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The West African Mills Company (WAMCO), a cocoa processing company in Takoradi has plans to invest $5million or more in the purchase of new equipment to help to modernize the existing processing plants and make them fully operational.
The company, which has been granted a free zone status, has three production plants including a Cocoa Liquor Plant, an Expeller plant and a Hydraulic Press Plant (WAMCo2), which is not yet operational.
Mr Frank Bednar, Managing Director of WAMCo, said “We have plans to modernize our plants and present an investment plan to our shareholders for approval”.
He indicated that part of the investment would also be used to revamp WAMCo 2 which needs major repairs and rehabilitation, and when fully operational, will create some 120 jobs.
The two (2) shareholder groups of WAMCo are Hosta International AG from Switzerland being the majority shareholders and the Government of Ghana being the minority shareholders in the company.
The Managing Director of WAMCo revealed this when the Switzerland Ambassador to Ghana, Philipp Stalder paid a visit to the cocoa processing company on Monday.
Representatives of the Ghana Free Zones board, the Ministry of Industry, the Ghana Export Promotion Agency amongst others also joined the factory visit and also had engagements with the Ambassador.
“Some of the major equipment manufacturers such as Buehler are from Switzerland and will be invited to assist in this equipment improving exercise”.
“We are also looking for opportunities to cooperate with Swiss Universities and institutions in the field of food processing, quality management and research”, he added.
Ambassador Stalder said Switzerland is one of the largest producer of chocolate products in the world.
“The Swiss people love chocolate and consume a lot of chocolate, so I am at the premises of the cocoa processing company to see how best companies in my country could partner WAMCo to increase production for export and establish new business relationships with his country”, he explained.
He disclosed that Ghana is the second biggest trade partner of Switzerland in Africa adding “This due to the importation of cocoa and gold”.
He was hopeful that the two countries will continue to collaborate and do business together for their mutual benefit.
From: Estelle Graciela Acquaye, Takoradi


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One that we’ve not previously come across, however, is a quadcopter Christmas tree, which is exactly what YouTube channel Flite Test has created for its new festive-themed video.
As talented drone builders and pilots, the team at Flite Test has previously flown novelty drones such as a Star Wars-inspired RC Death Star. The sight of a flying fir tree mounted on a quadcopter may be their most surreal creation yet, though — and surely their least aerodynamic.
With that said, a lack of maneuverability, speed, and … well, just about anything else that would normally constitute a good quadcopter is more than balanced out by the sheer festive joy of the scene.
Things get even better at the end of the video when the team goes one step further than flying a plain fir tree by launching a fully bedecked Christmas tree, complete with tinsel and baubles, into the skies above Miller’s Christmas Tree Farm in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
We should note that, as original as a flying Christmas tree drone is, it’s not the only Yuletide UAV that’s popped up this December. Popular YouTube personality Casey Neistat recently had his own attempt at winning Christmas with a video depicting him dressed up as a snowboarding Santa who has eschewed the sleigh for a human-flying drone.
If this Christmas is anything like the last one, we can also expect a plethora of new drones to be found under people’s (presumably non-flying) Christmas trees. With that in mind, maybe we haven’t seen the last of the festive-themed quadcopter videos either.
Keep your eyes peeled: Santa and his reindeer may not be the only unidentified flying objects in the skies this weekend!
- NASA’s Mars helicopter will fly furthest yet in next flight
- Wing drone delivery heads to first U.S. metro area
- NASA plans to use drones to monitor active volcanoes
- Using Google Keep on a Samsung S21? Don’t install One UI 4
- Samsung Home Hub uses A.I. to make your home smarter

domain: news


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World’s first interchangeable lens camera powered by the Android 4.1 “Jelly Bean” platform is finally unveiled. It has been developed by Polaroid and it is called iM1836. This mirrorless camera is reminiscent of the Nikon 1-series, but it comes with a Micro Four Thirds mount and built-in WiFi technology.
Panasonic has joined the Consumer Electronics Show 2013 in order to unveiled a plethora of fixed-lens cameras. The manufacturer has taken the wraps off of 10 Lumix-branded cameras. There is a model for every type of photographer, including SLR-styled bridge cameras and point-and-shoot cameras.
Paris-based company Parrot exhibited at CES 2013 the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0: a dual-camera aerial drone, with WiFi capabilities and GPS tracking. The will become available in the near future and will offer endless fun to its users, as it also supports a couple of augmented-reality games, called AR.Race2.0 and AR.Rescue2.0.
The Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM / DC Macro HSM lens is a new standard zoom lens that offers versatility in a compact and lightweight package. It is aimed at travel photographers as well as at users who enjoy capturing macro shots. It has been designed for APS-C cameras and will become available soon.
Ricoh has decided to bring the Pentax brand to the enthusiast compact camera market with the MX-1. This shooter has been unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show 2013 with a 12-megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom lens, and a retro design inspired by vintage film cameras.
After unveiling the PowerShot N point-and-shoot camera, Canon took its time to reveal four new compact cameras called IXUS 140, PowerShot A3500 IS, A2600 and A1400. The Canon IXUS 140 will be called ELPH 130 IS in the United States and Canada and will be released on the market soon.
Toshiba is a major player on the sensor market and it mainly competes against Sony. In order to become the best, you have to invest a lot of effort into research and this is exactly what Toshiba is doing. The company has just patented a new type of sensor, that may revolutionize the market in a few years time.
Driven by the rise of importance of social media networks in our lives, Canon has announced a solution that allows us to capture high-quality photos and to share them on Facebook. It goes by the name of PowerShot N and it employs a 12-megapixel sensor along with integrated WiFi connectivity.
Lastolite has introduced a bunch of accessories for professional photographers who perform their work mostly in a studio. There are five new products, including a Mega Umbrella, which, in turn, will be released in two versions. The umbrella is joined by multiple strobo parts and a support system.
Shutterfly is rumored to buy a relatively new photo-sharing service for a considerable amount. There are plenty of gossip talks suggesting that the company is planning to acquire ThisLife for a price of $25 million and to add many of its features to Shutterfly’s services as soon as possible.
Seim Effect has released a bunch of new plugins for Adobe Lightroom users. The new Color Fantasies 2 is available for download for all Lightroom users, regardless of their software version or their operating system. The toolkit will be released with a fair price tag and it should bring a lot of creative ideas to a photographer’s work.
Fujifilm is preparing to announce a couple of new premium compact cameras. The models in question are the X100s and the X20. The former is expected to replace the X100 in the near future, while the latter is poised to succeed the X10, albeit the changelog will not be massive.
Canon has unveiled a new standard zoom lens for full-frame EOS-series DSLR cameras. The new optic consists of the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM, thus being the company’s first 24-70mm with a built-in optical image stabilization system. The lens’ availability details have been confirmed, too, and here they are!
Nissin has unveiled a new flash gun for customers in the UK, while availability in the rest of the world remains unknown for the time being. The Nissin MG8000 Extreme flash has been introduced for Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras. While some may consider it pricey, its features will surely make up for this.
After announcing the NX300 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, Samsung has revealed another product for the NX-mount line-up. It consists of a lens and it is a special one because it allows photographers to capture photos in 3D. Without much further ado, here is the NX 45mm F1.8 2D/3D lens!


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MOSCOW, July 5. /TASS/. Any option of KFC assets sale in Russia anticipates preservation of jobs and fulfillment of obligations towards suppliers and partners, the company’s press service told TASS.
"As it was announced earlier, Yum! Brands suspended all investments in development in Russia and halted operations in own restaurants. The company is currently considering various scenarios of transferring assets held by it in Russia to a local operator. Any options discussed anticipate keeping jobs for employees and fulfillment of obligations towards suppliers and partners," the company said.
The greater portion of restaurants operating in Russia under the KFC brand is managed under franchisee agreements and belongs to Russian legal entities. Such outlets will continue normal operations. "The KFC brand will continue its operation on the Russian market," the company added.
Yum! Brands, the owner of the KFC fast food chain is at the advance stage of talks for the sale of their Russian business to a local operator, the company’s press service said earlier on Tuesday.


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US warehouse market stays tight, and pricey, as it bucks rate decline trend
To the relief of beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), supply chain costs have been in retreat. According ...
Amazon has undeniably disrupted the logistics business: it has boosted air freight; flaunted the benefits of technology; and changed the landscape of warehousing.
But, warned Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust’s (AIPUT) fund manager Nick Smith this week, it must be careful not to fall foul of tomorrow’s disruptors.
Mr Smith told The Loadstar the e-commerce giant had made the logistics industry sit up and recalibrate.
“From my perspective, it has had a particularly good impact on the air freight sector, which had been in much need of a jolt,” he said. “That shot in the arm has seen the air freight industry innovate, because it had to, if it wanted to land Amazon’s volumes.
“Ultimately, this disruptive influence has proved positive for the end consumer.”
But Mr Smith warns that Amazon needs to recognise although, alongside the likes of Alibaba and JD.com, it is currently having “its minute in the sun”, the e-commerce giants must keep an eye out for their own disruptors, which are likely already on the horizon.
“I foresee this disruption coming either through even newer technology, or through politics or some sort of regulations,” he explained. “I would advise the likes of Amazon that they ignore environmental social governance at their peril.”
According to one Nielsen survey, 81% of consumers globally “strongly” believe companies should help improve the environment. While the results showed they crossed gender and generational lines, younger respondents were more vociferous in their calls, added Mr Smith.
“The new, younger customer is much more concerned by the environment and the impact the companies they shop with are having on it. This means they will pick the places they shop, based on the companies’ environmental policies.
“So Amazon and its ilk really will need to consider the way they handle environmental social governance.”


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As the Biebs says: “Is it too late now to say sorry?” Organisers of Justin Bieber’s ‘Purpose World Tour’ have been forced to recall a series of t-shirts which sported a typo where ‘Purpose’ was mistakenly spelled as ‘Purose’.
The t-shirt, which retail for just under $50, say: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is God’s purose that prevails.”
— KING5Now (@KING5Now) March 11, 2016
A representative from Bieber’s camp told TMZ that the shirts have been recalled and fans who purchased the merchandise can exchange them free of charge.
New Zealand’s Anchor Dairy has switched strategies for its 2020 Christmas campaign, with the company this year drawing attention to the need to give during the festive season. The Fonterra-owned company is encouraging Kiwis to fundraise for the New Zealand Food Network, following the release of research that showed one in five people risk going […]
The ‘It’s Your Energy’ campaign, delivered via Icon Agency, encourages Victorians to take advantage of recent energy reforms and ensure they’re getting the best deal possible. Essential Services Commission, the regulatory body for Victorian energy and gas, water, local government, and transport sectors, has engaged Icon Agency to develop an integrated communications campaign to help […]
In the insurance company’s latest campaign, NRMA Sleeper depicts a road trip, like any other, except everyone in the car is asleep, even the driver. Yet they arrive unscathed. According to production company FINCH, which is behind the work, the spot dreams up a world where cars drive themselves to remind us that until they […]
Children’s cancer charity, Bailey’s Day, has teamed up with full-service international communications agency Noisy Beast to launch ‘The Big-Hearted Bear’ campaign, voiced by Channel 9’s Livinia Nixon. Each year, Bailey’s Day hosts a charity golf day, auction and luncheon to raise funds for children’s cancer research at Monash Children’s Hospital, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, […]


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Let’s face it, display ads are complicated. While they can help build brand awareness to users, and allow you to retarget the one who got away, they also run the risk of not actually being seen. Last year, comScore found that 5.3 million display ad impressions were served in 2012, but three in 10 of those were not actually viewable. They never even had the opportunity to reach their targeted audience, yet advertisers paid for them just the same. This has long been a risk in the world of display advertisings, but Yahoo is looking to make the ad purchasing process more effective.
Yesterday, Yahoo announced the release of Yahoo Prime View. It allows advertisers to run their display ad campaigns at a 100% viewability rate on Yahoo. This ensures advertisers that they will pay only for the ads that users see, not just impressions that are being served. The feature is now available to display ads in the U.S. and will be rolled out globally over time.
Of course, display ads aren’t the only option in paid digital advertising. Learn why you should think beyond the display ad.


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This week: Sounds Profitable publishes brand safety and suitability study, Edison publishes top podcast networks by reach, Libsyn unveils November 2022 podcast advertising rates, Spotify unveils its top five podcasts in Wrapped, and GroupM and Magna predict a ‘durable’ ad market next year.
Sounds Profitable publishes brand safety and suitability study Safe and Sound
Manuela: We begin today’s show with something close to home. Yesterday Sounds Profitable debuted its latest research project, Safe and Sound. The first-ever study of brand safety and suitability from the listener’s perspective.
“Safe and Sound surveyed a representative sample of 1093 podcast listeners to find out what they consider ‘offensive,’ what they are tolerant of, and how they view the brands that support podcast content when it pushes their boundaries.”
The study delivers a wide range of findings, ranging from bombshells like the idea political ads are unpopular with audiences – regardless of political party – to taking the temperature of what audiences consider most offensive. Spoiler alert: people dislike racist language.
That said, it looks like offensive content might not be as toxic to a podcast’s overall image as initially assumed. When asked how they felt about brands that advertise or sponsor a podcast where a guest or host said something offensive or uncomfortable, an average of 30% of respondents said their feelings about the brands had not been changed.
When presented with the situation of a podcast someone regularly enjoys having an uncomfortable or offensive episode, 49% of respondents said they would stop listening to that particular episode but continue listening in general, while 31% said they’d continue listening to the outlier episode regardless.
The data suggests podcast-listening audiences take a more holistic approach to offensive content on podcasts they already have a relationship with. In general, listeners appear to not hold a single out-of-character episode against a podcast they’re familiar with.
Edison Top Podcast Networks
Shreya: This Tuesday Edison Research published the Q3 edition of U.S. Top Podcast Networks, by Reach. Listeners of The Download might remember Spotify took the lead back in Q2, just edging out SiriusXM Media. This last quarter SiriusXM has overtaken Spotify and returned to the top, leaving the top five at SiriusXM Media, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Audioboom, and NPR, with Wondery eyeing the top five from sixth place. From the Edison blog post:
“Within the top ten, the biggest jump in rank goes to Wondery/Audible/Amazon Music, up two rank positions, propelled in part by their acquisitions of major shows like Morbid and My Favorite Murder. Bubbling below the top ten, WarnerMedia gained three levels in rank, now up to 14th.“
Once more SiriusXM takes the top spot, but not without Spotify having broken their streak of having been at the top since Edison first started publishing top network by reach reports.
Libsyn Unveils November 2022 Podcast Advertising Rates
Manuela: Continuing our unplanned theme of discussing data, let’s take a moment to talk about CPM.
Last Thursday Libsyn published the November edition of their monthly CPM rate roundup from AdvertiseCast.
“The Company releases the figures to empower the podcaster and advertiser communities to readily monitor market pricing and provide greater insight into podcasting advertising as a monetization vehicle. The data is derived from actual sales data across AdvertiseCast’s network of over 3,000 shows, including more than 225 exclusive podcasts.”
Rates are continuing to increase, little by little. Last month the average CPM rate was $24.75 for a sixty-second ad spot, up 78 cents from the October average and a 6% year-over-year increase from November 2021.
The report notes that the lower end of the spectrum contains fiction, television, and news content, averaging in the low twenties. On the high side, however, a familiar face for listeners of The Download. We’ve covered the meteoric rise of Kids & Family podcast content multiple times and its popularity continues into this November. The top four highest-earning categories in November are:
Technology and Health & Fitness, tied for third place at $26. Science at $27. And at the top of the leaderboard, Kids & Family at $28, over three dollars higher than industry average.
Spotify Wrapped is here, including its top podcasts
Shreya: Some of you might have noticed a deluge of vibrant colors and boasting about listening habits last Wednesday, as the annual Spotify Wrapped dropped. Kimeko McCoy, writing for Digiday last Thursday, explains how big this yearly infodump has become:
“It’s an awareness campaign that utilizes user data to serve up users’ favorite songs, albums and podcasts to be shared across social media platforms via the app, engaging more than 120 million users last year, according to Spotify. This year, Spotify has launched its Wrapped presence in Roblox, with the goal of tapping into an even bigger audience.”
What originally started as a year-end recap in 2015 has grown to a marketing event large enough to necessitate a custom presence in one of the most popular online games. Since entering the podcast space, Spotify has also begun publishing a Podcast Wrapped.According to Ariel Shapiro in last week’s issue of Hot Pod, the top five podcasts on Spotify this year are, in descending order:
The Joe Rogan Experience
Call Her Daddy
Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain
Caso 63 (in all languages)
And, finally, Crime Junkie.
This year only two of the top five podcasts aren’t Spotify exclusives, though one of those two is set to become an exclusive early next year. Only the highly successful Crime Junkie breaks through the blockade of podcasts with strong Spotify ties.
Shapiro attributes this to Spotify’s ability to promote in-ecosystem properties like Caso 63 and its English adaptation Case 63, while podcasts that release on multiple platforms have to deal with divided metrics. Anything Goes performs well on Spotify, but it doesn’t necessarily translate to similar performance on Apple Podcasts. While it got third place on Spotify for the year, Shapiro notes Chamberlain didn’t make it into Edison Research’s top fifty most-listened-to podcasts report for Q2. From the newsletter:
“The list, therefore, tells us more about Spotify’s strategy than it does about the overall market.”
GroupM and Magna’s Global Ad Forecasts Predict A Durable Ad Market
Manuela: For our final story today we bring up a bit of good news n the face of a recession that we’re either already in, or about to enter (depending on who you ask). Hana Yoo, writing for AdExchanger, covered reports from both GroupM and Magna this Monday.
“Global advertising revenue grew 6.5% in 2022 and is projected to grow 5.9% in 2023, according to GroupM’s global year-end industry growth forecast. Meanwhile, Magna’s December global ad forecast predicts 4.8% growth in 2023 after 6.6% growth in 2022.”
Yoo notes that these projections are lower than earlier forecasts. Revised versions to meet current numbers, such as Magna’s earlier prediction of a 6.3% growth for next year. Still, as Yoo reports GroupM’s official line is they’re looking at 2023 with ‘conservative optimism.’ From the article:
“And Magna is on the same page. Although we’ll likely see “a slight slowdown in advertising revenue growth in an uncertain economic environment,” said Luke Stillman, Magna’s SVP and group director of global market intelligence, growth should reaccelerate during the second half of the year.”
In addition to forecasting overall growth, GroupM also anticipates retail media to grow from 101 billion to 110.7 billion in revenue next year. They also note CTV’s particular resilience during COVID and its upward trends, even while paid TV subscriptions slip.
Forecasts for next year aren’t cloudless skies, but they’re also not trending towards thunderstorms just yet.
Shreya: Finally, it’s time for our semi-regular roundup of articles we’re calling Quick Hits. These are articles that didn’t quite make the cut for today’s episode, but are still worth including in your weekend reading. This week:
What’s going on in audio advertising? Spotify grows, podcasts go global, and radio is a safe bet, by Shreya Feger for Insider Intelligence. A brief three-point breakdown of insights into the state of audio advertising and predictions for next year.
Rephonic analyzed its podcast database to share opportunities for podcasters on Patreon, from last Thursday’s issue of Inside Podcasting. A brief breakdown of Rephonic’s blog post detailing their findings regarding podcasting on Patreon.
Magellan AI Taps Experian to Improve Attribution by Magellan AI. A brief press release explaining their new partnership with Experian to use the Experian Identity Graph to power Attribution by Magellan AI.


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Throughout the day, most of the moments involving Google and YouTube now happen on mobile, with over 50% YouTube views now happen on mobile, Google is building scalable solutions that work across screens, today announced new ways for advertisers and agencies to better measure their campaigns and reach audience on YouTube across screens.
By investing more in mobile first solutions, “users will have more choice and transparency over how they experience ads on Google and YouTube”, Google said. And, “advertisers will have more opportunities to be present and relevant in the moments their audience chooses to watch,” it added.
Next generation insights and reporting, will bring new cutting edge cloud-based measurement solutions to generate advertiser insights and privacy/security protection across Google and YouTube.
These solution expected over the next year will let advertisers access cross devices detailed insights of their YouTube campaigns, for better understanding the impact of the campaigns on highest-value customers. “These solutions involving leading MRC accredited vendors will enable agencies and advertisers to continue to independently measure and verify the performance of their campaigns,” Google said.
Google collaborated with comScore, DoubleVerify, IAS, MOAT, and Nielsen.
Improved ways to reach your audience. Google will now use users activity associated with their Google accounts such as “demographic information and past searches” to influence the ads on YouTube, so advertisers will be able to deliver more relevant, useful ads across screens.
Advertisers will also be able to use customer data through ‘Customer Match’ to reach out highest-value customers on YouTube.
For example, “a retailer could reach customers searching for winter coat deals on Google with their own winter clothing brand campaign. The advertiser could reach customers that signed up to receive special offers in their stores,” explained Google.
User controls built for mobile world. In addition to advertiser solutions, users via “controls in My Account” will be able to control ads they see on YouTube and Google.
Also, in coming weeks, a new cross-screen control will let users mute an advertiser on Google Search, will also “mute ads from that advertiser on YouTube.”
“While technologies like pixels and cookies still have a role in the broader ecosystem, most were built for a single screen—neither pixels nor anonymous cookies were designed for the ways in which users increasingly watch content on YouTube, like on the mobile app or in the living room. This can lead to inconsistent measurement and less relevant ads across screens, making it harder for people to control the ads they see or the data used to show them,” Google explained.


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Microsoft has officially opened the much anticipated and well overdue registration for the new @live.com email addresses. This minor update along with the rest of wave 2 of Microsoft's Windows Live Suite allows users to...
Microsoft's low end smartphone strategy needs a reboot
Hands On: Preview of HP's new $200 laptop
Nest Learning Thermostat: The Next Generation, review
HP EliteDesk 800 Desktop Mini review
The latest table for Pinball FX2, Venom, reviewed
Microsoft's final "12 Days of Deals" 50% off Xbox Music subscription
Xbox Music Windows Phone
Looks like we finally have heard some news on when @live.com e-mail addresses will be released. Jacky Mok, another Product Manager for Windows Live in Toronto, has posted some information saying when they will be...
According to the Windows Live Mail Support Team Blog, from the 20th of June 2006 onwards two new domains will be available for customers signing up for a Windows Live ID. Both @live.com and @windowslive.com...


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A year after the historic merger of Dell Technologies and EMC, the company has empowered several Indian enterprises transform their information technology (IT) infrastructure, a top executive said here on Friday.
Dell EMC has emerged as a holistic solutions provider and holds the second spot in the India mainstream server market (by revenue), with a share of 26.5 per cent.
“According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), in Q1 2017, Dell EMC was No 1 in the India storage market with 43.4 per cent market share (by revenue) and holds second position in the India mainstream server market (by revenue),” Rajesh Janey, President and Managing Director, Enterprise Dell EMC, told reporters here.
With a share of 22.5 per cent, the company has now climbed to the second spot in the personal computer (PC) market in the country.
“As new digital business models emerge, there is an increased focus on reinventing business to thrive in the digital age. Organisations are now investing in innovation with emerging technologies and the first step towards this innovation is modernisation,” Janey said on the sidelines of the ‘Dell EMC Forum 2017’ event here.
“We are strongly positioned to guide customers on their digital transformation journey from edge to core to cloud. We are celebrating Dell EMC’s first-year anniversary and we would continue with our strategy to deliver results for our customers, partners, companies and team members,” Janey added.
On R&D, the company said that the India team is contributing 60 per cent to overall server systems management software, with the grounds up engineering of 14th generation servers touching three key tenets of scalability, intelligent automation and integrated security.
Earlier in July, the company had launched the 14th Generation PowerEdge Servers globally.
“We are well placed to enable businesses in their digital transformation journey across three key pillars of IT, security and workforce transformation,” said Alok Ohrie, President and Managing Director, India Commercial, Dell EMC.
“We are uniquely positioned to address numerous technology touch points to modernise their IT infrastructure, from end point devices to data centre and Cloud with a strong focus on security,” he added.
The company currently has nine offices in the country in Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.
The company annually invests around $4.5 billion for research and development. Dell-EMC employs nearly 140,000 people in 180 countries. It has a combined revenue of $74 billion.
(Krishna SinhaChaudhury can be contacted at [email protected])


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Fiona Abrahams / 12 December 2018
Sustainability in fashion is fast becoming a topic across many major media outlets. Vogue, Forbes and Wired to name a few, along with social activists are applying pressure on the top fashion houses to become more socially aware.
The movement, also dubbed ‘eco fashion’, is part of the fast-growing trend to create a system of production which indefinitely causes the least impact on the environment.
Samantha Reardon / 20 March 2018
Spring has arrived, the sun has returned and guess what.. the 80's are back as well!
With the Fall 18 shows all wrapped up, the overwhelming vibe was that change is in the air. With the ever frequent news of changes to Creative Directors, excitement was everywhere.
The Outdoorsy Type
- Weather resistant jackets, hats and trousers were spotted everywhere this season. Protective...
Samantha Reardon / 6 February 2018
Paris Fashion Week Men's came round again at the start of this year and the collections for AW18 did not disappoint. To name a few of our favourites: Dior Homme, John Galliano's Maison Margiela, Louis Vuitton. Lanvin, Wooyoungmi, Berluti and Givenchy.
Samantha Reardon / 19 December 2017
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Fashion Heaven Inc!!


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AISI Says U.S. Government Must Address China's WTO Violations
In 45 pages of comments filed today with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) said that "based on an overwhelming amount of evidence…China has largely abandoned its policy of liberalizing its economy and instead adheres to a policy of state capitalism that is antithetical to the principles of free and fair trade. This trend is a major problem for American steel producers, other manufacturers and the U.S. economy as a whole."
In its comments, AISI strongly urges the U.S. government to "rethink its current approach to addressing this issue and adopt a more aggressive strategy that is commensurate with the scope and severity of China’s failure to comply with its WTO obligations."
The current U.S.-China trade relationship is taking a tremendous toll on American manufacturers," said Kevin Dempsey, senior vice president of public policy at AISI. "Over the last decade, our trade deficit with China has soared 280 percent, we have lost millions of manufacturing jobs, thousands of factories have been shuttered and the American steel industry has been severely disrupted. The U.S. government must take much bolder and more imaginative steps to address this chronic problem."
AISI’s comments pointed to several facts illustrating China’s non-compliance:
From 2000 to 2012, Chinese crude steel production increased by 609 million metric tons (MT) – a volume over seven times total crude steel production in the U.S. China’s increased production has been made possible, in large part, by massive government subsidies.
Although China pledged as part of its WTO accession that it would not "influence" commercial decisions of its state-owned enterprises, the Chinese government maintains a heavy amount of control over state-owned steel producers.
Despite years of complaints by American manufacturers – and widespread criticism from government officials and other experts – China continues to keep the value of its currency at artificially-low levels that give Chinese producers an unfair advantage in the U.S. market, the Chinese market, and third country markets.
China has taken numerous measures to inappropriately aid its producers in securing access to raw materials and to manipulate raw material prices in a manner that gives Chinese producers an unfair advantage over their U.S. competitors.
The U.S. should continue to treat China as a non-market economy for purposes of U.S. antidumping laws, begin to countervail subsidies that were bestowed prior to China’s WTO accession, and ensure that Chinese companies are not circumventing and evading U.S. trade remedy laws by, among other things, shipping merchandise through third countries.
"AISI commends USTR for recent cases it has brought at the WTO that challenge certain export restraints as violating China’s WTO commitments. However, given China’s pervasive use of export restraints and other measures to control raw material prices, winning these challenges will only be the first step to bring China’s policies into compliance with its WTO commitments. The fact that China has not fully complied with its WTO obligations underscores the importance of effective enforcement of U.S. trade remedy laws," Dempsey concluded.


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US jewellers hail tariff stay on Chinese goods
10th July, 2019
The Jewelers of America expressed relief that a proposed 25 percent tariff on additional Chinese goods, which include jewellery-related items, has been shelved as US and China resume trade talks.
Baselworld becomes CIBJO member
9th July, 2019
Baselworld has signed an agreement with CIBJO the World Jewellery Confederation to become an official member of the industry-wide organisation.
GJEPC adamant on gold import duty cut
8th July, 2019
Industry players are lobbying for lower import duties on gold and other precious metals in India after the government announced last week that it had raised tariffs to 12.5 percent.
Alrosa raises US$10.3m at HK auction
8th July, 2019
Russian miner Alrosa generated a total of US$10.3 million from the sale of special-sized rough diamonds or those of over 10.8 carats in Hong Kong.
HK to host World Diamond Congress 2020
5th July, 2019
The 39th World Diamond Congress will be held in Hong Kong in 2020, a joint statement by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association revealed.
Technology, trends top ICA Congress agenda
4th July, 2019
The 19th ICA Congress, scheduled for October 12 to 15 in Bangkok, will shed light on relevant issues in the coloured gemstone trade such as technology and market trends, among others.
IDE reveals natural diamond campaign
3rd July, 2019
The Israel Diamond Exchange has unveiled a global awareness campaign aimed at highlighting the exceptional features of natural diamonds.
Lukfook banks on China to spur growth
2nd July, 2019
Hong Kong-based jewellery retailer Luk Fook Holdings (International) Ltd is counting on solid demand for fine jewellery in China to sustain growth.
De Beers casts spotlight on ‘Horizon’ rings
2nd July, 2019
De Beers Jewellers has unveiled a new nature-inspired line that features a contemporary yet timeless design. Diamond-studded rings are the stars of the collection.
GIA to offer distance education in China
1st July, 2019
The Gemological Institute of America’s distance education programmes, including student workrooms, will be offered to students in China through a joint initiative.
GIA seminar on evaluating jewellery quality
28th June, 2019
The Gemological Institute of America is presenting a unique seminar on assessing jewellery design and engineering to identify manufacturing methods, workmanship and risk of failure.
China boosts Swiss watch exports in May
27th June, 2019
Exports of Swiss timepieces rose 11.4 percent in May 2019, with the Chinese market registering strong growth, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH.
Coloured gems face dazzling future, says report
25th June, 2019
Coloured gemstones are outshining other sectors in the global jewellery industry on the back of rising consumer interest, according to Knight Frank's Luxury Investment Index Q1 2019.
SILVERSTYLES Sep 2019


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Terrorism and flooding plunged bookshop Foyles into red last year
It survived two world wars, thefts and strikes but the drama never stops for bookshop Foyles. Terrorism and flooding plunged it into the red last year.
Accounts just filed by the 115-year-old W&G Foyle reveal the company made a pre-tax loss of £88,800 in the 12 months to June 30, 2017 despite sales growing 6 per cent to £26.6 million.
Flagship: The new store in Charing Cross Road
Best known for its former flagship branch in Charing Cross Road, Central London – once listed as the world’s largest bookshop with 30 miles of shelving – it moved its main store a few doors along in 2014.
The company has other branches in London, Birmingham, Bristol and a newly opened shop in Chelmsford, Essex.
The directors said heightened fears of terrorism and subsequent extra security measures meant fewer customers at its key locations.
A flood in Charing Cross Road meant the shop was closed during a peak trading period and a hike in business rates added an extra £70,000 to costs.
The firm expects a recent restructuring to bear fruit in this financial year.
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Kith + Kids = Kidset
Famed athleisure brand KITH is broadening its collection to now include kids, via its newest venture, Kidset.
This Friday, Kidset will release its fall/winter collection for the year, as well as a brick-and-mortar store on New York’s Bleecker street, at what was formerly the women’s KITH store. The line will feature some classic KITH looks in miniature-sized versions, such as coordinating sweat suits, beanies and jackets in neutral colors.
Doors open to the public at 11 a.m. EST. The collection will also be available online, via the KITH website.
All images sourced from kith.com or @kidset on Instagram


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Who controls the American movie business? With its latest acquisition, it looks like a Chinese firm is trying to plant its flag in how Americans digest film culture.
Wanda Cinema Line, a unit of China's leading property developer Dalian Wanda Group, plans to acquire the entire stake in Hoyts Group, a leading chain cinema operator in Australia, via a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Alibaba's B2C platform Tmall.com is about to open a new channel for Chinese moviegoers to acquire exclusive Disney products.
3D technologies company RealD Inc. has signed a deal to expand its technologies across 50 more theaters in China.


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The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will start the imposition of an upfront 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on the customs value of taxable goods at all ports of entry with effect from Tuesday, June 6, this year.
The development will affect importers of taxable goods who are not registered to charge VAT.
It is applicable to taxable goods imported into the country for home consumption, taxable uncustomed goods forfeited and auctioned and taxable goods on transfer from bonded facilities.
It means importers of taxable goods who are not registered with the authority for tax will pay the upfront VAT in addition to the import duties and other taxes on the total value of the goods imported.
It follows the amendment of the VAT Act, 2013 (Act 870) which imposed the upfront payment of VAT by unregistered importers as an administrative measure to enhance the performance of VAT.
These came to light when the GRA engaged media practitioners on the implementation of the 12.5 per cent upfront payment in Accra last Thursday.
Not a new tax
The Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the GRA, Edward Gyambrah, explained that the move was “a compliance tool and not a new tax”.
He stated that all those who were tax compliant would not be affected.
Ahead of the implementation of the amended law, the Commissioner said the GRA had engaged various stakeholders, including the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Institute of Freight Forwarders and the Custom Brokers Association of Ghana, among others.
Mr Gyambrah further stated that the law which was passed in 2020 was aimed at ensuring parity in the pricing of goods on the market to ensure fairness, as VAT registered taxpayers charged the tax on their imported goods on the domestic front.
He said it would help identify unregistered importers of taxable goods who did not charge VAT on their domestic supplies and ensure tax compliance as importers of taxable goods were required to register with the GRA and file their tax returns as well as make it easy to identify non-compliant taxpayers.
Mr Gyambrah noted that the VAT paid upfront could be recovered when the importer finally registered with the GRA, filed tax returns and paid all taxes due the state.
The Commissioner of Domestic Tax Revenue said the GRA was embarking on various initiatives to meet its annual revenue target of GH¢106 billion for the 2023 fiscal year.
Listing some of the policies aimed at helping the authority to meet its revenue target, he mentioned the amended tax laws such as the income tax, excise duty tax and the growth and sustainability levy.
Mr Gyambrah said aside from the upfront VAT imposition, other initiatives to ensure tax compliance included e-VAT invigilation and mystery shopping.
He said the tax net had been widened also to cover the gaming, betting and lottery industry and the night economy.
The Commissioner of Domestic Tax Revenue added that the authority had intensified the prosecution of tax defaulters to increase voluntary tax compliance.
He said the move had become necessary as the country’s VAT contribution to the total tax receipts, which was less than 20 per cent, was one of the lowest on the continent.
“When it comes to VAT, our peer countries are contributing more than 30 per cent. Togo and Ivory Coast are contributing about 50 per cent,” Mr Gyambrah averred.
A member of the technical committee for the implementation of the Upfront Payment of VAT, Wiseborn Koranteng, said persons who failed to apply for registration were liable to a penalty of not more than two times the amount of tax on taxable supplies payable from the time they were required to apply for registration until they filed an application for registration with the Commissioner General of the GRA.
He added that persons liable for the payment of upfront VAT included importers of taxable goods who were required to register for VAT, but who had failed to register.
Mr Koranteng said unregistered importers of goods became liable when they imported taxable goods with a custom value of GH¢200,000 and above per consignment.
He said the law, however, provided that the upfront payment might be recovered in six months after the importer had registered for the tax and filed a return.
He indicated that VAT compliance had traditionally been a challenge due to the informal nature of transactions in the economy.
Some importers, Mr Koranteng said, though registerable for VAT purposes, were currently not in the VAT net.
Such importers, because they did not pay import VAT at the port of entry, did not charge the tax when they supplied goods on the domestic front, thereby undercutting the market and denying the state its due revenue.
|Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.|


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Should India worry about rising solar trade deficits?
India’s rapid expansion of solar market and insufficient manufacturing facilities are considered to be some of the reasons behind widening solar component trade deficits.
India’s solar power programs started long back in the 1980s but the growth remained slow for a substantial part of the last three decades. As a result, India remained one of the laggards in terms of solar capacity addition and solar energy production. More importantly, domestic solar component manufacturing could not metamorphose due to inadequacy of proactive policy forming and implementation. The launch of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) on 11 January 2010 provided much-needed impetus for solar growth in India. The JNNSM ignited solar installations with utility scale solar plants in the country. Subsequently demand for solar components started to pick up and domestic solar component manufacturing industry received a much-needed lifeline.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions transforming India’s energy sector with the help of sustainable solar energy. Therefore, through National Solar Mission, solar installation target has been revised to 100 GW through 2022 from 20 GW under JNNSM, a fivefold increase. Massive solar installations are bound to substantially expand demand for solar components. Unfortunately, the domestic producers are not fully prepared to meet the surge in demand; therefore, jump in imports is a logical outcome.
India’s solar component import trend in the recent times suggests that the domestic producers lost to the global players in Asia, Europe, and the US. The reasons for import preference include cost competitiveness, product quality, superior technology and higher performance reliability. Considering multiple market-linked factors, Asia-pacific emerges as a major import destination for solar components shipped to India. For instance, in 2015-16, China contributed $2,010 million, 83 per cent of India’s total solar component import.
India’s rapid expansion of solar market and insufficient manufacturing facilities are considered to be some of the reasons behind widening solar component trade deficits. At the end of June 2016, 20 solar cell manufacturers had installed capacity of 1,468 MW with 1,123 MW of operational capacity. About 94 solar module manufacturers had operational capacity of 4,308 MW out of installed capacity of 5,848 MW, substantially lower than the annual demand. Government ambitiously targets to achieve a cumulative solar installation of 100 GW by 2022 from the current level of about 12.5 GW, which means an average annual installation of 15 GW through 2022, resulting in higher demand for solar cells and modules proportionately.
At this juncture, the solar cell manufacturing is just about one fourth of module capacity, which means cell manufacturing needs massive scale up to meet the demand. The gap between module capacity and cell capacity possibly indicates that demand for the domestic cells is lower than
imported cell; therefore, scale up has not taken place. Possibly pricing has played its part as price of an Indian cell is Rs.17-19/Wp, whereas Chinese cells cost 21 US cents(Rs. 13.5/Wp).
Falling crystalline module prices from 0.7 €/Wp in 2014 to 0.46 €/Wp in 2017 supported growth of solar installations across the globe and likely to slide further in the coming years. Over supply from China perceived to be one of the reasons behind downward price corrections. Consequent to the global developments and favourable domestic factors like falling interest rate; solar power tariff in India reached new lows at Rs. 2.44/kWh.
Falling solar tariff is a healthy sign but rising solar trade deficit is more than a concern. India’s solar trade surplus of $286 million in 2010-11 quickly vanished to reach a deficit of $2571 million in 2016-17 (up to Feb.2017). In case, appropriate steps are not taken the solar trade deficits are going to widen further. To address the problem it is desirable that the domestic solar component manufacturing industry becomes globally competitive.
Policy makers through appropriate policy interventions should signal the investors and solar manufacturers to invest in capacity building. China has proven that it is possible to leapfrog the leaders; so India can write its own success story too. In the 1990s, China got capital, technology and experts support from Germanyto build capacity. China provided attractive loans and tax incentives to expand its solar component manufacturing industry. In the initial years, Chinese manufacturers predominantly relied on export markets like Germany till strong the demand market. During the process the Chinese manufacturers became globally competitive and cost efficient.
Indian manufacturers have great opportunities to prove that they are globally competitive; automobile component industry and wind power component industry are some of the examples to learn from. A robust domestic demand would certainly help the manufacturers to a greater extent. However, a globally competitive producer could find or create markets beyond domestic territory. In pursuit of building competitiveness and attracting investment, Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (MSIPS) has been extended to silicon wafers manufacturers of solar equipment, which provides subsidy for capital expenditure - 20% for investments in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 25% in non-SEZs.The Government’s action on expanding scope of MSIPS to include more solar components should help the industry to be more competitive. A stronger domestic solar component manufacturing industry would certainly help improving India’s solar trade balance by 2022
 MNRE (2016). Solar Cells/Modules Manufacturing Capacities accessed on 4th June 2017
 MNRE (2017. Physical Progress (Achievements) at the end of April 2017. accessed on 4th June 2017
 Verma B. (2017). Challenges to solar cell manufacturing in India. accessed on 4th June 2017
 Fialka John (2016). Scientific American. 19 Dec..


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The challenges of digital identity, AML/KYC and common technical standards must be overcome to deliver on the promise of blockchain technology.
Overstock subsidiary tZERO is adding features to its upcoming security token, allowing investors to use the coin to purchase a handful of services.
Air services provider Dnata, IBM and others have completed of a proof-of-concept examining blockchain's potential in the air cargo industry.
Bermuda has launched a new working group aimed to advance the regulatory and commercial environment for token sales, cryptocurrencies and more.
Air New Zealand is partnering with decentralized travel platform Winding Tree to explore blockchain tech for ticket booking and baggage tracking.
The governor of a South Korean financial regulator has said it has "no plans" to supervise cryptocurrency trading.
An obscure provision tucked into a U.S. defense spending bill could act as a springboard for blockchain adoption across government agencies.
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) has become the first Austrian banking group to join the R3 distributed ledger consortium.
A scammer successfully made more than $3 million after getting the private keys to bitcoin gold users' wallets during the fork's launch period.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has cast doubt on the legality of bitcoin in the country.


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CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (June 17, 2021) – The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo) is teaming up with Kiva US to launch a statewide hub called Kiva Iowa. The new venture aims to help underserved entrepreneurs and small business owners in the state gain access to much-needed capital.
Kiva, an international nonprofit based in San Francisco, gives entrepreneurs access to a microlending platform that offers business loans with zero-percent-interest and zero fees. Kiva also facilitates crowdfunding on their online platform.
Iowa is the first to serve as a statewide hub partner. NewBoCo’s Kaitlin Byers will lead the new effort, serving as Kiva Iowa’s Capital Access Manager.
Byers ran a small business of her own for five years, operating in four cities across Iowa. She says that access to this type of capital could have been the boost she needed to stay in business.
“Kiva microloans can be a game changer for entrepreneurs who face barriers to accessing traditional means of capital,” says Byers. “With this holistic and accessible model for lending, we are eager to help set underrepresented business owners on the path to financial success.”
Kiva users can lend as little as $25 to individual entrepreneurs, providing them affordable capital to start or expand a small business. Kiva facilitates loans to entrepreneurs in more than 80 countries around the world and launched in the United States in 2011.
NewBoCo’s staff built Iowa’s first time-boxed accelerator, the Iowa Startup Accelerator (ISA). Since its formation, companies in ISA have created more than 200+ jobs and raised more than $40 million to further their growth. The NewBoCo team also runs the 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids chapter, where NewBoCo staff educates, mentors, and engages with new and existing businesses in the ICR region.
NewBoCo’s partnership with Kiva is made possible through funding from the Iowa Economic Development Authority with additional support from GoDaddy, and The City of Cedar Rapids. Two other partners include Jane Boyd Community House (Empower Program) and The Global Good Fund, a national nonprofit with expertise in leadership development. These two partners will provide practical, strategic, and hands-on mentoring, coaching and training to equip these business owners for growth.
Crowdfunded loans fill a critical lending gap faced by entrepreneurs whose businesses are too young, too small, or have been rejected by traditional lenders due to low or no credit score. With a global repayment rate of 97 percent, this is a huge opportunity to build the ‘missing micro’ ladder of small, affordable loans, especially for women, entrepreneurs of color, and low to moderate income business owners.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities across Iowa,” Byers said. “By lending on the Kiva platform, you are letting these local entrepreneurs know that you believe in them and want them to succeed. This may very well be the assurance they need to take their business to the next level. Our partnership with Kiva further confirms our dedication to supporting the dreams of entrepreneurs across the state of Iowa. When these entrepreneurs thrive, we all win.”
About Kiva US
Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco, with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Kiva celebrates and supports people looking to create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities. With as little as a $25 loan, anyone can help a borrower start or grow a business, go to school, access clean energy and realize their potential. For more information about Kiva Iowa, visit www.newbo.co/kiva
The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, Inc. (NewBoCo) is a 501(c)(3) organization located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. NewBoCo’s programming supports entrepreneurship, innovation, and tech education to help Iowans become more resilient and thrive in a changing economy. For more information, visit www.newbo.co


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The SelectUSA summit helps international investors and entrepreneurs find opportunities to open new enterprises and expand existing operations in the U.S.
Being a successful entrepreneur takes knowledge, skills, business planning resources and mentoring relationships. This handbook can help.
Startup Camp Rijeka helped 26-year-old Ivan Jelusic of Croatia to start a business that sells its products in 15 countries.
April 7 is World Health Day. David Shoultz of PATH says global health care solutions must consider demand, cost and design to be successful.
On April 4, join a webchat with experts on best practices for building a community that supports entrepreneurs, ventures and the startup community.
International students at U.S. universities are now able to obtain a credit card, thanks to a startup founded by someone who was once without one.
Movie stars, tech moguls and music artists are converging in Austin, Texas, as part of the 2017 South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals.
On March 14, talk with Habib Haddad, managing director for the MIT Media Lab's E14 fund, and Elmira Bayrasli, co-founder of Foreign Policy Interrupted.
Want to learn about incubators and accelerators and how they can help entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground? Tune in to this GIST Guru webchat.


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Clarence Tabb Jr. / The Detroit News
Saturn's Sky gets rave reviews from The Detroit News' Automotive Consumer Panel. "They have changed," says Nancy Helganz of Canton Township. "They aren't grandma's car anymore." The judgment of the hypercritical panel is that Saturn is the star of the 2005 Detroit auto show.
Drivers reach for the Sky
The Saturn roadster and sedan bowl over the consumer panel. Kia, Dodge and VW entries don't impress.
By Anita Lienert / Special to The Detroit News
Charles V. Tines / The Detroit News
The buzz about Saturn and its latest cars - the Aura concept sedan and Sky convertible - raced through the ranks of the 2005 Detroit News Automotive Consumer Panel before they even set foot in the Saturn display.
"The Sky is hot," said Paul Tassi, a 17-year-old University of Michigan freshman from Northville. "I've seen the pictures. I really don't like Saturns, but I like this car. I like the concept of an affordable two-seater."
Saturn was one of the last stops on this hypercritical panel's tour. And there were few smiles until they got there.
The dour panel universally panned the retro-inspired Dodge Charger.
They scoffed at the Kia KCD-II Mesa, a Korean sport utility vehicle that was designed in California to be a Ford Explorer fighter.
They laughed at the tiny, fuel-efficient fortwo from smart, a popular European brand that may be coming to the U.S. market.
"Yes, we're harsh," said Viola King, 37, a Detroit lawyer. "We're trying to get the most for our money. We're looking out for the everyday person. Our expectations are high."
The 10 panelists - a group of ordinary consumers who range in age from 17 to 56 - were bored by the Volkswagen New Beetle Ragster concept, yet another riff on what appears to be a well-worn retro theme.
A pair of much-anticipated models - Honda's Ridgeline pickup and Ford's Fusion sedan - drew very different reactions. The Ridgeline's surprise trunk and two-way tailgate (it can be opened using a conventional handle or a hidden button) won kudos, but the Fusion went virtually unnoticed.
And some panelists seemed concerned about the moral implications of the Ford SYN US, a tiny armored concept car that Peter Horbury, Ford's executive director of North American design, described as something of a new twist on the old automotive "passion pit."
All the negativity and constant griping made the panel's assessment of the new Saturns that much more powerful.
The judgment of this group, which includes a special-education teacher, a dentist and a private investigator, is that Saturn is the star of the 2005 Detroit auto show and that the much-maligned General Motors Corp. brand is poised on the brink of greatness.
"Saturn is the most improved player at the auto show," Rob Blakeley, 29, a Ferndale special-education teacher, said after studying the Aura and the Sky.
Lora Leneschmidt, 32, a South Lyon stay-at-home mom and former paralegal, sat in the backseat of the Aura, running her hands over the textured leather trim and bubbling over the improvements she was seeing up close.
"Saturn used to be utilitarian with no style," Leneschmidt said. "This is a lot more luxurious."
After crawling all over the Sky and the Aura, the panelists huddled away from Saturn executives and shouted out adjectives to describe the new vehicles.
"Refreshing" and "luxurious" were repeated again and again. When asked about their previous impressions of Saturn, the panel used words like "boring" and "ugly."
"They have changed," said Nancy Helganz, a 37-year-old private investigator from Canton. "They aren't grandma's car anymore."
The Sky goes on sale in early 2006 and will be priced under $25,000. The production Aura hits the market in fall 2006.
The panel's introduction to the show's array of global automotive products began with the 2006 Dodge Charger, a full-size sedan derived from the popular Chrysler 300 that goes on sale in April and resurrects the iconic Charger name from the 1960s and 1970s. It is expected to be priced from $23,000 to $29,000.
"I'm not digging it," Leneschmidt said. "It's too boxy on the inside and the gauges look cheap."
Reginald Alexander, a 6-foot-4-inch Detroit resident who owns a commercial and residential painting business, couldn't fit in the backseat.
Neither could 6-foot-tall William O. Lee, a data processing program analyst for the City of Detroit Waste Water Treatment Plant.
When the panelists conferred after their introduction to the Charger, not one said he or she would buy it.
"Not even me," said Delores Hunter, 56, a retired U.S. Postal Service supervisor from Detroit whose late husband worked as a skilled tradesman for Chrysler for 29 years.
"I'm a Chrysler girl," she said. "But it don't give me no 'oomph.'."
The towering Alexander struggled his way through a number of vehicles, including the chopped-top Volkswagen New Beetle Ragster concept. He couldn't seem to comfortably squeeze himself into much on the show floor.
"I've got to find something I can fit in" was his constant refrain.
When the panel stopped to check out the redesigned 2006 Hyundai Sonata sedan - calculated to undercut the Toyota Camry, America's best-selling car - the panel seemed open to the pitch from Hyundai spokesman Chris Hosford. He told them the Hyundai would feature standard antilock brakes, traction control and six air bags and likely be priced under $20,000.
Six panelists said they would consider buying a Sonata.
But Alexander still wasn't happy with the fit.
Around the corner from the Sonata, in the vibrant smart car display, the panelists were plied with pizza and pop. But they still weren't buying the concept of an under-$15,000 minicar with an 0.7-liter three-cylinder engine, frog-eye-style gauges and modular panels.
"It's just like a Yugo," said Lee, a disparaging reference to the cheap Yugoslavian-built hatchback from the 1980s.
"Just wait until you get in an accident with a (Ford) Excursion," Leneschmidt said.
"I can't take it seriously," Alexander said. "It reminds me of the episode on 'The Simpsons' where Homer made his own car and it didn't sell."
Still, a minor miracle occurred when smart product specialist Danny Pardo convinced Alexander to sit in the fortwo - and he fit.
"I have to eat my words," Alexander said. "Of all the cars I've tried - except for the Maybach - it's the first car I fit in."
At the Kia stand, panelists were initially drawn to the KCD-II Mesa concept SUV.
"The exterior has a rugged, modern look," said Dr. Hamish Carpenter, a 35-year old West Bloomfield Township dentist.
But upon closer examination, the Mesa was declared a bomb.
"It doesn't look American," said Cherish Samuels, 24, an architectural engineer from Detroit. "It's not about comfort. And can you imagine trying to put a kid's car seat in there?"
"It can't compete with the Explorer," Leneschmidt said. "It's not functional enough."
Carpenter and others liked the new look of Lexus, as exemplified by the styling on the LF-A concept, a sleek, 500-horsepower supercar, and the new look of Jaguar, revealed in the lines of the baby blue Advanced Lightweight coupe.
But not one of them could be persuaded to step up on the Subaru stand to have a peek at the B9 Tribeca, an all-wheel-drive, seven-passenger crossover vehicle - the biggest Subaru ever built.
"Not interested," King said.
The panel was only slightly more curious about the Mazda5, kind of a cross between an SUV and a micro minivan with rear sliding doors and seating for six.
"It takes the worst of both," Leneschmidt said.
"It doesn't know if it wants to be an SUV or a minivan," Samuels said.
"It's going through puberty," Tassi said.
"It's confused," Samuels added.
The Ford display provided big highs and big lows for the panel. They seemed awestruck by the polished aluminum Shelby GR-1 coupe, a 605-horsepower concept that hints at the Ford GT's replacement. Samuels said it was the best thing she'd seen all day.
But the Fairlane, which Ford executives told the panel was intended to "rewrite the minivan," got a thumbs-down.
"It looks antiquated and futuristic all at once," Carpenter said. "I wouldn't buy something like this."
Helganz went head-to-head with Ford's Horbury over the design of the tailgate. She pretended to be loading groceries and kept bumping her head, then repeated her actions for Horbury's benefit.
"Why do you want to go in and out like that?" he asked.
"Duh," she replied, "to put my groceries in."
"Oh, well, yes," Horbury responded. "This is a sophisticated people mover. Think of the word Hamptons."
"But there's no place to sit back here," she said, tugging on his sleeve.
"It's not an SUV," he responded.
Helganz blushed, and when Horbury went over to the Ford SYN US display, she said, to nobody in particular, "I don't want to argue with the head designer, but this car is not functional."
Later, up in the media center, panelists such as Viola King said they were worried about a comment Horbury made about the tiny SYN US being a place where young consumers could retreat with friends if they couldn't go back to their parents' house.
"That's not right," King said. "What are they promoting?"
Tassi, the youngest panelist who had worried before the show started that "I won't find anything that I like," summed up the afternoon.
"It's not a blockbuster year," he said, "but some things are worth seeing.
"Just don't sit in the Kia Mesa."


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Superhot's developer has teased a VR release for its super hot debut title.
The ingenious first-person puzzle game where time only moves when you do has been receiving rave reviews lately and the developer noted in a Kickstarter update that it has "secretive" plans to bring VR support to the popular title.
"We are constantly working on the Xbox One version of Superhot and doing secretive work on a bunch of grand VR plans. We can't tell you too much but Superhot in VR is going to be fun, oooh so much fun," Superhot Team teased.
The question is what platforms it's courting. Since Superhot is already on PC it seems like Oculus or HTC Vive would be the usual suspects, but perhaps Superhot Team is secretly working with Sony on a PlayStation VR version? Or maybe it's creating a Gear VR mobile port? Gyroscopic aiming could be cool, albeit a little hazardous around the house.
VR won't be the only update in store for Superhot, however. "Expect content updates in the future. And since you're all such wonderful people, we'll keep those content updates free of charge," the developer said to its Kickstarter backers who cumulatively spent a quarter million dollars to fund the team's premiere title.
Our Chris Donlan came away from Superhot suitably impressed, if a little shaken by its cathartic bloodlust. He called it "an extravagant, exuberant, perceptive rumination on obedience and cruelty" in his Superhot review. "This is that rare piece of charmingly curated violence that dares to provoke difficult thoughts."
For more of Superhot in action, here's our Ian Higton playing through its unlockable Endless Mode:


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In brief: Tesla is adding two new features to its vehicles via the company’s over-the-air updates. In addition to sentry mode, which records anyone breaking into or damaging a car, there’s also a dog mode for keeping your canine friends happy.
Back in October 2018, Tesla boss Elon Musk replied to a tweet requesting a dog mode be added to the Tesla Model 3. Josh Atchley asked for a way to keep a vehicle’s radio and air conditioning turned on while the car is off, thereby making it more comfortable for dogs left alone in cars. Additionally, he suggested a message be shown that reads: “I’m fine, my owner will be right back,” which could stop people trying to break in and save what appears to be a overheating pet in distress.
Musk gave a simple “yes” reply to the tweet. Four months later, he confirmed that dog mode will be rolled out this week.
Yes— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 20, 2018
Alongside dog mode comes sentry mode, another feature that came about from a tweet. Owner Andy Sutton last month tagged Musk in a photo of his dented Tesla, adding that he wished for a “360 dash cam feature while parked.” The CEO later wrote: “Tesla Sentry Mode coming soon for all cars with Enhanced Autopilot.”
Tesla Sentry Mode coming soon for all cars with Enhanced Autopilot https://t.co/x2buQWiABX— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 22, 2019
Musk said the feature will use a Tesla’s cameras to detect when another motorist gets too close to the vehicle, or if someone tries to break in, at which point they will start recording and sound the alarm, which plays Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. He added that an excellent (IMO) metal cover of the song might occasionally play, though he could be joking.
But, occasionally, the metal versionhttps://t.co/ogHYUPoA9z— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2019
Both modes are coming to Teslas with AP2+ hardware, which covers all versions of the Model 3.
Back in December, a Tesla update added romance mode, a Pole Position game, and six fart noises to the vehicles.
Image credit: Dezy via Shutterstock


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ST. PAUL, Minn.--(3M, the maker of 3M Privacy Screen Protectors, is looking to help those in need of privacy by offering ways to better protect private information and the chance to win a getaway for two for those whose visual privacy has been invaded.)--People are nosy. In fact, every month more than 5,000 people take to Twitter to complain about how their mobile device has been snooped on or their visual privacy invaded. Who can’t resist eavesdropping on a conversation or glancing over at what someone is reading or working on? According to a recent survey1, 43 percent of respondents admit to glancing at a stranger’s mobile device, and younger people (ages 18-24) are even more curious with 66 percent admitting to snooping on a stranger’s device.
“We constantly see people using Twitter as a vehicle to comment on how annoyed they are when people are snooping on their device”
Pablos Holman, an expert on hacking, knows better than anyone how simple things – even snooping – can put people at risk for having personal information stolen. “Hacking is really about a mindset to discover what’s possible,” says Holman. “By tapping into the hacker mindset, my goal is to expose potential threats so people can be better informed and better protect themselves against onlookers who choose to violate them.”
3M has collaborated with Holman to learn how hackers think. Holman offers the following advice to protect personal information:
- Don’t travel with corporate branded apparel. Companies love for their employees to be proud of where they work, but when traveling with corporate branded apparel a hacker simply needs to overhear your first name and combine it with your company to be able to unlock your identity on LinkedIn.
- Use a privacy screen protector on mobile devices. When trying to get work done, accessing bank accounts or even shopping online while traveling or in any public place, a hacker can easily snoop and steal any sensitive information on display by simply taking a photo with a smartphone camera and using the information later. 3M makes privacy screen protectors for laptops, tablets and smartphones so you can make sure to protect whatever device you frequently use to access confidential or personal information when in public places from side snoopers.
- Beware of RFID credit cards. Many new credit cards include radio frequency identification tags to allow for easy payment options so cardholders could simply hold their cards in front of a reader instead of swiping it in a machine. Hackers can use an RFID reader to steal your credit card number by simply brushing up against your purse or back pocket. To help protect yourself, use an RFID-blocking wallet or sleeve.
- Use a password manager to help you remember complex passwords. Passwords, especially email passwords, are a hacker’s gateway to unlocking sensitive information. Once a hacker has your email password, they can click “I forgot my password” on any website and start logging in anywhere. People know it is important to have a strong, complex password, but many don’t because they don’t want to forget the password. Try using a password manager to keep track of all your passwords in one place.
- Password protect your phone. Seventy percent of mobile phone users do not password protect their phone.2 If a phone gets into the wrong hands, a hacker could easily gain access to email accounts, passwords, date of birth and countless other personal information that could be used to create fake accounts.
“We constantly see people using Twitter as a vehicle to comment on how annoyed they are when people are snooping on their device,” says Nicola Stevens, Business Unit Manager in 3M’s Mobile Interactive Solutions Division. “We wanted to find a way to help those in need of visual privacy and offer them tips as well as a product solution for this inconvenience.”
The 3M Privacy Patrol is looking to provide those whose privacy has been invaded with the chance to win a getaway.
Here’s how to enter:
- Follow @3Mscreens at Twitter.com/3Mscreens
- Tweet @3Mscreens with hashtag #3MPrivacyPatrol
- Tell us how your mobile device visual privacy was invaded
- Include where and what device was snooped on.
The Privacy Patrol from 3M will also give away five 3M Privacy Screen Protectors for smartphones a week, selected at random from that week’s entries, leading up to the grand prize of a getaway for two to a San Diego resort. People can enter once per day through December 13th.
See the complete contest rules here: 3Mscreens.com/privacypatrol
Win a trip! Follow/@ us how ur mobile device was snooped. Incl where/what device & #3MPrivacyPatrol. Rules: 3Mscreens.com/privacypatrol
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs 84,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
3M is a trademark of 3M Company © 3M 2012
1 According to a 3M survey conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults, ages 18 and older, in September 2012.
2 According to a Sophos survey commissioned in August 2011. http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2011/08/09/free-sophos-mobile-security-toolkit/


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Microsoft is cutting 18,000 jobs (14 percent of its workforce) over the next year and taking a charge of $1.1 billion to $1.6 billion to cover the cost. Here is CEO Satya Nadella’s memo on the job cuts.
Apple will have to pay about $450 million to settle its e-book price-fixing case.
Amazon is testing a service that would give users unlimited e-books and audiobooks for $10 a month.
Here are 10 tips to make Siri more useful.
NetDocuments, a provider of cloud-based document and email management systems, just raised $25 million from Frontier Capital.
CNET’s website was hacked by Russians, who took the tech-news platform’s database on more than 1 million users.
Airbnb unveiled a major rebranding and sharing effort, but it got more attention for its new logo, which the Interwebs think looks like a person’s private parts.


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Guild Wars 2 Breaks 3 Million In Sales
Posted on Tuesday, January 15 @ 09:12:05 PST by Alex_Osborn
While World of Warcraft still dominates the MMO genre, that hasn't stopped the competition from taking a significant bite out of the market. ArenaNet's Guild Wars 2 has proven to be quite a success since its launch last year, will sales numbers that now surpass three million.
On the game's official site, director Colin Johanson discussed what is next for the MMO, teasing some exciting new stuff that they're planning to roll out over the next several months. Here are just a few things that they are working to improve:
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Toast Inc has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) as the start-up that sells software to help restaurants with both online and in-store orders cashes in on the fast-changing needs of restaurant businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Boston-based company recorded $704 million in revenue in the first half of 2021, a 105% period-over-period jump. It has gained traction as restaurants look to save on third-party commissions and build a direct relationship with patrons during the pandemic.
Founded in 2011 and launched in 2013, Toast provides a software platform to help restaurants manage online ordering, operate an on-demand delivery network and integrate payment among other things.
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It has partnered with approximately 48,000 restaurant locations, and processed more than $38 billion in gross payment volume over the past 12 months.
Series Of Tech Companies Slated To Go Public And Possible Value
Toast is expected to join a series of tech companies slated to go public this fall in one of the hottest years for IPOs. The company could be valued at $20 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported in February, citing people familiar with the matter.
Toast's upcoming IPO will follow that of US food delivery company DoorDash Inc, which was valued at more than $71 billion after its market debut in December.
Surge In Demand For Food Delivery Services
DoorDash and rivals Uber Eats, Grubhub and Postmates have benefitted from a surge in demand for food delivery services due to widespread COVID-19 restrictions.
Rough Patch And Change Of Fortune
Toast, which generates the majority of its revenue from its fintech solutions, hit a rough patch at the start of the pandemic because of lockdowns, and the company was forced to cut the size of its staff by half through layoffs and furloughs.
It has since seen a change in fortune by launching new products including delivery networks and contactless payment.
Value In February And Investors
Toast was valued at approximately $5 billion in a private round in February. The company's investors include TPG, Tiger Global Management, American Express Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, G Squared, TCV and Greenoaks.
Toast will list its stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TOST".
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan are lead underwriters for the offering.


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Heroes Evolved: Anniversary Party
It’s time to celebrate the anniversary of Heroes Evolved! They couldn’t have done it without you, the players.
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ANNOUNCEMENT 20 May 2015In May 2015, the government of Brazil announced a change in import tariff quotas.
NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS
Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade, news item of 21 May 2015: http://www.mdic.gov.br/sitio/interna/noticia.php?area=1¬icia=13791
Camex resolution no. 43 of 20 May 2015, published in the Official Gazette of 21 May 2015, p. 56: http://pesquisa.in.gov.br/imprensa/jsp/visualiza/index.jsp?jornal=1&pagina=56&data=21/05/2015
Camex resolution no. 14 of 18 February 2016, published in the Official Gazette of 19 February 2016: http://www.camex.gov.br/legislacao/interna/id/1508
On 20 May 2015, the Brazilian Foreign Trade Council (Camex) issued Resolution no. 43 introducing four tariff-rate quotas on goods carrying the Mercosur Common Nomenclature (NCM):
On 19 February 2016 the Brazilian Foreign Trade Council (Camex) revoked the above standing tariff rate quota on 4-Chloro-alfa, alfa, alfa-trifluoro-3.5dinitrotoluene (NCM 2904.90.14).


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A costly drug given mostly to premature babies is at the center of a clash between the manufacturer and the nation's leading pediatrician's group, which recommends scaling back use of the medicine.
Shares of some top credit card companies were down at the close of trading: American Express Co. fell $1.22 or 1.3 percent, to $91.93.
FRIDAY, Aug. 1 WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases employment data for July, 8:30 a.m.; Commerce Department releases personal income and spending for June, 8:30 a.m.; Institute for Supply...
Shares of some top insurance companies are mixed at 1 p.m.: ACE L fell $.89 or .8 percent, to $103.91.
Shares of some top credit card companies are down at 1 p.m.: American Express Co. fell $1.01 or 1.1 percent, to $92.15.
Alan ‘Ace’ Greenberg, the legendary Wall Street trader who guided investment bank Bear Stearns to the top tier of U.S. financial firms only to see it collapse, has died.


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As expected Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled a new Facebook News feed, aimed at streamlining the way that information is displayed, and discovered while you are on Facebook. Here are the details.
The press-event which was held today in Menlo Park, California was dedicated to a new Facebook design which will be integrated across all platforms. In a press-conference Zuckerberg stated that Facebook is trying to “give everyone in the world, the best possible newspaper we can”. The idea is to create a personal newspaper, showing you the content that you are interested in while exposing you to new content based on your likes and friends. Zuckerberg told the press that the new design will, “enable you to drill into any topic that you want”. This means that the news feed will splinter off into topics and sections just like a newspaper would.
Media like photos, videos and music will play a new role in the redesign. Facebook users will be able to focus on pictures, new content and multimedia like never before. You will have the ability to search posts by user, and even read their posts in chronological order instead of being hit with thier wall of miscellaneous posts, replies and articles. Another new feature is the ‘follow’ button for individuals, much like the ‘follow’ button currently works on Facebook pages. One of the best features of the follow button is that you can follow people without being their friends, making your friends more personal and safer.
A new menu will be displayed on the lefthand side at all times, giving you easy access to all of Facebook’s features, and this time Facebook is attempting to showcase the same design across all platforms, instead of having multiple layouts across desktops, phones and tablets like they do now. The new layout should begin later today for a select group of people, which will grow as the weeks go on. The mobile version of the site will not be ready for a few weeks and will roll-out slower than the desktop version.
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The Vudu app will now be available on Amazon Fire TV Edition smart TVs and Fire TV streaming devices, with movies and shows to stream.
NCAA March Madness Live App: Turner Sports updated the NCAA March Madness Live App, allowing users to second-screen on more devices.
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David Bowie on TikTok: Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and The David Bowie estate reached an aggreement to honor the late performer.
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Apple set a December 14th launch date for Apple Fitness+, its first fitness experience for the Apple Watch.
Rotten Tomatoes launched a new Top Critics program for its Tomatometer rating system, including new criteria that will increase inclusion.
Hulu's Watch Party feature allows up to 8 viewers to watch shows and movies together while social distancing, is now available.
Amazon announced Amazon Pharmacy, offering to help customers purchase their prescription medications online.
Spotify's annual Premium holiday offer is back, offering ad-free music to enhance your holiday season.
Amazon Music is remastering thousands of songs and albums to Ultra High Definition with 3D Audio Support


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Guest Contributor | Jan 17, 2023 | 0
Dates set for annual SME expo
More than 80 entrepreneurs from around the country are expected to showcase their products and services at this year’s Namibia SME Expo that will be held at the Nampower Convention Centre from 01 to 03 August.
According to organisers, the expo is aimed at connecting small enterprises to corporate firms, parastatals, government departments and municipalities, so that business linkages, outsourcing and subcontracting deals can be forged.
“The expo provides managers of large business entities and leaders in the public sector, as well as the general public, with an opportunity to see just how competitive Namibia’s SME sector is becoming,” says SMEs Compete’s Claudine Mouton.
Organised by SMEs Compete, a firm that provides income growth and employment creation support to small and medium enterprises, this year’s exposition incorporates three side events.
Danny Meyer, the firm’s other founding director, says the ever popular entrepreneurs’ round table dialogue session will take place on the evening of 02 August and will once again draw together a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs who will share their business secrets with novices or newcomers to the world of business.
The other two events of the expo comprises of a day long business services seminar at which banks, consultancy firms, tertiary institutions and others who provide business development services to SMEs will have an opportunity to promote themselves.
Mouton urges entrepreneurs who wish to make use of this marketing tool to secure a stand at the expo by contacting any of SMEs Compete’s branches around the country. SMEs Compete has branches in Lüderitz, Walvis Bay, Ongwediva and Windhoek.
The public is invited to attend the exposition.


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Fish production prospect bright in Rajshahi region
Published : 12 Jun 2016, 13:56
Live fishes especially the major carps are being sold at Rajshahi markets for the last couple of years and the practice might be the bright instance for the country.
When the people in general are anxious over frequent mixing of formalin with fishes and fruits the good practice has drawn attention of many consumers.
According to sources, different preservatives especially formalin is mixed in fishes and fruits in a bid to keep those good and green. Many people became infected with various chronic diseases due to the malpractice.
The government conducts mobile courts at different market places, which fined the shops who are found guilty and destroyed the goods mixed with formalin.
To get rid from the odd situation, the local farmers and traders have started selling live fishes in earthen pot and drum with full of water.
"I'm very much happy over selling the live fish. I have record of selling up to 15 mounds of live fish like Catla, Rui, Mirka and Telapia a day," says Ali Hossain, a retailer of Shaheb Bazar Fish Market.
Ahsan Habib, a fish farmer of Paba having 15 ponds, told BSS that he sells fish at wholesale market.
Earlier on, most of the fishes were died during transportation from ponds to market. But now, time and situation has been changed based on demands of the consumers.
Ahsan Habib says both demand and price of live fish are more than that of dead ones. So, the farmers and traders are selling live fish in the markets especially at Saheb Bazar, Court Bazar, Naodapara Bypass, Naohata, Dharusha, Kharkhori and Gangopara.
Besides the locals, many outside traders from Dhaka, Sylhet and Mymensingh and many other adjacent districts are also seen purchasing fishes from the markets.
Saizuddin, a fish trader at Naohata Bazar, told BSS that the outside traders took away the live fishes on trucks.
He says the local consumers have also become habituated in purchasing live fish. District Fisheries Officer Golam Rabbani told BSS that Around 50,000 metric tons of fish are produced from around 47,578 hectares of water bodies in the district.
But, demand of fish in the district is about 48,000 tons. . After farming fish, many people both urban and rural have become millionaire in the district.
He says the matter of selling live fish in Rajshahi markets has created a new dimension as those are being transported to many other districts from here.
The traders face manifold problems including harassment at different checkpoints during transportation and ultimately incur loss.
As a whole, the fish-laden trucks should be given priority and the policy planners should come forward to facilitate the process.
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/4/2013 (1581 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A combination of factors, including last year's sale of its drink-cup business, have taken a bite out of the bottom line for plastic-packaging manufacturer Winpak Ltd.
President and CEO Bruce Berry told the Winnipeg-based company's annual shareholders meeting in Toronto on Wednesday revenues fell by 1.1 per cent, or $1.9 million, to $169.9 million in the first three months of this year.
Net earnings were down 3.4 per cent to $16 million, or 25 cents per share, from $16.6 million.
Berry blamed the lower revenues and earnings on the loss of the drink-cup division's revenues and the fact there was one less week in this year's first quarter.
He said the drink-cup business contributed $1.9 million to last year's Q1 revenues and the extra week added another $9 million.
If this year's sales were adjusted to take into account those two factors, they would have been $8.9 million higher, he added.
Berry also reminded shareholders 2012 was a good year for the company, with net earnings up 13.5 per cent to a record $72.4 million.
Winpak operates nine production plants in Canada and the United States, including two in Winnipeg. It manufactures and distributes machines and materials used primarily for the packaging of perishable foods and beverages, and in health-care applications.
The company's shares (TSX:WPK) closed down 13 cents to $19.17 on Wednesday.


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An approximately 17-acre site on the northwest corner of Port Royal Road and Commonwealth Drive is being eyed for a new mixed-use development project according to Spring Hill city meeting documents.
Called South Pointe Square, the mixed-use development project would include 62,000 square feet of retail space across 17.7 acres, as well as 207 multi-family units.
The 62,000 square feet of retail space would be split between four three-story buildings, with each building seeing 15,500 square feet of retail space on the bottom floor and 24 condo units between the second and third floors. A standalone multi-family unit building with 30 condo units is also proposed, as are amenities, a club house, park and swimming pool.
In addition to the businesses and restaurants that would eventually fill the retail space, also open to the public are the project's proposed lawn area, a calisthenics area and the aforementioned park which includes a playground.
Ten-foot-wide sidewalks along Port Royal Road and Commonwealth Drive are also proposed as part of the project, as are 655 parking spots and 36 bicycle racks.
Phasing for the development of the proposed project has yet to be revealed. If the developer behind the project includes phases of construction, the standalone multi-family unit building cannot be included in the first phase.
The developer, Paradym Development LLC, has only presented the city with a planned development concept review for comment. The Spring Hill Planning Commission will discuss the concept plan during Monday night's city meeting at 5:30 p.m.
To stream the meeting online, click here.


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The valuation explosion we’ve seen in music rights is happening in another segment too, it seems: DIY distribution.
Now, a rival to DistroKid, Steve Stoute’s UnitedMasters – has locked in its own princely valuation.
As first reported by The Information, UnitedMasters has raised $50 million in new funding.
Led by Andreessen Horowitz, the new round values the independent artist distribution platform at $550 million, which, The Information reports, includes that new investment.
Today’s news marks yet another significant financial milestone for New York-headquartered UnitedMasters.
The company’s latest funding round comes just six months after it secured a $50 million Series B investment, led by Apple with additional funding from existing backers, Google parent Alphabet, and Andreessen Horowitz.
The Series B round followed the company’s $70m funding round led by Google/Alphabet in 2017.
Citing Steve Stoute, The Information reports that UnitedMasters will use the new investment to fund its expansion into markets like Latin America, as well as for acquisitions.
Launched in 2017 by Stoute, UnitedMasters provides music distribution services plus analytics and royalties tools. It has facilitated partnerships between indie artists and brands such as the NBA, ESPN, TikTok, Twitch, and more.
UnitedMasters says that it currently has 1 million “artist partners” on its platform, and has worked with the likes of NLE Choppa, Lil Tecca, Tobe Nwigwe, Lil XXEL, and many others.
UnitedMasters recently struck a new partnership with cryptocurrency platform Coinbase to give indie artists the ability to be paid in crypto through Coinbase’s new payroll product.
UnitedMasters launched a new subscription tier in July last year, Select, that allows acts to keep 100% of their royalties from digital services.
In August 2020, TikTok inked a deal with UnitedMasters for a full integration between both services directly through the TikTok app.
“I don’t care if you’re in music or not,” he added. “This shows that independent creators have an opportunity now, better than they’ve ever had before, and there’s a spotlight on them.
“The biggest companies in the world are rooting for them and making steps to make sure that they have the same opportunities as everyone else.”Music Business Worldwide


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The Cheapest School Supplies in Egypt Will Still Cost You a Fortune
It’s the beginning of a new school year and every parent in Egypt is broke. The insane increase in products’ prices has badly affected every corner of our lives. Yet, any education related fees still remain the most painful for everyone involved.
Parents had the shock of their lives this week while purchasing school supplies. Everything is almost double the price. Any imported products such as coloring crayons or backpacks is at least triple the price. While everyone is suffering and is left feeling ripped off, TV show host, Amr Adib, showed how bad it must be for parents with low income.
Adib showcased the cheapest school supplies in the country on his talk show, Kol Youm, and the results were quite something. A single student will have to pay a minimum of EGP 800 to buy the worst quality of products that will definitely need to be replaced within a month.
Watch the horrific price list below: