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|By Business Wire||
|May 21, 2014 06:00 AM EDT||
Couchbase, Inc., provider of the most complete NoSQL database, has released Couchbase Mobile, a new suite of products, that will revolutionize mobile applications. Couchbase Mobile eliminates the network connection as a limitation by giving developers productized mobile data synchronization and the world’s first and only native embedded NoSQL mobile database. These new products make it possible for mobile application developers to quickly and easily build apps that meet the always-on expectations of today’s users.
“With Couchbase Mobile, we reimagined how mobile applications should be built. Until now, mobile applications were built with the requirement that data must be stored in the cloud because it has been too hard to store and sync data from the device,” said Bob Wiederhold, Couchbase CEO. “Couchbase Mobile changes all that. Our mobile products give developers everything they need to build always-available and always-responsive applications in a fraction of the time it currently takes. With Couchbase Mobile, the network no longer impacts application performance. When the network is unavailable, the app just works.”
Enabling the Next Generation of Mobile Applications
Mobile applications are expected to work anytime or anywhere, regardless of the limits of network availability or the complexity required to enable data synchronization. But mobile app developers are limited in the apps they can build because current mobile databases are all relational and thus poorly suited to manage the many types of unstructured data generated by today’s mobile users. Additionally, no productized solution has existed for the synchronization of unstructured data that is shared between the cloud and the device.
Couchbase Mobile changes all that.
Couchbase Mobile delivers a solution that enables mobile app developers to meet the demand for always-available, always-responsive mobile applications. Couchbase Mobile includes three components: Couchbase Lite, Couchbase Sync Gateway and Couchbase Server. Taken together, these products provide mobile application developers with a powerful, new platform for creating robust and network-independent applications, simplifying the code needed to manage data synchronization and considerably reducing time to market.
“We welcome Couchbase Lite as a smart solution to address the needs of mobile developers building applications that rely on data synchronization and intermittent connectivity,” said Jon Udell, Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc. “We have been using Couchbase Lite in Thali, an experiment to determine through open source prototypes what it takes to make the web truly peer-to-peer. Thali uses Couchbase Lite as a key component of its data replication platform.”
Couchbase Mobile Products
- Couchbase Lite: Couchbase Lite is a full featured, native embedded NoSQL mobile database built from the ground up for mobile. Lightweight in footprint, but delivering all the features of Couchbase Server, along with multi-master replication and conflict resolution. Data is secured during transport and on the device. In its first release, Couchbase Lite has native support for iOS, OSX, Android, Portable Java and Xamarin supported mobile platforms.
- Couchbase Sync Gateway: Couchbase Sync Gateway enables replication between Couchbase Lite on a mobile device and Couchbase Server in the cloud. In addition to replication, Sync Gateway handles user authentication, access control, data filtering, and data change validation.
- Couchbase Server: For mobile applications that sync data with the cloud, Couchbase Server provides the most complete, most scalable NoSQL database built on a flexible JSON model. Couchbase Server makes it easy to modify applications without the constraints of a fixed database schema and delivers sub-millisecond, high-throughput reads and writes. Couchbase Server is easy to scale out, and supports topology changes with no downtime.
Couchbase Mobile Eco-System Quickly Forming
Further supporting rapid development and deployment of mobile applications, Couchbase is working with several cross platform development tool providers to deliver out of the box support for Couchbase Lite on the major mobile platforms: iOS, Android and .NET.
Xamarin provides a native mobile application development platform that enables developers to write fully native mobile apps for iOS, Android and Windows in C#, sharing business logic, data access, networking code and other app logic code across device platforms. Xamarin supports 100% of each device platforms APIs. The result is native mobile apps with native interfaces that are built and maintained more efficiently thanks to code-sharing and reuse. In addition to announcing general availability of Couchbase Mobile, Couchbase also announced today the beta version of Couchbase Lite for .NET (LINK). Co-developed by Couchbase and Xamarin, Couchbase Lite for .NET gives the more than 600,000 developers using Xamarin a powerful new infrastructure to accelerate time to develop native mobile applications.
“We no longer live in the pre-mobile world. Companies are moving to a mobile first mindset and enterprise IT is being called on to support that,” said Lyn Robison, Data Management Strategies Research Vice President, Gartner. “But mobile application development teams have been challenged by a lack of infrastructure products at the data layer. A native mobile database with integrated sync will significantly reduce the hurdles faced by mobile application developers in today's enterprise, allowing them to deliver apps that deliver business value all the time, with or without a connection.”
The Couchbase Mobile products are available for download at: http://mobile.couchbase.com
Couchbase provides the world’s most complete, most scalable and best performing NoSQL database. Couchbase Server is designed from a simple yet bold vision: build the first and best, general-purpose NoSQL database. That goal has resulted in an industry leading solution that includes a shared nothing architecture, a single node-type, a built in caching layer, true auto-sharding and the world’s first NoSQL mobile offering. Couchbase Mobile, announced in 2013 is a complete NoSQL mobile solution comprised of Couchbase Server, Couchbase Sync Gateway and Couchbase Lite – a lightweight NoSQL database designed for the device. Couchbase counts many of the worlds biggest brands as its customers, including Adobe, Amadeus, Bally’s, Beats Music, Cisco, Comcast, Concur, Disney, Orbitz, Rakuten / Viber, Sky, Tencent, Verizon and Walmart, as well as hundreds of other household names worldwide. Couchbase is headquartered in Silicon Valley, and is funded by Accel Partners, Adams Street Partners, Ignition Partners, Mayfield Fund, and North Bridge Venture Partners. www.couchbase.com
Akana has announced the availability of the new Akana Healthcare Solution. The API-driven solution helps healthcare organizations accelerate their transition to being secure, digitally interoperable businesses. It leverages the Health Level Seven International Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (HL7 FHIR) standard to enable broader business use of medical data. Akana developed the Healthcare Solution in response to healthcare businesses that want to increase electronic, multi-device access to health records while reducing operating costs and complying with government regulations.
Sep. 2, 2015 04:00 AM EDT Reads: 226
WebRTC has had a real tough three or four years, and so have those working with it. Only a few short years ago, the development world were excited about WebRTC and proclaiming how awesome it was. You might have played with the technology a couple of years ago, only to find the extra infrastructure requirements were painful to implement and poorly documented. This probably left a bitter taste in your mouth, especially when things went wrong.
Sep. 2, 2015 04:00 AM EDT Reads: 474
SYS-CON Events announced today that the "Second Containers & Microservices Expo" will take place November 3-5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Containers and microservices have become topics of intense interest throughout the cloud developer and enterprise IT communities.
Sep. 2, 2015 03:30 AM EDT Reads: 600
Through WebRTC, audio and video communications are being embedded more easily than ever into applications, helping carriers, enterprises and independent software vendors deliver greater functionality to their end users. With today’s business world increasingly focused on outcomes, users’ growing calls for ease of use, and businesses craving smarter, tighter integration, what’s the next step in delivering a richer, more immersive experience? That richer, more fully integrated experience comes about through a Communications Platform as a Service which allows for messaging, screen sharing, video...
Sep. 2, 2015 02:00 AM EDT Reads: 694
Too often with compelling new technologies market participants become overly enamored with that attractiveness of the technology and neglect underlying business drivers. This tendency, what some call the “newest shiny object syndrome,” is understandable given that virtually all of us are heavily engaged in technology. But it is also mistaken. Without concrete business cases driving its deployment, IoT, like many other technologies before it, will fade into obscurity.
Sep. 1, 2015 11:45 PM EDT Reads: 396
SYS-CON Events announced today that IceWarp will exhibit at the 17th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 3–5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. IceWarp, the leader of cloud and on-premise messaging, delivers secured email, chat, documents, conferencing and collaboration to today's mobile workforce, all in one unified interface
Sep. 1, 2015 03:00 PM EDT Reads: 444
In his session at @ThingsExpo, Lee Williams, a producer of the first smartphones and tablets, will talk about how he is now applying his experience in mobile technology to the design and development of the next generation of Environmental and Sustainability Services at ETwater. He will explain how M2M controllers work through wirelessly connected remote controls; and specifically delve into a retrofit option that reverse-engineers control codes of existing conventional controller systems so they don't have to be replaced and are instantly converted to become smart, connected devices.
Sep. 1, 2015 02:45 PM EDT Reads: 171
The Internet of Things is in the early stages of mainstream deployment but it promises to unlock value and rapidly transform how organizations manage, operationalize, and monetize their assets. IoT is a complex structure of hardware, sensors, applications, analytics and devices that need to be able to communicate geographically and across all functions. Once the data is collected from numerous endpoints, the challenge then becomes converting it into actionable insight.
Sep. 1, 2015 01:00 PM EDT
With the proliferation of connected devices underpinning new Internet of Things systems, Brandon Schulz, Director of Luxoft IoT – Retail, will be looking at the transformation of the retail customer experience in brick and mortar stores in his session at @ThingsExpo. Questions he will address include: Will beacons drop to the wayside like QR codes, or be a proximity-based profit driver? How will the customer experience change in stores of all types when everything can be instrumented and analyzed? As an area of investment, how might a retail company move towards an innovation methodolo...
Sep. 1, 2015 12:45 PM EDT Reads: 482
SYS-CON Events announced today that HPM Networks will exhibit at the 17th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 3–5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. For 20 years, HPM Networks has been integrating technology solutions that solve complex business challenges. HPM Networks has designed solutions for both SMB and enterprise customers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sep. 1, 2015 12:30 PM EDT Reads: 922
Consumer IoT applications provide data about the user that just doesn’t exist in traditional PC or mobile web applications. This rich data, or “context,” enables the highly personalized consumer experiences that characterize many consumer IoT apps. This same data is also providing brands with unprecedented insight into how their connected products are being used, while, at the same time, powering highly targeted engagement and marketing opportunities. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Nathan Treloar, President and COO of Bebaio, will explore examples of brands transforming their businesses by t...
Sep. 1, 2015 12:15 PM EDT Reads: 251
SYS-CON Events announced today that Pythian, a global IT services company specializing in helping companies leverage disruptive technologies to optimize revenue-generating systems, has been named “Bronze Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 17th Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 3–5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Founded in 1997, Pythian is a global IT services company that helps companies compete by adopting disruptive technologies such as cloud, Big Data, advanced analytics, and DevOps to advance innovation and increase agility. Specializing in designing, imple...
Sep. 1, 2015 11:45 AM EDT Reads: 330
As more and more data is generated from a variety of connected devices, the need to get insights from this data and predict future behavior and trends is increasingly essential for businesses. Real-time stream processing is needed in a variety of different industries such as Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Automobile, Finance, Online Retail, Smart Grids, and Healthcare. Azure Stream Analytics is a fully managed distributed stream computation service that provides low latency, scalable processing of streaming data in the cloud with an enterprise grade SLA. It features built-in integration with Azur...
Sep. 1, 2015 11:15 AM EDT Reads: 298
SYS-CON Events announced today that Micron Technology, Inc., a global leader in advanced semiconductor systems, will exhibit at the 17th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 3–5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Micron’s broad portfolio of high-performance memory technologies – including DRAM, NAND and NOR Flash – is the basis for solid state drives, modules, multichip packages and other system solutions. Backed by more than 35 years of technology leadership, Micron's memory solutions enable the world's most innovative computing, consumer,...
Sep. 1, 2015 09:45 AM EDT Reads: 246
Contrary to mainstream media attention, the multiple possibilities of how consumer IoT will transform our everyday lives aren’t the only angle of this headline-gaining trend. There’s a huge opportunity for “industrial IoT” and “Smart Cities” to impact the world in the same capacity – especially during critical situations. For example, a community water dam that needs to release water can leverage embedded critical communications logic to alert the appropriate individuals, on the right device, as soon as they are needed to take action.
Sep. 1, 2015 09:00 AM EDT
SYS-CON Events announced today the Containers & Microservices Bootcamp, being held November 3-4, 2015, in conjunction with 17th Cloud Expo, @ThingsExpo, and @DevOpsSummit at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. This is your chance to get started with the latest technology in the industry. Combined with real-world scenarios and use cases, the Containers and Microservices Bootcamp, led by Janakiram MSV, a Microsoft Regional Director, will include presentations as well as hands-on demos and comprehensive walkthroughs.
Sep. 1, 2015 08:15 AM EDT Reads: 367
As more intelligent IoT applications shift into gear, they’re merging into the ever-increasing traffic flow of the Internet. It won’t be long before we experience bottlenecks, as IoT traffic peaks during rush hours. Organizations that are unprepared will find themselves by the side of the road unable to cross back into the fast lane. As billions of new devices begin to communicate and exchange data – will your infrastructure be scalable enough to handle this new interconnected world?
Sep. 1, 2015 08:00 AM EDT Reads: 171
While many app developers are comfortable building apps for the smartphone, there is a whole new world out there. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Narayan Sainaney, Co-founder and CTO of Mojio, will discuss how the business case for connected car apps is growing and, with open platform companies having already done the heavy lifting, there really is no barrier to entry.
Sep. 1, 2015 08:00 AM EDT Reads: 182
With the Apple Watch making its way onto wrists all over the world, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes a staple in the workplace. In fact, Forrester reported that 68 percent of technology and business decision-makers characterize wearables as a top priority for 2015. Recognizing their business value early on, FinancialForce.com was the first to bring ERP to wearables, helping streamline communication across front and back office functions. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Kevin Roberts, GM of Platform at FinancialForce.com, will discuss the value of business applications on wearable ...
Sep. 1, 2015 08:00 AM EDT
The Internet of Things (IoT) is about the digitization of physical assets including sensors, devices, machines, gateways, and the network. It creates possibilities for significant value creation and new revenue generating business models via data democratization and ubiquitous analytics across IoT networks. The explosion of data in all forms in IoT requires a more robust and broader lens in order to enable smarter timely actions and better outcomes. Business operations become the key driver of IoT applications and projects. Business operations, IT, and data scientists need advanced analytics t...
Aug. 31, 2015 02:30 PM EDT Reads: 435


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RAIL passengers holding season tickets with East Midlands Trains can win back the cost of a year’s train travel with a new competition.
As part of the ‘Win your season ticket back’ campaign, any passenger renewing or buying a new season ticket for the coming year during December or January can enter a prize draw with a chance to win back the full cost of their annual travel.
The competition, which is a first for the Sheffield to London rail operator, will run throughout December and January and passengers can either enter online or by filling out a form and using one of a boxes at their local station.
Marc Turley, of East Midlands Trains, said: “We know that many people will be thinking about renewing their annual season ticket at the moment and with Christmas just around the corner, it can be an expensive time.
“Our special season ticket competition will give one lucky person the chance to enjoy free travel with us for a year.
“We’re certain this will be a popular competition amongst our passengers.”
To find out more visit www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/winback.

domain: news


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Consumption will pick up in the second half of the year, a Swedbank economist said. On Friday, Statistics Estonia reported retail sales fell by 8 percent year-on-year in June.
Grocery stores' turnover fell by 4 percent and gasoline sales by 2 percent.
Stores selling computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, and toys saw the biggest drop, 21 percent.
"It is only natural that, when real incomes have fallen, people tend to buy the goods and services they need to survive," said Liis Elmik, Swedbank's senior economist.
"Our forecast is that consumption will pick up in the second half of the year. We are already seeing prices slowing down and both wages and pensions growing faster than prices. This should support consumption. And the expected tax increases will probably also shift some of next year's consumption into this year," she told Friday's "Aktuaalne kaamera".
Editor: Merili Nael, Helen Wright
Source: Aktuaalne kaamera


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PowerVision – a dream workplace for engineers and product developers27.12.2016
News about ICT specialists available in the Tampere city region has spread far this year, attracting several new technology companies to the area. Tampere – All Bright! Magazine visited the Tampere R&D center founded by the Chinese PowerVision to see how it got started.
Prepared and negotiated over the summer, the decision was made in August 2016: as the local specialists and co-operation opportunities were exactly what the Chinese PowerVision needed, the company would establish a new R&D center in Tampere. The specialists at the center have been busy ever since: they began the product development immediately and have been equipping the Tampere office, and the number of employees has doubled from the initial four.
“We got off to a quick start indeed, and since we all have strong backgrounds in product development and international operations at Nokia and Microsoft, we have managed to keep up the pace,” says Senior Project Manager Timo Manninen.
PowerVision is a global technology company that, in line with its mission, innovates the future – drones, robots, big data, artificial intelligence… The company has its headquarters in Beijing and European headquarters in Espoo, whereas the Tampere unit strengthens its position in research and product development.
The Tampere R&D center works on data links and cameras. The local traditions and skills are strong in both of these areas, and these are exactly what persuaded the company to come to Tampere. The specialists are fascinated by the diverse opportunities provided by the company.
“The camera drone market is still just developing, the features and usability of the equipment are improving and more applications are constantly being found,” says Senior Product Development Manager Pekka Salonen.
Consumers have recently discovered camera drones, but they have previously been used as support tools in agriculture, the energy industry, police and rescue work. This year, PowerVision has launched its first consumer products, PowerEgg and PowerEye.
“The leading idea is using robotics to strengthen or improve the human senses and properties – in this case, enhance vision by lifting it up in the air,” Salonen says.
“That’s right: you must remember that PowerVision is a robotics company, and the drone is a kind of robot,” Manninen continues.
The expertise was not the only reason for establishing the R&D center in Tampere; the opportunities for co-operation with the local companies as well as research and educational institutions were also important. Salonen says that the company intends to initiate joint research projects with the universities. In the coming years, PowerVision may be strengthened by students in the form of theses and summer jobs.
Plenty of partnership potential can also be found in start-ups. These have been popping up in numbers lately, and many are relying on specialists who earned their spurs at Nokia and Microsoft.
“It is great to see the communality of these new companies, how they are capable of benefiting from each other. We will also certainly make use of this local expertise,” Manninen says.
One of the reasons for the speedy start of PowerVision’s Tampere office is the fact that the people knew each other in advance. They were able to begin the work immediately, without the getting-to-know-you phase, in an environment that supports creativity.
“Quite a lot of the design work takes place by brainstorming, thinking together. For this, having a shared history, good operating models and reference points in earlier projects is essential,” Salonen describes.
Now that many other experts let go by Nokia and Microsoft have also found new jobs, the PowerVision people in Tampere dare to predict a brighter future. The expertise has attracted companies to the area and given rise to new business, so bad news has been turned into opportunities.
“Of course, there are still competent people who haven’t found their place yet. There are strong specialists among them, whom we would also like to recruit when our operations grow. And strong growth is to be expected,” Salonen says.
Huber Hu, CEO of PowerVision Europe, stated earlier that for PowerVision the main reason to locate in Finland was the Finnish expertise in the research fields essential for a drone company. Also, the corporate cooperation of the Finnish universities in PowerVision’s fields of interest have impressed the Chinese drone manufacturer.
How is the Tampere Region fulfilling these expectations today?
– Tampere Region has provided us excellent resources and talents. We are very happy with those and we are exploring more interesting fields.
What kind of future do you envision for the PowerVision Tampere R&D center?
– We will firstly push current R&D activities forward and merge those results into our products. From bigger picture, we see big potential to grow in Tampere.
And how about drones and consumer robots, and their future?
– Robot era is just beginning, and drones are flying robots. Consumer drones are currently providing aerial photos for us. They can do much more, so Powervision drones and consumer robots will change people’s daily life. Keep an eye on our news in CES 2017 on 5th – 8th Jan. Powervision will announce a totally new and surely exciting consumer robot.


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Did you happen to notice yesterday several websites were "down". Google's logo was blacked out, Wikipedia would let you search, but then quickly turned to a blocked page.
What these two websites and many others were doing was protesting SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) - this is a bill that if made a law, would give the U.S. law enforcement and copyright holders ability to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods.
The original proposal would allow the U.S. Department of Justice to seek court orders against websites accused of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement. Depending on who makes the request, the court order could include barring online advertising networks and payment facilitators from conducting business with the "allegedly" infringing websites. It would also bar search engines from linking to such sites, and further require internet service providers to block access. The bill would grant immunity to internet services that voluntarily take action against websites dedicated to infringement.
If this bill is passed to censor the internet it would be a direct violation of the First Amendment. This would highly effect user-friendly sites such as YouTube, Etsy, Flickr and Vimeo. This would also mean legislation would enable law enforcement to take down an entire domain (such as blogspot) due to something posted on ONE single blog.
How does that sound?? Punishing an ENTIRE community for 1 minority?? Nonsense.......seriously what is our country coming to?


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Credit: Norris Design Studio
D.C. is finally discovering what the rest of the gourmet world already knew — Turkish food is the bomb — and because of it, more restaurants are offering Turkish fare across the area. The latest to join the club is Ottoman Taverna, a new 160-seat restaurant from Turkish native son, Hakan Ilhan. His new digs will be at 425 I Street, NW, Suite #107. The restaurant will be open for dinner service, with lunch and brunch in the works. The restaurant’s design is reminiscent of turn-of-the-century casual restaurants found throughout Istanbul. Keeping things real will be general manager Nuray Karatas, and executive chef and Istanbul native, Ilhan Erkek. Erkek’s award-winning Turkish fare garnered him accolades at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Istanbul, where he created the menu and handled the daily operations of Çintemani, the hotel’s exceptional Ottoman restaurant for two years.
Mudbug, or crawfish, season started last month so they are in fine fettle now. For messy, delicious fun, we can’t think of a better way to spend a warm Saturday in D.C. than eatin’ some boiled crawfish. That said, head over to Pinstripes on Saturday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the restaurant’s fourth annual fundraiser the Crawfish for Cancer Crawfish Boil. Early bird tickets have already sold out, but general admission tickets are available for $80 per person until April 23, and after that, tickets will be $90 until event day. So what does the entrance fee get you? Access to five-hours of unlimited crawfish, drinks, and music, plus specialty cocktails featuring Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. All proceeds from this event benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and you can buy tickets online.


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FUTURE DRINKING: Prost! owner Dan Hart is teaming up with Tasty n Sons and Toro Bravo chef John Gorham and prolific restaurant investment firm Chefstable (whose portfolio includes Ping, St. Jack, GrÃ¼ner and others) to open a new bar, Interurban, in the former Lovely Hula Hands building at 4047 N Mississippi Ave. >> Janis Martin has applied to reopen Tanuki, her beloved, family-unfriendly, altogether wonderful Japanese bar, in the former Immortal Pie and Larder space in Montavilla, three months after her much-mourned departure from Northwest 21st Avenue. >> Caldera Public House owner Kevin Overby has applied to open a bottle shop, delightfully named Beer Bunker, in the old location of Oregon Bike Shop at 7918 SE Stark St., a block from the Academy Theater.
UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS: Cozy inner Southeast coffee house Cellar Door has opened a new bar called 2nd Story: Small Plates and Spirits on the second floor of its building. Also the venue where Portobello Vegan Trattoria got its start as a nighttime pop-up restaurant, Cellar Door has teamed up with former Higgins pastry chef Erin McBride to create what it calls a âcocktalian gastropub,â pairing wines and cocktails with dishes such as braised pork cheek sandwiches, housemade pickles and, of course, desserts.
NEW CART ALERTS: As summer rolls on, so do the new food carts. Spotted recently were: a vegetarian cart called Uni-Cart selling fake fantasy meats like unicorn and dragon at Southwest 3rd Avenue and Ash Street; Cambodian cart Sok Sab Bai at Southeast 11th Avenue and Clay Street; Year of the Fish, serving fish and chips at Southeast 47th Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard; a Southern food cart called Woosterâs and an Italian cart called Holy Cannoli! at Southeast 52nd Avenue and Foster Road. Thereâs a whole mess of new carts at bike-friendly âsuper-podâ Cartlandia at Southeast 82nd Avenue: sandwich cart BLT, hot dog cart Debâs Blazinâ Grill, a Southern food cart Blues City Greens, and a bike-repair cart called the Bike Rack.
APP-TACULAR: WWâs own MusicfestNW just now entered the 21st century. The biggest little music festival in Portland now has its own iPhone app, on which you can craft a schedule, look at a map of all the venues, get festival updates, Tweet with reckless abandon, or run your MFNW photos through a special filter that makes them look...well, like an advertisement for MFNW. OK, that last one is pretty meh, but weâre still going to use the hell out of this thing next weekend, and not just because we work for the company that puts the festival on.


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IIFL Institutional Equities, a part of the IIFL Group, one of the leading players in the Indian financial services space, in a recent report on SsangYong Rexton said that, Mahindra has introduced the first of its SsangYong portfolio in India via the Rexton. It has road presence, is good looking too, but carries a sober air around it.
According to IIFL Institutional Equities, while the overall interiors are very good, there are elements that one could crib about, including the instrumentation. That said, ride quality is very good (despite the body roll that comes with the ladder-chassis), and space seems decent. Overall, this is the kind of SUV that will have mass appeal.
The 30% localization at the Chakan facilities has helped Mahindra make the Rexton into a price warrior in the entry-level luxury SUV segment. And that seems to be working its magic, going by the kind of bookings that they have managed to generate in the 45 days since launch, the brokerage added.
The report was published by IIFL’s Institutional Equities Research desk.


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Embracing the era of voice technology and the opportunities it creates, The Brand Agency has launched an innovative new service offering called VoiceBox.
Integrating core agency skill sets across strategy, experience design, creative writing and technology development, VoiceBox will be at the forefront of designing and launching conversational experiences for WA brands.
The Brand Agency head of interactive strategy, Matt Popkes said: “The way we interact with technology is rapidly changing, with our own voice becoming the primary tool.
“Digital assistants are answering our questions, giving us dinner recommendations and booking our holidays – without us ever touching a keyboard.
“This is already changing how organisations interact with their customers, with the expectation of an easy, seamless voice experience becoming the standard.”
The Brand Agency’s VoiceBox already has exciting new projects in development.
In a partnership with Water Corporation, a voice assistant is being designed to initially connect customers to the utility’s Waterwise advice and tips via their Google Assistant, whether on your mobile or smart speaker.
And with MSWA, VoiceBox is currently developing a voice assistant that will, amongst other tasks, answer key questions about the NDIS, and be able to arrange a follow up call with an MSWA expert.
The Brand Agency head of technology, Paul Hamilton added: “The agency is in a unique position in this market as we are able to bring together leading talent in a wide range of disciplines to create this new service offering for our clients.
“VoiceBox is a first in WA, offering the full suite of capabilities and integration required to launch voice-driven experiences in this new age of audience connection and interaction.”
The Monkeys has been named Effective Agency of the Year at the 2020 Australian Effie Awards, scooping four Golds, two Silvers and one Bronze across three clients, Beam Suntory, NRMA Insurance and Telstra. One Gold was awarded to BMF for ALDI Australia for ‘ALDI Good Different’, which also went on to win the coveted Grand […]
Inner Health has revolutionised its famous blue bugs as part of a new brand platform launching this week. Developed by VMLY&R, the new platform ‘Listen to your Gut’ re-introduces the bugs in a whole new environment. VMLY&R Client Service Director Jo Millington said the new platform aimed to reposition Inner Health as an overall health […]
Insight-led communications consultancy, The Mint Partners has expanded its technology portfolio with the addition of luxury audio lifestyle brand Bang & Olufsen. Founded in 1925 in Struer, Denmark, Bang & Olufsen has pushed the boundaries of audio technology for almost a century. The company continues to be at the forefront of acoustic innovation with its […]
WA car and home insurer, RAC has launched a new campaign to show locals that they understand the priceless relationship members have with their belongings. Created by Wunderman Thompson Perth, the campaign titled ‘We See What You See’ uses computer generated imagery (CGI) to depict the unique relationship a family has with their insured items – […]
Paper Moose has created a campaign for the recently announced carbon-neutral telco brand, felix, due to go to market towards the end of the year. This is the first work from Paper Moose since winning a competitive pitch for the new TPG Telecom brand. The teaser campaign raises awareness of the nearly 1 million tonnes […]


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By Shawntol Drakes
By now, most of us have seen, or at least heard of the infamous Shea Moisture video and their cringe-worthy follow up apology. The video, which is part of a rebrand for the Black-owned hair care company, features three women (one biracial and two white) talking about their battles with “hair hate” which they claim was combatted by the use of Shea Moisture hair products.
The video was met with much backlash from Black women who felt like they were not represented in the ad despite them being the brand’s largest customer base. The ex brand loyalists, came out in droves online accusing the company of pushing out their core audience in order to appeal to a wider (read, White) audience.
For centuries, Black hair has been a topic of controversy, oppression and pain. There has often been a lack of resources and products catered to Black hair in the mainstream market and for countless Black folks, Shea Moisture products seemed like a miracle sent from the hair gods — products for Afro hair that actually worked and were heavily cosigned in YouTube tutorials by Black women around the globe. Many people feel that Shea Moisture is erasing that history by “selling out” and compromising the quality and integrity of products that were initially created to suit the needs of Black hair in order to attract a White customer base.
The key theme of the video is the idea that “hair hate” is a universal experience. And while this may be true on a surface level, it is unfair to reduce the complexities and turmoil of the Black woman’s hair experience as simply hair hatred. While the white women in the commercial described their hair hate experiences as wishing they were a blonde instead of a redhead or struggles with limp, oily hair, Black women’s “hair hatred” is often rooted in racism, systemic white supremacy and misogyny.
As Black women, our hair hatred looks like wishing we could trade our Blackness for Whiteness in order to have long, straight hair like the girls in magazines.
It’s processing our hair with toxic chemicals every six weeks in order to obtain a look that is acceptable for Eurocentric beauty standards.
It’s being denied jobs because our hair is seen as unprofessional or unkempt.
And it’s unsuccessfully searching for products to use in your curly Afro hair in a market that sells to straight hair by default.
My project, titled “Detangling the Root” is a documentary photo series that chronicles the hair stories of Black women of all hair types, and gives them a platform to reflect on their individual relationships with their hair. In the interviews, I ask Black women to share memories and experiences with their hair, as well as the political implications of their hair choices. Many of the women interviewed spoke candidly about relaxing or perming their hair due to pressures of conforming to white beauty standards, their struggles finding products that worked with their hair textures and the journey to self-love and acceptance. They also spoke of the joy and affirmation they found in brands like Shea Moisture.
If the Shea Moisture debacle teaches us anything, it’s that Black women need to reclaim our narratives now more than ever. Too often do we see our struggles being co-opted by other cultures, as has been the case with #BlackLivesMatter being reduced to #AllLivesMatter and now the natural hair movement. By speaking out on the erasure of Black women from the Shea Moisture brand, we are amplifying our voices and asserting our existence. As the proverb goes, “Until the lion has his or her own storyteller, the hunter will always have the best part of the story”.


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(Translated by Emily Schmitz, a CSN Volunteer Translator)
Source: TLC al Desnudo
Report 3: Although the Government tries to hide it, the results of free trade are worse than expected
February 20, 2014
2013 Alternative Information System Report, SIA
The following document presents an analysis of the principal commercial indicators in Colombia in 2013. The results of commercial exchange are based on export and import data, published by DANE between February 14 and 18 of this year. The document is divided into two parts: the first part analyzes exports and imports, and the consolidated commercial balance of 2013; the second part comments on the official declarations of the National Government.
- Analysis of consolidated foreign trade performance in Colombia:
Foreign trade in Colombia during 2013 shows worrisome results. The consolidation of the negative tendencies observed in the monthly DANE reports shows that Colombia experienced a 45.5% commercial net loss, dropping from US$4 billion to US$2.199 billion. These are alarming results, seeing that, between 2011 and 2012, commercial surplus fell by 24.74%. This meant that, during two consecutive years, Colombia´s commercial advantage fell by 58.95%, corresponding to a fall, in monetary terms, of US$3.158 billion.
The crisis in the industrial sector fundamentally explains the previously mentioned reduction of the fiscal surplus. In 2013 this sector increased 7% in comparison to the rest of the world, which signified an increased the balance of the saldo en rojo balance in the red by US$2.032 billion. As seen in Table 1, clothing and garment production was one of the sectors that performed the worst, with a fiscal balance dropping from US$18.500 billion to US$-77.480, nose-diving 518.8%. Sectors that performed equally as bad were the petroleum refining sector (-392.9%) and the sugar refinery and engineering (-38.5%).
While trade balance in the mining-energy sector increased 0.54%, the rest of the sectors fell 6.72%, reinforcing productive specialization in the extraction sector and reflecting the abandonment of the industrial and farming sectors across the country.
The US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, from bad to worse
Analyzing commercial exchange between countries, it can be seen that the country that has most contributed to the fall of the trade surplus was the United States which, in 2012 represented US$8.250 billion and in 2013 had fallen to US$2.777 billion, corresponding a decline of 66%. The free trade agreement signed into place almost three years ago reduced surplus by almost one third. If the balance is averaged over the last three years, it calculates a 68% drop, equaling a loss of more than US$5,800 billion.
Canada and Europe: the other Free Trade agreements
Additionally Colombia has a valid trade agreement with the European Union, falling from US$2.018 billion in 2012 to US$1.624 billion in 2013 — a 20% decrease in surplus – and the free trade agreement with Canada resulted in a 10% decline. The impacts of these agreements, far from benefiting foreign trade, have instead been deeply debilitating for the country.
Pacific Alliance agreement will be the Colombia´s worst free trade agreement
Trade results with Pacific Alliance countries stand out: while trade surplus with Chile diminished 43%, and Peru recorded a negative 37% fall, surplus with Mexico increased by 18%. This shows that not only was the added deficit not compensated for, but also that commercial advantage with Peru and Chile was lost. It is expected that signing the trade agreement will not significantly change these results, due to the fact that said countries already have existing tariff preferences. The effects of this agreement could be increasingly harmful for some agricultural crops, including white corn, pig meat, and sugar, as already reported by the SAC. The agreement is also expected to weaken the industrial sector, specifically including the automotive sector, a tendency already predicted by automotive representatives themselves.
More is bought than sold
An analysis of exports and imports in the core countries of this study show that most of them have experienced a greater increase in exports than imports. External sales with the United States, for example, have diminished by 15.5%, while purchases have increased 14.7%. Of the fourteen products that have seen a reduction in exportations, twelve are part of the industrial sector, and two are associated with the mining-energy sector.
Looking at the exportations of each specific product sheds light on the manner in which trade surplus has declined. While the external sale of primary products increased 0.9%, the sale of industrialized goods declined 2.7%, which contributed to 0.7% of the overall 2.2% fall of total exportations. Two sectors which stand out include natural resources manufacturing, recording a decline of -7.2%, and basic technology, recording -9.8%. Of the sectors worst hit, the textile sector recorded -13.4%, and garment and clothing fabrication recorded -13.2%, while the automobile parts fell 15%, signifying a commercial crisis in both sectors. In general, exports diminished principally due to low sales in the industrial sector (-6.4%) and miniscule growth in agriculture (0.5%) and mining (0.4%). In turn, non-traditional goods fell 4.9%, and traditional goods fell 1%. This data shows that, while exportations have been weakened due to the mining-energy sector, their decline is tied to the other remaining sectors, reflecting clear symptoms of a productive and commercial crisis.
In 2012 importations increased 0.5% in 2013 due to a 9.4% purchasing increased on extractive industry goods and combustibles, and a 9% increase on industrialized goods. Non-durable consumption goods, such as nutritional or clothing, among others, increased 2.2%, and external demand for capital goods decreased 0.1%. This data reflects the current exportation and economic situation seen throughout the country: as the industrial sector undergoes a period of contraction, it generates less incentive to repair machinery and equipment, resulting in the replacement of national goods for foreign goods.
The sectors where this commercial effect, denominated Commercial Devastation, is most deeply felt is in the clothing sector and the machine and electronics fabrication, which respectively recorded 2.6 and 3.6% increase on importations.
Detailed analysis of trade performance in Colombia such as this questions the National Government’s positive response and prognostic. Not only was trade surplus cut almost in half in 2013, but strategic sectors of the industry also severely weakened. But official expectations quickly faded as trade performance worsened after consecutive agreements were signed into place.
The fundamental explanation lies in the declining pace of the industrial sector, recording a drop of 1.9% — nine times more than expected – despite a devaluation rate of 5%. Guillermo Rodríguez, spokesman of Proindustria, argues that it is not the dollar that is responsible for industry setback, ‘but the lack of protection from the State, now no longer capable of competing with foreign industry.´ This has been felt in the mining-energy sector, for example, which has suffered from international demand and commodity prices. Despite these results, it is not possible to infer that trade is exclusively tied to the demands of emerging countries alone. In the words of Eduardo Sarmiento, ‘national prices succeed international prices in the majority of industrial and agricultural activities. This has been confirmed by the farmers’ strike and the closing of various automobile assemblage plants.’
Structural problems of the national economy are fundamentally caused by the growth of free trade. It needs to be better understood that trade involves worldwide competition between countries, and the biggest countries will protect their productive apparatus, meaning that comparative advantage is not always fully achieved. The trade vulnerability of Colombia is worsened by a revalued exchange rate and an account deficit that increased to 3.4% GDP in 2012 and in 2013 was estimated to be 2.8%. It was also predicted by the ANIF, the National Financial Institution Association, to reach 4%, the highest rate in history.
It is expected that, in the following years, the negative tendency of the trade surplus will continue and even grow worse. The elimination of the expansion of the United States currency will have notorious effects on inflation, a pronounced decrease on working class salary, and increase the interest rate.
- The Government has not recognized poor trade results, and has mistaken its diagnosis:
The National Government has not made official statements that clearly and effectively respond to trade performance; the only response has been a bulletin published by the Industry and Trade Ministry and a Twitter statement made by President Juan Manuel Santos.
Both of these statements have shown ambiguity regarding Colombia`s external trade performance in 2013. Not only have false conclusions been made, the government has offered misguided diagnosis to the problem.
A web bulletin published on the Industry and Trade Ministry webpage indicates that, ‘the weakest exports, at the end of 2013, can be fundamentally explained by the weakened exportation of coal and gold, affected by international prices. Coal, for example, has also been affected by internal factors such as protests and temporary shut-downs, which have reduced exports’. The fundamental cause of this poor performance is the weakening international price of gold and coal along with declining sales; additionally, the bulletin does not say one word about the industrial or agriculture sectors.
As has been demonstrated, these results can be explained by structural causes and also by the current surrounding environment. If the analysis provided by the ministry were to be true, how can a 69% increase on exports of combustibles and mineral oils to China and a 123% increase to India be explained, given these are considered emerging countries which exhibit the greatest international demand. The strange thing is that external demand of mining-energetic goods in both of these countries has increased in almost all key areas.
For his part, President of the Republic, Juan Manuel Santos, wrote on his Twitter account: ‘how great it is that the industry began to grow again in December and that trade widely surpassed growth from the same month one year ago’. The Yearly Manufacturing Poll shows that industry growth in 2013 was negative (-1.9%) and growth in December did not offset the three year industry debacle. In turn, as presented in the present report, the consolidated results of 2013 are not favorable. In December, 2013 the country’s surplus was cut in half, and Santos insisted in decorating the results.
An official announcement of the results will have to be awaited that includes more elaborate and serious analysis. Trade tendencies in Colombia are worrying, and require changes in exterior politics; if it remains like it is, in a few years, President Santos will have to explain how the country arrived at a commercial trade deficit.
The Alternative Information System, SIA has conducted a detailed analysis based off the partial results of the first few months of 2014.
|2 199 820
|4 032 758
|Sugar refining and engineering
|Garment and Clothing manufacturing
|Wood product transformation and manufacturing
|Petroleum refinery products manufacturing and Petroleum coke
|Electronic Apparatus and Machine Manufacturing
Source: Dane, compiled by authors.
(This translation may be reprinted as long as its content remains unaltered and the source, author and translator are cited.)


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The number of financial services companies raised from 32 to 177 companies from 2017 to 2022. In addition to that, these companies had a significant contribution to Egypt’s economy by attracting $800 million in 2022, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), Rami Aboulnaga announced.
Aboulnaga also added that the number of Instapay customers reached more than 6.2 million users.
Within the framework of CBE’s startegy of boosting electronic payments, the number of electronic points of sale increased to more than 1.2 million, and the number of ATMs to 23,000 machines, deputy Governor of the CBE added.
The CBE achieved significant milestones in its implementation of the Meeza system, with over 336 million Meeza cards issued. The introduction of Meeza is a crucial component of Egypt's digital transformation and financial inclusion strategy. One of its key objectives is to replace the payroll cards of state employees with Meeza cards.
Moreover, the CBE's efforts in electronic payments have resulted in the issuance of 62 million electronic payment cards, as stated by the deputy governor of the CBE.
In a recent development, the CBE has made initial agreements with the central banks of the UAE and Jordan, and it is currently engaged in advanced discussions with the central bank of Saudi Arabia. These agreements aim to enable users of InstaPay to transfer funds from banks in these countries to their Egyptian bank accounts.
Instapay is CBE’s payment service app and reported in March 2023 that it has completed over EGP 112.7 billion worth of transactions in 2022, with 2.16 million registered users carrying out around 20.3 million transactions.


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Special Briefing: Could Apple Beat Netflix at Its Own Game?
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE
With Apple’s new focus on creating original content, the streaming wars are truly underway.
By OZY Editors
This is an OZY Special Briefing, an extension of the Presidential Daily Brief. The Special Briefing tells you what you need to know about an important issue, individual or story that is making news. Each one serves up an interesting selection of facts, opinions, images and videos in order to catch you up and vault you ahead.
WHAT TO KNOW
What’s happening? Apple announced today that it’s launching Apple TV Plus in May, its biggest push ever into the streaming video market. While the computing pioneer was the most profitable American company of 2018, according to Fortune magazine, it’s lagged behind companies like Amazon in terms of original video content, and way behind relative upstarts like Netflix. With Apple jumping into this realm, along with a redesigned TV app that lets you watch cable and streaming services on any device ad free, it could mean a future in which industry leader Netflix sees its dominance decline.
Why does it matter? Amazon is currently the biggest threat to Netflix, the undisputed top dog of the streaming game, but today’s announcement puts Apple squarely in the running. Some wonder, though, whether the field is already too saturated given that consumers’ limited budgets cannot stretch to pay for endless streaming services. As a world-renowned brand, Apple has the means to distinguish itself, but a more complicated future may be coming for the TV industry as a whole.
HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT
A history of video. Apple’s film and programming ambitions started long before streaming services were popularized. Macintosh TV, which debuted in 1993 but never really took off, was a hybrid computer-television that could hook up to a VCR. Then came Apple TV, in 2007, although Steve Jobs often referred to it as a “hobby” project: It was a video and music streaming device, but it never really captured the market like Hulu or Netflix. While Apple’s developed further iterations, and even released original video programming, it hasn’t been able to replicate the success of iTunes as a streaming platform.
It’s showtime. Investing around $2 billion with today’s launch, Apple is hoping to challenge Netflix and Hulu with an extensive new slate of original content. That’ll include around two dozen series involving heavy hitters like Oprah Winfrey (who’ll be doing multiple projects and a digital book club), J.J. Abrams, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. And Apple isn’t the only one: Disney (which will own 60 percent of Hulu when its deal to buy Fox goes through) and Warner Media are both expected to launch new streaming services this year. Meanwhile, Google just announced the launch of Google Stadia, a streaming service for video games that will leverage its dominance in the cloud.
Cut that cord. While there has long been speculation that Netflix-loving millennials would abandon cable companies and kill the industry, it might not be something older generations can pin on the young. Instead, the death of cable might come from within that industry itself. Some cable providers are diving deeper into the more profitable broadband internet business. Cable One, for instance, has stopped trying to talk cable-cancellers out of their decision, choosing instead to try and sell them on its own streaming service. While Cable One’s user base pales compared to Comcast, its shares are up 136 percent despite its seeming abandonment of … well, cable.
Or maybe not. Some predict that because 194 million Americans get their internet from cable companies, streaming services will eventually be bundled into those deals the way channels are now. While the streaming era has seemed a ray of hope for those who don’t like depending on TV monopolies for their entertainment, those giants may well be coming back in a different form.
And one…or two…more things. Apple TV Plus wasn’t the only big announcement today. The company also announced the launch of its own virtual credit card, the Apple Card, and subscription-only news apps and gaming services.
WHAT TO READ
Jeffrey Katzenberg’s Vision for the Future of TV Is Snackable Movies, by Ashley Rodriguez on Quartz
“Quibi is thinking about content for the platform as feature-length films, two hours or longer, that unfold in eight-or-so-minute chapters, which is roughly the length of act breaks between commercials on traditional TV shows like This Is Us.”
With the iPhone Sputtering, Apple Bets Its Future on TV and News, by Tripp Mickle in the Wall Street Journal
“It is the tech giant’s latest attempt to reinvent television, something it has tried to do for about a decade with limited success.”
WHAT TO WATCH
History of the Apple TV
“Apple has and continues to experiment in this industry despite never having released a traditional television.”
Watch on Apple Insider on YouTube:
Apple Event ‘It’s Show Time’ LIVE With Brian Tong
“To be a Netflix killer, you arguably have to have at least five must-see TV shows. Not one, not two, at least five.”
Watch on Brian Tong on YouTube:
WHAT TO SAY AT THE WATERCOOLER
Who will buy? The rise of streaming services has also disrupted TV advertising. In the U.K., according to media consultancy Ebiquity, there’ll be a forecasted decline of between 15 and 20 percent in TV ad viewing by adults by 2022, including a 30 percent decline for stay-at-home moms and a 45 percent drop for 16-34-year-olds. The U.S. could also see a drop: MoffettNathanson Research predicted last year that American advertising would see a 4 percent decline in 2019. But this is offset by soaring digital advertising, which is predicted to rise by 18 percent this year.
- OZY Editors, OZY Author Contact OZY Editors


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CHESTER, England, August 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Credit card provider of the year[*]MBNA has launched its longest ever balance transfer credit card, offering eligible new customers zero percent p.a. on balance transfers and money transfers for up to 32 months from the account opening date. The offer applies to transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening (a 2.69 percent handling fee applies to balance transfers and a 4 percent fee applies to money transfers, £3 min).
The card also offers zero percent p.a. on purchases for three months from the date the account is opened.
"This new credit card enables eligible new customers to take advantage of the longest balance transfer and money transfers we've ever offered in the UK", said Michael Donald, Commercial and Customer Experience executive for MBNA. "We're committed to offering products that make it easier for consumers to manage their finances".
The new MBNA Platinum Credit Card is available for consumers to apply for now at http://www.mbna.co.uk/choose-credit-card/?card-table=balance-transfer.
The credit card also features the eligibility check, which enables consumers to find out if they are eligible before applying for the card. As part of the eligibility check a quotation search is carried out and this won't show as an application for credit so won't affect their credit rating. If they are not eligible, they may be offered an alternative MBNA product to consider.
Once a full online application is completed, a decision could be made in minutes. Once a customer is approved, their card should be delivered within 10 business days.
The new MBNA Platinum credit card is also equipped with contactless technology. Learn more at http://www.mbna.co.uk/understanding-credit/contactless/.
Representative example: 18.9% p.a. (variable) on card purchases. This is equivalent to 18.9% APR representative (variable) based on a credit limit of £1,200.
Picture Caption: The Platinum Credit Card from MBNA
* MBNA named Credit Card Provider of the Year after a vote among UK consumers, in the Consumer Moneyfacts Awards 2014.
Eligibility for the card depends on a customer's circumstances and the results of the eligibility check. The product, APR and promotional offer they could get may vary from the example.
Credit is available, subject to status, only to UK residents aged 18 or over. Calls may be monitored and/or recorded for quality and training purposes and for compliance with regulations.
Promotional rates will no longer apply from the beginning of any statement period during which customers have breached their terms and conditions, for example if they haven't paid on time or have gone over their credit limit. Customers cannot transfer balances between MBNA accounts.
About MBNA Limited:
MBNA Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC). For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.mbna.co.uk.
Editor and supplementary notes:
The information contained in this press release is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions. Any consumer interested in learning more about any of this product should visit http://www.mbna.co.uk for full terms and conditions.
SOURCE MBNA Limited


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In a pair of trademark lawsuits filed in Oregon and California federal courts this week, the active clothing retailer sold Nike Air Jordans and Chuck Taylor All Stars, targeting companies that sell art for Nike’s usual fare.
In the game against Kickrich LLC, Nike took issue with Kickrich products, including custom shoes marketed as “Custom Prime Nike Air Jordan 1” – modified Jordans to integrate the Amazon logo Prime in the upper part of the shoe. In another lawsuit against Drip Creationz, Nike took issue with that company’s modifications to Air Force 1s to represent swoosh markings in designs that included plaids and quirky prints. other.
The lawsuits say the custom shoes sell for thousands of dollars.
“While the respondent’s ‘custom’ products may use parts of genuine Nike and Converse shoes, the genuine parts have been altered and incorporated non-genuine parts or the logo of the defendant. other brands to the point where they are no longer meaningfully considered Nike or Converse shoes,” Nike argued in one of the complaints. “Instead, they become new products over which Nike and Converse have no control.”
Outfits under Nike’s deal earlier this year with MSCHF on the sale of rapper Lil Nas X “Satan Shoes”, tied to the visual theme of his popular video for “Call Me by Your Name” he released in March.
With these clothes, the sports retailer seems to signal a broader disapproval of its stance of selling unauthorized art modifications to their shoes and suggests they will take criminals court.
“Nike and Converse have no desire to limit the personal expression of creators and artisans, many of whom are the brand’s biggest fans,” Nike said in one of the shorts. My newest shirt this week.
“But Nike and Converse cannot allow “customers” like the defendants to build businesses on their most iconic brands, undermining the value of those brands and the message they convey. they convey to consumers,” it said.
“The more unauthorized ‘customs’ are produced and sold, the harder it is for consumers to identify authorized and authentic collaborative products; Ultimately, no one will know which products are approved by Nike and Converse and which they are not,” Nike wrote in its complaint.
The defendants could not be immediately reached for comment on Wednesday.
https://wwd.com/business-news/legal/nike-sues-sale-of-customized-jordans-af1s-chuck-taylors-1234886518/ | Nike Targets The Sale of ‘Customized’ Jordans, AF1s, Chuck Taylors – WWD


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Hartmann is the world’s leading manufacturer of moulded-fibre egg packaging, a market-leading manufacturer of fruit packaging in South America and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of technology for the production of moulded-fibre packaging.
Our unique market position and capabilities render Hartmann relatively resilient to economic fluctuations, allowing us to leverage a number of attractive market drivers, including increasing global demand for eggs and fruit, rising environmental awareness and a growing focus on health and nutrition.
Ørnegårdsvej 18, 2820 Gentofte – Denmark
|Corporate Governance Report|
Jan. 1, 2000Stock exchange(s)
Keep yourself informed with the most recent updates on FinancialReports, IPOs, product advancements, and other significant news.


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Libraries across Ireland celebrates Irish design and designers through programme of events and activities
Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash TD today launched an exhibition at Dundalk Library to mark the Celebrate Your Local Design Hero initiative at libraries across Ireland.
The exhibition, which has been organised in partnership with Louth County Library, is one of a series of events being hosted this year by local libraries throughout the island of Ireland. As part of Irish Design 2015 (ID2015), the year long government backed initiative promoting and celebrating Irish design in Ireland and internationally, libraries across the country were invited to celebrate a local design hero through organising a community event or workshop.
Launched with the aim of working within local communities to raise the profile of both contemporary Irish design and Ireland’s rich heritage in design and craftsmanship, the Celebrate Your Local Design Hero initiative has connected designers and local libraries in devising events and exhibitions to engage communities across Ireland.
Minister Nash said:
“The aim of ID2015 is to promote the wealth of design talent we have here in Ireland both at home and on the international stage and to highlight the significant impact that design makes to our economy and our culture. Many Irish designers and makers are achieving recognition and winning prestigious awards internationally, growing Ireland’s reputation abroad as a home for innovative design across a broad range of disciplines. The Celebrate Your Local Design Hero allows us to honour them here at home where communities can take pride in the talent that has emerged from their local area.”
In addition to recognising contemporary designers, the programme of events and exhibitions has also raised awareness of designers from the past. Libraries in Clare celebrated the life of Liscannor-native John Philip Holland (1841 – 1914), the inventor of the modern submarine and the first person commissioned to design submarines for both the British Navy and US Army. Waterford City Library celebrated Miroslav Havel (1922 – 2008) who came to Ireland in 1947 as the first employee of the newly established Waterford Crystal and hosted talks and an exhibition of personal glasswork from the family archives being shown for the first time.
The exhibition at Dundalk Library celebrates award winning fashion designer Niamh O’Neill from Dunleer, Co. Louth. Entitled Design Actualised, the exhibition takes visitors through the journey of creating an outfit from a fashion designer's collection. It describes the design process from the initial concept, right through to the finished garment. It documents the whole process, including sketching the designs, choosing fabrics, organising manufacturing and it even accounts for all the air miles it takes to produce the garment.
Niamh O’Neill said:
"I am honoured to be part of the Local Design Hero project for Irish Design 2015. I hope to give people a glimpse into the design process of an outfit from my collection, from the initial concept to realising the design in the form of a finished product. I am also delighted to be exhibiting in my local library, Louth County Library, which is an invaluable resource in our community.”
Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of Irish Design 2015 said:
“I would like to thank the library network for their enthusiast involvement in the Irish Design 2015 programme. By the end of the year, we will have seen over 30 libraries throughout the island of Ireland participate in our year long programme by hosting a funded event to celebrate a design hero from their own area. The initiative has received a fantastic response from the public and been instrumental in raising awareness of designs and designers past and present that have emerged from all over Ireland, allowing us to celebrate the contribution that design makes to our everyday lives and our country as a whole.”
Other library events in October include Phibsborogh Library hosting a workshop exploring origami techniques and the use of other materials to create garden designs, inspired by the work of garden designer, Diarmuid Gavin and Pearse Street Library hosting a workshop exploring Irish theatre costume and stage design where participants can create pop up theatre designs inspired by the work of set designer, illustrator and painter, Jack B. Yeats.
Later in the year, Monaghan Library will host an exhibition of work by renowned hand weaver Liz Christy, with an accompanying series of workshops. Tuam Library will celebrate local fashion designer Joanne Hynes who was a regular user of the library as a child. Cork City Libraries plan to host a photographic exhibition of the work of internationally renowned furniture designer Joseph Walsh who is based in Riverstick. Longford Library will focus on local milliners Louise Knight and Patricia Cox with an exhibition and series of workshops.


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M&A, Strategies, Alliances
- The OIC has relaunched ad the Open Connectivity Foundation, with Qualcomm, Microsoft and Electrolux now joining the board and increasing its overlap with the AllSeen Alliance’s AllJoyn.
- The Bridge Alliance and the Global M2M Association have partnered to provide a joint Multi-Domestic Service offering in 77 markets, in the first alliance-to-alliance remote provisioning use case of an eUICC SIM.
- Private equity firm Apollo is buying Tyco spin-off ADT, paying $6.9bn (a 56% premium) for ADT and combining its operations with its recent $1.9bn Protection 1 buy to create a business with around $4.2bn in annual revenue.
- IBM is launching an blockchain-as-a-service offering as part of its IBM Cloud offering, and is donating 44,000 lines of code to the Hyperledger Project inside the Linux Foundation., as well as a channel deal with Avnet to push its Watson services to Avnet customers.
- Visa has announced a new mobile payments skew for the IoT.
- ARM has announced a deal with HP Enterprise, to use ARM’s mbed IoT Device Platform.
- AT&T is announcing a new IoT focus, with alliances and partnerships a key factor.
- FocusMotion has unveiled Creator, a motion recognition algorithm that will allow developers to use machine learning to teach their designs new movements.
- Kii’s IoT platform is powering Haltian’s new Snowfox child-tracking GPS device.
- Amdocs has launched its IoT Monetization Platform, to simplify and expand supply-chain billing processes.
- H3 Dynamics has launched Dronebox, a system that will provide self-sufficient solar-powered drone recharging and staging platforms that developers can use as a home base for their drone projects.
- Renesas has expanded its Synergy IoT platform of MCUs, with the addition of the ultra-low power S124 MCUs, based on the ARM Cortex-M0+ at the lower end and the Cortex-M4 at the more powerful end of the scale.
- ARM has launched the Cortex-R8 real-time processor, aimed at IoT and 5G devices. It also launched the Cortex-A32 processor, designed as a low-power variant of the ARMv8-A architecture for 32-bit applications.
- Wirepas has launched a beacon version of its mesh protocol, now compatible with Google’s Eddystone beacons and Apple’s iBeacon systems, which will sit on top of existing beacons.
- Cree has partnered with Cisco to push Ethernet power and data connections to lighting hubs, so that light fittings could act as wireless access points or sensor hubs.
- NXP has launched its QorIQ LS1012A 64-bit ARMv8 processor, aimed at object-based storage.
- Digi International has launched a Thread-ready XBee 802.15.4 module.
- Rambus has added thermal imaging to its Lensless Smart Sensor.
- ON Semiconductor and RFMicron have unveiled a battery-free sensor platform and dev kit.
Networks and Protocols
- Sigfox has announced network partnerships with Viti, IDEO Caraibes, and IO Connect, in Mauritius and the French Overseas Territories, spanning meter reading and AMI.
- Sigfox has announced a 200,000-unit deal with Verisure Securitas in France, and a one-million-unit deal with OTIO’s smart home and lighting portfolio, initially focused on France, Germany and Spain.
- Sigfox has announced the launch of a German network, in support of the Industrie 4.0 initiative.
- Sequans has announced a partnership with Telstra, to launch Cat 1 LTE devices in Australia, and a deal with Skyworks to develop optimized RF frontend circuitry for Cat M devices.
- Gemalto has announced it will be using Sequans’ Cat M1 and Cat M2 chips in its upcoming low-power LTE offerings, following on from their recent Cat 1 deal.
- Semtech and E.On-backed startup Digimondo have launched a LoRa network in Germany, aimed at energy industry customers looking to connect their assets.
- Semtech has launched a new reference design LoRa gateway, which it says will be able to provide GPS-free geolocailzation for asset tracking.
- Ericsson is singing the praises of its EC-GSM-IoT trial with Orange.
- Analog Devices and Consumer Physics have partnered on a new food, drink and drugs quality monitoring platform.
- Huawei and Vodafone have announced that they are establishing the first pre-standard NB-IoT Open Lab.
- Stream Technologies has entered the Verizon Partner Program, to serve customers in the USA with its IoT-X platform connectivity via Verizon’s LTE network.
- Altair has announced that its Cat 1 LTE chipset is powering Ericsson’s water quality monitoring system.
Smart Homes and Buildings
- Tekoia and Wulian have launched a smart home security platform, in a DIY package that is supported by joint cloud services.
- Sony has demonstrated a wearable lifelog camera, called the Xperia Eye, that it will potentially pair with a virtual assistant.
- Samsung has announced that its Knox enterprise security division will be bringing Tizen to connected cars via the ODB-II port and the Connect Auto dongle.
- Ericsson and Chinese automaker Geely have announced a connected car partnership, using Ericsson’s Connected Vehicle Cloud platform to power Geely’s ADAS and V2V ambitions.
- AT&T and Ericsson have announced that they will provide connectivity for Porsche in the US, and AT&T and Audi have expanded their existing in-vehicle connectivity deal in North America. AT&T also announced a Schneider Electric deal for EV charging stations, and the contract for GM’s OnStar service in its Vauxhall and Opel brands in Europe, in partnership with Vodafone.
- Movimento and Aricent have announced a gateway reference design for connected cars, aimed at providing OTA updates.
- Samsung-owned SmartThings has still not resolved security concerns that were made public in September, with a Cognosec researcher reporting that systems can be hacked to open door locks and jam motion sensors without leaving a trace in the logs.
- Silver Spring Networks has announced that it is working on a new networked LED street lighting system and sensor platform, powered by Philips’ new Advance Xitanium SR LED driver.
- Stream Technologies has announced a partnership with Gaia Smart Cities in India, providing its IoT-X platform to the startup.
- Siemens has announced the addition of its EnergyIP Analytics service to its smart grid equipment offerings.
- Renault has announced an EV battery recycling initiative with Connected Energy’s E-Stor technology, in 50kWh units that could be used for fast-charging points for EVs or storage.
- Silver Spring Networks has won a 5.2m meter deal with Con Edison, in a 5-year rollout supported by IBM’s cloud services.
- Following its US expansion, Sonnen has announced the shipment of its ten-thousandth battery unit, aiming to tackle the US on the back of 30 solar installers and a target of 100 by year-end.
Forecasts and Blue Sky Thinking
- Technavio reports that the APAC region will lead IoT market growth through 2020, topping out at $54bn. It says that Cisco, GE, IBM, Intel, RTI, and Rockwell Automation are the leading companies in the market.


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Photo credit: Getty Image
Luxury designer brand, Louis Vuitton, has announced that it is venturing into the manufacturing of nonsurgical face masks and hospital gowns.
The French company made this known in a statement.
It says the masks and gowns are to help with the fight against Covid19.
It says workshops are being converted into mass production hubs
It stated that changes have already been made in French workshops and that 50,000 gowns have already been donated to Paris hospital staff.
In a related report, the Dallas News says a factory in Johnson County, Texas, as well as workshops in New Jersey and California, will also be used to produce masks, which will be distributed in the U.S.
“Masks will be donated and distributed in states currently most heavily impacted by COVID-19, and Louis Vuitton will partner with local organizations in each state leading the COVID-19 response effort,” according to Louis Vuitton.


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The automotive aftermarket is in for at least another year of uncertainty and increased prices, according to an industry observer.
A culmination of issues — ranging from lack of shipping containers to rail congestion to changing consumer habits to the global COVID-19 pandemic — has, unfortunately, put the aftermarket in a difficult spot, explained Jeff Jorge, principal and market leader for mobility, supply chain and manufacturing, as well as firm leader for international services at global advisory firm Baker Tilly.
It will be until 2022, and likely the second half of next year until that turnaround happens, he said Aug. 17 during the first part of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Supply Chain Webinar Series.
“Overall, doesn’t look great. And I wish I could tell you a different story. I wish that it wasn’t what it is because it impacts us, it impacts our clients, it impacts our families,” he said during the session, Aftermarket Supply Chain: The Next 18 months.
The biggest variable is the issue that has been plaguing the world since March 2020 — COVID-19. And making matters worse is the Delta variant. According to the Government of Canada, about 84% of COVID cases in the country in July were attributed to the Delta variant. That will more or less dictate how tough the road ahead is, Jorge observed.
“We encourage folks also to take a bit of a transcendental look as to the problem,” he said. “Because expecting it to end in six months, or [say], ‘Hey, by December 31, this is going to come to an end,’ that’s a really unhealthy way to approach a problem because there’s no guarantee that it will. And when it doesn’t, it’s disheartening. It’s demoralizing. It drives the weak to say, ‘I gave up. I’m going to change sectors and change jobs.’ And we can’t do that. I think the world expects more of us, and we are capable of more.”
Speaking to suppliers specifically, Jorge asked them that since they know things will only get better later instead of sooner, what will they change in their supply chain?
“What can you control? How far can you view your supply base? Not just your tier one, but your two, three — as far down as you can into the raw material chain — such that you are not caught as flat-footed as you’ve been?” he said.
No one benefits if leaders are throwing up their hands and giving up because they can’t control everything.
“You’re right, we can’t [control everything],” Jorge said. “But we still have a business a run, we still have team members that depend on the company running, we have families that depend on us producing. And we’re in this together.”
Have your say:


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"Against the Grain"
Michael Specter from The New Yorker makes all of these claims and more in his article “Against the Grain” published online in Nov. 2014. His in-depth research included studying the wheat compound in a cultural and scientific context, including visiting a fresh bakery that did not add extra gluten to their food. Specter remarks, “Although dietary patterns have changed dramatically in the past century, our genes have not. The human body has not evolved to consume a modern Western diet, with meals full of sugary substances and refined, high-calorie carbohydrates. Moreover, most of the wheat we eat today has been milled into white flour, which has plenty of gluten but few vitamins or nutrients, and can cause the sharp increases in blood sugar that often lead to diabetes and other chronic diseases” (Specter).
Some people retaliate against these findings by casting off gluten altogether, and their logic can seem justifiable, especially with reports that gluten also may have a negative impact on heart disease and other ills.


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Kylie Jenner might not be the only billionaire in the family.
Rapper and fashion mogul Kanye West reportedly could reach billionaire status thanks to his Yeezy brand.
West’s company Yeezy, which has collaborated with Adidas in the past, received a valuation putting its total worth close to $1.5 billion, The Blast reported Thursday. West is the majority stakeholder in the company and could be closing in on billionaire status.
Kim Kardashian, West’s wife, dropped a hint on the “Jimmy Kimmel Show” earlier this week when she was asked whether she herself was close to being a billionaire.
“I would say my husband is one, so that makes me one, right?” she said. “Close. Close, by proximity.”
West touted Yeezy’s success in a tweet back in April. He claimed the brand was the second-fastest growing company in history.
“We have 160 positions to fill by the end of the year,” he tweeted. “Yeezy will hit a billion dollars this year. It is the 2nd fastest growing company in history. It is a unicorn on its way to becoming a decacorn.”
In the business world, a unicorn is a private startup worth $1 billion or more. A decacorn is a startup worth at least $10 billion.


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A research team has publicized about a vulnerability in Bluetooth that may affect nearly every device that supports the wireless communication protocol. Chipmakers were made aware to the so-called Key Negotiation of Bluetooth (KNOB) Attack in November. BlackBerry and Google have announced patches for Android devices.
In short, the vulnerability occurs in the encryption key generation process when two device are pairing. Specifically, an entropy load to obscure the key while in transit is negotiated in an unencrypted fashion and can be easily interfered with either by a man-in-the-middle attack or bad code injected into a Bluetooth chip’s firmware. The devices can be deceived into agreeing on an entropy load as small as — as dictated by Bluetooth specification — 1 byte, thus making it relatively easy to brute force the encryption key. The host devices are not aware of the key negotiation process, only of the key generated.
This issue does not affect Bluetooth Low Energy connections.
Daniele Antonioli of Singapore University of Technology and Design, Nils Ole Tipphenhauer of the Helmholtz Center for Information Security, and Kasper B. Rasmussen of the University of Oxford tested 17 unique chips from Broadcom, Qualcomm, Apple, Intel, and Chicony, finding all of them susceptible to attack. CVE-2019-9506 is available for inspection.
As mentioned above, BlackBerry patched its Android devices that support its June update and later. Google also fixed the issue on its August 5 level patch — good news for Pixels and other early adopters for Android security updates, not so good for other OEMs.


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Shake Shack will revisit its plan to introduce self-ordering kiosks, tweaking the model from one it abandoned amid customer complaints last year. This time, the chain will add kiosks at select locations while also retaining cashiers, and customers will have the option to pay with cash.
Coca-Cola is culling its collection of underperforming SKUs, targeting products that have failed to grow within the past three years for elimination from shelves. "Imagine the costs related to material management and procurement, production, inventory costs, distribution, salesperson time and, most of all, the opportunity cost of putting a better product in its place," said Chief Growth Officer Francisco Crespo.
General Mills recently launched its Oui and YQ yogurt brands, though the traditional Yoplait line "absolutely" still has a place in the firm's yogurt portfolio, said Doug Martin, vice president of marketing for Yoplait USA. The red-topped yogurt brand "is the biggest yogurt in the category for families," he added.
Nestle is bringing its S.Pellegrino sparkling water brand outside of the bottle, introducing slim cans later this month. "With the addition of S.Pellegrino in sleek, modern cans, any meal occasion can be transformed into something special," said Group Manager Danit Eisdorfer.
Digital ordering is fueling growth of restaurant delivery and it's also spurring operators to reconsider the dining-in experience. "As delivery grows, it offers [operators] an opportunity to imagine how to set [themselves] apart from competition," The NPD Group's David Portalatin said.
Pizza concept Oak & Stone uses RFID technology from iPourIt to collect data on its customers who use the self-serve beer taps at its two Florida locations. The eatery can track the gender, residential area and age of customers, who can use the iPourIt app to see which beers and ciders they previously have ordered.
Subway has teamed with digital food and travel network Tastemade to revamp its menu. The chain will work with Tastemade's food experts and chefs to create trend-driven menu items.
Perfetti Van Melle North America has named Sylvia Buxton its new president and CEO, succeeding Mehmet Yuksek in the role. Buxton joined the firm two years ago, and she previously served in several executive roles at The Hershey Co.
The presence of yogurt smoothies and drinkable yogurt during breakfast has grown by 20% over the past year, and the category is projected to climb an additional 13% by 2022, according to a new Packaged Facts report. "With the reputation for the most important meal of the day, maximizing the reputation of a product's nutrition while highlighting its convenience is critical in appealing to demographics across the board," says David Sprinkle of Packaged Facts.
Coca-Cola is testing US interest in Valser, a Swiss sparkling water brand that it acquired in the early 2000s. The company is serving Valser at select restaurants in the Atlanta area as part of a pilot campaign intended to gauge consumer response to the premium beverage.
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Gov’t will work with Region Two to make it a more competitive producer, exporter – Minister Gaskin
GINA, GUYANA, Thursday, April, 13, 2017
Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin said that Region Two has a clear future in the agriculture and agro-processing sector. He made the observation in light of the recently concluded Essequibo Agro and Trade Expo.
The Business Minister said that this future was clearly demonstrated in the range of exhibitors that participated in the expo.
Minister Gaskin told the Government Information Agency (GINA), that the government would like “to see Region Two become a more competitive producer and exporter of agricultural products. We are therefore prepared to work with this Region to achieve the full potential of its agriculture sector.”
The first Essequibo Agro Trade Expo hosted by the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce (ECC) was held on April 7 to 8, 2017 at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground. The expo saw a number of participants displaying their goods and services from the various sectors of the country. The two- day event saw persons from all walks of life visiting over 30 booths.
Goods and services ranged from doors, kitchen cabinets, hand bags, picture frames, leather slippers, green seasoning, and a variety of achar and pepper sauces, coconut water, and information on how to start and maintain a business, among other goods and services.
Barakat Timbers Ltd- This Company was established in 1993 and is located in Charity, Pomeroon. Director, Imtiaz Barakat said that the manufacturing of doors and kitchen cabinets was recently started. Barakat said that “whatever ends that is left over in the saw mill that is what we take and manufacture these items; nothing is going to waste.” The doors and cupboards are made from Purple Heart, Tatabu, Crabwood, Kabukalli and locust. Barakat explained that the company is the first in the country to use the Simarupa wood to manufacture kitchen cupboards.
Anita Sankar Crafts– This is owned by Anita Sankar whose place of business is located in Charity. Sankar displayed beautifully crafted Indigenous products including bags, hats, and souvenirs. She explained that she purchases most of her items from the neighbouring communities, while she is involved in “making process” as well. Sankar expressed hope that the Expo will boost her business.
Roy’s Quality Spices is located in Adventure, Essequibo Coast, Suddie, Anna Regina and Mon Repos market. The company originated in 1996. Sales and Marketing Manager, Govinda Singh said that his father traded the “raw spices” for a living. One day Singh said a gentleman asked him if he could grind the spices for him so that the he can take them overseas. Singh said that initially the raw materials were ground with a hand mill but has since elevated to an electric mill and other modern equipment. Following his grandmother’s methods, Roy’s spices include turmeric, jerk seasoning, halwa masala, and cook- up and chowmein seasoning.
Chief Executive Officer of Amy’s Pomeroon Coffee, Louis Holder, said that his coffee is one of the oldest blend in the world. He said that it was introduced into the colonies of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo by the Dutch in 1721. By 1810 British Guiana was one of the largest exporters of coffee in the world. Holder explained though that during that period a variety of coffee was planted on high elevation, while his coffee is growing on low elevation, he said that when farmers plant the farmers plant on low elevation, their yield decreases. “When your yield decreases your cost is higher,” Holder said. Holder highlighted that for the last three centuries coffee has been grown. Holder said that his blend is “straight forward” and the company prefers the local coffee houses to add flavourings of their choice. The CEO said that when a person takes their first cup of coffee,” they should feel good, it gives you energy for the rest of the day, it makes your day and we recommend it at breakfast,” Holder said.
The Pomeroon Women’s Agro Processors Association is located in Charity, Essequibo Coast. Aunty Pam (only name given) said that the association comprises 10 women. The group commenced work in 2001 and was registered in 2002. Aunty Pam said that the association started with the processing of caurambola fruits, then moved into pepper sauce, green seasoning and extra virgin coconut oil.
Aunty Pam stated that their Black Sauce is a “hit”. She explained that the syrup that remains after processing the carambola fruit is processed into the Black Sauce that can be used to flavour fried rice, chowmein and meats. She said that “she is proud of the women that work with her on a daily basis.”Aunty Pam told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that all the ingredients for their production are locally sourced from the farmers in the Pomeroon and the Charity Market. The Head of the Association encouraged Guyanese to support more local produce and producers. She explained that such “an act” supports the economy and more importantly the livelihood of the farmers and producers.
Amazon Tropical Coconut Water commenced operations in January 2017. Ed (only name given), CEO said that his company is located in the Pomeroon. He said that there is no artificial flavouring in his product, “it is 100 percent natural and simply your choice.” Ed said that the response to his product since the launch has been overwhelming and they are currently working on acquiring export markets. The process to the finished product is very simple Ed explained. He said that he will continue to upkeep the high standard of his product.
National Milling Company of Guyana Inc. (NAMILCO) – Affeeze Khan Marketing Consultant said that the response to their presence was “very good”. He noted that some patrons were not aware of the variety of products that the company produces. Khan expressed confidence that the Expo would boost business.
The Expo also saw a number of services being provided. The Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) was present as well as the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education.
Beatrice Roberts – Austin- Social Information Officer said that the GGMC aimed at the Expo was to bring awareness to persons especially miners who were present at the Expo about safe practices in the mining sector, tips on protecting the environment when mining and how important declaring production is.
The Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) was also present at the Expo. Coordinator of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons ,Olilver Profitt (ag), said that even though it was an Agro Expo, TIP is a huge business and can take place in any sector. He said that the response to the booth was overwhelming and that awareness campaigns need to take place all around. Small tokens were given away for the correct answer to questions relating to TIP at the Expo booth.
Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE ),Tagebrithe Singh Jaichand- Administration Assistant said that their presence at the Expo was to highlight the courses that are being offered at IDCE which includes, cake decorating, home management, tailoring among other courses. While the University of Guyana was also in attendance with a similar aim to share information on the courses that the University offers and encourage person to acquire a tertiary education.
President of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Daleep Singh, said that the chamber will push government and private sector collaboration as a key aspect for the development of the region.
Additionally, Regional Chairman, Mr. Devanand Ramdatt highlighted the Regional Administration’s support for both regional and national development.
President David Granger, officially declared the two-day event open.He said that Region Two as a leading agricultural region contributes significantly to Guyana’s food security.
The Head of State added that despite many challenges, there is great potential for economic development to take place through unity among all stakeholders.
By: Gabreila Patram


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How Do I Eat Green?
Eat Less Meat
You don't have to give up your steak or pork chops. You just might want to eat them less often or in smaller portions. Aside from this being a good move for your health, it can take a lot of strain off the environment. "We devote well over half of our cropland to growing food for animals that we eat, and we're artificially watering these crops with water that can't be replaced. Additionally, the animal waste is not put through a sewage-treatment plant, so all the antibiotics and hormones given to the animals can end up in our streams and rivers," explains Gussow.
Another benefit of mixing it up is that with the money you save, you can probably afford to buy organic meat. Generally, all organic meats come from animals raised chemical-, antibiotic-, and hormone-free (hormones, by the way, are federally banned from all poultry and pigs). These animals also had room to move and exercise and were fed organic feed. For cattle, however, this last requirement is controversial, since they don't naturally eat grain, pesticide-free or not. It's difficult for them to digest, so conventionally raised livestock are given antibiotics and other drugs to prevent and treat infection. In addition to certified organic, shop for beef labeled 100 percent grass-fed, says Mary Jo Forbord, RD, an organic cattle farmer in western Minnesota. "The labeling law for grass-fed has become exacting in its requirements," she explains. "The animals have to be raised on a diet of 100 percent grass or forage and given continuous access to pasture."
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