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Last week, commercial design mag, Conract, published an interesting article on the evolution of the hotel dining experience. The money quotes:
"If there is a trend in hotel design, it is toward a greater recognition of the importance of the restaurant and food and beverage experience in defining its competitive position. The restaurant needs to stand on its own as a real restaurant, and increasingly the hotel is highlighting the restaurant as a standard bearer for design, cuisine, and brand expression."
"It used to be conventional wisdom that hotels need a specialty restaurant for fine dining, a three-meal restaurant for basic all-day service and a lobby bar to activate the lobby," he says. "We're seeing a shift toward consolidation to create a more flexible food and beverage venue with greater draw."
Both quotes are from Patrick O'Hare, AIA, IIDA, a California-based interior architect.
While I'm sure this won't hit hotels at every part of the spectrum - it's doubtful that the low-to-mid-range hotels are about to say goodbye to their limp-bacon-and-gross-eggs buffets anytime son - but it's still encouraging. And certainly a reminder of just how much of a priority food has become.


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Gap Inc. has raised its full-year earnings outlook after strong sales of summer merchandise at its Gap and Old Navy stores helped lift second-quarter profit by nearly 25%.
The San Francisco based company, which also operates the Banana Republic, Piperlime, Athleta and Intermix stores, said net income surged to $303 million, a rise of 24.7% on last year’s $243 million.
Sales in the three months to August 3 climbed 8% to $3.87 billion compared with $3.58 billion a year earlier, while comparable sales increased 5%. By brand, comparable sales rose 6% at both Gap and Old Navy, but fell 1% at Banana Republic.
Gross margin increased 60 basis points to 40.5% in the quarter, while operating margin expanded by 160 basis points to 13.5%.
“We delivered strength in both our top and bottom lines this quarter,” said Glenn Murphy, chairman and chief executive officer of Gap Inc. “As we move into the second half of the year, we remain focused on growing revenue and driving continued momentum across our portfolio of brands.”
The latest steps here include opening the first Old Navy store in China, expanding Gap to Taiwan, and growing its Athleta brand to 65 stores by the end of the current fiscal year.
Looking ahead, the company raised its full year earnings per share guidance to $2.57 to $2.65, up from earlier forecasts of $2.52 to $2.60.
For more fashion and apparel industry news, go to just-style.com

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Only Two Parts Carry Over From The Fifth-generation Model
DETROIT – The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro will be a truly all-new car – from the grille’s bowtie to the rear spoiler.
In fact, only two parts carry over from the fifth-generation model: the bowtie emblem on the taillamp panel and the SS badge.
The Gen 6 Camaro is based on General Motors’ award-winning Alpha architecture. Designed to compete with premium European brands, Alpha offers exceptional driving dynamics and refinement, as well as a balance of mass and stiffness necessary for a world-class performance car.
“Our global engineering team is incredibly passionate about Camaro, and they sweated all the details to make Gen 6 the best Camaro we could possibly put into the hands of our customers,” said Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development.
“Alpha provided a strong foundation, but more than 70 percent of the components are unique to the Gen 6 Camaro, including exterior and interior dimensions, an all-new interior, front and rear suspension, and powertrain components,” he said. “The minute you see – and hear – the Gen 6, you know it’s a Camaro, from the stance to the driving experience to the sound of the Small Block V-8.”
Click here to read the entire story
Due to overwhelming demand, registration for the Camaro Six event is now closed. For those interested in attending, but were not able to access the site, we greatly appreciate your interest and apologize for not being able to accommodate everyone at the Camaro Six event.
The registration website went live at midnight, and the available spots for Camaro fans were filled by 8:30 AM Eastern. By the end of the day an additional 800 people joined the wait list to attend. All told, the customers who registered or are on the wait list represent 40 of the 50 U.S. States.
Chevrolet will contact those who registered, or are on the wait list, in the coming weeks with more information. For those that cannot attend in person, we will be regularly posting updates and a live webcast of the event on www.thecamarosix.com.
Listen to this episode:
DETROIT – Chevrolet is inviting fans to see the all-new 2016 Camaro on Saturday, May 16, in Detroit. The sixth-generation Camaro will cap a day-long celebration on Belle Isle, the 982-acre island park that is home to the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix May 29-31.
“This will be an event Camaro fans will not want to miss,” said Todd Christensen, Camaro marketing manager. “This is only the sixth time we have introduced an all-new Camaro. We wanted to share the moment with the customers and fans who have helped make Camaro both America’s favorite performance car for the past five years, and a cultural icon since 1967.”
Chevrolet expects approximately 1,000 people to attend the Camaro reveal, which will also include:
A “Camaro Museum” display of the most significant vehicles from the brand’s history
Hot-lap rides in the 2015 Camaro Z/28 around the Belle Isle Grand Prix course
Meet-and-greet opportunities with Camaro designers and engineers.
Camaro-only parking for owners
The event is free, however space is limited and registration is required. Attendance will be allocated with priority given to fans who agree to bring their Camaros to Belle Isle. For more information, or to register, please visit www.thecamarosix.com.
Fifth-gen Camaro Approaches 500,000 U.S. Sales
Production milestone caps five years as America’s best-selling performance car
DETROIT – Talk about a big family: Chevrolet expects to deliver the 500,000th fifth-generation Camaro in the United States this month.
The fifth-generation Camaro has been a runaway success for Chevrolet since it went on sale in August 2009. Camaro sales passed Mustang in 2010, to become America’s best-selling performance car – a title Camaro has retained for five consecutive years. In the process, the Camaro has helped bring new buyers to Chevrolet – with 63 percent of retail buyers new to GM.
“The fifth-generation Camaro has clearly resonated with both long-time Camaro fans, and first time performance-car buyers,” said Todd Christensen, Camaro marketing manager. “That sets the bar high for the next chapter of the car’s history.”
Click here for the entire article


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The European Commission is likely to require more concessions from Google in an ongoing antitrust probe, the European Union's Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said.
A proposal in Taiwan to enforce copyright laws by blocking access to top piracy sites is facing concerns that the measures could impinge on Internet freedoms on the island.
Reprogramming the identification number of a cellphone could be punishable with a prison sentence of up to five years under the terms of a proposed law announced Friday.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has reportedly launched an investigation into Google's display ad business amid complaints from rivals that the company is abusing its power in how it sells online-graphical and video ads.
Oracle and managed services provider ServiceKey have come to a proposed settlement of an intellectual-property lawsuit Oracle filed against the company last year.
Nokia is targeting HTC's latest slate of smartphones, including the HTC One, with new legal action in the U.S. that demands the Taiwanese company cease the alleged patent infringement.
The U.S. International Trade Commission has turned down a request for a ban on Microsoft's Xbox after finding that the gaming device did not infringe a patent owned by Google's Motorola Mobility unit.
Penguin has settled with U.S. states in an e-book price-fixing lawsuit, leaving only Apple now in the fray.
The U.S. government should bar foreign companies that repeatedly steal or use stolen U.S. intellectual property from selling their products in the country, a new report recommended.
Samsung's Galaxy S4 infringes on 5 Apple patents, according to a court filing by Apple.
Donations to WikiLeaks since January have only been enough to cover expenditures in essential infrastructure, such as servers, according to a transparency report.
Google, Microsoft and Yahoo have been confirmed as the secret backers behind the European Privacy Association (EPA) which was accused of a lack of transparency by an independent watchdog on Thursday.
Washington's biggest problem when it comes to Bitcoin may just be that policymakers on the Hill don't know enough about it, yet.
Operators of two alleged tech support scams that charged consumers hundreds of dollars to supposedly fix their computers have settled charges from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Italian police arrested four suspected hackers Friday, accusing them of having taken control of the Italian branch of the Anonymous network.
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Samsung to close smartphone factory in China
Reports from South Korea announced that Samsung is closing one of its two smartphone factories in China. The Korean giant will withdraw from the plant in Tianjin by the end of 2018 due to difficulties and slowing growth.
Reuters said that Samsung market share fell from 20% five years ago to less than 1% today, outgunned by local manufacturers like Huawei and Xiaomi. The giant is also under pressure for failing to deliver quarterly profit growth in times when competitors keep unveiling “cheaper, feature-packed models”.
The Tianjin factory is one of two in China that work with Samsung, the other being in Huizhou. The smartphone company currently relies mostly on facilities in Vietnam and India. Just over a month ago it expanded the plant in Noida, Uttar Pradesh which should yield 120 million units per year by 2021.
For comparison, the Tianjin factory produced 36 million units, 72 million phones come annually from Huizhou, while Vietnam is responsible for nearly 240 million handsets.
- 21 Aug 2018
What? Google dont contribute anything in spreading android. Oh, so thats like Microsoft gave out Windows to Dell, Toshiba, HP and etc so all the credit still goes to Microsoft for spreading windows??!! Wow. -_-
- Denis Thomas
- 20 Aug 2018
Google? Because little fanboy Google gave the rights to Sammy to use their os?
- 15 Aug 2018
Without Samsung Google's android wouldnt have it glory at all. Who do you think spread android widely?


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VC Players Look East, to China
Mainland China doesn't yet boast a Silicon Valley, but an influx of venture capital funding in promising new areas could put U.S. startups at a disadvantage as they compete for funds.
Venture capital players are increasingly betting on Chinese startups that supply the software, chips, and networks to feed the country's 400 million cell-phone users' voracious appetites for wireless data. That includes applications like instant-messaging, video-uploads, and mobile Web searches, along with consumer-level Web services such as social networking. The influx of funding saw a brisk increase last year—VCs bet $920.7 million on information technology companies last year, up 34% from 2005, according to a Feb. 13 study from Dow Jones (DJ) VentureOne and Ernst & Young. And that funding shift across the Pacific could pressure Silicon Valley startups to devise business models with extremely meager cost structures as a way to attract venture capital.
Expanding Beyond China?
"The Valley investors I know are generally much more reluctant to make investments in American firms than in previous years," says Reed Hundt, the former Federal Communications Commission chairman and author of In China's Shadow, a book published last October on American competitiveness with China. Hundt also sits on several tech company boards.
Question is, can China's fledgling dragons spread their wings and expand beyond their home market? Investors hope so. If China's wireless and Internet companies make the trans-Pacific leap, it could mean new competition for U.S. startups. "Some days I wake up thinking that in areas like mobile services and social networking, the Americans better watch out," says Drew Clark, director of strategy at IBM's (IBM) venture capital group. Still, despite Chinese tech companies' success at home—Baidu.com (BIDU) and Alibaba.com have respectively given Google (GOOG) and eBay (EBAY) fits in China—"whether any of those will escape China's gravity and come over to the U.S., I don't know," Clark says.
While VCs have hedged their bets in China by backing later-stage companies, "we're also seeing a surge in early-stage deals," Clark says. Venture investments in China last year hit a three-year high of $1.89 billion, according to VentureOne, and 22% of the 214 deals struck last year were second-round investments or later—up from 15% in 2005. But early-round deals still accounted for $828.2 million in venture investing, or 62% of all deals (see BusinessWeek.com, 7/24/06, "To China, With Venture Capital").
Overseas expansion is difficult under any circumstances, and Web and mobile-phone apps are particularly bound by culture, says Richard Lim, managing director of GSR Ventures, the Chinese affiliate of Mayfield Fund, which manages nearly $300 million in China-focused venture capital. For example, Mayfield in December, 2005, invested $1 million in PingCo.com, which makes software for sending ad-supported SMS messages that are free to users. "You can't build that business outside of China," he says—other markets lack a large enough pool of wireless Internet subscribers to make the business model fly.
What has changed is the ability of venture-backed Chinese firms to strike deals with companies that have international reach. IBM sells consulting and technology to VC-funded startups including YeePay, an electronic payments company that has a deal with Visa of China; Lingtu, a creator of digital maps that supplies location-based services to mobile-phone giant China Unicom (CHU); and Digital Media Group, which operates a network that transmits ads to electronic billboards. DMG recently won the exclusive right to serve ads aboard the express train connecting Hong Kong with its international airport.
Chinese startups' aspirations—combined with the lower investments necessary to build a profitable Mainland company—are putting pressure on U.S. entrepreneurs to keep costs down. VCs are trying to keep investments in U.S. companies below $10 million if possible, and certainly below $20 million. "Everybody's living by the rule of keeping the burn rate really low," says Hundt. Whereas a 100-person startup in the U.S. might burn through $20 million a year, a like-size Chinese firm would probably consume just $2.5 million, according to Lim. "That's why Chinese companies get very profitable very fast," he adds.
VCs are also shying away from U.S. startups with high capital requirements and operating expenses, Hundt says (see BusinessWeek.com, 2/5/07, "Venture Capital's Growing Aspirations"). Take wireless Internet service providers, a category of companies long absent from VCs' U.S. portfolios. With the exception of Craig O. McCaw's Clearwire—which has amassed $900 million in backing from Intel (INTC) and Motorola (MOT) to assemble a high-speed wireless network using WiMAX technology—those plays aren't getting launched in the States. "In China, you still see investment activity in 20th-century service-provider models," says Hundt.
Still an Emerging Market
That's partly because average subscriber revenues in China are a fraction of what they are in the U.S. and Europe, leaving plenty of room for expansion. Indeed, the potential for big returns from backing companies that sell in China alone is often enough to justify investments, Cadol Cheung, a managing director at Intel Capital, said in an e-mail. Intel has a $200 million fund aimed at Chinese investments. Even though many Chinese executives aren't experienced in international business, and lack sufficient English skills to expand overseas, China's IT market is so large that "the opportunity cost of going out is too high," he says.
The top investors in China last year included IDG Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Jafco Ventures, Walden International, and Softbank Capital, according to VentureOne. Among the richest early-stage deals last year, TV shopping company LuckyPai in November raised $15 million from Intel Capital, DT Capital Partners, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Semiconductor and networking equipment companies whose technologies underpin the emerging Web are also ripe for investment, says Gina Chan, a research manager at VentureOne. NTS Technology, a maker of equipment for 3G wireless networks, announced on Jan. 4 that it had raised $10 million in first-round funding from Softbank Asia Infrastructure Fund.
The hottest area for technology investing overall last year was in VentureOne's "information services" category—filled with companies focused on social networking, online video, and other user-generated Web content. They garnered $464.6 million—more than half of all venture investments in Chinese IT companies last year (see BusinessWeek.com, 1/15/07, "China: Falling Hard For Web 2.0").
Still, several factors could hamper future investments. First, China's Internet economy generates less cash than that of the U.S., which could limit the number of successful companies reliant on revenue from online advertising, e-commerce, and Web site subscriptions. The Chinese government is also working on country-specific technology standards in areas including digital television, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, and software encryption methods. That could boost costs for foreign companies and help Chinese firms compete, but it's potentially at odds with VCs' interest in building the broadest possible markets for companies in their portfolios. And the Chinese government has been slow to issue operating licenses and construct 3G data networks, which could power new cellular applications like mobile blogging, searches, and mobile video uploads.
Beijing also introduced new foreign-investment rules on Sep. 8 that could subject mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings to longer approval periods and more scrutiny. Possibly as a result, fourth-quarter venture investments in China slowed by 23% compared with the third quarter, to $417.5 million, according to VentureOne.
According to GSR's Lim, some of the most important technology companies of the next decade will emerge from China. "The most valuable Chinese companies have some significant degree of innovation—whether in their business models or technology—compared to their counterparts in the United States," he says. The hope for profits now rests with the VCs' ability to help the Chinese startups navigate a daunting course of technical, regulatory, and cultural barriers.


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Pulp and paper manufacturer Stora Enso has pre-committed to a 5,950m2 purpose-built warehouse facility within the Port of Brisbane’s Port West logistics estate at Lytton, Brisbane.
Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL), CEO Roy Cummins welcomed Stora Enso to the estate and confirmed construction would commence on the on the 1.8 hectare site within a fortnight.
“The Port West location – particularly its proximity to the Port of Brisbane’s container terminals and wharves – will enable Stora Enso to significantly reduce its transport logistics costs,” said Cummins.
Stora Enso’s Managing Director Matthew Wood said, “The decision to select the Port West site was principally made due to the location’s proximity to the port and the associated logistics benefits, which will significantly reduce the cost of our freight movements.”
Construction of the new facility is being undertaken by FKG on behalf of PBPL (owner and developer), with occupation prior to the end of 2017. The site will be designed for the import, storage and distribution of timber products and will include over 8,000m2 of hardstand.
Port West Estate is located 6km from the Port of Brisbane and 5km from the Gateway arterial network.


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FDA Investigators Talk Quality Issues And Inspectional ‘Games’ Manufacturers Play
This article was originally published in The Silver Sheet
There are plenty of typical mistakes that FDA investigators find when inspecting device firms, from failing to adequately document complaints and ensuring proper process validation, to developing ambiguous design inputs during design control activities. Yet what really grates investigators’ nerves is when they have to ask manufacturers several times for procedures and processes that are routinely asked for during an inspection. “Let’s get beyond the things that you know are going to be needed and have them readily available,” says Phil Pontikos, an agency investigator and FDA’s national device expert. In fact, firms that attempt to conceal information or stall an investigator leave themselves open to additional scrutiny by the agency. “If you want to play games, then quite frankly, we’re going to dig deep,” Pontikos says.
You may also be interested in...
From 'Back' To 'Front': FDA, Industry Experts Advise Device Manufacturers On Best Inspection 'War Room' Practices – And Don't Forget The Swedish Fish
Ever since the first FDA inspection took place decades ago, manufacturers have relied on so-called "inspectional war rooms" – spaces where subject matter experts and others work to fulfill investigator needs – but such back rooms can cause headaches for device firms and stretch out inspections if they select unsuitable workers to staff and manage them. Larry Kopyta, a quality/regulatory VP for Omnyx, says it's vital for employees to be adequately trained on FDA inspection activities, but he notes that it's even more important to not clog up a rear room with an excessive number of workers, warning that things "can easily become out of control. You need to find a good ringmaster." Yet a back room isn't the only place manufacturers should be careful about using the right people. Present in the front room – where investigators traditionally work when onsite at a firm – should be helpful, reliable facilitators that aid investigators with requests and answer an array of questions.
The top quality-related topics manufacturers faced last year included a new FDA regulation to track and trace devices, innovative supply chain initiatives and an update to the agency’s Medical Device Reporting guidance, among others. Plus honorable mentions: product recalls, human factors and FDA compliance meetings.
Device manufacturers were sent an historic number of warning letters by FDA last year, eclipsing the previous high from 1997. FDA has not yet completed its own analysis of 2012 warning letter trends, but an ex-agency official says there are several likely reasons for the increase. FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel “is no longer throwing cold water on letters. Investigators are being trained a lot better and are becoming more experienced. And certainly the Office of Compliance and CDRH are under new management. You put all of those things together and I think that’s the answer,” says Michael Chappell, a former FDA associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. The number of foreign warning letters also increased in 2012, comprising 39 percent of overall letters. In another first for warning letters last year, complaint handling supplanted CAPA as the violation found most in letters. Further, four former FDA officials share tips for writing warning letter responses to FDA.


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| ||BUILDMART @ Trade Fairs in Africa|| |
BuildMartAfrica had participated at east Africa's largest building construction exhibition, the 16th Buildexpo Africa 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Over 5000 copies of BuildMart were distributed to the exhibitors and visitor at the show. With around 3000 new subscribers generated,
the overall response at the Buildexpo exceeded our expectations. We look forward to be a part of the 2014 edition as well.
More information about the exhibition can be accessed here : www.expogr.com
Up Coming >>
Buildexpo is the most prominent building and construction trade exhibition in Kenya and one of the largest fairs in Africa.
Africa, the market of the millennium has been gaining immense attention...
Nairobi - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday signed a 480 million U.S. dollar agreement with a Chinese firm for
the construction of the first three berths of Lamu Port in the coastal region....


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Will there be a VS fashion show in 2020?
Victoria Secret’s parent company, L Brands, confirmed on Thursday that it will not air its fashion show this year “to evolve the marketing of Victoria’s Secret”.
Why is VS fashion show Cancelled?
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is officially canceled. … The official answer is that L Brands — the parent company of Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works — wants to “evolve the marketing” of its signature lingerie brand, and the show itself had no immediate impact on sales of its bras and underwear.
When did the VS fashion show start?
Is Victoria’s Secret closing 2020?
Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works: L Brands announced May 20 that it will close 13 of the 38 Victoria’s Secret stores in Canada, as well as one Bath & Body Works location, as part of a larger restructuring that also affects the company’s American operations.
Is Victoria Secret Fashion Show Cancelled forever?
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is officially canceled for 2019. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has been a world-famous annual event, showcasing famous models as they grace the runway in extravagant lingerie. But after more than two decades, the prime-time fashion show has been canceled.
Is Kendall Jenner a VS angel?
Eleven of the 17 women on Forbes’ list for The Highest Paid Models 2016 have been Victoria’s Secret Angels. … We also can’t ignore the exceptions, such as Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner who are not Angels (though they have modeled for the brand), but have also made the Forbes Highest Paid Models 2016 list.10 мая 2019 г.
Who is the richest Victoria Secret model?
How much do Victoria Secret models get paid?
Victoria’s Secret Models are among the highest paid models in the world. These women make anywhere between $100,000-$1,000,000 a year, on average. However, the paychecks increase due to seniority and fame. Some of the most experienced models, like Gisele Bundchen and Adriana Lima, earn significantly more.
When was the last VS fashion show?
Victoria’s Secret Fashion ShowInauguratedAugust 1, 1995FounderEdward RazekMost recent2018MemberVictoria’s Secret
Why no VS show this year?
The 28-year-old added that she doesn’t think it’s a permanent decision (so there may well be a VS fashion show 2020), and that the cancellation of this year’s event was likely due to the organisers “trying to work on branding and new ways to do the show, because it’s the best show in the world”.
How many Victoria Secret models are there?
Meet all 16 Victoria’s Secret Angels, as the brand gives FOUR more of its rising stars the honor of joining the elite group. Victoria’s Secret has added four new models to its Angel lineup of 16 women as the brand strives to overcome adversity for the lack of diversity in its brand.
Is JC Penney closing stores in 2020?
In wake of the coronavirus crisis, J.C.Penney Company, Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, joining retailers like J. … In fact, 192 JCPenney locations are expected to close in 2020, and an additional 50 next year. That means, 29% of the retailer’s 846 stores (242 stores) will close by the end of 2021.
Which stores will be closing in 2020?
Store Closing List 2020: Macy’s, Pier 1, Zara, Nordstrom, and More
- Bath & Body Works. …
- Signet Jewelers. …
- Gap. …
- Victoria’s Secret. …
- Papyrus. …
- Zara. …
- Chico’s. …


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U.S., EU, Japan Continue Work on WTO Reform, E-Commerce, Export Controls, Etc.
Trade ministers from the U.S., the European Union, and Japan met in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9 as part of an initiative launched in December 2017 to enhance cooperation on trade issues. According to a joint statement, discussions at this meeting covered the following topics.
Non-market policies and practices – Both the EU and the U.S. are continuing to treat China as a non-market economy when conducting antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings, and Beijing has filed WTO cases against both for doing so. In the meantime, the U.S., the EU, and Japan have intensified their exchange of information on this issue and identified additional criteria indicating market-oriented conditions. The ministers said they will also continue working together to maintain the effectiveness of existing World Trade Organization disciplines, including through the ongoing WTO disputes.
Industrial subsidies – The three sides will finalize text-based work in this area by spring and plan to engage other key WTO members thereafter.
Forced technology transfers – The ministers will review in the spring efforts to cooperate on enforcement, the development of new rules, investment reviews for national security purposes, and export controls.
WTO reform – A joint transparency and notification proposal was submitted to the WTO Council for Trade in Goods last November and engagement with other trading partners to advance this proposal will be intensified. The ministers also reiterated a call on “advanced WTO members claiming developing country status” (i.e., China) to undertake full commitments in ongoing and future WTO negotiations.
E-commerce – The three economies are pushing for the timely initiation of WTO negotiations on trade-related aspects of electronic commerce that seek to achieve a high-standard agreement with the participation of as many WTO members as possible.


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The agreement is for up to $31 million in cash, plus stock, bringing the total estimated value to be $151 million. Bazaarvoice says the acquisition should close before the end of July.
The companies plan to combine their technology, content, and data. Both offer social commerce products that allow retailers and brands to collect and syndicate customer reviews, as well as other content. The release says PowerReviews’ self-service product will allow Bazaarvoice, which has been focused on larger companies, to expand into the small- and medium-sized market.
The combined company supposedly serves nearly 1,800 clients globally, including half of the Internet Retailer 500.
PowerReviews has raised a total of $37 million in funding from Menlo Ventures, Draper Richards, Lehman Brothers, Tenaya Capital, Four Rivers Group, and others. Bazaarvoice, meanwhile, went public earlier this year.


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What you need to know
- Apple has committed to hiring 1,000 summer interns.
- This despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
- There will be online and offline components.
Despite the ongoing coronavirus situation Apple intends to bring more than1,000 interns into the company this summer, according to an Axios report.
The report notes that Apple intends to offer a mix of online and offline internships, with all of those who join the company getting the same level of care as full-time employees.
Apple, which told Axios it plans to hire more than 1,000 people for a mix of online and in-person internships and pledged in a statement to "extend to our interns the same precautions and care that we're extending to all our other personnel as a part of the ongoing COVID-19 response."
Apple isn't the only one set to bring interns on-site, either. Twitter, Google, Microsoft, and more all said that they would be bringing people to their campuses if it's safe to do so. Quite when it will be safe to do so if anyone's guess, unfortunately.
You can get much more information on the plans of technology's biggest companies this summer in the full Axios article. It's definitely worth a read.
Apple releases iPadOS 13.5.1
Apple has released iPadOS 13.5.1, which fixes some security bugs.
Apple might be giving people a reason to upgrade their 2012 MacBook Pro
Anyone who still uses a 2012 MacBook Pro should probably look to upgrade it sooner rather than later following a report that claims Apple will label it "obsolete" this month.
New report backs up claims that we'll wait until October for iPhone 12
Apple would normally announce its new iPhones in September, but the coronavirus situation seems to have put paid to that. All eyes are now on October instead.
Don't let the OLED screen on your iPhone X break — get a screen protector
If you want to protect your iPhone X, a screen protector is the way to go: Here are the best options you can buy right now.


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Nonprofit specialty coffee company Refuge Coffee has found a new refuge of its own, settling into a proper brick-and-mortar location in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta.
The new shop will promote the company’s goal of providing a friendly, safe and agenda-free space where the refugee community can find jobs, training and opportunities, and where consumers find solid specialty coffees and light bites.
Opening on Monday, Feb. 3, the Refuge cafe will fill a neighborhood coffee void left by the December closure of a Condesa Coffee location inside the historic Atlanta Daily World building. The activism-driven company also thereby continues the progressive legacy of that building, which was previously the home of Atlanta’s longest continually operating African-American newspaper, Atlanta Daily World, founded in 1928. The paper has since relocated to downtown Atlanta.
Refuge Coffee Company Co-Owner Kitti Murray told Daily Coffee News that after Condesa moved out, the approximately 700-square-foot space available to the coffee shop was essentially a blank slate.
“It’s an old building with lovely distressed walls, some brick [and] treated concrete floors,” said Murray. “We are working on our nonprofit budget with some amazingly creative people to make it ‘look like Refuge.'”
The Refuge look is one of cheerful colors designed to convey warmth and a sense of welcome, while guests are treated to coffees from the company’s new supplier, Savannah-based Perc Coffee. The roaster also graciously donated a well-maintained 2-group La Marzocco GB5 espresso machine, two espresso grinders, a bulk grinder, Fetco batch brewer and airpots.
The original retail outpost for Refuge Coffee consists of a coffee service truck and food trucks parked semi-permanently on the site of a former gas station, with covered seating under the awnings outside and more seating and restrooms indoors as well. That one is still running, as is a second coffee truck that serves at different locations and events.
The Refuge training program, which ideally runs for one full year, continues to be a full-time commitment for participants, who also earn a living wage during training.
“We’ve employed just over 30 refugees or immigrants from 12 countries since starting,” said Murray. “We currently employ 10 trainees, seven in our first-year program and three in a new, more specialized leadership training.”
Leon Shombana, who became the very first Refuge trainee after leaving the Democratic Republic of Congo, now continues to work with the company as its customer experience manager. Syrian refugee Ahmad Alzoukani, another early Refuge participant, is now the general manager of both locations.
In April, the company will hold its annual Refuge Coffee Run 5k fundraiser. Murray said a third coffee truck is also currently being outfitted to join the fleet.
“We’re basically doubling our training program,” said Murray. “So, further defining that, working alongside our talented refugee employees, [and] investing even more deeply in the community is our focus.”
Refuge Coffee is opening at 145 Auburn Ave NE in Atlanta.


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Bride-to-be ripped off by Brownsville dress shop before her big day
Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:35:58 GMT —
One of the most important parts of a wedding is a bride TMs dress.
After two years of dating, Lily Najera and her fianc Jose Eguia decided to tie the knot.
Eguia proposed in October, and the bride-to-be wasted no time planning her fairytale wedding by looking for a dress.
After some shopping about, Najera found a $1,200 package deal at Ceci TMs Fashions in Downtown Brownsville.
It was the most convenience that I got, it was the best price with a lot of things. That TMs why I got it at this store, she said.
Just two months away from her wedding, Najera has been struggling to get a hold of Juana Alejandrina Mascorro, the dress shop owner.
Najera has been struggling since late March to get a hold of Mascorro, and each time she has visited the shop, it has been closed.
On one recent occasion, she showed up and found another disgruntled customer at the door with a sheriff deputy.
Brownsville police now have a warrant out for Mascorro on several theft charges.
Police said Najera is not the only customer that has been given the run around on her investment.
It TMs putting our wedding in jeopardy. Definitely I want her to be happy and if she TMs not happy, I TMm not happy, So, obviously it TMs a very frustrating situations for us, the groom-to-be said.
Several disgruntled customers showed up complaining about the business, while our cameras were rolling.
Some customers said they will be happy if they get their money back, so they can go look somewhere else for a dress.
Police have not been able to locate Mascorro at her business or home address.


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Capcom has just revealed that a Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Digital Event is set to air on August 9th, 2022 at 10 AM EDT. This event will be hosted by Monster Hunter Rise director Yoshitake Suzuki and producer Ryozo Tsujimoto. Capcom has not detailed how long the event will be.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak launched on June 30th, 2022, but it’s free “Title Update 1” is scheduled to be released later this month. You can expect this Digital Event to be chock-full of new details on the first update for the expansion, including a look at Lucent Nargacuga, Seething Bazelgeuse, and more. There’s certainly elements that are yet-to-be-revealed, and now we know when we’ll see some of them!


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Ker-ching - the cost of the EU
A European directive banning poisonous heavy metals from all kinds of electrical and electronic goods including fridges, computers and vacuum cleaners comes into force today.
Experts say that the directive, which represents the largest single change ever to hit the consumer electronics industry, is causing chaos among retailers and is likely to put up prices to consumers by at least five per cent.
Experts say that it is quite likely that consignments of electrical goods already afloat and on their way to Britain could be pronounced illegal the moment they get here today by the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, the enforcement agency.
It is only the flood of cheap stuff from the East that has saved Gordon's back and his inflation figures - luckily for him that will soon hide the 5% rise but we will still have to pay it.


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Riverside County health officials are looking for restaurants in San Jacinto, Hemet, Perris, Banning, Beaumont, and surrounding areas to take part in the “Great Plates Delivered” program aimed at providing meals for at-risk seniors staying home to avoid exposure to coronavirus.
Participating restaurants will provide three meals per day, seven days a week for those 65 and older, including delivery. In turn, the restaurants will receive up to $66 – $16 for breakfast, $17 for lunch, $28 for dinner, and $5 for incidentals – from the county through at least June 10. The program may be extended.
Restaurants should be able to provide nutritional meals that meet cultural needs, and lunch and dinner must include a piece of fresh fruit or vegetable.
“This program is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Jewel Lee, director of Riverside County Office on Aging. “The seniors are able to access healthy meals while remaining safe at home, and local restaurants are able to earn money during these difficult financial times.”
Restaurants are encouraged to provide their own delivery, as that will allow the business to keep more of the funds in-house and better coordinate the delivery to customers. Delivery drivers must pass a background check at the restaurant’s expense. Restaurants may elect to use food delivery programs such as Grubhub, Postmates, DoorDash and Uber Eats.
Participating restaurants must be in good standing with Environmental Health Restaurant Grade and become a vendor with the County of Riverside. For more information, visit www.rcaging.org/COVID-19/great-platesdelivered-program.


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Sydney, Australia / July 5, 2021. The artwork titled “Singularity” – inspired by Constantijn van Oranje, Prince of the Netherlands and Dutch advancements in blockchain, AI and quantum computing – has sold for 229 ETH or ~$509,067 at the time of purchase. The NFT, designed by an anonymous artist, was auctioned on 3rd July on the new NFT marketplace – NFT STARS.
NFT STARS is a new multi-chain NFT marketplace that marked its launch with several celebrity drops, including “Singularity” by an anonymous artist. The art piece was inspired by Constantijn van Oranje, Prince of the Netherlands, who was chosen as the face of the NFT. The artwork explores a future where humans merge with Artificial Intelligence to become a super-intelligence. The singularity between humans and technology is depicted as an evolution that unlocks new possibilities and brings further advancements.
The auction went live on 3rd July at 10:00 UTC and attracted a lot of attention from the NFT STARS community and other users online. The anonymity of the artist further sparked discussions and brought new users to the platform. The bidding process lasted 24 hours and the final price reached an impressive 229 ETH (~$509,067).
About NFT STARS
NFT STARS is a new multi-chain NFT marketplace that has accumulated a unique set of products and services that are relevant to artists, digital art lovers, investors, startup founders and NFT gamers. The marketplace follows a strict approach to artist selection, which is how the NFT STARS team is able to provide each creator with truly special treatment. Artists enjoy Gas-free minting as NFTs are minted at the time of purchase and the buyer covers the costs. Creators can collaborate via collective NFT ownership that creates a framework for the fair distribution of proceeds. NFT STARS also enables every artist to create an AR room in which to display their works and host the first show. The AR gallery is available to all on the screen of a smartphone.


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Liv-ex bid (£30.2m) and offer (£51.5m) exposure grew another 2.1% this week from the £80m milestone set at the start of November. It’s also been the second consecutive week of record trade as activity ramps up towards the holiday season.
Our latest blog considers in greater depth where the interest in fine wine is coming from. Stability in a world of volatility has been the marker for this year, as the chart below shows. As well as posting a year-to-date gain of 3.8%, outperforming the FTSE100, DAX and Hang Seng, the Liv-ex 100 has done so with minimal volatility, moving only ±1.5% monthly.
Bordeaux (40.5%) trade stepped up this week, surpassing 40% for only the second time in the past ten weeks. The 2010 and 2015 vintages led trade by value for the region while 2017 vintage lead the volume charts.
Burgundy (17.8%) trade fell from last week, but was ably supported by its white wines which accounted for a quarter of the region’s trade.
The USA (11.3%) nearly doubled its previous week’s share, led by large value trades of Screaming Eagle and large volume trades of Opus one.
Champagne (9.3%), Italy (14.3%), the Rhone (3.6%), and Others (3.2%) all made small gains on the week prior.
The most traded wine by value was DRC, Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 2017 – easy to do at £12.5k per bottle. Relative to previous vintages, the 2017 (AG 96) could be almost be considered a bargain. The 1990 vintage (NM 95) last traded at £20,737 per bottle (£248,844 per 12×75). Indeed, four out of the five most expensive bottles traded this year are also Romanee-Conti – all which brushed up to, but did not surpass £20,000 per bottle (£240,000 per case).
Another wine commanding high prices is Screaming Eagle, Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2013. It’s a wine James Suckling described as “glorious to taste”, and if one was lucky enough to acquire an allocation has posted glorious returns. The wine has risen over 50% to its highest level since its first trade 4.5 years ago.


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By Erin McCarthy
Groupon Inc. said Monday that Jeffrey Holden, its senior vice president of product management, will be leaving the company in March.
Mr. Holden had held the post since April 2011. Before joining Groupon, he was chief executive and co-founder of Pelago and previously had also been senior vice president of consumer websites, world-wide, at Amazon.com Inc., according to Groupon's website.
Groupon said in a filing that Mr. Holden will leave the company effective March 18.
Groupon is still revamping its business of emailed daily coupons into one focused on longer-term deals and closer relationships with merchants for new services such as restaurant reservations. Last month the company purchased online fashion retailer Ideeli for $43 million in cash, as the daily-deals website continues to expand its retail offerings. The acquisition should fit with Groupon's effort to create a new line of business, like its "Goods" unit, which sells discounted merchandise.
Write to Erin McCarthy at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Netgear recalls Arlo outdoor camera power adapters over fire risks
Aftermarket power bricks could overheat.
Honda will use targeted Facebook videos to encourage recall repairs
It wants to make sure Honda owners get their faulty Takata airbag systems replaced.
Tesla recalls 11,000 Model X SUVs for seat issues
A poorly-adjusted middle-seat cable might not hold it in place during a crash.
Honda sets aside $605 million to settle Takata airbag claims
The Japanese automaker was Takata's biggest customer.
Samsung is giving Note 7 owners a hefty discount on the Note 8
You can get up to a $425 discount if you trade in your current phone.
US regulators recall refurbished Galaxy Note 4 batteries
Some of them are counterfeit and at risk of overheating.
Glittery iPhone cases recalled after reports of chemical burns
Amazon, Nordstrom and Victoria's Secret were selling them
Honeywell recalls fire alarm gateway that can't detect fires
You had one job.
Fiat Chrysler software error leads to a massive truck recall
The error prevents air bags from being deployed.


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Richard Branson says 2020 Miami sail for Virgin Cruises
MIAMI - Dressed in red shorts and a captain's hat, Richard Branson on Tuesday announced that Virgin Cruises will sail its first ship out of PortMiami in 2020.
The British magnate arrived for the press conference on a black helicopter that took off from the port, flew over Biscayne Bay through a cloud of red smoke, and landed on the grounds in front of Perez Art Museum Miami.
Once inside the museum, Branson, wearing his cruise-appropriate attire, said the company would aim to provide customers an "intimate" and "Virgin-like" experience.
Tim McAlpin, president and CEO of Virgin Cruises, said the company had signed a letter of intent with the Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri. He said Fincantieri will build three mid-size vessels to be delivered in 2020, 2021 and 2022, with 1,430 cabins to accommodate more than 2,800 guests.
Virgin Cruises plans to offer a range of seven-day Caribbean cruises sailing out on Sundays. The company hopes to attract a younger demographic than those who typically cruise, as well as appealing to passengers who have not cruised before.
When asked if Virgin Cruises would consider going to Cuba if it became legal, Branson said he would.
"I think it's a fantastic country," he said. "I know some people in Miami disagree and some people agree with the opening up of Cuba, but I'd love our cruise ship go to Cuba."
The billionaire's ventures include Virgin Atlantic airline and a spaceship tourism company, Virgin Galactic.


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Diggers News , january 17, 2019
MTN Zambia has launched a new range of non-expiry mobile data bundles dubbed: “Freedom Bundles” which will see its subscribers being forced to pay more than four times the amount than on the regular time-limited bundles.
But Consumer Unity Trust Society (CUTS) Zambia centre coordinator Chenai Mukumba has complained that the new bundles are extremely expensive, urging mobile network operators to review their pricing mechanism.
In a statement released, Thursday, MTN Zambia announced the launch of the Freedom Bundles that offer subscribers a brand new range of bundles which do not expire.
According to the new bundle choices, 1.5GB will cost K220, which is more than four times the cost of the same bundle that expires over a one-month period, priced at K50.
A 5GB “Freedom Bundle” is being sold at a whopping K410 compared to just K100 for the same bundle over a one-month expiry period, while a 25GB is pegged at K1,650 compared to K400 for the same respective bundle packages.
Commenting on the new roll-out of the “Freedom Bundle” packages, MTN Zambia chief executive officer Bart Hofker hailed the new, first-of-its kind initiative in the country as offering subscribers a “better data option.”
“Zambia’s number 1 network has taken the lead in the industry by introducing the Freedom Bundles. We know having this choice will delight many and we believe that it will also contribute to better data adoption and digital inclusion in Zambia,” Hofker stated in a press release.
“Expiring data bundles was a key concern for many of our customers, so we made the necessary adjustments to offer more choice.”
But while she welcomed the new data bundle choice for consumers, Mukumba complained that the huge price hikes might deprive subscribers of much-needed data.
“Indeed, the issue of bundles expiring has been one that many consumers have complained about over the past couple of years as at times consumers’ bundles would expire before they had depleted their bundles. We, therefore, encourage the other mobile network operators to follow suit and provide consumers with the option to buy non-expiring data bundles. Having said that, however, CUTS has taken a look at some of the prices of the non-expiring bundles that are on offer; we note that they seem to be much more expensive than the non-expiry data. We, therefore, encourage the mobile network operators to work to ensure that the prices of the non-expiry bundles are at prices accessible to even low-income consumers and in the same vein encourage consumers to take time to compare the prices of bundles before they purchase them,” stated Mukumba.
This news can also be viewed at: https://diggers.news/


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Pennsylvania State University announced that it will host what it believes to be the country’s first online auction of intellectual property licenses by a university. So far, only engineering patents will be available for auction. Future auctions will be held for biotechnology patents, chemistry patents, material patents, information technology (IT) patents, and molecular biology patents. Bidding opens on the general engineering patents on March 31st and continues until April 11th. Licenses are valued between $5,000 and $50,000. Bidding is done by creating an account on http://patents.psu.edu. An account can also be created to receive notifications when new patents become available.
The licenses offered are exclusive, meaning that the licensee and Penn State will agree on an exclusive field of use and territory where the licensee is the sole owner of the patent rights. The agreement also includes a provision requiring the winning bidder to pay all the patent maintenance fees. However, unlike most university research licenses, Penn State does not require the payment of any ongoing royalties. In addition, Penn State retains the right to pursue third-party infringers allowing the licensee to participate in enforcement only if Penn State’s enforcement efforts are not successful after six months. The licensing agreement also contains a “marketing efforts” provision that requires the licensee to use reasonable efforts to diligently bring one of the licensed products into the commercial market. Finally, the agreement allows the licensee to sub-license the technology if the sub-licensee agrees to the same terms and pays a fee.
The goal of the auction is to get the intellectual property “off of the shelf and in the hands of companies that can use the technology, at very favorable terms and price points. The buyers get the rights to use the IP, and the University gets a financial return. It’s a win-win situation,” said Penn State Associate Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer Ron Huss. Associate Vice President Huss cites a variety of reasons why the technology has not yet been picked up by a commercial entity. Interim Vice President for Research Neil Sharkey stated that the idea for the auction did not come from a desire to get the most money possible out of the sale of the licenses, but to create knowledge of technologies that have potential for real-world impact. However, if people are not aware of the technology that has been developed, it has no value.
Previous patent auctions by companies have had limited success over the past years, noting specifically auctions by Kodak and NASA in 2012. It will be interesting to see if Penn State is successful in its auction and if so, if consumers eventually see these technologies used in the marketplace. If successful, this might be a process that university technology transfer offices in New York State should consider. In addition to bringing licensing fees that the university would not have had, the auction also draws attention to the university’s research efforts and capabilities.


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VAFAX: performance evaluation
The Invesco American Franchise Fund Class A (VAFAX) finds itself right in the middle of the pack of 12 funds, performance-wise, YTD (year-to-date) in 2016. The past six months have been much better, though, with the fund’s returns placing it as the best performer in the period. We have graphed its performance against two ETFs: the iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (IVW) and the iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF).
Let’s look at what has contributed to VAFAX’s performance YTD in 2016.
Contribution to returns
The information technology sector elbowed out the consumer discretionary sector as VAFAX’s top contributing sector YTD in 2016. Facebook (FB) has led the sector, with Activision Blizzard (ATVI) also playing a major role in the sector’s success. There have been negative contributions from LinkedIn (LNKD) and salesforce.com (CRM), but the combined quantum from these two stocks is not very large.
Amazon.com (AMZN) is mainly responsible for the strong showing by the consumer discretionary sector. Sony (SNE), the Priceline Group (PCLN), and Whirlpool (WHR) have made respectable contributions as well. Had it not been for negative contributions from Carnival (CCL), Harman International Industries (HAR), and Netflix (NFLX), among a few others, the sector would have done even better.
Telecom services and consumer staples have made equal contributions to the fund. Sprint (S)—the fund’s only telecom company—has propelled the sector, while the staples sector has gotten a leg up from Philip Morris International (PM), Tyson Foods (TSN), and Constellation Brands (STZ).
It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that the fund managers’ picks from the consumer discretionary space have been very good. However, the recurring presence of negative contributors in all sectors has held the fund back so far in 2016. The fund’s short-term performance has been quite good, but it remains to be seen whether this performance can extend to the medium and long terms as well.
In the next article, we’ll take a look at the Vanguard Growth Index Fund Investor Shares (VIGRX).


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You now have an easier online way to manage your Home Delivery subscription for The Oklahoman. Go to our secure server to update account information, make a payment, set up vacation no-delivery times, change your delivery address, or report delivery concerns.
Building owner Darvin Ecklund places sandbags in front of the About Floors and West Sound Crossfit storefronts on Bay Street in Port Orchard, Wash., on Monday, Nov 19, 2012. Heavy rains inundated the areas storm drains and caused flooding in the Port Orchard downtown district and elsewhere in Kitsap County. (AP Photo/Kitsap Sun, Meegan M. Reid)


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As the world come to grips with the Covid-19 pandemic and its adverse effects, many families in low-income households have noticed a steep price hike on everyday grocery items even while many have faced retrenchment packages or been unfairly dismissed.
Programme Coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group, Mervyn Abrahams said that since the beginning of March a basket of 38 food items has increased up by 8.2%.
“The spike we have seen since the beginning of the lockdown has amounted to R 265.00 on a single food basket,” said Abrahams.
Below is a list of food staples and how they have increased over the last four months:
- Rice has increased by R22
- Sugar beans has increased by R15
- Onions has increased by R32
- Cooking oil has increased by R10
“We’ve seen chicken increase; we have seen tomatoes increase. The list just goes on and on,” said Abrahams.
However, Abrahams stated at least for now there is constancy within the prices.
“One of the good signs though is that food prices are beginning to stabilize. It’s gone up quite high and it’s not coming down but we are certain that the price has steadied,” added Abrahams.
However, what is even more concerning is the steep price in taxi fare and electricity increases.
“There is a very small group of South Africans that are not affected by the increase of prices,” said Abrahams.
Abrahams said with many people finding themselves at home during the nationwide lockdown there has been a competition between buying food and detergents in the average household.
“Both food and detergents ordinarily come out of the same budget, so what people are experiencing now is a battle of costs between cleaning products and the rise in food items,” stated Abrahams.
Abrahams said it is unfortunate that many citizens would like to maintain healthy eating especially during the pandemic, but prices would not allow them to do that.
“Households will have to make a choice but and the saddest thing is that the choice we make is usually not the best choice because we tend to choose the food that makes us feel fuller for longer whether it is in our bodies best interest or not,” stated Abrahams.
Abrahams said that the wages of citizens in the country are far too low to allow them to have a full nutritious meal daily.
“Our basket increased by 8.8% in three months but the national wage increase is 3.8%, so there is no correlation of wage increase and that of food,” said Abrahams matter-of-factly.


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Hormel Foods Recognized Among Global 1000 Sustainable Performance Leaders
AUSTIN, Minn. | October 06, 2010
Within food products industry, company ranks in global top 10 for financial, environmental, social and governance performance
Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today announced its recognition on the Global 1000 Sustainable Performance Leaders ranking for 2009 by CRD Analytics and published by Justmeans, an organization dedicated to helping companies engage with stakeholders on issues of social responsibility.
The list ranks companies by Sustainable Performance Value, the calculated average of publically available information about financial, environmental, social and governance performance indicators, which include the Global Reporting Initiative’s G3 Guidelines for reporting. Ranked 339 overall, Hormel Foods received the seventh highest score worldwide among companies in the food products industry and the third highest score among U.S. based companies in this group.
To qualify for this ranking, companies must be publicly traded on a major global exchange and have a minimum market capitalization of $1 billion USD as of December 31, 2009. Companies must also have published a publicly available sustainability or corporate responsibility report with full year environmental, social, governance data for their 2008 calendar year before October 31, 2009. All derived values, scores and ranks were provided by CRD Analytics and powered by SmartView® 360.The underlying data was aided by information provided by Thomson Reuters & Asset4.
Hormel Foods has achieved several sustainability milestones in 2010, including its recent addition to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the LEED® Gold certification of its Progressive Processing LLC production facility in Dubuque, Iowa. For more information about Hormel Foods and its commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainability, please visit http://www.hormelfoods.com/csr
About Hormel Foods
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring quality, value-added brands to the global marketplace. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and was named one of "The 100 Most Trustworthy Companies” by Forbes in 2010. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit http://www.hormelfoods.com
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On February 6 2018 the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) announced the publication of the most recent edition of its series of reports on generic drug pricing. Generics360 compares generic drug prices in Canada with those in other countries, with a particular focus on the PMPRB comparator countries known as the 'PMPRB7' (ie, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States). The report examines the prices of 605 leading generic drugs and indicates that average generic drug prices in Canada fell from 63% to 33% of their brand-name counterparts between the first quarter of 2010 and the fourth quarter of 2016. The report further indicates that Canada has narrowed the gap between its generic drug prices and those of foreign markets, although the average prices of generic drugs remain higher in Canada than internationally. In addition, although not factored into the published results, the report describes a joint initiative announced on January 29 2018 on behalf of:
- participating federal, provincial and territorial drug plans;
- the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance; and
- the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association.
As part of this five-year initiative:
- price discounts of 25% to 40% on some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in Canada (resulting in total discounts of up to 90% of their brand-name counterparts) will take effect on April 1 2018;(1) and
- tendering will not be pursued by participating drug plans.
For further information on this topic please contact Andrew Mandlsohn at Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh by telephone (+1 416 593 5514) or email (email@example.com). The Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh website can be accessed at www.smart-biggar.ca.
(1) A list of the generic drugs is available here.
This article was first published by the International Law Office, a premium online legal update service for major companies and law firms worldwide. Register for a free subscription.


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Official News & Galahad Update: The Release Date Of Albion Online Revealed
Wipe update and regarding Albion Online official launch news update, and do you want to get more? Currently, Galahad as well as Albion Online release date soon to be come, according to the director of Game, Robin Henkys this following expound:
On March 13 2017, Galahad is about to come to Albion Online, in this case, along with a entire new world layout, including complete rework of PvE as well as much more, when it comes to this update, it's safe to say that it's a force to be reckoned with, in accordance to official news, the detailed changelogs for this update soon to be launched on March13.
It's pleased to know that Albion Online is about to be officially launch this summer, on July 17, 2017. What this means is that after this date we will no longer wipe the servers, depend on you start writing the history of Albion Online, at the same time, the test server Mordred(Staging) will be opended to our legendary Founders shortly.
For information about Albion Online update, and you can found more here: http://www.upalbion.com. In addition, Legendary Founders can explore Galahad on March 13, such as Veteran Founders on March 15 as well as Epic Founders on March 14.
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Petroleum Dealers’ Association on Wednesday called off proposed strike against daily revision of petrol and diesel prices from Friday. This comes after the government agreeing to change the timing of price revision to 6 AM everyday instead of midnight. Presently, the price revision comes into effect from midnight. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, the daily price revision will be implemented from 16th of this month as decided. Earlier, petroleum dealers met Mr Pradhan in New Delhi to put forward their demands. During the meeting, the Minister heard all concerns of the dealers. Mr Pradhan said, the daily price revision follows successful pilot project in five cities and would lead to even the smallest change in international oil prices being passed on to consumers.
Private pump owners, who make up for three-fourth of the nation’s 54 thousand retail outlets of the public sector firms, had threatened to go on a strike over concerns of inadequate infrastructure to revise prices every midnight.
As per information received, Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies are taking steps to establish an appropriate mechanism for conveying the prices to consumers every day including daily publishing of the prices in newspaper, prominent displays of prices at the retail outlets and sending of price-related SMS.


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The Behemoth's Battleblock Theater is now free to download for Xbox Live Gold members on Xbox 360 thanks to Microsoft's Games with Gold promotion.
The Behemoth has announced that its platformer BattleBlock Theater will be available on Steam from May 15, complete with several improvements over the Xbox 360 version.
Get ready to strap on a hat and kill some cats: The Behemoth's formerly XBLA-exclusive platformer Battleblock Theater is headed to Steam.
The latest playable character to escape the BattleBlock prison, Toast, will be available to unlock for the next two weeks, developer The Behemoth announced.
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When online reports platforms have liked a meteoric surge in level of popularity right after major events just like the Birmingham riots, some tiny separate news retailers have likewise encountered an identical improvement and are now much more looked for-following than ever. Although separate headlines channels, which promised self-sufficient revealing beyond the conventional reports reporting by huge media channels communities, have liked a distinct segment subsequent because of the freedom, their popularity amongst promoters is already reduced.
The advantage of an electronic digital media foundation is being able to get to a global target audience. The sole thing standing upright in the form of these particular headlines websites is being unable to give you the viewers with reports that actually gets to off to other nations. A lot of digital news flash networks supply posts authored by free lance authors from numerous places around the globe to produce insurance of a selected narrative or celebration inside of a vocabulary that can be realized by a diverse nation.
This is because of the fact even more online users than ever are using data internet from different parts of the world, therefore. Whether they have access to the similar reports sources you should do.
Additionally there is a large viewers for information given by press outlets, for instance fm radio, tv and create, also, since an electronic headlines program permits you to reveal information and news around the world, there is an higher possibility that your chosen readers from other nations knows what is going on with your tale. In order to give news stories and updates to these people, people with internet connection are extremely rotating to the internet to search and skim information about unique ideas, even while they are around the whole world.
An electronic digital information software can take advantage of this tendency by reaching out to those who can’t arrive at the net. Your media can reach the individuals in the most convenient format achievable, even around the products that they currently use,. That may be and the best part. A headlines mobile app set up in an iPhone can explain to people on weather other, studies and shares important information regarding the company in whose store that you are keeping track of.
Other media software can make it possible for users to hear exist reviews on up-to-date gatherings by joining into the news flash funnel of any selected company and giving information on that theme. This is certainly something which used to be only feasible thru survive the television policy. You don’t will need to have a big funds to get started on and work it,. That may be but this time, the news can access some people in different nations by way of mobiles, with thanks to the discovery of online movie.
Needless to say, the most significant benefit of a digital news system. The majority are completely free and involve little technological know-how on the part of the property owner.
And also as technological innovation keeps growing in extent, these virtual news programs will continue to progress, producing headlines delivery service and circulation much easier. Down the road, you will probably find oneself doing business instantly with promoters as part of your news iphone app and to be able to deliver news to these people available as headlines and content material bulletins provided for your electronic mail inbox or Feed. Not anymore would you like to retain the services of reporters to go to take care of splitting headlines accounts.
By using the online market place, media retailers will be able to attain a lot more individuals than ever before, where ever they can be found and irrespective of what area of the society they come from. You can get to find out nearby situations out of the media station perfect at home for anybody who is being employed in The european union. And in many cases if your company is based in the US, your company headlines may be provided within the quickly simple to comprehend formatting to maintain your staff knowledgeable. regarding hottest developments.
All this makes it better to reach most people who are not able to will be able to your organization, due to the energy of mass media channels plus the world wide web. When you start the own personal information funnel, one thing to take into consideration is the way to achieve those who are unable to get on the web, due to the fact you’ll be employing typical press likewise. You’ll commence to wonder about the best way to give you a very similar encounter towards your established consumers, even while you expand your get to internet.
Here is the way the news can become even more customized and you’ll be able to connect to the news stations of one of the most vital people in the marketplace, when your electronic digital headlines base expands. When you haven’t commenced but, you should register today.
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If you’ve ever turned over your compost pile and found months-old “compostable” plastic items that were mostly intact – well, you’re not alone. New research reports that 60% of these plastics do not fully biodegrade in home composting systems.
The findings are the result of a study carried out by scientists from University College London, which began with ordinary citizens from across the UK completing an online questionnaire about their habits and views on compostable plastics and food waste .
The participants were then invited to take part in the Big Compost Experiment, which involved regularly checking their home compost for traces of previously discarded plastic items, over a 24-month period. These items were placed in non-biodegradable open-mesh bags when they were first placed in the compost so that they would be easier to find when later digging through with a shovel or trowel. Photos and descriptions of the discovered elements were submitted to the scientists.
While a variety of different composting systems were used, the most common was an outdoor closed bin installation, used by 64% of the 1,648 people who took part in the experiment. The supposedly compostable plastic items included things like disposable cutlery, cups, bags and newspaper wrappers.
When the submitted data was analyzed, it was found that approximately 60% of items labeled by manufacturers as “home compostable” were still not fully broken down after 24 months.
Furthermore, based on a random sample of 50 item photos, it was noted that 46% of the items were not was marked as household compostable, while another 14% was marked as special industrial compostable. Needless to say, this suggests that there is definitely some confusion – on the consumer side – about what items can actually be tossed in the home compost pile.
Importantly, 83% of participants stated that they use their compost as a fertilizer in their gardens. This means that uncomposted plastic would seep into the soil and thus into the environment.
“We showed that home composting, being unregulated, is largely inefficient and not a good disposal method for compostable packaging,” said Danielle Purkiss, corresponding author of the study. “The idea that a material can be sustainable is a widespread misconception. Only a system of producing, collecting and reprocessing a material can be sustainable.”
More details about the study are available in an open access paper recently published in the journal Limits to sustainability.
Sources: Frontiers, Big Compost Experiment


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Halloween ideas abound at Hawaii stores
HONOLULU PULSE STAFF / email@example.com
Are you a superhero or a zombie? A minion or a princess? Whatever you are (or want to be), there are plenty of places around to help you realize your Halloween alter-ego. Besides the obvious retailers such as Walmart and Target, there are many costume options to be found at seasonal and specialty stores and thrift shops.
New to Hawaii this year is Spirit, a pop-up store by Spencer Gifts. The company has two locations on Oahu: one at the Gentry Pacific Design Center on Nimitz Hwy. and the other at the old Blockbuster by Kahala Mall.
Spirit is best described as a one-stop shop for all things ghouls and goblins. Besides aisle upon aisle of ready-to-wear costumes, the stores has masks, wigs, makeup, props and other accessories, along with decorations, including creepy animatronics.
Spirit is big on clowns this Halloween, as evidenced by the sinister jokester get-ups near the storefront. However, staff at the Nimitz location, which is open for a two-month stint, said zombies again are expected to be a top seller thanks to the Brad Pitt movie “World War Z” and the AMC series “The Walking Dead.” Superheroes will be big as well.
Down the street from Spirit is Flora Dec Sales, which carries costumes ranging from typical packaged sets to outfits priced at more than $100, such as a full vampire suit complete with fabric cape. Pet costumes, a rising trend in the booming Halloween trade, also are offered.
Americans are expected to spend $2.6 billion on Halloween costumes this year and $6.9 billion in total Halloween spending, according to a National Retail Federation survey.
Those looking to put together a Halloween ensemble on a budget can try Savers and other thrift stores.
According to a Savers survey, popular group costumes this year include the Robertson clan from “Duck Dynasty,” the royals (William, Kate and baby George) and “Kimye” (Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and baby North).
The year-round Costume Closet in Kaimuki has a large selection for sale or rent. Kharolina Costumes, also in Kaimuki, rents out handmade, original and period costumes, most in the $50-to-$100 range.
The shop is available by appointment throughout the year but is open afternoons in October.
For a more theatrical look, head to Diamond Head Theatre, where the costume shop rents out outfits from its productions.
“Men are always pirates and vikings, and Roman guards,” said DHT costume director Karen Wolfe. “Women always ask for princesses or ballet dancers.”
Many of the theater’s rentals are one-of-a-kind. Prices range from $25 for clown costumes to $80 for a full Captain Hook outfit. A security deposit is required.
“Bring your imagination and your credit card,” said Wolfe.
The theater rents out costumes on a limited basis year-round, but the costume shop has extended hours during the days leading up to Halloween.
» Spirit: Gentry Pacific Design Center, 560 N. Nimitz Hwy. (536-4912) and 4137 Waialae Ave. (737-4912), spirithalloween.com; Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays
» Party City: Waikele Center, 94-799 Lumiaina St. (671-3133) and 888 N. Nimitz Highway (599-7591), partycity.com; Hours: 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays
» Flora Dec Sales: 373 N. Nimitz Highway, 537-6194, floradec.com; Hours: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (except Wednesdays), 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sundays
» The Costume Closet: 3007 Lincoln Ave., 739-1355, thecostumeclosethawaii.com; Hours: (call to confirm) 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays (rentals available)
» Savers: 1505 Dillingham Blvd. (842-0061) and 94-300 Farrington Highway, Waipahu (671-0071), savers.com; Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays (7 p.m. at Waipahu location)
» Goodwill: Locations in Honolulu, Kaimuki, Kapolei, Pearl City, Wahiawa, Waipahu, Hilo, Kona and Kahului; higoodwill.org; Hours: Vary
» Moiliili Thrift Store: 2535 S. King St., 942-0595; Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays
» Diamond Head Theatre: 520 Makapuu Ave., 733-0277, diamondheadtheatre.com; Hours: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays (year-round); 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, Oct. 21-Nov. 1
» Kharolina Costumes: 1059 12th Ave., 732-3423, 721-7559, kharolina.com; Hours: 2-7 p.m. daily in October


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The Advertising Standards Council of India has ordered L’Oreal India private limited to remove its advertisement for its cream which removes dark spots and dark skin. It uses famous actress Alia Bhatt in this advertisement and was found to be … Continue reading L’Oreal India pvt. ltd. guilty of false claims
Gardening seems to be a better choice than shopping with Positive Homeopathy! This firm put out advertisements that promised to cure almost all ailments that affect us starting from sexual problems, sexual weakness, libido issues etc. etc. and the Advertising … Continue reading Positive Homeopathy recklessly violates the rules of the Drugs & Magic Remedies Act!
I just walk away from QUACKS! I get exercise and save my money for catnip! The following advertisements were considered to be, prima facie, in violation of The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act and are being referred to the Ministry … Continue reading Ads promising Magic Healing have been banned….and reported to the Government for further action
I just keep my ears closed to such nonsense! The Advertising Standards Council of India has had to again pull up Dr. Dassans Re Renal clinic for its advertisement claiming that it has saved a kidney patient from having to … Continue reading Dr. Dassans Re Renal (Delhi based) has been pulled up for false promises…
It gives me Alzheimer’s just to read this stupid advertisement! Sureksha Pharma is the latest quack online selling its Kanthari Plus Capsules which it assures readers of its ad, will cure Alzheimer’s, thyroid, diabetes, obesity, eye sight, … Continue reading Sureksha Pharma is pulled up by Advertising Standards Council of India for illegal ad about Kanthari Plus capsule
advertised that an old case of paralysis was cured by him within three months. This ad was banned by the Advertising Standards Council of India as it violated the guidelines of the Drugs & Magic Remedies Act. This Act does … Continue reading Dr. Dassons Life Care Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment and Research Centre had
The Advertising Standards Council of India has banned the ad put out by Dr. Dassans Life Care Ayurvedic Herbal and Research Centre in Delhi for claiming it could save people from getting kidney problems! In its website the ASCI warns … Continue reading Dr. Dassans Life Care Ayurvedic Herbal and Research Centre cons consumers about solving kidney problems says ASCI
I would take all this with a PINCH of Salt! The Advertising Standards Council of India was informed by the Government of India about an advertisement in the ETs online app about an AIIMS doctor from Delhi claiming to have … Continue reading N.B. Healthcare Slim Now hoodwinks consumers with false advertisement about Delhi’sAIIMS doctor discovering shockingly simple way to lose weight!
I am sure Herbal Tea has put me to sleep! I would prefer to buy Catnip Tea! The Advertising Standards Council of India has banned the advertisement of the Ara Pharmaceutical Trade Company (Athiri Dia Care Herbal Tea) for … Continue reading Ara Pharmaceutical Trade Company misleads consumers with herbal tea
I never believe everything I read! The Advertising Standards Council of India has banned the advertisement put out by Orichem Drugs & Pharmaceuticals about their Zalim Lotion which they said would cure ring worm, scabies, eczema and itches. In … Continue reading Orichem Drugs & Pharmaceuticals make false claims about their lotion for ringworm and the advertisement was banned


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A new technology trade show will open shop in Singapore in two years time. Called The Stage, it is a platform for companies in the tech industry to showcase their products. The event is organized by Singapore’s largest broadcaster MediaCorp and the Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF).
- audio and visual
- connected home devices
- digital imaging/photography
- electronic gaming and music
- computer hardware and software
- lifestyle electronics
- automotive electronics
Beyond exhibitions, the conference will feature keynote presentations and panel discussions by thought leaders. It will have a headline concert with celebrities, no doubt leveraging on MediaCorp’s strengths.
“We believe the marriage between the glamorous and colorful entertainment with the geeky and innovative ICT industry would spark an interesting show that all should anticipate,” said Eddie Chau, serial entrepreneur and chairman of SiTF.
Exhibition space will cost between SGD465 (USD375) and SGD565 (USD450). Early bird pricing will be disclosed later.
While a mainstay in traditional media, MediaCorp has in recent years been modernizing itself. It has ventured into — among other things — mobile apps, e-commerce, startup incubation, and venture capital investing.


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by Rory Kelleher
The Eircell brand is likely to be changed to Eircell-Vodafone and then to a single Vodafone brand after a year. These events are dependent on the completion of the impending Vodafone take-over of Eircell.
Vodafone announced on Wednesday that it wanted to establish a global brand which it would introduce to all its controlled subsidiaries worldwide.
The company said "During 2002, a single Vodafone brand will be introduced to these networks, facilitating customer recognition of the Vodafone network wherever they are."
A spokesperson for Vodafone said there was no reason to think that this policy would differ in Ireland if the take-over of Eircell is completed.
Vodafone has already introduced dual branding throughout its European subsidiaries, including D2-Vodafone in Germany and Telesell-Vodafone in Portugal.
A spokeswoman for Eircom said she could not comment on the issue until the deal with Vodafone is completed.
A Vodafone statement said that "the aim is to leverage the benefits of its global footprint realising the potential of Vodafone as a single worldwide group, rather than a collection of separate operating entities."
Vodafone also announced that by the second quarter this year, it will have GPRS services available in all its subsidiaries.
Vodafone has GPRS systems already in operation in Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Portugal and Austria.
The company's Spanish subsidiary Airtel is due to launch its 3G network in the third quarter of this year with other markets expected to follow in 2002.
Vodafone said the introduction of 3G technology is not solely about faster data rates. The additional spectrum afforded to 3G will enable the company to handle the continuing growth in customers and dramatic increases in usage per subscriber in both voice and data.
This additional spectrum will be crucial if the take-up of data services worldwide is to match that in Japan according to Vodafone.
The lack of availability of GPRS handsets has been one of the biggest barriers to the introduction of services, but the company said that by April it will have commercial deliveries of handsets in a variety of forms including Phones, PDAs and PC cards from Motorola, Samsung, Sagem and Trium.
These devices will offer a number of GPRS channels, ranging from 2 to 4, and offering data rates of up to 48kbps.
From June to September, additional product launches will be seen from Ericsson, Siemens, Sagem, Samsung and Panasonic, extending the range of devices available to over 30 according to Vodafone.


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Biomedical startup Adapttech, Birmingham, England, has raised $2.7 million in a new venture capital funding round. The company will use the funding to develop new technologies and grow sales of its system for improving the fitting of prosthetic devices.
“We’re delighted to have secured significant investment from both existing and new investors as we seek to drive sales of INSIGHT,” said Frederico Carpinteiro, the company’s founder. “The funding will also support our plans to develop and release new products, hire key personnel, and prepare our production processes for scale.”
INSIGHT combines a 3D scanner, sensors, wearable technology, and a mobile app for socket fitting and monitoring a patient’s rehabilitation process.
“This new funding is a significant milestone for Adapttech, as it represents the company’s transition from its development and testing phase into a fully commercial operation,” said Stuart Mead, Adapttech chairman.


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Often the opportunities provided by social media are overlooked as start-ups focus on refining their product during launch. It can take up to three years for business-to-business travel start-ups to begin exploiting social media – but there's no time to waste for B2B travel firms who are just starting out, says Skift.
The importance of social media was highlighted in 2013 when a new trend emerged and B2B travel start-ups started becoming more competitive on social.
Now it's up to other companies to follow suit, regardless of their stage of development or how far they are from their launch dates. Follow the example of more established travel technology companies and start using social to your advantage, Skift advises.
To do this, make the brand more human - use casual talk rather than a business tone and use social media platforms selectively, differentiating between the different platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook since audiences have different expectations on each network.
The priority is often building awareness through content production and curation; introducing and celebrating the team; and motivating potential customers through free resources, often in exchange for their email addresses. These efforts can lead to offline conversations.
Four start-ups, Adara, Boxever, Rezdy and Xola, have successfully leveraged social media to boost their brand presence.
Adara, founded in 2009, connects online advertisers with potential customers. The company has successfully leveraged LinkedIn but also hopes to fine-tune its content and engagement approach for each platform.
This is what Elizabeth Harz, media president for the firm, said: "Overall, like other B2B companies, we see a growing need to expand our social media efforts to better understand what our clients need to be successful."
Boxever, founded in 2011, utilises the Big Data phenomenon to understand and reach customers in a more personalised way.
The firm has a presence on Twitter and LinkedIn, and has successfully enticed new faces via both networks. It is currently focusing on business-oriented conversations and doesn't have a presence on Facebook due to the deep commitment it would require.
Allyson Pelletier, VP of marketing, commented: "Since we're a B2B company, we're really trying to get in front of business buyers. From a lead-generation perspective, it's really less about calls to action and it's really more about participating in the [broader] conversation that's going on in these environments."
Rezdy, which also launched in 2011, is a white-label booking platform with a multitude of verticals, including whale watching and surfing, and 12 product types such as multi-day tickets, rentals and lessons.
Its social team not only shares thoughtful information with the community, but also seeks out new customer interactions by looking for groups with relevant topics and posting helpful tips.
"On Facebook, we're constrained for time to be more conversational; it takes time and effort to build the community. We're looking to humanise our brand more on LinkedIn," said Christabell Tani, the marketing manager.
And Xola, a booking and marketing platform for tours and activities providers, has seen its web traffic from social media rise from 8% to a third since it was founded in 2011.
The firm is more present and open about the company's personality on Facebook than Twitter, as the Facebook content has a longer life.