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The news came as the outbreak appeared to continue to subside in much of Asia.
Just 838 people remain hospitalized in China with COVID 19 while another 1,000 are undergoing isolation and monitoring for being either suspected cases or having tested positive for the virus while showing no symptoms. China has reported a total of 4,632 deaths among 82,816 cases.
South Korea reported 10 fresh cases, the eighth day in a row its daily jump came below 20. There were no new deaths for the second straight Jafo case genuine real leather for iphone 5s 5c 5se cover book day.
India announced the easing of a stringent lockdown for 1.3 billion people with the reopening of neighborhood and standalone shops. India has reported more than 24,500 cases and 775 deaths. Last week, it allowed resumption of manufacturing and farming activities in rural areas as millions of daily wage earners were left without work.
In France, the government is leaving families to decide whether to keep children at home or send them back to Ragazze Custodia Polkadots Cup Cake 3D Silicone TPU Custodie + class when the nationwide lockdown, in place since March 17, starts to be lifted on May 11.
As in many countries, the tourism industry in France has been ravaged by the pandemic and a French hotel executive predicted his business will remain “catastrophic” for the rest of this year.
“Zero percent (occupancy) in April, probably in May and probably Cover iphone 6s silicone: prezzi e offerte su ePRICE in June,” Serge Cachan, president of the Astotel chain of Paris hotels, told The Associated Press. With estimated losses this year of 60 70%, Cachan said he is counting on government help to survive.
Belgium announced that after May 3, hospitals will progressively open to some non essential tasks and textile shops also will iPhone 5/5S/5SE CUSTODIA TPU DISEGNO SMARTIES – APPLE – be allowed to reopen as the country begins relaxing safeguards. Denmark has reopened schools for the youngest grads, while in Spain, parents face the decision of KIT COVER MELA LUMINOSA PER APPLE iPhone 4S Apple iPhone 7 Plus/8 Plus Silicone Back Cover Lemon Yellow e 4 – likesx.com whether to let kids get their first fresh air in weeks when the country on Sunday starts to ease the total ban on letting them outside.
Britain was still holding off on AmazonBasics – Custodia Trasparente per iPhoneTutti i prodotti changes to its Apple IPHONE 6/6s Silicone Custodia Superbo Maneggiare Sottile lockdown as the coronavirus related death Cover iPhone 6S Cover iPhone 6 Custodia morbido Trasparente toll in hospitals fast approaches 20,000. It the fourth highest in Europe, behind Italy, Spain and France, each of which has reported more than 20,000 deaths. Some Alaska municipalities chose to maintain stricter rules.
Though limited in scope, and subject to social distancing restrictions, the reopenings marked a symbolic milestone in the debate For Cover IPhone X Xs Max XR 5 SE 6s 7 8 Plus For Xiaomi Mi A1 A2 raging in the United States and beyond as to how quickly political leaders should lift economically devestating lockdown orders.
During a White House press briefing Friday, President Donald Trump spoke optimistically iPhone X XR XS Max Clear Silicone Cover iPhone 11 Pro MAX Coque of the economy but also asked people Cover iPhone AmazonBasics lancia la sua linea di custodie to continue social distancing and using face coverings. The same day, Trump signed a $484 billion bill to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the pandemic. workers.
Trump also said his widely criticized comments suggesting people can ingest or inject disinfectant to fight COVID 19 was an attempt at sarcasm.
The coronavirus has killed more than 190,000 people worldwide, including as of Friday more than 50,000 in the United States, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from government figures. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher.
Amy Pembrook and her husband, Mike, reopened their hair salon in the northwest Oklahoma town of Fairview after it had been shuttered for about a month.
“We’re super excited about going back, but we have caught a little flak from people who say it’s too early,” Amy Pembrook said. “We just said we can live in fear for a long time Apple Custodia per iPhone 6s Plus Silicone ca Midnight Blue or we can trust that everything is going to be OK.”
Without a tried and tested action plan for how to pull countries out of coronavirus lockdown, the world is seeing a Cover iPhone SE / 5 / 5S prezzo: economico Custodia per iPhone SE patchwork of approaches. Schools reopen in one country, China 40m Water Depth Dive Phone Cover iPhone 5 5s 5c 5se stay Samsung S5 Custodia Custodia Rigida IPhone Unidimensionale In closed in others; face masks are mandatory in some places, SP Connect Phone Case Set iPhone 5+/5/SE Custodia per smartphon a recommendation elsewhere.
Meanwhile, testing continues to lag across the United States. To date, according to data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project, just under 4.7 million people have been tested in the country of 330 million. Researchers at Harvard University have estimated a minimum of 500,000 daily tests are needed, and possibly much more, in order to safely reopen the economy.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said his administration plans to let pharmacists administer virus tests to reach a broader range of people, including those with no symptoms who believe they may have been exposed.
In Michigan, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lengthened her stay at home order through May 15, while lifting restrictions so some businesses Apple rilascia le nuove Cover per iPhone 11 ed iPhone 11 Pro can reopen and the public can participate in outdoor activities such as golf and motorized boating. Michigan has nearly 3,000 deaths related Iphone 4 4s Phone Clear Silicone Cover in Monasterevin Kildare to COVID 19, behind only New York and New Jersey.
New York reported its Sconto da 1279 euro su cover a portafoglio per qualsiasi iPhone lowest number of daily COVID 19 deaths in weeks on Friday. The state recorded 422 deaths as of the day before 2017 Coque For iPhone 6S Marcelo Burlon Cover Tiger Lion Fox the fewest since March 31, CASEWIN Battery Charger Case For iPhone 5 5S SE 5SE Cover 4000mAh when it recorded 391 deaths. More than 16,000 people have died in the state from the outbreak.
Crary reported from New York. Associated Press journalists from around the world contributed to this report…


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BTS' V and Blackpink's Jennie break up: sources
[KH Explains] China ups OLED ante to take over Korean shares
Woman sentenced to 13 years for forcing co-worker into prostitution
[News Focus] Why Kim Jong-un spotlights mothers
Korean students outperform OECD average amid pandemic havoc: data
Samsung to sell printer business to HP: reportBy 이지윤
Published : Sept. 9, 2016 - 18:22
The move is said to be in line with Samsung’s efforts to streamline its businesses sprawled around in a range of sectors and put more focus on flagship businesses.
Samsung used to be in partnership with the US firm in the printer business in the past.
The Korean tech firm told the news media that it could not confirm the news reports on the sale of the printer business.
The deal is rumored to be worth 2 trillion won (US$1.8 billion). Around 2,000 executives and employees are working for Samsung’s printer business, which operates production facilities in China and Brazil.
By Kim Young-won (email@example.com)
Auditor says Moon govt distorted 2020 death of fisheries official
SK carries out complete leadership reshuffle
Drug demand rises over surge in ‘walking pneumonia,’ flu

domain: news


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The increase in e-waste every year is undeniable. This growth, driven by steady sales of more than a billion a year, means that more and more people carry hand-sized computers in their pockets. It is easy to understand the impact of smartphones on human behavior, as this digital transformation has evolved, for example, communication, financial inclusion or agricultural productivity. However, this large sale of smartphones also means an increase in waste streams and carbon emissions. Faced with this scenario, we must reconsider the life cycles of these devices and create strategies beyond recycling.
The environmental impact of smartphones
Understanding the impact of smartphones on the environment is fundamental. One of the repercussions of these devices is identified in their carbon emissions. According to an article by the World Economic Forum, the manufacturing phase of smartphones generates between 85% and 95% of carbon emissions. Not only that, but they also contribute to approximately 10% of global e-waste, a figure that was estimated at over 50 million tons in 2019. In other words, smartphones and similar devices create waste streams equivalent to more than 300,000 double-decker buses each year.
These figures can also be represented in money, to understand how much they equate to for the industry. The potential raw material value of this e-waste was estimated at $57 million in 2019 alone; while electronics recycling rates stood at 17% that same year. The production of smartphones is also becoming more complicated every year, because as sales grow, materials for their manufacture become scarcer. One example is microchips. The Royal Society of Chemistry estimates that 6 of the elements needed for their manufacture will be exhausted in the next 100 years. This warning must be heeded today.
New challenges for e-waste
Of course, it is necessary to recycle smartphones when they reach the end of their useful life. However, it is now also important to keep phones in use for longer, so that the materials used last much longer, resulting in a reduced waste stream and less energy in the recycling process. In other words, extending the useful life of smartphones is key to reducing e-waste. In addition, this avoids annual carbon emissions and reduces the waste streams that need to be recycled.
Like recycling, extending the life of smartphones is also a difficult task. Traditionally, manufacturers schedule the obsolescence of devices to keep them in operation for a period of time, ensuring a steady stream of future sales. Also, many smartphones are not designed to be repaired or reused, making it difficult to exchange parts. A complication in the battery or some other component often means end of life and generates electronic waste, even if the rest of the device is functioning properly.
Policies changing the repair landscape
Currently, smartphone repair involves paying very high prices, as manufacturers are reluctant to provide parts to third parties and maintain a monopoly on repair. However, these limited repair services are changing in Europe, where they are looking to eliminate waste and keep materials in continuous circulation. Fairphone is a company that has popularized repairable and upgradeable smartphones. Some parts can be replaced and refurbished individually to obtain new devices. In addition, repair services are more accessible to users.
These actions are based on the new “right to repair” that exists in the European Union and is already bringing about changes. Different countries are promoting the repair of electronic devices, and with this more providers of these services are appearing, providing levels of competition and lowering prices for users. This initiative should also apply to software updates, making more cell phones useful. The new scenario also requires a new business approach.
The current business is to sell smartphones with contracts for a period of time; however, these could be converted into leases so that the handset is returned at the end of the contract period. In this way, manufacturers are assured of recovering the raw material and refurbishing them. This is not the only business idea; it is also about encouraging more companies to allow their employees to use a single phone for personal and work use. This could reduce the use of more smartphones per person.
Working to manage e-waste
The future in the management of these devices requires producers, governments and the private sector to work together. The use of smartphones is expected to increase, and with it their waste and toxicity, so it is important to address the consequences of the future. Today we need to work on the flow of this e-waste and ensure the circulation of some materials so that they do not harm the environment.
It is important to start looking for solutions to meet the upcoming challenges that await us. For this reason, at eSmart we have been working on the recycling of computers that can have a longer useful life in the hands of children and families who need them. Our commitment goes hand in hand with a sustainable future, both socially and environmentally.


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Mobile Phones: Sony
iPad & Tablets: Sony
News & Reviews: Sony
Last Updated: Feb 25, 2021
The hardware in smartphones continues to evolve, becoming better as the years go on. In that sense, Samsung's rumoured 50MP ISOCELL GN2 mobile image sensor isn't the only one being worked on. Sony is also launching a new camera sensor for smartphones in 2021 called the Sony IMX800.
Last Updated: Feb 18, 2021
Sony Malaysia has announced that the third batch of pre-orders for the PlayStation 5 is officially available via Lazada on 19 February 2021 from 12AM onwards. But that's not all, it's also possible to pre-order the console from Shopee at 12AM and 12PM on the same day as well! To refresh your memory on the pricing, the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition is priced at RM1869 while the regular console with the Blu-ray disc drive is priced at RM2299.
Last Updated: Jan 12, 2021
About two months back, Sony announced that it was developing a new flying drone called the Airpeak. This new drone is intended for creators and professionals in the entertainment industry. Now Sony has introduced it at CES 2021 earlier today.
Last Updated: Jan 07, 2021
Sony Malaysia has officially announced that the second batch of Sony PlayStation 5 series which includes the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, as well as the PlayStation 5 with Blu-ray disc drive, will be available for pre-order from 8 January 2021 onwards. For those who are not familiar with the pricing, the Digital Edition is priced at RM1869 while the console with the Blu-ray disc drive, on the other hand, is priced at RM2299.
Last Updated: Jan 05, 2021
After parting ways with Sony, Vaio has become an independent brand and continues to serve the laptop market. However, the laptop brand might not be that notable in some of the regions now. To make a change, Vaio has announced that they will be returning to India soon with a mysterious surprise waiting to unfold on 15 January.
Last Updated: Dec 30, 2020
2020 might not have treated some of us well, what with the COVID-19 virus still at large. But a lot of great stuff happened in the tech space in the past year including (but not limited to) product launches, VR headsets, PC components, new technologies, and more.
Last Updated: Dec 28, 2020
After collaborating with Sony to build the IMX766 image sensor for the Reno 5 Pro+ 5G, a tipster revealed that OPPO is working with the Japanese company again for another custom image sensor. This time, the image sensor is rumoured to be called IMX789 and it could remain exclusive to OPPO for a certain period.
Last Updated: Dec 10, 2020
If you don't know what Crunchyroll is, it's basically an online streaming platform for anime and one of the most reputable websites for legal viewing. With that said, the brand has been acquired by Sony for a whopping $1.1175 billion! So why is this a big deal, you ask?
Last Updated: Dec 04, 2020
It seems that a patent from Sony has recently been spotted which hints that the upcoming Sony PlayStation 5 Pro, will most likely come equipped with dual graphic processing unit inside. With that being said, there could be a possibility that the PlayStation 5 Pro could be physically larger than the current variant of the console due to the additional hardware.
Last Updated: Dec 01, 2020
As 2020 comes to a close, developers are now using Android 11 and updating the software on selected smartphones over time. So far, Xiaomi is the only company that has rolled out Android 11 software update on a few Xiaomi phones. While other Android users will have to wait, Sony just announced their roadmap for the update.


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JIO DIGITAL FIBRE
No levy rationalisation for telcos likely in Budget
Ministry feels that below-cost tariffs are unhealthy when telcos are undertaking network expansion, sources said.
Airtel and Voda Idea in talks to turn fibre JV into infra investment trust
The move is aimed at reducing debt to free up cash to compete with...
For 5G rollout, optic fibre deployment is essential: Cisco chairman
Robbins said he expects India to be among the early adopters of 5G but th...
CERC allows Power Grid to offer towers to telcos for BTS installation
The move will not only address the issue of deficiency of telecom coverage in the country but this segment could also be money spinner for Power Grid.
PoS players raise their game as biggies enter cards space
Players such as Pine Labs, Innoviti Payments and Worldline are working on new technology-led devices to not only retain merchants, but also attract retailers from smaller cities.
Aircel RP, suitor in talks with existing telcos for spectrum sale
Aircel and its proposed acquirer's move contradicts DoT stance that only govt can sell airwaves.
India home to world's second largest internet user base, thanks to Jio: Report
Helmed by Reliance Jio, India is home to the world's second largest internet user base, accounting for 12 per cent of all internet users globally, the 2019 Mary Meeker report on Internet Trends said.
With retail and Jio, Reliance is more a consumer centric play: Sushil Choksey, Indus Equity Advisors
The ultimate phase where Reliance’s three parts will be beneficial to shareholders should be visible in the next 12 to 24 months, says Choksey
Deleveraging cycle at Reliance Industries likely to ease investor concerns
The proposed transfers will benefit Reliance Jio in two ways.


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Covid-19 has created a void in Singapore's retail sector as stores drive fewer pedestrians and revenue, and more people shop online from home.
This resulted in store closures and a number of bankruptcies from major brands such as Sportslink, MUJI and GNC.
Expansion is the last thing they plan on as they are busy keeping their existing outlets alive. However, this is not the case with these brands that have expanded their retail presence here.
From F&B to fashion, these brands continue to expand by adding more outlets to their arsenal.
Photo credit: Danielfooddiary
The American burger chain Five Guys will open its second branch in the heart of the Nex shopping center in Serangoon by 2021.
They are known for their customizable burgers, which start at S $ 11 with unlimited toppings.
The burgers are paired with hand-cut potato fries and milkshakes where you can add up to 11 toppings.
Last year the flagship opened for queues for the first time in Plaza Singapura.
Photo credit: Shake Shack Singapore
The American burger chain Shake Shack has announced that it will open its fourth branch in Suntec City on September 30th.
They are known for their gourmet hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, and milkshakes.
Their third store in Liat Towers opened on August 5th. The chain opened a second branch on Neil Road in February of this year, after setting up its first Singapore outpost at Jewel Changi Airport last year.
Photo credit: Apple
This month, iPhone maker Apple launched its newest outlet in Marina Bay Sands – the most ambitious retail project to date – and it's right on the water.
Apple's third retail store in Singapore is shaped like a sphere and floats in dazzling Marina Bay.
It's also the world's first floating Apple Store and offers customers panoramic views of the Singapore skyline.
Additional Apple branches are located on Orchard Road and at Jewel Changi Airport.
Lots of love, Bonito
Photo credit: love, bonito
Earlier this month, local fashion clothing brand Love, Bonito, opened its newest and fourth store at VivoCity.
The new 400 square meter store is the second largest after the Funan store and is designed for families.
The store has kid-friendly features and the aisles have more space for strollers between the clothes racks.
Lots of love, Bonito started out as an e-commerce business before venturing into brick and mortar retailing and opening its flagship store in Orchard.
Photo credit: Greatdeals.com.sg
BreadTalk's new cafe concept, Butter Bean, recently entered the F&B industry.
It's the more modern version and cooler sibling of the modern coffee chain Toast Box. This also marks the entry of the parent company BreadTalk Group into the café scene.
The first branch in Funan Mall opened on August 28th, the second on September 10th in VivoCity.
It sells raised thick toasts, Korean-inspired sandwiches, and upgraded Nanyang coffee.
Kenny Rogers Roaster
Photo credit: Kenny Rogers Roasters via Facebook
Kenny Rogers Roasters is famous for its fried chicken and Kenny's Nasi Lemak.
The chicken restaurant chain closed all stores in Singapore in April last year.
Days later, the local F&B company Lao Huo Tang Group took over its franchise rights and opened its first store in Jem that same year.
Last week (August 29), Kenny Rogers Roasters announced the opening of a second outlet in Century Square, where it was once located.
Image credit: decathlon
The French sporting goods retailer Decathlon opened its fifth adventure store, Decathlon Orchard, in The Centrepoint shopping center.
The retail store extends over two floors and six units and extends over an area of 3200 m². The store will offer around 5000 products from more than 50 sports.
It also replaces Metro as the anchor tenant of The Centrepoint and has additional branches in various locations from Joo Koon to City Square.
It was reported that while Singapore retail sales fell nearly nine percent overall in July, Decathlon saw sales jump 38 percent. Online sales in July also rose by more than 300 percent.
Photo credit: Harvey Norman
Furniture and electronics company Harvey Norman will soon add three new stores to its current number of 12.
New stores include the 9,100-square-foot Seletar Mall, which opened on September 15.
On September 22nd, they opened a 32,000 square meter superstore with four departments at The Centrepoint – electronics, computers, furniture and bed linen.
A 16,000 m² store will open in Westgate at the end of the year.
Image Credit: Skechers
Shoe brand Skechers has opened five new stores in Singapore since July, and one of the five new retail stores is in Suntec City.
This brings the number of branches to 30 and they have hired 40 additional people to manage them.
The brand embodies style, innovation, comfort and quality and offers versatile designs for different purposes.
In July of last year, a new branded experience store opened at Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, which serves as the largest store in Southeast Asia to date.
Image credit: grapefruit
The Thai online fast fashion retailer Pomelo has a flagship store at 313 @ Somerset in Singapore.
More stores have opened in Thailand in the past few months, and the company announced that it will head to Indonesia and Malaysia next.
As part of the expansion of Southeast Asian retail, a second store will open in Singapore's Nex Mall in November.
Retail is not dead
The latest victim is British fashion retailer Topshop, which closed its last physical store in Singapore and went fully online.
However, as more brands leave the market, there are now more good locations available.
This gives existing players an opportunity to acquire attractive retail units that have been vacated and, given the retail slump, malls operators are more open to negotiating rental fees.
Retail rents are expected to decrease by four to 14 percent for the full year 2020.
While many retailers are struggling to remain economically viable during the Covid-19 crisis, this could be a good time to expand.
Selected image source: Danielfooddiary / Apple / Love, Bonito / Pomelo / Harvey Norman


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Caribbean Cream Limited, which trades under the name Kremi is reporting a 16% increase in revenue and a 17% drop in profits for the half year period ended August 31, 2021.
Revenues for the period under review passed the one billion dollar mark totalling $1.03 billion compared to $891.40 million in the corresponding period last year.
Revenue for the second quarter rose 5% to close at $486.25 million compared to $461.42 million for the comparable quarter of 2020.
Kremi sales during the quarter was impacted by tighter COVID-19 measures, as the management highlighted that, “no movement days imposed on the country in two 3-day periods of Sunday to Tuesday and during the Independence and Emancipation Day holidays, eviscerated a major portion of our sales revenue. Nevertheless, we are thankful for the increase in sales.”
Costs of sales amounted to $673.76 (2020: $581.73 million), this represents an increase of 16% year over year. During the quarter, KREMI experienced higher utility costs, preice increases in key raw materials and an increased foreign exchange rate.
Logistics challenges drove up cost of sales
Costs associated with logistics due to hemispheric shortfall in shipping containers and a higher importation charges for imported novelties were attributed to the increase in cost of sales.
Consequently, gross profit increased by 17% or $51.26 million to $360.93 million compared to $309.67 million for the period ended August 31, 2020.
The company booked gross profit of $153.41 million for the second quarter versus $171.25 million reported for the similar quarter of 2020. Administrative expenses rose by 32% to close at $249.01 million (2020: $188.27 million), while selling and distribution costs increased by 8% from $28.11 million in 2020 to $30.48 million in the period under review.
As a result, operating profit for the six months period amounted to $81.44 million, a 13% decrease relative to $93.29 million reported twelve months earlier.
The management was quick to point out in its half year report to shareholders that, “we had planned for higher expenses (mainly for the full-year impact of our Ocho Rios Depot) to sustain our increased sales.


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Indian diamond capital Surat to host Sparkle 2011
LONDON, December 12, 2010 – Senior officials from Gujarat hosted a dinner for jewellers in London on December 9 to promote Sparkle 2011, which will showcase Gujarat’s gem and jewellery industry next month in the Indian diamond capital of Surat.
Pravin Nanavati, Convener of Sparkle 2011, told the gathering that 80 percent of the world’s diamonds are cut and processed in Surat, which has one of the highest GDP growth rates in India.
H.D. Shrimali, Additional Industries Commissioner of the Government of Gujarat, said Surat had the competitive advantage of low-cost labour and highly developed skills in diamond cutting and processing, and good infrastructure.
“The government of Gujarat fully supports the gem and jewellery sector,” Shrimali said.
Lindsey Straughton of the British Jewellers’ Association (BJA) told Jewellery Outlook that she believed that talented UK jewellery designers could potentially work with Sightholders based in Gujarat.
Sparkle 2011 will take place at the SIECC – Surat International Exhibition & Convention Center from 6-9 January, 2011.
Email: [email protected]


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BioCrossroads names finalists for New Venture competition
BioCrossroads has announced the seven finalists for its second annual competition to recognize early-stage Indiana life-sciences companies and provide them with funding and professional support.
The winner of the New Venture competition receives $25,000 and access to the Indiana Seed Fund II as well as help with business planning and strategic support. They also will be able to make a presentation to the fund’s investment committee.
Second- and third-place companies will be awarded cash prizes of $15,000 and $10,000 respectively. The winner will be announced on Monday.
“The New Venture Competition has proven to be a great way for us to find and reward promising companies and is an excellent opportunity for the competing companies to gain some exposure within Indiana’s life sciences community,” said David L. Johnson, president and CEO of BioCrossroads.
Here is the list of finalists:
Curvo, a cloud-based platform that shares hospitals’ purchasing data to connect medical device companies to potential clients.
GoLIMS, a cloud-based research management platform for all research fields, including biotech, agriculture and manufacturing.
Jace Medical, a medical-device company that makes a cardiac device.
Solstice Medical, which created an information technology platform, DOCK-to-DOC, which streamlines surgical supply chain and workflow operations.
Spensa Technologies, which develops agricultural technologies, including MyTraps.com and Z-Traps, which help farmers monitor pet populations.
There also will be a Pre-Venture prize of $10,000 for an early-stage promising technology. Finalists in the Pre-Venture category are:
Emphymab Biotech, is developing a disease-modifying platform drug for emphysema and other chronic diseases.
Rene Medical, is developing a method to help treat a form of kidney disease.
Winners in the competition, presented by presented by Krieg DeVault, will be announced at the Indiana Life Sciences Summit at the JW Marriott Hotel in Downtown Indianapolis on Oct. 21.


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Minister of state for budget and economic planning, Prince Clem Ikanaba Agba, has charged manufacturing companies in Nigeria to be proactive and be less import-dependent as excessive importation weakens the naira against the dollar.
Prince Agba maintained that the federal government has lost over five trillion naira to open -ended waivers granted to local manufacturers in the country who are neck deep in numerous forms of importation across the country.
Agba spoke in Kano during an official visit to NUTRI K, a firm in Kano, which is an offshoot of Dangote Group of Companies that specialises in the production of ready to use therapeutic food in the state.
The minister revealed that the federal government had just realised that some companies who were given such waivers had no time line in which they were to revert to the payment of the requisite duty expected of them.
He said that in some cases, some of these companies would introduce additional import products which were not captured in the initial government waivers without the consent of the government.
He disclosed that already his ministry had taken up the matter with the National Assembly with a view to working out modalities for import waivers to be bounded by a time sufficient for the start-up manufacturers to find their feet in the market place.
While speaking to the management team of the company, Agba said the government would look into their challenges by way of introducing policies that would support their import ambition but added that the intervention would be for a specific time line.
He assured that the government was committed to reducing the cost of production of local manufacturers. Agba, however charged the company to be proactive and be less import dependent as excessive importation was responsible for weakening of the strength of the naira against the dollar.
In his address the company’s managing director, Abudulkadir Yowe, said apart from groundnut for which they have an understanding with some out-growers from Kebbi State, they import the rest of the raw materials from outside Nigeria.
He added that they are also affected by the cost of energy in Nigeria, all of which add up to make the prices they sell less competitive in the global market.
The MD called on the government to assist the company in its effort to create job opportunities for the teeming Nigerian youths.


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Photo Credit: pexels
Social media continued to evolve and change in 2017. If anything, it was the year that video leapfrogged to the head of the content priority queue for many social media marketers. It was also the year that Facebook reaffirmed its role as the preferred social media platform to communicate brand messages to consumers.
Facebook is still the leading social media platform
For example, consider the role of Facebook in social media marketing. According to a new “State of Social Media” report from Buffer, 96 percent of all marketers experimented with Facebook as a way to reach customers and prospects in 2017. Following behind in the social media pecking order were Twitter (89%), LinkedIn (70%), and Instagram (70%). Oh, and Snapchat? It seems to have fallen off a cliff. Only 11 percent of marketers reported using Snapchat in 2017.
However, one interesting insight from the report is that, while just about everybody (and we’ll accept that 96% figure to mean “everybody”) has embraced Facebook, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of untapped possibilities presented by the platform. For example, Buffer specifically highlighted that many marketers still are not running ads on Facebook, despite the evidence that businesses that invest in social media ads are twice as likely to say that social media marketing is “very effective” than those that do not.
Messaging apps represent an opportunity
Moreover, consider the example of Facebook Messenger. The whole messaging space remains relatively untapped by marketers, with only 20 percent of marketers saying that they have used messaging apps for marketing purposes. That figure is staggeringly low, given how high the market penetration is of the leading messaging apps. For example, Buffer points out that there are now more people using the Top 4 messaging apps (WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, Viber) than the Top 4 social media apps (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn). For an industry that obsesses over “audience size,” “reach”, “traffic” and “eyeballs,” that certainly seems like there’s money being left on the table.
A look ahead to 2018
So what can we expect over the next 12 months? One trend that we might see more of is “live video,” as opposed to edited video content. According to the Buffer report, even though 85% of marketers say that video is a priority, only 31% used “live video” content in 2017. Additional data seems to support the hypothesis that live video performs better from an engagement perspective than just about any other form of social media content (including images, text and even GIFs).
And, given the fact that marketers across the board are reporting a steep decline in organic reach on social media, look for new and creative ways to boost engagement and views. One strategy that could be used, hints Buffer, is more of an emphasis on Stories when using platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.
But, if you’re waiting for some social media newcomer to come in and knock Facebook off its leading perch, you’ll be waiting for quite a long time. It now appears that Facebook has consolidated its market-leading position, and for the next 12 months, the race will be on for marketers to use Facebook in more creative and effective ways.


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When Andre Rwayitare, a Nyabihu District’s entrepreneur started his firm ‘Ingabo Dairy’ in 2010, after registering in Rwanda Development Board (RDB), he began with cheese processing only and later alone added other products including yoghourt, cheddar mozzarella mac and other cheese styles.
He produces nine varieties of cheese. His ambition was to help Rwandans enjoy the natural flavor from locally-made food products. He said he was encouraged by RDB to add other products.
“We did not stop by there, we got RDB support to add other products and we introduced yoghurt, strawberry, vania mango, and chocolate. We appreciated a lot the support of the Government through made-in-Rwanda initiative that motivated us to strive for resilience and make research and innovations without relying on foreigners,” said Rwayitare.
“We decided to make yoghurt from natural fruits including mango and strawberry after a long time going to import them from Nairobi with much difficulties of being tossed around and disappointed when seeking such fruits, we came back and mobilize local farmers to plant them and we buy the yield from them,” Rwayitare noted.
He said that they doubled the price for the money they pay to farmers from Rwf1,000 to Rwf2,000 per a kilogramme of strawberry to help them build their economic development.
Rwayitare told The Inspirer that the idea was not from anywhere else, rather it was their initiative to add value to locally-made-food products.
The firm employs 14 permanent workers. After getting the Standardization Mark (S-MARK) by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), they sought for foreign market in the region like in Goma, Bukavu and they are targeting to move to other countries.
“We are in contact with Cameroun people, and we believe due to RSB Zamukanubuziranenge support, we will be serving our products in other countries soon after we get the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification.
Production, and Challenges
Rwayitare said that the only challenge they have is to meet with people who have substandard products on markets, selling at cheaper cost and this is a barrier to their products.
For yoghourt products, the factory uses 1,200 littles of milk per day and targets to increase to 3,000 littles per day. For Cheese production, they use 2,500 littles of milk per day that give out 250,000 cheese daily. This, according to Rwayitare is also expected to rise to 5,000 littles of milk per day to produce 500,000 cheese every day.
“When the government helps us to expand the markets, we can also increase the production capacity,” said Rwayitare.
Prices for youghurt are differ from the sizes, the big bottle is Rwf1,800, the small one is Rwf900. The same as for cheese where the big size cheese is Rwf3,400 while the small size is Rwf1,800.
The specialty of these products according to Rwayitare is that they have all recommended standards to be safely sold for human consumption.
“We trust our products because they have got the first standard mark (S-mark) and we are soon to get the second one (HACCP). We are also thinking on the third and overall standard mark which is ISSO to be able to export to international markets,” said Rwayitare.
The government of Rwanda is looking to increase its exports base by 17 per cent annually.
The feasibility of the government’s exports’ growth targets will be sustained by reducing the cost of doing business and facilitate trade by implementing different key designed business projects.
To achieve the government’s exports growth targets, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has designed key strategic interventions including the progressive promotion of ‘Made in Rwanda’ brand by working with the private sector to recapture at least USD 400 million of imports by 2024.
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2016 Toyota GT 86 Release Date,Price, Specs, Engine – After it’s unveiling, the new GT 86 has been able to attract the attention of fans worldwide. The vehicle has been remodelled and redesigned in a spectacular fashion that will guarantee it nets new buyers and retain the current ones too. It will now be both cost effective and fuel efficient as well.
The new vehicle’s price will be slashed by up to 2,000 pounds over the previous model. This price cut might be an incentive to new buyers considering the previous model had some faults that affected its sales volume considerably.
According to the photos we have of the new Toyota GT 86 2016, it is quite clear that the new vehicle now comes with a completely new design that previously. It also comes with an improved engine as well.
During its construction, the engineers used plenty of lightweight materials during its design that has consequently led to a significant reduction of its weight. We should therefore expect better speed, fuel efficiency and enhanced aerodynamics to counter air resistance. All these features will enable the vehicle to be a top performer.
Exterior Design of New 2016 Toyota GT 86
Despite all the fancy tidbits that are expected to be featured in the upcoming new lightweight GT 86, the Japanese automaker has revealed that the car will be exclusive for its fans in Britain. Little information has been diverged on the possibilities of providing the vehicle for the American market.
Only two words can describe the intricate design of the new 2016 Toyota GT 86, that is elegance and utmost comfort. As already mentioned above, the new model will feature some remodelling and redesigns that will significantly alter the design language of the previous model.
The most noticeable thing that is eye-catching is the extensive grille that manifests on the front fascia. Viewed from the side, a discerning eye will immediately notice that the car has a long bonnet in comparison to the pony tail.
The grille has been redesigned and has been adapted to the new-look car, consequently making it aggressive than before. At the back, a splitter has been added while the exhaust pipes protrude from beneath it.
The driveability of the vehicle will assuredly be enhanced by the combination of several redesigns that have been incorporated in the new vehicle especially the aerodynamic and lightweight aspect.
Interior Photos – 2016 Toyota GT 86
The interior of the new vehicle will blend well with the exterior thanks to the use of top quality materials. The vehicle will be very comfortable and elegant in multiple ways as it offers a number of amenities and additional features that will catch traditional users of this car by surprise.
There are a variety of safety, convenience, In Car entertainment, and control features that will certainly offer its users an ambient driving experience. To begin with, the seats will make use of high quality materials for its interior.
Furthermore, the interior will be spacious enough in comparison to the outgoing model. Some of the fancy standard features to expect from the new GT 86 include the following; Toyota’s touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth connectivity, air conditioning, etc.
The safety features have not been overlooked either and will now include many add-ons over the previous model. New features will now include seven airbags, stability control, limited fixed differential, etc.
Engine – Toyota GT 86, 2016
Engine wise, the new GT 86 base and convertible model will retain the current model’s 2.0L four-cylinder engine which is capable of generating up to 200 horsepower and 190 pounds of torque.
However, the engines that will be provided will boast of superior fuel consumption over its predecessor. The driving configurations will be reminiscent of the forerunner, and that being said, buyers should expect an 8-speed auto gearbox as regards the transmission system.
The sedan will however come with a 1.5L four-cylinder turbocharged engine that will be capable of generating up to 180 horsepower and 220 pounds of torque. also available is a GT 86 TRD model that will boasts of around 2.4L four-cylinder turbocharged boxer and compares similarly to the Impreza STI.
The engine will be able to crank out 300 horsepower and 300 pounds of torque. Dissimilar to the Sedan, the TRD trim model will come equipped with either an AWD system or a RWD system.
The Japanese automaker is also anticipated to make available a hybrid option that will utilize a hybrid powertrain. The most probable engine will be a 2.4L engine combined to an electric motor.
Release Date & Price of the New 2016 Toyota GT 86
The company is yet to officially announce the release date of the brand new 2016 Toyota GT 86, however industry experts predict that the vehicle will hit showrooms towards the end of the first quarter.
The pricing details allege that the model will retail somewhere around $20,000. But the Convertible and Sedan models are set to attract a considerable higher price.


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Kodak has launched a new version of its 1965 Super 8 professional film camera, with the aim of combining the classical craft of filmmaking with digital.
“Incomparable beauty of film”
The technology company has worked with designer Yves Béhar, founder of consultancy Fuseproject, and Hollywood film producers to bring back the analogue camera, now with digital functions.
Kodak says it decided to bring back the film camera because “there are some moments that digital just can’t deliver – it doesn’t have the incomparable depth and beauty of film”.
Launched at CES
The new and improved Super 8 was launched at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), and is being described by Kodak as “the next generation of film cameras for a new generation of creators”.
Kodak aims for the camera to be both a tool for “artists and professionals, and amateurs”, it says.
Béhar was briefed with ensuring the new Kodak Super 8 camera design “echoes the look and feel” of the original, “while adding a modern sensibility”, says Kodak.
Béhar says: “Kodak has always represented innovation that is approachable, while delivering the craft of filmmaking. Our design aspires to express both these ideals.
“We are designing the Kodak Super 8 camera with robust materials and new ergonomic features to serve the needs of Super 8 fans, whether shooting action or static scenes.”
Share to the cloud
While the camera records on film, users will be able to purchase a digital transfer, allowing them to access scans on the cloud, then edit and share them.
It will also include an integrated microphone, a digital viewfinder, the ability to connect to other electronic devices, and a leather, “pistol grip” handle for comfort. The device will be made of metal, and finished with black and bone china.
Alongside the new camera, Kodak has also introduced post-production and film development tools, which will accompany the new gadget.
Expected this autumn
The prototype Kodak Super 8 can be seen at this year’s CES, where visitors can shoot their own footage and watch home videos from Kodak. It is expected to launch in autumn of this year, according to the company. A final price is yet to be announced.


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Clareville recently had the privilege to launch the new BabyBjörn #dadstories campaign in the UK. BabyBjörn, the Swedish family owned company, announced the arrival of a collection completely inspired by modern-day dads and Clareville helped and implemented the campaign around it:
“Men’s fashion features a lot of patterned details right now and globally, it is taking inspiration from the image of the modern-day dad. We’ve taken strong note of this and the result is our #dadstories Spring Collection,” says Art Director Anna Ekman from the Design Team at BabyBjörn.
The launch event was hosted at the hospital club, Covent Garden and together with the BabyBjörn home team from Sweden, Clareville welcomed mum and dad vloggers and bloggers, influencers as well as online and print media, there was a filmed Q&A session with the acclaimed, Adrienne Burgess of the Fatherhood Institute about paternity rights in the UK, as well as demonstrations and previews of the new collection.
As we’re personally acquainted with so many highly-involved dads, we wanted to highlight their stories. So instead of professional models, BabyBjörn asked six ordinary dads and their kids to be the faces of the collection. Some of them also share stories about their experiences and the lessons they’ve learned, which will hopefully be a source of strength and comfort for all the new, and soon-to-be, dads out there. BabyBjörn is available in about 50 countries worldwide and the role of dads has changed a lot in the last ten years everywhere.
The #dadstories Spring Collection sees limited editions of the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One, available in three mesh options: Powder Pink, Cocoa, Anthracite, and three cotton options: Classic Denim, Pale Blue-Leaf Print and Midnight Blue-Leaf Print. The One carrier can be used from newborn, all the way up to three years, with four carrying positions for optimal comfort and ergonomics for baby and parent.
As part of the campaign Clareville arranged for baby carriers to be donated to vulnerable families across the UK via the Fatherhood Institute.


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DUBLIN, Ohio — Jon Giacomin is replacing Michael Kaufmann as chief executive officer of Cardinal Health Inc.’s pharmaceutical segment, effective November 11, at which time Kaufmann will become Cardinal’s chief financial officer.
Kaufmann succeeds Jeffrey Henderson, who is retiring as CFO but will retain oversight of Cardinal Health China and work with Cardinal’s leadership team on important initiatives, the company said.
Giacomin currently is president of U.S. pharmaceutical distribution, responsible for warehouse operations at 22 distribution centers and pharmaceutical packaging operations. He joined Cardinal 12 years ago in the pharmaceutical packaging business. He later served as senior vice president of inventory management in Cardinal’s former health care supply chain segment.
Before coming to Cardinal, Giacomin held engineering and operating roles for Griffith Micro Science and Sterigenics. He also served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, where he held an engineering role. He currently serves on the boards of trustees of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation and Cardinal Health Foundation.
“I’m thrilled that [Kaufmann’s promotion] allows us to bring Jon Giacomin into the pharmaceutical segment leadership role,” said George Barrett, Cardinal’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We are privileged to have the opportunity to draw from the deep well of our internal talent.”
Kaufmann has served as chief of the pharmaceutical segment since 2009. He joined Cardinal in 1990 and has held various senior operational, sales and finance positions, including group president of the medical business in the former health care supply chain operation, after serving as that segment’s chief financial officer.
Before joining Cardinal, he had a career in audit and consulting with Arthur Andersen.
Kaufmann also is a member of the executive committee of the boards of the Healthcare Distribution Management Association and NACDS.
“Over the past 24 years, Mike has demonstrated a track record of high performance across many roles for Cardinal Health. His unique blend of financial acumen and extensive operational experience make him ideally suited to take the position of CFO,” Barrett said.
Cardinal is a distributor of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies and equipment. Its pharmaceutical division provides supply chain services, including branded and generic prescription and over-the-counter drug distribution. It also franchises Medicine Shoppe and Medicap retail pharmacies. Its medical division distributes medical, laboratory and surgical supplies and provides logistics, consulting and data management services to a range of customers that includes retail pharmacies, hospitals and doctor’s offices.
The ways that prescription drugs are purchased and shipped have been dramatically altered by a series of high-profile partnerships, including a 10-year deal signed last year in which Cardinal rival AmerisourceBergen Corp. agreed to collaborate with Walgreen Co. and Alliance Boots GmbH. Previously, Walgreens had been one of Cardinal’s largest customers, accounting for about 21% of its business.
Cardinal mitigated that loss with last year’s acquisition of AssuraMed, an Ohio-based seller of home medical supplies, for $2.07 billion. The deal gave Cardinal access to a new market — AssuraMed distributes more than 30,000 products to more than 1 million patients across the United States, who buy its products for at-home treatment of diabetes, wounds, incontinence and other medical conditions.
And in December 2013, Cardinal and CVS Caremark Corp. unveiled a plan to form a joint venture that they called the largest generic drug sourcing entity in the United States. Called Red Oak Sourcing LLC, the Foxborough, Mass.-based venture went operational in July.


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ICYMI here is a roundup of all the behavioral science behind the movement that elected Donald Trump president… Nostalgia bias: humans have an innate bias of remembering the past as having been better than it truly was. There are several neuroscience studies that link the same parts of the brain that remember the past… Continue reading [EXCERPTS]#ARTICLE: THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND DONALD TRUMP’S WINNING STRATEGY BY CHRISTOPHER GRAVES; OGLIVY & MATHERS PR.
American Apparel is seeking bankruptcy protection for the second time in just over a year, unable to find its footing in a shifting retail landscape and after a contentious fight for control with company founder Dov Charney. Canada’s Gildan Activewear is buying the American Apparel brand, notorious for sexually provocative ad campaigns, for $66 million.… Continue reading [BRANDS]#ACQUISITION: AMERICAN APPAREL JUST FILED FOR BANKRUPCY AND GILDAN ACTIVEWEAR CANADA WANTS TO BUY IT.
Becoming President-elect has not redeemed Trump’s brand in the eyes of other brands. After the election, Macy’s announced that Trump brand clothing would not find its way back in to the retailer’s stores, after it had stopped carrying the collection more than a year ago. At the time, Trump hit back with a statement about… Continue reading [BREAKING!]#OOPS: THIS PRO-TRUMP TWEET BY NEW BALANCE JUST FRIED THE BRAND IN UNITED STATES AS MACY’S BAN ALL DONALD TRUMP MENSWEAR IN THEIR STORES.
We are not afraid to say or write about the truth, impactful and life changing creativities and issues that affect our lives either positively or negatively. We have covered a lot of famous Brands and brilliant advertising in this blog, albeit that doesnt mean if a Brand goofs we should temper the pen with justice.… Continue reading [BRAND WARS]#USUNCUT: NESTLÉ, MARS® 5 OTHERS GETS CALLED OUT AS “CHILD-CHOCOLATE LABOUR” EXPLOITATIVE BRANDS. READ:
Donald Trump’s ugly comments about women — calling them “dogs,” “fat pigs,” and so on — have been much discussed during the 2016 presidential campaign. He’s said enough sexist things that some of Hillary Clinton’s attack ads have simply replayed his own words . But for the first time, a new Clinton ad is… Continue reading [AD CAMPAIGN]#TVC: HILARY CLINTON’S NEW AD WEIGHS IN ON DONALD TRUMP’S LEWD COMMENTS | WHAT HE SAID.WATCH AD:
Apple announced in October 25, 2016 its profit over the past quarter fell 19 percent to $9 billion, pulled down by a drop in iPhone sales. The world’s biggest company by market value said revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter fell to $46.9 billion from $51.5 billion a year earlier. The results were largely in… Continue reading [BRAND] #WARS: APPLE SALES DIP ON iPHONE 7 AS XIAOMI MIX ANNOUNCES DEBUT IN CHINA MARKETS. READ:
Apple-style product-porn ads have become a marketing cliché, but this new video by Microsoft for its new Surface Studio all-in-one computer arguably out-Apples Apple and sets a ridiculously high new bar for the genre. Watch the introduction of Microsoft Surface Studio: At its Surface Event, Microsoft announced the much-anticipated desktop PC, dubbed Surface Studio. It’s… Continue reading [BRAND GENIUS]#DESIGNTHINKING: MICROSOFT SURFACE STUDIO LAUNCH MAY SNATCH THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY FROM APPLE iMAC; SETS UPGRADE TO MS PAINT 3D APP. READ REVIEW, WATCH AD:
The Coke company took to their website to announce the launch of the Coke Lime in Romania. Thirsty Romanians who prefer their Coca-Cola with a touch of tart can now enjoy the newly launched Coca-Cola Lime. Developed specifically for Romania to suit local tastes and trends, the new variant is being promoted through social and… Continue reading [BRANDS]#ACTIVATION: COCA-COLA DEBUTS COKE LIME IN ROMANIA, REPORTS SALES FOR THIRD QUARTER 2016. WATCH AD
A billboard in Texas posted by a matchmaking service has the local Hispanic community feeling outraged and offended. The billboard posted by ArrangementFinders.com on Interstate 35 in Austin reads: “Undocumented immigrant? Before you get deported, get a sugar daddy.” Debra Quinn, a spokesperson for the website, told the sources that the billboard was created by… Continue reading [BANNED ADs]#PRINTADs: TEXAS BILLBOARD BY DATING SITE ADVISES UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO GET A SUGAR DADDY.
MTN Nigeria has suspended dividends payouts from Nigeria, its third biggest market-shareholders got the bad news few days ago. Third-quarter user numbers have fallen slightly – no thanks to a weaker showing in South Africa, where MTN vies for market share with Vodacom and Cell Companies. The telecoms company announced this in Johannesburg, as the… Continue reading [BRANDWEEK]#REPORT: MTN NIGERIA SUSPENDS SHAREHOLDERS’ DIVIDEND PAYOUT.
The global food giant on Monday said that two-thirds of its single serving drinks will have 100 or fewer calories by 2025 as it cuts back on sugar. Currently, less than 40% of its drinks have 100 calories or fewer. PepsiCo which also owns brands including Gatorade and Tropicana said the change was driven by… Continue reading [BRANDS] #FMCG: PEPSI IS REDUCING SUGAR CONTENT IN ITS BEVERAGES BY 2025.
The German government wants Tesla Motors Inc. to stop using the term “Autopilot” in its advertising, claiming the word is misleading and potentially dangerous. Germany’s Transportation Ministry confirmed it asked Tesla to change the wording, according to sources on sunday. “In order to prevent misunderstanding and incorrect customers’ expectations, we demand that the misleading term… Continue reading [AUTOBRANDS]#GREENCARS: THE TERM ‘SELF DRIVING TESLA’ IS MISLEADING IN ADS; GERMANY WARNS.


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News Corp., may increase its bid for BSkyB by 20 percent because its prior offer for the British satellite TV company has gotten weighed down in a phone hacking controversy, Reuters reported.
The bid may get more attention than News Corp.’s quarterly earnings, which were to be announced on Wednesday in New York.
The controversy relates to journalists at News of the World allegedly hacking into voicemails belonging to celebrities and politicians. A key aide to U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron resigned because of the controversy.
Investors say the scandal impacts the bid for BSkyB. The bid is under review by the British government.
Last June, News Corp., bid 7.8 billion pounds (U.S. $11.6 billion) for the 61 percent of BSkyB that News Corp., doesn't own. Adjusted for current rates, the bid comes in at about $12.5 billion, Reuters said.
The board of BSkyB rejected News Corp's bid.
Many analysts say News Corp. may end up paying nearly $2 billion higher than the bid offered in June, adjusted for current exchange rates, according to Reuters.
There is U.K. opposition to News Corp. getting the ownership of BSkyB, but many observers say that News Corp. will eventually be the approved bidder.
In other News Corp., news, TechZone360 reported that the company launched "The Daily, which has been described as a “digital newspaper for the iPad.”
News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch predicts it may be the “savior” of the once thriving newspaper business, according to a report from the AFP news agency.
The Wall Street Journal, which is owned by News Corp., said it will cost 99 cents a week for The Daily. It is available only through Apple's online iTunes store.
Issues will be electronically delivered to a user’s iPad each morning.
The paid subscription model for The Daily is part of News Corp.’s strategy to get users to pay for online content. The Wall Street Journal, the Times and the Sunday Times (of London), each News Corp. properties, charge for most online access, according to TechZone360.
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MUMBAI: The Delhi high court on Friday directed ITC to suspend its advertising campaign “#SayNoToConcentrate” and remove all references to rival PepsiCo’s Tropicana brand. ITC had launched a disruptive campaign “#SayNoToConcentrate” for its packaged juice brand B Natural, which met with an equally stern legal action by rival PepsiCo that dragged the diversified hotels-to-FMCG group to court.
Deepika Warrier, vice-president (nutrition), PepsiCo India, told TOI, “The court has directed ITC to suspend the advertising campaign… as it is derogatory to the category of concentrate juices. ITC has been asked to take steps for removal of their campaign from all hoardings, electronic media and print media.”
The court has asked ITC to return with a revised ad campaign on Monday. ITC has also been asked to cancel an event in relation to the campaign that was scheduled to be held in Mumbai on Monday. ITC declined to comment, saying the matter is sub judice.
According to sources, being a new player, B Natural’s positioning of “not from concentrate” could redefine the packaged juices market. The brand was launched as a ‘concentrate free’ juice last year. PepsiCo India, however, believes there is no significant difference between ‘from concentrate’ and ‘not from concentrate’ juices.
Warrier said, “We have been offering choices of ‘not from concentrate’ and ‘from concentrate’ juices to consumers in India for more than a decade. It is important for consumers to be aware that there is no significant nutritional difference between ‘from concentrate’ and ‘not from concentrate’ fruit beverages. The nutritional value of fruit beverages varies depending upon the type of juice and additional nutrient fortification.”The episode adds to a string of similar advertisements in the FMCG industry that reveal a new trend of marketers resorting to high-impact disruptive ads for shorter durations.
According to brand expert Harish Bijoor, who founded Harish Bijoor Consults, the idea behind such ad campaigns is to create high resonance value even if it is for a short period of time. “Marketing companies know it will not be allowed for long, but that four-five days exposure is good enough for them to create an impact. Usually, the communication is so deep that by the time the competitor reacts, it’s too late. I call it marketing warfare,” said Bijoor.
The trend was visible when Marico’s Saffola oats trained its guns on a rival category by claiming instant noodles are deep fried. Last year, Amul was restrained from airing an ad in which it claimed that while Amul’s “ice cream” was made with “real milk”, “frozen desserts” contained “vanaspati oil”. This directly hit out at rival brands like Kwality Walls and Vadilal which make frozen desserts. In another case, Patanjali Ayurved’s soap ad played on names of rival brands, thus indirectly disparaging them. This too was met with a similar legal fate.
The roughly Rs 2,000-crore market got juicier when ITC launched the said disruptive campaign, throwing an open challenge to its rivals to launch ‘concentrate free’ juices. With Dabur India’s Real having a lion’s share of around 57% in the packaged juice marketand Tropicana’s share at 25%, the marketing strategy of ITC — a new entrant — was apparently directed at creating a dissonance in the market. B Natural has a share of around 7% in juices.
According to Warrier, PepsiCo has been the pioneer in offering “100% juices with no added preservatives or added sugar”.


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Research firm Detwiler Fenton has said in a research note that RIM's first QWERTY BlackBerry 10 smartphone will launch in June.
The first touch-screen BlackBerry 10 phone won’t launch in the U.S. until March, it added. "RIM’s stock has been on a tear recently thanks to a number of upgrades and optimism surrounding its upcoming BB10 platform. However, as we dig a little deeper, there appears to be a few issues that could set up for some disappointing numbers in the 2013 first half."
"Therefore, it is possible RIMM’s February quarter may only see a very small number of BB10 sales with the May quarter also coming in light due to limited QWERTY keyboard shipments and limited shipments to Sprint and Verizon," Detwiler added.
"It’s our opinion RIM will ship approximately 400,000 BB10 units in the February quarter and 2.2 million to 2.5 million units in the May quarter. While this is clearly a North American / developed market view, we think this is the right way to look at the 2013 first half because the initial BB10 handsets are higher end and not targeted for emerging markets."
The research company states the reasons for the delayed QWERTY launch remains unclear, but that it will be "a serious problem for RIMM in its efforts to stop the bleeding and stabilize the business…we simply don’t see much of an upgrade cycle for RIMM from its legacy QWERTY devices to full touch screen devices."
RIM's official stance on the rumored launch periods for the smartphones is: "Details of the commercial availability for BlackBerry 10 will be announced at the global launch events on January 30. Our executives have made it clear that the touch screen device will be available shortly after launch with the physical keyboard version to follow shortly after that."
The Canadian-based phone maker previously confirmed it'll unveil the first BlackBerry 10 handsets on January 30, the same day the operating system itself launches.
RIM, who recently delivered QWERTY BlackBerry 10 smartphones to select developers, recently had its shares increase due to a positive outlook on the forthcoming platform by Goldman Sachs.
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RIM has already stated the June date is wrong and that QWERTY phones will be out before then. http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-6-most-spectacular-****-moves-in-online-gaming-historyReply
Too late. After 8 years with a blackberry, I now have a Samsung galaxy note 2. I won't be going back.Reply
The Note 2 is awesome.
you need to remember that tomshardware is ridiculously slow on news and also only favors iphone.... i still for the life of me don't know why i come back to this site.Reply
RIMM’s February quarter may only see a
More Ms would definitely make my day!!!
xjoedisorderxyou need to remember that tomshardware is ridiculously slow on news and also only favors iphone.... i still for the life of me don't know why i come back to this site.Reply
Addiction? It is the same with me... I haven't read anything worthy to be read for a long time here.... I miss the days of the original Tom's.
you need to remember that tomshardware is ridiculously slow on news and also only favors iphone.... i still for the life of me don't know why i come back to this site."
"Addiction? It is the same with me... I haven't read anything worthy to be read for a long time here.... I miss the days of the original Tom's. "


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Much-loved Christmas traditions such as eggnog, pennies in the pudding and carol singing are now practically a thing of past, it has emerged.
Tipping the paperboy and binmen and even watching a James Bond film on December 25th are no longer part of the festive routine.
Researchers who carried out a detailed study found time and financial pressures are to blame along with a fear of not wanting to give the impression of being ‘old fashioned’.
Overall more than half the 2,000 adults who took part expressed a belief that old traditions are falling by the wayside.
The stats show just a third of Brits will hang a wreath on their door this year, and only 65 per cent will put up a Christmas tree.
Amazingly, one in four will NOT enjoy a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings this year.
In fact, only seven in 10 are planning a traditional giving and receiving of gifts.
British Corner Shop – who export products to Brits around the world – carried out the in-depth research.
A spokeswoman said: “Our research found there are lots of classic traditions that appear to be falling by the wayside.
“In fact, what we consider to be ‘traditional’ Christmas customs may no longer have a place at the Christmas of the future.
“However, where old traditions die off, new ones are coming up to take their place – and there are still lots of old traditions that are as popular as ever.”
It also emerged one tenth of festive Brits are set to watch a James Bond film on television – often a staple part of a long Christmas afternoon slumped in front of the TV.
And just one in seven plan to have a nativity scene taking pride of place in their front room.
Fewer than one in 10 plan to do Christmas carolling this season, and only five per cent will take part in Christingle.
Nearly eight in 10 adults think that people have fewer interactions with friends and neighbours as a result of traditional Christmas activities decline.
And the majority of Brits believe that as years go by, Christmas gets less special, with the Christmas spirit peaking at age 14, then petering out.
Of more modern traditions that have come to prominence in recent years, a fifth of Brits now take part in a ‘Secret Santa’.
And three in 10 love wearing novelty Christmas jumpers, with a further one in five visiting German Christmas markets in the run-up to the big day.
A huge 82 per cent of respondents believe Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier every year, with eight in 10 Brits wishing it would ‘revert to its old values’.
The study also uncovered the key differences in how younger and older Brits will choose to celebrate Christmas this year.
While the Christmas dinner remains the focal point for the day, and the festive event Brits cannot do without regardless of age, there were some key differences.
Brits aged 18 to 24 are more likely to prioritise putting up a Christmas tree to mark the occasion.
They are also more inclined to watch a Christmas film, open an advent calendar in the run up to the big day and listen to Christmas songs, according to the OnePoll study.
Brits over the age of 50 prefer to celebrate by eating mince pies, hanging a wreath on their door and going for a post-dinner walk to burn off some calories.
British Corner Shop’s spokeswoman added: “Young or old, some things are so quintessentially Christmas we couldn’t be without them.
“While the entirety of the Christmas season is made up of a patchwork of traditions, nothing is more vital to the experience than friends and family gathering around the table for the most indulgent supper of the year.”
TRADITIONS ON THE WANE (AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THE NATION WHO WILL ADOPT THEM THIS YEAR)
Send a letter to Father Christmas through the fire 5 per cent
Christingle 5 per cent
Drink eggnog 5 per cent
Put a sixpence or penny in a Christmas pudding 7 per cent
Going out to sing Christmas Carols 7 per cent
Decorate a gingerbread house 7 per cent
Donate a shoebox to charity (typically containing sweets, clothing items, pens etc) 11 per cent
Watch a James Bond film 11 per cent
Set fire to the Christmas pudding 13 per cent
Go to the Christmas pantomime 13 per cent
Hang mistletoe 14 per cent
Give a tip to your postman or binman 14 per cent
Have a nativity scene 14 per cent
Put holly and ivy up 15 per cent
Leave a mince pie and carrots out for Santa and his reindeer 19 per cent
Have a real Christmas tree 20 per cent
Drink mulled wine 23 per cent
Watch The Queen’s Speech 25 per cent
Put a stocking out 29 per cent
Go for a post-Christmas dinner walk 29 per cent


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Every Saturday morning, top executives and corporate captains – one even owns a private jet – gather at No. 3 Jasmine Road for a weekly rendezvous. The nondescript Cycleworx, which is off Upper Thomson Road, is their focal point.
Their topic of discussion: bicycles.
This is where they get their bikes tuned, check out the latest shipment and exchange notes on biking routes around the island.
These pedal machines are not what one hops on for a supermarket run. They are pedigrees, which can cost as much as $25,000 each. A pair of wheels can set one back $6,000 – not that price is a factor for this group of cyclists.
“When I started selling these high-end bikes in 1998, people said I was crazy, because mountain bikes were the in thing then. It was also when the Asian financial crisis hit us,” recalls Cycleworx co-owner Kenneth Tan. “I struggled to sell 100 bikes a year but, today, I am the one laughing because I am selling 400 to 500.”
The phenomenal growth of cycling in Singapore has propelled Cycleworx from a $450,000-a-year business to $1.5 million. Two years ago, revenue peaked at $2.5 million.
Tan, who won a clutch of silver medals at the SEA Games between 1987 and 1995, said cycling first became a hit with corporate bigwigs here about eight years ago.
THE NEW GOLF
While there is no exact statistic for this specific group of cyclists, Tan notices a trend among high net-worth individuals who are increasingly favouring cycling over golf, which is the traditional sport of the businessman. Tan’s shop has seen its fair share of deals struck by its high-end clientele who meet and socialise there.
“A banker once lamented about spending the whole day at a golf course, when he could burn more calories in half the time cycling which he enjoys,” says the 48-year-old, who owns a $17,000 Pinarello road racer. “It’s the new golf and is popular among top executives between 30 and 40 years old, although there are quite a number over 50 years old.”
Cycling has gone beyond fitness and taken on a social dimension, with enthusiasts travelling overseas together on specialised biking tours. For some like Khing Go, CEO of private banking company Schroder & Co (Asia), cycling has become an avenue to gather like-minded friends to raise funds for charity, just as golf has traditionally. Others, like Francis Koh of mainboard-listed construction and property development group Koh Brothers, have benefi ted from the sport on both personal and business fronts (see side stories).
While Tan’s shop is all about the nuts and bolts of bikes, a different sort of biking activity is taking root on the east of the island. Tucked in the corner along a row of twostorey shophouses in Siglap Drive is cafe-cum-bicycle shop Coast and Company. It’s tempting to lump the trendy space with other third-wave cafes, but what sets it apart from other cafe-bike combo shops is its proprietary Coast Cycles bicycles.
The unique collection of eight designs is displayed on the second floor showroom and come in attractive colours. Most have fat wheels and cost between $1,500 and $8,000. Jansen Tan, designer and founder of Coast Cycles, recently debuted a new range called Quinn Cargo bikes, which he says was created for business executives.
So why would one part with a small fortune for a primitive mode of transport?
“Because they can,” says Jansen, who was a former national trials cyclist. “It’s like those who collect expensive watches but don’t wear them. I have customers who have costly bikes at home and leave those they buy from us in our showroom.”
Like Cycleworx’s clientele, Jansen’s customers have high disposable incomes and cycle in groups. More than just a means of getting from point A to B, bicycles are the new status symbol, which is also what sparked the idea for Coast Cycles three years ago.The 34-year-old, who is an industrial designer by training, says: “I wanted a stylish bike to cycle to cafes with my friends. Riding a mountain or racing bike to these places is just not cool, because it is not appropriate. It is just like buying clothes – one needs the right attire to suit the occasion.”
Coast Cycles has a growing cult following and has attracted buyers from as far away as Australia and Atlanta in the US, although Jansen is not ready to export his bicycles on a large scale. What is attractive about the sport is its non-threatening nature, he says. “At the golf course, there is a certain ambition to score better than one’s peer. There is no such competition among those who cycle, because it is a relaxing activity.”
This sport doesn’t look like it is riding into the sunset any time soon. According to 2011 fi gures from the Land Transport Authority, commuter cycling amounted for at least 50,000 trips, a figure that is set to increase with the National Cycling Plan which aims to build an islandwide cycling path network of 700km by 2030 – up from the current 230km of cycling paths and park connectors.
Kenneth says: “Although sales of bikes have slowed a little because of the dampened market, I expect it to pick up again when the market stabilises. The growth of cycling is not unique to Singapore – it has become a global movement because cycling is a healthy activity and takes people places.”


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| Home > News Releases > May 2001 Unemployment Rates Released |
Contact: Terry Ludeman, 608/267-3262
Actuality Access 1-866-556-7623
MAY UNEMPLOYMENT RATES RELEASED
MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today announced the state’s preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for the month of May was 4.1 percent, which is down from 4.2 percent for the month of April.
The number of people unemployed in the state dropped for the 3rd consecutive month. In May, 14,400 fewer people were unemployed, on top of a drop of 13,000 in April and 8,600 March - for a total drop in number of unemployed people of 36,000 since February.
"Although the May estimates do not indicate that the economy is in full recovery, neither do they indicate that the state’s economy is deteriorating further," said DWD Secretary Jennifer Reinert. "We are cautiously optimistic. Though manufacturing continues to struggle, which is a concern, unemployment is leveling off and all other industries experienced growth last month," she said.
Wisconsin’s unadjusted unemployment rate for May was estimated at 3.9 percent, following a seasonal pattern established throughout most of the past ten years. The May rate was 0.5 percent lower than the April rate of 4.4 percent, and 0.4 points higher than the May figure in 2000. The rate was slightly below the average May unemployment rate for 1990 – 2000.
The number of nonfarm wage and salary jobs was 2,857,300, up 24,800 from the April figure, and up 11,200 from the May 2000 figure. Manufacturing continued to slip, with a 3,000 reduction from the April figure and government employment was down 1,500 from April, but every other sector in the economy saw growth. Construction employment led the way, adding 10,100. The trade industry added 8,700 jobs, and services added 7,600. Manufacturing is the only industry to have fewer jobs than one year ago.
Even within the manufacturing industry, nondurable goods manufacturing appears to be fairly stable. The durable goods manufacturing industry is seeing the lion’s share of job losses.
In spite of the economic difficulty being experienced within manufacturing, the rest of the economy appears to be following nearly normal seasonal patterns. Particularly encouraging is the slight increase seen in the wholesale trade industry.
Note to news media
County employment and unemployment figures for May should be available on June 20. This release and other labor market information is available on the department Internet site at: http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/lmi
|Division of Administrative Services |
Content Contact: Terry Ludeman


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E.Coli, metal and even a dead bat has have been found in recalled food. In fact, food recalls are increasing. Yet, that might actually be a good sign. Here’s why.
Onions aren’t the only produce product being linked to salmonella infections.
The Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating a “multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to bagged peaches,” according to a food safety alert.
As of Wednesday, 68 people from nine states have been infected with the strain of salmonella with illnesses starting between June 29 and Aug. 3. No deaths have been reported.
“Many ill people report purchasing bagged peaches sold at certain ALDI stores in several states,” the CDC said in its safety alert. “This investigation is ongoing to identify other retailers that might have sold contaminated peaches.”
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The discount grocer is voluntarily recalling assorted peaches in 20 states from its supplier Wawona Packing Company as a “precautionary measure” due to possible salmonella contamination, according to a news release.
Target also has announced a “fresh peach recall” on its website that links to a Minnesota state health department news release, which says Target is “in the process of removing peaches from its stores.”
Of the reported cases, Minnesota has the most with 23 and Michigan had 17 cases. Iowa and New York each had eight cases, New Jersey has four cases, Virginia and Wisconsin each had three cases. Maryland and Pennsylvania had one case listed in Wednesday’s CDC alert.
Salmonella illness symptoms
According to the CDC, most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps six hours to six days after being exposed to the bacteria. The illness usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment.
In some people, the illness may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other places in the body.
Children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness, the CDC says.
Aldi peach recall
Aldi has removed the peaches from select stores in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
The items were also available for purchase through Aldi’s partnership with Instacart.
The Aldi items included in the recall are:
- Two-pound bags of Wawona Peaches, UPC 033383322001
- Two-pound bags of organic peaches, UPC 849315000400
- Loose bulk peaches
“ALDI takes the safety and integrity of the products it sells seriously,” the release said. “If customers have product affected by this voluntary recall, they should discard it immediately or return it to their local store for a full refund.”
Aldi is referring customers with questions about the recall to call Wawona Packing Company at 1-877-722-7554.
Target peach recall
According to Target, the following products are affected with several date codes included:
- Peaches sold per pound: Target item number 267-03-4038 and UPC 492670340386
- Peach sold “by the each”: Target item number 266-03-0010 and UPC 204038000005
- Two-pound bags of peaches: Target item number 266-03-0002 and UPC 033383322056
- Two-pound bag organic peaches: Target item number 267-50-4044 and UPC 849315000400
- White peach sold per pound: Target item number 267-03-4405 and UPC 492670344056.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2020/08/20/peach-recall-2020-target-aldi-recalling-peaches-salmonella-risk-outbreak/5615728002/


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It’s hard to stand out at a Lou Dallas show, given the number of kookily dressed cool kids on the scene. Today, at the label’s show in Brooklyn, the crowd was particularly well turned out, bedecked in their dreamiest DIY tulle looks and coated in glitter. Nonetheless, one showgoer managed to shine the brightest: Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules in the cult HBO show Euphoria. The 20-year-old, whose glowing skin is like something out of a Neutrogena commercial, was wearing an artfully layered ensemble, not unlike something her character Jules would wear. Think: a dainty frilled apron, a slick black leather coat, and a short checkered skirt. Of course, she threw in some funky Lou Dallas garb into the mix, including the label’s trippy pink reptile-print tights pulled up to her knees.
Diehard fans of Euphoria—and there are plenty, given the numerous Instagram fan accounts that have popped up dissecting the show’s wardrobe—may recognize Schafer’s stretchy acid blue Lou Dallas top too. According to the actress, the piece was a version of “a clubby shirt that Jules wore in Euphoria.” (Her character sported the Fall 2019 item in episode seven during an intense strobe-lit club scene.) The actress has been a longtime fan of Lou Dallas, and actually suggested the label to the show’s costume designer, Heidi Bivens. “I’ve been following Lou Dallas for a while,” said Schafer, perched on a front-row couch. “I sent Heidi her Instagram and we both freaked out about it.”


text: Day Software, content management and content infrastructure provider, has announced their December 31, 2007 fiscal year numbers and they look pretty nice!The biggest news -- total revenues for 2007 were up 28.8% to CHF $26.44M compared to the year prior.”2007 was another record year for Day. We continued to gain market share and grew both revenues and income significantly. The strong performance of the company will enable us to make investments in key areas such as sales and marketing and customer support to continue our growth in 2008,” said Michael Moppert, CEO and Chairman of Day.Other financial notes of interest: * Software license revenue increased 28% to CHF 10.53 million* Pre-tax income increased 55% to CHF 2.94 millionDuring the year, Day released new products that contributed to it's record revenues like CQ DAM, the industry's first standards-based Digital Asset Management system; Communiqué Advanced Collaboration (CQ AC) which offers lots of Web 2.0 capabilities; a series of standards-based connectors that leverage enterprise content from providers like EMC/Documentum, Interwoven, SharePoint and others.Day also released updated versions of Communiqué Web Content Management 4.2 (CQ WCM) and Content Repository Extreme (CRX) 220.127.116.117 saw lots of new customers for content management provider.Enterprise Customers:* Media & Entertainment: Belo Corp., Nielson and NBC Universal* Manufacturing: General Motors and Mettler Toledo* Financial Services: DAB Bank and Zurich Cantonal Bank (the third largest bank in Switzerland)* Telecommunications: Vodafone and E-PlusChannel Customers:Agreements with IBM/FileNet, FAST and Oracle helped with Channel revenues. Day also joined the IBM ECM ValueNet Partner Program.All in all, a good year last year for Day Software. With the new product lines and the new high-profile customers, 2008 can only get better. Can't it?Take a closer look at Day.


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Chef Ming Tsai is getting into the supermarket game. This week he launches MingsBings, vegan, gluten-free frozen patties packed healthy ingredients: brown rice, edamame, garlic, ginger, pepitas, red onion, shiitake mushrooms, watercress. They’re a nutritious take on traditional Chinese flatbread, folded into a brown rice wrapper and sauteed — an easy meal for remote workers looking for healthy diversions.
Proceeds benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where Tsai’s wife, Polly, was treated for stage four lung cancer three years ago (she’s doing well now). They also go toward Family Reach, a Boston-based organization that provides financial support for families coping with cancer.
It’s a change of direction for a chef once renowned for big restaurants like Blue Ginger in Wellesley and Blue Dragon in Fort Point. In fact, he was on the brink of opening a new spot before Polly was diagnosed.
“It’s not a great time to own a restaurant. I can tell you that,” he says.
Blue Ginger shuttered in 2017. Blue Dragon, on the Seaport’s fringes, has been dark since May 30.
“It’s a dead zone. There’s no lunch, no happy hour. You can’t gather at the bar, and booze is profit, so it’s a real dilemma for me, and anyone in my shoes, which is millions and millions of restaurant owners and chefs,” he says. He won’t eat indoors at a restaurant until after the pandemic.
On the plus side? These savory, sandwich-sized patties go on sale online Nov. 17 at www.mingsbings.com for $59.99 per dozen, including shipping. And they will hit supermarket shelves throughout New England soon, too.
“And then, ideally, we’d like to take over the United States — but baby steps, baby steps,” he says.
When Polly Tsai was diagnosed with lung cancer a few years ago, it was a shock. At 53, she was a fit non-smoker.
“She had a seizure out of the blue; three days later, diagnosed with stage four lung cancer,” Tsai says. The family sought treatment at Dana-Farber, where Tsai had done charity cooking work for years. She began taking Tagrisso, an oral therapy that worked.
“It saved her life,” Tsai says.
He saw it as a chance to change his life, too. He pulled out of a fast-casual chain deal to focus on family and nutritious eating.
“The lease was ripped up. We decided that Polly needed to reduce the stress. Opening a chain is not a way to reduce stress, obviously. I needed to be around. So I put that on hold, and she turned vegan,” he says. “And we eliminated sugar because cancer feeds on sugar, again, from all the research we’d done, and [to be] gluten-free as much as possible. Gluten is sugar. Bread is sugar.”
Tsai also wanted to create something easy for her to eat while he traveled, but he wasn’t impressed with veggie patties on the market.
“They’re hard, dry discs that maybe have good protein but aren’t very delicious. You have to cover it with sauce to make it go down,” he says.
MingsBings have a crispy, gluten-free brown rice wrapper that trap oil; sauté and pat with a paper towel for maximum crunch. Inside? Watercress —"[one of] only two green vegetables that bat a thousand," he says, plus antioxidants from garlic, ginger, and onions, as well as fat and fiber from pepitas and edamame. As an outspoken proponent of allergy-friendly dining, this was a natural continuation.
“I’ve always believed that food is medicine, right? In the Chinese world, in the Asian world, we’ve always eaten herbs and spices and certain ingredients to prevent cancer, to prevent diseases. You don’t have to be a triathlete,” he says.
Speaking of medicine: Tsai thinks restaurants will make a comeback once the pandemic abates.
“In 18 months, I see the [restaurants] that got through opening with a bang. I don’t know if it’s going to be like the Roaring Twenties after the Spanish Flu, but so many people are going to be ready to go out and party and spend money — and the restaurants that are around, I think, are going to do really well,” he says.
In the meantime, he’s content to focus on life’s smaller pleasures.
“It’s so weird to say that you’re grateful your wife got cancer. I’m not saying that directly, but it did get me to smell the coffee. It did get me to look in her eyes every morning. I’m 56. You start taking things for granted, like your wife and family, right? Life is precious. Live one day at a time, and live it well.”


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Emperor: Battle for Dune ships
The latest real-time strategy game from Westwood will soon arrive in stores.
Westwood Studios today announced that Emperor: Battle for Dune has shipped to stores. The game is Westwood's first 3D real-time strategy game, and it is set in the Dune universe of the sci-fi movie based on Frank Herbert's series of novels. In the game, players assume control of one of three main factions--the Atreides, Harkonnen, or Ordos--each of which has a unique set of units, structures, and abilities. In addition, players can form alliances with several smaller factions, including the Tleixu, Ix, Fremen, Guild, and Sardaukar. The game includes 33 different maps across five different planets and more than 100 missions.
Emperor: Battle for Dune will be available in stores on June 14 for an approximate retail price of $45. For more information, take a look at our previous coverage of the game, which includes
GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.


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PGG Wrightson and Rural Equities are urging their shareholders to reject offers from an Australian businessman who wants to buy their shares for less than the market price.
The low ball offers are being made by Stock and Share Trading, whose sole director and shareholder, John Armour, was warned by the Financial Markets Authority last year over similar approaches.
Both PGG Wrightson (PGW) and Rural Equities say they are frustrated that their shareholders are the target of yet another unsolicited approach by Stock and Share Trading.
The company is offering to pay 35 cents a share for every PGW share, which is a 12.5% discount on Thursday's closing price.
PGW says it appears smaller shareholders are being targeted by Stock and Trading and some have accepted the low-ball offer, though it won't say how many.
Last month, the Australian company successfully approached several Rural Equities investors, offering $2.30 a share, a third less than the market price.
Last year, the Financial Markets Authority ordered Stock and Share Trading to include a warning at the beginning of any future offers that spells out the offer price and compares it to the share price, at the time of closing.
The warning is included in the current PGW and Rural Equities offers, but the companies say it's frustrating there's nothing else they can do to ensure their shareholders are not taken advantage of.


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National Pretzel Day is coming up, meaning that we’ll soon be able to indulge like Michael Scott or Stanley Hudson in the warmth of a free pretzel.
Photo courtesy of Wetzel’s Pretzels
On April 26th, aka National Pretzel Day, all 340 locations of Wetzel’s Pretzels will be giving out free whole Original Pretzels to anyone who stops by. You don’t need an app, coupon or anything similar to redeem this deal, you just have to show up.
Wetzel’s apparently will have plenty to give away, too, so you don’t have to worry about this being a hyper-limited freebie. Last year, Wetzel’s gave out 85,000 pretzels on National Pretzel Day, so there’s definitely more than enough to go around.