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CDCs to aid interaction between new and existing citizens
Singapore's Community Development Councils or CDCs plan to create platforms for new and existing citizens to come together to forge friendships.
The aim is also for them to have a better appreciation and understanding of one another.
The Coordinating Mayor of the five CDCs, Dr Amy Khor said, one way will be to create interest groups that all would be keen to take part in.
The topic of integration has been in the air recently, especially during the debate on the White Paper on Population.
Sharing some of their experiences, mayors of some CDCs said interest groups have been a successful way to integrate existing and new citizens.
Dr Khor added that constituencies can tap on funds such as the National Integration Fund to organise the programmes and says the CDCs are prepared to chip in with funding for programmes if needed.
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The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its latest board minutes highlighting its increasing focus on artificial intelligence (AI), in which it “raised the question of how one could ‘foresee harm’ (under the new Consumer Duty), and also give customers appropriate disclosure, in the context of the operation of AI”. This publication indicates that AI continues to be a key area of attention within the FCA. It also demonstrates that the FCA believes its existing powers and rules already impose substantive requirements on regulated firms considering deploying AI in their services.
On August 29, 2023, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed a proposed class action lawsuit against Uniswap Labs and its CEO, foundation, and three venture capital backers (the Defendants) brought by plaintiffs who sought damages from alleged exposure to scam tokens that originated with anonymous third-party token issuers on the company’s decentralized cryptocurrency trading protocol.
On August 28, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a cease-and-desist order (the Order) against a Los Angeles media and entertainment company (the Company) for an unregistered securities offering relating to its sale of $29.9 million worth of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The company agreed to a settlement that includes disgorging $5 million, paying another $1 million in fees and penalties, and ceasing and desisting from violating the Securities Act of 1933. Notably, the settlement does not include fraud charges.
On February 1, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule (the Proposal) to amend Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (the Act) to limit credit card late fees. The CFPB received comments before its May 3, 2023 deadline, and it announced that the proposed rule will go into effect on October 1, 2023.
Absent further challenges as described below, credit card issuers should be ready to implement controls to comply with the Proposal.
On 15 August 2023, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Singapore’s primary regulator for banks and payment services, announced its new stablecoin regulatory framework. The new framework introduces licensing and other requirements for stablecoin issuers with operations in Singapore.
More than a dozen US states have enacted the Money Transmission Modernization Act (MTMA) in whole or in part, while several others have introduced bills to implement some or all of the model legislation that seeks to establish a uniform set of regulatory standards applicable to money transmitters at the state level.
The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), a trade association of state financial services regulators that regulate money transmitters (among other providers of financial services), finalized the MTMA in August 2021 after receiving feedback from industry stakeholders.
The MTMA aims to reduce regulatory burden for money transmitters that operate in many states, streamline regulatory efforts and coordination among state regulators of money transmitters, encourage innovation by money transmitters, and protect small businesses and consumers that rely on money transmitters. The potential impact from more uniform and streamlined licensing across states is significant: in 2021, money transmitters handled $4.9 trillion, of which 99.8% was transmitted by companies licensed in multiple states, according to the CSBS.
On June 13, 2023, Nevada enacted a law that regulates earned wage access (EWA) services provided to state residents. Missouri followed by enacting an EWA law on July 7, 2023 that shares many similarities with Nevada’s. The new EWA laws make Nevada and Missouri the first two states in the US to establish statutory frameworks designed to regulate EWA services.
EWA services enable a consumer to receive earned employment income prior to a scheduled payday. They ideally provide an alternative to high-cost forms of credit, such as payday loans, although some consumer advocacy groups have warned of fees and other problematic aspects with certain EWA services.
To date, the principal providers of EWA services are fintechs, some of which are new entrants and some of which have been in the EWA business for several years.
Importantly, the EWA laws in both states exempt EWA services from their respective state laws that regulate loans and money transmission. EWA service providers in Nevada or Missouri would therefore not be regulated as a lender or money transmitter in connection with the EWA services they provide to residents of those states.
On August 8, 2023, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB) issued guidance to the banking organizations that it oversees regarding its supervision of novel activities. The guidance also provides information on the process that state banks can follow to engage in certain stablecoin activities.
On July 13, 2023, Judge Analisa Torres of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York issued an order on motions for summary judgment in the civil enforcement action brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on December 22, 2020, against Ripple Labs Inc. (Ripple), its former CEO (Christian Larsen), and its former COO and current CEO (Brad Garlinghouse). The SEC’s claims include the unlawful offer and sale of securities in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act), as well as aiding and abetting the allegedly unlawful offer and sale of securities by the individual defendants (see this Latham blog post for more information).
The issue before the Court was whether, at the time of the various offerings, the defendants sold XRP as an investment contract. The Court determined at the outset that “XRP, as a digital token, is not in and of itself a ‘contract, transaction, or scheme’ that embodies the Howey requirements of an investment contract. Rather, the Court examines the totality of the circumstances surrounding the defendants’ different transactions and schemes involving the sale and distribution of XRP.”
On July 20, 2023, the Federal Reserve announced the long-awaited launch of its real-time payment service, FedNow. The new service enables consumers and businesses to send and receive payments instantly on a 24/7/365 basis via participating financial institutions. It is available to financial institutions eligible to hold accounts at Federal Reserve Banks, and participating depository institutions may appoint a service provider or agent to submit FedNow payment instructions on their behalf. FedNow will initially only support domestic payments between US depository institutions.
FedNow can benefit consumers, businesses, and financial institutions with the promise of more flexibility and transparency of payments, improved cash flow and money management, and new customer service solutions.

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UGANDA – As the food & beverage sector globally continues to combat new daily challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Uganda’s soft beverage players incurred massive losses in the three months to June, leading to the companies cut their advertising expenditure by 75%.
This was revealed in a report by Ipsos, a leader in market research, indicating that Uganda’s top three soda companies i.e. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Harris International, dropped advertising spending to Ush2.9b at the end of June from Ush11.5b at the end of March.
The sector was impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions which disrupted the on-trade market i.e. restaurants, hotels, eateries, events, institutions etc.
However, according to the New Vision reports, the industry has started to recover with the easing of the lockdown and could make a full recovery during the December festive season.
Paddy Muramiirah, the Pepsi Uganda chief executive officer, explained that just as revenues went down, costs also shot up due to expenses incurred in adhering to Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs), such as social distancing, dormitories for staff quarantined at work, sanitation facilities to provide water, soap and sanitisers, awareness campaigns with communication materials, as well as traffic control for visitors and movements on site.
“My advice is that the use of masks, washing and sanitizing of hands should be made compulsory, but all areas of business should be opened while continuing with sensitization. This way, we shall protect both the people and the economy.”Pepsi Uganda Chief Executive Officer – Paddy Muramiirah
He pointed out that although the pandemic is still around, majority of the people now know what to do following the established SOPs.
“My advice is that the use of masks, washing and sanitising of hands should be made compulsory, but all areas of business should be opened while continuing with sensitisation. This way, we shall protect both the people and the economy,” Muramiirah said.
The beverage industry in Uganda is one of the most vibrant in Eastern Africa, with a mix of local and international brands sitting side by side in the many outlets that give Uganda’s urban and rural areas the famed fun and entertainment hot spots in the region.
The country’s soda per capita consumption is at 13 litres which is lower in comparison to Kenya having a 58 litres of soda per person per year.
According to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives, the water and carbonated beverages sector had grown to US$40m (Ush149b) in 2018, from less than US$100,000 (Ush373m) in 1986.
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The US Marshals Service (USMS) is to auction off 50,000 bitcoins seized from accused Silk Road operator Ross Ulbricht.
In July, USMS auctioned off 29,656 BTC confiscated from Silk Road’s servers. Venture capitalist Tim Draper was the winner in a high profile process that saw bids from several notable Bitcoin investors.
Despite the larger quantity of bitcoins in this round, their total fair market dollar value is slightly lower ($18,600,000) than that of the July auction ($18,800,000), based on today’s reduced bitcoin prices ($372).
Ready to kick-off your Trading Game with Manchester United?Go to article >>
The auction will take place in two rounds, with 10 blocks of 2000 BTC in the first and 10 blocks of 3000 BTC in the second. The auction will take place on December 4, 8 am to 2 pm EST, and the winning bidder will be notified the day after. Similar rules regarding registration, deadlines and deposits from the first auction apply here as well.
USMS notes that “the United States and Ulbricht agreed to the sale of these bitcoins, which was approved by a court order” in January.
Ulbricht reportedly possesses 144,000 bitcoins. A USMS spokesperson told Coindesk that their sale is being broken up according to an undisclosed schedule so as not to interfere with the markets.


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Trademark Infringement Makes Bull See Red
According to an article on MSNBC.Com, Red Bull GmbH, the maker of the world’s top-selling energy drink, has gone to court to try to prevent the importation of bootleg Red Bull through Georgia, in violation of its trademark.
Red Bull GmbH filed a lawsuit on September 22, 2006 in a federal court in Atlanta,accusing an import company of selling “gray market” cans of the popular energy drink in Georgia and elsewhere in the United States to be imported to consumers in Argentina, Ireland, and Poland.
The lawsuit goes on to state that Kassir Import-Export Co. and Jihad and Ziad Kassir of Los Angeles “opportunistically” shipped in lower-priced “gray market” cans from overseas.
Red Bull was launched in Australia in 1987. The privately held company has been a huge seller in the beverage industry since it arrived in the United States in 1996, being the sixth-largest carbonated soft drink producer in the country, according to Beverage Digest. In 2005, Red Bull sold 42 million cases, an increase of 41 percent from the previous year.
The fraudulent gray market cans share the same color and look of the authorized Red Bull, however, the marketing phrases are written in other languages and have no batch code, are missing a toll-free number for consumer assistance, or utilize fraudulent codes printed on the bottom.


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By Patrick Avenell
GEELONG: The Geelong Advertiser is reporting that a 25-year-old drug addict has been sentenced to seven months jail after being convicted of stealing more than $10,000 worth of products from Harvey Norman stores in Melbourne.
Lewis Shay, who is described as a “serial computer thief”, had an uncomplicated modus operandi, with the court hearing that in February and March this year, he would enter stores, pick up computers from displays and walk out without visiting a cash register.
Shay was also convicted of car theft charges, attempted theft charges and other related charges.
The Advertiser also reports that earlier in 2008, Shay and an accomplice stole a computer, cash and a cheque book from a Swagman Tours shop in Geelong.


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Sisibox to Help Women with Menstruation Challenges
Finding real-world use for cryptocurrency that will attract mass adoption has been the aim of many crypto enthusiasts. However, it would seem that Don Gilead Oyendika Okolonkwo has found the perfect real-world use case. His solution is pegged on sanitary pads for women called SISIBOX.
How did Don Gilead, Chairman of BeepMagnet International Group get to create this awesome product pegged on cryptocurrency? He explains his journey, strengths and challenges with Cryptotvplus in an interview.
Before becoming the chairman of BeepMagnet and dabbling into the decentralized world, Don Gilead had always been a tech lover interested in finding alternative means of payment. He was the founding president of SaveQuick Cooperative Investment Limited in 2012, he also dabbled into e-Gold as a means of payment about 6 years ago. However, it was about 4 years ago that he had an encounter with cryptocurrency. He explained that he met Mr Greg, the PRO of the GoldCoin Community and that encounter fostered his interest in cryptocurrency. He added, “I heard about the name “Satoshi Nakamoto” and I decided to do my own personal research. I was intrigued about the power of decentralization, trust and the almost unhackable nature of the technology considering its mode of operation.”
GoldCoin was officially the first cryptocurrency project Gilead would be involved with. His passion to find out more about the benefits of cryptocurrency to the African continent led him to meet some amazing members of the GoldCoin community and eventually becoming a part of the community himself. In his own words,
My hunger to make this technology accessible to Africans led to my invitation to be part of the Core Team of GoldCoin Project to Lead Africa. Being in the team, I learnt a lot about Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency from the position of Technology, Innovation and Problem-solving.
He was fascinated by the blockchain technology and the possibilities it presented. To him, the technology provided a safer means of carrying out a transaction. He described it thus,
“I was fascinated by the process it would take to hack the blockchain, it would be better you follow the algorithm or rule embedded in the algorithm in other to be rewarded than to try to alter the record in the Ledger. To think about hacking the blockchain will mean to imagine altering all the computers that have a copy of the ledger.”
The Solution and the Challenges
After considering the immense benefit of the technology, it was time to create a solution that will solve the financial problems facing the African continent. His company BeepMagnet International Group formed the firm’s slogan “Matching Technology with Innovation” which symbolizes his zeal to solve real-life problems with the blockchain. He explained,
“As an African and as a Nigerian, there were many problems that GoldCoin could not solve. This was because it was an abstract that can only be understood by an intellectual since it cannot be connected to immediate proof of USE. It was almost impossible to get adoption in Africa. This was the trigger of developing a blockchain solution to solve African challenges.”
He, however, met with challenges on his way to creating a real-life use case of cryptocurrency in Africa including losing money in a lot of scam projects as well as finding it difficult to convince people of the true qualities of cryptocurrency because of the Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) and pyramid scheme notions attached to it.
Undeterred by the challenges, Gilead is working hard towards solving the challenges facing the African society. He explained,
“We missed out in the Industrial Age, we also missed out in the beginning when Bitcoin was at its inception stage. If we must stand tall, Africa needs to embrace Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency and implement this to solve specific problems. In the last 4 years, this is what BeepMagnet International Group is committed to actualizing.”
To Gilead, his definition of the blockchain is “a trusted record that is open, transparent and almost impossible to hack or alter. It is a record that is not controlled by an individual or a centralized system. This record keeps every detail to the minute of split seconds when the data was inputted. Time, date, unit, transaction number, a hash is encrypted using the most advanced security known as cryptography.” He believes that the blockchain is “the QUANTUM revolution that will advance Africa in the Social Economic placement among other continents.”
As the Chairman of BeepMagnet International Group, Gilead shared his passion for the blockchain space. He described the loyalty space as an untapped industry and described the industry as one he is passionate about revolutionising. He explained his efforts thus far, “We started the drive from the traditional point of view leading to the development of an offline payment solution that supported e-Thrift and Cashback to Cooperative Members. Later, we advanced to creating customized ATM Cards in partnership with local Nigerian Banks to give out Discount Cards that can be used to shop at patterning Merchant Stores when you are a holder of the Card. As time went by, we partnered with an International Company to provide this for Nigerians. The card was BeepXtra Cards.”
BMCT – Solution to Merchant Adoption
However, they ran into a hurdle and had to deal with the problem of merchant adoption. To create a solution, the BeepMagnet International Group had to develop the World’s Foundation of Consumer Loyalty known as BMCT (Blockchain Merchant & Consumer Token). The aim of creating this token is to strategically position Africa at the centre of the blockchain space. So far, the company has created 11 use cases in its drive to solve the problems common in Africa.
Sisibox – Proof of Use for BMCT
BeepMagnet has created several products solving real-world problems pegged on its cryptocurrency the Blockchain Merchant and Consumer Token (BMCT). And one of such problems is the problem of mass adoption of the blockchain technology. To encourage women into the space SISIBOX, a Premium Brand of Lady Sanitary was created as a proof of use for BMCT. The aim of this product is to encourage women into the blockchain space as well as provide a means providing women with emotional and financial support during their menstrual cycle. The unique feature of BeepMagnet’s product is that they are intertwined. Sisibox is a product under BeepHealthCare which is also a product of BeepMagnet which aims to give individuals and families access to premium healthcare insurance from the best hospitals in Nigeria. The company also has MobDoctor, a mobile application that connects Doctors and Patients all over the World. The aim of this product is to reduce improve medical consulting across the African continent.
Gilead reveals that the company also has a product to solve the problem of Mass adoption of blockchain by merchants globally called QDiscount. To solve the problem of remittance in Africa, BeepXchange, a subsidiary of BeepMagnet International Group was created. The company also has another product called Quick credit which aims to solve the problem of Credit Ranking although it is yet to be unveiled. The gaming sector is not left out as BeepMagnet spread its tentacles across industries. MobGames is a live game solution designed for live tournaments across GYMs and Hotels in Africa.
Gilead is not yet done with the blockchain space as he still has plans for the industry. He details his milestones to include; “Empowering and attracting women to blockchain using sisibox. It is our objective that every African lady takes advantage of sisibox. Sisibox premium brand of Lady Sanitary is made from the best materials. It contains Anion Sanitary Napkins, Panty Liners and Ovulation Strips and a crypto-fiat voucher that rewards every user with cashback in BMCT and Commissions in Fiat.” He also aims that in the following years, his company BeepMagnet will be able to see the release of its products to Africa in particular and the world at large. He also hopes that his firm will “lead the Development of a Blockchain Voting System that is rig and hack proof and can be deployed in any form of voting or poll system.”
Confident of how his projects are contributing to creating mass adoption in the blockchain technology, Gilead explains, “All our projects are not white papers. It started as a proof of concept to proof of use. All our projects are solutions to existing problems bedeviling Africa. We have integrated empowerment into all these projects to propel the will to act and attract as a lot of New Breed into our community.” He goes on further to cite examples stating that women can earn as much as 2 million Naira every four months through Sisibox. He also explained that MobDoctor will increase mass adoption as people are in need of consultancy services and for every time MobDoctor provides access to the best Quality Consultations from Qualified and renowned doctors across the globe, one more person has gained knowledge of the blockchain technology and its use case.
To have a great company one needs to be surrounded by a great team of individuals, Gilead shares with us information about his team and the driving force behind their success. “BeepMagnet International Team was drawn by the vision of the Group. The Team is dedicated as the see technology and innovation as a way of life. The attraction s decentralization and Interests protected in BMCT Blockchain which is the tie across all subsidiaries.” To inspire the team members the company has adopted a different business model. Gilead describes the model saying, our model is designed that everyone drives our business model with his or her ID No/Affiliate No. This means that as soon as you join BeepMagnet Group, you become a promoter or an ambassador. Whatever your effort achieves is 100% yours- this motivates everyone. I have also set an example for transparency, my team members are the first to hear the concept, we review, and we allow for joint contribution. So that makes it our project, whenever you see your contribution being implemented.” Gilead is really adopting the term decentralized in his organization.
PO8 Tokenizes Underwater Artifacts in Bahamas – Says Africa can be next
With the assistance of the blockchain, P08 aims to utilise new maritime technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics to recovering lost cultural heritages
The treasures hidden under the sea will likely remain undiscovered if we all focus on the surface world. However, Bahamas based blockchain company, P08 is changing the underwater narrative as it is creating blockchain solutions to aid in underwater archaeology. The company aims to make marine archaeology accessible through its decentralized applications (DApps).
With the assistance of the blockchain, P08 aims to utilise new maritime technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics to recovering lost cultural heritages that have been shipwrecked in Africa, the Caribbean islands, and other countries. Basically, it’s a decentralised, secure and transparent form of underwater treasure hunting.
PO8 CEO Matthew Arnett and co-founder and COO Raul Vasquez plan to help African nations benefit from the tokenization of newly recovered underwater artifacts. It plans to utilise the blockchain technology and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to monetize the ownership of $100B dollars worth of sunken artifacts in Bahamian waters.
OWNERSHIP RIGHTS HANDED TO TOKEN HOLDERS
P08 will transfer the ownership rights of any recovered artefact with its economic value into a digital title. However, the recovered items will be kept in the custody of the PO8 Museum Foundation to be preserved and exhibited. It took 18 months for PO8 to assemble its team of marine archaeology and tech, a Dream Team of sort. Included in this team are Dr. David Gallo, TITANIC expedition; Mr. Claudio Bonifacio Shipwreck researcher and author; Troy Launay, member of the Apollo F-1 engines recovery team and Evan Kovacs, a professional underwater photographer.
PO8 aims to be a force to be renown with in the Caribbean Islands, Africa and the world at large. The tech company aims to impact the Bahamas first through the provision of local jobs in marine habitat protection, tech and tourism. Vasquez explained how the company aims to build resources in the African continent saying, “This is the retooling of professionals from downtrend industries to servicing new tech industries launching in Africa…We welcome the opportunity to join arms with local governments to promote sustainability and capacity building through underutilized resources. Entire populations stand to benefit.”
The company also aims to create its first Archeological Treasure and Maritime Museum By restoring artifacts discovered from its shipwreck sites. PO8 recently received the 2018 Creative Business Cup Award at Demand Solutions in Santiago, Chile from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
P08 is currently running its Security Token Offering. For more information on how to get involved or to inquire about its STO, visit https://po8.io/
10 million Users of Samsung Pay Set To Enjoy Digital Currency Transaction
Samsung’s recently launched lineup of its flagship “S” series, Enjin, is meant to be supporting digital currencies with a built-in wallet.
Prior to the public publication of this innovative development of Samsung Blockchain Wallet integration, local publications had speculated that Samsung Pay could be backing the high-profile digital currency incorporation for the Galaxy S10.
On the 29th of January, The Korea Herald had hinted that Samsung is ready to incorporate a digital currency or cryptocurrency wallet into the Galaxy S10. This hint was over a month prior to the public release of the Samsung Blockchain Wallet on February 21st.
On the wave of optimism, an industry executive said “The arrival of the new Samsung phones could start popularization of the cryptocurrency wallet system in Korea. ”
On the 8th of March, that is, three weeks subsequent to the official release of Samsung Blockchain Wallet, one of the largest mainstream media outlets in South Korea, Donga, noted that Samsung deems digital currency incorporation as a means to expand its user base internationally. And hence, cryptocurrency integration will strengthen Samsung Pay as a fintech platform as contained in the report entitled “Crypto, Flying Away With Samsung Pay on its Back?”
Samsung Pay’s intention of incorporating digital currencies goes in line with its past acquisitions and product launches.
As at this stage, the Samsung Blockchain Wallet is supporting Ethereum but more cryptocoins are expected to be integrated in no distant time. And as it stands, if a cryptocoin wallet is added to Samsung Pay, the application will be strengthened as a total fintech platform.
Samsung Pay, since its emergency, has competed headfirst in innovation and technological development against other online or digital applications such as Apple Pay and KakaoPay.
In the year 2015, Samsung Pay acquired LoopPay which allowed Samsung Pay users to process payments by hovering the phone over PoS (point of sale) terminals. The acquisition of loopPay was in the region of $250 million. Although this acquisition had a mixed reaction from industry analysts, it did provide Samsung Pay an edge over its competitors in user experience.
The user base of Samsung Pay, according to Donga, has grown by 58 percent from 2017 to 2018, by a whooping estimation of 6.6 million Users.
Many analysts in South Korea expect Samsung Pay to take a lead in the digital currency sector given the well-documented and successful strategy of Samsung to pursue aggressive acquisitions, product launches, and the integration of newly emerging technologies.
A GOOD LANDMARK FOR CRYPTO AND FOR SAMSUNG
In the similar way the market valuation of Square Cash increased by 516%, evolving into a payment behemoth since the company integrated Bitcoin in late 2017, Samsung Pay could benefit from digital currency integration and appeal to millennial and digital asset users.
Although, Bitcoin in all likelihood has not been a oentral catalyst in the growth of Square, it has played a vital role in establishing an initial user base for Square and allowed the company to snowball in the months ahead.
As of the month of April 2018, Samsung Pay recorded $18 billion in transaction volume and industry experts assumed the integration of cryptocurrency by Samsung Pay could speed up the mainstream adoption of digital currencies, especially on the side of merchants.
A passionate industry executive had told Donga that while the Samsung Blockchain Wallet could comparatively and significantly improve the visibility and accessibility of digital currencies, it will not be adequate in leading to sound merchant adoption at retail stores, supermarkets, cafes, and restaurants.
Facebook Coin, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Adoption
The Big players are no longer sleeping. This means that something big lies ahead. It may be uncertain now, but as Africans, we must not fold our hands to wait for SEC to endorse before we begin to see the need to understand this technology and how to make it part of our daily lives. Dr. Amb. Gilead Okolonkwo take about Facebook cryptocurrency is based on the adoption of blockchain and cryptocurrency.
In his words he buttressed his point saying:
As a decentralized advocate, I have my concern as to the reason or motive behind the coin. Cryptocurrency needs trust and its survival is based on decentralization.
Amb. Gilead Stance On Facebook Cryptocurrency
We are yet to see the stand of Facebook cryptocurrency on this matter as regards the algorithm of the coin if it is based to control power because of its community, centralization of its coin will defeat the purpose of Cryptocurrency. We will see gaps that will make the coin fade away.
However, if it is based on a free market economy aimed at upholding decentralization then it is a coin to be mindful about. More so, with the privacy issues that Facebook has passed through in recent times that leave a big question on the motive of Facebook crypto coin.
As Africans, this is the time to position ourselves, and begin to think about how we can take a bold step. Blockchain technology hold the Qutum revolution leap for Africa, we can implement the concept to solve African challenges such as;
- Digital Identification system
- Blockchain POS/ Human Teller
- Electoral Process
- Consumer Loyalty
- Land Registry
- Tokenization of African Natural Resources
- Credit Ranking
All these are problems that blockchain can solve. I am happy that we have great Africa companies that have started looking into the above-mentioned problems to implement the Proof of Use (POU) for adoption in Africa.
What do you think about the opinion of the CEO at Beepmagnet International Groups?
Do write us and we would be glad to feature your articles/opinions in our weekly #BuidlClub Publication.
Facebook Coin Will Be Just Another Hype!
I think Facebook has killed its credibility with its user base and is looking for ways to stay relevant. -Chris Bates CSO at Bitland World speaks out!
As had been long anticipated, the high and mighty and the lots, have begun to think Blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies as the next big thing for their businesses. Despite the current struggling position of the Satoshi’s Bitcoin, the likes of Jp morgan and Silicon Valley’s Facebook have announced the possible launch of their own digital assets.
Even though the above development might have a thing or two to show in line with increased support for global adoption, it has also raised controversy in the space in the area of decentralization.
Chris Bates doesn’t believe Facebook coin projects would be much to look out for.
In his words;
I don’t think it will make much of a difference to be honest. Facebook has had a payment option in their messenger for a couple years now and people still opt for Venmo or Cashapp over facebook payment option. I think Facebook has killed its credibility with its user base and is looking for ways to stay relevant.
I think there are ways that they could make their own crypto and platform useful towards the notion of “mainstream adoption”, but even in that I don’t believe “mainstream adoption” would look how crypto people think it would. Just as an example, let’s say Facebook IS successful at leveraging its user base to make “Facebook coin” viable.
That doesn’t mean anything for the rest of the market, and doesn’t automatically mean 2.5 billion people will then start using bitcoin or whatever crypto. That really just means Facebook will once again have leveraged technology it didn’t create to exploit its user base and make a profit.
Facebook has been researching blockchain and cryptocurrency for years, and them just now deciding to pull the trigger to me is more of a reaction to the GDPR and European privacy laws that are going to make their data mining practices much less lucrative.
What is your take on Chris’ opinion? Do you think that Facebook has a chance to shock the entire blockchain space given its particular wealth of community? Lets hear from you in the comment section below
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Modern machining is all about speeds and feeds. The old school slow, heavy cuts that were very popular back in the day have been replaced with a new way of machining parts characterized by fast, lighter cuts.
Displaying 31-40 of 50 results for
Software AG (Frankfurt, MDAX: SOW) announced an original survey of over 125 North American manufacturers in the heavy industry and automotive sectors that revealed they are unable to scale their Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) investments across their enterprises, and therefore are losing millions of dollars in potential profits while falling behind competitors that have invested in enabling technologies that support IIoT across the enterprise.
Artificial intelligence (AI) , the Internet of Things (IoT), and real-time data analytics are moving metalworking technology into the next generation of equipment. These sophisticated concepts are bringing at least one traditional technology with it.
Using lasers to cut metal, especially sheet metal or tubes, continues to show its value. The market is becoming dominated by the newer solid-state fiber laser over its CO2 gas rival. Fiber’s advantages in ease of operation, packaging and efficiency are clear.
Pittsburgh International Airport has announced plans for Neighborhood 91, a development that condenses and connects all components of the additive manufacturing/3-D printing supply chain into one production “neighborhood” concept.
GF Machining Solutions recently announced two key leadership changes, both of which were effective September 1, 2019. Scott Fosdick, former president and head of market region North and Central America, has been promoted to the position of head of sales, marketing, business development and communications for the global organization. Phil Hauser, formerly the director of sales and head of turbine group at GF Machining Solutions USA will assume Fosdick’s former position.
CNC Machines this week announced it is accepting applications for a $2,500 scholarship for students pursuing a certification, certificate, associate degree or bachelor’s degree in a manufacturing-related area of study.
It doesn’t take long to see the changing face of manufacturing staples in Volusia County. Strategically located in the thriving central Florida marketplace east of Orlando along the I-4/I-95 highways, Volusia County has always been a good geographic location for manufacturers.
With more manufacturers and engineers embracing additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, for serial production of functional parts, the demand for and creation of high-performing additive materials continues at a rapid pace.
Implementing five-axis machining can be an excellent strategy for efficiently producing accurate, complex parts. However, it takes more than the right machine tool to realize the full potential of a five-axis process. In addition to the right machine, tooling and fixturing options, CAM software must be selected carefully.


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How Liviri Sprint helps ecommerce grocers achieve efficiency
In the grocery world, global ecommerce demand is driving revolutionary change. This has, in turn, led to the rise of the dark store — shops pioneered in the UK and Europe solely dedicated to digital orders.
Despite a name that conjures images of power-grid meltdowns and shuttered windows, dark stores are in fact beacons of light when it comes to scaling up outmoded staging/picking operations into larger, more efficient fulfillment and click-and-collect centers.
Most grocery entities that have added online services during the past decade have made it work with available infrastructures and status quo store inventories. Barely. This short-term fix allowed them to enter the market quickly in order to compete with large retailers such as Amazon, but it hasn’t provided a long-term solution.
According to a report from the Javelin Group, one of Europe’s leading retail consultancies, as sales have grown, “retailers have increasingly found that their [current] stores lack sufficient capacity to support ecommerce order volumes without impacting the offline store operations (aisle congestion, on-shelf availability due to increased replenishment requirements, lack of back of house space, insufficient parking space for home delivery vans).”
These issues become more prevalent, and more complex, when online sales grow from 3% of total sales to 10% of total sales in the next 4 or 5 years.
When digital traffic crosses that threshold, the dark store allows for increased storage capacity, while it also improves product availability because items are no longer picked over by foraging in-store customers. Increased efficiencies within dark store doors are aided by automation and improved picking technology. Even more, dark store operations can help illuminate a path toward transportation efficiencies by helping companies consolidate demand under one roof.
LIVIRI SHUTTLE ILLUMINATES THE PATH
As dark store concepts gain ground, “thermally performant Liviri Sprint is a great complement to any fully dedicated fulfillment center,” notes Rachel Lee, sr. product line manager at Liviri. “It provides a low-cost insulated solution that interfaces and integrates well within current and developing infrastructures. Sprint also will keep your groceries chilled for over 12 hours which allows for more efficient delivery routes and unattended deliveries from fulfillment centers.”
Liviri Sprint containers also stack with existing totes and fit picking carts, bringing together a lightweight build with large cube-size dimensions that holds gallons of milk and lots of groceries. Machine washable containers allow for a more sustainable reuse model. And the ability to add reusable ice packs that can be used on the bottom of the box or vertically as dividers offers flexible pack out options, reduces reliance on refrigeration and gives perishable products an extended lease on life, during product staging as well as during last-mile delivery.
THE RACE FOR COLD-STORAGE SPACE
While grocers weigh the potential benefits of the dark store, there’s an equally pressing matter on the radar: cold warehouse space is in hot demand. To keep up, America needs 100 million square feet of new cold storage warehouse space over the next five years, according to a report by real estate brokerage CBRE.
In steamy states like California, America’s leader in refrigerated warehouse demand, this prime real estate also comes with a hefty price tag.
“The grocery last-mile arms race is going to increase the demand for many more refrigerated warehouses,” Lee continues. “Grocers need cold chain solutions now and can’t wait for all of these warehouses to sprout up. Liviri Sprint helps them meet the needs of their growing on-line grocery business now in a flexible way while reducing refrigeration costs with a cold-keeping box that not only provides chilled staging but will keep groceries at the right temperature all the way to the customer’s door.”
Liviri Sprint also helps alleviate overburdened refrigerated space. After picking and sorting is complete, perishable groceries can be held for pickup longer, at room temperature. This eases the strain on refrigerated areas and allows consumers to take advantage of more flexible pickup timing.
In short, Liviri Sprint is a capable, sustainable tote that’s a great fit for e-grocers scaling up their picking/staging operations to meet online demands. Consumers, on the flipside, benefit from improved selection, better product availability and a premier packaging experience that cuts waste and ensures that food arriving at the door is welcomed inside.


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Latest NewsSee all
UPS And Inxeption Collaborate To Make B2B E-Commerce Easier For Merchants
03.21.19 | US
- Platform streamlines transactions and logistics from a secure dashboard
- Merchants can manage all aspects of selling and shipping from one place
- Customers receive reliable shipping and tracking services from UPS
Setting up, selling and shipping products online is getting easier for B2B merchants thanks to a new alliance between UPS (NYSE: UPS) and e-commerce technology company Inxeption. Today, the two companies announced a platform integration called Inxeption Zippy that helps businesses market and distribute their products on multiple online channels, from one secure place.
UPS Honored With Inaugural Top Corporation Hall Of Fame Award For Supporting Women-Owned Businesses
03.11.19 | US
UPS (NYSE:UPS) has been selected for the Top Corporation Hall of Fame for Women’s Business Enterprises by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). While UPS has been recognized as a WBENC Top Corporation in prior years, this marks the inaugural year for the Top Corporation Hall of Fame. UPS is one of only nine companies achieving this new, pinnacle designation.
Longitudes: The UPS Blog
Making B2B E-Commerce as Easy as ABC (or B2C)
Fri, 22 Mar 2019 03:30:54 GMT
UPS is joining forces with Inxeption to help small businesses sell online and master the e-commerce supply chain. Nick Basford | UPS Point. Click. Pay. Ship. Track. Receive. That’s the simplicity of business-to-consumer shopping online. From cat food to clothes to cars, consumers can buy just about everything from just about anywhere. Now people who […]Read more
Explore the latest investor news and financial highlights.
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Poco M5 international launch date has been set for September 5, the corporate introduced on Monday.
Poco M5 launch date has been set for September 5, the corporate introduced on Monday. Last week, Poco teased the launch of a brand new handset that might be powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, which may make its debut as a brand new M-series smartphone. The Poco M5 could possibly be priced under Rs. 15,000 in India, in keeping with earlier stories. It can also be tipped to sport a 6.58-inch LCD show with full-HD+ decision, pack a 5,000mAh battery with not less than 33W quick charging assist.
This is a breaking information story. Details might be added quickly. Please refresh the web page for newest model.


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EMMAC Life Sciences Group has completed the first step to having its CBD brands fully authorised by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Since 2019, products containing CBD have been designated as novel foods in the EU, a move which means producers must demonstrate their products are safe for human consumption to remain on shelves.
The UK adopted the EU’s regulations on CBD when it left the bloc and is conducting its own novel food application process. EMMAC is yet to received validation in the UK.
Products produced by the company use a synthetic form of CBD which isn’t derived from the cannabis plant and therefore not subject to the same strict legal controls.
The firm partnered with Farmabios, a member of the PharmaZell Group, to formulate a nature-identical, pure CBD alternative with undetectable THC levels.
Commenting on the validation, EMMAC CEO Antonio Costanzo, said: “The European Commission’s decision on CBD is crucial to protecting European consumers and EMMAC welcomes its efforts to regulate the sector with meaningful regulation that ensures the safety of CBD products.
“As always, EMMAC takes a science-led approach to deliver the highest-quality products possible and we are delighted that this has led to being one of the first companies in Europe to receive validation for CBD.”
American cannabis giants Curaleaf – which generated $600million in revenue in 2020 – took over EMMAC earlier this year in a $285million move.


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*Cash Money/Universal Motown has launched a mobile subscription service that gives fans direct access to content featuring such label artists as Lil Wayne, the Hot Boys and Birdman, reports Billboard.
For $9.99 per month, charged directly to a user's phone bill, Cash Money Mobile will deliver ringtones, graphics, videoclips, text alerts and contest opportunities related to its talent roster.
Universal had a soft launch for the program in June, around the release of Lil Wayne's chart-topping "Tha Carter III." Since then, subscribers have had access to a dozen exclusive ringtones that comprise second edits, remixes and alternate takes of album tracks.
Similar subscription programs are commonplace with mainstream artists. Island Def Jam started its own IDJ Mobile subscription service this year.
"But this is Cash Money. It's a small boutique group of artists with a very similar fan base," according to Kameo Carlson, senior vice president of digital business development for Universal Motown Republic Group (UMRG). "There's a core group of consumers that associate with the specific Cash Money brand." That core group helped make Wayne's "Lollipop" one of the first platinum-selling ringtones in the United States earlier this year.
According to Carlson, the company has not yet determined the number of subscribers who have signed up for the initiative. But more than 100,000 fans have subscribed to Lil Wayne's free mobile fan club, which offers services like text updates.


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Jason Putorti, the digital designer behind Mint.com, which quickly developed a huge online audience and was sold to Intuit for $170M, gave a hat-tip to PR in outlining the rapid growth strategy for the web portal.
In a likely reference to Weblogs Inc. founder Jason Calcanis and TechCrunch's Michael Arrington, Putorti noted the "piling on against PR" and those who say lately that in-house PR is enough for a start-up, before he gave credit to Mint.com's agency.
"Mint is an example where we hired a PR agency to do extensive positioning research, and went to town," he writes. "PR was extremely high quality traffic for us, and the optics for the brand were undeniably good. We trounced all of our online competitors, including Quicken -- who sent us legal threats. [Founder and CEO Aaron] Patzer talked to every outlet from Entrepreneur to Essence."
He doesn't name the firm but Mint.com has worked with Atomic PR since its outset.
Putorti also talks about the company's blog, use of Facebook and Twitter, its iPhone app, and other tactics brought the site up to 1.5M users.
(Putorti photo via)


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- McGraw-Hill Cos. MHP, +0.00% said Tuesday its third-quarter earnings rose 13% to $379.9 million, or $1.23 a share, from $342.3 million, or $1.07 a share, in the year-ago period. Sales rose to $1.98 billion from $1.88 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet Research were looking for earnings of $1.09 a share, on average, with sales of $1.9 billion. The New York publishing company said it raised its full-year guidance to a range of $2.60 to $2.65 a share. The Wall Street consensus is for a 2010 profit of $2.58. Shares of McGraw-Hill closed Monday at $36.56, up a fraction.
McGraw-Hill quarterly profit climbs 13%


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Home Tags California
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Virgin America, the only airline headquartered in the Bay Area, today celebrates the launch of its new service to Norman Y.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.
SEATTLE, Wash. - Alaska Airlines will open a flight attendant base in San Diego on April 1.
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - Interjet inaugurated daily service to Mexico on October 11 from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.
HALEIWA, Hawaii, USA & BRUSSELS, Belgium - The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that Baja.com has joined the organization, representing the Baja California peninsula, Mexico,
Stockton City Council in California (USA) will reportedly have its first Hindu invocation on July 10, which is nearly 162 years since the city was incorporated.
SACRAMENTO, California, USA - Visit California has launched a premium edition of its Fun Spots promotion to celebrate the significant enhancements opening this summer at some of the Golden State's pre
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
California is hoping that an official visit by Prince William and his new bride Kate next month will give a boost to the cash-strapped US state's tourist industry.
Beverly Hills, Calif. – Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau today announced the launch of a new website, www.LoveBeverlyHills.com.
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – Millions of dead fish were found Tuesday floating in a Southern California marina.
SEATTLE, WA – Beginning December 15, 2010, Alaska Airlines will beef up its flights between San Jose, California, and Guadalajara, Mexico, and between Sacramento, California, and Guadalajara, starti
Cruise ships and large commercial ships will be banned from dumping any kind of sewage -- even highly filtered wastewater -- along California's coast out to three miles from shore, under new rules fro
WOODLAND HILLS, CA - In Klein v.
SEATTLE - Alaska Airlines will inaugurate service between San Jose, Calif., and Lihue, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, on March 27, 2011, and between Oakland, Calif., and Lihue beginning March 28, 20
The West Coast’s biggest cruise ship is leaving the Port of Los Angeles next year, in large part because of fears of violence in Mexico.
SAN FRANCISCO — Economic and political challenges in the past year have left California’s multibillion-dollar tourism industry in a precarious state.
The statistics released by the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) shows the number of tourists to California from Chinese mainland has witnessed a rapid increase in recent years and they


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - Shares of Amazon and Yahoo rallied in pre-open trading Wednesday as investors appeared impressed with the companies' holiday performance.
Gains were not limited to the 'new economy' retailers, as Wal-Mart was bumped up after updating its outlook for December same-store sales.
Shares of Amazon AMZN, +0.57% tallied a $1.12, or 11 percent gain, to $10.95.
Analyst Safa Raschtchy at USB Piper Jaffray said his analysis of full-holiday traffic and purchases on the e-tailer's site showed continued strength in units purchased and a "surprise increase" in electronics prices.
"We believe the strength of the unit sales will more than offset the lower overall average prices and help Amazon with the top line growth," Raschtchy said in a note to clients.
As a result, he expects the company to meet or beat his revenue target, and meet his profit target.
Yahoo YHOO surged $1.48, or 8.9 percent, to $18.15.
The company said holiday sales volumes increased more than 86 percent over the same period a year earlier. The company added that its users spent a total of $10.3 billion during the fourth quarter.
Wal-Mart WMT, -0.09% was up 67 cents at $57.80 over the Redibook ECN. The company said sales for the Nov. 23 to Dec. 24 period "were above plan," helped by strong sales of electronics, toys, ladies apparel and seasonal categories. As a result, the retailing behemoth now expects December same-store sales to be at the upper end of the expected range of a 4 to 6 percent increase, versus previous sales expectations at the low end of the range.
Stock futures mixed
March 2002 futures slipped 2.70 to 1,144.50, which was about 1 3/4-points below fair value. However, Nasdaq 100 futures ticked up 2.00 to 1,587.00, after seeing earlier losses.
Among some of the high-tech heavyweights, Microsoft MSFT, -0.82% added 23 cents to $67.50, Cisco Systems CSCO, +0.93% inched up 9 cents to $18.20, Intel INTC, -0.39% edged up a nickel to $32.07 and Oracle ORCL, -0.83% was up a penny at $14.35.


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7 On Your Side
FTC seeks $450M judgment against infomercials
The marketers of three "get rich quick" schemes could get a whole lot poorer soon. Federal regulators are seeking a $450 million judgment against the makers of three infomercials --all found by a judge to have misled consumers into thinking they could make easy money.
The marketers are behind the infomercials for John Alexander's Real Estate Riches in 14 Days, Jeff Paul's Shortcuts To Internet Millions and John Beck's Free & Clear Real Estate System.
A federal judge in Central California ruled late last month the marketers falsely misrepresented their programs, and tricked consumers into thinking they could make big money quick. The Federal Trade Commission alleges less than 1 percent of consumers made any profit at all.
People paid $40 a month to join the programs. The judge must now decide how much the defendants must pay in damages.
FTC, 7 on your side, michael finney
- Castro Valley man a person of interest in wife's death
- Memorial bench to honor missing teen Sierra LaMar
- CA Republican Party holds convention in Burlingame
- Union says fewer teachers facing layoffs in California
- Dad accused of biting infant's nose to be arraigned
- Fundraiser for victims of Indonesia volcano eruption
- Thieves steal gas station ATM in Sonoma County
- Fire destroys home, displaces 15 residents in Richmond
- Honda recalling 886,815 Odyssey minivans
- Over $7,000 raised for police dog battling cancer
- Online naming contest open for trails at Glen Canyon
- Photos: Meet the stars where you live
- roundup: Most Wanted suspect; Sierra LaMar bench
- weather: Bay Area weather forecast for Sunday
Most Viewed StoriesMost Viewed Photos


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- Apple Inc and Google Inc are wooing game developers to ensure that top game titles arrive first on devices powered by their respective operating system, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Recent Technology News
- Michaels Stores Inc, the biggest U.S. arts and crafts retailer, on Thursday confirmed that there was a security breach at certain systems that process payment cards at its U.S. stores and that of its unit, Aaron Brothers.
SAN FRANCISCO/HONG KONG - Weibo Corp executives on Thursday toasted the Chinese social media firm's debut at Nasdaq's New York headquarters. Hours earlier in Beijing, Charles Xue, a Chinese-American venture capitalist and prominent Weibo user, celebrated a different kind of coming-out: his release after eight months in jail. | Video
- A group of investors seeking to buy Mt. Gox has launched a website to garner support from creditors of the bankrupt bitcoin exchange to prevent a liquidation of its assets.
- Google Inc's disappointing first-quarter results left Wall Street unfazed about the internet giant's ability to come to grips with the shift to the fast-growing mobile advertising market.
SAN FRANCISCO - Advanced Micro Devices Inc's first-quarter results beat expectations, sending its shares higher as the chipmaker tries to replace dwindling sales of PC chips with its processors for game consoles.
- Asian stocks subdued on Ukraine caution in holiday-thinned trade
- Apple, Google vie to offer exclusive game apps - WSJ
- At Mt. Gox bitcoin hub, 'geek' CEO sought both control and escape
- Japan export growth slows in warning about overseas demand
- Italy economy minister says 2014 growth could be above 0.8 percent - paper
- China IPO promised land turns to desert as regulator review stokes confusion
- Pfizer considers $100 billion bid for AstraZeneca - report
- In the driving seat: China's yuppies are new market force for global automakers
- Mercedes, BMW chase ultra rich clients with new high end cars
- China allows gold imports via Beijing, sources say, amid reserves buying talk
SAN FRANCISCO - Four large technology companies should not be allowed to limit evidence about Apple Inc co-founder Steve Jobs at an upcoming trial over no-hire agreements in Silicon Valley, according to a court document filed late on Thursday by employees suing the firms.


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Sweet deal for Vietnam’s sugar industry
08:45 | 12/11/2019 Trade
(VEN) - The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will auction 98,700 tonnes of imported sugar in the fourth quarter, signaling a positive move for the sugar industry.
VIA 2019 to feature latest technologies
18:29 | 11/11/2019 Trade
Viet Nam International Aviation Expo 2019 - VIAexpo 2019 will officially take place at Ho Chi Minh city from 20 - 22nd November 2019. The exhibition will not only be a perfect place for cooperation between businesses and investors but also a place where trade promotion and economy development bloom.
Thais develop growing appetite for Vietnamese food
09:20 | 08/11/2019 Trade
(VEN) - Vietnamese Goods Weeks have been held regularly in Thailand over the past four years, making a good impression on not only Thai consumers but also on foreign visitors. Vietnam Economic News’ Nguyen Hanh spoke about this with Nguyen Khanh Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s European-American Market Department.
Vietnam-US project yields revamping of customs controls
08:50 | 05/11/2019 Trade
(VEN) - New guidelines by the Vietnamese government, drafted in consultation with the business sector and the help of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), seek to improve the efficiency of specialized inspections and customs-to-business partnerships. The guidelines, known as Circular 60, went into effect on October 15, amending 2015 guidelines on customs and border procedures, which had proven inefficient and were preventing Vietnam from improving its trade competitiveness.
Vietnamese durian trademark promoted in Australia
10:09 | 03/11/2019 Trade
A royal antique car decorated with durian fruit and a banner that read “Vietnamese Durian” travelled around the centre of Sydney on October 29 as part of a campaign to promote the fruit in Australia.
Domestic firms boost exports, trade surplus
08:46 | 31/10/2019 Trade
(VEN) - Vietnam has enjoyed consistent growth in export turnover despite numerous difficulties, with a trade surplus of approximately US$5.9 billion, representing one of the positive aspects of the country’s economic picture in the first nine months of the year.
Thanh Hoa province promotes trade in Russia
08:34 | 27/10/2019 Trade
The People’s Committee of the central province of Thanh Hoa on October 23 opened a pavilion at the Hanoi-Moscow Complex in Russia to introduce its specialties as well as industrial and handicraft products to local consumers and businesses.


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SDI's enrichment media, which can be used in the company's food pathogen assays, stimulates the targeted pathogen to grow rapidly and become easily identified. It also suppresses the billions of other bacteria that typically cause cross-reactivity and false positives, or even a negative, which indicates no detection at all.
"This technology will reduce the time required to obtain test results while maintaining or improving the accuracy of any test method," said SDI president Matthew Knight.
"The new SDI test method will have great benefit in the hands of our customers offering enhanced speed to an accurate result, a much simpler methodology, and easy interpretation."
The food sector is now the largest segment within the industrial microbiology market. It is more than double the size of any of the other industrial segments including the pharmaceutical, personal care products, beverage, environmental, and the industrial process sectors. Enrichment media is a significant component of this $1.6 billion global food testing market. Dependent upon the detection method used, media may represent more than half the per test cost.
Strategic Diagnostics intends to release the first application of this new selective enrichment method together with a new Salmonella assay in the first half of 2006. There are more than 100 million tests run in the United States each year to test for the presence of Salmonella in processed and ready to eat food products.
Carried in eggs, poultry, raw milk and chocolate the salmonella bacteria can cause bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and in extreme cases kidney failure. Incidents are a major problem in most countries across the globe, leading to hefty costs for the public and private sector.
Recent estimates from the US put total annual costs (medical care and lost productivity combined) of the pathogen at a massive $2.3 billion (€1.85bn).
"This patent application is an example of the creative work that we're doing at SDI," said Dr James Stave, SDI's chief technology officer.
"We continue to explore and develop technology solutions that address real customer issues and result in better decision making tools for our customers. We are particularly excited about this technology because we believe that it is generally applicable to all microbiology tests that employ an enrichment step, even those in markets outside of food pathogen testing."


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Thanks to our special guest: Derik Moore
Is gaming on consoles coming to an end? Can a new technology make cheap beer taste better? Is 200-300 hours too long for a video game?
We tackle these questions and more on this episode of the Pondering Nerdcast!
End of an era or new beginnings? Konami announces plans to be aggressive in the mobile market. (http://bit.ly/1A3nnhI)
Fallout 4 rumors – (http://bit.ly/1PFQjh5)
This gadget makes your cheap beer taste like an expensive draft pour. (http://bit.ly/1FlGUMn)
Supergirl first look trailer. (http://bit.ly/1FlGrtk)
Disney World in Orlando is set to get an Indiana Jones themed bar. (http://bit.ly/1G9jMiJ)


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The first information about the smartphone Google Pixel 2.
The next generation of smartphone Pixel from Google will be protected from water, new camera and a new chipset.
Preliminary data on the new gadget has published Steven Holl of profile resource 9to5Google, referring to anonymous sources in the company.
The company’s engineers did not manage to implement water protection in the first generation of the smartphone, although it was originally planned. Now the phone protection from dust and moisture is seen as one of the main directions for the developers of the gadget.
In addition, it became known that Google is once again focused its attention on improving the camera module. In particular, Google seeks to develop photos in low light conditions.The device is now being tested along with chipsets from two different manufacturers. This decision should lead to an increase in the cost of the new device, says Steven Holl.
Also, the source mentions that the main modification of the new Google Pixel will be more expensive by at least $ 50. At the same time, it is reported on the development of a budget model of the Google Pixel 2B. Features of this phone are still unknown.
© 2017, z-news.link. All rights reserved.


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Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said that the State Government has a vision of making the State an industrially rich and prosperous state.
“We have a vision of making Odisha an industrially rich state, a prosperous state, an empowered state by the time we celebrate our centenary year in 2036,” he said speaking at function to felicitate leading brand promoters, entrepreneurs and industry leaders organised by Sambad here.
Patnaik said most of the times, the glory of the State’s maritime glory and its maritime trade in ancient days is recalled.
“We cannot always count on our past glory. We have to work unitedly to revive and regenerate that glory,” he said.
The Chief Minister said Odisha in recent times has become a magnetic attraction for investors.
“The Make-in-Odisha-3.0 has surpassed all our expectations attracting investment intents of over Rs 10 lakh crore and job opportunities for 10 lakh youth. I believe our time has come,” he said.
The Chief Minister said, “We are catching the momentum. We are reshaping our old policies and bringing a new set of policies to suit the new requirements. We are also investing in our women and taking initiative to convert our Self Help Groups to Small & Medium Enterprises.”
He said he was sure that with the support of all, Odisha will blossom into an industrially rich state where our own brands will be counted as national and international brands.
He lauded the daily for endeavouring to identify successful brands of Odisha, recognise them, encourage them to develop even bigger brands and help promote a culture of business and trade in the state.
Congratulating the winners of awards, he said, “ Your brands speak volumes on your endeavour and your entrepreneurial success. You have brought confidence in the entrepreneurial ability of the people of Odisha. I appreciate your achievements.”


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Unfortunately, a lot of trees have been cut over the past couple of years, and even though that wood is not that necessary for manufacturing like before, we are already too slow to find some alternatives.
But, a Dutch start-up known as CocoPallet is a campaign that aims to change this for good. It is producing transportation pallets from coconut husks, which is 100 percent organic material, and is being recycled from a waste product.
First it is a lot cheaper than wood, and has a very durable and practical design. Since the shipping pallets are used all around the world, the company saves around 200 million trees from being cut down each year.
The innovation was created by specialists at Wageningen University, however the author of CocoPallet, Michiel Vos, popularized them.
Crafting articles out of coconuts never jumped out at Jan Van Dam, a plant researcher at Wageningen University. However, around two decades prior, he represented considerable authority in creating materials out of plant fiber, yet an Indonesian man entered his office at the school to demonstrate him something.
It resembled a hardboard, yet the man clarified it was totally made out of coconut bark, the external shell of the organic product. Such a recyclable item is required, particularly in spots like Asia where coconut waste is inexhaustible, so he saw the colossal potential.
Huge measures of coconuts are produced, mostly in Asia, which prompts a colossal heap of squandered coconut husk, which is left to decay away by the side of the street or set ablaze.
However, Van Dam says that on the off chance that you figure out how to make crude materials out of the husk, you avoid deforestation, you keep the material from decaying ceaselessly and adding to contamination and environmental change, and you give the ranchers an additional pay.
He took in the strategy and endeavored to dispatch a push to make beds out of coconut shells in the Philippines, however the program flopped as there was no adequate power supply.
However, following quite a while, Michiel Vos approached Van Dam for guidance about options in contrast to wood and left his office with his last report under his arm.
In view of the innovation initially created by Wageningen University scientists, he has extemporized the system by utilizing coconut husk making a world-class item with equivalent artfulness and durability.
The beds offer various advantages, both earth and monetarily, and are accepted to have the option to in a roundabout way avoid the cutting of around 200 million trees for every year in the Netherlands. Their creation completely refutes the utilization of any dangerous and costly pesticide treatment for the trees.
Vos clarifies why it is increasingly effective to make pellets in Asia with neighborhood materials. To be specific, Asia delivers over a billion beds every year. They require softwood, which is imported from Canada, New Zealand or Eastern Europe, and items are then dispatched back to America or Europe.
CocoPallet is now prevalent among Asian exporters, and the organization delivers the beds in Sumatra, Indonesia from neighborhood estates—dispensing with the vehicle cost and making additional pay for nearby ranchers.
Vos also said that the pallets are a lot more sustainable and cheaper, also lighter and stronger than the wooden pallets we’ve been using for many years, they are also fire retardant, and the design of the new pallets makes it easier for stacking, therefore they don’t take a lot of space.
The company that produces them is taking advantage of the 74 billion coconuts that are harvested, by turning the unused husks into these unbelievable export pallets which are water-resistant, pest-repellent, and most importantly biodegradable.
The founder wants to expand the business further to rid the waste from the coconuts in other countries in Asia, in an eco-friendly way!
CocoPallets is saving millions of trees, at the same time recycling a waste product!


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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, November 30, 2021 – Sucafina, a leading sustainable Farm to Roaster coffee company, is today announcing the launch of a new business segment that will identify investments in early-stage food and agriculture (Food and Ag) companies at the forefront of sustainability and innovation.
Sucafina is pleased to partner with Stefano Rettore, a senior leader in the agrifood sector, to launch the agribusiness investment division.
The partnership will invest in companies that are developing innovative solutions at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and new consumer trends while, at the same time, creating superior returns for all stakeholders. It will focus on companies where it can contribute not only capital, but also its experience, network, and strategy. Company culture – especially in terms of people, values, and governance – is also key, given the long-term ambition to create a portfolio that will grow over time.
A significant challenge for the Food and Ag industry is to produce quality food for a growing population while reducing the impact on climate, protecting biodiversity, and supporting farmers’ livelihoods.
“This shift from volumes to values is going to redefine the industry,” explains Rettore, the founder and CEO of LemanVentures, a privately held investment firm focused on enabling the transition from more to better food.
The partnership combines Sucafina’s leadership position in the coffee industry and entrepreneurial spirit with LemanVentures’ global Food and Ag network, current portfolio, and robust ecosystem of capabilities.
Sucafina’s new business pillar will sit alongside the other four core segments of its business: green coffee merchant, specialty green coffee merchant, green coffee trader, and coffee industrialist.
“Our fifth pillar aims to encapsulate the convergence between farm, fork, and cup that is present across all sectors within agribusiness,” says Nicolas A. Tamari, CEO of Sucafina. “We have defined a holistic approach to the Food and Ag supply chain and we expect that there will be tangible benefits for the coffee industry as investments cross-pollinate from various sectors.”
Agribusiness has lagged behind many other industries in terms of innovation and technology adoption. Yet, explains Rettore, “collaboration is key and so there is an opportunity for the sector to master the lessons learned by other industries and reduce risk by deploying technology that can deliver significant benefits to the agribusiness supply chain.”
Sucafina is a leading sustainable Farm to Roaster coffee company, with a family tradition in commodities that stretches back to 1905. Today, with more than 1,000 employees in 32 countries, the Group is one of the leading coffee trading houses in the world and one of the few focused entirely on coffee. Sucafina’s extensive supply chains span from producer-facing export operations to destination sales offices around the world.
LemanVentures is a privately held investment firm focused on enabling the shift from more to better food. Its portfolio strategy focuses on companies with ambitious goals and is structured around the three pillars of sustainability, innovation and consumers’ trends”.


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Telenor president and CEO Jon Fredrik Baksaas raised the company's full-year earnings forecasts after the Norway-based operator generated record high revenues in the opening quarter of 2015.
Baksaas said the operator now expects full-year organic revenue growth of between 5 per cent and 7 per cent compared to its previous prediction of mid single-digit growth, and an EBITDA margin of between 34 per cent and 36 per cent compared to a range of between 33 per cent and 35 per cent previously.
Management's confidence was boosted after the company generated record high revenues of NOK30.2 billion (€3.5 billion/$4 billion) in the recent quarter compared to NOK25.3 billion in Q1 2014. Baksaas said Telenor's Q115 performance represents a "promising start to the year."
Telenor translated its sales growth into higher profit. Post-tax profit hit NOK4.05 billion in the recent quarter, up from NOK3.67 billion in Q1 2014. EBITDA increased from NOK9.07 billion in the opening quarter of 2014 to NOK10.5 billion in the recent quarter.
Baksaas said the company turned in a solid performance in Norway during the opening quarter of 2015, with growing mobile data consumption fuelling a 6 per cent year-on-year rise in revenues. The company's dtac operation in Thailand began to show "some early signs of improvement" due to a turnaround plan, while the company's operation in Myanmar continues "to face strong demand" and turned EBITDA positive "only a few months after service launch."
Analysts at Jefferies International echoed Baksaas' enthusiasm, noting that Telenor's Q1 2015 revenues were 3 per cent higher than the investment bank predicted. Jefferies pointed to Myanmar as the main driver of Telenor's earnings growth, noting the division "turned EBITDA-positive in its second quarter of operation."
Jefferies analysts were also buoyed by Telenor's performance in India during the opening three months of 2015, noting that the business there turned "EBITDA-positive in March after an MTR cut". The analysts also noted that Telenor showed "solid momentum in Norway, and strong margin in Pakistan" during the quarter.
- see Telenor's earnings statement [PDF]
- view Jefferies International's comments [PDF]
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Gov. Granholm makes announcement in Sterling Heights
The Detroit Free Press reports on what we expected from the announcement at Chrysler's Sterling Heights Assembly Plant.
Chrysler will add a second shift in early 2011 of about 900 additional workers. Many of those workers will be workers who are called back from temporary layoff.
This announcement was first made when President Obama visited the Sterling Heights plant last July (as reported by Motor Trend).
The Freep reports tax incentives totaling $850 million will mostly go to a new will go to a new paint shop for the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger.
Update: 2:00 pm:
WJBK in Detroit says Governor Granholm and Chrysler executives will announce an $850 million investment and the addition of a second shift at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant. The second shift is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2011. They report that the announcement will also launch the 2011 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger.
Governor Granholm will appear with Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant to make an announcement soon.
A grant from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority from the Michgian Economic Development Corporation helped to keep the plant open. The Detroit News reported last October that Chrysler planned to invest $1 billion in the plant "for equipment and tooling to make midsize cars at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant and increase production of four-cylinder engines." The paper reported then that:
No new jobs are being announced now, but a second shift of 900 workers is expected to be added in Sterling Heights next spring, if demand requires more workers to build the 2011 Chrysler 200, which replaces the Sebring and the Dodge Avenger.


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Unilag female fashionable student Toyin Lawal brags of being the first girl to Drive Volkswagen Bug on Campus during her school days.
Award-winning Nigerian fashion stylist and entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani has revealed on Instagram, her achievements as an undergraduate.
In what sounded like a bragging session, the 38-year-old CEO mentioned that she was the first girl to drive a yellow Volkswagen bug during her days as an undergraduate at the University of Lagos.
According to the mother of two, she constantly made headlines of different magazines on campus because of her achievements and being the first girl to ever drive a yellow Volkswagen Bug on campus.
Toyin also mentioned that she started making her own money at the age of 16 because she had started her fashion business and had different tailors working for her, stating emphatically on the fact that she had three shops, a supermarket, boutique and spa at that young age.


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Countryside 'at risk' from low farm prices
Westcountry farmers say the continued failure of "big players" in the food supply chain to pay a sustainable farm-gate price could lead to ruined businesses and job losses in the wider rural economy.
Large supermarkets are "sucking in cheap imports" rather than helping to underpin the domestic supply base, they claim.
The warning comes after wet weather made 2012 the worst year in living memory for many farmers, combined with an upsurge in the Schmallenberg virus, which threatens to cause higher- than-usual mortality rates during the main lambing season.
Adding to the misery, official figures raise the dire prospect that sheep farmers face losing money with every lamb born, with a price drop of one fifth over the past year – a return to 2009 prices.
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Statistics produced by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) show that farmers can expect to lose up to £29 per lamb, prompting the union to appeal to retailers not to play store wars with prices at the expense of producers.
South West NFU livestock board chairman and Dorset farmer Andy Foot has accused the retailers of taking "a short-sighted, short-termist" approach.
He said: "A thriving livestock sector is vital to attracting young people into farming and we are going to need another 60,000 coming into the industry over the next decade to ensure we can continue to fill our own larder.
"Otherwise we will be relying increasingly upon overseas suppliers which won't help our environment, economy and ultimately won't provide the top-quality, good- value food that our farmers are ready, willing and able to deliver."
David Cameron is expected to unveil plans for a groceries industry code of conduct adjudicator in 2013 to stand up for farmers. The watchdog will have the power to "name and shame" big stores who fail to stick to an agreed code of conduct.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England has now joined the growing chorus of support and says the big names need to do more to encourage better management of the region's beautiful landscapes.
It wants the "big seven" to pledge their support for local food producers and pay a "fair price".
The NFU says the region's farmers are still delivering good-quality food, despite everything nature has thrown at them, but that huge volatility, not least in global markets, was being worsened by those further up the food chain, forcing down the price paid to domestic suppliers.
It is calling for retailers to re-think their prices. NFU South West regional director Melanie Squires said: "Farmers are working hard to stay on top of a really tough situation, seeing a considerable reduction in the price that our own retailers pay."
With the EU promising to agree a Common Agricultural Policy reform package in the coming months, the NFU is also stressing the importance of maintaining effective subsidies under the Single Farm Payment scheme.
"If this goes, many sheep farmers and their families face a very uncertain future indeed," she said.
Richard Dodd, spokesman for the British Retail Consortium, said supermarkets were "very supportive" of their own suppliers and could not be held responsible for the fate of an entire agricultural sector. "Supermarkets have to keep the cost down because putting up the shop price wold reduce the amount they sell. They don't buy all the output – there are other customers."


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After BlackBerry resumed the rollout
of its popular messaging app, BBM or BlackBerry Messenger to Android and iOS users, it reported that the app has been downloaded over 10 million times by Android and iPhone users, one of the best single-day openings for a mobile app to date.
Announcing the milestone, BlackBerry added that BBM had also become the number one free app in iTunes App Store in more than 75 countries in the first 24 hours, including the US, Canada, the UK, Indonesia and most of the Middle East. It also announced that user ratings in both the iTunes App Store and Google Play were mostly positive, earning BBM 60,000 five-star reviews on Google Play from about 87,000 reviews.
"This has been an incredible launch for BBM across Android and iPhone devices. The mobile messaging market is full of opportunity for BBM. We intend to be the leading private social network for everyone who needs the immediate communication and collaboration of instant messaging combined with the privacy, control and reliability delivered through BBM," said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President, BBM at BlackBerry.
BlackBerry's popular instant messaging platform, BlackBerry Messenger or BBM finally landed on non-BlackBerry OS platforms, Android and iOS, on Monday, after a delay of more than a month.
The app allows users to exchange texts, voice notes and pictures with each other. It also offers group chat. Users need to sign-in with a BlackBerry ID following which a PIN is allocated to them, in a manner similar to BlackBerry Messenger on BlackBerry. Users can then add friends by sharing their PIN with friends via SMS, email and social networks in addition to QR codes.Also Read: BBM for iOS review
It's worth pointing out that one BlackBerry ID can only be used on a single device, at a given time.
On its native BlackBerry OS platform, BBM offers voice calling through BBM Voice and video chat through BBM Video (only on BlackBerry 10).
BlackBerry has reiterated that BBM Voice (voice chat) will also be introduced to BBM for iOS and Android, in the future, in addition to BBM Channels (broadcast groups) and BBM Video (video chat).


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Cruise Ship SeaDream II underway near Bitter End / Virgin Gorda. Photo by Peter Thomas via Marine Traffic.
By Nora Buli (Reuters) – Norwegian-owned cruise-ship operator SeaDream Yacht Club has canceled all sailing for the remainder of 2020 after positive COVID-19 test results onboard one of its cruises, it said on Tuesday, dealing a fresh blow to the cruise industry.
The decision follows an outbreak of the novel coronavirus aboard a voyage of its SeaDream I vessel in the Caribbean last week.
“7 guests and 2 crew members have tested positive for Covid-19 by Barbados health authorities,” SeaDream said in a statement.
Requirements for multiple negative PCR tests from guests before boarding had not been sufficient to prevent COVID-19 onboard, it said.
“The company will now spend time to evaluate and see if it is possible to operate and have a high degree of certainty of not getting COVID,” it said.
SeaDream Yacht Club said in September it planned to become the first luxury cruise operator to resume sailing in the West Indies, with 22 voyages planned from Nov. 7 onwards.
By contrast, most U.S. cruise operators have suspended their operations until the end of 2020, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said on Nov. 3.
Related Book: A Man and His Ship: America’s Greatest Naval Architect and His Quest to Build the S.S. United States by Steven Ujifusa
Cruise ships were home to some of the earliest clusters of infections of the novel coronavirus as it spread globally early this year, shutting down much of the cruise industry.
SeaDream Yacht Club, founded by Norwegian investor Atle Brynestad, operates two luxury vessels, each with a capacity of up to 112 passengers.
(Reporting by Nora Buli Editing by Robert Birsel, Reuters)
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While big-name retailers such as REI, Nike, Under Armour and dozens of others temporarily closed most of their stores worldwide, Adidas is open for business — in select areas, that is.
“At Adidas, the health and safety of our employees, consumers and partners is our No. 1 priority. In an effort to create a safe work environment in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and to help limit the spread of the coronavirus, we continue to act upon the applicable local authorities’ directives across all Adidas offices, retail and distribution center locations globally,” the company said in a statement to FN today. “This means that in some regions, Adidas-owned stores are closing temporarily, depending on official regulations. We have a dedicated task force team in place and will continue to monitor the situation closely and take additional measures if necessary.”
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The statement from Adidas comes hours after an internal email that discussed the company’s rationale for remaining open in some cases was leaked. (The email was first reported by Yahoo! Finance editor-at-large Daniel Roberts on Twitter.)
“Closing down is easy, staying open in a healthy environment requires courage, persistence and focus,” the email reportedly reads.
The leaked email also outlined a plan for the company to follow.
“In all regions and countries where legislation allows, we expect the leadership teams to be working from our offices on a daily basis along with those roles which cannot be performed offsite and/or viewed as business-critical to the company. This means that we will sometimes have different decisions for different regions/countries/markets,” the email read. “We will follow the same principles when it comes to our retail stores and distribution centers in the different countries.”
It continued, “In countries where the virus only has a minor impact or — according to the local authorities — is declining, we expect normal daily operations to continue or to be resumed.”
scoop: Adidas today emailed employees that it will NOT be closing stores amid #coronavirus — surprising move considering industry peers Nike, Under Armour, New Balance and others have closed all their stores in the U.S. some Adidas store employees are not happy. @YahooFinance pic.twitter.com/wsQFfAU6SP
— Daniel Roberts (@readDanwrite) March 16, 2020
Some of Adidas’ biggest competitors have announced temporary store closures to play their part in slowing down the spread of the coronavirus.
For example, Nike announced Sunday that its U.S. locations and locations in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Western Europe will be closed through March 27.
Similarly, Under Armour stated it will close all North American stores from March 16 through March 28 “because the health and safety of our teammates, athletes and customers is our top priority.” And New Balance said in a statement on Monday that it is implementing a series of measures “to ensure the health of our associates, customers and communities” and will close office, factory and retail stores in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe through at least March 27.
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In the era of Cyber Monday and near-instantaneous shipping, sometimes people can forget the impact they can have by shopping closer to home.
Marisa Sharrah, president and CEO of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, said shopping locally in any community leaves a “positive and immediate impact.”
Shopping locally, Sharrah noted, contributes to the local economy. While online sales have been increasing over the last decade, she said, every time you make a decision to purchase something from out of state, it’s also a decision not to keep those dollars within the community.
“So of course, we all make those decisions to shop online and sometimes it’s out of necessity, and sometimes it’s out of convenience,” Sharrah said, “but there’s an opportunity, especially around the holidays, to make an intentional decision to say, ‘I’m going to take some of these dollars that I would have spent online and I’m going to go and I’m going to shop locally, so that I can keep these dollars in our community and keep our local economy thriving.’”
Neal Fried, an economist with the Alaska Department of Labor, said spending money locally means generating employment and possibly profit. Retail, he said, is a big sector of the economy.
“For example in Fairbanks retail employs about 4,700 people,” Fried said. “So it’s a pretty big sector.”
Employment last year peaked in November and December, according to Fried.
“Those are the two biggest months for retail in Fairbanks,” he said.
The benefits of shopping local, Fried said, are fairly obvious.
“Shopping locally, it generates employment,” he said. “It generates economic activity whereas ecommerce in Alaska, we don’t have the warehouses that other places do. We haven’t had the offset. So in that sense it’s probably a net benefit when people are buying locally in Alaska.”
As a membership organization, according to Sharrah, a majority of the chamber’s members are community-based. She said one thing the chamber of commerce likes to do is get to know their members, ask what they’re doing for the holiday season and how to promote their business and products.
Local businesses might spread the word of their shopping opportunities via social media, word of mouth or advertisements. If people are intentional, listening to things going on around them and looking at local options, according to Sharrah, often they can find gifts locally.
There’s a lot of great local options to fulfill gift giving, things that we do on an annual basis she said.
Sharrah mentioned local stores such as Lily & Mae and Venue, which feature gift shops with exclusively Alaskan artisans, as well as foods for those who appreciate a holiday treat.
Or if people want to give an experience as a gift rather than a material item, they might look somewhere like Arctic Sun Virtual Reality, which offers gift cards. Many local restaurants also offer gift certificates, as well as swimming pools, the movie theater, hot springs and more.
Along with the local stores, Sharrah also cited the many holiday bazaars taking place around Fairbanks as an option for people looking to shop local this gift-giving season.
Contact staff writer Kyrie Long at 459-7510. Follow her on twitter at: twitter.com/FDNMlocal