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It's All Good.
In 2012, more than 8,200 restaurants supported Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign by participating in Dine Out For No Kid Hungry. Together, they raised $5.9 million!
More than 7,000 multi-unit operations ran fundraising promotions in September during No Kid Hungry month 2012. They reported exceptional business results—increases in sales or traffic, incremental transactions from above-average coupon redemption rates, great social media buzz, and unprecedented employee excitement.
How brands leveraged Dine Out For No Kid Hungry to achieve business objectives while raising funds and spreading the word about a compelling cause: ending childhood hunger in America.
Bruegger’s Bagels (Burlington, Vt.)
Bruegger’s CEO has stated that the brand participates in Dine Out For No Kid Hungry because no child in America should ever go hungry, and restaurants are a logical source of help. The company leaders converted their passion into an ambitious fundraising goal: to quadruple its donation to $100,000 in 2012 from $25,000 in 2011. The brand ran a month-long customer donation program in September, and gave customers a coupon booklet valued at $20 in exchange for a $3 donation at the register. They also drove Facebook activity in September: Every “Like” triggered a $1 donation to the No Kid Hungry campaign. In the end, Bruegger’s blew past it goal and raised $122,000 for the No Kid Hungry campaign.
Ted’s Montana Grill (Atlanta):
This 44-unit brand has participated in Dine Out For No Kid Hungry for three years, and during that time, experienced sales increases (2011), repeat traffic through coupon redemptions (2011 and 2012), and in 2012, a 10th anniversary celebration aimed at channeling employee enthusiasm into raising $150,000—10 times what they'd raised in 2011. The company ran four different guest-donation promotions during the year, employed a full battery of employee training techniques, and beat their goal: They raised $159,300. Read How »
The promotion had four phases:
- Spring: Customers who added a donation of $2 or more to their check received a Ted's $2 bill to use towards a future entrée purchase.
- Summer: Guests rounded up their check, and Ted's donated the rounded up portion.
- September (No Kid Hungry month): Guests made a $1, $5, $10 or $20 donation by circling the donation amount on their receipt. During Dine Out For No Kid Hungry week, guests who donated $5 or more received a voucher for $5 off a future purchase of $20.
- Summer through December: Paid online and social media ads invited the public to donate in exchange for a Ted's $2 bill. Donations of $5 or more made during Dine Out For No Kid Hungry week received the $5-off voucher on a future $20 purchase.
Promotional materials and meticulous crew training instilled confident execution:
- Emails to guests about the restaurant's support of No Kid Hungry for its 10th anniversary.
- Posts on the company's social media accounts.
- Flyers for managers to distribute locally with business cards and to-go menus.
- In-store posters, check toppers (presented on top of the guest's check portfolio), and specific donation amounts printed on receipts for guests to select before closing out their check.
- Paid online ads encouraging online donations.
- Employee cheat-sheets, cards and stickers to reference in their order books, posted near phones, and inserted in new-hire packets.
- Step-by-step waitstaff instructions on what, specifically, to say and do during each phase.
- Mandatory training videos for crew to view pre-shift, and e-learning modules with quizzes!
- Employee contests (with prizes) to reach specific fundraising thresholds, and system-wide recognition of the high-achievers.
- Motivational messages about the program's progress from top management to all store employees. The entire effort built on the company's culture of Big Sky spirit—hospitality in its most expansive sense.
Corner Bakery Cafe (Dallas, Tex.):
Over the past five years, 151-unit Corner Bakery Cafe has donated nearly $1million to No Kid Hungry by participating in Dine Out For No Kid Hungry. Each year, the company’s employees embraced the program as a way to give to those less fortunate through a cause that made sense for their business and to their guests. That, in return, drove repeat guest visits. Last year, Corner Bakery donated $300,000—its highest ever—and benefitted from additional guest traffic with an average 25% redemption rate on a tiered coupon promotion. More on how they did it »
Between September 1 and 23, 2012, employees encouraged guests to donate $1 or more to No Kid Hungry. Guests who donated $1 to $4.99 received a voucher for a free Whoopie Pie on a future visit, and guests who donated $5 or more received a booklet of offers worth $45+ on future visits. Guests wrote their names on donation cards that employees posted in the cafes to show support for the cause. Many even created eye-catching displays with the signed cards that attracted additional attention to the cause and the promotion.
Corner Bakery promoted the program with in-store signage and table sleeves, its guest e-newsletter and through Facebook and Twitter. They also helped guests understand the importance of the cause by including local statistics about childhood hunger in the materials.
Joe's Crab Shack (Ignite Restaurant Group, Houston, Tex.):
This 118-unit casual dining concept surprised everyone last year, its fifth as a Dine Out For No Kid Hungry restaurant partner, by raising more than $1 million for the No Kid Hungry campaign—a 44% increase over 2011. It did it by building on what had worked well in 2011: Running a tiered guest-donation promotion for all of September (No Kid Hungry month), donating a percentage of merchandise sales during September, creating 400+ special events at the local level to foster employee ownership and build guest excitement, and incenting GMs, directors and regional VPs to outperform each other. What happened? »
Employee enthusiasm and incentives fueled patron passion and record results:
- Coupon redemption rates played a critical role in meeting the promotion's objectives: drive traffic and sales, and increase transactions and donations
- 10% redemption on a $1 coupon (get a coupon for a free order of Key Lime Pie on your next visit with a $1 donation)
- 23% on a $5 coupon (donate $5, get a coupon for a free order of crab nachos),
- 59% on a $10 coupon (get a coupon for a free Classic Steampot with a $10 donation)
Joe's also boosted its social media activity: 404,000 new visitors to their website and 9,391 new Facebook fans in September. Joe's tweeted throughout September about its No Kid Hungry activities and promotions, and the stores used check inserts, posters and table tents to tell patrons about No Kid Hungry and encourage them to donate.


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The battle between Siri and Watson is starting to heat up as IBM wages interest in entering the mobile industry. A space ruled by Apple thanks to iOS and the array of best-selling gadgets, IBM has a work cut out for them. For many, the competition will ripen over the next few years and it is very interesting to see how artificial intelligence becomes at the center of it all. Which virtual personal assistant will win?
But unlike Siri which was the ultimate marketing feature of iPhone 4s released in 2011, Watson will concentrate more on the corporate level, while adding more “senses” to its original prototype enabling a guy to say: “A guy could say into his phone, ‘Here’s where I am and here’s what I see,’ lifting it up to take in images of the environment.” Moreover, IBM’s VP of Innovation envisions Watson to become a “supercharged” Siri. In a Bloomberg article he mentioned about Watson 2.0 that will be dedicated to work on smartphones and tablets and is energy-efficient.
“The power it takes to make Watson work is dropping down like a stone. One day, you will have ready access to an incredible engine with a world knowledge base.”
Beating seasoned Jeopardy champions, IBM’s Watson exemplified immense promise attracting heavyweights from the finance and healthcare industries to hire its services. Both a big data and big horsepower at work, the thinking machine is set to be reduced in pint-size for mobility. But making Watson a handheld product will be a challenge for an organization that has largely dealt with running supercomputers and programs for enterprises. Well, we just hope that they have learned something from the downfall that started HP’s turmoil care-off of webOS. While pushing it to superstardom, the company talks big about other researches and said that Watson was only just the beginning. Guess, we should be watching out for more amazing antics in the coming months or years. Meanwhile, Apple is setting the stage in San Francisco for what could be the much awaited iPhone 5 launch happening on September 12.
Whether you are a fan of Apple or a hopeful that Watson beats Siri anytime soon, the uprising competition suggests positive things for consumers: better products, solutions and more choices. Essentially, both Siri and Watson can process and answer the what, what are, how, when and where questions. One defining moment for these two and other future AI-powered machines would be to adequately respond to the “why” questions. SiliconANGLE.com will be watching the interesting matchup between Siri and Watson and the rise of AI in the mobile stream.
AI Powers Chat
A new breed of AI chat technology will enhance customer service skills of robots answering our queries, thanks to the live chat software that provides synonym patterns and proper response training. The innovation brought by Acobot LLC can efficiently answer fresh questions from customers by means of pattern recognition and setting complex rules on the fly.
Vic Duan, founder and CEO of Acobot LLC, said: “The older breed of live chat robots either can’t answer many common questions, even after training, or they’re too expensive for most companies. In contrast, our new AI chat robot can be trained just by chatting with her, meaning that average people who don’t have specialist AI knowledge or programming skills can quickly create their own personalized chat robot to answer the sorts of queries their customers ask.”
Users can freely create and train robots via acobot.com.
Speaking of artificial intelligence getting involved in chat technologies, a program that was created in the 80’s and made its online service available in 1997 showed off opinions on current gaming news and happenings recently. Cleverbot’s answers were hilarious. The neurotic conversations may be viewed here.

domain: news


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Midwich is making a cash payment of US$27.1mln for Starin and accepting the purchased company’s US$19mln of debt.
Midwich Group Plc, a specialist audio visual (AV) distributor in UK, has lately acquired the US-based distributor of AV products, Starin Marketing, for US$46.1mln. Starin Marketing purchase provides a foundation to Midwich to expand in the US. Midwich is making a cash payment of US$27.1mln for Starin and accepting the purchased company’s US$19mln of debt. Also, the group has disclosed plans to increase nearly £40m by means of a share placing.
Speaking on the occasion, the Managing Director of Midwich, Stephen Fenby, stated, “The acquisition of Starin Marketing, Inc. is an important step for the Midwich Group, marking our way in North America, which is the world’s largest audio-visual market. Starin’s exposure to the booming unified communications segment will be valuable for Midwich as it looks for raising the revenues in this rapidly growing audio-visual sub sector across its global network. The highly skilled management team has built a huge business and I look ahead to welcoming the entire team to the Midwich Group.”
Partnership to allow Midwich to Consolidate its Connection
The collaboration will enable Midwich to extend its support to global customers and strengthen our relationship with the existing and new Group vendors. This strategic move also adds to the Midwich’s Unified Communication (UC) capabilities, thereby offering additional experience in a strategically important industry.
CEO of Starin, Bill Mullin, reflected, “Midwich shares similar culture and focus on AV Communications with us. The Group is also interested in helping us reach the next level in our strategic alliances and initiatives.” Mullin further added saying that the Midwich’s present global infrastructure provides Starin with a platform for continued coverage and growth, along with offering resources for elevated financial, operational, and structural capabilities.


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Sonia Rykiel names new creative director
Geraldo Da Conceicao is the new creative director at Sonia Rykiel
Currently Louis Vuitton’s womenswear design director, Conceicao will start his new role next month, replacing April Crichton. His first collection for the brand will be shown in February next year as part of autumn/winter 13 collections.
Before his role at Louis Vuitton, he held similarly senior positions at Miu Miu and Yves Saint Laurent.
The Sonia Rykiel label, which is holding low-key presentations for buyers and press at Paris Fashion Week, as opposed to the normal catwalk show, has recently undergone various changes. Earlier this year, Fung Brands Ltd bought an 80 per cent stake in the company, leaving the founding family holding the remaining 20 per cent.


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The rapid advancements being made in the fields of artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality have made 2016 the year when this technology started to hit the big time.
One of the main touch points the average consumer is having with these technologies is in the area of gaming and it is this industry which is at the forefront of experimentation and deployment.
The phenomenal success of Niantic Labs’s Pokemon Go was a clear sign that the world is ready to embrace gaming in a new way.
For Pokemon Go that was through augmented reality, the success of which saw it surge 50X past what the company planned for and now over 600 million downloads.
Success like this is bound to spark a whole raft of augmented reality games over the next year.
2016 saw AlphaGo, a computer program developed by Google DeepMind , beat a human at Go for the first time.
Thanks to the successful development of these technologies and an increasing desire from gamers to experience more realistic games it is inevitable that 2017 will see more AI, VR, and AR.
Blizzard and DeepMind
Blizzard, one of the largest game developers and publishers in the world, responsible for games such as Warcraft, Diablo, and the StarCraft series has entered into a partnership with Google DeepMind.
The AI systems are going to be put to work with StarCraft II so that it can learn the real-time strategy game.
Currently in development, the AI is being given the tools to play the game and to make things fair, so that it doesn’t cheat, the AI is having its calculated executions limited per minute to fit in line with what a human can input per second.
StarCraft II DeepMind feature layer API
While certainly a gimmick that will help increase interest in the game, it is also going to be of great benefit to Blizzard.
The company is going to use the data in order to improve their AI for video games by monitoring DeepMind and learning to customer-tailor an AI to a player’s skill and playing style.
Games could end up being a lot more dynamic thanks to the use of AI.
Read on to find out about ‘Harry Potter Go’.
Harry Potter Go
As previously mentioned, Pokemon Go was a massive success for Niantic. Now there are numerous rumours flying around that a ‘Harry Potter Go’ game could be in the works.
In theory this could work simply based on the subject matter, there are numerous critters in the Harry Potter world and given the recent release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, it would certainly help to boost interest from fans.
The rumour mill suggests that J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros and Niantic are in discussions about a possible partnership, but this is all currently speculation.
While it is not certain to happen there is definitely a lot of interest from fans. One online petition has already gained over 100,000 signatures while another has over 61,000. It would seem that this is something that fans want to happen.
Click the next page to find out what Ubisoft is doing with AI.
In 2011 Ubisoft’s Yves Jacquier, executive director, production studio services, said that the company was investing in developing other ways of thinking about game production, mainly AI.
He told GamesIndustry.biz: “AI has always been the real battleground. The challenge is that, if you see an AI coming, you’ve failed. And that’s a problem we have to overcome as we create the impression of flawless, seamless worlds.”
The video game developer and publisher, which is famous for games such as Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed, is looking to push the gaming boundaries of AI.
The problem with the goal is that there isn’t the need for an autonomous intelligence, the need is for an actor that responds to the situation it is placed in, an intelligent character.
The hope is that the introduction of AI can produce unscripted actions that are essentially authored by the player.
This would mean that if you run up to an average bystander in a game and stand strangely close to them, that bystander would be able to react intelligently.
Will you soon be playing as Batman? Find out next.
Virtual reality headsets have become all the rage over the past year with the likes of Google, Sony, Microsoft, and Facebook’s Oculus Rift all bringing new hardware to the market.
While previous attempts at VR gaming over the years have typically fallen flat due to the technology just not being up to scratch, users left feeling nauseated and game play lacking in quality, the new generation of headsets is helping to spark a revolution.
The Microsoft HoloLens vision.
Soon users will be able to be their favourite characters and really live the game.
For example Batman: Arkham VR for PlayStation 4 will allow gamers to be Batman. Currently the games lack full immersion, as even the best graphics aren’t quite up to mimicking real life and your brain is smart enough to figure out that this is a virtual world and not a real one.
Hurdles still need to be overcome, such as price, but as these are overcome there will be more and more games that turn to VR to give the gamer an immersive experience.
According to Technavio the global gamification market is expected to exceed $6bn by 2019, growing at a rate of over 48%.
This is no real surprise as all areas of life look to new ways to spice up work and education.
One sure fire way to get students and employees more involved is to bring in things like VR. The idea is getting enough support that recently Erik Martin, policy adviser at the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy recently recommended people look at funding opportunities for ideas that look to meld education with VR.
There’s even the example of L’Oreal targeting salon stylists with a virtual reality hair education program in partnership with 8i and Matrix.
The hope is that hair stylists will be able to avoid trips away to training courses by instead using a VR app.


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(CNN) -- Apple is known for building excitement over its latest gadgets, but the company's next closely watched event has nothing to do with a product. Instead, anticipation is growing over the scheduled return of Apple's charismatic CEO.
Steve Jobs looks gaunt at an event in October. He began a leave of absence three months later.
It's been almost six months since Steve Jobs -- who co-founded Apple and has thrilled the public by launching consumer tech favorites such as the iPhone and the iPod -- announced that he was taking a medical leave of absence until the end of June.
As that time quickly approaches, Apple fans, investors and observers have been gripped by questions.
Will he come back as promised? If so, in what capacity? And how crucial is he still to the company's success?
Jobs, who is a pancreatic cancer survivor, revealed at the beginning of this year that a hormone imbalance caused the considerable weight loss that had some speculating whether his cancer had returned. See a timeline of Jobs' life and career »
"The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I've already begun treatment," Jobs wrote in a letter addressed to the "Apple community" on January 5.
"But, just like I didn't lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this spring to regain it."
There had been little news since. But that all changed Saturday when The Wall Street Journal reported Jobs, 54, had a liver transplant about two months ago in Tennessee. He has been recovering well, but may work part time for several weeks when he returns to work, the newspaper reported. Fortune: Inside Steve Jobs' liver transplant
The fact that the article appeared just hours after Apple began selling its new iPhone 3GS had some bloggers questioning the timing of the report, with some suggesting that the excitement over the rollout helped draw attention away from the revelations about Jobs' health.
Apple didn't comment on The Wall Street Journal report directly, answering media questions with the same statement.
"Steve continues to look forward to returning to Apple at the end of June, and there is nothing further to say," said Apple spokesman Steve Dowling.
Dowling declined to provide a specific date for Jobs' return or say whether Jobs would be making any public appearances or statements.
"This feels like they're clearing the way for his return. But it wouldn't be out of character for Apple to let the deadline slip a bit," said Philip Elmer-DeWitt, who writes the Apple 2.0 blog for Fortune magazine and has been covering the company since 1982.
"The real issue of Steve coming back is: How much does the company need him?"
How much, indeed?
Investors have been painfully aware of how any development regarding Jobs' health -- real or rumor -- can affect Apple's stock price. But experts say Apple has been taking steps to ensure that its fortunes are not linked with Jobs taking an active role in the company. Watch how Jobs' health has affected Apple
"He's an iconic figure that everybody wants around, he's the world's greatest salesman and that's irreplaceable," said Gene Munster, a senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray who has been covering Apple since 2003.
"But as far as the product direction and the product quality, the road map for the next five years is already in place [at Apple]."
Munster described Jobs as a visionary and someone with the ability to figure out what the next big thing is. But he said Piper Jaffray's "Buy" recommendation on the company's stock wouldn't change even if Jobs doesn't come back, based on the strength of products such as the iPhone.
Still, few companies have been so closely associated with their CEOs. Munster likened the situation to Henry Ford and the car company he founded at the beginning of the 20th century. Elmer-DeWitt said it could be compared to Walt Disney and the entertainment giant he created.
Jobs is also much more than just a CEO. His knack for developing must-have gadgets, his signature black turtlenecks and dramatic delivery during product launches have made him a cultural icon beyond Silicon Valley. He was even hilariously impersonated on "Saturday Night Live."
Observers say Apple and Jobs himself have made efforts in recent years to "wean" the public off his presence, such as including other people onstage with him during events and de-emphasizing his role.
"Last year a lot of pundits were [saying that] if Steve Jobs left the company, the company would just immediately fall into ruin," said Daniel Eran Dilger, a contributing editor for AppleInsider.com.
"And what's interesting is after he went on leave, and he's been gone for six months now, the company has had a couple of major announcements and events and has gone on fine."
When he began his leave of absence, Jobs put Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook in charge of the company's day-to-day operations. If Jobs decides to step down, Cook can take over and probably will, Elmer-DeWitt said.
"There are lots of smart people at Apple and most people have sort of accepted the idea that ... Jobs trained an executive team to operate the company without him," he added.
"And that his DNA, the thing that makes Apple different from all the other companies, has been baked into the leadership team and that the company will do fine."
What may be lacking years down the road if Jobs retires or leaves is his "X-factor" and his unique stamp on every little piece of design.
"Once you get a bunch of people in a room, none of whom is more powerful than the other, you start to get products that are literally designed by committee and that's what Apple products never were," Elmer-DeWitt said.
"They were always designed by very smart people that Steve chose. But ultimately there was one guy who had final say on them. It remains to be seen whether there's someone at Apple who can step up and take over that role."


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Emirates Airline plans operation in some african countries after experiencing revenue increase.
Plans are in motion by Emirates Airline to increase its frequencies to some destinations in Africa. This plans include some Africa countries like Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt and South Africa. The aim is to make Emirates grow their brand in the Africa market.
Senior Vice President of commercial operations in Africa for Emirate, Orhan Abbas said Africa country is one of the strong performing market for the carrier over the past two year. Likewise, challenge been face.
According to Abbas, cargo performance to and fro Africa have been made better; particularly in terms of demand for perishable goods from the continent.
He further said that Africa have a lot of “under-served” markets, partly because of regulatory restrictions in certain countries. But did not specify which countries he was referring to.
In March 31, 2019, Emirates Airline earn about 9 percent rise year on year in revenues. This was from their operations during a to and fro movement in Africa. While, the second largest growing markets in terms of revenues in Africa were the Americas at 8 percent along with Europe at about 6 per cent.
Emirates currently has flights in over 20 countries in Africa. They have seen significant growth specifically in Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Nigeria. Most essential, Egypt where the economy is booming and the more potential you see. This is Emirates strongest market in Africa, said Abba.
Lastly, He said, while the plans to add frequencies to some cities in Africa. The airline is not planning to immediately enter any new destinations.


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Rx-webmasters.com has become truly international, providing its services to customers from all countries of the world. To celebrate the expansion, the website offers to buy Viagra and Cialis online at their cost price up until the end of February
LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Rx-webmasters.com is celebrating yet another improvement: its services are available to customers residing in other countries of the world besides the US. The decision was made based on the numerous requests from customers that demonstrated interest in affordable prices and high quality of service. Due to the efficient SEO service provided by Syllainc.com, Rx-webmasters is known in different countries of the world as a reliable supplier of cheap generic medications of invariably high quality, including efficient Viagra online. To make sure delivery takes no longer than it does for any person living in the US, Rx-webmasters can give its new customers fast shipping within just days. The order placed is processed right away, no matter which time of the day it is, and the customer can track the order to make sure it's arriving as expected.
In addition to that, www.rx-webmasters.com has come up with the idea of giving its new and regular customers an opportunity to save more money than usual. Throughout February, it will be possible to buy Viagra or Cialis online at their cost price, and this is by far the lowest price found on the Internet. The promotion is aimed at getting the attention of customers looking for a place that would be able to give them exactly what they need, within a reasonable time period and with guarantees of confidentiality.
www.Rx-webmasters.com is a 100% legal online pharmacy with several years of successful work in the industry. Its experience and confidentiality practices allow making sure every customer feels safe and comfortable placing orders and paying for the medications required. Rx-webmasters is committed to offering advantageous shopping experience to any customers looking to pay less money for high quality drugs that work.
This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.


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French pharmaceutical producer Ipsen plans to start Diferelin drug production at the facilities of Raduga Production, St. Petersburg, this autumn.
French pharmaceutical producer Ipsen has launched contract manufacturing of the Tanakan drug on the core of the St. Petersburg-based Raduga Production plant. Raduga is part of the Rosta pharmaceutical group, one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors in Russia, which also manages the Raduga and Pervaya Pomoshch pharmacy chains.
Planned production is 2 million tablets per year, Ipsen CEO Marc de Garidel said. This is the first instance of localized contract manufacturing in Russia for Ipsen. Ipsen Senior Vice President for Russia and the CIS Marina Veldanova said investment in production is estimated at several hundred thousand euros and that
Ipsen would save up to 15% on logistics from localizing production in Russia. The plant will only handle secondary packaging during the initial stage and then launch a full production cycle, Rosta President David Panikashvili said. Launching the full production cycle requires registration procedures that will take two to three years, he said. Full cycle production is planned at 120 million tablets per year. Tanakan is a neurological drug that is used to reduce memory, vision, hearing and dizziness caused by vascular disorders.
The German company ‘Bayer’ has signed an agreement with the St. Petersburg pharma-producer STPF Polysan for contract production of contract media used in computer and magnetic resonance imaging for diagnostic purposes. According to Bayer General Director Niels Hessmann and Polysan’s main owner Alexander Borisov, the contract is for a ten-year term, but they did not reveal the sum of the contract or the capacity of the production lines.
In 2017, the companies plan to launch industrial production of the medicines Gadovist, Magnevist and Ultravist at the Polisan factory in St. Petersburg. According to the press release, Bayer will provide active pharmaceutical substances, technology, production experience and advice on the project. The German company will also invest in purchasing equipment Polysan requires for production purposes, Borisov says. The production lines already have 50% of the requisite equipment and the rest will be added.
This partnership will meet Russia’s demand for these medicines, substituting for about RUB 2 bn in imports, according to St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko, who was present at the signing of the agreement. RUB 2 bn is the entire Russian market for contrast media, Borisov specified. He went on to say that the medicine produced in Russia would be 15–20% cheaper than when imported. In Russia, in 17% of cases, contrast media from Western Europe are used in X-ray and tomographic studies, this amounting to 60% of the total, Hessmann says. Therefore, the growth potential in this segment is huge.
Polysan manufactures medicines at its own plant in St. Petersburg, the first stage of which has an area of 4900 sq.m. and was started up in 2005, whereas the second came into production in 2012. The enterprise has a capacity of 100 m tablets a year, which will go up to 300 m by 2017, Borisov promises. In April 2016, Polysan will begin construction of the plant’s third stage, which should begin producing in 2017, Borisov said, adding that this third stage would include the company’s scientific and technical centre and capacity for contract production of the Bayer medicines.
The French pharmaceutical manufacturer Ipsen plans to launch contract production of the medicine Tanakan at the Raduga Production factory (part of the Rosta pharma-group) next week, as the companies announced in a joint invitation to the opening ceremony.
Company's website: www.ipsen.com/en/
T: +33 (0)1 58 33 60 09
Contact: Marc de GARIDEL, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Ipsen Pharma is a European pharmaceutical company with about 4 000 employees that produces for the market over 20 medicines and is represented in more than 100 countries.


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Russian businesses ask for compensation for VAT increase
MOSCOW, Jun 21 (PRIME) -- Small and medium business association Opora Rossii has proposed to introduce compensatory measures for an increase of value-added tax (VAT) to 20% from 18%, the organizationТs head Alexander Kalinin said in a letter to the State DumaТs Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin seen by PRIME on Thursday.
The VAT increase bill will lead to an additional fiscal burden on business in the amount of 600 billion rubles, as well as to growth of prices and reduction of consumer demand, Kalinin said in the letter.
Opora Rossii believes the government should consider providing additional compensatory measures to businesses connected with a reduction of a fiscal burden, including an abolishment of property tax, a reduction of insurance fees, and improvement of tax administration, including introduction of accelerated VAT return.
The government believes the VAT increase will raise the federal budget revenue by 620 billion rubles annually starting from 2019.
(63.6175 rubles Ц U.S. $1)


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Companies to share best practices on leveraging AI for intuitive, enjoyable customer experiences
FRANKLIN, MA – December 13, 2021 – Interactions, LLC, one of the largest standalone artificial intelligence (AI) companies in the world, today announced it will be presenting with customer Western Union at Customer Contact Week (CCW). Jim Freeze, Chief Marketing Officer at Interactions, and two executives from Western Union—Nichole Lewis, Leader of IVR and Interactive Voice Assistant Services, and Will Holloway, Group Leader of Self Service & Omni-Channel Strategy—will lead a session titled “Case Studies: Digital Transformation Starts with Your Customer” at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 16 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, NV.
As customer preferences shift towards effective automation—a trend that has only been accelerated by the pandemic—businesses are increasingly turning to conversational AI solutions. The session will explore how Western Union is leveraging Interactions Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) to create more efficient and productive conversations throughout the customer journey. Freeze, Lewis and Holloway will share best practices for integrating AI technology to provide accessible, effective assistance to customers where and when they need it.
“Western Union is raising the bar for conversational, intuitive customer experiences,” said Freeze. “With Interactions IVA, the company powers empathetic, enjoyable and productive conversations with their customers at every touchpoint. At CCW, we’ll discuss how companies across industries can follow their lead, leveraging conversational AI to meet customers where they are, even as their preferences change.”
CCW is the world’s largest customer contact event series, bringing together industry leaders to share the latest trends and best practices for customer service centers through a series of think-tanks, Q&A opportunities and speaker sessions. To learn more about CCW, see here.


text: VLSI's Semiconductor Analytics report Semiconductor sales surged 18% last week, compared to the same week a year ago, as the weather continued to heat up. The DRAM market has formed a strong upward channel since bottoming early this year. Logic sales are picking up steam again. Semiconductor Sales Nowcast for 3Q20 surged to +17%. As for Semiconductor Supply-Demand, the 3Q20 Nowcast stayed Tight.


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Study by eMarketer predicts women will represent 52.6% of U.S. Internet users by 2008.
More women than men surf the Net.
That's a conclusion of online marketing firm eMarketer Inc., which issued study results Thursday saying that girls and women represented 51.6% of Americans online last year. While females make up about 51% of the U.S. population, and that ratio is expected to hold in the coming years, the proportion of girls and women on the Web should grow to 52.6% by 2008, according to eMarketer.
That's a big change from the early days of the Internet, when males dominated. As recent as 1997, boys and men made up three-quarters of Internet users.
"Cultural, societal, and Internet business trends are combining to shift the balance toward women," said eMarketer analyst Debra Aho Williamson in a statement accompanying the release of the report she authored, Women Online In The U.S.. "Because of these factors, the female majority online will become more pronounced over the next five years--and that will have a transformative effect on content, commerce and marketing."
Mary Hunt, new media director of the marketing firm Interpret-Her, says the Internet lets women get more done such as shop, plan trips, or look for homes in less time. The Net also is an alternative to the telephone, she says. "The Internet allows women to be social and pro-active at the same time," she says.
According to eMarketer, women have long embraced the Internet as a communications medium, and have shown a strong interest in online games, health content, and music. Traditionally, women have been the dominant offline shoppers, but they're shifting more of their shopping online.
The challenge for online retailers will be to develop shopping tools that mimic the offline shopping experience, Williamson said. "That means instead of offering a page of thumbnail images of blouses," she said, "retailers must use the power of the Internet to build customized shopping experiences tailored to a woman's browsing or previous buying patterns."
The gender study estimates that 52%--or 91.2 million--of the 175.4 million Americans online this year will be female. The annual growth rate of both sexes online will slow in the coming years. The female growth rate in Web use will decline from 4% last year to 2.3% in 2008. For males, the rate will decline from 3% in 2004 to 1.9% in 2008.
To reach its conclusions, eMarketer aggregates and analyzes E-business research from more than 1,700 sources and uses third-party benchmarks for demographic data such as those provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, and Internet Advertising Bureau/PricewaterhouseCoopers research, among others. The company checks its modeling and data against past models to help extrapolate growth rates.
2014 Next-Gen WAN SurveyWhile 68% say demand for WAN bandwidth will increase, just 15% are in the process of bringing new services or more capacity online now. For 26%, cost is the problem. Enter vendors from Aryaka to Cisco to Pertino, all looking to use cloud to transform how IT delivers wide-area connectivity.
The UC Infrastructure TrapWorries about subpar networks tanking unified communications programs could be valid: Thirty-one percent of respondents have rolled capabilities out to less than 10% of users vs. 21% delivering UC to 76% or more. Is low uptake a result of strained infrastructures delivering poor performance?


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The folks at Mahindra began their journey into the world of two wheelers back in 2008 when they took over the business of Kinetic SYM. Since then they have been trying hard to get their aces right. Things began to look bright with the Gusto 110 cc which was followed by the Mojo and now their latest Gusto 125 adds to the flavour.
Naturally, being aggressive in terms of product launches, we expected Mahindra to move to the 150 cc automatic scooter segment first among mass selling brands. However, when we asked them about it recently- they quashed a possibility of this and said its not on their radar at the moment. This means they will want to consolidate their existing offerings before moving to something bigger. This leaves us with the premium Vespa which is the only brand offering 150 cc scooters at the moment in India.
Not a scoot, but at the recent Gusto 125 media ride, we got the first few hints of the possibility of a 150 cc motorcycle under works. No details are known at the moment but like Mojo, we expect Mahindra to try and give us something different from the current league, because, amidst intense competition the average run-of-the-mill 150 cc from the company may not be able to really make a mark in the segment.
We have already told you that Mahindra will be making the Mojo available in 9 new cities by March and will also get a dual-channel ABS in the coming few months.


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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – February 21, 2019 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – American Flat Track (AFT) and Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys announced today an enhanced partnership agreement for the 2019 season. In addition to remaining the Official Attorneys of American Flat Track, Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys has also become the first Presenting Sponsor of the AFT Singles class.
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys were riders long before they became attorneys, and have been helping motorcyclists injured in motorcycle accidents across the country since 1975. Their passion for motorcycling and motorcyclists extends to all corners of the industry.
As presenting sponsor of the AFT Singles class, Russ Brown will support AFT’s efforts to raise the profile of the sport’s up-and-coming riders at all 18 American Flat Track events. Additionally, Russ Brown will increase its presenting sponsorship of events to four of AFT’s key markets: the DAYTONA TT, Texas Half-Mile, So-Cal Half-Mile and Laconia Short Track.
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys will also remain a key sponsor of the NBCSN television broadcasts and will continue to promote the series at trade shows and bike nights across the United States through the end of the season.
“Russ Brown has become a leading advocate for biker’s rights across the country,” said Michael Lock, CEO of American Flat Track. “Our renewed and expanded partnership with Russ Brown is testament to their commitment to AFT and our sport as we grow and touch motorcyclists across the nation. ”
Founder Russ Brown, the original motorcycle lawyer who rides, was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2013. Among his most notable achievements is the creation of BAM (Breakdown and Legal Assistance for Motorcyclists), a free nationwide volunteer program of 2,500,000 motorcyclists who help other motorcyclists in their time of need.
Today, Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys is a collective of hundreds of attorneys across the country dedicated to the rights of injured motorcyclists. Riders across the nation know: If You Go Down, Call Russ Brown.
“The success of Russ Brown is due to the dedication and hard work of many individuals – local attorneys who excel at their craft – not just in your community, but all across the U.S” said Wendy Koro, Managing Partner of Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys. “Our winners stood out based on superb results, just like the exciting AFT racers who will reach the podium. For this reason, AFT Singles Class is the perfect fit for Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys and we are thrilled to offer our support in every way we can.”
American Flat Track will kick off its highly-anticipated 2019 season with the Bigger, Better, and Faster DAYTONA TT presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys under the lights of the Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 14, 2019. Tickets start at just $35 online ($45 at the gate) and are available for purchase now at www.americanflattrack.com.
For more information on American Flat Track and the upcoming 2019 season visit www.americanflattrack.com.
Get the latest American Flat Track clothing and merchandise at www.americanflattracker.com.
How to Watch:
NBCSN and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of American Flat Track. For the 2019 season, NBCSN’s coverage of AFT moves to highly-coveted, weekend afternoon programming slots within two weeks of each event. The complete schedule for AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. FansChoice.tv remains a cornerstone of AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event on AFT’s live page while previous events and exclusive features are available on AFT’s VOD page.
About American Flat Track:
American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events at FansChoice.tv and catch all the American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.
About Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys:
Since 1975, Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys Nationwide have been helping motorcyclists injured in motorcycle accidents across the country. Founder Russ Brown was the first in the U.S. to call himself a motorcycle lawyer and created the BAM Benefit Card which offers free emergency roadside and legal assistance for motorcycle riders nationwide. The BAM (Breakdown & Legal Assistance for Motorcyclists) program is a network of over 2,000,000 volunteers in the motorcycling community – riders helping riders – who are willing to help out a fellow rider in need when stranded on the road. For more information on Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, or to join BAM, visit https://www.russbrown.com/.
Source: American Flat Track


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If you have about 90 seconds to spare, take a look at a video from Samsung shot entirely with the Galaxy S 5 in HDR mode. It was shot in Trieste, Italy and is quite breathtaking. Interestingly enough, at the end of the video it states, ”certain images and videos may be enhanced.” Unfortunately we don’t know to what extent the original footage was altered, but take a look at the video after the break.
More information has surfaced about The Samsung Gear VR today, specifically related to its mechanism for controlling basic functions of the VR. The Gear VR Manager, an app downloaded to your Samsung mobile device, works hand-in-hand with other Samsung apps made for the VR, like VR Panorama and VR Cinema. Some features of the VR manager include VR Lock, which sets up a security lock whilst wearing the headset, and a Warning Alert that gives the user an alert every hour reminding him that he’s in a virtual world.
In addition to the latest information about software aspects, there are also some revelations about hardware. The headset purportedly sports a back button and touchpad for navigation, since your mobile device will be rendered useless once connected to the Gear VR. The back button also is used as a see-through button, allowing the user to see the real world around him after long-pressing the button. Simply spouting “Hi Galaxy!” will open up the S Voice app, which can launch other applications. » Read the rest
We knew Samsung was working on producing a version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 for Verizon and now the tablet is finally available. Verizon lists the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 on their site for $360 on a two-year contract. If you would rather pay for it outright, it will cost you $460 which can be paid up front or via Verizon’s EDGE program for $23 per month.
The Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 comes equipped with a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 resolution display, a 1.2 GHz processor, 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory. The Verizon version is LTE-enabled and is compatible with their XLTE network.
If you are interested in grabbing the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 from Verizon, just hit the source link to start placing your order.
After several months of rumors regarding a Samsung premium phone, we finally have the best pictures yet of the device. No it’s not the Galaxy S 5 Prime, nor is is the Galaxy F. It’s the Galaxy Alpha. This phone will feature metal, but before you get too excited, it’s only going to be partially metal. It appears they have opted for the faux leather back along with aluminum sides.
According to reports, owners of the unlocked European version of the Samsung Galaxy S 5 are starting to receive a firmware update that promises general performance improvements. Sources indicate the update not only includes several “under-the-hood” improvements, it comes with a new kernel and baseband. The firmware version for this update is XXU1ANG2. No specific details are available, but at least one user has reported the amount of useable RAM was reduced after receiving the update. There is no word on when the update may roll out to devices in markets outside of Europe.
Samsung has been building it’s own ecosystem for a while now, and it can’t continue without developer support. They hosted their first Developers Conference last October, so it’s no surprise they are going to do it all over again this year. With the introduction of the Samsung Mobile SDK and the S Health SDK, how can they not?
It’s going to be in San Francisco again this year and the dates are November 11 – 13th. For more information, check out the source link below.
Everyone is waiting for Samsung to release a handset that is constructed of primarily metal. For years, consumers have been complaining about the company using plastic or even faux leather. With the rumored Galaxy Alpha, that is all seemingly going to change. It is apparently going to be Samsung’s very first handset with a premium design thanks to the metal construction. But a new report out of Korea claims that production may be limited to this brand new design choice.
A worldwide launch, something Samsung is a very big fan of, would not be possible with the metal design. The report notes that Samsung’s manufacturers in China can only output about 1 million units per month. This is nowhere near what Samsung is used to. If this really is the case, Samsung’s best option would be to contract more companies to produce the Galaxy Alpha. That way, Samsung performs a global launch while finally making everyone happy with a new design.
Google, via the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), has made the official kernel files for the Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch available for download. This is good news for developers who want to work on developing custom ROMs for the devices or fine tune apps to take full advantage of the platform. Being smartwatch devices, this should also help those developers who want to create unique watch faces for the devices.
In releasing the code, Bill Yi on the Android Building Google Group indicated the development team is planning a “full platform push” for the next version of Android, currently dubbed Android L.
If you want to grab the source, hit the source link below.
When it comes to the iPhone, Samsung has never beaten around the bush. They think they have a superior product and they have mocked iPhone users for a while now. In their latest commercial, it’s all about the display size.
Apple has always been behind the times when it comes to the display. It was only about two years ago, when they finally bumped up the iPhone to 4-inches from 3.5-inches. Apple is expected to finally release something that is closer to the norm in September. The iPhone 6 will mostly likely sport a 4.7-inch display. Samsung thinks that iPhone fans should stop the waiting and just go and buy a Galaxy S 5.
If you’re looking for a new budget phone, than you might want to check out the Samsung Galaxy Avant. We first heard about it back in June, and it’s expected to launch on T-Mobile on July 30 with a couple of new features.
It will feature a Remote Device Unlock, which will give you the ability to unlock the phone either permanently or temporarily. This would be done through a pre-installed app on the phone. All you will need to do it launch the app, and tap “Continue” which will then give you the opportunity to unlock the phone temporarily or permanently. You would then get confirmation that the unlock was successful and proceed to reboot the phone.


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The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to join the Federation of Agriculture Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN) to raise cocoa production to 1.2 metric tonnes yearly.
FACAN President, Dr Victor Iyama told The Nation that the Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh, at a meeting with the group in Abuja promised to give out free seedlings to enhance cocoa production.
Iyama said the Minister expressed concern that Nigeria with its size has not been able to produce more than 200,000 metric tonnes of cocoa a year.This was disappointing compared to Ghana that produce one million tonnes of cocoa.
To reverse this, Iyama said the Federation was in support of the government resolve to increase annual output of the commodity within the next couple of years.
He urged the government to support FACAN campaign to train farmers on best agronomic practices, assist them to rehabilitate their farms, renew farms through complete seedlings replanting or canopy substitution through grafting of aged trees.
Added to these, Iyama, mentioned is the retaining of input – fertilizsers, herbicides, tools and irrigation system.
He spoke of the need to ensure a more productive and sustainable cocoa sector – free from poverty and human rights issues, if the nation was to continue to supply more cocoa beans and to remain competitive in the global market.
FACAN, he said, was ready to provide practical guidance by teaching farming practices that will lead to higher yields, offering entrepreneurial ideas for the non-harvesting season to insure year-round earnings.
Meanwhile, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) have repositioned themselves to boost business opportunities in Africa’s cocoa sector, including youth employment and empowering women participation.
The two institutions met in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to strategise for cooperation to foster the transformation of the cocoa industry in Africa. A statement said cocoa is one of the five Cs (cocoa, coffee, cotton, cassava and cashew) that have been selected for support under AfDB’s new Agriculture and Agri-business Draft Strategy. Africa produces 73 per cent of world cocoa, with more than 70 per cent coming from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Nigeria.
It is a major export earner, yet its production is still in the hands of ageing smallhold farmers with more than 70 per cent productivity losses as a result of numerous challenges.
The statement noted that the processing and market are in the hands of foreign investors.
Credit: The Nation


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Bringing Award Winning Bakes to Wembley
We are delighted to announce Wembley will be the next home for our award-winning traditional bakes. The new bakery, which officially opens today, Thursday 24th May at 10am, is located in the UK’s greenest public building, Brent Civic Centre. The new takeaway store, which has created five jobs for local residents will showcase the artisan bakery’s range of breads, pasties and sweet and savoury treats.
Established in 1860, we are proud to be the oldest bakery in Cornwall and recognised as the World’s oldest Cornish pasty maker. With the rise in popularity of craft baking, the premium bakery puts a firm focus on provenance, hand crafted skill and innovation whilst maintaining affordable prices.
Omar Changani and Tejas Patel, who are working in partnership with our Warrens Bakery team to open the new Brent Civic Centre store, comment: “We are extremely excited to be working with Warrens Bakery to bring their traditional, Cornish range of hand crafted bakes from the shores of St Just to Wembley. Warrens Bakery is recognised globally as the World’s oldest Cornish pasty maker and we are delighted to bring the authentic tastes of Cornwall to local Wembley residents.”
Chairman at Warrens Bakery, Mark Sullivan, adds: “We are thrilled to be bringing our range of sweet and savoury bakes to Wembley. The new store means local residents and workers will no longer have to travel very far to pick up a traditional taste of our iconic British bakes or enjoy a hot drink on-the-go. With over 150 years of baking experience, we have a growing range that caters for all taste buds. We look forward to greeting many more hungry customers and sharing our passion for craft baking with Wembley’s residents.”
The opening is part of wider plans for more stores not only in the region but also nationally, as we look to share the best of British craft baking with the nation. Since opening our first franchised store last year, our South West brand has experienced rapid growth and plan to open 750 new stores in the next five years. The Wembley store is the fourth to open in the capital joining Harrow, Ealing and Devonshire Row.
The arrival in Wembley coincides with our latest spring range of new bakes. Wembley workers and residents can be among the first to try the ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ limited-edition range of delicious pasties and sandwiches; all of which are inspired by family meal-time favourites from around the globe.
With over 150 years of baking experience, our hard work and dedication has seen us acknowledged as one of the UK’s leading craft bakeries. Most recently we were finalists in the prestigious Craft Business Award in the Baking Industry Awards 2015 and 2017 and also won a haul of awards at the 2018 British Pie Awards and World Pasty Championships 2018.
We attribute our success not only to the provenance of our ingredients but also to our dedicated team. All of our baked goods are crafted with an enormous amount of care and attention to detail. Many of our products are still produced using traditional recipes and techniques.
To find your local Warrens Bakery to try our current range of hand-crafted baked goods, click here.


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BEIJING: At an “Make investments Maldives” discussion board in a southern Chinese language port metropolis, the Maldivian president shook fingers and exchanged phrases with smiling native officers on a China go to set to deepen bilateral ties because the archipelagic nation pirouettes away from India.
After the discussion board in Fuzhou on Tuesday, Mohamed Muizzu and his delegation will meet with Chinese language President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing throughout his week-long go to, the place pacts from infrastructure to tourism are anticipated to be signed.
Muizzu grew to become president in November after successful on his “India Out” marketing campaign platform beneath which he known as New Delhi’s enormous affect a menace to sovereignty. His authorities has since requested dozens of domestically primarily based Indian army personnel to depart. And in an obvious snub to India, Muizzu is in China this week, earlier than any go to to his nation’s large neighbor.
In Fuzhou, the Chinese language metropolis designated as the beginning of China’s maritime “Silk Highway,” Muizzu mentioned China remained considered one of his nation’s “closest allies and developmental companions,” in accordance with an announcement launched by his workplace.
Growing export of fish merchandise to China beneath the 2 nations’ free commerce settlement can be a key precedence, Muizzu added.
Fishing is the biggest supply of employment within the Maldives, the place 99 % of its territory includes the ocean. Aquatic merchandise account for over 98 % of exports by quantity and worth.
China has already constructed a presence for itself within the Maldives. Underneath Xi’s Belt and Highway Initiative aimed toward constructing a world commerce and infrastructure community, China has helped broaden the Velana Worldwide Airport in Male and constructed the cross-sea China-Maldives Friendship Bridge.
Muizzu mentioned his authorities was eager to discover partnerships beneath Belt and Highway, together with the enlargement of the nation’s central airport and industrial port.
Chinese language companies have invested $1.37 billion within the Maldives since its resolution to affix the Belt and Highway Initiative in 2014, information from the American Enterprise Institute assume tank exhibits.
Final 12 months, China Nationwide Equipment Business Company invested $140 million within the Maldives’ tourism sector, which accounts for over 1 / 4 of the nation’s nationwide revenue.
In 2019, Chinese language vacationers represented 19.7 % of overseas guests, making them the most important vacationer group, though they slipped to 3rd place by 2022 in the course of the pandemic.
The Maldives can also be a well-liked vacation spot amongst Indian nationals, whose presence has grown extra outstanding within the three years when China’s austere pandemic restrictions stored Chinese language guests away.
Within the newest signal of sagging ties between the 2 neighbors, #ExploreIndianIslands has turn out to be a trending hashtag in India on X as a substitute as some Indians share screenshots of canceled bookings of Maldivian holidays.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself final week was snorkelling in Lakshadweep, an archipelago of atolls and reefs off the coast of Kerala, a go to that some considered as an try to attract vacationers away from close by Maldivian islands.
“India’s strained relations with sure nations in South Asia may be attributed to its notion of being the regional boss,” China’s International Occasions reported on Monday, citing analysts.
And, the newspaper added, quoting a Chinese language tutorial, India’s present “nervousness” about Muizzu’s go to to China confirmed its “insecurity.”


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Nintendo of Canada’s Communications Manager, Matt Ryan, has revealed that Nintendo sold 35,700 Wii Mini consoles in Canada since launch. Ryan said that the Canadian market has reacted positively to the system which lacks a lot of the functionality that the original Wii console contained. Nintendo Europe announced yesterday that the system will go on sale throughout Europe on March 22nd. UK retail outlets have begun taking pre-orders for the system which costs £80.
“Canadian market has reacted positively to the great value the system has to offer, and we are seeing this reflected in the sales numbers.”


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PRODUCTS • PEOPLE • TRENDS • BUSINESS INSIGHTS
Recent Updates From Specialty Food News
Safeway is set to be acquired by Cerberus Capital Management through AB Acquisition, owner of Albertsons.
Five states joined Missouri in a lawsuit against California over its law requiring more space for all egg-laying hens.
USDA's AMS will hold a meeting of the National Organic Standards Board on April 29 - May 2.
The Fresh Market plans to open between 23 and 25 stores in fiscal 2014, seven of which will be in Florida.
A few producers are redefining vodka from the colorless, odorless, and tasteless standard.
A Turkish chocolate maker has opened its first U.S. store in Cliffside Park, N.J.
Josh Tetrick, founder and CEO of San Francisco food lab Hampton Creek Foods, is on a mission. “We don’t want to be the same as a chicken egg,” he says. “We want to be better.” His team has done just that by creating Beyond Eggs, ...
Changing the shape of popular chocolate confections can also change their appeal—and not for visual reasons. As it turns out, shape determines how quickly chocolate melts in the mouth, which affects the order and speed that food molecules are released on the tongue and into ...
Master sommelier Richard Betts is on a mission to simplify the world of wine with his new book, The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert. Featuring 16 different scents found in red and white wine, Betts’ book divides the drink into ...
Parents do listen to kids’ food desires—especially in the portion-pack beverage category—making 80 percent of their purchases with direct influence from their children, according to research conducted by Tetra Pak. A full 55 percent of planned purchases are specifically made based on kids’ requests. And ...
As we near the end of 2013—which the U.N. declared as International Year of Quinoa—there’s time to try out relevant products like Fair, the only fair-trade vodka made from organic Bolivian quinoa. The ancient-grain vodka, which retails for about $35 a bottle, has been available ...
Baseball stadiums were the first to bring top-notch food to their patrons but now, NFL venues are catching up. Stadiums for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans have lured some of the biggest names in food to transform their menus, including Philadelphia’s Jose ...
Korean BBQ Crunchy Chickpeas
by Saffron Road Foods


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Ferrari signs two year Formula 1 sponsor agreement with Kaspersky Lab Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content and threat management solutions, announces its plans to partner the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team in 2011 and 2012. At the final F1 Grand Prix of the 2010 season in Abu Dhabi the company is set to unveil its official sponsorship of the world-famous racing team for the forthcoming two years.
As well as deciding the final standings of the 2010 F1 World Championship, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will also be the setting for an announcement by Kaspersky Lab regarding its plans for a high-level partnership deal with Scuderia Ferrari – one of the racing world's leading teams.
Kaspersky Lab entered the world of motor racing earlier this year when it signed a title sponsorship deal with the Ferrari AF Corse racing team for the Le Mans Series Championship. After such an exhilarating initiation into the racing world, the company decided to elevate its partnership with Ferrari to Formula One. As of next year, followers of the Ferrari team and F1 will be able to see the Kaspersky Lab logo feature on the team's cars. By shifting up to Formula One, Kaspersky Lab is fulfilling its strategy of raising its brand profile on a global scale. "When we do something at Kaspersky Lab we are always striving to do it better than anyone else and, most importantly, we do it differently," said Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and co-founder of Kaspersky Lab, before revealing the driving forces behind the partnership: "If we invest in brand development, we will only do so with those brands that share the same values as us, which means they must be innovators, leaders, with a commitment to quality and a constant desire to succeed. So we are thrilled to become a partner of Ferrari - the world's most lauded Formula One team."
Sharing the same desire for excellence in everything they do, both brands – Kaspersky Lab and Ferrari – are world famous for their best-in-class performance, technological innovations and high level of reliability. Another similarity the companies share is the fact they both bear the names of their founders. Both Eugene Kaspersky and Enzo Ferrari are innovators and overachievers, who have succeeded in bringing their big dreams to life. The Kaspersky Lab team has been fighting a high-tech battle against malicious programs for over 13 years and makes the digital lives of more than 300 million users worldwide safer. Ferrari is world-renowned for its technological superiority and the safety of its cars. The two companies are closely connected by the notion of speed – Ferrari makes some of the world's fastest cars, while Kaspersky Lab ensures the fastest outbreak response times to malicious programs. And both companies are leaders in their respective fields.
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independent internet online publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed
by IndyCar, NASCAR, FIA, or any series sponsor.
This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without


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Astroneer update out now (version 22.214.171.124), patch notes
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 0 comments
The latest update for Astroneer has gone out for Switch players, with System Era Softworks now offering version 126.96.36.199.
The return of the EXO F.A.R.M event is included here, along with a new vehicle, a new small piece of equipment, and some other curious new discoveries across the planets. Many bug fixes and quality of life improvements are available as well.
The full patch notes for the Astroneer version 188.8.131.52 update are as follows:
Astroneer update (Version 1.25.152) available, patch notes
Posted on 3 months ago by Dawn in News | 0 comments
A new version of Astroneer’s Rails update which was released last month on Switch has arrived today, providing an array of various bug fixes and a few quality of life improvements.
Full patch notes are detailed below:
Astroneer “Rails” update out now on Switch (version 184.108.40.206), patch notes and trailer
Astroneer has just received a major 220.127.116.11 patch on Switch, otherwise known as the “Rails” update.
Once installed, players can access the new Rails System. This provides a new mode of transportation “that excels at efficiency and convenience.” Aside from everything involved with that, System Era Software has implemented quality of life improvements and more.
The full patch notes for the Astroneer “Rails” update (version 18.104.22.168) are as follows:
Astroneer update out now on Switch (version 22.214.171.124), patch notes
Posted on 8 months ago by Dawn in News, Switch eShop | 0 comments
Astroneer has been updated on Switch, with System Era Softworks delivering version 126.96.36.199. It includes extensive controller remapping features, the ability to use a mouse and keyboard, and several bug fixes.
Below are the full patch notes for the Astroneer version 188.8.131.52 update:
Astroneer update out now on Switch (version 184.108.40.206), patch notes
Posted on 9 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Astroneer has been updated on Switch, with System Era Softworks delivering version 220.127.116.11. It includes a new home icon – pictured above – as well as several fixes.
Below are the full patch notes for the Astroneer version 18.104.22.168 update:
Astroneer Switch launch trailer
Posted on 10 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos | 0 comments
System Era Softworks is celebrating the arrival of Astroneer on Switch with a new trailer. The game just released this Thursday.
For more on Astroneer, check out the following overview:
Sci-fi adventure game Astroneer arrives on Switch today. Check out some gameplay footage with the video below the break.
Astroneer gets final Switch release date, physical version on the way
Posted on 11 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
When Astroneer was announced for Switch this past summer, it already had a confirmed January 2022 release window. Today, developer System Era Softworks revealed a final date of January 13, 2022. Additionally, a physical version is confirmed with Gearbox Publishing handling distribution at a later date (currently estimated for February).
Astroneer for Switch is described as “the complete experience, including the brand-new Xenobiology update that will introduce mysterious creatures and new adventures.” Here players will go on “a narrative focused mission all over the solar system to discover the secrets behind these curious cephalopods.” Astroneer has been “thoroughly reworked” on Switch “to ensure a great performing experience” and there’s support for local multiplayer.
Astroneer official Switch gameplay video
Posted on 1 year ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch eShop, Videos | 0 comments
Astroneer was officially confirmed for Switch a few weeks ago. While we did receive a trailer at the time, System Era Softworks actually came out with another video focusing on gameplay that flew under the radar.
In case you missed it, here’s an overview for Astroneer with additional details:
Astroneer finally confirmed for Switch
Posted on 1 year ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 0 comments
Astroneer has been rumored for Switch as early as 2018 thanks to various classification listings. Today,
System Era Softworks made the news official. Astroneer is scheduled to launch in January 2022 on Switch.
Here’s an overview of the game, along with a trailer:


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SuperValu Inc has reported results for the fiscal 2007 third quarter ended Dec 2, 2006. The company reported record net sales of $10.7 billion for the quarter, compared with $4.7 billion in the same period a year earlier. Record net earnings of $113 million were also tallied, versus $75 million a year ago.
The company completed its $11.3 billion acquisition of Albertson’s retail properties June 2, 2006, transforming SuperValu into the nation’s third-largest supermarket.
During the first three quarters of fiscal 2007, SuperValu reported net sales of $27.1 billion compared with $15.2 billion in the year-earlier period, and net earnings of $332 million versus $200 million a year ago.


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CARMICHAEL (CBS13/CNN) -- National gym chain 24 Hour Fitness has filed for bankruptcy after the coronavirus pandemic forced its facilities shut for months.
At least three local locations are on the chopping block.
24 Hour Fitness said Monday in its Chapter 11 filing that it has secured $250 million in funding to help reopen some of its clubs and expects a majority of locations to be open by the end of June. However, it's emerging as a smaller chain: It permanently closed 100 US locations in 14 states with roughly 300 clubs remaining.
"If it were not for Covid-19 and its devastating effects, we would not be filing for Chapter 11," CEO Tony Ueber said in a statement. "We expect to have substantial financing with a path to restructuring our balance sheet and operations to ensure a resilient future."
He also said the restructuring will result in "reinvestment in our existing clubs, opening new clubs and introducing several new innovative products and services." 24 Hour Fitness, which began in 1985, is a privately held company.
The West Benjamin Holt Drive location in Stockton, the Arden Way location in Carmichael, and North Main Street gym in Manteca were all listed as slated to close permanently on the 24 Hour Fitness website.
Becky Neal and a few friends from the Sacramento Bike Hikers hit the road Monday because they couldn't hit the gym.
"We are all very disappointed !" Said Neal.
They usually meet up at the 24 Hour Fitness in Carmichael on Arden way.
"It's like bike riding. It's social and then we stay fit that way," she said.
As many members showed up to workout Monday morning they were surprised to find the doors locked.
"I am assuming the lease costs on this building are a lot higher than other parts of Sacramento County, so they want to get rid of those," said Brian Atwell.
Attwell will have to find a new gym.
"So right now we workout at the house we have a bunch of equipment there, that is what we will be doing in the interim," he said.
The trick will be finding one that's close, there are other 24 Hour Fitness locations in the area.
"So the closest is Sylvan Corners, which is about six or seven miles and they say if you don't have a gym within two miles, you won't go to the gym on a regular basis," said Neal.
Middle-tier gym chains are struggling with customers switching to less-expensive fitness facilities, such as Planet Fitness. People are also flocking to boutique studio classes, including OrangeTheory, or in-home alternatives, such as Peloton, which recently reported a surge in members because of the pandemic.
Gold's Gym, a similar chain to 24 Hour Fitness, filed for bankruptcy in May. The company said the virus affected it "deeply and in many ways," which included the temporary closures of many of its 700 global gyms. Gold's permanently closed 30 locations in April and expects to emerge from bankruptcy in August.
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved the drug edaravone (Radicava, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America) to slow down functional decline in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
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The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price is sinking on Thursday morning.
At the time of writing, the retail conglomerate’s shares are down a sizeable 15% to $35.95.
Why is the Woolworths share price sinking?
The good news for shareholders is that the declining Woolworths share price has nothing to do with a trading update or broker note but everything to do with the spin-off of its drinks business.
This morning the company’s drinks business landed on the ASX boards as Endeavour Group Limited (ASX: EDV). This spin-off sees Woolworths shareholders receive one Endeavour Group share for every Woolworths share they own.
In light of this, the Woolworths share price has declined to reflect the loss of the drinks business from its valuation.
Goldman Sachs has been looking at the spin-off and sees a lot of positives from it. This is particularly the case with the company’s plan to make a capital return of up to $2 billion post-merger.
It said: “The demerger of Endeavour Group simplifies WOW towards a more tightly focused supermarket offering across Australia and New Zealand and eliminates the ESG issues associated with the gaming and alcohol aspects of Endeavour Group. A demerger would also leave the company in a strong balance sheet position with excess capital even after a proposed A$1.6-2.0bn capital return (post demerger). We expect FCF post Dividend obligations to return to >A$1bn in FY23e, in line with FY20, despite the demerger. We also forecast Woolworths Group ex. Endeavour to turn to a net cash position by FY23e.”
Though, the broker notes that the demerger is not without risks.
Goldman explained: “While this increased focus is a benefit for the group, the demerger also exposes investors to a more concentrated supermarket operation and leaves Big W looking more of a strategic outlier. As a more concentrated supermarket operation, WOW post demerger will expose shareholders to a range of risks including: (a) potential increase in online competition and capacity in the next three years, (b) capacity utilisation in physical stores at risk of declining and (c) the supply chain upgrades in the sector could impact WOW’s relative competitiveness, potentially compelling WOW to upgrade as a countermeasure.”


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Latest from indonesia
The archipelago nation had issued the ban last month to secure supplies of the commodity.
Union food secretary Sudhanshu Pandey will head the panel, which recently reviewed the availability of edible oils in the country and met representatives of major oil processing associations.
The presidents of Russia and Ukraine have accepted invitations from Indonesia, the current chair of the Group of 20, for a big ticket summit in November.
Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi removed export curbs on March 18 and, instead, increased the palm oil export levy, blaming a "palm oil mafia" for exploiting the situation.
India is the world's biggest importer of palm oil and relies on Indonesia for nearly half of the 700,000 tonnes it takes every month.
ByAniruddha Dhar, New Delhi


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Omni, the San Francisco based marketplace, has decided to shut down its operations as it revealed it could not keep up with the economics of rental as well as finding space to convert into storage units. The organization, which had become famous for providing sustainable rental options is one of many victims who have fallen on the sword of late.
Twenty nineteen spelled multiple issues for Omni as the company had even sold some of its sectors to another direct competitor. Along with the latest closure announcement, Omni has also stated that ten of its core engineers will be shifting to Coinbase, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange based on users. A company spokesperson also added:
“We’ll be winding down operations at Omni and closing the platform by the end of this year. We are proud of what we built and incredibly thankful for everyone who supported our vision over the past five and a half years.”
Coinbase claimed that the engineers were of top-notch quality and that they would fit in seamlessly with the organization. The exchange stated that they would be contributing to new projects within Coinbase, but no further information was revealed about it. Tim McLeod, the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] of Coinbase, had not made any public comments as of yet, but many are expecting a formal release to be out in the open soon.
Omni has been on a slow decline, and the shut down does not come as a surprise to many in the space. Back in October of this year, the rental company had started talks with Coinbase although they had declined to admit to any sort of slowdown then.
Users and investors became aware of the red flags after the company laid off seven members from its team as well. This came as a surprise top many as the company had raised $25 million from the Brad Garlinghouse led Ripple. The cryptocurrency company had placed its faith in the rental business with the assurance that people would pay a few bucks to rent commodities like drills, bicycles, or bags.
The company triggered its sell-off to rival Clutter after it realized its slump towards the second half of the year. The Softbank banked Clutter had agreed to the deal on the heels of a $200 million investment. After the Clutter acquisition, Omni released a statement saying:
“This deal allows us to double down on our rentals business and focus 100 percent of our efforts on empowering everyone to access the items they need when they need them.”
Disclaimer: The presented information is subjected to market conditions and may include the very own opinion of the author. Please do your ‘very own’ market research before making any investment in cryptocurrencies. Neither the writer nor the publication (TronWeekly.com) holds any responsibility for your financial loss.
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The fortunes of Europe’s carmakers, at least at the premium and luxury end of the market, have generally been buoyed by emerging markets, but sales of very high-end luxury cars such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bentley have been hit over the last few months. (Perhaps not the case in the US anymore…?)
China has given up its crown as Rolls Royce’s largest market, ceding it back to the US, as sales have slowed. The reasons are not clear, but an anti-corruption drive is being mooted as one cause for a sudden desire to avoid signs of conspicuous consumption.
Meanwhile, sales of Audis, BMWs and Jaguars have been going well, up 14% and 7%, respectively, while Jaguar Land Rover is the only European carmaker to post double-digit production growth, up 21% last month while the rest of Europe has stalled.
Auto sales in India have also been down. CNBC reports the once red-hot Indian car market softened for the first time in a decade over the past year, as domestic passenger car sales fell 6.7% in the year to March 2013 over the previous year, when car sales grew by just 2.2%, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.
The decline was a sharp slump on the 30% rise in sales seen in 2010-2011. Ford’s sales in India dropped 38% year-on-year in March, but have been made up by a rise in sales in China.
While China continues to grow at a slower but ultimately more sustainable rate, no one is predicting a sudden turnaround elsewhere. The European market is likely to remain depressed for another year or two at least, with Peugeot (which was predicting a further 5% decline earlier this year) now saying the situation has deteriorated further.
For metals markets, the only bright spot is fuel prices continuing to drive innovation into the use of high-strength steels and the migration to aluminum in an effort to lower weight, but for suppliers manufacturing at the commodity end of the market, supplying Europe’s mass car market the year ahead will not be good.


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Stellantis, together with TotalEnergies and Mercedes-Benz, announced the inauguration of Automotive Cells Company’s (ACC) battery gigafactory in Billy-Berclau Douvrin, France, the first of three planned in Europe. With an initial production line capacity of 13 gigawatt-hours (GWh), rising to 40GWh by 2030, the facility will deliver high-performance lithium-ion batteries with a minimal CO2 footprint. The first of the site’s three European production units will be operational before the end of 2023.
The gigafactory will contribute to Stellantis’ goal of increasing battery manufacturing capacity to 250 GWh in Europe by 2030 and advance the Company on its mission to offer a comprehensive suite of battery technologies that supports customers’ needs across the entire Stellantis brand portfolio. Stellantis is securing approximately 400 GWh of capacity by 2030, supported by five gigafactories in Europe and North America and additional supply contracts.
“At the outset of this partnership in 2020, we agreed to an ambitious global timeline to develop electric vehicle batteries that would power our plan to electrify mobility,” said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO. “As we execute our Dare Forward 2030 strategy and now move to hit our ambitious target of achieving carbon net zero by 2038, Stellantis is actively contributing to the European electrification transition with state-of-the-art EV solutions and supporting France’s crucial role in a sustainable future. I applaud every person involved in ACC for together we are building a strong coalition to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.”
The Company now has 24 BEVs in market and will nearly double that to 47 by the end of 2024. Stellantis targets having more than 75 BEVs globally and global BEV sales of 5 million by 2030. Today, Stellantis electric vehicles the Peugeot e-208 and Fiat New 500 are among the top five best-sellers in France and in the top 10 in Europe.
Alongside battery production, Stellantis, ACC, the Union of Metallurgies Industries, the state and region are establishing the Battery Training Center of Douvrin as part of its upskilling and reskilling program. Through a 400-hour course, Stellantis employees will acquire new skills in battery manufacturing, helping the Hauts-de-France region compete in a sector that is crucial to the electrification transition. By 2025, at least 600 employees will join the battery manufacturing plant.
As part of the Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, Stellantis announced plans of reaching 100% of the passenger car battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales mix in Europe and 50% of passenger car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the United States by 2030. Stellantis is on track to become a carbon net zero corporation, all scopes included, by 2038, with single-digit percentage compensation of the remaining emissions.


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DETROIT — AT&T has expanded its 4G LTE network to downriver Wayne and Monroe communities, bringing more customers the latest generation of wireless network technology.
AT&T launched 4G LTE in Detroit on Sep. 19, and the expanded coverage is part of its ongoing rollout across the market.READ MORE: CDC: New Listeria Outbreak Tied To 23 Illnesses, 1 Death
AT&T 4G LTE coverage now available in Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, New Boston, Trenton, Flat Rock, Woodhaven, Monroe, La Salle, Brownstown, Newport, Riverview, South Rockwood and Carleton.
The AT&T 4G LTE network includes:READ MORE: Red Wings Hire Lightning Assistant Derek Lalonde As Coach
* Faster speeds. LTE technology is capable of delivering mobile Internet speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.
* Cool new devices. AT&T offers several LTE-compatible devices, including new AT&T 4G LTE smartphones and tablets, such as the Sony Xperia TL, LG Optimus G, Samsung Galaxy S III, Motorola ATRIX HD, HTC One X, Nokia Lumia 900, Samsung Galaxy Note II, HTC One X+, Samsung ATIV smart PC and ASUS VivoTab RT.
* Faster response time. LTE technology offers lower latency, or the processing time it takes to move data through a network, such as how long it takes to start downloading a webpage or file once you’ve sent the request. Lower latency helps to improve services like mobile gaming, two-way video calling and telemedicine.
* More efficient use of spectrum. Wireless spectrum is a finite resource, and LTE uses spectrum more efficiently than other technologies, creating more space to carry data traffic and services and to deliver a better network experience.
“We’ve seen positive response from customers on our 4G LTE launch, and as today’s expansion shows, we’re continuing our rollout of fast 4G LTE speeds to more areas of Detroit,” said Jim Murray, president, AT&T Michigan.
AT&T’s innovation and investment has resulted in the nation’s largest 4G network, covering more than 285 million people with ultra-fast speeds and a more consistent user experience. AT&T says that’s coverage in 3,000 more 4G cities and towns than Verizon. AT&T’s 4G LTE network delivered faster average download speeds than any of our competitors in PCWorld’s most recent 13-market speed tests.MORE NEWS: Troubling Arsenic Levels Found At Some Detroit Demolition Sites
Over the past five years, AT&T invested more than $115 billion into operations and into acquiring spectrum and other assets that have enhanced its wireless and wired networks. Since 2007, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company. In a July 2012 report, the Progressive Policy Institute ranked AT&T No. 1 on its list of U.S. “Investment Heroes.”


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Displaying items by tag: Client
Digital finance is the term used to describe the impact of new technologies on the financial services industry. It includes a variety of products, applications, processes and business models that have transformed the traditional way of providing banking and financial services.
The global economy will likely contract by over 5 per cent in this year 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, according to the recently released Global Economic Prospects. The deepest global recession in eight decades is sending hundreds of millions into poverty, and recovery appears to be far off. Still, the crisis has encouraged incentives for economic transformation and adoption of digital business models, including increased use of digital financial services (DFS).
Financial inclusion means that individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs, transactions, payments, savings, credit and insurance, delivered in a responsible and sustainable way.
Days are moving, people and their economic needs changes hence the economic demands must change too, to suffice the contemporary days that are overtaken and are being occupied by the technological innovations of which affects almost every sector and area.


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Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods has taken over NutriDutch in Putten. NutriDutch produce intermediate products for the food industry and went bankrupt at the end of 2021. With this capacity expansion, Vreugdenhil wants to focus on the production of high-quality nutritional products, e.g. specialities based on milk, whey and vegetable raw materials. With the acquisition, Vreugdenhil will continue to employ a large number of NutriDutch employees.
The acquisition of the Putten plant will create additional production opportunities, Vreugdenhil intends to serve customers that were previously unacessable due to its size. The plant is expected to come back on stream in the near future.


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It's better than bucket list. » Read More
By: Stacey Yuen
U.K.-based InterContinental Hotels announced it is planning to bring two hotel brands to China and Asia Pacific. » Read More
Roland Folger, CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, discusses how a proposed hike in the "cess" tax to 25 percent impacts the automaker's long-term investments in the country.
Democratic lawmakers are making a new push for information about how much money the federal government is spending at Trump's for-profit properties.
Paul Harris of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars outlines how the average age of its customers has decreased from 53 to 39 years over the past decade.
Rubies is in constant short supply as demand for colored gems are growing at a quicker pace, especially in Asia, says Mustang Resources CEO Christiaan Jordaan.
CNBC's Diana Olick reports on the end of the slump in luxury home sales, the emergence of the flat fee brokerage and retail REITs getting slammed since brick and mortar stores have been slowing.
Sale prices of luxury homes in the second quarter of this year were up 7.5 percent from a year ago, the first time luxury gains have outpaced the rest of the market since 2014.
Robbie Antonio, CEO of Revolution Precrafted, talks about how his company blends design and technology to create luxury prefabicated houses.
CNBC's Robert Frank reports on the new Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Francois-Henri Pinault tells CNBC that the company's success is not as fickle as fashion itself.
Kering CEO Francois-Henri Pinault speaks about how his fashion brands remain relevant, as well as his business' performance among Chinese consumers.
Francois-Henri Pinault, CEO of luxury fashion group Kering, explains why his company has not looked into buying designer shoe brand Jimmy Choo.
Russian model Natalia Vodianova talks about the Naked Heart Foundation, a Russian children's charity founded in response to the Beslan school siege in which 186 children were killed.
The world renowned Bolshoi Theater, Moscow, founded in 1776 by Russian Empress Catherine the Great, is known as the country's "cultural epicenter".
Brent Wilsey of Wilsey Asset Management explains what he likes about shares of retailers Michael Kors, Nordstrom and L Brands.
U.S. retailer Michael Kors has agreed to buy luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo for $1.2 billion. Jon Cox, head of European consumer equities at Kepler Cheuvreux, talks about the sector.
The diamond industry is expected to grow in coming years on strong demand from China, India and the U.S., but there is a key hurdle ahead: millennials.
Coye Nokes, partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants, discusses Michael Kors buying Jimmy Choo and whether the acquisition will help Kors' slumping sales.
Jimmy Choo put itself up for sale in April after its majority owner, JAB Holdings, shifted focus.
Russian oligarchs, Brazilian bank accounts and Chinese businessmen can be traced back to some troubles in the housing market, according to the New York Times.
Millennial consumers might not be buying diamonds just yet, but they represent the future of the diamond industry, says Charles Rosario of Lazare Diamonds.
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It seems that before Conan O’Brien made his move to cable TV channel, TBS, Microsoft made an attempt to bring the chat show host to the company’s Xbox LIVE service in an exclusive deal.
According to an article on Gamasutra, Microsoft tried to lure Conan in an attempt to have him present a show via the gaming consoles Xbox LIVE service. Although the discussions are believed to have gone on for some time, Conan and his team decided that although Microsoft were developing some great stuff, they were just not in a position to work with them and decided to go the more traditional TV route.
The reasoning behind deciding against joining Microsoft’s service seems to be due to the lack of a set vision. Microsoft didn’t seem to know how long the show would run for, if the show would have breaks or even if it would be a show at all.
It has been well known that Microsoft are courting a number of big media based companies in regards to adding subscription based services to Xbox Live. Gamasutra states that Microsoft is still looking for partners with an aim to launch a subscriber service towards the end of the year in the US.
In the United Kingdom, Microsoft has already added the subscription based Sky Player service to Xbox LIVE, although it has failed in trying to get the BBC to allow its iPlayer catch-up service to be available to gold members only as the corporation requires it to be free to UK users.


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New transparency figures from Amazon show that the company has responded to a record number of government data requests in the last six months of 2020.
The new numbers land in the company’s semi-annual transparency report, which was posted on the Amazon website over the weekend.
Amazon said it processed 27,664 government requests for user data in the last six months of 2020, up from 3,222 data requests in the first six months of the year, an increase of nearly 800%. This user data includes shopping searches and data from his Echo, Fire and Ring devices.
The new report presents the data differently than previous transparency information. Amazon is now breaking down the most frequently requesting countries. In the past, the US authorities made up most of the total data requests that Amazon receives. However, this latest report shows that Germany has 42% of all inquiries, followed by Spain with 18% and Italy and the USA with 11% each.
But the report also eliminates the breakdown by legal process, and now only …