $29,563 $7,481 $11,369 $76,111 $42,481
Short-term investments $399,828 $2,089,547 $2,374,444 $2,734,371 $0
Other current assets $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total current assets $891,875 $2,862,089 $2,684,337 $2,925,504 $95,104
Long-term investments $2,199,533 $0 $0 $0 $979,295
Fixed assets $734,667 $763,971 $800,208 $849,952 $3,196,977
Other long-term assets $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total long-term assets $2,934,200 $763,971 $800,208 $849,952 $4,176,272
Total assets $3,826,075 $3,626,060 $3,484,545 $3,775,456 $4,271,376
Payables and accrued expenses $71,716 $48,177 $18,293 $62,469 $79,012
Other current liabilities $0 $0 $0 $34,959 $33,843
Total current liabilities $71,716 $48,177 $18,293 $97,428 $112,855
Debt $0 $0 $0 $469,692 $504,651
Due to (from) affiliates $0 $0 $0 $3,827 $3,827
Other long-term liabilities $1,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000
Total long-term liabilities $1,000 $2,000 $2,000 $475,519 $510,478
Total liabilities $72,716 $50,177 $20,293 $572,947 $623,333
Unrestricted $3,027,926 $2,859,117 $2,838,619 $2,570,079 $3,014,579
Temporarily restricted $0 $9,118 $37,538 $37,138 $45,859
Net assets $3,753,359 $3,575,883 $3,464,252 $3,202,509 $3,648,043
Total contributions $1,363,831 $4,249,118 $3,662,271 $3,576,112 $3,489,419
Program service revenue $4,066 $53,069 $49,528 $27,698 $32,551
Investment income $82,927 ($13,687) ($63,365) $40,524 $80,226
Other revenue $43,700 $75,055 $59,067 ($466,042) $77,770
Total other revenue $130,693 $114,437 $45,230 ($397,820) $190,547
Total revenue $1,494,524 $4,363,555 $3,707,501 $3,178,292 $3,679,966
Program services $1,011,943 $3,999,811 $3,213,656 $3,396,377 $3,326,835
Management and general $164,130 $137,298 $128,049 $135,274 $246,662
Fundraising $140,975 $114,815 $104,053 $92,175 $182,744
Total expenses $1,317,048 $4,251,924 $3,445,758 $3,623,826 $3,756,241
Surplus (deficit) $177,476 $111,631 $261,743 ($445,534) ($76,275)
Other changes in net assets $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total change in net assets $177,476 $111,631 $261,743 ($445,534) ($76,275)
Founded by Harold Morris in 1965, Lifeword Broadcast Ministries was known as the Harvest Gleaner Hour until 1988. The first broadcast of the Harvest Gleaner Hour was carried on KSTL radio in St. Louis on September 4, 1965. Today, LBM beams the gospel to North America, Central America, South America, the Middle East, the Ukraine, the Peoples Republic of China, the Philippines, India, and western Africa.
LBM has 13 full-time employees at its international headquarters in Conway, Arkansas, a full-time radio and TV production staff in the Philippines, and more than 100 part-time and volunteer radio speakers, musicians, office assistants, and project coordinators.
LBM's radio department produced 1,936 programs, of which 830 programs were short format and 1,106 long format, and launched a new Portuguese language broadcast in Brazil and a "Spirit Word" broadcast in English for Native Americans.
The Lifeword television program and spots, including five new half-hour programs and one new 30-second spot produced in 2004 and added to the rotation, were on the air a total of 6,098,160 minutes or an average of 1,954.5 hours per week.
The television department produced five contract video projects.
The technical services department completed ten outside contract projects.
The Women's Outreach Ministry Team ministered to more than 1,400 people, raised almost $13,000 for Lifeword and signed up Faith Inner Circle commitments totaling $3,360 per year.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I went up to the farm early in the morning to see if I could get a peek at the lambs. That wasn't hard-there were about 20 in the first pasture, a big maternity ward and lamb nursery. If you stood there long enough, one might be born right before you.
I wish I had a soundtrack of all the bleating, baaing, snoring, noisy nursing. I don't think they are entirely sure about who belongs to whom. A lot of searching, calling, nudging. Are you my mom?
Some don't really care... just a patch of sun and grass are already enough. Or a warm place in the center of the flock. Bound to be an available mommy somewhere in there.
Others are paying attention though. Hello, can I help you?
And then I saw this...how long did I look and not see?
Finally heard the growling rumble among the baaing.
Clearly, I wasn't enough to worry over. Not considering jumping over that fence.
Oh cute, is that your dog?
those lambs are pure sweetness.. and of course so is the dog!
How I wish you had a soundtrack for these pictures. That would be music to my ears! Love all those spring babies, milling about in the fields.
The 'Are you my Mom?' reference reminded me of the childrens book "Are you my Mother?". Awww happy memories of that one.
How wonderful that you have such farm close by to visit! It's not yours right? Or am I missing something...?
Anyway, the photos--beautiful, so precious. And the dog! So mindful, guarding, and knowing what to worry about and what NOT to worry about (you).
Love the sheep who actually paid attention to you.
Wish it were mine but just can't compete with the Rockefellers yet. Nice that it's open to the public for wandering, hiking, learning, farmers' marketing, eating. Check out the textlink "farm" for more info on Stone Barns.
You weren't kidding! It is a very lamb-y post.
We had a lamb as a pet at my Gram's house when we were little. His name was Pamper.
I especially love them when they are brand new and so clean and white! Thanks for sharing your photos.
And, enjoy your "little lamb reunion".
Those little lambs are so cute! They bring back fond memories of a friend I had growing up in Montana - they owned so much land, and she had a pet lamb that we used to take on camping trips in her "backyard" (which spanned half a mountain). Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Very lamb-y indeed! What a wonderful farm. You must be excited to see your daughter. (Will all those suitcases be filled with laundry?) My oldest is a junior in high school and we're doing college tours a lot these days. I get sad just thinking about her going off to school so I savor every minute with her.
Oh, I love all those sheep and lambies. Too sweet! I'll get my dose of those cute creatures this weekend at the Maryland sheep and wool festival. I can hardly wait! Thanks for sharing those great pix.
This is so COOL!!!!! Love it! Little lambie pies are so dang sweet....and beautiful watchdog....oh what a wonderful sight! Reminds me of watching baby calves being born on my grandpa's farm....spring...new life....aaaahhhh...wonderous isn't it?
And welcome home to your lil lamb, too! Mine is also finished with her semester...however, she came back home this year....still love seeing her at the end of the day!
Come visit sometime...no sweet lambies...but lots of baby flowers!
o.k., you are just too adorable.
i love the one that said "may I help you?"
I hope you have a wonderful visit with your lamb-y.....and tons of baaaing and bleating.
Several of our neighbors raise sheep here, too! The lambing season is my favorite! Around here I guess it starts a little earlier, the end of February and into the first of March. Often in the night I'll hear a little one calling for his momma. One year the girls each had a lamb to raise!
My little lamb returns home from college this weekend, too! Same noises will be happening around here. It's been quiet without her! I'll need more and "better" food as well! Enjoy the homecoming!
Ohhhhhhh- now that is just an adorable site! One that I've never seen! They are so cute, Charlotte! Great pics and post - enjoy your sweet lamb this summer, as I know you will! You girls are going to have so much fun!
Does the dog have a name?? George lives in the pasture across the street from our church. We love to watch him get all protective until he realises its just us with a treat for him.
Oh Charlotte, what a sweet post!
One of the things we miss most about the farm, is spring and calving! When we took the drive to Grafton, last week, we saw lots of "babies" in pastures along the way.
The Great Pyrenees, is an added bonus to your post. My daughter and her family have a Great Pyrenees, "Bliz". They drove through a snowstorm down south of St Louis, several miles, to pick her up. She is a sweetie.
Enjoy your summer with your daughter!
Lambs and the flowers in the last post.
What a lovely post, enjoy your reunion with your little lamb.
You've made me miss lambing season so much. We had romneys until a year ago when we moved to TN. Now I sit patiently waiting to look for property.
Just look at those cuties! What sweet pictures!
Oh how this post put a smile on my face. What Heaven. How I love sheep...and dogs...the best of both world's here today!
Love that Dog! Had to look again at other pictures to notice him...We have a dog that looks very much like that, we call her Rooby-Doo, scooby doo's 1st cousin! LOL!!!


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Atlantic Diving Supply Is a Proud Sponsor of USO Patriot Park & EOD Warrior…
Atlantic Diving Supply is proud to be a Corporate Sponsor of USO Patriot Park and the EOD Warrior Foundation's EOD Dedication Cycling Series Ride—all taking place this week!
Through the Mission Give Back Foundation, Atlantic Diving Supply is proud to partner with the USO, an incredible organization dedicated to supporting military service members and their families, in support of USO Warrior Week.
USO Patriot Park Presented by Atlantic Diving Supply
Atlantic Diving Supply is a proud sponsor of the USO Patriot Park located at the 17th Street Park.
Date: Saturday, June 1 – Sunday, June 2
Time: 12 – 5 pm
Location: 17th Street park, Virginia Beach. VA
Music on 17th Street Stage provided by: DJ TMMPO
The USO Show Troupe
Saturday, June 1, 2019: 12:00 PM
Sunday, June 2, 2019: 12:00 PM
School of Rock Band
Saturday, June 1, 2019: 2:00 PM
Sunday, June 2, 2019: 2:00 PM
EOD Dedication Cycling Series Ride
Atlantic Diving Supply, through the Mission Give Back Foundation, proudly supports the EOD Warrior Foundation's mission to honor fallen EOD warriors and provide assistance to wounded EOD warriors and the families of wounded and fallen EOD personnel.
What better way to close out USO Warrior Week than with a 50-mile bike ride that honors the 341 EOD Technicians that made the ultimate sacrifice? This 50-mile, Virginia Beach Police Department escorted ride will start and finish at the USO Patriot Park at 17th Street on the Virginia Beach boardwalk at 8:00 A.M., with a rest stop at the ADS, Inc. parking lot.
Atlantic Diving Supply's very own Ryan Self, Aerospace Business Development Manager, will be sporting an ADS cycling jersey and GoPro throughout the ride.
Date: Sunday, June 2
The purpose of the Atlantic Diving Supply Mission Give Back Foundation (MGBF) is to give back to those who serve and their families. We'll carry out this mission in two ways: First, we will be awarding scholarships to children of service members and first responders. Such children who are rising seniors and committed to a university are eligible for MBGF scholarships awarded annually. Secondly, MGBF remains committed to supporting other non-profit organizations that share our passion for serving our service members, first responders, and their families.


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Other Berklee Alumni
Successful Berklee Alumni #123: Scott Beardsworth
April 25, 2018 April 26, 2018 Kevin
Scott Beardsworth
http://www.otherberkleealumni.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/123-Scott-Beardsworth-mono.mp3
Listen to the interview (approx 1 hr, 32 min.) or download it.
Graduated in 2012 with a major in Music Business. Principal instrument: bass guitar.
Position: Project Manager at Keller Williams Realty's Corporate HQ, where under 300 people support over 170,000 agents worldwide. Scott is on the 25-person (Business) Operations Team, which administers software, helps with e-payments, and process implementation. Scott wears many different hats, from supervising renovations of office space to being the liaison between different business teams when a new software or process is being rolled out to whatever is needed next. Most of his time is spent in meetings or emailing.
Overview: Scott's Music Business internship led to a job on the road with Aerosmith, doing VIP tours and meet-and-greets. However, after 6 months he sensed that he didn't want the roadie life long-term, and shortly after that the company he worked for folded. Scott moved back to Boston and, unable to find a good opportunity ("With only a roadie job on my resume, people probably assumed I was a party animal."), spent most of the year driving a delivery truck and doing a bit of small website jobs to make rent. Feeling ready to leave Boston, Scott was able to live cheaply, but temporarily, in the home that had belonged to a deceased relative. Using a Berklee job board, he found a job as a music administrator, helping the guy (also a Berklee alum) who composed music for the NFL. It was a good job, but Scott was hired as a contractor and after 10 months the contract ended, and the house he was in was put on the market. Scott was ready for another change. He recalled seeing and loving the scene in Austin, Texas while touring, and decided to move down there.
Arriving in Austin, Scott applied widely to jobs, which meant non-music business jobs given the lack of that industry in that city. His then-girlfriend's friend helped him get a job at a quickly-growing tech startup selling software. Scott worked really hard, but wasn't giving any coaching or training. 6 months later, he hadn't made any sales and was let go. Scott realized that all these short-term jobs might become a liability and he search for his next job more thoughtfully, wanting someplace he could work long term and grow with. He applied online for to Keller Williams and was hired as an Operations Manager (a half-step below Project Manager) in May 2015. Scott found himself with not enough work to fill his day, so he regularly asked for more work. He was given projects to do and did them well, so his job gradually evolved into his current one.
You can see Scott's LinkedIn profile here.
Choice Quotes: "I hadn't really been into Real Estate, but Keller Williams seemed like a great opportunity. They seemed authentic in how they pitched themselves to potential employees, and you see them everywhere. I figure they're doing well and I was looking for a company I could see my career grow within.
"When my manager throws a project at me with no details and tells me to figure out how tio get it done, I see that as a challenge and enjoy that a lot. I like to be challenged, pushed, and out of my comfort zone. "
"Yesterday I was in meetings straight from 9- 4:30! Some meetings I run, others I'm there. Some I'm just a fly on the wall."
"The thing Berklee armed me with the most for any job is emotional intelligence and social awareness. Innate communication via music gives us a method that non-musicians have a really hard time emulating. Our communication skills–there are so many ways to communicate while playing music. Picking up on social cues is hugely important–we know how to listen for things and be analytical about listening.
Successful Berklee Alumni #122: Darsell Obregon
Darsell Obregon
http://www.otherberkleealumni.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/122-Darsell-Obregon-mono.mp3
Listen to the interview (approx. 50 min.) or download it.
Graduated in 2010 with majors in Performance and Songwriting. Principal instrument: voice.
Position: Personal assistant to a celebrity model. Working directly for this woman, Darsell's time is split roughly evenly between helping with business things and with personal things. She does a wide variety of tasks including emails, shopping, organization, being the liaison between anyone and her employer, and accompanying her employer on photo shoots and traveling (domestic and int'l).
Overview: Darsell came to Berklee a year and a half after getting her associates degree, and has been working front desk at a hotel in Miami, where she's from. After graduation, she stayed in the Boston area for a year, working at a cell phone store, but tired of the weather and moved to L.A. she got some gigs, but needed more money so got another front desk job at the same hotel chain. But she didn't like the culture in L.A., nor was she prospering financially. A friend helped her get a job at an online ticketing start-up, but after her training in New York Darsell decided she wanted to be there instead of L.A. The company wouldn't transfer her, so she left that job, moved to NYC, and reached out to a former hotel client who had a staffing agency and needed an office manager.
That position lasted about six months, then Darsell got laid off. She applied widely for jobs; at one point a friend from her now-former staffing agency suggested she apply to another staffing agency, Quintessentially People, which placed her with her current employer. It started off part-time, but evolved into a full-time salaried position, and within 6 months Darsell was hired "permanently."
Choice Quotes: "It's hard work! I say I'm a celebrity assistant and people are like 'OMG it's SO cool!' Yeah it's cool, but it's no freaking joke. It's 24/7, and you have to be on top of everything. Your job is to resolve issues BEFORE they get to whoever you're assisting. while they focus on what they're trying to do (building an empire most times)."
"I enjoy working with my employer. We're a good match personality-wise. I respect what she does and what she stands for. It's also still in the entertainment world, which I love. She's in that world and I love being with her from when she had a small following to now when she's grown into a superstar."
"A lot of the time I create my own schedule. She'll give me things to do and I'll get them done at my pace. But my hours vary enormously. There are 80-hour workweeks, and there are 30-hour workweeks."
"Don't be closed off to other opportunities in the same world. I was so obsessed with being the next Mariah Carey. That's not realistic for me now. Priorities change–I'm older and want a family."
"If you want to be a personal assistant, do it for someone you like, in an industry you're interested in."
"I'm grateful to Berklee for changing my life. Even though I'm not a full time musician I hold Berklee near and dear to my heart."
See the full index of successful Berklee alumni.
Successful Berklee Alumni #121: Alexander Gavurin
April 11, 2018 March 30, 2021 Kevin
Alexander Gavurin
http://www.otherberkleealumni.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/121-Alexander-Gavurin-mono.mp3
Listen to the interview (approx. 1 hr, 9 min.) or download it.
Graduated in 2008 with a major in Music Business. Principal instrument: guitar.
Position: Manager of Strategic Planning / FP&A (Financial Planning and Analysis) at WATSCO, a large holding company that own many distributors of HVAC equipment. "We're a giant middleman." They buy existing HVAC distribution companies and support them with better IT and business information infrastructure as well as being able to negotiate better prices due to their size. Alexander uses financial analysis on how their subsidiary companies can be more profitable over the next few years, and also which companies and exclusive deals should be acquired.. Strategic planning may be about customer segmentation, evaluation of potential and ongoing projects for ROI (Return On Investment) 95% input (info gathering, data validation, synthesis, etc.) and 5% output (presentations, reports).
Overview: While at Berklee, Alexander waited tables at the restaurant Sonsie in the Back Bay, but he was really interested in the management aspect, and got to know the manager, so by the time he graduated he was helping manage the place. However, with his now-wife (then girlfriend) being a teacher with early morning hours, he disliked restaurant hours, so they moved home to New York, and a connnection hooked him up with a job at a restaurant equipment company managing the smallwares department (pots, tables, knives, etc.) The money was OK, but the job felt dead-end and not what he wanted, so by 2010 Alexander was doing a lot of soul-searching on what he wanted to do. He started applying to many jobs, but between the bad economy and his unusual background he was having no luck. By 2012, Alexander realized he needed to "re-brand" himself, and that meant going to business school. He left his job in September, 2012 and studied for the GMAT and researched business schools, making a bit of money as an independent restaurant operations consultant during this time.
Doing well on the GMAT, Alexander was offered a very generous scholarship by the University of Miami's MBA program, graduating in the spring of 2015. He learned fluent Portuguese His second year there he had a full-time paid internship at Novartis, where he hoped to stay after graduation, but they wanted him to work in Brazil, which didn't interest him, so he applied to local companies and got a job as a financial analyst (FP&A) at Spirit Airlines. After about a year and a half a recruiter reached out to him about his current job, which was a step up so he applied and took it.
You can see Alexander's LinkedIn profile here. Alexander encourages folks interested in financial analysis to reach out to him.
Choice Quotes: "Analyzing financial data is like mining for gold. You spend all this time sifting through dirt, moving it around, processing it, shaping it, working on it. And at the end it's this beautiful, polished piece of jewelry."
"There's something about massaging secrets out of the numbers that is very satisfying. It's very creative. Sort of like when yhou're writing a song and varying the melody and it starts to make sense and you add stuff and soon you have a finished project where you really have something–it feels like that. And better yet here you have a very finished, accomplished feelling at the end while with music one often feels it's not quite there."
"The main reason I wanted to make money is that my wife is the center of my life for ever on and I wanted to provide for her and give her a good life That's the love story behind it all."
Successful Berklee/BoCo Alumni #120: Toby Cattolico
April 4, 2018 August 5, 2018 Kevin
Toby Cattolico
http://www.otherberkleealumni.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/120-Toby-Cattolico-mono.mp3
Graduated in 2009 from the Boston Conservatory with a major in Percussion Performance.
Position: Stewardship and Engagement Officer (a.k.a. Alumni Relations & Fundraising) at University Prep Academy, an independent private school (grades 6-12) in Seattle–where Toby himself went before attending BoCo. One of two people who works in fundraising, Toby manages everything alumni-related–the alumni association, the alumni board, building relationships with alumni donors, follows-up with events and gifts. He also does a lot with their internal donor database to track contacts and keep everything clean and orderly.
Overview: After graduation, Toby wanted to move back to Seattle. He did some gigs, and as a way to make more money started ushering at Benaroya Hall, the home of the Seattle Symphony which also hosts other events. By 2011 he had worked his way up to head usher, then floor manager. He got to know people working upstairs for the symphony, and was encouraged to interview for the position of Group Sales Manager for the Seattle Symphony. Toby was "hungry to do more," so he applied. While he didn't get the job, 9 months later the person who did left and he got it in late 2011. He was given a portfolio of people under-40 to work with, and in 2 years doubled the size of the young patron program. "Being able to speak music was an ENORMOUS advantage in my job . I was the only one of the fundraisers with previous music experience–others would mispronounce composer names, while I could share my own experiences and knowledge."
By mid-2013, Toby took the position of Gift Officer at the symphony, where he again was very successful. However, by 2015 it was clear that there was no room to move up . An acquaintance mentioned a small NGO that focused on sustainable development in Latin America was looking for a gift officer. Eager for a new challenge, Toby applied and, 4 interviews later, started work in mid-2015. However, over that next year the organization got to be more faith-based than Toby had counted on, and he felt it wasn't a good fit. Mid-2016 n old high school friend who reached at U-Prep reached out to him about the newly-created position and, after some soul-searching, Toby applied to his current position and got the job.
You can see Toby's LinkedIn profile here.
Choice Quotes: "I enjoy the one-on-one aspect of fundraising. The relationships that are created that you can develop for the organization. Same deal at the Seattle Symphony or at a NGO I was with. You get to meet a lot of people from all walks of life. In fundraising, your goal is to cultivate that relationship for a lifetime.""
"I create pipelines for the alumni board–people aren't there forever, so I have to build relationships. I create metrics, who has been asked, etc. It's kind of eclectic, but definitely project-oriented and relates to the academic calendar."
"I'm proud to be a BoCo graduate. Getting an arts degree is a lot harder than many people might think–don't let anyone tell you otherwise. We have close relationships with mentors, like people in a Ph.D. program. Enjoy it. You'll get a lot of skills and those skills you get from your education can be transferred."
"Don't be afraid to try something new and step out of your comfort zone. You have no idea what's out there.You may end up liking something you didn't even know existed!"
"If you want to get into non-profit fundraising, be willing to volunteer your time–whatever you're looking to get into. It shows them that you're passionate about whatever the organization may be about. It's a great way to get your foot in the door, plus you get to know the employees."
See the full index of successful Berklee/BoCo alumni.
Kevin Block-Schwenk is an Associate Professor of Liberal Arts (Economics) at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
All Berklee Alumni
Berklee Music Business Alumni Only
Berklee Non-Music Business Alumni Only
BoCo Alumni only
Successful Berklee/BoCo Alumni #202: Avery Stump
Successful Berklee/BoCo Alumni #201: Kiara Burns
Successful Berklee Alumni #200: Kara L'Heureux
Successful Berklee Alumni #199: Georgeta Seserman
Successful Berklee Alumni #198: Lauren McNutt
Other Successful Berklee Alumni (199)


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Progressive Web Apps browser support & compatibility
Written by Muriel Santoni on Wednesday, January 10th 2018
One of Progressive Web Apps strongest points is that they are adaptive, meaning that they always provide the best experience possible based on the screen they're being viewed on, as well as the capabilities of the browser they're being run on.
Therefore, it's useful to be aware of each browser's capabilities and its compatibility with Progressive Web App features.
Here is the list of the main browsers on the market, and their compatibility with the key PWA features . The interactive table below sums it up. Select the browser that interests you and check out its compatibility with the different features, also taking into account the screen type and operating system being used.
1) Advanced user experience & offline functionality
The first advantage Progressive Web Apps have over classic Web Apps is undeniably the exceptional user experience they offer.
We recently spoke about the use of Service Workers, which allow PWA developers to integrate a number of advanced features.
The Service Worker is installed in the browser the first time the PWA is used and then performs tasks it is assigned in an independent manner.
Here is the list of browsers that support the installation of the service worker :
Like we said, the Service Worker allows for advanced functionalities to be built, such as background synchronisation, allowing up to date data to be directly displayed to the user when he arrives (thanks to the regular data updating done in the background).
The synchronisation allows for an extremely smooth user experience by significantly speeding up the app's performance.
Offline accessibility also relies on the Service Worker, which once installed in the browser, manages the caching of the app files, intercepts network requests, and then performs the appropriate actions depending on the whether or not the network is available.
This functionality allows for the app to be visited without a connection, as well as for improved user experience to be enjoyed, since even when an internet connection is available, certain files won't need to be loaded from the web server since they'll already have been locally stored.
2) Web push notifications
This feature is possible thanks to service workers' capacity to work in the background.
To enable this, two complementary elements work together : the Push API and the Notification API.
The Push API is used to notify a service worker of a notification's presence.
The Notification API is used to trigger the display of a notification in a browser.
The table below details the compatibility of different browsers with this system that manages the reception and display of push notifications.
All, except for Safari, rely on Service Workers to achieve these results. Safari uses an Apple-specific system called APNs that allows notifications to be received on OS X, but not on iOS.
3) Home screen & Splashscreen
Another particular thing about PWA's is that even though they run via a browser, they can be installed directly onto the user's home screen and they offer an experience on an immersive, full screen.
This behavior is possible thanks to a JSON Manifest that is actually a descriptive file allowing developers to control the way the Progressive Web App behaves.
The JSON Manifest will allow the application to be saved onto the home screen of the device from the browser.
The app will then have its own icon and name, previously defined in the Manifest.
The Manifest also allows for a splashscreen to be displayed that the user will see upon opening the application, or while data is being downloaded or retrieved from the cache.
4) Geolocation
Information concerning the app user's geolocation can be retrieved by using the Geolocation API, which allows (with the user's permission) his location to be found.
It also allows you to keep an eye on the user and to be notified if a position change occurs.
The Geolocation API only works in apps under HTTPS, and allows for this precious information to be obtained in a secure way.
Through this API, you can build engagement and loyalty strategies that were unheard of in the web world up until now.
5) Video & Image capturing
Up until not long ago, the only way to get photos and videos on mobile devices was to use a standard HTML element that allowed for apps providing images to be launched, such as the camera. You had no choice but to leave the Web App.
Today, the "Media Capture API" allows Web Apps to have direct access to devices' audio and video feeds (the camera and microphone). These feeds can be read and handled from the Web App.
It is therefore possible to take a picture or record a video without leaving the browser, for example.
6) Bluetooth
Progressive Web Apps can also securely communicate with Bluetooth devices.
Reserved for native apps only up until now, Bluetooth usage on the web has been made possible thanks to the Web Bluetooth API.
This API makes communication between a Web App and a device possible : the application prompts the browser to display a list of surrounding Bluetooths in proximity, and the user chooses a device or closes the dialog box.
In order to avoid any security risks, the application must absolutely be running under HTTPS in order to use the Web Bluetooth API.
Here is the list of browsers compatible with this API :
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Welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya, Treaties Database. The database has been formulated pursuant to section 14 (4) (e) of the Treaty Making and Ratification Act, 2012 (Rev 2014). The Act gives effect to Article 2 (5) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 which provides that any treaty or convention ratified by Kenya shall form part of the law of Kenya.
The database has comprehensive information on the Multilateral and Plurilateral treaties concluded by the Republic of Kenya. The database contains the text of each treaty/agreement, date and place of adoption, date of signature, date of ratification, entry into force and the relevant domestic Laws. The treaties are categorised into twenty- six (26) thematic areas.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Kenya's repository of all treaties, is responsible for maintaining records of treaties to which Kenya is a party or to which Kenya is in the process of becoming a party. The maintenance and update of this database shall be done on a continuous basis.
While utmost care has been taken in developing the database, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its personnel or agents accept no liability for any loss, damage or expense arising out of, or in connection with, on any reliance or any omissions or inaccuracies in the material contained in this database. Users are therefore encouraged to rely on their own enquiries, skill and care in using the information and check with primary sources.
The responsibility for concluding treaties involving the Republic of Kenya lies with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry is responsible for policy aspects, as well as matters of form and procedure.
The Treaty Section can provide publication references and links to texts of treaties, but is unable to provide the treaty texts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not responsible for the contents or reliability of the linked websites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed therein. Listing should not be taken as endorsement of any kind. The Ministry cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time. The Ministry has no control over the linked websites.
This list contains Treaties and Conventions to which Kenya is a signatory. It is not entirely comprehensive and conclusive; however, information on additional treaties can be enquired from the Ministry's Treaty Section.


Our OL wasn't as good as it was in prior years, but it wasn't as bad as Denver's. Which was my point. I don't blame Sark for it all either, he's too easy scapegoat for fans to point fingers at. I blame a combination of OL injuries as well as Schraeder's fall-off, yes some questionable play-calling, but also our RBs not hitting the holes that were there.