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Dutch packaging group Novio Packaging Group BV has continued its merger and acquisition trend with the takeover of a duet of packaging firms earlier this week.
The group, which officially launched as Novio at the beginning of the year, announced the acquisition of German-Swiss packaging company Flacopac/Deflaco, effective as of 22 Jan.
This move increases the group's market share in Europe and gives the Netherlands-based company a significantly stronger presence in the industry.
Founded in 1974, Flacopac was originally strongly focused on the plastic film industry. In the eighties, it increasingly concentrated on distributing glass bottles and pumps and became a specialist in multi-component packaging.
Together with Swiss sister company Deflaco, Flacopac now develops packaging systems in glass and plastic. Some of the key products of the two companies include the Quickbrush system for nail polish and the Moduli roll-on units.
The two companies operate from Deizisau, Germany, and Thalwil, Switzerland, and employ 16 people in total.
Novio Packaging was formed in April last year as a holding company comprising the five packaging firms of Oosterbeek Packaging BV, Alpha Packaging International BV, Maer Flexibles BV, Maer Hong Kong Ltd and FehnPolycap GmbH.
The five companies joined forces as Novio Packaging, in a bid to “offer customers a broader range of services, backed up by improved international effectiveness.”
At the end of April, Novio merged with Danish Scandinavian Packaging AG, to expand its distribution channels in Scandinavia.
The company also acquired Netherlands-based Haal Verpakkingen BV in June last year to improve its cosmetic packaging expertise.


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Partnership simplifies BIMI compliance with VMCs and DMARC enforcement to help ensure more consistent, secure email for businesses and consumers
DigiCert, Inc. and Valimail,the leading provider of identity-based anti-phishing solutions, today announced that they are partnering to help companies prepare for Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI), a new standard currently in pilot that allows companies to display a verified logo in emails with a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC).
“DigiCert is pleased to partner with Valimail to support pilots that advance the BIMI email security standard with VMCs,” said DigiCert Senior Director of Business Development Dean Coclin. “We anticipate growing demand for digital certificates displaying verified logos in email and are developing scalable solutions to help companies be ready on day one.”
“BIMI is a huge step forward for email marketing, and when combined with DMARC enforcement it will help make the entire ecosystem more secure,” said Steve Mock, VP of Business Development for Valimail. “We’re very proud to be working with DigiCert to create a one-stop shop for companies to make themselves BIMI-ready.”
A major BIMI pilot with Yahoo has been underway for the past year, and Google has recently announced plans to launch a BIMI pilot in 2020. Upcoming BIMI pilots are expected to require VMCs for participants. DigiCert issued the world’s first VMC for a domain that sends email at scale to CNN.com in Oct. 2019.

domain: news


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While that rollout continues to date in a number of countries, thanks to its staggered nature, it is still pretty much limited compared to the number of devices that Samsung offers in its various lineups.
In the coming days, it is expected that the Korean company will expand the Android 10 beta programme for its devices to include yet another premium smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.
The Galaxy Note 9 has been around for well over a year and, as you already know, has since been succeeded by the very able Galaxy Note 10. However, it still remains a darling to those that picked up back then and who are yet to dump it for its successor or any of the other enticing options we have seen unveiled this year. Better yet, given its yesteryear flagship credentials, it still gets some attention from Samsung even though it’s since dropped further down the pecking order.
It has been reported for a while now that Samsung has been testing the Note 9’s Android 10 test builds internally and it seems like it’s almost time to expand the testing to the anxious public.
Samsung’s Android 10 beta programme is widely identified by the “One UI 2.0 beta” moniker which is more in tune with what users will experience on their devices: Samsung’s own take on Android.
Samsung is expected to confirm the availability of the One UI 2.0 beta update for the Note 9 in a few days. Fingers are crossed that the Galaxy S9, released just months before the Note 9, will also be getting the update if not at the same time then immediately after.
Samsung is expected to start seeding Android 10 to its devices, starting with the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S10, from early 2020.


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The DMA 2013 conference in Chicago this week will have some Facebook flavor, as the social network will host four discussions at McCormick Place West.
Facebook announced Thursday that it is making the process of creating ads simpler and based more on objectives. The company feels that this will improve the experience not only for advertisers, but for users, as well. Users will see a more standard set of ads, and the controls given to advertisers will make it so that users see more relevant ads. Facebook detailed the company’s plans for advertising to groups of reporters in Menlo Park, Calif., and New York.
As Facebook rolls out more and more advertising options, the backlash from users about ad targeting has grown. Facebook aims to solve that, according to AdAge, by showing users a logo on targeted ads served through Facebook Exchange (FBX). However, the logo will only be shown when users mouses over the gray “X” in the corner of the ad, usually used to hide it.


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- The company is contemplating a partnership with undisclosed stable coin project.
- The CEO of the company believes that stable coins are the future.
The worlds’ largest bitcoin wallet service providers Blockchain plans to enter a partnership with stablecoin issuer by the end of 2019. However, the company does not reveal the name of the potential partner.
“There’s a big race between stablecoins right now… Everyone is competing very hard to get their stablecoin out there and to have distribution. I think that market’s going to be really interesting. We will make a move in there soon,” CEO Peter Smith said n the interview with Block.
The company is fascinated with cryptocurrencies backed by fiat or other assets and moves to the status of the most significant player in the crypto universe.
Mr. Smith refused to elaborate on partnership details, only mentioned that it was all about stablecoins. Thus, 32 million Blockchain service users might be able to store certain stable coins in the wallet.
It is worth mentioning that the company has invested in undisclosed stablecoin projects.
“I think all major stablecoin projects at the moment believe they need us. The question is which one do we decide that we need?” Smith said.
Blockchain company was established in 2011. In recent seven years, it raised $70 million from large investors including Richard Branson, Digital Currency Group (DCG) and Google Ventures.


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IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told an event hosted by the People's Bank of China that there was a growing consensus that carbon... ...https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/renewables/carbon-tax-could-help-asian-countries-hit-climate-targets-imf/articleshow/82087593.cms
Posted by Equitymaster Indian share markets ended on a strong note on Tuesday. Benchmark indices extended gains after the Indian government... ...http://feeds.equitymaster.com/~r/TodaysMarket/~3/L4zExFq_XJ4/tm.asp
Lenders to Aircel and UV Asset Reconstruction, which was to take over the defunct telco’s assets under the insolvency process, are planning to... ...https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/aircel-lenders-uvarcl-to-move-sc-as-nclat-bars-spectrum-sale/articleshow/82075912.cms
The Tibetan nation still lives under the yoke of the Chinese Communist Party, and Beijing today has a guilty conscience; this creates a great... ...http://www.rediff.com/news/column/why-is-china-more-and-more-nervous/20210414.htm
By Coco LiuAfter China imposed a record antitrust fine on Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the e-commerce giant did an unusual thing: It thanked... ...https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/record-alibaba-fine-shows-chinas-big-tech-cant-fight-back/articleshow/82024189.cms
Coin lovers are generally attracted...


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It is estimated SuperData analyst firm and a half months since the start of sales managed to sell 2.4 million Nintendo Switch worldwide. Experts have issued a fresh outlook on the new product, noting that sales of the console have surpassed expectations.
Switch to a good start and led analysts to increase its long-term forecast for the console. Now experts expect sales SuperData Switch at 7.2 million units by year’s end. Previously, analysts have voiced a more modest results – within 5 million consoles.
Nintendo indicators exceed expectations, which at the moment means that the company is on the path of revival of confidence on the part of investors “, – says head of SuperData Dzhust Van Dren. “The list of upcoming releases for Switch platform also looks impressive, and we expect that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and 2 Splatoon be able to show good results in the summer”, – he added.
For those who are waiting for the official figures from Nintendo, Gmbox recalls that the company is preparing a report for the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2017 The report is due out next week. It is expected that representatives of the legendary Japanese developer Share Results Sales Switch, as well as their expectations for the console.
Previously, other research agency NPD also shared its information on hybrid console Nintendo Switch sales. As it turned out, Switch was the fastest-selling console in the company’s history.
Gmbox wrote that investors are seriously underestimated Switch the Nintendo . Ever since Nintendo gave the world the Pokemon the Go , regenerated old franchise and released Switch, the company’s shares are subject to a dizzying jumps. During the year, Nintendo valuable paper jumped by as much as 74%, but in the end stuck in the range of $ 25 to $ 36 apiece, since July 2016 Jefferies analysts still recommend buying shares of Nintendo, noting $ 43 as a target.
This suggests that Nintendo shares have the potential to grow in value by 46%. Interestingly, in October 2016 and in January of this year when Nintendo disclose information about Switch, the market reacted to this sluggish shares lost in price of 12-15% in these months. Now, Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal says that on Wall Street got it all wrong. Revision of the forecasts from respected analyst firms in the positive direction only confirm his words.
As a result, buyers are now willing to pay twice, referring to the dealers, just to get a welcome novelty. And this despite the fact that Nintendo is making every effort to Switch did not end at official retailers. Its success was much greater than expected by experts among gamers. “Such conduct on the market of the video game console could be expected during the holiday season when everyone give gifts, but not in March,” – says Goyal.
In addition, Citigroup analysts also believe that in the future the Japanese company may release a smaller version of its new console. Yet it succinctly dubbed Switch Mini. The children are considered as a target audience for such a system. It is assumed that it will be smaller and lighter than its predecessor, which will improve the ergonomics for young gamers.


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Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast and holds a good flair in understanding financial markets. His interest in economics and finance draw his attention towards the new emerging Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency markets. He is continuously in a learning process and keeps himself motivated by sharing his acquired knowledge. In free time he reads thriller fictions novels and sometimes explore his culinary skills.
Facebook’s rebranding efforts come as part of the company’s decision to distinguish the company operations from all of its products and services.
Social media giant Facebook has unveiled its new company logo as part of the rebranding efforts. Facebook says that the new branding strategy is to bring more clarity and align the goals of its different products and services under one parent company.
In its official announcement, the company said that over the last 15 years, it has made several major acquisitions like Instagram and WhatsApp. Thus, to bring clarity that these services operate under Facebook, it is isolating the Facebook company from the Facebook app. The company statement reads:
“Today, we’re updating our company branding to be clearer about the products that come from Facebook. We’re introducing a new company logo and further distinguishing the Facebook company from the Facebook app, which will keep its own branding”.
The management at Facebook thinks that this re-branding will help customers have a clear distinction between the company and its services. This decision comes just at a time when the company is venturing into new verticals of technological development.
Earlier this year in June 2019, Facebook announced the Calibra network to run its native cryptocurrency Libra. Thus, as the company expands its horizon, it is better for the company to come clean on the services it offers in the marketplace.
Rebranding to Focus on Better Promotion of Different Apps
In the blog post, Facebook says that it has already started including “from Facebook” within all of its apps. In the coming weeks, the company plans to use the new brand logo more prominently in marketing materials and its products.
“This brand change is a way to better communicate our ownership structure to the people and businesses who use our services to connect, share, build community and grow their audiences,” said Facebook.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Antonio Lucio, Facebook’s chief marketing officer said that the company earlier considered changing the parent company’s name. However, it later withdrew that thought as the company didn’t want to appear to be shedding away from its problems and responsibilities.
Moreover, he acknowledges that Facebook as a company has been going through a rough patch over the last year with several controversies surrounding it. Furthermore, the company has been on the radar of the regulators since the launch of Libra.
Lucio said that the rebranding is more of an effort to color the company with all the goodwill attached to its other popular services like WhatsApp and Instagram.
To combat the menace of fake news and stay away from major controversies, Facebook recently launched its News Tab. However, despite all the trouble going around, Facebook announced impressive figures for its Q3 earnings which led to the FB stock price crossing $190.


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The iPhone 13 is likely just hours away - we expect to hear about it at today's big Apple event - but we may have had an early glimpse at the design you should expect thanks to a variety of new case renders.
Posted by Evleaks, a leaker with a good track record, eight new renders from case manufacturer Spigen have made their way online before the big event gets underway.
The design has also been teased by the same case manufacturer in its own tweet,
but these new renders give us a far clearer look at the design of the handset from a variety of angles.
- Follow along with our iPhone 13 launch live blog
- Everything to expect from the Apple Watch 7
- Will it be the iPhone 12S or iPhone 13?
If these case renders are correct, the iPhone 13 series will feature a smaller notch and a diagonal rear camera. These are design changes we've seen leak time and time again, so they're not a huge surprise.
Apple hates it when case makers publish device-bearing renders prior to launch... pic.twitter.com/uA6wUvoXE3September 14, 2021
The question here is where Spigen has received its information from. Case manufacturers often base designs for Apple products on leaked information as not every manufacturer has access to under embargo information directly from Apple.
Analysis: so, are these real?
We can't say for certain whether Spigen has been privy to information from Apple, but we know some other case manufacturers don't receive anything from the company ahead of its big unveilings.
That means some case manufacturers have to base designs for cases on the same leaked information that you've likely read about on consumer technology websites for the last 12 months.
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The biggest hint here that Spigen is taking an educated guess at the design is the fact it has tweeted a look at the iPhone 6.1-inch edition a whole day before the product launched.
How we’re getting ready for the #AppleEvent this week 😂 pic.twitter.com/MYxcgEZ7aPSeptember 12, 2021
If Spigen did have information directly from Apple, we would have expected that to either not have been tweeted, or to have been removed by now since it was published over half a day ago. This heavily suggests Spigen is taking a bit of a guess on the design.
Don't take these new case renders as gospel for the new iPhone 13 design, but it is a good indication of the route Apple will likely go. That said, you've only got a matter of hours until you get to hear about the new handset anyway.
James is Managing Editor for Android Police. Previously, he was Senior Phones Editor for TechRadar, and he has covered smartphones and the mobile space for the best part of a decade bringing you news on all the big announcements from top manufacturers making mobile phones and other portable gadgets. James is often testing out and reviewing the latest and greatest mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, virtual reality headsets, fitness trackers and more. He once fell over.


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The global market for electric vehicles made significant progress during the last 10 years. According to recent figures, the quantity of light electric vehicles (or EVs as most people call it) reac…
The two major vehicle manufacturers knew as soon as 1950 that emissions from vehicles was contributing to global warming.
The giant images of the new emission-free ID.3 are painted with a product called Airlite. This is a 100 per cent natural material designed to eliminate bacteria and reduce pollutants, including NOx.
Amazon’s Leyland warehouse is set to be served entirely by electric vehicles within the next decade after the company was given permission to build a multi-storey car park containing more than 550 charging points.
Of the 1,525 vehicles it currently has on its fleet, only 22 are pure electric models. Incredibly, 1,328 (so 87%) are diesels, despite the government trying to force drivers out of these cars.
Electromobility and the future of the MINI model range – FleetPoint – Electric Vehicles
Electric cars are the future of transportation, and with the number of benefits it provides, no wonder many countries are supporting and championing the Electric Car Revolution.
The city installed 24 new electric vehicle charging ports as part of a plan to reach 80% emissions reductions by 2030.
Ford Motor Co., in another step forward in its goal of electrifying some of its most iconic nameplates, on Nov. 12 will reveal the all-new E-Transit.
Ford Motor Co. pushes into all-electric delivery as the COVID-19 pandemic drives e-commerce activity.
The pool will allow the automakers, which are preparing for their merger, to combine sales to meet EU fleet CO2 targets and avoid fines.
It almost seems like owning an electric vehicle is a silver bullet in the fight against climate change, but it isn’t. What we should also be focused on is whether anyone should use a private vehicl…
Fiat Chrysler, a lagger when it comes to electrification, confirms that it plans to make an electric Ram pickup truck. Almost every automaker under the sun is planning to make an electric pickup truck: Tesla Cybertruck Rivian R1T Ford F-150 Electric GMC Hummer EV Lordstown Endurance We have noted Fiat Chrysler’s absence in the all-electric
If Joe Biden wins the White House next week, he could take action to phase out gasoline-powered cars across the country, observers say.
Roush CleanTech in Livonia is supplying Penske Truck Leasing with a pair of all-new Ford F-650 battery electric for use in southern California.


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Johnson’s baby powder loses $72m cancer case
Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $72 million to the family of a woman whose death from ovarian cancer has been blamed on the company’s baby powder, a product widely available in the UK.
A court in St Louis, Missouri, made the award to the family of Jackie Fox, who was 61 when she died last year. The payment includes $10 million (£7.1 million) in actual damages and $62 million in punitive damages.
Ms Fox, from Birmingham, Alabama, used the company’s baby powder and “shower to shower” body powder, two talc-based products, for more than 35 years before her cancer was diagnosed two years ago, lawyers said.
Johnson & Johnson faces more than 1,000 lawsuits claiming that it knew decades ago about concerns


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September 20, 2015 |
NEW DELHI: Manufacturers of electric two-wheelers have claimed a sharp fall in their sale as customers who purchased the vehicles during April 1 and June 30 this year are yet to receive subsidy given by Delhi government to promote green vehicles. According to the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), after the new budget was tabled, Delhi government changed their subsidy slab due to which, customers who bought the two-wheeler are still waiting for subsidy, which has created confusion among the new buyer.
September 4, 2015 |
BENGALURU: City-based Go Green BOV is offering its electric scooters on a lease model to logistics, ecommerce and hyperlocal delivery companies, helping them save capital expenditure. "The need of hour is B2B because they need to reduce logistics costs ," said Dhivik Reddy , cofounder of Go Green BOV, whose scooters run 120 kms per charge. Until now the company has been selling through a dealership network as a B2C product. The electric vehicle company has already leased 15 vehicles each to hyperlocal delivery companies Roadrunnr and Swiggy as a pilot.
August 26, 2015 |
By Benjamin Zhang Tesla has been making waves in the automotive world for a few years now. But as the electric automaker expands its scale, sales, and brand reputation, the company's mainstream counterparts are beginning to take notice. Recently, both Audi and Aston Martin have announced their intentions to produce electric vehicles to rival Tesla. Now, it looks like Jaguar could be putting its hat in the ring as well. According to Autocar's Tom Webster, Jaguar recently applied to trademark the name "EV-Type.
July 28, 2015 |
HYDERABAD: Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd, a part of the USD 16.9 billion Mahindra Group , today unveiled its all-electric, fully automatic, zero-emission car 'Mahindra e2o' here. Arvind Mathew, Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Reva said the technologically laden e2o is attractively priced at Rs 5.59 lakh (ex-showroom Hyderabad for premium variant) including the Government's FAME Demand Incentive. The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME)
July 2, 2015 |
By Graham Rapier Toyota has been very vocal about its lofty plans for the new Mirai. After severing ties with Tesla in 2014, Toyota has shifted its focus toward fuel cells and away from all-electric cars. On Wednesday, Toyota announced that the Mirai had achieved an EPA-estimated range of 312 miles. That's the longest range of any zero-emission vehicle on the market today, including electric vehicles. "Toyota realized in the early 90's that electrification was key to the future of the automobile," said Toyota's North America CEO Jim Lentz in a statement "Just as the Prius introduced hybrid-electric vehicles to millions of customers nearly twenty years ago, the Mirai is now poised to usher in a new era of efficient, hydrogen transportation.
June 23, 2015 |
BY: Graham Rapier Tesla has captivated the world, but consumer demand for electric vehicles is actually still quite low. The problem is batteries. The technology has a long way to go in order to be long-range as well as affordable. Tesla has delivered the range. But it hasn't yet come through on the affordability front. Tesla has been joined by other automakers in producing fully electric vehicles. But Jaguar Land Rover is remaining more cautious. The car maker is waiting for EV technology to improve, which it hopes will increase demand for electric cars.
June 22, 2015 |
NEW DELHI: The government's efforts to drive sales of green vehicles through direct cash incentives appear to have paid off. Sales more than doubled in April and May, according to industry estimates, after the government started providing cash incentives of Rs 29,000 for bikes and Rs 1.38 lakh for cars. More than 2,500 electric twowheelers were sold during the two months, up from about 1,000 in the year-ago period, providing a lease of life to a struggling industry. "There has been an uptick in demand and we have noticed positive customer sentiment in certain markets," said Ayush Lohia, CEO at Lohia Auto Industries , a prominent twowheeler manufacturer.
April 29, 2015 |
NEW DELHI: Diversified Lohia Group is expanding its electric vehicle portfolio with plans to launch two new two-wheelers and a three-wheeler to cash in on the government's FAME India scheme. Bullish on the segment, the group is eyeing a turnover of Rs 300 crore from the automotive division -- Lohia Auto Industries in the next three years. The group, which has a turnover of around Rs 600 crore, has already lined up an investment of around Rs 120 crore to spruce up its manufacturing facility in Uttarakhand.
April 1, 2015 |
NEW DELHI: To boost eco-friendly vehicles sales, the government today launched FAME India scheme that envisages to provide Rs 795 crore support till 2020 for the manufacturing and sale of electric and hybrid vehicles. The scheme envisages providing demand incentives to electric and hybrid vehicles -- from two-wheeler to buses -- in range of Rs 1,800 to Rs 66 lakh. "FAME-India or Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India as part of the National Mission for Electric Mobility is being launched from April 1," the Department of Heavy Industries said.
February 26, 2015 |
DUBAI: Dubai has launched the first of its 16 'electric charging stations' here, allowing motorists to charge their eco-friendly vehicles for a fee. Each station can accommodate two vehicles at the same time. A total of 100 charging stations for hybrid and electric vehicles will be launched by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) by the end of this year. A complete charge will take between two to eight hours depending upon the vehicle. Fast charging stations that take 30 minutes will be available by the end of this year.


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Kanye West now worth $1.3bn, #Forbes reports
Monday, 27 April, 2020, 15:15
The magazine says the rapper and fashion designer, who has long coveted the status, gave it a glimpse into his personal finances, which led it to value his net worth at $1.3bn (£1.04bn).
#Eurovision sets sail for U.S. shores as ‘American Song Contest’103Yesterday, 23:50
Kanye West alludes that he’s internationally trying to hurt Joe Biden’s presidential campaign18707.08.2020, 21:20
Kanye West apologized to Kim22126.07.2020, 13:05
Kim Kardashian addresses husband Kanye West's bipolar disorder67423.07.2020, 17:20


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Las Vegas’s giant consumer technology show CES is to go all-digital in 2021. Event organiser the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) says it is reimagining how to connect exhibitors, customers, thought leaders and media from around the world while prioritising health and safety. “We are excited to share that CES 2021 will be an all-digital experience,” it says.
“For more than 50 years, CES has been the global stage for innovation. And CES 2021 will continue to be a platform to launch products, engage with global brands and define the future of the tech industry,” it declares.
With the growing global health concerns about the spread of Covid-19, the CTA says it is not possible to safely convene tens of thousands of people in Las Vegas in early January 2021 to meet and do business in person.
“An all-digital CES 2021 will allow the entire tech community to safely share ideas and introduce the products that will shape our future,” suggests the CTA. “You’ll be able to participate in all the awe-inspiring moments of CES wherever you are in the world. We are designing a unique experience for the tech industry.”
The CEA says that CES 2021 will offer a highly personalised experience:
- Keynotes and conferences. “Now you’ll have a front-row seat for groundbreaking announcements and insights from the world’s tech leaders completely online.”
- Product showcase. “With this digital evolution of the CES show floor, you’ll be able to explore products and services, based on your interests and business, through dynamic product showcases or live demos.”
- Meetings and networking. You’ll be able to engage with the brands, thought leaders and business connections you care about with live interactions, meetups or roundtable discussions.”
“Technology has helped us all work, learn and connect during the coronavirus pandemic, and it has presented real solutions to help solve complex global challenges. We recognise that, particularly in these uncertain times, it is the partnerships of some of the most creative minds that bring the best solutions to life,” adds the CTA.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming the global tech industry, from international brands to budding startups, to kick off the year with the world’s most influential digital technology event,” it confirms, adding that it plans to return to Las Vegas for CES 2022, combining the best elements of a physical and digital show.


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Back near the start of April, E3 2021 was officially announced as an all-digital event. Set to take place in June, this year's E3 would host a number of prominent publishers, including the likes of Ubisoft, Capcom, and Konami. Except now, Konami has pulled out of proceedings, stating that it simply "will not be ready to present at E3 this year".
We imagine that Konami's plans, like everything else, will have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic over the last 13 months or so. But why was Konami going to show up at E3 anyway? At least from a 'AAA' perspective, the Japanese firm has been borderline silent for years now.
Interestingly, in the company's official E3 statement, it alludes to "a number of key projects" that are currently in "deep development". It says that we should "stay tuned for updates in the coming months". Hmmm.
Of course, Konami's been surrounded by rumours for ages — which is usually what happens when a publisher hasn't made any notable gaming industry announcements for what feels like an eternity. There was that whole thing with the Metal Gear Solid remake — which has gone nowhere since — and much more recently, there were those weird Metal Gear tweets. Which, again, didn't actually amount to anything official (it did end up being a rather interesting fan project, though).
And then on top of all that, we've got Konami registering trademarks for Metal Gear Rising and Castlevania. At this point, who knows what's going on.
Were you hoping to see Konami pull out the big guns at E3 2021? What do you think the publisher is actually up to behind the scenes? Make up some wild theories in the comments section below.


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CES. Day 1: Kodak, NXP, Ooma, Philips HUE
Las Vegas, January 6, 2015, In an effort to further understand the Internet of Things, EdisonReport sent their US Editor to the CES show. His report of Day 1 follows.
There is a lot to see this year at CES. I was not aware that Kodak had entered our industry, but Kodak LED Lighting showcased an impressive display of LED filament bulbs. I spoke with Halston Mikail, CEO of Spotlite USA and he explained that Spotlite had rights to the Kodak brand. Mikali has been in lighting, mainly residential, for over 30 years. The display featured about 40 lamps, but several did flicker upon being dimmed, which was blamed on the poor power quality at the show.
NXP had a huge booth, similar to what we see from large lighting companies at Light + Building in Frankfurt. I think of NXP as a component supplier for LED & LEP drivers, but they are much more. NXP displayed a connected home featuring color tunable white lamps. In addition, they demonstrated: wireless phone charging, radar for vehicles, a smart kitchen with IoT appliances, a smart building that monitors HVAC controls. In addition NXP technology can be found in wearables such as sport/fitness devices and golf tracking. It is amazing how fast this company has grown.
Ooma had an impressive booth mainly focused on telecom. However, their system is compatible with many lights and they displayed the Philips HUE. Anthony Hizon, Product Manager, explained that Ooma could coordinate certain callers with the HUE. For instance, if a family member called, the HUE lights might flash green. The boss calls and the lights could go red. If a pharmaceutical salesman were calling to sell fake Viagra, they might flash blue—and so on.
Speaking of HUE, we did find a company named P2B Trading from Elizabeth, NJ selling refurbished HUE. I asked what that meant and the sales manager was unable to explain. He did show an advertisement from Home Depot online featuring a lamp at $59 and he claimed he could sell the same lamp, in quantities, for $29. Your humble editor has purchased many refurbished products, but to my knowledge, I have never had a refurbished bulb.


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June 2, 2021 (MLN): Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has released the provisional revenue collection figures for the first eleven months of current fiscal year.
In a series of Tweet, FBR Spokesperson shared provisional figures related to revenue collection.
FBR has collected net revenue of Rs4,170billion during Jul-May period, which has exceeded the target of Rs3,994bn by Rs176bn. This represents a growth of about 18% over the collection of Rs3,549bn during the same period last year.
The net collection for the month of May was Rs386bn, against a required increase of Rs214bn, representing an increase of 69% over Rs229bn collected in May 2020 and 168% of the target. The year-on-year growth of 69% is unprecedented particularly as it is realized on the heel of 57% in April. These figures would further improve before the close of the day and after book adjustments have been taken into account.
On the other hand, the gross collections increased from Rs3,674bn during this period last year to Rs4,386bn, showing an increase of 19.4 %.
The amount of refunds disbursed was Rs216bn compared to Rs125bn paid last year, showing an increase of 42.3 %. This is reflective of FBR’s resolve to fast-track refunds to prevent liquidity shortages in the industry.
The improved revenue performance is a reflection of growing economic activities in the country despite facing the challenge of third wave of COVID-19. However, during the Eid holidays, revenue collection slowed down considerably.
Meanwhile, FBR’s efforts to broaden the tax base are expending apace. Early signs suggest such efforts are bearing fruits. As on 31-5-2021, income tax returns for tax year 2020 have reached Rs2.93million Compared to Rs2.63mn in tax year 2019, showing an increase of 11.4 %.
The tax deposited with returns was Rs52bn compared to only Rs34bn last year, showing an increase of 55%.
FBR has also released the information about Tier-I retailers who have been integrated with POS system. According to the information, 10,767 sales points have been integrated with Point of Sales Linked Invoicing System.
Pakistan Customs has collected Rs672bn under the head of customs duty in first eleven months of FY 2020-21 against the assigned target of Rs565bn and exceeded its target by Rs107bn which is 19% more than the assigned target.
Whereas during the month of May, 2021 an amount of Rs64bn has been collected under the head of customs duty against the monthly target of Rs57bn which is again 12% more than the assigned monthly target.
Rs107bn was collected more under the head of customs duty in first 11 months of current financial year as compared to FY19-20, despite the re-arrival of COVID-19 pandemic and has shown a growth of 19% as compared to previous financial year, which is quite remarkable.
During May 2021 smuggled goods worth Rs2.6bn have been seized so far, while in May 2020 smuggled goods worth Rs1.5bn were seized, thus showing a monthly increase of 74%.
Similarly, during last 11 months (July 2020- May 2021) of current financial year smuggled goods worth Rs52.5bn have been seized as compared to Rs40.8bn in Jul 2019-May 2020 of the last financial year thus showing an increase of 29 %.
Due to effective enforcement measures taken by Inland Revenue (IR) and Customs, additional revenue of Rs175bn is collected in the current Financial Year out of which Inland Revenue (IR) has added around Rs100bn.
IR enforcement measures include recovery out of arrears, efficient audits, improved monitoring of sales tax, POS integration, broadening of tax base and monitoring of withholding taxes.
Similarly, out of Rs175bn whereas the remaining additional Rs75bn have come from effective enforcement measures taken by Pakistan Customs.
These measures include counter smuggling operations regarding tea, tyres, textiles, electronics, palm oil and POL.
Besides enforcement measures, effective administrative measures like auction of goods, control measures against under invoicing, adjudication of court cases, recovery of arrears, DIRBS and audits have also increased the revenue generation.
During the current FY from July to May, the major sectors for the collection of revenue include auto sector, banks, cement, POL, tobacco and sugar. Tax revenue of Rs108bn is collected from the auto sector which was Rs72bn in the last year with growth of 51 percent.
The revenue collected from the POL is Rs577bn which was Rs516bn last year showing an increase of 12 percent. From the tobacco sector, FBR has collected Rs129bn revenue which was Rs104bn last year thus showing an increase of 24 percent.
The revenue from sugar sector was Rs53bn which was Rs31bn last year showing a growth of 74 percent.
The Customs duty collections in the current year from the major items include vehicles, Iron Steel and Machinery and mechanical appliances. Customs duty of Rs98bn is collected from vehicles which was Rs52bn last year showing an increase of 86 percent.
Customs duty from Iron and Steel remained Rs53bn which was Rs42bn last year showing a growth of 24 percent.
Similarly, Customs duty from machinery and mechanical appliances is Rs38bn which was Rs30bn last year in the same period thus showing a growth of 26 percent.
Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation-IR showed commendable performance during July 2020 to May 2021.
During this period, Directorate General forwarded 1,491 Investigation Reports and Red Alerts to the field formations involving revenue amounting to Rs. 228 billion.
During the period October 2018 to May 2021, Directorate General filed 146 complaints under Anti-Money Laundering Act where more than Rs52bn were involved. Directorate seized 7,527 cartons containing 75,270,000 cigarette sticks during the period of July to May.
Copyright Mettis Link News


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Retailers and brands moving into the Chinese market need to treat customers as VIPs, according to Sylvain Jauze, director of international operations at French technology company Cegid.
“[In China, retailers] don’t speak about CRM, they speak about VIP management,” he told a briefing of international journalists at Cegid’s Connections conference in Berlin.
This means retailers have to manage customers much as major airlines do, offering different platinum, gold or silver levels of service according to what’s most appropriate. Customer incentives are also crucial: “Nobody in China buys full price, they always want a discount.”
It’s also important, Jauze said, for retailers expanding into Asia to understand local attitudes to retail. “To the Chinese, retail is a hobby,” he said. “During the weekend, [in Europe, you might] go to the countryside with your family. The Chinese? No. They go shopping. They love shopping. This is a hobby.”
The theme of internationalisation was central to the conference. Cegid sees itself as “a software specialist for specialty retail”, and often works with fashion and luxury brands as these companies move into new markets where local conditions can be challenging.
In Russia, for example, a new law has been passed that means retailers “have an obligation to manage customer information [on Russian citizens] within the country and this information must stay within the country”. The deadline for compliance is 1 September 2015, a full year earlier than initially announced. Companies moving into Brazil have to cope with huge complexities around different tax regimes in different states.
Cegid also sees the emergence of omnichannel retail across territories around the world as a key development in the near future. “We want to invest in omni-everything,” Jauze said, “omnichannel, the mobility, clienteling, big data, business intelligence.”
This mix of localisation for different territories and delivering omnichannel will be challenging for retailers and brands, as Lee Bingham, head of IT at luxury fashion brand Paul Smith , made clear in his presentations at the conference. “We like each of our stores to be individual and unique across territories, which is great from a customer experience and retail perspective, but challenging from a technology and IT [perspective],” he said.
Paul Smith recently selected Yourcegid Retail, Cegid’s cloud-based retail management solution to support its international expansion plans.
The company reconstructed the Cegid Innovation Store [pictured above] at the Berlin conference to showcase its innovations.


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South West Four Festival (SW4) is set to return to London’s Clapham Common on August 25th and 26th.
This year, “the capital’s longest running electronic music festival” will also celebrate its 15th anniversary with a huge selection of the biggest names in the industry soon to be revealed. Stay tuned for more updates!
Until then, enjoy the SW4 2017 Aftermovie below!
— SW4 Festival (@southwest4) 8 novembre 2017
Grab tickets here!


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Shares of print media companies including HT Media, DB Corp and Jagran Prakashan rallied up by 20 per cent Wednesday after the Narendra Modi government made an announcement to raise advertisement rates in print media by 25 per cent. The new rates will be effective Tuesday and valid for a period of 3 years. It was last in 2013, an increase of 19 per cent was announced over and above the rates of 2010.
This move to hike advertising rate will bring a rise in operating revenues of newspapers, especially regional and small players which rely heavily on advertising , CARE Ratings said.
Expectations of heavy spends in advertising from the government during FY19, due to the general election season, will act as a catalyst for the revenue jump of the print industry during the year, it also added.
The print industry hails the much awaited decision to hike advertisement rates. This move will directly boost revenue of print industry, which was valued at ~Rs. 318 bn in FY18. After the TV segment (~37%), print is the 2nd largest contributor to the advertising industry s revenue at ~35%, it also said.
While HT Media ended the day 20 per cent high at Rs 47.10, DB Corp and Jagran Prakashan gained 7.63 per cent and 2.89 per cent, respectively on BSE yesterday.


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It has been rumored since the beginning of the year after ‘Tesla hacker’ Jason Hughes sent a cryptic message to Elon Musk over five months ago. Tesla enthusiasts have since been fantasizing about the potential performances of a P100D Model S or X. Last month, Tesla finally confirmed the new 100 kWh battery pack, which gives the ‘Quickest Production Car in the World’ title to the Model S P100D with Ludicrous Mode.
When the automaker officially announced the new top-of-the-line model, Tesla said that it was entering production and now almost 4 weeks later, those cars are making their way to Tesla stores and service centers.
Our many eyes at Tesla’s retail and service locations are reporting having spotted both Model S P100D sedans and Model X P100D SUVs in the parking lots and arriving on trucks in California over the past two days.
The first few owners should start taking deliveries any day now.
Tesla says that the Model S P100D with Ludicrous Mode will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds. We should start to see new acceleration videos as soon as Tesla starts deliveries. Not unlike when Tesla introduced the “Insane Mode” and the original “Ludicrous Mode”.
After announcing the P100D, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that they should be able to produce as many as 200 100 kWh battery packs per week. He anticipates that the demand for the new vehicles will exceed the production capacity for the next few months and therefore, they do not plan to introduce a non-performance version of the pack until then.
A week after officially announcing the new vehicle, Musk sent a company-wide email to employees in which he urged them to “build and deliver every car they possibly can,” as he believed the company to be “on the razor’s edge of achieving a good Q3″ ending September 30. By good, he actually means a profitable quarter, according to the same email.
If Tesla employees are successful in delivering every vehicle they can, chances are that we should see quite a few P100Ds in the next few weeks.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Celebrate the launch of LocationTech
This is a Tech Alliance event
Please join us to celebrate the launch of LocationTech, the latest member of the New Zealand Tech Alliance.
Location technology is at the heart of big data, creating most of the world’s information. Discover how it is helping shape our economy and add value to organisations throughout New Zealand.
NZTech’s Graeme Muller will officially welcome LocationTech to the Tech Alliance. LocationTech’s Chair, Sam Drummond, will introduce the power of location. He will be joined by Matt Lythe, Managing Director of Lynker Analytics, Kea Aerospace CEO Mark Rocket and rocket scientist Dr Philipp Sueltrop (they’re commercialising the stratosphere!). Together, they will discuss how most of our daily activities rely on location data and the technology that brings it to life.
Wellington Venue: The Rowing Club Function Room – Tarankai Street Wharf, Wellington Waterfront
Christchurch Venue: Saltworks – 4 Ash Street, Christchurch Central
Online: Link 6pm Start for online


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Turtle Beach company Launched the new Recon 70 gaming Headset, providing a high performance voice quality, surround sound ready, a lightweight and comfortable design, high-quality 40mm over-ear speakers, and a high-sensitivity flip-up mic.
The high-sensitivity mic picks up your voice lou...
After the success of the Switch platform, Nintendo is planning to launch two new models this year, one cheap and the other top-class, according to the Wall Street Journal.
According to the newspaper, the two new models of Switch may come up this summer, the first model will be cheaper co...
Slightly Mad studio has announced its intention to work on a new home game console called Mad Box, which will be released in the next few years. The project is the first of its kind for the development team that used to develop the Project CARS games.
The Yakuza Kiwami PC game was announced in the middle of last year, and since then the news of the game has been completely absent before Sega decided to share details about the upcoming launch plan and the deadline. The comicbook report showed that the remake of the Japanese Mafia is coming to Ste...Read More
Nintendo Switch enjoyed barnstorming sales throughout last year, according to the latest statistics from US market research company NPD Group. The figures show that the Switch was the best-selling system in the United States – both in terms of dollars, and the number of units sold.
The video game industry in the United States eached a new level, according to data published by The Foundation , which NPD Group research market, video games revenues in the United States , including hardware, software and peripherals and subscriptions 43.4 billion US dollars in 2018, up from 36.9 B...Read More
Are you looking for an affordable top gaming laptop that suites your gaming needs?The top gaming laptops come in every shape and size, so we gathered list of affordable gaming laptops in the market nowadays:
1. MSI GS65 Stealth
-Intel Core i7
-Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB GD...
If you’re looking for one of the best gaming mice, you should look for a mouse that can balance price and performance in a compelling way.
Bare in mind that the best mouse is not necessarily the most expensive in the market.
So, we gathered together some gaming mice that have been tested:


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Bollywood style icon Kareena Kapoor Khan announced as the new face of women’s wear brand IMARA
The contemporary women’s fashion brand offers a refreshing take on ethnic wear for the tasteful Indian woman!
Universal Sportsbiz Pvt. Ltd. (USPL), the youth-oriented fashion retailer has announced Bollywood fashionista Kareena Kapoor Khan as the new brand ambassador for their women’s ethnic wear brand IMARA. IMARA is a fashion line conceptualized as a contemporary interpretation of the conventional and offers a refreshing take on ethnic designs.
IMARA has a versatile range of products spanning across trendy ethnic wear sets and various separates such as kurtas, bottomwear and dupattas that can be mixed and matched to create interesting looks.
In their latest Spring Summer 2020 collection, Imara finds inspiration in India's rich heritage. And at the same time, Imara has reinterpreted these timeless designs with an eye to the future of Indian fashion. From the opulent Utsav collection to the flowing silhouettes of the Banarasi collection, Imara is a beautiful journey from India's past to her future.
Speaking on the announcement, Ms. Anjana Reddy, Founder & CEO, USPL said, “We are elated to have Kareena Kapoor Khan as the face of IMARA – one of India’s fastest growing women’s ethnic wear brands! With this partnership, we aim to further expand the brand’s footprints across the country. We are currently present at 210 points of sale, pan India and we aim to double that number in the next 2 years. This partnership will further strengthen IMARA’s relationship with the discerning woman of modern India.
Elaborating on her association with IMARA, Kareena Kapoor Khan said, “IMARA’s progressive take on ethnic wear appeals to my aesthetics as I love wearing classic ethnic pieces with modern silhouettes. IMARA is the wardrobe upgrade every Indian woman would love.”
IMARA is a contemporary rendition of the conventional, a modern Indian adaptation of classics from the past. Experimenting with ethnic designs, it offers a refreshing take on fashion, for the young and the stylish. A line of clothing for the new Indian woman; smart and independent, open and free. IMARA was launched as a women’s ethnic fashion brand and conceptualized by Universal Sportsbiz Private Limited (USPL), an Accel Partners portfolio company and is India’s first celebrity commerce company.
About Universal Sportsbiz Pvt. Ltd. (USPL):
Universal Sportsbiz Pvt Ltd. is the only homegrown Indian company with significant presence in the multi-billion-dollar fashion retail business. USPL is the only company with a diverse portfolio of fashion brands endorsed by leading celebrities from entertainment and sports industry. From clothing to accessories USPL brands widely cater to the youth of today. Founded in April 2012 by Ms. Anjana Reddy, USPL’s portfolio of leading brands includes Wrogn, the breakaway youth fashion
brand for men, the face of which is Virat Kohli, IMARA, a contemporary women’s ethnic fashion brand with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ms. Taken, Kriti Sanon’s western wear line and SINGLE – a fashion forward brand inspired by the universal truth about all men that they are ‘Forever Single’. USPL has been rapidly expanding its offline retail network across the country and the brands are available at over 1500 points of sale including 50 exclusive brand outlets.


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Global materials technology company Umicore and Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan have agreed to jointly develop high-performance catholyte materials for solid-state batteries, combining their respective expertise in cathode active materials and solid electrolytes.
Umicore has been working on solid-state CAM (cathode active material) chemistries since 2017 and holds multiple key patents. Idemitsu Kosan has an established method for manufacturing high-purity lithium sulfide, which it developed via its petrochemical business, and holds many patents for sulfide solid electrolytes that use lithium sulfide as their raw material.
“Umicore laid its foundations in battery materials almost 30 years ago. Thanks to our own research and strong global open innovation footprint, we are at the forefront of various lithium-ion battery technologies that help decarbonize transport. Our partnership with Idemitsu enhances our innovation and technology leadership to support our customers in their clean mobility transformation through solid-state battery power,” explained Mathias Miedreich, the CEO of Umicore.
Catholytes combine cathode active materials and solid electrolytes. Achieving greater contact between these two components would enable solid-state batteries to achieve better performance. “Based on more than 20 years of experience, Idemitsu has developed the technology of sulfide solid electrolytes and holds many patents related to sulfide solid electrolytes,” added Hajime Nakamoto, managing executive officer of Idemitsu. “Solid electrolytes will contribute as a key material for the ‘electrified society’, through ASSB [all-solid-state batteries]. The joint development between Umicore and Idemitsu will play an important role in the acceleration of activities in this field.”


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To avoid fueling illegal sales, province plans to coordinate pricing with other provinces when marijuana becomes legal next summer, finance minister says.
The U.S. Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday but signaled it still expects one more increase by the end of the year despite recent weak inflation readings.
Autoparts maker Magna International announced Wednesday that it has suspended the supply of parts to CAMI, the Ingersoll auto manufacturing plant that's been crippled by a labour dispute.
Signage of a Couche-Tard convenience store is shown in Montreal in an October 5, 2012, file photo. ADVERTISEMENT. LAVAL, Que. - Alimentation Couche-Tard is still interested in selling marijuana and its co-founder says he thinks provincial governments ...
Amazon says it will spend more than $5 billion to build another headquarters in North America. It plans to stay in its sprawling Seattle headquarters, pictured, and says the new space will be "a full equal" of its current home.


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The 22nd Autoexpo Africa was held in Kenya at the KICC Nairobi, from the 18th to the 20th of July 2019. East Africa’s premier Automotive Spareparts Accessories and Equipment fair featured exhibitors from over 30 countries who are the leaders in the automotive industry will be showcasing their products, services and equipment. Celebrating its 22nd anniversary, the leading trade exhibition for automobile, truck and bus parts, equipment, components, accessories, tools, and services brought the world’s leading manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers in touch with one of the most important markets in the world.
The event is hosted various dignitaries including ambassadors, high commissioners and trade representatives. Among them were Mr. Thanit Ngansampantrit (Embassy of Thailand), Mr. Syed Ahmed Maroof (The High Commission Of Pakistan), Mr. Meles Alem Tikea and Mr. Siraj Jundi (Embassy of Ethiopia), Ms. Marta Eugenia Juarez Ruiz (Embassy of Costa Rica), Mr. Andrii Pravednyk (Embassy of Ukraine), Mr. Dmitry Maksimychev and Mr. Dmitrii Charnetskii (Embassy of Russia), Mr. Sayem Ahmed (High Commission Of Bangladesh), Mr. Ahmad Alfar and Mr. Mahmut Burak Ersoy (Embassy of Jordan), Mr. Michael Derus (Embassy Of Germany), Mr. Nuku Kamasa-Quashie (The High Commission of Ghana).
The event is sponsored by major companies from Kenya that include key players such as Mobikey Truck and Bus Co., Ltd showcasing MAN Trucks and Buses, CMC Motors Group Limited representing Eicher, Robert Bosch East Africa Ltd, Multi-Line Motors (K) Ltd, Real Auto Spares Ltd, CHEKI - Timam Cars, 3 Continents Limited and more. International participants include Advance Auto Supply (Thailand), Panther Tyres and Osaka Batteries (Pakistan), Gameroil (Spain), Asteriya and Yenmak Engine Parts (Turkey), S & S Ltd - Recor Batteries (Greece), Boston Garage Equipment and GT Exhausts Ltd (United Kingdom), Amara Raja Batteries Ltd, Garima Global Pvt Ltd and Jitendra New EV Tech Pvt Ltd (India), Dr Greiche (Egypt) and Champion Lubricant Oil (United Arab Emirates).


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Sept. 19, 2010
Pizza Hut and The Martin Agency have announced a new brand campaign that sets to capture the social and personable essences of contemporaries' ads. Though Domino’s "Oh Yes We Did" shone a self-reflective light on customer complaints about quality, and Papa John's "Papa’s in the House" campaign had founder John Schnatter personally delivering pizzas to people’s houses, Pizza Hut had previously gone out on no such limb into patrons' lives.
They’re now jumping on the bandwagon: "Your Favorites. Your Pizza Hut” launches this week with national advertising that celebrates the “special bond” that Pizza Hut has with its customers, according to a company statement. The ads feature real employees from Pizza Hut restaurants across the United States sharing their passion for serving "more than just pizza."
"With our new brand campaign we really wanted to hone in on what sets Pizza Hut apart," said Kurt Kane, vice president of marketing at Pizza Hut. "Pizza Hut customers know that they'll get great tasting pizza, pasta or wings from us. But what keeps them loyal to the brand is a connection between our food and the special moments in their daily lives. Whether it's family pizza night or a get together with friends; at Pizza Hut we believe every moment deserves to be a favorite moment."
To deliver that message, Pizza Hut and its advertising agency, The Martin Agency, turned to actual employees working at Pizza Hut restaurants throughout America. The employees were chosen through video submissions highlighting their personalities and desire to share Pizza Hut's "Your Favorites" story. Eight Pizza Hut employees were chosen from hundreds of entries.
They include mostly teen and early twenty-something cashiers and managers, whose lives’ details are shared in clips. One featured employee, for example, is Jonathan Kichamu, a 21-year-old former Texas Tech linebacker who is also a general regional manager. Briana Rico, customer service representative, is a 17-year-old aspiring actress.
Pizza Hut will release exclusive video of the team members participating in the ad shoot, as well as behind-the-scenes videos and winning entries in the coming weeks. Visit social.PizzaHut.com to interact with the brand or for more information visit PizzaHut.com.


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The Tesla Model S Plaid is one of the most anticipated electric vehicles on the market, but it still has some gray areas.
The all-electric Tesla Model S manufactured by Tesla is a five-door h
You can call to monitor all the vehicles on Indian roads in real time, or you can say that this is just a way to make charging easier. But if the government continues its plan to dismantle physical
-December 14, 2021 at 11:24 AM Pacific Time
This holiday marks the second year Apple has sold wallets (now supports "Find Me"), and there are many other excellent iP
Indiana will test wireless electric vehicle charging devices embedded on highway roads, allowing vehicles to be charged while driving. According to a press release from the Indiana Department of Tr
Call 888-776-0942 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time
Shanghai, November 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - NuVolta Technologies (hereinafter referred to as NuVolta), the world's leading supplier of
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Hello and welcome to the daily crunch on Tuesday, December 14th! So
The American-made GV70 competes with the most popular electric car in the United States.
The Genesis Electrified GV70 has only one manufacturing goal: to get a slice of the Tesla Model Y cake


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The hotly anticipated 2014 Mazda6 diesel has been delayed until April, 2014.
Read This Article
Mazda gives its first clues on what to expect for the next-generation MX-5 Miata.
Mazda is the only Japanese automaker that isn't currently profitable, but that could change very soon.
The 2014 Mazda Mazda6 recently debuted in Moscow, and the automaker followed its newest Skyactiv model debut with the release of an addicting music video.


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BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC (WTOC) - If you’ve recently filled up your gas tank in Port Royal, you need to be aware of a recent issue at the pump.
A mistake at the pump had customers filling up with diesel instead of premium or mid-grade gasoline. Parker’s posted this message to it’s Facebook page on Friday, saying a fuel truck mistakenly filled the premium fuel tank with diesel at the store on Ribaut Road.
WTOC spoke with a customer who says their car is now ruined.
“After getting gas, the car started sputtering, and I got a call from the dealership saying it was due to contaminated gas," said Sasha Horne.
Parker’s is telling everyone impacted to message them online.
The mix-up was only at the Parker’s store in Port Royal, and only for premium and mid-grade fuels.
For more information, contact the Port Royal store at 843.379.4848.


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2009 saw the rise of songs like “Video Phone” by Beyonce, “Text Me” by R. Kelly, and “LOL :)” by Trey Songz. Next came Carly Rae Japsen’s “Call Me Maybe” in 2011, and recently “Hotline Bling” by Drake became the best-selling song in the U.S.. Despite the silly nature of these cell phone centered songs, they tell (or sing) us something about where people are choosing to spend their time. According to a study done by eMarketer, the global population of 2.5 billion selfie-taking, snap-chatting, tweeting millennials spent a whopping hour and 28 minutes a day on their mobile devices in 2012.
Fast forward to 2016, where are they now?
Well, they’re still checking their phones. The difference is, now it’s for things like email, internal collaboration, business networking, and company research. eMarketer predicts the total for daily phone usage to rise to three hours and eight minutes in 2016. But this is good news! A study done by AT&T and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council showed that solid mobility practice saved businesses a collective $67.5 billion dollars this year, $15.6 billion a year in savings resulting from the direct usage of mobile apps alone. But how can a solid mobility practice help your learners?
Stay tuned this week for our III part series on how using mobility can elevate your training programs, here’s what we have in store for you:


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On Saturday 24th September amid the wonderful tastes, sights and aromas of the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival, Suffolk Secrets launched a brand new £25,000 fund with the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB to support local environmental and community
It’s official! The Cake Shop Bakery in Woodbridge is Britain’s Best Bakery 2014!
With its tantalising displays of breads, cakes and treats, The Cake Shop Bakery in Woodbridge has been attracting loyal customers for many years.
To celebrate the Britten Centenary Weekend, there will be a BBC Singers concert at St Edmund’s Church in Field Stile Road, Southwold on Sunday 24th November 2013. This concert will be broadcast live on Radio 3.


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|Roseville Police Department||1051 Junction Blvd.|
Roseville, CA 95678
|FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE||PRESS RELEASE #14-12|
|Subject :||Roseville Police and retailers fight organized crime and promote safe shopping environments|
|Contact :||Dee Dee Gunther, Police Public Information Officer (916)774-5015/257-1942|
|Tomorrow hundreds of retail loss-prevention experts and law enforcement representatives from throughout northern California are meeting in Roseville to discuss fraud, shoplifting, and other organized retail crimes that drive up costs for businesses and customers alike.|
In 2011, the Roseville Police Department helped start the Northern California Organized Retail Crime Association (NCORCA). The organization has grown to 270 members, including retail loss-prevention professionals and law enforcement agencies from the Sacramento Valley to the Oregon border. The members share information regularly about organized shoplifting crews, robbery series, and frequent or emerging fraud schemes. Roseville Police volunteer Al Moody has been the coordinator for the association since its inception.
NCORCA's annual symposium meets from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, September 24, at the Maidu Community Center, 1550 Maidu Drive in Roseville. Featured speakers include Roseville Police Chief Daniel Hahn; Placer County District Attorney Scott Owen; Robert Hill of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Special Agent Anitra Chiles of the USDA, who will talk about food stamp fraud; Wes Drone of the FBI on cybercrimes; and Greg Brumley and Paul LeBlanc of OuterWall and CoinStar.
Roseville is a natural hub in the battle against organized retail crime. Roseville is the 45th biggest city in California, but ranks 13th in the state with $2.8 billion in annual retail sales.
Roseville Police Chief Daniel Hahn said, "I'm very happy to welcome the retail loss-prevention community to Roseville. We have a "one team" philosophy in the City of Roseville--all of us working together with the community to improve the quality of life in our city. NCORCA gives us a chance to share our knowledge and experience, and also to benefit from the experiences of the other members."
West Sacramento-based supermarket chain Raley's is an active member of NCORCA. Andrew Grant, Raley's Senior Director of Asset Protection, Risk & Safety, said: "Raley's Family of Fine Stores is proud to partner with the NCORCA and commends their efforts in furthering loss-prevention efforts in our community. The symposium is an important education tool and networking opportunity for law enforcement and retailers alike. Organized retail crime is sophisticated, widespread and very costly. NCORCA is an important part of our partnership with law enforcement, allowing for detailed information-sharing between us, other retailers, and criminal investigators. We use NCORCA daily and have solved or supported many successful cases that put organized retail-crime rings behind bars. We would encourage all businesses in our community to join NCORCA and to work together to fight crime."
Loss-prevention professionals and business managers interested in joining NCORCA may email coordinator Al Moody at firstname.lastname@example.org .


text: SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Groupon Inc. is re-evaluating its plan to go public given the market's recent volatility, according to a report by the Wall Sreet Journal. Citing an unnamed source, the Tuesday report said Groupon is "reassessing the timing" for the deal on a week-by-week basis and has called off an investor road show it had planned for next week. The company had been planning to price the offering sometime in mid-September, the source said. The source also said the company has been contacted by the Securities and Exchange Commission about a leaked memo to employees from CEO Andrew Mason. A representative of Groupon could not immediately be reached for comment.


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Despite figures that visitor numbers to the town centre were up, a blow was struck to the Grosvenor Centre with news that budget chain Poundland was leaving its upper floor premises.
New tenants will now be sought to take over the medium-sized outlet once occupied by entertainment retailer Zavvi.
It is still unknown as to why the firm has left the premises.
But Councillor Sally Beardsworth (Lib Dem, Kingsthorpe) says the vacant store opens up an opportunity for a new retailer to come into the town. She said: “I still think you need to get some sort of clothing option in there – we need a good men’s outfitters in the Grosvenor Centre.”
Chronicle & Echo readers have taken to Facebook to make their suggestions.
Stephen Anthony Miller said: “A social enterprise which actually wants to help the people of the town in their day to day lives.
Jasmine Mcintyre said: “Bring back Disney store – I can’t keep going Leicester or Birmingham to just get a teddy.”


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Pokémon took a grand step into the real world this morning as the Pokémon Press Conference announced Pokémon Go. Pokémon designer Junichi Masuda commented on the release saying, “The day has finally come when Pokémon appear in the real world”. As much as that seems “Farfetch’d”, Pokémon Go might bring us a step closer to real, live Pokémon.
Along with the release of the title, a trailer was played to the audience. It depicted people walking through streets and fields in search of virtual Pokémon. Using a stylish watch-like bracelet in the shape of a Pokéball called “Pokemon Go Plus”, it will connect to your iPhone or Android to aid you in capturing Pokémon. The bracelet is also said to vibrate when there is an action, such as a battle or a wild Pokémon in your area.
Niantic, known for its smartphone game Ingress, is partnering with Nintendo to help develop Pokémon Go. Niantic said that the company wanted to focus on, “players going outside, getting some fresh air, and capturing Pokémon at the same time”. Shigeru Miyamoto noted that Pokémon Go reminds him of Pokémon Snap, as the game shares similar game mechanics with the future application.
Of course, Pokémon Go will not be a stand alone title. Masuda told the audience that it, “will connect with titles in the main series of Pokémon games”. As the conglomeration of theories of the new Pokémon title to be released on it’s 10th anniversary, Pokémon Go won’t be excluded from being thrown into the mix. The application will be released in 2016 for both iPhone and Android devices.
Hannah Makholm/Graphics Dept.


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Carl Icahn, who is calling on Apple to buy back more of its shares, said that he would not mount a proxy fight with the company to press his point.
Carl Icahn isn't forecasting a dramatic stock market drop quite yet, but the billionaire investor is still bracing for a market sell-off in the next three to five years, he told Reuters on Monday.
Icahn said Apple should use some of its $133 billion cash stockpile to "meaningfully accelerate and increase the magnitude of share repurchases."
Earlier this year, Carl Icahn bought a stake in eBay and began agitating for the company to spin off PayPal. Icahn exchanged a series of letters with the company's management.
"I am still concerned that one day you'll see a break like you had a few weeks ago," Icahn said at the Reuters Global Investment Outlook Summit.
EBay Inc plans to spin off its PayPal unit next year, bowing to investor Carl Icahn's argument that the move would free payments business.
Speaking on cable television CNBC, Icahn said that he hopes other shareholders will join him in appealing to the company to buy back more stock.
There is just one problem, in Icahn's view. Unlike Icahn, the market is not giving Apple its due; its stock, he writes, is massively undervalued.


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HONG KONG/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Hundreds of Chinese workers at a bankrupt furniture factory staged a mass rally on Thursday, facing off with riot police in the latest flare-up of industrial unrest.
Workers at the bamboo and wood furniture factory in Anji in the eastern province of Zhejiang took to the streets to demand back wages after the plant went bankrupt, Hong Kong’s Ming Pao Daily said on Friday.
Chinese microblogging sites showed large numbers of riot police surrounding workers at the scene and postings said some workers had been beaten.
A rash of highly organised and potent strikes have hit the factories of a number of global brands including PepsiCo Inc, Japanese watchmaker Citizen Holdings Co Ltd, and shoemaking giant Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Ltd.
While the reasons for the strikes have varied from factory to factory, workers have often complained that jobs and wages are under pressure as manufacturers and exporters look to cut costs in response to slowing Western orders, especially from debt-ridden Europe.
At least two strikes were still simmering at the Singapore-owned Hi-P International Ltd factory, which makes electronics for clients including Apple Inc, with workers demanding compensation for a factory relocation they fear could lead to layoffs.
About 100 Hi-P workers gathered outside a Shanghai government office on Thursday to petition the authorities for help, but dispersed without incident after police arrived.
In the Pearl River Delta plant of Hitachi Ltd-owned Hailiang Storage Products, nearly 800 workers continued to strike, staging a peaceful sit-in in front of the factory on Thursday, labour advocacy group China Labor Watch reported.
Workers were angered that their seniority and benefits may be eroded once a takeover of the factory by Western Digital Corp goes through in March next year.
The group urged “both factories to address their workers’ problems with their opaque and unfair management styles and bring their workers into the decision-making process.”


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Activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) who were planning on using drones to disrupt Heathrow air traffic to protest a third runway have been arrested (The Guardian). Members of the climate protest group frequently put themselves in a position to get arrested to draw attention to their cause – the existential threat posed by climate change. The XR-affiliated Heathrow Pause said that it would continue its plans for protest action today.
The world's governments have failed to meet the goals of the 2014 New York Declaration on Forests (BBC News). UN Climate Summit signatories to the declaration pledged to halve deforestation by 2020, with the goal of stopping it entirely by 2030.
Instead, a report by assessment coordinator Climate Focus says, global deforestation is accelerating, producing annual carbon emissions equivalent to the entire EU. Most worryingly, 90 per cent of that deforestation affects tropical forests, which are most effective at sequestering carbon.
This year's Ig Nobel Prizes have been handed out, with awards going into an investigation into the scrotal temperature of clothed and naked French postmen – whose left scrotums are hotter than their right – and the use of animal-style clicker training to improve precision in orthopaedic surgeons (Ars Technica).
Dedicated to scientific discoveries that are amusing as well as thought-provoking, the prize also recognised "evidence that pizza might protect against illness and death, if the pizza is made and eaten in Italy" and research into the bacterial transmission properties of various banknotes – you might want to avoid handling polymer-based currencies.
Apple has announced its iPhones for the 2019/2020 season: the iPhone 11, the iPhone 11 Pro and the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max (WIRED). As ever, Apple detailed fistfuls of improvements and new features present in these new phones. But we are going to break it down and highlight only the parts that really matter if you are considering an upgrade from an iPhone XS, something older, or even an Android.
Nintendo is taking gamified fitness to the next level with its forthcoming Ring-Con controller and Ring Fit Adventure, a turn-based RPG where your movement across the land and in battle requires you to put in physical exercise (Ars Technica). Nintendo has a strong track record in fitness games, with the Wii Fit still in use for medical rehabilitation, and Ring Fit Adventure will also have a mini-game mode for those who don't want the full RPG experience. The game and controller be out on the Switch on October 18 for $80.


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Luxury hotel confirmed for Doha's Musheireb development
Thursday 01 July 2010
Luxury hotel chain Mandarin Oriental is to further expand in the Middle East, the firm confirmed June 28, opening a new property in Doha by 2014.
The chain already has a property slated to open in Abu Dhabi in 2013, which will be the first in the region for the Hong-Kong based chain.
The new 160-room property in Doha will be located in Musheireb, a huge community currently under development in the old city center of Qatar's capital city that is designed to be a "rediscovery of the past," in contrast to the gleaming skyscrapers that now dominate the Doha skyline.
When complete, Musheireb will cover some 350,000 square meters, be home to nearly 30,000 people and feature upscale retail boutiques, a 700-seat theater, entertainment areas and an underground "pedestrian city."
The zone is aiming for the LEED Gold green building certification and developers have also implemented other green design features such as cycle lanes, a dedicated tram, a centralized cooling system and a building orientation to help the sea air flush out city heat trapped by the buildings.
Mandarin Oriental says that the new hotel, the first to be announced for Musheireb, will feature a pool, fitness center, spa with ten treatment rooms and a variety of restaurants and bars.
It will also contain 95 serviced apartments alongside the 160 rooms and suites, all of which will be a "contemporary interpretation of traditional local influences together with subtle oriental touches reflecting the [Mandarin Oriental] Group’s heritage."
Qatar is currently undergoing an accommodation boom, increasing the number of hotel rooms available in the country by 25 percent during 2009 alone, according to government statistics.
Later this year, US hotel chain Marriott will complete a massive complex featuring three of its brands - Renaissance Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott & Marriott Executive Apartments - in a 48-storey double-tower development.
In 2011, New Doha Internatiional Airport is scheduled to replace the current Doha International as the country's main airport, providing a considerable boost in passenger capacity and facilities for the state's popular flag-carrier Qatar Airways.
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Microsoft is becoming a member of probably the most unique golf equipment on the earth.
The tech large has turn into the second US firm ever to succeed in the lofty valuation of $2 trillion.
Apple was the primary American firm to succeed in that time and now boasts a market cap of about $2.2 trillion.
Oil firm Saudi Aramco, which went public in 2019, surpassed a $2 trillion market cap on its second day of buying and selling, however has since fallen slightly below the mark.
Shares of Microsoft reached a contemporary all-time excessive of $266.83 per share on Wednesday, earlier than paring again a few of these features.
The corporate handed a valuation of $1 trillion simply over two years in the past.
Microsoft has gotten a lift over the previous 16 months from the COVID-19 pandemic.
As individuals spent extra time at residence and on units, demand for Microsoft’s cloud-computing providers, gaming system and computer systems surged.
Since March 2020, the start of the pandemic, Microsoft’s inventory has soared greater than 64 %.
The corporate stated in April that it posted income of $41.71 billion in its fiscal third-quarter, up 19 % from a yr prior. That’s the most important quarterly gross sales enhance the corporate has seen since 2018.
“Over a yr into the pandemic, digital adoption curves aren’t slowing down,” CEO Satya Nadella stated in a press release on the time. “We’re constructing the cloud for the subsequent decade, increasing our addressable market and innovating throughout each layer of the tech stack to assist our prospects be resilient and remodel.”
Apple grew to become the primary US firm to surpass a $2 trillion valuation in August, 2019.
Different large tech firms are shut on Microsoft’s heels. Amazon’s market cap hit $1.74 trillion on Wednesday, and Google father or mother Alphabet’s stood at $1.67 trillion.


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‘Not enough for coffee’: Karung guni men, cardboard collectors hit hard as scrap prices and volume fall
SINGAPORE: In the sweltering heat, karung guni (rag and bone) man Goh Joi Kim hauled a variety of junk off his lorry and into a metal cage. There were old standing fans, newspapers and the usual cardboard boxes.
The 71-year-old collects these items from housing estates in Hougang and Sengkang. And every two days, he goes to an industrial estate in Ang Mo Kio to sell them. It is backbreaking work that comes with little reward.
For instance, 1kg of newspapers gets him S$0.14, while the same amount of cardboard is worth a paltry S$0.05. “It’s very difficult now,” he told CNA, sweat dripping off his face. “Five cents is not enough to even buy a cup of coffee.”
Informal recyclers, who already contend with rising fuel prices, said newspapers and cardboard used to be worth at least S$0.20 and S$0.10 per kg, respectively.
The sector has been hit hard by falling prices of scrap material in Singapore after China banned imports of “foreign garbage” like unsorted scrap paper and plastic waste since January 2018.
The ban has led to an excess stockpile of scrap material like cardboard and newspapers, industry players told CNA, adding that the US-China trade war has also made matters worse.
The volume of scrap material collected has gone down as well, karung guni men said, citing lifestyle changes like increasing consumption of news online and a greater awareness of official recycling efforts.
Upstream, traders that buy scrap material from informal recyclers before selling them on to larger players are likewise finding things more difficult.
Tay Paper Recycling, which runs a collection point at the Ang Mo Kio industrial estate and exports the scrap to paper mills overseas, has had to slash the buying price of used cardboard by about 60 per cent to S$0.04 per kg, in tandem with falling export prices.
“Our export price for carton boxes is about 11 to 12 cents, fluctuating more on the lower side,” its business development manager Andrew Tay told CNA. “So as any business, how much can you buy your raw material?
Mr Tay said the company was only making a S$0.01 profit on the used cardboard per kg, adding that he still needs to factor in transport and labour costs. “So, it’s really tough for us,” he said.
He attributed the falling prices to China’s ban, pointing out that the recyclables “still have to go somewhere”.
"Everybody has so much inventory and they want to sell it off. Buyers can pick and choose the cheapest and best," he explained.
"That has caused an oversupply situation (which means) prices will go down."
Mr Tay said China – one of the world’s major producers of finished products like plastic bottles and paper – is producing less as a result of the trade war with the US. This means there is less demand for scrap material as well.
“Because of the export restrictions, the need to buy scrap material reduces,” he said. “So, that causes prices to go down.”
Mr Tay called the situation a “double whammy” adding: “I assume all my competitors are in the same situation.”
Nearby, Huat Seng Cleaning Company – a trader which sells on the scrap to larger recyclers – said the selling price for used cardboard has gone down from S$0.20 a year ago to S$0.09 now. The price of old newspapers has also fallen from S$0.20 to S$0.15.
“I have to decrease my price, or else I cannot sustain the business,” its sales development manager L K Tan told CNA, adding that profits have gone down 80 per cent over the past year.
The firm now buys cardboard and newspapers at S$0.05 and S$0.14 per kg, respectively.
DECREASING VOLUME AND NEWSPRINT
Ms Tan similarly attributed the falling prices to China’s ban, adding that the slowdown in Singapore’s trade environment means the volume of scrap material collected has also gone down.
According to the latest official data, total trade decreased in September on a year-on-year basis, while both imports and exports declined in the same month.
“The market volume has gone down,” Ms Tan said, noting that business is not good. “Import and export is down, so (companies) are buying less and throwing less.”
Ms Tan said another reason for the decreasing volume of scrap is the decreasing circulation of newspapers as news consumers shift online.
According to publisher Singapore Press Holdings, the daily average print circulation of the Straits Times went down from 263,200 in August 2017 to 232,500 in August 2018. In contrast, its digital circulation went up from 120,400 to 138,200 in the same period.
“People use the computer to see the news,” Ms Tan said. “They never buy the newspaper, so the volume becomes less.”
One karung guni man who only gave his name as Mr Tan said he used to be able to collect up to 800kg of newspapers from HDB blocks in a day. Now he only manages about 100kg.
“Now where got newspaper? All online,” he said as he hurried into his lorry before driving off.
SHIFTING TO FORMAL RECYCLING
Other karung guni men said the volume collected has gone down as companies and individuals seem to be embracing formal recycling.
Mr Peter Shia, who collects newspapers and magazines from businesses, said he could collect 100kg of the material previously but only manages 10kg a day now.
“They are wrapping it up as a parcel then sending it to other countries,” the 64-year-old said. “They recycle it themselves.”
This comes as Singapore moves to make recycling easier for the masses, with recycling bins and collection services provided at HDB estates, private landed properties and private apartments.
From April 2018, new public housing developments and non-landed private residential developments have also been equipped with individual household chutes for recyclables, while reverse vending machines have increasingly sprung up islandwide.
Mr Goh said he is collecting less scrap now too. “Last time, people throw away more,” he lamented. “Now, people put it in the recycling bin.”
The challenges do not stop there.
Cardboard collectors are facing stiffer competition from others like foreign workers who similarly collect scrap material from stores and dumpsters before selling them to traders and recyclers, said Mr Nafiz Kamarudin, founder of Happy People Helping People.
The volunteer-run group supports those in need, including cardboard collectors, with meal vouchers at different eateries and outings to places like Gardens by the Bay.
“Although the shops keep the cardboard boxes at the back, it’s first-come, first-served,” Mr Nafiz told CNA. “So, a lot of these old folks will lose out if the younger ones get it first.”
Mr Nafiz said the elderly cardboard collectors he has met include an 89-year-old woman who pushes her cart from her Whampoa neighbourhood to a selling point in Toa Payoh, a 45-minute journey, every day.
Some have conditions like Alzheimer's, he said, while others travel along busy roads and jaywalk with their goods.
"You ask them: 'Aunty, why are you doing this? Isn’t it dangerous?' A lot of them will tell you: 'I live so long already, I die also no problem,'" he added.
Mr Nafiz said they still do it because “even a few cents make a lot of difference”, although they rue the measly price of used cardboard now.
"They said it's very low," he said. "Obviously, 4 cents per kg is ridiculously low for anyone."
But he acknowledged that traders and recyclers had to consider market conditions when deciding their rates.
"We cannot force (them) to increase the price," he stated. "I don’t think it’s right because they are doing business.
"If they are not earning enough, we cannot do anything about it."


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The future of vinyl?February 2, 2009
[click image for full-size version at Diesel Sweeties]
So, in the comments to a previous post, there was a brief discussion on the future of vinyl records. Aaron char Manders quoted the CEO of Newbury Comics as describing vinyl as a ‘novelty,’ a description which suggests a certain transience.
Here’s a couple of starting points for discussion:
- In the world of electronic music, long a stronghold for vinyl, there is a steady movement towards digital music – so much so that next Friday, there’s an underground party in San Francisco billed as ‘Nothing But Vinyl’ and featuring Sammy Dee and Marc Schneider.
- If you look at the top ten vinyl sellers last year, there is a solid mix of old (Abbey Road, Dark Side of the Moon), new (In Rainbows, Fleet Foxes, and Portishead’s Third), and, notably, indie classic In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel.
Given that vinyl is currently, as Aaron memorably put it, ‘an unassuming pimple on the large, albeit slimming, butt of CDs,’ will vinyl remain a viable, if niche, medium indefinitely? Or is this the faddish last gasp of popularity before vinyl fades forever? I’d be interested in arguments on both sides – what do we think?


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Karbala - INA
Karbala Agriculture announced today, Thursday, that its production of dates during the current season exceeded 150 thousand tons, and the surplus production, after pressing and packaging, is exported to the countries of Morocco and India, expecting that its production of wheat for the next season will reach more than 90 thousand tons.
The director of Karbala Agriculture, Abdul-Razzaq Al-Taie, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The fertile lands of Karbala Governorate are famous for palm cultivation in the first place and second-class citrus trees, as the areas planted with these trees amounted to approximately 123 thousand dunums of various kinds, and their cultivation is concentrated in districts and sub-districts." Pointing out that "the horticulture department in the Karbala Agriculture Directorate has taken upon itself to establish two stations in Karbala for the cultivation of palm trees of good and rare varieties and to multiply them, one in the Aoun area and the second near Razaza Lake, distributing the seedlings among farmers at low prices for cultivation in their orchards as well as allocating two thousand dunums to the Hussaini shrine." To create a palm farm, which was later called Fadak Farm, modern methods of propagation of palm trees were used, especially tissue farming, which is characterized by its resistance to difficult climatic conditions, so most Gulf countries have used it for years.


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YEC member Han Jin recently announced that his company Lucid VR has raised $2 million in a seed round. The round took place on March 8, 2016. In addition, Lucid VR has signed a partnership agreement with Wistron Corporation, a top five global ODM (original design manufacturer) based in Taiwan. This funding means that Lucid VR will be able to bring its affordable VR camera to mass production.
Other investors included S2 Capital, Lab360, TEEC Angel Fund, and 17 Miles Technology.
Lucid VR develops 3D 180-degree VR cameras to empower immersive content creation with depth. The LucidCam captures the world exactly as the user sees and hears it. The 180-degree wide-angle lenses enable an active view, and spatial audio enhances the experience of any content being captured or viewed.
CEO Han Jin and Adam Rowell.
“With our relationship with Wistron, we will be developing a beautifully designed and engineered camera that is going to surpass our original plans." said Jin in a statement. "We are very excited to announce that we will be upgrading our backers with a first production version of the LucidCam with double the resolution and frame rate, in addition to extended battery capacity. The viewing experience in VR headsets will be so much smoother with 2K and 60 frames per second.”
Read more about the funding and partnership here.
Images courtesy of Lucid PR.


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In down economy, cost conscious vacationers have new tool in their arsenal
Washington, DC, March 26, 2009 - As summer approaches and families begin to plan their vacations, more and more are bargain hunting in this sour economy. Today, HotPads.com, the housing search engine, introduced a new way for cost-conscious shoppers to plan their next vacation with an interactive, map-based Vacation Rental search.
With this launch, HotPads provides vacationers the tools necessary to make the most informed decisions when deciding on a place to stay. Not only can vacationers compare vacation rentals' pricing, but can now conduct their search by real estate's most important attribute: location. Vacationers are now able to see rental homes and condos around the United States on a full-screen map, revealing their exact distance from the beach, ski-lift, or the golf course. HotPads is launching its vacation portal with 12,500 homes and condos for rent. Visitors can type in a location and travel dates, and then click the matching listings to see prices, pictures, and availability. Many listings can be booked with a credit card directly on HotPads.
"Over the past three and a half years, HotPads.com has helped millions of people find their apartment or their new house", says CEO and co-founder Matthew Corgan. "We are trying to make it as easy to find a vacation rental as it is to find a hotel."
"Summer vacations have been a staple for US families for decades. Unfortunately, with the state of the economy this year, consumers have been forced to change their behavior and cut back on leisure spending. It is our hope that vacationers will take advantage of HotPads Vacation Search to see that there are still some cost-saving options," says HotPads co-founder Douglas Pope.
Vacation Rental Search


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Ho Chi Minh City was the biggest gainer among cities and provinces in Vietnam in 2014, with export revenue surpassing the US$30 billion threshold, customs data show.
With shipments topping $31.35 billion in turnover last year, the southern metropolis has become the first-ever locality to exceed the $30 billion mark in export earnings, according to the Vietnam Customs.
Ho Chi Minh City’s exports were $1.86 billion higher than in 2013, accounting for nearly 21 percent of the country’s total export turnover, the latest data released by the Vietnam Customs show.
The city’s export staples included rice, seafood, coffee, pepper, fruit and vegetables, textile and garments, and wood and furniture, according to a report by the municipal administration.
Technology and manufacturing and processing products accounted for nearly 70 percent of the exports, while agro-forestry and seafood made up more than 22 percent.
The southern megacity is shipping products to 230 countries and territories around the globe, according to the report.
It enjoyed a 32.5 percent increase in export revenue from Northeast Asia, with respective growth rates from South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan standing at 105 percent, 98 percent, and 13 percent last year.
The figure was a modest 4.1 percent in China, the municipal administration noted.
Exports to the EU and the U.S. also rose 18 percent and 21 percent, respectively, from a year earlier.
The northern province of Bac Ninh was the second largest exporting locality in Vietnam, with last year’s exports reaching $21.07 billion, down nearly $4 billion from 2013, according to customs data.
Thai Nguyen, also located in the north, came third with $7.92 billion, up a record $7.68 billion from a year earlier.
Samsung’s recent investments in Vietnam are the answer to the export revenue drop of Bac Ninh, and the strong increase of Thai Nguyen.
The South Korean electronics giant has shifted parts of its Vietnam production from Bac Ninh to Thai Nguyen and is set to add a $3 billion plant to the existing $2 billion facility already operating in the latter.
Samsung received the investment license for the latest plant, where hi-tech devices including Smart TVs will be manufactured, in late November 2014.
Bac Ninh, meanwhile, is home to a $2.5 billion Samsung production complex.