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Zain honours e-Waste Recycling winners
Manama, July 2, 2011
Leading telecom operator Zain Bahrain recently honoured the winners of its innovative green initiative "Zain National Mobile Phone and e-Waste Recycling Campaign" for the month of June.
The recycling campaign was launched by Zain Bahrain in March offering the public a chance to win prizes for their green action of disposing their old and unusable mobile phone safely.
More than 700 phones were collected so far in this campaign, said a company statement.
Zain has set up dedicated special drop boxes in its Experience shops across the Kingdom for the public to drop off their unusable mobile handsets. There is a raffle prize for one lucky winner each week.
Four lucky winners - Hani Mohammed Jawad, Waleed Ali Rabeea, Sayed Aqeel Salman and Tayseer Mohammed Sawaftah- went home with new BlackBerry handsets in June.-TradeArabia News Service


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Google ‘Pixel 6 Pro’: What we know so far about the XL-sized phone
Seven 'Google Pixel 6 Pro' stories
May 2021 - June 2021
We’re still several months away from the release of Google’s 2021 device lineup, but in the meantime, leaks are starting to come out. Some of those leaks point out to a “Pixel 6 Pro” device that fills the XL-sized hole left in 2020.
Table of contents
Is the ‘Pixel 6 Pro’ the ‘XL’ this year?
With its 2020 Pixel lineup, Google completely skipped the “XL” size, but that’s something the “Pixel 6 Pro” will change. According to one major and credible leak, the device will be the largest Pixel phone ever with a 6.67-inch display. To put that in perspective, let’s look at the dimensions of every XL-sized Pixel phone to date, including the “Pixel 6 Pro.”
- ‘Pixel 6 Pro’ — 163.9 x 75.8mm
- Pixel 4 XL — 160.4 x 75.1mm
- Pixel 3 XL — 158 x 76.7mm
- Pixel 2 XL — 157.9 x 76.7mm
- Pixel XL — 154.7 x 75.7mm
As a fun note, the biggest phone in Google’s history is of similar size to this device. The Nexus 6, literally codenamed “Shamu” as a joke about its size, carried dimensions of 159.3 x 83mm. That’s shorter than this upcoming release but considerably wider as well.
All of that said, it’s safe to say that this device will make up for the lack of an XL device in the 2020 lineup. Somewhat unfortunately, the “smaller” Pixel 6 may also be a bit of an XL device, as one of our commenters pointed out with dimensions of 158.6 x 74.8mm, bigger than the original Pixel XL.
What are the ‘Pixel 6 Pro’ specs?
So far, we don’t know a lot about what will be powering the upcoming Pixel 6 lineup aside from those things.
For one, we know both devices will be running on top of Google’s “Whitechapel” chipset, a custom-designed chip optimized for Google’s smartphone priorities. How this chip compares to offerings from Qualcomm, MediaTek, and others remains mostly unclear at this point.
We also know that the larger device will have a 6.67-inch display. That panel will likely be AMOLED and, apparently, will include an under-display fingerprint scanner.
What is the ‘Pixel 6 Pro’ price?
How much will this cost? That remains mostly unclear this early one with at least a few months to go until release. The Pixel 4 series is probably the best point of comparison for the price with that lineup starting at $800 for the smaller model and $900 for the XL. It stands to reason that Pixel 6 prices will be roughly in that same ballpark, if not a little higher, but we’ll just have to wait and see for the time being.
Will it actually be called ‘Pro?’
At this time, the name “Pro” is unconfirmed. It has only been reported by a single source with an often-incorrect track record when it comes to Pixel leaks. As such, the name should only be viewed as a placeholder. Google could decide to stick with its usual “XL” naming scheme or opt for something else, such as “Ultra” or “Plus.”
When is the ‘Pixel 6 Pro’ release date?
The big question all comes down to when. When is Google planning to launch its soft-reboot of the Pixel lineup? This, again, is unclear for the time being. Patterns from years past would point to September or October for an unveil and a release not too long after. September 30, 2021, has been suggested as a possible release date for Pixel 6 and “Pixel 6 Pro,” but it remains unconfirmed at this point.
You can keep up with the latest news on Pixel 6 below with our constant and in-depth coverage.

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Eva - an industrial robot that is not going to steal your job
London startup Automata Technologies plans to make robotics affordable for manufacturing automation. Developers of the Eva manipulator assure that it will not replace employees.
Is there really nothing to worry about?
Suryansh Chandra and his partner Mostafa El Sayeddo not yet have a great experience in robot creation to show. According to The Guardian, they work in the London architecture studio Zaha Hadid. The original idea was not to earn a fortune on robotics. Developing a desktop robotic arm was a necessity. When constructing a steel mushroom from 500 plates at an exhibition, they thought that a manipulator could perform routine operations instead of them. So began the work on the robotic arm - Eva.
The Automata Technologies team planned to release its robot in December 2015, but it faced a number of problems, for example a high retail price for components. So it took them a while to make quality parts that could withstand the work load. After the team develops a robot with a lifetime of 2 years capable of working 8 hours a day, they can move on to other tasks. They are also going to integrate an artificial intelligence into the robot to increase learning capabilities.
The release date of Eva device is yet unknown, but the creators hope that the invention will make automation process in factories and plants more accessible. It should not replace workers in production, but only relieve them from performing simple repetitive tasks.


text: As people become more aware of the importance of engaging with social issues and unequivocally speaking out against injustice, brands are starting to realise that they too have a responsibility to participate in important conversations that concern a majority of their consumers. Below are a few local and international brands that are taking a stance on social issues. Castle Lager – #smashthelabel campaign We live in a society where everyone is judged by the colour of their skin, the way they wear their hair and even the style of clothes they wear. From a very young age, we are conditioned and socialised to think about people in a particular way, before we even interact with them. Castle Lager’s #smashthelabel campaign was a call to action—make an effort to read the book before you judge it by its cover. “We asked ourselves, ‘what is keeping people away from each other, what is it we can fix’, and the main barrier we found is the pervasiveness of labels and stereotypes and the misconceptions we carry about other people,” says Vaughan Croeser, brand director for Castle Lager Africa. The Castle Lager campaign challenges us to put our prejudices aside and stop making assumptions about people; the campaign invites us to have a conversation with those who are from different worlds. Once you sit down with someone and approach the interaction with a beginner’s mind, you will find that you have a lot in common. The brand hosted a panel discussion for people to talk candidly about the stereotyping and discrimination they had faced because of what the looked like. The panellists included wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane, Springbok rugby player Handre Pollard and plus-sized model and blogger, Thickleeyonce. The campaign received a thumbs-up from the Department of Arts and Culture because it was in line with the government’s mandate of working towards creating social cohesion amongst South Africans. “The reason the department likes the idea, is because it is responsible for outcome 13 of the National Development Plan, which is social cohesion and building stronger communities. And the work we’re doing aligns with the outcomes of the NDP,” explains Croeser. So, #smashthelabel and have a conversation with someone over a cold beer. Gillette – The Best a Man Can Be In their latest campaign, men’s hygiene brand Gillette takes on toxic masculinity by exposing what is most problematic about. The major problem with masculinity is that it depends on the disempowerment of the “other” (women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, for example) for it to have a leg to stand on, and this is what makes it toxic. Not only does toxic masculinity lead to homophobia, transphobia and misogyny, it is also damaging to boys and young men because it sets them up to be abusive in many ways—physically, emotionally and mentally—and it encourages toxic belief systems. “This is an important conversation happening, and as a company that encourages men to be their best, we feel compelled to both address it and take action of our own,” said Pankaj Bhalla, Gillette brand director for North America, in a statement to the Wall Street Journal. In the ad, we see everything from moments of mansplaining, fathers saying, “boys will be boys” to excuse problematic behaviour in boys, to everyday sexism. There are clips from the #MeToo movement and there is a clip of American actor Terry Crews saying “men need to hold other men accountable.” The Gillette ad is important because it is challenging men to reflect on their behaviour and consider the ways in which they perpetuate toxic masculinity. The ad was obviously met with mixed reviews, with some men taking offence—this just shows how fragile masculinity is that is shudders every time it is challenged. While the ad can be perceived as a brand being opportunistic, it is a great start for a men’s brand to be speaking directly to its target audience about a problem that they are a part of. The ad is also saying to men: not only do you need to change, but you can change—you can be different. Carling Black Label – #NoExcuse Similar to the Gillette campaign addressing toxic masculinity, last year Black Label launched a campaign challenging traditional masculinity in South Africa and the ways in which it is violent. It is a known fact that femicide and violence against children are major problems in South Africa. Black Label’s #NoExcuse campaign is aimed at raising awareness around child and woman abuse. Lidl Ireland – Mental health awareness Lidl is a German brand that has supermarkets across Europe and the United States. The brand has collaborated with mental health organisations in Ireland to raise awareness around mental health issues. They set up pop up bakeries in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. Young people are encouraged to come enjoy baked goods while speaking openly about their struggles with mental illness. Lidl has also committed to donating €1 million to Jigsaw Youth Mental Health, a charity that they have partnered with. Gone are the days of relying on your product to win the attention and loyalty of the consumer. Consumers want brands that are conscious and are taking a stance on social issues. The above-mentioned are examples of brands that are keeping abreast of what’s going on in society and responding accordingly. We hope that brands can move beyond campaigns and actually start putting their money where their mouth is. Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment.


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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Better Business Bureau says scammers are targeting new voice cloning technology to try to trick people via voicemail.
Most cell phone companies have implemented technology that blocks scam calls, leaving scammers to leave a message trying to get you to call them back.
According to the BBB, the next phase of these voicemails could use voice cloning technology, which can use a small sample of someone’s voice to create fake messages that sound like them.
“The technology is not very expensive and you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to get it done,” said Tim Maniscalo, CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana.
Maniscalo said the technology has already been used to target businesses, where scammers try to impersonate a superior’s voice to leave a message requesting a transfer of money.
“They’ll ask maybe someone in the accounting department to transfer some funds or to write a check,” Maniscalo said.
The next phase could be coming to your phone: the Federal Trade Commission held a workshop in January to talk about voice cloning technology and how it could be used nefariously. The FTC singled out grandparent scams in particular as a possible target area- that’s where an older person gets a call from someone claiming to be their grandchild, saying they are in an emergency and need money.
Maniscalo said you should be on the lookout for voicemails asking for any type of money transfer, especially if it’s through an unusual payment method like wire transfer or gift cards.
“Unfortunately you just can’t believe everything you hear nowadays,” Maniscalo said.


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The first-ever drone delivery to legally occur in the U.S. took place last Friday, and it wasn’t by Amazon. The drone delivered much-needed medical supplies to a pop-up health facility located in a remote rural area of Wise County, VA. The event sets a precedent for future medical care packages to be distributed via drone, where a lack of roads might encumber timely deliveries or traditional transportation has been wiped out entirely.
Startup Flirtey, NASA, and Virginia Tech worked together to orchestrate this event under extremely strict and safe conditions that were fully compliant with the FAA’s requests. The flight was successful in delivering 60 pounds in antibiotics, and other pharmaceuticals over a 35-mile span in three three-minute trips, which would have been a 90-minute trip by road.
"We foresee not just medicines, but delivering small amounts of food and water to people that are isolated in emergency situations," said Jon Greene, associate director of the mid-Atlantic aviation partnership at Virginia Tech, a partner in the event.
This demonstration was a special case, and the ban on drone deliveries won’t be lifted any time soon according to the FAA, but the test flight illustrates a possible future use case outside of the popularized package delivery system proposed by Amazon.
Outside the U.S., DHL in Germany and GeoPost in France began testing UAV package delivery systems as early as last year, and the Swiss postal service is slated to test deliveries by drones by the end of this month.


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Smartphones could soon be used just like credit and debit cards in the store checkout line.
USA Today reported Friday that many leading banks and credit card companies are pushing digital wallet applications for smartphones, which would hold debit or credit card information.
When a person is ready to checkout, the app would connect their phone to the store's register. With one tap of a screen, the transaction is done.
"The promise of the mobile wallet is you'll be able to manage your entire financial life from a single device," says Andy Schmidt, research director for commercial banking and payments at TowerGroup, told USA Today.
It could take years before mobile payments are integrated into the mainstream, but already some have security and privacy concerns.
"If wireless carriers expect consumers to feel comfortable using mobile-payment services, they need to provide at least the same level of protections that come with credit cards," Consumers Union senior attorney Michelle Jun said.
Google mobile-payments executive Osama Bedier advised said consumers play a crucial role in safe-guarding their own privacy,
"Right now we're not actually taking any data and storing it or doing anything with it beyond allowing a transaction," he said. "We have a policy around how to do that, and privacy is very important to us."
"The consumer has to be very aware of what data they may be making available," he cautioned. "And they've got to give their consent in every case."


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Constantia Flexibles has officially opened the new plant Constantia Ecoflex in Ahmedabad, India, claimed to be the worldwide first more sustainable flexible packaging plant.
Over 300 guests attended the grand opening of the new plant, including the Austrian ambassador to India Brigitte Öppinger-Walchshofer and RS Sodhi, managing director of Amul industries and expert in the field of sustainability.
‘With Constantia Ecoflex Ahmedabad we are making a big step towards more sustainable packaging. This is not only a great progress in terms of sustainability for Constantia Flexibles but also the entire packaging industry. Together we can go into a greener future,’ said Alexander Baumgartner, CEO of Constantia Flexibles.
Guests had also the possibility to find out more about the new technology EcoLam. It is a lightweight mono-PE laminate suitable for a variety of packaging applications and is part of Constantia Flexibles’ innovative product line Ecolutions. Due to its mono-material structure, EcoLam is fully recyclable, and its carbon footprint is approximately 32 percent lower than that of comparable products. It comes in different barrier grades to deliver the needs for a wide range of products.
‘Ecolam is the first high barrier flexible packaging that combines the resource-efficiency of plastic with recyclability back into new packaging films’, said Prof Dr Achim Grefenstein, SVP Group R&D.
The Ecoflex plant opened after more than two years of reparations and test runs in September 2019. It has an area of 24,500 sqm and currently employs 50 people. The number is expected to triple by the second quarter of 2020.


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Is Toyota ending its small car challenge in India?
Toyota has shelved its Etios range of cars, leaving only premium sedans, MPV and SUV models in its portfolio. With the indication that small cars are going to rule the roads in the post-COVID-19 era, is it adopting the right strategy for the future?
New Delhi: With the unprecedented Coronavirus crisis that has hit the auto industry globally, a major shift in automaker's product strategy could be seen in the coming future. With the consumer sentiment deeply hurt due to the current crisis and an unlikely respite in near-term, the auto industry is looking for new ways to survive.
In the last couple of days, several auto experts have been giving an indication that in the post-COVID-19 era, there will be a shift in customer preference when it would come to buying cars. People will tend to buy small cars, instead of focusing on premium offerings. Hence, it could be expected that several automakers will emphasise on the mass-market segment.
Toyota's strategy is very clear as declared officially by the automaker in past. They are going to keep premium branding in each segment with value positioning at consumers mind.Gaurav Vangaal, Associate Director, LVP forecast, IHS Markit
Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the joint venture of Toyota Motor Corporation and Kirloskar Systems Limited, has scrapped its Etios range earlier this year. The Etios range comprised Elios Liva hatchback, Etios Cross and Etios Platinum compact sedan. This move leaves the automaker with offerings like Innova, Fortuner, Yaris, Camry Hybrid which are in the premium segment.
Though the Etios range of models were not the most popular offerings from the Toyota Kirloskar Motor in India but combined, they sold 17,670 units in the FY20 in the domestic market, out of the automaker's total 1,14,081 units registered in the last financial year.
Toyota had earlier annoucned the strategy to focus on premium offerings for the Indian market, a strategy similar to another Japanese carmaker present in the country, Honda Cars India. However, considering the changed scenario that is about to be unveiled in the Indian auto market, due to the pandemic, is it the right strategy to shelve the mass-market cars?
Gaurav Vangaal, Associate Director, LVP forecast, IHS Markit, said, "Toyota's strategy is very clear as declared officially by the automaker in past. They are going to keep premium branding in each segment with value positioning at consumers mind. They got successful in implementing this strategy even with their recent launch of Glanza."
Are Suzuki sourced cars the answer to mass-market?
Toyota Kirloskar Motor has already launched the Glanza, which is a rebadged version of Maruti Suzuki Baleno. This came as part of the Toyota-Suzuki global partnership for models and electric vehicles technologies. The premium hatchback sold 24,380 units in the domestic market in FY20.
This model sharing strategy could prove to be a win-win situation for both TKM and Maruti Suzuki in India, even if Toyota doesn't have a small car in the domestic market's mass-market segment, the space that sees the most number of car sales every year and likely to see further due to the effect of the pandemic.
The blend of Toyota technology and frugal cost structures with local capabilities will help both the automakers, said Gaurav Vangaal. "Together, they are expected to bring mass segment vehicles with the right set of technology and price." But, this strategy would make the cars pricier, due to the implementation of new technology and features as well, complying with the demand of the customers.
With Maruti Suzuki having a wide range of mass-market models in its portfolio, if shared with TKM, the latter could benefit from them. However, there is no confirmation yet on which are the other Maruti Suzuki models that will be shared by Toyota beyond the Glanza.
EV for the mass-market segment?
While Toyota might not launch its own mass-market car in India, but rely on the partnership with Suzuki for this segment, it has already indicated that there will be electric vehicles for this category.
Last year, Toyota's Chief Technology Officer Shigeki Terashi indicated that India would play an important role in the automaker's Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) strategy. He said that Toyota wants to introduce them at an early stage with Maruti Suzuki.
With Maruti Suzuki developing the WagonR based electric hatchback, which is likely to launch in India in 2021, we might see the car being shared with Toyota, similar strategy to Glanza.
However, the pricing of the electric vehicles in India are not as affordable as the small conventional hatchbacks. The car is unlikely to come under Rs 5 lakh, which typically marks the affordable mass-market models.
The company will stop producing Jazz after October 2022 while the crossover WR-V will not be produced beyond March 2023. The carmaker will also stop the production and sale of the 4th Generation Honda City by December 2022 in the country. However, the 5th generation of the sedan will continue to be available in the market, a source in the know of things told ETAuto.


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Dangers facing the industry are imminent, the House of Commons Employment Committee reported, because of threats to the bloodstock industry from new VAT regulations.
From January 1, bloodstock sold in Britain will be subject to a VAT rate of 17.5 per cent, as opposed to 5.5 in France and 2.7 in Ireland. Leading auctioneers Tattersalls, who sell the vast majority of bloodstock in this country, have already decided to switch their premier Houghton Sale from Newmarket to Fairyhouse in Ireland next year.
Yesterday's report said: 'If action is not taken as soon as possible to remedy the basic disadvantage under which it is labouring, the horseracing industry in which the UK is a world leader could go into a very rapid decline.'
Coming on top of difficulties caused by low prize money and recession, the VAT rules could 'spell disaster for the UK industry, which at present is the world leader in thoroughbred breeding'.
The racing industry is so closely interconnected that decline in one area inevitably has a serious impact elsewhere. 'We note that the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association estimate that as many as 75 per cent of the 12,000 jobs in the UK breeding industry would be at risk as a consequence of the VAT disadvantage and that this leaves out of account any resulting unemployment in training or racing,' the Committee's report said.
As a solution, it wants racehorse owners to be able to register for VAT, enabling purchasers to reclaim the tax as permitted in other EC countries. But Customs & Excise are reluctant to distort the strict business character of VAT registration.
The Committee calls on Customs & Excise to be flexible, regretting that they regard horseracing 'not so much as a major source of employment and tax revenue, but rather as a rich man's hobby'.
Richard Spring, MP for Bury St Edmunds and chairman of the Employment Committee, said later that the VAT registration solution was widespread on the Continent and perfectly legal. David Gibson, who is president of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, added: 'I don't see how we're any different from people who produce and sell tennis rackets.'
Martin Pipe's exciting chaser Miinnehoma is more likely than not to run in Saturday's pounds 30,000 SGB Handicap at Ascot. After Peter Scudamore schooled the nine- year-old on the gallops by Pipe's Wellington stables, the champion trainer said: 'I was pleased with the horse, and at the moment the odds are 60-40 in favour of him running. But he is also in the Welsh National and the King George VI.'Reuse content


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Luxury sex brand Myla has unveiled its range of sex toys designed by Marc Newson, Habitat head of design Tom Dixon and sculptors Mari Ruth Oda and Tara Cottam. Although designed for play, the toys are ‘individual works of art’, according to a Myla statement. ‘I see nothing strange in designing everything from a private jet to a sex toy,’ says Newson, who has created Mojo. The products will be available at Myla’s flagship store, which is scheduled to open in London in October, or from www.myla.com, which was designed by Exact Abacus.
The design consultancy has rebranded the alcohol subscription service, which sends its members a surprise bottle of gin plus other goodies every month.
Hunt has set up a new initiative which will see 60 objects from the V&A’s collections travel to regional museums in the North of England, in a bid to inspire
On 13 July, tens of thousands of protesters marched the streets of Central London imploring prime minister Theresa May to “Dump Trump”, as the US president made
Ex-Design Council CEO John Mathers and creative director Bill Wallsgrove have co-founded a branding consultancy, which will look to improve the creative image and strategy of charities to help them


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Apple shares saw a pretty nasty selloff on Friday’s trading, as the slump in Asian markets and in equity indices all over the globe spurred a sharp drop. However, looking at the longer-term time frames suggests that the overall trend is still up and that this might be a chance to buy at cheaper levels.
Using the Fib tool on the latest swing low and high on the weekly time frame shows that the 50% retracement level lines up with the previous peaks near the $100/share mark. A larger pullback could last until the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level near the rising trend line connecting the lows on the same time frame.
Both stochastic and RSI are indicating oversold conditions, although the oscillators haven’t turned up and reflected a return in buying pressure yet. Once that happens, Apple shares could show a bounce and possibly start climbing back to its previous highs.
Apple Shares Forecast
Some stock analysts say that this marks the end of the stock’s stellar gains, though, as the downturn in China could mean negative repercussions on the company’s sales and revenues. Recall that the iPhone’s market share in China slipped to third place, following local company Xiaomi and Taiwan-based Huawei.
Further declines in smartphone and tablet sales in the region could mean lower profits for Apple, which might weigh further in the next round of earnings figures. This could push Apple shares significantly lower, with a break below the $100/share psychological level signaling that further declines are likely.
In addition, the Fed’s cautious outlook for the economy is also keeping equity gains in check. After all, the FOMC might not be able to hike interest rates by September due to a foreseen slowdown in demand and another possible downturn in commodity prices. China’s yuan devaluation might also have an indirect impact on Apple sales, as this would make the company’s products relatively more expensive in the Chinese market.
To contact the reporter of the story: Samuel Rae at firstname.lastname@example.org


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In May, 2018, fastfood giant Jollibee got into hot water when it was found that its food delivery website contained vulnerabilities, which allowed unauthorized persons to gain access to customers’ personal information stored in the website’s database. The National Privacy Commission ordered the suspension of the site until the said vulnerabilities were addressed.
This incident highlighted the importance of data privacy in the Philippines, which is protected by RA 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA). The National Privacy Commission was created in 2016 to administer and implement this law.
The importance of the Data Privacy Act
With the phenomenal rise of internet use around the world, and with almost everything today found in the cloud, data protection laws have become important tools in protecting the privacy of individuals and consumers everywhere. Without these laws, personal information is vulnerable to misuse, which can not only lead to a breach of privacy but to cybercrimes like identity theft and transaction fraud, as well.
The DPA brings the Philippines up-to-date with international standards on data protection. As one of the world’s largest users of the internet, the country needs to ensure that its citizens’ fundamental right to privacy is protected and preserved.
By safeguarding the privacy rights of Filipinos, the DPA paves the way for a sustainable free flow of information where consumers feel safe to give out their personal data, and government and businesses are accountable for the responsible use of the information they collect.
Moreover, the Philippines has a fast-growing business outsourcing industry where data is transmitted and processed in large volumes every day. The DPA provides BPO clients – local and international – with the assurance that the data involved in their day-to-day operations are protected and secure.
The rights protected by the DPA
The DPA guarantees the following rights to data subjects, or owners of personal information stored in a database system:
The impact of the DPA to businesses
At its core, the DPA requires businesses that collect personal information to abide by the following:
Violations of the DPA can result in imprisonment of up to six years or a fine of up to P5 million.
To learn more about the DPA, check out the National Privacy Commission’s website. If you need help in ensuring your business is compliant, get in touch with FilePino at +1.806.553.6552 (USA) or +63.917.8922337 (Philippines).


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Joining the ranks of other payment processors that are taking advantage of the growing smart phone market, American Express (NYSE:AXP) recently announced its launch of a new digital payment and commerce platform that will allow its customers to send and receive money through their mobile phones.
The payment process will officially roll out a new product called Serve(SM), which is expected to allow consumers to make transactions online through Serve.com on their mobile phones anywhere that American Express is accepted. The service will also allow its users to combine person-to-person money transfers, mobile payments, in-store card payments and online transactions into one account.
To help American Express with the launch of its new online service, the company will partner with three companies—Ticketmaster®, Concur® and Flipsaw®—who will now use the new product to provide offers available for Serve customers.
“A cornerstone of the long-term vision for Serve is developing partnerships with commerce, gaming, entertainment, and social networking organizations…These companies have loyal communities of customers, and we are thrilled to partner with them as we grow and expand Serve’s reach,” said Doug Schulman, the Group President of Enterprise Growth for AmEx.
How the Service Works:
Serve works by first allowing customers to set up an online account–either on the program’s official website or through their smart phone. Once an account has been established, customers can then use the account to send and receive money from friends, pay bills and make purchases online. Customers can even set up sub-accounts with spending profiles for friends or family members. In addition, customers who Serve accounts also receive a reloadable prepaid card linked to their accounts that can be used at merchants that accept AmEx cards.
American Express indicated in its announcement of the new service that the fees associated with Serve.com would be “highly competitive.” Those fees include:
- An initial 2.9% fee to put money into your Serve.com account, plus a 30c/per load, which will be discounted to 0% for cash, debit or ACH
- A monthly $2.00 ATM cash withdrawal fee
The company said it will waive its initial 2.9% fee for new customers for the next six months.
Mobile banking and payment platforms have gained popularity with consumers with the rise of the smart phones. More than 70% percent of smart phone users use mobile banking and payment services on a regular basis, according to a Mobile Money study.
For more information about the new service or to open an account go to Serve.com.


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Gaming has a lot of storied and historic franchises, and one of them is Final Fantasy. And the franchise has made it to the record books, as Guinness confirmed that they earned not one, not two, but three world records!
Final Fantasy XIV took two world records, while the entire franchise itself took one. Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida went to the EU Fanfest 2017 event in Frankfurt, Germany himself to accept the awards.
The entire franchise took the world record for the most entries in a video game series. Currently, the franchise has 87 games, including the 15 main series games, their sequels and spin-offs, and side games. Yes folks, the record even counted the lesser-known ones.
Meanwhile, Final Fantasy XIV took the world records for longest ending credit sequence and the most background music tracks. The game’s ED credits last 38 minutes, while the MMORPG itself has a total of 384 songs.
Congratulations Square Enix!


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An exploration of the luxury market through trends, insights and expert opinions
With China's recent Singles Day winning over $30bn in sales, can Western brands maximise on this unstoppable shopping event? James Hebbert, managing director of Hylink, shares his advice.
UK brands including Dyson and Jaguar-Land Rover were among those that earned the sixth biggest slice of sales in 2018
Singles Day, led by e-commerce giant Alibaba, has taken place on the 11th November for the past 10 years. This year it earned the company over $30bn in sales (£23.8bn, €27.3) – roughly equivalent to Canada’s annual e-commerce spend – making it the world’s largest shopping festival by far. Black Friday and Cyber Monday pale in comparison. Yet, little is still known about the festival among Western brands and retailers.
Despite Singles Day growth slowing for Alibaba, increasing by 27% in 2018 compared to 39% in 2017, there is still major growth year-on-year. This is largely due to China’s thriving middle-class which, according to an OECD forecast, is expected to almost triple from 300 million to 850 million by 2030. Millennials make up a large proportion of this. In fact, China’s total population is made up of 400 million millennials. Since this group are typically the most engaged with other online shopping events, it can be expected that Singles Day will break record sales again next year.
When creating a buzz around Singles Day, Alibaba doesn’t do things by halves. This year, we saw the company launch a mini satellite to broadcast sentimental messages to shoppers from space. Next year, we can expect more gimmicks from Alibaba, enhancing the customer experience of the festival and positioning the brand as dynamic and forward-thinking.
If UK brands are unable to innovate at the same pace, they will face an uphill struggle in the Chinese market.
So what are the opportunities for Western brands to break into Singles Day? Certainly there is space for them to participate. In fact, UK-based brands including Dyson, Burberry and Jaguar-Land Rover this year earned the sixth biggest slice of sales according to Alibaba – but, as brands such as M&S and Topshop have found – entering China is no easy feat. As the middle-class grows, so does competition in the market. Brands using social media sites such as WeChat have experienced a decline in consumer engagement as the market becomes increasingly saturated. In order to break through the noise, brands require a bespoke, considered marketing strategy that resonates with Chinese consumers.
A mistake that UK brands often make is assuming that Chinese shoppers are looking for cheap or entry-level products, but that stereotype no longer holds. In fact, Chinese consumers are as sophisticated as the West, if not more so when it comes to using digital platforms. As a result, Chinese brands are way ahead in terms of technology and digital innovation, and these shopping experiences – be it online-to-offline (O2O) commerce or retail storefronts on Alibaba's Tmall platform – have become normal for Chinese consumers. If UK brands do not take this into consideration, and if they aren't able to innovate at the same pace, they will face an uphill struggle in the Chinese market.
Ultimately, while the Chinese market is incredibly enticing for UK brands, success will not come easy. Brands would be naïve to think that it is as simple as listing and selling items in line with Singles Day. It is crucial to map out a long-term, digitally-focused marketing strategy unique to the Chinese consumer. If they can nail this, there is opportunity to prosper in the Chinese market, perhaps even in time for Singles Day 2019.
James Hebbert is UK managing director of Chinese and UK creative digital marketing and media agency Hylink.


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The slump of the British pound against the U.S. dollar should give a big boost to Britain`s economy, two major financial forecasters have said.
The London Business School and the Confederation of British Industry also agreed in new studies that the negative effect of current high British interest rates will be relatively small.
The Business School said 1985 could be the best year for Britain`s economic growth since 1973, with output expected to rise by 3.5 percent.
Of this, a half percent represents output expected to be made up after the miners` strike comes to an end.
''Firms are taking advantage of the lower pound to increase their exports,'' said David Wiglesworth, chairman of the Confederation`s economic situation committee.
The Business School rejected suggestions that the massive fall in the pound will push up Britain`s inflation rate again.


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Amazon India has announced its partnership with Startup India, under which the global e-commerce giant aims to offer Indian startups mentorship, resources and a grant of USD 50,000 to reach out to wider retail markets outside India. This partnership, under the umbrella of the Amazon Global Selling Propel (AGSP), aims to offer startups dealing in consumer products with the opportunity to expand their market size and reach out to consumers in other nations. The AGSP programme is specifically designed for early-stage startups, and aims to turn homegrown businesses into global brands.
The mentorship board under the AGSP programme will include leading Amazon executives from India and international markets, senior leaders of Startup India and Invest India, and venture capital partners, who will all offer one-on-one guidance and mentorship to early stage consumer product startups of India. Amazon has not specified if this programme will largely be limited to startups in the technology space only, or would be expanded to other categories too. Sequoia Capital India and Fireside Ventures, two of Amazon’s venture capital partner firms, will also entertain funding pitches from potential startups, and have the chance to win a total grant of USD 50,000 (approx. Rs 36.5 lakh). This grant will be equity free, meaning that the funding bodies will not hold a percentage of the startup’s shares, as is the norm in funding rounds.
Talking about the goal that this programme will help Amazon achieve, Amit Agarwal, global SVP and country head of Amazon India said, “Our partnership with Startup India to launch this accelerator programme will provide emerging brands an opportunity to bring their business propositions to life, and help create globally popular brands from India. With Amazon Global Selling, we will continue to make exports simple and accessible to businesses of all sizes, and fulfil our commitment of enabling $10 billion in e-commerce exports from India by 2025.”
Entries for potential startups are now open, and will continue until Sunday, February 7. To qualify, startups will need to be between post-seed and pre-Series A funding rounds, and a panel selected by Amazon will evaluate each entrant based on business idea, scalability, numbers achieved so far in home (or launched) markets, viability of the startup’s business plan and the credentials of the startup’s founders, among other aspects. A total of 10 startups will be selected in the programme, and three winning startups will take home the USD 50,000 grant.


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With a view to tap the rapidly growing Indian gaming market, Microsoft Corporation on Tuesday launched the latest version of its blockbuster, Halo: Reach.
The game is now available at all leading organised retail stores across the country at Rs 2,599 for the standard edition, Rs 2,999 for the limited edition and Rs 6,999 for the legendary edition.
Halo: Reach, developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by developer Bungie, is the blockbuster prequel to the best-selling Xbox franchise of all time.
Halo: Reach is the blockbuster prequel to Halo trilogy that will let players experience the events that transpired on the planet Reach. The Halo franchise is an entertainment phenomenon comprising of best-selling novels, collectibles and industry-acclaimed anime and genre-defined games that have more than 30-million units world-wide.
"The Halo franchise games have been one of the most popular and best games for us. Halo: Reach will definitely keep up to the success of its predecessors and will take the legacy of Halo's reach multiplayer game-play to an entirely new level, delivering experience that will keep players attached to Xbox live for years to come," Microsoft Corporation (India)'s Director Marketing, Entertainment & Devices Division, Ashim Mathur, told reporters.
For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on Twitter, Facebook, and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel.


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Italian company Pirelli Group stops cooperation with BMZ
The world’s leading tire manufacturer made this decision in connection with violations of workers’ rights.
After several months of investigating the situation with workers’ rights at the Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ), the world’s leading tire manufacturer Pirelli Group confirmed to the Professional Union of Belarusians in Britain (PUBB) on December 23, 2021 that the Pirelli Group decided “to stop the commercial relations with BMZ”.
Pirelli produces tires, among others, for Formula 1 Races and is mentioned among the top clients of BMZ‘s Austrian subsidiary, Belmet GmbH.
Let us remind that in June the Swedish Scandia Steel decided “to phase out BMZ as a supplier and to suspend future procurement orders to BMZ”. In July, a similar decision was made by Yokohama Rubber Group. The French group Michelin is still investigating violations of workers’ rights at BMZ.
In addition, in a resolution adopted in October, the EU Parliament called for the extension of the EU sectoral sanctions on steel (paragraph 13), after which no Western buyer will be able to work with BMZ.


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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has reportedly started shipping its first batch of iPhone and iPad microprocessors to Apple, according to sources familiar with the matter.
By making microprocessors for Apple, TSMC is taking over a role previously carried out by Samsung. Some skeptics had previously suggested that TSMC — which is the world’s biggest contract chipmaker in terms of revenue — wouldn’t be able to deliver the complex chips to Apple’s satisfaction.
That they apparently can is particularly good news for Apple for two reasons. Firstly, securing an additional supplier means that Apple will have more leverage in price negotiations with chipmakers going forwards.
Secondly, it hits business rival Samsung hard at a time when Samsung’s beginning to feel the sting of slowing smartphone sales. While Apple still relies on Samsung for some of its microprocessor requirements, the company has been trying to disentangle itself from Samsung over the past few years, moving much of its manufacturing work to other suppliers. Since TSMC doesn’t compete directly with Apple, it’s likely that it will get increasing orders in future.
“Apple’s order is a big deal to the company,” one source is quoted as saying. “TSMC has assigned a large team to support Apple as you know this client is very picky.”
Analysts claims that Apple’s new microprocessor orders will account for 10% of TSMC’s revenue this year.
Going forward, Apple and TSMC are reportedly collaborating on testing next-generation microprocessors using more advanced 16-nanometer chip manufacturing technology. Should tests go to plan, this would allow Apple to include more powerful and energy-efficient chips in future iOS devices.
Source: Wall Street Journal


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Annoying advertisements for online card games have been rampant on many websites whose domain names end in gov.vn, which signifies they belong to organizations and agencies under the government of Vietnam.
While the advertisements were already removed from some of the websites at the time of writing, they remain on others, such as those of the Department of Science and Technology of Binh Phuoc Province (skcn.binhphuoc.gov.vn) and the Division of Investment Promotion and Attraction of Nam Dinh Province (xuctienvathuhutdautu.namdinh.gov.vn).
The advertisements entice visitors to the websites to download applications or access web-based services of online casinos, sports betting, lotteries, slot games, fish shooting games, and 3D card games.
Gambling services run these advertising contents on the websites of the state-run organizations and agencies to increase search rankings for those services as the web pages are always rated as reputable by search engines like Google.
This is not the first time that advertisements for gambling games have invaded state-run Vietnamese agencies’ websites.
The issue has recurred since those websites have been outdated and full of security errors, according to Internet security experts.


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Dinosaurs, gladiators and Adam and Eve are among the figures on timepieces and bracelets from a Bahrain brand.
PARIS — What does a watch say about you? Mahmood Qannati would tell you, “Anything you want it to.” The goal of his Bahrain-based brand is to give clients a way for their wrist ornaments to convey whatever they wish.
“We make ‘wearable art objects’ that can tell the story of who you are or capture a meaningful moment in your life,” Mr. Qannati, founder and chief executive of Qannati Objet d’Art, said in an interview in April in Paris, where he was overseeing the final production of the company’s first collection. “We
→ Continue reading at The New York Times


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The latest Caspari Center Media Review includes a brief summary from the Hebrew-language Yerushalayim Shelanu of tourism to Israel in 2012.
56% of the 2.88 million tourists who visited Israel were Christian. Of these, 90% visited Jerusalem, 68% visited the Dead Sea, 62% visited Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee, and 60% visited Bethlehem. Most Christian tourists come from Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Poland, Mexico, Russia, Romania, and Nigeria.
A photo of a flock of tourists all wearing floppy orange hats would fit right here.


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The first time I got the chance to play Accounting, the debut VR game from Squanch Games (then Squanchtendo) in collaboration with Crows, Crows, Crows, I couldn’t [...]
Update: Not only is Justin Roiland confirmed as a Presenter during the show, but in a Twitter DM he confirmed to me that, yes, they are announcing a game tomorrow: [...]
At the D.I.C.E. 2017 Summit, developers, press, and entertainment industry veterans gathered from around the world this week to discuss cutting edge technology and design [...]
When I first talked to Justin Roiland and Tanya Watson, the two primary people behind new VR game studio, Squanchtendo, they made it clear that they wanted to build [...]
Update: Watch the full gameplay video in mixed reality here!
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally almost here: tomorrow, on October 18th, [...]
It would not be an understatement to say that the game I was most excited about trying at PAX West earlier this month was, without a doubt, the first Squanchteno project. [...]


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On November, 23, the Second Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE) will kick off in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. It will hold “Silk Road E-commerce Day” Activity for the first time, including international cooperation forum, theme pavilion, product promotion and livestream.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, while Hangzhou is an important city on the ancient Silk Road. In recent years, as the first cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot area of China, Hangzhou has accelerated the construction of Digital Silk Road Strategic Hub.
The event will invite envoys from 30 “Silk Road E-commerce” partner countries. Through the cooperation and livestream of e-commerce platforms, Hangzhou will help the excellent products of partner countries enter Chinese market, to further boost the economic and trade cooperation of the Belt and Road, and promote the development of local trade.


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Pizza leader”Papa” John Schnatter is not impressed with the pies his fans have been showing him on TikTok.
The founder and former CEO and spokesman for his eponymous pizza chain has been reacting to videos and pictures of not-so-great-looking food from Papa John’s and everywhere on his popular TikTok account.
“When I said the caliber at #PapaJohns has gone down since I left, this is exactly what I meant,” he wrote on one video of a client’s burnt pizza.
The movie reveals a diner picking up a part of the blackened pizza that they maintained was from Papa John’s and hitting it against the cardboard box it was delivered .
“Holy s–,” Schnatter said in his movie .” How do you — you have to try to burn a pizza. That’s got to be intentional. That has got to be planted. That can not be real life. No!”
In another TikTok, Schnatter imposes himself jokingly clutching his heart above a message showing a pizza so disfigured that it appears like it might have been carried on its side.
“How can that even happen,” he captioned the video.
The deposed founder was a vocal critic of the Kentucky-based Papa John’s because he was forced to resign in 2018 with a racial slur on a business call.
Schnatter has claimed his innocence in that incident, which resulted in his ousting from the corporation. Last month, during an appearance on FOX Business, he claimed that he’d been”set up” by members of their company board of directors.
Another TikTok reveals Schnatter miming gagging as he responds to a movie from a girl who said her Papa John’s order mistakenly came with all the grease-encrusted pan under her breadsticks.
Since he left Papa John’s, Schnatter has become a decent following on TikTok, with over 458,000 followers. His most recent pizza response video has attracted 1.3 million views so far.
He is not only using the platform to dip his former business. Schnatter has also been reacting to additional pizza concoctions, such as the other TikToker’s”pizza fried rice.”
“I will pass,” Schnatter concludes from the video.


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TORONTO — AMResorts is making good on its growth plans for Mexico with new details emerging about its four new resorts, including two in the up and coming destination of Punta Mita.
Secrets Punta de Mita Resort & Spa and Dreams Punta de Mita Resort & Spa as well Secrets Marina Resort & Spa and Now Natura Riviera Cancun are all on the way for AMResorts, expanding the hotel company’s already sizeable Mexico footprint.
AMResorts’ pipeline of open and upcoming resorts in Mexico now includes 33 luxury all-inclusive resort properties across the company’s six brands, representing 12,000 rooms in 15 destinations.
It was just about this time last year that AMResorts mapped out its plans for 100 resorts by 2020, with an emphasis on Mexico.
“Consistently, Mexico has proven to be a strong and resilient market, welcoming increasing numbers of international visitors every year,” said Alex Zozaya, CEO of Apple Leisure Group. “We will continue to expand AMResorts’ presence in emerging and existing destinations across Mexico.”
The 200-room Secrets Punta de Mita Resort & Spa and the 415-room Dreams Punta de Mita Resort & Spa are both set to open in late 2020 in Punta de Mita’s Bahía de Banderas, in the Riviera Nayarit region. The location offers views of the famous Marieta Islands as well as the Nuevo Vallarta coastline, and will feature a semi-private beach, according to the company.
The new builds will be less than 50 kilometres from Puerto Vallarta and 45 minutes away from the city’s International Airport.
AMResorts will also continue to grow its footprint in Quintana Roo, with Now Natura Riviera Cancun, the first new build for the brand in Riviera Maya and scheduled to open in late 2019. The 534-room beachfront resort is a 16-kilometre drive from Cancun International Airport. Amenities will include a lazy river, infinity pool with waterslide, waterfalls, a poolside restaurant and a grotto bar.
Secrets Marina Resort & Spa meanwhile will expand the adults-only offerings in the Riviera Cancun area, with 407 rooms scheduled to debut in 2020. Secrets Marina Resort & Spa will be located in the Marina El Cid development, 35 minutes North of Playa del Carmen and 30 minutes south of Cancun’s International Airport.
“As a whole, Mexico offers a wealth of investment opportunities, and our owners see a strong and consistent return on their resort investments,” said Javier Coll, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Apple Leisure Group. “We have more than 17 years of experience in the region and will continue to leverage our market knowledge to strategically expand in our principal tourism corridors as well as enter new, popular destinations seeing high demand.”
AMResorts opened Mexico’s first adults-only, all-inclusive resort in 2002. By the end of 2019, AMResorts will have over 60 resorts, representing more than 24,000 rooms throughout Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. AMResorts’ footprint will span 30 destinations in 11 countries, including entry into additional destinations with an eye to reaching new heights by 2020.
Other new properties on their way to Mexico with AMResorts include the 120-suite Zoëtry Chamela Costalegre Mexico, scheduled for 2020, and the 500-suite Breathless Playa del Carmen Resort & Spa in 2019.


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Is franchising for you? Husband-and-wife duo explain why they invested in a franchise
Peter and Janet Grimes say becoming franchisees for Nationwide Cleaners has been "the best decision they ever made". Find out why...
Are you considering becoming a franchisee?
In search of a “less demanding lifestyle”, Janet Grimes cut down her hours as a training and business development manager and, along with her husband Peter who had been getting “bored” of retirement, decided to invest in a franchise.
An opportunity to put their “skills to good use”, provide “a new challenge in life”, and generate a “good income”, read the following case study from the entrepreneurial couple on becoming franchisees for domestic cleaning chain Nationwide Cleaners:
“A Nationwide Cleaners franchise particularly appealed to us – we liked the fact that we could work from home, and we also liked the fact that our cleaners would be self-employed (anyone who has had dealings with employment law will know what a nightmare this can be!).
“We thought the franchise monthly fee was reasonable in comparison with some other franchises and we also liked the money back guarantee, which is very unusual – this was obviously a company confident of our success!
“We won’t deny that starting up the business was hard graft (which is only to be expected), but we had our first client by the end of June 2016 and had 50 clients by the end of October 2017.
“Janet is giving up her training job in March 2017 to spend time further developing the business, and we still have many postcode areas that we haven’t yet covered and recognise that there is still a great deal of untapped potential out there!
Building a website for your business idea is easier than you might think. Our online tool ranks the top website builders that offer free trials.
“Peter has not only spent time on developing the cleaning side of the business, but has enjoyed developing the marketing side, too. Peter introduced tracking to his leaflet distribution, which has proved very successful and led to a constant stream of enquiries.
“When Janet has more time available in March, Peter plans to further expand the marketing, which he recognises as having good potential, too.
“We are both very pleased that we made the decision to invest in a Nationwide Franchise – it ticks all our boxes and is the best decision we have ever made!”


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Cummins Continues Power Systems Rebranding
By Mike Brezonick25 July 2017
Cummins Inc. announced that it will be unifying its brand strategy across its Power Systems business segment, which provides high-speed engines from 760 to 4400 hp and power generation equipment from 2 kW to 3.5 MW, including standby and prime power generator sets, alternators, switchgear and other components.
Currently the portfolio incorporates the Cummins, Cummins Power Generation and Cummins Onan brands, but as of now, the branding will be consolidated under the Cummins brand. The Cummins Power Generation and Cummins Onan brands will be retired and the Onan name synonymous with mobile gen-sets, will be repositioned as a generator product line under the newly unified Cummins brand in the RV market.
“Looking to unify Cummins into one cohesive, unified brand, we decided that consolidating both products (engines and generators) into the Cummins RV family only strengthens the brand and more uniformly speaks to our manufacturers and consumers,” said Jodie Wilson, director, Marketing Communications, Consumer, Marine & Infrastructure Segments at Cummins. “The brand changing will not affect product or service offerings, but will help us to continue on our promise of delivering dependability across the globe.”
Cummins will also be permanently changing all “Fun Roads” branding to Cummins RV moving forward and the Fun Roads brand will also be retired. The Fun Roads website provides information for RV owners, including parts information, accessories and supplies, RV service and classifieds, loans, insurance, resources for buying or selling RVs and safety tips. As Onan will now be repositioned as a RV product line, with the new rv.cummins.com website and social media platforms serving as tools for recreational vehicle owners to find relevant information like product specs and a sales and service locator.
Rebranding will take place globally on all marketing activities, as product branding changes across all manufacturing plants this month, the company said.
This is the latest move in the reorganization of the Cummins High Horsepower engine business and Cummins Power Generation business into a single business unit, Cummins Power Systems. That change became effective in April 2016 and since then, the company has been moving deliberately to refocus all brand marketing toward the Cummins badge.
“As a result of the creation of the Power Systems business segment last year, we re-evaluated how we wished to be positioned in the market,” said Norbert Nusterer, president – Cummins Power Systems. “Coming together under one new business structure means that the time is right to move to a more cohesive brand strategy under the one Cummins brand, one that will better position us to leverage our brand strength and ensure that we continue to deliver on our brand promise of dependability across the globe.”


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Travel agents are reporting a significant drop in sales of foreign holidays compared with last summer. At the same time, there has been a surge in requests for information about trips closer to home.
The strength of the euro could also be putting people off. In some bars in Paris, a pint of beer can cost £8.
Statistics released today by internet search engine Kelkoo show the number of people looking for UK holidays is up by 39 per cent compared with last year. Searches for information about over-seas trips were down 12 per cent.
Popular British options included self-catering cottages in the Lake District, Cornwall and Dorset, with searches up 21 per cent. The number of people looking for walking holidays and short breaks in Britain was up 18 per cent.
Harry Kyrillou, a director of travel agent Planet Holidays, said bookings for this quarter were down by 10 per cent compared with last year.
He said: "I think business has slowed down due to the fact there is a lot of economic uncertainty and that is worrying people. A lot of people don't know if they will have a job in three months' time and holidays are the first to go."
Countries that use the euro would be worst-hit. He said: "We are at a great disadvantage because of the devaluation of sterling against the euro. There is more demand for Egypt and the US, where people can use American dollars.
"A lot of people are deciding to holiday in the UK who would normally go to Spain or Portugal. If they are going abroad they are leaving it later to book, thinking they will get a bargain, but they may be disappointed."
Bruce Fair, managing director of Kelkoo, said: "The trend for people to holiday at home seems to be driven by the credit crunch and the underlying lack of confidence in consumer spending.
"European countries with the euro are so expensive now - I was in Paris and was charged the equivalent of £8 for a pint of beer - which is bound to put people off."
For those still determined to holiday abroad, the Post Office has named Thailand, South Africa and Egypt as the cheapest overseas destinations this year. Its holiday costs barometer, based on the price of holiday essentials overseas, also found the US was cheaper than many European destinations, with a bottle of Coca-Cola costing £1.60 in Florida, compared with £2.94 in France. In Spain, renting a car costs £58.87 a day, while in Florida it is £28.06.
Sian Branchley, spokeswoman for Visit Britain, said: "The feedback we have been getting is people are taking another look at holidaying at home because of the current financial climate. We have destinations that rival overseas."
She said more people were visiting Liverpool and the North-West this year, while seaside towns such as Whitstable and Southport were also doing well.Reuse content


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Gujarat, Karnataka, and Meghalaya are among the states emerging as best performers in the third edition of the States Startup Ranking 2021.
States' ranking: This is an exercise aimed at the ranking of states and Union territories (UTs) on the support in developing their startup ecosystem and learning from each other’s best practices.
The latest edition of the ranking comes amidst the government’s increasing focus on empowering states to be the key driver in the national plan for a bigger startup system.
“The biggest role has to be played by states. We can play a facilitative role,” says Anurag Jain, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which has been conducting the ranking exercise.
The third edition: This edition, after two successive rounds since 2018, recorded the highest participation of 31 states/UTs to date.
The consideration period was 1 October 2019 to 31 July 2021.
The documentary evidence submitted was evaluated over a six-month period by a committee comprising representatives from 19 government departments and 29 non-government stakeholders for fair and transparent evaluation.
The 2021 ranking showcases the support being extended by over 30 states and UTs through startup policies to the ecosystem, in stark contrast to only four states having such policies prior to 2016.
The Centre’s policy to leverage cooperative and competitive federalism to achieve all-round growth appears to be paying dividends.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is keen that states learn from each other and more startups come on board the Government E-Marketplace (GeM).
How states fared: Gujarat, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Kerala, and Telangana were among the best performers. Here's a quick look at a few states and UTs.
Best-performer Gujarat has two funds established to provide support to startups and has 160+ startups supported with financial assistance.
Karnataka has disruptive policies introduced in sectors such as engineering R&D, electric transport, and electronic system design and manufacturing. It has close to 100 supported startups with a rural impact.
Meghalaya shines from the North East. It has a dedicated nodal agency (PRIME Meghalaya) with a model startup portal, more than 10 women-led supported startups, and 45-plus incubated startups.
Kerala is credited with practices like a dedicated nodal agency with a model startup portal, a clear definition of women-led startups, with more than 20 such startups supported and more than 10 departments promoting startups.
Telangana has established a model state startup portal with translation into three languages, a clear definition of women-led startups and a women-focused incubator, more than 10 departments promoting startups, and more than 15 programmes conducted to connect startups with investors.
Maharashtra’s robust startup registration mechanism enables 12,000-plus startups. It has over 500 programmes to support student entrepreneurs, 20-plus established network of incubators, over 150 startups incubated, and has conducted two acceleration programmes attended by more than 85 startups.
Odisha, another top-performing state, has more than 120 startups connected with 150 registered mentors, collaboration with the MSME Department, STPI, MeitY, and the Electronics and IT Department.
Jammu and Kashmir is a top performer with a startup registration mechanism enabling over 200 startups and 15-plus programmes to promote the entrepreneurial spirit.
Tamil Nadu boasts of robust startup registration mechanism enabling 2,700-plus startups and five disruptive policies introduced in sectors such as EVs, AI, and blockchain.
The future of startups in India looks promising. With self-reliance as the main mantra and the private sector taking the lead in development, states will have even more incentive to provide a better startup ecosystem.
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Start-Up of the Year Award
The Start-up of the Year Award recognises the most innovative start-up, that has showcased potential over the last year for high growth and purpose-driven impact.
DISCOVER THE FINALISTS
Voting is now closed, best of luck to our finalists!
The winners will be unveiled at the exclusive drinks reception, taking place on Wednesday 9 November from 6-8pm at the CTICC.
Womenovate eliminates the barriers to innovation for Nigerian women by providing them with the resources to build amazing careers and businesses.
Womenovate is female focused online learning platform globally offering women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics) access to resources, training courses and Jobs from world-class universities and companies helping to close the gender gap/disparity and increase female participation in STEAM fields and sectors.
We are therefore closing gaps and eliminating barriers for Nigerian women in STEAM through normalization of both Education and Experience, opening them up to endless opportunities.
“At Womenovate, we understand that women are the core of the economic engine for any nation and economic loss from gender inequality is fast increasing globally- Motunrayo Opayinka, CVO and Founder of Womenovate
A mobile app that's the first of its kind in the motor industry, Carscan uses computer vision and machine learning to scan vehicle damages and provide real-time vehicle health condition and repair estimates.
Carscan is an Augmented Reality app powered by Artificial Intelligence that captures the accurate condition of a vehicle, detects damages, and generates competitive quotes to fix the damages.
The platform has been built by using years of experience in the automotive industry and is backed by world-class technology to provide accurate information in real-time thereby helping to provide accurate historical data on a vehicle, resulting in fewer inconsistencies and inaccurate information.
Sendoff Funeral App
Sendoff is a mobile and web platform digitizing the entire deathcare value chain and providing our users with convenience, information and a 10X better Customer eXperience for funeral related services. Sendoff solves the friction and painpoints around deathcare for late Gen Xers & Early Millennials (35-45).We provide a technology solution to allow people to "find anything funeral" on Sendoff and are completely changing the way people approach deathcare.
Sendoff began as an idea in 2019 after our Founder helped out with a funeral and thought....."There's GOT TO be a better way to do this"
So we built one.
We’ve created a trustable, repeatable and scalable way for people to manage an unavoidable life step in a sensitive, efficient and cost effective way. The same way that Uber disrupted transportation and AirBnb disrupted accommodation; Sendoff is fundamentally changing the deathcare space.


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You won’t believe what this retailer has done to stop theft caused by Democrats like Joe Biden.
In an attempt to stop theft in their stores caused by poor Democrat policies, retail giant Walgreens has decided to lock up nearly every single item in their store and it’s insane.
According to Fox, a Walgreens location in Chicago has undergone a redesign that restricts customer access to two aisles of products, once they have passed through anti-theft detectors.
Block Club Chicago reports that significant changes have been implemented at the Walgreens store located at 2 E. Roosevelt Road in the South Loop area. The majority of the merchandise has been relocated to aisles situated behind staffed counters. Customers now have the option to digitally browse and shop for these items through kiosks.
In a statement provided to Fox Business, a spokesperson from Walgreens stated that they are currently conducting a test at this particular store, incorporating new concepts, technologies, and practices to improve the overall experiences of both customers and team members. While the store continues to provide retail products and pharmacy services, it now offers a revamped look and feel, emphasizing the convenience of digital shopping.
“Inside the store, customers will find an area where they can pick-up orders, digital kiosks for placing an order, as well as an area to shop for essential items,” the spokesperson explained.
According to Block Club Chicago, a sign at the Walgreens store instructs shoppers to “place your order and relax,” as the store’s staff members retrieve the requested items from shelves that are not accessible to the public.
“Let us do the shopping,” the sign says.
During an earnings call, Chief Financial Officer James Kehoe remarked, “Maybe we cried too much last year,” noting that shrinkage accounted for 3.5% of sales in the previous year but has since declined to the mid-two percent range.
Shrinkage is a term used to describe the loss of inventory, which can occur due to various factors such as theft. It represents the discrepancy between the actual inventory and the recorded inventory stated on a business’ balance sheet.
It’s sad to see crime run so rampant in Democrat controlled cities that retailers like Walgreens has to literally lock up almost every single item in order to stay in business. President Biden and other Democrat leaders should visit these stores in person to see the damage they have done.


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PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) will finally be released on PlayStation next month, it has been confirmed.
The hit battle royale game was first available for PC gamers in March 2017, before being released on Xbox One in September that year.
PUBG is set for release on the PlayStation 4 (PS4) this coming December 7 and customers who pre-order will receive a Nathan Drake outfit from the Uncharted series and Ellie's backpack from The Last of Us to use in-game.
Koo Sung Jeong, developer PUBG Corp's PS4 lead project manager, says getting the game completed by the year's end felt almost unachievable.
"One of most memorable moments while developing was the first time we had 100 people join a test match. Before the test, the dev team's mission was to deliver the finished product this year - it was a big challenge and it felt almost impossible," said Jeong.
"But as soon as we had 100 people drop in for the test, our confidence started to build and we pushed ourselves harder to make everything happen. We are proud of the game we have created and can't wait to get it into your hands."
- Red Dead Redemption 2 had the biggest opening weekend of anything ever
- NZ's Viva La Dirt League celebrates success at PUBG Invitational in Berlin
PUBG is already one of the best-selling games of all time, with over 50 million copies sold worldwide. Its main competitor has been Fortnite, but other, more established shooter franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield are also now releasing with battle royale modes.


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Coffee houses are very popular in the U.S.; places where people go to socialize or just hang out. Two young entrepreneurs in New York City are hoping to cash in on the craze, with a twist. They have opened Subtle Tea, a tea bar with the ambiance of a coffee house. For producers Ariadne Budianto, Nadia Madjid and Ade Astuti, VOA's Jim Bertel has more.
Subtle Tea seeks to take customers away from their busy days and give them the best steeped cup-of-tea in town. Co-owner Tim Cella believes the growing popularity of tea will make his business a success. "We saw the rise in a couple of years. Many more people are drinking tea. Health benefits: It's much better than coffee. So we figured we're trying to change Americans from drinking coffee everyday to tea."
And his idea is catching on. The shop offers more than 60 different kinds of tea from a menu divided into morning, afternoon and evening tea varieties.
One customer, Irine, says, "Sometimes you need a little pick-me-up in the afternoon, and I don't drink coffee then, so tea seems like a good choice."
Many customers say they like Subtle Tea because it is new and fresh. "They definitely have the best selections of different mixes," says another customer. "Anything you're feeling like. If you have something in the morning, they have a lot of different combinations. And also all sorts of different organic, herbal tea, etc. So, it's really great."
Even the layout of the shop is appealing to some customers. One customer, Michael, says, "I feel comfortable here. It feels like home. I don't feel like I have to compete like at the other places for a place in line, or rushing in and out."
Owner Tim Cella says he plans to build on the success of the Manhattan location by opening additional tea bars around New York City.


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Displaying results 1 - 10 of 145
Gender equality in poorest nations hinges on post-pandemic policy choices
8 Jun 2021
As policymakers in least developed countries address COVID-19’s social and economic consequences, they must ensure recovery efforts are gender responsive.
Zambian cotton entrepreneur goes beyond the fibre
28 May 2021
UNCTAD supports efforts to add value to cotton by-products in eastern and southern Africa to make the crop more profitable for farmers.
Why trade must be part of the solution to biodiversity loss
21 May 2021
Unsustainable trade is behind the biodiversity crisis threatening our existence. But done sustainably, international commerce can help protect our planet’s precious resources.
Women in rural Namibia profit from biodiversity-friendly trade
19 May 2021
The sustainable use and trade of indigenous plants has created valuable economic opportunities for 2,500 Namibian women and their communities.
Women entrepreneurs changing the gender narrative against all odds
8 May 2021
A co-founder of a robotics academy in Jordan and a car shop owner in Brazil share their experiences of overcoming barriers to become successful entrepreneurs.
Cashing in on cashews: Africa must add value to its nuts
15 Apr 2021
The continent grows most of the world’s raw cashews but only processes a fraction of them, missing out on a wealth of opportunity offered by booming global demand.
Overcoming unconscious gender bias
8 Apr 2021
UNCTAD's acting head, UN Geneva's chief and a top economist - three successful women who have overcome biases - share their experiences and recommendations.
The blue economy is an ocean of opportunity to advance gender equality
22 Mar 2021
By Dona Bertarelli, UNCTAD Special Adviser for the Blue Economy


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Samsung Bioepis’ biosimilar sales in European Union surpassed $500 million last year, data showed Wednesday.
According to the fourth-quarter earnings report of Biogen, Samsung Bioepis’ marketing partner in EU, the sales of three biosimilar products – Benepali, Flixabi, and Imraldi -- totaled $545.1 million in 2018, up 44 percent from the previous year.
Benepali (Ingredient: Etanercept) sales increased 31 percent year on year to $485.2 million, and those of Flixabi (Ingredient: Infliximab) rose 380 percent to $43.2 million. The sales off Imraldi (Ingredient: adalimumab), which was launched in October, also reached $16.7 million, 70 days after its launch.
In particular, Benepali sold $956.6 million since its launch in February 2016. About $856 million in sales, or 92 percent of the accumulative total, occurred in the past two years.
According to IQVIA, a pharmaceutical market information company, Benepali has increased its market share in the European Etanercept market to 41 percent, even surpassing that of the original product, Enbrel, and recording the largest market share in Germany.
It was the first time a biosimilar has exceeded the market share of an original drug in Germany, which has the largest auto-immune disease drug market in Europe worth about 2 trillion won.
Imraldi, which was launched along with its competitors from global pharmaceutical companies -- Amgen, Sandoz and Myla, has attained the top place in the adalimumab biosimilar market in Germany by taking up 62 percent in the first month of its launch, Biogen said.
The drug has also maintained its position as the top adalimumab biosimilar for two consecutive months since Biogen began to launch the product in Europe in November.
“Imraldi's first-quarter market penetration outperforms Benepali,” Biogen CFO Jeffrey Capello said in a conference call with Samsung Bioepis. “We expect sales of biosimilars to double in number this year, aided by Imraldi’s brisk performances.”
<© Korea Biomedical Review, All rights reserved.>


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Jack Ma, the co-founder and Chief Executive officer of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., expressed his interested in acquiring troubled internet giant Yahoo! Inc., and has held discussions with other potential buyers on possible deal, according to media reports.
“We are very interested in Yahoo because our Alibaba Group is so important to Yahoo, and Yahoo is also very important to us,” Ma was quoted saying by Bloomberg. “There are so many people who are interested in that, and we are also talking to them.”
Some reports said that Alibaba Group joins private equity firms such as Silver Lake and media executive Peter Chernin as possible suitors for Yahoo. If Alibaba goes ahead with this idea, it will face tough competition from other potential suitors such as Microsoft (which tried to buy the company in 2008 for $45bn or $31 a share) or AOL.
Last month, Yahoo’s board has removed Carol Bartz from her role as Chief Executive Officer of the company, effective immediately. The Sunnyvale, California-based Internet giant has named CFO Timothy Morse as interim CEO while it initiates a search for a permanent CEO.
A representative for Yahoo! declined to comment, Bloomberg reported.
Yahoo owns 40% of Alibaba and large share in Yahoo Japan that amount to one-third to one-half of Yahoo’s overall market value, which currently stands at about $17 billion. Previously, Ma has attempted to buy back Yahoo’s 40% stake in his Chinese Internet empire and has had tough battles with Yahoo’s former CEO in recent months.
Almost 178 million consumers visit Yahoo each month, according to ComScore, which ranks Yahoo the number two web property behind number-one Google (183 million visitors) and ahead of number-three Microsoft Sites (177 million). Alibaba dominates ecommerce in China with its C2C domestic Taobao auction site, B2B global Alibaba marketplace, and its B2C Taobao Mall marketplace for brands, along with its online payment service Alipay.
SOURCES: RTT News, The Street, Market Watch, WSJ (2/10/2011)
IN THE PRESS:
. “How Alibaba Could Change Ecommerce with Yahoo Acquisition” (Auction Bytes)
. “Alibaba chief Ma ‘very interested’ in buying Yahoo!” (The Telegraph)


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A different vision for Hillsborough Street
The other day, I was brainstorming how Hillsborough Street could conquer new markets. Hillsborough Street merchants have shown their commitment and interest in providing eateries and retail service shops. Most stores on Hillsborough Street have customer traffic generated by students from North Carolina State University. In order to bring in new market segments, Hillsborough Street has to offer more than just a place to go eat. Development plans for Hillsborough Street’s future are still underway, but an item that should be on the Raleigh City Council’s agenda is way to develop more parking areas. Before this can occur, merchants need to put in different types of stores that would attract outside customers. Parking at other University campuses’ main-street-attractions can be found on neighboring streets. In contrast, behind NCSU’s main thoroughfare, Hillsborough Street, cars from the residential housing district occupy the streets. Currently, the only places students can rent to live in, are houses. Often times, house rent is beyond what the average student is willing or able to pay. Affordable apartment housing would be another wonderful way to venture beyond what is already offered on Hillsborough Street.


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Saturday, July 14th, 2012...12:51 pm
BTM Watch: Lana Del Rey for H&M
BeTrendMe is excited to announce that star vocalist Landa Del Rey is bringing her pipes to the fashion scene. Following in the footsteps of pop idol Madonna and soccer superstar David Beckham, Lana will become the new face of international brand H&M! This is Lana’s first fashion campaign and BTM can not wait to see her bring her unique fashion flare to the store’s already fabulous racks! She has reportedly been seen on the streets of New York shooting for budget friendly label…BTM is excited to see how it turns out! BeTrenders what do you think of Lana Del Rey’s latest break? Will you be rushing to the nearest H&M like everyone at BTM?!


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“It’s all the rage as smartphones and tablets become proliferated and consumers look for personalised always on the go connectivity. But what if we could turn the Apps market on its head – and rather than focus on the consumerisation of such tools – use them to drive business efficiencies and change the way we do business? That’s exactly what we are doing,” said Nomalanga Nkosi, MTN Business GM for Business Marketing.
Today’s mobile workforce needs ‘anytime, anywhere’ access to corporate intranets and critical data and applications and this is driving the growth of mobile enterprise applications. In fact, according to Forrester 30% of enterprises are using app stores to deploy some of their applications at some level.
Global information technology company, Gartner has placed mobile applications and media tablets within the top ten technologies to significantly impact businesses over the next three years. In developed markets, already 65% of workers use a tablet:
• 27% use a tablet for work;
• 36% to send and receive email;
• 35% to surf the internet;
• 12% to read newspapers, eBooks and magazines; and
• 7% to watch video content.
“We expect these international trends to soon be a local reality. The opportunity exists for local businesses to utilise these devices and platforms, not only to keep their workforce productive, but even to increase their productivity,” adds Kanagaratnam Lambotharan, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), MTN South Africa.
“For example, a national public services provider saves up to R50 000 per day on date entry labour costs with one of MTN Business’s mobile enterprise app, while in the healthcare industry, preliminary solution testing has shown that health practitioners could increase daily productivity by as much as 5 300 hours with MTN Business’s Remote Medical Diagnostics enterprise application.”
Having started on the consumer side, applications are evolving, and fast moving into the enterprise space. However, having generic “enterprise” apps on an App Store will not provide businesses with the capabilities and opportunities that complex, tailor-made enterprise apps have to offer. Says Lambotharan.
“A lack of awareness about the availability of such applications and concerns about security and confidentiality, from the consumer legacy, are limiting their uptake, but today, through our seamless network and the significant investments that MTN has made in upgrading this network, we are demonstrating our commitment to growing a secure enterprise applications market, enhancing user experience and enabling our customers to get the most out of these apps based on business demands and efficiency needs.”
MTN Business’s range of Enterprise Apps includes:
· Remote medical diagnostics
· Device security and call recording
· Device backup and sync
· Asset Tracking
· Transport and Logistics
· Mobile Surveys
· Mobile Learning
· Cost and expense management
· Cloud Storage
“Through real time applications that drive business efficiencies and deliver to the market the ability to connect on an innovative platform – specific to the business sector – there is no doubt that the uptake of these enterprise applications will continue to increase and that businesses will start seeing the larger benefits and competitive market opportunities that can be derived going forward,” concludes Nkosi.


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$51M for four hotels
Group poised to buy Hilton Garden Inn, three others
The Hilton Garden Inn and its three sister properties -- a total of nearly 500 hotel rooms in Sarasota and Manatee counties -- are about to be sold to a Maryland-based venture capital fund for $51 million.
That comes to $102,000 per room.
The owners, Ronald and Patricia Allen, are selling because of a family tragedy, and because they're tired of the hotel business.
"It's just that time," said Adam Mirenda, a nephew of the Allens and assistant vice president of Allen Investments Inc. "They've been in this business for more than 10 years. It's time to move on."
Mirenda said that Corey Allen, the Allens' eldest son, died earlier this year. He was 35 and managed the family's hotel properties. That included the 115-room Hilton Garden Inn near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, the 146-room Holiday Inn Express on Siesta Key, the 121-room Hampton Inn on Bee Ridge Road near Interstate 75 and the 116-room AmericInn Hotel and Suites on Fruitville Road.
Reached at his home at The Oaks of Osprey, Ronald Allen said he couldn't comment until the deal was finalized.
Representatives of the buyer, Annapolis-based Thayer Lodging Group, didn't return telephone calls.
Thayer is a 14-year-old venture capital operating company that has sunk more than $2 billion into hotel properties around the country since 1991. That includes $600 million in the massive Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando, which consists of a 584-room Ritz-Carlton and a 1,000-room JW Marriott hotel on 500 acres of land.
Thayer's Web site, www.ThayerLodging.com, says the company looks for niche properties and then drives operating results by repositioning assets, rebranding, changing management and making capital investments.
"Its goal is to have each hotel become first or second choice within its competitive set," the site says.
As for the Allens, Mirenda said they're planning to retire.
Ronald Allen, 67, grew up on a farm near Dayton, Ohio. He moved to Sarasota in 1956, ran an electrical contracting business on Main Street and accumulated about 70 rental properties in the area.
In 1979, he sold everything and moved to Highlands, N.C., where he bought a hotel and several shopping centers.
That's where Corey Allen became interested in the hotel business. But the town of Highlands was too small for him. So he persuaded his parents to sell everything and move back to Sarasota in 1996.
The family bought two hotels and four shopping centers, but gradually sold off their ancillary investments to concentrate on the hospitality industry, spending $36 million to accumulate their four properties.
They opened their premier hotel -- the Hilton Garden Inn in south Manatee -- just three months after 9/11. It struggled for several years.
"Now it's our best producer," Mirenda said.
The past year has been extremely good for hoteliers throughout Southwest Florida, he added. With hotels being converted to condominiums, tourists have been hard-pressed to find accommodations, and vacancy rates have been much lower than normal.
"The numbers have been through the roof," Mirenda said. "It was an optimal time to sell."


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EA ‘has rewritten history’ in Fens dispute
MIDDLE LEVEL NAVIGATIONS
IN THE LATEST round in the campaign by the Inland Waterways Association to highlight navigations which it says the Environment Agency is failing in its duty to maintain, an IWA branch chairman has accused the EA of rewriting history regarding the long-running closure of Welches Dam Lock.
The lock, which formed part of the alternative route across the Middle Level fenland waterways from the Nene to the Great Ouse, was taken out of use in 2006 on safety grounds. Boats were prevented from entering it by a line of piles driven across the entrance from the Old Bedford River.
Challenged by Chris Howes of IWA Peterborough Branch regarding the lack of any official notice of closure, the EA finally added an emergency closure notice to its online Waterways Calendar – almost 11 years after the lock shut. IWA reports that it was dated 1 July 2006, scheduled to ‘repeat daily’ indefinitely, and signed off by Waterways Manger Irven Forbes, even though he wasn’t in that role in 2006.
Mr Howes also pointed out that despite the fact that the piling dam doesn’t reach right across the channel, meaning that the lock gates are still holding back water, in a recent Parliamentary briefing the EA gave the reason for the closure as “because the top gates were leaking”.
He also drew attention to the 1977 Act which restricts the EA to only closing its Anglian waterways temporarily for maintenance or construction work.
“This appears to us as a clear attempt to rewrite history and retrospectively justify the unjustifiable,” he said.


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30 Apr 2019.
Ronnie Moas is the Founder and Director of Research at Standpoint Research, Inc. He started Standpoint Research in 2004. He began his.
Ronnie Moas is the founder and director of research at Standpoint Research. TipRanks recently ranked Ronnie #1 in a ranking of 3,500 analysts evaluating more than 400 of his recommendations since.
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Ronnie Moas, Standpoint Research founder, is a famous financial analyst who has published over 900 articles about stocks and shares and has decided to try.


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Latest Purina ONE Stories
LOS ANGELES, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dancing with the Stars* finalist and Disney star Chelsea Kane has made shelter dogs and their need for leading nutrition a top priority by helping the PEDIGREEÂ® Brand launch its Every Dog Deserves campaign.
Honorees include: Actress Kathryn Erbe to receive the Mutt-i-greesÂ® Advocacy Award and Nestle Purina PetCare Company to receive the Outstanding Corporate Support Award PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., May 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, will honor several individuals, organizations, and a hero pet at its tenth annual Lewyt Humane Awards Luncheon.
ST. LOUIS, May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 3,000 cat owners nationwide applied and just one was selected.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PEDIGREE( )Foundation announced today that it raised more than $112,000 to help dogs across the country find loving homes.
ST. LOUIS, April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Purina ONEÂ® beyOnd(TM), Nestle Purina's newest groundbreaking innovation, sweeps onto store shelves in grocery, mass and pet specialty retailers with a new approach that raises the bar on what consumers expect from a pet food.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.
ST. LOUIS, March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- After introducing its better tasting than ever dog food and daring dog owners to try it, PurinaÂ® Dog ChowÂ® Brand Dog Food asked consumers to dare them back.
FRANKLIN, Tenn., March 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dog lovers across the country now have the opportunity to take their affection for their furry friends one step further, to get creative and develop a delectable dish for their favorite canine loved ones. The makers of CESARÂ® Canine Cuisine are committed to making every meal for our dogs a unique dining experience.
- The governor of a province or people.


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November 21, 2012 BY Brendan Dunne /
4.67 / 5
Photos of yet another Black Friday release coming from the Nike umbrella have arrived, with the sneaker shown being how the Nike Air Force 1 is planning on celebrating that most hectic...Read More
November 20, 2012 BY Brendan Dunne /
5 / 5
The Nike Air Force 1 Low is set to join the already pretty deep ranks of sneakers set to release on Black Friday, not wanting to skip out on any opportunity to put yet another special ...Read More
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