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Another example of fintech making it feasible to target unique slices of consumers can be found in Myanmar, where TrueMoney Myanmar has introduced an e-payment solution targeting Burmese migrant workers. They mark the launch by waving the fees until Oct. 31.
The TrueMoney Transfer offers bill payment, mobile top-up and cash collection services.
In a release, TrueMoney cites United Nations data saying the two million Burmese citizens living in Thailand send a combined 2.8 billion kyat home every year. TrueMoney helps facilitate those actions by providing 250 Thai transfer spots and 681 more in Myanmar.
TrueMoney country director for Myanmar San Thaw Da Wun explained why a safe process is so important for Burmese working abroad.
“Transferring money to loved ones has undoubtedly become a crucial need for Burmese migrants and their families. However, a large number of Myanmar workers remain unbanked, due to a variety of reasons such as, but not limited to legal status, language barriers and access to banking services. We have developed TrueMoney Transfer to give a faster, safer, more secured and affordable alternative to the commonly used informal channels.”
Riskier processes are also slower, taking as long as five days, TrueMoney said in a release, while countering that their process is near-instantaneous.
TrueMoney has offices in Yangon and Mandalay and 3,000 nationwide agents.
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When is it okay to take down Christmas decorations? According to Frankie's girlfriend she doesn't want to take them down until next week!
Plus, Listener Alexis found out that her boyfriend is getting too friendly with his exes during Quarantine on a Love Em Or Leave Em
- More than a million unemployed people in California could see an extra $300 dollars in their bank accounts as early as yesterday. The unemployment benefits will extend until March 13, putting an extra $300 dollars each week into the pockets of qualifying Americans. However, some people received a letter saying that their benefit claims are suspended while the state investigates fraud. EDD is informing those affected that their identity will need to be verified starting this week before payments can resume. For more info go to the edd website.
- Government health officials announced yesterday that vaccinations have been ramped up in the past few days. 1.5 million doses of the vaccine were administered in the last 72 hours alone. Dr. Fauci said most of the public will be able to be vaccinated by April. Meanwhile, UCSD has installed COVID-19 test kit vending machines on campus. When students and staff return for winter today, they’ll be expected to conduct daily symptom and exposure screenings and participate in no-cost weekly testing.
- Are you suffering from Zoom gloom? If you are sick and tired of Zooms calls, Skyping, and Face-timing you may be suffering from zoom gloom. A survey found that 61% of people say they are “Zoomed out.” Of those, nearly 70% say their burnout is due to all the time they're spending on video calls these days.
- Target has issued a recall on some baby clothing due to choking hazards. “Cat & Jack” brand swimsuits and some rompers made by “Cloud Island” have been recalled. The items were sold both in-store and online. They can be returned at the store or by getting a pre-paid shipping label from Target. There’s more info on Target’s Facebook page. Details of Cat & Jack items on recall include: Summer Blue Lemon, Coral Icon Story Hawaiian, and Moxie Peach Lemon — all one-piece rash guard infant-toddler swimsuits for girls in sizes 12M to 5T. Also included in the recall are some rompers made by Cloud Island: Waterfront Baby Boutique Romper, Cloud Island Little Peanut and True Navy Rompers, Little Wildflower and Joyful Mint Rompers, Oh Honeybee and Pink Rompers, Floral Fields and Mint Rompers. The rompers were sold in sizes newborn to 12M. Customers can reach Target at 800-440-0680 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT daily or online at www.target.com and click on “Recalls” at the bottom of the page, then on “Clothing” for more information. Consumers can also click the “Product Recalls” tab on Target’s Facebook page for more information.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

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The new items will be on display as part of the Fresh Ideas Showcase at the event, July 26-27 in Monterey, Calif. The items will be showcased at the Church Brothers booth, No. 100, on July 27.
More information about the new vegetable items, according to a news release:
- Sweet Baby Broccoli: Available in a 10-pound loose field pack, its sweet flavor and tender stalks make it a trending menu item. Church Brothers is growing the foodservice item through the Growers Express commodity program the company acquired this year.
- Tuscan Baby Romaine: “This version of Romaine offers a creative, healthy serving vehicle; thing boats and tacos,” Kori Tuggle, vice president of marketing and product development, said in the release. “The shorter leaves create multiple ways to use across menu applications.”
- Sandwich Ready Leaves: A hybrid with romaine and iceberg properties, the leaves are triple-washed and ready-to-use with no waste. They were developed “to frame a burger bun or sandwich with just the right amount of green frill and sweet flavor,” Tuggle said in the release.
Church Brothers is hosting a bocce ball tournament July 24, and is co-sponsoring the event’s main speaker, Ted Allen, at 11 a.m. July 26. Later that day, the company is hosting customers and special guests at its annual party at Tom Church’s ranch.
Church Brothers is also hosting students from PMA’s Center for Growing Talent during the show.
“We plan for the foodservice show all year,” Tuggle said in the release. “We love having guests visit our ranches and salad plant to see first-hand the hard work and quality we put into every product year-round.”


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Volkswagen Set to Establish €3 Billion Battery Materials Joint Venture with Umicore
- September 27, 2022
- Posted by: Quatro Strategies
- Category: Manufacturing
Volkswagen announced on Monday it has come to an agreement with Belgian materials company Umicore for a €3 billion battery parts joint venture (JV). With this move, Volkswagen has become the latest automaker to bring battery supply chain closer to home in its shift towards electric vehicles (EVs). Under the agreement, raw materials will still be sourced from across the world, but cathode production will be made in Europe, likely at Umicore’s Poland plant.
The JV, between Umicore and Volkswagen’s battery unit PowerCo, also plan to collaborate on recycling metals from battery materials.
Automakers across Europe has been looking to secure cooperation with battery makers in the continent as political pressure grows to bring supply chain, currently dominated by Asia, closer to home.
Volkswagen is targeting 70% of its sales in Europe to be fully electric by 2030, and is increasingly trying to bring its supply chains to the region to protect them from geopolitical tensions and reduce transport costs.
However, Europe’s battery industry is still fledgling. Mining of raw materials in countries such as Germany and Portugal has been held up by regulations and recycling facilities unable to develop at scale without the raw material on hand.
Under the €3 billion JV, Umicore will produce enough battery precursor and cathode material for 160 gigawatt hours (GWh) of battery capacity, or enough to power 2.2 million vehicles.
It will start with material for 40 GWh of capacity by 2026 at Volkswagen’s first battery plant in Germany. The carmaker plans to build six battery factories in Europe totaling 240 GWh of capacity by 2030.
Umicore said last week it saw potential to increase the capacity of its Poland plant, which began production in July, to over 200 GWh in the second half of the decade, enough to power around three million EVs.
The companies also agreed that Umicore would refine cathode material for the first 60 GWh of capacity.
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There are ways to mount your phone on your dashboard so you can see it while driving, but sometimes the screen just doesn’t cut it. The last thing you want to do is have to squint to see the directions on screen and take your eyes off the road. Make use of a bigger screen and never miss a turn again when you have MagConnect, the iPad car mount. It’s on sale right now from the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub.
Rovio has released an update for Angry Birds Epic this morning with several improvements and bug fixes for Fantasy Piggy Island. The latest version of the bird-slinging roleplaying game for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is available now on the App Store, and we have posted a full changelog of what’s new ahead.
There has been a lot of interesting story lines surrounding Find My iPhone over the years, as the security feature has helped numerous Apple users find their stolen or misplaced iPhones and iPads. But for one Peruvian man, the tracking tool helped him locate much more than just a stolen smartphone or tablet.
While most of the details surrounding the oft-rumored iPhone 6 have already been leaked, given that the smartphone is expected to launch in just a few months, new photos provide a closer look at what could be a light-up Apple logo for notifications on the back of the device. We’ve got a closer look at the photos ahead.
While there have been several rumors over the past few years suggesting that Apple is in talks with Sharp to implement IGZO displays on its iOS devices, the cutting-edge technology has yet to find its way to the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. However, a new report claims that the iPad Air 3 could be the first iOS device with an IGZO-based screen.
If you’re new to jailbreaking, and have just jailbroken your iOS device using the Pangu jailbreak then it may be a good idea to change the default root password to prevent someone with malicious intent from gaining access to your device.


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Minister Alan Winde to Attend Business Incubator Launch
Alan Winde, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, will today (9 April 2014) attend the launch of a city-based business incubator supporting emerging entrepreneurs.
Shanduka Black Umbrellas have branches across the country and will relaunch their Cape Town office today.
The company offers black-owned SME’s access to office space and support services for a monthly fee.
Minister Winde said sharing a working environment kept admin costs low.
Minister Winde pointed to the success of business incubators such as the Bandwidth Barn.
“The incubator concept works because entrepreneurs have access to shared services, decreasing input costs. This is key because input costs are an inhibiting factor for the majority of small enterprises,” said Minister Winde.
According to a study done by the Bandwidth Barn, only 48% of ICT start-ups survive for more than three years.
“Business incubators complement our initiatives to support SME’s. We need to increase the number of businesses that survive beyond the crucial three year mark to become established enterprises which are able to employ more people. Since 2010 the Western Cape has supported the development of 11 556 new SME’s. Over the next three years we will allocate R118 million to enterprise development. I am thrilled to be attending this relaunch in light of the positive benefits this incubator will have for local entrepreneurs,” said Minister Winde.
Spokesperson for Minister Alan Winde
Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism
Western Cape Government
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 082 454 4365


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Verizon has announced it is selling its cloud and managed hosting service to IBM, alongside working with the Armonk giant on a ‘number of strategic initiatives involving networking and cloud services’.
“This is a unique cooperation between two tech leaders to support global organisations as they look to fully realise the benefits of their cloud computing investments,” said George Fischer, SVP and group president of Verizon Enterprise Solutions (VES) in a statement.
Last February, Verizon told customers in an email that it was shutting down ‘any virtual servers running on Public Cloud or Reserved Performance Cloud Spaces’ on April 12. The company clarified in a statement to CloudTech that it was ‘discontinuing its cloud service that accepts credit card payments’, however John Dinsdale, a chief analyst at Synergy Research, saw things differently.
“Telcos generally are having to take a back seat on cloud and especially on public cloud services,” he told this publication last year. “They do not have the focus and the data centre footprint to compete effectively with the hyperscale cloud providers, so they are tending to drop back into subsidiary roles as partners or on-ramps to the leading cloud companies.”
How prescient that statement is now. IBM would certainly be classified as one of the hyperscale operators; alongside Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft and Google, the four leading players continue to grow more quickly than the overall market, according to Synergy’s figures.
What’s more, various links between the two companies means this move makes sense. John Considine, general manager at IBM Cloud Infrastructure Services, was previously CTO of Verizon Terremark. The companies have also partnered on various initiatives, including in the creation of Verizon’s cognitive customer experience platform, built using IBM’s cloud and infrastructure as a service offerings.
“Our customers want to improve application performance while streamlining operations and securing information in the cloud,” Fischer added. “VES is now well positioned to provide those solutions through intelligent networking, managed IT services and business communications.”
Verizon said it was notifying affected customers directly, though adding it did not expect any immediate impact to their services. The transaction is expected to close later this year.


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Petrol station forecourt operator EG Group has acquired 52 KFC restaurants in the UK from Amsric Group.
The deal includes a mix of drive-through and eat-in restaurants across the south and south west regions, employing more than 1,600 staff.
Once completed it will mean EG Group, which is owned by the billionaire Issa brothers, is the largest KFC franchisee in western Europe, operating a total of 220 sites in Europe and the UK.
EG Group bought 146 KFC restaurants and one Pizza Hut store, as well as a number of sites in development, from Herbert Group in March 2020.
In a statement, Mohsin and Zuber Issa said the Amsric deal complimented their "long-term growth plans" for the foodservice business.
They added: "Even during the pandemic, KFC moved quickly to assess and adapt in order to embrace the rapidly evolving environment. We have seen a marked upward trend in the performance of our existing KFC network and this has given us confidence to consider and invest in more assets."
EG Group bought the 70-strong Leon restaurant brand in April and are planning to open around 20 new restaurants a year from 2022, including multiple drive-through locations.
The Issas also acquired supermarket chain Asda for £6.8b this year and own the Stanley House Hotel & Spa in Lancashire. They made an unsuccessful bid to take over Caffè Nero last year.


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This fintech startup is helping Chinese people move their money abroad
By Eva Xiao for TechinAsia
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Chinese students leave their country to study abroad. While overseas, they pay tuition, buy books, eat at restaurants, and pay rent. All of that requires one crucial step: moving Chinese yuan out of China.
“A lot of people are doing offshore financial planning because they’re going to have future liabilities denominated in US dollars or euros or pounds,” Weber Su, co-founder of fintech startup Niu Jiao Suo, tells Tech in Asia. That includes not only Chinese parents who want their children to study abroad, but also those who want to buy overseas property or “travel around the world in five years,” he says.
“We usually target this group of people,” he adds.
Since China’s sharp yuan-devaluation in 2015, about US$1.2 trillion has left the country.
The Beijing-based startup, founded early last year, has picked one hell of a time to start helping Chinese investors move their money abroad. Since China’s sharp yuan-devaluation in 2015, about US$1.2 trillion has left the country, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. In response, the Chinese government has tightened capital controls, especially over the past year as China’s annual GDP growth slows to below 7 percent.
Restrictions on insurance products, mergers and acquisitions, and even bitcoin are all part of the government’s capital flight crackdown. For instance, there’s a US$50,000 limit on foreign currency per person per year in China.
However, that isn’t stopping Niu Jiao Suo, which connects Chinese retail investors or individuals with overseas mutual funds. Through the company’s app, users can invest in overseas funds of their choice, such as BlackRock, JP Morgan, and Franklin Templeton. The minimum investment amount is US$400. The upper limit, of course, is US$50,000.
“It actually gives us more attention, because all of a sudden you have a US$50,000 quota, renewed annually,” says Weber, explaining the impact of China’s capital controls. “That just conveys to an ordinary person that the quota is valuable. If you don’t use that it expires.”
In addition, Weber says, limits on capital outflows are incentivizing prestigious overseas funds, such as BlackRock, to consider small players like Niu Jiao Suo. “They’re targeting [China Investment Corporation],” he says, referring to a massive Chinese sovereign wealth fund. “Safe. The big players. If they have time, they go to the insurance companies – those can write really big tickets.”
“But due to the foreign exchange controls, even if they obtain really good sales leads, it doesn’t really lead to sales,” he explains.
To attract funds, Niu Jiao Suo bundles the small investments made through its app into a larger package. That’s transferred to asset managers once a day.
We do not want to open accounts for US tax residents
It’s important to note that the company itself doesn’t manage any money. When users top up their Niu Jiao Suo account, the money is sent to a custodian account managed by DBS Bank, one of Niu Jiao Suo’s partners. When users make an investment, the money is transferred accordingly. The startup is primarily responsible for internal clearing and settlement work, as well as conducting due diligence on its users – the investors.
“We need to make sure this guy […] is not a criminal,” explains Weber. The startup is using an API from China’s Ministry of Public Security that lets it key in Chinese national ID numbers and run background checks.
Niu Jiao Suo also checks to see if users are US citizens or US tax residents. “We do not want to open accounts for US tax residents [because] we have to file taxes on behalf of them,” he says.
For its trouble, the startup takes a 1 percent subscription or redemption fee, which charges investors when they buy or sell shares, respectively. From certain asset managers, Niu Jiao Suo is also able to take a cut from their management fees, which is used to pay fund managers.
Niu Jiao Suo’s concept of aggregating small investments into one lump sum isn’t new. Acorns, a US-based company founded in 2012, lets users invest even smaller amounts of money – or what’s known as ‘micro-investing’ – by rounding up expenses, such as a cup of coffee, and investing the difference.
Moneybox, an app launched last year, is another micro-investment startup.
A slew of other Chinese startups, such as Jimubox and Tiger Brokers, cater to Chinese retail investors who want to invest in overseas stocks and securities.
However, as Chinese officials continue to clamp down on capital outflows, these cross-border investment startups might start to feel the squeeze.
“From the regulatory perspective, the focus on the personal allowance will become increasingly rigorous,” Jolyon Ellwood-Russell, Hong Kong-based trade finance and fintech partner at Simmons & Simmons, tells Tech in Asia.
“So yes it’s a great idea […] but they need to be cautious from the lessons learned from of the likes of bitcoin, insurance products, and Union Pay restrictions,” he says, referring to Niu Jiao Suo. “It’s going to receive scrutiny if their product is perceived as getting around capital controls.”
For Niu Jiao Suo, its business is still in early stages. Its app went live last July and currently has “thousands of users,” though the startup declined to disclose an exact number. In March, Niu Jiao Suo announced a US$5 million series A round led by Gobi Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm focusing on Chinese and Southeast Asian tech startups.


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7:11 a.m. Today7:11 a.m. Dec. 9, 2013
- By Paul B. Farrell
By 2050 global population will explode from seven billion today to 10 billion, with 1.4 billion each in China and India. Witness luxury-car sales in China, microloans for entrepreneurs in India.
10:39 a.m. Dec. 8, 2013
- By MarketWatch
Saffron LegacyofKashmir.com , a company based in the U.K. and Kashmir in Northern India, sells saffron hand-harvested by local farmers.
10:00 a.m. Dec. 8, 2013
Initial results from the Election Commission of India showed the Aam Aadmi Party, or common man's party--born last year out of India's anticorruption movement--had won or was leading on 29 of the 70 seats in Delhi's legislative assembly.
3:59 p.m. Dec. 6, 2013
- By Barry Wood
South Africa was handed a unique opportunity two years ago when it was admitted into the BRICS, the loose association of Brazil, Russia, India, China and now South Africa.
9:38 p.m. Dec. 5, 2013
Since then, a California mine and one in Australia have ramped up, with others in South Africa, Vietnam, India and Kazakhstan now in the construction phase, according to Gareth Hatch, an industry investor and principal at Illinois-based Technology Metals Research LLC.
9:29 a.m. Dec. 4, 2013
- By Jeffry Bartash
U.S. trade deficit drops in October on exports boost. The trade deficit fell 5.4% to $40.6 billion in October, as the value of petroleum exports rose faster than imports and the U.S. sold more soybeans, jewelry and collectibles overseas. . The trade
6:00 a.m. Dec. 4, 2013
- By Matthew Lynn
It certainly doesn’t appear to deserve a place among the BRICs — Brazil, Russia, India and China — which were meant to be the growth leaders of this century. More than 50% of the workforce has been educated to tertiary level, a higher level than either Brazil or India.
2:22 a.m. Dec. 4, 2013
JAKARTA, Indonesia--Chocolate cravings from the Asia-Pacific will nearly double global demand growth, boosted by the rising middle class in countries such as China, India, and Indonesia, a senior executive at global food and trading company Cargill said Wednesday.. JAKARTA, Indonesia--Chocolate cravings from the Asia-Pacific will nearly double global demand growth, boosted by the rising middle class in countries such as China, India, and Indonesia, a senior executive at global food and trading company Cargill said Wednesday.
4:21 a.m. Dec. 3, 2013
As well as Brazil, the company is rolling out language schools and digital learning programs in China and India to take advantage of high enrollment numbers and demand for education among burgeoning middle classes.
1:26 p.m. Dec. 2, 2013
- By MarketWatch
Despite mild outlook, wild gains this year. Wall Street's expectations-defying year has more to do with the Fed than with corporate profits, says Paul Nolte of Dearborn Partners.. Last Update: 1:26 PM Dec 2, 2013 Christmas comes to that one see here
12:53 p.m. Dec. 2, 2013
- By David Marsh
India imported 44% of its crude from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE in July, up from 36% in 2011, while China gets 25% of its imports from the foursome, compared to 21% in 2007.
7:26 p.m. Dec. 1, 2013
Few movements in India have successfully morphed into political parties, and corruption isn't a new issue in Indian elections. He has a strong character and right now, that's what India needs," Mr. Rawal said.
2:17 p.m. Dec. 1, 2013
Even among automakers, Suzuki has lowered its figure by 10%, rethinking plans in India, Southeast Asia and elsewhere.
2:16 p.m. Dec. 1, 2013
About a day before the launch of Chang'e-3, India's maiden Mars orbiter, named Mangalyaan, left the Earth early on Sunday for a 300-day journey to the Red Planet. Chinese space scientists are looking forward to cooperation with other countries, including the country's close neighbor India.
5:00 p.m. Nov. 26, 2013
- By MarketWatch
A Bank, made a counteroffer, and shares of both men's clothing retailers jumped. 8 products shoplifters love to steal J.C. Penney isn’t the only store worrying about “shrinkage” India can learn from Japan and China reforms Economic reforms garnering attention in Japan and China represent long-term positives for each economy and for investors, but India is lacking, writes fund manage...


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Whistl CEO Nick Wells has blamed Royal Mail for the demise of its final-mile delivery service last month, claiming the company “screwed” Whistl with “differential pricing and some changes to zonal arrangements”. Speaking at the Mail and Express Delivery Show in London last month (30 June), Wells said: “Because of that uncertainty we had no option. Our investor at the time for the end-to-end service found that the market conditions were not viable to continue.” Whistl, formerly TNT Post, began […]
Royal Mail is opening eight temporary sorting centres to handle the expected rise in parcel volumes this Christmas. The centres will be dedicated to sorting a ‘significant proportion’ of the parcels handled by the firm before they are distributed to regional depots across the country. Temporary operations will be phased in across the peak period and will open in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Swansea, Bolton, Tamworth, Peterborough, Swindon and Greenford, west London. Managing director of operations and modernisation Mark Higson said: “Christmas […]
TNT Post has found its postal delivery practices being called into question after BBC London News reported on a member of the public finding piles of confidential post dumped in a bush last month.
Royal Mail and Amazon UK have both launched a recruitment drive for hundreds of temporary staff to assist with the increase in peak volumes expected this Christmas.


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Mattel unveils action figures of frontline works as part of new toy line honoring 'everyday heroes'
Move over, Batman. The real superheroes, those working on the frontlines during the coronavirus pandemic, are officially getting their own action figures.
Mattel announced today that it was be releasing a line of collectible Fisher-Price Little People and action figures of those helping their communities in the fight against COVID-19, including nurses, doctors, delivery drivers and more.
The special edition line, called the #ThankYouHeroes collection, includes a five-character Little People set as well as 16 different action figures honoring essential workers and those risking their own lives to help others.
All net proceeds from the line will go to #FirstRespondersFirst, an initiative created to support first responder healthcare workers as they serve on the frontlines.
"#ThankYouHeroes is designed to immortalize and honor healthcare and every day heroes, and to drive additional donations to support first responders," said Chuck Scothon, senior vice president of Fisher-Price and global head of Infant and Preschool, Mattel, in a press release.
"Whether these toys are given as a gift to recognize someone working on the front lines or used as a tool to help children have conversations about how they are feeling, it is our hope that Fisher-Price toys, and play in general, can ultimately make these difficult times easier for both kids and adults."
Toys from the line will be available for pre-order starting today through May 31, and each will retail at $20. Items are expected to ship to consumers by December 31, 2020.


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A Dutch family office has taken a bite of the growing $700 million African micro-vendor food market.
DOB Equity said Twiga Foods’ integrated and tech-enabled business model reduced costs and increased convenience for vendors in Nairobi by allowing them to buy fruit and vegetables through their mobile phone and delivering supplies directly to retailers’ stalls.
Mobile technology is often considered a disruptive innovation, particularly in emerging markets. A report from the World Bank suggests the mobile revolution in Kenya is providing residents with more than just communications but is also democratising financial markets, which in turn is opening the door to faster economic growth.
Twiga has become a reliable off-taker of produce for farmers, giving them the confidence to invest more in their farming, the family office said.
“Twiga Foods simplifies and shortens the often complex supply chains of key food items, thereby reducing costs, enabling just in time delivery, and minimising waste.
“After proving the business model with bananas, the company has recently branched out to tomatoes and onions and is looking to broaden its product base shortly.”
DOB Equity said supply chains for African urban markets were inefficient and costly for customers and vendors. More than 30% of banana stock purchased at the farm gate was lost due to poor handling by middle men and a lack of cold chain.
“This loss gets priced into end-consumer cost and contributes to the rapidly rising food inflation in Kenya today,” the office statement added.
DOB’s investment will enable Twiga Foods to expand their supply capacity, allowing them to reach 7,350 vendors in Nairobi selling to 1.5 million Kenyans living in low and middle-income neighbourhoods. The market value of consumable goods sold through small informal vendors in Nairobi alone is more than $700 million annually.
Grant Brooke, Twiga chief executive and co-founder, said: “The best thing about the Twiga model is that it is a big win for Africa’s shop keepers, for Africa’s farmers, for local FMCG manufacturers, and governments dealing with skyrocketing food prices amidst rapid urbanisation.
“To be able to launch this innovative model with the backing of like-minded investors like DOB Equity is a huge advantage.”
Brigit van Dijk-van de Reijt, chief executive of DOB Equity, said by simplifying the food supply chain, Twiga will improve food security and help reduce costs for Kenyan consumers.
“Improving delivery networks and reducing the cost of food are extremely important in Kenya, where families spend up to half their income on food.
“Current supply chain problems mean fruit can be significantly cheaper for consumers outside Africa like Europe or the United States, than those in Kenya, where the fruits are actually grown, despite the huge disparity in distance travelled.
“Ultimately, by improving the food delivery chains, Twiga Foods will raise food security on the continent and will help unlock the urban African consumables market which is approaching $1 trillion in annual value.”


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WhatsApp business is introducing a new feature to help small businesses interact with customers, according to VentureBeat. The feature is called catalog, and it will help users share a picture, price, description and link to an item.
Users can then purchase the item or browse the company’s other products. Catalog launched Thursday (Nov. 7) in the U.S., India, Germany, Brazil, Mexico and the U.K.
Catalog was introduced earlier this year at the F8 developer conference. It can be found in the Business settings part of the app and shared with a business profile, or by a business owner during a conversation with a customer.
WhatsApp’s business section has about 5 million users, and the chat app has about 1.5 billion. The business part of the app was created so that companies could reach their customers with greetings, timely responses and business profiles.
The move toward eCommerce is a long-term plan for revenue for WhatsApp and its parent company, Facebook.
Facebook filed the complaint on Oct. 29. It alleged the group used malware on about 1,400 cellphones, targeting human rights activists, journalists, diplomats, government officials and others in a widespread malicious scheme.
Although the malware wasn’t able to break through Facebook’s encryption, it did infect users’ phones, which gave NSO Group access to messages after they were decrypted.
Facebook also named a second organization in the suit: Q Cyber, which is a company affiliated with NSO Group. Earlier this year, WhatsApp confirmed that it had been hacked, but it didn’t say who the perpetrator was.
“WhatsApp encourages people to upgrade to the latest version of our app, as well as keep their mobile operating system up to date, to protect against potential targeted exploits designed to compromise information stored on mobile devices,” a WhatsApp spokesperson told CNBC at the time. “We are constantly working alongside industry partners to provide the latest security enhancements to help protect our users.”
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IM Cannabis has announced that Focus Medical Herbs has successfully received its first shipment of medical cannabis from Linneo Health, an EU-GMP global supplier of medical cannabis-based in Spain. The strategic supply agreement between The Company and Linneo allows for the supply of medicinal cannabis products to both Europe and Israel. This first shipment of approximately 200kg of medical cannabis will be sold by Focus Medical under brands proprietary to IMC in Israel starting in June 2020.
Combined with Focus Medical's existing cultivation capacity, and the four previously announced supply agreements signed by Focus Medical in Israel, the imported cannabis will help fulfill the 33,075kg of IMC-branded medical cannabis to be distributed under binding sale agreements to Israeli pharmacies by Focus Medical over the next three years.
Oren Shuster, Chief Executive Officer of IMC commented, "Our vision is for IMC to become one of the world's leading medical cannabis brands and for this we require both strong domestic and international partners. These partners are critical to ensure consistent and high-quality supply of medical cannabis synonymous with the IMC brand. The successful import of medical cannabis by Focus Medical into Israel is a very significant milestone for IMC as it demonstrates that an international supply chain can be developed to satisfy growing demand for IMC-branded medical cannabis in Israel. This announcement is also indicative of further execution on our domestic strategy along side our international growth strategy. We firmly believe that we have the recipe for success and that shareholders will be rewarded through long-term value creation."
Details of Sales and Supply Agreements
IMC has previously announced that Focus Medical has signed six binding sales agreements for the distribution of IMC-branded medical cannabis products in Israel. Total consolidated revenue from all binding sales agreements in Israel is expected to be $193.5 million with an expected gross margin of 50% over the next three years. A total of 33,075kg of medical cannabis is expected to be delivered by Focus Medical to Israeli pharmacies between Q2 2020 and 2023, of which 3,000kg of the medical cannabis is expected to reach pharmacies in 2020.
The supply of medical cannabis to fulfill these pharmacy sales agreements is now fully contracted. Focus Medical has signed and announced supply agreements with Cannomed Medical Cannabis Industries, Intelicanna, Way of Life and Cannation to augment Focus Medical's own cultivation capacity and international supply from Linneo.
For more information:


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In less than a month, the UK’s premier automotive event, the British Motor Show, is back for 2022 and it will be held at Farnborough International, Hampshire on August 18 to 21.
There will be car launches, supercars, classic cars, motoring celebrities, test drives, stunt shows, interactive features, and breath-taking passenger rides that that whole family will surely enjoy.
Some of the celebrities in attendance include Car SOS hosts Fuzz Townshend and Tim Shaw, Olympian Iwan Thomas, automotive TV expert Mike Brewer, YouTube star Yanni, and the amazing Paul Swift stunt show. There will also be a lot of interactive features that has never been seen in other automotive events. The British Motor Show has kept true to their mission of reinventing the concept of the motor show to make it a thrilling event that the whole family would love.
It seems that they have accomplished just this feat when more than 47,000 guests attended the event in 2021. This year, the British Motor Show is expecting more than 70,000 guests and tickets are expected to sell faster than ever. VIP tickets will soon also be sold out. Guests are highly encouraged to pre-book their tickets to avoid the queues or worse, risk not getting a ticket on the day.
British Motor Show has brought back all the events that guests thoroughly enjoyed during the 2021 event. These include the Stunt Shows, Group Tests, Supercar Displays, Driving Experiences, as well as guest interviews with Tim and Fuzz. For 2022, there have a lot more events in store for the visitors including The Bridgestone Arena in association with Kwik Fit, dedicated to Motorsport, which will feature the Shred Shed Drift Show. There will also be Petrolheadonism live, and a Formula One car that will be in the Live Arena.
Mike Brewer is joined by Olympian Iwan Thomas this year to host the cinch Live Arena. Stretched out over four days, the cinch Live Arena will be the venue for different events like Stunt Shows, Supercar Showdown, Classic Car Parades, parachute displays, and Guinness World Record Attempts. The Car-monwealth games are the end of day shows that pit celebrities against each other top gear style.
A stunt extravaganza which will be done by Paul Swift’s stunt team will wow the crowd two times each day. They will feature sideways and two-wheel driving, as well as the special “Britalian Job” stunt show.
For those who are going to the British Motor Show to check out new models or to know about the latest automotive technology, there is a great line up at The IMI Theater. Questions about the latest automotive technology will be answered and tackled. They will also be debunking some of the myths that has continued to plague EVs in the market. AA will also be in a Car Clinic where anyone can inquire about the latest in the automotive industry or any motoring related questions.
The show will represent more than 25 manufacturers and will have a much greater area compared to the 2021 event. New halls have been added to the successful 2021 layout. It has been a while since this many manufacturers were represented. In fact, the last time that there were these many manufacturers was back at Excel in 2008 when the last British International Motor Show was held.
At least three exclusive model reveals are also scheduled for the upcoming show. This includes an exclusive first opportunity to see a new British designed and British-built electric van. This is a great testament that the Show is a great venue for international launches due to its high footfall and media profile.
At the event, there will be more than 20 models that guests can choose from to test drive at the event. There will also be a variety of classics and supercars that were not yet even shown before at the previous British Motor Shows.
A wide variety of exhibitors have signed up to the event, ranging from manufacturers, retailers, modifiers, marketplace retailers, and tech companies totaling more than 250. There will also be some exclusive launches which includes an important new piece of technology that AA will be revealing for the first time.
Andy Entwistle, CEO of The British Motor Show shared, “With just four weeks to go until we open our doors, the excitement is reaching fever pitch – as are ticket sales. The 2022 show is destined to (be) bigger, better and busier than it was in 2021 and were getting amazing feedback already from exhibitors. With the school holidays starting in most areas at the end of this week, families across the UK are making plans for the summer break. Within two hours of around 60 per cent of the British population, The British Motor Show is not only a ‘must-attend’ date for the diary, but it also offers unrivaled value compared to most family days out.”
From August 18 to 21, The British Motor Show, sponsored by cinch, will be held at Farnborough International. Advanced ticket prices that were held since 2021 are only just £18.50 each. Bigger discounts await bigger crowds, as the ticket is only £37 for a family of four. Guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance as the busiest days are expected to sell out soon.
For those interested to purchase online, they can do so at the British Motor Show website.


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By Zeenat Moorad |
Sub-Saharan Africa is a promising market for luxury goods as urbanisation, economic development and increased affluence among the rising middle class drive growth across the sector.
The region is experiencing the second-fastest economic growth, after Asia-Pacific, and between 2008 and last year the luxury goods sector grew 35%, the Global Powers of Luxury Goods report by professional services firm Deloitte said on Wednesday.
Deloitte Africa leader for consumer business Rodger George said that urbanisation had led to more people becoming aspirational and having the money to back their aspirations.
Although significant risk remains in emerging markets, and growth is from a low base, the appetite for luxury goods in these markets is increasing.
“We expect luxury goods market growth in developed economies to pick up speed for the rest of this year. And for those emerging markets that have not accumulated too much debt, like much of sub-Saharan Africa, the long-term outlook is certainly positive,” Mr George said.
South Africa and Nigeria are regarded as the region’s emerging markets, and rising purchasing power has seen brands increasingly turn their attention to the continent.
Ermenegildo Zegna, purveyors of made-to-measure suits for Hollywood stars, opened a store in Lagos last year, and has three more planned. Hugo Boss also has an outlet in the city and Prada is expected to follow suit. Emporio Armani, Versace, Paul Smith, Jigsaw and Longchamp are due to open in South Africa in November.
Mr George said that while there was a lot of intra-African shopping being done through South Africa, “you do have situations where for people in Nigeria, the UK is closer and there is also a wider range of luxury goods than in South Africa”.
Based on data collected on tax-free shopping in the UK, Nigerians are among the top global spenders. In addition to shopping in South Africa, the East African market tended to buy in Dubai too, Mr George said.
Aspirations to expand are, however, being capped by the lack of suitable real estate and quality shopping centres in most up-and-coming powerhouses.
“Luxury manufacturers like to own as much of the supply chain as possible so they can secure quality and pricing,” Mr George said.
“To own that whole chain in Africa might be difficult, logistically. Also, the practicalities of opening up a shop in a foreign country where you haven’t got a local partner is quite difficult, so some will look at the franchise model,” he said.
South Africa, with its array of malls, remains Africa’s most developed luxury retail sector.
Although its economy has slowed, demand for designer trappings among locals remains robust. An indicator of this is the automotive market in South Africa, which had witnessed notable growth of Porsche and Maserati purchases, the report said.


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The American womenswear retail group announced on Thursday that it has implemented a new, more streamlined organizational structure, revealing a string of leadership appointments associated with the move.
The Woolmark Prize, historically fashion’s most famous award, has significantly overhauled its advisory board for the 2020 prize, in what will be seen by many as an attempt to generate more traction and attention.
Farfetch is still loss-making as it invests in growth and that growth is certainly explosive at present with revenue surging as it adds brands and customers, and launches new developments at a frenetic pace.
According to a study by McKinsey & Co. for the Italian Fashion Chamber, presented on Tuesday in Milan, sustainability has an increasingly decisive influence on buyers’ choices, from retailers to end consumers.
Marking the second day of the nine-day season, Dyne's fashion presentation on the ground floor of FIT continued the label's commitment to innovative fit-meets-function apparel that puts wearable tech to educational use.
Launched in 2015 by designer-entrepreneur Jon Koon and street artist Harif Guzman, New York-based luxury streetwear brand Haculla is expanding in Europe with a show in Florence that mixed bold graphics with rock.


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Alan Greenspan's interest rate cuts, President Bush's economic stimulus package and Wall Street's ups and downs have all been big news as our economy has slowed its way toward recession.
The day after Thanksgiving--Black Friday--was the day the news media turned its attention to what people like Diane Risley and Barbara Ruane are doing to get our economy growing again.
Who are Diane Risley and Barbara Ruane and what are they doing for our economy?
They are shoppers, and the day after Thanksgiving is their day to make news.
Associated Press reporter William Kates found Risley at the Shoppingtown Mall outside Syracuse very early last Friday morning. She was first among nearly 100 people he found waiting at 6 a.m. for the Sears store to open so they could start the Christmas shopping season. For her part, Ruane made the front page of the New York Times during her shopping trip to the Bridgewater Commons mall in New Jersey.
Since two-thirds of the American economy is driven by retail, and since Christmas is a huge part of the year for retail, Black Friday is as big a business news story as Wall Street's up and downs and the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates again.
On Black Friday every year, newspaper and broadcast reporters head to the malls to interview shoppers. In the news business, interviewing shoppers at the mall is as much a part of the Thanksgiving holiday as turkey and parades.
CNN had a live broadcast from a line queuing up for a mall to open as the sun rose. The AP does it like no other news operation, sending reporters out to malls in every state to get a snapshot of how the shopping season is going to turn out. Shoppers were interviewed on all the major networks, local television stations and cable networks like CNBC and MSNBC. The local dailies sent reporters and The Business Review has its story this week.
For most of the '90s, going to the mall to interview shoppers on Black Friday was, at best, a bit of a pain, and not the kind of story reporters went into the business to do. Most reporters would rather avoid the crowded parking lots and traffic jams if they are not going to buy anything themselves, especially for what is typically a routine story. And then there is the dreadful 6 a.m. start to gauge the size of the crowd waiting for the stores to open.
But this year, Black Friday was seriously big news. Last year's Black Friday stories were among the first inklings that America's longest economic expansion was slowing down. This year's story, of course, had strong news angles. Everyone wanted to compare this year's Black Friday crowds to last year and to see if shoppers were scared of terrorists.
According to Kates' AP story, Sept. 11 had not affected Risley's shopping plans. She told Kates the Black Friday sales prices were too good to pass up and that she intended to use the money she saved to buy even more presents.
For her part, Risley's quotes made it into the AP's national story, so she got a few seconds of her 15 minutes of fame, and her son can find out he is getting a CD player for Christmas by reading the newspaper. And it is doubtful that Ruane's teenage daughter will be surprised by the white-hooded sweater her mom bought her on Black Friday because it has already been reported by the New York Times.
The Black Friday shopping story is a bit like exit polling on election day because a few days later the various associations crunch the numbers and can give a pretty accurate tally of the money spent at the mall on Black Friday. But the Black Friday stories do give a sense of the mood of the people behind the numbers. Maybe it is more like the Groundhog Day coverage of Punxsutawney Phil. If the Black Friday crowds were huge and burdened with shopping bags, could it be that recovery is right around the corner?


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EA has announced its annual NHL game today with the release of a teaser trailer. As expected, EA Sports NHL 15 will be on the next-gen consoles, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 along with Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the fall of 2014.
Here is your chance to have input on which player graces the cover of NHL 15. Go to NHL.com/CoverVote to choose your favourite between eight superstars. You can also double your vote by using one of the player-specific hashtags listed below and tweeting your preference on "Twitter Vote Thursdays". The winner will be announced at the 2014 NHL Awards on June 24th.
P.K. Subban gets my vote. GO HABS GO!!
|San Jose Sharks
|Los Angeles Kings
|Toronto Maple Leafs
|St. Louis Blues
We interviewd P.K. at the launch of NHL14. Check it out!


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It’s time to spread the love for cows today.
Today, July 9, is Cow Appreciation Day. It’s a day to tell cows you love them... and a day to score some free Chick-fil-A!
Chick-fil-A is celebrating its 15th annual Cow Appreciation Day. Every Cow Appreciation Day, Chick-fil-A encourages people to turn to their chicken-only menu. Chick-fil-A is offering free food for customers... under one condition.
You have to dress up as a cow.
Any customer who visits a local restaurant dressed as a cow will receive a free entrée (excluding salads) at Chick-fil-A’s more than 2,400 restaurants nationwide.
Adult customers who dress up in any type of cow attire will be rewarded with a free Chick-fil-A entrée – options include the Egg White Grill or classic Chicken Biscuit during breakfast hours, or the Original Chicken Sandwich or Grilled Nuggets during lunch and dinner hours. Children can receive a free breakfast entrée during breakfast hours or a free Kid’s Meal during lunch and dinner hours for dressing in a cow costume, according to a news release.
The Cow Appreciation Day celebration will last from restaurant opening through 7 p.m. local time, so guests can visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner (check local store listings for individual restaurant hours). To prepare for the day, customers can visit www.CowAppreciationDay.com for a full list of redeemable menu items and cow costume inspiration.
Fans also can share pictures of their costumes on social media by using the hashtag #CowAppreciationDay.
Chick-fil-A began celebrating Cow Appreciation Day in 2005. Last year, more than 1.95 million cow-dressed customers joined the celebration.
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Samsung launched more than half a dozen smartwatches in 2014, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen a new model from the company. So what does Samsung have in store for the second half of 2015? A smartwatch with a circular display and a bezel that rotates, allowing you to perform certain actions without touching the screen itself.
Samsung hasn’t officially unveiled the new watch yet, but it’s expected to be called the Samsung Gear A. Like most of Samsung’s smartwatches, the new model will be powered by Tizen, and Samsung is providing a lot of information about how Tizen will work on devices with round displays.
SamMobile is attending the Tizen Developer Summit in India this week, where Samsung has been talking about devices like the Gear A.
It’s expected to feature a 360 x 360 pixel round display, Tizen 2.3.1 software, and support for “rotary action,” which lets you move the bezel to perform some actions without covering the screen with your fingers.
There will be 24 steps on the bezel, letting you use it to move through cards or menu items, or zoom with precision.
According to SamMobile, the Gear A should feature a Samsung Exynos 3472 dual-core processor, 768MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, and a 250 mAh battery. But Samsung hasn’t yet confirmed those specs.


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...Visitors to the showroom have agreed that the new location is, in the words of one guest, “nothing, but spectacular.”
Atlanta, Georgia (PRWEB) August 10, 2017
Jovani Fashions is now showcasing its most recent prom collection in the designer dress maker’s brand new showroom, located in the AmericasMart in Downtown Atlanta. The new showroom’s address is 75 John Portman Blvd Showroom 4N100, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. It is located on the 14th floor of the trade center. Jovani notes that visitors to the showroom have agreed that the new location is, in the words of one guest, “nothing, but spectacular.”
The Jovani showroom is open for several markets throughout the year, always during a market’s hours. In particular, the Jovani showroom will be open for this year’s Vow Bridal Markets in April, February, and August. This year the September Vow market will be on the 12-14th, the February market will be February 6-10th (2018), the April market is set for April 10-14th (2018), and World of Prom Market will be August 7-11th (2018). Jovani says that it will be bringing a new and different collection to each market, so there will always be something showgoers won’t want to miss.
Jovani points out that its new location is more spacious, with a completely new design. The elevated showroom comes with two large runways, a main showroom with a review room, a smaller showroom with a review room, a separate room for pageants and a cafeteria for all of its guests. Encompassing a grand total of 8,475 square feet, Jovani says there is plenty of space to show off its newest collection each season.
Jovani says that, while each market will vary in many respects, there will always be plenty of staff members, models, and guests at each market event. Jovani adds that it believes it always has the most stunning models and the number of them will vary from six models at smaller markets to 80 during the busiest market week.
The noted fashion firm adds that, no matter which market it is involved in, Jovani always showcases the strongest pieces from their newest collection. They are never limited in their designs and always have a dress appropriate and desirable for everyone woman, says Jovani. It adds that the company prides itself on being a design leader in the prom world, while also boasting incredibly successful homecoming, pageant and evening wear lines.The firm adds that it works hard to ensure that there is never a dull moment in any Jovani collection, because they are all rich in textured fabrics, bright colors, new silhouettes and innovative designs. Jovani concludes by noting that they want all attendees to make sure to stop by the Jovani showroom during market weeks to check out all of their new pieces.
Readers who would like to learn more are invited to visit the Jovani Fashions web site.


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The Frost Bros. department store was considered high fashion in San Antonio until its last store — in North Star Mall — closed in 1989. The downtown store had already been closed for two years.
The ads that ran in the newspaper for the store were as much art as advertising. These cover the 1950s to the 1970s.
Brothers Jonas and William Frost opened their downtown store on E. Houston Street on Sept. 5, 1917. Then, it was simply “Frost’s” selling “women’s fashionable attire.” In 1963, the store in North Star Mall opened.
According to the 2006 obituary of a store saleswoman, President Lyndon Johnson and wife Lady Bird shopped there, and when they were at the ranch in Johnson City, a hairstylist from the salon would go there to do her hair.
A version of this story and collection of ads originally appeared in the “From the Vault” blog by former news researcher Julie Domel in March 2016.


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Global experts and key industry players will soon meet at the Fastmarkets Forest Products Europe Conference 2024 in Istanbul. Influential figures and industry giants in pulp, paper and packaging will experience 2.5 days of insight and networking opportunities.
The event – which will take place on March 4-6 at the InterContinental Istanbul – will bring together more than 250 delegates, over 50 senior leaders and 110 plus companies. Attendees will include manufacturers, technology providers, investors, government entities and end users.
Professionals from across the supply chain and around the world will discuss the very latest innovations and developments in the sector. Among the hot topics on the agenda will be recycling, energy prices, market dynamics, new technology, and the impacts of conflict and geopolitical factors.
The European CEO of the Year Award winner will be revealed during the conference, while the Pulp & Paper International Awards will take place alongside the conference.
Conference attendees will also benefit from invaluable local perspectives on the Turkish market and Fastmarkets’ in-depth data analysis.
- Sevinc Yener Çimecioğlu – CEO at Mondi Corrugated Turkey
- Michele Bianchi – CEO at RDM Group
- Orhan Öğücü – Chairman of the Board at Lila Kagit
- Markus Gärtner – CEO (Corrugated Packaging) at Mondi
- Andrea Boltho – Oxford Economics
- Ismet Müstecaplıoğlu, Managing Director, REIS Pazarlama ve Ticaret
- Harald Ganster, CEO, Prinzhorn Holding
- Joao Bayma, Reckitt, Procurement Director, Global Paper & Flexible packaging
- Frank Heidlberger, Director, Global Packaging in Global Supply Chain Organization, McDonald’s
Hearing from figures like these will give delegates a vital window on a shifting forest products landscape and changing supply/demand dynamics.
Jonathan Edmunds – Head of Recyclability for Sustainability & Government Affairs (Recycling) at DH Smith – will be speaking at the event. He said: “I’ll be spending time discussing the challenges and opportunities for recycling across Europe with global industry leaders, showcasing the already great work achieved by organisations and governments, but also demonstrating the potential to do even more!”
Another confirmed speaker is Ilkka Leppävuori – Senior Partner and Leader of Paper & Packaging Practice at Bain & Company. He said: “I’m looking forward to hearing the latest market insights from the RISI experts, having inspiring discussions with industry executives and meeting new people.”
Act now to secure your spot and use ENP15 for 15% off.
For more information about the Europe Conference & PPI Awards please visit:


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Henning Kagermann, SAP co-chairman, and Michael Kleinemeier, director of SAP Germany, were set to make the announcements at a press conference during the CeBit technology conference in Hannover, Germany. The executives also planned to discuss SAP's strategy amid a waning market for business software and tough business conditions in Europe, according SAP spokesman Bill Wohl.
In an effort to target companies with annual revenue of $1 billion or less, German-based SAP plans to introduce a new set of software tools and services for resellers and software development partners in Europe. Building a reseller channel is critical toto sell its enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to midsize companies, analysts said.
In a separate development, SAP plans to package a special version of its customer service and sales applications for mobile devices with HP laptops, handheld computers and servers, as well as with telecommunications services from Vodafone. The companies will initially market the bundled set of products and service to companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, SAP said.
The CeBit show, which began this week, is one of the largest computer shows in the world and is expected to draw 700,000 people and 8,000 exhibitors. Although the conference falls near the close of SAP's first quarter, which ends March 31, the company had no plans to update its financial guidance at CeBit, Wohl said.
Kagermann and Kleinemeier were also set to tout the long-term prospects of the market for ERP software, designed to help companies streamline their internal operations. SAP sees opportunities to grow its ERP business in China, Latin America and Eastern Europe, Wohl said.
Furthermore, he added, many companies that have already bought ERP systems are making new investments to upgrade and expand their projects. For instance, SAP expects many of its more than 19,000 customers to upgrade this year to a new version it released in January called R/3 Enterprise and has already shipped 1,500 copies of the program. SAP is also pushing customers to buy a new product called mySAP ERP, which the company launched to coincide with CeBit. MySAP ERP incorporatesdesigned to make SAP's set of accounting, human resources, manufacturing and order-tracking systems easier to customize and more compatible with other business systems, the company said.
SAP isat the end of the year for four older versions of the software that nearly half its customers use. SAP provides the new versions for free, however, to customers that pay their maintenance fees.


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Chrysler is recalling over 919,000 older-model Jeeps all over the world.
The issue? The air bags could possibly inflate while people are driving!
There's a part that can fail in the air bag control computer which can lead to the front and side air bags inflating while the SUV is driving.
This has happened 215 times already!
If you're not a fan of MSG (and to be honest, MSG is blown way out of proportion), you should probably be worried about this. If not, you have nothing to panic about, and you're fine to eat these products.
The USDA just announced that Bob Evans was enacting a voluntary recall of more than a million and a half pounds of Bob Evans Maple Links and Maple Patties because the labels didn't list MSG as an ingredient.
This seems like a worst nightmare for a company.
They're setting their customers on FIRE!
We guess it's bad for the customers too, being on fire and all.
Banana Boat sunscreen, specifically the brands like UltraMist Sport, UltraMist Ultra Defense and UltraMist Kids are being RECALLED.
Ford has decided to recall over 154,000 Fiesta subcompact cars to fix a side air bag problem.
Apparently, if the front passenger seat is empty, the side air bag won't inflate to protect any people in the passenger side rear-seat during a crash.
You know all that tainted peanut butter that's been making people sick?
You know, the kind that has salmonella in it?
Well that New Mexico food producer linked to those peanuts has expanded its recall
RECALL! RECALL! RECALL!
If you are the proud owner of a box of Mini-Wheats with a use-by date from April to September 2013… DO NOT EAT IT.
10/10/2012 3:28 PM ET |
Filed under: Recall!
We just previously mentioned that Honda was recalling all V6 Accords between 2003 and 2007 for a leaky hose problem.
Not to be outdone, Toyota has a recall of its own.
7.43 MILLION vehicles are being recalled all over the world!


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Cyberjaya Startup Summit 2019 returns for the second year
By Digital News Asia July 10, 2019
- MaGIC CEO Dzuleira Abu Bakar is this year’s keynote speaker
- Theme ‘Build Stuff That Matters’ to urge startups to solve big pain points
FOLLOWING the success of Cyberjaya Startup Summit 2018, the people behind PixaLabs and The Launchpad are bringing in the second edition of this two-day summit from July 27 to 28, 2019 at The Launchpad, Cyberjaya.
The new MaGIC chief executive officer Dzuleira Abu Bakar (pic, above) will deliver the keynote address this year. Other speakers include the Malaysia Debt Ventures chief executive officer Nizam Nadzri; Nexea partner Alan Lim; and Moovby founder Nik Amin. The full line-up will be announced on the website.
CSS 2019 will follow the same format of insightful talks, engaging workshops, interactive panels and pitching sessions where startups can learn new insights, recruit talent, raise funding, network with fellow entrepreneurs as well as industry experts and much more.
The theme for this edition is “Build Stuff That Matters”. For the organiser of CSS, Inbaraj Suppiah, the theme is based on advice he truly believes startups should heed.
“Startups that can pinpoint big pain points and deliver a solution will usually become successful. On the other hand, even ecosystem builders, people like me, need to design and build programmes that are relevant to the ecosystem.”
CSS 2019 will focus on topics that are insightful and relevant to the startup ecosystem in Malaysia; Smart Cities & Sustainable Develpoment, Fintech, Big Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence, e-Commerce, Digital Marketing, Nanotechnology, Funding Ecosystem and Corporate Innovation.
The inaugural summit brought together more than 300 investors, founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, techies, accelerators, incubators, co-working spaces, corporate representatives, government agencies, and educators within the ecosystem in Malaysia as well from India and Taiwan.
This included 500 Startups managing partner Khailee Ng and then-MaGIC chief executive officer Ashran Dato Ghazi, who both delivered keynote addresses. This year, the organisers are aiming to bring together more than 500 participants, with a focus on those involved in the Malaysian startup ecosystem.
The summit will be a great opportunity for startups to engage panelists with vast knowledge and experience in building the ecosystem and growing successful startups in Malaysia. Participants can also meet, network and exchange ideas with fellow entrepreneurs, speakers and others who are actively involved in the community.
The summit will also host the launch of the StartFund initiative, which is a platform to effectively connect startups with investors from Malaysia and the region.
The Cyberjaya Startup Summit 2019 is supported by Setia Haruman, MaGIC, Cyberview and Malaysia Debt Ventures as main partners, and many other community partners who are actively involved in the growth of the Malaysian startup ecosystem.
Early Bird tickets for this summit are still available. Attendees can sign-up and get their tickets now at www.cyberjayastartupsummit.com. More details on Cyberjaya Startup Summit 2019 can be found here or send an email to [email protected].
Related Stories :


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US consumers prefer 3DTV
September 26, 2011
US consumers love 3DTV, according to a new study of the TV marketplace. Findings from research firm Frank N Magid Associates carried out on behalf of Panasonic during Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim last month, suggest that a vast majority of consumers believe that 3DTV significantly improves their television viewing experience.
“We’ve always said that, just as with HDTV, once consumers experience 3DTV, they will want it,” said Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, Panasonic Corporation of North America’s Chief Technology Officer. “This survey proves it. We couldn’t be happier with the results.”
99 per cent of those surveyed who have seen 3DTV perceive it to be at least “somewhat better” than standard HDTV or ‘2D’ TV. Equally as impressive is the fact that of those surveyed, 71 per cent said that 3DTV is “much better” or “dramatically better” than 2DTV.
Consumers responded with a wide range of superlatives when asked to describe their thoughts about 3DTV. “I wish I had this in my home,” said 50 per cent of those surveyed, while 34 per cent agreed that it “brings things alive in a way I’ve never seen before.” “Fabulous” was the word that 27 per cent agreed with when asked to describe their sense of the 3DTV experience.
“These are very positive and impressive responses,” said Mike Vorhaus, President of Magid Advisors, a unit of Frank N Magid Associates. “When it comes to 3DTV, consumers clearly like what they see. Their feelings are very reminiscent of the public’s response to HDTV in its early days.”
The research firm suggests that unlike HDTV, however, 3DTV is off to a much faster start, with multiple full-time 3D channels available on cable and satellite just one year after the technology’s launch, They include DirecTV’s n3D Powered by Panasonic, Comcast’s Xfinity 3D Channel, ESPN 3D, and Discovery’s 3Net. By contrast, HDTV channels from these major content carriers were not available until at least four years from that technology’s 1998 introduction.
“We’re very pleased with the rapid-fire development of 3DTV,” Tsuyuzaki said. “Panasonic has just completed the second year of its sponsorship of CBS Sports’ expanded 3D broadcasts of the US Open Tennis Championships, a production which garnered an Emmy Award in its first year, and we are now looking forward to next year’s 3D production of the London Olympic Games. With these and many other exciting 3D events and movies ready to amaze and entertain, consumers have every reason to step up to the glorious viewing experience of Full HD 3D television,” he concluded.


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Sony’s PlayStation president Andrew House has addressed the dearth of first-party exclusive titles, which many observers believe is holding back the PS4 console.
Speaking at the company’s Investor Day, House admitted the line-up of games built in-house for the platform is looking “a little sparse.”
Fans of the console have been dealt numerous blows in recent months with franchise titles like Uncharted 4 and a new Ratchet & Clank game delayed until next year, while the eagerly-anticipated The Order: 1886 was considered a failure.
House said (via CNET): “We are working very hard to continue very strong support from third-party publishers and developers.
”Our first-party lineup is a little sparse this year so I think this places an even greater emphasis on getting good third-party support.”
The lack of first-party titles for Sony comes at a time when the Xbox One continues to work towards console sales parity after a slower start out of the gate.
Microsoft’s platform will continue to seize the momentum in the next-gen console wars, thanks to two giant exclusives before the year is out. New Halo and Tomb Raider games will both launch later this year, surely giving the Xbox One the best chance to win the Christmas 2015 battle.
One saving grace for Sony is next month’s E3 2015 event in Los Angeles, where the company should announce more first-party titles for its flagship gaming device.
House said E3 will reveal a PS4 platform that is coming of age and realising more of its immense potential.
He said: “
Read more: E3 2015 Predictions
House also played down the importance of the exclusive titles, claiming the PS4’s sharing tools are enough to give it the edge over the Xbox One for gamers choosing between platforms for the biggest cross-platform games.
The PlayStation president added: “Rather than seeking for complete exclusives, we have looked to publishers to really try to maximize the use of the feature-set on PlayStation 4 versus the competition. And I think that the use of Share and SharePlay functionality, those have been sort of defining platform features which can be seen not just in first-party content but across the whole range of titles.”


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It’s no secret that Cyberpunk 2077 had a horrible launch on consoles. Its developer, CD Projekt Red, issued a public apology through its social media accounts.
SORRY FOR THE BAD GAME
CD Projekt Red started their apology by citing their streaming ban and lack of review copies for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. They acknowledged that their decisions led to gamers not being able to make an informed choice on their purchase. “We should have paid more attention to making it play better on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One,” reads the statement.
They then proceeded to talk about their planned updates for the game. Citing their previous patches, the devs revealed that they are working on large patches. The next update will arrive within a week from now, while two large patches are coming in January and February. Details about these patches will be released before rolling them out on an update. “They won’t make the game on last-gen look like it’s running on a high-spec PC or next-gen console,” reads the statement. “But it will be closer to that experience than it is now.
CYBERPUNK 2077 REFUNDS FOR PLAYSTATION 4 AND XBOX ONE
The devs then opened up the discussion for refunds. They reiterated their desire to make sure that everyone who bought the game will be satisfied with their purchase. Before talking about the refunds, CD Projekt Red asked their fans to give them a chance to redeem themselves with fixes and updates. However, if a gamer can’t wait for these to roll out, they can always refund.
“We would appreciate it if you would give us a chance, but if you are not pleased with the game on your console and don’t want to wait for updates, you can opt to refund your copy.”
HOW TO REFUND YOUR CYBERPUNK 2077 COPY
The statement then proceeded to talk about the refund process for the game. Digital purchases are much easier to refund, as game platforms have their own convenient refund systems in place. “For copies purchased digitally,” says the statement. “Please use the refund system of PSN or Xbox respectively.”
Those who purchased physical copies will have to try bringing it back to the store they bought it from first. If ever a refund with the store is not possible, gamers may contact CD Projekt Red through firstname.lastname@example.org. The refund offer will be up until December 21, 2020.
For PC gamers, you will have to go through the refund process of the platform you bought the game from. All three major storefronts that have the game, namely GOG.com, Epic Games Store, and Steam, all have their own refund processes.
The statement was signed by CD Projekt Red’s executives, including co-founders Marcin Iwiński and Adam Kiciński.


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Hackers claim responsibility for PlayStation, Xbox issues on Christmas
UPDATE 12/27/14: Two days after the initial attack, Sony’s Playstation Network is still down. As of 11:43 a.m. Eastern, Sony’s Ask Playstation Twitter account stated that the company was “aware of sign-in issues on PS4 and PS3,” and that “engineers are investigating the cause.” At 2:22 p.m EST, EW was able to sign into the PSN via Playstation 3, but couldn’t log in to the network on Playstation 4.
ORIGINAL POST: There’s nothing like the thrill of opening up presents on Christmas morning and playing with a new toy or video game. And there are likely few things as disappointing for a child as finding out that he or she can’t actually play with that game.
That was the case for many on Dec. 25, when both the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, the online networks for Sony and Microsoft’s game consoles, were offline for most of Christmas. They’ve been experiencing issues into today.
Both Sony and Microsoft publicly acknowledged issues that were preventing users from logging into their online networks Thursday, with PlayStation’s support Twitter account revealing issues had begun on Dec. 24.
Neither company revealed what exactly caused the widespread outages, but a hacker group calling itself the Lizard Squad has claimed responsibility for the issues. The group tweeted throughout the day giving updates on its alleged attacks.
Another group, the Finest Squad, claimed it spent Christmas attempting to stop the Lizard Squad’s alleged hacks, though the Lizard Squad alleged that the networks would come back online because it had decided to stop their attacks—not because of anything the Finest Squad did.
Neither Microsoft or Sony has publicly blamed hackers for either networks’ downtime or specifically described which problems are plaguing their systems. These services have seen issues on past Christmases–the sheer number of new users can sometimes cause them to buckle–but the scope of this year’s outages appears larger than in previous holiday seasons.
The Lizard Squad has publicly stated for several weeks its plans for Christmas. The Lizard Squad has also claimed responsibility for periodic outages that have occurred throughout December. No major issues were reported for Nintendo’s online services, however, though the company’s network did experience problems on Christmas last year.
Regardless of whether the services were plagued with issues as a result of hacking, too many new users, or a combination of the two, the problem is an unfortunate one for anyone who received a new PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or a game for either console on Christmas. These new systems require updates downloaded through the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live to use many of their features, as well as to play some of the year’s biggest games.
New titles and the game consoles themselves receive frequent patches and online updates, and without the ability to play online, many families may have simply had a $400 brick sitting in their living rooms for Christmas.


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New National Theatre Tokyo Launches 'NNTT at Home'
New National Theatre, Tokyo launches free streaming service "NNTT at Home" from April 10 for all who love performing arts.
The company will stream three full-length operas on this website, with each performance available for a week. This service will kick off with Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) which was performed in October, 2018 as the opening production of the first season under the Artistic Director of Opera ONO Kazushi. Turandot performed as a part of SUMMER FESTIVAL OPERA 2019-20 Japan ↔ Tokyo ↔ World and 2019/2020 season opener, Eugene Onegin will follow.
In the coming days, the company will also be offering more productions, so look out for updates. Other online contents including some insights from the rehearsal room are available on the company's YouTube channel.
For the full lineup and more information, visit https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/news/all/nntt-at-home.html.


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Initially, payment terminals were designed to accept electronic payments through credit and debit card including PIN entry. Then, contactless came onto the scene and soon enough, the world began to embrace contactless (NFC) bank cards and digital wallets. The common thread: terminal hardware has been utilised for payments, and payments only. But this is changing rapidly.
Android-powered payment terminals are changing the game
Payment terminals have now entered the market which are built on the Android operating system (OS), and this opens up a new world of possibilities. While this technology has been in play for some time, it’s only now becoming popular in the payments industry.
Put simply, Android terminals can run Android applications, and this allows payment providers to offer hardware that can accept payment and perform many new complementary functions. A payment terminal is a tangible point of interaction, and with its functionality expanding beyond payment acceptance, businesses now have many new ways to add value for their customers – without having to add new hardware components.
From a payment standpoint, this might be a mobile cash register application, a pay-at-table application (for hospitality), or QR code payment schemes. And the potential goes much further, because merchants can use the same hardware to power apps for staff management, stock management, customer loyalty schemes, tax-free selling, scheduling and planning, and much more. These solutions can help all types of business, or they can be industry or sector-specific.
Moreover, this gives merchants more flexibility to have their own custom app developed for a business use case that supports their very specific brand experience.
Payment industry stakeholders are responding to market needs
As barriers to accepting digital payment become lower, for example through software-based smartphone POS systems and peer-to-peer payment apps, using Android OS makes sense for the industry.
“These solutions are complementary,” said Conor Devane in our CCV Exchange webinar. “By powering terminals with Android, you can maintain a homogeneous app portfolio across devices and give merchants extra flexibility as they switch between types of hardware.”
In fact, flexibility is the main advantage. Most merchants will start with a single app, probably payment-focused. But over time, as the app stores go from strength to strength and awareness grows, they’ll venture into other areas. And with Android terminals, merchants are able to download apps from an app store, or centrally “push” an app to multiple terminals within their organisation. This is extremely powerful for larger businesses with hundreds of devices.
For B2B app developers, and for PSPs and acquirers, Android terminals represent a huge opportunity. The ease of building an Android app versus a custombuilt application for a proprietary OS means they’re able to try out new products quicker and cheaper, and without too much risk. This will encourage greater innovation in the industry over the coming years.
“…a range of innovative new solutions for different sectors and business use cases. It’s just the beginning right now, and there’s a lot more to look forward to.”
Commercial Product Manager
Mobile Apps & App Store
“When I speak to app development partners in our network, there really is a lot of excitement about the new generation of terminals. They can’t wait until Android terminals become more widespread, so they can start to build a range of innovative new solutions for different sectors and business use cases. It’s just the beginning right now, and there’s a lot more to look forward to.”
Learn more? Read about 2021 Payment Trends in our CCV Pulse
Discover the full report!


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Recall Rundown: Everything pulled from shelves June 24-30
Did you miss any of last week's recalls?
Toyota's Lexus luxury brand recalled about 121,000 cars worldwide because of fuel leaks in the engines that can cause fires.
The recall covers certain 2006 through 2013 IS350 cars, as well as the 2010 through 2014 IS350C and the 2007 through 2011 GS350 and GS450h. All have 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engines.
Toyota officials said a diaphragm material in the fuel injection system can harden over time and crack, allowing fuel to leak. Company officials would not say if the problem has caused any fires, crashes or injuries.
Dealers will replace the fuel delivery pipe with a new one containing improved parts at no cost to customers.
Owners will be notified by mail starting in early August.
Ladders from Lowe's and Home Depot
Ladders that can break while people are using them are being recalled.
The products were sold at Home Depot and Lowe's stores nationwide in April and May, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Customers should stop using the ladders and return them for a refund, according to the news release.
The recall involves five models of aluminum telescoping ladders, according to the news release. For a list of the models affected, click here.
The firm has received one report of a ladder breaking while in use.
Workbench power stations
Baccus Global recalled about 20,000 Stanley LED workbench light and power stations with model number WLB40PS.
The units are black and yellow and are 19.75 inches long, 3.75 inches wide and 5 inches tall. They have a 40-chip LED shop lights with adjustable angles, four power outlets and an on/off switch mounted on the unit.
“Stanley” is printed in yellow by the outlets.
Consumers should stop using the recalled workbench and power stations and contact Baccus Global for replacements or refunds.
The company has received three reports of the units being wired incorrectly. No injuries have been reported.
The products were sold at Sam’s Club stores across the U.S. and online at Amazon.com from March through August 2017 for between $25 and $40.


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days ago, the national consumer rights unit 20, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Dalian, Xiamen, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Harbin, Nanjing, Changchun, Hangzhou, Ji’nan, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, Kunming and other 19 City Association (Council, Consumer Protection Committee) and Chinese consumer news that lasted a month on the Internet to carry out "skin care products consumer behavior survey Award" activities, including the 26 Shenzhen City Council, 20 units jointly issued the "survey of consumer behavior" skin care products. The report shows that the current popular in the circle of friends of WeChat skin care products sales recommendation, nearly 7 of users do not trust, only less than 1 of users will buy through a circle of friends.
only 3.75% months consumption over one thousand yuan
beauty of the hearts of all people have to spend money to give beauty points, consumers are willing to try. According to the results of the survey, they believe that at the age of 18 to 40 year old consumers of skincare products, the high degree of concern, the real fight "Yan" moment, choose a suitable for your skin care products will be in the "color" of the road and I wish you a helping hand. But they prefer what the price of the skin care products? Statistics show that 46.96% of consumers buy skin care products the average monthly expenditure of 100 yuan to 500 yuan, 38.19% of the average monthly consumer spending 100 yuan in 11.10%, the average monthly consumer spending in 500 yuan to 1000 yuan, only 3.75% of the monthly consumer spending in more than 1000 yuan. As can be seen from the data, the monthly consumption of more than 500 yuan in skin care products accounted for only about 14.85% of consumers, which shows that consumers demand for mid-range cosmetics occupy the mainstream market demand.
7 into the view that tariff reduction has little effect on
June 1st, China reduced the import tariff rate of skin care products as high as 60%, but 59.97% of consumers do not know the tariff can save much money for himself, and another 70.95% of consumers said tariffs on their choice of skin care products have little effect, this shows that consumers for skin care products price sensitivity is reduced.
less than 40% men choose special skin care products
for a long time, skin care products are considered to be women’s exclusive. With the popularization and maintenance of consciousness, more and more men began to pay attention to the "face" project, but the survey results show that the male skin care market has not yet appeared "popular trend", only 35.65% of men used for men skin care products, 86.15% of consumers believe that men’s skin care products varieties are to be further enriched. Because of this, men’s skin care market has great potential for development, the skin care industry can also further plough. More than a trusted friend recommended to buy cosmetics should be said that the current consumer access to skin care products more and more channels, including the Internet, newspapers and counter propaganda, etc.. The survey results show that 53.30% and 41.68% of consumers are through television advertising and other recommendations for skin care products


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Pow Wow Pitch features the poems on a limited and exclusive collection of T-Shirts and wristbands available on the Pow Wow Pitch Shop. The Shop launched today to raise funds to create an Indigenous Entrepreneur Seed Fund to provide early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs with micro-grants to start a business and take that next step on their entrepreneurial journey.
- Supporting Indigenous Tourism: Creatives Showcase Mini-Projects
- Last Minute Gift Idea: Gift Cards from Indigenous Entrepreneurs
- Erica Daniels, Kejic Productions, Wins 2022 Pow Wow Pitch
- New learning series launches to support Indigenous entrepreneurs to level up
- Nine Indigenous entrepreneurial leaders recognized for outstanding achievements and impact


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A North Carolina orthodontist has come up with an unconventional way of grabbing some extra business, offering patients who undergo Invisalign treatment with his office a free gun. Dr. Jason Gladwell, who owns Gladwell Orthodontics, is handing over a Glock 19 as part of a new promotion he’s running called “Grins and Glocks,” NBC affiliate WITN reports.
Dr. Gladwell had no idea how much attention the promotion would get.
Given that 45.8% of people in North Carolina are gun owners, per a RAND report (via CBS News), Gladwell’s picked a pretty good marketing technique. However, he still had no idea how much attention he and the practice would receive across the rest of the country.
Of course, not all of the attention has been positive, with many people pointing out that we should probably have fewer guns on the streets rather than more.
“Anytime you talk about firearms, it can be a polarizing subject,” Gladwell said.
If you already have enough guns, Gladwell has an alternative free gift.
The “Grins and Glocks” promotion offers patients who sign up for Invisalign treatment — which costs between $3,000 and $5,000 — a free Glock, which has a retail value of about $500.
However, understanding that many patients might have plenty of guns in their collection, Dr. Jason Gladwell is offering an alternative: a membership to Youngsville Gun Club & Range.
“Instead of them paying for it, I’m paying for it,” he said.
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There are some rules and regulations in place, of course.
According to Kurt Lieberman, the owner of the gun club, there will be some screening in place.
“You have to be 21 and older, and then, we do a background check here on site,” he explained, adding that patients wanting to claim their free Glock will have to visit the site in person.
Lieberman also suggests that those who cash in on the promotion take a gun safety and training class, though that’s not a requirement.
Is this even legal?
According to attorney Ron Shook, yes. The only limitation is making sure that those who get the guns are legally allowed to own them.
“Guns are like other property: you can buy and sell and dispose of them. But the distinction is guns are potentially inherently dangerous, so there is regulation surrounding the transfer of firearms,” Shook explained.
Align Technology, the company behind Invisalign, is not a fan of this promotion.
They issued a statement saying as much, insisting that giving out guns is inconsistent with the brand’s ethos.
They believe Dr. Jason Gladwell has been extremely misguided and are not into the “Grins and Glocks” program.
“Align Technology, the makers of Invisalign® brand clear aligners, recently learned of a customer’s promotional advertisement that offers a free handgun or gun range membership to qualified new patients who begin Invisalign treatment,” the statement reads.
“Invisalign trained doctors are independent practices and Align was not involved in the development or approval of this promotion by the dental practice, and only learned of it after the fact. For more than 25 years, Align has been helping doctors transform smiles and change lives through healthy beautiful smiles using Invisalign aligners, and this promotion does not reflect our brand purpose.”
Yikes. You almost yearn for the days of dentists riding hoverboards in the office…


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PORK CONGRESS: 2nd Day Of Trade Show
Pork producers are meeting for a second day, talking about the latest in the industry and how they made it through a rough year.
The 41st annual Iowa Pork Congress is meeting at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines.
More than 5,000 people are expected to attend the trade show, check out the latest products and take part in educational seminars.
It’s also gives pork producers the opportunity to reflect on how they made it through this year’s drought.
The show runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.


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PR pro Emily McDermott, most recently with Rockville’s Fovndry, has joined Abel Communications in Hampden.
McDermott has 16+ years of experience working with nonprofit, corporate, and consumer clients strategically executing public and media relations, brand messaging, consumer marketing, business development, and social media strategy. McDermott actively participates in Thread and is a board member for the Maryland chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. The Daily Record named her to the “2019 VIP List” recognizing area professionals for their achievements and PRSA Maryland honored her with the Paul E. Welsh Award for mid-career success. In 2020 Abel Communications was honored as PR Team of the Year.
Nikki Bracy, also a PRSA Maryland board member, has been named social media manager at Pandora. Bracy joins from Planit where she was PR and social media account director. According to Pandora, the company designs, manufactures and markets hand-finished and contemporary jewelry made from high-quality materials at affordable prices. Pandora jewelry is sold in more than 100 countries on six continents through more than 6,700 points of sale, including more than 2,600 concept stores.
Vitamin president Amanda Karfakis announced the hire of Melissa Weyant as VP, Client Services. Weyant is an agency veteran with 14 years of experience in integrated communications across a range of industries that match Vitamin’s client roster. She spent more than 13 years at Renegade, most recently as VP of client services.
The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), the leading voice for the health and well-being of Pennsylvanians, has hired communications veteran Chris Daley as its Vice President of Strategic Communications. In the senior leadership role, Daley will lead HAP’s communications and public affairs team responsible for media relations, social media strategies, HealthyMePA (HAP’s digital community), member publications, as well as all other association communications services and activities.
Daley spent the last two and a half years running his own consulting agency, Whirlaway. Prior to starting his own business, Daley spent nearly 13 years with Columbia, Maryland-based, Maroon PR. He had been with Maroon PR since the company was launched by longtime public relations professional John Maroon in April 2006. During his time with Maroon, Daley served in a variety of leadership roles at the firm including account management and business development director. He led strategic communications campaigns for brands across various industries including hospitals, health care organizations and nonprofits.
Photo of Emily McDermott by The Daily Record


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American Express announced earnings per share of $2.73 on revenue of $11.74B. Analysts polled by Investing.com anticipated EPS of $2.4 on revenue of $11.64B.
American Express shares are up 24% from the beginning of the year, still down 6.92% from its 52 week high of $199.55 set on February 16. They are outperforming the S&P 500 which is down 7.82% from the start of the year.
American Express’s report follows an earnings missed by JPMorgan on April 13, who reported EPS of $2.63 on revenue of $30.72B, compared to forecasts EPS of $2.69 on revenue of $30,856M.
Bank of America had beat expectations on Monday with first quarter EPS of $0.8 on revenue of $23.23B, compared to forecast for EPS of $0.7492 on revenue of $23.18B.
Stay up-to-date on all of the upcoming earnings reports by visiting Investing.com’s earnings calendar