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Its detractors have accused top officials of exploiting the misery of the wider population by acquiring foreign currencies at official rates and then selling them for a huge profit on the black market at a wildly inflated exchange.
- 'Under the table' -
"We started doing it under the table," said the restaurant owner. "We started taking dollars two or three months ago, but if it was known it could hurt our business because we're supposed to declare everything in bolivars."
Asked if it was illegal, he added with a smile: "I don't know, but it's not authorized."
Madeleine runs a small clothing shop with shiny dresses and sparkling shoes aimed at the middle classes that have some money to burn. All prices are listed in dollars.
"Of course! And if anyone asks, I calculate (the price) in bolivars at the day's rate," she said. "Otherwise I lose too much money. I import everything from Los Angeles. I've got to keep the business going."
A liter of long-life milk costs 8,000 bolivars: half the monthly minimum wage. Not everyone is struggling to make ends meet, though.
Venezuela may be facing a humanitarian crisis and rising poverty due to the lack of basic necessities such as food and medicine -- meaning people need dollars to survive -- but there's another side to the country.
"There's a lot of money in Venezuela," said one person who wished to remain anonymous. "I went to a VIP restaurant on Saturday lunchtime, it was full and it cost $150 for two," she said.


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The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has created a guidance featuring common criteria for food standards to make food safety compliance easier for the food industry. Food Manufacturing spoke with Zia Siddiqi of Orkin about GFSI and its pest control standards. Q: How does the Global Food Safety Initiative work? A: Following numerous food safety scares around the world, GFSI was created in May 2000 as a non-profit foundation focused on tackling international food safety issues.
February 23, 2011 While I’m cautiously optimistic that we humans will not have to engage in a decades-long, post-apocalyptic war against power-hungry machines looking to wipe us off the face of the earth, I cannot help but wonder what the future holds for Watson and artificially intelligent computers like it.
I was joining a manager on a walk through his plant some time back, when we came upon an automatic cut-off saw that was cutting twelve-foot brass bars into four-foot lengths. The bed of the saw was about four feet high — just below chest height for me — but just above chest height for the employee who was tending and unloading the saw.
At $66.17 million, December manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region was 5.9 percent more than November’s $62.50 million and up 52.6 percent when compared with December 2009. The $589.79 million 2010 total was 74.4 percent more than the 2009 total. Manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region in December stood at $45.
According to a recent New York Times article: Despite the fact that there have been 2 million manufacturing employees laid off since 2007, manufacturers are still facing skilled worker shortages. According to the article, “Plenty of people are applying for jobs. The problem, the companies say, is a mismatch between the kind of skilled workers needed and the ranks of the unemployed.
Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO CNN Tech taught me a new word: Undecillion. That’s right … we’re making stuff up now. Numbers, in fact. If forced to guess what exists an undecillion times in our world — in order to require this made-up sounding number — I might start with plankton or fleas, grains of sand or former child actor felonies.
Distribution Process Faces Evolution Vs. Revolution Business sectors throughout the industrial supply chain are encountering dramatic change: End users of equipment components and technology are enjoying unprecedented influence when interacting with industrial distributors.
Processing 1,200 tons of cassava roots a day, Chockyuenyong Industrial, headed by Tawatchai Yuenyong, uses GWE anaerobic technology supplied by local GWE agent Retech Energy with a capacity of 3,200 m3 effluent a day. The installation provides wastewater cleanliness while generating green power and carbon credit profits as well, says GWE CEO Jean Pierre Ombregt, whose company has completed more than 300 water and waste water projects in more than 60 countries.
At the start of each New Year, along with the usual all-too-soon forgotten resolutions, many industry experts make predictions about where their industry is headed during the upcoming year, usually in the format of trends to watch.
Most food manufacturers already know about the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) new guidelines requiring more FDA inspections and more oversight to prevent foodborne illness, but a little known aspect of the legislation could have just as big of an impact on the industry. Food Manufacturing spoke with Allen B.
Manufacturers have a lot to worry about these days. From the competitiveness of the global marketplace to the seemingly never-ending attempts at heightening efficiency, it’s easy to get bogged down in the minutiae without a clear idea as to where to begin. But becoming bigger and better often requires some sort of expenditure.
hile new processes, materials, and software tools are helping manufacturers rebound from the economic downturn, few technologies hold more promise for supporting a prosperous manufacturing future than the emergence of cloud computing. While perhaps vague in its meaning to some, most Americans actually have been relying on the cloud for many years.
After months of planning and preparation, it’s time to launch your new product. A critical element of any product launch is designing a marketing campaign to communicate its features and benefits to your target audiences and key influencers. One tactic that must be part of a marketing campaign launch is a press release.
With the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the FDA is expected to roll out a number of new regulations and guidances for the food industry. Many sections of the FSMA identify areas that food companies should reflect on now and prepare for by looking at technology.
Food prices are on the rise again, the polar icecaps are melting and the rainforest is burning. These problems have plagued the earth for years, but now one scientist claims he has one simple solution for all of them: eat bugs. Dutch Professor Arnold van Huis has dedicated himself to convincing the world to eat insects.
Oberto Sausage Company is a family owned business that offers a complete portfolio of meat snacks, refrigerated sausage, and deli products for 89 years. Headquarted in Kent Washington, the more recognized Oberto brand names are Oh Boy! Oberto, Lowrey’s, Pacific Gold, and Smokecraft.
I recently saw an ad for a hand-knit sweater priced at $498 (discounted from $712). Figuring there had to be a better deal, I did an online search and found a sweater for $59. Both were blue. Both were available in my size…so why the price difference? One was knitted by hand requiring careful gauging, thousands of individual stitches and the laborious process of matching up the various pieces and sewing them together.
Sharon Nowak, Global Business Development Manager, Food and Pharmaceutical, K-Tron The Basic Pasta Quality & Extrusion Technology Seminar will be held Feb. 9-11 , in San Antonio, Texas. Food Manufacturing spoke with Sharon Nowak of K-Tron about the seminar and some of the up and coming developments in the pasta industry.
Maintaining an efficient workforce scheduling system can be difficult and time consuming, but automated scheduling systems have been developed to ease the process. Food Manufacturing spoke with Greg Flessas of ScheduleSoft about automated scheduling and what it means for the food industry.
Energy costs are a major operational expense for most food manufacturers — but you’re not at the mercy of your utility bills. With an advanced energy management system, you can control your energy use so that your facility runs at optimal efficiency, you pay the lowest possible rates, and you can participate in incentive programs that pay you for unused kilowatts.

domain: news


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The new iPhone X made its official debut today and looks strikingly similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8.
The iPhone X sports an end to end display that employs OLED technology which allows the screen to be made thinner and lighter, according to Apple. The company also eliminated the signature home button which has been a part of iPhone since the original model debuted back in 2007. The new smartphone will feature a higher price point than its predecessors, running $999 at retail. Apple chief executive Tim Cook believes the new device will “set the path for the next decade,” much like the original iPhone did.
Other features on the iPhone X include infrared facial recognition, wireless battery charging and high-tech camera effects. Infrared face scanning, called Face ID by Apple, uses an infrared camera system on the front of the phone to scan the contours of the user’s face to unlock the phone and authorize mobile payments.
The iPhone X will be the first for Apple’s new premium tier smartphone line. The company also debuted the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus which more directly succeed the iPhone 7. These phones are more competitively priced and feature a six-core processor. The smartphones also include updated cameras and new motion sensors.


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Cupar Digital Improvement Pilot
Innovative approach will trial and showcase a potential model for smaller town use.
Cupar will become a Digital Improvement District, a first for Scotland, fulfilling the Programme for Government commitment to fund a business improvement district dedicated to digital improvement. It will soon have town centre WiFi and act as a potential model for future small town designs.
This innovative approach will trial and showcase a potential model for smaller town use. The pilot is a partnership with Fife Council, Destination Digital, Scotland’s Towns Partnership, and ABCD the Association of Businesses in Cupar & District.
The Digital Improvement District model enables Cupar’s businesses and their local partners to build digital technologies, introducing town centre WiFi, a ‘digital brand’ and website for their town. It will also provide digital skills support, including effective social media use.
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said:
“This is another exciting step towards achieving our vision for improved connectivity in Scotland. The pilot enables Cupar to showcase its digital capabilities, ultimately demonstrating the need for smart towns as well as smart cities, using a sustainable tailored model.
“Cupar will soon be able to enjoy exemplar WiFi and model the delivery of digital infrastructure within towns through strategic collaborations and partnerships with local businesses, agencies and communities to best meet their needs.
“For some businesses they may begin the journey with their first engagement with social media advertising, but it could also become a test bed for opportunities around the Internet of Things, such as addressing traffic flows, lighting, air quality, flooding, and better business intelligence.
"We will continue to make the investment in our connectivity that is required to support economic growth and boost international competitiveness.”
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This is the second, and final, Report of the Expert Panel for Environmental Charging and Other Measures.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): modelling the epidemic (issue no. 18)18/09/2020 15:05:00
Latest findings in modelling the COVID-19 epidemic in Scotland, both in terms of the spread of the disease through the population (epidemiological modelling) and of the demands it will place on the system, for example in terms of health care requirement.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Wellbeing in Scotland18/09/2020 13:05:00
Research into social impact of Covid-19.
Finance Ministers' "deep concern" over UK Internal Market Bill18/09/2020 10:05:00
Finance Ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have met to discuss a range of fiscal matters and voiced their collective concerns about the financial implications the UK Internal Market Bill will have on devolved governments.
Scottish Government support for Beirut18/09/2020 08:05:00
Three charities helping the people of Beirut recover from a disastrous explosion are to be supported by £300,000 from the Scottish Government.
Labour Market Statistics for young people (16 to 24 years): Scotland17/09/2020 15:05:00
New statistics from the Annual Population Survey show that 299,000 young people aged 16 to 24 years were in employment in Scotland in July 2019 to June 2020. The employment rate for young people was 53.2%, lower than a year ago (59.1%).
Impact of furlough17/09/2020 12:05:00
Extending the furlough scheme by eight months could save 61,000 jobs in Scotland, according to new research.
Economy contracts 19.4% in the second quarter of 202017/09/2020 08:05:00
The Chief Statistician has released statistics showing that the economy contracted by 19.4% during the second quarter of 2020, covering the period April to June.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: analysis16/09/2020 15:05:00
Paper exploring the costs and benefits of extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on a temporary basis. Such an extension could reduce unemployment in Scotland by 61,000 through the first half of 2021, at a cost of around £850 million.


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Media news & analysis
TV ads with augmented reality technology like Blippar can bring disjointed viewers in a family together, according to Jide Sobo, MEC's head of mobile.More
Latest media news
B&Q, Nokia, McDonald's and Bulmers are some of the most recent brands to sign up to broadcaster Channel 4's new advertising strategy for 4oD.
Radio specialists from Mindshare, RadioWorks and UM London were encouraged by the growth of digital listening and intrigued by the changes in the London market in yesterday's Rajar figures.
Toshiba is offering Superman fans the chance to win a zero gravity flight experience as part of its exclusive partnership with Warner Bros' upcoming 'Man of Steel' movie.
Tennis fans have been given the chance to take part in a training session with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the world number eight, ahead of the French Open, using a Twitter-controlled robot to position shots to him.
Steve Parkinson, managing director, Bauer Radio London, and Tony Moorey, Absolute Radio's content director, give their views on this quarter's Rajar figures.
Trinity Mirror, the national and regional newspaper group, has reported a 10% drop in revenues for the start of 2013 following double-digit falls in display advertising.
Ian Katz the long-time deputy editor of The Guardian and heir apparent to Alan Rusbridger is to leave the paper and take up the top job at 'Newsnight', the BBC's troubled current affairs flagship.
The Chris Evans Breakfast Show attracted its biggest ever audience of 9.8 million a week on average, up nearly 600,000 year on year, according to today's official Rajar figures.
AS Watson, the retailer that owns Superdrug and The Perfume Shop, is reviewing its European media planning and buying account, putting the UK incumbent, ZenithOptimedia, on alert.
Beattie McGuinness Bungay has launched a PR agency led by Simon Kelner, the former editor-in-chief and managing director of The Independent.
SCA, the consumer goods company that owns brands including Plenty and Bodyform, is reviewing its global media planning and buying account.
ITV and Channel 4 have both claimed they will outperform the TV ad market in 2013.
Centaur Media, the business information, events and marketing services group, has announced the exit of chief executive Geoff Wilmot and managing director Tim Potter in its interim report in which it delivered "modest profit", said to be "below marke...
Cancer Research UK will share real-time audience messages in ad breaks during Saturday's 'Britain's Got Talent', as part of its Race for Life campaign.
Arena has been awarded the £15 million consolidated European media planning and buying account for Betfair, following a pitch against Mindshare, Manning Gottlieb OMD and Starcom.
Paid channels are a big gamble for YouTube but have the potential to change the way people consume media online, says Angus Wood, head of earned media at iProspect.
This week, Emy Rumble-Mettle, director at media recruitment agency Lipton Fleming, divulges her passion for finding the right candidates, evaluates the past three years of agency business and explains why the quick job hunt no longer exists.
An ad promoting an offer for Immediate Media's Olive magazine has been banned by the ASA because the subscription, which included a free mug, was found to be more expensive than a deal that came without a mug.
Jaguar is set to begin a global campaign to promote the launch of its new F-Type sports car.
ITV has reported revenues of £571m for the first three months of 2013, up 1.1% year on year fuelled by 5.5% increase in spot ad revenues but ad revenue could fall by double digits in the second quarter.
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Among middle-aged people without heart disease, drinking up to 3 cups of coffee per day was associated with a lower risk for stroke or death over the next decade, along with better heart structure and function, in a large, observational study.
Specifically, light-to-moderate coffee drinking, defined as 0.5 to 3 cups per day, was associated with a 21% lower risk for stroke, a 17% lower risk for death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), and a 12% lower risk for death from all causes, as well as more favorable cardiac MRI findings, compared with nondrinkers (<0.5 cup per day) during a median 11-year follow-up.
Heavy coffee drinkers, defined as those consuming more than 3 cups per day, on the other hand, likewise had more favorable cardiac MRI findings, but with similar (not lower) rates of stroke and CVD or all-cause mortality compared with nondrinkers.
Judit Simon, MD, presented these findings, from close to 500,000 participants in the UK Biobank study, at a press conference before an e-poster session at the virtual European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2021.
“To our knowledge, this is the largest study to systematically assess the cardiovascular effects of regular coffee consumption in a population without diagnosed heart disease,” Simon, a PhD student at the Heart and Vascular Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, said in an ESC press release.
The results “suggest that regular coffee consumption is safe, as even high daily intake was not associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality after a follow-up of 10 to 15 years,” she said.
The imaging analysis showed that “compared with participants who did not drink coffee regularly, daily consumers had healthier sized and better functioning hearts,” Simon continued, “consistent with reversing the detrimental effects of ageing on the heart.”
“The observed benefits might be partly explained by positive alterations in cardiac structure and function,” she speculated, adding that further studies are needed to explain the underlying mechanisms.
Instant Coffee Most Popular
In this population, the coffee drinkers mostly drank instant coffee (55%), followed by filtered/ground (23%), decaffeinated (20%), or other types of coffee (2%), Simon told theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology.
Risk for myocardial infarction (MI) or heart failure did not significantly differ for different categories of coffee intake, she added. The researchers did not study the effect of coffee consumption on atrial fibrillation (AF), she noted.
Study limitations, Simon acknowledged, include that it was observational, so it cannot show causation, and that coffee consumption was self-reported in a questionnaire.
Invited to comment, Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, who was not involved with the research said, “Consistent with prior data, this new study indicates there is no adverse effect of coffee consumption on cardiovascular health and there may be a benefit.”
However, “because of the nature of the data, it would not be recommended that an individual starting drinking coffee to improve cardiovascular health,” added Lichtenstein, director and senior scientist at the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts.
But if people already drink coffee, “it is fine to continue, assuming that the coffee drinks are not high in added sugar and cream,” she said in an email to theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology.
Coffee Intake, CVD Outcomes, and Heart Structure
To study the relationship between coffee intake and incident myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and death, as well as heart structure, the researchers examined data from the UK Biobank, which recruited 500,000 people aged 40 to 69 years in 2006-2010 from across the United Kingdom.
They identified 468,629 participants with no signs of heart disease at recruitment and an average age of 56 years, of whom 56% were women.
The participants were divided into three groups based on usual coffee intake: none (22% of participants), light-to-moderate (58%), and high (20%).
Median tea intake was 3 cups per day overall, 4 cups per day in noncoffee drinkers, 3 cups per day in light-to-moderate coffee drinkers, and 1 cup per day in high coffee drinkers.
Compared to not drinking coffee, light-to-moderate coffee consumption was associated with lower risks for all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; P < .001), CVD death (HR, 0.83; P = .006), and stroke (HR, 0.79; P = .037), over a median follow-up of 11 years, after adjustment for sex; weight; height; smoking status; physical activity; high blood pressure; diabetes; cholesterol level; socioeconomic status; and usual intake of alcohol, meat, tea, fruit, and vegetables.
In the 30,650 participants who had cardiac MRI data, the study found that compared with not drinking coffee, both light-to-moderate and high coffee consumption were associated with significantly increased left and right ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes, and with greater left ventricular mass (all P < .001).
These differences were small but significant, Simon stressed, because this was a cohort of healthy patients who did not have CVD (heart failure, MI, stroke, AF) at baseline, although some had hypertension or diabetes.
Press conference chairperson, Steen Dalby Kristensen, MD, professor and cardiologist, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, a coffee lover himself, wanted to know if an amount such as 2, 3, or 4 cups of coffee was optimal to see these heart benefits, and whether there were differences in benefits seen with drinking different types of coffee.
The analysis did not identify an optimal coffee intake, Simon said. Compared with not drinking coffee, she continued, drinking instant coffee was associated with a lower risk for all-cause mortality, but not CVD mortality or stroke.
Drinking filtered coffee was associated with lower risks for all three outcomes, but there was no significant difference in risk for MI. Drinking decaffeinated coffee was associated with a lower risk for all-cause and CVD mortality.
“Decaffeinated coffee contains a small amount of caffeine,” Simon pointed out. “Something other than caffeine might have this protective impact,” she suggested.
The researchers and Lichtenstein declare they have no relevant financial disclosures.
European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2021. E-poster presented on August 27, 2021.
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It goes without saying that Android 13 for Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets won’t arrive before the second half of this year. That’s because Samsung runs its own beta program for new Android upgrades. Samsung’s Android 13 One UI 5.0 beta program will take some time to wrap up before the update is released to the public.
There are many devices that are eligible for all of the Android 13 features. That’s because Samsung is now providing up to four years of Android OS upgrades for many of its smartphones and tablets.
Best Android 13 features
Since Android 12 brought significant cosmetic changes, it’s quite possible that the majority of improvements Android 13 makes will be under the hood. There are a few visual changes, though, that have appeared in the developer preview builds.
Android 13 includes a new media player and output picker, the placement for power and settings shortcuts have been changed in the Quick Settings menu, the app drawer icon is being added to the taskbar again, and more.
We may also see an expansion of Google’s Material You color schemes. There may be a new selection of palettes to extract colors from the wallpaper. We’ve already reported that Material You themes are also available on Samsung devices.
We’ve seen Google’s Android upgrades take inspiration from Samsung in the past. One of the new Android 13 features is the ability to control the brightness strength of the device’s flashlight. Samsung devices have already had this feature for several years now.
Expect Google to reveal more information about all of the Android 13 features at the I/O 2022 conference.
Android 13 on Samsung devices
Samsung will release a new version of its One UI custom skin alongside Android 13. There’s a possibility that this version may be called One UI 5.0. As always, we can expect Samsung to introduce new features with it.
Precisely what those features will be remains a mystery right now. That’s because the company hasn’t confirmed anything about One UI 5.0 at this point in time.


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YouTuber Vince Dantoro has created an amazing celebration of The Legend of Zelda series over the course of the last 30 years.
Nicalis has announced that The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth will be released on Wii U sometime in the coming months.
A day after mediocre Star Fox Zero reviews hit the internet, Platinum Games president Tatsuya Minami has stepped down.
NIntendo is releasing their animated short followed by a Nintendo Treehouse presentation for Star Fox Zero.
You’ll be experiencing the world as a deer in the matter of a few days.
We take a look at what critics are saying about Star Fox Zero, which launches tomorrow on the Wii U.
Nintendo has fully outlined their PAX East schedule, which looks very skimpy this year.
In a new piece outlining some of the Nintendo NX development, Emily Rogers has confirmed several unannounced Wii U projects were moved over to...
A fan on the Nintendo subreddit has created an awesome American football game concept called Super Mario Huddle.
Series producer Eiji Aonuma has stated that he’s happy with fan feedback on the Twilight Princess HD remaster.
Watch this Game of Thrones cross-over with The Legend of Zelda to see the story of Hyrule like you’ve never seen it before.
Another former Rare employee has joined the ranks at Playtonic to help with Yooka-Laylee.
Nintendo’s supplemental computing device patent is just a hair’s breadth away from being granted.
Two Tribes developer Collin van Ginkel discusses the studio’s exit from the industry while finishing up their last project.
Shigeru Miyamoto has teamed up with two production companies to create an animated short for Star Fox Zero!
Nintendo has teamed up with Sonic to offer toys from Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam inside their kid’s meals this month.
Watch this Super Mario Bros. world record run as Twitch user Darbian shaves milliseconds off his former best!


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Santander’s marketing director tells Marketing Week the time is right to put its corporate and commercial proposition “in the spotlight” as it launches its first TV ad starring Succession’s Brian Cox.
ITV’s marketing push behind ITVX appears to be paying off, as YouGov BrandIndex data reveals a dramatic improvement in consideration since it replaced ITV Hub.
Much of the growth is being driven by the democratisation of software for SMEs, with web hosting firms Ionos By 1&1 and GoDaddy, as well as financial services brands Sage and Intuit, featuring in the top 10 B2B advertisers on TV last year.
The online retailer says it has progressed towards its strategic goals but remains exposed to overreliance on promotion and returns.
The hygiene business saw growth slow in the UK as the bathing and washing category declined but kept investment in its brand marketing high.
Tom Fishburne is founder of Marketoon Studios. Follow his work at marketoonist.com or on Twitter @tomfishburne See more of the Marketoonist here
Retailers, such as H&M, are increasingly beginning to charge for returns, which isn’t going down well with consumers. So what can marketers do to mitigate the impact?


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Global payments platform Wirex has chosen leading open banking platform Railsbank to be its new Visa card issuer for its Asia-Pacific (APAC) customers.
Railsbank is solely responsible for the card issuing service for Wirex’s rapidly-growing customer base in the Asia Pacific region.
Existing Asia Pacific customers of Wirex Visa cards have been automatically migrated to the Railsbank technology platform, which means they can continue using Wirex’s services as normal.
Railsbank achieved a speedy migration of under 45 days, including extensive testing, during COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, working remotely, but collaboratively with the Wirex team. It was a global effort, with the Wirex project manager based in Ukraine, the compliance team in the UK and Singapore, and its processor in the US.
Using the next-generation of payments infrastructure, Wirex is leading the mainstream adoption of digital currencies. Wirex was the first company in the world to develop a contactless crypto-compatible debit card, allowing customers to convert cryptocurrencies to Singapore dollars and be spent in-store on a Visa card. The Wirex card enables users to spend up to 20 traditional and cryptocurrencies at more than 54 million locations worldwide.
Wirex has experienced considerable growth recently, reaching three million users globally. Expansion in Asia Pacific is focused on providing additional functionality and expansion into new countries. The partnership with Railsbank is key to delivering this growth.
Louisa Murray Head of Sales at Railsbank, said: “We’re delighted to lead the Wirex migration and especially pleased that it took less than 45 days to complete. Fintech companies from all over the world are migrating to Railsbank. We look forward to working closely with Wirex over the coming months.”
Pavel Matveev, CEO and co-founder of Wirex, explained how he believes that entering a new partnership with Railsbank represents a great step forward for the platform’s growth. He said: “Wirex’s strategic partnership with Railsbank allows us to continue empowering our customers to buy, hold, exchange and spend multiple currencies – both traditional and digital.”
Railsbank is headquartered in London and has offices in Singapore, the US, Australia, Lithuania, Munich, the Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.


text: Ten years after his first full-length Go and 2020’s “Exhale”, Icelandic composer, musician and singer-songwriter Jónsi (Sigur Rós, Dark Morph) announced the release of a new solo album. Shiver is out on October 2nd via Krunk Records. It features guest vocals from Robyn and Elizabeth Fraser, as well as production from PC Music’s A. G. Cook. “Swill” is the first excerpt. Watch the official video below.


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Many of Colorado’s ski resorts are planning to upgrade their facilities for the coming ski season.
After last winter’s record-breaking attendance, resorts are reinvesting in their operations in order to keep their old customers and attract new ones. And one group of customers many resorts want to attract is children.
“Resorts have taken great strides in making it easy and accessible to learn how to ski and snowboard, and we see a lot of that this year in terms of new upgrades and where resorts have put attention and energy for the coming season," says Jennifer Rudolph, the spokesperson for Colorado Ski Country USA.
Among the resorts expanding or adding new facilities for children are Arapahoe Basin, Aspen/Snowmass, Loveland, and Burton Riglet Park.
You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. We can help you keep up. The Lookout is a free, daily email newsletter with news and happenings from all over Colorado. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning!


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Glen Scofield, the creator of Dead Space, has revealed a little more about his next game, The Callisto Protocol.
He dedicated his latest tweet to the lighting and the team behind it, which included Dead Space developers.
It’s not easy to create terrifying lighting. Demetrius, Atsushi, and the rest of the lighting crew are incredible. Since Dead Space, these two have been with me. True friends who helped to make The Callisto Protocol a terrifying, terrifying, creepy, and obnoxious game. What you require!
The game will be released on PS5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC in 2022. They can, however, reschedule for 2023. Most likely this summer for the first gameplay show.


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Spanish BNPL fintech SeQura lands €150m financing facility from Citi
Spanish buy now, pay later (BNPL) firm SeQura has landed a €150 million asset-backed financing agreement with US multinational Citi.
The new financing facility, which alongside existing financing partner Chenavari brings the total financing potential to up to €200 million, will support the firm’s expansion across southern Europe.
The funding will also be put towards the development and launch of new payment solutions, SeQura says, as well as allowing the firm to invest in “high-growth” initiatives designed to make the firm the go-to partner for merchants.
Based in Barcelona, SeQura has seen rapid growth while maintaining a “sustainable and profitable” business model, claiming an average growth rate of 100% per year over the last five years. The company is set for a €100 million revenue run-rate by the end of 2023.


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The Ramadan Package worth 7.6 billion has been approved by The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Wednesday, during a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh.
According to the Finance ministry subsidies for 18 essential items at the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) were approved during the meeting. Technical grants for seven different institutions were also approved.
Ministry of Industries and Production presented a ‘Ramadan Relief Fund-2021’ as directed by Prime Minister to provide maximum relief to the marginalized segments of the society during the holy month of Ramadan.
According to the relief package, the subsidized items found in the utility stores include wheat flour, sugar, ghee, oil, pulses (channa, moong, mash), besan, rice, tea, milk, etc. The Ramadan relief package will continue till the moon sighting.
Initially, the total quantum of Ramadan Relief Package-2021 was Rs6.3 billion, including Rs100 million for the media campaigns. However, it has now been enhanced to Rs7.8 billion.
According to the Utility Stores Corporation, (USC) procurement of essential commodities would start from the 1st of April, and the corporation to make the essential items available at 4000 stores around the country.
It was reported last week that the PTI government initially was thinking about a nearly Rs6.3 billion Ramadan package for the USC and had proposed subsidies of Rs20 per kg on dates, Rs10 per kg on basmati and sela rice, an Rs12 subsidy on tota rice, an Rs25 per 1,500ml bottle of beverages, an Rs20 per 800ml bottle of drinks, Rs50 on tea, and Rs20 on milk, among others.
The 7.8 billion package is up from the 2.5 billion rupees package the government of Pakistan last Ramadan. This is important because Year-on-Year National Consumer Price Index is higher by 8.70 percent this year, thus, people need this relief in the religious month of Ramadan.


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Mobile internet users in New York benefit from broadband speeds that are almost four times faster than users in London experience, according to research published today.
The average download speeds for New Yorkers stands at 8.5 Mbps, compared with 2.265 Mbps for Londoners. Average upload speed in New York is 4 Mbps, whereas in London, it is just 1 Mbps.
The figures were reported by data testing company RootMetrics, which carried out 16,707 on-the-ground independent tests across both cities – 11,413 in London and 5,294 in New York.
“It’s quite amazing to find such a vast disparity in services between two cities that are rival destinations for global business and tourism,” said Bill Moore, CEO and president at RootMetrics.
With Amazon and Google launching smart home initiatives, have the telcos missed out on their chance to cash in on this market?
Total Voters: 62


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The Hollywood Reporter’s Victoria Gold and Beth Deutschman have just been promoted vice president of entertainment and vice president of television & media respectively. Both will report to publisher Lynne Segall.
“With the promotion of Victoria and Beth into senior leadership roles, we will be putting even more emphasis on our core business — motion pictures and television,” Segall said in an announcement on the trade’s website, “both of which have seen significant year-over-year increases in trade and consumer ad programs for both our print and digital platforms.”
THR also announced that associate publisher Craig Hitchcock will be leaving the trade “to pursue other opportunities.”
The moves come in the wake of Sharon Waxman’s report that THR is having serious financial struggles–a claim the trade denies.


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Supercell is making three new Clash of Clans games to further expand its fantasy universe
Finnish developer Supercell is finest recognized for its cellular games Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, and at present, it introduced plans to expand that fantasy universe in an enormous means. Supercell revealed that three new Clash titles are in improvement. “On prime of providing a new Clash expertise to present gamers, we would like to broaden Clash to new audiences who haven’t skilled Clash earlier than,” the developer wrote in a weblog publish.
The games embody: Clash Quest, a turn-based tactical journey recreation; Clash Mini, a digital board recreation the place you construct groups of lovely miniatures; and Clash Heroes, a co-op motion roleplaying recreation. Supercell additionally notes that they’re all pretty early in improvement and can doubtless change in some methods as issues progress.
Actually, the developer is considerably notorious for killing games in beta, so some of these titles may not see a large launch in any respect. “Together with your suggestions, we predict these three can turn out to be the nice games that Clash followers deserve,” the developer says. “In the event that they don’t meet the requirements although, we’ll kill them and transfer on to different makes an attempt.”
Even nonetheless, the trio of games represents an enormous push from the corporate to expand its standard fantasy universe; final yr, Supercell additionally launched its first CG animated brief, and in 2016, there was a Clash webseries helmed by writers who labored on The Simpsons. The push additionally reveals the corporate’s progress in recent times. Two of the games — Mini and Heroes — would be the first titles out of Supercell’s new Shanghai studio.
“It’s essential to notice that the Clash of Clans and Clash Royale recreation groups are 100% separate from the three [new] Clash games (and the dev groups behind them),” the developer says. “That means these new Clash games gained’t impression any improvement or assist for current Supercell games.”
There’s no phrase on when any of the new games will begin rolling out in beta, however Supercell says it additionally has a number of different non-Clash games in improvement.
#Supercell #making #Clash #Clans #games #expand #fantasy #universe


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ACI Group Ltd (‘ACI Group’) is celebrating an award win after it scooped the major accolade for ‘Contribution to Wider Supply Chain Industry’ at the Institute of Supply Chain Management (IoSCM) Awards.
IoSCM is the first international institute to represent the interests of the wider supply chain. Its aim is to improve the industry by setting standards and promoting best practice through high-quality training and qualifications.
The award, which recognises the importance of continued contributions in support of businesses within the supply chain industry, was presented to ACI Group at the end of 2023 due to the company’s pioneering efforts to positively disrupt the chain through large-scale digital transformation, which will form a major part of its 2024 business strategy.
Karsten Smet, CEO of ACI Group, commented: “It’s a real honour to be recognised by the IoSCM for our contribution to the wider industry. With increasingly complex supply chains, there is now a real need for distributors to add value at every touch point.
“At ACI Group, we’re developing a next-generation solution to assist our customers and suppliers in navigating obstacles that are becoming much more commonplace. This includes highlighting the real cost of sustainability, such as the most effective routes to market, product choices and the potential impact of import/export regulations, to enable businesses to make informed decisions.
“Thank you to the IoSCM for recognising our efforts in the industry, and to the ACI team for making all this happen. Last year, we made significant in-roads in our journey to provide service, technology, and sustainability in the supply chain, so in 2024 we’re hoping to continue that trend!”
The company’s stalwart vision to improving the supply chain through digital technologies has also resulted in one previous award win for SME Business of the Year at the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Awards and several other award nominations last year. These included:
- CPHI Awards – Supply Chain Excellence in Pharma Finalist
- Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce – Best Use of Technology Finalist
- SME National Business Awards – ‘Sustainability’, ‘Family Business of the Year’, ‘Business of the Year: Less than 50 Employees’ Finalist
For more information on ACI Group and its activities, please visit acigroup.biz/


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Retailers failing to maximize use of social shopping websites
Consumers today are increasingly discovering products via social commerce websites yet, according to new research from Kenshoo and DataPop, very few retailers are posting their products on such websites.
According to Kenshoo and DataPop's inaugural 'Search and Social Commerce Index', search sites such as Google and Bing continue to be huge drivers of traffic.
However, social commerce websites such as Pinterest and Polyvore are also driving sales, high quality sales, yet many retailers are not posting their products to such sites. Kenshoo's analysis of more than 40 retailers and their 2.9 million published products found that just 1.7% of products are being posted on social commerce properties.
Retailers are also missing out on product coverage by failing to post products within those categories that consumers search for most often. Just 7.2% of products in these categories were posted to social commerce sites.
And finally, retailers aren't tailoring their social content to suit search behaviors of consumers on social commerce websites. Most (70%) use product names for social post titles whereas most consumers are searching by product attribute such as color, material, style and even size.
"With search and social driving 54% of traffic to retailers' sites, the two have become the most important channels going into this holiday season," says Tal Halpern, product manager at DataPop. "Retailers should use the index to better understand the opportunity to merchandise across the channels, both through understanding the current industry benchmarks as well the industry opportunities."
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By Chris Yow
The Associated Press reported today Trussville-based Fontaine Fifth Wheel has agreed to recall around 6,800 trailer hitches it produced, according to the report.
The product, known as the Ultra LT, was manufactured from 2009-13, but was discontinued in 2013 as part of a project to reduce the number of products the company produced and the interchangeability of parts.
A fatal traffic accident in Ohio killing two men involved the Ultra LT fifth wheel product, and as a result brought attention to the product.
Fontaine maintains the product is not defective, and released a statement on the matter reading, “While Fontaine does not believe that the Ultra LT is in any way defective when properly operated and maintained per Fontaine’s instructions and in compliance with federal and state laws, Fontaine has decided, after further discussion with (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and in the interest of bringing a timely and efficient resolution to this issue, to conduct the campaign as a safety recall.”
The company said it reached out to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in May to discuss doing a field campaign to replace the remainder of the Ultra LT fifth wheels sold in the U.S.
Fontaine, however, still did not consider there to be a safety-related defect, their statement read. The company, “decided to replace the units to provide more robust feedback to operators, to reduce the potential for operator error and to eliminate the need to continue to stock parts and repair kits for a discontinued product,” according to the statement.
The NHTSA began their investigation a month later in June, according to the Associated Press.
According to the statement from Fontaine Fifth Wheel, the company engaged in a product enhancement exercise to modify the locking wedge on the first generation Ultra LT fifth wheels to make it more likely the product would fail a tug test if not properly locked or inspected by operators. The campaign was followed by a technical service bulletin to customers of the locking mechanism that when repeatedly coupled improperly, the lock could show damage. The company then added production changes to the design to make it less likely to damage from improper use.
Fontaine wrote that as part of the recall, the company will replace all Ultra LT units with the newer Ultra NT model at no charge, including up to $100 in labor costs associated with the replacement.


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Volvo will end production of the C70 and C70 hardtop convertible, as well as shutter the Uddevalla plant that builds it, according to a recent Volvo press release.
How Volvo designers made this concept is an interesting story.
Volvo unveiled the Concept You at Frankfurt Motor Show this morning, a four-door pillarless sports coupe that is rumored to be the basis for upcoming large and midsize cars from the Swedish automak
The Volvo animal-detecting system is based on a radar sensor and an infra-red camera, the latter important because the system must work at dawn and dusk, when most collisions with wild animals occu
The maiden test drives at the international forum in Europe this weekend were the latest step by Volvo in its Herculean effort to bring high-performance electric-powered cars to showrooms for purch
When it comes to Volvo most people know its big S80 sedan well.
Many will read the latest reviews and safety information from sites like JD Power and Consumer Reports.
Female motoring writers from around the globe made their choices for the 2011 winner and the voting was so close that both the BMW 5 Series and Citroen DS3 tied for the top spot.
It took all of two minutes for the 2011 Volvo S60 to grow on me. Hopping on the highway, I was impressed by the quick acceleration offered by the standard 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that delivers 300 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. According to published reports, it can hit 0-60 in six seconds, which is more than fast enough in real world driving situations.
Volvo is saying the V60 is the first plug-in diesel hybrid in the world and it might technically be correct because it appears to be the first being brought to market.


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Ex-Im's Global Access for Small Business Forum Provides New Jersey Businesses with Tools & Resources to Gain Competitive Edge in Selling to Foreign Buyers
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J., April 21, 2011
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Today, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) and Congressman Rush D. Holt (NJ-12) cosponsored a Global Access for Small Business forum at Monmouth College. More than 80 representatives from New Jersey small businesses participated in the forum to learn how to export more goods and services.
The event was sponsored by Ex-Im Bank, Congressman Rush D. Holt, Monmouth University's Leon Hess Business School, and the U.S. Department of Commerce Trenton Export Assistance Center.
"With 95% of the world's customers outside the United States, it is critical that we provide small business owners with the resources they need to successfully compete in the global marketplace," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Increasing American exports is vital to our economic recovery, and I will continue to host forums across the country that highlight the benefits of exporting."
"Last year, New Jersey businesses exported $32 billion in goods, up 18 percent from 2009.? Facilitating trade between U.S. companies and buyers in new markets abroad is an essential component for long-term economic growth.? However, until recently the Ex-Im Bank has maintained a low profile," said Congressman Holt.? "Under Chairman Hochberg's leadership, the Bank has boosted financing of trades to record levels, especially for small-and medium-sized businesses.? He is one of the leaders in President Obama's goal to double U.S. exports in the next five years, and I am pleased that he was able to share his vision and expertise with us today."
In his presentation, Chairman Hochberg gave an overview of Ex-Im Bank's new initiative, Global Access for Small Business, aimed at increasing the number of small businesses across the United States who export goods and services produced by U.S. workers. It is an integral part of President Obama's National Export Initiative (NEI) mission being led by the Commerce Department to double U.S. exports by 2015.
Global Access is supported by a wide variety of business and financial and government partners, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and the Bank's 60-plus City/State Partners located throughout the U.S. This year, Ex-Im Bank is planning to hold more than 20 Global Access forums around the country. For more information, please see Global Access for Small Business on the Bank's home page at www.exim.gov.
Panel discussions at today's event featured success stories by local small-business owners and presentations by regional representatives of federal agencies, including Ex-Im Bank and the Department of Commerce. ?Attendees also received one-on-one trade counseling. Among the local businesses highlighted were:
- Gaffney-Kroese, a provider of industrial equipment machinery instruments headquartered in Piscataway. ?The company has received $25 million in working capital support from Ex-Im Bank, which has enabled them to export nearly $115 million in products to India, Peru, and Italy. ?Gaffney-Kroese supports 160 American jobs. ?
- Hoffman International, headquartered in Piscataway, is a full service dealer of new and used heavy lifting and construction equipment. ?The company has worked with Ex-Im since 1992 and is exporting in 80 countries. ?
Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital loan guarantees, export-credit insurance, and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services.
Ex-Im Bank is self-sustaining and is able to cover all operating costs and potential losses while also producing revenue. The Bank has generated $3.4 billion for U.S. taxpayers over the past five years.
Ex-Im Bank also reported it authorized $10.8 billion for the first five months of fiscal year 2011 (Oct. 2010 through Feb. 2011), supporting $13 billion in U.S. exports and approximately 93,000 American jobs. ?The Bank's support of U.S. small business exports also grew to $1.7 billion, compared with $1.5 billion for the same five-month period a year ago.
SOURCE Export-Import Bank of the United States


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New Delhi, May 24: Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has said it is organising a campaign, under which it will offer a range of services including free checking of air conditioners, at its 3,000 service workshops across the country.
Under the campaign--'Beat The Heat', the company will also offer free top wash, TrueValue evaluation and exchange. The camps will be held on May 25 and May 26 across the country, MSIL said in a statement.
"At this time, with summer at its peak, customers obviously want air-conditioning in their cars to deliver top performance. We want to address this for as many customers as we can, as soon as possible," Maruti Suzuki Chief Operating Officer (Marketing and Sales) Mayank Pareek said.
"We are therefore using the entire national service network of Maruti Suzuki to service customers over a single weekend," he added.
The company expects to attend to 85,000 customers across the country during the two-day initiative.
As part of the campaign, trained MSIL service team will check air conditioning system in Maruti Suzuki vehicles and will also suggest remedial measures, as required, to achieve optimum performance and comfort level, the company said.
MSIL has the country's largest customer service network of over 3,000 service workshops in 1,400 cities across India.


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Google is set to accelerate Pakistan’s gaming industry and its respective startups through its exclusive program for the country called the ‘Gaming Growth Lab’. The Gaming Growth Lab is a 5 weeks virtual program where rising mobile gaming companies will get the opportunity to expand their product and their business overall through Google’s support.
The gaming ecosystem in Pakistan is an ever-rising market that has been on a tear for the last couple of years. This includes many gaming studios that have developed games that have caught the attention of Silicon Valley companies. This ecosystem is slowly expanding to the point where these studios are now delving deep into virtual and augmented reality-based games where players can potentially even earn monetary rewards through blockchain.
Seeing the amount of potential these Pakistan-based game studios and startups bring to the table, Google is ready to invest in the country’s gaming industry where the company would pool in key experts and industry veterans in areas such as Cloud, Ads, AdMob, and Play in order to help these businesses expand. The Gaming Growth Lab will include immersive educational workshops and mentoring sessions where gaming companies would receive valuable insights and guidance.
Moreover, this program is divided into 4 core program pillars also known as the ‘4D structure’ which are primarily like modules that applicants would have to go through once selected. The most interesting fact about this program is that all the content is provided in both English and Urdu in order to eliminate any language barrier.
However, it is to be noted that this program will focus on prominent game companies/studios and rising startups that are looking to create an impact. To know more about the program and how to register, click here.
The program will commence on March 1st, 2022.


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Writing for Conducivemag.com, Nicki Lisa Cole provides a brief history of the production and consumption of coffee, highlighting that the grain has become a massive international business at the expense of slave labor, with this legacy still visible in the low wages paid to the industry's workers.
Cole reports that, "according to the International Coffee Organization (ICO), the U.S. is the world’s leading importer of coffee... with over 415 million cups of coffee drunk everyday. Brazil is the largest exporter, accounting for nearly a quarter of all exports. The second largest exporter is Vietnam, constituting 19.4%, followed by Colombia (9%) and Indonesia (8.7%). Peru, Honduras, India, and Guatemala each account for about 4%. Nicaragua and Costa Rica each contribute 1.5%".
Coffee's worldwide significance is evidenced by the fact that 75 million people depend on it to make a living, including pickers, farmers, roasters, exporters, wholesalers and shops as well as all the related intermediaries and services.
The variety of coffee which is considered the best quality, is starting to have disadvantages compared to the robusta variety, both due to changes in consumer trends, as well as price.
This is the warning given by experts who gathered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. According to the manager of the research firm Olam Europe, Neil Rossner, the Central American countries affected by the rust blight, "failed to meet the challenge presented by Brazil and Vietnam", the world's largest producers of grain. "The Arabica segment is in crisis and the gourmet coffee strategy is threatened," he added.
Coffee sales abroad in the years 2011-2012 are estimated to increase by 17%.
A 17% increase in export of the harvest which begins in August and ends in October 2012, is expected by the National Coffee Association (Anacafe).
If these estimates are met it would mean that for the first time Guatemala will export the equivalent of $1,000 million worth in bags of coffee, a figure which could be achieved partly thanks to high grain prices that currently prevail internationally.
Geisha, one of the finest varieties of coffee in Panama, has reached $374 a kilo, the highest price paid in the international market.
There are approximately 30 members of the Speciality Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP) who grow and export this product. "In high mountainous areas in the province of Chiriqui, located on the border with Costa Rica, some 400 miles west of Panama City, a nest of just over 40 farms grow, as well as Geisha, other varieties of fine Panamanian coffee such as Pacamara, Catuai, Caturra, Bourbon or Typica ", reported Prensa.com.
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The Y2K effect, the comeback of the early 2000s aesthetics or the unusual convergence between future and past in the form of contrast were some of the phenomena that the international content platform Depositphotos predicted for 2022 in its Creative Trends forecast one year ago. These last 12 months have shown that they were not wrong and everything that they anticipated has come true. Now the platform, which has a library of over 250 million stock photos, videos, vectors, and audio tracks, has just released its annual creative trends forecast, Creative Trends 2023: Ready to Escape?
We are living in a historic moment in which the speed of change, the rise of micro-trends –which some people say will end up exploding as they cannot coexist with so many phenomena at the same time – and the importance of social media when it comes to going viral or impact of technology have configured an unprecedented ecosystem with particular characteristics. As important as understanding the reality in which we're living is trying to anticipate what is to come, being able to adapt ourselves to changes and knowing how to make communication an effective tool in each context.
This is what Depositphotos is pursuing with the annual release of its Creative Trends forecast. Together with experts from all around the world, they examine themes, styles and ideas that will influence creative communication. The aim of the project is to give brands and content creators more understanding of the reality that awaits them and how to adapt to these changing contexts.
Anime thrill, back to the wild, a wonderful age, an ethereal world, an eye on sustainability, wellness upgrade and a blast of joy are the seven items mentioned in their report, which you can read in full here. Seven characteristics that require a detailed explanation accompanied by concrete examples to fully understand the impact they will have in the coming months. And that is precisely what Depositphotos offers us, after having built a forecast of creative trends that is a benchmark worldwide with a maximum success rate in their predictions. We cannot forget that in the process of developing it, they collaborate with industry professionals to provide even more insights.
If we dive into the first characteristic that points to the rise of anime, we should not overlook the Y2K nostalgia trend and rapid streaming service growth that they already alluded to in their report last year. And if we talk about concrete examples, we must mention world-known brands such as adidas or Acura, which have started integrating anime aesthetics into their marketing campaigns. It looks like this trend will continue with us going one step further, and we can't wait to see how brands and content creators shape it through their personal creative visions.
If in 2022 we witnessed a return to normality, not forgetting the covid outbreaks that are happening in some countries, in 2023 travel will focus more on responsible and conscious experiences. Outdoor experiences, which will continue to be highly coveted after the multiple lockdowns we have had to face in recent years, will go hand in hand with greater environmental awareness, a search for balance in nature and an increase in reducing our impact on the planet Earth. Depositphotos also mentions the increased interest in hiking and camping aesthetics.
“Older people deserve the same high-quality and highly-customized services we typically address for others,” says the director of the UK National Innovation Center for Aging (NICA), Nic Palmarini, about one of the most important points of the report. This characteristic has to do with the ageing of the world population and how brands and companies must understand and include this phenomenon in their strategic approaches. From the search for authenticity to campaigns that combine people of different ages without falling into clichés or marked stereotypes, this is one of the great challenges we will be facing this year.
Regarding the ethereal world, another of the highlights of the forecast, Depositphotos says this: “drawing inspiration from 20th-century magical realism, content creators will turn to hazy and blurry effects, deep shadows, and compelling compositions in their works.” From moonlight nights to dreamy landscapes or inspiring nature, these elements will be more present than ever in creative visions and artistic universes during 2023. Visual artist Taysa Jorge also alludes to how digital photo manipulation is gaining value again thanks to NFTs.
Continuing with sustainability, not only the search for less impact or greater environmental awareness will be fundamental in consumer experiences. They will also do so in the search for solutions, in the form of collaborations with engineers or scientists or in creative and productive processes by brands. Recycling logos or renewable sources are some of the most notable points that we will be able to see this year because, as Núria Vila, creative director and designer with a positive environmental impact, rightly says, “less is more.”
The AR and VR-powered wellness experiences will be implemented by brands in their marketing activities, taking them to new places and contexts, trying to respond to the demands of a public that seeks new experiences and pursues well-being at its highest level. Important to understand this phenomenon are elements such as the metaverse, meditative music or augmented reality business, capable of creating new immersive experiences that surprise us all.
Last but not least, let’s go with the seventh point: a blast of joy. “My advice for brands that would like to integrate maximalism into their communication is to bring more colour and people who are authentic,” says Thalia Castro-Vega, one of the expert contributors to the 2023 forecast. “Move away from the overtly pristine sets and models, and show something that is more appealing because it feels real and relatable.” Among the trends for next year, we must highlight the search for activities and experiences that generate dopamine with an ultimate goal: to make us feel happy and alive.
We cannot ignore the appearance of the “Romanticise your life” and “Dopamine dressing” movements, paving the way for a new trend that will take off in the next few months. Don't forget that you can read their annual creative trends forecast, Creative Trends 2023: Ready to Escape? Here.


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A roundup of the most interesting food, wine and spirits stories on the web recently (because even Al Gore, who invented it, doesn't have time to read it all).
Katz’s Deli is on the move:
Several weeks ago we reported that Katz’s, the legendary deli on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, was building a production facility in New Jersey and planning to ship worldwide (The Global Power of Pastrami). Now it seems they’ve opened in Dekalb Market Hall in Brooklyn, a culinary center showcasing 40 vendors “who reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the borough.”
Here’s one blogger’s account of a Katz’s pastrami sandwich in Brooklyn:
But can it clap its hands and stamp its feet?
An expert says that Sherry has the same complexities as flamenco:
As they say in the wine business, a depletion is a depletion.
French vandals smash up more wineries, because they can:
Amazon is buying Whole Foods, and the world is coming to an end.
But at least we’ll have our kale and quinoa delivered by drone:
And speaking of the end of the world: Constellation Brands, one of the foremost purveyors of mediocre beverages (along with a few good ones), has bought the Napa cult winery Schrader Cellars:
Yes, but Vegas bars have been staffed by robots for years.
Automation hits beverage hospitality:


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Tech Data To Carry Sepaton's Virtual Tape Libraries
The Clearwater, Fla.-based distributor will sell the products through its Advanced Infrastructure Solutions [AIS] division, becoming the first distributor to carry Sepaton.
Tech Data announced the pact at its TechSelect conference this week in Salt Lake City. Solution providers can present their customers with virtual tape solutions to replace tape storage, said Pete Peterson, senior vice president and general manager of Tech Data's AIS group.
"We think [the solution] has an opportunity to provide value in the SMB community," Peterson said.
Through AIS, Tech Data will distribute Sepaton's S2100-DS2 series, targeting SMB and small-enterprise applications. The S2100-DS2 series stores information faster than traditional tape devices and also cuts data restoration and retrieval times during business continuity and disaster recovery situations, according to Tech Data. Sepaton also has applications for enhanced data protection, compression and replication.
Sepaton chose Tech Data as a means to boost revenue through the channel, said Michael Sutkowski, vice president of business development at Sepaton.
"It really was 'the perfect storm.' Pete's new program focused on AIS was intended to go upmarket. We intended to go down market. We needed a partner to do that," he said.
At the TechSelect conference, Tech Data held its first Infrastructure Management Solutions track to attract solution providers to the more complex solutions offered through the AIS division.
Sepaton sells directly to about 35 VARs to target the Fortune 1000 market now, Sepaton said. He wouldn't say how many Tech Data customers he hopes to add, but he said solution providers must be willing to make an investment, along with Sepaton and Tech Data, because of the complexity of the solutions.
"We want a few good partners that will be determined by their skill set and willingness to train," he said.


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Harry Potter Theme Park-Plans Finally Unveiled
Brace yourselves die-hard Harry Potter Fans, the plans for a Harry Potter attraction in Universal Studios have finally been unveiled.
This sure-to-be popular attraction is expected to premier in 2016 at the earliest. The L.A. version of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (in Universal Studios Orlando) will feature a recreation of the Hogwarts Castle as well as themed rides, restaurants and shops. Can you taste the butterbeer already? This famous frosty non-alcoholic drink from the Potter books is sure to be a favorite, in addition to many other magical treats.
The attraction will not disappoint the loyal fans of the Harry Potter series, assures Mark Liberman, president of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The millions of fans who have read the books and seen the movies are very demanding, and we’re very concerned about not disappointing them,” he commented. “It’s going to immediately be at the top of any attraction L.A. has ever seen.”
The magic of Harry Potter’s world is expected to boost the Los Angeles economy by generating over $417 in spending, affirms the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. This attraction is also expected to create more than 1,000 jobs with over 1 million additional visitors expected to attend.
The success of the Wizarding World in Universal Studios, Orlando is foretelling of the success that can be expected from a similar Los Angeles attraction. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando increased attendance in the theme park of over 68% within the first three months.
To make room for this attraction, the Gibson Amphitheater, which seats 6,100 guests and has featured artists such Eric Clapton, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra will be repurposed to allow for the construction of the Harry Potter themed attraction.


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Memphis Meats the “clean” or alternative meat startup has a mission to eradicate protein that is sourced from livestock.
The company, based in Silicon Valley announced an investment from the type of business it wants to disrupt: Tyson Foods, which is one of the largest meat producers in the world.
Tyson produces close to 20% of beef, chicken and pork in the United States and invested in the startup through the venture capital arm it has. It will join investors like Cargill, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, DFJ and Atomico. The deal’s terms were not released but Memphis announced that the funding would go to its research and development and expand the overall Memphis team.
CEO and co-founder of Memphis Meats Uma Valeti has said that he pursued a range of different investors intentionally that represent different parts of the financial and food ecosystem.
In the case of accepting investments from Cargill and Tyson, Valeti said that Memphis would benefit from the deep knowledge they have of meat distribution. He added that they have a real understanding of how to scale up and will help the business to learn a great deal about putting meat on the shelf.
President and CEO of Tyson Tom Hayes said in a blog post on the company’s website that the investment could appear to be counterintuitive, including to some who are inside our own company. However, he explained the world has a ballooning population and the No. 1 thing that consumers say they want in a diet is protein, and companies such as Tyson will need to figure a way to answer the demands and in a sustainable way.
Tyson also invested in Beyond Meat, which attempts to replicate meat taste using plants. Memphis is attempting to create meat through growing it with the use of animal cells.
Hayes wrote that Tyson believes it will take both traditional and innovative approaches to succeed.
At the same time, Valeti believes “cultured” meat, as it is called by the industry will win out eventually. However, for now plant-based, cultured and meat from animals will be side by side, and when all the dust is settled taste will win and price will win as well.
The reception of an investment from Big Food in today’s alternative meat industry represents a twist of sorts, as it has given validation to an industry that is beginning to grow.


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By Christopher Niesche
Small-business owners who want to get the best price when they sell out should start preparing for the sale years in advance, experts say.
''Depending on how complicated the business is, it could take up to three years to get it in the right shape for sale. So long-term planning is essential,'' says Daryl Johnson, the executive general manager of nabbusiness.
''There are two key issues businesses need to consider. First, ensure your financial records are up to date and second, that your management structure will enable the new owner to transition into the business easily … you should think about these as early as possible.''
Businesses need to have their financial records up to date so they demonstrate a record of good cash flow. Bringing forward or delaying major purchases can also help even out cash flow.
''If it is complicated or difficult to get a good overview, potential buyers may go elsewhere,'' Johnson says.
Mark Pollock, a partner at BDO's private client practice, says businesses should go one step further and always be ready to be sold so they can take advantage of offers that come out of the blue.
''If they haven't done all the planning, the buyer might look at the business and say, 'It's not what I thought it was,' and look at someone else's,'' he says.
The environment for selling businesses is tough as the economy goes through a soft patch. A survey earlier this year by the Australian Institute of Business Brokers found SMEs are selling for less and taking longer to sell than they were three months earlier.
Peter Wallace, the New South Wales president of the AIBR, says potential buyers want a business they can take over with relative ease and with low risk.
''The key issue we find is to effectively separate the owner from the business,'' Wallace says.
"For a lot of businesses at the small end, the owner is the business. All the intellectual property is in their head, and all the systems are in their head and that makes it difficult to extract that knowledge so that someone coming into the business can take it over.
''Business owners need to document their business processes for a new owner to take over, and be prepared to work with the new owners in a handover period after the sale.''
Owners of retail businesses should ensure the lease has at least a year to run or an option period, and is not too expensive, Wallace says.
Vendors could consider coming to an arrangement with the landlord before the business is put on the market.
Potential buyers will also want to see that other contracts, such as sale and supply contracts, are put in place before they buy a business.
Pollock says owners need to make sure their business is structured so they will pay the minimum tax when they sell.
He cites the example of a Perth family business that sold recently for $8 million. The owners were left with a tax bill of $1.5 million, but could have avoided paying anything if the business had been structured differently.
Small businesses - which the Australian Tax Office defines as those that turn over less than $2 million or have net assets of less than $6 million - receive concessions that could mean they pay no capital gains tax or stamp duties on the sale.


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The second Digital China Summit is scheduled to be held from May 6 to 8 in Fuzhou, the capital city of East China's Fujian province. Guomai is invited to exhibit its innovative products of fifth-generation mobile network (5G) and Internet of Things (IoT) in the No.8 exhibition hall of Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center. The company, which provides the summit with support in IoT application to ensure its success, will also deliver a keynote speech at the Digital Fujian Sub-forum.
Exhibition of Products of 5G and IoT innovation
Focusing on 5G and IoT development, Guomai combines the experience from traditional industries and the technological breakthroughs to offer traditional trade both IoT technology and product solutions. Taking part in the summit as a leading provider of IoT technology and services, the firm will share the newest applications of 5G and IoT in smart traffic.
Delivering a keynote speech at Digital Fujian Sub-forum
Growing hand in hand with Digital Fujian and Digital China, Guomai has concentrated on the integration and innovation of technology for a long time. It has obtained great prestige from the society as it achieved fast development. For the summit, Guomai, a representative of prestigious companies of Fujian province, is asked to give a keynote speech at Digital Fujian Sub-forum to talk about its ups and downs in technological innovation.
Safeguarding the success of Digital China Summit
Responsible for the summit’s security system, Guomai uses advanced IoT technology for face-recognition, contactless security check, and a full angle surveillance system to guarantee the quality of the summit’s services and provide strong support for the event to unfold. This summit will also be a chance for Guomai to test its achievements in the digital area.
Time: May 6 to 8, 2019 (9:00-17:00)
Venue: No.8 exhibition hall (8B03-02) of Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center
Layout of the exhibition hall
Layout of Guomai’s exhibition area


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Shares of One 97 Communications, Paytm's parent, continued their downward trend for the third straight session on Wednesday to hit fresh one-year lows. The stock further plunged 7.70 per cent to hit a record low of Rs 440.35, but no near-term relief is likely for the stock. Technical charts paint a grim outlook, with analysts suggesting Rs 350 and even sub-Rs 300 targets.
On Wednesday, a total of 17.16 lakh shares changed hands, amounting to a turnover of Rs 80.02 crore. The company's market capitalisation (m-cap) stood at Rs 29,361.31 crore, down more than Rs 90,000 crore from its peak value of around Rs 1.2 lakh crore.
Ravi Singal, CEO of GCL Securities said, "Investors must wait. The stock will take time to reach the bottom. It can test Rs 350 levels after some consolidation. It is possible to accumulate near these levels in the long term."
Manoj Kumar Dalmia, Founder and Director of Proficient equities Private Ltd, said, "Paytm shares look weak on the weekly timeframe and might continue their downward journey till a level of Rs 292. Investors can avoid buying this stock for now as they might suffer further losses."
Paytm finally settled 5.20 per cent lower at Rs 452.20 today. The stock has plunged nearly 28 per cent over the past month. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, it has declined 66 per cent.
Ravi Singh, Vice-President and Head of Research at Share India, said, "Paytm share price may continue its selling spree amid the continuous dumping of shareholdings by large funds. This selling pressure by pre-IPO investors may not stop soon."
The stock saw an 11 per cent drop in the previous session after Macquarie analysts suggested that Jio Financial Services can pose a "significant risk" for the digital payments firm. Reliance Industries (RIL) recently announced that it would demerge its financial services business and rename it Jio Financial Services (JFS).
Jio Financial Services, Macquarie said, has articulated that it plans to launch a consumer and merchant lending business based on proprietary data analytics to complement and supplement the traditional credit bureau-based underwriting. Macquarie said the focus seems to be on consumer and merchant lending, which is the mainstay of NBFCs like Bajaj Finance and fintechs like Paytm.
"Among NBFCs (non-banking financial services)/fintech, Bajaj Finance and Paytm could be the most at risk," Macquarie Capital Securities (India) Pvt Ltd stated in its report. In contrast to the massive hit in Paytm stock, Bajaj Finance traded higher in today's deals.
Paytm made a tepid debut at the exchanges in November last year. Since then, the shares have mostly recorded losses.
At Wednesday's low levels, the stock was down 79.52 per cent from its IPO issue price of Rs 2,150.
Meanwhile, Indian equity benchmarks settled on a higher note for the second straight session today, led by gains in state-owned lenders.
Copyright©2022 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today


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Beachfront Media Debuts Video SDKs for iOS and Android
Giving developers a way to add video to new or existing mobile apps, Beachfront Media today introduced video SDKs (software development kits) for iOS and Android devices. Beachfront, which creates online video solutions for publishers and advertisers, says the offering is a developer-centric version of its self-service video app creation tool, Beachfront Builder. The SDKs give developers additional customization options and work with existing apps.
Using the Beachfront SDKs, developers can add videos from any source that Beachfront supports, including YouTube, Dailymotion, Vimeo, media RSS feeds, and others. They can also use one dashboard to manage video content for a variety of devices. The dashboard displays analytics including viewer usage and engagement.
Customers are also able to monetize videos with the SDKs, since they work with the Beachfront.iO video ad platform.
"With this announcement, we are removing the complex challenges associated with multi-platform video in app environments. Our Video SDKs make it easy to deploy, measure, and monetize video into apps, across every device, platform or experience,” says Frank Sinton, the CEO and founder of Beachfront Media.
The iOS and Android SDKs are available on GitHub.
In January, Beachfront announced that Beachfront Builder now creates apps for several connected TV platforms.
The video app development platform now creates apps for LG and Samsung connected televisions, as well as Google TV.


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ND Paper, an Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based producer of pulp, paper and packaging, has announced plans to launch a new recycled pulping operation at its division in Old Town, Maine, in commemoration of Earth Day. ND Paper is the U.S. division of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Ltd., a large containerboard producer in China and Asia with $10 billion of annual sales.
According to a news release from ND Paper, the new production line will make about 200 metric tons of unbleached recycled pulp per day at full capacity. The Old Town mill plans to consume regionally sourced recovered paper, mostly old corrugated containers (OCC), as its primary feedstock for the new recycled pulping operation. ND Paper says it expects to be at full capacity for both production and staffing of this line by the third quarter of the year.
"Adding this line helps increase production capacity at the mill, thus improving our economic capabilities and impact," ND Paper tells Recycling Today, adding that the new capacity also helps to allow ND Paper "to take another step toward fiber integration for our worldwide manufacturing platform."
At full operation, the recycled pulping operation will support about 20 new jobs. ND Paper also plans to spend money locally and elsewhere in Maine on services such as fiber sourcing, operational and maintenance supplies and logistics.
According to ND Paper, the Old Town mill began operations in 1860 as a sawmill, moving into pulp products in 1882 as the Penobscot Chemical Fiber Co. After multiple ownership changes over the years, the facility was idled in October 2015. ND Paper purchased the shuttered mill in October 2018 and has since invested millions of dollars into its restart. In addition to unbleached recycled pulp, the mill produces unbleached softwood kraft pulp.
“We are thrilled to start our new recycled pulping operation at the Old Town mill,” says Bruce Hogan, vice president and general manager of the Old Town division. “This multimillion-dollar investment from ND Paper represents another vote of confidence in the State of Maine’s forest products sector, the Old Town Division, and our vision to build a sustainable company for the next 100 years.”
ND Paper operates four mills in the U.S., as well as a corrugated packaging plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin.


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Aldi missed its estate expansion target last year due to the disruption of the pandemic, opening 37 stores instead of the 50 planned.
The discounter has opened 50 stores or more annually for the past five years. With around 900 UK stores currently, it needs to open more than 50 a year to reach its long-term target of 1,200 branches by 2025.
In July last year, after the initial lockdown period, Aldi said its store opening programme was on course, with one to be opened a week between then and Christmas, creating 1,200 new permanent jobs.
However, delays to construction work and store fitouts under Covid restrictions have forced it to push some of the 2020 target into 2021.
The long-term target of 1,200 by 2025 is unchanged and the business is confident it can make up for lost progress this year.
Lidl, which has a long-term target of 1,000 stores by 2023, also said last July its expansion programme remained on course, with 25 stores to open in the following six months, building on its estate of over 800 branches.
A Lidl spokesman this week said it was “on track to open more than 50 stores this financial year”, which runs to the end of February.
An assumption that Aldi opened about 50 stores as usual last year has led analysts to argue the discounter should have seen greater Christmas sales growth than it did. Aldi’s Christmas trading update put its year-on-year sales growth at 10.6% in the four weeks to 24 December, while Lidl reported 11% growth YoY in the four weeks to 29 December.


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The Nordstrom anniversary sale is officially here.
After teasing the event through a comedic marketing campaign starring YouTuber Liza Koshy and “New Girl” actress Hannah Simone, the Seattle-based retailer is ready to host its annual shopping spree on everything from home goods and beauty products to clothing, accessories and (of course) footwear.
Unlike other major sales, this one isn’t marked by clearance racks of last season’s items to clean out inventory for the colder months ahead; rather, it offers brand-new arrivals at extremely discounted prices for a limited time only, including everyday essentials and men’s, women’s and children’s brands. Among the sale’s most sought-after names are Alice & Olivia, Nike, Rag & Bone and Topshop.
Busy customers will also be able to make use of the retailer’s “buy online, pick up in store” service, which allows them to shop their picks on its e-commerce site and simply head over to their local Nordstrom after an hour for pickup. (Nordstrom has 373 stores in 40 states and Canada — find yours on Nordstrom.com.
The only catch: To shop it now, you’ll have to be one of Nordstrom’s cardholders, who are given a first shot at the sale during an early access period that starts today in the U.S. and July 17 in Canada. Otherwise you would have to wait until July 20 to reap the benefits of the store’s massive markdowns.
The last day of the anniversary sale is August 5, with prices going back up on the 6th.
I Tried It: Nordstrom’s Personal Styling Service Is a Game-Changer for Moms


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Microsoft is definitely not slowing down with their desire to recoup money from anyone using Google’s Android OS. They already get $5 from HTC for every device, and are now set on getting $15 from the largest Android supplier there is. With Samsung pushing out over 3 million Galaxy S II phones in the past few months, not to mention their countless other devices, Microsoft would stand to make a very decent profit. There is no telling if or when Microsoft will stop getting Manufacturers to pay licensing fee.
Samsung, however, will likely try to negotiate to a lesser fee, seeing how they are a key partner in Windows Phone devices. Between Microsoft and Apple, it seems Samsung can’t catch s break. Let’s hope they get this all sorted out soon.


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Technical program will also focus on water-energy nexus, energy efficiency and IAQ in industrial spaces, and more
November 17, 2016
In light of recent action to amend the Montreal Protocol to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs globally, industry experts will share guidance on how to incorporate low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants at the ASHRAE 2017 Winter Conference.
Growth driven by stringent laws and standards, strengthening cold chain across developing countries
November 10, 2016
The global industrial refrigeration systems market is expected to reach $23.22 billion by 2022, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.24 percent between 2016 and 2022, according to a report published by MarketsandMarkets.
Starting in 2024, the three HFC refrigerants will be deemed “unacceptable” in new liquid chillers under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program.
A company has invented and patented a method for freezing edible alcohol products. The consistency of the products ranges from hard and solid through sorbet-like, and all stay frozen in the temperature range of 24°-28° without affecting taste, consistency, or alcohol content.
As heat energy is removed from a substance, its molecular activity will decrease; as heat energy is added, its molecular activity will increase. The intensity of this molecular activity affects the temperature of the substance.
Gains will stem primarily from the rising number of food retail outlets in developing countries
October 31, 2016
World demand for refrigerated display cases is expected to increase 4.2 percent per year through 2020 to $7 billion, approximating sales advances for commercial refrigeration equipment as a whole, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.
Danfoss recently held its 28th EnVisioneering Symposium, Refrigerants2Sustainability, in New Orleans to continue the dialogue among equipment manufacturers, end users, utilities, and regulators on the path ahead for the commercial refrigeration industry.


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Headquartered in London, cloud-based SaaS platform Cygnetise has secured £2.5 million in a pre-series A funding round. It was led by UK investment syndicate Adjuvo (which backed Zen Educate and Q-BOT) with participation from US VC Massive and existing VC and angel backers.
The over-subscribed round will facilitate the acceleration of the collaborative digital signatory management solution’s growth by further expanding the company’s sales and technology teams. Already live in over 40 countries, the funding will help the startup target further international and sector expansion and service rapidly growing demand.
Cygnetise CEO, Steve Pomfret, said, “We look forward to working with such high-calibre new partners. This is a huge milestone for Cygnetise and credit to the whole team for helping to get the company to this stage. The investment now enables us to move into our next expansion phase and accelerate our growth.”
Adjuvo CEO, Mark Foster-Brown, commented, “As many Adjuvo members know from personal experience, Authorised Signatory Management is a business-critical process for most companies worldwide and particularly in financial and legal services. Cygnetise is transforming this currently manual exercise with their digital blockchain technology, leading to increased efficiency, security and operational excellence. The need is both real and obvious, and so we are delighted to lead this round to support Steve and the team as they drive an ambitious growth strategy. We look forward to introducing them to our extensive network of British business leaders.”
Massive Managing Partner, David Mandell added, “Massive has spent a great deal of time evaluating blockchain and web3-based companies. We are convinced that Steve has built Cygnetise into an application where the use of blockchain has substantial and unique benefits and solves a globally persistent and complex business problem. We believe Cygnetise is well on its way to becoming the industry agnostic standard for signatory management, and will have opportunities from software infrastructure, and large enterprise resource planning companies who are looking to expand their investment in an important tech stack.”
Blockchain to transform Authorised Signatory Management
Founded by Steve Pomfret in 2016 in London, Cygnetise applies blockchain technology to transform the process of Authorised Signatory Management (ASM). The Cygnetise platform enables operations and finance departments to digitally manage and share authorised signatories, in real time, with their banks and other counterparties. Eventually, it makes the process more efficient, transparent, and secure. Also, it reduces the risk of fraud, transforms operations, facilitates business continuity, strengthens governance, dramatically increases efficiency, and cuts costs.
Cygnetise’s collaborative digital signatory management solution enables their customers full control of employee signing authority management at any time, dramatically increasing efficiency, cutting costs, and saving over 90% of the time spent on manual and paper-based tasks.
Since its debut, Cygnetise has continued to expand its global reach. It serves multiple clients, including PWC, Societe Generale, Willis Towers Watson, Charles Schwab, JTC, Raymond James, ADNOC, Evelyn and SEI.


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Now that California requires that farmers give more space in hen cages so that our feathery friends can move around and spread their wings, egg shelves in your local supermarket are less stocked and the eggs cost more.
With farmers bearing more costs to renovate the hen houses and are unable to maintain as many hens , it’s not surprising consumers are coughing up more at the cash register to make their omelets.
CBS Sacramento reported that economists expect a 10 to 40 percent spike in California egg prices.
If most consumers are like Jennifer Garcia, however, the increase in egg prices won’t deter Californians from buying them. The mother of six children said, “There are some things I wouldn’t, but eggs definitely, I’m still going to buy them.”
Sacramento based Taylor’s Market’s manager Troy Durfee agrees with Garcia, “People who are going to eat eggs are just going to go for it.”