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The Korea Herald is publishing a series of interviews on experts in the intellectual property sector. This is the 13th installment. -- Ed.
Due to its active trade relations with leading Western nations, South Korea has long been a frontrunner in introducing patent protection measures in various sectors, including the pharmaceuticals industry.
While such early adoption had the positive effect of stimulating the country’s intellectual property environment, it has also involved a number of excessive regulations, weighing down competent domestic drugmakers, according to a pharmaceuticals patent expert.
“In the process of negotiating and signing key trade deals over the past decades, Korea has adopted a number of Western systems that seek stronger protection for patent holders,” Kim Yoon-ho, patent department leader at Hanmi Pharm and chairman of the Korea Pharmaceutical Patent Institution, told The Korea Herald in an interview.
Kim Yoon-ho, patent department leader at Hanmi Pharm and chairman of the Korea Pharmaceutical Patent Institution (Park Hyun-koo/ The Korea Herald)
Among them is the patent-approval linkage system which, despite its purported role of facilitating early-stage resolution in pharmaceutical patent disputes, has mostly resulted in heightening the entry barrier for generic companies and consolidating the market monopoly by global companies, according to Kim.
The comprehensive system, which took full effect in March 2015 as the result of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement, grants nine-month marketing exclusivity to the first generic that challenges a listed patent.
The system was originally designed as a win-win strategy, keeping original companies notified of all ongoing generic approval applications and offering generic companies incentives to make patent challenges and consequently lower medicine prices.
The dilemma, according to Kim, is that it is better suited for the American drug market than that of Korea.
“In the US market, the survival of original companies often depends on the pre-emptive deterrence of generics,” Kim said.
Due to the country‘s private health insurance system, it typically takes less than six months for a new generic drug to attain 90 percent in market share, as private insurers naturally pick the cheaper alternative to the original medicine, according to the pharmaceuticals expert.
“Original companies could, of course, file a lawsuit in complaint, but the problem is that the average period spent at the lower court lingers around 30 months, which is more than enough time for generic competitors to outrun their original rivals,” he said.
“This is why the US pharmaceuticals industry came up with the patent-approval linkage, seeking to put on the brakes (of generic competition) at the product approval stage.”
Kim Yoon-ho, patent department leader at Hanmi Pharm and chairman of the Korea Pharmaceutical Patent Institution (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)
The patent-approval linkage approach, however, is an excessive regulation, as regulatory approval should clearly be differentiated from patent issues, Kim said.
“Also, South Korea had little need for such a measure, as its patent trials are much faster, taking around nine months in average,” he added.
“While acknowledging the need for regulations to a certain extent, I believe that there should be more room for free market competition.”
Another problem, according to Kim, is that affiliated rules require generic companies to file a challenge within 14 days from the first-filed action, a deadline that tends to drive an excessive number of companies to legal actions.
“Quite often, small drugmakers would hastily join in the lawsuit amid the pressing schedule, without even considering the plausibility or profitability of the corresponding generic medicine. Many of them end up dropping the charges midway, creating unnecessary market confusion,” he said.
As a result of such overcrowded litigation, the defending original company would be burdened by high litigation costs, while aspiring generic companies would have little to gain from the victory, as they are to share the market exclusivity with other litigants.
“In a recent case, UK-based global pharmaceuticals company AstraZeneca faced 35 generic counterparts over a hyperlipidemia medicine and simply gave up its appeal (to the Patent Court) due to excessive costs,” Kim explained.
“This was noted as a rare case, as global patent holders tend to take their cases all the way to the Supreme Court to firm up their patent rights.”
It is also one of the core goals of the KPPI to address these growing market disputes and achieve the balanced growth of original patent holders and challenging generics, the chairman added.
In April last year, the KPPI celebrated its 30th anniversary as the nation’s only civic organization specializing in pharmaceutical patent issues.
“Now that the focus of the patent sector is shifting from information technology to pharmaceuticals, we will keep a closer watch on incumbent patent disputes, seeking to provide the industry with fresh momentum through IP.”
By Bae Hyun-jung(firstname.lastname@example.org)


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While several futuristic projects are under way in different countries, a Dutch design may be the first one sold and soaring into the skies.
After years of testing, the PAL-V company aims to pip its competitors to the post. It is poised to start production on what they bill as a world first: a three-wheeled gyrocopter-type vehicle which can carry two people and will be certified for use on the roads and in the skies.
"This kind of dream has been around for 100 years now. When the first airplane was invented people already thought 'How can I make that driveable on the road?'," chief marketing officer Markus Hess told AFP.
The PAL-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle) firm, based in Raamsdonksveer in the Netherlands, is aiming to deliver its first flying car to its first customer by the end of 2018.
The lucky owner will need both a driving licence and a pilot's licence. But with the keys in hand, the owner will be able to drive to an airfield for the short take-off, and after landing elsewhere drive to the destination in a "door-to-door" experience.
Different versions of a flying car are being developed in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Japan, China and the United States.
But final assembly on the PAL-V will start in October, with the company seeking to be the first to go into commercial production.

domain: news


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IN THIS SECTION:
Australian Farmers Navigate World Climate Extremes but not Rising Input Costs
15 February 2006
Despite global climate extremes such as cyclones, droughts, fires and floods impacting on agricultural production at home and around the world during the past six months, Australia will produce one of the largest winter crops on record, with a 38 million tonne harvest boosting the gross value of agricultural production to $37 billion in 2005-06 the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) said today.
However NFF Farm Business and Economics Committee Chair, Mr Charles Burke said that farm commodity prices were failing to lift along with other commodities, with the Westpac NFF Rural Commodity Index released today, steady over December and January, down 0.1 per cent.
“It is frustrating that despite our farmers beating the odds and managing to harvest one of the best crops ever this year, rural commodity prices remain generally flat. This should be a year that many farmers consolidate their financial position to help them through the tougher times, but with the combination of soaring input costs and flat prices, farm returns are actually going to fall 8 per cent in 2005-06 when compared to 2004-05,” Mr Burke said.
“Over the past six months we have seen two major US cyclones, the driest weather in recorded history in Texas and cold conditions in the Ukraine and Russia all affecting global production. At home, floods, fires and scorching temperatures in inland Australia have tested our farming ability to the limit.”
However, Mr Burke said that optimism was returning to Australian canegrowers after sugar prices increased a massive 32 per cent over December/January. Wool prices also have turned around from record lows.
“Sugar prices have gone from strength to strength as more of the Brazilian crush is diverted to ethanol production to beat the cost of oil and as sales of flex-fuel cars boom. Planned cutbacks to production in Europe and crop damage in the wake of two cyclones, in the US have also been positive factors on sugar prices.
“Wool prices almost couldn’t get a better start to the year with prices rising 3.5 per cent in January as overseas buyers start to recognise that the market may have bottomed out towards the end of 2005,” Mr Burke said.
Westpac Banking Senior Economist, Mr Justin Smirk said that the Westpac NFF Rural Commodity Index had been expanded to now incorporate dairy prices.
"Dairy is a growing sector of the economy with a gross value of $3.4 billion and exports worth $2.6 billion in 2005-06. The addition of dairy prices to the index is in recognition of the important contribution dairy makes to Australia's rural commodity exports,” said Mr Smirk.
The Westpac NFF Index is weighted according to the value of Australian agricultural exports and includes only rural commodities – unlike other price indices that are overshadowed by oil, mineral and energy prices. It provides daily movements based on prices of Australia’s seven key farm exports – wheat, barley, beef, wool, cotton, sugar and canola – in both $US and $A.
Media Enquiries: Emma Keogh, NFF Public Relations Officer, (02) 6273 3855 or 0408 448 250.
NFF NATIONAL CONGRESS
National Agriculture Day 2018


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3 Bad Vaping Flavors Young People Will Absolutely Avoid
There has been a substantial amount of talk in the online smoking community recently about the new e-juice flavors that are being introduced by Vapor Products, LLC. Many people are wondering if this is a direct violation of the Emergency Order that has been put into effect in February by the Mayor Bloomberg and NYC Mayor Bloomberg. Is Vapor Products breaking the law? Will they be penalized for introducing new flavors they have not followed the letter of the law? These are all good questions.
It appears that Vapor Products, LLC may be in violation of the emergency order because they have not requested a permit to distribute their new product line. The fact that the company did not apply for the permit means that they are violating the spirit of the order. Further, we saw in the news headlines today that vaporizing e-juice is perfectly legal and there’s absolutely no problem with it. Many cities round the country, such as Seattle, Los Angeles and SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, allow home use of vaporizers by adults. In some instances, health officials have even approved them for use by podsmall.com children. Yet vaporizers continue being banned in NEW YORK and other cities under the ny laws.
The new York laws were placed into place because of the large numbers of deaths from cigarettes. Since the number of deaths went up so gets the sale of cigarettes in the town. While it’s true that New York City is a tourist destination folks have to continue to buy cigarettes so as to take vacations and visit family and friends. They have simply go out of places to buy cigarettes.
So the city is attempting to control using vaporizers and lighters by regulating the amount of flavoring that can be put into these tobacco products. They’re also attempting to regulate the use of the chemicals which are used to generate these flavors. But they’ve also banned the usage of a few common flavoring agents such as for example mints and caramel and are encouraging the creation of more menthol cigarettes.
The problem with this is that a lot of the flavors that you enjoy probably the most like mints and caramel are in fact quite toxic to your body. Minty and fruity juices such as strawberries and banana are in fact made up of hundreds of chemical compounds which are hazardous to your health if you consume them frequently. Even one or two glasses of vanilla pudding comprises of over two hundred chemical compounds. Now, having said that, there are several healthy alternatives to smoking tobacco that may be enjoyed by vapers.
The most effective things about creating e-juices with your own flavors is that you can create them based on your own personal tastes and preferences. You can enjoy something sweet in the event that you choose, such as fruit-flavored or yogurt flavored e-liquid. But you can also create a menthol flavored juice if you want to reduce the level of nicotine in public places and you also don’t mind the taste of chemicals. You can obtain good tasting menthol cigarettes from the amount of places including places that sell herbal supplements.
It is possible to find other healthy alternatives to smoking by visiting online shops. A lot of the e-juices produced at home, aren’t regulated by the FDA (Food


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A number of applications have been systematically shut down over the past few days due to running aggressive advertisements. Facebook is sending out the following statement to developers, explaining why the apps have been shut down: “Ads are misleading and don’t represent what’s being advertised. Landing pages emulate Facebook features to deceive users and use deceptive billing practice. (Platform Guidelines section #4, 5, 9)”. This is a sign that Facebook is turning up the heat on aggressive ads on all fronts.
I’ve written extensively about the practice of running aggressive ads but now developers feel as though they are the victims since they are running advertisements from well known Facebook platform ad networks. If developers can’t run ads from well know ad networks, who can they use? While we could make suggestions about who to use, that’s outside the scope of this article. The main point is that Facebook has not only taken actions against ad networks but they’re now going after developers, who are equally responsible since they are using these ad networks and regularly check the ads that are running.
One developer posted a thread in the Facebook developer forum this evening and a number of other developers reported similar issues. While RockYou, Social Media, and Social Cash were listed as ad networks being run within applications, we can’t confirm whether or not these were actions a result of running these specific ad networks.
It means that while you may be able to get millions of users to your applications, you should be extremely careful about the advertising units that are running within the application. While we are not sure about how large of a crack down this is, we’ve reached out to Facebook who has so far remained silent about the rationale behind shutting down applications.
All we currently have is information provided by developers but this appears to be a growing issue. We’ve also been hearing other rumblings about controversy surrounding the ads being run from some these ad networks. Some of the networks have been walking fine lines in terms of the ads being run and Facebook has stated publicly on a number of instances that they will do whatever is in the user’s best interest.
Our only rationale behind this new tactic is that rather than playing back and forth games with ad networks, Facebook is now going after developers. While I cannot say whether or not these ad networks are running ads that are in violation of Facebook’s terms, it’s a logical step to begin going after developers. While this aggressive policy is resulting in lower CPMs for many developers, Facebook is focused on creating a positive user experience.
We will be sure to update this post as we receive information from other developers and if we hear anything back from Facebook.
We’ve received some of the emails from developers which included screenshots of offending advertisements and landing pages, both pictured below.
Offending Display Ad
Offending Landing Page


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|By PR Newswire||
|March 24, 2014 03:23 PM EDT||
WEST WINDSOR, N.J., March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mrs. Green's Natural Market (www.mrsgreens.com) will open their first market in the state of New Jersey this week at 64 Princeton Hightstown Road, West Windsor, with an open house event from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday to introduce the new store to the community. The store will officially open for business Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony to be held in collaboration with the "GRO" Chapter of the MIDJersey Chamber of Commerce at 7:45 a.m.
Mrs. Green's will donate five percent of proceeds during the store's first week up to a $10,000 total to America's Grow-A-Row, a nonprofit providing a positive impact through volunteer efforts of planting, picking, rescuing and delivering fresh produce to food desert areas in New Jersey.
"Mrs. Green's Natural Market is rapidly expanding with a strong foundation established in the Northeast," CEO Robin S. Michel said. "We're excited to bring our unique concept of all-natural, organic products to the communities of West Windsor, Princeton and the surrounding areas."
Scheduled events during the grand opening festivities include the following:
- Open House – Thursday 6-8:30 p.m., a free, family friendly event featuring live entertainment, food and beverage samplings and a dedicated children's activity area.
- Official ribbon cutting ceremony and store opening – Friday 7:45-8 a.m.
- Executive chef demonstrations – Thursday and Friday 6-8 p.m.; Saturday 1-2 p.m.
- Field Trip Factory Think Global, Eat Local program introduction for teachers and educators – Friday 4-7 p.m.
- America's Grow-A-Row educational events – Saturday 11 a.m.-noon; Sunday 2-3 p.m.
- WPST-FM (94.5) prize wheel – Saturday 12-2 p.m.
Offering natural, organic products that are locally sourced is primary focus for Mrs. Green's, which partnered with Philadelphia-based nonprofit Fair Food to identify local vendors who could help reach this goal. In-store samplings from these vendors will be offered throughout the weekend of March 28-30.
The 22,500 square-foot store is conveniently located about three miles southeast of Princeton University. Regular store hours will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
For exclusive daily grand opening specials, visit mrsgreens.com/fresh.
About Mrs. Green's Natural Market
Mrs. Green's Natural Market (www.mrsgreens.com) is a subsidiary of Natural Markets Food Group (www.nmfg.com), a privately-owned business that consists of retail food stores and food service restaurants. The company operates over 30 locations in the U.S. and Canada, and is based in Irvington, N.Y.
Jodi Marsh (317) 450-9025
SOURCE Mrs. Green's Natural Market
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(Reuters) – Online storage startup Nutanix has filed for its long-awaited public offering, the latest indication that the IPO window may still be open for some highly valued tech companies.
Nutanix, which builds server and storage systems for companies, was valued at $2 billion at its last private financing round in August 2014.
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters in April that the initial public offering could value Nutanix at more than $2.5 billion, including debt.
Tuesday’s filing said Nutanix plans to raise $200 million in the deal, but that will likely change when the company offers a share price. The company, founded in 2009, did not disclose how many shares it would sell.
Based in San Jose, California, Nutanix is not profitable, and for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2015 it lost $126.1 million. Losses widened 50 percent from the prior year.
Its revenue for the most recent fiscal year was $241.4 million, a 90% jump from the prior year.
Nutanix will list on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ‘NTNX’.
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Underwriting banks include Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and Credit Suisse.
Nutanix entered into talks with banks in April, but the tepid IPO market deterred many tech companies from making their debut this year.
Proceeds from IPOs are down 65% from last year, and IPO returns are in negative territory, according to IPO fund manager Renaissance Capital. Public market investors have hotly rejected the valuations of some tech companies.
Nutanix is one of the high-profile unicorns, or venture-backed tech companies valued at $1 billion or more, that have been waiting in the IPO pipeline.
Its filing follows one of the strongest tech IPOs of the year, from software company Atlassian Corp, which raised $462 million in its debut and brought some cheer to the dour market. Atlassian, however, has been profitable for a decade.
Nutanix has raised more than $312 million from investors. Principal shareholders include Lightspeed Venture Partners, which owns 23% of the company, and Khosla Ventures, with a 10.9% stake. Co-founder and Chief Executive Dheeraj Pandey owns 9.2% of the company.


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By Mikael Ricknäs, MacworldSEP 1, 2009 3:52 am PDT
Samsung Electronics is joining the touch phone price race: Its new Corby will cost will cost €150 (US$210) before taxes and subsidies when it ships in Europe in September.
The phone, also called the S3650, has a 2.8-inch display and has support for EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) mobile data. It has a slot for microSD memory cards and an FM radio. The software includes a media player for music and video that will play MPEG-4 and WMV files, according to Samsung.
Launching a touch-screen phone in this price range is a logical step as Samsung’s goal is to have a touch phone for every kind of consumer, according to Erik Johannesson, a spokesman for Samsung.
The South Korean phone manufacturer follows in the footsteps of Nokia: Last week the Finnish manufacturer launched the 5230 touch phone, which also costs €150 before taxes and subsidies. But the Nokia device comes with beefier hardware specifications. It has a 3.2-inch display and support for A-GPS (Assisted GPS) and HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) mobile broadband at 3.6M bits per second.
Both phones are trying to capture the hearts and minds of younger buyers by integrating support for various social networks. The Corby comes with widgets for the three big ones: Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.
In this space they will also have to compete with INQ Mobile in some markets. The company is a relative newcomer that has pioneered cheap smartphones with built-in support for social networking, support for which will only grow in importance going forward.
“Social networking will be the main driver for data services for a long time, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s in prepaid or post-paid,” said Geoff Blaber, analyst at CCS Insight.
IDC’s Francisco Jeronimo agrees: “There is a strong interest from end users, and that is one of the biggest reasons why some consumers are replacing their devices for smartphones,” he said.


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A $1.2 billion deal between British jet engine maker Rolls-Royce and Hainan Airlines of China was announced on Feb. 27 as British and Chinese firms signed deals worth up to $1.9 billion.
The announcements, sealed at a ceremony in London attended by China's Trade Minister Chen Deming and Britain's Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, came on the last leg of a Chinese trade tour of Europe.
The $1.2 billion deal is for the purchase of Rolls-Royce jet engines and a service contract for Hong Kong Airlines planes, it was announced.
Afterwards, Chen said all the deals underlined China and Britain's joint commitment to the "fight against protectionism." In a warning against protectionism, he added: "We should also realize there is no coordination between these stimulus packages and some countries are working to protect their own national interests."
Relying on a handful of large economies to pull the world out of trouble was not enough, he said, urging cooperation.
Representatives from Chinese companies signed a number of high-profile deals on their sweep through Europe, including more than $10 billion of tie-ups with German firms. The visit also took in Spain and Switzerland.
The EU is China's largest trading partner, its most important source for technology imports and its largest export destination, while China is the EU's second-largest trading partner.
On the final leg of the visit, representatives from hundreds of British firms met a delegation of around 150 Chinese companies including Baoshan Iron and Steel, China Construction Bank and Bank of China.
Around ten deals in total were also signed in London including smaller ones between steelmaker Corus, owned by India's Tata Steel, and the Chinese Petroleum Company for the supply of pipes, and a supply contract between Jaguar Land Rover, owned by Tata Motors, and SCAS Investment Group.
"In this challenging global climate, China represents a great opportunity for UK business. By 2010 its market could account for over two trillion dollars of global imports and exports," said Mandelson.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009


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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson Tuesday morning pledged significant support behind the relaunch of several McNeil Consumer products into the marketplace in 2012, and feels confident impacted brands — Tylenol and Motrin, among others — will be able to recapture market share, despite significant private-label erosion.
"One bit of data that we saw — even though private label has taken a particular amount of share in that part of the market is that trust of the McNeil brands among moms is still two-times the levels of competing products," J&J VP finance and CFO Dominic Caruso said during an analyst conference call Tuesday morning. Caruso told analysts the McNeil product relaunches would be reintroduced with a combination of brand marketing, couponing and dosing innovations to recapture its one-time loyal consumers. "We hope that the loyalty that these brands [have enjoyed] over the years will stay with us," Caruso said. Caruso projected the overall marketing and merchandising initiatives will elicit a "surround-sound impact and get the consumers back to the loyal consumers they were prior to the recall."
U.S. sales of over-the-counter medicines were significantly impacted by the suspension of manufacturing at the McNeil Consumer Healthcare facility in Fort Washington, Pa., J&J reported. Sales of the company's OTC/nutritionals products were down 24.2% to $332 million. Two beauty products — Neutrogena and Dabao skin care products — were positive contributors to operational results, however. Within skin care, J&J reported a 20.9% lift to $376 million.
For the third quarter ended September, Johnson & Johnson reported U.S. sales of $6.9 billion, down 3.7% vs. the corresponding year-ago period. Sales were down across its U.S. businesses — consumer was down 4.5% to $1.2 billion; pharmaceutical was down 6.1% to $2.9 billion; and medical devices/diagnostics was down 0.8% to $2.8 billion.
J&J reported U.S. and international combined sales of $16 billion, an increase of 6.8% over the year-ago period.
In September, McNeil-PPC completed the acquisition of full ownership of the Johnson & Johnson-Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals in the United States. That business will be renamed McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals and will continue to market products under the Pepcid, Mylanta and Mylicon brands.


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NEW DELHI:Suzuki Motor Corporation, the parent company of the country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki, is planning to manufacture 35,000 electric cars by 2020-21, according to a report by HT Mint.
The carmaker is planning to create a complete ecosystem to source components for electric vehicles, which means it would be the first carmaker to have 100 per cent localised components, as per the report.
Unlike its other competitors, which are already manufacturing electric vehicles and are sourcing half of the components from overseas.
In the report, it was also stated that the management has decided to produce 30,000-35,000 units per annum. With this, the carmaker plans to achieve 2 per cent sales of electric vehicles in 2021.
Going by the industry estimates and other reports, the first electric car from Suzuki would be a hatchback and most likely it would be its popular hatchback Wagon R, which would be developed in partnership with Toyota.
The carmaker will convert the tested Wagon R to electric car, which is likely to be launched in 2020, according to sources.
The electric version of Wagon R would be manufactured at the Gujarat facility as a tripartite joint venture with Denso and Toshiba, and together to set up a lithium-ion battery factory that is coming up in Gujarat.
Along with EVs, the carmaker wants to achieve a peak sales of 2.5 million units by 2020-23. Last year, the carmaker sold 1.6 million units.
Based on allegations, Mahindra said it had initiated an inquiry using a top consulting firm on the process of tooling purchases in its Automotive CDMM function. Following this, it indicated violations of the Code of Conduct by Rajneesh Vashishth-Vice President AD CDMM.
Videos of Epluto scooters on fire have gone viral on social media raising concerns over the safety aspect of EVs in general. If not nipped in the bud, it can potentially undermine India's nascent electric mobility revolution.


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Tehran, February 1, AZERTAC
“Railways between Iran and Azerbaijan will be connected in March and Iranian goods will be exported to Europe via Russia by this itinerary,” said Minister of Communications and Information Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran, co-chairman of Azerbaijan-Iran State Commission on economic, trade and humanitarian spheres Mahmoud Vaezi at a press-conference.
Mahmoud Vaezi highlighted that the railway from Iranian city of Astara to Azerbaijani city of Astara will handed to exploitation in March. Presently wide works are being held in Astara.
© Content from this site must be hyperlinked when used.


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Whether someone has asked you for help or you sense someone is in distress, here are some general guidelines to help support possible victims of abuse, be it physical, emotional, sexual, psychological or financial.
The deadly Las Vegas shooting brought to light the use of a device called a "bump stock,” which allows a semi-automatic rifle to mimic a fully automatic ones. Critics say that the device disregards current federal restrictions on automatic guns, but a gun store owner in Texas disagrees.
SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon Heavy rocket on Tuesday, February 6, becoming the most powerful rocket to be used. After the rocket launched, its two side cores successfully landed at the company’s landing zone.
On January 31, 2017, NASA observed its annual Day of Remembrance to commemorate the crews of Apollo 1, and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other members of the NASA family who lost their lives furthering the cause of exploration. It marked the 50th anniversary of the accidental fire, that occurred inside an Apollo spacecraft on the launch pad at Cape Kennedy, that tragically claimed the lives of Apollo 1 astronauts, Virgil Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee.
Brawls broke out in French supermarkets on Thursday as shoppers scrambled to get their hands on discounted pots of the chocolate and hazelnut spread Nutella. The Intermarche chain launched a massive discount on the spread, reducing the price of a 950 grammes (33.5 ounces) jar by almost 70 percent, from 4.50 euros (5.6 US dollars) to 1.41 euros (1.75 US dollars).The sale led to a rush on Nutella in one supermarket in Toulon, with shoppers shoving each other as they tried to get their hands on the jars.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced plans to dismantle the regulations imposed by former president Barack Obama to ensure equal access to the Internet, which will allow companies to charge users more or block access to certain web pages.


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- Apple held an event on Tuesday afternoon to announce updates to a few major products.
- The least expensive iPhone, the iPhone SE, got a more powerful chip and 5G capability.
- A new Mac desktop computer was revealed for the first time, the Mac Studio.
Apple held a product-heavy presentation on Tuesday afternoon where it detailed a slew of major upgrades to existing hardware and outright debuted a new desktop computer.
The "Peek Performance" event, as Apple called it, continued the company's ongoing plan to put its own chips into every device it makes.
Here's everything that was announced, from a major iPhone SE upgrade to a new desktop computer:
1. A deal with Major League Baseball for "Friday Night Baseball" — a programming lineup coming to Apple's subscription streaming service, Apple TV+.
Before any hardware was announced, Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage to talk about Apple's digital streaming subscription service, Apple TV+.
His primary announcement was straightforward: Major League Baseball is coming to Apple's subscription service.
"Fans will be able to watch marquee games on Friday nights, free from local broadcast restrictions," Apple said in its press release about MLB programming on Apple TV+.
The service is centered around programming on Friday evening, and is named "Friday Night Baseball." Outside of Fridays, the partnership brings a "24/7 livestream with MLB game replays, news and analysis, highlights, classic games, and more, as well as a full complement of on-demand programming, including highlights and MLB-themed original content" to Apple's subscription service.
There's no hard date for when the service will come to Apple TV+, with Apple only saying it will start, "as soon as the regular season begins."
With the ongoing MLB lockout, that could be awhile.
2. A new iPhone SE, with a more powerful processor and a 5G connectivity.
Apple's least expensive iPhone, the iPhone SE, is getting a significant upgrade: A new, much more powerful chip (the same one that's in the flagship iPhone) and 5G connectivity.
Unfortunately, it's also getting a slight price bump from $400 to $429.
That still puts the iPhone SE's starting price hundreds of dollars below Apple's flagship iPhone 13, which starts at $800.
The new model retains the same design as the previous generation and outright replaces it on Apple's online storefront. Pre-orders open for the new iPhone SE on Friday morning, and the phone is scheduled to launch on March 18.
3. A new iPad Air, with the same powerful processor as the iPad Pro and 5G connectivity.
The iPhone SE wasn't the only Apple hardware that got a new chip on Tuesday: The new iPad Air, now entering its fifth model generation, comes equipped with the same M1 chip that powers the much more expensive iPad Pro.
Like the new iPhone SE, the new iPad Air is also getting 5G connectivity, and it's also retaining the same overall design as the prior model. Unlike the new iPhone SE, the new iPad Air retains the same price as the prior model: $599 to start.
Pre-orders for the new iPad Air are scheduled to start this Friday, with launch scheduled for March 18.
4. A new Mac desktop computer, named Mac Studio.
In a surprising twist, Apple unveiled a new product on Tuesday: The Mac Studio desktop computer.
Unlike the massive Mac Pro, the Mac Studio more closely resembles the diminutive Mac Mini — albeit double or more the height of Apple's entry-level desktop computer.
In terms of where it fits on the Mac desktop product line, its size and price match its power: It's more powerful and more expensive than the Mini, but not as powerful or as pricey as the Mac Pro.
Mac Studio features the M1 Max chip, and can be made even more powerful by upgrading to the newly-introduced M1 Ultra chip — a chip that Apple said offers, "faster performance than even the highest-end PC GPU available."
But that chip upgrade, alongside included upgrades to memory and storage, will cost you.
The base-level Mac Studio starts at $2,000 and comes with the M1 Max, but the Mac Studio with the new M1 Ultra chip starts at double that price: $4,000.
Beyond the new chip, the more expensive Mac Studio model comes with more memory, storage, and a few extra ports. The new Mac Studio is available for preorder starting today right here, and is scheduled to launch on March 18.


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Results season is about to begin in full swing and various Brokerages are coming up with targets based on various factors including future operations, corporate governance, and many others.
Listed below is one stock under the ‘large-cap’ category that one should add to their watchlist for a potential upside of more than 60 percent:
With a market capitalization of Rs 1.63 lakh crores, the stocks of Zomato Limited started their trading session on Monday at Rs 184 and currently trade at Rs 185.30, gaining approximately 1.60 percent compared to its previous close of Rs 182.35 apiece.
Having a glance at the recent financials of the company, the prime business indicators, viz, operating revenues as well as after-tax profits saw a breakeven in numbers a few quarters back and the recent movements QoQ has been observed as a booming phase.
The operating revenues, on a consolidated basis, jumped from Rs 2,848 crores during Q2FY24 to Rs 3,288 crores during Q3FY24, and the bottom-line figures, during the same horizon, rose drastically from Rs 36 crores to Rs 138 crores.
Along with the same, the company enjoys a debt-free status implying no short-term interest obligations on the company.
Keeping a positive outlook for the company, ICICI Securities, one of the well-known Brokerages in India, reiterated its ‘Buy’ call on Zomato’s stock from a target price of Rs 182 to Rs 300 with the latter representing a potential upside of around 62 percent compared to the prevailing stock price level.
The rationale behind giving such a recommendation pertains to its aggressive forecasts for the longer term supported by the improved visibility of the company’s sustained growth trajectory and profitability metrics.
Zomato had remained as the ‘Top Pick’ for ICICI Securities in the Indian internet space. The Brokerage also reduced our Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) to 12 percent from 12.5 percent earlier given the drastic reduction in volatility levels over the last one year.
On a contrasting note, some of the key risks highlighted by the Brokerage include discretionary spending and negative externalities that could disrupt business operations.
As per the recent presentations, the company is set to focus on expanding its footprint for Blinkit in larger cities. In addition, the company expects various factors such as monthly Transacting Customer (MTC) growth, increase in platform fee, ad income, and commission revenue to be the future growth driver.
Keeping a purview of one year, the company’s stock has delivered multibagger returns of nearly 260 percent for its stakeholders. The same means that if someone had invested Rs 1 lakh into the company’s stock a year ago, it would have converted to Rs 3.60 lakhs.
The latest shareholding data of the company portrays the Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) holding a considerable stake of 54.88 percent followed by the Public (retail) Investors holding a 27.98 percent stake in the company.
Zomato Limited is an online food service platform for searching and discovering restaurants, ordering food delivery, booking a table, and making payments while dining out at restaurants. The company’s segments include the Quick commerce business, Hyperpure supplies, and others.
Written by Amit Madnani
The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on tradebrains.in are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Investing in equities poses a risk of financial losses. Investors must therefore exercise due caution while investing or trading in stocks. Dailyraven Technologies or the author are not liable for any losses caused as a result of the decision based on this article. Please consult your investment advisor before investing.


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- Finding three outlets willing to sell cigarettes in the Far North in an underage sting has disappointed health officials.
The latest undercover sting operation to check on whether retailers will sell cigarettes to minors has produced a disappointing result in the Far North, with three of 13 outlets tested failing.
Earlier this month Smoke-free Enforcement Officers at Northland District Health Board conducted a Controlled Purchase Operation (CPO) at Far North tobacco retailers and were very disappointed with the result.
The stores visited were in Ahipara, Kaitaia and Awanui.
The operation resulted in three sales from the 13 Far North tobacco retailers' tested by the smoke-free enforcement staff, Jo Dones, Smoke-free Enforcement Officer for Northland DHB said.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
"This is a very disappointing result from the 13 premises tested,'' Dones said.
"These sales should not be occurring. Retailers are aware that selling tobacco to our children is a breach of the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990, (the Act). If they look under 25 years of age, ask for photo identification. No photo identification, no sale.
''It really is that simple. This is about protecting our young people from the harmful and addictive effects of tobacco, which ultimately causes early death in 50 per cent of smokers."
CPO's will continue to be conducted randomly during the year, as required by the Ministry of Health, to ensure compliance with the Act.
The maximum fine for selling to minors is $2000. Details regarding those retailers who sold to a minor during the CPO will be forwarded to the Ministry of Health for a decision on further action.
Any retailers requiring assistance with staff training and information can contact Smokefree Enforcement Officers, at Northland District Health Board (09) 430 4100.
Toki Rau Stop Smoking Services Northland revealed in the Northern Advocate in May that Northland's roughly 30,000 smokers spend around $147,694,353 a year on tobacco products.


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Mar 25, 2015
Essential Formulas’ Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotic Kampuku Beauty Bar received Better Nutrition Magazine’s 2015 Best of Natural Beauty Award for the fifth time, demonstrating probiotics’ popularity in the skin health sector. The natural beauty bar was also chosen as an Editor’s Favorite. Better Nutrition’s editor presented the award during Natural Products Expo West held in Anaheim, California, in March.
Fred Pescatore, M.D., author of “Boost Your Health with Bacteria,” explained how products that encourage proper microbial balance are key to healthy skin.
“Most natural health consumers are familiar with probiotics and their benefits for digestive function and immune response,” he said. “But researchers have discovered that these beneficial microorganisms are key to many other aspects of human health—both inside and outside the body. The surface of the skin is an ecosystem populated by millions of diverse micro flora, and probiotic imbalance is at the core of many dermal health challenges.”
Based on research in its early stages, scientists have found topical probiotics may offer a protective shield to the skin, demonstrate antimicrobial properties and issue a calming effect when put in contact with skin cells, according to an article released by the American Academy of Dermatology. Developing research on probiotics and skin health could lead to exciting opportunities for companies dipping into the cosmeceutical market.
Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotic Kampuku Beauty Bar is receiving accolades from the natural products industry, health practitioners and consumers alike. The product’s formula supports the skin’s ecology by delivering nourishing probiotic and prebiotic extracts via an all-natural, non-drying formulation that clarifies, balances and rejuvenates the skin on the face and body.
To select the winning products, Better Nutrition Magazine’s Beauty Advisory Board had help from readers, who filled out detailed surveys and cast their votes for the best natural beauty and personal care products on its website. Magazine editors, who tested hundreds of products and conducted extensive research and interviews with health food storeowners, as well as readers and Better Nutrition staffers, also chose their favorites.
Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics® was also named a Better Nutrition’s 2015 ‘Best of Supplements’ Award winner for the sixth year in a row.


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International Developments - China | Home Textiles Today
North Venice, Fla. -- Insulated drinkware company Tervis has hired Gary King as chief sales and business development officer. More
Rosemont, Ill. – Omni-channel retailing is a holy grail – and a highly complicated matter. This year’s Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession (CHESS), the annual strategic and networking event for housewares industry executives, will dig into the many facets of moving a consumer from browsing to buying. More
Join HTT Editorial Director Warren Shoulberg and Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Marks as they report from the Fall 2014 New York Home Fashions Market. Each day they will share news about the trends coming out of showrooms and the hot topics of the market week. More
News From The Web
NY Market Videos
On The Beat
September 11, 2014Market week can feel like market month for many of us, when you include all the preparations leading up to September 15. And once the week gets rolling, it can be hard to tear yourself away from the textiles. But remember, New York City in the fall is not to be missed, especially after hours. For those of you looking for a break that offers a cultural experience quintessentially New York, here are a few options to consider exploring when the showroom lights go dim. The annual Feast of San Gennaro: This year celebrating its 88th anniversary, the traditional Little ...
Home Alone 3
September 8, 2014There’s an amazing home textiles trade show this season, one where the optimism and enthusiasm for business, for new products and for new markets is off the charts. Not that most people in the American market would know about it. That’s because the trade show in question is Intertextile in beautiful semi-downtown Pudong, Shanghai, 7,386 miles, as United flies, from Fifth Avenue in New York City. And at the risk of sounding like a broken Asian record, the future of the home textiles business is here and anyone who doesn’t get that may not have much ...
September 8, 2014New York Home Fashions Market is one week away from kick-off — even sooner for suppliers taking early appointments. With so much frenzied activity taking place in the weeks preceding the market, you might have missed some of the interesting insights that spilled out as retailers recently reported their quarterly earnings. Consider this your Cliffs Notes on what some of the key retailers revealed about their home operations — and what their buyers will be looking for when they hit showrooms next week. Big Lots: The colorful back-to-college assortment cranked out double-digit comp increases during the second quarter – meaning that piece of ...
Top 50 Retailing Giants
October 7, 2014 - October 9, 2014
- High Point Market
October 18, 2014 - October 24, 2014
High Point, N.C.
- International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show
November 8, 2014 - November 11, 2014
New York, NY


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The release of BloodRayne Betrayal, previously announced for ‘early August’, has slipped ever so slightly. It’s now on for late August.
Look for the bloody 2D side-scroller on the 30th on Xbox Live Arcade and the 31st on the PS Store. It’ll be priced at 1200 Microsoft Points and $15, respectively.
Have a look at the latest gameplay trailer from the bloody, bloody game here.


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THE association of tour operators in Cebu has welcomed the ongoing creation of a Cebu Tourism Task Force, saying it is a necessary measure at this time when the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak is taking a toll on the performance of the local tourism sector.
“The Cebu Alliance of Tour Operations Specialists (Catos) supports the direction of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to focus and strengthen domestic tourism activities and to stay resilient during this crisis. Creating a Cebu Tourism Task Force composed of government and private stakeholders is a necessary move,” Catos president Alice Queblatin told SunStar Cebu.
With summer just two months away, Queblatin said every stakeholder should collaborate to make an appealing tour package for domestic travelers.
“Preparing for travel in the coming summer season can be exciting, through a collaboration with hotels, tour operators, tour guides, domestic airlines, restaurants, malls and activity hubs to produce promo tour packages for the domestic market,” she said.
The DOT urged tourism-related establishments and service companies to focus on domestic tourism.
“We are confident that Cebu is an attractive destination with top facilities that attract diverse markets. We are ‘forward looking’ and even if there is a global ‘lower travel confidence,’ there is a stable confidence in domestic travel,” she said.
“Alongside, through the task force, the government can do positive measures to help tourism enterprises, hopefully by granting tax incentives, waiver or reduction of some business fees etc. When the international travel resumes aggressively, we must be able to rebound strongly,” Queblatin added.
Low foreign arrivals
Queblatin earlier said that foreign arrivals to Cebu are likely to tumble in the first quarter of 2020 due to travel restrictions from China and its special administrative regions (SAR).
“Arrivals in general for the first quarter will drop as a logical consequence,” said Queblatin, when asked about her short-term projection on visitor growth.
But she said the industry is hoping that arrivals from South Korea, which is Cebu’s top source of foreign tourists, would be sustained to offset the impact from the travel restrictions to and from China and its SAR.
China is Cebu’s second biggest foreign tourist source market.
Aside from the forgone tourist spending from the Chinese market, the temporary travel restriction is also putting pressure on profits of airlines flying from Cebu to China and vice versa.
In 2019, around 700,000 Chinese tourists visited the Central Visayas region, according to official estimates.
Meanwhile, Queblatin said they are still expecting arrivals from Europe until March.
“We are still expecting guests and a few groups from Europe in February until the middle of March transiting through Singapore or flying direct to Cebu. We hope the situation improves by then,” the travel operator said.
Queblatin is optimistic that arrival growth will bounce back similar to what happened in the past.
“Foremost and top priority is always the welfare of the citizenry, and the tourism stakeholders understand this,” she said.
Globally, the novel coronavirus has infected 64,434 people and caused 1,383 deaths. In Central Visayas, there are 27 persons under investigation and 124 persons under monitoring for the virus.
As of Thursday, Feb. 13, there were no additional positive Covid-19 cases in the region. (JOB / CSL)


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Cardboard Package Doubles Up As Record Player
GGRP Sound has developed a special cardboard package that doubles up as a record player.
Audio engineering company GGRP Sound has created a cardboard envelope that transforms into a record player. Once assembled, a 45 rpm record can be spun on it using a pencil. The vibrations travel through a needle which is embedded in one of the box's edges and are amplified in the cardboard material.
These players were sent out to creative directors as part of a promotion for GGRP.
[Ads of the World via Dvice]


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OYO may see SoftBank investment, overseas expansion through acquisitions
Oyo is the largest network of branded hotels today in India, a platform to search for budget rooms anywhere in the country which are clean and of reliable quality.
New Delhi: Ritesh Agarwal is an oddball character. He says he had few friends while in school in a remote district in Odisha and this pushed him to do things which kids normally do not try - like writing computer code. When he was sent to Kota after class XII to prepare for the IIT entrance exams, he left the engineering mecca within six months. He was scared that instead of making him a techie, an IIT course will make a physics scholar of him.
While in Kota, Agarwal says he used to take a bus to Delhi every weekend to connect with entrepreneurs and remembers some big names in the e-commerce world today, mentoring youngsters and hanging out with them at events. He also realised around the same time that trying to get an affordable and reliable place to stay, even in a megapolis like Delhi, is next to impossible. So out went the IIT dream and Agarwal started his own business - of offering branded hotel rooms - with very little capital and just one employee.
"I realised being humble was very important. So was the ability to recognise a problem and then create technology to solve it.....I have tried to remain true to both these learnings," says 21-something Agarwal, CEO and founder of OYO Rooms. A comparison with another young entrepreneur from a property listings start-up, who also makes news now-a-days for reasons other than humility, is inevitable.
Agarwal brushes aside the comparison, saying humility is at the core of what he does.
OYO is the largest network of branded hotels today in India, a platform to search for budget rooms anywhere in the country which are clean and of reliable quality. Agarwal began by launching Oravel, a platform where people looking for rooms could connect with guesthouse owners in 2012. While working on this platform, he chanced upon a small guesthouse in Gurgaon where occupancy was dismal and the owner was busy with another business. Agarwal says he promised the guesthouse owner at least 80 percent occupancy, branding etc. within 6-7 months, took over the reins and worked with minimal staff to get this guesthouse going. This became the first OYO Rooms property and is now called OYO Rooms Huda City Centre. Alongside starting a business from scratch, Ritesh also got selected as the only Indian for Thiel Fellowship in 2012. This entailed a $100,000 grant by Peter Thiel - the Fellowship intends to create entrepreneurs across the world, under the age of 20.
So with the Thiel corpus and getting committed professionals on board, Agarwal expanded his business rapidly. Today, OYO Rooms has 8,000 rooms across 25 cities and 700 hotels on offer. These could be dharamshalas, apartments, guesthouses or even premium rooms. Agarwal claims OYO has 2 lakh nights per month on bookings as of today. And says his target is to have 30,000 rooms across 45 cities and 2500 hotels by December under OYO.
OYO has already raised over $25 million from a clutch of well-known investors. These include Lightspeed Ventures, Sequoia Capital and Green Oaks Capital.
And there has been a persistent buzz about Japan's SoftBank being in negotiations with Agarwal for investing up to $100 million in OYO. He does not confirm the talks, merely saying there is a lot of "in bound" investor interest in the company but that his venture is well funded for at least one more year. But if negotiations with SoftBank do work out, OYO Rooms will join the handful of Indian startup giants like Ola, Paytm and Snapdeal which have seen significant investments from SoftBank. In fact, if this investment does happen, it could catapult OYO Rooms to exponential expansion within the country.
Agarwal claims OYO already controls more than 90 percent of the domestic market and points out "copycats" without naming them, companies which have sprung up in recent months doing much of what OYO already does. He says one such competitor has set up the business in Singapore and Thailand markets and perhaps it is for the best - when Oyo thinks of going beyond Indian boundaries, these ventures could well form its acquisition targets.
"Acquisitions and investments - if these are required to solve the problem of room availability and quality, we will consider doing these things," he says. Oyo has estimated that at present, there are two million unbranded rooms available across the country.
The study has also found that less than one percent of PC users have Windows XP and Vista.
For the first time in its history, World Trade Organization names women to half of deputy leader roles
The new director-general — herself the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO — appointed Angela Ellard of the United States and Costa Rica's Anabel Gonzalez, along with Jean-Marie Paugam of France and China's Zhang Xiangchen.
'Unacceptable inequality of treatment': Belgium cultural venues to defy indoor ban, reopen illegally
Belgian authorities are organising test events but have not yet given venues and their workers a solid green light to reopen.


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Too much of anything is never good, but recent news by the Mayo Clinic indicates that grass-fed beef actually has the lowest cancer risk than typical pellet-fed beef. This is yet another reason why Gaucho Ranch grass-fed beef is the way to go! Check out Global Meat News‘ article to see just how this news affects the industry.Written by: Oscar Rousseau, Global Meat News, December 9, 2015
Eating red meat that has grazed on grass its entire life poses a potentially lower risk of cancer than pellet-fed beef, according to research by Mayo Clinic.
The medical research is a massive boost to Verde Farms, which announced a plan to get more Americans eating grass-fed beef. The American-based company is popular in the US for its approach to livestock management. Its cows live entirely on a grass-fed diet, rather than the far cheaper dry pellets and they do not use synthetic pesticides or fertilisers.
Meat-eaters in high-GDP nations are turning to ethically-sourced produce, as data published by Mintel on this website illustrates. The seismic shift in attitudes to meat is good news for Verde Farms, which has said the rising demand for grass-fed cattle has been the catalyst for a strong year of growth. Verde Farms’ sales grew by 70% in 2014. As a result, the company has moved to a fancy new headquarters in Boston, quadrupled its workforce and redesigned its website making it ready for a self-predicted phase of growth. Read more>>


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Vingroup is listed among the 100 largest publicly-traded companies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014, Standard and Poor's (S&P) said in a report released this month.
Vingroup plans to launch its Vinpearl Resort Phu Quoc in Long Beach area in the district island of Phu Quoc this November. This would be the second five-star hotel on the island. The resort, which is now under construction, is spread over 300 hectares and will include a five-star hotel, villas, an entertainment centre and a 27-hole golf course.
According to Vingroup, two blocks of the seven-storey buildings are designed in the shape of an arc that will surround a big swimming pool and 30 villas. Once completed, Vinpearl Resort Phu Quoc will become the largest 5-star hotel on the island, with 750 rooms that can accommodate a maximum of 2,000 people.
The resort also includes a modern conference room with an area of more than 1,500 square metres that will be fully equipped with facilities of international standards. There will be a special aquarium showcasing hundreds of varieties of fish and other aquatic creatures like penguins, crocodiles, King Crabs, turtles and dolphins. The resort will also offer water sports such as surfing, sailing and scuba diving. According to a recent CBRE report, Phu Quoc with its warm and turquoise waters, and secluded and sandy beaches attracted more than 622,000 tourists last year, but until now didn't have a single five-star hotel.
For the best available offers, please contact us via:


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California is ready to ban gross sales of petrol-only automobiles by 2035. The brand new guidelines are aimed to power automobile makers to speed up the introduction to the market of cleaner automobiles.
It comes after Governor Gavin Newsom set a goal in 2020 to hurry up the shift away from fossil fuels.
The transfer is essential as California is probably the most populous state within the US and one of many world’s greatest economies.
Underneath the principles, issued by the California Air Sources Board (CARB), 35% of recent automobiles offered within the state should be electrical, hybrid or hydrogen-powered by 2026.
The laws would apply to 68% of car gross sales by 2030, and 100% by 2035.
CARB chair Laine Randolph stated the transfer was “a historic second for California, for our associate states and for the world as we set forth a path towards a zero emission future”.
The announcement is the newest transfer by California because it continues to maneuver sooner than the US federal authorities to tighten emission guidelines.
With greater than 39m residents, California is the largest US state by inhabitants. If it was a standalone nation it could be the fifth-largest economic system on the earth by gross home product, placing it forward of the UK.
Joseph Mendelson, senior counsel at electrical carmaker Tesla, stated CARB’s plan was “each achievable and paves the best way for California to steer in electrifying the sunshine responsibility sector”.
Nevertheless, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation – which represents carmakers together with Basic Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota – stated extra wanted to be performed to spice up demand for electrical automobiles (EVs).
“What we’ve stated to CARB and others is that getting extra EVs on the street should go hand-in-hand with different insurance policies that collectively will finally decide the success of this transition,” the alliance’s president and chief govt John Bozzella stated.
The brand new guidelines nonetheless must be permitted by the US authorities earlier than they’ll take impact.


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COMPANY NEWS: FORMNEXT formnext is also becoming increasingly important as business platform
Additive manufacturing is becoming more and more popular in industry. This has also been demonstrated at formnext 2017. Applications are increasing rapidly, the number of users is growing as well as the number of industrial areas in which additive manufacturing is used.
For example, the plastic 3D printer used to manufacture production aids is almost as natural in some advanced companies as the 2D laser printer in the office.
The growth in the breadth and in the multiplicity of the applications results in the fact that the industry no longer perceives additive manufacturing alone as a future technology but looks increasingly at worthwhile applications and business cases. So it's more and more about the concrete business. "The AM industry and formnext as their leading trade fair have grown up," explains Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President for formnext at event organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH.
The great economic importance of formnext 2017 for the entire industry was also shown by numerous exhibitors, such as SLM Solutions AG. At formnext 2017, the Lübeck-based company not only presented the new SLM 800 with significantly increased installation space (850x500x280 mm), but also announced the sale of 20 of these systems on the first day of the exhibition. "Numerous discussions and business deals directly at the trade fair show the high economic significance of formnext for us", was the conclusion of Uwe Bögershausen, CEO of SLM Solutions Group AG. "We are very satisfied with the expert discussions with representatives from numerous industrial sectors such as the energy sector, the aerospace industry, the automotive and medical technology industries."
formnext was also a worthwhile business platform for young companies. The Australian company Spee3D had also sold its exhibited machine on the first day of the exhibition. Dror Danai, Chief Business Officer XJet, also showed great satisfaction. "We had already achieved our goals on the second day of the exhibition. We have come a great deal closer to our vision of changing the AM market for metal and ceramics. "
Rainer Grünauer, Head of Sales AM, TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG, gave the reason for the outstanding business deals at formnext 2017: "At formnext we meet all the customers we want to meet. formnext brings together everyone who thinks about additive manufacturing and it's getting more and more. "
Learn here more.


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Renault committed to Busan plant
In a Tuesday meeting with Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don, Signora asked for cooperation in resolving the labor dispute ongoing at the carmaker’s factory.
The union and management must sign an agreement on wages soon so the carmaker can begin producing the SM3 compact and the XM3 SUV for export to Europe, Signora said.
Exports account for 65 percent of production at the Busan plant, the automaker’s only factory.
The local automaker has played an important role in the development of the D-segment passenger car models, such as the SM6 sedan and the QM6 SUV. The Busan plant is a core asset for the automaker to remain competitive in the country, Signora said.
The Busan mayor said the city will cooperate with Renault Samsung Motors to put an end to the labor dispute.
The meeting between the two follows the automaker’s recent announcement that it will temporarily halt operations at the Busan plant from April 29 to May 3.
The automaker’s union has gone on 58 strikes for a total of 234 hours since last October.
The dispute has continued well past the March 8 deadline set for the conclusion of negotiations.
The union has called for the company to follow the minimum wage law, claiming that the required rate is not being paid. It also demanded management improve working conditions, and has said that mismanagement led to difficulties and mass layoffs.
The company argues that cost increases could harm its competitiveness.
Workers also asked for the right to participate in the human resources decision-making process. Signora said Tuesday that the automaker will not accept the union’s demand regarding personnel decisions.
Management, which wants to maintain the automaker’s output level by securing deals for export to the parent company, will outsource manufacturing and relocate workers, if needed.
Unionized workers have strongly opposed the idea.
With the operating rate for the Busan factory 20 percent below normal, Renault Samsung Motors has lost about 265.6 billion won ($234.2 million) as a result of the strikes through Monday, while 13,000 fewer vehicles have been produced.
To assure customers concerned about the quality of vehicles made during the drawn-out dispute, Signora said during the meeting that the automaker is providing a seven-year or 140,000-kilometer (86,992-mile) warranty program for those who purchase the SM6 and QM6 models.
BY KO JUN-TAE [email@example.com]


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How do electric cars perform? Zerodha Co-founder Nikhil Kamath shares new post1 min read . Updated: 09 Sep 2021, 12:11 PM IST
- “Thank you @AudiIN for this car. Have always been curious to see how electric cars perform,” Kamath wrote on Twitter
Following Audi's plan to add another electric car to its portfolio in India, Zerodha Co-founder Nithin Kamath has shared a picture of himself standing next to ‘Audi e-tron’.
“Thank you @AudiIN for this car. Have always been curious to see how electric cars perform," Kamath wrote on Twitter.
The Audi e-tron GT debuted as the first performance-oriented electric offering from the German luxury carmaker, according to reports. Bookings for Audi e-tron GT have now been officially opened ahead of its expected launch this month.
The e-tron GT is a coupe-like electric sedan meant for grand touring in comfort.
Audi e-tron GT's prices will likely start from over ₹1 crore (ex-showroom). When launched, it will be an alternative to luxury electric SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz EQC, Jaguar I-Pace, and other Audi e-tron models.
Along with the e-tron GT, the German carmaker will also bring the RS e-tron GT variant to our shores and both the models have been listed on the firm's India website. Audi e-tron GT, as the name suggests, is an all-electric four-door coupe sedan and the RS is its more powerful version.
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Local businesses bustling with last-minute shoppers
The weather outside may have been frightful Saturday — with the National Weather Service issuing both a freezing rain advisory and a flood watch for Ontario County — but local business owners were optimistic it would not impact sales on the final weekend before Christmas.
“Because it’s such a short shopping period, people don’t have time to say they will wait,” said Scott Mackey, owner of Wick-edly Sent Soap and Candle Company on South Main Street in Canandaigua.
Penelope Pankow, owner of F. Oliver's Oils and Vinegars, also in downtown Canandaigua, said that the weather does generally have an effect on shoppers.
With last weekend’s snowfall, she said, “I actually think it helped because people were really in the holiday mood.”
But, this weekend, she said, “people can’t choose whether to go out or not. They have to go out.”
Mackey said the weeks following Thanksgiving have gone by quickly, but that it has been a strong shopping season so far.
With Thanksgiving falling late in November this year, the time period between the official holiday shopping kickoff on Black Friday and the end of the season is six days shorter than a year ago. That has given people less time to shop.
“It seems a little more frantic or pressured — not to have to buy gifts, but the amount of time to do it in,” Mackey said.
Bloomfield resident Kathy Burroughs, who spent her Saturday morning perusing the shops in downtown Canandaigua, said the holiday shopping season has flown by. She said she has done the majority of her holiday shopping online this year, largely because of the convenience.
“I don’t have a ton of time,” she said.
According to a recent National Retail Federation survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, Burroughs isn’t unique in turning to the Internet to complete her shopping list. Nearly half of holiday shoppers indicated they plan to do the remainder of their holiday shopping online, the highest percent in the survey’s 11-year history.
Mackey said his business began offering online sales 10 years ago, and they have grown ever since. In the beginning, online sales constituted about 10 percent of the business; now, they are easily 30 percent, he said.
Pankow also said that online sales are a large part of her business during the holiday season. She said Saturday that the season has gone well in the biggest time of the year for her business.
“We will know more when it’s all over,” she added. “This is traditionally our biggest day of the year.”


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In January-April this year, Russia and Turkmenistan provided more than 90 percent of the total gasoline imported by Uzbekistan.
According to the State Statistics Committee, Uzbekistan imported 207.5 million liters of gasoline worth $66.4 million during the reporting period.
The main countries that Uzbekistan imported gasoline from include Russia ($39 million), Turkmenistan ($22.5 million) and Kazakhstan ($4.6 million).
For information, in January-March 2021, Uzbekistan produced 291.3 thousand tons of gasoline. In comparison, the figure was a little over 1 million tons last year.


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Travel + Leisure names Tel Aviv one of the best places to visit in 2018
The Mediterranean city is feted for its food, fashion and festive activities.
With just days left in 2017, it's already time to start planning your 2018 vacations. With that in mind, Travel + Leisure magazine just released its annual list of the best places to visit in the new year. Among the 50 winners was the coastal Israeli city of Tel Aviv.
The magazine highlighted the Mediterranean city’s hotels, antique shopping and creative culinary scene. The city is known for being a haven for vegans and vegetarians. Conde Nast has said that the city has the "world's best vegetarian food," and the Daily Meal website called it the world's No. 1 vegan destination.
"We take a look at what places are now at the forefront of the global conversation, whether for new hotels and museums or major international events," wrote the magazine's editors. "In any given year, the cities and countries we recommend as the best places to travel in the world have a lot going on. And of course, we think about those travel destinations that are perennial favorites to determine which ones are reinventing themselves, ensuring there’s always something new to explore."
Other places making the list included New Orleans, Monetenegro, Toronto, Ireland and Walla Walla, Washington.
MORE FROM THE GRAPEVINE:
Related Topics: Travel


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I say: solar roof energy is the way
For I also mean:
Holy solar roofs energy?!
For Tesla is the electric car and a clean energy company. For they have also installed over 3,000 solar roofs. Thereby providing energy in the United States. All most interestingly according to a new study.
In addition, the report was by energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. For it found that Tesla’s solar roofs account for 27% of all solar shingle installations in the country.
Revolutionary Solar Panel Technology
Tesla’s solar roofs are part of the company’s revolutionary solar panel technology. The roofs are made up of solar shingles that look like traditional roofing materials but have the added benefit of generating electricity.
For the solar shingles are more durable than traditional roofing materials and can withstand harsh weather conditions like hailstorms.
Commitment to Sustainable Energy Solutions
The installation of over 3,000 solar roofs is a testament to Tesla’s commitment. Especially to sustainable energy solutions. The company’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition. All to sustainable energy. So the installation of solar roofs is just one way. I mean that Tesla is working towards achieving this goal.
Benefits of Solar Roofs
Solar roofs also offer several benefits. I mean over traditional roofing materials. They most certainly generate electricity. All which can be used to power homes and also businesses. This can help reduce energy bills and also their dependence on fossil fuels.
For solar roofs also have a longer lifespan. Especially longer than traditional roofing materials. Thereby reducing the need for replacement and waste.
Tesla’s Expansion into the Clean Energy Market
The installation of over 3,000 solar roofs is a significant milestone for Tesla. Especially as it continues to expand into the clean energy market. In addition to its electric cars and solar roofs, Tesla also produces energy storage solutions like Powerwall and Powerpacks for larger scale.
A Future of Sustainable
Energy Tesla’s solar roofs are just one example of the innovative solutions that are driving the world towards a future of sustainable energy. As more companies invest in clean energy solutions, we can expect to see a significant shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
Conclusion Tesla’s installation of over 3,000 solar roofs in the United States is an impressive achievement that highlights the company’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions. With its revolutionary solar panel technology, Tesla is paving the way for a future of renewable energy and a cleaner planet.


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Brokerage house analyst sees continued dominance of the Apple iPad
posted by Alan F. / Aug 08, 2011, 1:15 PM
As far as 2015 is concerned, the year in which Informa Telecoms & Media expects the two tablets to have the same share of the market, Needham says that the Apple iPad will control a whopping 72.5% of the tablet industry with an average selling price of $487. For this year, Wolf sees Apple accounting for 85% of all tablets shipped, with an average selling price of $599. Check out the chart below to see Wolf's computations.
While we can't tell you which of the two different analytic views will be right, we can say with certainty that either Android tablets will catch up with and finally overtake the Apple iPad in the number of units being shipped per year, or else Apple's iconic tablet will remain the leading device in the industry. Either way, Apple is projected to score net profits as high as $7.5 billion from the iPad by 2020, from $2.6 billion this year.
Posts: 272; Member since: Nov 22, 2009
i really hope android fans don't comment on this article...
posted on Aug 08, 2011, 1:50 PM 3
Posts: 5498; Member since: Aug 05, 2011
Everyone is free to express their opinion and doesn't matter what brand you prefer.
posted on Aug 08, 2011, 2:19 PM 4
Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008
This is why projections mean nothing. One says 3 years, one says 10 years.. lol. Of course, if previous information is correct, this article is already wrong, since Andriod tablets accounted for 30% of sales already this year, and they really just launched this year.
posted on Aug 09, 2011, 5:39 PM 0
Posts: 565; Member since: Jun 23, 2011
i think this guy is an iSheep :)
posted on Aug 08, 2011, 2:05 PM 2
Posts: 4721; Member since: May 17, 2011
is imposible as i do own the almighty Droid X by Motorola... but the Ipad is currently the best tablet out there.. the Galaxy tab will be better on the second gen.. love the eepad transfomer... see i do know android tablets.. but the ipad2 is proven stable and reliable..... works for me... so wassup.. wassup.. take care man,,,
posted on Aug 08, 2011, 2:21 PM 1
Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010
If HP continues to price their tablets at $700, and Moto prices the Xoom and its follow-ons at a similar insane level, and the rest of the non-iOS tablets continue to face production constraints, Apple will continue to dominate the tablet space.
posted on Aug 08, 2011, 2:19 PM 4
Posts: 310; Member since: Jun 17, 2011
What's that fallacy where you assume the future looks like the present, only later? Yeah, that. One word to refute Needham and his heavy position in Apple stock: Amazon. Out of curiosity, does anyone have Needham's predictions on iPhone market dominance from two years ago? That would be instructive, would it not?
posted on Aug 08, 2011, 4:43 PM 0
Have to admit that the iPad really is innovativem, and deliver an experience that a mass market enjoys and appreciates. Just like my iPad, watching movies,it's much portable! though lack flash support, but with some tools like ifunia can easily solve the problem; check emails, surfing, reading, playing games, and seems can developing my nephew's intelligence! I totally believe it can be the winner for the next Decade!
posted on Aug 09, 2011, 3:56 AM 0
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The debate highlighted the contribution of the glass industry to Europe’s social, environmental and economic objectives.
The EU is the world’s largest glass manufacturing region, and according to a recent report by the European Economic and Social Committee, generates revenues of some €35 billion. It has around 500 plants throughout Europe and supports over 500,000 jobs directly and indirectly along several value chains.
“Glass is not just a material of choice for many applications and an enabler of high-tech products. It also forms part of our daily lives and offers added value across several value chains in Europe, which means jobs, tax revenues and social welfare support”, commented Dave Dalton, CEO of British Glass.
EU glass industry is the world leader in energy efficient glass manufacturing process. It continues to produce innovative solutions, to optimise resource management and to minimise environmental impacts. The sector has reduced its energy consumption per item over the last few decades to meet Europe’s demand, demonstrating a major decoupling of production from energy consumption and CO2 emissions. For instance, in Germany, the sector has reduced its energy consumption by 7 % and cut CO2 emissions by 10% while increasing production by 19% since 1990.
Industry representatives called for policy makers to recognise the potential of glass products in supporting a low-carbon, energy-efficient and circular economy in Europe, and the efforts made by the glass industry to maintain industrial growth in Europe.
“The European glass industry has been a major contributor not only to job creation and competitiveness in the EU, but it also plays, and will continue to play, an essential role in the transition to a greener and low-carbon economy”, Seb Dance declared in his conclusions. “As policy makers, we need to better engage with industries like glass, to support them in their efforts to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, but also to encourage them to stay in Europe and to continue to create stable and local jobs”.


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By Maureen Okon
The Pakistani government says the ongoing engineering and healthcare exhibition in Punjab is a platform to connect with African markets and boost the economy.
The Governor of Punjab, Mr. Mohammed Sarwar, said this on Friday in Lahore at the inauguration of a three-day Engineering and Health Expo 2022, which will be held from February 25-27.
The exhibition was organized by Ministry of Commerce and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan in Lahore, the capital of Punjab State, Pakistan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the show is a unique effort to move Pakistan’s engineering and health sectors into an export stage that focuses on African markets.
The expo brought trade commissioners from 46 African countries to Pakistan to build trade links with companies and signal Pakistan’s willingness to do business internationally.
Also, the program has top exporters from 21 engineering sectors of Pakistan.
Sarwar said it was a great honor to welcome delegates from 46 countries across Africa to the event held in Punjab, Pakistan.
“It is a matter of great pleasure that the fair is a unique effort to give these sectors much-needed international recognition, it indicates that the government is ready to strive to diversify its trade.
“I am sure that the Ministry of Commerce and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan will make great strides towards improving Pakistan’s export potentials to the international market.
“Our government is working proactively to improve the state of Pakistan’s economy, and Pakistan needs to diversify both its products and its market to become an export-oriented powerhouse.
“I am also confident that the exhibition will give these sectors the kind of exposure they need to strengthen business ties with the country of Pakistan and to demonstrate Pakistan’s willingness to do business,” he said.
He added that he was sure that given the good atmosphere and government support in these regions, businesses can strive for everyone.
Speaking earlier, Pakistan’s Commerce Secretary Muhammad Faruqi said more than 300 delegates from various countries in Africa attended the inaugural event.
“As you know, the government of Pakistan since the onset of COVID-19 has tried to combat the threat of the pandemic but at the same time keep pace in terms of economic and social development.
“It has brought fruits to us and the nation.
“This is a unique and first of its kind exhibition and we are projecting pharmaceuticals and other health related companies and industries among others and here you will find companies from nooks and crannies of Pakistan to exhibit their products.
“And, we hope both sides of our foreign and local affairs would be able to find their partner and merge the whole exercise for their mutual benefits,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)


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IKM Consultants to provide manpower for Aker BP
IKM Consultants, an IKM Group subsidiary, has signed a manpower provision deal with the new exploration and production company in Norway Aker BP.
IKM said on Friday that the framework agreement signed with Aker BP is a three-year deal for the provision of temporary manpower. More precisely, the contract will last from Thursday, December 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019.
The company added that the contract has two one-year extension options and that it entails the delivery of personnel within multi-technical, supply chain management, economy, and administration categories.
Business Development Manager of IKM Consultants, Mariann Espedal Ericson, said: “The award means we will retain our role as a vendor to a major client, which has a stated ambition for growth in a market that is heavily influenced by decline.”


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A new report suggests that Foxconn will cut back on its workers, but the company says it's only reducing the pace of employee recruitment.
While the vast majority of the social network's users are women, only 19 percent of the company's leadership is female.
The social network releases its ethnic and gender data for the first time, saying it has a lot of work to do to become more diverse.
Another big Internet company releases diversity statistics about the makeup of its workforce and the numbers recount a familiar tale that applies to the rest of Silicon Valley.
The tech company concedes that it has been "reluctant to divulge that data" and "quite frankly, we are wrong about that."
The chipmaker will reduce its workforce by 5 percent in the shadow of a shrinking PC market.
The tech giant aims to deepen its roots in the workplace with a new initiative and services meant to make IT departments happy.
Lawsuit claims iPhone maker hired away critical employees to staff a new battery division.
The former junior partner's high-profile lawsuit against venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is going to trial, nearly three years after it was filed.
What we want out of the first Lumia phone with Microsoft's name attached isn't rocket science. It's for the company to give those entry-level specs a break.


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Toronto's Bitstrips making a name for itself
A Toronto company has come up with an online application which allows users to create personalized cartoons and is already being used by millions of people around the world.
The free-to-use application is called Bitstrips and it lets a person create a cartoon version of themselves, or their friends.
Those comic strip-like images can then be used to send messages to others in a splashy way, like the politician in France who used the application to announce her candidacy for mayor.
Users can also use those images to illustrate their status updates, or to send a holiday greeting to friends and family.
Bitstrips has been set up so that users can share their work with others on Facebook, Twitter and other social-media services, as well as through email.
Jacob Blackstock, the company’s chief executive officer and creative director, said Bitstrips is something that people around the world are picking up.
"There [are] people in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, North America, Australia, all taking the same comics and turning them into their own personal creations," he said.
Bitstrips has grown from a company with a handful of employees to one that is approaching a staff of 20.
It has also attracted attention from the Hong Kong-based Horizons Ventures, which last week invested $3 million in the company.
The Horizons Ventures website lists more than four dozen companies it has invested in, with Bitstrips among four listed Canadian-based investments.


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Purifas® debuts at the 2019 Australian Physiotherapy Association’s National Conference.
Following five years of complete dedication to product design, research and testing – Purifas® chose the APA’s national conference for its soft launch. Transform, which ran from October 17 – 19 in Perth, brought industry professionals from the private and public sectors together for a show case of new products, research, thinking and practices.
Purifas® was established by Sydney based physiotherapist Ibrahim Samaan, so introducing the brand and its stable of products to his peers was a natural first step. We set up a stand that aimed to not only showcase the products, but the problems they were designed to solve.
The response from delegates to the Purifas® FaceShield™ in particular, was overwhelming. Visitors lined up to hear about the importance of hygiene and showed genuine interest in what they can do to ensure their duty of care.
The diversity of professionals was remarkable from practicing therapists, students, research associates, clinical staff and even hospital leaders – full credit to the APA for their wonderful program and ability to draw such a broad audience.
Delegates we spoke to at our stand showed awareness of the necessity of good hygiene practice. However, they also expressed frustration with the distinct lack of hygiene protocol and standards in and around the allied health sector.
What was striking was the belief that hygiene comprises part of the therapist’s duty of care, perhaps a reason why Purifas® was so well received. Today, just shy of six months after our soft launch, approximately 100 clinics are already using the FaceShield™ in their clinics. It is already available through six distributors in Australia alone with many more currently in negotiation locally and abroad.
2020 will see Purifas® introduce its products to other industries including massage, beauty, osteo, chiro and more.
We will provide updates on our event schedule on our website. You can also enquire about Purifas® FaceShield™ or FacePad™ here or find a distributor here.
Our reputation as an industry leader in the development of hygiene solutions for physiotherapists has been amplified by the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s endorsement of two of our products. Which ones? Read on to find out all the details.
The current climate has resulted in a steep rise in inflation with no immediate let up in sight. This in turn has had a massive impact on businesses, with operating and production costs increasing exponentially. How will your business survive? What strategies have you adopted to guarantee your survival? One sure-fire way is to pass on some of these costs to your customers and now could be just the time to do it.