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Virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMDs) have quite an abundance of space videogames and apps available, letting users explore and learn about our solar system. Today Steel Wool Studios has launched a simulator experience for HTC Vive called Mars Odyssey.
Mars Odyssey is a single-player experience that takes players to the red planet, allowing them to explore the surface and learn about its history and geography. Whilst on the surface players will need to repair NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers – including Viking, Pathfinder, Curiosity, and Opportunity.
Steel Wool Studios developed the 20 minute title using exact engineering schematics and locations of the rovers as well as NASA’s publicly-available terrain and height map information to create a realistic surface of Mars.
The experience is available to download now through Steam and the developer is currently offering a special introductory price. From now until 15th September there’s a 40 percent discount off the regular price, dropping the cost down from £5.59 GBP to £3.35.
This isn’t the first VR project from Steel Wool Studios. Earlier this year the developer released Quar: Battle for Gate 18, a turn-based strategy launch title for the HTC Vive. And last month the team announced that HTC had invested $5 million USD in a Series A funding round to help the studio continue its VR development.
For all the latest HTC Vive releases on Steam, keep reading VRFocus.


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Fast-casual restaurant Flower Child opens Tuesday, May 11, in the former J. Crew space at Westside Provisions District, bringing its superfood-heavy menu to Howell Mill Road. The restaurant already includes two Atlanta-area locations in Buckhead and Sandy Springs and nearly two dozen locations throughout the southern and western United States.
Most dishes on the menu cater to people living gluten free, paleo, vegetarian, and vegan lifestyles and offers drinks like daily-made lemonades, Atlanta’s Golda Kombucha, and a selection of wine and local beers. When it opens in mid-May, the Westside Provisions District restaurant will also feature a salmon dish on the menu served with red chile-glazed sweet potatoes and gluten-free mac and cheese created by Atlanta Hawks basketball player De’Andre Hunter called the Game Dre Meal.
Flower child joins two other health food-focused restaurants in the area. Grab-and-go cafe and juice bar Cafe West opened last year across from Lululemon and Perrine’s Wine Shop at Westside Provisions District. Upbeet, owned by the team behind Yeah Burger, is located across the street at the Ironworks complex.
The dining scene at Westside Provisions District has been reinvigorated recently with the additions of restaurants like Tal Baum’s Aziza, chef Zeb Stevenson’s Redbird, and Forza Storico opening over the last two years there.
Mushi Ni, the Asian-American comfort food stall run by chefs Tanya Jimenez and Michael Le inside East Atlanta’s We Suki Suki, began a year-long kitchen residency last year at Little Trouble beneath Marcel at the property.
Across the street, the emerging Interlock development is one of three large mixed-used complexes featuring residences, restaurants, and retail currently under construction along a stretch of Howell Mill from 14th to 8th streets. The $450 million complex includes apartments, the Bellyard hotel with its cocktail bar Draw Bar, and indoor golf gaming bar Puttshack. Outdoor bar Holiday Bar, new locations of self-service beer and cider bar Pour Taproom and Velvet Taco, and Cathy’s Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwiches are all scheduled to open at the Interlock in the coming months.
Alabama-based coffee shop and roastery Prevail Roasters opened last fall at the new Star Metals development on Howell Mill Road. Beer and wine bar SMR Tap should also open some time this summer at Star Metals. All-day breakfast restaurant Snooze an A.M. Eatery is opening later this year at the Osprey complex on the corner of 10th Street and Howell Mill.
Open daily, 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Masks required. Outdoor dining available. Order online for takeout.
1170 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. iamaflowerchild.com.

domain: news


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WCRE said Nov. 19 it exclusively represented KSG Pennsauken 6710 LLC in the acquisition of flex/warehouse space in Camden County.
KSG purchased the 15,000-square-foot investment property at 6170 Westfield Ave. in Pennsauken from Spectrum Realty LLC in a move WCRE said would boost the buyer’s existing industrial portfolio.
Senior Vice President Lee Fein and Vice President Ryan Barikian represented both the buyer and seller in this transaction.
According to WCRE, KSG made the purchase due to the property’s existing, long-term lease, and its premier location: offering proximity to Routes 130 and 73 and the Betsy Ross Bridge into Philadelphia.
At the beginning of the month, WCRE announced another industrial sale in South Jersey that will see a company relocate its distribution warehouse from Long Island, N.Y.


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This year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) witnessed a 106 percent increase in visitors from China and a 20 percent increase in international visitors to the event, which was held at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 28 – 1 May 01.
The GCC must deliver unique and tech-enabled experiences designed for free independent travellers (FITs) if it is to grow its market share among China’s outbound tourists, according to experts speaking at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019.
Qatar Airways has announced that as part of its strategy to invest in the strongest airlines around the world and continue enhancing operations and network connectivity, on December, 28, 2018, it had completed an on-market purchase of certain A shares and H shares of China Southern Airlines Company Limited (China Southern Airlines).
With the help of an initiative by Verband Internet Reisevertrieb (VIR), one of Germany’s leading association for the digital travel industry, German tourism companies are due to make a joint appearance at ITB China 2019, which will take place from May 15 – 17, 2019 in Shanghai.
The 2nd Beijing International Travel Mart (BITM) 2018 was successfully concluded with some 3,120 business matching sessions between its exhibitors and hosted buyers.
Construction of Nakheel’s third expansion at Dubai’s Dragon City – an AED169 million (USD46.01 million) showroom and car park complex– has reached the 80 percent mark.
COMPLIMENTING ITS ALLURING PULL AS A RICH HISTORICAL AND CULTURURAL DESTINATION, EGYPT IS ALSO A TOP CHOICE FOR THOSE SEEKING TO UNWIND AND THOSE SEARCHING FOR THE ULTIMATE THRILL.
DUBAI'S TOURISM VISION FOR 2020 AIMS TO FURTHER LEVERAGE THE SECTOR BY BROADENING THE EMIRATE'S OFFERING ACROSS EVENTS, ATTRACTIONS, INFASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES WHILE ALSO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF REPEAT VISITS.
As Durai revealed, one of the main reasons of the sector’s rapid growth was the introduction of more relaxed visa options, including a new multiple entry visa for cruise guests which facilitated the administrative processes and has helped reach a wider pool of international vacationers.
In line with QTA’s strategy of targeting Kuwait and Oman for leisure trips, Kashif Javed Khan, director, sales and marketing, Governor West Bay Suites & Residences, underlined that the property is primarily targeting Kuwait, Oman, and Turkey, offering numerous summer promotions to add to the appeal.


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On a tablet, the screen is all important and they don’t come much better than the new iPad. Apple calls it 'resolutionary', we call the 9.7-inch screen that supports a 2048 x 1536-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi) and it is the best screen we've seen on a tablet. The Microsoft Surface Pro it’s a larger screen at 10.6-inches on the Pro and RT models with what Microsoft are calling a Clear Type HD display.
NVIDIA has announced that its chip will be used in the Surface Pro model and it will be a TEGRA but no official news on the power but it’s likely to be the quadcore Tegra 3. The new iPad comes with the A5X and runs a quad-core graphics chip.
It’s a mixed bag when it comes to weight the new iPad is heavier than the Surface RT at 680g compared to 676g but lighter than Surface Pro that comes in at a heavy-weight 903g.
Connectivity is a win for the iPad. It likely that neither the Surface RT nor the Pro will not be available in a 3G version for the moment, leaving the new iPad unchallenged in non-wifi connectivity and its now added LTE and HSDPA+ for us in the UK.
The price is where it should get interesting but not quite yet as Microsoft hasn’t officially announced what price-point the Surface will come in at but we’re promised it’ll be competitive. Apple has stuck with the same price as the iPad 2, prices start at a pricey £399 for the basic model.


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Wecreate Zambia Executive Director, Nambula Kachumi has commended Government for laying an effective platform to enhance entrepreneurship for women.
Ms Kachummi said in an interview during the 2018, Zambia FemBioBiz Accelerated Program Grand Finale and Pitch Presentation held today at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka, that Government is playing a key role to ensure that women adequately contribute to the national development of the country.
She said entrepreneurship is now the economic model of not only Zambia but Africa as a whole noting that, what is most critical is government’s interest to try and get as more entrepreneurs to participate in national development.
“I think women entrepreneurs have the potential to contribute significantly to the economy, “she said.
Ms. Kachumi said Wecreate Zambia is working with the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Gender to expose women entrepreneurs to resources that will help them venture into businesses.
Four Zambian women entrepreneurs have been selected to represent Zambia at the Southern Africa Innovation Summit organised by Southern Africa Network for Biosciences (SANBio).
And BioFISA Programme Manager, Zvikomborero Tangawamira said SANBio is working to empower women with business skills in Southern Africa.
“We support women to acquire innovation in nutrition and we have invested R21million to train and empower women in nutrition. Our target is to end malnutrition, “she said.


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Economic Index Shows Lubbock’s Economy Still Weak, Few Signs of Improvement
Lubbock’s economy shows few signs of improvement, according to the Lubbock Economic Index. The May LEI fell to 122.6, down from April’s 122.7, and down nearly 2 percent from May 2010.
Lubbock National Bank says that the LEI has increased from one month to the next only twice within the past 12 months, and the index has settled at low levels unseen since early 2004.
Taxable retail spending is up, increasing by 2.3 percent from May 2010, and the year to date total is up by 3.7 percent from the same time in 2010.
Estimated payroll employment is up by .3 percent from May 2010, and the unemployment rate has not significantly improved from around 5.9 percent over the past year. Building permits have also declined about 37 percent compared with the first five months of 2010.
Economic hope is not bolstered by the Lubbock Consumer Price Index for May, which has increased by 2.3 percent compared to one year ago.
This is a significant jump compared to the 1.7 percent rate of year-over-year increase in April.
The CPI is a measure of the average price change over time, and in Lubbock, it continues to climb higher in some important sectors such as food and health care prices.
The food/grocery sector of the CPI increased by 1 percent from last year, and the rate of increase in the energy/utilities sector increased to 3.5 percent in May, up slightly from April’s 3.4 percent. The same rate and increase was seen for the health care sector as well.


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Uninor is going to refund balance of accounts belonging to its remaining customers in Mumbai and Kolkata circles following the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) directives in this regard. The operator has been given 15 days of time to do so. Uninor has 10,12,630 customers in Mumbai and Kolkata.
The TRAI in a statement released last week noted that several subscribers could not use the remaining balance of their mobile accounts due to Uninor's “sudden discontinuance” and did not have enough time to switch their numbers to other operators in their respective service areas.
In order to get a refund, customers will have to carry their identity proof along with Uninor SIM cards. "Uninor will verify the unutilized balance on the basis of SIM card and pay out cash refunds on the spot," says Uninor in a statement.
Uninor will be helping customers switch network through a helpline number - 9175091750.
"With the TRAI directive, Uninor will immediately begin offering porting codes to its Mumbai subscribers. The company started the refunding process at five of its stores in Mumbai from Thursday. Till Sunday, Uninor had disbursed over Rs 4 lakh as refunds," the company added in its statement.
Uninor says both the facilities will remain open for 15 days and would be extended if required.
It may be recalled Uninor is one of the telecom operators, whose pan-India licence was revoked by the Supreme Court last year. The operator did not participate in the November 2G auctions and is supposed to cease operations.
Source: Zdnet, Times of India


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Last week the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) held its Annual Conference:
The Pharmaceutical Industry are concerned about an “affordability conundrum”:
This BBC Report from November 2014: “Pharmaceutical Industry gets high on fat profits” documented that:
There will be many companies around the world who would like to be dealing with this kind of “affordability conundrum”.
Another area of concern to the industry was discussed at the 2015 ABPI Conference:
The closing session of the 2015 ABPI Conference was focused on the reputation of the pharmaceutical industry:
A panel discussion was part of this:
Andrew McConaghie of PharmaPhorum recorded this passage:
My view is that if the Pharmaceutical industry are concerned about their reputation then they should avoid such obvious scapegoating. Dr Goldacre has been and continues to be a world pioneer for scientific objectivity and it does the “reputation” of the British Pharmaceutical industry no credit to distort his work in this way.
Here is the view of the World Health Organisation:


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Giving inclusive programme another try
Local tourism officials are making another bid to boost earnings from the sector through the “free spending money” Barbados Island Inclusive programme.
They are repeating the initiative, which was introduced last year and was available to nationals from major source markets including Britain, United States, Canada, Brazil and the Caribbean.
This time, officials have decided to pair the offer with a number of cultural and sporting events. The Barbados Tourism Authority said visitors interested in taking part in the Island Inclusive package have up to March 15 to book, and were required to travel to Barbados between May 1 and December 19.
Under the programme tourists receive spending money based on their length of stay for use at participating attractions and restaurants. With a minimum stay of five nights, guests will receive $300 per person and on stays of seven nights or longer guests will receive $400 per person, based on a maximum of two people per room.
As was the case last year, vouchers will be distributed to guests upon hotel check-in. The events officials are pairing the special with to increase its marketability include Gospelfest, the inaugural Top Gear Festival, Crop Over, and the 5th annual Barbados Food & Wine And Rum Festival.
It was pointed out that “most” of the island’s properties were taking part in the programme as well as 30 attractions and restaurants.
Last year, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Richard Sealy said Government was pleased with the response to the programme, which was designed to stimulate the tourism industry and had $11 million in funding.
At that time, he said more than 5 000 tourists had taken advantage of the vouchers on offer and the venture was expected to bring an additional 15 000 tourists to Barbados with spending of $30 million.
Last year, visitors from the United Kingdom and Europe were entitled to $600 per individual, for a seven-night stay or $400 per person on a five-night stay. Tourists travelling from Canada and the United States each received $400 for a booking of seven nights and $300 for a stay of five nights.
Brazilian visitors were to receive $400 per person for a stay of seven nights; while tourists from the Caribbean were entitled to $300 per person for a five-night stay, and $200 for a booking of two nights.


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Shane O’Leary gives his take on the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook scandal
There’s a famous quote by Mark Twain about how companies go bankrupt in two ways – “gradually at first, but then all at once”. Recently, thoughts have come to mind about how it also applies to how major stories evolve in our age of fast flowing news. First you get some small ripples that hint towards broader macro issues.
Then momentum starts gathering and suddenly, unexpectedly, you get a tipping point with massive repercussions. It’s like a snowball effect. Across the last 18 months, we’ve seen the creation of GDPR legislation, the rise of adblocking and stories about how Russia ‘weaponised’ Facebook targeting to help swing the US election.
Taken in isolation, these each hint at a subtle awakening among consumers about how their data is used. Now we have a story that is the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’ – the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica revelations. No need to go into the detail. But what for me is the most interesting part is not the revelations themselves, it’s the outrage at Facebook allowing data to be used in a way that’s not unusual.
Game, setting and match: Mark Zuckerberg is simplifying Facebook’s privacy tools again on foot of the revelations about Cambridge Analytica harvesting Facebook data for targeting purposes and the resultant #DeleteFacebook movement. But greater transparency does nothing to counter the simple fact – Facebook’s shared data is its greatest asset.
Cambridge Analytica did not create some entirely new way of marketing. Attitudinal segmentation combined with media targeting is a method that brands use regularly. Sophisticated psychographic targeting is commonplace. It’s a fundamental part of advertising. The company was kicked off the platform because they mis-collected data (and for other personal allegations), not for what they did with the data.
Yet it’s the latter that seems to have caused alarm amongst the public. The reaction to the story reinforces how little public understanding there is of modern media methods. Digital media literacy, particularly when it comes to data usage, is poor among the general population. Speaking to friends from outside adland, there’s low levels of comprehension about how advertising online works. The recent Google Consumer Barometer said 89 per cent of Irish consumers believe data privacy and protection are very important, yet many seem to be completely unaware of the basics of targeting.
It should be alarming to us in adland. The modern internet is built on an implied agreement; “give us your data and we’ll give you access to social or search platforms for free”. But maybe the deal is only clear to one side. Maybe we haven’t done a good enough job educating people about how and why their data is being used.
It is an example of what’s called ‘the expert problem’ – because we’re immersed in this area, things that seem shocking to others seem normal to us. One man’s ‘creepy surveillance’, is another man’s ‘targeted digital advertising’. Therein lies the problem.
With GDPR also looming, maybe we should fear a further backlash as those outside the industry start to become more aware of our standard operating practices? It could be a story that will change advertising forever. Gradually at first, but then all at once.
Saying sorry in print
Staying on the topic of Facebook’s woes, their choice of media to apologise for the data controversy was interesting. At the end of March, the brand ran full page ads in a variety of US and UK newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Sunday Times to say ‘sorry’ for playing fast and loose with consumer data.
Why didn’t Facebook simply choose to use its own platform to apologise? One reason is the power that print advertising still holds. A recent study in Australia on media trust found that print is still by far the most credible medium around. This tallies with similar research that GroupM Ireland have conducted in recent days.
In a world of ‘fake news’ splashed across the web, print has retained its status. It’s still a premium environment that holds its value, particularly when compared to the long tail of the web or a social newsfeed. Print still delivers a positive signal of gravitas to the reader. While readership might be falling, and papers might be under pressure to cut journalism budgets, there is still immense power in the written word.
The newspaper industry needs to make more of that. Because premium brands, like Facebook, require more than just ‘brand safety’, they need high trust, premium environments to communicate important messages. Of course, another interesting angle to Facebook’s media choice is that their success in wrangling advertising budgets from big brands has largely come at the cost of print.
If you look at any graph showing media spend changes in the last decade, Facebook’s growth and print’s decline almost directly overlap. The medium they’ve chosen to apologise in is the one they’ve almost single-handedly decimated. Rock star Alanis Morissette co-wrote a song with Glen Ballard about situations like this: Ironic.
Shane O’Leary is strategy and insights manager with GroupM agencies Maxus and Mindshare


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Wal-Mart Stores Inc's Canadian unit will expand its distribution network and open a handful of new stores in the coming fiscal year, as rival discounter Target Corp prepares to open its first stores in the country this spring.
Walmart's planned $450 million investment pales in comparison with the more than $750 million it earmarked for expansion in the current fiscal year, which wraps up at the end of January.
That said, it has been a particularly active year, thanks to Hudson's Bay Co's decision to mothball its discount banner Zellers. Target secured its first Canadian locations from HBC, and Walmart took over 39 former Zellers outlets.
Walmart said it expected to have about 388 Canadian locations by the end of January 2014, compared with 379 as of January 31, 2013, and 333 a year earlier. Target plans to open 124 stores in Canada, starting in March or April.
The world's biggest retailer has been converting many of its Canadian stores to "supercenters," which feature more grocery items than standard stores, putting pressure on profit margins at Canadian grocers. It plans to complete at least 37 supercenter projects next fiscal year.
Target is expected to shake up the retail landscape across Canada, challenging Walmart in a market it has dominated for nearly two decades.
"This year, we are ramping up our focus on lowering prices and helping customers lower their cost of living, as we continue to bring our supercentre format to more Canadians," said Shelley Broader, CEO of Walmart Canada.
The plan, which includes construction of new stores, expansion, remodeling or relocation of existing stores, is expected to generate more than 7,000 store, trade and construction jobs, the company said.
Walmart, which entered Canada in 1994, said it would also introduce the supercentre format to locations in the Maritime provinces in eastern Canada this year.
tap here to see other videos from our team.


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Arkitip has announced their new issue edition, this time working with external curators, which is a first for the magazine.
“ll serve as the working catalog for their creative concept. Arkitip will art direct the edition along with the curators to make the collaborative process come full circle.
In this creative expression, the edition is no longer only a singular voice. Technology and the culture’s admiration of collaboration has given us the opportunity to exchange ideas across time zones, lifestyles and disciplines. The art of collaboration has been renewed by a new generation raised on digital media and global connections. Collaborative ideas have never been so prolific or powerful thanks to a newly technologically empowered individual. Alex Calderwood and John C Jay join forces to create an edition of Arkitip born from a provocative dialogue between unique individuals from their own personal network of creatives.
As is customary, we will produce a collector’s item supplement to be included with each issue edition, designed in partnership with the curators of this one of a kind issue edition.”
The issue will be released on December 15th.


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Negotiating the price of a car can be a painful process, a game of cat and mouse between you and the salesman.
On Tuesday, American Express will announce that it has added its own auto program for its wealthiest customers. Holders of the Centurion Card, more commonly known as the black card, will be able to negotiate the price of a car through the Centurion Web site, and they will have the added benefit of being able to do so without having to reveal any personal information.
In addition, on certain cars, they will get added perks. Tesla, for instance, is offering a media upgrade package, and Jaguar has added financial incentives.
Beyond offering help in negotiating the price of a car, the Centurion auto program has two other perks. Customers can get access to luxury rentals — a Ferrari for the weekend, for example — as well as driving experiences on Formula 1 racing courses.
Desiree Fish, vice president of public affairs for American Express, said the program was an addition to luxury perks it offers Centurion members in fashion, food, wine and travel. She declined to say how many people hold the card.
The company is starting the program to tap into what she said is an increase in spending among its wealthiest clients.
“The economy is starting to pick up so there is more of an interest now in people out there spending,” Ms. Fish said. “Auto is something we haven’t done before. We wanted to do something robust.”
While holders of the black card will officially be told about the program on Tuesday, Ms. Fish said the auto page has been public (though buried on the site) to test the technology. “Five cars have been sold already in the last two weeks,” she said. “They’ve found this info on their own, no marketing or promoting.”
Apparently, even people buying a Jaguar are looking for a deal.


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On the other hand, developing economies are also witnessing establishment of a policy structure that provides a strong impetus to EV sales. The global market for vehicle battery is thus on a constantly growing trajectory. A new market intelligence report of Fairfield Market Research forecasts a promising CAGR of 4.6% CAGR for vehicle battery market during 2021-2030, reaching the valuation of more than US$43 Bn.
As the global drive for sustainability accelerates and more countries aim for zero-emission transportation in the near future, the demand for vehicle battery continues to see an upward trend. Favourable regulatory framework is already offering a phenomenal push to electric vehicle (EV) sales in developed regions such as Europe and North America.
electrification will soon outpace the growth of automotive industry itself, says the report. With mobility on the world’s target to become a 100% sustainable model, global vehicle battery market is set to demonstrate an impressive growth outlook in long run.
Moreover, governments and non-government entities are investing substantial efforts in promoting EVs, pushing various battery technologies and establishing better, reliable EV and hybrid EV charging infrastructure. Such initiatives will contribute towards improved consumer confidence and create a fertile ground for the build-up of vehicle battery market.
Cost of vehicle battery has been a prime challenge to its wider adoption, coupled with the associated safety risk. These factors have been long-term barriers that still continue to limit applicability of vehicle batteries. However, advancing battery technology is promising better performance, longer life span and enhance safety, which is complementing soaring EV sales. This scenario creates a strong platform for companies to present vehicle battery as a relatively affordable option for vehicle owners.
Fast Developing Asian Countries Provide a Hotbed of Opportunities to Vehicle Battery Manufacturers
Lithium-ion battery, slated for staggering sales growth at 15% CAGR through 2030, will remain the most sought-after for its superior energy density, higher safety quotient and better life span. The report further suggests that fast developing economies in Asia Pacific such as China, Korea and Japan hold the lion’s share in global vehicle battery market. Around 4/5th of overall demand is accounted by these markets and more than 45% of global vehicle battery manufacturing plants are based in China alone. Despite being a prime market for EVs, battery demand in Europe prevails on a lower side, says research.
Despite the heat of Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, EV sales grew steady in some of the European markets, which sustained vehicle battery demand for vehicle battery. However, the manufacturing scenes are still recovering from the massive losses that they encountered due to sudden production shutdowns and supply chain interruptions. The global hub for battery manufacturing brands, China, was impacted worse due to plummeting automotive sales.
Battery Making Companies Join Forces with Researchers over Technology R&D
There have been clear predictions about EVs soon outnumbering vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE). Though holding up some portion of the European and the US fleet currently, EVs and hybrid EVs are most likely to see a crossover point where ICE vehicles will be negligible in number.
However, these are expert predictions and there is a lot in the pipeline before it actually happens. Technology giants as well as start-ups are preferring strategic collaborations for R&D. Several companies are also joining hands with top universities with an aim to develop a high-density vehicle battery.
In addition to develop consumer confidence, key companies in vehicle battery landscape ought to take into consideration the constantly heightening consumer sentiment. R&D investments in fast-charging battery technologies are thus underway over the recent past. With innovation at the core of R&D, key players in vehicle battery market are also focusing on battery models with amplified storage capacity.
The research presented in report has thoroughly profiled some of the most prominent players in vehicle battery market, including Panasonic Corporation, BYD Company Limited, LG Chem Ltd., Johnson Controls International PLC, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited, and SAMSUNG SDI Co., Ltd.


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Photo: STR / Agence France-Presse
Retail sales have experienced a new nosedive in march to 15.8% year on year.
The chinese economy has experienced a downturn for the first time in its history in the 1st quarter, with a decline of 6.8% year on year, largely attributed to the epidemic of Covid-19 that has virtually shut down the activity of the country, according to official statistics published Friday.
This decrease is less pronounced than the forecasts of a group of analysts surveyed by AFP (8.2 per cent).
It is, however, the worst performance since the beginning of the quarterly GDP in the early 90s. In the last quarter of 2019, the growth was recorded at 6% year on year.
In annual terms, China has not experienced a contraction in GDP since 1976.
Although controversial, the figure of China’s GDP is still under scrutiny, having regard to the weight of the country in the global economy.
In full propagation of the virus in the world, China “must face new difficulties and challenges, to restart the activity and production”, has admitted to the press a spokesman for the national Bureau of Statistics, Mao Shengyong.
Anxious to stem the spread of the virus, which has been officially more than 4 632 deaths in China, Beijing has adopted at the end of January of the containment measures without precedent, which have leaded to the activity.
Retail sales have experienced a new nosedive in march to 15.8% year on year, but industrial production has made a comeback, with a decline of only 1.1%.
During the previous two months (the only statistics available), retail sales were down 20.5% while industrial production had yielded a 13.5%.
In spite of an improvement of health conditions in recent weeks, hundreds of millions of Chinese continue to restrict their movements for fear of catching the virus.
Between April and June, China is expected to return to growth after being signed in the 1st quarter of its “downturn the most severe since the cultural Revolution” ended in 1976, considers the analyst Julian Evans-Pritchard, from the consultancy Capital Economics.
The asian giant will not be provided out of the woods. The difficulties are expected to intensify, according to Mr. Evans-Pritchard: rising unemployment, weak domestic demand and difficult economic climate abroad, which plomberont exports.


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“Guccify” your interior with Gucci’s New Season Décor line
More OTT than Wabi-Sabi. With summer drawing near, days getting longer and nights getting shorter, you probably thought about upgrading your interior with a hint of colour. An excellent idea, especially since Gucci has just released its FW 2019 home décor line. The collection features decorative mugs, candles, blankets, incense sticks and cushions. The bohemian, esoteric looking collection is available now at select retailers and on Gucci’s official website.
Nike and Stranger Things present their first collaboration for Season 3
Stranger Things is coming back, on Netflix, for a third season, coming directly in the footsteps of season 2. Fans worldwide will eventually be able to see what is going to become of Hawkins, Indiana, where the plot takes place. The capsule collaboration features several pairs of classic Nike trainers and plays on the varsity look, with a line of apparel in the colours of the high-school team from the series. But be reassured, it will still be coming in two drops, which means you have twice the chances of getting your hands on some items! The first one is coming on June 27, while the second, is expected to arrive in stores and online on July 3rd.
Kanye West protégé Maisie Schloss introduces Maisie Wilen line in Los Angeles (and Paris)
Maisie Schloss, a native of Chicago, Illinois and Parsons Design School laureate, is one of the new faces of today’s American fashion. Her collection, introduced in Los Angeles last weekend has made headlines worldwide as she is the very first designer to come out of Kanye West’s incubator program — the young designer also works for his YEEZY line. Maisie Wilen’s first collection seems to be well received overall; the American designer will be showing her line in Paris, too, during the upcoming Fashion Week.
Dior gives us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look the J’Adior atelier
To celebrate the arrival on the Dior web shop of the iconic black pumps, Dior shows us its meticulous crafting process. The brand rarely lets anyone into their atelier, but this week, the French maison showed the world how much attention to detail is part of their process. Check out the video below and head over to Dior’s official website for more information on sizing, models and prices.
Chanel invests in green technology
The Fashion industry is one of the most toxic for the environment. Thankfully, things are changing and Chanel aims to be on the forefront of this new era. The French house has purchased a minority part of Boston-based startup Evolved By Nature. The young company is working on finding a silk-based process that could eventually replace chemicals used on fabrics.


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The Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes the increases in import tariffs on clothing from 40% to 45% on 35 lines of garments. The purpose of these tariffs is to protect the local market against cheap imports that might destroy local industries and jobs.
The G20 Forums in November 2008 and April 2009 urge countries to avoid protectionism, through the use of import quotas and tariffs, and/or local procurement strategies to protect domestic markets.
But despite these calls to avoid protectionism, protectionist measures by the rich have been increasing. For instance, rich countries continue to subsidise their farmers to the detriment of those in poor countries. This was recognised by President Zuma in his speech to the World Economic Forum in Africa when he said that "protectionist policies by the haves will deepen Africa's woes".
Farmers' subsidies in wealthy countries have led to disinvestment in agriculture, loss of jobs, migration to cities with resultant pressure on resources and they have destroyed farmers' and rural people's livelihoods.
For the past three years SA has been importing subsidised dairy products from the US with detrimental effects on the domestic dairy industry and jobs.
For more than 40 years rich countries have used the Multi-fibre Agreement to protect their clothing and textile industries to the detriment of poor countries industries. The MFA was terminated in 2005 but these countries continue to use tariff peaks to discourage clothing and textile imports from poor countries.
COSATU believes that SA like any other country is within its rights to increase applied tariffs to their bound or maximum levels and the increases are WTO-consistent. Protectionism is a lawful trade policy measure to the extent that it seeks to protect infant or small developing industries against cheap imports which might destroy jobs within WTO rules. So too are local procurement campaigns like Proudly South African, which seek to maximise local procurement of goods and services
SA is not banning imports but is trying to ensure that global trade benefits are spread equally among participating nations and not only to benefit exporting, mostly rich, countries.
The Nedlac Framework Agreement provides that SA must use trade measures to protect its industries and jobs. Whilst rich countries have used the financial muscle to bail out their industries, poor countries should not be prevented from using trade measures to do the same.
Polokwane resolved that all economic policies should be based on industrial policy and that decent work should remain at the centre of all economic policies.
COSATU urges government to use tariff and local procurement policies and other measures in this period of recession to protect existing jobs, key labour intensive industries and industrial capacity, as envisaged by Polokwane and the Nedlac Framework Agreement.
These tariff increases will have a long-term effect of strengthening domestic capacity, improving local production and creating more decent jobs.
Statement issued by COSATU, July 2 2009
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art is playing catch up in the digital age.
The Met is beginning what they say will be a long and expensive process of wiring the thick-walled building for Wi-Fi, so that visitors will be able to watch videos about the art from anywhere inside the museum. They created their first app for the new show Guitar Heroes. They are installing a numbered gallery system for navigating ease – something that most larger museums already have.
And they have been working on their website. According to the Met’s research, 40 percent of visitors check out the museum online before going there in person.
Last month, the Met unveiled the first changes to their website since 2001. Website visitors will be able to watch “Connections,” an audio slideshow feature where different Museum staff members discuss an aspect of the Met’s collection that catches their fancy. A new website will launch in the summer.
Many museums have tried to be more user-friendly and approachable, but the successful ones generally skew a little younger. MOMA has been very successful at using social media. They have over half a million fans on their facebook page, a popular Flickr group, twitter and an iPhone app. The Brooklyn Museum has blog, a tumblr, a well-followed twitter feed and holds video contests through YouTube.
The Met’s challenge is to hold on to their current demographic – older people and tourists – while trying to appeal to visitors who are more inclined to Google the Temple of Dendur while walking through the Egyptian Wing than to read the descriptions on the wall.


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Binance has pulled out of the deal to acquire cryptocurrency exchange, FTX.com.
The Zhao Changpeng-led company had indicated interest to buy FTX from its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried at an undisclosed amount.
Both Changpeng and Bankman-Fried confirmed the acquisition plan on Twitter, a development many investors hoped would aid FTX financially.
In a statement announcing that the deal had fallen off, Binance cited reports of mishandling customer funds and alleged US agency investigations as the reason for the development.
According to Binance, the reports had made Binance ineptitude to offer liquidity to FTX customers as hoped.
The statement read: As a result of corporate due diligence, as well as the latest news reports regarding mishandled customer funds and alleged US agency investigations, we have decided that we will not pursue the potential acquisition of FTX.com
“In the beginning, our hope was to be able to support FTX’s customers to provide liquidity, but the issues are beyond our control or ability to help.
“Every time a major player in an industry fails, retail consumers will suffer. We have seen over the last several years that the crypto ecosystem is becoming more resilient and we believe in time that outliers that misuse user funds will be weeded out by the free market.
“As regulatory frameworks are developed and as the industry continues to evolve toward greater decentralization, the ecosystem will grow stronger.”


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Deerfield Beach-based JM Family Enterprises on Monday announced a new turn for the 50-year-old automobile service company — the purchase of a home services company.
JM Family, one of South Florida’s largest employers and parent to JM Lexus dealership and Southeast Toyota Distributors, has acquired Home Franchise Concepts.
The Irvine, Calif.-based company offers franchises, or licenses to operate a business within a certain area. The home-service franchises provide custom blinds installation, home organization, decorative concrete and water restoration and mold remediation services. The purchase price was not disclosed.
“We’ve been talking about diversification for years,” Brent Burns, president and CEO of JM Family, said in an interview Monday. He said the acquisition of Home Franchise Concepts, which is in the multi-billion home improvement industry, was the “right one at the right time.”
Home Franchise Concepts operates franchises in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The company will remain based in Southern California under the leadership of current CEO Shirin Behzadi, Burns said. The company employs 143 people.
JM Family purchased the company from a private equity fund, Trilantic North America, which had invested in the business in 2015.
JM Family, which had 2018 revenues of $16.3 billion, up from $15.1 billion a year earlier, is not driving away from the auto business, Burns said. “The auto business has been very good to us. We are excited about the changes and transformations that are taking place,” he said.
Burns said JM Family’s success over the years and long-time partnership with Toyota has given it the option of acquiring new businesses.
“I see this as the first of what could be a number of potential acquisitions,” Burns said.
But auto industry reports point to a tougher road ahead for dealerships as more autonomous vehicles are introduced and consumer attitudes toward ownership change.
The latest report from industry expert Edmunds warns 2019 auto sales are expected to slide to 16.9 million from 17.3 million in 2018. Many potential new buyers are priced out of the new-car market with the average transaction price at an all-time high $37,000, according to Edmunds.
JM Family is No. 21 on Forbes’ 2018 list of “America’s Largest Private Companies.” Known for its employee amenities and benefits, JM Family in the process of a $150 million expansion of its Deerfield Beach campus. JM Family employs more than 4,300 people, including 1,780 in South Florida.
JM Family’s is constructing a “world-class campus that we think will drive the kind of innovation we will need in order to excel,” said Brent Burns, who became CEO in July 2018. “We’re putting even deeper roots into South Florida and Broward County.”
JM Family was ranked No. 17 on Fortune’s 2019 “Best Companies To Work For” list, up from No. 51 in 2018.
Entrepreneur Jim Moran, who began JM Family’s South Florida operation with a Pontiac dealership in 1968, died in 2007 at age 88.


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The Nissan Patrol NISMO has made its official debut earlier this week in the Middle East. It’s a higher performance version of the full-size SUV unveiled at a special event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to celebrate the introduction of the NISMO brand in the Middle East where Nissan has plans to sell NISMO-prepared versions of the 370Z and GT-R as well. The SUV has received an upgraded version of the V8 5.6-liter engine that now churns 428 bhp, so it’s 28 bhp more powerful than before. We don’t know how much torque the engine generates, but in stock configuration it has 560 Nm and Nissan says this new version offers the torque across more than 70% of the rev range.
Besides receiving a more powerful heart, the Nissan Patrol NISMO also has a sporty body kit, beefier exhaust system and 22-inch RAYS forged alloy wheels. It benefits from a special suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers while NISMO’s engineers have also worked on the steering. There are some interior cabin tweaks, including a red finish for the rev counter and other minor tweaks to make this version stand out from the regular non-NISMO.
It’s unclear at this point whether Nissan will sell the Patrol NISMO only in the Middle East or they plan to expand availability.


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County Survey Now Available at Libraries, Municipal Buildings-Residents, Employees and Shoppers Encouraged to Respond-
(Gloucester County, NJ) - Gloucester County is conducting a survey of Gloucester County residents, employees and shoppers as part of its Regional Retail Recruitment Plan.
In addition to being available online at www.GlouCoSurvey.com, printed survey forms are now available at local municipal buildings, libraries, the County Store in the Deptford Mall and the Countys Budd Boulevard Building. Respondents can mail completed surveys back postage-paid.
Freeholder Director Stephen M. Sweeney said that the survey will run through September. The survey information, along with the merchant and community information gathered, will be used to help develop a community-driven plan of action to revitalize the retail environment in Gloucester County.
"We have already received over 2,700 online surveys, and we want to hear from anyone who lives, works or shops in Gloucester County," Sweeney said. "We realize there are residents who would prefer to send their surveys in the mail and we encourage them to take a few minutes and stop by the County Store or their local library or municipal building and complete one."
"The purpose of this initiative is to provide our municipalities with a strategic forecast to manage future retail development, assist with downtown revitalization and coordinate planned business development," said Joseph Brigandi, Jr., Gloucester County Freeholder Liaison. "The more responses we receive the better equipped we will be to understand how we can make Gloucester County more appealing to everyone," said Brigandi.


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Tourism in Panama, since about three years ago, has being benefited from a long-awaited date for many shops: The famous “Black Friday”. That particular day, the shops offer their products with the advantage of being able to acquire them at very low prices, with sale offers reaching up to 70% and 80%.
Tourism in Panama – Gogetit Highlights
* The “Black Friday” is a date celebrated every last Friday of November, and is characterized by massive sales of products with discounts ever offered throughout the year.
* This year’s “Black Friday”, is on November 27 and stores are preparing for the biggest shopping day of the year.
* During the month of November, with the national holidays and the “Black Friday”, around 50,000 visitors are expected.
Tourism in Panama seeks always be driven in various ways. In this case, one of them is the famous “Black Friday”, which is considered as the perfect opportunity for businesses and shops attract tourists from all over the world. The “Black Friday” in Panama has become an important date not only for local buyers, but also for foreigners.
Each year, visitors from countries such as Ecuador, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Colombia, come to the country to shop for the holidays this year. Their arrival positively affects the hotel industry and tourism in Panama is also greatly benefited.
In a review published on Gogetit News website, it is explained how Black Friday allows tourism in Panama to become the reference for the entire sector in Central America and South America. Panama is a country that serves as a transit point for many tourists. In addition to this, many visitors seek for sales or shopping discounts, which increases the “shopping tourism” in the country. It is expected that this year, lots of tourists will go shopping in Panama. (See article).


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KalPay and UCP Collaborate to Provide Students with Instalment Facilities for Education Financing.
Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) KalPay has partnered up with University of Central Punjab (UCP) to offer convenient instalment plans to their students to help manage their educational expenses efficiently.
KalPay, co-founded by Mr. Shershah Hassan in 2021, is a consumer lending fintech startup that offers buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions on various e-commerce platforms, and for the purchase of productive assets like smartphones and fee payments for education and skill development services.
This collaboration between KalPay and UCP will enable UCP students to study now and pay later with the ease of interest-free monthly instalments, which are customizable as per their individual needs.
At the MoU Signing Ceremony, Mr. Shershah Hassan, CEO KalPay, commented, “We launched our initiative of KalPay Taleem back in September of 2022 with the motivation to make education more affordable for students. This partnership is one step further in breaking financial barriers and increasing financial inclusion within the underbanked population”.
Mr. Muhammad Ali Aizaz, Head Alumni Relations UCP, added, “This collaboration is more than just a partnership; it’s a catalyst for social good. By facilitating students to shape their future, we’re paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous Pakistan”.
In the near future, KalPay will continue working to broaden the scope of their collaboration across Pakistan’s institutions and help build the foundations of a financially prosperous nation.


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Tesco slashes prices as the Christmas battle for customers heats up
Tesco posted higher quarterly sales as overseas expansion bolstered steady growth in Britain but the performance was weaker than analysts had expected.
'We are seeing improving customer confidence and encouraging trends in both the UK and our international businesses, although recessionary conditions still exist in a number of markets,' Tesco Chief Executive Terry Leahy said in a statement.
The supermarket group, which makes about three-quarters of its profit in Britain, said on Tuesday sales at UK stores open at least a year rose 2.8 per cent, excluding petrol and VAT sales tax, in the 13 weeks to November 28 - its fiscal third quarter.
Price wars: Tesco will cut prices on 200 new products each week in the lead up to Christmas
That is slightly down on the 3.1 per cent reported in the second
quarter and shy of the average forecast of 3 per cent in a Reuters poll
of 12 analysts.
Overall group sales, excluding petrol, rose by 8.8 per cent.
Tesco is on the offensive again in the run up to Christmas. Britain's largest retailer has launched a major assault on the luxury food market.
Tesco is leaving nothing to chance by announcing 200 of its Finest products will be placed on promotion in an attempt to woo shoppers from Waitrose and Marks & Spencer.
It is the latest of a series of measures, that include the
doubling of loyalty points, that Britain's biggest retailer has taken
to cement its market share.
Tesco is also examining a plan to launch a loyalty scheme at its underperforming American start-up Fresh & Easy.
This comes as the British Retail Consortium warned November was the second-worst-performing month of the year.
Underlying sales values rose just 1.8 per cent from November 2008 as food sales slowed. Clothing and footwear also disappointed following October's uplift.
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Halloween Events For Kids 2020 In Toledo
When many retailers count on Christmas and Easter to boost sales, Halloween is the most important holiday of the year for Party City (NYSE:PRTY). The annual pagan celebration of Samhain, the ancient . As parents across the country start gearing up for Halloween, they’ll have to decide how to maximize fun for their kids while minimizing the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19. Green: Less than 1 . Brandon area parents want their children to experience a bit of normalcy for Halloween amid the coronavirus pandemic. .
2019 Halloween Happenings
- What is replacing HalloWeekends at Cedar Point? New event planned .
- Halloween Guide.
- 2,000 kids knock on White House door for Halloween | Toledo Blade.
During this stressful time, parents are searching for ways to have a bit of light-hearted fun with their children. . You can cancel at any time. A hope for a normal Halloween in 2020 may not be on the table, but an event coming this fall will still give area kids the chance to capture some of the season’s .
Halloween Boo Cruises | Destination Toledo
An infectious disease expert at Stanford says people should be able to go trick-or-treating. Here’s why he considers it a relatively low-risk activity, (if people use common sense): Horror Nights is canceled this year, Universal Orlando just announced Halloween events happening at the theme parks this September. .
Family Halloween activities in Toledo | wtol.com
- September/October 2020 Toledo Area Parent by Adams Street .
- When is Cedar Point open for Halloween this year? | wtol.com.
- Superheroes assemble at ProMedica Toledo Children’s Hospital.
Enjoy Halloween activities, trick or treating at the Toledo Zoo
BEL AIR, MD — Trick-or-treating on Main Street will go on this year, the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners decided Tuesday during a virtual work session. Businesses downtown will be able to give . Halloween Events For Kids 2020 In Toledo Revelers march during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade in New York on Oct. 31, 2019. The holiday so many look forward to each year is going to look different in the pandemic as parents and the .


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MyFolkestone, a free and easy to use digital platform designed to support local businesses, help residents make the most of their town and showcase the very best of Folkestone to visitors and tourists, is delighted to support Folkestone Town’s annual business awards in 2019, in celebration of its recent arrival in Folkestone in September 2019.
Folkestone has some fantastic independent businesses doing some great things that the Folkestone Town Team believe deserve recognition. In December 2018 a number of businesses were rewarded through the first Town Team Awards programme, with categories ranging from customer service to website to décor and displays. Amongst the winners were A Simmonds, Crosskeys Travel, Wild for Flowers, Anna’s Tea Room and Landau.
Winning businesses were thrilled to receive the recognition of their commitment to their own unique businesses with certificates presented by Folkestone Mayor, Cllr Ann Berry.
The project team have now commenced the process for the 2019 Awards and are confirming categories and calling for nominations from Town Team Members. A new Category for a ‘Green Business’ has also been included and shortlisting will take place soon and voting will be completed at the end of September in readiness for the Town Team Awards Dinner on 7th November at the Burlington Hotel.
MyFolkestone is delighted to support the 2019 awards by showcasing the winners on its website (www.myfolkestone.co.uk) as part of its engagement with local businesses within Folkestone. MyFolkestone curates the best content of what is happening in town, including local events, festivals as well as providing exclusive offers and discounts, resulting in first-rate customer experiences across the town and helping local businesses build their profile with these audiences.
The Categories ensure the many businesses that make up a town can be included. Winners and Runners up will receive a certificate, and the Town Team and are calling for fellow business to add to a package of benefits that can help support fellow businesses.
Folkestone Town Team invite all Folkestone businesses to subscribe to receive regular news and updates from them. Further details about projects and to keep in touch can be found online at https://www.folkestonetownteam.org/


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Cryptocurrency exchange chief executive officer shut down trading services in India on Tuesday due to “unofficial pressure” from the Reserve Bank of India, addressing a notable Indian episode for the first time in a month Said.
Nasdaq listed company Launched the crypto trading service bearing its name in India The app allowed users of the world’s second-largest Internet market to purchase crypto tokens using UPI, a very popular Indian payment infrastructure built by a coalition of retail banks.But just three days after its launch, the company Rolled back the service No explanation.
The move followed a strange statement by the National Settlement Corporation of India, the governing body that oversees UPI in India. Refused to approve UPI support in Coinbase apps..
Brian Armstrong, Coinbase’s co-founder and CEO, was asked about India’s episode of the company’s earnings announcement and said Coinbase had disabled UPI “due to informal pressure from the Reserve Bank of India.” I did.
Armstrong is a cryptocurrency transaction Not illegal in India — In fact, South Asian countries Just recently started taxation —But there are elements that seem less positive to the government, including the Reserve Bank of India, and they — are called “shadow vans” in the press. Basically, they are trying to put soft pressure behind the scenes to invalidate some of these payments that may go through the UPI, “he said.
The Reserve Bank of India’s actions “may actually violate the Supreme Court’s ruling, and it would be interesting to know if it goes there. But our preference is, in fact, I think it’s about working with them to focus on rebooting. I think there are many ways to restart with other payment methods, and that’s the default way in the future, “he says. I did.
The Reserve Bank of India had previously banned cryptocurrencies — a decision overturned by the state’s Supreme Court over two years ago — but the central bank informally puts pressure on banks to engage in cryptocurrency exchanges. Continuing, TechCrunch previously reported.
This pressure and bank compliance is why India’s popular crypto exchanges regularly face problems with fiat support in the country. Cryptocurrency exchange executives told TechCrunch that they too could challenge the actions of central banks in court, but such a court battle could take years, in the meantime. Warned that their business could disappear. India hopes that the central bank will someday ease its stance on its own.
One of our theories here, my theory is that actions generate information. Therefore, when we go to these countries around the world, it is not always clear, everyone is in various states of education of the kind about cryptography or its lack. And there’s a lot of work to go to meet with policy makers around the world and teach them what AML features are and what the positive benefits are. People in these countries generally really really want cryptography. And to me, it says that in most parts of the free world and democracy, cryptography will eventually become regulated and legal, but it will take time for them to get used to it.
And the way we move the conversation forward is to take action. So even if you don’t know exactly how it will be done, it will start launching. Since the reaction will be received, the discussion will be forced, so we will launch it. Now the media is talking about it in India. There is now a meeting to discuss how we can take the next step. This is generally our approach with international expansion.


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Despite Nigeria’s retail sector being dominated by independent formats like Open Markets and Kiosks in terms of absolute store numbers, modern trade formats like Supermarkets and Hypermarkets are stepping up to fulfil the needs of consumers.
Creative Media Works, operating as BBM Messenger, has partnered with Springster, Girl Effect’s global mobile-first platform for vulnerable young women, to launch Girl Talk.
Jumia has introduced Jumia Bot, Nigeria’s first e-commerce Bot. Using Jumia Bot, shoppers can order food, find fashion or electronic items and book hotels and flights by simply having an online conversation with the bot.
Oladunmade Otitoola, an entrepreneur and beneficiary of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program in 2016, is founder of RentYourHall, Nigeria. Africa Business Communities poses him some questions on development of the startup.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that the number of people using the internet in Nigeria decreased in the month of July 2017.
As more financial service providers adopt machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions, it is becoming ever more apparent that these solutions are vital to economic inclusivity and innovation on the African continent.
Multichoice Nigeria will be launching a pay-per-view (PPV) option in the country. The company emphasized that the PPV concept is a cable or satellite television system in which consumers pay an additional fee to watch a particular program.
Betloy ihas launched its football prediction website for lovers of football. Many fans utilize content like this for entertainment purposes while many others take it a step further by translating their passion into profits.
With the backing of Kenya’s telecoms giant Safaricom, taxi hailing app Little is set to commence operations in Nigeria’s tech capital city of Lagos come October.
West Africa’s provider of connectivity and data center solutions, MainOne has reiterated the importance of Internet traffic domiciliation as a key requirement for growing the internet ecosystem in Africa.


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L’Oreal Paris on Wednesday, announced the launch of its global initiative - ‘Stand Up’ in India. The French cosmetics brand, in collaboration with Indian NGO Breakthrough, introduced its bystander intervention training programme against street harassment in the country, which aims at empowering women and encouraging bystanders to intervene and support the victim in a safe manner.
Speaking about the brand synergies behind the initiative and L’Oreal Paris, Pau Gruart, General Manager, L’Oreal Paris India explains, “What L’Oreal Paris stands for is women’s empowerment. That was the question and it all started when we conducted our Ipsos research. We wanted to understand what the main issues today around the globe are for women and girls. And we saw that number one across the globe is actually street harassment, which obviously sits at the crossroads for women empowerment, because it destroys all forms of self-worth. So I would say that it’s an initiative that is perfectly aligned with our purpose as a brand.” Gruart adds that the brand also aims at training one million people under the initiative by the end of 2022. Speaking about the brand’s communication and marketing for this cause, he points out, “We are going to direct all our marketing activities towards the training. We are also seeking influencer support and brand ambassador support to amplify it.”
The training programme will help both men and women to safely intervene if they witness or experience street harassment. The initiative has already been launched earlier in countries like France, Italy, Spain and Mexico.


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India Hotel Performance
STR | August 30, 2021
India’s progressive approach to vaccinations has led to an increase in travelers and hotel demand, especially in the leisure segment. Beyond the noticeable improvement, however, the country is showing a different trend in which markets are regaining occupancy. As noted in a recent press release, India’s recovery after the first COVID-19 wave was concentrated in leisure destinations such as Goa and Udaipur. But in this latest round of recovery, heavily populated markets and metro cities such as New Delhi and Mumbai have seen much improvement. Performance timeline India’s monthly occupancy reached a pandemic-era high in...
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Several companies are offering programs that allow users to get more organized and store their medical information online. Everything from prescriptions to diagnoses can be housed and some believe online medical records are the way of the future.
Former "Good Morning America" anchor Joan Lunden, who is now a paid spokeswoman for PassportMD, dropped by the Times Square Studios to discuss the new world of online medical records.
Here is what she said:
How Online Medical Records Work


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Hypermarkets lower prices for Ghost Festival
By Annie Yang ,Special to The China PostTAIPEI, Taiwan -- Hypermarkets in Taiwan have reduced their prices ahead of the Ghost Festival and will be staying open 24 hours a day in the run-up to Aug. 21.
August 16, 2013, 12:02 am TWN
The Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration taking place in the middle of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It is believed that ghosts venture in to the mortal world this month, so people need to equip themselves with abundant food as offerings to show their respect to their deceased ancestors.
Carrefour has discounted tens of thousands of related products by up to 53 percent. Additionally, it is extending its operating hours to 24 hours per day from 9 a.m. on Aug. 15 until 11 p.m. on Aug. 21 — all told, that is 158 hours without closing.
Furthermore, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., people with membership cards can get a NT$200 gift certificate for every NT$2,000 purchase up to a maximum of NT$1,000 (or up to NT$5,000 when buying electrical appliances).
RT-Mart is hoping to attract customers with a series of bargains such as Enokitake mushrooms for NT$3, rice wine for NT$10 and instant noodles for NT$10, all available from Aug. 16 to 20 between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m.
RT-Mart is also prolonging its opening hours to 24 hours a day between Aug. 17 and 21, excluding branches in Tainan and Chiayi. Members will get NT$200 gift certificates for every purchase totaling NT$2,000 or more.
A.mart is offering customers discounts of up to 73 percent, with especially big bargains available for sacrifice-related products such as fruit, meat, rice, oil and beverages. A.mart stores will be open all day long from Aug. 16 to 21, except for retailers in Dazhi, Yangmei, Hong Kong, Yongfu, Fengyuan, Kaohsiung and Hualien.
Convenience stores are also getting in on the action, offering special sales on smaller packs of grocery goods, which are tailored to satisfy the needs of companies and working mothers.


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Social media giants will face a new challenger to their sales business as TikTok is set to unveil new e-commerce features.
The move will allow brands to better integrate and market their products in content on the popular micro-video platform.
By adding features similar to its rivals’ Facebook and Instagram, users will be able to create self-service advertising, add affiliate links to help with promoted content, and offer in-app brand catalogues. Content creators will also be able to use the platform to gain commission from sales generated through their videos.
In addition, the app is reported to be launching ‘livestreamed’ shopping, which would allow users to showcase goods and viewers to buy them in-app. This function is already available on the mainland Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin.
The move was cited in a Financial Times report based on people privy to TikTok’s new plan for features this year.
The new features are set to roll out in the US at first, though no timeline has been announced.
While much of the content is based around people lip-syncing and dancing to music, or a form of short video blogs, the platform has a hand in setting fashion trends. As such, clothing and cosmetics companies are among those eyeing TikTok’s potential as a marketing channel.
DIGIT’S 2021 #virtualevents calendar:
📅 #MarTech Summit https://t.co/JkViHnOzbF Wed 24 Feb
📅 ScotSecure #CyberSecurity Summit https://t.co/JaD886wGh9 24/ 25 Mar
📅 #DigitalEnergy Summit https://t.co/thGSfrBqlM 22 Apr
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With 2.3 billion downloads worldwide, 100 million in the US and around 3.7 million active users in the UK, the short-form video-sharing app has struck a chord with younger users. Around 26% of people with smartphones aged 18-24-year-olds in the UK have TikTok, making it the app’s largest demographic.
As such, the app has managed to find a large audience among ‘Gen Z’ users.
For TikTok, the UK is its third biggest market, after China and the US, generating revenues of just under £2 million in 2019. It is estimated to be the seventh most active social media app in the world.
With tech giants reporting massive surges in advertising spending in the final quarter of last year, TikTok’s new features are well timed to ride a resurgent wave of ad spending.
According to market research company Kantar, 66% of global marketers are planning to increase their ad spend on the platform.
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TikTok’s short existence has not been free of controversy. There have been concerns about links between the apps parent company, ByteDance, and the Chinese Communist Party, with claims that data on TikTok’s users are (is?) being fed to the country’s government.
This led to TikTok becoming a bugbear for ex-US President Donald Trump, who made the social media app a centrepiece in his tough-on-China stance. This led to a tit-for-tat battle between the two, as Trump ordered TikTok to be banned from app stores and its US assets spun off and bought by a US company, which led to countersuits from TikTok.
Now, with Trump’s tenure as president over, it seems as if the controversy is simmering down. A proposed deal that would see US tech giant Oracle and retail giant Walmart taking a stake in the newly formed spinoff TikTok Global has been shelved indefinitely.
The new administration of US President Joe Biden is currently working on its own analysis of the security threat posed by Chinese tech companies and how to protect US citizens’ data. As such, the position of TikTok remains uncertain, but any actions against are likely to take place as part of a broader strategy.


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Amazon has announced plans to launch 3,236 low Earth orbit satellites to provide internet to millions of people around the world.
The existence of the initiative — which is dubbed Project Kuiper — was first discovered in regulatory filings by GeekWire, which Amazon later confirmed.
“Project Kuiper is a new initiative to launch a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world,” an Amazon spokesperson told GeekWire.
“This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet. We look forward to partnering on this initiative with companies that share this common vision.”
Amazon didn’t reveal any other details about Project Kuiper, so it remains to be seen when the satellite network will be up and running, how much the whole endeavour will cost or which companies Amazon will partner with.
Project Kuiper is the latest in a growing line of space ambitions from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. In November, Amazon unveiled plans to grow its massive cloud business through a network of satellite facilities on Earth.
At the same time, Bezos’ space venture Blue Origin is preparing to launch satellites from Canadian operator Telesat and is even looking to send tourists to space.


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Mercedes Unimog poised for Canadian return
In fact, the diesel trucks apparently run a lot cleaner than they used to, while the torque levels remain off the charts. Naturally, some folks are clamoring for them because of their ability to run on just about any terrain. Hans Mross of Vancouver-based Mross Import Service Ltd., which previously imported the Unimog to Canada, told Autoblog he was "99 percent sure" the Unimog would be brought back to Canada. We'd last reported on the Unimog in April 2013, when Mercedes-Benz said it would start selling 10 different versions of the truck.
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In advance of the June 8, 2022 board meeting, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) staff has posted draft rules implementing the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). The draft regulations keep much of the pre-existing California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) regulations intact, but modify certain provisions and propose new regulations. A copy of the proposed
On our fourth episode of our Inside Privacy Audiocast, we are aiming our looking glass at the California Privacy Rights Act, and are joined by guest speaker Jacob Snow, Technology and Civil Liberties Attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.
In September 2019, Alastair Mactaggart, Board Chair and Founder of Californians for…
In the latest development in the CCPA saga, the California Attorney General has further modified the draft regulations implementing the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). His office’s website posted clean and redlined versions of the new regulations (the “March draft regulations”). Below, please find a summary of some of the most notable changes:…
Continue Reading California AG Releases Draft CCPA Regulations: Round 3
The California Attorney General has released both clean and redlined versions of proposed modifications to the draft implementing regulations for the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). Below is a high-level overview of some key changes:
- Service Providers. The modified draft restricts a service provider from processing the personal information it receives from a business except
While all eyes are on California following the implementation of the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) earlier this month and the start of enforcement later this year, other states are off to the privacy races already. On Monday, Washington State became the latest entrant with the introduction of a revised Washington Privacy Act.
From the proposals introduced so far this year in Washington, Virginia, New Hampshire, Illinois, and Nebraska, it is clear that states will continue to follow last year’s trend of varied approaches to state privacy legislation. While there are variations in state proposals, many of the bills seem to fall into three molds.
The first category of proposals closely track the CCPA. Some of these bills, like last year’s Mississippi Consumer Privacy Act, are essentially identical to the CCPA or have minor changes. These bills may lack changes made by the September amendments to the CCPA. For example, the CCPA originally regulated as personal information all information “capable” of being associated with a consumer or household, whereas California’s definition is now tied to information “reasonably capable” of being associated with a consumer or household. The September amendments also eliminated limitations on the scope of publicly available information and added exceptions for employment or business-to-business related data. These differences were notable in the New Hampshire legislation recently introduced, which was otherwise in line with the CCPA.
Continue Reading State Privacy Trends to Watch in 2020
While some state legislators are still putting away their holiday decorations, New Hampshire legislators introduced new data privacy legislation, New Hampshire House Bill 1680. The legislation is similar to the California Consumer Privacy Act (which we’ve written extensively about before, including here and here). It grants consumers access, portability, transparency, non-discrimination, deletion, and opt-out-of-sale rights (or opt-into-sale rights for minor consumers) with respect to their personal information.
Notably, NH HB 1680 does not reflect several of the amendments which partially mitigated the constitutional and operational concerns raised by the CCPA. For example, it regulates as personal information all information “capable” of being associated with a consumer or household, whereas California’s definition is now tied to information “reasonably capable” of being associated with a consumer or household. The NH legislation retains limitations on the scope of publicly available information that is excluded from the definition of personal information. By way of other examples, NH HB 1680 does not provide exceptions for employment or business-to-business related data.
Continue Reading State Legislatures Are Off to the Privacy Races, With New Hampshire in the Lead
Heading into the new year, California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) readiness remains top of mind for many businesses, especially as continued developments, such as the California Attorney General’s forthcoming implementing regulations, may implicate compliance efforts. State legislation will likely move forward in 2020. At the same time, however, companies should not lose sight of legislative proposals at the federal level, which have the potential to reshape the privacy landscape in the United States and even preempt state laws such as the CCPA. The question of whether a federal privacy bill can pass in 2020 remains an open one. But regardless of whether a bill will actually pass, the legislative proposals that are emerging this year likely will shape the contours of federal legislation that could move toward becoming law.
Although the issues of preemption and a private right of action dominated the federal privacy conversation last year, four legislative trends emerged in 2019 that also may become key components of a federal privacy framework:…
Continue Reading Four Federal Privacy Trends to Watch in 2020
With less than two months until it goes into effect, many practitioners are focused on bringing their programs into compliance with the California Consumer Protection Act (“CCPA”) by January 1, 2020. But the rapid pace of privacy legal developments could continue next year. This past year, five states established studies or task forces to study privacy laws and report back to the legislature before their next session begins. Bills in Washington and Illinois passed one legislative chamber before failing, and their proponents have promised a renewed effort in 2020.
This is the first of a series of blog posts on what states other than California were considering to help you anticipate and prepare for 2020. In total, at least eighteen states considered comprehensive privacy bills this year. This initial blog post — on the heels of Halloween last week — focuses on some of those that are the scariest: bills in New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland.
Continue Reading State Privacy Laws Have the Potential to Haunt Industry
As the effective date of the California Consumer Privacy Act looms closer, companies are grappling with the significance of the law and its definitions. One defined term in particular, “sale,” has sparked heated debate between industry and consumer advocates, and even within the legal profession. While much has been said about this term, more needs…
Last week, after months of negotiation and speculation, the California legislature passed bills amending the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). This marked the last round of CCPA amendments before the legislature adjourned for the year—and before the CCPA takes effect on January 1, 2020. California Governor Gavin Newsom has until October 13 to sign the bills into law. Separately, the Attorney General’s office is expected to release a draft of proposed CCPA regulations for public input later this Fall.
- Exemption for employees and job applicants: AB 25 (Chau) generally exempts from the CCPA—for one year—personal information collected from job applicants, employees, owners, directors, officers, medical staff members, or contractors, as well as their emergency contacts and their beneficiaries. However, employers must provide these individuals with general notice of the types of personal information collected about them and the purposes for which the information is used. Employers may be liable if certain types of unredacted or unencrypted personal information are breached due to unreasonable data security.
- Exemption for business customers and other technical corrections: AB 1355 (Chau) exempts from the CCPA—also for one year—personal information reflecting a communication or transaction with a natural person who is acting as an employee, owner, director, officer or contractor of another company or legal entity in most circumstances. This language generally creates an exemption for personal information about business customers. The bill clarifies that the CCPA’s private right of action does not apply if personal information is either encrypted or redacted. The bill also makes certain technical corrections, including revising the exemption for activities involving consumer reports that are regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and clarifying that de-identified or aggregate consumer information is excluded from the definition of “personal information.”
- Definitions of “personal information” and “publicly available information:” AB 874 (Irwin) includes several helpful clarifications with respect to the scope of “personal information” regulated under the statute. Previously, “personal information” was defined to include all information that “identifies, relates to, describes, is capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household.” The amended definition of “personal information” clarifies that information must be “reasonably capable of being associated with” a particular consumer or household. Separately, the bill clarifies that “publicly available information” means information that is lawfully made available from federal, state, or local records, regardless of whether the data is used for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the data was made publicly available. Further, the bill revises the definition of “personal information” to clarify that it does not include de-identified or aggregate information.
- Required methods for receiving consumer requests: The CCPA provides that a covered business is required to make available to consumers two or more reasonably accessible methods for submitting requests under the CCPA, including, at a minimum, a toll-free telephone number, and, if the business maintains an internet website, a website address. AB 1564 (Berman) would amend this requirement to provide that a business which (1) operates exclusively online and (2) has a direct relationship with the customer from whom it collects personal information needs to provide only an email address. If the business also maintains a website, the bill requires the business to make the website available to consumers to submit requests. Finally, the bill expressly permits a business to require a consumer who maintains an account with the business to submit a request through the account.
- Exemption for vehicle warranty/recall purposes: AB 1146 (Berman) exempts, from the CCPA’s right to opt out and right to delete, vehicle or owner information retained or shared between a new motor vehicle dealer and the vehicle’s manufacturer for the purposes of vehicle repair covered by a warranty or recall.


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The caulking and adhesive product manufacturer and distributor is expanding its business by 24,000 square feet on Nova Drive SE.
MASSILLON A major manufacturing company on the city's southeast side is getting even bigger as part of a $2 million expansion project.
Premier Building Solutions, 480 Nova Drive SE, is adding 24,000 square feet of manufacturing space to help facilitate the company's growth, and plans to add an unspecified amount of jobs based on an expected surplus of business. The company averages between 75 and 85 employees currently.
"We're taking on more business and will be housing more raw materials (in the additional space)," said Kelly Mullen, marketing manager for Premier. "We'll have more storage space. It will be a much larger facility."
Premier solutions is a manufacturer, seller and distributor of caulking products used in the construction industry, such as flooring adhesives and window sealants. The company sells product in bulk to large supply distributors, window manufacturers and construction companies nationwide.
The main product made at the business is XtraBond 9500 Advanced Polymer Sealant, a multipurpose brand used in construction, Mullen said. It can be utilized to seal roofing, siding, windows, doors and metal buildings.
Large bulk tanks will be added to Premier's new manufacturing facility, according to owner and manager Derek Miller, who said the expansion adds new offices to accommodate a growing management team and a new product research and development lab.
"The management team has played a vital role in steering the company in the right direction during key growth periods," Miller said in a news release.
Work on the expansion began in mid-June and is scheduled for completion this fall. Contractor for the construction project is Campbell Construction of Wadsworth.
David Maley, the city's economic development director, said any business expanding in Massillon is a positive development. Additional income tax dollars will be collected by the city via new jobs created.
"They've done real well since moving to the city," Maley said of Premier's expansion. "That's a nice addition they've got going down there."
The ongoing project is the second expansion to Premier Building Solutions in less than three years. In November 2015, the company added shipping docks and a sports complex, a baseball and softball training center for youth and adults.
In 2013, Premier Industrial Supply moved from North Canton to a new 90,000 square-foot facility at 480 Nova Drive SE. The company also changed its name to Premier Building Solutions.
The business has a satellite facility in Phoenix, which is a hub for storage and delivery service.
Reach Steven at 330-775-1134 or at email@example.com.
On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE


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According to BizBuySell.com, one of the Internet’s largest business-for-sale marketplace, a record number of businesses changed hands in the third quarter of 2017. The full results are included in BizBuySell’s Q3 2017 Insight Report, which aggregates statistics from business-for-sale transactions reported by participating business brokers nationwide. Additional highlights of the report include…
- Closed transactions reported in the third quarter of 2017 showed a 24 percent increase from this time last year.
- While many factors may be contributing to the active business-for-sale environment, a solid economy, optimism for tax reform and relaxed regulations under President Trump may be encouraging more entrepreneurs to enter small business ownership.
- Median revenue of businesses sold during the period showed and 11.2 percent increase from Q3 of 2016.
- Median cash flow for small businesses listed on BizBuySell jumped 6.9 percent year-over-year. During the same period, the average sales price multiple of cash flow increased from 2.22 to 2.29, while the average multiple of revenue increased 2.8 percent.
- The median time to sell a business fell 14.6 percent year-over-year from 171 days in Q3 of 2016 to just 146 days. Shorter days on market suggest buyers are confident in today’s small business environment and that buyers and sellers are seeing eye-to-eye on value and getting deals done.
- The number of small business listings active on the market increased 6.7% versus the same time last year. This suggests many sellers are looking to capitalize on today’s market, giving prospective buyers plenty of options.
- Retiring Baby Boomers continue to account for a high percentage of available inventory. Specifically, Boomers who held strong through the last recession and are now looking to capitalize on higher prices and a strong market before retirement. It will be interesting to see if the recent trend softening of sale prices encourages even more Baby Boomers to list their business rather than risk and uncertain future.
- Signaling that retail is down but not out, the number of retail transactions actually jumped 23% in Q3 compared to the same time last year.
- The number of transactions in the service industry increased by more than 26% in Q3 vs last year.
You can find the full report at:


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Latest News & Insight
Street Banners to Highlight Stoke-On-Trent’s Ceramic Future
19 February 2010
Stoke-on-Trent’s world class ceramic brands are to be celebrated in a scheme to promote the city.
As part of the city’s World Capital of Ceramics status scores of colourful ceramic based designs are being put up on lighting columns along the Potteries Way. The designs use images of some of the city’s 350 ceramic based companies including world famous brands such as Wades, Wedgwood and Steelite International.
On Tuesday(16) work will start to put up the 92 banners along the stretch of ring road which welcomes visitors to the city.
Sue Evans, chief executive of the Ceramic Industry Forum, welcomed the new banners as positive promotion for the city’s vibrant ceramic industries. She said: “It is great to see the city council celebrating Stoke-on-Trent’s unique long-standing connection with the ceramic industry. There are more than 200 businesses based here in Stoke-on-Trent, from world class brands to pioneering technological teams. These banners will highlight to visitors the city’s unique culture and show the region off as the World Capital of Ceramics.”
Stoke-on-Trent is home to more than 350 ceramic businesses including Wades, Wedgwood, Steelite, Johnson Tiles, Portmeirion and Aynsley. 32 per cent of the UK’s ceramic employers and 60 per cent of employees are based in North Staffordshire. Staffordshire University’s Master of Arts in Ceramic Design is recognised as one of the leading postgraduate programmes worldwide for its work in ceramic design for manufacture. Keele University’s Science Park is home to world-leading ceramics technologies and companies including BioComposites, who manufacture ceramic prosthetics.
Councillor Brian Ward, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The Potteries Way banners are part of the city’s multi-million pound regeneration plans. They will showcase some of the city’s big names in ceramics and welcome visitors as they arrive into the city. The Potteries Way is an important link road to our city so it is great that the banners will highlight what we have to offer.”
Chris Proud, Head of Marketing and Design at Steelite International, said: “The ceramic industry is a big part of Stoke-on-Trent’s future as well as its history. The banners show just how many big names are based here. The city has a wealth of creative talent and it is important that it is recognised and celebrated.”
Last year, during the launch of a major independent study into the future of ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent, ceramic industry figures united to say that the city has the right to describe itself as the World Capital of Ceramics because it has the world’s greatest mix of:
- Ceramic heritage
- Ceramic skills and expertise
- Breadth and depth of ceramic manufacturing capability
- Ceramics research and development
- World renowned ceramic brands
- Ceramics design and creativity
The announcement came during the first ever British Ceramics Biennial - the UK’s only festival to celebrate, showcase and support the country’s breadth of contemporary ceramics. The biennial is a 10 week festival of exhibitions, awards and events by artists such as international designer Jaime Hayon.


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PushStart For Sydney's "FinTech" Startups
Sydney-based startup community organisation PushStart will host Australia's first ever event for financial services technology, or “FinTech”, startups later this week in Sydney.
The ‘PushStart FinTech Forum’ will feature a panel of leading Australian FinTech startups and financial services industry representatives discussing emerging global trends in the space and challenges and opportunities for Australian FinTech startups looking to succeed in both local and global markets.
“FinTech” startups have been growing in popularity in Australia with companies like TapIt, Pygg, Coinr and Saasu all emerging in recent years. All four companies will be on the panel at the event, along with key innovation representatives from HSBC, Macquarie Group, BT Financial and HP’s financial services innovation arm.
“The time is right to hold Australia’s first FinTech event. We analysed hundreds of startups that have profiled themselves on the Pushstart website and found that FinTech is one of the best represented industries” says PushStart founder, Kim Heras.
“What’s also pleasing has been the response from industry. Senior innovation representatives from most of the top Financial Services organisations in Australia will either be on the panel or in the crowd. They’ve recognised there is great innovation happening locally and are keen to engage”
Coinr and SydStart founder Peter Cooper agrees.
“There’s enough critical mass in Sydney now to make a FinTech event valuable.”
Where: Fishburners - Level 1, 608 Harris Street Ultimo
When: Thursday 24th May, 6pm-8pm
Who Should Attend: Anyone running a FinTech startup, thinking about launching one, or interested in learning more about future challenges and opportunities
Tickets: $20, available from http://pushstart-fintech.eventbrite.com/
(M) 0424 591 796