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It’s cold and windy here in NYC but spring is on its way (it is!), and it seems contests are cropping up like those yet-to-be-seen springtime flowers. Best-selling romance novelist, Samantha James is running a super contest from her web site starting March 25th. Twenty contest winners will be chosen beginning the day after the contest, and continue into April. There will be more than 150 winners, and best of all, most winners wonâ€™t need to wait a whole month before they get their prizes!
Also, Diesel E-books is carrying copies of my Harlequin Blaze books and offering a 20 percent off coupon, so if you prefer your palm pilot to print, please take two ticks to check it out.


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Pair of employees at Mississauga McDonalds test positive for COVID-19
Two McDonalds employees at a location in Mississauga have tested positive for COVID-19.
Today (May 13), two employees at the McDonalds on 601 Lakeshore Road East tested positive for the virus, which was confirmed by local health authorities.
As a result, the company has elected to take a cautious approach, and close the location effective immediately.
Additionally, management will be bringing in a third-party cleaning service to clean and sanitize the restaurant, which will remain closed until it is permitted to reopen by local health authorities.
Additionally, employees who worked on May 8 from 5:45 a.m. to 2:05 p.m., and on May 9 from 10:45 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. are being asked to self-quarantine until further information becomes available.
Further, any guests who visited the restaurant on May 8 and 9 are being asked to follow the direction from experts at Ontario Public Health, which is available online.
Cover photo courtesy of @hipster_infant’s Instagram
- Two Mississauga-based Canada Post employees test positive for COVID-19
- Eight employees test positive for COVID-19 at Canada Post facility in Mississauga
- McDonald's location shut down after employee tests positive for COVID-19 in Mississauga
- Two Mississauga grocery stores confirm COVID-19 cases in employees
- Some Canadian companies demand travelling employees self-quarantine amid COVID-19
- Worker at grocery store in Mississauga tests positive for COVID-19
- Police investigating reports of shots being fired in Mississauga
- CAUGHT ON VIDEO: World's largest cargo plane lands at Pearson Airport with medical supplies
- A look at what’s open and closed as Mississauga reopens more outdoor amenities
- College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario releases new guidelines for treatment during pandemic

domain: news


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EU fines videotape manufacturers for alleged cartel
Sony, Fuji and Maxell pay €74.8m
The European Commission has fined videotape manufacturers Sony, Fuji and Maxell a total of €74.8m for alleged cartel activity in the videotape market.
In a statement, the commission said the three companies, which have a combined share of 85 per cent of the professional videotape market, managed to "raise or otherwise control prices through a series of regular meetings and other illicit contacts" that took place between 1999 and 2002.
The alleged cartel covered the Betacam SP and Digital Betacam formats, which were the two most popular professional videotape formats at the time of the infringement, used mainly by TV stations and independent TV programme producers. The two formats had total combined annual sales of €115m in the European Economic Area (EEA) at the time.
The commission alleges that the trio organised three successful rounds of price increases and endeavoured to stabilise prices whenever an increase was not possible. Sony was fined €47.2m, Fuji €13.2m, and Maxell €14.4m.
The commission explained that it increased Sony's fine by 30 per cent for obstructing its investigation during on-site inspections at its premises. Sony employees allegedly shredded documents and refused to answer questions posed by commission investigators when they visited. On the other hand, under the commission's 2002 Leniency Notice, Fuji's and Maxell's fines were reduced by 40 per cent and 20 per cent respectively because they co-operated with the investigation. The fines were calculated using guidelines drawn up in 2006.
Commenting on the ruling, EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes said: "This decision sends two warnings to companies engaging in cartel activities: first, the commission can prosecute cartels effectively... and second, obstructing a commission anti-trust investigation leads to severe penalties."
© 2007 ENN


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Gary is a private investor and trader. He shares his knowledge and passion by contributing to ShareProphets, providing information and news on AIM and LSE listed shares.
Dr Paul Jourdan @Stradivari48 will be speaking at the 2018 #UKInvestorShow 21st April '18. Buy your tickets now at ukinvestorshow.com/tickets
About a month ago from The UK Investor Show's Twitter via Twitter Web Client
Pleased to announce that @victoriaoilgas will be joining us at the 2018 #UKInvestorShow on the 21st April. ukinvestorshow.com/tickets
About 2 months ago from The UK Investor Show's Twitter via TweetDeck
@NEX_Exchange will be exhibiting at the 2018 #UKInvestorShow on the 21st April. Tickets available at ukinvestorshow.com/tickets pic.twitter.com/OcavKNMhbG
This years show was a SELL OUT. Buy your tickets now to see @Columbus_ERP on the 21st April 2018. #UKInvestorShow ukinvestorshow.com/tickets
Exploration & development company @ecrminerals are joining us for the 2018 #UKInvestorShow on the 21st April. ukinvestorshow.com/tickets/


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Today Apple has just released new iOS 6.1.4, this new update doesn't contain a lot of important features or even bugs fixes, all what Apple has said in its changelog is adding new "Updated Audio Profile for speakerphone" That's it.
The new software is currently only available via OTA (over the air update), but it should be posted online shortly. As usual, jailbreakers will want to stay away from the update, as it will not work with evasi0n…
According to a new report from the folks at MacRumors, the update is specifically for iPhone 5 users. But with just the single, seemingly minor, public-facing change, we don’t see any reason why you would want to install it on your handset.
As we all used, maybe the point from making this update is something mysterious that Apple don't want us to know it, so again I say it STAY Away from this version
, until we give you a word..
But in case you are a developer or something else and want to check it out, here's the download links after the jump:


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National Infrastructure Commission outlines how innovations can "fire a smart power revolution"
Smart energy infrastructure and policies could save consumers up to £8bn a year by 2030, according to an influential report released today by the government's infrastructure advisers. A smart energy...
White House announces series of initiatives to boost the number of electric vehicle charging stations across the US
Paris deal now likely to take effect before end of 2017, as UN invites countries to special ratification event in September
Risk-averse financiers including Aviva, BlackRock and State Street are pursuing renewable energy projects and seeing steady returns
Partnership with Starwood Energy Group will see discount retailer use 100 per cent wind power in 60 of its stores


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05 May 2011
Embattled Kosher Food Factory Faces Growing Retail Consensus on Workers’ Rights Abuses
New York, NY- Morton Williams, a well-known chain of twelve supermarkets, has discontinued the sale of Sonny & Joe’s hummus over concerns about workers’ rights violations at Flaum Appetizing Corp., the Brooklyn-based producer and owner of the Sonny & Joe’s brand. Morton Williams joins a critical mass of prominent retailers including Fairway, Zabar’s, and Food Emporium that have dropped Sonny & Joe’s hummus after immigrant workers began speaking out against pervasive wage theft, abusive management, and denial of benefits at Flaum. Workers are waging an energetic campaign with the Focus on the Food Chain initiative to bring Flaum Appetizing and its owner Moishe Grunhut into compliance with the rule of law and to recover illegally withheld compensation. 45 supermarket and grocery store locations have pulled Sonny & Joe’s hummus off the shelves amid the heated dispute over Flaum’s lack of respect for immigrant workers.
“I’m proud of the thirteen years of hard work I put in at Flaum and I know it was wrong for the company to fire me after all those years,” said Placido Romero, a former Flaum employee who the National Labor Relations Board found was fired illegally. “My co-workers and I will press on with our campaign until we win respect for the hard work that made Mr. Grunhut a multimillionaire, while we struggle to pay rent and put food on the table.”
A National Labor Relations Board trial found that Flaum illegally fired seventeen of its Latino workers after the employees stood up against over a decade of unlawfully withheld overtime pay, denial of benefits, and abusive treatment from management. Flaum has continued for over two years to resist complying with the court order including the payment of over $260,000 in lost wages by making discriminatory allegations about the workers’ immigration status. In addition, Flaum owes hundreds of thousands of dollars for unpaid overtime and for minimum wage violations.
Focus on the Food Chain, a collaboration of non-profit organization Brandworkers and the NYC Industrial Workers of the World labor union, works to overcome deplorable conditions in an industrial corridor of food processing and distribution warehouses in Brooklyn and Queens. Working conditions at Flaum are typical of the sector, where violations of basic workers’ rights, exploitation of recent immigrants, and relentless retaliation against worker organizing are the norm. Still, workers have shown a steady resolve to speak out and take action for positive change. Every day an increasing number of New Yorkers and supporters around the country are joining the Focus campaign’s call for fair pay and respect in the processing and distribution warehouses that provide much of the food eaten at restaurants and purchased from grocery stores.
“I’m pleased that Morton Williams heard the workers’ call for justice and demonstrated concern for human rights in its supply chain,” said Daniel Gross, the director of Brandworkers. “With a clear consensus emerging among retail leaders, Flaum and Moishe Grunhut should read the writing on the wall and accept a just settlement which recognizes the tremendous contribution of immigrant workers to the company.”
The Focus on the Food Chain campaign promotes a sustainable food system that incorporates respect for workers’ human rights. Through worker-led organizing, direct action, and litigation, the Focus campaign challenges and overcomes sweatshop conditions in New York’s food processing and distribution warehouses. The Industrial Workers of the World is a dynamic and member-driven union committed to workplace democracy and global solidarity. Brandworkers International is a non-profit organization protecting and advancing the rights of retail and food employees.
Contact – press (at) brandworkers.org


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PL Buyer: Infrastructure-Store Design
Through a special arrangement, what follows is a summary
of part of a current article from Private Label Buyer, presented here
Supermarket remodeling can start at $50,000 and climb to $500,000 per location
depending how much work is done. The upside — sales in a remodeled store can
increase as much as 40 percent over the course of several years, claims Christopher
Studach, director of design for King Retail Solutions, a retail design company.
"Most stores see a seven to 10 percent increase in sales within a year
when they do an upgrade," he said.
A remodel can be also sharply lower operating costs thanks to installation
of more efficient lighting, heating and cooling equipment, he notes.
To make sure any remodeling investment is spent wisely, retailers should consider
creating a logical plan for overall store layout and then sweat the remodeling
small stuff such as where to put private label products, what types of lights
to use to make them look enticing for passing shoppers and even what kind of
shelf tags will best grab shoppers’ attention without making the shelves look
Laying out a store consists of not only knowing what color schemes or what
type of décor to use, but also how to place products on the shelves.
Better lighting alone can help a store increase its sales by a few percentage
points, according to Ken Stevens, vice president, information technology, for
Once the store layout and lighting choices are made, stores can start thinking
on a more macro level — where should private label products be located to
One way to attract consumer attention is by using a color shelf strip that
matches the color of the product’s packaging to help draw attention to the
product, said Mr. Studach. By using the strips, retailers can be assured they’re
following the design of planograms. Another bonus to using image strips is
the fact that when an item is out of stock it can quickly be reordered and
restocked in the right place every time.
Private label retailers should also look at promoting more cross-merchandising
in the store, said Dan Phillips, project manager and designer for Phillips
Enterprises, a marketing firm. "Giving consumers the chance to test your
products helps them make up their mind."
Using advanced technology is also helpful in laying out a store diagram and
providing a schematic of where items should go to help retailers.
Undergoing a remodel can be well worth the investment to keep customers excited
about shopping the store. Simple changes such as lighting can help retailers
accomplish two things: save on energy costs and properly highlight their private
"The very process of remodeling generates enough excitement to spark
sales," said Mr. Studach.
Discussion Questions: What core advice would you give to a retailer or store exploring a remodel? What remodel investments typically deliver the most/least ROI?


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It may seem like a cup of hot coffee is simple to make, however, that’s not always the case.
Those who stick to instant coffee won’t usually face this problem, but those with cafetières might simply be making their hot drinks all wrong.
According to a maths expert (yet maths), the key to the perfect espresso is to use fewer coffee beans and not grind them for too long.
Dr Jamie Foster spent two years studying why two shots can make a cup of coffee taste so different.
He found that grinding 15g of coffee beans for a shorter amount of time gives the same strong and tasty flavour a cup of 20g ground would.
The 33-year-old said: “It think it is fair to say the majority of people over-grind their coffee. By using less, you can also get a better drink.”
The Portsmouth University academic and his team experimented in a coffee shop in Australia and found that they could create a high-quality espresso every single time they make a brew.
But, of course, the ideal approach can vary according to the taste and type of grinder used to make the cup of coffee.
Dr Foster is now advising avid coffee drinkers to experiment and keep notes every time they make a brew.
He estimated that his “more is less” approach could even save the coffee shop industry as much as a whopping £840 million each year.
So, next time you plan on making a cup of coffee, think about your ratios.


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Bad news to all parents who were looking forward to a few hours of ear shattering screaming by kids running around relentlessly – the Mendon Center Picnic has been postponed until Monday. While this may throw a wrench into some of your plans, the weather forecast for today is looking like 100% rain, and apparently no one at the PTSA wants to be responsible for the potential inundation of dry cleaning receipts. And though the back to school picnic can get harried (some parents put it on par with Woodstock), it is a general good time where the kids can blow off steam, parents can commiserate with each other, glad that those kids are now out of the house for most of the day, and talk about how quickly it gets dark. You can keep an eye on the PTSA site for updates, but at the moment, the forecast for Monday looks good, so now you’ve got all weekend to relax and look forward to it.
In other news, the World Canals Conference will be hanging locally, as Rochester is taking another turn at hosting, and expect a boatload of tourists (literally), to be wandering about the streets September 22. Local businesses will be participating by providing discounts, and you can tell which stores are having sales by the presence of a red balloon out front (hopefully, this won’t confuse the Europeans, who might mistake the balloon for a light, and well, I think you know where I’m going with that). Fortunately, you don’t have to show a passport or anything to take advantage of the sales, so locals can save money to (note to merchants, don’t forget to mark up prices the 21st). You can find out more from the town website here, and in the meantime, get ready to shop.


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The New Balance MT580 has become one of the brand's most popular silhouettes since its debut in 1996, and to celebrate its 20 year anniversary, Packer Shoes has put its own New Jersey spin on it. For inspiration, Packer started with the sneaker's origin as a trail running sneaker, leading it the forested area of its home state known as the "Pine Barrens" as its theme.
While the inner, heel, and tongue label of this sneaker properly represents the pines with a forest green makeup, the rest of the sneaker appears to go a different route by channeling the spirit of one of the state's biggest urban legends, the Jersey Devil. Shades of red make up most of the upper with hints of purple, white, 3M, and green throughout. In addition to this sneaker, Packer also teamed up with Japanese brand Lafayette on a matching apparel capsule to highlight the sneaker's popularity in Asia. Fans of Packer and the MT580 better start coming up with a game plan to cop now, as these will be limited to only 500 pairs.
This sneaker releases on March 25, at both Packer locations and online at packershoes.com.


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Did you know that some foods have nanoparticles added to them? Which means that you may be ingesting food nanoparticles without knowing it. There are currently hundreds of foods with nanoparticles in them, and it is estimated that people (in developed countries) consume more than 1012 nanoparticles in foods each day. The nanoparticles in foods are ingredients so small that they are measured in nanometers or billionths of one meter. The most common nanoingredients are: titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, and zinc oxide.
What, if anything, do nanoingredients do to humans? That is, are there any effects from ingesting them? Several articles in the past year raise a number of concerns, especially because so much is still unknown. Two recent studies, one done in the US. (using an intestinal model) and one in France (using rats) also raise similar health concerns.
The U. S. study found that the ability of small intestine cells to absorb nutrients and act as a barrier to pathogens is "significantly decreased" after chronic low-level exposure to nanoparticles of titanium dioxide. It affected the surface of the intestinal cells, called microvilli, of the small intestine in a negative way (it "induced a significant decrease in absorptive microvilli").
The French study found that 100 days of chronic low-level ingestion of titanium nanoparticles in food resulted in intestinal inflammation, that it crossed the intestinal barrier and passed into the bloodstream (and even to the liver), and there was development of "preneoplastic lesions" - thus leading the researchers to suggest that chronic low-level exposure plays a role in initiating and promoting early stages of colorectal cancer (colorectal carcinogenesis).
Meanwhile the use of nanoingredients is unregulated in the U.S., and the number of foods with nanoingredients is growing rapidly. About 36% of the titanium dioxide used in food is in titanium dioxide nanoparticle form. It is frequently found in processed foods such as candies, icing, and chewing gums, and is primarily used to make the food whiter or brighter. In the European Union titanium dioxide nanoparticles used as a food additive is known as E171.
Nanoparticles are typically used in foods as additives, flavorings, coloring, or even coatings for food packaging (which can then migrate or leach into food). It is thought that nanocoatings are being used on some fruits and vegetables. Even though ingredients such as titanium dioxide are considered to be "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) before they're made into nanoparticles, the question is whether they’re safe in their nanoparticle form. This is because nanoparticles can exhibit new or altered properties at nanoscale dimensions.
Some concerns about nanoparticles are that they are small enough to penetrate the skin, lungs, digestive system, and perhaps pass through the blood-brain barrier and placental-fetal barrier, and cause damage. Some earlier studies raised the question of whether low-level inflammation of the intestines from chronic (daily) nanoparticle ingestion is contributing to intestinal bowel diseases or the development of colorectal cancer in humans. This research is in its infancy. Whew...
So if this concerns you, how can you avoid nanoparticles in food? Read food ingredient lists to avoid titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, zinc oxide, and cut back (or avoid) eating processed foods as much as possible.
The ability of small intestine cells to absorb nutrients and act as a barrier to pathogens is "significantly decreased" after chronic exposure to nanoparticles of titanium dioxide, a common food additive found in everything from chewing gum to bread, according to research from Binghamton University, State University of New York. Researchers exposed a small intestinal cell culture model to the physiological equivalent of a meal's worth of titanium oxide nanoparticles -- 30 nanometers across -- over four hours (acute exposure), or three meal's worth over five days (chronic exposure).
Acute exposures did not have much effect, but chronic exposure diminished the absorptive projections on the surface of intestinal cells called microvilli. With fewer microvilli, the intestinal barrier was weakened, metabolism slowed and some nutrients -- iron, zinc, and fatty acids, specifically -- were more difficult to absorb. Enzyme functions were negatively affected, while inflammation signals increased. "There has been previous work on how titanium oxide nanoparticles affects microvilli, but we are looking at much lower concentrations," Mahler said. "We also extended previous work to show that these nanoparticles alter intestinal function."
Titanium dioxide is generally recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and ingestion is nearly unavoidable.[Note: the FDA does not distinguish between regular titanium dioxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles.] The compound is an inert and insoluble material that is commonly used for white pigmentation in paints, paper and plastics. It is also an active ingredient in mineral-based sunscreens for pigmentation to block ultraviolet light. However, it can enter the digestive system through toothpastes, as titanium dioxide is used to create abrasion needed for cleaning. The oxide is also used in some chocolate to give it a smooth texture; in donuts to provide color; and in skimmed milks for a brighter, more opaque appearance which makes the milk more palatable. "To avoid foods rich in titanium oxide nanoparticles you should avoid processed foods, and especially candy. That is where you see a lot of nanoparticles," Mahler said. [Original study.]
Researchers from INRA and their partners1 have studied the effects of oral exposure to titanium dioxide, an additive (E171) commonly used in foodstuffs, especially confectionary. They have shown for the first time that E171 crosses the intestinal barrier in animals and reaches other parts of the body. Immune system disorders linked to the absorption of the nanoscale fraction of E171 particles were observed. The researchers also showed that chronic oral exposure to the additive spontaneously induced preneoplastic lesions in the colon, a non-malignant stage of carcinogenesis, in 40% of exposed animals. Moreover, E171 was found to accelerate the development of lesions previously induced for experimental purposes. While the findings show that the additive plays a role in initiating and promoting the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis, they cannot be extrapolated to humans or more advanced stages of the disease. The findings were published in the 20 January 2017 issue of Scientific Reports.
Present in many products including cosmetics, sunscreens, paint and building materials, titanium dioxide (or TiO2), known as E171 in Europe....Composed of micro- and nanoparticles, E171 is nevertheless not labelled a "nanomaterial," since it does not contain more than 50% of nanoparticles (in general it contains from 10-40%). The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluated the risk of exposure to titanium dioxide by inhalation (occupational exposure), resulting in a Group 2B classification, reserved for potential carcinogens for humans. [Original study.]


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With the price of Bitcoin reaching multiple new all-time highs in the last few weeks, the tease of BTC reaching $1 million sounds like pure fantasy. But considering we've seen McAfee creator and founder John McAfee himself say he'd 'eat his own d*ck' if Bitcoin wasn't $1 million by 2020.
Now there's someone else with considerable weight behind them in the industry saying the same thing, with ex-Facebook ex and founder of Social Capital and co-owner of the Golden State Warriors, Chamath Palihapitiya talking about the value and potential growth of Bitcoin in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday.
Palihapitiya invested into Bitcoin in 2012, saying that he saw the price of the cryptocurrency rising massively in the next 20 years as more and more people adopt BTC. Palihapitiya said that Bitcoin will be considered a store of value comparable to gold.
During the interview, he said: "This thing has the potential to be comparable to the value of gold...This is a fantastic hedge and store of value against autocratic regimes and banking infrastructure that we know is corrosive to how the world needs to work properly...I think this thing is a $100,000 a coin in the next 3-4 years, and in the next 20 years will be $1 mln".
- > NEXT STORY: Adventure Time will get a new Open-world RPG early 2018
- < PREVIOUS STORY: Battlegrounds hits nearly 500,000 players on Xbox One so far


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It’s no secret that computers are becoming more powerful, but some people aren’t happy about it.
According to a recent study by researchers at MIT, computer gamers and computer enthusiasts are more likely to spend money on games than other types of consumers, and that spending power has grown since 2010.
It’s an interesting trend, especially given the fact that we have fewer people playing video games these days.
That’s not to say there aren’t some legitimate reasons for people to enjoy their computer games more, but it is interesting to think about why people are spending money on them in the first place.
One reason is because they can, at a fraction of the cost of the consoles and PCs that came before them.
The other reason is that they are easier to run.
When it comes to gaming, one of the easiest ways to make money is to get your hands on a game that’s free to play.
While that can make some people uncomfortable, the more people playing games, the less expensive they become.
There are a few reasons why this is happening.
First, people are starting to spend less money on video games as well.
While the amount of money spent on consoles has grown by $1.6 billion since 2010, that money is being funneled to the likes of games that cost less than $20 to buy, making them more affordable.
This is one of those things that has a tendency to take off once people become more aware of it.
Secondly, as people spend less on games, they’re getting rid of a few of the more expensive titles.
For instance, it seems that some people are going to keep buying games that have been around for years.
They don’t want to spend more money on a title that’s old and doesn’t offer any new gameplay features, so they’re going to just give up on that title and buy something that offers some new gameplay.
That will be a game with no real new features, and it will be more expensive.
When you factor in that most of the games that are available on consoles have been available for years, the amount that people are saving is a fraction compared to what they’re spending.
As more people are playing games on their devices, the price of the game will likely increase.
The price of a game will increase when you have more people involved in the purchase, but this is a problem for the consumers.
It creates a cycle of higher and higher prices that will keep the consumer in a constant state of high-stress, and low-return mode.
Thirdly, as the price for games increases, the number of people buying them will decrease.
If people are willing to spend $20 on a console, they will be willing to pay a little more than that to play a game on their computer.
This will create a lower demand for games.
A consumer’s ability to make a good deal on a product, while at the same time being able to play the game on his device, is critical to the success of the business.
If the consumer’s interest in playing a game doesn’t change, the business will fail.
The last reason why video games are becoming less affordable is because of the growth of cloud computing.
It is the cloud computing industry that has allowed people to get away with using their computers to make their own games for the first time.
They can now do this, without worrying about the costs associated with making a game, and without having to worry about having to buy and install software on their systems to run the game.
As cloud computing companies like Microsoft and Amazon have grown, so have their costs, making the business less attractive for a lot of people.
While these factors are going on, the costs of buying and installing software on your computer have been falling.
This has been going on for a while, and as more people start to invest in games, their interest in the business should increase.
However, as cloud computing continues to expand, more people will want to buy games for their computers, and this is where things start to get interesting.
In the past, the best way to get people to invest a bit more money into games was to have a limited number of games available.
Games would only be playable on computers with a minimum of processing power, and the game developers would have to build and support games that only worked on the latest hardware.
As games have grown in size and complexity, this approach has gotten less and less appealing.
While it’s important for developers to be able to offer games at reasonable prices, the lack of software to run games has led to a market that is growing at a rapid pace.
This means that there will be new and innovative games that require a more complex setup to run properly, which means more people purchasing games.
It also means that more people spending money will also be spending it on games that offer a greater degree of customization, and a more personalized experience.
In other words


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Turns out the new Electron Stimulated Luminescence (ESL) R30 light bulb by Vu1 Corporation, which we first mentioned in January 2011, will be available at Lowes.com in December 2011 and in Lowe’s stores nationwide in February 2012, according to a company statement.Â The flood light is expected to retail for $14.98.
The ESL R30 replaces the common 65-watt incandescent flood bulb.Â It’s mercury free, unlike certain CFLs, and fully dimmable.Â It shines at 600 lumens, uses 19.5 watts, has a color of 2800 K, and has a CRI of greater than 85.Â The ESL turns on instantly, according to Vu1, and lasts about 11,000 hours.
The more common A-type bulb received UL certification, according to a press release issued in August 2011, and will be about 70% more efficient than the standard incandescent.Â No word yet when this light bulb will be available.
The bulbs will be made by China-based Huayi Lighting Company Limited, which has an exclusive contract with Vu1 to produce about 250 million units starting on January 1, 2012, according to information on Vu1’s website.Â If these numbers pan out, consumers will benefit from some incredible competition and innovation in the world of lighting.
Credit: Vu1 Corporation.Â


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FAST FIVE: Beijing Will Know More About You Than You Do: Gettr CEO
Beijing Will Know More About You Than You Do: Gettr CEO Authored by Daniel Teng via The Epoch Times, When people think of a “data breach,” their natural reaction is to worry about losing information like passwords.
“What it's about is they're going to know more about your mental makeup than you do, and that's scary,” he told The Epoch Times on Oct.
“Fast forward another 10 or 20 years, and say my daughter runs for office. Imagine the manipulative ability for them to have the psychographic analyses of an entire generation of political leaders and voters, not just in the United States but around the world.
“And think how they're going to use that to manipulate other governments, people in other countries-and they're just getting started.” Questions have long lingered over how China's state-backed technology companies use the data they collect.
Some of the most well-known tech brands in the world are based out of China, including TikTok (ByteDance), Huawei, HikVision, WeChat (Tencent), and the world's largest drone maker DJI.


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Motorwell Limited have been appointed as the official Mitsubishi dealer for Bridport, Dorset. They will be opening will open their doors in Bridport to the public on Tuesday 3rd January 2012. The latest addition to Mitsubishi’s nationwide dealer network will provide sales, service and parts for the Bridport area operating from 16-18 East Road, Bridport, Dorset.
Graham Elliott and Adrian Haylett formed Motorwell Limited in April 2008 in Yeovil representing another vehicle manufacturer. In 2010, Motorwell expanded the business after a major showroom re-fit and added the Mitsubishi franchise to its portfolio. Employing 17 staff members from the Yeovil area, they have increased their market share to date from 0.8% to 3.6% in a shrinking and difficult market. Motorwell believe that their heavy investment in staff training and development has seen the operation go from strength to strength.
Motorwell Limited already pride themselves on providing their customers with Excellent Service, a key pillar in Mitsubishi Motors in the UK’s ongoing strategy. Their policy of employing and investing in local people has proven itself by resulting in Motorwell Yeovil Mitsubishi achieving numerous service awards. Motorwell recognise the importance of a good customer experience and as a result currently hold 4.5 star rating (out of a possible 5 stars) in the Mitsubishi Motors Customer Service Score programme. This means that up to 94% of their existing customers would recommend Motorwell to their family and friends.
This is a 11-year+ news article, from our Mitsubishi archive, which dates back to the year 2000.
If in doubt check with your local Mitsubishi dealer as car prices and technical data will have changed since 2011.
Although our car news is published in good faith, we cannot guarantee it to be error free or complete or up-to-date.
Mitsubishi Images may not be UK specification cars. Colours and exterior and/or interior elements may differ from actual models.
The car news and images remain the copyright of the rights holder and may not be used without their consent.


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La-Z-Boy will have grand opening Friday
December 2, 2005
FORT COLLINS — A new La-Z-Boy outlet in Fort Collins will conduct its grand opening from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday with food, drinks and entertainment.
The new store will serve the Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Greeley and surrounding areas. It is at the southwest corner of Harmony and Timberline roads.
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- New daily airport shuttle service makes debut in northern Colorado
- Greeley-bound Old Navy notwithstanding, businesses finding tight market for retail space
- Greeley used-car dealer ordered to repay $700,000 to customers for fraudulent practices


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AMD is still looking for the ‘right candidate’ to fill the position of CEO but analysts believe that the company should go for an executive with a good track record instead of opting for a high profile candidate.
In a recent conference call with analysts, AMD claimed that time is not a factor in its search for a CEO but finding the right candidate is, Market Watch notes.
The company is rumoured to be considering several high profile executives like former HP CEO Mark Hurd and Michael Capellas, former CEO of Compaq Computers.
Some analysts believe that instead of a high profile CEO, the company should opt for a lesser known executive with a good experience and track record to navigate the company in a changing market landscape. The chip maker is struggling with falling PC sales as consumers focus their attention on Smartphones and tablet devices.
“If you have a star with real capability, then that probably would be most attractive to investors. But that’s a hard mix,” Cody Acree, analyst with Williams Financial said. However, no high profile executive is willing to take up job at AMD, judging by how the company’s board treated the last CEO and the company’s sinking market position.


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While the White House and Congress wring their hands over what to do next on the nation's health care front, there is a small pilot program in Detroit that directly attacks one of the problems that makes health insurance so expensive for all of us. That's because it addresses health itself, and the increasing cases of obesity, high blood pressure and heart attacks that are doing so much damage all around us.
To go back a few steps, Detroit – a city of some 830,000 people – has no major grocery store chain within its boundaries. No Jewels. No Safeways. No Kroegers. No nothing. Crime is one factor in the flight of food stores. Neglect is another. Whatever the cause, the consequences are devastating. So the economically hard-pressed state of Michigan is doing something about all of it, unveiling a $75,000 pilot program to bring food to the front door.
Called MI Neighborhood Food Movers, the plan is simplicity itself.
"There's no rocket science to this at all," said Lisa Johanan when we interviewed her last week. Lisa is executive director of the Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corp., and founder of Peaches and Greens grocery. "I mean it's a very simple thing – put some produce on a truck and you drive through the neighborhood."
And that's exactly what Peaches and Greens and two other suppliers do – bringing fresh vegetables and fruit into inner city neighborhoods bristling with derelict buildings, vacant lots and tons of liquor stores.
"In Detroit, 92 percent of food stamp recipients purchase their grocers from a liquor store or a gas station or a pharmacy," Lisa told us. "What kind of food do you get at a liquor store," I asked Lisa.
"You don't get anything fresh. That's for sure," she said.
Sure, the suburbs have supermarkets, but there's a catch.
One out of five people in the Motor City has no car. And if that person wants to take Detroit's spotty public transportation to the suburbs and then lug the groceries all the way back home, it could take half the day to get there and back.
With MI Neighborhood Food Movers, the food is moved to where it's needed. We went along with Butch Robinson of Peaches and Greens as he drove his truck around an inner city neighborhood. At various points along the way, people would come out of their homes, waving him to stop and then piling aboard his truck laden with grapes, cucumbers, oranges, tomatoes, apples and more.
"People want these products," said Kim Trent, director of the governor's Office for Southeast Michigan. "They just don't have access to them. And I think you make choices based on what you have access to."
"State government is challenged right now," she continued, "so we can't put a lot of money into it. But we are very grateful for the amount we were able to put in for the beginning. And we think it will be enough to get theses businesses going."
"I depend on this truck," said one customer as she scanned rows of oranges on the truck's shelves. "I mean seriously, I depend on this truck." Another told us, "This is the best service you ever want to see."
The food comes from local Michigan farmers for the most part, so the program is a win-win situation, helping the economy and feeding people who otherwise would subsist on fast food and candy.
"This definitely makes me feel good," said Butch as he steered the truck. "There's a lot of stuff that's being brung into Detroit that's not so good."
As Lisa Johanan told us, "We get calls on a weekly basis from people thanking us for this produce truck and who are just thrilled that it's coming into their neighborhoods and coming down their street."
In Detroit's inner city, the trucks are bringing food, but it's more than that.
It's an assurance that the residents have not been forgotten. As Butch Robinson put it: "It's a beautiful thing, you know. It really is."


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It is widely believed that nanobiotechnology could be a new source of key improvements in agriculture. However, these nano-related applications have not yet made it to the market. This is mostly due to lack of uniform or even specified legislative framework for nano-enabled products in countries. This has unintentionally delayed their commercialization despite significant progress in nanobiotechnology research. To address these challenges, TERI Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre (TDNBC) organized a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on “Innovations & Advancements in Nanobiotechnology for Agriculture& Regulatory Policy Guidelines” with representation from Department of Biotechnology and Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr.Suchita Ninawe, Advisor, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India, said, “The DBT will do its best to facilitate and coordinate with different government agencies and regulators to develop research framework and guidelines to enable nanoproducts to reach markets.”
It is observed that there is no uniform or even specified legislative framework for nano-enabled products in most countries. This has unintentionally delayed their commercialization despite significant progress in nanotechnology research. To counter the posing challenges, TERI released a Zero Draft Policy recently on “Nano products and its regulations” during NANOFORAGRI 2017 Conference organized by TDNBC in partnership with Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. During the consultative meeting, perspectives from the government and industries such as seed industries, fertilizer industries and industries dealing with nano-enabled products was taken for the Zero Draft Policy.
Sharing his views on the Zero Draft Policy, Dr. Alok Alodheya, Senior Director, TERI, and Director, TDNBC, said,“Regulation of nano-materials is essential and with this initiative, India is in the forefront to lead the regulatory environment for future quality products.”
This stakeholders’ meet aimed to promote discussion and engagement between government bodies and key stakeholders on strategic issues in order to advance nanobiotechnology industries responsibly in India. The interconnections between researchers, government and industries are essential for the success of the Nanotechnology’s Strategy for Innovation in creating translational research products and industries of the future that are based on scientific breakthroughs, innovation-based economic growth, and a world-class workforce. The meet also identified stakeholders’ interests, concerns, informational needs and priorities for the future dialogue.


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Bingo Slots Halloween Promotion Double Money Costume Party at Boylebingo.com
DUNDALK, IRELAND--(Marketwire - Oct. 26, 2012) - Industry leading online bingo site Boylebingo.com has launched a Halloween costume slot party promotion. A different Halloween costume based slot game will be included each day over a seven day period. Up to two thousand pounds in bingo bonus cash can be won, along with lots of bonus prizes.
The promotion will run from the 25th to 31st October 2012 and will encompass seven different slot games.
The top twenty players over the seven day period, will share in the prize pool according to their leaderboard position. However, as an extra bonus, players who end up on the top twenty leaderboard, and have played the winning costume slot game on its promotion day, will have their money doubled.
Boylebingo known for its innovative seasonal promotions has decided to put a unique twist on the typical Halloween costume party. Slot games included in the promotion are Dynamite Digger, Big Top Tombola, Clover Rollover, Castle Cashalot, Iron Man, Thor's Thunder and the Fantastic Four.
Previous Bingo Slot promotions on the site have been extremely successful. Roisin Curtis from Boylebingo said "Our bingo players love bingo slots. A promotion like this adds to the seasonal atmosphere. Halloween is a fun time of year, and this slots costume party will help to enhance the spooky atmosphere on boylebingo.com"
The growing trend in online bingo slots combined with the Halloween spirit, is sure to make this promotion just as popular as previous slot focused promotions that have been available on the site in the past.
Boylebingo was established in 2010 and is the online bingo division of Boylesports the largest independent bookmaker in Ireland. The company does not accept players from the U.S.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Gaming SEM Manager
00 353 42 939 3251


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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, one of the leading cruise operators in the world, announced on Tuesday that it had achieved a profitable first quarter of 2024, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of 12 cents, beating the analysts’ estimates of a loss of 20 cents per share. The company also saw its revenue increase to $1.99 billion from $1.52 billion a year ago, slightly exceeding market expectations of $1.97 billion.
Robust Demand for Cruises Drives Growth
The company attributed its strong performance to the robust demand for cruises in the U.S. and Europe, especially in the Caribbean and Mediterranean regions. The company said that it had experienced record levels of bookings in 2024 as travelers sought novel experiences and preferred cruises over land-based alternatives such as hotels or theme parks. The company also said that it had been able to raise its ticket prices and optimize its capacity utilization while maintaining high customer satisfaction and loyalty.
The company invests in Fleet Expansion and Innovation
The company also highlighted its investments in fleet expansion and innovation as part of its long-term growth strategy. The company said that it had taken delivery of two new ships in the first quarter, the Norwegian Prima and the Oceania Vista, which added to its portfolio of premium and luxury brands. The company also said that it had introduced several new features and amenities on its existing ships, such as the Ocean Loop water slide, the Spice H20 outdoor lounge, and the Haven Retreat, an exclusive enclave for suite guests.
The company remains cautious about the Future
The company, however, remained cautious about the future, as the COVID-19 situation continued to pose uncertainties and risks for the cruise industry. The company said that it had implemented strict health and safety protocols on its ships, such as mandatory vaccination, testing, masking, and social distancing, to ensure the well-being of its guests and crew. The company also said that it had enhanced its liquidity and financial flexibility by raising $1.5 billion through a bond offering and extending its debt maturities.
The company did not provide any guidance for the second quarter or the full year, citing the volatility of the market conditions. The company said that it would continue to monitor the situation and adapt to the changing environment while focusing on its core values of innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction.


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In a speech in Ilocos Sur on July 25, President Rodrigo R. Duterte strongly alluded to a suspension of the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Act of 2019. Duterte proposed a “happy compromise” — to disallow rice imports and provide price support for local rice farmers for the upcoming harvest season, regardless of cost to government.
The “happy compromise” is illegal, as Republic Act (R.A.) 11203 explicitly provides against quantitative import restrictions and other measures which “hinder the liberalization of importation, exportation, and trading of rice.” It also starkly contradicts the President’s promise to implement the law in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA). Worse, it will not fundamentally solve the problems of the farmers, will negatively affect the welfare of consumers, and will likely result in future food and price crises.
In other words, though concerns over the implementation of the law are valid, the President’s “happy compromise” is misguided.
This trade-off associated with liberalization — lower overall prices, but at the expense of removing trade protection to domestic rice industry, led to a long, highly politicized as well as highly ideological debate which was finally resolved with the passage of the 2019 rice tariffication law.
The Philippines was first granted a World Trade Organization (WTO) exemption from the removal of quantitative restrictions on rice in 1995. While the exemption was originally set to expire by the end of 2004, the government successfully lobbied for an extension until 2014, and then again until June 30, 2017. It took an unusual inflation spike due to mismanagement in the rice supply in the latter half of 2018 to provide the impetus for the Rice Tariffication Act to be finally legislated and signed into law this year.
The ostensible goal of the very prolonged quantitative restrictions on rice importation was to give enough time for our rice industry to enhance its competitiveness. But after over two decades, competitiveness never materialized and the welfare of farmers deteriorated. The government used the National Food Authority (NFA) subsidies to provide price support for local farmers, while having very little to show in terms of improving affordability and increasing the industry’s competitiveness. In fact, subsidies for price support became a disincentive for farmers to become efficient and competitive. Moreover, agricultural policy was generally inept and directionless, while the agencies entrusted with food security in rice was plagued by the inefficiency and corruption usually associated with bureaucratic monopolies.
Expectedly, farmgate prices for palay have fallen significantly. The average price has now fallen to just P17.78 per kilo, according to the latest Philippine Statistics Authority weekly price update, a level comparable to its 2015 price. Some farmers are even claiming that prices have fallen further to below P14 per kilo in some areas. Despite this fall however, retail prices for well-milled and regular milled rice have not fallen by such a degree. A rule of thumb is that the retail price is typically twice the farmgate price; yet, the observed prices of P42.81 per kilo (for well-milled) and P38.51 per kilo (for regular milled) are far from the expected price range of P34-35 per kilo. The theoretical gains have not been fully realized and there is a growing concern of restrictive market influences or concentration at the wholesale/trading level.
While government needs to consider mobilizing the concerned agencies, such as the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Competition Commission, to investigate why retail prices have not fallen as they should have, it also needs to consider how to address the shock to farmers’ livelihoods.
The gains from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), the mechanism to help farmers adjust to the new rice policy, will mainly happen in the medium term and the long-term, but the urgency to help farmers exists in the now.
A program of cash transfers, similar to one that accompanied the tax reform (or TRAIN) will provide immediate assistance to the farmers. The farmers can use the cash transfers to buy, individually or collectively, the inputs they need to become efficient and increase yield, or simply to tide them over the transition.
Such a transfer is contingent on rice tariff collections. The expectation is that tariff collection will exceed the P10 billion for this year. The amount that exceeds P10 billion will be used for cash transfers as the safety net for rice farmers. Such an allocation will be subject to the usual budget process in Congress. In this case, an expedient solution, like Congress passing a supplemental budget to frontload the cash transfers, is absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile, the concerned government agencies like PhilRice and PhilMech must swiftly and efficiently allocate their respective budgets that have grown big. PhilRice in 2018 was given appropriations of P778 million, while PhilMech obtained P343 million. The former is now expected to spend P3 billion on seed development and distribution, and the latter P5 billion on mechanization.
In summary, the real concerns are how to immediately provide support to the farmers through cash transfers and how to ensure that the billions of pesos from RCEF will reach the intended beneficiaries and will be spent in a way that is transparent and that is most responsive to the real needs of farmers.
The President’s brashness is misplaced in this situation, as more nuanced and complex solutions are required.
His political will is better used to go after those unscrupulous agents who are dictating prices and reaping big margins, to the detriment of both consumers and producers. More, his political will should be used to prod both the Executive and Congress to immediately mobilize and allocate the funds for immediate intervention, specifically the cash transfers, in a manner that is consistent with the new law. Further, he must immediately appoint a new Secretary of Agriculture who is most capable to implement the new law, not sabotage it, and implement a Strategic Rice Industry Roadmap.
AJ Montesa is a program officer and researcher of Action for Economic Reforms.


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Ford’s recent European sales successes have given the company its highest market share since 1999.
Year-on-year European new car sales in its 19 key markets were up five per cent in July to 125,200, a rise that saw Ford’s market share increase by 0.6 per cent to nine per cent.
Pan-European scrappage schemes have helped to boost Ford’s sales, with the Fiesta and Ka models proving particularly popular.
Ingvar Sviggum, Ford of Europe's head of marketing, sales and service, said scrappage incentives should be phased out gradually to avoid a big drop in demand.
“Despite the positive impact of various national vehicle scrappage schemes, the overall trend is still negative and the underlying market weak," he said.
"We strongly believe that these incentive schemes should continue for as long as practically possible, and then be phased out in an orderly manner to avoid any dramatic reduction in market demand that could damage the still-fragile improvement we have seen in recent months.”
In the first seven months of the year, Ford’s European sales were down 7.3 per cent in its core 19 markets, against an industry drop of 12.2 per cent. It is Europe’s second-biggest car manufacturer, behind the Volkswagen Group.


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Jaguar E-Pace to arrive next year
Jaguar's E-Pace, its first compact crossover, is set to arrive by the first quarter of next year. The car is available with a wearable Activity Key, a waterproof and shockproof wristband with a radio- frequency identification transponder, allowing the driver to lock the main key inside the vehicle when enjoying activities such as running, swimming or cycling.
The E-Pace is said to boast a strong chassis with a maximum towing weight of 1,800kg. Engines include a 180bhp turbodiesel and a 249bhp turbo petrol, paired with a nine- speed ZF automatic transmission.
BMW to enter Formula E
BMW will enter Formula E - a battery-powered version of Formula One - in the 2018/19 season. Its cars will be powered by a newly developed BMW drivetrain and will be run by the Andretti Formula E team. Meanwhile, BMW is already working on its next generation of electric models.
Survey shows autonomous technology will raise car demand
An international survey found that more than half of the motorists polled said they would be more drawn to owning a car when autonomous technology arrives.
Some 54 per cent of those polled by components maker Bosch said they were more likely to buy a car then. Of those, 52 per cent of the men surveyed said that self-driving technology would increase their interest in buying a new vehicle. In principle, the younger the driver, the greater their interest in buying a car with automated driving functions.
Bosch asked about 6,000 licensed drivers in six countries (Brazil, China, Germany, France, Japan and the United States), with about 1,000 people aged 16 and older taking part in each country. The findings are contrary to popular notions that autonomous technology will lead to fewer cars on the road.
Audi A5 Sportback available here
Audi's new A5 Sportback (above) has landed. The second-generation five-door coupe comes with a completely re-engineered suspension, high-performance drivetrains and innovative driver assistance systems.
The car has grown significantly inside. Its interior length has gained 17mm, the shoulder room for driver and front passenger up to 11mm and the rear knee room 24mm. With 480 litre of luggage capacity, the A5 Sportback rates among the best in its class. The A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI S tronic is available at $201,900.
Jeep unveils limited- edition Wrangler Rubicon Recon
Jeep continues to expand its range of Wrangler 4x4 vehicles with the introduction of a limited-edition Rubicon Recon (above).
The car gets more protection from the most severe terrain, a stronger front axle and heavy-duty cast rear differential covers. It wears 18-inch low-gloss aluminium wheels, a black dual top (including soft and hardtop options) and a dual-vented Power Dome hood. The cabin has a black-and-red decor.
The Recon comes with two- or four-door versions and is powered by Jeep's 3.6-litre 284bhp V6 petrol engine mated to a five-speed autobox.
Opel Insignia GSi to debut at Frankfurt Motor Show
Set to make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the new Insignia GSi (above) from Opel (Vauxhall in the United Kingdom) promises to bring thrills to the brand's executive range.
The performance variant of Opel's flagship is available with all-wheel drive, a new chassis, a 2-litre turbo engine, an eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shift and Brembo brakes.
Having undertaken parts of its development on Germany's Nurburgring circuit, the GSi is 160kg lighter than a comparable Insignia, which, when combined with its low centre of gravity, creates more traction and leads to faster lap times.
Daimler recalls three million cars over diesel concerns
Daimler is recalling three million Mercedes-Benz diesel cars to address concerns about their emissions systems amid scrutiny from the German government and prosecutors. Bloomberg, quoting a company statement, reported that the recall will cost the Stuttgart-based carmaker about €220 million (S$347 million).
The recall marks a change of approach after the company vowed to fight accusations of cheating by "all legal means". Mercedes is one of a number of carmakers targeted in a technology scandal that has enveloped the industry since Volkswagen admitted in September 2015 that it installed software to bypass pollution rules.
Hundreds of police officers and prosecutors participated in searches at Daimler sites throughout Germany in May as part of a probe opened earlier this year. The measures will see almost all of Daimler's diesel cars in Europe with the so-called Euro 5 and 6 emissions standards receive an upgrade.


text: Last year's Super Bowl fiasco featuring Janet Jackson's breast exposure is providing fodder for an ad by beer giant Anheuser-Busch Cos., which buys more advertising time on the game than any other company. Problem is, the spoof, featuring a stagehand who tries to fix a similar "wardrobe malfunction" with tape and a wad of gum, isn't running during the game. A-B, makers of Bud Light, Fox Television, which is carrying the game, and the NFL agreed to pass on running it. The brewer is running the ad instead on its budweiser.com Web site. "We just thought it wouldn't be right to run it,'" said Robert Lachky, vice president of brand management at A-B. Increased scrutiny by media watchdogs after last year's Super Bowl is prompting a number of advertisers to tone things down during this year's game.


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You can here a lot of advice to “study success” to model it. The trouble is, if you pick only one person, they’re different from you and so what works for them may not work for you. Maybe they’re on the asparagus diet and you hate asparagus.
Therefore, the NWCR examines the results of many people to obtain the common denominators in successful — and permanent weight loss.
Four out of five participants are women, probably reflecting the greater concern among women regarding their weight. (It’s well-known in weight loss marketing circles that women are the biggest customers of weight loss products of any kind.)
They also defy the common “wisdom” that’s impossible to lose weight on a long term basis.
They’re now tracking over 5,000 people. They’ve lost an average of 66 pounds and kept it off for an average of 5.5 years.
However, some members have lost (and kept off, remember) 300 pounds. Some have kept the weight off for as long as 66 years. Some lost their weight quickly. Some took 14 years.
Here’re some of their findings:
45% of registry participants lost the weight on their own. The other 55% used a program.
98% of Registry participants report changing their diet in some way. The only surprise there is that it isn’t 100%.
94% increased their physical activity. The most common form of exercise — walking.
78% eat breakfast every day. 75% weigh themselves once a week or more frequently. 62% watch fewer than 10 hours of TV a week. 90% exercise — average is one hour per day.
Dr. Rena Wing has found one secret for not gaining weight during holidays is planning. According to the Washington Post, Dr. Wing said of the registry’s participants: “They seem to be good at anticipating where there will be problems. They think through what makes this holiday period hard for them.”
According to Good Morning America, some participants said the key was not think of dieting as a short term “diet,” but as lifestyle change.
Another interesting finding: women lose weight as a group. Men tend to lose weight on their own.
Also, participants who did not have a “cheat” day were more likely to maintain their weight loss. Once you allow yourself to cheat one day, it’s easier to cheat another day, and another day, and when you’re tired… and pretty soon “cheating” is once again your regular daily diet.
And you’re back to gaining weight.
The NWCR also determined that people who maintain weight loss for two to five years cut their risk of regaining the weight in half. The longer you remain a healthy weight, the longer you’re probably going to remain a healthy weight.
For more information, you can visit the National Weight Control Registry at
Source by Richard Stooker


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Canadian communications provider SaskTel will soon unveil a mobile payments service for its customers, the company has said on Twitter. “Soon you can get the security and convenience of credit card payments using your SaskTel phone!” the tweet read. A formal announcement on the launch will be made in mid-April, a spokesman told Mobile Syrup.
- Bank issues primary school kids with NFC smartwatches that let them make payments and track pocket money
- New Little Caesars Reserve-n-Ready service transforms the way customers pick up pizza
- Mobile payment usage ‘remains low’, US debit card study finds
- Report: 2017 Mobile Payment Usage in China
- M-Pesa founder shares lessons learned from ten years of mobile money


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Mohawk Provides Support for 2022 Komen 3-Day Series
Calhoun, GA, August 29, 2022-A partner of Susan G. Komen for over 20 years, Mohawk will continue to cushion the fight against breast cancer during the 2022 Komen 3-Day Series.
This year, Mohawk is not only donating more than 5,000 SmartCushion pads to comfort walkers and crew members, but it is also teaming up with retail partners in each city to host a celebratory lunch to mark the halfway point-the completion of 30 miles, which is a huge feat for the walkers.
Mohawk will be attending all four events in the Komen 3-Day Series, which will be held in Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Diego. SmartCushion, along with Mohawk-branded sun shelters, will be available for seating at lunchtime. The cushion will also be placed under sleeping bags nightly at camp in San Diego. Additionally, Mohawk donates bright pink carpet runners for the “Mohawk Mile”. The Mohawk Mile is a path lined with cheer teams that leads and encourages walkers to the finish line each day of the walk.
One of Mohawk’s behind-the-scenes roles at the 3-Day events is cleaning up the used SmartCushion pads. SmartCushion from each 3-Day is recycled into new padding through ReCover, Mohawk’s recycling program. Since its inception in 2006, ReCover has diverted more than 100 million pounds of carpet and cushion from landfills. In 2019, Mohawk recycled more than 30,000 pounds of cushion from 3-Day events.
Related Topics:Mohawk Industries


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Misleading Drug Ads on the Rise, FDA Officials Say
Pharmaceutical advertising increasingly includes unsubstantiated claims about the safety and efficacy of drug products while downplaying or even failing to completely discuss the risks associated with taking them, Thomas Abrams, the director of the FDA’s Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communication (DDMAC), said.
As a result, DDMAC has sent unusually large numbers of warning letters to pharmaceutical companies regarding these and related issues — 15 in 2005, 14 in 2006 and six in the first five months of 2007, compared with an average of four or five warning letters a year in previous years, Abrams said. His remarks came June 19 at the Drug Information Association’s 43rd Annual Meeting in Atlanta.
“We’re hearing from the industry about increased competition, causing marketing to want to ‘push the envelope,’” Abrams said. As well as causing the FDA to take enforcement actions, drug advertising that overplays safety and efficacy while underplaying risks can also “tarnish the industry” over time, he added.
The surge in warning letters from DDMAC is also due to the division’s prioritizing its work load “to get to the most serious violations first,” Abrams said.
The Advertising and Promotional Labeling Branch (APLB) at CBER had a surge in enforcement actions in 2004 that has tailed off since then, but many of the issues are the same as those DDMAC has been dealing with, APLB Chief Ele Ibarra-Pratt said. “If you have to squint to read the risk information but not the efficacy information [on a biologic product label], it’s a problem,” she said.
APLB places a priority on reviewing direct-to-consumer advertising, Ibarra-Pratt added.
Other problems in drug advertising that DDMAC and APLB have recently found include promotion of products for broader indications than those for which they are approved, and unsubstantiated comparative or superiority claims, Abrams and Ibarra-Pratt said.
DDMAC has seen the “pushing the envelope” phenomenon “in a few cases, not many,” Abrams said, stressing that the problems he was talking about affect a minority of drug advertising.
Abrams and Ibarra-Pratt also discussed ongoing changes that impact their offices. For example, if the user fee legislation now before Congress becomes law, DDMAC will be expanding to take on the new work, Abrams said. If the law passes, a company that submits 150 proposed television ads for review in a year would pay approximately $42,000 per ad, he said.
Companies submitting applications to APLB should be aware that the FDA’s esubmission gateway has been up since August 2006, and that the new physician’s labeling rule for human prescription drug and biological products has been in effect since June 30, 2006, Ibarra-Pratt said. Her branch is still receiving submissions under the old format and these are no longer valid, she said. — Martin Gidron


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Food and drink producers win big for sustainability efforts
The 2017 APCO Awards trophies made from reclaimed timber
A number of food and drink producers have taken out sustainability awards at the 2017 Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation’s annual awards.
Nine other businesses from the food and drink industry were listed as finalists.
The Smith’s Snackfood Company and Sakata took out an award in the food and beverage category for improving efficiencies in waste management. They also won for achieving an 86 per cent recycling rate.
Pernod Richard Wines won another food and beverage award for changing to lightweight glass and reducing the size of their labels.
The last food and drink award went to Rawbone Pet Foods, makers of 4Legs dog food, for embedding sustainability practices among suppliers and customers.
The Smith’s Snackfood Company and Sakata also won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Design.
Nestle Australia won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Recycling.
Finalists in the food and beverage category included Nestle, Mars, Kellogg’s, Campbell Arnott’s, Chobani, Lion, Snack Foods, C.A. Henschke & Company and Buderim Ginger.
The Smith’s Snackfood Company and Sakata Environment Manager, Janine Cannell, said her company continues to drive for waste reduction.
“Being part of the Australian Packaging Covenant has helped us to contribute in a meaningful way to our global PepsiCo sustainability agenda, and packaging sustainability will remain a key focus for our business,” Cannell said.
- Product of the Year Awardsfor 2017 announced
- Food and Beverage Awards 2017winners
- Aldi wins supermarket category at Australasian catalogue awards
The Australian arm of TGI Fridays restaurant chain has appointed a new leadership team to execute a ...
Yowie chocolates are expected to be once again sold in Australia and New Zealand by the end of the m...
A new sweetener called Skinny Sugar is now available in Australian supermarkets.
The CSIRO has discovered how to stimulate higher-levels of oil production in stems and leaves, parts...
Responses to last week’s Australian Federal Court’s decision to impose a $300, 000 penalty on Free R...
The voting patterns in Australia’s federal election on 2 July 2016 show Australians to be somewhat d...
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has urged Australian consumers to boycott Streets’ ice cr...
Animal rights advocacy group PETA has named Jetstar the ‘Most Vegan-Friendly Airline’.


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OK Zimbabwe has rolled out two outlets in Harare and Victoria Falls, demonstrating that the firm remains confident despite the depressed economic situation which has adversely hit revenues and profit.
OK Zimbabwe chairperson Hebert Nkala said in a commentary to OK’s financial results for the half year ended September 30, 2020 a new branch was opened in Victoria Falls on October 1, with another added this month at Sanganayi in Harare.
“Post the reporting period, the group opened a new OK Mart store in Victoria Falls on October 1, 2020 and an OK Store in Harare’s Sanganayi Inn area on November 5, 2020,” Nkala said.
“The new stores were well-received in the respective markets and are expected to contribute meaningfully to the group’s revenue. The group’s refurbishment programme will continue and eight stores have been targeted for completion by the end of the financial year,” the OK chief noted.
The new outlets are expected to power OK Zimbabwe to high revenues in the coming year after seeing its top line come off 16% to ZW$11,64 billion (about US$135 million) during the period, from ZW$13,79 billion (about US$160 million) previously, after spending power was hammered by blanket lockdowns announced by government in from March to mid-September.
The lockdowns also reduced operating hours and traffic for all retailers including OK. The retail giant posted a 33,23% decrease in profit after tax to just under ZW$1 billion (about US$12 million) for the half-year ended September 30, 2020, after Covid-19 induced restrictions triggered depressed demand.
OK has posted ZW$1,49 billion (about US$12,5 million) in post-tax profit during the comparable period in 2019.
Apart from hammering spending power, the blanket lockdowns announced by the government from March to mid-September reduced operating hours and traffic for all retailers, including OK.
The decline in profit after tax saw attributable earnings per share go down to 80,31 ZW cents from a 2019 comparative of 122,74 ZW cents.
“Covid-19 was declared a pandemic and the country went into lockdown from 30 March 2020. The lockdown restrictions remained in place at different levels throughout the period under review. The containment measures affected business through limited production, supply chain disruptions, logistical bottlenecks and reduced aggregate demand,” Nkala said.
“Hyperinflation, underpinned by runaway depreciation of the local currency, continued into the current financial period with official inflation peaking at 837,5% by July. Earnings did not keep pace with increases in prices and this, in addition to the effect of Covid-19, constrained demand.
“As a result, sales volume for the period declined by 26,9% compared to the same period in prior year, in an environment where aggregate demand has declined. With effect from April 2020, the authorities allowed the US$ to be used to settle transactions alongside the ZW$. However, the group’s sales remained predominantly in ZW$,” he said.
Overheads grew by 680,6% during the period, Nkala said, noting that OK responded to the threat of the pandemic by providing recommended equipment and taking appropriate action to protect workers and consumers.
“Capital expenditure for the half year was ZW$384,9 million (about US$4,7 million), up from ZW$51,5 million (about US$642 000) for the same period in prior year. Most of the capital expenditure was on store refurbishments and equipping new stores,” he said.
Total assets rose to ZW$9,72 billion, (about US$119 million) from a 2019 comparative of ZW$7,97 billion (about US$99 million), owing to increased inventories, property and equipment as well as right of use asset (a lessee’s right to use an asset over the life of a lease). In terms of liquidity, OK had a current ratio of 1,63 showing the company was liquid enough to cover its liabilities heading into the second-half year period.
“The Covid-19 induced restrictions have been relaxed in recent months. However, developments elsewhere around the world show that the fight against the pandemic is not yet over.
“The group continues to be guided by pronouncements from the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health and Child Care for measures that protect our staff and other stakeholders,” Nkala said. ■


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UK’s top green business website is looking to appoint a new client manager to join our expanding team
BusinessGreen is looking to appoint a new client manager to lead the commercial development of the UK's leading green business media brand. Representing BusinessGreen's online and events activities,...
Prominent funder of climate sceptic and anti-regulation lobby groups died from advanced prostate cancer
Oil giant makes first foray into Australia's competitive power market as it continues drive into consumer energy supply, renewables, and clean technologies
Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) coalition will launch at the G7 summit this weekend, warning inequalities around the world are economically-damaging
All the green business news from around the world this week


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Baidu Shares Outperforming Modestly as Pacific Crest Boosted Target to $163
Pacific Crest's Cheng Cheng raised his price target on shares of Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) from $157 to $163 while maintaining an Outperform rating.
Cheng was involved in recent meetings with management which caused him to have "increased confidence that Baidu will be a mobile share consolidator." Baidu remains one of the most favorably positioned companies in the Chinese internet space, according to the Pacific Crest analyst.
Cheng noted the recent investment made by Tencent in Sohu's (NASDAQ: SOHU) Sogou, and said this will not be a "major concern" for Baidu.
With Baidu shares up around 0.3 percent to $144.27 at last check, Cheng's new price target implies potential upside of about 13 percent.
Latest Ratings for BIDU
|Jan 2017||Bernstein||Initiates Coverage On||Underperform|
|Jan 2017||Stifel Nicolaus||Upgrades||Hold||Buy|
|Jan 2017||JP Morgan||Upgrades||Underweight||Neutral|
© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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Next year for General Motors could be defined by a new lower, longer Spark, production starting on the Bolt and a convertible Camaro, according to Automotive News’ facts and factoids department.
The automotive publication posted a speculative timeline of cars that may or may not be in GM’s future, including fuzzy details on a mid-engined Corvette that may or may not happen in or around the year 2020.
In case you’re wondering, we don’t know either.
Chevrolet will slot a new mid-sized crossover between the Equinox and Traverse in coming years, Automotive News is reporting.
Three sources within General Motors confirmed the new Chevrolet crossover would be dervied from Cadillac’s upcoming XT5, which is replacing the SRX next spring. The upcoming Chevy model’s architecture would be a shortened version of the Traverse, which is built on the Lambda platform. According to the story, GM will move the Equinox to the smaller D2XX platform — shared with the Chevy Cruze, Orlando, Volt, GMC Terrain and Opel Astra — by 2017 to make room for the three-row crossover.
The new, unnamed crossover will target the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Highlander and could be powered by a 2-liter turbo four, a 3.6-liter V6 or perhaps a hybrid power plant.
My, haven’t you matured.
You’re a few years removed from realizing that a society’s population must grow if it is to thrive over the long haul. Yet instead of traditional government tactics like recruiting doctors from the other side of the Atlantic and engineers from the other side of the Pacific, you made the hilarious decision to utilize an in-house solution.
You’ve expanded the population all right. By way of the womb.
Child number one brought with him a surprising amount of stuff. Child number two takes up a lot of space, as well. But it’s the third and fourth kids that suddenly made the first bungalow and the first CR-V seem so very small.
Odds are, you’re not about to buy a minivan. (Read More…)
I’ve dished out plenty of Buick love lately. The Verano beats Acura and Lexus at the entry-luxury game and the tiny Encore is an oddly attractive (albeit underpowered) crossover that is outselling the Mini Countryman and Range Rover Evoque by a wide margin. What can we attribute this sales success to? I posit that the original Buick Enclave is the impetus. Landing in 2007 as a 2008 model, it was the poster child of the “new Buick.” On the surface, the Enclave was the replacement for the Buick Rainier, the only GMT360 SUV I haven’t owned. (Just kidding, I’ve only owned 2 of the 11 varieties.) But that’s a simplistic view. In reality the Enclave was intended to elevate the brand enough to compete with three row luxury crossovers from Germany and Japan. This brings us to today’s question: six years and a mild face-lift later, does the Buick still have the goods?
TTAC Commentator Jimal writes:
Sajeev and Steve,
I have one of those quandaries that most adults will go through sooner or later in life and I figured I would tap into you and the B&B for suggestions. My father passed away recently after a long illness and I’m helping my mother with settling his estate; cleaning up finances, etc. Among the things my father left behind were his 2005 Buick LeSabre, which my mother hates, and her cherished 1996 4-door Chevy Blazer. (Read More…)


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After carefully selecting the year’s overall top three phones across three price categories, as well as the five best cameraphones and audio phones, then recapping 2016’s highs and lows in the final Pocketnow Weekly episode, the time has come to dive deeper into the aforementioned highs and lows.
Better yet, why don’t we take a closer look at the tech companies and products covered on your favorite news and reviews website that impressed the most this year, and the ones that flopped the hardest? It wasn’t easy to handpick just 5 winners and 5 losers, primarily because this felt like a mixed year for, well, almost everyone in the biz.
You can’t have it all, and you can’t lose it all either, in 12 months, so at the end of the day, what counts is to be able to rack up more points in the win column. Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are our biggest 2016 winners and losers of the industry:
Realistically speaking, there’s almost no conceivable scenario that could bring Huawei ahead of Apple in global smartphone sales standings as early as 2018. But setting such an ambitious (read crazy) goal is half the battle. Another quarter is regular, steady shipment growth at a time of general industry stagnation.
Looking beyond cold numbers, Huawei deserves all the praise in the world for scoring hits in the low, mid and high-end market segments. No renewed Google co-branding partnership needed, and what’s perhaps most impressive, critical and popular success was easily achieved across two vast lineups of all-pleasing phones, P9, P9 Plus, Honor 8 and 5X included.
Unpopular opinion – Apple had a good year. Not a great one, but still, the Cupertino-based money-making machine made a ton of cash, sold a decent number of iPhones considering ominous projections a while back, shrewdly avoiding scandals, and even silencing headphone jack-killing detractors with hot-selling wireless Airpods.
Is the iPhone 7 innovative? Not in the slightest. But, as always, Apple found the perfect moment to “borrow” certain features from rivals (water resistance), while helping break dual cameras into the mainstream.
No stranger to controversy, the wearable market leader did at least two things right in 2016. On one hand, it retained and consolidated its domination over a business very few companies managed to crack, and on the other, it got a stellar bargain on Pebble. Oh, and let’s not forget about a lower-key purchase of essential Apple Watch-contending wrist-enabled payment technology.
OPPO and Vivo
These two can only be evaluated together, as they stem from the same parent company, rising at an extremely similar pace on nearly identical strategies. Offline sales and promotions are their strongest suit, though without a winning bang for buck and robust device portfolios, it’d be all for naught.
Technically also controlled by BBK (via OPPO), this flagship-killing little engine that could forged its own path in the ruthless smartphone landscape since its 2014 commercial debut. 2016 saw Pete Lau, Carl Pei and co. controversially trim some fat to make room for two hero devices for the first time.
Equally well-received, the OP3 and 3T were openly up for grabs off the bat, putting the pesky invite system away (hopefully, for good), which was the year’s biggest victory for OnePlus when all is said and done.
We knew the smartwatch pioneer was in trouble, but when exactly did things get so bad that both a software asset clearance and sudden hardware cancellation became unavoidable? Was it before or after Pebble raised another $12.7 million on Kickstarter from unsuspecting supporters of the Time 2, Pebble 2, Core, and the American company in general last spring?
No wonder many past and present project funders continue to feel betrayed, whether they qualify for (tardy) refunds or not. We don’t want our money back, we want our Pebble back. The really sad thing about this unexpected death is it signals not only the tragic fate of once-so-promising smartwatches, but also the tech crowdfunding “phenomenon.”
Did the Galaxy Note 7 double recall and subsequently premature discontinuation cost Samsung a boatload of cash? Sure. Will the world’s number one smartphone manufacturer be able to recover both from a financial and reputational perspective? Most likely, as long as mistakes are not repeated, and flagship device launches rushed.
Can we pretend nothing happened if that’s the case? Absolutely not. Not today, not tomorrow, not a decade from now. The only way Samsung, and other OEMs for that matter, will learn to do a better QA job, is if we constantly remind them of this unprecedented, hopefully never-to-be-followed fiasco.
Facebook and Google
Shocking US election outcome aside, we can all probably agree (save for Mark Zuckerberg, perhaps) that so-called “fake news” are a problem. A big one, not just for Democrats or Republicans, Hillary Clinton or President-elect Donald Trump.
Even with a seemingly foolproof plan to dodge online hoaxes in place, anyone can occasionally fall victim to an intricate enough prank. That’s where the world’s largest social network and top search engine ultimately came in. But it’s too little, too late. Especially too little.
It’s probably not fair to call all of LG a 2016 loser, although the Korean company’s mobile division in its entirety bled a whopping $380+ million in the year’s third calendar quarter alone. The once promising, ultimately too experimental G5 was to blame, and the more level-headed albeit still nichey V20 simply didn’t have enough time to completely right the ship.
But there’s more to G5’s failure than an individual lack of focus and overblown ambitions, as other modular concepts also proved non-starters this year. Is the notion DOA? Motorola, or rather Lenovo, would beg to differ. Let’s wait and see if the masses agree.
Don’t give up on the long-sinking, slowly-decaying email service, they said. It’ll be safe, they said. It turns out, not so much. The (multibillion dollar) question now is what happens to Verizon? Does America’s largest mobile carrier stand to lose from its proposed acquisition too? Will there eventually be a renegotiation? We’ll keep our eyes peeled and revisit the matter this time next year.
For now, we’d appreciate it if you kept things civil in the comments section below. It’s natural to disagree with at least one of our above picks, but let’s stay away from labels like “iSheep”, “fandroids”, haters and so on… for once.


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The German company, Staaliches Hofbäuhaus or HB, says the Hofbrau Steak House and American Grille in Interlochen has to change its name.
This week Hofbrau’s owners, Brian McAllister and Laurie Bouwman, got a letter from the German company saying HB has a trademark on the name.
"HB, therefore, demands that you change the name of your establishment by removing the word HOFBRAU from the name of your restaurant," reads the letter signed by company officials.
The owners aren’t yet sure what they’ll do. McAllister says when they got the letter it felt like “a sock in the gut.” He says the Hofbrau has been in Interlochen since 1950.
"For 66 years people have come through the area knowing the Hofbrau is here," says McAllister. "And the reach is unimaginable of the amount of people that have come through our doors. We considered changing the name when we bought it in ‘97, but we thought the name had been here so long. How can you really change an iconic name like that?"
The German company says that the use of their trademarked name could deceive customers into thinking the two companies are linked, especially since the German company sells beer and has establishments in the United States.
"Your use may also dilute the distinctive quality of the distinctive and famous HOFBRÄU trademark” reads the letter.
McAllister gets where they’re coming from.
"I’m sure if it were my name," says McAllister, "and I started a company a hundred years ago or whatever it was, I would probably feel the same way that they do."
But on the flip side, changing a name is complicated and takes time and money.
"It’s really unimaginable the amount of things you go through to market a business over the course of time," says McAllister, "and in 18 years how much money and time we spent on the name Hofbrau is a little overwhelming."
And if they change the name, they’ll have to do that work all over again. It’s not just a sign change, it’s rebranding the company and changing merchandise like glasses and growlers. Plus, McAllister worries people will drive through Interlochen and think the restaurant is gone if it has a different name.
McAllister says he’s hoping people out in the community will have a good idea either for a new name or a way to save the current name.
And if they do have to go with a new name, McAllister says Hoffy is pretty good.
"Because we do Hoffy specials, Hoffy pizza, Hoffy burgers," McAllister says. "So it would incorporate some of the old with some of the new."


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- Daily Zen
It has been a great year for Facebook. Facebook stocks in 2015 managed to soar high in the sky with impressive market gain, profit records, and market valuation. Currently, trading at a high-end of $105, Facebook stocks in 2015 are only about a $5 off from an all-time high in late 2015. The Facebook growth in 2015 has been very impressive when placed into a context with previous growth years. The Facebook stocks in 2015 multiply up to a huge lift throughout the years 2014 and 2013. Overall, Facebook stocks in 2015 recorded an impressive 230% growth since the organization offered itself as an IPO in 2012. The Facebook revenues in 2015 show a huge boost by 35% in its market report.
Probably, there are these three factors behind strong Facebook revenues in 2015.
The social media giant welcomed the year 2015, with an already established huge user base. But, something that investors and stakeholders weren’t aware of was that- by the time 2015 comes to an end, the user base was about to grow much, much bigger. Facebook reported a monthly active user base of 1.39 billion, by the end of 2014. The recent quarter earnings of the giant reported that the user base had increased by a whopping 1.55 billion, which means almost 21% of the entire world population. The growth continues to remain robust. Merely in a short gap between Q2 and Q3 earnings report, Facebook reported the addition of almost 50-60 million daily and monthly active user bases again. The Facebook growth in 2015 has kept investors happy and it’s a good indicator of the potential of this platform and its ability to continue appealing larger audiences. And, not to forget, larger audience means larger revenues.
The total market valuation of the company reported a huge profit in its quarterly earnings despite the fact it had to face a few setbacks. Massive growth revenue report of 42.3% has driven a higher net income in Facebook’s lucrative business strategy model. During the recent quarter, the company’s net income touched $1.6 billion from $1.1 billion in a year. Analysts expect that the social media giant’s profitability will continue to rise. The estimate of consensus analyst for compound annual average growth rate in five years is 29% for Facebook, which is a huge percentage index so far.
Facebook acquired two leading brands with huge user base namely- Instagram and Whatsapp. The apps now have 400 million and 900 million active user base each. Both of these social media platform’s user base are bigger than the entire Twitter user base that is of approx 320 million active users. Facebook is developing Messenger and Groups into their own stage. In fact, Groups and Messenger are now two of the Facebook’s most powerful platforms with an active user base of 700 million and 825 million respectively. Surely, the industry leader knows how to keep the users and investors happy. 2015 will indeed bring a Merrier Christmas for Facebook. Read more about Facebook on Industry Leaders: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Takes Philanthropy on a New Scale


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Hanoi, September 20th, 2020
The 17thInternational Exhibition on Automobile, Transportation & Supporting Industry – Vietnam AutoExpo 2021 with support from Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant Ministries and Departments, co-organized by Vietnam Institute of Industrial and Trade Policy and Strategy (VIOIT), Vietnam Association for Supporting Industries (VASI), Vietnam Society of Automotive Engineers (VSAE) and C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company, will take place from May 06th to 09th, 2021 at Vietnam National Convention Center – NCC, Hanoi. Following the success of previous exhibitions, Vietnam AutoExpo 2021 will continue to be the only exhibition for automobiles, motorcycles and supporting industry in the northern market, the gathering place of leading brands of commercial, specialized vehicles and construction vehicles, etc.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exerted a detrimental impact on global economy. While many countries in the world have sunk into economic recession and crisis, Vietnam is one of very few countries expected to continue growing in 2020. Over the past 5 years, except for the year 2020 that is adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the growth rate of Vietnam automobile industry has been the highest in ASEAN, reaching around 12-13%. At the end of June 2020, with policy support from the government, domestic automobile and motorcycle market started to grow, which is a positive sign that the market is on its way to recover after complicated developments of the pandemic.
In order to ensure safety for exhibitors and visitors, and optimize efficiency as well as benefits for enterprises at the exhibition, Vietnam AutoExpo 2020 has been rescheduled to May 2021. According to experts, this will be a favorable time for enterprises in automobile, motorcycle and supporting industries to return to the market, introduce new products to customers after a long period affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout 16 years of organization, Vietnam AutoExpo is considered an ideal environment for enterprises manufacturing, assembling, trading automobiles, motorcycles, electric vehicles and businesses in supporting industry to have the opportunity to approach potential customers, promote products, exchange experience, transfer technology, etc. at the same time demonstrate potential and long-term commitment, stronger investment in Vietnamese market. In 2019, Vietnam AutoExpo featured around 20 leading brands of automobiles, motorcycles and specialized vehicles, 180 units manufacturing, distributing supporting industry products, spare parts and accessories; banking, insurance and related fields, etc. With many attractive activities taking place during 4 days, the exhibition became a remarkable event, attracting more than 38,000 visitors.
Following the success of previous exhibitions, Vietnam AutoExpo 2021 will take place from May 06th to 09th, 2021 at Vietnam National Convention Center – NCC, Hanoi, in a luxurious and modern space of over 10,000 sqm, with many automobile brands expected to participate such as Vinfast, Mitsubishi, Veam Motors, Gaz Group, Maz, Kamaz, Daewoo, Faw, Dongfeng, Hyundai, Hino, Dcar, etc., motorcycle brands such as Honda, Ducati, Harley- Davidson, Triumph, Royal Enfield, etc. and brands in supporting industry such as Dunlop, Elig, Vietmap, Bosch, Philips, Steelmate, Daichi, etc.
The exhibition will be open free of charge to visitors from 09:00 to 17:30 daily. With professional organization as well as a series of attractive events and activities such as: Specialized seminars, Business Matchmaking, Product Introduction, Test Drive and Reality Program for Market Survey, etc., Vietnam AutoExpo 2021 is expected to attract over 40,000 visitors, continue to affirm its position as a prestigious annual exhibition in Vietnamese market of automobile, motorcycle, and supporting industry.
Press Registration and Contact
Any member of press agencieswould like to attend the exhibition, please contact us. We are willing to meet requirementsfor information you need for your article. You can also directly register by presenting your name card at the Registration Counter during exhibition time.
Contact the Organizing Board:
Mr. Nguyen HuyCuong – Head of Media and Communication
Tel: +84 24 3964 4104 / 05 * Fax: +84 24 3984 4108
Mobile: +84.986 34 36 38 * Email: firstname.lastname@example.org